a warning to people, the good and the evil, this is war [open]

[patricide]

Who: Lex and awful influences (IS THAT YOU?)
What: Sex, drugs, and violence. Rock and roll available upon request.
Where: Griss Twist: the arena, bar, open to anywhere else if the thread moves that way
When: Newdi
Notes: This is the promised bad decisions thread. You can have your character meet Lex either at home, the arena, bar, or somewhere else in Griss Twist, just please specify.
Warnings: The violence is definitely happening in the arena. Will add more warnings if things get terrifying.

Lex lets his staff know that he is about to leave before he departs for Griss Twist. He's taking his first day off from the new job and it's going to be used to channel aggression. The past week was one filled with tension between the nightmares, Lionel's arrival, and getting the new hires started with their duties. While the latter was welcome unlike the others, it was still an important job to do that added to his tension.

He's never put much stock in the 12 Point Divinity, but if Gediron has an arena in which to practice swordfighting, then Lex will at least pay homage long enough for combat. While he does own body armor, he doesn't bring it, only a saber that is much sharper than one usually used for fencing. Recreation by no means excluded survival. A stranger challenges him and Lex holds nothing back, the duel finally ending the the other man knocked to the ground.

When he's finally through with the arena, Lex stops in one of the bars in Griss Twist rather than heading straight home. It's much less savory than his familiar neighborhood of Brock Marsh, but he can take care of himself

Comments

[goodeintentions]

Aimery appreciated that subtle cover, and his expression turned sheepishly-apologetic as he explained, "I was at another bar earlier and met a lovely but very drunk young lady, who said I reminded her of someone back home. She didn't mention until after we'd been drinking and dancing a while that it was her boyfriend who I resembled, and even that was after I objected when she tried to put her tongue down my throat."

He frowned at that, more in pity for the poor lonely girl than in disgust. Aimery was lucky, in a way, that he couldn't remember his own missing partner past a few vague notions that he had one, otherwise it might've been him out looking for a visual stand-in.

"I... well, I told her I was to meet someone at another bar and came here." He stopped to take a hearty swig of his drink, attempting to cover his embarrassment at having basically darted away like a startled deer. Then he glanced back at Lex and finally asked his favor, " I think she followed me though, so if a tall blonde woman comes up and tries to... get my attention, pretend you were meeting me?"

[patricide]

"I can do better than that," he glances casually at the entrance to the bar to see speaking of the devil made her show up. "I'd say that we had planned to meet for a while now, wouldn't you agree?"

He's happy to play along and no stranger to improvising, but they should at least get the story straight.

[goodeintentions]

"That's exactly how I remember it," Aimery nodded and wagged one finger for emphasis, then patted Lex's arm in a you're-a-good-pal way of saying thanks.

"But what of you? How has your evening gone? You look..." he looked Lex over again, as much to appraise as to stall until he could find an inoffensive word to use, "rumpled."

[patricide]

"Today has been productive actually," he says, motioning for to the bartender for a drink. "I let out a bit of pent up frustration at the arena."

A glass is slid in Lex's direction and he takes it with a quick exchange of money. "Speaking of frustration, I understand that you talked to my father."

[goodeintentions]

"The Arena?" he repeated in mild surprise, but didn't inquire further as Lex was getting a drink and it seemed a good time to down a bit of his own. Then Lex smoothly segued the subject on to his father and, given the context, made Aimery half expect their conversation was about to turn into a rant. Or perhaps a lecture.

"Briefly, yes... which of us caused the frustration?"

[patricide]

"Not you," Lex says quickly, hoping to assuage any fear that Aimery might have in that regard. "My father and I haven't exactly had the best relationship."

That's all he says for now. If Aimery inquires further he may say more considering that he sees the man as a friend. This is far from a rant, as the details won't come easily.

[goodeintentions]

Good, at least it wasn't him. Good thing he hadn't invited him over then. Aimery tilted his head, "Few fathers and sons do, and even fewer have the opportunity to change that once they've been whisked away to a city like this."

[patricide]

Lex gives a bitter smile at that. "Your optimism is nice, but I don't see anything changing. It didn't in twenty four years and it didn't once he got here."

Though his rational mind believe anything will happen, there's a slight shift in both change and expression which tells Aimery that Lex hasn't completely abandoned hope at the idea.

[goodeintentions]

"What happened? Most all things can be forgiven between a father and son, maybe you only need more time in this new situation. You know what my father cost me," Aimery's bitterness crept into his voice there, despite the point of the conversation being forgiveness. He figured Lex could put together what he was referring to despite his not having explicitly told him the circumstances of his castration. "But if he were here I'd still embrace him with both arms."

He paused, gave a minute shrug and added under his breath, ".... well I might pay someone to slug him in the groin with a bat a few times first, but after that, a hug."

[patricide]

"The Luthors have never been a hugging family." He doesn't want to undermine or belittle anything Aimery has gone through. Lest the other man get that idea, Lex touches his hand to Aimery's forearm and allows a bit of empathy to fall on his face in place of bitterness.

