| Here's to Hell! |
| Summary: | A Clifton, a Kathleen and a Jesse walk into a bar… |
| Date: | 1942-10-15 |
| Related: | None |
| Players: |
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Clifton had let himself have an easy Sunday. Hey, you needed those once in awhile otherwise you go crazy right? At least that's his excuse! So what did this easy Sunday entail? Walking around by the river, taking a few photos and ending it all with a stop in at the Gallows. He figured he could be somewhat productive and get the Moonshine order while he was here too. For now though, he sits at a far table away from the crowd of the bar. Jesse had come into town with him and this was going to be their meet up spot before heading back home.
Jesse hasn't been having the best of days…every now and then it happens. He didn't busk…the guitar wasn't really obeying him and he just didn't have enough patience to try and force things so he made his way to the Gallows…which is at least a well-known place. He has his walking stick and is pretty much relying on it in order to make sure he doesn't trip over things. At least sitting at the bar means he doesn't have to move and bump into folks. Paying for the drinks, however, is probably not going to happen so he's nursing whatever water Frank was kind enough to give him.
Sunday night at the Gallows… even Kitty Wright hadn't expected the chance to come here to knock back a couple. Not typically on Sunday nights, anyway. But 'lo and behold, after a very 'critical' talk earlier in the week with a little miss Madeline Wright.. this.. this is cause for celebration! For the younger Wright had blown a math test out of the water! Huzzah! But see, Kathleen's method of celebration doesn't entail hanging out with snooty little Katiebelle Abernathy (cripes what an awkward name) for the night and having a mini hen-party. No, no… Madeline was given full permission to go to the moneyed girl's house for the night with a solemn oath to be in bed early. EARLY. And UP EARLY.
Kathleen may be of her own 'set' morals but she will not condone her sister slacking.
So Maddie is off talking girlie shop and Kathleen strolls into the Gallows with the graceful, lethal cool of a mountain lion. High-waisted dark-wash denims, a fitted plail blouse, and her hair — EGADS — set into a slick fingerwave. The present Walkers are not yet noticed.. but give her time! She's getting her drink! Her boisterous laugh echoes across the busy bar.. she. has. arrived.
As for Clifton, he's working on a glass of whiskey. Or finishing it rather. He had been here for awhile already before Jesse came in. Seeing his cousin make his way to the bar though, the older Walker stands up and heads that way and stand near Jesse's seat. "Refill please" he says to the bar tender on duty before looking over to his cousin. "If you want to get something stronger than water you can. I'll make sure we don't fall off the mountain on the way home" he offers.
Jesse gives a little start as Clifton speaks to him, apparently not sensing him before he's right there. "Hey, Clifton…and I ain't got any way to pay for it. Couldn't get the music goin' today and I ain't sure I won't fall off the mountain anyhow. I mean, if you're buyin', sure, but…thanks. I just figured I'd wait until you were ready to head back."
By the time her rum and coke is resting coolly in her hand, Kitty's keen eyes alight upon Clifton and Jesse as the former basically tells the latter to let loose a little. Her mouth curves into a slight smile as she ambles in their direction, passing through a few clusters of townies with the ice cubes clinking in her glass, steps careful and measured as she closes the distance. "How 'bout I buy a round for both of ya," Her husky drawl interjects the cousins' exchange, golden eyes dark in the lighting of the bar. She offers Clifton a smile; a quick, familiar greeting in which the carpenter is evidently happy to see him. And then to Jesse, her tone conveys the gratitude.
"Another day of good work the other day. Let me buy ya somethin' kiddo." Kitty speaks rather obviously in the younger Walker's direction. She looks, and sounds, at ease.. and this is not due to the aide of booze. Things have been going well.
Clifton is about to respond to Jesse when Kitty wanders over, offering an even better solution. "And this, Jesse, is what we call fate. For once it just happens to be smiling on us instead of pissing…" He then smirks over to the elder Wright. "Thanks, Kat." The two Walkers are at the bar, Jesse seated and Clifton standing near him. Kathleen has now brought herself in their vicinity.
