[His grin is so boyishly handsome and infectious. She's grinning right back at him and even does a little twirl for him to really take in her outfit when he compliments her. The smell of cigarette smoke lingers, but she doesn't mind it. Playfully, she bumps her shoulder against his before he holds the door open for her to the bar. The music was loud. The dull roar of the crowd even louder. She instinctively rolled her eyes at the sight that awaited them.]
Have I mentioned that you're my favorite?
[She gives him a cheeky wink before she steps in. It's a sea of dude bros in their hoochie daddy shorts and a bunch of women that all look vaguely the same in their style. It's all so pretentiously normcore that it makes her teeth grit. They both stand out, Nikki with her bright colors and Jesse with his casual wear. She leads them to the bar so they can order a drink. They're going to need it.]
[ Jesse nods in appreciation of the outfit, giving her an obvious once-over as she twirls for him. He's pretty sure she could make a burlap sack look good, but maybe his opinion is a little biased. ]
Yeah, I better be. 'Specially after this.
[ He laughs as he watches Nikki walk in first, holding the door for her. The noise and crowd doesn't really faze Jesse. He's used to obnoxiously loud clubs and house parties, but this particular bar clearly isn't either of their scenes. ]
Uugh, it smells like a fuckin' Hollister in here.
[ Jesse wrinkles up his nose as soon as he walks in behind Nikki, referring to the 'luxury brand' store that most of these booty-shorts-wearing douchebags probably got their outfits at. Said stores all have a distinct odor, thanks to some brilliant marketing plan to draw in customers or whatever. Jesse's not much of a brand guy, except for maybe when it comes to sneakers. Nikes and Jordans reign supreme, obviously. ]
What're you drinkin' tonight? I'll just have the same.
[ He says, casually leaning up against the bar so he can keep an eye on their surroundings. He's used to paying attention to what's around him and reading the room. At least these days, he is. Once upon a time he'd been as oblivious as everyone else in here seems, but that isn't the case anymore. He's got more than a couple reasons to watch his back, not that he expects anything to go down here, of all places. It doesn't exactly seem like cartel boss territory. ]
[ It absolutely smells like a Hollister. It's so heavy in the air, making her nose wrinkle. She leans against the bar with him. Her fingers idly tap along the hardwood as she looks around. She's searching for someone in particular. The dude bro that's messing with Jen. Him and all the other assholes who can't stand a woman having anything. She just needs to engage in some light thievery. Petty really. All she needs to do is lift his phone. Her best friend would never approve, but sometimes, a girl just had to get her hands dirty. ]
Rum and Coke? I'm usually a vodka soda kind of girl, but it feels like a rum and Coke kind of time.
[ Maybe shots too just to deal with this, but she needs to keep her edge. She orders two from the bartender with a pretty smile and goes back to scoping the place. ]
So am I interrupting any exciting plans by getting you out here? Any hot dates?
Yeah, sure, I can get down with some rum and cokes. I was gonna say tequila shots but, uh, maybe not the best time for all that.
[ He laughs, imagining them both blacked out before getting anything accomplished. He doesn't need to be the bad influence tonight. He ought not to, actually. They can maybe celebrate a job well done later, but business first. ]
Dates? Nah.
[ Jesse smiles closed-mouthed at that, almost shyly, but the bravado quickly takes over once again. ]
What can I say? They can't handle me around here.
[ It's...partially true. It's not exactly a huge city, and word gets around particularly amongst the people who grew up here like he did. Jesse's always been the kind of guy that moms warn their daughters about, but it's all been more or less based on rumors. He's not a bad guy, just a little misunderstood. A little rough around the edges and, sure, he'd fallen in with the wrong crowd over and over again. He'd dabbled in some drugs, too. But he's still got his head about him, and he still has a solid moral compass. It's just that most people tend not to look any deeper than what they've heard about him. It makes dating people who know too much about him impossible and, since he's kind of rusty and maybe a little down on himself, it makes meeting new people a little bit difficult too. It's a catch-22 sort of situation, but he's not crying himself to sleep over it or anything. It is what it is. He shrugs it off and turns a little bit more towards Nikki, reaching up to pull his hat off his head, his other hand ruffling his hair a little, making sure it's not too crazy. He tucks his hat into his back pocket and grabs his drink off the bar. ]
What about you? I'm not gonna get beat down being seen out with you, am I?
Don't tempt me. Maybe afterwards. Once we survive this.
[ The bartender is quick to bring their drinks. Nikki tips with cash and thanks her with a grin. She handed Jesse his drink and raises her glass to him. His moment of shyness intrigues her. It makes her tilt her head at him, but his familiar bravado chases after it like it never even existed. She files that for later. Her free hand playfully reaches out to play with his hair, smoothing out some in the back that's sticking up just a little too much. ]
Their loss. My gain. And you know how the dating scene. Such a drag.
[ She gives an exaggerated heavy sigh a roll of her eyes. Dating is rough in this day and edge. It's the same old song and dance. Men like playing too many games. Women want to lock things down too quickly. She doesn't have the patience for it. She just wants to have fun and let things vibe to see where it goes. ]
So what kinda information are we lookin' for on these douchebags? Just listening in and seeing what's up or is there somethin' specific?
