2022-08-13: A Good Kid
- Log: A Good Kid
- Cast: Xenia, Fei Fong Wong
- Where: Guara Bobelo - The Drag
- Date: August 13, 2022
- Summary: During a late-night bar visit, Fei ends up learning a few more things about Xenia, answering questions more directly than she normally does.
========================<* Guara Bobelo - The Drag *>========================= Guara Bobelo sits beneath a massive dome, a Zeboim-era structure meant to ward off artillery. Deployed during the most desperate days of the war, it now shrouds the city in eternal night--not even the false stars on its underside can break up the gloom. Once home to the grand Cathedral of Saint Calucion, Guara Bobelo is now a haven for rogues from all across Southern Aquvy. Much of the city is a single, massive slum, a dirty, darkened maze of hastily-constructed tenements. Guara Bobelo's main street runs from north to south, circling the remains of the Cathedral along the way. Known colloquially as the Drag, it's lined on either side by shady bars, rickety storefronts, and old stone buildings repurposed as flophouses and gambling halls. Hawkers sell food, drink, and knickknacks from push-carts, much of it dubious in quality. Even here, in the "better" part of town, desperation and despair seem to permeate the atmosphere. Guara Bobelo doesn't get tourists so much as fresh meat. BGM: Wild Arms 4 - Nightless City, Guara Bobelo
<Pose Tracker> Xenia has posed.
If it's a stiff drink you're after, there's no shortage of establishments to choose from in Guara Bobelo's shadier districts. There's something for everyone! A bar close to the coliseum, always packed and filled with combat enthusiasts, good for when you want to talk about fights or pick an actual one. One smack dab in the middle of a more notorious gambling district, where the hosts are always ready to offer a listening ear to those down on their luck (so they'll go back to the card tables with renewed vigor). There's even one that holds drinking contests every day, in case getting only a little drunk is just not good enough.
The bar known as The Backwater is none of those. As the name implies, it's in an out of the way place, far removed from other business. As such it's not exactly very popular, but that too is part of the point. Its staff and its patrons both understand that nobody goes here looking for social interaction. This is where you go when you want a drink, and only a drink. Or discuss less savory business, but for obvious reasons, that part is kept on the down low.
Some would say that the bar's name also says something about the quality of the drink, but that's neither here nor there.
In any event, tonight is a night like any other at The Backwater. Few customers, seated at tables far removed from one another. Only one table in a far corner has more than one patron seated there, cloaked figures speaking in hushed tones. In fact, cloaks seem to be in high fashion around here. The stoic, muscular and heavily scarred bartender sooner stands out for not wearing one.
One cloaked figure is seated at the bar, and seems to have been here for a while. You can tell by how they've stacked up over a dozen shotglasses next to them, as if they're working on building a little tower. As the figure raises a gloved hand, the bartender wordlessly sets down another shotglass, filling it with the last bit still remaining in a curiously unlabeled bottle. Seeing this, the patron chuckles.
"Hope you got more of that laying around."
While the bartender gives a stoic nod, the more notable part of that to those familiar may be the voice. That's Xantia's voice, those who know her would likely think at first. Though those who know that Xantia would likely collapse from a single one of these tiny glasses should soon realize... this is almost certainly someone else. A glance at the clear blue sunglasses beneath the cloak's hood would confirm that much.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Ptolomea's death has done a number on Fei but he thinks he can handle getting a drink without getting destroyed. He's got a family to look after after all and he can't do that wasted. But sometimes Fei, even now, needs to just be alone and have a drink. A place like the Backwater is perfect because, well, the name implies it doesn't it? Nevertheless, he is here for a drink, and only a drink. He is still polite to the staff, but he's quiet. That the drinks are of low quality is something Fei is oblivious to the nature of. Fei isn't wearing a cloak. He thinks he might even be anti-cloak. He's not sure.
He's so focused on himself that he doesn't notice one cloaked figure out from the other cloaked figures. Not until he gets a glimpse of that glove out of the corner of his eye.
And hears a few short words.
