Ray

[hunterqueennadine-blog-blog]

Call The Shots || Nadine & Ray

[hunterqueennadine-blog-blog]

Nadine takes another drink. She wonders how hard it would be to get someone in her. Or perhaps, get Ray on her side. It be useful. For now she just might have to just have someone come in and become a regular to see where Ray sits and listen to the rumors that might flow through this place.

While it is a wonderful drink it does not last long. While Nadine would love to have a second, she knows that now there are many more important items to have her cards spent on. She places the cards she owes Ray on the bar. One more then the price listed, it is only proper to leave a tip when one receives good service. 

“Well Ray, it has been a pleasure speaking with you. Thank you for the wonderful drink. It’s nice to see there are still hard workers in this day and age.”

[georgiarays]

----------------------

[thejesseturner]

On The House || Jesse & Ray

[thejesseturner]

Jesse smiles. “I would be able to after I get back from selling later.” It’s not true. But it would be if he didn’t plan to share half the cards with Aiden since the kid came out with him and if he didn’t plan on stalking up on more supplies with the cares he made today.

Still it is nice to have a heavy bag on his back and know that even with buying things he should be able to make his way to a table tonight. Where, hopefully, his good luck streak will keep up. Jesse takes the drink placed him front of him. It’s nice, cool, and refreshing. Gives him a nice warm trail from the moonshine in the back of his throat that he loves.

“So how business been? Anything new?”

[georgiarays]

“Business is more of the same. Nothin’ to complain about, nothin’ to write home about.” When Jesse raises his glass to drink, Ray brings the cool glass to his lip, pulling back a long sip. It’s the right kind of burning, and when he settles the drink back down, he feels ready to tackle the day. It’s always nice to see Jesse outside of their shared dorm room. Ray likes having him around as much as possible, and not just because it means he can keep an eye on him. Jesse is his flesh and blood, and while their parents are off in No Man’s Land, Ray likes having that little slice of his past hanging around.

Ray brings out a new can of beer when the woman sitting at the end of his bar raises a ration card over her head and beckons over to him. Ray serves it with a smile, glancing around the rest of the bar to make sure everyone looks as happy as they’re going to get. It’s only then that he turns his head back to Jesse, making sure he doesn’t want another drink.

[thejesseturner]

On The House || Jesse & Ray

[thejesseturner]

Damn it. Of course he put them in the wrong place and that is what would give it away. Jesse thinks of a list of reasons as to why he put them on the wrong shelf. He was in a hurry, the label was too fade, anything except the fact that he actually didn’t know what shelf they went to and he was guess, which was the truth.

Ray doesn’t say anything about it though so Jesse keeps his excuses to himself. “I will have a glass of your finest anything.” It’s all a joke but Jesse is happy as hell about his sale that will be happening latr. He smiles at his brother before giving his real answer. “Just moonshines. To early for anything else.”

[georgiarays]

“You couldn’t afford it, kid,” Ray answers, only half-joking about it. He still has a full bottle of wine that’s unopened, and it’ll stay that way until a big spender comes into town. Ray’s a patient man, and he’s sitting on more than enough rations to wait.

Ray mixes a Rise n’ Shine, mixing plain moonshine and some orange juice. It’s light, it’s refreshing and like Jesse said, it’s too early for another else. Ray mixes enough for two, pouring one out for Jesse and one out for himself. Ray takes it back pretty quickly, the juice making it easy to get it down. He lets out a light sight, placing the glass back behind the counter once he’s done with it.

[hunterqueennadine-blog-blog]

Call The Shots || Nadine & Ray

[hunterqueennadine-blog-blog]

“Nadine.” She returns the hand shake. It is proper to do so of course. Nadine takes another sip with a smile. Her pinky is out with out thinking about it. If she didn’t have such a firm hold on reality Nadine might be able to let herself slip and almost forget where she was because of how good the drink was. Much better then most she would have had at those parties in the past.

“Well you make a wonderful martini Ray. Much better then most.” Nadine looks around the bar. It is a smart business in this world. People still like to drink. Drinking helps forget everything and anything. She is slighly upset with herself for not thinking of this as a cover to have in Pittsburgh. Maybe Ray can be looking for help and one of her people can help him out. Must be a great place to listen to other talk.