[ Jesse's not exactly a pro at this, but he's a quick learner and he's eager to please, both of which are good qualities to have in plenty of lines of work, his own included, even if he's on the other side of the law from Nikki. Legality-wise, anyway. He holds a sort of Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy with all that, though. He keeps his business quiet and private and out of the way from interfering with anything and it's like it never existed at all. Unless she asks about it, in which case he can kinda say that's on her. (Though he probably wouldn't). ]
I mean, dating's kinda...overrated and outdated I think. Just chill with whoever you vibe with and if it ends up being more than a friend situation, good for you both, y'know? If not, no harm done. Things would be so much easier if it was a low-pressure sitch like that all the time.
[ Jesse shrugs his shoulders and takes a sip of his drink, ignoring the slight urge to shudder. Apparently Nikki's interactions with the bartender earned them some stiff drinks. Nice. He has to remember to go out with her more often. ]
There's a guy I'm looking for. Blond hair, average build. HIs name is Jason because of course it is. I need to find him and uh-- well, get some information out of him.
[ She leaves it at that because she doesn't want to implicate him in her theft. All Nikki has to do is lift the phone and get out of there. Jesse is there with her for support and in case any of these dude bros decide to get gross with her. Little does she know that Jesse is treating her with the same sort of policy. Maybe they were cut from the same cloth without realizing it. She sips at her drink and gives a playful shudder at the stiffness of it. That will definitely do the job. ]
I agree! Everything is either way too complicated or they're just wasting my time with games. You totally get it.
[ The song changes in the bar. Suddenly, everyone is singing obnoxiously to Party In the USA. She doesn't hate the song. It's kind of a bop really, but the way it's being sung now? It's not great. She takes another longer sip of her drink because Jesus. ]
For sure. Just go with the flow...that's my motto. Or fly by the seat of your pants is maybe more accurate, but...yeah, you get it, too.
[ But then the song comes on and people start singing and Jesse starts maybe a little bit mouthing the words so as not to stick out too much. He doesn't actually know the words, but it's not hard to fake it, particularly in a bar where almost everyone's already under the influence. The full-bodied cringe on Jesse's face would be enough to portray his distaste for the atmosphere, but he's never been good at keeping his mouth shut. ]
Holy shit...seriously?
[ He turns a little bit more of his back to the crowd because, Jesus Christ, the secondhand embarrassment is almost enough to make him throw in the towel on this whole thing. He sticks around, though, for Nikki's sake if for nothing else...and because it's also kind of like a car crash--you can't seem to look away as much as you'd like to. The song really isn't all that terrible. He's been known to blast some songs that he's certain a lot of people would cringe at, but the whole kumbaya sing-a-long vibe is enough to make his cheeks burn and he's not even one of the people joining in. He drags both hands down his face dramatically, but he can't help but laugh when he meets Nikki's gaze and she has the same look of distaste on her face. ]
This place is out of the Twilight Zone, I swear to God.
[ He downs half of his drink in one sip because, yeah. Holy shit. At least the drinks are strong. Jesse scans the crowd and suddenly a guy with blond hair sticks out. He narrows his eyes, focusing on the people around him and he's pretty sure that, yeah, someone mouths the name Jason when talking to him. Jesse nudges Nikki nonchalantly, trying to keep his cool and keep anyone from catching on. ]
I think that's your douche-nozzle at 2 o' clock. Jason. That look like him? Need me to create a distraction or somethin'?
[ Jesse's on task in spite of their little talk and all the ideas it conjured up in his head. Business first and personal later. That's something he's used to, and it's no different here. ]
[ There are hands being thrown up and waved around. Women are bouncing around as they sing. Dudes are raising their drinks and sloshing them around. It's a whole thing. She feels really bad for dragging Jesse into this, but she's also really glad that he's here with her. She laughs a little at the way he scrubs his face with his hand. She follows his lead and downs her drink too. It gives her the focus she needs to get to the task at hand. ]
You can order everything you want at Denny's. Seriously.
[ She flashes him a grin. Her gaze follows where he gestures, and sure enough, it's Jason. He's decked out in those same shorts that are a little too tight around his groin. He's got some polo with a large logo stitched on his chest. He's got some craft IPA bottle in his hand, and he's unsteady on his feet. This might be easier than she initially thought. ]
Do you see if he's got his cellphone on him? It's not in his hand.
[ He says, a smirk on his face because he's been known to have a shockingly voracious appetite, particularly for someone of his slighter frame and stature. It's hard to imagine how he packs it all in. Thank the fast metabolism gods or whatever.
Jesse narrows his blue eyes, trying to focus on the guy's shorts without inadvertently seeing anything he doesn't want to. It's not a simple task, considering the location of the pockets and how unforgivingly tight the damn things are. He wonders how that's even comfortable. Of course some people probably wonder the same about his excessively baggy garb. It's comfortable for him, anyway. Jesse gets an eyeful of the guy's bulge and he quickly averts his gaze, groaning. ]
Ugh, God. Yeah. I think it's in his right pocket. Unless he's just happy to be here. I can create a distraction if you're trying to lift it. Unless you think you can manage without one.
[ She bites her a lip a little. Jesse's figured out what she's doing, but there's no judgement in his tone about it. He seems cool with facilitating this whole thing which is a plus. Having him distract the guy means she doesn't have to go in and actually talk to him and pretend she's interested. They can be more efficient like this and get the hell out of there. She gives him a nod. ]
Sounds like a plan. I'll go over and stay close behind him. If you distract him, I can slide in and lift it and then we're out of here for all you can eat at Denny's.
[ She gives him a cheeky wink as if this is all child's play. They could pull this off. Everyone is drunk enough over there that they'll hardly notice much. She bumps her shoulder against Jesse's and gives him a little salute. ]
I'll meet you outside after.
