TFLN

[lotsoflaughs]

Catch-all post for threads on TFLN interrupted by captcha.

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Made this post last time I hit a TFLN because captcha is a pain in the ass.

[lotsoflaughs]

Well, that narrows things down to a city. And the gallery narrows things down even further.

I'll be right there.

And he's there in less than five minutes, appearing with a flutter of wings, looking down at his brother with a raised eyebrow. "You know, most people don't eat in the bathroom. What made you pick the tub?"

excellent idea

[tryingitall]

Balthazar doesn't bother responding by text, in that case, but he does conscientiously set the scotch bottle upright and tuck the glass out of the way in the soap dish. See, Gabe, he tidied up for you!

"I believe I thought I might take a bath, but then I wanted sweets and forgot about the water." He gives him a beatific smile, lounging and completely unselfconscious regarding both his nudity and the fact that he's utterly smashed.

His pupils are dilated, in fact, which bears out the possibility he's under the influence of more than mere alcohol.

[lotsoflaughs]

"If you're going to eat while soaking in hot water, I recommend you go with a box of chocolates to snack on at random while you read or whatever," Gabriel advises.

His eyes narrow, noticing Balthazar's eyes and he steps forwards before crouching and taking a firm grip of his brother's chin so he could take a closer look. "Yeah, you're definitely on something."

[tryingitall]

"I like dark chocolate; milk is too sweet. Oh, but I saw chocolate shot glasses the other day and thought of you."

He blinks at the grip on his chin, surprised to find Gabriel so close. He smiles, though, sunnily. "I'm often on something, but all I did tonight was drink and dance."

And eat cheesecake. Gabriel may want to take a close look at the dessert on the shelf there before digging in.

[lotsoflaughs]

In a bit. He's a bit more fixed on the 'drink' part since that's usually how people get roofied. "I find this crap still being in your system a tad worrying. How long ago were you drinking and did you ever let your glass out of your sight?"

[tryingitall]

"Oh?" Little brother is so mellow right now. It takes him a moment to consider. "I probably did set it down a few times. But I've been home since about midnight."

It's after three AM now, so that says something. "I was only joking about roofies, though. Surely the dose it would take to affect me would just kill a human. That would be counterproductive."

"...unless I've got a hunter on my tail." He sobers a little, trying to think this through.

[lotsoflaughs]

Gabriel keeps his groan internal. "Here's a bit of clubbing 101. Never let your damn drink out of your sight and if you do, get a new one instead of risking the old. Not that we usually have to worry about this shit. You do anything lately that would make one take note of you as something that needs taking care of?"

A polite way of saying 'killed'.

[tryingitall]

"Ohh...I know that, Gabriel. I really do. It's just it wouldn't normally matter if someone did toss something in, you know? Adds a little flavor."

He falls to thinking again, picking up his empty glass. "Well, I haven't killed or physically harmed anyone. You know that's not my style. Stole a few things, though."

[lotsoflaughs]

"Says the guy out of it enough to forget the water for his bath," Gabriel says with a shake of his head. "Of course you did. Was anyone in a position to notice your sticky fingers?"

Speaking of, he eyes the cheesecake. Maybe he should take a piece before the offer expires.

[tryingitall]

"Sticky fingers?" He laughs, almost giggles, because it strikes him as hilarious how that phrase applies metaphorically to theft and literally since he's been eating cheesecake.

"I don't know. I thought I covered my tracks well enough. But hunters have a way of defying expectations sometimes." He points at the dessert. "Still some left!"

Sugar, cherries, and drugs, yum! In point of fact, Balthazar has been mistaken for a pagan deity by a painfully inexperienced witch, and the cherry topping is spiked with amaranth and moly and a choice spell or two. A subtle flavor, but enough kick to knock him flat on his back.

[lotsoflaughs]

"You're telling me. I've been playing with them a lot longer than you have. Getting stabbed with stakes when I screw up sucks." Granted, it's not like they can do anything permanent to him, but it still hurts.

Gabriel looks at the cheesecake and goes still when he finally registers that there was something wrong with it. He breaks off a small piece to try and confirms his impression.

"Where did you get this?" He sounds casual about the question; as if he wasn't thinking about killing the source.

[tryingitall]

"I hate to think of that." He sobers a little. "You getting staked, I mean. It must hurt."

