[ sam glances up when stephen enters, taking note of the casual attire. not what he expected, given what he's seen of stephen before, but sam just sort of nods in welcome and gestures to the bar seats at the counter for stephen to take one, if he so wishes. ]
Seafood gumbo. Though knowing this place, you can make it out to be whatever you want.
[ he serves up a bowl of it all the same, setting it on the counter and pushing it over to where stephen has either sat or stood, before serving himself a bowl too. there was something about talking over food that made this easier, something about it that both sets a mood and softens the tone of it.
but sam doesn't waste too much time, just long enough to take a bite, to make sure stephen says what he wants to say, before he sighs. with that sigh, something almost shifts in the room. like, subconsciously, the horizon feels a bit more professional. a bit colder. ]
I know we don't actually know each other. [ strong start, way to go sam. ] And I know you haven't been here all that long, either, but I needed to ask if you if you're willing to work with me on building a kind of inner-faction group while we're all here. [ sam settles into his own barstool, situating before he turns back to stephen. it's another subtle shift, probably, but sam looks suddenly much older. much more tired. ]
I've got reason to believe things are about to start escalating much faster than they have been. Dangerously so. And we - the Summoneds - aren't going to be able to avoid getting involved if we don't start working together.
no subject
Seafood gumbo. Though knowing this place, you can make it out to be whatever you want.
[ he serves up a bowl of it all the same, setting it on the counter and pushing it over to where stephen has either sat or stood, before serving himself a bowl too. there was something about talking over food that made this easier, something about it that both sets a mood and softens the tone of it.
but sam doesn't waste too much time, just long enough to take a bite, to make sure stephen says what he wants to say, before he sighs. with that sigh, something almost shifts in the room. like, subconsciously, the horizon feels a bit more professional. a bit colder. ]
I know we don't actually know each other. [ strong start, way to go sam. ] And I know you haven't been here all that long, either, but I needed to ask if you if you're willing to work with me on building a kind of inner-faction group while we're all here. [ sam settles into his own barstool, situating before he turns back to stephen. it's another subtle shift, probably, but sam looks suddenly much older. much more tired. ]
I've got reason to believe things are about to start escalating much faster than they have been. Dangerously so. And we - the Summoneds - aren't going to be able to avoid getting involved if we don't start working together.