fire & ice

just a simple denver girl. twenty-six. looking for work. 202. i'll never tell a lie as long as you don't ask.

[gqabberley-blog]

owenramsey:

“Ah, no– I liked it.” He glanced around a quick moment, checking to see if anyone was needing his attention before giving it back to the blonde. “Life just– changes, you know?” Owen nodded in agreement to her statements, he’d met many of the same, people that worked a certain job for many years and then suddenly just needed something different. “Change can be good, even if it’s sometimes forced on us, and I feel if anyone gets to a point where they feel stagnant because they don’t enjoy their job then it’s time to find something different. Life is way too short.” He swallowed a little thickly, just saying that little bit made his heart tighten a little, even after a year of freedom. “I do feel sorry for you though.” A small frown etched into the expression worn on his face. “Not in some pitying way, just that, that’s tough– to lose something you put a lot of work into. Umm–“ Now he wasn’t sure if this was the right timing to see if she had any interest in a bar atmosphere once again but he could use the help for sure and she said she was looking. Maybe it was inappropriate, maybe it would be too much of a bittersweet thing for her. “What kinds of jobs, or work, are you looking into? Would you want to be in the same type of industry or are you looking for a new way to go?” Owen smiled when she liked the beer and complimented it. “It’s a favorite of mine.” And then shook his head when she apologized. He missed her, his wife, though he’d made peace with her being gone a long time ago. Owen really had no other choice. “Thanks– I thought so too. She had come up with the name and I forget her reason why–“ His breath caught and his chin tucked, collecting himself a moment before answering. “It was seven years ago. If you don’t mind, I’d rather change the subject. Are you a Denver native or a transplant such as myself?”

She nodded when he said life simply changed. She understood, though she felt there was more to the story. There had to be, but didn’t really ask not wanting to pry too deeply. “Yeah, that’s probably true. I mean, I certainly don’t want to live my life doing something I hate or something that I’m not sure I want to do forever.” GQ also wasn’t sure what she hated or loved anymore, so she certainly had to figure that out. She shrugged lightly. “It was my parents’ old bar,” she explained. “My mom had been running it for the last few years and she died, so I took over. I mean, it was kind of struggling when I stepped in one way or another.” She had kind of hoped to get it back up, but she also had set realistic expectations and knew it would be a hard road and that journey had ended one way or another. She wasn’t going to dwell. “Not really sure. At this point I just need a job, you know? I have bills to pay and money comes in handy as a general rule of thumb for a comfortable living.” She nodded understandably as he asked to change the subject. “Born and raised here. I left for a few years when I went to college, but like I said, my mom died and so I came back and here I am,” she said. 

[gqabberley-blog]

roninxturlough:

“Alright, so what I’m hearing his Sheeran is just gonna piss you off; definitely not gonna get you hyped,” he agreed. “So who do you like? Throw a name at me so we can groove this out.” He turned the volume down on the sound system so that they could talk without shouting over one another.  Once she threw out a name, he went over to his laptop and searched the artist up on Youtube, then mirrored the video onto his big screen. “Hey, I’m hungry! You want to order a pizza or some Thai or something? Let’s chop it up, hand for bit You’re not busy are you?”

“Oh, it doesn’t piss me off,” said GQ. “Actually is has the opposite effect,” she said thoughtfully. “Kind of calms me and makes me feel relaxed and at ease and maybe even a little tired. But to each their own, right?” she said with a smile. “You promise you won’t judge me if I throw out a name?” she asked. “You seem like a real music buff and I’m really not. I’m kind of into stuff like... like Kaskade.”

“Yeah, I could go for a bite to eat,” she admitted. “I’m not busy, no. I haven’t been busy in weeks, truth be told, so I have all the time in the world for you and really, if you want to teach more about Ed Sheeran, I’m an eager student.”

