So much for the "Good Ol' Days", huh?

[Deleted]

Ansrax thought for a moment. "Sliced fried potatoes, collards, carrots and spinach with a little oil and lemon," he began, "herb-roasted chicken, and some soft cheese to spread on the rolls, please. Also, I think a large tankard of rum would not be amiss." He nodded to the waitress politely, and looked to Afra.

[hisdivineshadow]

Afra snorted. "Just tell the chef Afra's here and I want my usual. And tell Luciano not to skimp on my syrup this time!" He cast an accusatory glance in the direction of the kitchen, then turned a mild glare back at his old partner. "Remember, you don't start on the rum until after I finish eating."

[Deleted]

"Yes sir," Ansrax said dryly. "Let us hope I do not choke, then, and need to wash down whatever I am choking on with liquids. Then the drinking match would be ruined."

The tone was almost teasing. Afra would probably throw a roll at him now, but then, he would more than likely be able to catch it.

[Deleted]

"O'course, Afra, sir," she said pleasantly. "I'll b'sure to bring the extra syrup, so don't ya worry."

She turned to leave with the order and glanced back at the table. 'Perhaps...' she thought idly to herself as she went into the kitchen.

[hisdivineshadow]

As predicted, Afra tossed a roll at him. "Ya putz, you're a Water! You don't need a mug to wash anything down." He rolled his eyes and tossed his hands upward. "How you've managed all these years without me, I really don't know. 'Course, you do have the damnedest luck." His expression darkened for a moment, and he touched a hand to his bad leg. "Not like me . . ."

[Deleted]

Ansrax caught the roll, perhaps not very neatly, and chuckled. That had slipped his mind, but the tease had also been too good to pass up. He tossed the roll back to his old partner and leaned back in the chair.

Afra brought up his leg, but Ansrax didn't say anything like "If I had known where you were, you can be sure I would have gotten to you sooner and helped." Career-ending injuries were common among bounty hunters, after all. They had both known the risks when they were accepted into the hunters' guild. Afra probably felt rotten enough anyway, if his body language was any indication.

"Luck is fickle," was what he stated instead.

[hisdivineshadow]

Afra rolled his eyes, but didn't retort. He toyed idly with a roll for a minute, his gaze wandering, then commented, "You know, you should meet tha owner of this place." He made a noise that might have been a stifled laugh, and explained, "I think you two've got a thing or two in common."

[Deleted]

"Oh? Is the owner also tall, and the cold, remote, quiet type?" Ansrax inquired. "I would not much like to meet myself, perhaps. I meet myself whenever there are mirrors around, anyway."

[hisdivineshadow]

At this, Afra burst into a fit of laughter, slapping his knee enthusiastically. His volume was such that a number of the other patrons turned to stare, but he paid them no mind. Something about Ansrax' quip was just too much for him, and it took a minute or two for him to regain control.

"Ohh, that's a good one," Afra wheezed, wiping a tear from his eye. He grinned at his old partner. "If she's around, I'll get the waitress to bring her later. And then I'll tell her what you said."

[Deleted]

Ansrax shrugged, unperturbed by the stares and Afra's mirth and warning. As far as his own sense of humor was concerned, Afra's was odd, but he was used to it.

"'Her'?" he asked mildly. "You're not trying to set me up again, are you? The last time you did that, we were in Humontis with no easy escape."

[hisdivineshadow]

Afra snickered. "C'mon, she was built like a brick house! How could you say no to a pair like that?" Shaking his head, he stuffed the last of the roll in his mouth, then sat back in his chair to await the arrival of their meals.

[Deleted]

"Easily, and you know it," Ansrax said dryly. His almost abysmally low sex drive had been the subjects of many of Afra's jokes in the past; finally, Ansrax had unsheathed his longsword and pointed the tip at his partner's throat, saying "Since you so love jokes, try this one: My desires or lack of them are not funny. Get the 'point'?"

Afra had stopped cracking wise about the subject for about three months. Around that time, Ansrax had a one-night stand with a very comely Wind, and a new slew of jokes had soon started after.

It was almost funny, looking back on it now.

[hisdivineshadow]

Afra rolled his eyes again. "You're probably the only man on Naruta who would. And she was practically throwing herself at ya." He smirked. "A shame, too. You're the only one of us who coulda made a decent husband. I always chased 'em, but I knew I could never make it last."

He sighed and craned his neck, popping it. "Now look at ya. Young again, girls probably falling over themselves to get at you, and you still don't care. You're like a walking joke on the whole male species."

[Deleted]

The waitress popped up at this time, carrying on a large tray the plates of food and tankards of liquer and water.

"H're y'all are. Everything cooked just the way ordr'ed. Now, y'all enjoy, a'right?" Setting the plates down, she made sure that a bowl of extra syrup was put in front of Afra.

[Deleted]

"Thank you," Ansrax said politely, moving the roll basket aside so there was more room to put the dishes down. "That was quickly done. My compliments to the cooks."