You call yourself a realist...I say you're a coward. I think you're afraid of what this could mean..
Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 105 Karma: 5
RockinItOut:STeaDy « Thread Started on Jan 27, 2008, 7:26pm »
I feel this bridge shaking... My connection to reality is breaking. I feel the thin concrete beneath my feet.
The room thumped with a dark heavy beat as music poured from the battered old jukebox that sat in the corner. Pool tables, barstools, pinball machines, and a couple of videogames surrounded it, all the entertainments huddled together in a second room that attached to the actual bar. Cigarettes smoked where they sat in the ashtrays and in the fingers of those who used them, little curlyques of gray that drifted and twisted with the flow of air, big clouds of the stuff exhaled from the mouths of those who breathed through the filthy filters on the end of the death sticks. It was amazing the amount of people who used the cancer sticks, reflected Stryker as he moved his own to his lips, inhaling deeply on the filter to let the itchy smoke fill his lungs. It remained there for a moment before his muscles moved him to exhale, the matter flowing from his mouth smoothly. After all, everyone knew they killed you quicker.
Maybe that was why so many members of this twisted society used cigarettes. Maybe that was the reason so many inhaled on the useless filters and blew back the toxins into the atmosphere. Life was already short, why not continue to make it shorter? Then at least you'd leave a good looking corpse, right? Why, then, you ask, did the male thinking these thoughts, smoke himself? Simple. It was soothing. Calming. And since he couldn't be drinking, he had to be doing something to calm himself. Ahh, so the man couldn't drink? Why? Because, it is very simple. Stryker man, was in fact, a bouncer here at the Cat and Mouce. No drinking on the job, that was his insufferable rule; couldn't very well toss out a couple of fighting, smashed wankers out of the bar if you were right there with them.
Stryker's steely eyes peered through the haze of smoky air intently, watcing with a trained eye for any disturbances. It had been a rather quiet night, something he was thankful for, to be honest. And then it seemed he had thought too soon. For as soon as that ponderance had finished across his mind, the sound of breaking glass reached his ears. Within the instant, the tall man was across the bar, his hand encircled the thick wrist of the burly bloke that had just raised his sausage-like fist to strike one of his drinking buddies. Slurred curse words being yelled filled the room for a moment as Stryker grappled with the hairy male. Another of the bouncers had stepped up as well, latching on to the other disturbance maker with muscled arms. In another few moments, the platinum blond had his target subdued, securely trapped in a perfect headlock, and his colleague was dragging out the other. Another job well done.
The gray-eyed man made his way through the crowd, though he was headed for a different destination this time. His path led to the bar instead of the darkened corner where he usually lurked, and it didn't take long to reach it now that the patrons knew he was an employee; well, who we kidding, they'd have moved even if they didn't realize he was a bouncer. He was tall, at 6'2", with lean muscles and a body set that made you think twice about pissing him off. He arrived at the counter, taking a seat on the barstool that freed itself up for him, observant eyes taking in the new bartender. A girl, huh? Hadn't had many of those as bartenders in the time he'd worked here; too many harassing construction workers frequented the place. Anyway, he waited till it seemed she was no longer busy, then hailed her attention with a waving hand. That hand was soon stuck out in a profferred greeting.
" 'Ello, pet, you must be new. Haven't seen you around before. I'm Stryker."
Take time to realize, that I am on your side. Didn't I, didn't I tell you? Just realize what I just realized, that we're perfect for each other and we'll find never find another Just realize what I just realized, then we'd never have to wonder if we missed out on each other now Meet me halfway, , it could be the same for you...
Re: RockinItOut:STeaDy « Reply #1 on Jan 27, 2008, 9:12pm »
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Cat and Mouse was an interesting little place. Despite the town's small size, the bar was actually quite larger than it had been in Flax. The place had slowly started to agitate the twenty-two year old though, with all the puffs of smoke being blown toward her. Still, being a bartender was what the female did best and Cat and Mouse was really the only bar around here. She couldn't help but thank the heavens when she had gotten the job and had done so again when she found out there weren't any strippers or hookers in the area. The female had never really understood why people would willingly just give their body away like that...
It was quite obvious what Ms. Zenzi Beddor thought of strippers/hookers. She was considerably blunt about her opinion anyway. Then again, the adult had never been the sweetest of people in the first place.
Blue eyes scanned the drinks, wondering where she had placed the Southern Comfort bottle. Finally locating the drink, a slim hand reached out and pulled it toward her before she popped it open and added the finishing touch the Slow Comfortable Screw beverage one of the customers had ordered. With a gruff thanks, the older man that had asked for the drink left and headed toward other buddies. Watching him leave, Zenzi smirked and crossed her arms. The man had already attempted to use pick-up lines with the female, but he'd been shot down quite quickly with malicious remarks.
