Raise Your Glass [Kateri]

[Janice Adams]

Janice was ready for the week to be over. So naturally, the best way to go about doing that was to hit up the bars. Because her brother was a giant stick-in-the-mud, he didn't drink, and going to bars made him feel uncomfortable. Which Janice couldn't really comprehend, but she supposed it was for the best. Riley made guys go away. Probably because he was tall and looked all punchy and twitchy whenever he was in a place with more than two people he didn't know. Riley was weird.

Regardless, this left her to roam the club district alone, which would have been a bad idea if she were anywhere other than Pilot Ridge: population six. That and she wasn't too worried about getting any trouble. Janice secretly liked trouble, but she suspected Riley would have twelve heart attacks at once if he heard about it. And the big lug had enough heart problems in his life.

Finally picking a bar that looked nice, Janice sauntered in and slid up to the bar, perching herself on a barstool. She flashed a grin at the person next to her-- some young looking woman-- and nodded at the bartender, "I'll just have whatever she's having."

She grinned at the woman, "I sure hope whatever you have is tasty. Janice Adams, by the way. And I swear I'm not trying to hit on you, though I am suddenly aware that that might be how it looks like." Janice snickered a little bit with a lopsided grin.

[Kateri Rivera]

Of course Kateri was at the bar. It was the end of the week—where else would she be? She didn’t have family, and she didn’t much like plays or movies. She’d decided this was just how she seemed to meet people, but considering she happened to like the craze that was the club district and enjoyed a couple of drinks, she was pretty happy with that. It was a very peaceful way for things to go.

Okay, well, NOT peaceful. But a hell of a lot more entertaining than meeting friends in the teacher’s lounge.

For example, she had her eye on a rather attractive male sitting on the end of the bar. It wasn’t really because she was interested in meeting up with him. Actually, it wasn’t at all. She just liked looking. It was a Friday night, and the whole thing seemed…fun. Nothing wrong with enjoying yourself just a little bit. That was what she was in the middle of when another woman, slightly older than herself, came and sat next to her. She turned her attention over to her as the woman ordered her same drink, and grinned back at her. The man was forgotten just like that, but that was no surprise—she hadn’t been all that serious about it in the first place.

“Nice to meet you, Janice Adams.” She offered her hand in return. “Kateri Rivera. Kat for short. I really hope you don’t mind manly drinks. I just got what the guy in that corner was having.” She tilted her head in his direction. “He looked like he was enjoying it, so I thought…why not? It’s a little strong, though. And if you are hitting on me…you know, I don’t mind.” This was entirely false, as Kateri liked men far too much to ever give them up, and she showed with a slight smile at the other girl and a bit of an over-exaggerated wink. “What brings you here this fine night, Ms. Adams?”

[Janice Adams]

For her part, Janice was pleased to see this younger woman take Janice’s particular brand of greeting in stride. In fact, she even played along a little bit. Janice burst out laughing, “Oh, I like you.” She gave Kateri a roughish wink in return, then laughed. “Well, Ms. Rivera, I am looking for a venue to make a new friend,” She gestured to Kat, “Get a little drunk,” She gestured again to the drink that had just arrived, “And then set something on fire.” She paused. “Metaphorically, of course.” She grinned, “I only set things on fire if the situation really calls for it.”

“So what brings you to this upstanding establishment?” She joked, taking a sip of her drink. She raised an eyebrow, “That guy in the corner has good taste. Even if it is a little strong, you’re right.” She shook her head a little to clear the taste of alcohol from her tongue, just a little bit.

[Kateri Rivera]

Kateri was pleased to find that she liked Janice too. She liked the way she laughed at her joke, and laughed out loud herself at the returning wink. “Well,” she said, still chuckling, “I’m more than happy to join you in that, if you’re willing to have me. Well, except the setting things on fire.” She grinned. “I’m not sure about that.” Unless the situation called for it…she pondered that statement for a bit, then laughed again. “What kind of situation would call for setting things on fire? No approval or disapproval. I’m just kind of curious. I’ve never thought of setting things on fire as a solution.”

She watched as Janice took a sip of her drink. It was strong, but she did like it, and she held it up in sort of a wry salute as she knocked one back. “Well, I’m here to meet new friends and maybe, just maybe, get a good look at the rare males found in Pilot Ridge. But I’m willing to put that aside, unless you’d be willing to help me scope out a pretty good specimen.” But it was mostly a joke. “Or you could tell me a bit about yourself. I’d like that.”

