carry on

ben martin. 28. downtown.

[benxmartin]

kendallmerrick​:

“Again?” She asked, feigning confusion if only to worry him momentarily. As drunk as she got, she never got blackout drunk. Kenny remembered all her evenings all too well, unfortunately. She drank to forget, but actually forgot really little. “It’s a great skill to have and I will fight you on that. Especially for me. I mean, who else here as a handsome body guard bringing them food? No one, that’s who.” She looked up at his freakishly luscious locks, the corner of her lips curling up. “Don’t listen to them, I like the hair. I would be significantly less receptive to your attempts at getting me back home if you got rid of it, just saying.” She scoffed, knowing he looked at her with his little friend goggles and that his opinion of her was most likely biased. “Right now I don’t.” She was too exhausted to argue with him and picked up the burger to take a bite out of it. “This was yours, wasn’t it?”

“Oh I bet you’d fight me on about literally anythin’ right now” Ben said, unable to hide the chuckle that fell out past his lips seconds after. He knew better than to bait her and despite his past, Ben was more of a lover than a fighter these days. “You dig the hair? Alright, cool. Maybe I’ll keep it long then” A part of him perhaps wanted to impress her or be someone that she could somehow see as more than a friend, but truthfully, Ben also just seemed to grow accustomed to the length of his hair over the years. Living with three sisters for a while there meant lots of braiding and tips. “I mean it was, but what’s mine is yours” He was mostly just happy she had something in her stomach now. “How about you finish that burger and let me walk you home, sound good?”

[benxmartin]

theodore-merrick​:

“Never was book smart but I’ve always been good with my hands.” Which wasn’t necessarily true, perhaps if Ted had applied himself more to his studies, but he’d always had a mind beyond high school, beyond what a textbook had to offer. He’d been more free spirited, more salt of the earth than regimented. He was a hard worker, his crew could attest for that, but he’d wanted to earn a living his own way. “Shoulda known you’d vouch for that shit.” Rolling his eyes, Ted would simply shake his head before he brought his beer to his lips. “Unfortunately I don’t think closet alcoholism is a marketable skill, but damn if she ain’t givin’ it her best shot anyway.”

“Yeah well, you and me both, dude,” Ben said with a solid laugh before shaking his head. Considering Ben didn’t even have a GED, it was safe to say that being book smart was never gonna be his thing even if he wanted it to be. “I wouldn’t call it alcoholism... yet. But seems like it’s getting there” He sighed, if only because he was getting a little worried for Kenny. Sure, they ahd fun at bars drinking the night away, but it seemed to be a common occurence now that needed to dwindle before things got out of hand. “I don’t know, man. I’ve got my own sisters to worry about but that girl seems like she’s goin’ through some shit.”

[benxmartin]

kendallmerrick​:

Kendall rolled her eyes, taking a too big gulp of her drink. She was clearly not someone who ever heard of pacing herself. “Who are you calling tiny? I can drink you under the damn table and you know it,” she retorted with an obnoxious smirk, waving her glass around dangerously. It was a miracle she hadn’t broken a glass tonight yet. “You’re knowledgable about a lot of things, don’t be so self-deprecating. You somehow know just what to do to handle a drunk me and not a lot of people know how to do that.” So it wasn’t a real skill, but it was still somewhat of an achievement. “Yup, the hair does make you look like a giant hipster now that I think about it. You kind of pull it off. “I have things other than my smallness going for me, Benjamin. Like my great smile and extensive collection of books.” 

“Don’t make me drag you outta here again, tiny” Ben threw the term around again, this time with a grin. Despite the fact that Kenny was probably more equipped to keep up with his drinking than anyone else at the bar, he wasn’t trying to challenge her. “Yeah, guess I better put that on my resume, huh” He let out a chuckle, if only because it was easier to laugh about the state of his career and income than it was to take it seriously. At the end of the day, he didn’t have much going for him since formal education wasn’t something he had, however, that didn’t mean he was completely useless. “Well, the hair’s stayin’ even if my sisters fuckin’ hate it” For now anyway. “You have a lot more than your smile and your books goin’ for ya Kenny” He sighed, features resting into a faint smile, “C’mon, you better eat that burger before I do.”

