2020-01-04 - My Knife

The chalet is beautiful, with plenty of snow, and roaring fires when you get sick of snow. Alexander and Isabella have been having snow adventures, but he's persuaded her to take at least a brief rest to start warming back up (as much as she can right now). After taking a hot shower himself, and changing clothes, he's started roaming the public areas of the resort. He's a man on a Mission - namely, that of finding Easton and retrieving his knife. And catching up with the man. But...retrieving his knife. He doesn't really fit in with most of the other guests as he searches - his clothing is mismatched and worn, and his manner is more skulking than self assured. And yet, there's a faint smile on his face.

Easton is still in fact still at the lodge, meaning he and Bennie must have decided that her plus one is staying. He's not currently in their room though, he's out at the bar in the main lodge parked on a seat at the bar watching college football on TV. He has a large beer in front of him that he's doing his best to nurse, though that certainly doesn't come naturally. He is dressed like many other patrons in a quarter zip fleece over jeans, the only thing a little different is the leather boots. He is apparently making friends at the bar too as he's loudly discussing the game with a few patrons and the bartender.

Alexander perks up as he hears that very familiar booming voice. His smile grows a little wider as he makes for the voice, slinking his way over to the bar, and slipping over to an empty seat nearby. "Easton." His eyes dart to the others at the bar, and he doesn't otherwise interrupt, although he does quietly order a beer for himself once he can catch the bartender's eye. He looks at the game, studying it for a moment, but it's clear that he's not entirely enthralled by it. Instead, his gaze returns to Easton, rests there.

"No, because their quarterback bench is ankle deep and that kid's one hit away from an ambulance ride to-" Easton is mid rant about something when he turns and sees Alexander. He grins and slides off the stool, onto his good leg to make his way down towards Alexander. "I'd give you a birthday hug but I don't feel like getting tasered." He grins and has to resist the urge to slap him on the shoulder or shake his hand or just go full on bear hug anyway. Setting his beer down and retaking a stool he looks around and says, "That was seriously an amazing shindig Izzy put together, and this whole thing."

There's a visible brightening at Easton's approach, although it turns embarrassed when Easton mentions 'tasered'. "I'm sorry." He takes a deep breath, though, and as Easton takes a seat, reaches out and offers the man a brief touch and squeeze on the shoulder, himself. And a smile. "Not quite a hug, I know. But thank you. It's good to see you back in town. I half thought you'd be a sensible person and take the opportunity to stay out of the crazy town." He raises his bottle once it's delivered. "Glad to see you didn't." And because he has no tact or delicacy, he adds, "How are things with Bennie?"

"Nope. Fuck yer sorrys. You did just fine." Easton gets a serious look on his face for at least a moment to make it clear that he at least doesn't feel like an apology is necessary. "I should have said something, I knew a bad reaction was possible." He also wasn't invited! Isabella! So he will have to work that out with her later. He reciprocates the shoulder clap and squeeze with a big grin. "Me, sensible? I thought we were friends Alexander." He mocks hurt at being called such a terrible thing and then raises his own glass of beer. "I'm actually glad to be back too." He takes a big gulp and at the next topic dips his head to the side and says, "They're ... better? But... we'll see." He's trying not to get anyone's hopes up, least of all his.

"I didn't actually stab anyone. I guess. But I don't think I'd call it 'just fine'." Alexander takes a swig of his beer, lets out a sigh. He manages not to flinch at the return clap and squeeze, even smiling at it. "It was a...nice thing. For people to do." A pause. "...maybe I don't usually like surprises so much. But it was meant well. And it was good to see you all. It really was." He slides a fingernail between the label and the bottle and starts working it delicately away from the glass. "Good. Better is good. Take it slow. But it's clear she still cares a lot. And so do you. That's," his voice turns rueful, "not all you need. I'm now officially too old to believe in the conquering power of love. But it's a good place to start. Necessary but not sufficient."

"You don't have to explain. You're used to sudden shifts in reality being living nightmares that include your loved ones being used against you. It's a pretty fucking rational reason to not react well." Easton grins and says, "And yea, just think you have all these people willing to be lured up here to freeze their asses off to celebrate you." Well that and eat that amazing ham. Easton's mind wanders for a moment back to that culinary delight before he refocuses. "Yea. We're going to try and ease into somethings. There's still a lot to talk about, hash out." Considering both of them are avoiding having any real talks right now, partially because they both just want to take a breath and enjoy being together before they tackle anything difficult, but also because they're surrounded by friends and vacation fights are the worst. The wooooorst.

