InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Cats rule; dogs drool."

Connor Parish (fromthedark) wrote in newdublinrp,
@ 2018-07-19 03:18:00

Who: Lilliana & Merrit
When: Thursday afternoon
Where: Zzyyxx cafe

Merrit had been in the cafe for two hours going over document files with one of the senior members of the wire. After his seizure had sent him to the hospital for a night and then three days under observation his father had given him a bunch of 'busy' cases. He hadn't been in the courtroom in over two months. Part of him actually liked the break, but another part of him hated being treated with kid gloves. "Okay, so, I'm looking to get the charges thrown out due to lack of evidence, but you have to be prepared for what may come... they're just shooting darts and you happened to get in the way. But from what we've gone over today I don't see that there's any connection to you and the charges." He shook his clients hand and the young man got up and headed out. Merr tapped his tablet and turned it off before lifting his coffee cup only to find it empty.

The lawyer got up and moved over to the counter, patiently waiting for someone. He figured it was probably shift change or something. He saw the girl who had been there early and gave her a small wave. "Just looking for a refill." He said, hoping she hadn't just gotten off work and now here he was bothering her, though seeing as she was the only one behind the counter... he didn't feel too bad.

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fromthedark
2018-07-23 09:39 am UTC (link)

Having grown up thinking he was a bit crazy (only to find out his imaginary friend was real), on top of all the abuse he'd suffered as a kid, and teen, and adult... Merr wasn't the most casually social type person. He did better with other business men at a work gathering or actual business. Zel had been the only person he'd truly been social with, and most of that time he thought she wasn't real. Vikki came close, but he didn't even let her in most times. She just took care of him when he was drunk off his ass. "I've been kept busy, that's for sure."

Adjusting in his seat slightly he regarded her. "I don't believe we've ever officially met. Then again, I tend to only 'officially' meet someone when they become a client." He held out a hand. "I'm Merrit."

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3psi10n
2018-07-23 10:58 am UTC (link)

Lili gave Merrit a hint of a smile as he offered his hand. She took it lightly in order to shake it, but wasn't sure what name to offer him. Lili? Morgana? Definitely not Epsilon. There were so many different names that she had now.

"Morgana," she finally offered. That was the name she had put on her tag at work so she figured that would be the one she was know by. If anything, Merrit might have her listed as 'Morgana' on some clientele list for The Wire hidden in the back of his brain. She was, after all, listed formally in the roster for under that name. She was even going to have an implant to separate her new life from her old sometime soon.

"So, if you're someplace like here just to do work, Merrit," she mused just before she sipped at her coffee again, "Where do you go when you actually want to have fun? One of those weird vampire parties? Or are you one of those rich boys that goes brawling?" It was a question asked with genuine interest.

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fromthedark
2018-07-23 11:05 am UTC (link)

"Pleasure." He said with a nod.

Merr laughed slightly at her question. "You're assuming I go out... or have fun." He did put a lot of himself into his work, it kept him from having to deal with his own life when he was busy cleaning up other peoples. "But the few times I do, I tend to have a drink at a bar. Mostly though, just a quiet time at home is preferable." He finally replied. "Thrilling life, I know." He chuckled, taking a sip of his coffee.

Oh, there had been a short time in college he'd gone kinda crazy at parties, but that was a long time ago.

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3psi10n
2018-07-23 11:31 am UTC (link)

"Mmm-hmm," Lili nodded as she nursed her coffee. She sat it down on the table and danced her ringers across the rim of the lid. "So, you're Batman then. It's the only real explanation for why you'd want to be so visible while at work." Oh, it was clearly a joke, but she said it with so much sincerity. It was only her eyes and small smile that gave away the joke. "But it's not like everyone else doesn't live secret lives around here." She leaned in a bit and whispered playfully with a wink, "I won't tell everyone you're Batman."

