(no subject)
(16:00:48) Hibem: hm... boss/coworker names
(16:00:59) Hibem: Marie?
(16:01:19) grimbitter: Jeff? I swear, there's a bartender named Jeff in every bar, like, ever.
(16:01:26) Hibem: hee
(16:01:27) grimbitter: Marie for the owner?
(16:01:47) Hibem: yeah, something
(16:04:49) Hibem: The hallway is so narrow Marie can block it completely with a single outflung arm. Joe stumbles into it and watches the door to the alley slam.
(16:05:37) grimbitter: "Goin' somewhere? You're on shift until 3."
(16:06:44) grimbitter: Jeff sticks his head around the corner. "Let him go, Marie. I'll cover him this time."
(16:07:12) Hibem: She glances down at him and does a double take at his unbuttoned fly. Her hard palm closes over his elbow and he twists in her grip.
(16:07:36) Hibem: (eh, that second sentence needs to get moved up a couple lines)
(16:07:51) Hibem: "Christ
(16:08:19) grimbitter: "Joe." He stops, and looks up, frantic. "Go. Get your head together." She glances down again. "And put your dick away."
(16:10:35) Hibem: He nods frantically, pushes past her and half-falls out the door into the alley.
(16:11:35) grimbitter: Jeff smirks after him, and Marie turns to him. "And you. You get to clean the men's later." (I like the idea of Marie being a good businesswoman - a bitchy aunt figure)
(16:11:45) Hibem: (yay!)
(16:13:22) Hibem: The alley contains three hulking dumpsters, a milk crate ringed with cigarette butts and the echo of distant engines
(16:14:54) grimbitter: No Leonard. Joe splashed to the end, banging his shin on a broken pallet, and stared out into the street. Still no Leonard.
(16:17:34) Hibem: He turns and runs to the other end, and looks out across the brick and cracked concrete. Still no Leonard. His panic coils into something hard and dry.
(16:20:08) grimbitter: (oooooooow, dammit! i just sliced my fucking finger open with the corkscrew...back in a sec)
(16:20:17) Hibem: ouchies! ok
(16:21:22) grimbitter: (so of course, i retaliate by slamming it down, and the cork breaks and i get cheap-ass merlot in my hair. dude, i *earned* this bottle of wine!) :)
(16:21:44) Hibem: (:pets:)
(16:22:18) grimbitter: *drinks* between pets and wine all is better. i just have to type with one hand. meh.
(16:22:39) Hibem: oh noes, my IM window is messed up
(16:22:51) grimbitter: oh noes! what's wrong?
(16:23:04) Hibem: are you going to be able to save/whatever this stuff?
(16:23:20) Hibem: eh, i'm on AIM-the-internet-version and it is teh suck
(16:23:29) Hibem: teh FAIL, if you will
(16:23:52) grimbitter: sure, hold on...
(16:24:18) Hibem: see, i can't read the last thing that was said. i need to close the window
(16:24:49) Hibem: and I can't fucking cut and paste!
(16:24:56) grimbitter: http://www.livejournal.com/community/4th_and_austin/4760.html?#cutid1 Got it. Go ahead.
(16:25:00) Hibem: wtf
(16:25:03) Hibem: ok
(16:25:37) Hibem: eeexcellent
(16:25:43) grimbitter: Gonna go smoke - back in 10.
(16:25:46) Hibem: ok
(16:26:00) Hibem: i'll put these bits together and post them into the nii post
(16:32:11) Hibem: w00t, posted
(16:35:40) grimbitter: Sweet!
(16:35:43) Hibem: w00t
(16:35:51) Hibem: oh, wait, said that already
(16:36:04) Hibem: http://www.livejournal.com/community/4th_and_austin/4400.html?view=7984#t7984
(16:36:24) Hibem: yah! not even a link. stupid aiminternetversion
(16:36:34) grimbitter: AIM is teh FAIL.
(16:36:40) Hibem: indeed.
(16:37:38) Hibem: hee! we make teh pretty
(16:37:45) grimbitter: YES, dude!
(16:38:10) Hibem: Fuck. His panic coils into something hard and tight. The fat rain drops stick his tank top to his back, drip from his eyebrows.
(16:40:49) grimbitter: His unlaced shoes slip in the muck, and he swears, half-falling against the wall knotting the laces beyond all repair.. His ass hurts. Something moves in the streetlight a block down, and he's back on his feet, running to beat the devil.
(16:40:59) grimbitter: -wall, knotting
(16:41:52) Hibem: (his ass- heh. how far did he and Doran get again?)
(16:41:57) grimbitter: O_o
(16:42:08) grimbitter: http://www.livejournal.com/community/4th_and_austin/4400.html
(16:42:16) grimbitter: Mid-way.