Another job well done, if you asked her.
Slipping a hand in the back pocket of her the dark jeans that hugged her slim waist, Zenzi pulled out a piece of gum and popped it in her mouth, chewing the stick of spearmint slowly. She had complete access to all the alcohol her heart desired, but Z wasn't allowed to drink on the job. It was torturous, mixing the alcoholic beverages for everyone else and not having the ability to take even a sip. She had learned, however, that chewing on gum during her job kept her from attacking the vodka and rum bottles every night she worked.
Zenzi tugged the bottom of her simple gray shirt, walking towards another customer. At his request, the female scoffed, but she went and started mixing up the Blowjob Shot he had demanded. The way people hit on most of the bartenders was somewhat amusing. By ordering drinks with sexual names, did the customer actually expect to arouse her?
Honestly.
Adding the whipped cream on top, Zenzi placed the shot-glass in front of the man before turning her back to him, obviously much more interested in the drinks than him. He took the hint and quickly skuttled away, disappointed. If he wanted a lay, he could find someone else in the bar.
Tucking a stray lock of black hair behind her ear, she glanced over to the seat where the bouncer sat and waved her over. It was obvious he wanted to talk, as the workers weren't allowed to drink and from what she knew, this man didn't have a night off.
" 'Ello, pet, you must be new. Haven't seen you around before. I'm Stryker."
A black brow arched up in slight curiousity, looking down at his hand before looking back at the male himself. "Name's Zenzi. Don't call me pet," she told him, the last few words coming out more as a warning than a piece of advice. The female made no motion to shake the out-stretched hand in front of her and she simply crossed her arms once more, watching the blond.
Hopefully Mr. Stryker wasn't expecting too much of a conversation.
You call yourself a realist...I say you're a coward. I think you're afraid of what this could mean..
Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 105 Karma: 5
Re: RockinItOut:STeaDy « Reply #2 on Jan 27, 2008, 9:59pm »
Kitten's got her claws out What a razored edge Hold on, now, That's my throat it's standing over.
The proferred hand was ignored quite openly, the eyes of the femme alighting on it, then moving back to his face. The hackles were already risen, obviously, the claws out and ready. Said claws weren't going for the kill at the moment, it seemed, but from the tiny scratch he'd just recieved he could tell they were honed to needle-sharp points. The semi-good mood that had arisen as he'd had the pleasure of tossing the earlier pricks out onto the street dimmed in the face of the obvious indifference of the dark-looking female. Now, Stryker hadn't been in the search for attraction or friendship, just a little conversation till time to lock up shop and head on to the apartment where he would be tortured by Chris. Not that he'd have it any other way, mind you.
"Sorry, then. Just habit, I s'pose." Voice rumbled deeply, laced with the Brit accent he wore so well. Steely grays observed as the bartender crossed her arms instead of shaking his hand, which he retracted easily.
"Interestin' name, Zenzi. What sort is that?"
Didn't seem like he'd get much of that conversation he'd been looking for, did it? And his good mood was officially dead, which was sad....he was so much more fun when a good mood lit him. An idle hand reached to one of the shot glasses that stood full of toothpicks on the bar's rubber mats, taking one of the slender slivers of wood out and twirling it absently. Wasn't long before that slice of wood rested between his teeth, being twiddled and twisted by the man's tongue.
Stryker itched to order a drink, good ole Cuervo if you please, but his smarter side told him he'd have to wait till his ass got home to down some of the wonderful tequila he so enjoyed. Not to mention, if he went home smelling like liquor from the job, Chris would get rather suspicious, he'd wager, her knowing he couldn't drink during on-duty hours.
A rueful smile tugged at his mouth as he continued along that train of thought. Working at a bar would seem like every drinker's dream, you'd think, anyway. Actually, it was more like a nightmare. Had to sit around and watch everyone else get boozed up while you had to stay sober and watch out for the little drunkards. Even the bartenders had to watch 'em, figure when it was time to stop the flow. That was usually when Stryker had to perform his job. Some little pissant got a bit slaggered, and then Mr/Mrs. barkeep had to stop his alcohol. Then they got upset.
Take time to realize, that I am on your side. Didn't I, didn't I tell you? Just realize what I just realized, that we're perfect for each other and we'll find never find another Just realize what I just realized, then we'd never have to wonder if we missed out on each other now Meet me halfway, , it could be the same for you...
Re: RockinItOut:STeaDy « Reply #3 on Jan 28, 2008, 3:39am »
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Those claws of hers were always needle sharp, unless you had miraculously found yourself in her good graces. At least Stryker had been polite and hadn't immediately started to hit on her, or else this kitten would have pounced on his ego and possibly ripped it shreds, just like the others.
