in the company of strangers

[akillersmile]

Kyle had been away for too long, first following Alex and then focusing on his own leads to try to find an old commanding officer. The hunt was futile, leaving him feeling played and used all at once. With Alex out of touch in her search and too many dead ends, the former soldier finally returned to London, feeling a bit reckless and angry while simultaneously eager to connect with recent friends.

A; I CAN'T SEE STRAIGHT ANYMORE (DRINKING)
Generally, as a rule, Kyle made a deliberate effort to avoid getting drunk. With his training and issues, it was a recipe for disaster and he was a responsible enough person to choose not to engage in such an unnecessary risk. Generally. Right now, he felt like shit and had very few responsibilities to worry about.

Which was why he was wandering casually from pub to pub, from early afternoon to late in the evening, having a beer here and a whiskey there. Mostly beer. He wanted to ride the buzz, to sit in his temporary angst like a cliche, 20-something American and make bad choices. Be the stereotype of the loud tourist for once, instead of always trying to defy expectations. He sat at the bar, ordered another beer, let his gaze slip past the wood grain of the counter back into his own mind to block things out. Here, he was just another guy drinking in London. No supernatural bullshit involved. Until, of course, it was.

B; GONNA HIT THIS CITY (HUNTING)
After and in between his bouts of reckless drinking, Kyle opted for another form of reckless behavior: hunting. He was a soldier, not a hunter, as he had explained to at least a dozen people in the last year. Yeah, he killed vampires, but that was the mission. He didn't go looking for the supernatural. Except that now he was. He was bored and angry, with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove, stalking the night and trying to find more vampires, werewolves, witches, whatever. He might not actually attack them, might only get to know them. As a human, it was all dangerous. But it was fun too.

C; WELCOME TO MY HOUSE (AT HOME)
Kyle's plans to move in with Alex were nixed before they started and his invitation to Nancy didn't fair much better. Which meant he returned from Germany to an empty apartment, barely furnished, with the unfulfilled potential of something now lost to time. He dropped his keys on the counter and leaned back against it, staring out at the window. The rumbling of his stomach reminded him how empty his fridge was and he immediately left again for the corner store, to grab some basic groceries and return to cook up a simple meal. Maybe a few drinks too.

[OOC: Feel free to bump into him on his way to the store or, for existing CR, to know or have found out where he lives.]

Comments

[akillersmile]

Kyle glances over with an amiable smile, not entirely used to men offering to buy him drinks and finding he doesn't really mind all that much. He's oblivious to the man's situation, but he's been there before, bitten and having to recruit the help of witches to return to being human again. In fact, he's had way too many run-ins with werewolves that nearly resulted in him dying or being dragged kicking and screaming into the community. Nearly.

"Anything on tap," he replies with the same light smile, gesturing for Connor to sit beside him if he likes. Kyle polishes off the rest of his remaining beer. The seltzer water doesn't go unnoticed, though it's hard to tell whether it's mixed or virgin. "Thanks, man."

[iustitiae]

"No problem," he says, instantly remembering the last click-bait article he read on facebook 10 words to get out of our language, ladies. No problem was the biggest villain of them all apparently. But you can pry it from Connor's cold, dead, hands. He turns to the bartender and orders Kyle another beer.

Kyle might not be used to this kind of attention, but giving it is second nature of Connor at this point. It helps that Kyle is pretty good looking (the eyes, it's definitely the eyes) and in another life where he wasn't dating someone, maybe he'd be more pursuant of him.

Instead, easy conversation is what's on the docket. "Long day at work, today?"

[akillersmile]

"Nah. Broke up with my girlfriend. Or, she broke up with me." It's the easiest and most understandable way to lay out why he feels like shit. There are a lot more reasons, some infinitely more complicated, but girl troubles always seem to go over well with the well meaning bystander. Besides, it's actually true in a way. He and Alex agreed to separate since she didn't know how long she'd be gone, rather than have him waiting around for her.

Kyle accepts the drink when it's offered by the bartender, turning to face the guy beside him. Objectively attractive, well dressed, looks like he has his shit together better than Kyle does. There's a certain air there, a quality of otherness that makes him wonder if it's another damn vampire he's drawn to himself somehow. Only time will tell.

He glances at the drink, then the suit, then the man himself. "So what's your deal?"

[iustitiae]

Connor Walsh: Looks like he has his shit together. Actual shit together: none.

"That's rough," but the words don't sound a sympathetic as they could. Connor's never been one for commitment and warm feelings, at least not until Oliver. But he's still trying to figure that one out, too.

He seems to preen a little under the attention, content to be looked at. "Law," it's one of those good answers that's all encompassing; this is why I look nice, this is why I'm tired. "I'm working as an apprentice for a defense attorney."

[akillersmile]

Kyle doesn't mind the shallow feedback, preferring the hollow platitudes to actually talking about his feelings. The answer to his question makes him smile as he takes another sip of his drink. He actually chuckles at the apprenticeship remark. "Do you like dogs? You remind me of someone. He liked dogs."

A werewolf that Kyle was always at odds with despite a begrudging alliance and respect. One he's heard isn't around anymore. "But I meant why are you buying me a drink? I've been told I look like a criminal. Are you trying to drum up business?"

He's obviously joking, preferring to keep things as light and humorous as possible at all times.

[iustitiae]

Connor frowns a little bit. He's not sure if Kyle means this honestly or this is another in a series of digs against his new status as a werewolf. It's obviously a joke either way, but Kyle seems good-natured and the follow up placates him.

"I'm buying you a drink because you're a good looking and I needed an excuse to talk to you." At least he's honest, right?