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 Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 11:26 pm
It was almost the end of Luke's shift. Five minutes left to his shift. But there would be more if his co-worker was late. Luke was serving another drink to a regular, sliding the drink across the counter.
"Ed says he's coming in five minutes!" A co-worker shouted out to Luke from across the room, the cell phone in his hand was evident that the other bartender was on the other line. "Gotcha!" Luke shouted back in return, cupping his hands around his mouth to emphasize the response.
It was a so-so night, customers filtering in and out. It wasn't empty. But it wasn't full. But overall, it wasn't a bad night. At least, on the inside of the bar. It was a quaint bar, the wooden theme resembling a modern tavern of sorts. It wasn't a flashy cub but rather a large bar accompanied with reasonably priced drinks and low music. The bell tinkled as another customer coming into the bar.
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Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 11:53 pm
Tony, under normal circumstances, would have had to chastise himself for going to the bar so frequently. It was a bad habit he was forming, and it was not very becoming of a man who had prided himself on how far he had come in his life. He had been a punk kid with no direction, after all. Now he had a career, a life, and a focus. He didn't need things like alcohol. Or at least he hadn't.
It was just a rough patch, he told himself, finishing off his drink and motioning for another. He canceled it, though, thinking that maybe it would be a good idea if her went home.
If he needed more booze he had some there, anyway.
He was sitting at the bar for a long moment after deciding to go home, and distantly heard the bartenders talking to one another. Maybe one more drink wouldn't hurt.
"Hey, can I get another?"
He knew he was probably interrupting a conversation, but he was the customer, right? And he wanted to be served. He was well on the road to drunk, so his common sense and inhibitions were a bit impeded.
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Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 1:23 am
Luke took his attention from his co-worker to the only customer sitting at the bar. "Sure. Although you've been drinking for awhile-- You're not driving home right? Safety reasons and all that. Call me a idiot but I'm not looking forward to a car accident when I get off here." Luke shook his head, setting up another drink for the man. He didn't want a dead man on his watch if he could help it. Luke may be a douche but he wasn't a murderer.
He faced the man directly as he slid over another drink to him (it was diluted. A bit. More than a bit.) Luke was horrid with faces but this face struck a familiar chord with him.
"Hey-- I know you! The question is, where do I know you from?" Luke tried to think of a possible nickname he could have come up for this man-- but somehow he didn't have any. It wasn't someone he had met personally.. but someone he was acquainted with?
"Uhh--" The pause lengthened, a blank spot forming. It was at the tip of his tongue really, if he could just make it come out.
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Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:16 am
"No, not driving," he said, shaking his head slowly, "limping, but there's no law against drunk limping." He grinned, though his tone was less than jovial. He was rather bitter about his leg, and considering the alcohol in his system he wasn't too shy about letting that be obvious. Most of the time he just did what he had to, and got by.
Tony wasn't sure why he never took his 'new' used car, either. He had bought it because he was tired of walking, and now when he finally could use it he was opting to walk instead. He had been in a coma before, which justified not driving, but now with his bum leg it would be a good idea to drive around. But he wasn't.
Which was fine tonight, at any rate.
He took the drink, not noticing how diluted the bartender had made it, though he did wrinkle his nose in distaste when he felt something was off about it.
Glancing at the bartender, he tried to search his mind for a previous meeting, but all the library faces tend to blur together. He offered a shrug. "Library, maybe. I am the librarian, after all. If you're much of a reader. Not that I am. I work there, but I don't really like reading. Funny, I think, that."
He tended to babble a bit when he had a few too many drinks in him.
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 10:03 pm
"No. I definitely can't say I'm a reader. Dude, why work somewhere where you don't like? You're one funny dude." Luke was wiping down the last of the glass cups at this point, directing a friendly wave towards the late employee who ducked in sheepishly from the back.
He glanced over at the babbling man with a smile, still trying to vaguely place his looks from somewhere.
"WAIT." The declaration came suddenly as it hit him. "Dude, you know a male named 'Sylth?' I think you guys pulled a stunt back a couple of years ago. He'd be a blond guy like me, went abroad about a year back? Uh, he looks a little like me. Red eyes, tall and a huge troublemaker." Luke tried to describe him, hoping to jar the man's memory. He definitely recognized this man-- no wonder Luke never had a nickname for him!