[Janice Adams]

Janice giggled, “Hey, you never know when setting things on fire will solve a problem. I haven’t quite figured out what that situation would be, but that is not the point. But that’s probably for the best. My brother would kill me if I set something on fire. Even if I was all badass about it and blew something up and then walked away as it was exploding.” Janice laughed again, enjoying her own humor way too much.

The older woman grinned as Kateri knocked back her drink, and then Janice followed suit, tossing the drink to the back of her throat. “Whew.” She cleared her throat, grinning, “Dude, the males here are scarce. I mean, I don’t know too much about your age group, since I think we’re a good age group apart.” She grinned crookedly, “But lemme just put it this way: my brother would have a far better chance at getting a date right now than I would.” She shook her head, gesturing for another drink, “Shame, really. Everyone’s so…pretty over here. Must be something in the water.”

“Tell you about myself…” Janice paused in mock consideration. “Well, I’m a lawyer. I’m from Vermont, but I worked in Connecticut for a good while. I’m forty. I’ve got an older brother who runs his own landscaping business. I get bored a lot and I like to drink, smoke and get into scuffles. Though I’m getting far too old for that shit.” She finished with a sip of her newly refilled drink. “What about you? What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?” It was facetious; Pilot Ridge was a very nice place, bars included.

[Kateri Rivera]

“Would he?” Kateri grinned, although she was still pondering when setting fire to something could fix it. Well, maybe with all those tests she had to grade…actually, that was a solution that would probably be good for her and the students. She liked it. “But I like that idea. Shame there are rules against it. Well, maybe on Fourth of July.” She grinned at her. “Keep it in mind. You might be able to get away with it then. Who’s your brother?”

Men were scarce, and Kat didn’t think it had anything to do with the age group. Something about Pilot Ridge seemed to attract an unfair amount of gay men. There were straight guys there—but only in the school. And even if it wasn’t illegal, Kateri hadn’t dated high school boys even when she was their age. There was a definite “ick” factor there. She asked for another drink as well and looked over at her. “I like that. Water that makes you gorgeous but also makes the men like other men. Sounds like a horror movie. You should copyright it.”

She leaned against the counter and watched the other woman, seeming content to just sit and sip at the shot, even though it was extremely strong. At least it was getting milder, or maybe she was just getting more drunk. That was okay. She thought for a moment, then grinned. “Ah. You’re Riley Adam’s sister.” She’d passed by his office often enough. It seemed cute. “Well, a lawyer. What made you come here, to the quiet town of Pilot Ridge? Me.” She shrugged and laughed. “For starters, I’m not really a nice girl. I work for the school—math teacher.” She rolled her eyes heavenward, as if asking once again what had made her take that career. “I’m thirty, single—of course-and I like long walks on the beach.” She sighed. “If there WAS one. So! Answer the question. What made you came here to the quiet little town of Pilot Ridge?”

[Janice Adams]

“Yes…” Janice sighed sulkily, “My brother’s a big ol’ mother hen, let me just tell you what.” She rolled her eyes before brightening again, “There we go. Fourth of July. Perfect excuse.” She gave Kateri a wicked grin.

“I know, right? It would be the scariest movie ever: super hot men… that won’t sleep with you.” She made a scary face and wriggled her fingers around, before sighing, “Story of my life. Thank god my brother’s friends aren’t attractive at all.” Well, okay, Josh was a little cute. But only a little. Poor Cobalt was just unfortunate looking.

“Yeup.” Janice nodded at the sound of her brother’s name, “That’s my big brother: huge dork.” She grinned affectionately. She may tease about her brother, but he was the most important person in her life. “Welp. I wanted to go and spend some time with my brother, we ran into a family crisis.” She turned a little uncharacteristically serious, remembering Michael’s illness and subsequent death and how torn up Riley had been. “But anyways!” She brightened, “Oooh. Not a nice girl? I find that rather hard to believe.” She leaned forward conspiratorially, trying not to seem like she was prying, “Are you really a bank robber? Because I promise I won’t tell.” She giggled slightly, wavering in her seat a little. So she might be getting a little drunk. Oh well.

“Math teacher, eh?” She tsked in sympathy at Kat’s exasperated face, “My condolences. You teach up at Hammel?”

[Kateri Rivera]

Kateri grinned right back. “I like the way you think,” she said quite happily. “But you’re lucky to have a brother who’s a mother hen. I love mine to death, but he’d probably just stand to the side and fret and do it anyways.” But it was said with good cheer. She loved her brother, even if he didn’t tend to stand up for himself that much. Especially around her. But that was her own fault, she supposed.

“It does help that they aren’t attractive,” she agreed, then paused, thinking back. “Well…for the most part. But still. It’s horribly unfair that they have all the fun. I’m serious, though! You could sell a book about it.”

