inthecenterfold | #52 -- Woken from the Nightmare

[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.]

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From:

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[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.]

From:

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[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.

From:

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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?

From:

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[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?

From:

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?

From:

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.

Edited Date: 2011-05-13 06:55 am (UTC)

From:

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.]

From:

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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.

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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.]

From:

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.]

Edited Date: 2011-05-16 06:13 am (UTC)

From:

drivetothewest.livejournal.com

Ah ha ha... I tend to have a bit of a bad habit when it comes to hiding my expression. I'm certain it's not you.

[While the laugh is stilted the smile isn't, and somehow just spending time like this has Jeep feeling more relaxed than ever before. Sipping his beer (still wishing he had a glass), he lets his gaze sweep over the bar again.

Yes, there was something really familiar about all of this.]

...would you stay here, if you could?

From:

inthecenterfold.livejournal.com

[Of all people to ask him that, it had to be Jeep. It made him think back to when he'd first met Hakkai, and the promise he made. Finding out about everything since then - like how much hanyou were despised - made the answer now easier even than back then.

He nodded solemnly.] Would, did - but for one important reason. [He gestured up to the list of specialty drinks.] Every drink up there was named and concocted to remember the people most important to me. I can't list the names out on the menu, but I could tell you who they all are.

[Then he looked back at Jeep.] I'm not so naive to say this place is a paradise - I know it's fucked up, in plenty of ways, but... Still I think it's better than where I - we - came from. I'm just Smoke here, not That Hanyou Bastard or whatever.

So all I want anymore is... if I go anywhere else, like getting the hell outta here, it's with everybody on board. Even annoying-as-sin blonds.

From:

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[Gazing over at the list of drinks, Jeep's green eyes wandered over the colorful and appetizing names. It was an unusual elegy, but still unmistakable.

Then Smoke mentioned hanyou and the brunette cringed slightly. 'Hanyou bastard'. Whatever it meant, it made his skin prickle, like little angry goosebumps. Absently, he reached up and touched the ear cuffs on his left side before forcing down his feelings.]

...I believe I could be happy here, too. It is, as you say, not without its problems. But I'd rather not go back to a place as dark as my dream suggested.

[He smiles slightly, and it's unusually calm and genuine.]

A second chance.

[Finishing his beer, he put it down and then nodded at Gojyo, that smile rising a few degrees in sharpness.]

Another, please. Do be kind to give me a mug or a glass, this time.

From:

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[He personally didn't see the point if you were planning on drinking the whole unit - bottle, can, whatever - in using a glass. Just one more thing he had to wash.]

So he chuckled a little at the request. For you, fine, a glass. [He pulled a whiskey glass out and, unbidden, dropped two ice cubes in it as well. This he prepared to set on the bar, under a coaster that his free hand snatched up once the ice tongs were down. Then, he reached over to grab another beer bottle off the shelf and pop it open, easy as pie, then filled the glass most of the way. He set the open bottle down by the glass, then slid both towards Jeep.]

You're right, though - everybody gets second chances here, and gets to decide what to do with 'em. [He finished off his own beer, then indicated to Jeep while still holding the empty bottle.] Doesn't have to be as dark as we see in dreams and memory crystals, alright?

From:

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[It was just more proper! This is just the top of the iceberg, Smoke. If you ever let him into your house...]

Thank you.

[Pluspoints for the ice and the coaster, Mr. Barman!]

...no. I suppose it does not have to be. Perhaps that is part of the reason why we come here in the first place.

From:

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[He has been doing this awhile now~]

Hmm, you think so? Never worried much about that part, to be honest. For awhile it was hard enough just remembering how to fight with that damn weapon of mine so I didn't get splattered.

From:

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Your weapon?

[He took a sip of his beer, and then nodded.]

Ah, for your work as a guard?

From:

inthecenterfold.livejournal.com

Oh, right. [He kept forgetting there were people who'd never seen his weapon before, but especially Jeep because he was still so new.] It's uh... this really weird staff thing with a chain. And this was long before I took up Guard work - this was back when our evil twins showed up and I had to fight mine.

From:

drivetothewest.livejournal.com

[Jeep looks thoughtful at that, tapping his lower lip as he ponders for a brief moment.]

Well, I suppose that makes sense. One leader, one fighter and one supportive member of a team.

[That didn't include the child, though. Mascot?]

From:

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[It said a lot about how long Smoke had been in Edensphere - and why he wasn't the brains of any outfit - that he had absolutely no idea what Jeep was talking about.]

Haaaa?

From:

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[Blinking, Jeep looks at Smoke and the chuckles.]

Ah, I'm sorry. I was thinking about what Moon told us about traveling together. It seemed like a good setup for a team.

From:

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[He laughs and throws his hand on the table.]

You think we were a team? Hell man, have you seen how well we don't get along? I can barely believe we were able to travel together and not slit each other's throats. I wouldn't have believed it if I'd heard the first hint of it from Moon himself.

From:

drivetothewest.livejournal.com

[He calmly smiles at that.]

Now, now... I'm sure he must have some forgiving factors that makes it possible for us to travel with him? I do not see why we would, otherwise. Especially not if we are supposed to protect or follow him.

[Then the smile becomes slightly more taunting, finishing his glass of beer.]

Or perhaps he has us bound.