"Let me tell you, it was some stunt."
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Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 9:02 am
"Well, no, I mean, I don't not like the job. I love books. I just don't love reading. Reading is ah... boring, I think, and... boring." He sighed. His vocabulary seemed to be one of the first things to suffer from his intoxication, though he told himself to just try harder and he could at least avoid using the same word twice in the same sentence like that. Of course something boring was boring.
Anyway, if the boy couldn't think of why they seemed to know each other, he certainly couldn't. Though, to his credit, the bartender was on to something. Looking at him now, Tony thought he could sense a vague air of familiarity about him...
He nearly fell off his bar stool when the bartender suddenly had a realization.
"What?!" he asked, sheltering his drink carefully, in case something else happened that might make him tip it. He watched Luke in bafflement, but his expression slowly changed to realization when he asked about Sylth. He blinked a few times, thrown off that someone so young would have any idea about the 'good old days'.
Or bad, depending on what mood he was in when asked about them.
"Of course! Good lord, that was a trip. We very nearly- wait, how do you know about that? You're not him," drunk Tony was a bit slower than sober Tony, though it was doubtful he would have figured it out by now either considering how slow he could sometimes be. He liked to consider it 'charmingly oblivious', but most of the time he was just being dumb.
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Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 11:33 pm
"Well, I'm not him, that's for sure." Luke chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm his little brother. I used to see you a lot with my brother-- I was a little (but adorable) tyke back then. I dont think you would have remembered me." Luke explained, slipping out from behind the counter to allow room for the incoming bartender. Honestly, who called themselves cute? Luke, naturally.
"Tony, right? I don't have a nickname for you yet but I will. So, tell me, why are you here drinking your heart out? Or don't tell me." He shrugged, chin resting in hand, elbow resting on the counter. Luke was volunteering to play the role of "confidant stranger" but who knew how long that might last?
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 4:08 pm
The drunken man tilted his head to the side, listening to the bartender as he spoke. Ah, that made sense. And explained the similarity between the two. He nodded slowly, grinning a bit.
"Did you just call yourself adorable? Not too modest, you, huh?"
He was noticing things he normally wouldn't have commented on. When he was sober he was polite and thoughtful, not just saying whatever came into his head. If he had notice someone speak about themselves in a conversation while sober, he wouldn't have called attention to it, since it was always a bit strange to call things like that out.
At least for him.
"Yeah, Tony. Uh. Why am I... I don't quite remember, honestly," he laughed, "but ah, I guess that must be the point. Are you sure you're old enough to be working in a place like this?" He rubbed his eyes with one hand, a tired gesture.
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 5:06 pm
"Modesty has long failed on me. My ego's the size of the world already." Luke said with mock regret, shaking his head. But the comment failed to deter his cheerful mood, one hand pushed Anthony's drink to the side.
"I'm old enough. Enough worrying about me-- why dont I get you out of here and pull you out of this drinking habit? You've drank more than enough and we'll go out and do something fun. Unless you think that a young whippersnapper like me should be at home at this time of the night?" Luke teased, stretching out his wrinkled jacket to insert an arm through it, his jacket passed over by a fellow employee.
"C'mon-- it won't be too dangerous. Much. Don't tell me you've straightened out and became a reformed librarian?" He asked, his expression skeptical, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
That would end his night on a sour note-- reformed men were simply sticks in the mud. No fun at all.
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 5:54 pm
He laughed. At least the kid had spunk. An ego could do harm, but then again confidence was something Tony lacked these days, and he knew it. It was why he was so timid in company sometimes, and why he was so often trapped in awkward situations. He hated that side of himself, really, but also knew that he was better for dropping the ego he had carried through his youth.
But his had been reckless, and tied into a lot of trouble. Hopefully Luke was not the same way.
He looked at his drink when Luke pushed it away, frowning thoughtfully. Now why would he go and do something like that? It clearly wasn't finished. He looked at him with this question on his face.
"Not too dangerous huh? I guess I can agree to that," he sighed, getting up off the bar stool successfully without falling over. He laughed. "I'm mostly reformed. We'll call some of the 'episodes' I have 'momentary relapses'."
He grinned though, a dangerous look he only got when he was really looking for trouble. It was mostly driven out of him, but it seemed to be able to surface when his guard, and his faculties, were down.
