Welcome to Gaia! ::

(Backdated to the 14th of Jan)

It was a Thursday night. Needless to say the bar wasn't all that busy besides the few scattered souls that probably frequented the joint on a daily basis. The blue glow of a television lit up a corner of the otherwise dimly lit room as a sports game of some sort drew the attention of a few of the customers. Gwen didn't pay the electronic any mind though as she entered the bar, discarded her winter apparel at the coat rack, and found herself a seat at the bar at the opposite end from the television, not that finding a seat was difficult.

Despite it being only a Thursday night, Gwen had made an attempt at making herself presentable. A low cut green sweater dress with 3/4 length bell sleeves, a pair of black leggings and calf high brown boots, with a small heel and her simple green pendant necklace were certainly not a Friday night out attire but worked for the casual get together she was having with a friend. Her hair had even been a quick put together with two braids knotted at the nape of her neck. Nothing fancy, but she was put together. After all, a single woman in a city needed to look presentable when out and about.

The bartender, a young woman probably no older than 23 walked over. "Rum and coke please." Gwen was usually straight forward with her drinking habits. Beer didn't agree with her palate while malts just made her feel ill. So liquor had quickly become her drink of choice, rum in particular. "Just start a tab for me please." With a nod the bartender left to prepare Gwen's drink. It wasn't long before she returned with the glass and put it down on a coaster in front of the red-head.

Gwen smiled in thanks and lifted the glass to her lips as she leaned back in her chair, legs crossed. Her attention was on the two men focused on the TV yelling curses at whatever team was winning when Gwen felt the draft of cold air. Glancing behind her she caught sight of Isaiah and smiled before beckoning him over. "Glad you came out. It's nice to have company as opposed to sitting here by myself with the rest of the drunks." She chuckled.

Gwen waved off his excuse for tardiness. "It's not a big deal. I only just got here a few minutes ago. I would have ordered you something but I didn't know what you preferred."

Her eyes drifted momentarily to the two men focused on the TV who had drawn the bartenders attention. Seemed whatever was going on with their teams was intiating a round of shots with more beer. Welp, seemed like she and Isaiah would soon be the only sober ones in the bar. For a little while anyway. "Can't say I've poured my life to a drunk before. Well, to a drunk I've never known before." She smiled as her gaze shifted back to Isaiah. "Usually the outcome is the same though. No one tends to remember anything."

Leaning slightly on the bar, Gwen grabbed her glass and gave it a gentle stir with the small straw placed in it before taking a drink. She repressed a slight cringe at the heavy alcohol to soda ratio. If the drinks kept up up that fashion Gwen was sure it wouldn't take long until she was one of the aforementioned drunks.

Pulling the coaster closer to her, Gwen placed the glass down and leaned back into her chair. "I've been alright. Nothing all that interesting going on really. And no, I've certainly not come anywhere close to sketching out the entire city. Yet." She chuckled.

"I see you've managed to loose the cane. That's always a good sign." Isaiah's hand reaching down to massage his hip certainly didn't go unnoticed. Even though the cane was no longer needed, Gwen was sure the cold and just plain exertion wasn't making it easy for him to get around. It was at that point too that she noted his unkempt dye job. She had thought the dark hair looked a bit unnatural on him and the coppery blonde roots peeking through proved that. Though, she had to admit, envisioning him with such light hair was a bit odd. Gwen didn't know Isaiah enough though to pin-point the mans declining appearance in any other department though. If nothing else he just looked worn out to her. "So how has life been treating you? No more run in's with terrorists I assume?"

Seeing that the bartender had finally appeased the sport enthralled men, Gwen flagged her down for Isaiah. "I have a tab started already if you just want to throw it on there." She said to Isaiah as she unconciously rolled the chain of her necklace between her fingers.

"Fair enough." Gwen laughed at Isaiah's comment. "I wish I could say the same but I prefer my drinks to at least be tolerable in the taste department. So I guess you could say I am a bit more picky." She shrugged and lifted the glass to her lips again, this time prepared for the taste, as the bartender made his appearance.

Gwen gave Brett a passing glance as the man stopped in front of them. The poor guy looked ready to find a nice bed and pass out for days. With how quiet of a night it was in the bar, Gwen assumed it was other things running the man into the ground. Either way it wasn't something she was about to stick her nose into. She was surprised though when Isaiah called the bartender by name. He must come her fairly often. Still she didn't say anything as Isaiah made his order. Instead she opted to sip on her rum and coke but realized the little drink wasn't going to last long. It wasn't until Brett came back with Isaiah's drink that she interrupted. "Um, could you get me a Long Island?" It was always a risk asking for the Long Island. Either it was wonderful or just absolutely horrible. By the looks of Isaiah's Tequila Sunrise though she had high hopes.

Brett nodded at her and walked off to concoct the drink just as Isaiah began talking. "Well that's good at least. I guess the only way to get it back to normal is to not baby it. Just, don't push yourself too hard." She was genuinely worried that the man would do just that. His personality just seemed to fall into the category of someone who would push boundaries to get what he wanted.

