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[rhymingdevil]

As far as birthdays went, this had turned out to be an eventful one. I wasn't really used to doing much for my birthday, close to Christmas as it was, and here on the island I wasn't even sure if anyone knew it was my birthday. I hadn't told Savannah, who probably would have at least given me a card for the big 1-9 (2-1? Was I counting physical

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[angriestman]

Raylan's pretty much over the snow at this point. He'd liked Miami for a reason; sunny, hot and none of this snow shit. He's sick of his boots trying to be damp. Still, he's had time to thaw through and grab a coffee by the time he catches sight of Peter.

"What's up, man?" he asks, dropping down into an available chair. "Did you say it was your birthday?"

[rhymingdevil]

Raylan was one of the people on the island that I got along with well enough to consider a friend and I managed half a smile before sinking back into my sulk about the whole situation. Yeah, it was a sulk, and I wasn't ashamed to admit that.

"Yeah, it is. I guess I'm twenty one today. I thought it'd be a lot more exciting but when the only person who knows it is kind of not speaking to you, well."

[angriestman]

Peter's awfully young yet and Raylan's amused to see the temper that he's settled into. He does his best to keep it covered though.

"Well, Happy Birthday," he says, smiling easily. "We've gotta do somethin' to celebrate."

[rhymingdevil]

"I guess with it being twenty one, alcohol's going to be involved?"

I don't think I'd mind getting drunk, even though I had never really had an interest in it. Maybe we could go to the strip club and make a day of it.

[angriestman]

"We can probably arrange alcohol," says Raylan, stretching out his legs in front of him and crossing his ankles. "You want naked ladies too?"

He's pretty sure Rachel woudl amke allowances.

[rhymingdevil]

There are few things in life I consider a vice and women is one of them. I'm not some kind of pervert, or anything, but I definitely have a healthy appreciation for the female form.

"You know what? We might as well go all out. Naked ladies too. Make it a regular stag party."

[angriestman]

Raylan huffs a laugh, half shaking his head at Peter.

"Now I just feel like I'm corruptin' the youth or something," he says, grinning as he pushes up out of the chair, now. "C'mon. With any luck, Rachel's working and I can get some quality time."

[rhymingdevil]

"I guess that's an advantage to dating a dancer," I said, trying to go a little more PC with my terminology. "She can't get angry if you go to the strip club while she's working."

[angriestman]

"I'm pretty sure she could find somethin' to be pissed off with me about," says Raylan, shaking his head ruefully. "That woman is a handful."

The miracle is that he wouldn't actually want it any other way.

[rhymingdevil]

I laughed a little, trying to imagine what it'd be like to date someone like that. A lot like Shari, I imagined, minus the dancing part.

"Did you meet here, then?"

[angriestman]

"We did," says Raylan, nodding. "First day I got here, in fact. Of all the things I was expectin'." He stretches and drops his hat back onto his head. "That woman was not it."

[rhymingdevil]

"Sounds like a handful," I said, grinning all the same. "Of course, you strike me as a guy who likes a challenge, so I guess her uh...more vibrant qualities didn't throw you as much as some people?"

[angriestman]

"Vibrant? Is that what we're calling it?" he asks, glancing across at Peter. He shakes his head. "Honestly? And this is between you and me? I am pretty sure I'm on the verge of screwing the whole thing up. But time, I suppose, will tell."

[rhymingdevil]

"I'm curious to see how you could screw things up," I said, giving Raylan a look. He seemed so easygoing that screwing it up seemed hard. "Of course, I screwed things up with Shari, so."