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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jul 27, 2009 2:52:17 GMT -5
Oooh, so her flat-out honesty had been successful in irritating the man even more! That made the feline mix's little tail twitch, her eyes bright and amused. This one was excellent. She'd have to look him up again, when he finally got irritated to the point of stomping off (which it did seem as if he'd do, given the opportunity). Her ears panned forward, her amusement only growing with every new sign of irritation put on display by the avian. His outright insults were new, and exciting, and probably had the opposite of the intended effect in terms of the woman's mood.
As he got angrier, she just kept getting more and more cheerful, shuffling in her seat to get a little more comfortable.
"Corvistowne, actually, so you're not all that far off,[/b]" the woman said with a nod, sounding as cool as ever. She slipped her front talons around the mug of drink and took a long sip, careful not to let the liquid spill out of the corners of her beak. She set it down again, head inclined to the side, considering the new piece of information he'd given her. "Colin? Hrm. Good name. Traditional."
This one could be interesting. Zenon waited, curious as to whether or not the cardinal would react to the compliment or to the thinly-masked jab first. That would tell her more about the man than anything else in this conversation.
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Post by Lucca on Jul 27, 2009 19:30:56 GMT -5
Colin kept his fiery glare on the woman in front of him, one of his wings finding its way onto the bar and tapping irritably, but soundlessly thanks to the feathers. Maybe he should order a drink. Or more than one. If he spent any longer with this buffoon he'd certainly need it, and he might as well since he had to be sitting here. Or did he? He could just leave...but then, that would probably just make this stupid muckraker continue on to annoy some other hapless patron. Not that any of the rest of them were really worth Colin's sympathy. Why was he even HERE?
Gah, he really did need that drink. He snorted slightly at her comment about Corvistowne. At least she proved she had some wit beyond just annoying everyone. He inclined his head with a slight, dark smirk, giving that one to her. Corvistowne was a rather dumpy place. He eyed her warily, though, when she spoke of his name. But no, he was through of being at her level.
"Thank you," he said coldly, taking the comment at face value and signalling the bartender. This woman had not seen all of him yet! She had gotten on his bad side, and now he was going to make her pay. Even if he had to play childish games to prove his point.
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Dec 20, 2009 1:35:31 GMT -5
This was fascinating. It seemed that this subject was going to be irritable no matter what she did - she could probably tell him that the Highland Church had nominated her for Sainthood and he'd still find a way to be annoyed with her! She'd met those that recovered from anger easily, those that simply refused to play her game, but none that reacted quite as delightfully as the Cardinal seemed to do. She clicked her talons cheerfully against the top of the bar, well aware of the loud clacking noise that would result. It was time to take this discussion in a whole new direction!
She shuffled again, wishing that she'd thought to bring a notepad of some kind to record the man's reactions. It was hard for her to really gauge the physical ones - feathers hid the glow of high blood pressure way too easily, but it had been an age since she'd been able to test a human.
Ah, well, the woman would take what she could get.
And if what she could get was a snappy response following a smile that was rather shadowed, well, then Zenon was happy as happy could be! She clacked her claws lightly against the wood again, her expression shifting to a thoughtful one for a moment. She was certain that her extended silence would be having at least some effect on poor Colin's patience, and she wondered how long she could test this one. She waited until he'd waved the bartender over, just staring at him, before speaking once more.
"Do you mind if I ask you some questions, Lin? Do you mind if I call you that?[/b]" This was added quickly, almost an afterthought, and her smile broadened. "Lin, that is. "Col" just has a strange ring to it, I'm not entirely sure if I like it. Lin sounds much nicer, don't you agree? I love nicknames.[/b]" Her talons folded in front of her, her grin only continuing to grow as she indulged her desire to poke and prod.
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Post by Lucca on Dec 20, 2009 12:17:29 GMT -5
Colin's eyes tracked the motion of her claws as they tapped on the counter again, making a noise that wasn't quite as irritating as her previous one, but still grated, especially when combined with her sudden silence. Part of him was relieved at the silence, because at least she wasn't saying anything else rude and ignorant, but another, larger part that was already set on edge was just -waiting- for her to open that beak again, tensed for what would come out...and that was when Colin came to the realization that part of him...part of him almost relished this, as angry as he was...relished the chance to find someone he could direct his pent up rage at, someone who he could play those sorts of word games with that he knew, without a doubt, he was better than at the end of the day, no matter what he may say in his anger.
