pokebox | LOCKED TO viliorate

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, you shouldn't.

[...]

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

[...]

Shut up.

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

You're cute when you're flustered.

I'm not flustered...!

[He's very flustered.]

[Should he keep flirting?

He can keep flirting.]

[This face forever, Kimbley.]

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?

I am, yes. Shall we?

[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.]

[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?

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.

[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.

[Kimbley is a very excited man right now.

It's not very often they go out like this because of their finances, but he's never once complained about doing so.]

Were you? It's nice to hear it was on both our minds.

Of course. I suppose people do start to think alike after spending a good amount of time together.

[Though you could stand to be more cautious. Maybe you'll pick up on that eventually.]

We've been around each other long enough that's not a surprise.

[Actually, it's pretty refreshing to hear Archer admit something like that.]

Indeed. It would be stranger if we didn't rub off on one another.

[It really would be.

At least they're both garden-variety assholes instead of something more destructive.]

I'd say this is a good place to be thinking about. When things calm down some, we should come here more often.

It is a bit out of the way, but I wouldn't mind coming here more often.

[It was the first place they went to together...

No one let them know that this is actually rather cute.]

In that case, I look forward to it.

[But that's assuming things don't go to hell. With the economy in pieces, who knows what's going to happen.]

[No way, that's impossible! They aren't cute.]

Of course. It'll be nice.

[Assuming everything stays the way it is, of course...]

[It's ridiculous, but you never know. People might get ideas.

...not complete strangers, mind. But maybe the other circus performers.]

Yeah.

[....]

We should do things like this more often. Just you and me, not thinking about work.

You know how difficult it is for me to stop thinking about work.

[He's still smirking when he says it though.]

But I've always been good at distracting you, haven't I?

[It's as much a point of pride for Kimbley as it is an irritation for Archer.]

Well yes, but that's not always a good thing, Kimbley.

[He's still smirking though, if only because Kimbley seems so pleased with himself.]

[What are you talking about? It's not like he's always preventing Archer from doing his job.]

Maybe not.

[...but he likes to think it's a good thing.]

[You do it an awful lot...]

I suppose it's alright this once.

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