Rough 'N Tumble Bar

[Gavin Wagner]

Gavin\\Cade//Wagner

Wind blowing, skies cascaded a pleasing dark over the city around him. Light ran from area to area followed by passing of motors that controlled the life of their mechanical counter-parts. The heart of a metal organism, living and breathing through puffs of smoke and roars of engines. Just another night in the city, the deep city that would choke the life out of a pure soul and an innocent child. A corrupt place with disgusting meat bags tossing themselves at their own kind for money or cheep ways of entertainment. In a way, it made him see red and wanted nothing to do with it all. It was not his choice, being pulled into a world he doesn't remember much less remembers anything about his own being, he had to deal with what he was given and was quite content. There wasn't a day that went by where he would miss an opportunity to visit his normal bar, "Rough 'N Tumble" A bit of an awkward place at first, but once one had been there long enough it was easy to feel quite at home. It was the only place he felt left alone, no one would bother him, maybe someone would say a few words but he would never bother to much with someone.

Soft thuds came from Gavin's boots as he walked across the hardwood floor of the bar, his eyes scanning from place to place as always then walking to his normal table. The owner stood behind the bar giving him a usual nod. Often times Gavin would wounder what the staff thought of him, thinking they probably thought of him as some sort of killer or strange homeless guy. He loved hearing people talking about him, how the minds of others work and the creative instincts kick in when rumors are being created; tongues would swirl within the dark red tombs of which they reside, painting the colorful picture of lies and uncertainty with not even a hint of truth in any of it all. Even though he hated most people, the minds of those he was most interested in.

He sat down at his table, stuffing one hand into the pocket of his black trench and the other on the wooden table, secluded completely in darkness and only the white of his eyes would seek themselves out of the shadows to linger upon the other patrons of the bar.

[Selina Collins]

Even if that can never be - I need to keep pretending.

"Selina. SELINA! Sah-Lee-NAH." Blue eyes blinked rapidly as it finally registered that someone had been trying to get their attention for the past five minutes. Selina Collins shook her head slightly and glanced to look up at her co-worker who was staring at her, hands still positioned in the air from all the waving and flailing about. The man signed and ran his hand over his newly shaven head. "Selina, what in the hell are you doing out here?" The petite, young woman glanced around, taking in her surroundings. She was standing in the entrance of an alley way, the same alley way that led to the back entrance of the bar that she worked most nights. Her eyes traveled to where they had been previously transfixed, eyebrows furrowing slightly when she realized that what she had been captivated with … was the moon. There wasn't anything particularly special about the moon tonight. Hell, it was half covered with dark clouds and merely a silhouette behind a storm that brewing in the air.

After a moment of awkward silence between Selina and her co-worker, she managed a rather nervous laugh, turning on her heel to face the back door of the bar. "I'm not sure, Steve. Guess I just zoned out for a bit. You know, long day with the kids will do that to you." She flashed him a winning smile as she passed him and entered the bar. The familiar smell of alcohol and cigarettes flooded her nostrils, but she was not repulsed by it as she had once been. In a very strange way the mixture of the smells was a small comfort to her, something familiar in an uncertain lifestyle. The teaching by day and bartending by night would work for now, but what about a few years, months, weeks, or even days from now?

Either way, Selina did her best not to dwell upon things of that nature and just tries to find the good in whatever it was she was doing. She loved teaching piano to the little children up and down the street. The wonder in their eyes that began to grow as they first tentatively touch the piano keys tugs at her heart strings every time. And while it would not be expected of someone with her disposition, she enjoyed bartending every night that she could. People watching was one of her favorite past times, and what better place to take part in such activities than a bar? You get the drunks that want to have fun, the creepers that just want to look, the girls that are trying too hard, and every once in a while there was someone there that just wanted to lose themselves and forget who they were, even if it was only for a moment.

She quickly hung up her purse and jacket and grabbed her apron off of the rack in the back room. She pulled the hair tie off of her wrist and quickly fastened her raven hair into a messy bun, knowing that no one here was probably sober enough to care. Selina began to wash up in the sink, her attention turning for a moment to the television. There was an emergency broadcast for severe weather that seemed to be affecting … every county in the surrounding area. She raised an elegant brow as she reached for the towel. It wasn't like bad weather was something new and shocking to her but … she hadn't seen a storm with this much impact in a really long time. Selina half expected it to be a hurricane but, no … it was just a thunderstorm. Shrugging her shoulders slightly, she finished absent mindedly drying her hands and scanned the bar for those that were waiting to be served.

