World: Castle D'Image
Scene: The Twisted Fish, a night in March, 4277.
Players: Kerrigan = Abby; Stormy = SJ
Kerrigan is slouched picturesquely at the bar, arms folded, glowering into space.
Stormy spots him and grins, then attempts to slip up behind him, without him noticing, making 'shhh' motions to Theo.
Kerrigan in fact is too engrossed in his bad mood to notice anything.
Stormy grins widely, then reaches out both hands to tickle his ribs on either side.
Kerrigan lets out a terrific yell of startlement and jerks away. "Gods dammit all--! What in the--"
Stormy steps back out of striking distance, just in case, giggling. "'Lo, Kerrigan. How ya doin' t'night?"
Kerrigan actually spins on his heel ready to retaliate, but seeing who it is he relaxes with a scowl. "Gods of hell, you brat, you scared me."
Stormy giggles merrily, seemingly delighted at such a reaction. "Ya should pay more attention." She waggles a finger at him. "I coulda stuck a dagger in yer ribs, rather than my fingers."
Kerrigan drops back into his seat with a growl. "Don't play games with me, dammit."
Stormy rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out at him, hopping up onto the stool beside him. "Grouchy, ain't ya?" She waves Theo over.
Escargot nods to her cheerfully. "Rum. Surely. Coming right up, friend!"
Kerrigan retorts, "Damn right."
Stormy opens her rum and takes a long drink. "Whatcha so sour 'bout t'night?"
Kerrigan rakes both hands through his hair, looking weary. "In case you've forgotten, kid, I'm out of a job, no prospects, and a --" he bites off a stinging epithet, barely, "an indignant husband out for my blood, if I know Leila, and that's just the major points."
Stormy ohs. "Well, I thought it might be somethin' new." She toys with her rum bottle, then tilts her head at him. "Ya could see if Moira-san will hire ya. She might have somethin'." She adds, "And I ain't a kid."
Kerrigan mutters, "Gods," and something regarding snippy women. He gives Stormy a sideways look. "How old are you, then, eh?"
Stormy sits up to her full five foot nothing. "I'm seventeen, but my birthday is coming up soon."
Kerrigan levels a finger at her. "You're a kid," he says firmly. "Granted a bright kid, but still."
Stormy swats at his finger. "Pah. An' how old are ya? I guess yer just so much older an' wiser, huh?"
Kerrigan looks amused. "I'll have you know I'm thirty in a month. And damn straight I'm wise."
Stormy widens her dark eyes. "Thirty! Kami! Ya have one foot in the grave already! Wow, I didn't know ya were so old!" She snickers.
Kerrigan snorts with reluctant laughter. "You see."
Stormy wrinkles her nose at him. "Well, if Garry-chan does kill ya, at least ya lived a long life.." She trails off as she's laughing too hard to go on.
Kerrigan gives her a sour look.
Stormy snorts and pats his shoulder. "Ya can hide out at my place if ya want. No one'd look fer ya there."
Kerrigan shakes her off, scowling. "I don't need this, kid. I really don't."
Stormy humphs and shrugs. "Fine, be that way. But when yer dead, don't say I didn't try ta help."
Kerrigan begins, "Dammit, Stormy--" sounding truly upset; but he breaks off and turns away, staring at the fire.
Stormy sobers and tilts her head, her dark hair spilling down her shoulder. "Kerri-kun? I was jus' teasin' ya. I didn't mean nothin' by it."
Kerrigan mutters, "Yeah, well, nobody does." He doesn't sound angry any more, only sullen.
Stormy reaches out and touches his shoulder. "Hey, I'm sure it'll be all right. Garry- chan wouldn't kill ya or nuthin', maybe jus' beat ya up a bit." It might not seem it, but she is trying to make him feel better.
Kerrigan snorts. "Oh, well, that'd be uncommonly decent of him."
Stormy sighs and throws up a hand. "Hell, Kerri-kun. I said ya could stay with me till it all blows over. I mean, he can't stay mad forever!"
Kerrigan looks around at her again, uncertainly.
Stormy pokes him lightly in the ribs and smiles. "Come on, I can get ya free food and drinks even."
Kerrigan's brow furrows. "Gods. You mean that." More a statement than a question, but still not sure.
Stormy rolls her eyes. "I wouldn't have said it, if I didn't mean it, Baka. So do ya wanna stay with me or not?"
Kerrigan is silent for many moments, staring at her. Finally he says, hoarsely, "Nice of you."
Stormy shrugs and leans back on the bar. "The company'll be nice. Gets lonely sometimes, ya know?"
Escargot looks secretive, troubled even, as he looks over the heads of his customers.
Kerrigan nods, seeming bemused. "Yeah."
Stormy tilts her head at him again. "What? No one ever offered ta let ya stay with 'em before?"
Kerrigan shrugs, and says simply, "No. Not like that."
Stormy grins and pokes him again. "Well... maybe if you were nicer ta people..."
Kerrigan snorts with feigned indignation. "What, I'm not nice as it is?" His eyes crinkle, amused.
Escargot mutters to himself. All you can hear is the word 'galatea'....
Stormy smirks and laughs at that, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Oh ya. Yer jus' a regular prince."
Kerrigan chuckles. "I like to think so," he says, not without irony.
Stormy hops up from her stool to curtsy, somewhat awkwardly to him.
Kerrigan bows from his seat, extravagantly. "Madam. Entirely at your service."
Stormy giggles and sticks her nose in the air, waving one small hand. "I'd tell ya to do somethin', if I could think of anythin'." She grins.
Kerrigan grins back, now in much better humor.
[So Kerrigan is installed that night on the floor in Stormy's room.]