2019-06-17 - Drinks, Dating and Debt

Bennie really really needs a drink. Strike that. She needs several. A gaggle. A plethora.

She's chosen a table relatively near the bar so that she can talk with those there, but still retain some semblance of privacy for the chose Girls Night Out. She's wearing a denim skirt that verges on the edge of 'mini' and a white tank top over which she wears a blue silk asian style robe that she sports as a sleeved shawl instead.

In preparation for Baylee's arrival, there is already four tequila shots lined up - two for each of them - and a rocks glass full of limes next to a salt shaker. Bennie has a beer back, but leaves whatever chaser the other woman wants left to be ordered.

Shots!

Baylee might not be prepared for there to already be shots on the table, but she turns up she looks like she's excited to be there. Sporting a t-shirt with a wide neckline so that one shoulder is exposed, and a pair of skinny jeans that are tucked into black heeled boots she looks like she's ready to break an ankle after getting to drunk and trying to walk out of here. As soon as she spots Bennie she heads that direction, sliding into a seat across from her, "We're just getting this party started right away, aren't we?"

Bennie gives a wide grin to Baylee as she slides into a chair, "Fuckin' A." That particular exuberant expression doesn't get used much by the blonde, but the situation calls for it. She gives Baylee a moment to settle in before she's hoisting up the first shot glass and holding it across the table to await a clink. "Now you know the week I've had."

"That great, huh?" Baylee wonders, smirking a moment before she reaches for one of the other shots, picking it up and holding it out towards Bennie, waiting just a moment before she shrugs, clinking the glass against hers, "I've had those kinds of weeks." Whatever that kind might be, at least. She doesn't really need to know, and she lifts it up to down it quickly.

"Here's to friends that we like best, we like them best when they're undressed, we'd fuck 'em standing, we'd fuck 'em lying, and if they had wings we'd fuck 'em flying. And when they're dead and long forgotten, we'll dig 'em up and fuck 'em rotten." Bennie clinks her glass against Baylee's, touches it to the table and after a lick of salt, she downs it with a delighted shiver. "You hear Easton got into a car accident?" She asks before wincing into a bite of lime.

"I did, yeah. Got a text from him earlier about it." Baylee replies, slouching back in her seat, pushing the empty shot glass away from her before she reaches for a lime, not eating it, though. Instead she just toys with it, as a responsible adult would. "Said something about everyone getting together after his shift?" She then narrows her eyes at Bennie, "I'm only assuming that you've been asked already. He said he was gonna."

"Oh, uh. Yeah...totally." Bennie tries to play it off and resist the urge to check her phone to see if there was, indeed, a message that she just happened to miss. "Only, you know, don't know if I'll be able to make it? Early morning, or whatever." For a moment a frown appears at the corner of her lips, obfuscated by a sip from her beer.

"You should call in." Baylee is clearly not a responsible adult. "If you're going to party like that, you really do need to just skip work, because...it's shitty trying to work while still fucked up." She finally, finally chews on the lime, face puckering a moment before she shudders, tossing the remains onto the table. "It's been a fucking while since I had my hands on that kind of shit, so I'm hoping that there'll be a nice comfortable place to pass out eventually. But I'm definately not working tomorrow."

"Calling in...isn't really an option." Bennie winces with one eye at that confession just as her phone chimes. Hooking a knee up on the edge of the table, she leans back in her chair to dig in her purse for the device. "What kind of shit?" She asks absent mindedly as she checks her messages, a smile reblooming as she reads whatever is on the screen. Her gaze flicks up as she thumbs in some sort of reply.

There is a slow blink at Bennie, then Baylee laughs, "You totally didn't get the invite yet, did you?" She shakes her head, her arms crossing loosely over her stomach as she slouches, "Nope...I'll let him answer that question then, but trust me. You really, really want to be there. So why isn't calling in an option? You got sick days, right? Don't they pay you for those sick days? If not, you should go on strike."

Bennie waggle her phone at Baylee, where there is some mention of drunken makeout action on the screen. "Just did. The boy's a little behind on his game." She smirks, and then replies to Easton again, but this time reads aloud what she's thumbing in. "Baylee says I don't want to miss out and you'll tell me...what I don't want to miss out...on. Send." She leaves the device on the table as she reaches for her second shot, which is apparently warranted. "If it were for the city, sure I get sick days. But if I call out of cater waitering an event, I'm just plum out of luck."

"He is slow...damn." Baylee shakes her head with a laugh, then she reaches for her second shot while looking around for someone to being more booze. "Alright, so, cater waitering is what, like a cash business, right? What if instead I just pay you the same amount, and you can help me re-organize my shoes for the day, whenever everyone wakes up. Seems like a win-win, right?"

Bennie lifts her phone and a frown tugs down her lips again, deep enough of an expression that her brow knits and a little 'x' forms on the bridge of her nose. "Yeah." She answers Baylee distractedly, then just flips over the phone to hide the screen without responding. "I'm sorry, what? Oh, yeah. I guess? Wait. You have an entire closet just for your shoes? And you know I'd help you do that for free, right? Just to get a chance to touch things with fancy names that didn't come from some store with 'Less' in the title."