To be quite frank, had the blond even mentioned that she had dampened his mood, Zenzi would have been rather satisfied.
"Sorry, then. Just habit, I s'pose."
Shrugging, the raven-haired female eyed a nearby customer down another drink. The conversation would be constantly interrupted, but that was the way things were around here. Stryker would probably land up having to toss out a few pricks and she'd have to stop serving a few of the others. "I couldn't care less if its a habit or not. Just don't call me that and I won't have to call you blondie."
At the question of where her name came from, Zenzi scowled darkly before grabbing an empty cup and begining to wipe it clean. "Daphne gave me that name. Wouldn't be surprised if she was drunk off her ass when she figured out a name for me." As for origin, the female had no idea. She had never met a person with the same name, but if she ever did then Z would have to ask them.
Pouring some dark rum in one of the empty shotglasses, she swirled it around a little before raising it to her lips and drinking it quickly. The alcohol burned her throat, but Zenzi didn't wince. She'd gotten used to the burn that rum and whiskey left. "Sometimes I wish the vodka was closer to me," she muttered, not quite speaking to Stryker yet not really speaking to herself either.
It was the first drink she had had that night, considering that Zenzi lacked much control when it came to booze. If it was there, she could only ignore it for so long. After that, who knew what could happen? The female was smart enough not to go overboard with the sneaks though, considering she had no intention of getting fired.
You call yourself a realist...I say you're a coward. I think you're afraid of what this could mean..
Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 105 Karma: 5
Re: RockinItOut:STeaDy « Reply #4 on Jan 31, 2008, 10:56am »
Stryker had the strangest feeling that this Zenzi was a force to be reckoned with, much like Chris. She had this....what he supposed you would call an aura about her, that fairly crackled with indifference and barely controlled hostility. The femme had a interesting style, too, with her dark clothing and ravyn colored hair. The comparison between her and Chris nearly made him grin, though he quickly covered it; there was no telling how she'd react to it.
"I couldn't care less if its a habit or not. Just don't call me that and I won't have to call you blondie."
That brought a deep chuckle from him, amusement evident in his peepers as he curbed the light laughter. "Sounds fair, p-- I mean, Zenzi." Another rakish smirk touched his sumptuous lips.
Steel greys watched the black scowl that spread her countenance at the question he posed of her name. A puzzled expression crossed his own face, though it dispersed quickly as she spoke again.
"Daphne gave me that name. Wouldn't be surprised if she was drunk off her ass when she figured out a name for me." With that she cleaned a shotglass, totted out some of the dark-colored rum, and downed it without a thought. Stryker would have been impressed, but he knew Chris James. Not much impressed him anymore.
The blonde nodded absently in response as his ears honed in down the bar, where there were a pair of voices getting louder. One was female, the other a male, and it sounded as though things were getting pretty heated. Stryker, always the British gent, murmured a hurried, "Excuse me,"then pushed his stool back and got down. Unhastened strides of his lean legs brought him closer to the brewing trouble. Things seemed to have simmered down after a moment, however, so the platinum-haired male began to turn and return to his seat. But, as things do go, from the corner of his eye he caught motion, and in the nanosecond it took to turn his head, he witnessed the male's large hand descend upon the woman's face, a loud crack! the evidence that could be heard round the room.
An undescribable rage rose in his chest, like a crashing red wave that propelled him towards the offender. One of his own hands grabbed the plaid lapel of the wanker's shirt, the other slamming into his face with force. You didn't hit women in front of Stryker Kontis. You didn't hit women, period. The British male quickly quelled the urge to continue flogging the wimp, instead he picked him up bodily and literally tossed him out onto the sidewalk. "fucking prick. Don't come back here."
He spent another few minutes standing out in the cold crisp air, letting it cool his nerves and anger, then turned and re-entered the smoky barroom. He took his seat again, resting elbows and forearms on the table.
"Sorry 'bout that. Now, Daphne? Doesn't sound like you much like her."
Take time to realize, that I am on your side. Didn't I, didn't I tell you? Just realize what I just realized, that we're perfect for each other and we'll find never find another Just realize what I just realized, then we'd never have to wonder if we missed out on each other now Meet me halfway, , it could be the same for you...
Re: RockinItOut:STeaDy « Reply #5 on Feb 8, 2008, 8:25pm »
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Comparing Chris James and Zenzi Beddor together was actually a common thing, considering how close the girls were. Though they may not have looked a thing alike, their personalities were quite similar. After all, the two females had met at Tough's and started a semi-civil conversation when a mutual enemy had come along and Chris had begun muttering what kind of torture techniques would be useful. Alone, each of the girls were dangerous bitches, but together? Havoc lurked in every corner when they were in the same room.
"Sounds fair, p-- I mean, Zenzi."
