bartending

[salver]

All Bobby wanted to do was come in for a six-pack so he didn't have to go out for one. He's got his own idea of what he needs to be doing -- there's a sheaf of papers ripped out of a book to translate and send down to Cheyenne to be pieced back together, and there's his battered old copy of The Milagro Beanfield War to reread for the fifth time -- but apparently the bar has other ideas.

"Yeah?" Bobby asks the bar. "What's in it for me?"

A note appears.

Bobby smiles.




Shortly thereafter, he slings a towel over his shoulder behind the bar, and chalks something up on the board in very precise handwriting:

SPECIALS

MOONSHINE MADE FROM A CACTUS

I DIDN'T ASK WHAT KIND OF CACTUS AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU

AND IF YOU GO BLIND IT'S NOT MY FAULT; CAVEAT EMPTOR

Looks like happy hour is open.

[Open until ten Mountain time! Threadhop! Try the moonshine!

And for the record: there is no known liquor made from the cactus.]

[ETA: The witching hour has happened! All threads are slowtimed. Thank you for tagging in! And good god, what is WRONG with you people that you would subject all your characters to CACTUS MOONSHINE. *laughing*]

Comments

[cutting_edgex23]

"I am in charge of Security," X says. "Upstairs."

She seems sincere about that, too.

"I am good at protecting people. It is harder downstairs. I do not think Security can control the front door."

[salver]

"And if they could, I'm thinking there'd be some folks that wouldn't be all that welcome." He casts a glance at the front door. "But you got a handle on who all can come in upstairs? Good."

[cutting_edgex23]

"One of the rules is no business. From outside."

Business inside, though--

X does not know if that is a different story.

"But some people do not pay attention."

[salver]

"Yeah?"

Bobby folds his arms loosely. A little wry: "That surprise you at all?"

[cutting_edgex23]

X frowns, considering this.

"Yes. Sometimes."

Beat.

"When they are obvious. That is stupid."

[salver]

"Well, yes," Bobby says.

And makes a face, for good measure.

[cutting_edgex23]

"It is better if they are easy to find."

She still sounds dubious. She looks it, too.

Because really, throwing down in the middle of the bar isn't ever going to end well.

Ever.

[salver]

"Well, I suppose -- makes your job easier, and all. But don't you ever sometimes wish they wouldn't be quite that stupid?"

Bobby likes to call them 'idjits'.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes."

X's response is prompt.

"When they are my friends."

[salver]

"...I guess that would kind of put a damper on it."

[cutting_edgex23]

This is probably the first time in their conversation that X looks blank.

"I do not understand."

[salver]

"Well. You ever wish the ones that wasn't your friends wouldn't be so damned stupid?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Oh."

X considers this, too.

"Not when they are here. Unless they would not break the rules at all."

This pause is a little longer.

"It is better if people are not afraid."