The Fixer

Jack Barlowe. 31. Can he fix it? Yes, he can.

[stellylee]

"One track mind, that's good," it was better than worrying about losing, no one wanted those thoughts milling about in their heads, after all, "oh hell no, I'm no Tom Brady." At that, their face scrunched, a look of disgust stretching across their features. No, Stelly played to win, but Stelly always played fair. "I can do a little bit of both. Everything. An all-around all-star, obviously," Stelly puffed up their chest, before letting out a laugh, "but I'm very spry and great at jumping, so spiker, probably."

[jack-barlowe]

"In this? Absolutely. I'm hoping to establish a dynasty here. A summer tradition where everyone knows the victory goes to a Barlowe. Preferably the handsome one." He smiled at that last bit before nodding at Stelly's assessment of her skills. "Okay, I can work with that. I'm pretty good a clean up. We've got to figure out what the winners get."

[arturovasco]

"The prices of sugar these days," Arturo did a dramatic whistle before leaning over to the bartender, placing their drinks. "I guess different brains work differently, right? I can do anything artistic fairly well with practice but math? Science? Forget about it." They laughed, sliding over the first margarita to Jack.

[jack-barlowe]

"And I'd royally bomb a game of pictionary." He took a sip from his (strong) drink before gathering some of the sugar and licking it off his thumb. "It's less impressive than it looks really. Ninety percent of my job is helping people read their instruction manuals properly. Real engaging stuff."

[alicezhaox]

Those are always fun! We all love a good relaxing Sunday and a beach day. Mmm, oh yes. Everything’s pumpkin spice season. Lest not we forget the most important part of fall. So I take it you are Team PSL?

[jack-barlowe]

And getting in the Vitamin D, of course. But yeah. Definitely Team PSL. Though I'm not insane about it. Haven't bought into the pumpkin spice Spam or meatballs they tried selling last year.

[aishathevar]

"Oh! Of course," she nodded as if it was an important distinction. She was sure it wouldn't have been as fun without the music, the thudding of the bass offsetting the lightness she felt after a few drinks. "Well it's the perfect drink choice for a beach night, so let's go get you one," she grinned as he put his arm around her shoulder, nearly spilling her drink, but gracefully catching it. "You're going to have to drink fast to catch up with me though," she joked, a slight laugh escaping her lips.

[jack-barlowe]

"You think they have those colorful little umbrellas this year?" he asked. He could remember a year recently when they had gone MIA and nearly ruined the evening. For someone whose work happened mostly indoors, he was thankful for every summer and the tan it splashed on his skin. "Catch up, huh? We talking shots? Because I can down a few before we hit the main event."

[xreynadel]

"I'm in, however you wanna do this," Reyna assured him, already confident that it wouldn't take much to make it to the end. "How many people do you have in for teams right now?"

[jack-barlowe]

"I'm locked in with Stelly, and I've got my brothers, a pair of my co-workers-" he listed them off on his hands. "Probably about six teams right now. You got anyone you trust in the trenches for this?"

[xsylcuenco]

Sylvia rolled her eyes when Jack turned to leave only to turn back her way. "Hey! I have been here all day!" she argued it being perfectly acceptable to have gone through a pack of white claws. "But no, I shared, you're just late. Sorry!"

[jack-barlowe]

"All day? And I didn't get an invite?" He let his expression twist into one of mock indignation. He'd spent much of the day just lazing indoors and playing fortnite with his younger brother. "What were you doing out here in the sun?"

[aridhingra]

"It might ruin your reputation, or it will make you infamous." Ari really didn't think he'd go along with it, and he himself had said he didn't know if it'd be a good idea. "Help little old ladies across the street and go to bingo nights huh? Are you afraid they'll kick you out of the bingo tab pulling club?" A joke that he hope he got, knowing so many who played bingo did the pull tabs before the game. "But I don't think you have to worry, your reputation is probably safe and sound."

[jack-barlowe]

"Well it is a rather exclusive club," he said. He'd found his in at the retirement homes doing the most excruciatingly difficult IT work of his life. "They usually don't let men my age have a seat." He slipped his hands into his pocket as he nodded at the older man. "So your the new blood, right?"

[jmiemagvans]

"Just be like... whoops, the song skipped, here's some non-wedding reception music," he grinned. "Ah, so a cider maybe? I think there's some we can snag in that tent over there," Jamie nodded. "Hard cider, hard iced tea. I could go for one of those hard lemonades right now, actually."

[jack-barlowe]

"Well after I saw a couple doing the macarena earlier, I was personally offended for our reputation," Jack said. He clapped his hand on Jamie's arm as they walked toward the bar. "Oh, the Mike's Hard? Yeah, me too. Something to ease into the night, you know?".

[arturovasco]

"With a sugar rim? That's gonna definitely be the two dances for ya," Arturo joked playfully. "Of course, I'll get you that margarita and one for me for good measure." He guided them to the nearby bar. "How did you get so good with that technology stuff?"

[jack-barlowe]

"Inflation at it's finest." He was laughing as they found seats near the corner of the makeshift bar. Close enough to feel the thrum of the dance floor's energy, but far enough to actually hold a conversation. "I think I'm just wired for it maybe. Pun intended. All those 1 and 0's always made sense to me."

