(Untitled)

[bloody_awful]

A bloke walks into a bar and shuts the door behind him, leaning against it and closing his eyes for a moment

Comments

[val_von_doom]

"Guess it's lemonade for me then," says a teen-aged blond whose just sat down. She's holding a book about Alchemy which (if this narrator can take a liberty) John knows has some decent and factual information on the subject.

[bloody_awful]

"Lemonade it is," John says. He pulls a bottle out of the ice cooler, twists the top open and hands it to her with a clean glass filled with ice.

Then he peers at the book. "al-Rashid? What's a nice girl like you doing with a boring old fart like that?" But he's smiling as he asks.

[val_von_doom]

Val takes a long sip of the lemonade before answering. "Long story. Short version is I'm apprenticed and this is optional reading that looked interesting. I thought it'd be easier for me to understand seeing as how I'm new to magic but science is old school for me. I'm Val."

[bloody_awful]

"John," he replies. "He's all right in the basics, old Rashid," he adds, nodding at the book. "Just ignore him when he starts ranting about the Zabaniah and the shayātīn. He's got a bit of a bug up his arse about that. So, why are you learning magic anyway?"

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"I don't think I recognize either of the top two," says the gray-haired Korean-looking girl in the blue and gold jumpsuit. "What's Guinness, please?"

[bloody_awful]

John peers at her, trying to guess her age and where she's been that she doesn't recognize Guinness. In John's mind, just being from another planet/timeline/dimension does not excuse anyone from not recognizing Guinness.

"It's a stout. A very heavy ale," he explains cautiously. "The drink of the gods, in my opinion. You old enough to drink, sweetheart?"

When in doubt, ask for ID. There's never been a woman who hasn't been flattered by underestimating her age.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"There's no drinking age where I come from," Ellen says; she's nineteen, and looks it. "We don't really have a government to impose one, unless you count the local mayor, and I don't think he cares. I didn't even know the concept existed until two or three people here asked me if I was old enough to be drinking."

[bloody_awful]

"Well then, there's nothing preventing you from giving it a try," John says. He begins pouring a pint of Guinness. "Time was, people where I come from used to say a nip or two of Guinness was good for a growing kid."

He puts the glass down and waits for the stout to settle. "So where you from when you're at home?"

[weplayparts]

At the first few strains of the rough voice, she looks up from the fresh coat of red she's painting over her fingernails.

"Well, look who it is."

[bloody_awful]

A slow, wicked smile blooms over John's face. "Well, looks like the night is already turning out better than I expected. What's your pleasure, treasure?"

[weplayparts]

"The Bushmills, if you don't mind."

She's actually got a job on the horizon, and as far as she's concerned, tonight is the night to celebrate before the real work begins.

"How've you been faring lately?"

[bloody_awful]

He pours her a generous double shot. "Oh, you know how it goes," he chuckles. "Some days you win, some days you lose, some days you break out in pustulent boils. But enough about me. How about you?" He pushes the drink over to her and leans on the bar. "Did you miss me?" He winks.

[childofathos]

Well, now, there's a familiar face.

"Guinness, I think," Teyla says, sliding onto a stool with a smile.

[bloody_awful]

"Sweetheart!" says John with a genuine smile. "Don't you look lovely." He pulls her a perfect pint, and while it settles on the bar, he asks, "So how've you been? How's my little namesake? A bundle of joy, I presume?"

He passes the pint over to her and wipes down the bar.

[childofathos]

"A bundle of joy and energy," Teyla clarifies. And to be fair, it does look like she's been getting a little less sleep than is optimal.

"And I have been well, for the most part. What about you? It has been some time since I saw you last."

[bloody_awful]

He shrugs and smiles wryly. "Ah well, you know how it goes with me. I'm still here, that's all that counts."

Teyla might be able to tell from John's expression that, as usual, it hasn't been pretty, and that John wants to spare her the details. Especially the part about yet another dead girlfriend.

"I'm glad to be here," he continues. "I got here by accident. Last thing I knew I was in Mumbai, 35C in the shade and no clean water to be had."

[til_it_aint]

Maybe Ben's in a better mood then usual, or just figuring out that if he's stuck here might as well make the best of it, but anyways he's moseying on up to the bar, hands jammed in his pockets, not lookin' a whole let better'n the bartender on the shaving front neither.

He slides onto a stool, nods his greetings and glances at the board. Maybe studies it a bit longer'n most, but he ain't exactly the best reader. Finally he looks up at John and there's maybe something like a smile, says "Y'got a favorite?"

(He maybe don't exactly look underage, but he don't look exactly like an adult neither. The sparkles in his hair he didn't quite manage to pry out aren't helping.)

[bloody_awful]

John looks him over and stubs out his cigarette. "You a whiskey man, or beer?"

John was drinking at 15. He's not a man to judge.

[til_it_aint]

"Beer," he says, after a second 'cause he don't think he got the money for whiskey, gotta keep his tab down if he thinks he's gonna pay it off on a roustie's salary.

And in the end he ain't so much of a drinker, Ma never holding for it (not that it stopped him but he didn't so much like the way it made him feel), so, he figures, better not go for the hard shit, not tonight.

And besides, he's got questions he wants to ask, so he hesitates another moment then says "You lookin' to hire?"

[bloody_awful]

"I wish, son," John says. He pulls the pint and slides it over. "I'm not the Barman here, I'm just filling in. You been here long?" He slides a cigarette from his packet and offers it to the young man.