Drink You Away[Private:Vent&Spool]

We've all been there. Haven't we? Too broken to care anymore, but to damn stubborn to give up the fight. Defeated, but refusing to stay down. It happens a lot with death. Especially when it's someone close. First of all, in the initial phases. We deny it. Dispute the fact that they are really gone. We convince ourselves that something will happen, and everything will be ok. Hell, it doesn't even have to be rational. Anything in our wildest dreams from zombification to holy resurrection suddenly seems possible. But, as the truth sets in, and we feel our hearts glaze over with stone it is then we as humans first truly learn the meaning of that God awful word. A single feeling that itself alone can kill even the strongest man.

Despair.

Kai sat alone at the dusty old bar. It was a quiet little place. Quiet for this big city that is. Even so it was quite a step up from the much smaller taverns he was used to back home. Coming from the country side where they bar keeper served at best 10 different liquors, usually more like 3 or 4. Here, there was over 100 to select from. The only reason it was so quiet tonight is that it was a Wednesday night. Most people had work in the morning, and those who were out where just some of the locals who chose like Kai to frequent the place. They smoked on cigarettes, and ordered shots in modesty. The overall vibe was nice though a bit foggy from the burning tobacco. Smooth jazz played nightly by a less than professional band was something Kai enjoyed. It was much less eccentric than some of the more modern selections played by the other bars. He smiled, and thought back.

She'd always enjoyed the sound of a well played saxophone as well...

"Bar keep. Another round of the same, please." Kai said knocking lightly on the oaken bar.

Though he wasn't much to look at, certainly not dressed well enough to go making demands in his tight fit T-shirt and blue jeans. He was a frequent paying customer, so the bar tender complied happily. What number the whiskey shot rack his total for the night up to was, was anyone's guess at this point. Kai only hoped that this one, would finally erase the memory of her from his mind. At least for the night.


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Word Count: 405

Torin steps into the bar and sits down at the counter. He's dressed as he normally is, clean jacket, nice shirt and pants. He catches the barkeeper's attention and orders.

"Strawberry Sunrise, no ice."

The drink is served and he takes a long swallow. He sighs contentedly and hums softly to the tune of the music. As he takes another sip he pulls a folder out of his satchel and flips it open and starts reading the file inside.

Whiskey was a rather stout drink. It burned all the way down but a man learned to love the feeling. What it didn't do, was what we all wished it would at some time or another. And that was burn away the pain that drove us to drink in the first place.

Kai nodded politely at the stranger whom had sat beside him. He looked something like a poet or atuhor with his long messy hair and slightly formal dress. Now, assumptions were something Kai tried to avoid, but for whatever reason this man seem ed to interest him all the same. So, he said the only thing he could think to say.


"A strawberry what? The hell kinda drink is that son?" He slurred.

A bit rude, yea. Creepy even a to some degree but the amount of shots down so far had taken their toll. He wasn't about to stick to pleasantries tonight.

Torin glanced sideways at the inebriated man next to him. He sniffed and inwardly gagged at his alcohol-heavy breath. He hesitated slightly before answering. He had trouble trusting heavy drinkers. He found them to have loose morals and lost themselves to the bottom of a glass far too often.

"Strawberry Sunrise. Spring in a glass I call it. A touch milder than what you're having."

He ran his eye over the man. A tight t-shirt and jeans gave him a look too casual for the bar. He had that look Torin had seen countless times, someone who had fallen on hard times and didn't know how to pull themselves out. The eyes that lacked a sense of direction. And there was the sharp scent of lack of hygiene.

The stranger pulled away. And here Kai was only trying to be friendly. However, perhpas the man named Torin wasn't entirly in the wrong.

Truth be told Kaishi had lost track of how many drinks he'd had, as well as just how long he'd even been at the bar tonight. "What time was it anyway?" Was a question that seemed to frequent his mind. Along side what ust have been a fairly heavy alchoholic breath there was the fact that in the past few days he'd been at this bar, or passed out. Sometime in his own bed, other times not.

Now normally. Kai is a fairly presentable man. Sure, the country boy is still evident in his mild slang and way of doing things. But a keen intellect unbecoming of his appearance merits him a certain degree of self respect. IN other words. He'd normally have showered, shaved, and threw on at least a pair of nice boots and a button up flannel. If not something more formal like a suit and tie.

Today on the other hand. Well, she'd been plaguing his mind more so as she often does, and god knows just how unpleasant he was. Not realizing this fact however, Kai simply insisted on getting to know the guy better. He leaned in, and proceeded to place a firm hand on the guys shoulder and laugh. As if they were the best of friend getting recruited.


"Ahahaha! Spring in a glass you say?" Kai exclaimed loudly.

"Tell ya what boy. Why don't we share worlds for a second. You seem like a well dressed young man eh? What are ya, 21? First time in a place like this perhaps? You drink a shot of whiskey with me. And I'll not only have one of them strawberry whatevers, I'll buy your next round so you can drink that with me too!"

Kai laughed again and motioned the bar tender. He raised his shot glass and held out 2 fingers as a universal sign to indicate he wanted 2 rounds. The bar keep seemed to get the idea and served them up. Without waiting. Kai slid the glass to Torin, and awaited his response.

There was a look in his eye, for only a moment. Life came back to those stormy blues. As he analyzed the worth of the man before him.

Torin picked up the glass and sniffed it. The whiskey was about 40% alcohol, far more than he normally drank but he didn't mind on occasion. He sipped it carefully and felt the liquid burn down his throat. He considered the man again. He was certainly friendlier than he looked and he had livened up from his stupor moments earlier.

Torin returned the folder to his bag.

"Thanks for the round. Sometimes i find only a whiskey can help after a long day."

Torin took a long sip.

"You're right, this is my first time here. I'm passing through the area and needed somewhere to relax. Name's Torin by the way."

Torin continued to analyze the man based on his actions, attire and speech. He guessed the man was a local and a regular to the bar based on his familiarity with the barkeeper. Torin also had a feeling there was more to him than first glance would show.

Kai could only smile in response to Torin's actions and words. His grin was slightly crooked but charming. What they call a "Mona Lisa Smile." He then raised his own glass and nodded his head to the stranger as a sign of respect. A silent toast if you will. THe he turned the glass up and down the entire thing.

The glass hit the counter with a thud. And for the moment, that would do. He didn't need anymore whiskey that was to say.

"Pleasure to meet ya' Torin. Name's Kaishi Senshi." He said, his soft ascent showing through only slightly.

Kai now reached out an open hand. And stared Torin in the eyes. The gesture was universal, and obvious. A polite and friendly handshake.

Torin shook Kai's hand and smiled back at him, his mouth curling slightly at the edges, giving him the appearance of amusement.

"So tell me Kaishi," Torin asked, "What brings you here, drowning your sorrows without care?"

Torin sipped as he awaited Kai's answer. He continued to watch him for anything that would reveal more about him. He finished his drink and ordered another Strawberry Sunrise. Whiskey was good but he preferred leaving his senses sharp and hated dulling them with drink. He hated weakening himself after all the effort that had been done to strengthen him.

As Torin waited for Kai's reply, his cell phone rang. He extracted it from his back and grimaced at the number on the screen for accepting the call.

"Hello" "You want me to him?" "Now?" "Fine, I'm going."

With a sigh laden with irritation Torin stood.

"Sorry Kai, got to go, work calls. See you around."

Without awaiting a reply he pushed through the crowd and exited the bar, on route for his next assignment.