Taking note of which glasses were filled and which were not, Selina decided to start in the back corner of the bar, where it appeared that one young man had not been served at all. She couldn't help but hesitate, for his outward appearance gave the impression that he wanted nothing more than to just be left alone. But if he didn't want at a drink, why on earth would he be in a bar? Besides, this hadn't been the first time that Selina had taken notice of this particular man. She hadn't ever served him herself, for he was normally here before she was and already taken care of for the night. He was more like a shadow of the bar, instead of a patron. Guess tonight was the night that she would finally introduce herself to the infamous vagabond. Allowing a small smile to tug at her lips she grabbed the notepad off of the counter and walked over to him, shifting her weight onto her left hip as she reached his table. "Hey there! I'm Selina. What can I do for you tonight, sir?" She pulled a pen out of the pocket of her apron and opened the notepad, her smile widening. "Would you like some food to get started? Or do you go straight for the poison?"

[Gavin Wagner]

Gavin\\Cade//Wagner

The smell of ruin and sadness filled the air. One would breathe in the think smog and choke on the self hatred of every person in this place. It fascinated him, watching the misery of others who would remember, who would never forget. In a way he thought himself gifted, he had no regrets, not a single memory that haunted him to the end of time. He was free in his own mind, and wished to never think of how or what made him forget, even though the subject of absence had crossed him frequently. Selina! The dark wanderer couldn't help but raise a brow, wondering what activity was stirring in the back of the bar. His fingers feeling the touch of grain, massaging the table for hidden messages etched in from passed persons. Would it really be such a goreish task to not leave a sign of ones whereabouts? "Johnathan was here" Really? Why do others feel the need to etch such a thing, who was Johnathan anyway? Did sadness fill his heart and regret that no one would remember him? Possible for those who go on through life, never making some sort of dent in the fabric of society. All the fame and fortune glorified into the national spotlight, it seems like everyone should care that so-and-so had a baby, or this famed child star is a sleeper, its only natural a simple human being working at his nine to five job would feel inferior to the supposed gods of American culture.

Gavin looked up, eying the girl behind the bar whom had also taken notice of him. As many times he had been there, it was only natural he had known everybody by name and face at this point. He watched how she acted, very cheerful in a way, and that fact bothered him. Whether or not it was apart of her job to be nice to customers, he didn't like the idea of being a fake nice person, even though he didn't like people in general. He shifted his green eyes away from her as she approached, giving the hint of not wanting to be bothered, quite strongly, but she persisted anyway. He gave her that much, in respect. As she stated her name, he softly shook his head, telling him things he knew already.

"Yes I know you are Selina..." He pointed his lifeless gaze back at her once more. "You know you don't have to be cheery, all the time..." He cleared his throat and thought of what she asked him, "By the looks of you, you don't smoke...So I figure you don't have any on you..." more of a statement, thinking out loud then directly talking to her, moving his gaze away from her once again to watch over the others of the place. "I'll take whatever is cold..." and whatever she would give him, would taste the same as anything else she could. It was like he didn't have any taste buds.

[Selina Collins]

Even if that can never be - I need to keep pretending.

Selina's head tilted to the side a little further as she pretended to busy herself with her notepad. Why do I suddenly feel like I'm being scrutinized? He knew her name, which was slightly off-putting, but then again it was to be expected. This was, after all, not the first time that she had seen this man within this bar. Her nearly faded smile flashed on her lips for a brief moment as she shifted her feet and glanced towards the beer calendar on the wall. September 3, 2012. A Monday. Her eyes traveled from the calendar to the other patrons of the bar. There was a skim crowd tonight. Not a lot of people probably wanted to go out of their homes when the weather was as threatening as it was tonight. And yet he still managed to make a trip into the bar. She directed her attention once more back to the man that was sitting at the small table before her. He clearly looked as though he would have rather had someone else come and wait upon him, but perhaps this was just her overly analytical mind plotting against her once again.

"You know you don't have to be cheery, all the time..." Selina was not sure just.. how exactly to take that comment. Obviously, it would be taken in stride, but she didn't see why it matter so much to him what her disposition was. "By the looks of you, you don't smoke...So I figure you don't have any on you..." She felt her lip instinctively curl at that particular comment. It was not liked she had a problem with smoking. She, herself, did not smoke but she did not condemn the practice. But the idea of any sort of mark against her character irritated her. Judgment was not something that settled well with her. Especially when it was coming from herself. Which is while, through this entire awkward encounter she managed to keep the essence of a smile upon her face. Whether he thought it was sincere or not, well, she would just have to leave that up to him.

