I'm a Classic Man

[eyeforaneye]

[A] Hillingdon Deals

It's around seven p.m. when he more or less sets up shop, having advertised his wares -- discreetly obtained and discounted hardware supplies, chemicals, and weaponry -- largely through word-of-mouth in the weeks prior. Having regular customers at his store and a newfound willingness to barter have certainly helped, and Sasuke's printed out a few concise lists of what he has in stock for people to peruse.

Maybe he should add a sign saying he does delivery.

[B] Grocery Shopping

Sasuke is a list-maker, and a thorough one. Maybe it's a short list today, sure, but that makes it no less important. And the very item that you just reached for? It's the same one he has his hand on, leading to an awkward staredown that he refuses to look away from.

This is the last one. He's not giving up.

[C] Late Night

He's not an excessive drinker by any means but he's lived in London for the entirety of his conscious memory and knows that a solid cure for a stressful day is a pint and a secluded table at a pub. This would probably be working better for him if he weren't too busy giving suspicious looks to note exactly where his beer is at all times... and would probably keep him from knocking it all over onto the ground.

Sorry if some splashes your leg. It's been a long day.

[D] Choose your own adventure!

Comments

[eyeforaneye]

"Are you saying I was a regretful alcoholic until you came along?" Well, he's at least one of those things. Which one would be worse is still up for debate, really. That said he dismisses the question with a shake of his head, willing to pull his punches as he indulges in his own drink.

"It seemed cliche for you to like Guinness but I see I wasn't mistaken anyway."

[emotioneater]

Cooper shrugs at the rhetorical question. Hey, Sasuke was the one who said it, not him. Doesn't make it any less true. He toys with the edge of the pint as he answers. "Stereotypes are there for a reason. Plus, it helps with the cravings." Self-medicating with alcohol isn't the best solution for a hungry vampire, but it's better than biting everyone in sight.

[eyeforaneye]

"Strange, I thought you were someone who liked to buck generalizations. Weren't you the one rejecting the idea of a coffin?" Seems like a shameful stereotype to waste; they're probably comfortable after being properly padded.

"Have you satiated them recently?"

[emotioneater]

"I reject the idea of vampire stereotypes. The Irish ones I practically invented." He'd always felt a fierce, unwavering pride for his home country. He'd died for it and the ideas it stood for back in 1798.

He leans forward. "Why? Interested in finding out for yourself what it's like?" He smiles briefly, his fangs peeking out for a moment before his lips close over them again.

[eyeforaneye]

He pauses with his pint glass halfway to his mouth, lowering it to the table again as his eyes narrow just a fraction of a centimeter and only for a moment.

"Someone beat you to that already and I can't say I particularly enjoyed the experience. Seems like there isn't much reciprocity in terms of benefits."

[emotioneater]

Surprisingly, Cooper doesn't react in a positive way, holding it over his head or gloating. He winces sympathetically, projecting some of the guilt he holds for his own victims onto Sasuke. He knows the feelings that accompany someone being fed off of all too well.

"Sorry t'hear that. There isn't a whole lot of positives if it's being done unwillingly." He frowns, a scolding tone in his voice. "What were you doing tanglin' with vampires anyway?"

[eyeforaneye]

"Oi, it isn't as if I sought them out." Let's get this straight, first off. "There was a public attack. A body fell from several stories up, one we noticed had puncture wounds. I guess they were trying to make it look like suicide...

I spotted who I assumed was responsible, gave chase, and paid the price for it." Although... "I'm angrier that I was so sloppy than I am that I was attacked at all," he mutters into his glass.

[emotioneater]

Cooper's frown only deepens as Sasuke tells him what happened. Stupid, dumb, reckless teenager. He'd been that way once and look where it had gotten him. He fixes Sasuke with a look, the kind that says he disapproves of this entire course of events. "Did I or did I not say that you were about ten years too young t'be takin' on vampires?"

He distinctly recalls thinking the words in his head at their first meeting, but he can't remember if he actually said them out loud.

[eyeforaneye]

"Age has nothing to do with it, it was carelessness. I have enough confidence in my own abilities when it comes to defending myself... but I rushed into something I shouldn't have. It's not a mistake I plan to make twice."

Perhaps the words make him sound cocky but he's never been one to hold back, either physically or verbally. "Drink your beer."

[emotioneater]

Cooper still wears that look of disapproval on his face. He shakes his head, knowing anything he says will likely be ignored. Wise men learn from their own mistakes. Fools learn from their own. "I'll be sure t'remind everyone of those words when I'm at your funeral."

Then he drinks his beer. "I'd say give up the whole deal so that you'll live a long, boring life, but you won't listen t'me. Hell, I wouldn't have listened t'me back when I was young like you."

[eyeforaneye]

"'Give up the whole deal'? And what's that... Associating with the people I do, acknowledging the supernatural world at all? It's hard to give up something when you finally realize that you're a part of it. Turning my back on something I've only just now discovered...

I'm not sure I'd be willing to without more answers." Here he knocks back another portion of his own drink, starting to feel it but then he's never held it as well as he'd like.

[emotioneater]

"Fine. Don't listen t'me. I knew you wouldn't. Might as well be talking to myself here." He grumbles and shakes his head again. Sasuke's a fool, but he's a young fool. There's time for him to grow out of it, if he lives long enough.

He drinks the rest of his beer and signals the nearest waitress to bring another over. Rapid healing plus an Irish constitution for drinks means he needs twice as many to get a buzz.