[gqabberley-blog]

owenramsey:

“First time running a bar slash restaurant.” He replied back a bit quietly. Owen has never been a loud person. “I was a lawyer before– well, before I moved here. I just needed something different.” Since there was no real way he could practice law now. The type of clients he’d likely get were ones he’d not want. He nodded, taking in what she was saying and felt a little hopeful from it, it was good to hear something positive. “Why no work now? Are you looking for work or is this some kind of sabbatical that you’re on?” A light chuckle escaped passed his lips. “I’ve gotta upgrade you a bit on the beer choice, if you don’t mind. Have you ever had Smithwick’s? It’s a red Irish ale, it’s quite nice, nothing like the heavy Guinness.” Grabbing a pint glass he poured one for her and handed it over. “On the house– just try and see if you like it. If not, I’ll get you a Bud.” Owen scratched at the back of his head with her question. “Uhh– it may sound odd but I kinda wanted something that reminded me of home, while not being home. Like a taste of it. My wife and I–” He cleared his throat. “Excuse me, my late wife and I always said when we retired that we’d open up a pub. I’m just holdin’ to that.”

“You didn’t like being a lawyer?” she asked curiously. Although she could see how the transition from lawyer to businessman might make sense, of course she might also expect someone like that to strictly deal with the paperwork and other affairs, not necessarily working the bar. “Or you just got tired? I’ve met people who seemed to get tired of their careers and just decided to pick out something else new,” she nodded. “Yeah, I’ve been looking, though. I’ve been looking a lot for any jobs,” she said and bit her lip. “I, uh... I used to own a bar, too. It went under. We just didn’t have the customer flow, so here I am. Jobless,” she explained. “Not that you should feel sorry for me or anything,” she added. She didn’t want pity points. that much was for sure. But her mind wasn’t in it to invent something else. It just seemed easier to tell the truth, even if he was a stranger. “Really?” she asked as she handed him something different. She took the beer and looked at the glass, swirling it before she took a taste. “Oh, wow, that is nice,” she said rather surprised. GQ had never been much of a beer drinker. She stuck to the basics, but she had to admit this one was refreshing. She tilted her head as he explained why a bar. She frowned slightly. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said as he finished. “Well, that’s nice. To honor her wish like that, even if you always planned it. Was this, uh, recent? Your wife... ?” she asked not sure if she should ask, but she figured there was no harm. He could always say he’d rather not talk about it. GQ wouldn’t mind. 

[gqabberley-blog]

julian-reed-rp:

“I don’t know if that’s part of the connection we had way back when. I don’t remember the conversation where we found out we had similar apartment interests” his monotone expression turning to a small smile. “I don’t know. Few months  I guess” his eyes couldn’t quite leave her. She still had the same effect on him  she had in high school, and back then he was still astonished that someone like her wanted to be with him. She was beautiful in every possible way and he was a semi-quite kid that kept to himself. “You—-look—-” he shook his head struggling for the right word. “I don’t know the word I say here that isn’t awkward. Amazing? Beautiful? Fantastic? I don’t know”.

“Well, of course there was never a conversation. We were in high school. But you know, great minds think alike or some other nonsense that might make sense,” she said. “Or maybe I’m just trying to think of something smart to say and that’s the best I can do,” she said with a small and bashful shrug. She looked surprised when he said it had been a few months. “Wow.” It had been a few months for her too. She couldn’t believe she had never noticed. Then again, her focus had always been on work. Now that she had no work, it seemed she was starting to notice other things. She couldn’t help but looked down as he complimented her. She felt bashful and shy and like she was in high school all over again. “Thanks. You’re too nice. You look pretty good yourself, you know,” she said and looked back up at him, a small smile on her face. 

[rowanolon-deactivated20190221]

It was barely his second morning in his new apartment and Gavin was singing Tina Turner at the top of his lungs with the good old fashioned CD player gently blasting the tunes behind him as he prepared breakfast. Now, he wasn’t meaning to be rude, Gavin had somewhat forgotten what it was like being a roommate and sharing living space with someone, which meant he was momentarily oblivious as he sang away.

“Their day is coming All else are castles built in the air And I wonder when we are ever gonna change Living under the fear till nothing else remains

All the children say We don`t need another hero We don`t need to know the way home All we want is life beyond Thunderdome

So what do we do with our lives We leave only a mark Will our story shine like a light Or end in the dark Give it all or nothing”

Spinning back to face the sink with his spatula microphone in hand he choked down his belting in mid sentence when he caught sight of his arisen blonde roommate. Gavin cleared his throat and smiled, turning down the music quite a ways more so he could greet the woman. “Good morning, sunshine. Hope I wasn’t being too loud. Tina just moves through you, you know?” He turned back to the stove real quick to flip the French toast and was back facing GQ just a few moments later. “Pull up a chair. I’m making French toast.”