“This is a fine place I assume you have built for yourself here.”

[georgiarays]

“Aw, shucks, thank you ma’am,” Ray answers. She has a nice firm handshake, like someone running for congress, and he instantly wonders what her deal is. You don’t forget someone like her, someone like Nadine, so it’s obvious that she hasn’t been around here. But she’s here now and Ray’s beyond curious as to why. Why Atlanta? Why now?

“They don’t exactly sell bars likes this,” Ray says with a small chuckle, running his fingers over where one piece of wood melds into the next. Everything in the room, save for the dart board, has been brought in for the right amount of rations. “But yeah, she’s all mine.”

[thejesseturner]

On The House || Jesse & Ray

Rum and Vodka

It wasn’t much but it had been to long since Jesse brought Ray back anything from his runs. To long. But Jesse knew Ray was doing well on his won and the other runners were bring in much more then he could imagine. They actually found a few places that Jesse had never thought to check. So while Jesse kept a look out for anything Ray could need, it wasn’t made as the main item to be found.

Luckily Aiden and Jesse found two bottles on their trip outside the wall. Jesse had actually almost forgot about them, only remembering when he was trying to get everything together to go try to see to Victor. But the market could wait. Jesse gathered everything, the bottles placed in the very top of the bag. It dug into his shoulders slightly and the zipper wasn’t fully closed due to everything in it, but hopefully it would be empty soon. Or emptier.

Like always the bar had a good amount of people in it. It seemed like every day was a good day besides Tuesday. Ray was busy pouring something out to a back table when Jesse wanted in. His brothers back is turned and Jesse hops over the bar quickly. He places his bag on the bar, eyes not leaving Ray’s back as he grabs the two bottles. The bottle of rum goes on the middle shelf and the vodka on the bottom. Jesse knows they are more then likely on the wrong shelf, but who cares. He hopes back over the bar hoping he will get away with in.

Jesse takes a place at the bar, his bag pulled closer to the right side and he sits there acting as if he had been there the whole time.

[georgiarays]

Ray loves it when it’s busy. When there are so many people lining the bar that he doesn’t have a moment to think or breathe to himself. It’s easy to get lost in the past, and more importantly, in the present. When Ray’s busy he doesn’t have to think about his mother and father out in Texas, so far away for so long. He doesn’t have to think about Jesse, out late hours, doing God knows what out in the black market. He doesn’t have to think about Baker’s stupid mouth and how sometimes he just wants to be kissed that way, every day. It’s a lot of things to not have to think about, and Ray enjoys the mind-numbing feeling of it all.

He sees Jesse come in, out of the corner of his eye, but his brother knows that when Ray’s busy, he’ll get to him when he gets to him. He’s too busy pouring out a mojito to someone who’s arguing about whether his mint is fresh or not. Ray’s about willing to knock him over the head with the potted plant. Of course, he keeps a light smile on his face, and when the woman pays him for the drink, Ray’s never been happier to see someone leave the bar before.

He hears shuffling, and when he looks over, Jesse’s got that fake innocent look on his face, Ray scans back behind of him, looking over at the well. He rolls his eyes at his brother’s lack of alcohol knowledge, considering they both grew up in a bar. Switching the bottles out, the vodka goes up to a spot on his middle shelf, and the rum sits down in the well.

“What are ya having today little brother?” Ray asks without mentioning the well and Jesse hopping over.

[hunterqueennadine-blog-blog]

Call The Shots || Nadine & Ray

[hunterqueennadine-blog-blog]

“Nothing below middle. Destroys a perfectly good drink.”

Nadine use to refuse anything below top shelve. But she can see their isn’t a bottle of gin up there and luckily she knows the faded label sitting in the middle there. She looks away just to scan the bar but looks back with enough time to be able to watch him make the drink.