The smile on her face grew much larger as she leaned back and relaxed into the seat. Normally, she would feel anxiety around others, but she felt safe in the cafe. This was her safe place so she could be whoever she wanted right now. The coffee made her feel better too. Besides, she might not actually see Merrit again so who cared?

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fromthedark
2018-07-23 11:42 am UTC (link)

"Yes, figured out my secret." Merr shook his head with a chuckle. "I somehow don't think I've got the build for Batman." He was a bit too skinny, and fit but not muscular. "Batman's lawyer maybe."

She had a nice smile. Zel would be telling him to compliment her, flirt. "And if you doubt me, you can ask Zel, she'll vouch that I'm nothing special." Which was not entirely true, his connection with his friend being the biggest unique thing about him, but they didn't tell other people. Well he didn't and she'd only told her boyfriend. "But what about you? What do you do for fun?"

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3psi10n
2018-07-23 12:05 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, so you know Zel?" She chuckled a bit before taking a drink of her coffee. It was starting to get cold so she wanted to finish it. That might explain why Merrit enjoyed "quiet nights in." Zel didn't hide her drug use. Maybe he was one of those types too? Business during the day, wacked out drug-enduced euphoria at night. Definitely not the way she wanted to live a life.

He asked what she did for fun and Lili shrugged, running a hand across the loose hairs that had fallen out of the ponytail she'd put her hair up onto for work. She literally didn't do much. Watch a few shows. Read a few things. Hack the planet. "A little bit of MMO stuff. Nothing special." Sure. That might describe her life.

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fromthedark
2018-07-23 12:14 pm UTC (link)

He'd only done drugs a handful of times, alcohol was his addiction of choice. "We knew each other as kids, then connected over the murder trial." Merrit replied, he'd been there when she OD'd as she had when he'd given himself alcohol poisoning. They really were a pair.

"So," Merrit smirked at her 'hobby', "Seems everyone has a way to divert from the real world." It was just then the real world buzzed. Merr pulled out his phone, "Sorry, excuse me." He said as he quickly replied to a text. "My assistant has been sort of over protective lately... she was expecting me back at the office." But he'd decided to stay on the off chance for good conversation.

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3psi10n
2018-07-23 12:56 pm UTC (link)

"The Bat-signal calls," Lili added as he checked his phone. She finished her cup of coffee, but continued to roll the to-go cup in between the fingers of her hands. She was the perfect subject for a fidget spinner, always needing something to keep her hands busy in order to feel less awkward.

She turned her eyes back up to Merrit when he mentioned his assistant and chuckled. "Alfred expecting you home soon, Master Bruce?" She'd always been such a nerdy child. It made sense that those old comic characters would sit well with her. They were all about being something greater than you were, so she felt. They drew her out of her mediocrity and into something that made her more special. She supposed that was what hacking had done to her. "I'd hate to keep you from saving New Dublin. Would that make me a villain?" Again, she asked with such a tone of sincere interest. You might call that a dry sense of humor.

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fromthedark
2018-07-23 01:09 pm UTC (link)

"Oh most definitely it would." He laughed, "But no, just someone who is being overly cautious..." Merr sighed slightly, he figured he should explain a little so Morgana would understand. "I had a really bad seizure about over a month ago, was in the hospital for a few days. I'm fine though." He assured her. He figured Vikki would be like this another month or two until she finally got past it and was just her normal amount of overprotective. She definitely earned her paycheck.

"The rest of my nights actually clear, I mean my current plan was to eventually head back home, do some more work... have a drink." Or ten. "Maybe order in," Since he only had left over take out in his fridge. "Watch some of that new show Telluride." It was a new murder mystery show with a supernatural twist. "I've had the first six episodes in my queue, just gathering dust."

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3psi10n
2018-07-23 02:27 pm UTC (link)

A seizure? Good lord, people still had those? "So, you've got one of those chips that resets your brain impulses?" Now he had caught her in a moment where she really was inquiring rather than joking. She knew about those, but had never actually spoken to anyone about their function or what it was like. "Is it like those old pace makers? I heard you could feel those things when they went off. Crazy shit." What would it feel like to have your brain zapped back into normal function?

