[closed]

[putuporshutup]

Who: Meg & Crowley
What: Someone's attitude needs adjusting
When: Tonight
Where: The Parlor
Rating: PG-13

Meg had agreed to meet with Crowley that night, and she figured the parlor was as good a place as any. She found a quiet corner with two armchairs and sat with her legs tucked underneath her. She wished up a bottle of 1992 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon and two large glasses, popped it open to let it rest a bit, and sat back to relax and wait.

Comments

[onlyanapple]

As was his usual, Crowley showed up about ten minutes later than their agreed time. Better to be unpredictable than boringly reliable, he's always liked to say. As he entered, he gave her a lazy wave, slouching into his own chair.

"You know, 1992 is technically the future for me," he says, nodding at the bottle. "Hope it doesn't spoil the taste."

[putuporshutup]

"They're known for making the best Cab pretty much ever and this is their first-ever vintage year. Shit goes for six grand a bottle... I'm probably going to wake up with antlers or something tomorrow. So you're welcome," she teased.

"What's the occasion for actually meeting in public? I think I might even be nervous if I gave a crap."

[onlyanapple]

"Well, well, consider me called out," he chuckled, pouring himself a glass and taking a sip.

It takes him a moment to reply to her comment, observing the comings and goings of various residents, occasionally taking a sip of his drink.

"Just felt like a change," it's an easy lie.

[putuporshutup]

"Damn right," she replied, sipping her own and letting out a satisfied hum.

She raises her eyebrows and gives him an incredulous look, but she'll go along with it for now.

"Mmkay," really, she's so convinced, "What the occasion for meeting at all, then?"

[onlyanapple]

"Can't two people meet each other for drinks and discuss philosophical matters once in a while?" asks Crowley in an innocent tone that doesn't suit him at all and suggests he's anything but.

[putuporshutup]

"Sure, but that's not what this is," she fired back, though her tone was amused. "Trying to lie to another demon... for shame. Now spill. What's up?"

[onlyanapple]

Crowley watches her for a moment, settling back in his chair.

"Now, Meg, you know we don't give straight answers if we can help it."

[putuporshutup]

She wrinkles her nose at him, then sits back herself and takes a leisurely sip of wine.

"Suit yourself. You're the one who wanted to meet."

[onlyanapple]

"And meet we have," he says, taking a sip of his own wine.

He's quiet for a moment, before trying to casually fall into the real reason he's asked her here, without actually openly admitting so.

"Don't see all that much of you, these days."

[putuporshutup]

"Indeed," she counters, still looking over at him incredulously.

When he speaks, though, Meg sighs and her eyes shift down to her wine glass as she gives it a good swirl. Finally, she looks over at him again with a slight smile.

"You've seen more of me than just about anyone left in this castle."

[onlyanapple]

Unseen, hidden by his sunglasses, he watches the action, before his eyes flick back to her. His own lips tug into a slight smile.

"You know, they say it's the first step to madness, isolation."

[putuporshutup]

That gets a roll of her eyes.

"I think you and I both know I'm way past the first step."

[onlyanapple]

He takes a sip of his drink, still nonchalant, as if this were nothing more than a regular conversation.

"Nothing that can't be undone, you know."

[putuporshutup]

Meg tries to look as nonchalant as ever, but her expression hardens and her guard goes up. She's not used to being called out like this.

"And nothing that I can't handle on my own. What are you so concerned for, anyway?"

[onlyanapple]

Crowley gives a shrug, staring up at the ceiling.

"Who said I was? Just making an observation, is all."

[putuporshutup]

"Right, of course not."

Figured. No one should ever be concerned about her, anyway.

[onlyanapple]

"So anyway."

Crowley leaves that hanging, leaving her to fill in the rest of the sentence on her own. How's she really holding up, why's she avoiding, and of course he cares, doesn't she know that? He leaves it up to her to decide which one to use.

[putuporshutup]

"Anyway," she repeats back flatly, pausing for a while, taking another sip of her glass, twirling the stem between her fingers.

"Don't tell me you're actually checking up on me," she finally asks, staring off across the room. She knew. Of course she knew. But actually talking about it was another matter entirely.

[onlyanapple]

It takes him a moment to reply. He doesn't like people calling him out on his less-than-demonic nature. It's something of an embarrassment, really.

"Might be, might not be," he eventually decides on.

They both know that he is, though. It's painfully obvious.

[putuporshutup]

Meg knows that feeling, so she's the last person to call him out, per se... but it's a clear breach of conduct to actually bring this kind of thing up, so as far as she's concerned, all bets are off. If he's going to poke at her carefully hidden soft underbelly, she'll poke right back.

Besties, really.

She rolls her eyes and sighs, but there's a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "So if you were hypothetically checking up on me, what would you hypothetically be inquiring in regard to?"

[onlyanapple]

He wouldn't have it any other way. A demon has to be entitled to a little tit for tat, after all. He gives a wave of his hand.

"Hypothetically? A general sort of thing. After certain...departures and such."

He's one to talk, really. When Castiel left, when he and the angel were quite a lot more than friends, he hardly left his room for a month after. But he was roused by friends, and he feels he should give Meg the same treatment, if she wants it or not.

[putuporshutup]

She sighs heavily and glares at him for a good solid minute before totally failing at how to demon, breaking eye contact, and looking down sullenly.

"I'm fine," she mutters.

Clearly.

[onlyanapple]

He regards her silently, gauging her reaction and deciding she is, very and painfully obviously, lying. He takes a casual sip of his wine.

"You look it."

[putuporshutup]

He eyes flash up to meet his, and while insinuating that she looks anything less than her usual...

well, no. He's right. She hasn't even really been trying lately. Being called out makes her pout even more than being checked up on, and she fires back.

"Oh, come on. What did you expect?"

[onlyanapple]

He gives a shrug, remaining, on the outside at least, distanced and impartial.

"A little less obvious lying. I'm a little insulted you expected me to buy that."

[putuporshutup]

Meg's mouth falls open as if she's got a sharp reply on the tip of her tongue, but after a moment of silence it's apparent that she's got nothing.

"I didn't, really," she finally admits. "Didn't exactly expect you to care this much, though. Not sure why anyone would."

[onlyanapple]

"Yeah, well, best get used to it. Sometimes, people will actually give a shit about you, and there's nothing you can do about it."

[putuporshutup]

She pouts and silently glares at him for a moment - mostly for being right, but it's hard to keep the small smile from twitching at the corners of her lips.

"Fine."