It is clear this is not the first martini that man has made and it forms a small smile on her face. “You did this before the outbreak?” While it is a questions, it does have the tone that Nadine is more stating then asking. She reaches for the stem of the glasses, impressed even more so by the olive that he put in it. She looks the drink over before taking a sip and when she does it is perfection. He has the proportions of gin to vermouth spot on and Nadine takes another drink.

“You are very good at what you do ….” Nadine pauses in the perfect tone that hopefully he will catch on that he is suppose to fill in the blank with his name.

[georgiarays]

Well, she has taste, Ray will give her that. Although his medium shelf is a london dry gin, which he personally doesn’t prefer, Ray will only drink well gin if he has to. When he mixes the martini, it’s something Ray can feel proud of, and when he serves it, he has enough time to wait and gauge her response.

“Bartendin’s been in my blood for centuries,” Ray answers with a smile, trying to keep his answers short and simple. The wealthy type generally don’t like it when the barkeep rambles out, and although Ray’s a friendly guy, he knows when to keep his mouth shut. Ray’s got a giant smile on his face when it’s very obvious she enjoys her drink. 

“Where are my manners? I’m Ray, it’s nice to meet ya.” Ray offers his out hand to her, waiting to see if she’ll return the handshake and the favor of her name. A lot of people like to keep themselves anonymous in the bar, which in turn just makes them more noticeable and stick out.

[hunterqueennadine-blog-blog]

Call The Shots || Nadine & Ray

The past few weeks have moved quickly. Nadine moved through the QZ now with ease like she had been there since it opened up. It was something Nadine always liked about Pittsburgh, the fact that she knew the area before and moving through the zone was simple because of that. Now Nadine has that same skill with the Atlanta zone. While she might not have ever single turn memorized, Nadine was happy with her process here.

Now, Nadine circled the black market. She had list after list of everything she had from Gregory and everything that she thought she needed or the hunters as a whole could use. While some tables were full and stocked like the one that belonged to the man Nadine had spoke to before, others where less then half empty with items so poorly made Nadine was slightly worried wrongly touching one of the so called nail bombs might destroy the market.

Nadine passed another table and watched a few men enter an open door off to the left. Nadine had heard of the bar in there from comments around the market. Taking a break from the looking Nadine walked into the bar. It was small, but the shelves behind the hand made bar were far more stocked then Nadine would have expected.

There was an open post at the far end of the bar and Nadine made herself comfortable. Normally she would refuse to sit at the bar, a table was far more classier, but, the bar meant more of a chance to talk to the man working behind it and Nadine waited for him to notice her and move closer before playing an order. “Do you have all the making for a proper martini?”

[georgiarays]

She looks important and distinguished although Ray’s certain he’s never seen her a day in his life. When she saddles up to the bar, he knows the drink order is going to be a challenge, and Ray feels a little giddy at the thought of it. he approaches her as quickly as he can when he’s done filling moonshine into mason jars, and makes sure to keep his smile light and his voice friendly.

“What shelf do you drink from, darlin’?” Ray has to ask, although he’s sure she doesn’t drink from the well. The price goes up, of course, but most people don’t care. Once the woman gives him an answer, Ray’s working quickly to pour out the perfect martini. To coating the glass with a thin coat or vermouth, to stirring the gin, and not shaking it. He even garnishes it with an olive, a rare commodity that he managed to get his hands on, to prove craftmanship. She’s challenged him, and Ray never backs down from a challenge that pertains to alcohol. 

He carefully hands the martini over, in one of his brand new martini glasses, and watches her face closely. How she reactions will tell Ray if he’s lost his touch or not, and he’ll be damned if he’s not at the top of his game.

[georgiarays]

Business First // Ray & Baker

[sgt-douglasbaker]

That’s right, Charlie would be fine if whiskey was offered. She never was that mad, but Ray’s overdue from another night of torment with the dynamic duo infiltrating. He thinks that will be a good idea. He hasn’t told Charlie anything yet, either, and even if he does he doesn’t think she will instigate. She’s mischievious, but she’s a good friend before that.