"I wouldn't be welcoming anyone back if I were in your position and I have to say that you're a more forgiving man than I am. A large part of the memory my nightmares conjured was about my father. You saw how much I was affected."

That was a very personal day and Lex had shared much more than he had intended after being so shaken. He hopes that Aimery knows when to stop pushing an issue or the conversation was likely to take an unpleasant turn.

note to self: stop tagging right before bed

[goodeintentions]

Lex's nightmares. Aimery had been more focused on the pleasure of keeping Lex's mind off the nightmares than their cause, and even after that, he hadn't been in the mood to ask about it. If his father was involved... the poor dear. Not all scars were as visible as Aimery's.

"I did, so I understand the reluctance. But, so you know, I am as fine a listener as I am distraction." He laid his hand over Lex's for a moment and gave it a squeeze, his sympathetic smile intended to make it clear he was offering the former and not the latter. At least, at that particular moment. Aimery let go and grabbed his beer instead, though he didn't drink right away. "So what did you do at the Arena today, hm?"

See? He was such a good listener, Lex didn't even have to ask aloud for a subject change. He wasn't yet ready to write off Lionel as a potential friend or give up on encouraging a happy reunion between father and son, but maybe he ought to be more wary of the elder Luthor.

I will take all your tags anyway!

[patricide]

"If you're as good of a listener are you are a distraction then I think I'm in good hands." The words are casual and a bit wry, but he is thankful, as the slight smile that begins to creep on Lex's face indicates.

Lex reaches for his own drink, tapping his fingertips against the cold glass. "Letting off some steam. You're not the only one around here with a sword." Though Aimery might want to see that happy reunion, Lex knows it isn't going to happen anytime soon.

[goodeintentions]

Aimery smiled back, giving a slight eyebrow wag at the good hands comment; he appreciated the compliment because he did, in fact, have good hands.

"Oh, so you were actually swordfighting?" For some reason, Aimery had thought Lex was betting or maybe fistfighting. But swords? He should have known. It was a classy, noble way to fight. "I assume you trounced all your opponents."

[patricide]

Lex could fistfight if he wanted to. He knows how to box and he's certainly been in plenty of scrapes during his wilder days, but no. This was for sport -bloodsport maybe, but still sport.

"You're the butler, I assume you've seen my fencing equipment." He takes a sip of his drink, looking and feeling more pleased. "I unquestionably won every round. So. Why don't we make this a night of celebration rather than one of hiding?" He waves over the bartender who after payment and instruction slides across a row of six shots. Without asking if Aimery is interested, Lex passes three of the glasses along to him.

[goodeintentions]

"Owning equipment doesn't mean one uses it." There were jokes he could make about how yes, he'd seen Lex's fencing equipment, about how some unnamed party might or might not use theirs, or what constitutes winning a round, but those were crass, forward, and just as likely to be amusing as to raise their hackles in the unpleasant way. Hence Aimery's smirk and allusion to the jokes instead.

"But your prowess surely deserves celebration," okay maybe a liiittle more joking," so I suppose I can forgo hiding for a while." Unless that woman showed up. Aimery had a hearty swig of his beer while Lex ordered the shots, the number of which made his eyebrows raise and a dubious expression come to his face. That was really celebrating. He was slightly less dubious as half were slid in front of him. He sat his glass down near to them and asked, "We're not downing these all at once, are we?"

[patricide]

Lex allows himself to indulge in a genuine laugh. Aimery has proven to be quite the capable distraction once again. The issue of Lionel Luthor isn't going anyway anytime soon, but Lex has always been good with adaptation. He'll deal with this how he knows best: directly and efficiently. Until their meeting later there is nothing more he can do but rid himself of that remaining anger.

At the question Lex shakes his head. "Of course not, I wouldn't want you to spill." He quickly downs the first shot and sets the glass back onto the bar, reveling in the burning sensation at the back of his throat. He then lifts the second shot as if the first one had never existed. "To prowess." Lex couldn't allow Aimery's comments to slide without a reaction after all.

[goodeintentions]

He made a hurt, offended little noise at Lex saying he didn't want him to spill, then pursed his lips and gave him an amused that's a fine line look. Few people would get away with a joke like that when aimed at him, but he liked Lex and guessed he didn't really mean it as a dig at his inabilities. Aimery held aloft his first shot as Lex offered a toast, "To prowess, in it's many forms."

Aimery drank it down just as quick as Lex had his, then followed it with his second. He hesitated for just a second with the third shot at his lips, then it, too, joined the others in his stomach. His mouth and throat hated him for it and there was some unsubtle cringing, yet he still hadn't spilled a single drop. Sitting up straight and crossing his arms in front of his chest, he smiled proudly at Lex as if he'd just won an unofficial challenge. "Let that be a lesson to you to never doubt my ability to rapidly swallow alcohol."