Balthazar doesn't do puppy eyes very often, but he's making the attempt now. "Umn? There was a Farmer's Market I went to yesterday. The same girl was selling the cheesecake and the cherry topping in jars."

[lotsoflaughs]

"Of course it does. Getting stabbed usually does. And they tend to leave splinters behind for me to get rid of later."

He raises an eyebrow at his brother. "What's the puppy look for?"

[tryingitall]

"Splinters are horrible." He grimaces and reaches out lethargically to tug at the hem of Gabriel's shirt. It's meant to be a sympathetic gesture, but he's so uncoordinated he may not even connect.

"Be..cause I hate the thought of you getting stabbed?"

[lotsoflaughs]

Yeah, he misses by several inches. Gabriel's eyebrow goes back down. "Enh. Gives me a chance to curse my own stupidity. And fake my death for that particular hunter. Or hunters. Do you happen to remember what the chick you got this from looks like or catch her name?"

[tryingitall]

"Ohh...she wasn't your type." He grins, playful, and rests his chin on the edge of the tub. "One of those hippie-goth hybrids you see at craft markets all the time. I have her card in my trousers pocket. Left one."

He gestures loosely at the pile of clothes on the floor. "Sherry or Cherry or something, if I remember right."

If Gabriel gets the card out, he'll find the name is actually Shani. Shani Robbins, with an email address and a cell number attached. Close enough, though, right?

[lotsoflaughs]

Gabriel could sort of see how Balthazar got those names in his current state of loopiness.

"How would you know what my type is? You've never seen me hit on anyone," Gabriel asks absently as he looks at the card, memorizing what it said.

"I'm going to be paying her a visit. Think you can manage to not drown in the air your tub is filled with?" he asks, giving his little brother an ornery grin.

[tryingitall]

"I thought you were hitting on me once or twice." He sighs and makes a rueful face. "And I've heard rumors."

"I can refrain from drowning in the air. Are you saying she drugged me? What the hell for?"

[lotsoflaughs]

"Don't know yet. I haven't had the chance to ask." Said asking will probably be accompanied by his hand around her throat and holding her off the ground. Assuming she's short enough for him to do that with.

"I'm sure it goes without saying, but stop eating the cheesecake. I'll be back to deal with it later." And he's gone for at least the next fifteen or twenty minutes, which should give Balthazar some time to pull himself back together.

perfect icon

[tryingitall]

"I'll...oh. All right." Balthazar looks vaguely disappointed. "Try not to kill her, will you? It's good cheesecake."

Maybe he's too forgiving, but a good dessert seems to be worth being drugged stupid, to him.

As it turns out, the young witch is more hapless than vicious, and plenty small enough to be held off the ground. It should be simple enough to resolve things to Gabriel's satisfaction. When the archangel returns, he'll find Balthazar sprawled in bed, rather than in the bathtub, although he's still just as naked. He's got a glass of water though, that has to be a good sign.

[lotsoflaughs]

Little brother needs to work on his priorities. Gabriel's eventually back, disposing of the cheesecake and arrowing in on his brother's room, following the feel of Grace.

"She's an idiot that had no idea what you actually were. She's well aware now. Along with me being an archangel," he says, sitting on the edge of the bed. She almost fainted when she found out just what she pissed off. "She's learned her lesson and won't be doing that again. Any of that crap get out of your system yet?"

[tryingitall]

Enjoyment is always his number one priority.

"Mmm. I was able to walk in here. That's an improvement." He rolls over and sits up. "What did she use? I'm impressed. I haven't been this foggy since the first time I tried opium."

He's a little sad the treats went away, but he knows better than to argue with Gabriel.

[lotsoflaughs]

"Besides magic? A couple other things." He's not going to get too specific.

"Anyway, good to know that you didn't have to inchworm your way in. Although that could be amusing to watch." Time to redirect Balthazar's attention, he thinks.

[tryingitall]

"I could have flown. I don't know, is it a bad idea to fly drunk?" Since Gabriel's sitting so conveniently close, he leans in and rests his chin on the archangel's shoulder.

Personal space? What's that?

[lotsoflaughs]

Gabriel winces faintly as he pictures how badly that could have gone. "I'm now imagining you managing to embed yourself in the wall. Just as well you didn't."

One of his hands goes up to absently ruffle little brother's hair. If Balthazar's going to invade personal space, there shall be (minor) consequences.