When the conversation dipped into what he was planning on doing for the rest of the night, Lili actually had to stop and think for a moment. Was he inviting her to join him or was this just him listing his plans for the evening? In general, she was bad with people. That was why she lived online so much. They couldn't really hurt you. They could hurt your gear and they could hack your stuff, but that was stuff. It could be replaced. Even certain body parts could be, but if you mind and spirit were broken, there was no going back. "Sounds like a reasonable night for someone who says they're definitely not Batman."

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fromthedark
2018-07-23 09:20 pm UTC (link)

"Honestly, don't feel it unless is malfunctions." Which it had only done that one time. "Then again, had it since I was born, so that may have something to do with it." Merr laughed. "Honestly, not sure how it works... just glad that it does." Otherwise his life would be one giant seizure basically.

He hadn't intentionally been inviting her to anything, then again he hadn't not been inviting her as well. Put him in a court room and he was charming and witty and on point with everything he said. In the real world with real people he was a bit awkward. He sort of figured some people who lived their life jacked in had a similar feeling. "Not buying it?" Merrit asked with a chuckle. "Well, if you're so skeptical, you're happy to join me." It came out before he really realized what he was saying, and he could almost hear Zel cheering in his head.

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3psi10n
2018-07-25 01:46 pm UTC (link)

A subtle proposition from a near stranger was hard for her. Lili was one who could form strong attachments quick, but she had to really resonate with them for it to last a long time. That was why she was cautious around people. She didn't want to form those attachments with someone who wasn't good for her.

"Mmm," she thought about things for a moment before slowly shaking her head, "I think I'll pass this time." This time? Would there even be a next time? She didn't mean to sound like she was actually trying to say there would be a next time. "Batman is needed to save us. I can't take him away from the city like that." She knew others who would totally be into the random hookup and, sometimes, she wished she was the same.

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fromthedark
2018-07-25 09:14 pm UTC (link)

The funny thing was, a random hook up wasn’t what he was looking for. Merr still had trouble with intimacy, Zel has pushed him a few times to push past his issues, but on his own he still struggled. The alcohol probably didn’t help, though it was more his mental state that affected him more. “Suit yourself.” He said with a shrug, still sounding jovial. “I’ll just enjoy watching about the werewolf detective myself.” Merrit chuckled, taking another sip of his coffee. “Maybe another time. Always nice to share shows with someone.”

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3psi10n
2018-07-30 02:06 pm UTC (link)

Lili nodded, her fingers circling the lid of her cup once more. It wasn't so much that she was thinking as she was trying to figure out what to say next. "I should probably catch up on the show before I go diving into it somewhere in the middle, right? I wouldn't want to be lost and having to ask you twenty questions." The show did sound somewhat interesting. She might have to go looking it up later just to have something to talk about later if she ever did run into Merrit again. She figured she would since he seemed to like to do his business here at the cafe. She couldn't understand that really, but to each their own. He did his job in a cafe and she did her job online. The choice of the venue really didn't make much difference as long as you got your job done, right?

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fromthedark
2018-07-31 04:02 am UTC (link)

"Honestly just starting it myself." Merr admitted. "Been recommended to me by a few people, but I don't really get a chance to watch stuff." Which was true. Normally he spent more time at the office than at home, until recently. Keeping busy with things had always meant he was away from his father growing up. It was apparently a habit/escape mechanism he never got away from. He finished his. "But I'll be sure to clue you in if it's actually worth it." He said with a small chuckle.

Merrit grabbed up his tablet. "In the meantime I should probably go... or I might just end up back at the office for the rest of the night instead- wouldn't be the first time." He tilted his head slightly in a nod to her. "Nice chatting." Chances were he wouldn't be back in the cafe for a few weeks at least- unless he got a new case. Hopefully the one he was currently working on for The Wire would close up soon.

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