As long as he kept a degree of control over the situation, he would win. He knew her little game now. He almost hated himself for feeling this way, hated that he wanted her to talk more, and most of all hated her, with a ferocity that was startling. She was barbaric, rude, obnoxious...and loved being that way. He only stared back for a moment before looking away, not because he was intimidated, but because staring was rude and he was done being at her level.
"Could I please get a gin and tonic?" he asked the bartender, trying to ignore Zenon for a moment. As soon as the bartender walked off, though, he turned to her, and at her words, he couldn't quite help the way his crest rose up fully and his tail feathers fanned out, feeling it grate on his already frazzled nerves that she had the indignity to give him a -nickname-. He wondered how she'd like being called 'Non', and then remembered he was through with being on her level.
"Actually, I'd prefer it if you referred to me by my given name," he said as calmly as possible. "It's only two syllables, so I'm sure you can manage it just fine, being a doctor." Okay, so he wasn't entirely above insults...but still, he felt he was handling the situation fairly well. "Feel free to ask me anything, though I can't promise I'll give an answer." He gestured with a wing, waving her along to the questions...and not noticing he nearly hit the bartender's arm with his feathers. Yes, he was fairly clumsy, and he could only hope Zenon didn't notice this...it would only give her more ammo to mock him.
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jan 18, 2010 15:33:27 GMT -5
Gin and tonic, hm? Another note in the mental pad, another curious factoid about this bird that she'd want to remember for a later date. Alcohol was a notorious mood-altering substance, though it seemed as it the population as a whole didn't see it as such. The question would be how it would change this man's mood - would it make him more cheerful, more affectionate? She certainly hoped not. She hoped that she'd see some anger, some wrath! That would make her afternoon just that much more interesting. If she got hurt in the process...
Well, she was a doctor. She could fix herself up, she was confident.
"That would be true, if the purpose of a nickname was simply to shorten a given name. That is part of the point, yes, but there's more to it than that, isn't there?" She smiled broadly at the man, her eyes sparkling happily. "It implies a certain familiarity, doesn't it? Like we're old friends. Friendship is very important to me, Lin. What about for you? Do you have many friends? Do they give you nicknames, or do they keep formal?[/b]" How would he react to this? She knew she was treading on thin ice already, and was curious just how much poking it would take for the man's resolve to break.
He said he might not answer her, but she felt quite strongly at this point that he wouldn't just sit there and let her press his buttons, either. Her eyes lingered on his crest for a moment. "That's an interesting little trait. Rather cute. Does it always do that when you're angry? Perhaps it's linked to your rising blood pressure..[/b]"
It seemed that once he'd opened the dam, the questions would come pouring out until he did something to make it stop. She really knew how to be annoying, when she put her mind to it. This was much more fun than asking her usual questions - Where does it hurt? How bad? Any allergies? This was real interpersonal contact, and maybe the bird could help her answer some questions of her own.
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Post by Lucca on Jan 18, 2010 15:49:21 GMT -5
Colin just stared at Zenon for a moment, not able to quite hide the look of outraged shock that she would -dare- to say something like that...with a shudder, he managed to bring his rage under control. Must stay in control. Can't let her win. Must. Remain. Calm. "We are not friends," Colin said in an almost sing-song voice. This was angrier than he could remember being in a long time. "In fact, I find myself not very fond of you at all, Miss Zenon. As for my actual friends, I have as many as I need, and they, out of respect for my feelings, call me by what I wish to be called." He still thought this entire subject was just ridiculous. Who ever heard of shortening a five-letter, two syllable name? It was just...ugh, he couldn't even find WORDS.
Except that he could. His tail feathers lashed back and forth a few times as he had to resist the urge to go for her neck. He knew, -knew- that the mix already knew the answer to that question! He had half a mind to walk away, but something (probably his own stubborn pride) refused to let him do so. "I wouldn't know, I rarely practice in front of a mirror," he said, a little snappishly. "And as for my rising blood pressure, you know very well that is your fault, and I am frankly shocked that a Doctor would stoop to such a level."
He accepted the drink from the bartender without his eyes ever leaving Zenon, this time, and sipped at his drink while glaring at her over the top.
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jan 18, 2010 16:08:44 GMT -5
A little bit of theatrics would be needed now, Zenon realized as she let her ears flick backwards and then droop rather pathetically. She stared at the cardinal for several long minutes, a spark of hurt in her eyes. "...Oh.[/b]" For a second, she slouched, then she carefully readjusted herself, forcing her feathers to lay flat against her body. When her eyes met his again, the bounce had gone out of her expression, leaving her with a rather cold, almost clinical expression. He didn't want to play her game, then? Fine.
