[PUNCH CLOCK ANIMAL] ASHTRAY

[skinstealer]

 
 
Bazil backs up as Bucket looks up at Rein, their throat completely dry. 
  

BUCKET: Sir.... I'd very much prefer if I was not referred to as such. 
BUCKET: I do hope this request is within reason.
REIN: I suppose, but...it is a lovely name, my Judgment- it suits you. 
MATTHIAS: Isn't it? 
MATTHIAS: I thought the same thing when they told me. You'd never guess!

 
Bucket tries to save face on this... whatever scheme is going down. 
 

BUCKET: Admittedly, Matthias prompted to join me for dinner and some discussion of life before taking up my current mantle came up but... that is a detail I do not disclose under normal circumstances. 
BUCKET: It must have been a slight slip... I offered to pay for his plate of course and I gave him the task of picking beverages. 
BUCKET: There certainly was a kick but he assured it was just a local fizz....

  
Matthias doesn't miss a beat. 
  

MATTHIAS: And you took that fizz like a real champ, didn't you! 
MATTHIAS: Sure, you ran your mouth a bit...but it was all in good faith- why, even Chelsea here joined in! 

 

 
Bazil pales, trying not to look as blatantly nervous as he feels. 
  

MATTHIAS: Told us all about her friends back home. I didn't even know she had friends, but that Bazil sounds like a real swell guy. 
MATTHIAS: Isn't that right, Beatrice?
BUCKET: I wish I could meet him some time, he seems nice. 
BUCKET: Admittedly your enthusiasm for this worried me at first but you seemed oddly invested in knowing about us... me in particular. 
BUCKET: You certainly kept tapping me with your foot at the table and were insistent on walking me back to the motel. 
BUCKET: You even opened up my day with an interesting choice of words. 
BUCKET: Lovely demon. 

 
They tilt their head. 
 

BUCKET: I'm sure it's all in jest however, isn't it Sir? 
BUCKET: I'm certainly flattered... 

  
They feign a sheepish little smile. 
 

BUCKET: Wishing to bridge such a long existing gap over a dinner with me... I cannot help but wonder. 
BUCKET: It certainly would mean we'd have to work closely. 
BUCKET: It'd also draw quite a bit of press to our temples as well, publicity and wanting to know those involved.

Rein casts a look over at Matthias, the ruffneck shaking his head hurriedly. 
 

MATTHIAS: That's just how I talk with everybody, you know! I had to get to the top of where I am somehow- you'd be surprised at how far a little friendliness gets you even in my business. 
MATTHIAS: My interest is purely professional- after all, even if my motivations were even the slightest bit sleazy, I could never hold a candle to the two people you hold most dear.
BUCKET: If you say so, but that makes me ponder.... how does holding my hand compare to Spit? 
BUCKET: I assume you've made the attempt at very least and I cannot imagine you being any less nervous than the half melt of a dog I witnessed before heading back.... which was admittedly sweet. 

They tail wag in anticipation, really trying to sell it.
 

REIN: Hand holding. 
MATTHIAS: Cmon now, that's more than a little bit of an exaggeration for what went down-
REIN: Mm.
BUCKET: For someone who has a rather... experienced look by all your scars, I imagined they'd be rougher to touch.

 

BAZIL: I mean, I've seen how he looks at Spit. 

 
Bazil can't help himself, trying to keep his voice as close to Chelsea's as possible. 
  

BAZIL: It's pretty obvious just by looking at him- 
REIN: That's enough. 

Rein crosses its lower arms. 


 

REIN: I see the three of you are getting along...swimmingly, perhaps too much so. 
REIN: May I speak to you, my Judgment? 

 
It tilts its head towards Bazil and Matthias briefly before returning its masked gaze to Bucket. 
 

REIN: Alone.
BUCKET: ...Certainly.