<p>Ioan had never been one for bars. Ey knew that there was an enormous variety of them, and that doubtless some would play to eir aesthetic and likes — the one at the base of the System Central Library came quite close — and that not all of them subscribed to the “if it’s louder, that means everyone’s having more fun” school of design.</p>
<p>There was just something about the idea, perhaps. Too much that took place in bars was, at best, confusing. At worst, it was distressing. Ey had no desire to be around the types of drunkenness that bars seemed to attract. May had a list of types of drunkenness she’d gotten from somewhere, ey knew, and ey didn’t like any of them.</p>
<p>Still, this is where Jonas had requested that they meet when ey messaged him.</p>
<p>The venue was of the sultry, dark, wood-paneled variety, with warm, dim lamps hanging pendant over each of the tables and a row of lights above the bar itself. Conversations were kept low by the dimness, with groups of three or four huddled in booths while those at the bar drank alone.</p>
<p>((There early as usual, drinking…cider?))</p>
<p>((Jonas and Zacharias arrive))</p>
<p>((Why couldn’t ey just message? Oh, ‘cause Jonas gets a kick out of dragging em around))</p>
<p>((Set date))</p>
<p>((Ioan asks whyyyy))</p>
<p>((It’s kind of as EW suspected, but in the sense that the culture of each System had already started to diverge; that’s where he and TN differed. TN truly believed that they should just kinda keep being super gentle with each just to ensure continuity, but Jonas disagrees, thinks that he can see ways in which each System needs more or less active politics))</p>
<p>((But also he’s a snarky shit about it and won’t say much more))</p>
<p>((Zacharias, meanwhile does ???))</p>
<p>((Heads back all upset because they’re good at that, EW is over and the three skunks are on the prairie))</p>
<p>((They talk about the meeting))</p>
<p>((Wargaming a few last things; they did a bunch while Ioan was out, but they’re kind of cagey talking about it because ???))</p>
<p>((They talk over dinner, we see it’s been a few weeks and Ioan and TN are getting more comfortable touching))</p>
<p>((Maybe some other stuff: - EW camping out? - Some call-back to something from before? - Ioan and May walk the plains - idk))</p>
