[ 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. ]
[ Jesse just grins and taps his temple twice as if saying he's got it all figured out up there. He doesn't. Obviously. But, hey, he's never going to protest someone calling him smart. It's too often that he hears the opposite, so it's kind of a nice change for once. Jesse watches the waitress walk away, making sure that she's completely out of earshot and eyesight before he turns back towards Nikki. ]
Yo, one wrong move with this broad and I feel like I'm gonna get a side of cyanide to go with my pancakes.
[ He's joking. Mostly. Hopefully. He'll have to try laying on the charm next time she comes around. Maybe with their forces combined they can make her crack a smile. Or hopefully, at least avoid getting their food fucked with in the kitchen. ]
Big plans? Nah. I'm on call for work later on but I'm pretty free. We'll see if you're still hangin' with me after that jug of mimosas they're whippin' up for us.
[ Nikki laughs at his remark. He's not wrong. They're both going to have to lay on the charm and sweet talk with her. Definitely leave her a big tip for putting up with all the bullshit she has to deal with here. She shoots Jesse a look as she sits up a little. She rests her arms on the table and leans forward. She's never been one to turn down a challenge. ]
Oh, please. I'll be the one helping you into bed tonight after all these mimosas. I can put them away like a champ.
[ She's pretty good at holding her alcohol. She's one many a bad completion knocking back shots and remaining standing. The only person who's ever really beat her was Jen, and that's not really fair given her She-Hulk side has a way faster metabolism. ]
[ He smiles a little, rubbing at the back of his neck idly. He's glad that he can make Nikki laugh. It feels good. It helps that she has a nice smile, too. It kinda makes him feel all warm inside. Jesse clears his throat, trying to ignore the feeling and pay attention to what she's saying. ]
Uh huh. Sure. We'll see who helps who to bed.
[ He grins, always up for a challenge. He's no lightweight considering he partakes on a fairly regular basis, but he also knows he's on the skinny side. His fast metabolism might give him a bit of an advantage, though, so really it's a toss up. Either of them have the potential to win. ]
Pretty boy?
[ Jesse's mouth falls open and then he puts on his game face. ]
Oh, it's on now.
[ And, as if on cue, their drinks arrive. Two ice waters, two extra glasses, and a whole jug of pre-mixed champagne and orange juice. The food shouldn't be much longer, but Jesse wastes no time in filling each of their glasses. ]
[ The look on his face when she calls him pretty boy is priceless. She realizes she really likes eliciting a reaction out of him. Whether it's laugh and a smile or something like that challenging look on his face. He's determined to win, but then again, so is she. It's going to be a fun game to see who can outlast the other. When the waitress returns with their drinks, Nikki thanks her in a sweet as pie tone which seems to have no effect on her. The waitress barely even registers them before they're left to their own devices.
Reaching out for the jug, she pours them both a healthy serving of the mimosas. There's no tasteful and classy servings here. She grabs her glass and raises it to him in toast. ]
Here's to you, Jesse. For not only holding me down tonight when you didn't have to, but also because I'm going to drink you under the table. I hope you remember this moment.
[ She's got a shameless grin on her lips. She clinks her glass against his and takes a generous sip. The champagne isn't good at all, but she doesn't care. It does the job. ]
[ Even if Jesse's palate was accustomed to fancy champagne (it's not), he wouldn't expect anything but the cheap stuff at a chain restaurant. At least it's not super watered-down like any of the cocktails they serve. Besides, the orange juice does a good enough job masking the taste. ]
Oof, these are gonna be dangerous.
[ Jesse eyes his glass after he swallows some of the drink, remarking at how easy it is to sip. They taste decently strong, too. At least there are plenty of cabs and Ubers around that nobody's have to drive after this.
It's not much longer before their plates arrive, hoisted on a big, circular tray balanced om the waitresses shoulder. He watches her, impressed, knowing the plates would never make it more than a foot or two out of the kitchen if he tried pulling a stunt like that. He thanks her and puts on the most charming smile he can muster. It gets the slightest upward twitch at the corners of the waitresses mouth. It's not quite a smile, but they're making progress.
The plates are set down one at a time in front of them and Jesse reaches for the syrup, drizzling some.over his pancakes before he sprinkles his eggs with some salt and pepper. If he's gonna beat her at downing mimosas, he definitely needs some food in his stomach first. ]
Oh man, this all looks so good.
