(Untitled)

[un_fallen]

Raguel's got the feeling that someone is looking over his shoulder. Not in a prying way; just there, constant, and it's not someone he looks forward to seeing

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[gonna_live]

He's not the only one.

Kaylee is just beginning her strawberry margarita -- and is, in fact, stirring it with the straw.

A little slops over the side and onto the knee of her pants; it's followed by a curse that's a little...loud.

[un_fallen]

He glances over, fingers tightening on the glass momentarily, then relaxing.

"You okay there?" he asks, the edge of a nervous smile at the corner of his mouth.

[gonna_live]

Kaylee looks sheepish.

"Lost a little alcohol, but -- " She reaches for a napkin. "Shiny. Pretty shiny, anyhow. Xiexie."

[un_fallen]

"You want to be careful about losing the alcohol," he says, relaxing a little more.

"Might need it. And that stuff looks like it stains."

[gonna_live]

"Oh, stain's not the worry," she says, matter-of-fact. "I'm good with those."

You kind of have to be, in her line of work. (And with her boss.) "Alcohol's the problematic part." Kaylee eyes her glass woefully. "My hope is it's strong enough that by the time I get to the bottom I can't tell any difference."

[un_fallen]

"Ah. Well, that's another way to deal with it, yeah. If you ignore it for long enough, it goes away."

This is probably not true for human types, but he's already a few beers down. Stains are not the most important thing on the list.

[gonna_live]

Wry: "Ignore it for long enough and your clothes fall apart anyhow. Time, and all."

This time when she pokes the straw into the sludginess, nothing spills. "Don't suppose -- you know if anything...big...went on, the last couple of days?"

[un_fallen]

"Around here? I'm sure it did, but I don't know what. I've been in and out, but not for long enough to hear the local gossip. Why, do you know of something?"

He straightens minutely. If it makes this uncomfortable sensation go away, he can deal with any amount of bad news.

He thinks.

[gonna_live]

Kaylee shakes her head. "No, just -- I been out for a few days, and..."

A helpless shrug.

"Things got a tendency to happen, you know?"

[un_fallen]

"I do," he says, sypathetically.

"Where have you come from, if you don't mind saying?"

It doesn't sound like the most peaceful place if she's coming to the bar for calm and stability.

[gonna_live]

"I don't." She glances at the door. "Just -- been visiting a -- friend, last few days, and family's back home and they come in here a lot. And there's not been any word, so -- it's just kind of good to check in, you know?"

[un_fallen]

"Oh," he says, blinking.

"Well, like I said, I haven't heard anything. I just don't know a lot of people that well, so. Maybe I wouldn't. Can you contact them at all?"

[gonna_live]

"There's..."

Issues, she could say. Problems. That thing where I'm running away from all of that.

"...a story there," she finishes. "I guess -- no note appeared or nothin', so I'm gonna at least tell myself I'm in the clear." Half a shrug -- and she tilts her head. "But...are you in here pretty regular?"

I've been in and out, he said.

[un_fallen]

"Usually, yeah, every week or so. Sometimes more, sometimes less. I'm sure I've seen you around, but never-- er, never introduced myself. Raguel."

He holds out a hand.