[Private] Back in Black.

The moth was tired.
They placed down their drink and turned to look at Rowan. Riley let him say his piece, their antenna flattening back against their slicked hair. They eyes trace his face for a moment.

"You asked to have things pointed out. I said I'd treat you as an adult. I pointed out consequences of action, nothing more. "

They let out a soft sigh, reached out to the tray to first drink Rowan discarded. Taking the hardly touched half point, they pour it into their corona topping it off.

"I am going to finish my drink. You're welcome to stay and join me. Or go. Your choice"

The moth then fell into silence, allowing the other darkling to make his choice.

The Moth listened closely to allowing him the space to express it. They rolled their beer glass idly on the rim of its bottom across the coaster. Riley let out a dry chuckle, part impressed, part annoyed. It seemed Rowan had the emotional and social literacy when it was convenient.

"Fair?" Riley said softly. " Rowan, this ain't about winning or losing. It's no competition."  They paused, measuring their next words wearily.

Riley took a sip of their beer. Dealing with Rowan went contrary to their experiences in Vegas. If they had whined like that at work? Complained when someone hurt them? Bemoaned how hard things were, they wouldn't be here. But Rowan? He was a kid wearing a man suit caught in the middle.

"It wasn't advice, it was an observation. Honesty, I am trying hard to treat you the way you've asked. But it feels like it's a moving goal post here. Anything I could say, worth my time or yours, feels like it has been set up. To I dunno', feed some idea of yourself. I ain't fixing to do that"

Riley tapped the edge of their glass, watching the bubbles of the beer slowly disperse.

“Own the place? Tempo?” Riley raised an eyebrow at Rowan. The Bright one wondered why they thought this could have gone any other way. A fool's hope springs eternal it seems.

“Rowan, I ordered us drinks, and tried to have a conversation with you. I know that stuff isn't easy for you. I wasn't trying to pressure you, I was trying to get to know you. Fuck me for trying”

The moth slid their beer away recognizing a bit of their temper had leaked out. That's not what they wanted. They paused to collect themself. Rowan was right; he had asked for Riley to clarify his thoughts.

“Your right,” admitted the Bright one.

“So what did you mean? Because where I am sitting it didn't feel like boundary settin’. It felt like you got uncomfortable and defensive. Instead of sayin’ that you, went and assumed my thoughts about your experiences , while in the same breath jumping to conclusions of my own. That's how it felt to me. So, what did you mean?”

Riley couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at themself nodding to what Rowan said. This was going to be their relationship wasn't it.

“You’ve got your knowledge, and that intimidating stare to protect you. “ Riley figured this would be the best way to explain it.

“I...I’ve got small talk” Riley said slightly looking down across the bar at the other patrons. “It’s how I feel out things, see if it's safe. “

The smiles, the social dance, the looks, the laughs. It took work to do this, it took effort to make people see only what you want them to see.

"when you responded that way, I thought we were done. So I clamed up because my tools failed.  I'll get better at the asking for clarification. "  I am glad you stayed. The Bewitched glanced at Rowan as he announced that he liked the stout.

“Like them dark and bitter huh? That's a start” They gave an approving smile. A wave of relief hit the moth for a moment as the two darklings had found a moment of equilibrium, even if it was possibly fleeting.

“Right, no small talk then. I asked what you want, because that's the real stuff to me. We’ve gone through shit, we deserve to want something. Maybe I'm over to stepping to saying this but, It would be a shame if Janitor is all you wanted”

" I guess I get that," They say to his reflection on normal life. It was scary, how can it not be. But hearing how reviewed the use of magic gave the Bright one Pause.

"Almost sounds noble when you say it like that" Riley sipped their beer and added.
"By that I mean...I never thought of it like that."

It was a bit selfless? To get your revenge by stopping it from ever happening to another person. Riley's revenge was a dish best served by being what she...they never allowed them to be. 

"Oh wow. Okay.." The bright one chuckled. Nothing like talking about fear to get a party started right?

The moth fidget in mild discomfort, they didn't like talking about the fear that much and it showed.
"Scared of a lot of things. I reckon..."

They looked out across the bar for a moment as if trying to grasp the words.

"I am terrified of not being worth the second chance"

Riley glanced over their shoulders were hunched slightly from revealing the fear. Their eyes eyes scanned the other darkling for a moment as he asked if they wanted his opion. They let out a cold chuckle.

"Fuck you had enough of my hot takes. Yeah. Hit me. "

They awaited what the excepted to be a jaded view. But found themself surprised.

They had escaped. How they didn't fully recall. That still alluded their memories, distant and vague. A song only half sung.
But Riley couldn't help but feel that their escape had a cost beyond themself.

"Rowan" For a moment the moth wanted to argue against the view point.

That was the kindest thing the Darkling had set to Riley in the last half year. Kinder than any platitudes as a flowering, and more real.

They paused uncertainty crossed their face. After a moment of trepidation they spoke again.

"Thanks. I hadn't thought of it like that before. I'll try to remember that...cant promise I always will...but thank you."
They chuckled lightly and took a sip of their beer before looking back at Rowan.

"Look. Real life is scary. And its okay if its not your thing. But, if you need help with it let me know. A job that gives you better pay and time for your hedge hobbies. Or even just somethin' fun for your self. Sometimes a little livin' can be a great reminder of what your protectin'. "