[stellylee]

"Solemn oath, but not a blood oath, right?" they asked, narrowing their eyes as they looked at Jack. "Because I don't want you to start getting any ideas or getting up to any trouble," but they laughed halfway through saying it. Maybe they just didn't want to look bad on the court and knew that Jack was going to win, no matter what. "Oh, please," Stelly scoffed, tossing the ball in his direction, "I wouldn't dream of taking it easy on middle school girls, they're the ones with the most and worst attitudes!"

[jack-barlowe]

"The only idea in my head is winning." He added, "And keeping it clean. We're not going to have some deflate-gate controversy here." Maybe it was the fact he'd grown up with brothers, or simply that he enjoyed the recognition as a middle child, but victory was something he took seriously. "What's your position? You more of a setter or a spiker?"

[arturovasco]

"You're my hero," Arturo said, having gotten just tipsy enough to enjoy some time on the dance floor. "Depends what drink you have in mind, because I think for a premium drink, like a pina colada, you'd have to come and join me for a dance on the dance floor as well."

[jack-barlowe]

"And what would a frozen margarita run me?" Jack asked with a laugh. "Cause I'll pony up just about anything for one of those sugar rims." He slung an arm around Arturo's shoulders as he nodded. "You'll get your dance. Two even, but drinks first. I'm better when there's some alcohol on board."

[xsylcuenco]

"I have.. half a black cherry white claw to offer," Sylvia laughed, showing off the can in hand, having now ran out of what she had brought to the beach herself. "Do you think they're taking Apple Pay? Otherwise, time to go make more friends."

[jack-barlowe]

"New friends it is." Jack made a show of turning to leave before swiveling around on one foot to face Sylvia again. "Actually, that's too much work. Tell me did you demolish a whole pack of white claws by yourself?"

[xreynadel]

where: swimming beach when: end of summer beach bash, august 2024 who: Reyna & @jack-barlowe

"Hey Jack!" Reyna called out as she approached. "Someone said you were talking about getting a tournament going?" she asked, brow raised as she gestured toward the volleyball net. Any excuse to get competitive, Reyna was going to take it, and this sounded like the perfect idea for this weekend.

[jack-barlowe]

"Yeah, planning on one," Jack said. He scratched at his stubble as he peered down toward the pit. "You thinking of throwing your hat in? We were thinking teams of two, single-elimination. Not sure what the winner gets, you know besides bragging rights."

[stellylee]

WHO: Stelly & @jack-barlowe

WHERE: The Swimming Beach, coastal area

WHEN: End of Summer Bash (August, 2024)

"So, how serious are you about this volleyball tournament idea?" Stelly asked as they stepped up next to Jack, tossing the volleyball in their hands up in the air before catching it again. They really should have known better than to try to get involved in anything sporty -- it almost always ended in some sort of disaster, or their own hurt feelings if they ended up losing. "'Cuz if you're down, I'm down, but we have to be on the same team. I'm not losing to you."

[jack-barlowe]

"Oh, I'm serious, Stelly. Deadly serious. Serious enough that if you think you're going to be on my team I'm going to need a solemn oath." He turned to face them, squaring his shoulders a little. "We don't show mercy. Not to tourists, not to my brothers, not to the little middle school girl with her mom that dreams about winning gold in the Olympics one day. We destroy them. One by one."

[aishathevar]

Aisha glanced over at the other, a small smile coming to her face. She noticed the music getting louder, or maybe it was just that things were more lively now she was a little tipsy. Either way, she wasn't going to deny the company. "Look at you saving the day," she teased, sipping on yet another fruity cocktail, this one pineapple-flavored. "I think that's the least I can do since you ensured the party rages on. What are you thinking? I can attest that the fruity cocktails are delicious."

[jack-barlowe]

"Saving the night," he corrected with a smile. It was one of the things about living in a technological world. Even when the name badge came off he was still working. "I don't hate myself enough for a beer right now." He placed an arm around Aisha's shoulders, letting her lead the way. "So let's go with a Pina Colada."

[jmiemagvans]

Jamie walked by with a drink in hand. "Oh, so that's why the Cha Cha Slide ended so abruptly..." he quipped with a smirk. "Joking aside, I am glad it is working now," he nodded. "Our hero," he chuckled. "You've earned yourself that drink, friend."

[jack-barlowe]

"Funny how that song just got deleted off the playlist isn't it? I mean, it's a carnal sin to play it outside of a wedding so-" He shrugged, taking the compliment with a smile. "What have we got on tap? I'm looking for something sweet but strong."

[aridhingra]

"Guess it's a good thing you were around to come and fix it, don't know how long it'd be before people really got upset." After all if they were going to a club for a good time, they were probably looking for music to dance and just enjoy a little -- or a lot. "Something tells me if you go up to the bar you'll have a slew of people waiting to buy you drinks, or you know, you can threaten to unfix the problem and the bartenders might just give you drinks all night. Not sure if they'll appreciate the blackmail but it's an option."

[jack-barlowe]

"Oh, diabolical!" Jack laughed at the idea. He wasn't above a good joke or two but then - "Think that might ruin my good reputation a touch. If you don't know, I'm very well respected here. Help the little old ladies across the street, go to bingo nights, and everything."