[ With that, she saunters to the crowd. She's moving and dancing and singing to the music like she's one of them. She even high fives a few people that appreciate her getting into it. She positions herself behind Jason and his too short shorts and waits. ]
[ Jesse's a non-judgmental type of guy. Who is he to judge, after all, with all the sketchy things that he's up to in his own life? Even before he became involved in the methamphetamine trade, though, he hadn't been much of the judgmental type. At least, he judged people based on how they treated him and others...judged them on the things that counted. He's not about to start with the judging now, even if he is a little curious about what she needs this guy's phone for. He won't ask. Not yet, at least, as much as the question lights up in his head over and over like a neon sign, begging him to find out.
Instead, Jesse finishes his drink and asks for a shot of rum for courage and another rum and coke for his plan. He downs the shot. It would have been tequila, but he knows better than to mix alcohol when he might need his wits about him. He clears his throat, takes a few sips of his new drink, and then puts on an act that he's more intoxicated than he is as he walks or...stumbles over to Jason. Once he gets there, he's loud, causing an immediate distraction as he asks a couple of questions while drinking his drink and standing way too close to him.
He watches Nikki in his peripheral vision and it doesn't seem like enough distraction quite yet. Once she gets close, he fake stumbles over himself and spills what's left of his beverage all down the front of Jason's shirt. Here's your cue, Nikki. Grab it. Jesse feigns apologetic, grabbing some napkins off a table and trying to pat down the front of the guy's shirt, faux-drunkenly, but there's one problem--he seems to have underestimated the guy's temper.
Before he quite realizes what's happening, Jesse's grabbed by the front of his shirt and decked a couple of times. Jesse eats the punches, scrambling to his feet when Jason rushes in for another blow, but he's held back by a couple of dude bros in what looks like color-coordinated outfits. Jason is calmed and restrained enough for Jesse to slip away, hoping that Nikki got what she needed. He hightails it out of the bar in case anyone happened to call the cops, waiting by the entrance nervously. He's gonna have to bail if she doesn't come out soon. He lights a cigarette, hands still shaking with adrenaline. ]
[ Nikki is in place. She's not sure what Jesse's distraction is, but she's quick to act when he does it. Her hand slips into the dude's pocket in all the hubbub. Her hand is small and petite, and Jason is so inebriated and infuriated that he doesn't notice the way his phone is lifted. What she doesn't expect so the assault that happens next. She's holding the phone in her hand, red handed, as she squawks a loud protest at what she's seeing. She's about to jump in and tear Jason a new one before his friends holds him back.
She sees Jesse make a break for it. She's quick to follow, but she stops to get some ice wrapped in several napkins for him. She meets him outside and starts fretting over him. ]
Jesse, oh my god! Are you okay?
[ Jason's phone is in her bag. Her free hand reaches up to gently turn his face towards her, so she can see the damage. She's got the ice at the ready to press to him. She feels absolutely terrible. This isn't what he'd signed up for. ]
[ Jesse just laughs it off and shrugs up his shoulders. Yeah, his face hurts a little but it's not too bad, thanks to the booze. He's pretty certain he'll have a nice shiner to remember the night by come morning but it's nothing he hasn't dealt with before, so he's totally nonchalant about it, waving off Nikki's frantic flurry as she comes outside. He doesn't pull away when she grabs his face to check out the damage, feeling his stomach flip over a little if he's honest. If there's one thing he isn't really used to, it's being touched in a non-violent way. He takes over holding the ice to his swelling eye, grateful for her quick thinking. At least it shouldn't be as bad now that he's gotten ice on it so quickly. ]
I'm good; I'm totally good. Dude doesn't even hit that hard.
[ Jesse laughs it off, and he swallows the urge to say that he's kind of used to this sort of thing because he knows it'll sound a lot lamer coming out than it does in his head. He doesn't want pity, though he'll eat up the whole doting on him thing because, yeah...he's a little touch-starved. He's not fragile, though. Jesse's more durable and resilient than most people, actually, and he's definitely not mad at Nikki. He made the mistake of maybe taking the distraction thing a little far without knowing his target well enough to predict the reaction. ]
You get what you needed though? 'Cause we should probably get outta here before somebody calls the cops or he realizes his phone's gone...
I'm so sorry. You definitely didn't sign up for that. Whatever you want on top of what I've already promised, it's yours.
[ She means it. Buying him drinks and breakfast is a drop in a bucket for what he's done for her. Her fingertips gently move along his jaw and cheek as she inspects him. Jesse is being such a good sport about it and brushing it off. Her chest swells with an affection for him. He's a good guy. Reliable, dependable with a good heart. He takes the ice from her to hold against his eye. She hopes it keeps him from having too bad of a black eye.
Leaning in, she presses her lips gently to his cheek to show some of her thanks. He's right about getting out of there, so she loops her arm through his and tugs him along to walk away from the bar. There's a Denny's not too far away, so it's not a bad walk under the street lights. ]
I got what I need. And hey! At least we didn't see any rogue nuts.
Don't worry about it. I've had it worse. Might take you up on those drinks you offered, though. The Denny's downtown serves alcohol.
[ He doesn't ask for much and he doesn't want Nikki to feel like she owes him just because he got into a little scuffle. Spilling his drink on the guy probably wasn't the smartest plan of action in retrospect, even though his options were kind of limited at the time.
He's grateful for the ice, and even moreso for the kiss she presses to his cheek. He ducks his head a little bashful after, but it doesn't do much to hide the bright smile on his face. He goes easily with her when she tugs him to start walking down the street. ]
Hell yeah! Zero rogue nuts!