This just couldn't get any better, she reflected inwardly, focusing hard on keeping from smiling. She still felt rather giddy.
"As many as you need... That must not be very many, is it? You don't seem to be the kind of person who wants to need anyone. It must get pretty lonely.[/b]" The most curious part of this man's behavior, she realized, was that he hadn't yet walked away from the situation. She lightly tapped a claw against the wood of the table, then slowly began to scratch again, making the very noise that had drawn him to her table to begin with. "Considering you consent to being questions and then continue to lash a poor researcher with your vitriol.[/b]"
The hybrid shifted slightly, leaning forward and eyeing the man with a calculating expression. "Do you not notice it's happening then? And I have to wonder... If I'm making you so uncomfortable, why don't you just leave? It's a natural reaction - much like rising blood pressure - to want to put distance between ourselves and something that causes us discomfort. What makes you stay, then? Could it be that you're actually enjoying my presence?[/b]"
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Post by Lucca on Jan 18, 2010 16:21:19 GMT -5
She seemed...HURT by the fact he didn't like her? What in the name of all the Queens who ever lived was this woman's PROBLEM. -Suits!- He merely glared at her, not caring if she got upset. That was entirely her own fault, and if he had been any less angry right now, he might have felt bad, as her acting was good enough he'd have been completely taken in. But he was angry enough to not even care.
"I'm sure I have more friends than you do, if you treat all of them like you're treating me now," he responded, feathers set on edge as she started up that infernal scraping noise again. Why...why was this happening to him? All he had wanted was some time to himself to be mopey in a bar, and now this whole situation thrust itself upon him! The thought that it was entirely his own fault didn't even occur to him at this point.
Colin froze completely as Zenon implied that he was actually -enjoying- this. HA! What did she know? Slamming his glass down on the table hard enough to crack it, he leaped to his feet again, his voice now raised. "I am not enjoying your presence! I DON'T ENJOY ANYTHING ABOUT YOU, YOU INFURIATING WOMAN!" He lunged forward so he could glare right into her evil red eyes, fuming, all his feathers sticking out all over the place in pure...wrath.
He had forgotten all about not playing her game and remaining calm, leaping to the defensive in a way that showed more clearly than anything else how close Zenon had hit to the truth with her last statement.
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Post by carcinoGeneticist on Jan 18, 2010 16:41:40 GMT -5
More petty insults, jabs at her moral character. Those were boring and predictable, and did make her feel more than a little grumpy with the man. She'd expected so much more of the man...! "Would it make you happier to know that you are, in fact, entirely special?[/b]" She asked, inclining her head to the side and making a soft little noise. She certainly hoped it wouldn't make him happy - rather, she was hoping for the exact opposite.
Just to help that, she continued her scritching at the bar. It probably looked more like a nervous tick than a conscious attempt at causing anger on her part.
The sudden violence from her test subject made her jump ever so slightly, but she quickly smoothed herself over and just eyed him with a strange sort of curiosity, one ear panning forward. By dropping the glass, he'd lost a weapon, and she felt much more calm with that thought. As he lunged forward to glare at her, she sat perfectly still, her expression calm. "Then why do you continue to seek it out?[/b]" She asked again, blinking slowly. They were starting to get the interest of the rest of the bar, staring each other down beak-to-beak as they were. "Are you so lonely that the company of a woman you claim to be infuriating is the best you can find...?[/b]"
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Post by Lucca on Jan 18, 2010 17:19:21 GMT -5
Colin ground his beak--a very painful sensation, but he couldn't help doing it, he was so angry--and actually let out that little chirp that cardinals make when they're angry. "SEEK IT OUT? ARE YOU IN EARNEST? YOU'RE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, I DON'T HAVE TO SEEK A -DAMN- THING OUT!" Colin cried, still right in her face. The curse words may seem mild to anyone else listening, but for Colin, who was raised to never use such vulgar words, it was a big deal.
His eyes were wide with rage, possibly going a little bloodshot, his body heated enough that Zenon might even be able to feel it, close as she was. His claws dug into the floor, possibly damaging it if it was only made of wood, and his wings were flared up in the subconscious effort to make himself seem more intimidating, when in reality...he didn't have many offensive abilities.
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