She followed his gaze briefly as his attention moved from her to the rest of the bar. It looked no different from any other Monday night. Even despite the weather, Mondays were always their slow days. This always surprised her, because one would think that more big business leaders and whatnot would need some sort of refuge on a Monday evening. But most of them probably had families to go home to, whether they wanted to or not. Her attention, however, was pulled back to the man before her when he finally managed to answer her question. "I'll take whatever is cold..." Her smile faded, suddenly taken aback by his words. Night after night she heard drunken men and women slurring for more and more alcohol, and yet none of that had as much of an effect on her as this did. Whatever's … cold. He didn't care what it was. Had no preference whatsoever. He just wanted to drink. Selina nodded awkwardly and scribbled 'cold' on her notepad before taking a few steps back and turning on her heels and walking back to the bar.

As she approached the dented, vandalized, old bar she gently placed her notepad upon the surface and pausing for a moment. "…whatever is cold." Why couldn't she get that out of her head? Given it was said only a few seconds ago, but it just.. bothered her for some reason. Shaking her head in an attempt to knock herself back in to the reality that she in fact worked in a BAR, she picked up the notepad and shoved it in the pocket of her apron. She glanced all over the shelves, top and bottom, up and down. Nothing, seemed right. What could she possibly give this man? A small groan of frustration escaped from her gritted teeth and she looked desperately towards her cue ball of a co-worker. "Steve. What do we have that's cold?" The burly man glanced over towards her, his head tilted in slight concern. Selina had to bite her lip to keep herself from laughing. He probably thought that she had been doing drugs. Staring at the moon, asking random questions after speaking with strange looking customers… Yep, it probably looked as though she was off her rocker. He half smiled and laughed nervously. "Uh, well, whatever you add ice to."

Selina blinked for a moment, just staring at him. Well, obviously. But she quickly reminded herself that he had not overheard the conversation and didn't know the full context of the question. With a heavy sigh she waved her hand and leaned against the counter opposite the bar itself. With a quickly flash of an underage I.D, Selina had her answer. She blew a stray strand of black hair out of her eyes and grabbed the closest, clean glass that she could find. Moving briskly, she walked over to the ice bucket and grabbed hold of the tongs, dropping four or five pieces of ice into the glass. An elegant hand scanned over the bottles that lined the counter, but her hand came to a stop on a small knob. She quickly turned the knob and filled the drink to the brim with its contents. A satisfied smirk tugging at the corners of her lips, she made her way back over to her glowering patron. "Here you are, Sir. Coldest thing in the brewery." And with a winning smile on her face, she placed in front of him a glass of ice water.

[Gavin Wagner]

Gavin\\Cade//Wagner

Beautiful, hesitant and very nervous around him. He could smell the since of questioning on her as he weaved his words into her mind, hoping that they would stick. When he looked up at her, before leaving, he still noticed that smile. Gavin took quick notice that she still kept that smile across her face, after all that she still kept it. It made him feel like she had no soul, a drone just soaring through her meaningless job with no aspirations in her future. How quite sad, he wanted some emotion from the girl, but when she walked away he noticed it. His fingers traced along Johnathan once more, placing the name in the back of his cortex until needed at some point, keeping his eyes on the young Selina. It was like watching a wounded butterfly, its wings shed but still trying its best before it would die, trying to get away from its preditor. He had hit some type of nerve inside of her, and he watched it unravel.

One would wonder why he be such an ass to people, why would he actually seek out trouble or go out of his way to belittle people. As many times that he has been there, none of the other waitresses interested him enough to weave his wit, it would be like talking to a wall. He didn't quite know what would possess him to talk to her, perhaps it was the idea of watching her, seeing how she worked around the other customers that caught his interest. She had some sort of life in her, if any, and he never thought of himself as a sucker for a pretty face and a nice smile. Eyes scanned over the other patrons, in silent, he gave them names of their own. He is Craig... and his is Rupert... If he had continued with his little exercise, he would have made their own backstory, and future. Characters in his own little story, the funny part was is that they would never know about it; made him wonder if someone did the same for him.