Jesse would probably decine the offer of the drink, not wanting to accept Charity, but Clifton's words cause his own to be bitten back. "Sure…you should think that as long as you can," is murmured; after all, Clifton wasn't told that there was yet another person he had to stay away from. "Thanks," is offered a little louder, but he doesn't order anything yet.
"Fate? Nicest thing I've been called in awhile," Kitty admits, laughter in her tone. She is a rather pleasant thing when her mood is 'right', and she shoots Clif a wide grin at his gratitude. "'course.. it's been a good week. Ain't of a mind to overdo it, but I reckon a few drinks are in order." She admits, not yet sitting but standing at Jesse's other side, opposite Clif, her lean frame nestled against the counter as she easily catches the bartender's attention. Jesse doesn't move to order anything specifically, so Kitty will do so in his stead while she has the tender's attnetion! Her color is high, eyes bright; a deep draw of her own drink and she waves across the counter. "Whiskey on the rocks, three please." She requests, and while this is being filled she turn to face the Walker cousins, standing jauntily, lips purses at the edge of her near-empty glass.
"How ya'll doin'?" She asks of both Clifton and Jesse, genuinely curious.
Hearing Jesse's reply, Clifton's smile falters a bit. Was Jesse made at him? Not like Clifton knew what was going on! Either way, when Kitty orders the drinks he takes his and his smile is back in full. "Alright so since we're all here drinking. I feel the need to do a toast. Sooo…Here's to Hell! May my stay there be as much fun as my way there!" With that he raises his glass and takes a drink. Setting it back down on the bar top then he finally sits down in the seat next to Jesse. Replying to Kathleen, "Came into town earlier today. I've been taking picture down by the river and enjoying the weather. So pretty good." He lets Jesse answer.
Jesse isn't mad at Clifton at all. He's more…mad at life. And Nineteen. "Thanks," is offered when the whiskey is ordered for him. He might take a moment to find the glass as it's set down before him. "Why do you think you're goin' to Hell, Clifton? Unless we all are?"
Clifton shrugs over to Jesse "Who's to say we aren't? The way I look at it is this. I just assume I'm going to hell. No surprises that way. Plus, I get to enjoy life how I wanna live it and in the off chance I end up not going to hell? Well then that's just a plus!" Another drink is taken then as he rotates his chair so that he can lean back against the bar. His satchel is over his shoulder and rests at his side.
The carpenter waits for the three glasses to be pushed over their way, the dark liquid winking within, filled with an aromatic but likely not high-end brand of whiskey. Most folks here are neither picky nor arrogant, and Kitty is of that ilk. She slides a drink to each Walker, though she does not touch her refill immediately as she is still finishing her first drink! This subsequent one will likely be the last one, as tomorrow is a workday.
"Save me a seat on the bench down yonder," Kitty remarks on the toast to Hell. She is silent as she awaits Clif's answer to his cousin. Once able to, after watching Jesse for a moment, the woman's golden gaze flits to Clifton. "What shots ya get, with yer camera?" She asks finally, now onto her second drink and nursing it slowly. To Jesse, she adds: "Yer talk with Madeline worked wonders… reason I'm here tonight, celebratin'. She got good marks on her last math test."
She, too, leans into the counter.. a book-end to Clif's position with Jesse between them. She observes the group tonight, taking a mental tally on who will be face down arse up in a ditch tonight.
Jesse rolls the whiskey glass in his hands…not yet taking a drink from it. He tilts his head towards Clifton and actually gives a wry sort of chuckle, "Now you're soundin' like you grew up here…" among his family of Walkers. Only Jesse seems to no longer living that way. His life is far too boring of late. At Kathleen's news about Madeline, he manages a smile, "Yeah? That's great. There still ain't nothin' wrong with wantin' to own a Beauty shop, but talkin' to Vet Styne might also be a good idea. Ain't too many women doin' that job, I'm guessin'." The glass stops its rolling in his hands and he finally lifts it to his lips for a sip.