"The bedroom of the trailer is full of shoes. I mostly sleep on the couch or at Aidan's place." Because this seems like a reasonable thing to do. Baylee glances down at the phone, then back up at Bennie, but instead of asking what just happened she's pulling out her own phone. "I don't mind covering the loss of calling in tomorrow, honestly. I don't figure it'd be that much, right?"

"Full? A whole bedroom?" So not even a closet. Bennie shakes her head in disbelief, "Do you just spend like, hours in there, rolling around in heels and flats and wedges. Because that's what I'd be doing." The apples of her cheeks pink up at the mention of money again, and it not possibly being 'that' much. "Eighty." She sort of mumbles, because while to Baylee that might be a drop in the bucket, it's bank for Bennie. "Yeah, okay. Why not." She slides her phone back off the table into her lap this time. "I'll let him know I'm coming."

"I've spent a while collecting them all, I don't even care that some are years old. Fuck being hip and current, I love them." Baylee glances down at her own phone, then she reaches into her back pocket to pull out her wallet. She fishes around in it, then pulls out several crisp twenties, sliding them across the table, "You can come roll around in them any time you want. Not sure they'd be super comfortable for that, though. Pointy heels."

Bennie's eyes drop to money and then she hesitantly reaches for it and slides it off the table, folding it and stuffing it into the cup of her bra. "I promise as soon as the hangover has worn off, I'll organize and polish and tidy them all. No guarantee a few of them won't accidentally get slipped on once or twice, but. Did you want something other than shots?"

Baylee laughs at the warning, shaking her head, "I won't even worry. I'm sure that's just making sure they are still in good repair or something." She tucks her wallet back into her back pocket, "We can do more shots, have a beer. I'm basically designating tonight to be the night of...whatever the fuck happens."

Bennie lifts a hand a gives a merry little wave to get Trina's attention, making the internationally accepted signal for one more round. "Well, then to whatever the fuck happens!" Which apparently includes Bennie using up her imaginary weekly allowance of swear words, but hey. When in Rome. "So. Tell me everything. When did you move here? How did you meet Aidan? If you can afford a room of shoes, why are you living in Huckleberry?"

"Uh...a year or so ago. No..maybe two?" Baylee shakes her head, "Anyways, I left home, ended up in Chicago for a while, which is where I picked up the PI gig from an ex." She toys with the empty shot glass for a moment, "I met Aidan here, like, a few days after I arrived. And we've been as thick as thieves ever since...and I live at Huckleberry because, why not? I don't have to live somewhere expensive to be happy."

"I'd have said the same until I saw Easton's place because there's something to be said for having a security gate. But at least we have Geoff!" Bennie says merrily, murmuring a thank you as two more beers paired with shots are put down by the waitress. Bennie must have a tab going, because no money is exchanged at the moment. "He's like our self appointed junk yard dog. People probably think twice about starting trouble in the Park when they see him, all tatted up. If I didn't know what a big softie he is, I'd certainly steer clear. Wow, Chicago though, huh? Do they really have better pizza?"

"They've got some pretty good pizza, actually." Baylee agrees with a laugh, reaching for another shot to knock it back before she follows it with some of the beer, and slows down for a holding pattern on the drinking. "I've only seen him a few times around, maybe? I did meet him, though. Same time I met Aidan, in fact, and we all exchanged worst date ever stories. So...what is your worst date?"

"You mean besides ones that end with me healing your boyfriend and then flipping out?" Bennie's own laugh comes easily with Baylee's, "Man, um. Let's see." She actually has to think about this, "I haven't really dated since high school, which is why I warned Easton I was a little rusty. But, hmm. I was taken to a dance once, and my fiancé ended up banging my best friend in the bathroom? Both quickly became ex's. After that it's only been hook ups. What about you?"

"Tinder date, right?" Baylee leans forward, resting her forearms on the table before she glances at her phone when it chirps at her, sending a quick message back before she resumes the story, "I get there and he's eye-level with my tits and talks like Mickey Mouse. But compared to yours, Aidan's, and Geoff's worst dates, I think I've managed to get out relatively unscathed in the bad date department."

"That all depends, did he make squeaking noises when he squeezed your boobs? Because if so, that's a strong contender. So what's Aidan like in the sack?" Bennie pulls her bottle of beer off the table and leans back with it, resting the bottom on the meat of her thigh and leaving little rings of condensation on her skirt. "He strikes me as the sweet, tender, giving type."

"Nope. I did let him buy all my drinks that night, though, then left without putting out. So I'm pretty sure that he cried by the end of the night." Baylee takes a pull from her beer before she sets it down, "Aidan is...yeah, I mean, he can be, sure. Always giving, though. Always willing, never one of those roll over and pass out sorts, either. But I got to say that the usual idea of sweet and tender and like...slow and gentle?" She shakes her head, "Not like, always. What about Easton, you two managed to get there yet?"