“It’ll take time, but it can be done with enough persistence, right?” It’ll be accomplished! Somehow, someway, if Baker brings it up he’s sure Charlie will find a way to swing it, even if her stacks of paperwork are doomed to grow. He still hasn’t really asked her too much of why, yet. “Sorry about being away for so long, I got a little busy.” Which is a total, blatant lie. He just hopes Ray can’t read him, because while Baker was busy before he always made time for stopping by to say ‘Hello’ even if just for a couple of minutes at a time.

He looks around the bar, but it’s only Tuesday. The day before ration card hand outs, so he can’t suspect it’ll get too busy. “You don’t mind me hanging out for a bit, do ya? Or should I head out?” Baker hopes it’s okay. Ray never seems to mind if he is busy anyway.

[georgiarays]

“It sure can,” Ray agrees. He knows their patrols change out every week, and getting the right days off together is never easy. For the few weeks his father was in Atlanta, Ray remembers a frantic sort of schedule, with all sorts of shifts. There were times when his mother slept alone, tossing and turning all night without her husband beside her. Ray likes those overnight patrols the least. It’s scary not knowing if someone you love is going to still be alive when you wake up in the morning.

“We all get a little busy every once in awhile,” Ray says with a nod, knowing the line that Doug just fed him was a complete lie. Douglas always manages to stop in and say hello when he’s busy, he always has. His absence is something else, something relating directly to their drunken make out, but since Baker hasn’t brought it up, Ray won’t either. It’s obviously something they’re just supposed to forget about and move past, and that is definitely something Ray can do.

“You’re never a bother handsome, you know that. Drink your beer, and tell me all about your week.”

[georgiarays]

Business First // Ray & Baker

[sgt-douglasbaker]

As per usual the blush is there staining his cheeks at the word ‘cute’, and Baker kind of thinks he wants to hang out here until close again. Just to talk and hang out. It’s normal and okay, and he needs more of it. If he’s back in his bunk his mind might attack itself again. It’s funny how being in the presence best friend who he terrifyingly thinks is probably the best kisser he’s ever made out with keeps the little bit of panic in Baker’s chest at bay.

“I coulda slept on the floor, though.” Or even shared. By that point he was so sad and tired that if they’d slept next to one another he knows he wouldn’t have done anything stupid again. Ray doesn’t seem to mind it, though, so he won’t press it further.

His brows arch at the suggestion, and Baker nods. “Yeah, they’ll come with.” And it sounds a little rushed when he adds that, he is clumsy with his words again, but he shrugs it off. “Miss Charlie was upset with me when I told her about it.” There’s the smile again, to let Ray know he’s mostly kidding about Charlie being down about it. She gave him the most serious disappointed look for the lack of invite, and really, how dare he? Team Double Trouble was split up for the night.

“I’m sure they’d like that. I was happy that you were trapped behind there. It’ll be a fun to get everyone together. Maybe even Julia would come stop by.” But of course Baker will offer Ray some form of payment. Back stock is good to keep, and having a surplus stowed away keeps him safe from running short down the line. He would feel much too guilty take anything else for free. He’s taken too much so far.

[georgiarays]

“You were my guest Doug. What kinda host would I have been if I made ya sleep on the floor?”

“Well, I’ll smooth it all over with some whisky then,” he jokes, knowing that Charlie can never turn down good whisky. Ray feels like Doug will feel more comfortable if they invite more people next time. There won’t be any weird pressure, or awkward tension, not with Captain Powell around. Ray’s sure they can make up some excuse worth drinking to, too. They honestly don’t talk about military matters with him, which is just fine, but he never really knows what’s going on in the barracks. Except for Charlie’s ridiculous prank wars.

“It sounds like a plan. I’m sure it won’t be easy gettin’ everyone on the same schedule, so don’t be a stranger ‘til then, you hear me?” Ray asks, trying to keep his voice light like he didn’t miss Baker for the time he was gone. It felt awful, not being able to see him, and there’s no way in the world Ray’s gonna jeopardize their friendship just because Doug’s lips happened to feel incredibly soft.