"Wait....what?" She sat up straighter. Her glass, void of any liquid besides water from the melting ice, went to the table. "I read about a fire hitting a condo complex. I had no clue that was where you lived." She ran her hand over her hair in a fidgety sort of motion. "I am glad you're alright!" Well that certainly explained his appearance. She couldn't blame him one bit for being a bit unkempt.

"How nice of whoever it was to save your cat." She said with a touch of sarcasm. "Don't get me wrong, I am glad your cat is fine, but why? And why are you living with someone who may have had something to do with it?" At this point Gwen was seriously worried for Isaiah and it was at this point that Brett stopped back with her drink which she immediately took a sip of. Thankfully there was some good news of the night, and that was Brett was able to make a decent Long Island.

"How long are you going to be forced to crash at this persons place? I can't imagine living with someone who may or may not have been partially the cause of me loosing everything." She shook her head gently.

"Well I can't say that I blame you. If I were in your shoes I'd be drinking as well." She paused and held up her drink slightly. "I can't let you drink alone though. That just wouldn't be right. So, here's to tonight." She smiled, trying to cheer up the situation as she took another drink from her long island.

It was becoming very obvious to Gwen that Isaiah managed to get himself stuck in the middle of a rather large mess. Whomever it was that had pissed off this party must have done a marvelous job of it. "That was one hell of a fire than." She murmured as Isaiah described his condo and he was right. It would have taken quite an amount of gasoline to create a fire hot enough to raze the building.

Drink temporarily forgotten, Gwen leaned over towards Isaiah as he produced the pictures on his phone. A hand on his shoulder steadied her as she studied the images with furrowed brows."Bring me what I ask for?" Shifting she leaned back to her own seat, her hand sliding off his shoulder and down his arm a bit in the process. "Do you have any idea what they are talking about?" She shook her head. "Either way you got yourself in the middle of a big mess." She wasn't about to say it, but she was afraid for him. Sure, they were still very new to each other, but that didn't mean anything to Gwen.

Rotating the bar stool a bit towards Isaiah, to give herself a bit more room, Gwen crossed her legs. Her focus remained on the dark haired man as she reached for her drink and sipped idly on it through the straw that had been placed in it to use as a stirrer if needed. She cringed a bit at the alcohol flavor that assaulted her taste buds and promptly gave the drink a stir to reincorporate the settling flavors.

The straw settled between her lips again as she took another sip. At the same time an idea struck her and she hastily pulled the drink away and placed it on the bar with an audible clank, one of her hands going to his knee. "If you're looking for another apartment to stay in why don't you save yourself the trouble and just move in with me? I've got an extra bedroom and the place is big enough for two people." She smiled. "I've even got a bed in the spare bedroom set up from when Dallen visits. Of course you'll have to deal with my dog, Reilly, but he's well behaved. He'll just need to warm up to you, and you're more than welcome to bring your cat."

She pulled back her hand as she made a small sweeping motion. "This is all assuming you'd want to share an apartment with me." She winked. "I mean, I don't know if I would. It would work out though. You'd get out of the situation you're in and I'd finally have some much needed company."

The sight of Isaiah nearly dying from his inhaled drink left Gwen torn between laughing hysterically and being legitimately concerned for him. So, as a compromise between the two emotions, Gwen choked out apologies and concerns through tears of laughter as she reached forward to put a hand on his back in an attempt to sooth him. "Oh I didn't mean...So sorry. Are you....alright?" She had never personally been subjected to the cold hard burn of alcohol in her sinuses but she imagined it was far from being anywhere near pleasant by the redness in Isaiah's face.

As the man slowly began to rebound from the alcohol assault, Gwen began to collect herself as well and sat back. She wiped tears from her eyes, taking care to not rub away any make-up that had managed to stay in place throughout the outburst. Needless to say, some masscare didn't survive and Gwen prayed she had managed to get it all and that she didn't look like a racoon. She certainly didn't want to look like a disheveled mess in front of Isaiah. The bar drunks. Well, she doubted they'd remember much of the evening.

Finally under control, Gwen reached over and grabbed her drink. She gave it a stir as a small chuckled escaped her before taking a sip. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to catch you off guard." She supressed another chuckle. A quick glance at her drink confirmed her giddiness was the result of the three quarter finished drink. She certainly didn't remember drinking that much already. Ah well.

"I would be hurt if you said no." She said mockingly, a hand on her chest. "But no, really, I am glad to help. We can try it for a few days and if it works out, great, if not" She shrugged. "Then feel free to look for somewhere else to stay."

Playing with the straw in her drink she mused. "I'll have to let Dallen know to not spring anymore surprise visits on me." Having a distinct feeling that the evening was going to end with her having to nurse a hang over tomorrow, Gwen reached into the little clutch that housed her essentials and pulled out her phone. A quick text, still quite readable in her tipsy state, was swiftly sent off to her brother. "There. That's taken care of." She let the device sit on the bar as she turned her attention back to Isaiah.