Bennie's fingernail starts plucking at the label on her beer bottle, flicking her gaze up to Baylee with sly sort of grin. "Eventually. Couple days later, when we sorted through some stuff. Definite. Marine." There is a twinkle of laughter that echoes into the mouth of the bottle as she takes a sip. "I like a man that takes charge, but is just pleased as punch when I do. We're very...compatible in that department."

Baylee laughs, "That's good. Still saying he's stupid about you." Which is aparently a compliment, and not an insult. To either of them. "Sometimes you find those that just..work. I've had my fair share of partners that were just incompatible, and awkward. One drooled once. Which was terrible. Never actually slept with him, though."

Bennie winces in sympathy, "Or what about that thing when you go to kiss them and your teeth click together? Like, dude, close your mouth a little, or are you actually trying to eat my face?" To the rest about Easton being stupid about her, she just lifts one shoulder in a half hearted shrug. "I worry. Not that he doesn't care about me, just..that I might not be what he thinks I am? I dunno. I just want to stay in the honey moon phase a little while longer, but I think that ship has sailed."

"What are you, then? That you're so worried about him finding out?" Baylee reaches a hand up, absently rubbing at her mouth, "I really hate when they come at you like they are actually going to eat your face. And they grab your shoulders, and it's just...bad. Like they never learned to kiss."

"They should have spent more time practicing on the back of their hand like the rest of us. Or. Like I think the rest of us did? Teeth are great and all, but they should be used with restraint. Bite me, but don't gnaw on my lip. It's not a chew toy or a piece of bubble gum." Bennie combs her fingers through her hair, tucking it around her ear and then toying with the strand, winding it around her ringed fingers in a figure eight. "You know. Normal fears. That I'm the product of my family. That the baggage I come with needs it's own porter? That the time I'm making for him is literally borrowed."

"Literally borrowed from what?" Baylee glances beneath the table, but only so that she can find herself a place to put her feet up without kicking Bennie under the table. "As for the product of your family, honestly, we're all a product of our families, he as much as you are. But that doesn't mean you're not you either."

"My dad disappeared five..." Bennie does the mental calculation, "Six years ago, now. Left me holding the bag for his debts. So if I'm not working, I'm not whittling that down, you know? I don't have time to date, which is why I haven't. Even having a quick drink with you is a luxury. But for him? Well, I'm risking a lot, that's all. But he makes me happy and who can put a price on that, right? Maybe I should write greeting cards, that's pretty saccharine."

"What are the debts?" Baylee doesn't exactly feel a need to ask who to, the only time anyone would worry this much about that is if it werent to a bank. Right? Infact, she seems to easily forget the relaxed drinking so that she can focus on this issue, frowning very faintly at Bennie.

"My dad had a gambling problem. He could see the horse being led off to the glue factory and still put all his money on that pony. They say his luck was so bad that he'd even lose if he bet against himself." Bennie laughs it off, but the smile doesn't really meet her eyes. "So it might as well be a million dollars if it was just one hundred. After he skipped out, they fell to me. And it became very apparent that I can't just manifest the money and pay it off. They want to make me sweat every penny. And so I do, because what other choice do I have? He's gone, maybe even dead. And if I don't want to end up like that, I do as they...damn, tequila makes me talkative, doesn't it?"

"But how much...and are they charging you interest on top of the money he actually borrowed and lost?" Baylee doesn't seem like she's volunteering to give Bennie the money, but she does look as though she's interested in getting to the basic root of the amount.

Bennie seems awfully interested in the label of her beer bottle and slowly detaching it with a pick of her nails. "Six hundred and counting. I don't even make enough a month to cover the vig." She takes one last drink from the bottle and then sets the last of it back on the table. "You know, I should go? Get a shower in before we meet up at Easton's. I'm sure I smell like a truck driver." Her smile renews, but it's lacking its normal wattage.

"So it's a debt you'll never get out from under..." Baylee starts to straighten up when Bennie mentions that she should go shower before meeting up at Easton's, "I've got to get poptarts and pizza for Aidan, too. Before we go, at least. But look, I'll help you out with this."

"Baylee...don't. And please don't tell Easton, either. Last thing I need is for something to happen to either of you on account of me." Bennie's scooping up her bag and throwing it over her shoulder. By the size of it, and her current account of things, it's likely whatever is of any value to her is kept mobile for a very good reason. "Hey Trina? Put whatever she's drinking on my tab, I'll settle up at the end of the week, okay?" She calls over to the bartender, then gives an apologetic smile back to Baylee. "Seriously. If you want to do me any favors? Just stay out of it, alright?" She leans over to give the woman a kiss on the cheek before attempting to slip off.

"Uh huh..." Baylee replies agreeably, but she doesn't say it convincingly. Although she does take the kiss on the cheek, "See you later...dress comfy!" Because that's a priority right now, right?