[georgiarays]

Business First // Ray & Baker

[sgt-douglasbaker]

The more Baker watches Ray play with the flask in his hands the more guilty he feels about holding it hostage. It’s important to him, and at least he has it back now. It could have vanished entirely so maybe it was a good thing he inexplainably had it in his possession. He was going to hope Ray wasn’t going crazy looking for it, but he seems to ecstatic for him to have just treat it like a lost pair of cheap drug-store sunglasses.

He laughs again, loud and clear, and the way all the self-created tension starts to dissipate is such a relief. His light eyes are lit up happily as he remembers that part of the night, the part after the thought-consuming kissing and touching. “Hey, I didn’t want it. I don’t think I was as stubborn as Miss Charlie is, though.” Can’t be, couldn’t ever be. She did drink her water, though…

To think though that Ray held off on opening for that long meant he had to feel something, but it probably was nothing in comparison to Baker’s headache and how sunlight made him feel blinded and disoriented. Well, his bed was more of his own best friend that morning than ever. “It was fun, and you took care of me even if I was a stubborn pain.” He does let the memory of Ray holding him to his feet play in his own head, how he guided him to the back room and got him to bed which still doesn’t make sense because he could’ve slept on the floor and Ray should’ve taken the bed for having him over that night.

Finally, he takes a sip of the whiskey, and it’s all familiar burning. It’s okay, they’re normal and alright now, and all that’s left is the memory. Baker has to work on keeping himself from blowing such a tiny thing out of proportion, that’s all. He does have to say it, still, just to let Ray know and hear it from his own mouth. “What would a guy do without his best friend." 

[georgiarays]

“Aw, you were fine. You’re just lucky you’re so cute or I would have left ya to sleep on the floor,” Ray waves Douglas’s concern off, although when he calls Ray his best friend, his entire face lights up. Ray’s not used to having a best friend, not really. It’s always been him and his family, with enough people in his life that he knew but wasn’t necessarily close to. Ray didn’t mind it. His friend network was large enough that he always knew where the next party was, and he was never really left wanting. 

A best friend though, someone he could just enjoy a comfortable silence around and share personal, private things with? He’s never really had a person like that in his life, and now he has two, with Baker and Charlie. He’s making more friends in this world, real friends that he can rely on, than he did in the old one, and Ray thinks it’s a damn shame it took the end of the world to get him to fully commit people. What’s done is done, though, and all he can really do is move on.

“We should do it again sometime. Invite Sam and Charlie and anyone else y’all normally drink with. Business has been treatin’ me mighty nice, and I can afford to lose some of my back stock.” Hell, the fact that he even has a back stock is nothing short of a miracle, and Ray has enough whisky that even Charlie herself couldn’t run him out of business.

[georgiarays]

Business First // Ray & Baker

[sgt-douglasbaker]

Baker stands there, fighting the urge to take another step away. It’s hard to not want to stay when Ray doesn’t look at or talk to him differently. “Sorry ‘bout that.” His blue eyes focus on the flask more than Ray’s face until he gets to work. Regardless though, he makes himself stay put as he prepares a drink he didn’t order. His stomach twists a little.

“I didn’t bring any cards with me,” he tries to politely decline the offer, but somehow he thinks it won’t matter. So, Baker fidgets and then takes a seat on the stool closest to him and eyes that stupid flask that made him come back so soon. It was rewarding to see the relief on Ray’s face, most definitely, so it’s not all that bad. If he can just over himself himself Baker’s sure he won’t feel so off for too much longer.

But, man, is he lucky. He feels all sorts of awkward and strange, yet here is Ray, his best friend, no different than the last day he saw him. “I really don’t remember how I left with that, when I found it I felt awful.” He has the glass of whiskey there in between his hands but he’s not feeling too much on drinking right now. There’s no fear of losing himself or anything, it’s just one glass, but the smell and taste is all too familiar. Still, he’s gotta stop dwelling!

He smiles, now, genuine and real, and he does care when he asks, “How was that hangover from the other night?” If he had one, that is. Baker wouldn’t be surprised because Ray drank more than him at such a quick pace, and Baker’s head was throbbing the next day. “I shoulda drank all of that water you gave me, I regretted not the next morning that’s for sure.” And Baker chuckles a little bit. He was lucky to find that glass of water and bottle of painkillers set bedside, and it was such a sweet gesture. It was a shame Ray wasn’t there the next morning for him to thank, but it made it easier to just slip out.

