LOCKED TO viliorate

[sadisticwarfare]

[Profits have been way down in the last three months, and if things keep going this way, they won't last another three. Archer has the papers out in front of him, scouring everything to see where he can make cuts, yet again. He knows no one's going to be pleased, but they're going to have to remove another act. He's been told that cutting people from the circus is like throwing out a family member, but the fact of the matter is that the money he's making won't support everyone. It's not as though Archer is hoarding all the money for himself - though he's not exactly as generous to the others as he could be - but he's never really felt like part of the circus "family". They're the family members, he's the landlord.

Archer twirls his pen between his fingers as he examines the numbers again, finally selecting a couple of sheets with acts that he could possibly cut. He'll have to get Kimbley to look over them before he makes a final decision. Kimbley isn't his partner or his adviser, but Kimbley is his friend, and he'd rather have a second opinion on all this.]

Comments

[sadisticwarfare]

I know you won't.

[viliorate]

[He's pretty happy right now.]

Do you have any plans after work?

[sadisticwarfare]

No, I don't. Do you have something in mind?

[viliorate]

It's been a while since we had enough time off to do something together. How about it?

[sadisticwarfare]

...Will you be alright? I don't want you to strain yourself.

[viliorate]

I'll be fine. I haven't been pushing myself that hard.

[He appreciates the worry, but nothing else is going to happen, right?]

[sadisticwarfare]

...Very well then. I'd like that.

[viliorate]

You should take me to the place we went to after I started living with you.

[He's allowed to feel nostalgic every once in a while!]

[sadisticwarfare]

Oh, feeling nostalgic, are we? I suppose we can arrange that.

[viliorate]

[He's not going to deny it.]

I'm going to hold you to that.

[sadisticwarfare]

Of course. I won't disappoint you.

[viliorate]

Of course you won't. I know you, you'd make a big deal if you thought you were.

[sadisticwarfare]

It's not like I make that big a deal out of it...

[...Yes he does.]

[viliorate]

I don't mind when you do it.

[sadisticwarfare]

Well, you shouldn't.

[...]

Not that I... I don't do it anyway, so it's...

[...]

Shut up.

[viliorate]

[...ooh he hasn't gotten that reaction in a long time.]

You're cute when you're flustered.

[sadisticwarfare]

I'm not flustered...!

[He's very flustered.]

[viliorate]

[Should he keep flirting?

He can keep flirting.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[This face forever, Kimbley.]

[viliorate]

Don't be that way.

[He's not even going to try to pull off an innocent look right now.]

Come on, you're finished with work for the night, aren't you?

[sadisticwarfare]

I am, yes. Shall we?

[viliorate]

[Kimbley is certainly in a good mood now.]

Let's go.

[He looks calm, but Archer knows him well enough to pick up on the signs that he's looking forward to dinner.

...well, that and the fact that he's practically going to shove Archer out the door gives it away.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[He's aware of that... He doesn't hesitate to head on out though, bringing what papers he absolutely needs before making his way to the car.]

It might take us a little while to get there. It was a bit further out, remember?

[viliorate]

I remember.

[He'll be sitting in the passenger seat of the car being extremely excited the entire dive. No big deal.]

It's worth the wait.

[sadisticwarfare]

[Traffic was thankfully not as bad as it could have been, so they arrive in a timely manner. The place is nice - not formal, exactly, but it's a lively restaurant with plenty of open seats and home-cooked food that's probably incredibly fattening but very good.

They get a booth in the back and Archer takes a seat, opening the menu and examining it.]

It's funny that you brought this place up. I was just thinking about it recently.