There was not a lot of noise in the bar. Most of the noise was coming from outside. It was raining like hell set loose. The thunder and driving wind could be heard just as clearly inside as out, but it was warmer in the pub, especially with the help of a few drinks. There were others in there, but Toby seemed to be the only one seated at the counter. Summer was like this, with sudden tumultuous storms out of nowhere sometimes. He had been headed back to his appartment when it hit. The rain usually pleases him, normally he would walk straight through the rain just to get soaked to the bone, especially in warm summer showers. But this was too much of a downpour, and Toby wasn't in the mood tonight. He was feeling rather...dark, for no reason at all. He went into the pub to get out of the rain, deciding to stay for several drinks. What the hell, he had mused. Now he was sitting there, a 27-year-old man in an old leather jacket, nothing fancy, a tshirt and jeans. He's easy on the eyes, muscular, with shaggy brownish hair. And he's sitting half in a daze at the counter of a pub, not really drunk, not sober, not pensive, not thoughtless. A little damp, but otherwise just...there.

Remus came running in, soaked to the bone, but at least maybe he could warm up. Running in, he found that people looked at him oddly. Sure he was a familiar face to the media, but it wasn't like that kind of stare. It was like the "Don't sit here" kind of looks and he trudged his soaked body and plopped down beside this other soaked man.

Every once in awhile, he'd look through wet, sandy bangs, flickering his green eyes almost nervously to the man's disturbing countenance. Hesitantly, he reached out an arm, red fabric clinging to it, his fingers softly pressing on the leather jacket.

"Excuse me, sir, are you alright?"

Dan was very much tired and annoyed. He had spent the last 18 hours travelling from one side of the world to this side. After finally finding his hotel that had been struck by lighting he wasn’t all to jolly. It took one hour of walking to fin the nearest place to get drunk, very drunk. Dan stumbled in soaked and trudged up towards the bar. He clumsily slumped himself on top of the bar. His jeans were wet and now very heavy his shirt and jacket were wet and also stupidly heavy. Dan felt like he was carrying the Atlantic Ocean on his back. He was in one of those moods when he couldn’t care less about what other people thought about him right now so he started his quest to drink himself blind.
“Beer, now, please” Dan managed to mumble.

Oh, gee. There's was another person on his side that seemed determined to drink themselves. Warily, he looked between the two, leaned back so that he could sort of see both. "Excuse me, you two, your situations look sort of similiar. If you want to talk-.." Remus trailed off to end with a meak squeak, mentally yelling at himself. Why was he helping two soaked and depressed men?

(Sorry I posted ahead of you, Reality~! I wanted to tie in Dan since he joined~)

Toby turned his head to look at the man next to him, his eyes hardly moving independently of his head. It was something he did subconciously that sometimes weirded out those who noticed it. It was a very subtle oddity. He had nodded without looking up when inquired about his health. Toby felt so...out of it. It was probably the ale, but he wasn't really drunk yet. He wanted to say something to the man beside him, but he was shy on top of being depressed. He smiled vaguely and turned his head back down to staring at the counter. The semblance of the markings of a king cobra's hood that were "tattoed" on his neck gave another twinge; it had been bothering him lately because it was happening more often and he didn't know why. Inwardly he hoped he hadn't come off as a mean person, although he was feeling a tad awry. He had nothing to say, but he wanted to talk.

[No worries Ran, it's all good. And btw, welcome Dan!]

Having noticed the other two people next to him Dan decided to try and be sociable even if he was quite depressed at the moment. Dan gave out a sigh then turned his head looking at them both. “Want a drink? I’ll pay, so long as my money is not too wet”. Dan fished his wallet out of his sodden pockets and got a note out. He then looked expectantly at them both for an answer.

(Sorry for posting, but I had nowhere else to start really =P)

XD Nah, it's okay~ I was waiting for you to~)

Remus was slightly taken aback by the offer. "I wouldn't want to impose on you, Sir." He flicked his field of vision from one man to the other. The man that offered drinks to the left seemed alright, but the man on the right seemed a little.. Not well?