[benxmartin]

kendallmerrick​:

“Then you haven’t been tryin’ hard enough. Keep bringin’ me food when I go out and you’ll get there in no time,” she said with a wide smile, playing along. Truthfully, no matter how much she drank, sleeping around just wasn’t one of her vices. She was a flirt, a big one, but it usually didn’t go farther than just that. Much to many people’s annoyance, she was sure. “Hear, hear.” Her smile stiffened, knowing all too well what it was like to be kept waiting. She was still waiting for the police to find her brother’s murderer and it haunted her. As drunk as she was, she barely even noticed the glance exchanged between Ben and the bartender. She had a drink in front of her and that was all that mattered to her. She took a sip, smiling as he described his beer. “Very fancy. I thought IPAs’ were craft beers, so I’ll take your word for it. You seem a lot more knowledgable, I tend to think all beer tastes like piss.” Not that she wouldn’t have one if there was nothing else available. “You don’t need to worry about me. You know I can handle myself. Small, but mighty or whatever it is they say.” 

“Good to know, tiny” Ben replied back with a growing smile. No doubt he’d be there for Kenny regardless. Sometime over the last year she had successfully planted herself in his heart and there was no going back. In the end, he thought they were both grieving over loss of family and whether she knew it or not, she truly did help him with some of the emotional baggage of it all. The least he could do was offer up some food whenever she came around. “I do? Finally something I can seem knowledgable about” he said with a smirk, “I bet it’s the beard and the hair that’s got me looking like a pretentious brewery bastard, huh.” Just as she said the words, Ben began to worry. It was a hard habit to get out of and most of the time he was right to worry about her. “Small but mighty? Nah, small but still small” he corrected.

[benxmartin]

theodore-merrick​:

“I’ll even teach you to make the sign yourself. Carpentry’s useful, man.” Ted grinned, nodding towards Ben as he moved to sit with him. In similar fashion he’d brandish a package of Parliament’s, plucking a cigarette betwixt his lips and thumbing around for his lighter before finally igniting it. “Nah. The drinkin’ my ma can get past, but I just tell her at least I don’t vape. No popcorn lung and I don’t look like a fuckin’ asshole. She says it’s fine as long I’ve got a little dignity in the act.” Winking, a billow of smoke would pour from Ted’s nostrils as he exhaled, then lifting his beer to his lips. “Figure long as I’m a drink or two behind my baby sister then I’m not a total useless shit.”

“Yeah, I hear that a lot. I mean, any career that was good enough for Jesus is probably good enough for me, too” Ben said, lip upturning into a grin at the thought. Truth be told, any career would be good enough for him at this point in his life. “Not gonna lie, vaping is pretty dope. There’s just a lot of flavors” Ben admitted through a fit of laughter before shaking his head. Despite the fact that Ben’s mother had passed a year prior, he had a feeling she would have the same sentiment as Ted’s mother which was enough to keep him away from it. “I don’t think you should use Kenny as a scale, girl’s gonna drink you under the damn table” He added, if only because it was true. She’d probably drink himself under the table as well if she kept it up.

[cowboyhudsons]

[benxmartin]

–– KENDALL MERRICK

Another day, another night spent at Attaboy. With the kind of schedule she was currently keeping, it was no wonder Kenny had seen herself forced to drop out of college. It was that or be kicked out and she figured taking a year off would look a hell of a lot better on her resume. If she ever got around to updating hers that was. She was way too busy trying to forget to bother with such things. The petite brunette was practically leaning over the counter, trying to get the bartender’s attention, when a very familiar face appeared next to her. She smiled brightly at the sight of what he was offering, her hands immediately grabbing at whatever food she could get to first. “A man after my own heart,” she said with drunken admiration before remembering what she was doing at the bar in the first place. “He might be in love with me, but I got served a lot quicker when it was you pouring my drinks.” The current bartender, however? Didn’t seem to have any qualms serving her even when she was near passing out. She leaned over the counter again, trying to get his attention in a sea of normal-sized people. “Tucker, I’m thirsty! The usual. And a beer, please,” she demanded, but not without her signature smile that had most people eating right out of her palms. He didn’t seem too bothered by her insistance, so she figured she was good to go. “You know, you’re never gonna get drunk if you stick with your dumb IPAs.”