[ Jesse all but moans the words before wasting no time in digging in, cutting a wedge out of his pancake stack and shoveling it into his mouth. His eyes roll back dramatically as he savors the taste. ]
[The mimosa goes down her throat, chasing the liquor already in her system. It's a good reminder that she really needs to eat something. Thankfully, after a few sips, she sees their waitress holding a tray of all their plates like it's nothing. She's a certified badass, and she tells her so. That along with Jesse's charming smile gets a little bit of a positive reaction out of her.
Nikki rubs her hands together as their food is placed before them. She eagerly gets the syrup after him and adds it to her pancakes. She even does a drizzle on her bacon because she likes it like that. With her fingers, she picks up a strip and nibbles on it.]
This was a great idea. You are a genius.
[She grabs her fork and cuts into her pancakes eagerly. There's strawberries and whipped cream and a cream cheese drizzle that looks amazing. The first bite earns a happy little moan.]
[ Jesse slathers some butter onto the top pancake, then drowns the short stack in a healthy helping of syrup. He's been known to go days without a decent meal sometimes, so when he does eat, he tends to really pack it in. Jesse drags a strip of bacon through the spreading puddle of syrup surrounding his pancakes and eats it, sucking the tip of his thumb and index finger afterwards. Okay, so maybe he doesn't have the most elegant manners, but he at least chews with his mouth closed and grabs a napkin to wipe his mouth. ]
It was, huh? Can we, uh, get that on record?
[ Jesse jokes, of course, but it's not every day he's called a genius. Quite the opposite, usually. But that's another conversation for another day. Or, more likely, for never. He'd rather get his teeth pulled out one at a time than spend any unnecessary time talking about Mr. White. ]
Good, right? Denny's is the shit. Can't go wrong.
[ He spears a piece of sausage and takes a bite before putting the rest of it into his mouth and then starts digging into his stack of pancakes. Perhaps he should have made the competition about eating rather than drinking with how quickly his meal is disappearing already. It feels like the plates had just barely been set down and he's already halfway through his plate. He switches over from pancakes to eggs and then takes a breather to gulp down some of his mimosa. He has to leave room for the drinks, after all. ]
So what d'you do around here for fun? When you're not, like, jacking random dudes' phones?
[Maybe it's the liquor from earlier and now the mimosa, but she's momentarily distracted by the way he sucker his fingers clean of syrup. She hides it with another drink of mimosa followed by a happy bite of syrupy pancake. She laughs at his joke, the little play on words. Being in the legal field, she totally appreciates it.]
You can even get me on video. Jesse Pinkman, hot genius. Endorsed by Nikki Ramos.
[She squeezes some ketchup and hot sauce onto her eggs and hash browns. She likes it particularly spicy. She hums with satisfaction when she digs in.]
Eat, drink, see what kind of trouble and adventure the night brings me. So far, this evening is ranking pretty high on my list of nights.
[She appreciates that he doesn't have a lot of questions about why she's got this guy's cellphone. She's turned it off and left it in her purse for later.] Seriously though, thanks for your help. You're a real one.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
zvi
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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...
no subject
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.
no subject
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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Date: 2022-10-25 05:22 am (UTC)Yo, one wrong move with this broad and I feel like I'm gonna get a side of cyanide to go with my pancakes.
[ He's joking. Mostly. Hopefully. He'll have to try laying on the charm next time she comes around. Maybe with their forces combined they can make her crack a smile. Or hopefully, at least avoid getting their food fucked with in the kitchen. ]
Big plans? Nah. I'm on call for work later on but I'm pretty free. We'll see if you're still hangin' with me after that jug of mimosas they're whippin' up for us.
[ Jesse wriggles his brows. Challenge accepted? ]
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Date: 2022-10-25 12:27 pm (UTC)Oh, please. I'll be the one helping you into bed tonight after all these mimosas. I can put them away like a champ.
[ She's pretty good at holding her alcohol. She's one many a bad completion knocking back shots and remaining standing. The only person who's ever really beat her was Jen, and that's not really fair given her She-Hulk side has a way faster metabolism. ]
Let's see you keep up with me, pretty boy.
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Date: 2022-10-26 03:19 am (UTC)Uh huh. Sure. We'll see who helps who to bed.
[ He grins, always up for a challenge. He's no lightweight considering he partakes on a fairly regular basis, but he also knows he's on the skinny side. His fast metabolism might give him a bit of an advantage, though, so really it's a toss up. Either of them have the potential to win. ]
Pretty boy?