He turns his body all the way to look full on towards the cloaked figure. It could be his imagination but--
--those sunglasses.
What should he do? Bother her? At a bar where people go to not be bothered?
Fei squints his eyes in thoughts for a moment. That's...a lot of shotglasses.
<Pose Tracker> Xenia has posed.
For a fraction of a second, the figure at the bar freezes. For a good while, it's the only indication that they might have taken notice of something just now. There's a long pause, where they idly twist the shotglass in front of them, around and around. Until finally, they down the drink in one gulp, swiftly placing the glass atop the stack. Though this may appear careless, especially after as many drinks as this person has had already, nothing happens. Clearly still capable of being very precise, in spite of everything.
With that, the figure turns her head, looking over their shoulder. Directly at Fei. If there was any doubt remaining, it most definitely is Xenia.
"What're you staring at? If you've got something to say to me, then get over here and say it."
She briefly turns back to the bar, only to turn around again right after.
"But I'm warning you. If you so much as think the word 'birthday', I'm going to shoot you. Immediately." Then, to the bartender. "It's okay, he won't make me make a mess in here." And back over her shoulder, "Will you, Fei?"
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
"I won't say anything about birthdays," Fei promises. Does he have anything to say? He's not sure what there is to say at this point but what is unusual is getting an offer to talk so maybe he should just take her up on the offer anyway? He considers it thoughtfully and then nods. "Yeah for sure."
He moves on over, bringing his drink with him, sitting down across from Xenia. It's the easiest way to have a conversation, frankly.
"Sorry, everyone here is wearing similar getups so it took me a minute." He looks at the shotglasses. "Something rough happen?"
He supposes it's possible she just needs to drink this much to get drunk. Xantia has to eat infinite food to not be hungry so it might work on similar principles, really.
He has heard of the fall of that Spiran base of Solaris but that's probably an inconvenience for those sorts so. He wonders what Xantia is up to right now.
<Pose Tracker> Xenia has posed.
"Ah, you just said it~" Xenia mimics a gun with her right hand, miming taking a shot at Fei. Although with someone like her it's risky to take her tone of voice as any sort of indication, it was playful enough to probably work as assurance that she wasn't serious about that. Although the tone becomes deathly serious directly after.
"Don't do it again."
She doesn't acknowledge Fei's other actions in any way. She did invite him, but she looks pretty apathetic about the whole thing. At his words too, she only shrugs. Glancing at Fei's drink, she redirects the question back at him.
"Could ask you the same thing. I know your habits. Going to a place like this doesn't fit them." She shrugs, exaggeratedly.
"Nothing particularly happened, in my case. That's not why I drink. It's not to get any kind of buzz either, the stuff does nothing for me." She indicates the tower of shotglasses, as if to say, 'if it did, I should be drunk off my ass right now'. "Heh... you can guess at my reasons, if you like. We'll see if you learned anything."
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei grimaces. "Sorry I... uh. I won't say... the word again."
Fei rubs at his forehead because he's going to get a stress migraine trying to avoid this word with Xenia forever.
Xenia turns the question back on him and he says, "Fought Ptolomea. He died. He had family. It was a waste. I had t'bring the body back to Shevat."
He didn't HAVE to but he had to. It's that sort of thing. "I used to do this a lot more when I was on my own. Nowadays I got responsibilities. A kid to look after."
He glances back to Xenia. "Anyway. If I started guessing reasons I'd probably just have new words I'm unable to say." He really doesn't want to get shot. It happens way too often as it is.
"And you're pretty evasive about answering questions. Even if I guess right you might not even let me know. We'd all like to help you if we can but you say we can't. So that's the impasse we're at."
<Pose Tracker> Xenia has posed.
Xenia is appeased. Presumably. She makes it hard to tell but at least she's not being actively hostile. She's not being much of anything today.
At the mention of Ptolomea, Xenia raises an eyebrow. "Huh. So another traitor to Shevat is dead. Hadn't heard about that one yet. A shame, but not unexpected. That's how these things go. He knew what he signed up for."
