that new lazy swing (c)

It was an uncharacteristically lazy day for Kieran. He'd actually gotten a decent amount of sleep the night before, and woke up at a normal hour. Since he had nothing on the agenda today, like most days, he left his apartment around eleven to meander around. Sometimes it was nice just to take a relaxing walk around the island.

Before he got too far he stopped by a coffeeshop near his apartment building and ordered just a plain dark roast. It was sunny but it wasn't hot, and he needed a little pick me up right now. Even though he'd slept fine and gotten to sleep before, you know, 6 am, coffee still did wonders for his energy and mood. He didn't want to be too snappy if he ran into anyone he knew today.

And he usually did. There were a lot of people that Kieran had ended up meeting after moving to the island. It was surprising; he was imagining that he was going to become some kind of hermit or something...but this was nice. It was nice knowing people. He liked the company of others, even if he did end up spending most of his time alone.

The redhead's predictions came true as he walked down Main Street, sipping at his still-hot coffee gently. Sitting on a bench a little farther ahead in an enclave of trees was a guy he'd met a little while ago. They weren't even friends, probably, but Kieran was feeling sociable and he didn't have anything else to do, so why not?

"Hey," he called out as he got closer before approaching and sitting down on the bench next to him; not too close, but not so far away as to seem rude or standoffish. "Nice day, huh?"

@peng // idek what this is orz

Leaning back against the bench, Kieran sipped at his coffee comfortably now that it was at a more manageable temperature, and glanced over as Peng spoke. The small talk was just that — small talk, nothing of great magnitude or significance, but he didn't know Peng that well, really. They'd met a few times and had talked and apparently he was confident enough to sit down and converse with the guy, but Kieran wasn't exactly shy.

"Yeah, probably why it's so hot with tourists, huh?" he smirked. "And ex-pats like us. It's a good place to, uh, relax."

Kieran wasn't doing much relaxing, though. Relaxing days like this were actually a rarity right now. Thinking about that just made him turn too critical, though, so he ignored his brain in favor of listening to Peng again as he continued to drink from the cardboard cup in his hand.

"Oh, y'know. Living the life," he responded with a sarcastic smirk. "I don't do much besides drink and go out to the bars. I guess that's what having some expendable income does to you."

He knew his money would run out sooner or later, but that was gonna be far off. He just knew it. Nevermind the fact that a lot of his money was spent out at his trips to the bars and clubs, and that nasty little drug habit he couldn't seem to kick kind of whittled away at his savings as well.

"Really? I don't even know what you actually do, so I guess I can't be much help. Not that I would be, since I don't even have a job myself," he scoffed, even though the fact that losing his job was really his own fault.

@peng

He had been talking a bit when Peng suddenly interjected that he'd never been to a bar or that he'd never even had a drink. Kieran's eyebrows shot up, but he wasn't really judging him in any way. It was just surprising to meet someone who hadn't at least had one drink at a party or even at a family function. Even at church they offered alcohol, but then again, he didn't know the extent of Peng's religious background.

"Really?" he finally asked, smirking a little. "Sounds like something you should fix. I mean, unless you've got some reason why you don't drink..." Kieran supposed that was viable. People who were former alcoholics (which Peng obviously wasn't) or for a multitude of other reasons, some people just didn't drink. And that was okay. But life was a lot better when alcohol was involved.

"Well, if you want, we could go to one," he offered as his lips pulled into a conniving smirk. "I mean, I could show you my favorite places, since there's about a hundred bars to choose from on this island."

It was kind of ridiculous how many clubs and bars were in Nova Athenis. It wasn't that big of a place, and it was still chock full of drinking establishments. People just loved night life in this town, he supposed, but it was a pretty big tourist destination. Everyone wanted a chance to make some money off of stupid tourists. Could Kieran really judge, though? He himself could still be considered in the "stupid tourist" category.

"If you're up for it, I mean. I can stay out for a long time," he added, leaning back and drinking the last of his coffee before tossing the cup in a bin. "Years of experience."

@peng

Peng responded almost too quickly to his suggestion. Maybe the kid didn't get out much. Well, he obviously didn't, since he'd never even had a drink. Well, Kieran was more than willing to help a guy out, especially when it involved one of his favorite activities. The only problem was that it was a little bit early to go out for a drink, even if he didn't give a crap what time he drank.

"I wouldn't say I'm the most qualified," he said with a bit of a smirk. "But I do know my way around, that's for sure." He had been to a lot of the bars in town, after all.

Checking his watch, he made a little sigh. Well, they'd have to wait a while before they went out. The bars probably weren't even open yet, and if they were, they were the ones that had a restaurant and served for lunch as well as dinner.

"I'd love to take you, man, but none of the good places open till way later. How about we meet up in front of the Boarsneck Pub at around 7? That's a good, lowkey place to start." While he would usually go to one of the clubs downtown or on the south side of the island, he wasn't about to take Peng out for his first drink and have to worry about him getting something too strong or being roofied or something.

"So, whatcha say? Is it a date?" he asked sarcastically with a bit of a wink from his good eye.

@peng

"Yeah, it's—okay," he shrugged when Peng said he'd Google the address. Kieran wasn't the best at giving directions anyway and he didn't want the other to get lost or something. Even though the east was relatively safe, it was easy enough to wander into the wrong neighborhood.

The two parted ways shortly after that, and Kieran headed home to clean up a little bit. While the Boarsneck was where they were starting, it definitely wasn't where they were ending. And the better the bars got, the better looking the women were, and he couldn't show up looking like a hot mess, after all. Then again, when wasn't he a hot mess?

He got home and got lazy, though, and ended up lounging for a bit, taking a pill to pass the time. So maybe he'd be a little more excitable when 7 rolled around, but it's not like the drug would be in full effect when they hit the bars. He wouldn't be completely messed up, at least not at first.

Finally he got the motivation to get dressed, and the pill helped. Spritzing on some fresh cologne he made his way down and out of the apartment at 6:50. He'd get to the pub just in time. The sun was getting lower in the sky and cast an orange glow across the island, and it was comfortable. Stuffing his hands in his pockets he walked on, getting to the pub just on time.

"I maybe even have some time to spare," he mumbled aloud, leaning against the building and pulling a cigarette out of his pocket, perching it between his lips and lighting it. If it wasn't one vice, it was another.

@peng

When the clock read 7, Peng was still nowhere to be found. Kieran glanced around, trying to see if he was hiding anywhere, but he didn't see the man in the vicinity. So he was late. The redhead didn't mind much; it's not like they had a strict schedule to follow or anything. And besides, it gave him a little more time to enjoy his cigarette in peace.

Finally the kid (even though Kieran wasn't terribly older) walked up, and Kieran snuffed his cigarette out on the brick wall behind him. There was smoking in the bar of course, but he'd almost finished the cig he was working on and would rather start a fresh one once he was in there.

"Well, I've been waiting just as long as you've been late," he smirked. "It's no big deal. C'mon, lets go inside."

Turning he walked inside of the bar, holding the door open for Peng behind him as he walked into the dimly-lit smoky pub. There weren't too many people about, at least not yet, so it wasn't too crazy. Not really Kieran's scene, of course, but hey. Everyone had to start somewhere.

Heading to the bar counter he hopped up onto a stool and pulled out a fresh cigarette, sticking it between his lips loosely as he fished out his lighter to ignite the end. Glancing over at Peng, he took a long drag on the cigarette before pulling it away from his lips, tapping whatever ash was in a nearby glass ash tray.

"So, do you have any idea of what you like? Beer, hard liquor? They'd probably make you a mixed drink but they might laugh at you," he explained with a wink and a slight laugh.

@peng