Clifton just gives Kitty a wry smile at her request "Bench? You'll be needing a whole room, Kat." It's said in obvious jest. Her question gets a shrug, "Nothing too fancy. Some of the water. The bank with the trees and rocks. Mostly just nature shots." His gaze goes to Jesse then and he chuckles "Believe me. Growing up in New York did plenty for my sense of optimism. Higsi just kind of solidified it." He lets Jesse and Kitty talk about Maddie then, listening and taking another drink.
"A'yup," Kitty grins, expression unseen but it is easily in her tone. "She's still too young I reckon to really know what she's wantin'.. I just don't want her to be fallin' short, y'know. Kid knows her way around style and keepin' herself pretty.. but I just want her to have the brains to back it all up regardless…" She sighs lightly, sipping her whiskey, eyes roving toward the folks who indulge — in various degrees — in their revelry. "She took what ya said t'her as gospel, almost. Should keep the peace til' she really.. uhm…" She trails off, briefly uncomfortable.
Kitty dreads the day she's taking her kid sister shopping for her first set of smallclothes. This is not something to talk about with a pair of guys, no matter how brash Kitty is.
Following her spat of laughter on the 'room' bit, regarding her stay in the Hot Place, Kitty shoots Clifton a wry grin, eyes alight with promise and mirth. "A room! Just as fuckin' well… can decorate it to my tastes, then. How bout ya bring some prints of yer work over to show to Maddie, sometime, as further reward for her improvements. She's been workin' hard."
"Sounds like New York is the place to be," what with Clyde going there soon as well. Jesse doesn't have too much to say about the pictures, having never actually seen them…or Clifton himself. "You still takin' pictures of the old biddies in town?" is asked before he takes another sip and turns to Kathleen. "Ain't nothin' wrong with bein' pretty -and- smart. She'll get herself a good match that way, I'm guessin'. Not for a while yet, of course." Since she -is- so young. "I think she knows you're doin' good for her even if she don't always show it."
His fingers tap at the side of his glass as he tries to decide if he should remain in this conversation or let the two talk between themselves. Maybe he can make his way back up the mountain himself today. If he fell off…he wouldn't be missed for too long. "If you two wanna talk between yourselves, I can finish this off somewhere else. It's ok."
Clifton nods to Kitty "Yeah I can bring by some prints. No problem." He'd either find ones he had already that she might like or just go out and take new pictures. Jesse's question gets a lofted brow. He had thought they were all talking…together? "If you want to leave we can head out, I don't mind. Sorry. Didn't mean to keep you here."
Well, Kitty knows that Jesse means well in that comment, regarding Madeline's fate. Deep down it is her immense hope that the girl finds the right person to share her life with… but…
"That good match is gonna have t'meet my criteria." She says frankly, but with a hunt of humor to her tone. "I'm ma and pa to that womanchild and I intend t'scare her suitors senseless til' only the strongest survive." The woman adds with a cackle… guaranteed: she'll do it, too. Kathleen has a duty to uphold and God above, she will do it.
"Not to meddle, not too much… but I gotta do right by her and our poor dead Daddy. He would've done the same and been scarier." Kitty admits, sipping delicately. "But yer right, Jesse.. I reckon deep down the girl knows I mean well.. even if she's startin' to chafe some."
She drains the rest of her drink at Jesse's lattermost words, feeling the hot pooling of the strong liquor in her stomach. "Nah, I was the one to step into yer gatherin'. I gotta be homeward soon to get ready for the day.. be ready for another kick at the can on Friday." Said to Jesse with a grin, before she gives Clifton an appreciative glance. "Yer due to come by, too.. ya'll get safely up yer mountain before the rowdies step out into the streets." She bids, setting down payment for the round before stepping lithely away from the counter.
