A Slow Night

[Adam]

Bridges was a fairly new bar to Boston. Adam had only been able to buy the space about six months before, and then he took two months to get it ready. It was a lot of time to take, but in his mind it was worth it to make the place right. And right it was. The walls were lined in log panels, giving off the immediate feel of a cabin when you walked in. Along them were his Grandfather and Father's collection of taxidermy animals. He'd shot a few himself too, but most were from them. They were placed strategically along the walls so that they all lead up to the largest of them, the moose head above the bar, where he'd hung a bunch of old hats from the antlers.

Old pictures of woodlands and logging companies were mixed in, and under either a picture or an animal was a table. The tables were all hand made and a little different, made throughout the years he spent as a carpenter. Even though they were different they all had a central theme and look to them that was either rustic or woodsy.

A neon "Open" signed flickered in the window, casting a pinkish hue onto the table directly below it. It had a little buzz to it, one that used to bother Adam, but he'd gotten very used to it over the last few months. Now when he turned it off it almost felt like it made more noise that way, the silence more foreign to him than the buzz. He thought about it fondly as he wiped down the bar top, although how his thoughts had come to that he wasn't sure. With nobody in the bar to distract him, his thoughts had a tendency to wander.

Although, this was a typical Tuesday night for him. Not many patrons came out to drink on a Tuesday, which was alright. Not every night could be a busy one, Adam would never get anything done. Tuesday nights were usually good nights to do all of the little detailed things that kept up the bar, like dusting the taxidermy and reorganizing the alcohols. So far tonight he had done those things and more, and was now down to wiping the counter for a second time to keep busy.

His eyes glanced at the clock, which hung just below the giant moose head above the bar. It was only 11:00, and there was still an hour before closing. He hadn't had a customer since 7:00, and for a moment thought about closing early. But then, he could wait an hour, that wouldn't be so hard. He turned the the large refrigerator on the wall behind the bar, opened it and took out a Budweiser.

A beer would help the wait.

[Delaney]

The day hadn't gone as the woman had hoped. Delaney had been out job hunting, but so far she hadn't had much luck. She made a few inquiries in a few different stores, but nothing amounted to anything. One swanky restaurant took a look at her hair and turned her away. Turned out some high end places didn't like unnatural-colored hair. She'll call bull; this style's tame by her standards. Good thing she knew not to apply there now, 'cause the hair was staying. Who would want to work for a place like that anyway? Even so, the girl knows she needs to find work soon. There are bills to pay and she figures she's got a month before crunch time really begins.

Eh, she'll make it through. At least her apartment still stood, and given her long day, that was where she had gone. After cooking herself some noodles, she had watched a couple hours of mindless television. Gotta love Family Guy. What a productive day... All in all, she decides to go out. Eh, she wasn't dressing to impress in her boots, jeans, green blouse, and brown jacket. Ain't nobody got time for that. Really, Delaney only wanted a quick drink in the outside world. She had forgotten to restock the fridge anyway.

It's dark out, and the woman zips her jacket as she walks down the street. There was a new place in Boston that wasn't too far from her apartment. She hadn't had the time to check it out until now. Tuesday wouldn't be as busy as a friday or saturday, so what could it hurt? Eyes shift right to left, watching the cars while following the path of lamplight.

A flickering neon sign catches her eyes up ahead, but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot going on. No one hangs around outside, and the sidewalks aren't too busy at this time of night. Shouldn't she hear music or something? Is it still open? It occurs to her that she doesn't know the hours since she hadn't thought to check the signs pasted on the door. Oh yeah, and it's tuesday. Most people have to work tomorrow.

Delaney snorts and strolls on in. Instantly, she's greeted by the multiple heads hanging on the walls. Lots of dead things in here. Huh. The centerpiece of it all hangs over the bar, decked out in all sorts of hats. A small grin pulls at her lips. It's a quaint sort of place, different than what the woman expected but, eh, she'll roll with it. Gray-blue eyes scan the interior as she curiously makes her way towards the bar. Boots thudding against the floor fills the silence. So this was Bridges?