[georgiarays]

“It’s from the personal stash, Doug. No rations required.” Maybe Ray’s trying a little too hard to force things back to normal. It’s not like he’s completely unphased by what happened, but it hasn’t been the first time. Ray’s had make out buddies before, and friends with benefits. It’s usually his preferred method of intimacy, mostly from the lack of commitment and emotional bonds. That’s what makes a relationship messy, he thinks, and if Doug was a little less straight he wouldn’t mind bending him over the counter in between their hang outs and friendly conversation.

Slowly but surely, Douglas is relaxing, and it makes it easier for Ray to put up the unaffected front. The whisky helps a little with that, and Ray’s fingers play with the engraving as they speak. He’s ridiculously happy for finding it, and it’ll be mentioned in his prayers that night. Ray remained faithful, and the flask showed up. It’s all he can ask for, really.

“I tried t’get ya to drink it like four times, but you weren’t havin’ any of it. Never pegged you to be so stubborn when you drank” This is good, nice and easy. He can ignore the nice way that Baker’s lips slid over his, and the intoxicating way his hips jutted forward. They can stay just friends, no problem. Ray won’t develop a crush on a straight boy. That’s just a road to heartache he really doesn’t want to journey down. “It wasn’t the worst hangover I’ve had, that’s for dang sure, but the Place didn’t get opened up until three in the afternoon,” Ray answers with a small laugh. 

[georgiarays]

Business First // Ray & Baker

[sgt-douglasbaker]

It took a whole hell of a lot of courage to make his way to Ray’s, but Baker is still standing outside. Maybe he’s making more of a big deal than he needs to, but he’s awkwardly shuffling from foot to foot while debating with himself. He told Charlie he would go with her, but then wouldn’t it be too obvious because it’s too normal. Oh, God, Baker hates his overactive mind. Whatever, he’s here now, and it’s about time he returned what wasn’t his.

He presses in through the entrance, and well, fuck, he wants to turn around and run. No! If he acts awkward then it will be awkward, and he’ll just not breathe a word of what happened. It’s fine. They’re best buddies. Baker will get over it the moment Ray starts talking to him, and he doubts he even cares much. He’s good like that.

Baker doesn’t see Ray behind the bar right away, but he cautiously walks up and glances around the bar to see if he’s cleaning anything up outside of it. He could be in the backroom too, but he’s not about to wander back there. Sure, he slept there that one night, but this is still an establishment. It’s rude to walk around just because you’re friends with the owner. Luckily though, Baker doesn’t have to search much because Ray stands back up, and instantly he smiles as if he didn’t have a worry. He stands there and hesitates, doesn’t take a seat either, but still is smiling like normal. 

Okay, cool, this is easy. It’s as if he never felt worried. “Hey, I, uh, realized I took something of yours the other night. Been meaning to bring it back.” He pulls it out from his pocket and holds it out to Ray feeling and looking entirely bashful. Whether that’s from his mistake or what went on between them he can’t decide. “I don’t know how I got a hold of it, but I took care of it while I had it. I didn’t drink any of what’s left in it. Sorry about taking so long.” And wow, he feels mostly alright… and guilty now that it’s hitting him that he’s waited so long to return something that wasn’t his.

[georgiarays]

“Good afternoon, handsome,” Ray says when he gets to eye level. Baker usually calls out a greeting, but this time he doesn’t. Ray wonders if things are going to be weird. It’s no mystery why he’s kept away. Before their drunken make out Baker was stopping in to see him once, twice a week. When that changed to a lack of sunshine, Ray tried to keep his hopes up. He knew Doug would come see him again when he had had enough time away, and apparently that time is now.

Ray’s eyes go big and bright at the flask. The tension drops right out of his shoulders when Baker sets it on the counter. He’s being all awkward and fidgety, and Ray does his best to just ignore the jitters. They’ll get right back to where they were before.