@gqabberley

[gqabberley-blog]

GQ awoke to hear the singing of her newest roommate. GQ herself to give people room because she always figured that’s what they wanted, especially when they’d just moved in and needed to settle, but Gavin was turning out to be a different case. Walking into the kitchen, she found him singing and looked rather amused as he caught sight of her. “I don’t think you have to worry about me. Maybe some of the neighbors,” she said coyly as she went to the fridge to pull out some orange juice and poured herself out a cup. “Should I expect this every morning?” she asked and took his offer to pull up a chair, taking a seat. 

[gqabberley-blog]

julian-reed-rp:

He couldn’t quite decide how he was supposed to react or feel now that he was seeing her. If he were ever asked it’d be hard for him to not agree that she was the first person he ever loved, and the only relationship that wasn’t a complete train wreck though she did kind of just leave. He nodded slowly while his eyes still tried to decide if he was looking at some hologram or manifestation “I do. Apparently you do as well?” he asked. “What are the odds of that?”.

“Apparently pretty good odds. Or we just happen to think the same...” she said lamely not sure what else to say. She was the one that had left, after all. But what could she do? She had always wanted to go to college and getting as far as she could for a few years on the east coast had seemed like a good idea. She tucked her hair back. “How long have you been living here?” she asked trying to sound casual. Was it supposed to be like this? Seeing someone you used to date or be involved with always brought up old feelings somehow, no matter how things had been left. 

[gqabberley-blog]

roninxturlough:

 Turning down the volume, he leveled an eyebrow at his company. “You’re not into Sheeran that much huh?” He looked at the woman with feigned concern. His own taste actually varied a great deal but he was hard-pressed to find an artist that garnered the same emotional response. “Alright, okay. Let’s get you up to speed then. Listen to this…you’ll be so hyped you’ll want to wrestle a dragon or some shit,” he said, playing I See Fire for the brunette. Turning up the volume again, he asked, “What do you like? What moves you?”

“No,” said GQ shaking her head. “He has slow and really ballad-y stuff, right? It’s not bad music. Just not what I listen to when I’m at home alone or going somewhere in my car or going for a run.” She listened to the song she put on. “It’s not a bad tune,” she said. It was actually a good song. “Just doesn’t make me wanna dance. That’s why I like. Music that makes me wanna dance and move and where I can close my eyes and feel like I’m somewhere else.”

[gqabberley-blog]

owenramsey:

“You’re sure?” He double checked with her, though in all actuality if it really didn’t look quite right, Owen was fine to leave it until his bartender did arrive. “Uh, yeah– about three months now. I mean, it’s been open that long and doing pretty well.” His eyes moved around checking out guests filling up ¾ of the restaurant ares of the pub. “Does that mean you’re new to the city or don’t get out much? And what can I get ya to drink? Ya want a menu for some lunch?” He pulled one out anyway and set it near her so that she could grab if she wanted. “I gotta recommend the clam chowder, if you’re hungry– it’s a recipe from my grandmother. So of course it’s the best you’ll ever try.”

She watched him carefully as he looked behind him, double checking himself. “You don’t seem very confident for someone who’s the owner,” she said casually. It wasn’t meant as a criticism, just a mere observation. “Well, that’s always good news. If you do well from the get-go. A lot of the reason businesses fail is because they can’t bring in that crowd to sustain themselves through those first few months. But I don’t get out much. I used to just work all the time. Now, I don’t have any work, so I guess I’ve been getting out a bit more.” She picked up the menu he had handed to her and opened it and bit her lower lip, thinking. “Clam chowder sounds good. At least to start. And a beer. Budweiser or whatever you have on draft,” she said. “So, why a bar?” she asked. “Has that always been your ambition or did you just need a hobby or what?”

[gqabberley-blog]

roninxturlough:

“Tell me you’ve heard this,” Ronin said over the music blaring in his apartment. “I fucking love Ed Sheeran, arguably the best voice in the new millennium. Is his voice not gold?”

GQ looked over at the man who was blasting music in his apartment. “I mean I’ve heard of Ed Sheeran,” she said looking rather amused. “Can’t say I’ve heard this song. I don’t exactly follow him.” She spoked loudly so that he could hear her over the music, though he seemed so into it, she wasn’t even sure if he would.