The twenty-two year old had narrowed her eyes for a split second when he almost called her 'pet', but the lucky male was able to catch himself and use her given name.
At least he was learning quickly.
"Excuse me."
Zenzi shrugged in reply, not caring whether or not Stryker disappeared for one reason or another. Arching a dark brow, her gaze went over to where the fight had started and a slight interest sparked up. It seemed as if the blond was about to return to his seat when a large smack was heard through out the room and Zenzi let out a low growl, glaring at the man who had just hit the women he'd been arguing with. "Bastard," she hissed, slamming the shot glass down on the counter and surprising a few of the customers.
To be quite frank, the movement had been quite sudden. Quickly, Stryker had punched the prick and was dragging him outside while muttering curses that Z couldn't hear. A throaty laugh escaped her lips and the female shook her head, pouring a drink for the female that had been hit and handing it to her with a sympathetic look.
"Not bad, if I do say so myself," Zenzi told the blond as he sat back down, deciding that he wasn't too annoying if he could kick ass like that.
"Sorry 'bout that. Now, Daphne? Doesn't sound like you much like her."
damn. She'd thought too soon. Scowling at the very mention of her "mother's" name, Zenzi glared at the counter. "Not at all. That woman was, no is, a whore," the female hissed darkly. Z had no idea if Daphne was really still alive or not; she'd left the family years ago. Still, if the barista ever caught sight of her mother, there would be an extra death in the family tree.
You call yourself a realist...I say you're a coward. I think you're afraid of what this could mean..
Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 105 Karma: 5
Re: RockinItOut:STeaDy « Reply #6 on Feb 8, 2008, 11:16pm »
Turmoiled gray eyes appraised her rather disinterestedly now, mind still struggling for control over his seething anger. It had simply pissed him off and ruined what had been a rather good night.
"Not bad, if I do say so myself," she intoned to him, sounding as though she liked him better for what he'd done. A slight smile hit his lips and he shrugged minimally.
Then he opened his mouth again and promptly inserted his foot. When she replied so scathingly, all her previous contempt was back again in her words, with a little extra bite this time. There went all progress. Oh well. Again, he lived with Chris James. Nothing much phazed him any longer; he was used to saying just the wrong thing and losing the ground he'd gained. Don't get him wrong, he wouldn't change anything about it; but the fact remained that he was used to it.
"Not at all. That woman was, no is, a whore,"
The intensity of her dislike was like a wave that crashed against him, and he sat back a little because of it. He was no idiot, though sometimes he acted like one. He knew when to put things away and when to let things lie. Of course, the male had learned the hard way, as most other men do, by experience and trial / error. Once he'd asked his foster mother what her age was, and when she replied ,' twenty-one,' he had of course vehemently denied that possbibility. It ended with him not getting food for two days and being locked out of the house. Sounds harsh, huh? Not really, since he'd made a guess that rounded up to 60 years old. (( xD ))
"Well, then. I guess that settles that discussion. How long you been working here, then, Zenzi?" He queried, putting slight emphasis on her name as he let his eyes scan the room for any more trouble. The coast looked clear, so he returned his full attention to the bartender.
"Y'know, you remind me of someone. She's rather like you, in a way."
Take time to realize, that I am on your side. Didn't I, didn't I tell you? Just realize what I just realized, that we're perfect for each other and we'll find never find another Just realize what I just realized, then we'd never have to wonder if we missed out on each other now Meet me halfway, , it could be the same for you...
Re: RockinItOut:STeaDy « Reply #7 on Feb 13, 2008, 3:29pm »
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"Well, then. I guess that settles that discussion. How long have you been working here, then, Zenzi?"
Fxckin' smart man. Others had continued to pry on the subject and that was one thing you did not do with Z. Simply talking about any member of her immediate family annoyed her to no end and whoever asked would have to shut up or she'd have one of her 'temper tantrums', as her brother had called them. Those usually consisted of throwing glasses/vases/expensive things and a good snarl.
She wasn't even that touchy when PMSing.
"Not long. I've been in the bartending business for a year or so though. Started once I got out of jail."
A light shudder ran up her spine, remembering her year in prison. It was certainly not an experience she'd like to go through again, even though she'd probably do the same thing if it happened once more. After all, what kind of friend sat there and let their friend get raped?
Well, ex-friend now.
"Y'know, you remind me of someone. She's rather like you, in a way."
"Oh really? Who?" Zenzi questioned, arching a dark brow up in slight curiousity. The raven-haired female had a slight clue as to who it might be - Chris - but you never know. After all, Deathagos was rather large and Stryker probably knew much more people than Zenzi.
ooc;; D: God. I could have sworn I posted beforehand. -smacks hand- Bad Meranii! Anyway, here you go. Sorry that's it's horribly short. -sobs and flutters away-
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