He slipped his hand on Toby's elbow in a similiar fashion when he asked if he wanted to talk just to leave the question open. "Thank-you for your offer for the drinks though. Though-" Remus leaned forward looking at the bar. "It seemed you two are in a similiar boat so he might." He smiled a little to the quiet man beside him, trying his best to draw him out.

Seems he silently dealt with one and verbally the other.

"So, Sir, had a bad day?"

Dan got a drink for himself and the quiet man who looked ill. After having a rather large gulp from his glass Dan turned to the man who was talking to him then gave a weary smile. “It’s been a long day, I’ve only just got here. Are you from here?” Dan quickly took another gulp from his drink then wiped his mouth with his sleeve, Dan gave a quick glance the man who looked like he was having a worse day than him then went back to his drink.

Toby leaned back a little in surprise as the free drink was pushed in front of him. "Thanks," he said, but it was so soft he doubted the man two seats away from him had heard. He drew the liquor to him and took a drink. This was his third...? Ah, who knew. He wasn't counting, and he didn't care. He hadn't been there too long yet.

There was a bit of an inner battle going on inside him. He wanted so much to talk, to be normal, to socialize a little more, at least. He was afraid, lately, of how much the truth of his self was protruding. If he spoke, he might snap at someone for hardly any reason. He rubbed at his neck, where his 'tattoo' was still twinging. Through his shabby hair, which was falling into his eyes, he watched and listened to the others. They seemed like decent men. He wondered if they thought the same of him; depression sometimes foggs the judgement of an individual.

[sorry that was so late, a bunch of things came up all at once. ack. o_O]

Remus nodded to the question. "Yes, I do. I live in the apartment complex not too, too far from here, but far enough that I don't want to walk in the rain and risk a cold." Remus didn't care if he was sick, but it was the stuffy nose that he -really- hated. The blonde hair boy threw a smile to the silent man before looking back to the other one. "Do you have a place around here too? Or perhaps do you?" And that was directed towards the silent man in a friendly tone.

Surprisingly, Toby nodded, almost as if he'd been actively involved in the conversation the whole time. "I have an appartment not too far from here also. Shadewillow Rise, you know the place? No shade or willows within miles of it. Ten times less glamorous of a place than they make you think." He took a long draught from his mug. I just told two strangers where I live... he thought, knowing he should be more careful but looking upon the fact at the moment without a care in the world. Let them come and find you if they really wish it... He chuckled in his mind to himself.

[I've been waiting for Dan to post, and I've been busy, but apparently he has been too. That's why it took me so long to reply.]

I 'pose Dan can post again when he gets on~))

The blonde was surprised at this sudden talk, but still was elated for the words. Maybe the man isn't so depressed after all? Remus lifted his arm and rested his chin on his hand, grinning a little. "You're not going to make your home sound grand and wonderful?" He seemed to digest this information, chuckling into the palm of his hand. "The cold, hard truth."

Toby chuckled softly, his head lowering again. He had snapped out of his silence so suddenly, and now it almost seemed as if he'd go back. But he did not. Instead, his voice was so low it was almost inaudible.

"The cold, hard truth," he paused, smiling grimly, "That seems to be all my life is about sometimes."

He wasn't smiling anymore. Just staring at the counter with those still eyes of his.

Remus' grin and chuckle fell flat and did a belly flop. The way his face blanked it, it worried Remus some. Oddly reminded him of a rape victim staring off blankly at some point to forget. He wasn't raped, was he?

Take it to Remus to overexaggerate.

Anyways, he continued to wash his eyes over to check for any indications for things being wrong, fidgeting nervously in his seat. "Are you okay?"

Toby finished off his drink. It was starting to get to him, he could feel it. He could say something he shouldn't, make a stupid mistake because of it. He was silent for a long time. There was his 'tattoo' on his neck, twinging again.

