[Mingle] Sunday Night, Asphodel Bar

[windupgadget]

Despite the popular draw of alcohol, the local bar didn't see much regular service. If people wanted a good time, with lots of food and karaoke, they went down to that one place down near the port, and ordered a drink there. And besides that, only a small handful bothered at all, when it felt like everybody worked every single day. Who had the time?

Except this weekend the whole town had gone off its rocker, and if there was anything all of them could use, it was an escape. Unfortunately, it was having questionable results. The later it got, the more people screamed at the games showing on the televisions, or sobbed into their cups, or just outright punched someone who looked at them the wrong way.

Too bad the staff looked too frayed themselves to bother kicking the last sort out.

Comments

[windupgadget]

-some drinkers, though, fell into the fourth category of just ignoring the outbursts of everyone else in favor of stewing quietly alone.

Shiki fell into that group. All she wanted was to come in, get one drink, and kill enough time she could walk the block home and go to bed without thinking anymore about today or seeing anything else. Unfortunately she was setting herself up for failure, with people around her reminding her of her own frantic customers, and this damage claim still unfilled in front of her.

But if anyone's looking for a semi-safe place to sit, the stool by her is empty, and her haunted face is certainly a step up from the guy two seats down sogging up his burger.

[blackshadow]

Etienne didn't usually drink. It didn't agree with him, went all to his head, and the fact he wasn't particularly tall or heavy meant that he was literally and figuratively a lightweight.

Which, honestly, was all the more reason to slide down beside the most sane-looking person there. Even if he was one of the puffy-eyed, barely-groomed masses in an old t-shirt and torn jeans, he still considered himself a little better than the people that were intermittently screaming and crying. Heaviness in his chest aside, at least he had enough control to keep himself from bawling in public.

Right. He shot Shiki a half-smile like an apology. "Hey," he grumbled, voice barely above a whisper despite what he told himself. "You're not saving this seat, right?"

[windupgadget]

Shiki didn't even notice the approach, honed in on the dizzy ache in her head. Not that pleasant but she'd take it, all things considered. But the quiet question slowly filters through and she blinks a dazed glance Etienne's way.

She shrugs, stiff and wavering slightly with the effort, before leaning her elbows on the bar and rubbing her eyes. She shouldn't be reading in the dark. Not on a buzz. (She really couldn't have more than a shot, huh?)

"...nope, I'm alone." And while he sits, she can take a second to survey her company. Doesn't look the best, but then who was she to talk? At least he didn't look ready to punch something. "-the bar tender stepped out, though. Bathroom run, I think."

It seemed wrong to rat out he'd been sniffling at the time.

[negativegate]

Mariella almost never drank; it was a waste of time that clouded her mind. But tonight, she didn't want to think--her parents were being a mess, she felt like she wanted to start screaming-

And scream she did, at someone who got in her way, before she stormed over to the bar and took the first empty seat that she found, which happened to be next to Shiki. She screeched a high-pitched order for something strong and sweet, and then turned to her neighbour, whom she vaguely recognized from that day in the park.

"Don't tell me you're the only one not breaking down, here!"

[blackshadow]

Even if it was just a bathroom break and that was a perfectly reasonable excuse to not be around, Etienne still sighed heavily hearing that. "Bad timing, then..."

He didn't know he wanted that gin and tonic so badly until now. Maybe he wanted it over more since even the most rational person there looked like she already had a headstart on him. It doesn't take long for his eyes to drift down to the paper in front of her.

"Do you always come here to work?" he asked suspiciously, finger tapping the form.

[windupgadget]

Shiki didn't even notice the approach, or sit down. The noise just made Mariella one more thing loud white noise to tune out - until she yelled to her. Then she choked on her drink, flinching as she wiped her face and stared at Mariella.

An angry acquaintance asking her a no-good-answers question.

"...I guess so. You can check back later, if that's a problem."

[windupgadget]

"Don't worry, he can't abandon the bar long." A weak comfort, with a weak grin, but it was as much she could manage. And it didn't amount to much, when he started prodding at her paperwork.

Fidgeting defensively, she let him poke a second before taking the form back. "No- I never came in here before. I don't even do this-" She waved named paper in hand. "But the post office broke a clock!"

[negativegate]

"It's not a problem," she started, then corrected herself. "Actually, it is! Why aren't you?" She couldn't help but ask, even as she just wanted to forget all of this.

[windupgadget]

She flinches again, then swivels and face the woman. And denial or not, Shiki's shaken - just stiff as a board to keep it again. Or perhaps just to manage staring right back.

"I just want to have a drink and go to bed." She swallowed, picking up her drink. "Why are you so mad?"

[blackshadow]

He was always messing something up... He pulled his hands back into his lap and folded them together. The bartender better be back soon...

"The post office broke a clock?" he echoed, not sure he actually heard that right. Etienne wasn't even a little buzzed yet, and he couldn't understand what she was saying. "Were you late returning the documents because of that?"