[theblindnessinyou]

Visit Original Link

[westnik-deactivated20190221]

The days were difficult and often hard to navigate. Having been out for nearly a year, a free man, Owen felt insecure and almost shaken without the thick walls of his solitary cell. The world was so much smaller and easier to handle when 23 hours of it was spent in an 8x8 space. Now, he was thrown back into the world like nothing, as if his mind hadn’t been completely fucked with after sitting on death row awaiting his execution for 6 years. He had tried to get back into law, his profession before incarceration, but Owen was still so very upset and angry over what happened with him and how the law had failed him. Even more so, despite his innocence, who would really hire him to take on their case? When his world had fallen apart, he couldn’t even help himself. So now here he stood, behind the bar of the pub he’d bought after his sister’s urging, because he needed to get back out there and start having a life, and trudged his way through each day and night. He’d just finished restocking the bar back and the doors were open for lunch and would be open until the early hours of the morning for anyone wanting to come in and enjoy the atmosphere. No expense was spared on the pub, he had tried to make it traditional but of course the American flare was thrown in there. Owen had gotten to a point where he’d just randomly start speaking to someone, within the pub that seemed okay, people seemed to except that when you were on either side of the bar. When he turned, the blonde sitting there, Owen directed his comments and questions at her. “Okay, back there,” he pointed with his thumb over his shoulder and made a quick glance, “Does that look alright? That setup? My bartender is late so I did it myself and I’m new at this– I don’t want to look stupid.”

@gqabberley

[gqabberley-blog]

GQ was still searching for a job. Once again torn about what to do. After wandering around downtown Denver for a while that morning, she had found her eye drawn towards a pub. She had never seen it before, but of course privately own places like this were always popping up and going away. She shrugged as she looked at her phone and noticed it was about lunch time anyway and figured she may as well go in and get a bite to eat and maybe a strong drink. She had taken a seat at one end of the bar as she looked up when the man behind the bar had spoken to her. Her eyes were drawn to where he was pointing before she looked back at the man. “Yeah, that looks alright. If that’s the kind of thing you’re going for,” she said with a raised eyebrow at the man who seemed unsure with his skills. “So-- you own this place, I take it? How new is it? I’d never seen it before, but I don’t assume to be an expert in all the bars in the city either.” 

[gqabberley-blog]

julian-reed-rp:

Julian had just gotten back from a few hours of working when he heard her voice, her voice was enough of a memory that he stood still for a moment as he questioned whether or not it could be who he thought it was. ‘No way….’ he said to himself as he turned to see her. He stood silently and stunned as he looked at her. “Holy shit—” the only words he could muster immediately as he looked at the girl he had once loved. “I—” his voice started but again he found himself speechless “Holy shit” he said again.

GQ looked at him as he confirmed that it was who she thought he’d been. She had never expected to see him again. Denver was a big city after all and yet there he was. She bit her lip wondering if his words were a good or bad thing, it was hard to tell. Then again, she wasn’t sure how she felt seeing him again. Sure, it had been a high school romance but it had still been just about the most real thing she had ever felt, and thus powerful. “Nice to see you too,” she said, biting her lip again. She paused thinking of what she could say next. What did someone do or say in these situations. “Do you live here?”

[gqabberley-blog]

GQ was just coming in from the cold. She’d spent some time in Downtown Denver, searching for jobs. She was torn on whether she should just find something to do because she needed money or trying to at least find a job in a direction she thought she might want to go in that she’d actually love. She hadn’t made much headway other than picking up a handful of applications so that she could fill them out and redo her resume. Shaking snow from her hair as she stood in the lobby and pulling her coat off, she went to go check her mail but stopped as a familiar face crossed her line of vision. She hadn’t seen him in years and years now and almost didn’t believe that he was there. Did he live in this building? Maybe it wasn’t even him. “Julian?” was all she could think to say. @julian-reed-rp

[jayyreynolds-blog]

Richard was now in work mood. Maybe a little too extreme on the work mood that he had spilled his lunch on his nice shirt. However that’s why he had back ups in his office. Just in case for this situation. After going to the restroom to change into a new white button up, Richard had fixed his suit jacket while walking out of the bathroom. Only to have run into GQ. They had a good time catching up during the Aspen trip but now he was curious what she was up to. “Hey GQ, how’s it going?” @gqabberley

[gqabberley-blog]

“Hey,” said GQ as she looked at the familiar man who had addressed her and she smiled. “It’s going alright. I was actually seeing about getting some food now,” she said and looked him up and down as she noticed he was adjusting his suit. “What about you?” she asked him. “How’ve things been since getting back? Your nose back to the grindstone?” she asked, with a slight teasing tone in her voice. 