"I'm still chafin'," Jesse points out with a smirk and a quick drink of the whiskey. "Just ask anyone. It ain't somethin' that's short-lived. Sorry to give you that news," and even though it's said with some humor, it's also true. "Thanks for the drinks," is offered as Kathleen steps away. The whiskey glass gets another roll in his fingers as he turns towards Clifton, "It's fine. I'm sorry. Just…I'm sorry."
Clifton shrugs, tone just kind of defeated. "It's not a thing to be sorry for, Jesse. All I said was if you want to leave we can." He shakes his head and finishes off that glass of whiskey. Stopping there.
"I'm just sorry for everythin', Clifton. You're a good guy. I ain't upset at you and you don't deserve my sulking and I'm sorry about that." He's only had the one drink! "I don't need to leave, no…but I know you and Ms. Wright have stuff to talk about and I didn't want to be in the way."
"Jesse if you're sorry then don't keep apologizing. Just stop doing it." In Clif's mind it really was that simple. "I'm not mad. Honest. I'm hurt okay? Because it's frustrating when me and Clyde and Ethel and Dot all seem to be wanting to help you and you just keep pulling away from us and…acting like this." The comment about Kitty gets a lofted brow "What stuff? I didn't even know she was going to be here tonight. I came here because this is where we said we were gonna' meet up before heading home."
"Help me? Help me do what? Ethel, sure…but Clyde told her no. And Clyde's just…havin' me build beds for her and Dot. And Dot just mentioned wantin' to cut my eyes open and see if she could fix 'em…which I ain't gonna let her do. What do I need help with? I feel like I'm bein' pushed away. That I'm just a burden on everyone." Jesse finishes off the whiskey in his glass, "I guess I figured y'all always have stuff to talk about." He can smell him when he's over at her place. "I'm sorry that I hurt you. I sure didn't mean it."
Clifton blinks "Jesse. Clyde is having you build beds for Dot and Ethel because they NEED beds. Contributing and helping out isn't always glamorous or intense. Sometimes it really is as simple as building beds." As for the whole Dot eye-gouge thing, he wasn't even going to touch that because what the hell? "Nobody thinks you're a burden on the pack except you. If you don't want to believe that then nobody is going to be able to convince you."
"I don't mind buildin' the beds, Clifton. I didn't mean it like that. It's just that's all Clyde says to me." So he doesn't know what the Alpha wants of him besides chores. Jesse presses the heels of his hands to his eyes for a moment. "I'll try. I'm tryin' to be who you and Clyde want me to be. We ain't a family that talks a lot."
There it was again. That 'who they want him to be' talk. Clifton just shakes his head "Jesse. Look at me. Hear me. Because I want to make this clear okay?" He looks at Jesse straight on then, leaning forward in the chair even. "I care about YOU, but I don't give a shit about who you choose to be. In the sense that it is your choice. Not mine and not Clyde's. I know Clyde feels the same way so don't try to tell me he doesn't." The older Walker runs a hand through his hair, shaking his head. "I don't know what you want. You say you want to know how you can help out but every time you're given stuff to do you complain or act like it isn't good enough. What do you want? Just to be miserable? Because that's what it seems like."
Clifton sighs "Do I enjoy working at the feed store? No. Do I get a thrill out of picking mushrooms in the damn woods? No. You think Ethel enjoys getting chafed hands from doing the laundry? No. You think Clyde enjoys half the shit he does to take care of all of us? Hell. No." The other Walker chuckles and sighs, "That's the thing, Jesse. None of us like responsibilities. That's why they're responsibilities. We all do it to help. But you're right we're not a family that talks. So I'm talking to you now and telling you…all of us are in the same damn boat as you. Each. One. Of. Us. So just stop acting like it is just you." He stands up and adjust his satchel then. "I'm going home. You can come if you want or stay. Your call."
(feel free to tag the log with character names of those involved!)