"But what does a young whippersnapper like you know about 'fun' anyway? Your brand of fun probably involves... skateboards. Or video games."
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Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 10:15 pm
"Momentary relapse time then!" Luke stated cheerfully,opening the exit for Tony with a wide grin. He liked that look on Tony's face-- it was much too similar to his own. That was the best part. Obviously, these man had a goal and they were going to get to that goal.
"That's insulting, even to a whippersnapper like me! Do you take me for some nine year old kid? With a brother like mine, I'd think you'd take me a little more seriously--" Luke spoke in a fake tone, clearly indicating his massively offended nature.
"I've got an idea!" His arm slung around Ton'y neck, he forced the drunk man to lean in to whisper his idea. It was a mumble to anyone else listening in-- but the best idea to the two men whispering to each other.
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Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 1:42 pm
"Oooh, right. I forgot the concept of fun was hereditary," he had to take two attempts to get that word out, but he managed it with as much grace as a man who had a few too many drinks could. He wasn't falling down drunk, after all, and could keep himself together, for the most part.
Save when it came to making good decisions, of course. That part of his brain was taking a nap, and would not need to be disturbed until the morning.
And by that time it would be too late to do anything about this 'momentary relapse'.
"An idea? Did it hurt?" he grinned, teasing, hunching down when he was tugged. He was lucky he didn't tumble forward from the surprise arm around his neck, but he managed to sustain his footing well enough. He listened, grinning.
Tony hadn't done a good hold fashioned break in for a while. Did he even remember how to get into a building without getting caught? And with no time to case any places. This was going to be an interesting little game. They had to make sure to pick some place good.
"I like the way you think, little Sylth," he said with a grin.
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:04 pm
"Where should we go.." Luke contemplated as he let go of Tony to ponder on the sidewalk, looking down the street. Green eyes stared around curiously, bright and alert to anyone who may be a danger to the plan.
Thinking.. Thinking..
"It's gotta be something so utterly useless that'll give a shopowner complete and utter bafflement, wondering why they heck they stole it." Luke decided, turning his head towards Tony's way for confirmation.. or rejection. But one would learn that Luke and rejection didn't go well hand in hand since he usually moved on to what he wanted anyways. They needed to formulate some plan.. or at least half-way. With a man who didn't usually plan and a nearly-if-not-drunk librarian, they weren't likely to think too far ahead. But far enough not to get caught.
"Also somewhere that we wont get caught. No offense dude but your running capabilities may not be in top shape right now." Luke tactfully commented (or as close to tact as he could get.)
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 11:17 am
Tony laughed. He nodded his head eagerly in agreement, then stopped when everything started to spin in a very strange way. He put his hand to his head, steadying himself, then cleared his throat and offered Luke a grin.
"Alright, I think I know a place. I mean, just like a little store. But it's like, ah, it's like a children's toy shop. I don't think it's ever been hit. I mean, like, no one's stolen from it because why would they?"
He grinned, thinking this idea was great, and he was so eager he was just stumbling over his words. He knew they could do it, as it would be an easy target, had no alarm, and no one would know why the hell they would steal from it.
Especially if they didn't go for money, but for some silly toy or something. So long as it was noticible.
"And hey. I can still outrun you if the cops showed up. Which is exactly what I would do."
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:36 pm
"That's a great idea, my man!" Luke slapped the other on the back with enthusiasm, one hand clenching into a fist, pumping into the air in a gesture that said "this is awesome!"
"And hey. I can still outrun you if the cops showed up. Which is exactly what I would do."
"You know, if I was a lesser man, I'd be offended. But since I'm a man who's highly experienced in the way of the street, I'd outrun you too. After all, the weak don't make it out unscathed." Luke gave Tony a thumbs up with a wink, tying his headband tighter in a show of prepared victory.
"Let's go! Lead the way." He motioned for Tony to go on, a devious glint lighting up both of their eyes. "Or actually, tell me the way. We'll get there and outta there fast with my motorcycle." Luke dangled his keys, showing off a key decorated with several blue music notes and other accessories. "It's right over there." He pointed to a motorcycle parked, the sleek black vehicle designed with blasts of color and designs. He looked so ridiculously proud of it-- but any man could understand that a vehicle was a man's pride and joy. Destroy his vehicle and you destroyed his life.
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