psl || never look back

[crudest]

[So maybe Baren had some escapist tendencies.

Maybe he didn't like staying in one place for very long, maybe he liked it even more if he was somewhere with music so loud that it drowned out his thoughts, maybe he preferred when he could tackle the night alongside someone he trusted and didn't have to think about anything besides the next set of trouble that they were gonna get up to.

It's with that thought and a glance at the clock that told him it was nearly 2 in the morning that he ends up skipping back to Zoro's side. He's not looking to go home with anyone tonight, none of them interesting enough to catch his attention, and he thinks he'd prefer to wake up next to the water on the houseboat than in some stranger's bed.

So he bumps back into Zoro, grinning a mile wide and just tipsy enough to be enjoying himself - ]

Z! Z, Z, Z....! [he probably heard you the first time, baren] Ahaha, I think I've had enough of stealing drink umbrellas for the night - are you good? Did you have fun?

Comments

i can't believe this is so old that the houseboat still existed..,.,.

[stopbleeding]

No. [the fact that he doesn't even blink at "stealing drink umbrellas" means that's zoro's more than used to this. also totally sober in contrast to baren's tiny bit tipsy, despite the small army of empty glasses around him. he's holding one in his hands, mournfully clinging to the memory of alcohol.]

Bartender cut me off an hour ago. [GLOWERING. AT THE BARTENDER. who conveniently turns her back on him just as he does it. just makes him scowl harder. never before has sliding off a bar stool felt so much better. like one last act of spite against his true enemy: alcohol restrictions.]

No company tonight? [honestly he had kind of expected baren to hook up with someone.]