Alexander coughs on his drink. "Well. Um. I guess, when you put it like that..." he says, rubbing the back of his neck. "Still. It was nice. One of the best birthdays I've had in a long time." He studies Easton for a long moment, then nods. "Well. It's not really the kind of thing a third person helps with, but if I can help, let me know?" A pause. "And my knife. You have my knife. August gave it to me for Christmas, and it's very nice. He gave me another one for my birthday, but it's for cooking." There's a pause. "I'm not sure why he keeps giving me knives, but I'm liking the trend?"

Easton gives a half shrug and then takes another sip of beer when Alexander seems a little surprised or embarassed by him putting a verbal finger on the possible reason for the freakout. They've discussed this in the past, Alexander has told him about his worries about hurting his friends. He laughs off the offer of help and says, "Maybe. Depending on how it goes I might need to punch someone." The topic of the knife causes his eyebrows to raise up "Oh. Right." He reaches down to his leg and hitches up his jeans just enough to pull it from an ankle holster built into his fake leg. "Knives are great gifts. Useful and fun and pretty."

"I can be punched," Alexander says, cheerfully. He brightens further when the knife is revealed - it really is a beautiful thing, with a carved horn handle - and he takes it without hesitation. He slips it into the sheath he's been hiding under all those bulky, oversized sweaters, at the small of his back. "They are all those things." He glances down at the holster. "I didn't used to carry it with me, but this last year has been...um, I've just thought it better not to get caught empty handed." Then he looks back at Easton. "Do you ski? I don't. Or I haven't. Isabella and I are going to try. We probably won't break a leg."

"You can also dish 'em out. Pretty sure you bruised a rib or two last time." Easton laughs as rubs his side but he is obviously delighted at Alexander's willingness to trade blows. He doesn't comment on the sheath until Alexander does and he just shrugs, "I don't go out without my ka-bar and at least a gun. It's foolish to be unprepared when we know what's set against us." Not that they know exactly what it is, so much as the fact that they know there are things set against them. "I did snowboard. I haven't been back out since the leg, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to give it a shot." The comment about breaking a leg gets a smirk and raised eyebrows, "Well, I really can't afford to do that, I mean... not that I would be out for long." There's no way he'd do the full recovery for a leg break. The hospital bed time alone would end up with him murdering someone.

"It's...interesting. It's kinda fun to, um, punch a friend. Which is something I usually feel very bad about, actually, but I guess it's different when they're asking you to. But I'm glad that I'm, um, a worthy opponent." Alexander grimaces. "I need to practice more. And guns don't always help, Easton." A hand raises, the non-beered one. "I know. Knives don't, either. But they do make me feel better." He considers Easton's words about the leg break, and there's a lecture just waiting there, but in the end he says, "I suppose that would be reasonable. Don't want it to heal badly. Just try not to break it in the first place."

"I'm a big fan." Easton says of punching friends with a knowing smile. "And yea, I need to get back into Kelly's and get some more coaching. I've made some progress but I'm still slower than I'd like." He laughs at the comment about guns not always helping, especially when it's followed up with the statement about knives. He grins, "I know. But they do make me feel better." He mimics the line right back to him about his guns. And sometimes they do come in very handy. "Agreed. I'm not exactly going to be hitting the park anytime soon." The ski park with the ridiculous jumps is definitely not on Easton's list for this trip. He'll be glad to get down the mountain without breaking anything, his bones, the leg, the board, someone else.

"I've noticed. You talk a lot with touching," Alexander says, his voice a bit wry, as if all too aware that his own issues make that complicated. But at least he can hit people! It's bonding! "...and I suppose that they do." He sighs, then nods regarding the park. "Yeah. I think there are a couple of beginners slopes that I might try? But I expect to fall down and get buried in snow." This is his fate. He huffs a breath. "We took something. Back from the Asylum. Isabella and I do think we went. Just can't remember. I'll let you know what I can find out from it. Later. When we get home. First, have fun to start the year off."

"I'm tactile person!" Easton rejoinders good naturedly. "Well good luck on the mountain." At the topic change an odd look crosses Easton's face. It's wary and more than a little confused as he sorts out what Alexander's saying. "We did. Right?" He closes his eyes and shakes his head as he tries to get those memories back in line. "I.. okay." He can't really process it, because the lack of memory of that time is so jarring. "But yea, enjoy this. There's plenty of time to get back into weird shit when we get back."