Julian smiled and nodded at Halâs observation. The firefighter spent time climbing ropes, ladders, and on occasion the walls with plastic grips to emulate a rock wall, but he craved the feeling of dirt and rock beneath his hands and powering his way up a real rock face. Julian wanted to brave the elements and by virtue of his own strength reach the top of some cliff with a view to reward his labor. There had to be someplace they could do that nearby.
âIâve only rock climbed twiceâ the real deal, I mean. I went to Colorado with a cousin of mine on a couple of occasions. Thereâs rock walls here we can go to though. Those Iâve been climbing for years, but I havenât in a while. Probably not in the last two years or so⌠Just been busy, I guess,â he said, shrugging and taking another sip of his drink. He set the glass aside and glanced at Hal. âYou ever done it?â
Admission came in a pensive wince before Hal finally shook his head. âNahââ he began, taking a lazy sip and hummed on when he felt that trickle of the whiskey goad his buzz further into its wooing comfort that he let out another gentle sigh and heaved back into a slight jerk of a shrug as he pulled at his thoughts. ââIâve always been a literal down low guy⌠even back in Oregon I lived by the beachâŚâ he hummed, his mind quickly latching onto that nag that thrummed like some old song. Not the best time, but it was still thereâsand on his feet, salt in the air, and the rolling waters that crashed against the wide cast shore that was as gray as the sky but just as cozy. Then rocks. Then to the hills --------- Halâs lips curled into a smile then.
âMy usual past time is hikingâI mean, you donât have much going on in some small town up in the Pacific Northwest,â he continued on to trail along his own words, his voice easing off into something more disappointed yet wearily amused. ââthen you come down to the city and all of a sudden you wanna hike again,â he snorted, mirroring Julianâs own longing as he held his glass for a swirl and a shrug. âBut hey, at least I could say you didnât lose the arm for it at allââ he grinned as he casually reached to give Julianâs bicep a feel. â ---------- too much ladders to climb and doors to pull at,â Hal finally veered away to slump back against the counter and nurse his drink