There's not a soul in sight, save for the bartender. He holds a bottle of her favorite. Her hand lifts to casually point, though the finger doesn't extend all the way, as if it can't. Delaney hoped that old lady at the grocery appreciated not being able to feel the arthritis grinding in her own knuckles. Brief pain doesn't show on her face as she looks pointedly at the Budweiser bottle, "Uh... I'll take one of them." She pauses to look at him now and asks, "Unless you're closing?" Door wasn't locked; don't blame her! Carless on his part, if he aimed to pack up shop for the day. Same went for the blinking "open" sign she could hear faintly buzzing in the window. Oh look, we're open, nope, jk. Eyes narrowed and issued a silent accusation, 'cause that'd be an awful cruel trick to play on the good people of Boston. A brow lifted, "...Are you closed?"

[Adam]

Adam cracked open the bottle with the bottle opener that was attached to the bar, brought it to his mouth and took a good long sip. As he pulled the bottle away from his lips a small amount trickled onto his beard, which he wiped away with the cuff of his shirt. As his arm left his chin the bell above the entrance gave out a short ring, and Adam looked up to see a casual looking woman with dyed blonde hair sauntering in. She was his first customer in hours, and he greeted her with a nice smile and a little "Hello."

She either didn't hear him or didn't care to greet him, but either way he was fine with what she did say. He looked down at the drink in his hand and nodded before she asked him if he was closing. It was an easy thing to mistake, he guessed, with nobody around. Adam didn't mean to pause too long, but he guessed he did, after she asked a second time for reassurance. He smiled, "No, we're open." he said, placing his own drink down behind the bar and turning to the fridge behind him to grab her a fresh one. "Just a slow night." he said, popping the top off with the same bottle opening he'd used for his own drink before placing it in front of her at the bar.

He thought to himself how lucky it was that he'd decided not to close early. Even if he only got one customer, that was better than getting none at all. "Are you hungry? I was about to turn off the fryer but I can put something in for you if you were looking to eat." he offered, she was his only customer and he was damn sure going to show her his hospitality. Maybe if she liked the service she might even bring friends next time. All he needed was a bit of word of mouth to spread before he started profiting a bit more.

If she wanted to stay later than midnight he'd even stay open for her. It wasn't like he had any closing procedures to take care of now, besides the deep fryer. That wouldn't take more than ten minutes to deal with properly. Adam was a people person, and he'd rather have one customer for the next few hours than nobody at all and be home at 12:30.

[Delaney]

The woman had heard him, of course, but had been too occupied looking around to acknowledge his greeting. She sees the nod, but does that mean that the bar is open or he's getting her a drink or what? She asks again. Hopefully he won't think she's rude or a bit coarse, but maybe she is, and socially awkward to boot. In answering her question, Delaney finds out that the bar is indeed open. Lucky for her, she'll have her drink after all, even though he's already reaching into the fridge. Yup, this was definitely a slow night if she was the one and only customer. Why weren't there more people?

He sets it on the counter and the woman sits. Legs cross beneath the bar and a boot rests on one rung of the stool. He asks if she'd like something to eat, although he'd been about to shut the fryer off. Huh, those noodles she had eaten earlier seemed like they'd been a long while ago. Food actually sound good. "If you're sure you don't mind, some fries sound pretty good." Hopeful eyes suddenly cut to him as a thought hits her. Wait a second, brilliant food idea, "Actually, do you have cheese fries?" Fries were great, but cheese fries made the world go round. While he was at it- "...And maybe a couple chicken strips?" Chicken fingers weren't just for kids. The woman never had liked burgers all that much, but give her a chicken finger basket and a beer; she'd be happy.

If he decided to throw food into the fryer, the woman would give a grateful grin. "Thanks." A hand reaches out for her bottle and brings it to her mouth for a drink.

Eyes wander to the decor once again. Sure, she liked animals, but was surprised it didn't feel weird to sit in here with all those glass eyes staring back. The moose hat-rack kept catching her attention. Had what's-his-name placed all those hats there or had the customers hung them up? Did they donate hats to the head, just for fun? Maybe it was a tradition sort of thing, like putting decorated one dollar bills on the walls of Jefferson's restaurants.

Huh, the log cabin feel is different compared to most modern Boston bars she has been too. It's interesting. The wood reminds her of the wood paneling back at her mother's house out in the country. At the thought, Delaney blinks and looks down at her beer. It's quieter here too. Huh, so she likes this place with all the dead critters on the walls. Bridges, right? The service is pretty good too, but then again, being the only customer might have something to do with that.