(16:42:19) grimbitter: XD
(16:43:16) Hibem: :snickers: I'm 12
(16:43:25) grimbitter: :waves: Meeee toooo!
(16:43:33) Hibem: yay! hugs!
(16:43:41) grimbitter: Yay juvenile mentality!
(16:45:50) Hibem: The woman speeds her steps and hunches smaller in her long jacket hearing his footsteps pound up behind her. She spares him a wide-eyed glance and he suddenly remembers his fly is still open.
(16:48:20) grimbitter: "Uh.. hi," he pants, tucking himself in and buttoning up. "Did you see a guy, college guy, with glasses come this way?" She gives him a scathing you-ought-to-be-ashamed-young-man glare, but nods and points toward downtown. He thanks her and continues running, ignoring the "Pervert!" aimed at his back.
(16:51:39) Hibem: 4th street is long and straight and deserted as far as he can see through the curtains of rain. He dodges across the street against the lights, flips off the solitary cab that honks at him.
(16:53:07) Hibem: His calves are starting to burn. He hasn't run like this since high school gym class.
(16:53:41) grimbitter: The rain is blinding by the time he hits the square. Covered in pigeon shit and takeout wrappers, the bricks shine with the promise of twisted ankles.
(16:55:49) Hibem: He jogs to a halt only after he nearly falls on his face. His shoes are soaked through and squeak when he moves.
(16:57:04) grimbitter: He stops, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. When he opens his eyes, he almost falls over - right between his feet is a butt of an American Spirit, not yet soaked. "Leonard!"
(16:58:13) Hibem: He looks around, wildly. Gray water blots out the light of the street lamps, blurrs the shapes of the buildings, the parked cars. It gets up his nose as he gasps for breath.
(16:59:34) Hibem: (time for another copy/post?)
(16:59:36) grimbitter: He has to be here he has to be here why do I care, no, fuck, fuck I'm sorry where are you "Leonard!" He wipes the water out of his eyes, utterly exhausted. "Where are you?"
(17:04:06) Hibem: Leonard's filter is bent into an angry v. He wills his limbs into motion, stumbles in the direction it points, and ignores how foolish it is.
(17:06:44) Hibem: oh, oi, lj-cut that or something?
(17:06:57) Hibem: or we can just delete it in a sec once i put it in comment form
(17:07:47) grimbitter: He stumbles to a stop under the overhang of a bookstore. "This is ridiculous," he mutters to himself. "I'm never gonna find him like this." He draws a cigarette out of his pocket with a shaking hand and fishes for a lighter. Leonard's Zippo flares to life in front of him. "Here."
(17:07:51) grimbitter: (Yeah, I'll cut it.)
(17:08:09) Hibem: (omfg YES)
(17:08:23) Hibem: (not the lj-cut, the zippo)
(17:09:07) grimbitter: (Of course Leonard is there... been watching him since he hit the square!)
(17:12:18) Hibem: Joe freezes for a long moment, his few remaining wits fizzling helplessly. The rain has rendered his immaculate yellow shirt nearly transparent, and Joe knows he's staring but
(17:16:27) grimbitter: how could he ever have let Doran touch him, after this? A little voice in the back of his head begins a mantra of he-fucked-you-and-didn't-call, he-fucked-you-and-didn't-pay, but Joe is god damn not gonna start crying. His jaw locks, and he stares.
(17:18:02) grimbitter: (I like wine!)
(17:19:42) Hibem: Leonard's face is unreadable, his eyes fixed on the forgotten Lucky Strike (?) hanging from Joe's lip. Joe catches his fingers as he begins to flick the zippo closed.
(17:20:25) Hibem: (oh, hey, have a mentioned to you that I think Len should be taller? not a lot. Just an inch or two.)
(17:20:50) Hibem: (but at some point, in my head, they kind of started to look like the WA guys)
(17:21:19) grimbitter: Leonard pulls his hand free, plucks the cigarette from Joe's lips, and lights it himself. He drags deeply, grimacing slightly at the taste, then offers the smoke back. Joe won't meet his eyes. (A bit taller is good.)
(17:21:30) grimbitter: (WA?)
(17:21:34) Hibem: (yay)
(17:21:48) Hibem: (Wild Adaptor)
(17:22:02) grimbitter: (Ok, I is getting drunk, and need to smoke again... go addiction! Back soon!)
(17:22:07) Hibem: ok
(17:22:11) grimbitter: :)
(17:22:27) Hibem: (if you don't have wild adaptor yet, i so need to send it to you.
(17:23:57) Hibem: (mhnhn. need to cycle my window again. tell me when you have it saved.)
(17:26:21) Hibem: Joe won't meet his eyes, takes the cig without touching his fingers. The rain is doing little to cool the city. The air feels thick as smoke in his lungs.