[windupgadget]

"-yes." Shiki lets the paper go, exhausted- let down- by her own outburst. And that just made it rougher.

But that made her own trouble something of an escape, so she shook her head. "No. It's a claim of damage. I have to turn it in before they'll pay me back for my package, and they yelled about giving them 'surprise work' or something, so I doubt it'll go through. And without something from them I can't prove to my customer what happened, so."

So, she's just, scrunching her face and waving at nothing.

[blackshadow]

That made sense... Etienne frowned and reached out to pat her back.

"They're idiots... It was their own fault that it broke; they can't yell at you for that..." He couldn't say anything about them actually doing it, though. He wouldn't be surprised if the post office did just let her claim collect dust for a while. It really wasn't fair...

[windupgadget]

Shiki shook her head in answer, but the gesture does get a grateful glance. If a bit waterlogged.

"Thanks, but, it's nothing big. I just hope it doesn't come back to bite me." Bad customer reviews could be tough, but certainly nothing to cry about. And hopefully she can shake this by the time the bartender comes back.

"-what about you? You come her a lot?"

[blackshadow]

He hoped it was nothing big... If she wasn't going to continue the subject, though, Etienne wasn't going to press it. It wasn't like he knew much about damage claims. Or anything about business.

"Ah, no..." he answered shakily, just a little embarrassed knowing why he was here now. "I decided to try something different tonight..."

[windupgadget]

"-that's different." And that's repetitive, but still true. She couldn't say why, but the comment came out, and she meant it.

Still, he looked ashamed, and she couldn't help the fact she stared. Pried? Oh no. Stared? Well...

[negativegate]

"I--I don't know!" And with that screech, she attempted to settle in her stool as tears stung her eyes. Stupid...stupid tears. She didn't even have anything to be sad about!

She knew she was being unfair to Shiki, though, so she mumbled out a "s-sorry..."

[blackshadow]

While it was a little weird to be watched, he didn't think much of it considering the fact she had probably had enough to drink already.

That, and he stared back at her when she made that comment. Was it different? When he thought of it, he couldn't remember doing "something different" more than a few times... "...I guess it is," he said thoughtfully. "And this is where I decided to come of all places..."

[windupgadget]

Shiki froze, glass at her lips, staring shocked, but- Why was she shocked? Everyone was upset. She was upset.

But not in literal tears, and she skirts her glance about before clearing her throat. "No- No, it's fine. I just. Didn't know what to say..."

And at a loss, she slowly turns her stool back, still looking back at Mariella. "You want to sit down?"

[windupgadget]

She shrugged at the reply, then - after blinking back a daze, like the small move made her dizzy - she pushed her empty glass across the bar.

"I did, too. And I don't... do this-" She gestured with a hand wave towards the drinks on display, before rubbing her head. "I just wanted to not think tonight."

[thronegames]

Amir couldn't drink, he was underage after all, but being here was better than being at the orphanage. He didn't want to go back there, where he was crammed into a room with three other boys. He didn't want to have to do chores, though he knew he would get reprimanded for his current absence.

But Amir just didn't care.

He was upset, he needed to get away from Walkure's, and this bar seemed like the best place to do it. At least it was lively.

He walked around for a bit before sighing and settling against a wall in the back, staring up at the television. He had no idea who was playing, but he watched with a blank expression on his face.

But eventually he got up and meandered over to the bar.

He wondered if they had soda?

[negativegate]

"I guess," she sniffed and slumped over the counter once she sat on the stool. "I still didn't mean to take it out on you, so I--" And then she stopped before she started crying. This was so bad.

It was hard for Mariella to tell if Shiki was acting any different from when they had first met--she didn't seem to be, but then Mari herself wasn't exactly in the best frame of mind to judge.

[blackshadow]

"You came to the right place then," he sighed, almost wishing he was tipsy enough to need to rub his head. Not thinking sounded so good right now...

"You might want to have some water when that bartender comes back, though."

[windupgadget]

Shiki reached up her hand at the slump and apology, but. Quickly turned it into a nose scratch, and maybe a subtle eye rub. It felt too awkward to just, pat her shoulder or something, but she still wanted to do something.

"Yeah well, you didn't do any damage. I was here already, right?"

...what was it about being half-drunk that made joking about it just sad?

[windupgadget]

"-is that a big thing when you drink?" She really didn't do this enough... Well, maybe not.

But she rubbed her face, then looked up and down the counter anyways. "If he doesn't show up soon, someone better check the bathroom or something."

[blackshadow]

Had she never drank with anyone before, or just with people who didn't care about hangovers? Etienne's face twisted into a scowl as he nodded. "It is if you want to keep drinking without getting hungover..."

He gave a quick glance behind him - where was the bathroom anyway? - before shrugging. "But yeah, if he doesn't get back soon..."