She motions to the bartender. Apparently there was some special meaning to the hand signal, because this time there's no glass. Just a bottle. A whole new freshly opened bottle of '???' Hard to tell anything about it except 'it's brown' with the absence of a label.
Xenia lifts the glass she most recently placed on her stack back up and sets it down in front of her. While pouring herself a new drink, she chuckles. "Trying to be a good role model, eh? Don't think you need to be afraid of that kid picking up your drinking habits." She tosses back another one, setting the empty glass back in front of her. Her expression is back to one of the utmost seriousness.
"Try me. Ask your questions. Last time you had the chance, you devolved into nonsense, and let the other guy handle it. That's on you. Try harder this time, see what happens."
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei says, "...He wasn't wrong you know," to Xenia. "He just wanted things to change. The way Shevat is right now, there's no way they could stand a chance against Solaris. Not even with you. Or me. Or Xantia. If Shevat isn't serious about having regret for their mistakes, I won't try to fight against 'the other guy' when he does what he wants to do there."
Heh.
"Shevat itself... Is a nation of traitors. We could have worked with him. He was a tough guy. A former General. Having someone like that on your side against Solaris is important."
He exhales out slowly, watching Xenia pull out another horrible bottle.
"It's not about the drinking," He says. "It's about the perseverance. She doesn't need to know how hard all this is on me. If she can live free of all my issues I'd consider that a life well lived. She's older now too. She doesn't quite age the way we do."
She looks to Xenia and adds, "....Sure. Is your pops like Ptolomea? Wanting something to change?"
He leans back. "And why the shades? Like the look?"
<Pose Tracker> Xenia has posed.
Fei has Xenia's rapt attention when he speaks his mind on Shevat. She looks surprised, at first, and gradually seems more and more amused. She waits until he's said his peace on that subject, and then slowly, softly claps her hands.
"My my, you have learned something. Full marks on that one. I don't disagree with a single thing you've said. First time for everything."
She decides to celebrate with another quick drink. She's not even looking at the glass or the bottle anymore while she pours, yet she doesn't spill a drop. She raises her glass to Fei before taking her shot. She grimaces, but that has nothing to do with the taste, and everything to do with Fei's words.
"Can't show any weakness, huh. Boy, that's tough. Wouldn't know anything about that." Positively dripping with sarcasm. It doesn't last any longer than it takes for her to put her glass back down. Which is when Fei decides to ask her a direct question, which means the expectation is likely that she'll segue smoothly into evasiveness, like she's done many times before. However...
"Oh, you have NO idea. It's all I ever hear about, when I'm not getting ordered around, anyway." She cants her head, smiling faintly as she adjusts her shades. "Well yeah. Pretty cool, right? Also practical." She taps against the side. "Constant datafeed, tells me everything I need to know."
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei wrinkles his nose. "...That's no change. I've believed that for a long time."
Longer than Fei really, but Fei himself doesn't have all those memories. The more that he starts to remember, the less Id and everything else feel like different people. Just different sides--
--he doesn't want to dwell on it though. He just has to do his best to stay himself and not become him.
"I didn't say that," He says about not showing weakness. "But this is a kind of weakness she doesn't have to see. She'll uncover enough painful truths in this world."
Seems like Fei's not going THAT FAR. If that was the case he'd just avoid Emeralda altogether. He'd have to.
"Mm." Fei says. "I don't particularly care for him, just from what I can see but it isn't as if our goals are at crosspurposes. If he wants our help then he'll have to give you the choices you deserve to have. I don't know what you'd choose, but I know Xantia has plenty of reason to fight Solaris without all this extra crap. All this extra pain isn't going to help. Trying to change things this way is just going to make him Solaris."
He looks over to the shotglasses. "...So, they don't do anything for you." Pause. "You wish they did?"
<Pose Tracker> Xenia has posed.
"Is that a fact?" Xenia questions, before doing a likely intentionally poor imitation of Fei's voice. "'Maybe Shevat can free you!' Remember that? It was only last year when you told me that, and I still had to tell you that Shevat can't do a damn thing. So yeah, it does seem to me like you've learned something in the mean time. Unless you were just spouting nonsense without thinking, you do that a lot."