“Thank the stars, Doug. I was beginnin’ to think that I had throw it away or something equally terrible. Thank you.” Ray could just lean over and kiss him - that’s an expression of course, he wouldn’t actually lean over and kiss him again - at how happy and giddy he feels at having the flask back in his hand. He reaches for a tumbler, filling it up with some ice, before emptying most of what’s left in the flask into it. That gets slide over to Baker, and Ray puts his lip’s to the flask’s opening, taking the last shot in a straight gulp. It burns pleasantly on the way down, and he gingerly sets the flask back behind the bar, somewhere he can see at almost all times.

“Comon now, take a seat. Good whisky is meant to be enjoyed, not rushed.”

[georgiarays]

Business First // Ray & Parker

[parkertorrens]

Parker grabs on to the bottle as it slides towards her and lifts it up in a silent cheers before she takes a drink. For someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy alcohol, Parker sure does drink fairly frequently now. She’s beginning to enjoy the taste of beer, slipping back into how she was in her college days. It took her a while to like drinking then, too, so she’s not surprised that she’s become accustomed to it quicker this time around.

“Hm,” is all Parker has time to say before the conversation is back on her. She’d been about to ask if Ray had talked to his buddy about the flask yet, but the thought escapes her when Ray asks her what’s up. “Ah, just, y’know,” she shrugs and stalls by taking a drink. “Things might be looking up. Nothing’s solved, just. Looking better than it did before.” She refrains from mentioning the love part. Is it normal to want to tell everyone when you’re in love? she wonders. Probably. “But the good news is you don’t have to hear me whine as much. At least for a little while.”

[georgiarays]

“Well that’s fantastic to hear,” Ray answers as he gets to work in wiping down some of the glasses he washed earlier. One at a time he cleans them, looking over at Parker when she speaks. She doesn’t seem to want to go into detail, which is fine. The fact that she isn’t here to drink herself silly or take the edge off whatever’s bothering her. Right now seems more like social drinking, or drinking for celebration, and those are two of Ray’s favorite times to drink. Parker doesn’t make any faces at the beer, so either Ray’s getting better at chosing, or she’s acquiring a taste of alcohol again.

“You’re never a bother, you know that,” he says with a wave of his hand. If Parker was a bother, Ray wouldn’t put up with it, simple as that. He has to deal with a lot of people throughout the day, and the ones that talk to him are almost never a bother. It comes with the bar territory, and Ray’s used to emotions of all kinds being thrown at him.

[georgiarays]

Business First // Ray & Parker

[parkertorrens]

Parker laughs at his response, though she was expecting something like it. He seems happy to see her, which is nice. Parker’s happy to see him, too. Even through all her turmoil that she seems to have no trouble expressing around him, Ray is always chipper and is brings up her mood even just a tiny bit when she’s around him.

“You could say that,” Parker says, her smile widening a little bit. “Maybe I’ll tell you about it. Get me a drink first and we’ll see.” She nudges his arm to show she’s joking. 

“Just a beer should do. I’ve got plans for later, don’t want to end up stumbling out your door,” she says as they walk back towards the bar. Parker takes a seat and folds her hands on top of the wood. “You find your flask? Or was that what had you on the floor a minute ago?”

[georgiarays]

“Beer it is,” Ray answers, grabbing the first lighter beer he can find. He pops the lid off of it easily, tossing it into the bucket he has with an easy, practiced motion. He’s done it a thousand times, and he’ll do it hundreds more. Ray slides the beer down to Parker, flinging one of his towels over his shoulders. He knows that Parker will be good for the rations, and that she never asks for a glass so he doesn’t bother to ask any more.

“It’s still hidin’ from me,” Ray says with a tight smile before he turns the conversation back around. It’ll show up. It has to freakin’ show up. Maybe he should check the back room again. He will, later, after Parker leaves. “Now that you’ve got your beer, fess up. What’s got you grinnin’ bright as the sun?”

[georgiarays]

Business First // Ray & Parker

[parkertorrens]

Parker’s in a good mood. She’s planning on going out on a hunt later, still elated from everything that’s happened, but she wants to take a quick stop at the bar first. She figures she at least owes it to herself to buy a drink in celebration. She and Victor are ok, or at least they will be, and that’s something to commemorate. Besides, it’s about time that Ray saw her in a genuinely good mood. She hopes he’s feeling better today than the last time she saw him.