[ Jesse whoops and raises a fist in the air before holding it out towards Nikki, awaiting a fist bump. He tends to try looking on the positive side of things as often as he can. ]
[ It doesn't make her feel to better to hear he'd had worse. She's always had a soft heart, and she hates seeing people she care about hurt or down on themselves. He won't take much more of her fretting, so she resolves to buy him all the pancakes and alcohol he wants. She holds on to his arm as they walk, giggling at the loud whoop he gives. His optimism and energy is infectious. It has her grinning. She bumps his fist with her other hand and gives him a playful wink. ]
It came a little close didn't it? Those shorts were pretty short. I kind of worried about circulation for some of them.
[ She's all for shorts and fashion for men, but the short shorts didn't quite appeal to her. Not when most of those dudes were overly orange from their spray tans. The preppy look isn't for her anyway. She works with a bunch of attorneys. She can smell bullshit a mile away. It's why hanging out with Jesse is so refreshing. He's honest and matter-of-fact. ]
How many pancakes do you think you can eat? I'm starved!
[ Jesse doesn't mean to make Nikki feel bad about the situation. Really, a little bit of a black eye isn't even in the realm of the worst possible outcomes for him, so he's totally cool with it. Tuco hit a lot harder, so this is all pretty easy peasy for him. Besides, the guy only got a couple punches in before he got pulled away so it's not like Jesse got his ass handed to him or anything. Actually, if anything, he's a little perturbed that he didn't get a lick in himself, but it's probably for the best that he decided on flight rather than fight for the sake of both of them. An all-out brawl certainly would have attracted the attention of the police, and that's something Jesse'd rather avoid at all costs, even if he is in the company of someone who might be able to wiggle him out of charges. ]
I mean, I know I kinda dress like I'm still in the '90s but like. Those dudes are seriously stuck in the '70s or somethin'. Maybe the lack of circulation's a good thing. Might prevent 'em from breeding and making more douchebags.
[ He laughs, nudging her shoulder. The ice is getting a little melty, so after a few blocks of walking, he tosses the remainder into one of the trashcans on the corner. He can't feel his eye anymore, which is kind of a good thing, and even though he's pretty sure it's still a little puffy, he's hopefully avoided having it swell completely shut by Nikki's quick thinking that helped him get ice on it so quickly. ]
Oh, I could seriously go for a Grand Slam right now...two pancakes, two pieces of bacon, two sausages, and two eggs any style. Can't go wrong with it. Maybe a side of hashbrowns or somethin'.
[ Jesse grins and rubs his hands together in anticipation. ]
We definitely gotta go with the bottomless mimosas. I mean, if you're down. What kinda breakfast are you feelin'? Aside from pancakes.
[A laugh escapes her. Jesse has a wicked sense of humor. He's always able to elicit a laugh out of her when she least expects it. The stroll feels easy and light even after what happened at the bar. When he tosses the ice, she turns to look at him to see how his eye is doing. It's puffy and growing discolored, but it doesn't look quite as bad as it would've without the ice. She's glad for that at least. It would break her heart if it had been any worse. He might just brush it off, but not her. They'd always been friendly, but Nikki's earned her unyielding loyalty tonight.]
We're absolutely getting bottomless mimosas. How can we have breakfast without mimosas?
[She takes a moment to decide what else she wants. Pancakes are at the front of the line because she's had a hankering for them for a few days now.]
Bacon extra crispy. And ooh, hash browns. I love hash browns!
[ Jesse can't help but grin at the sound of Nikki's laughter. More often than not his humor gets groans over laughs, so it's nice that someone appreciates his wit. ]
I mean...let's be real, is there any other way to order bacon?
[ Nobody likes the floppy, undercooked stuff. Jesse wrinkles his nose at the thought. The brightly lit sign appears down the block like a beacon in the night and Jesse raises both hands as if they've finally approached an oasis after crossing a desert. There might as well be angelic music playing. ]
My stomach just growled so loud, oh my God.
[ Jesse rubs his stomach. Come to think of it, he's not sure he's had much to eat today aside from some junk food that definitely involved a bag of Funyuns at some point. He's often too busy for full sit-down meals like this, so he's going to take full advantage of the time he's got tonight. Even though he knows Nikki promised him a meal, he pats his pocket to be sure his wallet's in there because he'll offer to pay for his share just because. It doesn't feel right making her pay, even if they'd agreed on that initially. Jesse reaches the glass doors first and grabs the handle, pulling it open and ushering her inside. ]
[ She gives him a cheeky wink as she steps inside. She meets the hostess and requests a booth for two. They're led to one by the window. It's quiet and slow here. The senior citizens already had their dinner, and the drunk bar hoppers aren't going to be here until much later. She likes that it's mostly just them. It gives them a chance to decompress and relax. A chance to catch their breath.
She settles in and takes the menu to look it over. She likes seeing what absurd seasonal pancakes they have. It's all sugary goodness which is exactly what she's looking for. ]
Hey, I coulda been an asshole and said 'age before beauty' but I'm feelin' nice tonight.
[ Jesse laughs, obviously joking. He wiggles his brows at the wink and then follows along to the booth in the rear of the restaurant next to the windows. It's a seat he would've chosen anyway, sort of tucked away in their own corner but also giving him a good viewpoint of outside and the front doors. He doesn't bother opening the menu, already having decided on a grand slam and bottomless mimosas to start with. He's just going to be boring with their classic pancakes. Can't go wrong with those. ]
I think they got some pumpkin spice ones for fall, too. I'm just going with the classic. Too many flavors and it gets weird with the side of scrambled eggs.