“Yeah, I been tryin’ but haven’t been able to seal the deal with you yet, starting to think it might never happen now” Ben half-joked with a faint smile. While he and Kendall had become easy friends, at first blush when he came into town he might’ve thought she was cute. These days, he was just trying to keep her head above water and eventually he realized that the girl had far too many demons to be focusing on much else. “That’s because I know what it’s like to be kept waitin’ and it ain’t fun...” His words trailed off as he pursed his lips and gave a sharp whistle that finally grabbed the bartenders attention. Giving him a polite smile, Ben could tell that there was probably a reason why he was ignoring Kendall’s insistence but it wasn’t like he could outright deny her service. With Ben there now, the bartender seemed confident she’d be okay and grabbed two pints for them. “They’re not IPA’s, they’re craft beer. So there’s like, a craft, that goes into the process or whatever” He shook his head with a chuckle. He definitely didn’t have much of a clue other than he liked the taste and that was it. Stealing a fry from the basket he had slid her way earlier, Ben popped it into his mouth and gave Kenny another once over, “So what kinda trouble are you tryna give me a heart attack over tonight?”

[benxmartin]

ATTABOY BEER BREWERY  Sunday, August 2nd w/ @kendallmerrick​

Another late night at the shipping warehouse meant that Ben was beat by ten pm. All he wanted to do was grab his favorite nightcap in the form of beer and then head home to rest. Stopping by the food truck outside, Ben picked up a burger and fries before walking through the doors of the brewery. He wasn’t the least surprised to see Kendall up front enjoying some drinks. Letting out a sigh, Ben pressed his hand to her growing beard and made his way over, hoping he’d caught her early in her night time bender. “Look at that, got your kid’s meal all ready for ya” He said, pushing his basket of food her way, figuring she’d need something to soak up the alcohol. As much as he knew it wasn’t his business, Ben couldn’t help but worry about her a little. It didn’t how much she insisted she was in control of things, it pressed heavy on his heart regardless. “You order me a beer or do I gotta do that myself?” He asked with a smirk, only half-joking as he gave a wave to the bartender. “Yeah that’s the guy that’s in love with you, not me” Tragically, “Pretty sure you gotta order for me all night now so I get those generous pours.”

[benxmartin]

–– THEODORE MERRICK

               “That’s no problem, Skip, just get me next time.” Ted waved off the owner of Crab & Claw with an easy warmth. “I will take a cold one, though.” It was only just after noon, but Ted had been awake since four o’clock that morning to get the boat out just to make the local restaurants lunch and dinner rush, and with his final delivery out of the way, he’d have a pint or two before he made his way home to sleep off his exhaustion. A quick glance down the well-worn bar would show he wasn’t the only patron after a drink to wind down, and once the lager was in his fist, Ted would raise his glass. “Ain’t alcoholism s’long as you’re not drinking alone. Words to live by. Cheers.”

Ben rubbed the exhaustion from his eyes and huffed out a sigh before his beer finally came along, initiating a smile upon his worn features. Ever since he arrived in Maryland it was hard to hold down a stable job with little experience and no proper education or GED, so he found himself working odd jobs here and there. This morning one of the residents hired him to help them with a catch by the docks and it was safe to say Ben wasn’t a fan of the work day starting at three am. Ted’s presence shouldn’t have been too surprising, but they hardly hung out this early and if the guy wasn’t going to judge him for the early beer, then he’d happily join in, “Gonna need that on a sign at home just to remind everyone” Ben said with a smirk as he made the short walk over and joined Ted’s table. Taking a much needed sip from his beer, Ben reached into his pocket to pull out a cigarette and slipped one between his lips, “You got a sayin’ to justify this sin too or nah?” He asked with the raise of his brow, still very much amused. Given Ted’s words, Ben couldn’t help but feel it was a bit ironic considering he had just spent the other night with Kenny and it was safe to say the girl was beginning to worry Ben with her bad habits. However, it wasn’t his place to police her, after all, she wasn’t one of his sisters, although she was becoming more and more like one.

[deanmoth]