The man who shouldered his way into the tavern hardly stood out among some of the other fancily-dressed guests, though his pressed suit was staunchly black against the sharp reds of the decorations. A pair of sharp blue eyes slid over the crowd until they landed squarely on a young blonde man's face, his vulpine expression flickering with genuine surprise. Strange to see Ava's little friend in a place like this, and not joined-at-the-hip with that obnoxious redhead, either.
Cody looked up with a start as Cyril's shadow loomed over him, his eyes wide as saucers as he stared up at the other man. "Oh," Cody's voice squeaked out, drawing into himself where he sat. "C--Cyr--"
"No need to hurt yourself, now," Cyril murmured, leaning an elbow on the bar where Cody sat, whistling at the bartender and ordering something. Cody's eyes were on his lap, where his phone rested, about to type in Zane's number before Cyril's presence acted as a wrecking-ball to his plans. Actually, quite the contrary, his plans to call Zane were only amplified now. "It's funny, seeing you here. It's been awhile."
"Yeah," Cody said, mouth dry, as he started typing out a slow, careful text to Zane. "How's... um. How's A-ava? It feels like forever since she and I have talked."
Good, Cyril's wry smile seemed to say. That's how it should be. "She's quite busy with her finals. Hardly any time for much of anything but painting."
"That's good... I-I mean," Cody corrected himself, cringing under Cyril's icy stare, and hurriedly continued typing.
C: I took a walk down to the city. I'm at a bar. Don't know where but Cyril is here. I'm sorry for tonight. I'm really sorry and I need an out, I'm really scared. Call me?Send. Cody looked back up at Cyril, who now seemed to be distracted with a drink, at least. "Um--I-I should probably get going..."
"Bartender--a drink for my friend here?" Cyril interrupted Cody, and eyed him sharply, patting the seat where Cody had just gotten up from. "What's your poison, anyhow, Winborne?"
Cody swallowed, his throat bobbing, and slowly sat down again. "C-cider is... fine," he whispered, voice nearly drowned out in the crowd. The phone in his pocket remained silent.
[Claiming Day 11!]