[ Jesse makes a face at the thought, drumming his fingers absently on the table as he waits for the waitress to approach. He can never sit still. ]
[Nikki playfully pouts at him. They settle in the booth. There's music playing from a jukebox, but not one of those vintage ones. It's digital where a person could download an app and pick songs. Right now, it's playing something from the eighties which she's kinda into. She doesn't mind the way his fingers drum on the table. The waitress is an old seasoned gray hair who looks like she doesn't take any shit. Nikki gives her a cheery grin that doesn't change her demeanor one bit.]
Bottomless mimosas please! We'll take a carafe to start with.
[She asks for a glass of water too because hydrating is important. She decides on what she wants and sets the menu down to give Jesse her full attention.]
Hah; no way! I know better than to guess a girl's age.
[ Jesse laughs and shakes his head a little. That's one quick ticket to the doghouse in his book. He stops with his drumming when the waitress arrives. She doesn't look amused to begin with and he's not about to give her any reason to get annoyed with them for real. ]
I'll take a water, too. And a grand slam. Regular pancakes, scrambled eggs, and a side of hashbrowns.
[ He would've gotten a coffee, too, but he figures he's better off caffeinating himself at the end of their meal if he feels like he needs a pick-me-up after the booze. Champagne tends to go straight to his head. ]
[ His laughter is infectious. She's giggling along with him. Their laughter will only flow even easier once they start sipping mimosas. After Jesse puts in his order, she orders the strawberry cheesecake pancakes plate, choosing her eggs to be over easy instead. She requests her bacon be extra crispy before adding a gracious thanks to their waitress. The woman only gives them a nod before leaving to put their order in. Nikki is determined to win her over by the end of this. ]
So got any big plans for tomorrow? Or can I keep you out all night?
[ Not that she plans too, but she likes ribbing him a little. The night is young anyway. ]
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zvi
no subject
Date: 2022-10-16 09:22 pm (UTC)Have I mentioned that you're my favorite?
[She gives him a cheeky wink before she steps in. It's a sea of dude bros in their hoochie daddy shorts and a bunch of women that all look vaguely the same in their style. It's all so pretentiously normcore that it makes her teeth grit. They both stand out, Nikki with her bright colors and Jesse with his casual wear. She leads them to the bar so they can order a drink. They're going to need it.]
Drinks are on me.
no subject
Date: 2022-10-16 10:57 pm (UTC)Yeah, I better be. 'Specially after this.
[ He laughs as he watches Nikki walk in first, holding the door for her. The noise and crowd doesn't really faze Jesse. He's used to obnoxiously loud clubs and house parties, but this particular bar clearly isn't either of their scenes. ]
Uugh, it smells like a fuckin' Hollister in here.
[ Jesse wrinkles up his nose as soon as he walks in behind Nikki, referring to the 'luxury brand' store that most of these booty-shorts-wearing douchebags probably got their outfits at. Said stores all have a distinct odor, thanks to some brilliant marketing plan to draw in customers or whatever. Jesse's not much of a brand guy, except for maybe when it comes to sneakers. Nikes and Jordans reign supreme, obviously. ]
What're you drinkin' tonight? I'll just have the same.
[ He says, casually leaning up against the bar so he can keep an eye on their surroundings. He's used to paying attention to what's around him and reading the room. At least these days, he is. Once upon a time he'd been as oblivious as everyone else in here seems, but that isn't the case anymore. He's got more than a couple reasons to watch his back, not that he expects anything to go down here, of all places. It doesn't exactly seem like cartel boss territory. ]
no subject
Date: 2022-10-16 11:07 pm (UTC)[ It absolutely smells like a Hollister. It's so heavy in the air, making her nose wrinkle. She leans against the bar with him. Her fingers idly tap along the hardwood as she looks around. She's searching for someone in particular. The dude bro that's messing with Jen. Him and all the other assholes who can't stand a woman having anything. She just needs to engage in some light thievery. Petty really. All she needs to do is lift his phone. Her best friend would never approve, but sometimes, a girl just had to get her hands dirty. ]
Rum and Coke? I'm usually a vodka soda kind of girl, but it feels like a rum and Coke kind of time.
[ Maybe shots too just to deal with this, but she needs to keep her edge. She orders two from the bartender with a pretty smile and goes back to scoping the place. ]
So am I interrupting any exciting plans by getting you out here? Any hot dates?
no subject
Date: 2022-10-16 11:20 pm (UTC)[ He laughs, imagining them both blacked out before getting anything accomplished. He doesn't need to be the bad influence tonight. He ought not to, actually. They can maybe celebrate a job well done later, but business first. ]
Dates? Nah.
[ Jesse smiles closed-mouthed at that, almost shyly, but the bravado quickly takes over once again. ]
What can I say? They can't handle me around here.
[ It's...partially true. It's not exactly a huge city, and word gets around particularly amongst the people who grew up here like he did. Jesse's always been the kind of guy that moms warn their daughters about, but it's all been more or less based on rumors. He's not a bad guy, just a little misunderstood. A little rough around the edges and, sure, he'd fallen in with the wrong crowd over and over again. He'd dabbled in some drugs, too. But he's still got his head about him, and he still has a solid moral compass. It's just that most people tend not to look any deeper than what they've heard about him. It makes dating people who know too much about him impossible and, since he's kind of rusty and maybe a little down on himself, it makes meeting new people a little bit difficult too. It's a catch-22 sort of situation, but he's not crying himself to sleep over it or anything. It is what it is. He shrugs it off and turns a little bit more towards Nikki, reaching up to pull his hat off his head, his other hand ruffling his hair a little, making sure it's not too crazy. He tucks his hat into his back pocket and grabs his drink off the bar. ]
What about you? I'm not gonna get beat down being seen out with you, am I?
