setting: a random waterhole in a college town

[caneous]

[ Fourbuck is an unusual surname, by most standards. Once every five times Camden's mentioned it, he's had to explain that Fourbuck is his hand-to-God last name. He doesn't really mind it, except for when he does. Like tonight. He's in no mood to be social tonight, knowing what the date is and what it means to him and the man he calls Dad.

Here's to you, Ma, he thinks as he hails the bartender for another drink. The bottle comes to him with condensation all over it, and he spends a bit rolling the bottle from one hand to the other before caving in and turning to the closest person on the bar. The bartender didn't give him a coaster, see, and normally he wouldn't care about that, but— ]

Hey, you mind if I borrow your coaster?

Comments

[reshift]

[ Alex isn't usually one for drinking, but she keeps thinking about the way Emily screamed at her after her conference with Emily's principal and she can't help but think she needs one tonight. Or four or five.

She barely gives anyone else any attention, used to keeping to herself. But when the man next to her speaks up, asking for something, she looks at him as if she's just realized she's not the only person in the bar.

Then she shakes her head loose and nods, taking her coaster and passing it to him. ] Be my guest. [ She takes a long drink from her bottle and sets it back onto the wood of the bar without concern for the lack of coaster. ]

You know, you don't have to be so careful in a bar. Shit gets damaged all the time anyway.

[caneous]

It's a— there's a thing, okay? Normally I don't give a crap, but. You know.

[ He shrugs like it's meant as an apology, but Camden doesn't have enough heart for it tonight. ]

—I don't see you around here. I mean. I've never seen you around here before...?