He almost said shots.

[patricide]

Aimery didn't need to show off, Lex knows that he's quite capable of not spilling a drop. But the slight tease results in Aimery drinking more swiftly than necessary anyway. Lex points with his glass toward Aimery's proud posture. "Lesson learned." He downs the second glass and unlike Aimery, waits for the third and doesn't move to pick it up just yet.

Despite the current grin on Aimery's face, Lex had seen the all too noticeable cringe. He casually leans forward and rests a hand on Aimery's shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze. "But after this I'm going to be slowing down a little." It was an easy way for Aimery to save face if he wanted to stop.

[goodeintentions]

Aimery managed to hold that confident pose for a good second or two after Lex put his hand on his shoulder, then he deflated, crinkled his nose, and nodded vigorously, "I think that's a fine idea."

He turned back to the bar, slowly so as to not make it look like he was intentionally trying to dislodge Lex's hand, then quickly ordered himself a glass of water. And promptly drank a quarter of it, hoping that somehow diluting the booze before it digested would help. Then he chuckled and shook his head slightly, "On the up side, drinking so quickly means I don't have to taste it. Don't get me wrong, I'm fond of most whiskey, but I've no idea why."

[patricide]

"I imagine it's the effects rather than the taste," Lex says as he pulls his hand away, allowing his touch to linger by moving down Aimery's arm. He shrugs and when Lex takes his final shot he doesn't completely turn away from Aimery.

For his own part Lex orders a beer for himself. "So. I know you have a sword, but like you say, it doesn't mean you use it. Do you fence at all?"

no puns this yet but scarily accurate innuendo SRY FOR ALL DEM WORDS

[goodeintentions]

He nodded again —a single one, more an incline of his head really— and made a thoughtful noise regarding the whiskey. Aimery's affection was caused by more than just the effects; it reminded him of something or someone, good memories that he couldn't remember. The burn was warm and familiar and he knew he had liked it even if he didn't like the actual drink anymore.

"Not in a long while," Aimery shrugged, fidgeting idly with his water glass on the counter and again leaning in towards Lex slightly, "John, the friend I mentioned a while ago, he taught me when I was a young man. Said I was very good considering my disadvantages. I suppose it could have been flattery, I've not had much opportunity for practice since I left Warwick."

He paused, mentally double checking that he was still talking about swordplay.

"But maybe that's for the best. After all, I'm used to broadswords and bucklers, not-" he lifted one hand and made a vague fluttering gesture towards Lex, grinning, "delicate foils like yours."

[patricide]

Lex casually takes another drink as Aimery continues along this line. They may be straying further and further away from talking about actual fencing, but Lex nudges his bag that's resting on the ground with his foot all the same.

"I was practicing with a saber, actually. Much thicker and heavier than a foil." He reaches his hand out to curl around Aimery's, stopping that gesture in its tracks. He keeps his hand there, running his thumb against Aimery's skin and looking at the man's wrist as if in contemplation. He then turns his attention to Aimery's face again, locking eyes with the other man. "I think you know perfectly well that I'm anything but delicate."

[goodeintentions]

Lex already had Aimery's attention, but that look timed with the stroking of his thumb had him good and focused. Their jestful flirting and little touches didn't seem quite so strictly-friends in retrospect because that certainly wasn't, and with all the alcohol he'd just ingested, Aimery didn't even care that it was a fairly public display. He arched his hand into Lex's grip, just enough to respond, and brushed his fingertips against him in return.

"No, you're certainly not delicate," he answered warmly, trying to imply that he definitely approved in case Lex somehow didn't know already, "But we were talking about swords, weren't we? Foils don't suit you." He glanced down between them at the bag Lex had nudged, rolling the tip of his tongue piercing between his lips casually, then looked back at him, "Let me see your saber?"

[patricide]

Lex's eyes drift down to Aimery's lips, knowing full well that the man meant to draw attention to them. The tactic succeeds and Lex's mind is already filling with how Aimery can put both that tongue and those lips to use.

He releases Aimery's hand and stands up from the barstool, standing far closer to Aimery than was necessary for reaching down and retrieving his bag. He withdraws the saber and still in his standing position, offers the weapon to Aimery. With hilt down and point up the invitation is to grab the blunt blade.

[goodeintentions]

Aimery turned to face Lex properly as the other man stood up, knees spread so that he wouldn't be kneeing him in the thigh and so he'd have room to see the sword properly. When Lex stood up and held the sword like that, angled towards him, well. Their position wasn't suggestive at all, no sirree.

"Bigger than I recalled," Aimery commented, eyeing the sword. He ran two fingers up the blade slowly then rubbed his thumb in small circles over the 'point', and after a moment he hmm'd thoughtfully and slid his hand back down to feel the hilt. "I assume it's blunted so you don't penetrate your partner. That'd probably be very distracting for the crowd."

He couldn't keep a straight face or look Lex in the eye as he said that.