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Date: 2022-10-16 11:29 pm (UTC)[ The bartender is quick to bring their drinks. Nikki tips with cash and thanks her with a grin. She handed Jesse his drink and raises her glass to him. His moment of shyness intrigues her. It makes her tilt her head at him, but his familiar bravado chases after it like it never even existed. She files that for later. Her free hand playfully reaches out to play with his hair, smoothing out some in the back that's sticking up just a little too much. ]
Their loss. My gain. And you know how the dating scene. Such a drag.
[ She gives an exaggerated heavy sigh a roll of her eyes. Dating is rough in this day and edge. It's the same old song and dance. Men like playing too many games. Women want to lock things down too quickly. She doesn't have the patience for it. She just wants to have fun and let things vibe to see where it goes. ]
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Date: 2022-10-16 11:55 pm (UTC)[ Jesse's not exactly a pro at this, but he's a quick learner and he's eager to please, both of which are good qualities to have in plenty of lines of work, his own included, even if he's on the other side of the law from Nikki. Legality-wise, anyway. He holds a sort of Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy with all that, though. He keeps his business quiet and private and out of the way from interfering with anything and it's like it never existed at all. Unless she asks about it, in which case he can kinda say that's on her. (Though he probably wouldn't). ]
I mean, dating's kinda...overrated and outdated I think. Just chill with whoever you vibe with and if it ends up being more than a friend situation, good for you both, y'know? If not, no harm done. Things would be so much easier if it was a low-pressure sitch like that all the time.
[ Jesse shrugs his shoulders and takes a sip of his drink, ignoring the slight urge to shudder. Apparently Nikki's interactions with the bartender earned them some stiff drinks. Nice. He has to remember to go out with her more often. ]
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Date: 2022-10-17 12:09 am (UTC)[ She leaves it at that because she doesn't want to implicate him in her theft. All Nikki has to do is lift the phone and get out of there. Jesse is there with her for support and in case any of these dude bros decide to get gross with her. Little does she know that Jesse is treating her with the same sort of policy. Maybe they were cut from the same cloth without realizing it. She sips at her drink and gives a playful shudder at the stiffness of it. That will definitely do the job. ]
I agree! Everything is either way too complicated or they're just wasting my time with games. You totally get it.
[ The song changes in the bar. Suddenly, everyone is singing obnoxiously to Party In the USA. She doesn't hate the song. It's kind of a bop really, but the way it's being sung now? It's not great. She takes another longer sip of her drink because Jesus. ]
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Date: 2022-10-17 12:23 am (UTC)[ But then the song comes on and people start singing and Jesse starts maybe a little bit mouthing the words so as not to stick out too much. He doesn't actually know the words, but it's not hard to fake it, particularly in a bar where almost everyone's already under the influence. The full-bodied cringe on Jesse's face would be enough to portray his distaste for the atmosphere, but he's never been good at keeping his mouth shut. ]
Holy shit...seriously?
[ He turns a little bit more of his back to the crowd because, Jesus Christ, the secondhand embarrassment is almost enough to make him throw in the towel on this whole thing. He sticks around, though, for Nikki's sake if for nothing else...and because it's also kind of like a car crash--you can't seem to look away as much as you'd like to. The song really isn't all that terrible. He's been known to blast some songs that he's certain a lot of people would cringe at, but the whole kumbaya sing-a-long vibe is enough to make his cheeks burn and he's not even one of the people joining in. He drags both hands down his face dramatically, but he can't help but laugh when he meets Nikki's gaze and she has the same look of distaste on her face. ]
This place is out of the Twilight Zone, I swear to God.
[ He downs half of his drink in one sip because, yeah. Holy shit. At least the drinks are strong. Jesse scans the crowd and suddenly a guy with blond hair sticks out. He narrows his eyes, focusing on the people around him and he's pretty sure that, yeah, someone mouths the name Jason when talking to him. Jesse nudges Nikki nonchalantly, trying to keep his cool and keep anyone from catching on. ]
I think that's your douche-nozzle at 2 o' clock. Jason. That look like him? Need me to create a distraction or somethin'?
[ Jesse's on task in spite of their little talk and all the ideas it conjured up in his head. Business first and personal later. That's something he's used to, and it's no different here. ]
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Date: 2022-10-17 03:05 pm (UTC)You can order everything you want at Denny's. Seriously.
[ She flashes him a grin. Her gaze follows where he gestures, and sure enough, it's Jason. He's decked out in those same shorts that are a little too tight around his groin. He's got some polo with a large logo stitched on his chest. He's got some craft IPA bottle in his hand, and he's unsteady on his feet. This might be easier than she initially thought. ]
Do you see if he's got his cellphone on him? It's not in his hand.
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Date: 2022-10-17 04:12 pm (UTC)[ He says, a smirk on his face because he's been known to have a shockingly voracious appetite, particularly for someone of his slighter frame and stature. It's hard to imagine how he packs it all in. Thank the fast metabolism gods or whatever.
