sixthiterationlogs | [ MINGLE ] FORGE AFTER HOURS

WHO: Tony Stark
WHERE: South Village Forge
WHEN: January 8th
OPEN TO: Smitherns (Thor, Brigitte, Annie Cresta, Siefer), Plus Ones, Passers by, and Friends! Anyone, really, come on down.
WARNINGS: Language, discussion of canon typical violence probably, drinking?

THE HEARTH

With the bulk of the work and chores done for the day, the heart's banked down to a tolerable level rather than steel meltingly hot, positively cozy. Tables are cleared of metal filings and shavings, the floor is swept, extra chairs and seating or overturned crates serve as places to kick back and enjoy the warmth. A large kettle of tea is kept brewing all night, another of coffee, and a jug of cool water for those thirsty with no real requirement RE flavor. There's a rack for coats and scarves when people don't need to be quite so bundled up, and space cleared enough for milling about, tossing ideas back and forth, or simply relaxing. Arguments happen at The Debate Wall, not by the fire.

THE FOOD

It's an eclectic spread- a pot of stew, some crusty bread, frittatas, a few large, simple cheese pizzas, bottles of wine, and whatever other food the Smitherns or their Plus Ones chose to bring. It's a bit of a potluck, food spread out on one table for perusal, plates waiting and a bin for dirty dishes. Tony will scrub up at the end of the night. By the fire there's a waffle iron and as many toppings as they could find for waffles- jams, zalpaca butter, dried fruit, preserved peaches. Serve yourself or sit and sample!

THE CHILL OUT CORNER

For the more introspective or anyone taking a break from The Debate Wall, there's a comfortable chair tucked in the far corner where the light isn't as bright, the sound not quite so loud- and in this chair sits a young Peacat, a smaller pot for tea, and a few books. Elton's a friendly sort and will chirrup to lean for pets or simply sit on a lap and purr, offering calming, quiet company.

THE DEBATE WALL

Scrubbed clean for the night, the wall opposite Tony's Scrawled projects, equations, rules and definitions- currently marked only with a few notes RE proper charcoal use 'It's for the wall, not your hands, not anyone's clothes', the large space cleared for marking out or drawing out- well. Games, hangman, tic-tac-toe, sketches, or debate points. The only other rule listed is 'If you're going to pick a hill to die on, cite your references'.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Good, so whenever you dream of hurting him or get in your head about that, just remind yourself. He is safe with you." Rinoa worried for a moment that her powers might kick in if she got a little too empathic, so him putting his arms around himself was helpful. She hadn't learned how to control them and had a feeling until she did, she wouldn't be able to trust it. Even if they were relatively harmless compared to the others.

"So," she said, crossing her own arms. "Are we out of the denial stage now?" As if she wasn't going to comment on that.

Yeah, it's a good thing he doesn't need a knight or anything, because Nida would definitely offer himself over as one. But that gets him to run his fingers through his hair because damn this whole conversation has him on edge.

Still, the new nightmares aren't helping anything.

"He's safe with m... Wait, what?" Conversation took a twist there, and Nida frowns at Rinoa.

Rinoa just smiles right back at him. "You know what. Are you really going to make me say it again?" She rolls her eyes. Boys. "Am I going to have to shout Nida has a crush out loud?" Of course she never would, in fact she's lowered her voice to deliberately quiet personal tones.

Well, there is no denying that his face goes red at the words. No. No, he cannot have this conversation with Rinoa. She's... wily? No, that's not right. She's like Selphie. She meddles 'for your own good.' Except she doesn't get it. Billy doesn't want any relationship, he's out of the game, and Nida respects that, even though he has realized just what this tightness in his chest whenever he sees Billy is.

"You wouldn't," Nida grumbles at her. "And I can't believe you're staring on this again."

Not a denial. Not a confirmation. Just a neat sidestepping of the suggestion. If he instead belabors her silly fixation on it, he can probably avoid the question itself, right?

She points at his face and wiggles her fingers. "Blushing! You are ridiculous." It's actually adorable to see Nida flustered like that, and she'd feel bad for teasing, but they're friends so teasing is what she's doing. "You remind me of Squall so much right now. He also was very stubborn and in denial." Rinoa manages to say this without feeling like someone stabbed her in the heart, so hey, progress.

"You can't stop feeling things. You're just going to frustrate yourself."

He's not in denial. He cares for Billy, deeply, and he knows it. Hyne it's just the worst thing that could be happening in his life right now. Could easily mess up his first real friendship because he can't help but be drawn to Billy.

"When you say that, you assume that I have feelings for him. Cute. Besides, I'm getting plenty of sex. Bull leaves me plenty satisfied and I have the rope marks to prove it some nights."

Maybe that will get her to stop.

Rinoa just shakes her head and snorts. "Really, Nida. That's an amateur move."

"I know you have feelings for him, and you can say whatever gross things you want about someone you're having emotionless sex with, but I see right through you." Like she saw right through Squall and right through Seifer. Who knows, maybe it was a latent sorceress ability. Or a mark of an observant young woman who really got tired of the boys around her. A mix.

Dammit, why can't she just...

"He's not interested in a relationship with anyone. He said so himself," he says after a moment, irritated. So see, his feelings in this don't matter. "And because you get something in your head, no, I didn't 'make a move.' We were joking around about something and I said I hoped he still had space for me when he found a guy and he just said that."

Not exactly the full truth of it, and it was the hearing that which had really made it sink in for Nida. How he felt. How disappointed he had been.

Rinoa can see that it disappointed him, and that he's sad about it, which probably is why he was in such a mood today. "Nida, he just got here. It's been like two months. He's adjusting to life here and making friends. He probably meant he's not interested in that right now, not forever." She runs her fingers through her hair. "Not everyone is comfortable jumping into romantic or sexual things right away. He might need some time, that's all, and I'm pretty sure he's someone worth waiting for."

She tilts her head at him. "He likes you. But you're going to have to be patient with this one. And don't tell him you're hooking up with other guys, he'll think that's all you care about."

"No, it's something else."

Someone else. Teddy. All that happened with him. All of Billy's power and his fear of what that means. Somehow those tie together. If there is one thing he knows, it's how to put things together. It's not the here, it's not the now, it's not this place. It's Teddy and whatever happened between them.

And yeah, he would be someone worth waiting for, but the thing is? Nida doesn't buy it, that Billy likes him like that.

"He's not stupid, Rin. I don't doubt he's figured that part out. And it doesn't matter, because he isn't interested. And you're wrong about him liking me. We're friends and just that."

Besides, he's a SeeD. They're not really future thinkers. They're about the right now. And right now? He can't do this. He can't just talk to her about this.

"I... I need to go," he says as he backs away a step. He's already resolved to grab what he can get with both hands, can't you be happy enough with that?

Rinoa wants to stop him, try to soothe whatever's going on with him, but she knows when she's been a little too pushy so she doesn't. She knows she's right, but he doesn't know it, and she can't force him to. He needs to get there on his own. "Okay, Nida. I'll back off." It's the most she can offer right now. Right then she misses Squall so much she can barely breathe, her heart hurting, but she pushes it down.

"Good night, Rin. And... thanks for your concern," he says, voice soft before he turns to walk off. She needs to know he doesn't hold it against her.

[ MINGLE ] FORGE AFTER HOURS

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