(17:34:37) Hibem: ...takes the cig without touching his fingers again.
(17:37:44) grimbitter: He tries to inhale nonchalantly (did I spell that right?), but his throat won't work. He lowers his hand, absently flicking the ash away. Leonard stands by patiently, waiting for something. Fucking uncomfortable silences. What the hell am I doing here, anyway?
(17:40:39) grimbitter: (pardon, please, if my logic becomes a thing of not. Apparently, I'm a wine lightweight.)
(17:40:44) Hibem: hee
(17:40:59) Hibem: sorry, i'm talking to new_kate
(17:41:06) grimbitter: Coo' coo'.
(17:41:07) Hibem: she's like, following us writing this
(17:41:12) grimbitter: Oh, awesome.
(17:41:14) grimbitter: !
(17:41:16) Hibem: and being all impressed. it's embarressing
(17:41:23) Hibem: heee!
(17:41:26) Hibem: did you save that bit?
(17:41:29) grimbitter: *snicker* But it's *good*!
(17:41:33) Hibem: i know!
(17:41:38) grimbitter: What bit? The bit I just wrote?
(17:41:43) grimbitter: No, not yet... hold on...OK!
(17:43:23) grimbitter: Ok, added on to the previous post.
(17:43:27) Hibem: cool
(17:45:17) Hibem: :mutters: too many im's all the sudden
(17:46:05) grimbitter: *giggle* Take your time... I'm donig that meme thing, too.
(17:51:55) Hibem: hee! ferrets hide your socks under the bed
(17:52:14) grimbitter: they do! And the one I knew used to chase the cat around the house, just to keep her humble.
(17:52:26) Hibem: my aunt used to have 4
(17:52:43) Hibem: they're like animate slinkies with attitudes
(17:52:46) grimbitter: Too bad they're illegal out here... i'd love to have one. They're so cute! And squirmy!
(17:53:05) Hibem: hee hee
(17:53:18) Hibem: they smell like ferret though. you have to not mind
(17:53:41) grimbitter: All critters smell like critter. I don't mind ferret, or hamster, or rat, but dog gets to me.
(17:53:53) grimbitter: And cat just smells like need-to-clean-the-box, which is fine.
(17:53:54) Hibem: hmm
(17:55:12) Hibem: i don't know. i'm terrible with pets
(17:55:21) grimbitter: Really? I love pets.
(17:55:31) Hibem: i like them, i'm just bad at taking care of them
(17:55:38) grimbitter: Grew up with parakeets and a hamster, and I miss my kitty... but pets is great.
(17:55:39) Hibem: my house plants always die too
(17:55:44) grimbitter: Oh no!
(17:56:04) grimbitter: I'm an obsessive attention-giver. :)
(17:56:05) Hibem: i killed my room mate's basil seedlings when she left me in charge of them to go to austin
(17:56:09) grimbitter: *snicker*
(17:56:19) grimbitter: Now, if you'd killed *rosemary* I'd be impressed.
(17:56:28) Hibem: i didn't even do anything to them! i watered them and made sure they were getting sun, and they still died
(17:56:53) Hibem: ah, anyway
(17:56:57) Hibem: what was the last line, now?
(17:57:00) grimbitter: Honestly? I have no luck with basil either. Or roses. Most everything else'll grow...
(17:57:01) grimbitter: Um...
(17:57:12) grimbitter: He tries to inhale nonchalantly (did I spell that right?), but his throat won't work. He lowers his hand, absently flicking the ash away. Leonard stands by patiently, waiting for something. Fucking uncomfortable silences. What the hell am I doing here, anyway?
(18:02:57) Hibem: The awning is narrow, rain splattering onto his pants and running down the leather. This pair is going to be even more stiff and uncomfortable now that it's been soaked through. A thick stream of water is drumming on Leonard's shoulder.
(18:04:50) grimbitter: Um. Hell. Mai hunnie? I don't think I can write any more story tonight. :( I'll go save this bit, though.
(18:04:57) Hibem: that's ok
(18:05:04) Hibem: i'm running out of steam, too
(18:05:07) Hibem: i needs food
(18:05:08) grimbitter: ....sorry. But wine!
(18:05:10) grimbitter: And food!
(18:05:13) Hibem: wine is good
(18:05:17) grimbitter: (Ooh... I should probably eat.)
(18:05:32) Hibem: i'm trying to remember the story of my first lemon so i can tell you it
(18:05:35) grimbitter: Yay!
(18:05:37) Hibem: (eating is good)
(18:05:57) grimbitter: Meh. Eating is *necessary*. And it's sad that my brain pronounces that with a British accent.
(18:06:01) Hibem: because I think my first real lemon was that VW one I wrote last year
(18:06:38) Hibem: hee! that's like i can't sing folk songs without having to stop myself from faking an irish accent