#52 -- Woken from the Nightmare

[inthecenterfold]

[His handwriting's pretty messy since it still hurts to write.]

Here's a tip for all you new kids - don't ever leave your journal behind. Ever ever. Or you may get lost in the Wilderness alone for 3 weeks (or more!) with no way to ask for help and no way out.

And if you do, then all you can do is hope the Adventurers do their job - and they do; try thanking 'em sometime - 'cuz it'll have to be one of them who drags your sorry ass back out of there.

Smoke

[Not that he's bitter about the experience, of course not. He's been here long enough to know better and not make these mistakes, you know.]

Comments

Re: hee

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

Really? ... Never stopped me before.

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

It's that a sign of addiction~?

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

More like a sign that I spend a lot of time around the bar for a number of reasons.

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

I noticed that it was named after you. Will you go back to managing it?

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

Actually more like I named it :) but yeah, Kagerou and I run it together now.

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

That must be nice, leaving a solid impression in the Sphere by creating a business.

Perhaps I could come by an evening when you work, and we'll have a drink after you close?

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

It was pretty nice to come back to, yeah.

You'll be awake that late?

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

I will make an exception for you.

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

Pick a night then, man.

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

Friday?

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

Sure thing. I'll be there, of course.

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

I'll seen you later, then.

[Friday QL!]

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

[And Smoke is there waiting, and as the last patron leaves he's wiping the bar - save one spot. He pats it, allowing Jeep to take the spot.]

What'll ya have, okyaku-san*? [In his best Businessman/Bartender voice, of course.]

[[*OOC: customer]]

[Friday QL!]

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

[Giving a not-too plastic smile, Jeep looked up to meet Smoke's eyes.]

Do you have anything you recommend?

[He was quite amused at seeing Smoke work, though he wasn't sure why.]

[Friday QL!]

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

[Frankly, if you asked him within his first month in Edensphere if he could see himself working - even at a bar - he'd have been just as quick to laugh about it.]

Used to be this thing called The All Nighter, woulda' been perfect for right about now, but since that's off the menu...

Exotic Freeze. [He counts out the ingredients on his fingers.] Cherry & strawberry chunks, crushed ice, some whip-cream in it, amaretto, blended and with a bit of whip-cream on top too.

[Friday QL!]

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

My goodness, that sounds like a whole dessert.

[It really did. Looking a bit thoughtful, Jeep then shook his head.]

I believe it would be a little too sweet for me. Perhaps some wine, or maybe beer?

[Friday QL!]

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

[He laughs - only reason he suggested it was because it was Aurora's associated drink in his mind.]

Beer I can do, no prob.

[He quickly reaches down for two bottles gripped between the fingers of his right hand, along with a bottle opener in his left. With a single stroke for each bottle, he uncaps them and sets the bottle opener to the side. Then, he slides one of the beer bottles across the countertop towards Jeep.]

[Then, he holds up his own bottle.] Cheers?

[Friday QL!]

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

[Catching the beer with ease, Jeep was slightly dismayed that he would have to drink it from the bottle - but he was too polite to mention it. Their relationship wasn't really a relationship yet, so he'd tone down the urge to nag for now.]

[Even if it was really tempting.]

Cheers.

[Taking a sip, Jeep found that the beer was drinkable. Quite good, even.]

How was your day?

[Friday QL!]

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

[He laughed.] What, gonna keep up the domestic thing even now?

[Despite his grumping, he indulged the other man.] It's nice being back here, won't lie. Guard stuff always feels like work, but around here... [He made a casual gesture around the room.] Feels like home.

[Friday QL!]

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

Ah ha ha, do I take the domestic route a lot?

[But his smile was more genuine now, listening to Smoke's words. It was almost sweet, the way the other man spoke of the bar.]

It is a very nice place, so I can understand that it feels like home. It's something you've made with your own hands.

[And Smoke had been here for a very, very long time.]

[Friday QL!]

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

Eh, often enough. [He smirked, then took a swig of his beer.]

Not just my hands, though, man - place's been rebuilt from the ground up twice and under someone else's management twice too.

[He ran his hand along the bar itself.]

It's changed all those times, but it's still here.

[Friday QL!]

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

...like a proof of the life here in Edensphere.

[Looking at the bar, Jeep was rather impressed that it's still standing, after all he'd heard had happened in the Sphere. He wasn't sure how many places here had been made by the population, but is was still quite amazing to see such a heritage in a chaotic world.]

I will have to come here more often.

[Drinking some more beer, he then looked slightly thoughtful.]

You seem happy, here.

[Friday QL!]

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

[The sentiment made Smoke smile.]

There wasn't nothing here when I woke up for the first time. All I wanted was cigarettes and booze - one I could get, the other was harder. I bummed around for awhile before my first roommate and I realized that if there wasn't a bar, then I could actually just... build one. I started out as one of the fix-it guys around here.

[He twisted the beer around a bit.] It was a lot of work, man - I haven't spent that much money or effort on a chick, let alone any other occupation.

It's really, really weird for me, I won't lie, but... it felt weirder not to have a place like this for people to come to, gather in, play cards, drink, just have a good time.

Re: [Friday QL!]

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

[Definitely happy, here. Perhaps he shouldn't speak about the memory at all. Smoke seemed so content with his life here, and something told Jeep that the other man had started over here in Edensphere.

Moon had advised him to let go of his past and stay away from the memory crystals. It seemed like he had been right; it would be possible to start a new life here, with a new name.

Even if that meant that they had to rediscover their friendship as well.]

...I like it.

[Not only the bar.]

[Friday QL!]

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

[He leaned on the bar with one elbow propped up.] That surprises me, coming from you. Not sure why.

[And then he just stares at Jeep's face, scrutinizing it with a goofy expression on his face.] About as much as it surprises me when I can actually read you. I'm never bad at that.

[He meant bad at reading people in general, but it worked a little too well to mean Jeep himself as well.]