[gqabberley-blog]

gunsmithcain:

“Is there any other way to do it?” He glanced down at her just as she was beginning to look away. “Don’t tell me you’re the fucking romance and flowers type– I thought you were better than that. Had my hopes up and shit.” Opening the door to leave the lobby, Cain gestured for her to go first and then followed after her, waiting for her to slide into the car so that he could join. “Sounds a fucking lot like giving up and that alcohol is so you don’t feel the burn of that failure.” His delivery was point blank, as was his look before turning his attention away to tell the driver to take them to a steakhouse. “I challenge you to stop drinking and use that burn to fuel redemption.” The world was ugly and hard and most everyone had to constantly fight to get by but he couldn’t stand it when people did nothing but felt sorry for themselves. He smiled as she joked, the woman had some spunk, he could roll with that. “The devil was a beautiful boy–” Cain smirked darkly before glancing at the scenery out the window, listening as she spoke. His smirk was still present when he turned back to her, he felt her statement, he knew what that was like. “Well ain’t that some shit. You seem like a woman that should be getting fucked, well, and regularly.”

“What? Did I say I was here for fucking romance and flowers?” she said. “I was just making an observation. I’ve had my fair share of romance. I’m kind of over it by now.” She walked out as he opened the door and headed into the car that was waiting there. She put out her cigarette in the snow before sliding into the back seat. “It’s called a break for a reason. It’s not a permanent fixture of my life. Just a chance to rethink a few things,” she said. “I’ll take you up on that challenge if only because that was my plan anyway when I got back. For now, just wanted to have some fun. And I have been. I’m certainly not sorry about it.” She shrugged. “I guess I have that look or something. People seem to always think that surely I must be doing someone regularly. But I get my kicks when I need them. I deal with it when I don’t.” It seemed either guys were looking for something more or they weren’t and were just a little too creepy for her tastes. 

[robin-holloway]

Of Blizzards and Rum || OPEN

[gqabberley-blog]

robin-holloway:

Robin laughed at the enthusiastic reaction and nodded as she passed her the bottle. “Sure.” She said with a smirk as she nodded. “Glad we’re on the same page. I’m Robin, by the way. Should I just call you blondie, or… ?”

“GQ,” she said as she took the bottle eagerly. Luckily, GQ had her own cup. She’d been drinking a lot this weekend (it was vacation, right?) and hadn’t been without a drink for most of it. She poured herself out a sizable amount before handing the bottle back to the girl. “Nice to meet you, Robin. And thanks for the rum,” she nodded as she took a sip from it, coughing slightly from the taste of the strong liquor.

[gqabberley-blog]

gunsmithcain:

“I don’t date.” While there were women out there that wanted to date him or be his in some way, Cain couldn’t fathom why. He knew he was no good but women seemed to like fixer uppers. “Yeah but something caused that break– people don’t take that shit without reason.” Though, he wasn’t going to ask the woman to elaborate, his interest hadn’t been built as of yet. “You mean you look at me and don’t see perfection?” Cain joked in a stoic manner, wondering how quick the woman was, would she get the sarcasm and play or would she get snippy. He was always testing people, feeling them out. “Nah, I fucking hate the snow. I miss California a bit. What about you? Girl like you’s gotta be getting plenty of action.”

“So, you just fuck?” she asked him with a sideways glance before looking forward again. Not that GQ was big on dating herself, not in years, anyway. “Maybe that’s just it? I broke. I didn’t want to deal with something so I said fuck it and figured alcohol was more fun anyway,” she said as she looked up thoughtfully. “What? Oh, no, you’re clearly perfect. I meant the rest of us mere mortals,” she said, joking, as she ran her hand through her hair, her tone of voice matching his. “Colorado doesn’t seem like the ideal place to come if you hate snow,” she mused. “I wouldn’t say plenty. Everyone always wants something. Like they can’t have sex anymore without seeing into your soul first or getting to know you, apparently.”