[RL with Birkin - technically the island probably has its own legal drinking age.]

[unknownrival]

Issei hovered near the door to the island's building. He knew Birkin was in there. He also knew Annette was in there, and Stein, and Wesker. He did not want to meet any of them. On the other hand, he had no idea where Birkin was in there.

With a sigh, he opened the door and took a tentative step inside. If this all went badly, he would blame Birkin for it. It would be his fault anyway.

Comments

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

Birkin, luckily was right inside, standing outside the kitchen with two margarita glasses and smirking. "You look utterly terrified, you know that?"

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"L...let's sit down somewhere," Issei suggested weakly. "If I'm frightened, it's because of you."

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

"No, I think it has more to do with my housemates." He led the way into the living room and plopped down on the couch, holding out one of the glasses to Issei. "Don't worry about it; they're mostly harmless."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

Issei reached out for the glass and took a small sip. "How many people would agree with you...?"

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

Birkin took a large gulp from his own glass. He made sure he didn't make them too strong, knowing he was bartending for a pair of lightweights. "No one, probably. But I'm the opinion that matters, I think."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"You do know them best." Issei took another sip, smiling at his friend. Everything was okay. This wasn't a stupid idea at all. At all.

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

Of course it wasn't. It's not like Birkin's king of the stupid ideas or anything. Hurr. "Mhmm. I guess I get to see the parts no one else does. Well, very few people do, I mean."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"You're lucky. I don't understand it at all." Issei sighed, already pretty relaxed.

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

Birkin sighed in return slightly raising his glass to Issei. "I think in order to understand it, you have to have a certain amount of moral elasticity. Or you have to actually be like us. It's probably for the best you don't understand." He took a sip.

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"I have just enough to like you," Issei answered. "That's all I really need."

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, thanks." Birkin cracked a bit of a smile. Frankly, he was under the impression that Issei was too damn forgiving of people's faults, but at this point it was hard to not really appreciate that.

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"Tell me something good that's happened. Even in such times as these, things can't be all bad." At least, Issei hoped not, for Birkin's sake.

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

"Uh. Well." Yeah, that was going to take a bit of thought. "I haven't been shot yet."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"That's... good..." Issei swallowed nervously. "There's nothing else?"

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

Birkin worried his lower lip as he thought about that. "Well, the cut on my lower back is healing nicely and probably won't scar which is good because I don't think I have the body for a tramp stamp." He leaned forward and twisted around as if to look at the cut. "I should probably get those stitches out soon..."

He made a little whining sound in the back of his throat. "Um. I think I'm nearly done with my G-virus. Actually... Done-done."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"That's wonderful!" Issei's expression brightened. "I know how much that must mean to you. Are you planning to test it on anything in particular, or...?"

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

"I need a human test subject..." He shot Issei a quick, appreciative glance before snapping his head back forward and staring at the wall. "But I should probably start smaller than that."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"M-most likely. I don't want to be infected, I don't..." There were things that even his friendship with Birkin would not help him with.

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

"I'll try to restrain myself," Birkin smirked, but he made sure it was more friendly than dangerous. He wouldn't infect Issei. Probably.

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"Let's move on to something else." Issei was getting nervous all the same, and he changed the subject. "Have you been eating well since I stopped sending you meals...? You're all right?"

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I've been fine. Mostly staying in my room, though..." He swirls the liquid in his glass. "But I get food, don't worry. Thanks for caring."

[stripping.livejournal.com]

Issei took another sip of his drink. "I don't fault you for staying out of harm's way. As long as you're healthy, I can't complain."

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

"As healthy as I ever am, I guess." Birkin shrugged and lay his head down on the back of the couch. "Do you ever wonder what your life would be like if you didn't find this place?"

[stripping.livejournal.com]

"Lonely," Issei answered instantly. "I've never been one to have many friends without the safety of a computer screen between us. There are hardships I could have avoided, true, but I also would not have met you because of it."

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

The corner of Birkin's mouth twitched into a slight smile. "I would have died alone and friendless. Now, at least, I feel like if I died, I'd be able to make peace with that. Dying's terrible, but dying among friends is slightly less so. But maybe I'm just a romantic."