Just another evening

[Mark]

It was just like every other bar he'd ever been in. Permanent haze of cigarette smoke hanging at about chest level, vomit stains on the hardwood floor, jukebox in the corner that only took quarters. The bar took up the centre of the room and was tended by at least two barmen who never failed to serve up whatever you asked for. In the next room there was a pair of pool tables and an array of well-used cue sticks. There was another room reserved for teenagers. He never went in there.

Mark lounged against the bar, idly pushing a spent match around the scratched bartop with a long finger. It was just like every other evening. Come to the bar, have a couple rounds, maybe a bite to eat, then head back to his flat and watch a movie. He sipped the tumbler of Jameson and tried not to sigh. Life here was boring.

Just another evening. The Englishman signalled the barman for another round and ordered a sandwich and some crisps. A fresh tumbler of whisky appeared at his hand and he nodded his thanks. This time he did sigh. Just another bloody evening.

[[.Rabbit.David.Mystic Pearl.]]

"I can belch the alphabet!"
How many people would say that in public at all?--let alone while they're completely sober. But Rbbit's always like this. She's always had a love of bathroom humor--chalk that one up to her dad--and never really cared if people think it's gross. It's too funny. People that think it's not need to be slapped. She runs in, jumps up onto a stool, and sits on the bar, looking over her shoulder to give her order to the old barkeep.

She'd normally drink with a friend--designated driver, duh!--but tonight, everyone else had plans. But, really, how bad can it be driving under the influence? Sure, she's seen all the warning, pictures of drunken car wrecks..But that makes it all the more exciting.

She pulls hte black banana clip out of her hair, letting the straight red locks fall to her shoulders, and takes her glasses off, setting them on the counter next to her. She then proceeds to glance aroubd, searching for drunks. it's fun to mess with them. And she's just mean enough to do it.

[Mark]

"I can belch the alphabet!"

Mark rolled his eyes at the comment, putting it down as just another local drunk. He was well-used to such people. The barman didn't even bat an eye as he went about the business of wiping glass and placing them under the bar. It was Friday and similar instances would occur many times during the course of the evening.

"Hey mate, can I trouble you for some water?"

The barman nodded and fetched a glass immediately. He had the admirable ability to remember the regulars - and who could behave themselves. By and large, Mark was one of those. He saved drunken brawling for occasions when there were other Marines around to join the fun. Tonight there weren't any others present. Just himself.

Out of curiosity, he looked over at the person who claimed to have the dubious talent of alphabet-belching. To his slight surprise, it was a female. A red-head. There was a bottle on the bartop next to her. Mark shook his head. Even after living here since he was eighteen, still he found himself surprised from time to time by Americans and their behaviour.

[[.Rabbit.David.Mystic Pearl.]]

She sighs heavily, playing with, but not picking up or opening, the bottle beside her. There's nothing to do here. nothing to do at home--except unpack a few boxes, not exactly something she's too keen on doing at the moment. She thought Texas would be fun, at least more exciting than some other places. But then, there's always the chance something exciting will happen. She hasn't been here all that long.

She slides off the counter, and sits on the barstool instead. She loves being different, weird, but gets tired of it sometimes, mainly because people always assume that she can't handle a serious conversation, and often leave her out of it.

[Mark]

Mark wondered what had brought the female to the bar. Clearly she was disinterested in her beer, and with drinking in general. This wasn't the most ideal place to come for peace and quiet. New in town, perhaps? He sipped his whisky thoughtfully. She didn't look much different than any other female in the place so he decided that he didn't need to worry about mental oddities. His curiosity had overpowered his boredom and he stepped away from his place at the bar.

"Your pardon, miss. Might I enquire as to what brought you in here this evening?"

[[.Rabbit.David.Mystic Pearl.]]

"Hmm?" She hears a voice, and turns to see who it came from. She's not even sure why she's here, so she offers the answer that first pops into her head: "Lack of anything better to do. What about you?" She lightly runs the tip of one finger along the bottle, writing something in the condensation on the side of the beer bottle. Most people assume she's bored with them, or doesn't listen to them, because of the way she does other things while someone's talking. But she can listen and goof off at the same time. Really.

[Mark]

He offered a shrug and skimmed one hand over the quarter-inch length bristle of hair on the top of his head. "Just getting out of the flat for a bit. Having a weekend holiday doesn't happen often."

[[.Rabbit.David.Mystic Pearl.]]

"Ain't that the truth..." She shudders a little. Normally, she hates people who use words like "ain't", but right now she's just not in the mood for gramattical critique. Finally tired of waiting, she opens the beer and takes a sip.

[Mark]

"Indeed." Mark finished off his whisky and almost right away the barman replaced it with another. Nodding at the grey-haired man, the Marine helped himself to the pile of crisps in the sandwich basket he had carried over with him. "Can't say I've seen you 'round before. Just moved here, I take it?"

