Skeleton City // AU

[hatesblindjokes]

[you, sir or madam, have just been transferred across dimensions to The Hanged Maiden, which is really quite an unfortunate name for a grubby-but-popular little bar on one of the higher levels of the Skeleton City Underground. it's a work night, so the place isn't packed and rowdy so much as it is buzzing and kind of hungover.

there's a guy at the bar, near the end, who kind of sicks out. he's near seven feet tall and conscious of it, seeing as he's hunched over in the way that really tall people just seem to subconsciously manage. he's got a drink with ice in it and seems perfectly content to stare vacantly and broodily down at the counter in front of him.

part of that's because he can't actually see, but that's not immediately obvious.]

Comments

[tabbytastic]

[no matter the dimension, some things are just always the same. Like the fact that bars are full of thirsty, rusty people... and those are just the kind of people she gravitates toward. Especially when she needs to go shopping for a meal.

And a conspicuously shoulder-hunched giant at the end of the bar? Oh, well she just has to go visit that guy. He's got to be some kind of fun.

So, after making the rounds around the place--inviting herself into a couple of different conversations, at least seeming half drunk by how she's just a little louder than she needs to be when she talks--she finally wanders into the seat right next to him. Plopping down, elbows leaning on the bar]

--Hi.

[hatesblindjokes]

[oh, he's been listening. a new voice in the bar is one thing, but a new woman showing up is another thing entirely. she doesn't sound like a drug addict, a prostitute, or one of those grungy girls that the club rats always drag in, so what's her business in here?

...and then she sits down next to him.

apparently he is her business.

he doesn't look at her, doesn't turn. just frowns a little before taking a sip of whatever's in his glass (gin on the rocks, actually).]

...'lo.

[tabbytastic]

[it's almost like she doesn't quite realize that she's in a new place. Just having a good time, a little obliviously maybe. probably has been having a good time for a while before wandering into this place, with it being this far into the night and her seeming so friendly]

You looked lonely over here. You shy or somethin'?

[hatesblindjokes]

[YES HE IS SHY no he's just antisocial shut up.

at least he tilts his head up a little, looking towards the wall in front of him with that same unfocused, tired gaze.]

Just trying to drink in peace, ma'am.

[tabbytastic]

Aw, what's the fun in that?

[leaning a little, trying to get a better look at his face. maybe catch his eyes (lololol)]

[hatesblindjokes]

Fun's in stayin' out of trouble.

[he takes another sip, tilting his head more towards where he's pretty sure her face is. he doesn't seem to quite look at her, though. almost like he doesn't see her at all. fancy that.]

Speaking of. Haven't heard you around here before.

[tabbytastic]

[hmm! weird guy. ...also, the 'heard you around before' comment pings her, but she won't actually think about it for another couple minutes]

Ha, yeah I'm not from around here. So, I'm trying to make friends.

[hatesblindjokes]

[he wonders where "not from around here" is, in her case--but something about the stupid sentiment makes him smile a little.]

Well, you sure picked a colorful place to start.

[he also wonders what she looks like and whether or not she's hot. damn it, Robin, of all the times to not be around!]

You ain't from up-top, right?

[tabbytastic]

[being that she hasn't even set foot up there yet, she figures it's pretty safe to say--]

Haha, no.

[hatesblindjokes]

Yeah. [his head tilts away again, absently clinking the contents of his glass around as he does.] Didn't think so.

[tabbytastic]

[yeah she... probably should have been paying more attention to what the deal with whatever's up there was.]

Why? Were you hoping I was or something?

[hatesblindjokes]

Nah. S'not important.

[and then he takes a rather substantial drink before setting his glass down on the counter and folding his arms on the counter beneath him.]

I mean fuck, it'd probably be a lot straighter if I just asked where you're from.

[tabbytastic]

You could...

[but that would be a challenge to lie about, so... she chuckles a little]

But you haven't even asked my name yet.

[hatesblindjokes]

Oh. [well, shit. he closes his eyes and rubs at corner of the one facing away from Tabby (a fidgeting thing, really--if Robin were there he'd smack his hand away).]

What's... your name...?

[tabbytastic]

I'm Tabby.

[said cheerfully, and... holding out a hand. yep.]

[hatesblindjokes]

Tabby. [...he tilts his head down to where she's pretty sure she's holding out her hand, and it kind of dawns on him that she might actually not have picked up on the whole blind thing.]

You know I can't see, right?

[tabbytastic]

...Huh?



[...if she's this dumb, she has to be hot, right?]

[hatesblindjokes]

[maybe she really is just that dumb. he holds out his own hand, incidentally just a couple of inches from hers.]

Hi, blind as a bat. Nice to meet you.

[tabbytastic]

Whoa-- no shit?

[it's probably pretty rude to be so obviously surprised and fascinated by this, huh? and the forgetting about his offered hand.

instead, she leans in a little, like she'd be able to see the blindness on him.]

[hatesblindjokes]

Uh-huh.

[at least he's used to rude people. and people getting all weirded out by it. and people leaning in to try and look closer at him. and people waving their hands in front of his face, which he imagines will be the next step.

so he turns properly back to get with the staring-at-the-wall thing that he does and feels for where he left his drink.]

[tabbytastic]

Huh! [gonna take a little bit of liberty with her grin while it seems no one else is really watching, then] ...That why you're so shy?

[hatesblindjokes]

M'not shy, all right?

[GRUMP.]

[tabbytastic]

Crabby?

[:3]

[hatesblindjokes]

[he manages a bland, lineface sort of expression.]

Yeah, that's. Better.

[tabbytastic]

Aw, whatcha got to be crabby about?