Jesse narrows his blue eyes, trying to focus on the guy's shorts without inadvertently seeing anything he doesn't want to. It's not a simple task, considering the location of the pockets and how unforgivingly tight the damn things are. He wonders how that's even comfortable. Of course some people probably wonder the same about his excessively baggy garb. It's comfortable for him, anyway. Jesse gets an eyeful of the guy's bulge and he quickly averts his gaze, groaning. ]
Ugh, God. Yeah. I think it's in his right pocket. Unless he's just happy to be here. I can create a distraction if you're trying to lift it. Unless you think you can manage without one.
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Date: 2022-10-18 12:36 pm (UTC)Sounds like a plan. I'll go over and stay close behind him. If you distract him, I can slide in and lift it and then we're out of here for all you can eat at Denny's.
[ She gives him a cheeky wink as if this is all child's play. They could pull this off. Everyone is drunk enough over there that they'll hardly notice much. She bumps her shoulder against Jesse's and gives him a little salute. ]
I'll meet you outside after.
[ With that, she saunters to the crowd. She's moving and dancing and singing to the music like she's one of them. She even high fives a few people that appreciate her getting into it. She positions herself behind Jason and his too short shorts and waits. ]
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Date: 2022-10-19 11:06 pm (UTC)Instead, Jesse finishes his drink and asks for a shot of rum for courage and another rum and coke for his plan. He downs the shot. It would have been tequila, but he knows better than to mix alcohol when he might need his wits about him. He clears his throat, takes a few sips of his new drink, and then puts on an act that he's more intoxicated than he is as he walks or...stumbles over to Jason. Once he gets there, he's loud, causing an immediate distraction as he asks a couple of questions while drinking his drink and standing way too close to him.
He watches Nikki in his peripheral vision and it doesn't seem like enough distraction quite yet. Once she gets close, he fake stumbles over himself and spills what's left of his beverage all down the front of Jason's shirt. Here's your cue, Nikki. Grab it. Jesse feigns apologetic, grabbing some napkins off a table and trying to pat down the front of the guy's shirt, faux-drunkenly, but there's one problem--he seems to have underestimated the guy's temper.
Before he quite realizes what's happening, Jesse's grabbed by the front of his shirt and decked a couple of times. Jesse eats the punches, scrambling to his feet when Jason rushes in for another blow, but he's held back by a couple of dude bros in what looks like color-coordinated outfits. Jason is calmed and restrained enough for Jesse to slip away, hoping that Nikki got what she needed. He hightails it out of the bar in case anyone happened to call the cops, waiting by the entrance nervously. He's gonna have to bail if she doesn't come out soon. He lights a cigarette, hands still shaking with adrenaline. ]
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Date: 2022-10-21 01:46 am (UTC)She sees Jesse make a break for it. She's quick to follow, but she stops to get some ice wrapped in several napkins for him. She meets him outside and starts fretting over him. ]
Jesse, oh my god! Are you okay?
[ Jason's phone is in her bag. Her free hand reaches up to gently turn his face towards her, so she can see the damage. She's got the ice at the ready to press to him. She feels absolutely terrible. This isn't what he'd signed up for. ]
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Date: 2022-10-21 02:25 am (UTC)I'm good; I'm totally good. Dude doesn't even hit that hard.
[ Jesse laughs it off, and he swallows the urge to say that he's kind of used to this sort of thing because he knows it'll sound a lot lamer coming out than it does in his head. He doesn't want pity, though he'll eat up the whole doting on him thing because, yeah...he's a little touch-starved. He's not fragile, though. Jesse's more durable and resilient than most people, actually, and he's definitely not mad at Nikki. He made the mistake of maybe taking the distraction thing a little far without knowing his target well enough to predict the reaction. ]
You get what you needed though? 'Cause we should probably get outta here before somebody calls the cops or he realizes his phone's gone...
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Date: 2022-10-21 12:39 pm (UTC)[ She means it. Buying him drinks and breakfast is a drop in a bucket for what he's done for her. Her fingertips gently move along his jaw and cheek as she inspects him. Jesse is being such a good sport about it and brushing it off. Her chest swells with an affection for him. He's a good guy. Reliable, dependable with a good heart. He takes the ice from her to hold against his eye. She hopes it keeps him from having too bad of a black eye.
Leaning in, she presses her lips gently to his cheek to show some of her thanks. He's right about getting out of there, so she loops her arm through his and tugs him along to walk away from the bar. There's a Denny's not too far away, so it's not a bad walk under the street lights. ]
I got what I need. And hey! At least we didn't see any rogue nuts.
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Date: 2022-10-21 07:56 pm (UTC)[ He doesn't ask for much and he doesn't want Nikki to feel like she owes him just because he got into a little scuffle. Spilling his drink on the guy probably wasn't the smartest plan of action in retrospect, even though his options were kind of limited at the time.
He's grateful for the ice, and even moreso for the kiss she presses to his cheek. He ducks his head a little bashful after, but it doesn't do much to hide the bright smile on his face. He goes easily with her when she tugs him to start walking down the street. ]
Hell yeah! Zero rogue nuts!
[ Jesse whoops and raises a fist in the air before holding it out towards Nikki, awaiting a fist bump. He tends to try looking on the positive side of things as often as he can. ]
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Date: 2022-10-21 10:11 pm (UTC)It came a little close didn't it? Those shorts were pretty short. I kind of worried about circulation for some of them.
[ She's all for shorts and fashion for men, but the short shorts didn't quite appeal to her. Not when most of those dudes were overly orange from their spray tans. The preppy look isn't for her anyway. She works with a bunch of attorneys. She can smell bullshit a mile away. It's why hanging out with Jesse is so refreshing. He's honest and matter-of-fact. ]
How many pancakes do you think you can eat? I'm starved!
