IC INBOX; MoM

[pushtheboundaries]

"You've reached Robert Callaghan, Headmaster to the Heropa Organization for imPort Education. Please leave a message with your name, your phone number, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. As a reminder, my office hours are..."

Comments

[itistolaugh]

... 'Kay.

[ Harley huffs and lets him go with some reluctance. Damn it! She's hot! What is wrong with him?! ]

[pushtheboundaries]

[she's extremely hot, and what attraction is there is precisely the problem. he's probably another glass or two away from saying 'fuck it' and letting things happen as they will...which means that it's about time to splash himself with cold water, give himself a long look in the mirror, very briefly consider if there's a window in here-

-and then sigh, wipe himself off, give himself another look, and then head back out. look at him being a adult and facing his fears]

No bet on drinking me under the table. I think I'm sticking to water the rest of the night.

[itistolaugh]

[ She lights up when he comes back. She half-expected him to bail on her then and there, but it looks like she didn't scare him off entirely. ]

Yeah? Alright, if that's what you want.

But, for the record? It's not just the scotch. I want you.

[pushtheboundaries]

[oh good she's not going to try and give him any moh lord. he'll just avoid her gaze for a bit, though he's turning red again as he signals the bartender to try and get some of that water and please stop looking at him like he's an idiot for not responding to the cute girl's flirting?]

You could probably have anyone else in the bar. [beat] Probably a couple at once.

[he ain't judging, but the subtle question of why me? is there.]

[itistolaugh]

[ She leans against the bar and watches him with that smile, the one that says he's the best thing in the room and she's just so happy to be here. ]

Probably. But I know what I want.

[ She half shrugs and takes a sip of her drink. ]

I'm not pining for some grand romance. I just think we'd have a fun time.

[pushtheboundaries]

[he doesn't think anyone's ever given him that look. and if they had, then it hasn't been for- years. decades. which just reminds him of how old he's getting, which in turn reminds him of how young Harley is, which in turn reminds him that there is an awful lot of people who would leap at this opportunity.]

I thought we were already having a fun time?

[he accepts the iced water and downs half of it at once. it's a harsh contrast to the warmth of the scotch, but he needs it in more ways than one]

[itistolaugh]

[ She snorts and rolls her eyes. ]

Don't play dumb. It doesn't suit you.

[ She shrugs again and turns to her drink. ]

It's okay. If you don't want it, then you don't want it. And we are having a fun time.

[ She peeks at him from under her eyelashes. ]

This is nice.

[pushtheboundaries]

[give him a point for trying, won't you?] I just don't think it'd be a good idea like this. You're- I mean, you're not- god, I'm bad at this. [he's literally facepalming at himself, rubbing his eyes with thumb and forefinger]

-you're gorgeous, Harley, I'm just- really- not in a good place for that kind of 'fun' right now. [beat, and then he gives her a sideways look] Besides. You do know what alcohol does, with, ah...

[does he really have to spell it out he's already so damn red]

[itistolaugh]

[ Her grin spreads across her face and those eyes light up with trouble. He thinks she's pretty. Gorgeous. ]

So then, maybe later.

[pushtheboundaries]

[and now, the sense of impending doom. um. he'll just finish the rest of that water.]

Maybe once I figure out why you're coming on to someone almost twice your age?

[itistolaugh]

[ She sucks on an ice cube and looks at him while she thinks it over. Reasons? What? ]

'S no great mystery. You're cute. I like talking to you. You're smart and nice and you make me laugh.

[ She leans in conspiratorially ]

I totally threw that beach ball on purpose, just for an excuse to say hi.