When she pushes through the doors and sees Ray on his hands and knees, Parker notes that perhaps things haven’t improved. He looks like he’s looking for something - his flask, she’d guess, if he hasn’t found it yet. She makes her way right to him, figuring she may as well say hello before she sits down. He must hear her coming, and as he stands up, Parker can’t help but smile a little.

“Don’t get off your knees for me, cowboy. Everything alright?”

[georgiarays]

“If I had a quarter for every time a pretty face told me that,” Ray says with a smile, recognizing Parker’s voice instantly. She seems happier, downright cheerful, and maybe Parker’s luck took a turn for the better. Ray sincerely hopes it has, with all of the drama she seemed to have going on in Parker hasn’t cracked a real smile in months. As he dusts off his jeans with his palms, he notices that her smile looks a lot less forced. He’ll have to look for the flask later. For right now, he’ll enjoy the company that Parker provides.

“You look like you’re in a good mood.” Ray notes out loud, wondering if Parker wants to share about it. He gives her a solid minute, listening to her answer, before he remembers her question. He should probably answer that. “Everything’s just fine, darlin’. What are you drinkin’ today?”

[georgiarays]

Business First // Ray & Open

Over the week, Ray’s devolved from calm but steady searching to something much more frantic. It has to be here, it just has to but it’s not and he’s about ready to pull his hair out. Just the night before, he had a dream that his great granddaddy rose from the grave just to scold him for losing the dang thing. Jesse says he hasn’t seen it, which Ray believes since it was in the damn bar. He remembers seeing it on the bar, right up until he woke up the next morning. It’s possible it got kicked over somewhere, but Ray would ave found it by now.

He tries to keep it out of his mind as he serves people, giving them the friendly, laid back Ray. It’s a chore and a half when his nerves are frayed, but he does a really good job of keeping his work face up. He’s giving under the bar another search over when he hears the door open to his bar and the footsteps approach. Ray’s on his hands and knees, seeing if maybe he did kick it somewhere, when he lets out a soft sigh and gets to his feet. Business first, after all. It is his motto.

[parkertorrens]

Not Technically // Parker & Ray

[parkertorrens]

Parker shrugs. She’s never thought that she’s hard on herself, just realistic. She can own up to her mistakes when it counts, she knows when she does wrong, and she lives with the guilt just like any normal person would. She’s vocal about her mistakes to Ray, sure, but that’s just because she’s almost always either drunk or tipsy whenever she talks to him.

She drinks more of her beer, realizing she’s almost finished the bottle. She doesn’t plan on having another one. It’s taken the edge off her anger but it does nothing for the confusion or upset that she still feels. She stares down at the bit of liquid still sloshing around in the bottom of the bottle as Ray speaks again, and then her head lifts.

She breaks out into a smile at the word friends. Last time they spoke, Ray mentioned that they weren’t “technically friends”, but now, apparently, he’s changed his mind. Parker thinks it’s about time, considering how much they’ve spoken now. They speak easy around one another and Parker thinks that is a good enough basis for a friendship nowadays.

“Thanks, Ray,” she says. She finishes the bottle in one more swig and then sets the empty down on the bar. “It means a lot, you know?” She doesn’t really know what else to say, so she takes that as her cue to leave. “Thanks for the beer, Ray,” she says as she stands. “I hope you find your flask.”

[georgiarays]

Parker’s looking at her beer really intently when Ray’s talking, so he doesn’t expect the smile. Apparently he’s said something right, which is nice, and although Parker obviously doesn’t want to talk about it, all Ray can do is hope that he’s helped out, if only a little.

“No problem, darlin’. You have a nice day.” Ray just smiles when she wishes him luck. He knows it has to be around here somewhere, and Ray will spend a good chunk of the night calmly looking through the bar again in hopes it pops up. If not, well, maybe Doug will stop in and Ray can use it as a nice distraction to ease back into their friendship.