He caught the sight of Selina again, watching her once more. He was glad she had gotten back her composer, even though he wasn't to sure what he had said to make an impact on her. Reguardless of that fact, she was walking over to him, and he was just excited to hear the next thing she had to say to him. Maybe all this time she was going to tell him off, call him an ass, and have him escorted from the bar. He had noticed quite quickly that people didn't like judgment, or telling them how they should act. His perspective of people was that, they were all just dolls and needed someone to control them and sadly enough the master of the puppets would be the one who is also a doll as well. Influence upon influence, no one is ever themselves and only just a sick copy of some other person. A person, born from parents but act like nothing like them, maybe a small little tiff here and there but most childrens personalities wouldn't be like their parents. Someone or something would catch their interest at a young age then adopt that little characteristic as their own. For a moment it made him wonder what had influenced this girl, what social building blocks made her who she was today.

"Here you are, Sir. Coldest thing in the brewery." A brow quickly quirked up from hearing that word, brewery. Really? His eyes grew wide, staring out at the area around him to make sure he was still in the place he had walked into earlier. "This is still a bar right?" Very straight forward question, he had to know. He had taken time out of his day to notice that trucks drop off bottles filled with every type of drink one would imagine, but he never seen any barrels or brewing equipment enter or exit the bar. It made him question really if that was the correct type of words. "Last time I checked...This was a bar...Are you just having fun with words or are you really that ignorant of where you work?" Gavin darted his gaze at her, taking note of that smile of hers, something crafted for others and not for herself. It still bothered him.

[Selina Collins]

Even if that can never be - I need to keep pretending.

Selina found that her body allowed her to do nothing more than stand there, looking incredulously down at the man before her. There were no words that could describe the emotion that was welling within the pit of her stomach. Out of all things in this situation that he possibly could have taken note of, he decides to take note of her word choice. Had he even glanced down at the glass of water before him? No, of course not. His main concern was that Selina had used a word that would allow him to insult her intelligence. In the back of her mind her conscious was telling her to smile, nod and just walk away. But she was much too stubborn to listen to that nonsense. Oh, this was going to be a very long night. Needless to say, the smile no longer graced her lips. Her face was expressionless, head slightly tilted, almost at a complete loss for words.

Almost. Selina straightened her posture and shook her head, narrowing her eyes elegantly. "Oh, of COURSE, I know this is a bar, Sir. I mean," she scoffed, "I have worked here since Grad school." Despite the burning in her cheeks and the irritating pang in her temple, the tone that she chose to take with him was not a rude or harsh tone at all. Quite the contrary. Her voice was surprisingly sweet, as if the pair had known each other for years and were just giving each other a hard time in jest. "But you know…" Selina stretched slightly and pulled the vacant chair at the table out and took a seat, crossing her legs and leaning against the wall behind her. "I figured that in your circumstance you would want only the best drink that we had to offer. So I had old Steve-o over there call the brewery that we get most of our goods from and ask for their opinion."

Her eye shifted towards the glass of water that was still sitting unnoticed in front of him. "I don't understand why you haven't taken notice of your drink, sir. I did say it was the finest and I made sure it was just like you wanted, nice and cold." Once again, there was no smile to be seen upon her face. She was not angry with him, but she was irritated, and she had no problem whatsoever being a smart ass. She had accepted the fact that she was not receiving a tip tonight long before this ironically passive confrontation ever began. Her eyes shifted over to the bar where Steve was giving her a strange look. But Selina just waved at him as if nothing was wrong. The bar wasn't particurally full, so her sitting down with a customer for a few minutes wasn't hurting business at all. But then again, it was exactly a habit that Selina made to sit with her customers. It was nothing against them, just something that Selina never really took the time to do.

As a matter of fact… this was the longest time that Selina had ever spent with any customer in all the time that she had worked here. Sure, she would smile and make polite inquiries about their day or their health and perhaps even a comment about the weather was made. But a conversation? Come to think of it, Selina had never tried to intentionally spite a customer, either. And she had experienced much worse than this man. At least he was sober. And even amidst their drunken ramblings she had always wished to do nothing more but to keep them happy. What was it about this man that made her want to go against everything that she considered 'professional.' Whatever it was, she didn't like it. Not one bit. Clearing her throat softly she quickly rose to her feet and pulled a pencil out from behind her ear. She allowed her eyes to wander around the bar as she fished for her notepad in her apron pocket. After a moment or two, she raised an elegant brow and turned her attention back to her customer. "Is there anything else I can get you, Sir?"