"Yeah I'm all right." There was another long pause, including getting his drink refilled and taking another draught. Finally he spoke again, this time actually looking solidly at the man next to him. Drink made him bolder; Toby was usually such a shy man. He smiled a little, another grim, sarcastic smile, mocking his own luck. "It's because of a girl. It's always a girl, isn't it? And all just because I'm different."

Biting his lip nervously, the blonde man cautiously laid his hand on the man's shoulder, rubbing in a gentle way he thought may be soothing. He might have been better as a girl, portraying the part of mother hen. For now, Toby would have to do as Remus being father rooster.

"Anything you want to talk about to make you feel better?"

Toby laughed. This was a good man, and he liked him. But things were not going well today. The ale was making him feel slightly better, at least. This man, too, was welcome.

"There's nothing to talk about, nor nothing I can do. She's dead, and I'm responsible. I found out today that they never found the antidote in time."

Damn it! he thought, Why did I have to mention the antidote? That doesn't leave too much to the imagination other than poison, now does it? Shut up, Toby, you'll say too much! You already have! He turned away, pushed a fist to his forehead. His drying hair fell forward over his hand.

Well, Actually, Remus hadn't thought poison- in a way that Toby thought he would. He was thinking a natural kind of sickness that neede a care, such as how cancer would need treatments- and the treatments were its' antidote.

Slowly, he wrapped his arms around the man that was falling almost into a stupor, one hand working gently at the one against Toby's forehead, afraid in a way that he'd try to rip out the half-dry locks of hair. "I don't mean to sound uncaring by saying this well-used set of words, but she is in a better place."

"It was because of me!" Toby knew he should stop talking but he could not. "She never should have died! I gave the kiss of death!" At that he started laughing uninhibitedly, breaking into sobs at the same time. It was unlike him to make a rucus, but there were now more than a few heads turned towards their seats.

Remus mustered up as much of a glare as he could at the people staring, cradling the man carefully in his arms, guiding Toby's face towards his shoulder to cry on and hide the tears if they did not want to be seen. "It's okay. What's done is done and it can't be taken back.." Sure, Remus didn't know what happened, but he wanted him to feel better whoever this man and his tale was.

Toby only got so emotional when he was drunk. He had never felt so badly in his life. It wasn't that she was dead, it was that he did it, that she was the first of his non-enemies to die. Worse, she was not only a non-enemy, she was the world to him. He cried into the man's shoulder for a few minutes, then straightened.

"I'll be all right," he said, his voice lower than usual. He pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes closed for a moment, then pulled his hand over his face. His hand curled to a loose fist and he rested his chin and part of his mouth on it, staring at his nearly empty tankard.

Remus tried to soothe him and when he pulled away and suddenly had the pieces together, that left the blonde confused. Can people be fine just all off the sudden? He looked at him, going about this like a newborn colt on its' new legs. "Are you sure you're okay? You seemed.. not well just a few minutes ago."

Toby waved his hand. "No really," he said, "I couldn't help it, I didn't know. I'm used to it, I've been different all my life. I should have seen it coming, but I didn't. There's nothing I can do about it now." He sniffed and changed the subject, determined not to let himself go like that again.

"So, what about you? I know next to nothing about this good man next to me. Speak up, why don't you?" He felt better, but it was difficult for him still, of course. He asked all of this without looking up at the stranger, his shyness taking over a little once more.

Remus nodded slowly, unsurely, "If you say so."

Now that the spot light was switched on him, the blonde twiddled his thumbs, pausing for a good many silences before he answered. "Well, I'm in college. I'm a math major, minoring in Hebrew Judiasm. And I-" He paused, looking over at the man, just to make sure he wouldn't run off or clam up on this one. For some reasons, some people do. "I'm a model too, to pay for my tuition." It was a simple thing, so he shouldn't.

Toby's eyebrows raised a bit at the last statement, but still didn't look up from the counter.

"A model, huh? Don't meet one of those every day," he replied. He rather respected him for it. "That's a good way to pay for tuition, for those who can. You're lucky." He finished his drink. He could feel the effects in his head and veins. It was making him calmer, making his troubles fade a little. It was easier for him to talk now that his muscles were more slack.

