callmegladio | IC inbox & Interactions: Hugtopia.

[Tony had his feet up on the railing in front of an abandoned nightclub that may have had a cowboy theme at one point. He lounged in a metal, squeaky, rocking chair (hence why his feet were up and he wasn't moving). He had a lit cigar in his hand away from Gladio. It had been far too long since he'd been able to enjoy a cigarette or cigar. He didn't do it often even when he could, but they'd passed a shop while walking around the shopping district and found a place to sit and chat for a while. It was always interesting to see the natives and occasional 'porn start' walk by too.]

Any idea how warm it gets here in the spring and summer time? We could get a mechanic set up like a garage door where one wall can be opened and people would then get to feel like they were eating outside.

[Gladio sat upwind from Tony, not at all interested in getting a face full of smoke nor too impressed Tony was smoking at all with his heart. But he'd kept his mouth shut, Tony was a grown man who could do what he wanted. And he seemed to be enjoying himself enough that Gladio let it go.

He was sat looking up at the dome above them. It wasn't unlike home, though the shield around Insomnia had been prettier to look at. His legs where stretched out, crossed at the ankles, his arms crossed over his chest as relaxed as could be.]

No idea, but I'm guessing warm. Could work. Gives the place more space to work with if we use outside too.

Might cost us though.

[Tony shrugged and went quiet thinking for a couple minutes.

He knew he shouldn't be smoking, but he'd limited his other vices for several weeks now and hadn't had any signs of trouble. He was beginning to wonder if that episode had been a fluke.]

You didn't react much when I told you the name. Are you okay with Pepper's or would you like something else?

You were looking for a reaction?

[Gladio tilted his head to the side, turning his gaze from the 'sky' over to where Tony sat. A brow rose, he wasn't too sure what answer he was expected to give really.]

It's the name you want, Tony. It's got meaning to you. So use it.

Well, duh. You're coming off as an ass.

[Tony scowled at him.]

This might have been my idea, but it's our bar. I'd like to see some interest and some input from you. So come on, tell me some of your ideas and your opinions.

[He didn't look happy with that assessment. Gladio slowly eased himself up, sitting straighter in his chair. He knew damn well he wasn't being an ass.]

You're right, it's our bar. And I'll say it again, the name has a meaning. Any ideas I could come up with would just be names. And I've no damn idea why you're making a big deal out it.

I didn't know Pepper. I know you love her. That's good enough for me.

[Tony didn't really know why he was having such an issue with this. As Gladio said, the name had meaning and maybe the young man was just being sweet to not challenge the concept.

He looked down at the cigar for a few moments, watching the smoke.]

Loved.

[Okay, maybe it was Tony being the ass.]

Why have you never asked about her or Morgan?

Love.

[He corrected him, but his tone was gentle. Gladio wasn't stupid, of course Tony loved her. How couldn't he? He'd had a life with her, a kid. Those feelings didn't just go away.

As for the question, he sighed.]

I figured that'd be a story you'd tell me when you were ready.

She was often a sore subject with Ignis. I got used to not talking about her, but she came up with Pyra the other day.

[He chuckled and looked over at his friend.]

You were right about that girl. She is dangerous!

[He shook his head.]

Anyway, I appreciate you recognizing how complicated that situation is for me. It would be a nice tribute to her memory. I've been wondering if you'd ever mention your sister since she was equally as important to you. I haven't figured out how Pepper and Iris would go together, but I'd be open to any ideas.

I warned you. Doesn't tell you much about herself but she sure gets into the cracks of your mind.

[The things he'd admitted to her should have embarrassed him, should have scared him, but he hadn't minded nearly as much as he believed he would have. Pyra was someone he could trust, he knew that.

Gladio laughed and looked back at Tony again.]

I don't want my kid sisters name on a bar. But thanks for the thought. Keep it Peppers. Just be ready for the questions when people ask why.

The first time we met, she actually got upset that I was asking so many questions. I backed off and things ended on a positive note, but I'm curious what she isn't sharing. She was involved with something important in her world, but what I have no idea. It involves that crystal she wears on her chest, though.

[He was going to figure that mystery out! Someway, somehow..]

Fine, we'll save Iris' name for when we open our pizza joint or bowling alley.

[He chuckled, but that faded a bit at the warning. Hmm.. he wasn't sure he liked that idea.]

Besides the name, have any thoughts about the bar? Do we want the bar on one side and the brewery on the other, or the bar on one story and the brewery either above or below that?- well, below. We can use the stairs as a way to gauge if we need to call people a cab.

Hope she'll trust us with it eventually. How bad could it be?

[He wasn't sure she was the 'world destroyer' type, but he supposed it took all sorts. Unless she was doing what he'd done himself, what she'd basically told him off for. She was worrying for nothing. Expecting people to react a certain way without knowing for sure. If that was the case all they could do was wait it out and hope she realised that they'd care about her no matter what.]

Heh, planning on cornering the entertainment market, huh?

Below, yeah. Ventilated and closed off. Brewing beer can smell, don't want it chasing people off. [He fell quiet as he thought.] ... Think people just want a place to relax and have a drink. Pretty sure we could paint it pink and orange and people'd still come.

[Gladio stretched his arms over his head and yawned.]

So what, we just gonna have the bar a place for drinks or do you wanna sell food? Games and shit? See how much traffic we get and if it's worth it?

[Tony smirked at him.]

Why just the entertainment market? After being cooped up in that train, I don't see any reason not to try and rebuild my wealth. All it takes is some business know-how and ambition.