[ Jesse's mouth falls open and then he puts on his game face. ]
Oh, it's on now.
[ And, as if on cue, their drinks arrive. Two ice waters, two extra glasses, and a whole jug of pre-mixed champagne and orange juice. The food shouldn't be much longer, but Jesse wastes no time in filling each of their glasses. ]
Cheers, yo. You're going down.
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Date: 2022-10-26 12:22 pm (UTC)Reaching out for the jug, she pours them both a healthy serving of the mimosas. There's no tasteful and classy servings here. She grabs her glass and raises it to him in toast. ]
Here's to you, Jesse. For not only holding me down tonight when you didn't have to, but also because I'm going to drink you under the table. I hope you remember this moment.
[ She's got a shameless grin on her lips. She clinks her glass against his and takes a generous sip. The champagne isn't good at all, but she doesn't care. It does the job. ]
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Date: 2022-10-26 02:31 pm (UTC)Oof, these are gonna be dangerous.
[ Jesse eyes his glass after he swallows some of the drink, remarking at how easy it is to sip. They taste decently strong, too. At least there are plenty of cabs and Ubers around that nobody's have to drive after this.
It's not much longer before their plates arrive, hoisted on a big, circular tray balanced om the waitresses shoulder. He watches her, impressed, knowing the plates would never make it more than a foot or two out of the kitchen if he tried pulling a stunt like that. He thanks her and puts on the most charming smile he can muster. It gets the slightest upward twitch at the corners of the waitresses mouth. It's not quite a smile, but they're making progress.
The plates are set down one at a time in front of them and Jesse reaches for the syrup, drizzling some.over his pancakes before he sprinkles his eggs with some salt and pepper. If he's gonna beat her at downing mimosas, he definitely needs some food in his stomach first. ]
Oh man, this all looks so good.
[ Jesse all but moans the words before wasting no time in digging in, cutting a wedge out of his pancake stack and shoveling it into his mouth. His eyes roll back dramatically as he savors the taste. ]
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Date: 2022-10-27 01:38 pm (UTC)[The mimosa goes down her throat, chasing the liquor already in her system. It's a good reminder that she really needs to eat something. Thankfully, after a few sips, she sees their waitress holding a tray of all their plates like it's nothing. She's a certified badass, and she tells her so. That along with Jesse's charming smile gets a little bit of a positive reaction out of her.
Nikki rubs her hands together as their food is placed before them. She eagerly gets the syrup after him and adds it to her pancakes. She even does a drizzle on her bacon because she likes it like that. With her fingers, she picks up a strip and nibbles on it.]
This was a great idea. You are a genius.
[She grabs her fork and cuts into her pancakes eagerly. There's strawberries and whipped cream and a cream cheese drizzle that looks amazing. The first bite earns a happy little moan.]
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Date: 2022-11-08 05:39 am (UTC)It was, huh? Can we, uh, get that on record?
[ Jesse jokes, of course, but it's not every day he's called a genius. Quite the opposite, usually. But that's another conversation for another day. Or, more likely, for never. He'd rather get his teeth pulled out one at a time than spend any unnecessary time talking about Mr. White. ]
Good, right? Denny's is the shit. Can't go wrong.
[ He spears a piece of sausage and takes a bite before putting the rest of it into his mouth and then starts digging into his stack of pancakes. Perhaps he should have made the competition about eating rather than drinking with how quickly his meal is disappearing already. It feels like the plates had just barely been set down and he's already halfway through his plate. He switches over from pancakes to eggs and then takes a breather to gulp down some of his mimosa. He has to leave room for the drinks, after all. ]
So what d'you do around here for fun? When you're not, like, jacking random dudes' phones?
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Date: 2022-11-08 01:29 pm (UTC)You can even get me on video. Jesse Pinkman, hot genius. Endorsed by Nikki Ramos.
[She squeezes some ketchup and hot sauce onto her eggs and hash browns. She likes it particularly spicy. She hums with satisfaction when she digs in.]
Eat, drink, see what kind of trouble and adventure the night brings me. So far, this evening is ranking pretty high on my list of nights.
[She appreciates that he doesn't have a lot of questions about why she's got this guy's cellphone. She's turned it off and left it in her purse for later.] Seriously though, thanks for your help. You're a real one.
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