Delaney usually isn't one to talk much, but silence would be awkward, she supposed. In crowded bars, she can get away with quietly drinking alone, but she doubts that trick will work here. Might as well say something. Gray blue eyes drift upwards to Mr. Moose. An amused snort finds it's way out of her nose as a lazy finger points, "He's got quite a collection of hats up there. How'd he get 'em all?" Or had he been shot wearing such an impressive collection that they'd hung him on the wall right then and there, hmm?

---

(ooc: sorry this took me a while, my laptop crashed and I lost my post. I had to retype, though I don't think this one's as good. Dangit laptop haha)

[Adam]

(DX I'm SO sorry for the wait, school has been quite overwhelming this semester!)

Adam's hand rested on his own beer, which he had placed under the counter out of view of the customer. He wasn't about to partake with a patron in the bar, unless they got into a nice bit of conversation. But even then, he'd only do that after the fryer was turned off. So for now he waited for her answer. When she asked for fries he nodded with a quick "Yep," releasing his grip from his hidden Budweiser and turning towards the kitchen in a slow but fluid motion, before he was stopped by the girl's quick reassessment of her request.

As he looked back at her, he couldn't help but smile. "I can do that," he said, taking a step back towards her and reaching for a menu that was behind the bar, "Do you want to check the menu out, or do you think you want cheese fries and chicken strips?" he asked, holding up the menu with his brows high and inquisitive. It was an honest expression, though one might also see it as mocking. Adam was never good at controlling what his face did, and was always a very expressive man.

He placed the menu on the bar top next to her, in case she wanted to look. If not, he'd just go and start her food. Giving her a minute to think, he walked a few steps away behind the bear, occupying himself by putting away some of the glasses that had been on the drying rack. When he turned back, he noticed her eyes wandered around the bar and finally stuck on the moose behind him. At her comment, he let out a short laugh.

Adam looked up at the hats himself then, a soft smile gracing his lips at the memories of each hat. "Those are all from my brother. I don't know how it started but every birthday and Christmas we give each other hats as gifts." He explained, not knowing how in depth she'd expected the answer to be.

He turned to her, "So, what'll it be? Still want cheese fries?" he asked, placing the last of the dry glasses in their place before walking back over to her and placing his hands on the bar top, leaning in as if he'd been standing all day and needed a bit of relief for his back - which he did.

[Delaney]

Maybe she ought to feel bad for doubling back on her request, but hey, cheese fries and chicken strips are the foods of the gods. They're not all that difficult to make, are they? Well, he did have to fire up the fryer, but hey, she's the customer, right? He didn't seem to mind.

What was he doing holding out a menu? Naw, Delaney knows what Delaney wants. Most of the time. A brow rose skeptically, but she offers a lopsided grin anyway. Common courtesy compels her to take the procured menu as he lays it on the counter. She shrugs, "Eh, I guess I'll take a look." No harm in giving it a chance to sway her decision. The flighty woman could be indecisive regardless, so it never hurts to give the menu a chance. The lady flips through, halfway reading, but mostly looking at pictures. Eh, most of it looked good, but she's still stuck on the thought of cheese fries.

After a moment of skimming, her eyes were drawn to that moose head. Distracted, she simply couldn't look away without having an answer. So she asked while still pretending she was mulling over what to order. The menu stays open before her, but she has yet to give a final answer.

Hats? What a weird present to get all the time. Must be a longtime family thing. Must be nice, so the corner of her lips hike upwards in an awkward half-grin before sounding off an amused chuckle. At least the moose's head would stay warm underneath that pile, or rather, his antlers would? How many years of gift hats would it take before he simply couldn't hold anymore? It's an endearing decoration for the bar. In all her days, she hasn't come across a place like this, here in Boston. She decides that it's a nice change from the other more lively, brightly colored places she has visited in the past. If anything, it felt warmer here. Friendlier, even.

He ambles on back and her lazy eyes look upwards. Nothing in the menu had caught her eye, so she answers and confirms with a bobbing nod, "Yeah, I'm still thinking cheese fries and chicken strips..." Delaney folds the menu and slides it back towards the bartender.

An elbow settles on the counter and a hand rises to lightly scratch absentmindedly at a spot behind her ear. She quietly wonders how she had missed coming by before now. Had most of those hats ventured here with a moose on the move, or had they all gathered here over the years? It would be a crying shame if the quaint bar had been here all along and she had simply been ignorant.