That's Fei as Xenia knows him, at least. Perhaps he has changed more significantly than either of them realizes...
Xenia definitely won't dwell on it, smoothly moving on to the next topic. "Don't think you're giving the kid enough credit, if you think not showing it to her means she won't realize it. If it were me, I'd prefer honesty. But eh, not like I know anything about good parenting. You do you."
After answering those questions about herself freely, however, she starts to look a little down, sighing deeply. Likely predictable at this point - she takes another shot.
"...Preaching to the choir," she finally says, in a softer tone, before returning to her former volume. "I'm not calling the shots there. Only shots I'm calling are these." She handgestures to her little tower, chuckling without amusement. "There's only one way things are gonna go from here, if someone doesn't intervene."
Another chuckle, as she looks back over to the stack of glasses. "I said that in the context of getting a buzz. If it did absolutely nothing for me, I wouldn't be doing it. You never did try to guess the reason. How about it, you feel like giving it a try now?"
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
"...Well, it's still true." Fei says. "Just because I'm aware of their problems doesn't mean they can't help you. If you want a perfect nation you should just go to Adlehyde. I mean, I don't think Shevat'd do anything crazy to you. Sometimes even the police manage to do a job."
He doesn't argue that he doesn't spout nonsense without thinking a lot. This is because Fei usually doesn't have a fucking clue what's going on. Now to be fair, some of this is on him. He could probably stand to pay more attention but that's time better spent not paying attention and doing literally anything better with his time.
"Maybe not." Fei says of Emeralda. He doesn't know anything about good parenting either. He hasn't been a parent before.
"I have no idea how to intervene against someone who I can't see, have no idea where he's at, or even what his name is." Fei says. "I don't even know how to start looking. Heck, if someone smart could've figured it out, Doc would've."
Why is Xenia doing it? Fei thinks it over. He did make a guess but it sounds like it might have a more...practical use, perhaps?
"Does your tech use it or something?" He is a little leery of using the term 'nanomachines' frivolously.
<Pose Tracker> Xenia has posed.
Xenia doesn't dignify the point made about Shevat with an answer. Her displeased expression says it all. Zero faith in Shevat's capability to do anything - at the very least, not for her. What she says instead is, "You also seem to have forgotten that last time you insisted on that, I threw a bomb at your face." She's all about subtle hints when it's time to end a topic of conversation.
She lifts the bottle once again... but sets it down, rubbing her forehead. Maybe too much of the stuff does give her a headache. Unless it's the conversation.
"There's... one thing you can do," she starts, sounding a little strained. "Not to prevent, perhaps, but to delay. You have to... keep Xantia away from me. If the others I tried to warn fail... it'll be up to you. If she doesn't stay away, I... won't be able to stop things from escalating anymore."
Xenia grimaces. She must realize that there's little doubt now that there's something wrong. But instead of remarking on it, she laughs. "Does my tech use it... really? You couldn't be... more wrong...!"
Abruptly, she gets up from her stool, knocking it over in the process. "Out of time... think harder, if you still don't get it!" With that, she runs out of the establishment.
The other patrons, staring with mostly annoyance at the disturbance, quickly turn their attention back to their own devices. The bartender shrugs, remarking with a voice much kinder than his appearance would suggest: "Don't worry about it, this happens sometimes. She'll be back 'round, she's good for her tab."
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.
Fei says, "Well," after a moment. "Nobody's perfect," about bombs being thrown at his face. Fei doesn't press any more than that though. He doesn't even have much else to say.
The tech doesn't use it? Fei considers. "Does it...disrupt his ability to--"
She abruptly stands up. And then runs out.
And Fei leans back against his chair. "It's alright. I've got it." He pulls out a pouch of money. "Seems like sticking me with the tab is a family trait of theirs."
But despite saying something like that, he's kind of smiling. "She's a good kid, you know?"
He's made that decision and is sticking by it.