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Date: 2022-10-22 02:19 am (UTC)I mean, I know I kinda dress like I'm still in the '90s but like. Those dudes are seriously stuck in the '70s or somethin'. Maybe the lack of circulation's a good thing. Might prevent 'em from breeding and making more douchebags.
[ He laughs, nudging her shoulder. The ice is getting a little melty, so after a few blocks of walking, he tosses the remainder into one of the trashcans on the corner. He can't feel his eye anymore, which is kind of a good thing, and even though he's pretty sure it's still a little puffy, he's hopefully avoided having it swell completely shut by Nikki's quick thinking that helped him get ice on it so quickly. ]
Oh, I could seriously go for a Grand Slam right now...two pancakes, two pieces of bacon, two sausages, and two eggs any style. Can't go wrong with it. Maybe a side of hashbrowns or somethin'.
[ Jesse grins and rubs his hands together in anticipation. ]
We definitely gotta go with the bottomless mimosas. I mean, if you're down. What kinda breakfast are you feelin'? Aside from pancakes.
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Date: 2022-10-23 08:35 pm (UTC)We're absolutely getting bottomless mimosas. How can we have breakfast without mimosas?
[She takes a moment to decide what else she wants. Pancakes are at the front of the line because she's had a hankering for them for a few days now.]
Bacon extra crispy. And ooh, hash browns. I love hash browns!
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Date: 2022-10-23 11:02 pm (UTC)I mean...let's be real, is there any other way to order bacon?
[ Nobody likes the floppy, undercooked stuff. Jesse wrinkles his nose at the thought. The brightly lit sign appears down the block like a beacon in the night and Jesse raises both hands as if they've finally approached an oasis after crossing a desert. There might as well be angelic music playing. ]
My stomach just growled so loud, oh my God.
[ Jesse rubs his stomach. Come to think of it, he's not sure he's had much to eat today aside from some junk food that definitely involved a bag of Funyuns at some point. He's often too busy for full sit-down meals like this, so he's going to take full advantage of the time he's got tonight. Even though he knows Nikki promised him a meal, he pats his pocket to be sure his wallet's in there because he'll offer to pay for his share just because. It doesn't feel right making her pay, even if they'd agreed on that initially. Jesse reaches the glass doors first and grabs the handle, pulling it open and ushering her inside. ]
Ladies first.
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Date: 2022-10-24 01:06 am (UTC)[ She gives him a cheeky wink as she steps inside. She meets the hostess and requests a booth for two. They're led to one by the window. It's quiet and slow here. The senior citizens already had their dinner, and the drunk bar hoppers aren't going to be here until much later. She likes that it's mostly just them. It gives them a chance to decompress and relax. A chance to catch their breath.
She settles in and takes the menu to look it over. She likes seeing what absurd seasonal pancakes they have. It's all sugary goodness which is exactly what she's looking for. ]
Ooh, strawberry cheesecake pancakes. I'm intrigued.
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Date: 2022-10-24 01:37 am (UTC)[ Jesse laughs, obviously joking. He wiggles his brows at the wink and then follows along to the booth in the rear of the restaurant next to the windows. It's a seat he would've chosen anyway, sort of tucked away in their own corner but also giving him a good viewpoint of outside and the front doors. He doesn't bother opening the menu, already having decided on a grand slam and bottomless mimosas to start with. He's just going to be boring with their classic pancakes. Can't go wrong with those. ]
I think they got some pumpkin spice ones for fall, too. I'm just going with the classic. Too many flavors and it gets weird with the side of scrambled eggs.
[ Jesse makes a face at the thought, drumming his fingers absently on the table as he waits for the waitress to approach. He can never sit still. ]
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Date: 2022-10-24 12:22 pm (UTC)[Nikki playfully pouts at him. They settle in the booth. There's music playing from a jukebox, but not one of those vintage ones. It's digital where a person could download an app and pick songs. Right now, it's playing something from the eighties which she's kinda into. She doesn't mind the way his fingers drum on the table. The waitress is an old seasoned gray hair who looks like she doesn't take any shit. Nikki gives her a cheery grin that doesn't change her demeanor one bit.]
Bottomless mimosas please! We'll take a carafe to start with.
[She asks for a glass of water too because hydrating is important. She decides on what she wants and sets the menu down to give Jesse her full attention.]
I'm ready to order when you are.
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Date: 2022-10-24 03:57 pm (UTC)[ Jesse laughs and shakes his head a little. That's one quick ticket to the doghouse in his book. He stops with his drumming when the waitress arrives. She doesn't look amused to begin with and he's not about to give her any reason to get annoyed with them for real. ]
I'll take a water, too. And a grand slam. Regular pancakes, scrambled eggs, and a side of hashbrowns.
[ He would've gotten a coffee, too, but he figures he's better off caffeinating himself at the end of their meal if he feels like he needs a pick-me-up after the booze. Champagne tends to go straight to his head. ]
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Date: 2022-10-25 02:09 am (UTC)[ His laughter is infectious. She's giggling along with him. Their laughter will only flow even easier once they start sipping mimosas. After Jesse puts in his order, she orders the strawberry cheesecake pancakes plate, choosing her eggs to be over easy instead. She requests her bacon be extra crispy before adding a gracious thanks to their waitress. The woman only gives them a nod before leaving to put their order in. Nikki is determined to win her over by the end of this. ]
So got any big plans for tomorrow? Or can I keep you out all night?
[ Not that she plans too, but she likes ribbing him a little. The night is young anyway. ]
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