[And a silver spoon.]

What if it was closed off, but people could see it when they were at the bar- or if they went to certain part of the bar? I bet some people would find it interesting to see the manufacturing in progress. Obviously, we'd just have to keep it secure so no one did anything stupid. But yes, the ventilation is a must. I'll work on developing that.

[He wondered if there was a way to send that gas out to the top of the dome or even beyond it.]

Billiards and darts, definitely. Perhaps if we section it off a bit we could have tournaments and convert a few tables close by into card tables?

As far as food goes, somewhere in the middle perhaps. I don't want it to be a restaurant with a bar, but more like a bar that has some food if that makes sense. A limited menu that would be easy for staff to make, serve, and clean up and be the type of food drunk people like so we are notably different than Lup's place.

[Gladio just laughed. If Tony wanted to try and get rich he was welcome to. But just what he was going to get rich on, or for, Gladio didn't know. With less than a hundred people living in a single city on a dead world, money kind of seemed pointless to him.]

Closed off but visible, could work. Glass wall maybe?

Hah yeah, yeah I like that. Alright, think we can work with this. Those games. Limited food. Snack things, right? We can work that out later though. Maybe ask around, see what kinda foods people like with their drinks.

[Who knows? He might get bored with this and try the research labs or being a zoo keeper or go back to teaching. Besides, weren't they saving the planet one fuck at a time?]

Yeah a real strong glass would work or even a metal mesh..

[He'd think about all their options available. He grinned when Gladio liked his plan with the food and games.]

We could even have some dishes that are more substantial for dinner if the snacks go over well. Are you wanting to be more hands on and work one of the positions or more hands off, we need to hire all the staff members?

I think we can do it together. Don't know how many people'll even wanna go there.

Though I can think of at least two right off the bat.

[Those two had been foaming at the mouth to get at booze. As soon as they opened the bar they'd be banging down the door to get in.]

As more people show up, we can expand.

[Tony snorted a laugh and shook his head.]

What happened to 'we could paint it pink and orange and people'd still come'? It's a bar. People will definitely come. Wei Wuxian will be sneaking in even before the damn thing opens.

With you around, I think having maybe having an extra bartender and an extra server would be enough. We'll write into their jobs that they have to clean up too.

[Despite how this sounds, he actually will do more of the work than he's committing to, but he doesn't want to *have* to.]

That's one of the guys I was thinking of! Maybe he'd even wanna man the bar?

[As for a server, he supposed they could put an ad out and see if anyone was interested.]

It'll work out one way or another.

Are you crazy? He'd drain all our inventory in a day! He'd replace all of our storage barrels with just a funnel going to his mouth. If we let him near the food, we'd have to put fire extinguishers on the bar instead of beer nuts.

[The longer he talked the more Tony was laughing. He'd really missed his friend. It had turned out to be such a better reunion too once they'd figured out where the misunderstanding was.]

We'll see. Think we could grab a couple natives who don't mind getting underpaid?

There you go then. We can pay him in free beer. Cheap help.

[Gladio was laughing along with Tony, though he didn't think Wuxian would be as bad as that. Not Wangji around to tame him.]

... Not sure I'd trust them not to put weird things in the food. I've heard some bad things. They can't taste anything, Tony. They don't know that gasoline doesn't go in a burger.

Neither does Wei! Did you ever taste that shit he used to make? It was like eating and passing a burning charcoal briquet! I swear, I breathed fire once after that idiot tried to make soup.

[He wiped a tear from his eye as he kept cracking up. He took a second to catch his breath.]

Alright, alright. One native to do dishes and clean up and we'll hire Wei Wuxian and some hottie with giant cans. Sound good?

[He gave Gladio a devilish grin.]

I should offer it to Era!

[And now he was laughing his ass off again.]

I was smart enough to avoid it. [Gladio grinned.] After the first time.

[He was a good friend. He'd try anything once. But some things he would ever try a second time.

Shaking his head, Gladio laughed, but he was wondering if he should throw something at Tony as well.]

Think helpin us is the last thing on her mind. And a hottie with giant cans? Really?

Just think what... if we told her... she'd be so pissed!

[Tony could barely make out the words in between laughing. She'd kill them both with her bare hands! He really wanted to do it just to see the look on her face!

But no, he wasn't at all suggesting they literally do this. He knew better than that. As he wiped tears from his face again, he flicked the ash off the end of his almost forgotten cigar.]

Who doesn't like a hot woman serving them drinks?

[Pyra had big jugs, but that was inappropriate. Who else?]

Have you met Aerith?

Edited 2021-03-05 22:20 (UTC)

She's tear your nuts off and feed em to her chocobo.

[He was grinning. It was good hearing Tony laughing so feely. He'd relaxed over the last few days and Gladio was glad for that. As weird as Havenwell was, it wasn't nearly as stressful as other places...]

I've seen her around... Brunette, yeah? Pink coat a ribbon and big black boots. [It had been the boots he'd remembered mostly, they'd seemed so out of place on her.]

[Tony chuckled and nodding in agreement. He frowned a little at the description of Aerith though.]

Honestly? I've only spoken to her once and it was over the phone. It was video though and she was very lovely.

[He squints a little, just remembering something.]

Huh, I forgot I asked her on a date.

[Maybe he should do something about that. Maybe. Shrug.]

Who else? I feel like there aren't nearly as many attractive people here as there were on the train, but maybe that was because we were packed in tighter than a can of sardines.

Hugs: March 5

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