Her brows lifted as she noticed the serious expression on her face and frowned, waving for another drink for the both of them. “This one’s on me,” she said, offering the woman a smile. “Nothing like alcohol to wash away bad memories. But your brother is a lucky man to have you with him. And as for me…” She grinned as Janice wobbled a bit, then leaned forward to whisper, “Yes. Just laying low to make sure the cops don’t get me. But who suspects a math teacher of bank robbery? Don’t tell now.” She winked and giggled herself, falling back into her stool. She thought she had a higher tolerance, but….maybe that was a lie.

“In all seriousness,” she said once she’d calmed down, knocking back her other drink, “I do teach at Hammel. But I’m much more scary than anything they could throw at me.” She grinned. “But if you know about the school, I’m guessing that either you or one of your family members went there, yes? Otherwise people tend not to mention it.”

[Janice Adams]

Janice snorted, “Brothers, eh? They’re a pain, but what are you gonna do, right?” She shook her head with a grin. She was having quite a good time with Kat, and was thrilled that she had a new friend that was a girl and not in her work. This was nice!

“I totally should.” Janice sighed, resting her chin in her hand, “Although I doubt people will believe it’s nonfiction. My memoirs will be stacked in the fiction section right next to Peyton Place and the soap operas.” She rolled her eyes goodnaturedly, “I just need a catchy name for it. Sadly, I don’t think Everyone Here is Gay would be a crowd pleaser.” She giggled again, the fit lasting a little longer this time. Honestly, it wasn’t that funny, she didn’t know why she was laughing so hard over it.

“Oh hey, thanks!” Janice saluted Kateri with her newly acquired drink. She grinned wickedly and leaned forward as Kateri “confessed” her crime. She snickered, trying to keep a straight face, “Oh, I promise I won’t tell a soul. If you need an alibi,” She pointed to herself, wobbling a little bit, “I’m totally your guy. Girl. You know.”

“Hah.” Janice laughed at Kateri’s comment, “You go. I bet you could raise hell.” And that wasn’t a lie. Kateri seemed sweet enough, sure. But sweet in that hidden-temper-don’t-fuck-with-me way that Janice could appreciate. “Mmn.” She took another drink, “Yup. Well, not me. Riley’s a biological manipulator, so he got shipped off to Hammel. Actually, I was like…two, so I didn’t know him til after he graduated. I was twelve when he came back.” She grinned at the memory, “I didn’t like him. But that obviously didn’t last very long.”

She caught herself, “Oh. Duh, I am talking waaay too much about me. What about you? You teach there, so you’re meta. What’cha do?” She meant what is your power, but she was starting to get a little less coherent.

[Kateri Rivera]

Kateri grinned and nodded in agreement. She was having quite as much fun as Janice was. Probably for different reasons, though. For being a social creature, Kateri didn’t seem to have that many people to hang out with. That was probably because, she admitted to herself, she tended to annoy people. Or maybe just because she was kind-of-sort-of picky about whom she spent time with. But she liked Janice. She liked her attitude and how easy it was to laugh with her. Mind, some of that was possibly the alcohol talking, but who cared?

“Hmm,” she pondered. “Gay Ridge? No, no. That could sound really, really bad.” And then she was giggling right alongside Janice, nodding to the bartender as she got her other drink and grinning at the other woman. Yes, they’d both probably had too much. And although Kat liked to think her tolerance for alcohol was high, she also knew that she was all of five feet tall and so probably wasn’t as sober as she thought she was.

“Oh, totally,” she said. “Thanks.” She winked back and put out a hand to steady the other woman, then settled back in her seat. “Biological manipulator, huh?” she said aloud. “Oooh. I like them. I always wished I had that power. But I’m glad you grew to like him.” She laughed. “I hated my brother at first. It’s a good thing he and my parents were patient, but it took a long time. Now I miss him like mad. Oh well. Separation is good for the soul, right?”

She set down her drink and glanced over at the girl, then smiled at the question. She didn’t talk about her power much, if at all. But if Janice knew about Hammel, there was no harm, right?

“Weather manip,” she said with a smile. “So if you ever need a sunny day, I’m you’re girl. But don’t let that be public knowledge. I don’t want the whole neighborhood to find out.”

She was quite happy to keep talking to Janice for most of the evening, although she slowed her alcohol intake. She liked listening and swapping stories with the older woman. When they both decided they’d had enough, Kateri got her number and extracted a promise to meet again, and went back, still smiling from a nice night. Not bad, not bad.

((Wrapped!))