[[.Rabbit.David.Mystic Pearl.]]

"Pretty much, yeah.." At least shewon't stick around very long. "Why? You live around here?" She takes a couple more small sips, before downing the rest of her beer. She thinks for a moment, before requesting another one from the barkeep.

[Mark]

"Aye. Not originally from here, but this is home now I reckon. I work near here as a mechanic." Mark offered his hand. "Mark Dunne."

[[.Rabbit.David.Mystic Pearl.]]

She pauses for a short moment. She normally doesn't bother with shaking hands, especially when it's somebody she met just then. "Rabbit Locke.." She shakes is hand, then pulls her own back and crosses her arms.

[Mark]

"Well met, Miss Locke," Mark said. "I take by the lack of wear on your hands that you're not in trade. What do you do for a living?"

[[.Rabbit.David.Mystic Pearl.]]

"Linguist. in the Marines. And yourself?" Not that she makes it a habit of judging people or anything, but..she's trying to figure out, who actually judges people by how their hands look? But she keeps a stoic face, not really wanting to offend him.

[Mark]

Ah. Another Marine. He wouldn't have guessed. "I'm a mechanic, I work on fighters. AV-8s. I can work on UN/AH-1s as well. For now, I'm with VMFA-112 out of Fort Worth." Mark said. "What language is your primary? Arabic?"

[[.Rabbit.David.Mystic Pearl.]]

"Yes, followed closely by Russian.." Yes, she's a total nerd--always wanting to learn another foreign language. The only one she attempted but never fully mastered was Spanish. Which is weird, because languages like Russian use a cryllic alphabet..but it was easier for her.

[Mark]

Interesting. "So you're a 2712 and a 2791. Must be an intresting job. I speak some Arabic and a little Kurdish. I'm most fluent in Gaelic, though, of all things."

He thought about the oddity of that, and smiled inwardly. Languages came somewhat easily to him. If he didn't like working with his hands, he would have chosen to become an intrepetor or something along those lines.

"Given your job, I'd be much surprised if you haven't been deployed at least once so far."

[[.Rabbit.David.Mystic Pearl.]]

She nods a little, looking away only to get the beer the barkeep is giving her. "Yeah..It was hell..What's your MOS?" He probably told her somewhere along the line, and she probably sounds like an idiot, but she never caught that little piece of information.

[Mark]

"I'm a 6114 and 6212. Helicopter Mechanic UN/AH-1 and Fixed-Wing Aircraft Mechanic, AV-8/TAV-8. I make sure they take off and come back." Mark answered with a proud smile. "And yeah, it's not exactly the place to go for holiday, but I'll go again in a heartbeat. Anythin' for my Marines, y'know?"

[[.Rabbit.David.Mystic Pearl.]]

She smiles brightly. "Anything," she agrees, opening her beer bottle. Okay, she thinks to herself. Last one. Just two. I will not get drunk. She's said that several times, at various points, and it almost never happens. She always ends up thinking "One more", but..yeah. She takes a couple sips, going slow. Maybe that'll help.

[Mark]

Mark nodded and tossed back the last of his whisky. It was starting to go to his head and that wasn't a good thing. He'd had four glasses already. Jameson was strong stuff. The water and the food helped diminish the effects a little, but not enough. He would have to go soon.

"Where are you posted?" He asked, noting that not only had the barman refilled his tumbler, he had also drawn up Mark's tab. This bloke was outstanding.

[[.Rabbit.David.Mystic Pearl.]]

She pauses for a long moment. She..forgot. Hah! Yes, she has her blonde moments, and many people have asked her if she's a natural blonde. but no, she's a natural redhead, she's just incredibly stupid. She gives a short laugh. "You know, um...I forgot.."

[Mark]

He laughed outright at that. "Well! That'll make it hard to report for duty then, won't it." The barman nodded slightly as he took the bills that Mark handed him and shuffled away to the till. With a flourish, Mark tossed back the whole tumbler in a single gulp. "I ought head back to my flat. I get a wee bit belligerent after I've had a few rounds."

[[.Rabbit.David.Mystic Pearl.]]

Rabbit shakes her head a little, giving a soft laugh. "Yeah, it will..I'll probably remember by then." She downs quickly the rest of her beer and, out of pure habit, orders a third, speaking before thinking. "Alright, man..See you 'round some time."

[Mark]

"Of course." Mark pushed away from the bar and started toward the door. He bumped into somebody as he stumbled over a discarded Styrofoam cup.

"Hey, watch where you're goin'!"

Mark blinked and said, "What was that?"

The big bearded guy turned to face him. "I said, watch where you're goin'. You deaf?"

"You stupid?" Mark shot back. "Big bloke like you, I'm sure you gotta be."