#Devil: CBP AU .

[aamusedly]

@spakona / Kaldar .

Devil was true to his word; he didn't go far during Kaldar's recovery, though thankfully it was brief. Really the Fixer was just thankful he was getting some rest. No matter if the doctor told him to keep getting rest, Devil was skeptical if that would stick.

But it was once Kaldar was on his feet, gathering up his things to leave, that they had a visit from the Ripperdoc herself. Thus far she hadn't had anything to do with Kaldar, instead leaving him to more organically inclined medics, but allegedly she ran the clinic anyhow. The tablet in hand indicated well enough.

"What do I owe you, doctor?"

"I have good news and bad news, Devil. Good news is, I don't require additional payment. Your last regular installment has cleared it." Devil's expression seemed to gloss over with something blank and pensive, but he didn't interrupt. He could've finished her sentence for her anyhow. "The bad news is that... means, unfortunately, that we're out of stock of your regular meds. Instead of refunding your payment, I've transferred it to Kaldar's bill."

Amber eyes turned to the floor, thoughtful but searching the tiles beneath him. "And then when will you be in stock?"

"...I don't know, Devil. I would suggest... shopping." She paused, the professional mask she was wearing slipping for a moment. "And I would suggest not wasting time on that."

"What happened?" A flicker of anger.

"I'm not at liberty to disclose..." her eyes turned up to Devil's face. A hint of danger in the quiet. She looked back down. "Maelstrom zeroed our importer. You know those blockers are a commodity to them. ...I run a clinic, Devil, I don't have the manpower to--"

"Call the NCPD or something. 6th Street. I don't care."

"I wouldn't be telling you bad news if I didn't have to, Devil." She paused again. "I'm sorry. You'll have to look elsewhere. I'll shoot you what leads I can find."

"...Fine," he answered, and looked down to adjust his gloves. "Thank you for your help. I'll see you."

[aamusedly]

@spakona / Kaldar.

Devil hadn't had much of a plan since Kaldar ran out of his office. He had no goal other than to find the bottom of his favorite whiskey bottle, which he did in great time.

The Fixer hadn't expected getting so goddamn invested, but here he was. He was angry, hurt at how Kaldar had talked to him. Guilty over how he'd reacted, embarrassed at the kiss he hadn't stopped. What a fucking mess. And here he was punctuating it with a two day bender, even with Kurdan and his gang probably sniffing all around his Corpo Plaza office.

Old habits died hard. At least Devil stopped himself from indulging too deep; the trip to Jig Jig Street stopped after an offer for dorph and a joytoy. Bad memories.

So he got home and slept it off, sobered up, and tried to eat something before he started writing out a proper plan. That plan unfortunately involved the man who walked out on him, and some sort of apology. So it was in the afternoon now three days later that Devil found himself in front of the apartment he'd set Kaldar up in.

And he knocked carefully.

[aamusedly]

@spakona continued from HERE.

Gloved hands were too tight around the wheel of the car on their way back. Kaldar's anger was a burning fire, but Devil's was icy and slow coming. It was born of something genuinely fearful, and suddenly Kaldar was no longer a person to show that fear to. The tell was that chrome tail flipping slowly and fiercely at his side.

But Kaldar threw the first blow, and the ice cracked hard and fast.

Devil spun on him with a finger pointed in his face, teeth bared. "Don't you fucking call me that. Show an ounce of respect for once in your miserable life--"

"Don't you walk out on me, Kaldar. You already spent the night fucking me over--"

[aamusedly]

“Nothing made me happen. I happened.” @spakona​ / Kaldar.

“That’s a damn good line.” And Devil meant it, too; Kaldar had a way with poetry out of his mouth without even realizing it. After a long drive to New Vegas, here at a pit stop for actual food and actual coffee, maybe he could use it. 

“You don’t seem to consider yourself a force of nature, though... an... immaculate conception of revenge, so to speak.” His eyelids lowered. “If that’s what you mean.”