Proper restroom etiquette

[patrick_koster]

He doesn't look up when the door opens and the drawled, "hey," startles him a little. He looks up - absently thinking that it's not proper restroom etiquette to greet people - when he sees a slightly familiar face.

Comments

[patrick_koster]

After leaving the restroom, Patrick tries to act normal, tries to control his breathing and focus on getting his arse out of there before he snaps again. Doesn't make it out without one of the waitresses stopping him for a chat, and he sees the look on her face when he all but ignores her. Once outside he takes a deep breath and then it hits him, realizes what happened, what he did. And wonders: what will Brendan think?

[patrick_koster]

"Aye - he mentioned Jason there," Patrick stammered, only a few words of what Brendan was saying sinking in. "I just - " He swallowed once, twice and shook his head: perhaps he said no, but other than that he really hadn't done anything to stop him had he? He'd just stood there and waited.

He swallowed, his face growing pale, fists clenching even tighter and he whispered, "I just stood there." He then stepped away from Brendan, stumbling a little before doubling over and throwing up.

[stormybrendan]

When Patrick pulled away Brendan stood still for a moment, confused, till the man started throwing up. Then, when Patrick was still doubled over Brendan moved to his side, resting his hand in the small of his back. He was still trying to figure out what Patrick meant, as it didn't sound 'right'.

"It's OK, you'll be alright," he said, the meagre platitudes falling flat.

[patrick_koster]

After a few minutes, when even the dry heaves subsided, Patrick shook his head once more. Not moving, he remained as he was, staring down at the ground with unseeing eyes as he croaked, "I were just going to let him." He coughed and all but groaned, his stomach turning again at the memory and he gagged, but his stomach was empty, there was nothing left.

[stormybrendan]

"Wha' d' you mean?"

It was dawning on Brendan what Patrick was saying, but his mind didn't want to accept it.

[patrick_koster]

Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Patrick straightened himself slowly. Without meeting Brendan's eyes, he coughed again before quietly saying, "Exactly that - that I were letting him. I didn't want him to, said so, but didn't do a fucking thing to stop him."

[stormybrendan]

Brendan's eyes were fixed on Patrick's face, his mind now hearing the words... and the meaning... and trying to compute it.

"But y' said no," he said stiffly, not meaning it to sound like a question, but hearing it have that tone. "Y' told him no."

[patrick_koster]

"I did," Patrick nodded as he searched with trembling hands for his cigarettes only to remember he left them at the bar. "But I suppose that doesn't mean anything - " It hadn't meant anything inside - so why the hell did he think it would mean something now?

[stormybrendan]

"Well it bloody well does!" Brendan railed, his anger showing in his tone. He looked from side to side as he searched for some conviction.

"Y' bloody well said no, and that's that. If the bastard can't take no for an answer then he needs t' have someone remind him of the the bloody meaning of the word!"

[patrick_koster]

A wry smirk crossed Patrick's face and he gave a small shrug. "Maybe I weren't all that convincing then? I seem to be having a bit of a problem with that," he added as he thought of his former employer. And not for the first time today he found himself wondering when he'd become this easy of a target or maybe David had been right: after all he'd told him a long time ago he was far too easy.

Patrick rubbed his eyes tiredly before actually looking at the other man. "Don't suppose you know where he lives then?" he asked, not because he was planning on paying the man a visit, but simply because it was easier to focus on what Roy had done than what he himself had - or hadn't - done.

[stormybrendan]

"Not a bloody clue," Brendan snapped, his hand rubbing at the back of his neck as he glanced at Patrick. "What?" he asked cautiously. "Y' thinking of telling him 'no means no', or something?"

[patrick_koster]

Patrick shrugged, the anger he'd felt earlier now replaced by a lingering feeling of disgust. "I would - just out of principle - but don't know what the point is, really. And it's really not worth the risk." Because even if he didn't know Roy he had recognized the people Roy had been talking to on St. Patrick's day. "Suppose I ought to just forget about it, really." It would just be another 'incident' he needed to forget about. Or try to.

[stormybrendan]

"Well, I'll be keeping an eye out for the bastard, if he ever dares come round here again," Brendan muttered. He was trying to ignore the statement Patrick had made about not moving, and its implications, but after the night of the match he'd been worried about Patrick, and this was just adding to it.

[patrick_koster]

"I doubt it - " His voice wavered and he gave a small, almost helpless shrug. "I should've just - " Again his voice trailed off and for a brief moment Patrick just stared at the other man, wondering why he hadn't done anything to stop Roy the minute the man had approached him from behind.

"Fuck," he muttered to himself and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't know, really."

[stormybrendan]

"You did what you should've done, y' punched his lights out, right?" Which reminded Brendan he'd better go and see if the man was still there, as Patrick wasn't a bad hitter.

"I better go and see if the bastard's still in there. The way you hit... y' might've knocked some bloody sense into 'im, and he might still be learning his lesson."

[patrick_koster]

"OK," Patrick said hesitantly, not too keen on going back inside himself, especially not if Roy was still there. "You mind if I just go and walk for a bit, mate? Could do with a bit more fresh air and all."