Real Talk (D7ME)

[Axel Ward]

Axel scowled. "Someone paying you to get under my skin?" Actually, Riza's abrasive manner was becoming almost familiar. Axel fought back a smile.

"So who was it for, then?" Axel's eyes narrowed. "Someone you used to know?"

[Riza]

"Why is it that you are so interested? What benefit does it gain you to know whom I spoke for?" she shot back, defensively.

[Axel Ward]

Scowling, Axel leaned forward a little. "It's not about benefit. It's about getting to know someone I share a ship with. That I fight with." The scowl faded. "You wanna talk about benefit, how about knowing someone better means you trust 'em to watch your back."

[Riza]

"My past is mine, it's my memory to keep," she said derisively. "If you cannot manage to find enough trust in me because of my actions thus far then I do not see why I should sacrifice my past up to you in order to mend this."

[Axel Ward]

Axel scowled for a long moment, but then slowly nodded. "Yeah. Okay. You're right. Your past is your business." Axel grimaced.I'm sorry." It was said with a bit of a growl, but nevertheless.

He looked at Riza, lips parted, but then grimaced again, shaking his head. He reached for the bottle, pouring himself a little more, before tilting it towards her in wordless question.

[Riza]

There was a thin layer at the bottom of her glass that she saw down effortlessly before shifting it in his direction. Riza'd just kept looking at him, with those almost imperceptible red eyes.

"I don't plan on shooting you in the back," she said.

[Axel Ward]

Wordlessly, Axel poured into her glass, the same amount as he'd poured for himself. Focused on that, he didn't notice her gaze for a few moments. When he finally did, his own dark brown eyes widened ever so slightly in response.

And then narrowed in response. "I know." Lifting his glass, he clinked it against hers again. "I know." He took a sip. "You're alright, Riza. Even if I find myself wanting to choke you after about half the times we talk."

[Riza]

"That aggression of yours, get you into much trouble?" she took the glass back, holding it at about half height.

[Axel Ward]

Axel chuckled. "Oh yeah. All the time. Nothing I can't handle." He considered a moment. "Usually."

"What about you? Your attitude ever get you in trouble?" He swirled the alcohol around in his glass. "Although maybe it's like this whiskey. An acquired taste."

[Riza]

"Trouble had an unfortunate and wicked sense to find me all on it's own. My, as you say, attitude, never seemed much a bother to anyone prior. Perhaps it was cause I got the job done, and I do, get the job done," she said.

[Axel Ward]

Axel gave Riza an understanding look. "Trouble has a way of doing that, doesn't it? Still, I sometimes wonder how much of mine is luck, and how much is my own doing."

He took another drink. "Well, I hope I can convince you to help me with my thing. I like working with you. I guess..." Axel frowned, grasping for the words. "I don't know. If you're an acquired taste, I'm acquiring it."

[Riza]

"I make no promises," is all she said, raising her glass towards his.

[Axel Ward]

Axel gave her a nod. "Good enough." He said. Raising his glass to his lips, he took a long sip.

"Well, if you want support on yours, just say the word. I'll back you up." Axel said, his tone serious. "Would be nice to have a trustworthy partner. Crime lords were always pairing me with one poodoo head or another. The stories I could tell..."

Axel chuckled. "And you've got a way better butt than any of them, but that's just a bonus." He frowned down at his whiskey. Maybe this meant he'd had enough.

[Riza]

Reaching forward she placed a hand over the top of his glass and guided it, gently, down to the table all the while making eye contact.

"You have had enough, I think," she said, "as much as I am appreciative of your approval of my posterior... you are also making wild claims of allegiance in a matter you know nothing about."

[Axel Ward]

Axel frowned, but did not resist as she guided it to the table. He met her gaze with his own dark eyes, which widened a bit as the connection was made. She had nice eyes, too, he thought, even if not quite as nice as her butt. "Maybe." He said sturdily.

The rest of her comment made him first smile, then frown. "Well, I meant what I said. Both parts of it. But..." His brows drew down. "What do you mean? I don't understand."

[Riza]

"Exactly my point," she said, pulling his drink in and seeing it dealt with in a manner most unappreciative to its contents. "Need I explain further? Or should I point out how little you know about what you posit yourself to sign up for?"

[Axel Ward]

"Yeah, but..." Axel scowled. "What, don't you think I can help?" His hand, no longer holding a drink, clenched. "Don't underestimate me, Riza."

His expression softened. "Look. Fine. Tell me or don't. Let me help or don't. But I'm not gonna back down from helping a friend. Or... whatever you are." He was really unclear about that.

[Riza]

"I don't need a partner," she said, collecting her glass and the bottle. Seeing both away, cleaning the glasses as a manner of habit.

[Axel Ward]

"Didn't say you did." Axel said. "But speaking for myself, I like to team up with someone I don't hate from time to time. I think you qualify." Axel grimaced. "And we're both in a Clan now, whatever that means."

[Riza]

"As long as I am within reach, you can come find me," she said, pulling up a nearby towel to dry out the glasses. "I'll make my appraisal, case by case. You listen well when I need you to listen... that is a positive. Could be what makes my mind up, from case to case."