"Don't think I'd ever be able to do that. More power to you. You're not one of those nude models or anything, are you?" Toby wasn't usually so raw, it was the drink that was making him say things he normally wouldn't.

Right beside him, Remus could be heard choking a little on nothing. "No! Never!! It's one thing to pay for college and another to be a porn star." He shook his head, nearly so much that it'd spin off his neck. "You really think I'd do that?" He was sounding incredulous.

Toby chuckled. He leaned back a little, lifted a hand in gesture for the man to calm down.

"No, no, of course not. I was joshing you, calm down. Learn to take a little joke, sorry if I offended. I have a bad sense of humor, you'll have to forgive me."

[yeah sorry this post sucks. I'm totally dry at the moment.]

Remus shrunk as far down as he could in his seat, as red as a cherry. "A joke?" He looked like he was near tears, but probably because of just finding out it was a joke. The blonde boy was strangely delicate at things that really shouldn't matter. Though, this is definitely not anything serious to really fret over.

Toby sat up a little. He was feeling much better.

"I'm sorry, man. I didn't mean it. Please have a drink and forget about it. I was just kidding after all. I wouldn't think that about a nice guy like you, it was only a little humor."

Well, Remus sat up straighter, punching him lightly on the arm. "No drinks for me- If I drank, I'd make a fool out of myself." He grinned and looked up at the ceiling. "I forgive you- even though that was a-"

He stopped mid sentence, grinning. "Are YOU a porn star?"

"Damn, you caught me, you little bastard! And to think, I was doing such a good job all this time to keep my identity under cover," he laughed, his mood much better with the man's company and the aid of beer. He took another drink and glanced over at the man next to him to make sure he caught his sarcasm. "I'm just kidding. Of course I'm not, no more than you are. I like you, kid. How old did you say you were again?" The liquor was making shy little Toby much more sociable.

As soon as Toby agreed sarcastically, Remus made a little choking noise. It's a good thing he said he wasn't serious since he blinked at him owlishly. "I believed you!"

Getting over that episode, he flashed a grin noticing his name being forgotten, but hey, least he was liked. He'd rather be liked than beaten by him. "I'm nineteen. How old are you by the way?"

Toby laughed at his companion's gullibility. He was such an interesting person. Very sensitive. Just the kind of person to lift his spirits.

"I'm twenty-seven. Nice to meet you," he didn't even realize he was long past the introductions. But at least he didn't feel like killing someone any more...

"Nice to meet you too." He grinned, reaching over to poke Toby on the arm. "Glad to know that you're not some kind of porn star." He paused, to think over his words though when they seemed not right. "Well, nothing wrong with being a porn star, but I'd still be very surprised."

"I would be too," Toby smiled coyly, "Finding out I was a porn star would throw me for a little bit of a loop. Just kidding." He slapped the counter. He was a happy drunk, thank goodness.

"Bugger." Remus whapped him lightly on the arm. "I guess it would be a surprise for you to find out. You've been hiding it from yourself all this time! What kind do you do?" He grinned, eyes twinkling with amusement.

Toby cursed, laughing. "You're good! Let's not go there, though," he chuckled some more, shaking his head. He glanced out the window of the tavern. It was still raining heavily although it looked to be lighter than it was when they came in. "What is with the rain? It's so cold, I can't stand it. I get cold so easily."

"I think it's because summer is over and fall's coming towards an end that it's so cold." He shrugged, grinning. "But that's just logic talking there. It might be a totally different thing." Aside from that jest. "You get cold easily? I guess I don't, but I always like to be hot. My electric bill's always high."

Toby flicked a sideways glance at him, nodding.

"I've always been that way. The cold is horrible for me. I get cold, and I lose all my energy, like I'm in slow motion. I'm cold-blooded." Although it may have seemed like an exaggeration, Toby's statement was remarkably literal.

Remus took it as a more metaphorical way. He patted Toby's arm with sympathy. "I guess that sucks that you get cold a lot. I hope this winter will be nice and you don't cold as badly then."