"So, I have a spare key back at the apartment that I can give you. Besides the bed there's not much in the spare room besides a small, rather girly dresser." She looked a little apologetic at that. "I hope white wood with small floral insets is your style." Though she knew very well it wasn't.

Isaiah's comment was not completely missed by the young woman, but the intention behind it certainly was. None-the-less, her attention was very fixed by the poor man nursing an abused nose and sinuses. At this point the alcohol was making her rather tipsy which was unsurprising given she had always been the light weight of the family. Her father and brother constantly teased her and swore she wasn't Irish because of it. Her tolerance to the liquids never made her second guess drinking them though. So, with a gesture she called Bret back and opted to order herself another rum and coke. Better to stick with things she was use to drinking. The Long Island had been a nice treat but hit hard.

Making sure to finish off the drink before Brett returned with a new one, Gwen smiled. "Dallen is just my younger brother. He sometimes likes to drop in and visit me since he knew I've been living alone." Wonder what he'll think about me having a good looking guy as a roommate. Dallen has always made it obvious he expected Gwen to get a female roomie. Oh well. She wasn't one to really worry about what others thought. "It's not often he does it though since he goes to school in New York. Usually just on his breaks or long weekends."

New drink in hand, Gwen sipped the beverage. Whether or not it tasted any different from the first one was lost to her. "Hm, I don't have any problems with you coming over tonight if you'd like. This way I can give you the key and then you can move in whenever you have the time. I have everything you'd need for a single night, I think." Not that she was thinking much in the sense past a bed, pillows, and clothes. The clothes department was also sketchy seeing how Dallen was much more bulky than Isaiah, but that wasn't something her mind was putting together at the moment.

"So," She raised her glass a bit. "Here's to you getting out of a bad situation and me finally having company." She smiled warmly. The rosey tint on her cheeks a good indicator that she was no longer sober and happily on the road to drunk.

Another gulp of the rum and coke down, Gwen sighed contently. "I really hope you're as far along as I am on the drinking situation." She laughed. "Otherwise I may have just shown you how much of a drunken lightweight I am."

Gwen raised a brow at Isaiah as she played with the straw in her drink, enjoying the sound of the ice hitting the glass. "Have a few run in's with brothers?" She laughed and set the glass down after taking another drink from it. "Dallen won't do anything. He may puff himself up and try to play the protective brother game but he's harmless, really. Besides, classes only just resumed. He probably won't be visiting anytime soon."

Gwen sighed contently as she leaned back in her chair. She was well into the stage of her face being pleasantly numb. In fact, she was fighting the urge to use the restroom, afraid to break that metaphorical seal and begin an annoying potty parade. She looked down at her drink, tearing her gaze from Isaiah. Maybe it was the alcohol, but Gwen found herself quite interested in Isaiah. Interested in a way she'd not been in a man for a long time. Still, even liquid courage wasn't enough to break through old walls.

"I am only thinking about what is easier for the both of us. Not to mention, it gets you out of a shitty situation as soon as possible. I don't much like the idea of someone being caught up in something nasty if it can be helped. Plus, it save you from dealing with the aroma of those buses." She chuckled.

The short glass of rum and coke was practically gone at this point. Gwen sucked on the small straw, quickly illiciting the tell-tale sound of an empty glass. "Hm, my face always gives it away." She practically pouted. "Irish or not, I am a cheap date at a bar. Practice never did me much good except have me nursing hangovers the following morning." Laughing she placed the now empty glass on the bar, taking care to put her coaster on top of it, signaling she was finished for the night. "To be honest I probably shouldn't drive tonight, but it's too damn cold out to walk, and the apartment isn't too far from here. I really should have known better and, like you, took public transit." Grabbing her clutch she pulled out the cash she had brought along and placed it on the bar. Enough to cover her drinks and Isaiah's plus a decent tip for Brett.

Needless to say Gwen was highly enjoying herself in Isaiah's easy company. The quietness of the bar, now that whatever game was on the TV was over, was appeasing. Not to mention, with the alcohol in her system, made it easier for her to focus. She always seemed to be a bit flighty in highly social areas once drunk. "Anyway..." She smiled. "We should probably head back to the apartment before I decide another drink is in order and then I'll definitely not be in any state to drive."

With as much care as she could muster, Gwen slipped out of the bar seat. A hand on Isaiah's shoulder was enough to steady her and keep her from an embarrassing stumble. Though, she was pleasantly surprised she wasn't as drunk as she had thought. Despite the numbness in her face, her legs felt relatively fine once she was on her feet. Retrieving her coat and scarf, she slipped the outerwear on taking care to bundle herself up well. Gwen had never been much fond of the cold.

"I am the little red car parked right down the street." She said as she pulled the keys from her clutch and pushed a button on the key fob before stuffing her phone inside the small bag so she wouldn't loose or drop it. "It should be unlocked."