Strut For Me (Open.)

[Lani Hunter]

Lani laughed and nodded, “D it is then.” He grinned and fought back a laugh as she spoke of rising from the dead. He gave her a wary look. “If you’re a zombie you’d better tell me now,” he said his face serious but his eyes sparkling with humor. Lani really did tend to fall into the range of impossible futures when he was in the mood. Such as a cat theme apocalypse he had recently discussed with Odion and now he was humoring the ever popular zombie apocalypse. Soon if they weren’t careful with a few more drinks he would be discussing Fire and Ice. “Hey what do you have that is stronger than this?” He asked curiously touching his glass.

It was a lucky thing that Lani’s cup was empty when she said that particular line because he probably would have gotten her nice and wet. He guffawed instead and his head actually came dangerously close to slamming on the bar as his body convulsed. “Well I’m not sure about any Kerrys…” he said suggestively. No she didn’t need to know that Lani was still a virgin. Nope, not at all.

Lani shrugged innocently and smiled at her. “Pleasure,” he said taking her hand as she guessed the correct name. “Kyle Kelsing,” he supplied, “You’re friendly neighborhood… guy…” He finished lamely deciding that in his current state and the conversation saying Spiderman or lurker was not an appropriate response.

He smiled at her enthusiasm. “Have you ever been?” He asked curiously. He laughed and nodded running a hand through his hair. “Yes, she’s a lot younger than I am.” About six years between them. Granted the older they got the less extreme the gap felt. After all his sister was going to be twelve soon. In a few months at least. She was just about halfway through her middle school career and honestly that made Lani nervous. Soon she would start dating and… oh dear he didn’t even want to think about it. “University,” he answered smoothly, after all if he was going to the community college why would he be here and not in Mass.

[Diana Crow]

“I am a zombie!” She said, stretching her hands out in front of her and walking in place. Diana’s face contorted into a not so pretty sight, her tongue lobbing out for a millisecond before she laughed. It was all in fun. After all, not a lot of people went along with her silly antics. But you only live once and Diana was all about holding moments captive and milking them for all they’re worth.

“Stronger than a rum and coke?” She asked, leaning forward. “Probably just shots of rum. But I could always make you a Zombie.” Diana went back into her zombie-self. A Zombie was just a bunch of alcohol poured into one cup. When someone drank one, it turned them into the drink’s name. If Kyle wanted something a little stronger, there were always drinks with Vodka. “There’s also rye and vodka, some of those are a higher alcohol percentage.” She gave him another once over. Of course he should know that already, since he was in college and all.

“Hmm, let’s see.” She said, taking out her cell. The boss really didn’t care so long as people weren’t being ignored, and since she was entertaining a customer...”Kyle: ‘A generous, outgoing guy who goes out of his way for his friends. Can be sweet and caring towards people, he has a laid back and calm approach,” she glanced at the kid with a smirk before continuing, “truthful, gullable, lovely and sexy. Can be a bit of a stress head at times, can also hold grudges for a long period of time. Nice to get to know, easy to fall in love with.” She shrugged. “Doesn’t say anything about bedroom performance. Too bad.”

She raised an eyebrow at him before laughing. “Kyle, such a charmer.” He must have a hard time picking up women, or men, whichever he preferred.

“Nope, can’t say I have.” She shrugged. “Not that I wouldn’t mind, I just think a small town girl like me would get lost rightaways.” Diana did always want to travel, but funds were low and she didn’t think she’d ever get around to it. “You datin’ anyone? Pretty girl?” She asked with a smirk. “Pretty boy?”

[Lani Hunter]

Lani guffawed at her impression of the walking dead. He raised his hands as if to ward her off but his shoulder were shaking with laughter and it was really hard to keep a straight face at the moment. So Lani let it slip. He shielded his head with his arms. “Please I like my brain! I’m still using it!” He cried pleading with the Zombie Diana. He bobbed his head happy that he had met such a kind soul tonight.

Lani laughed and nodded. He wrinkled his nose. He wasn’t really into straight shots of rum. She reanimated her act and had Lani laughing again. “No thank you, I don’t think I want to get that drunk.” He really couldn’t remember the last time he had been too drunk to remember anything. It was when he was younger. A few years maybe. Yeah Lani really wasn’t the best brought up boy. Well, his parents had raised him right, but really growing up with a bunch of thieves was enough to steal a nun’s innocence. Lani’s brow raised. “Huh, I’ve never tried vodka before,” he said honestly, “I have a bunch of friends who highly recommend it.” Also honest. So Lani nodded, “I’ll try one of those, please.” He really was more of a beer person but what better time to expand his experience.

She took out her phone and Lani paled a little bit. He wasn’t sure what she was checking. Then he smiled as she started reading off something. Must be urban dictionary, since she had referenced it before. He smiled pleasantly as she looked up at him. How strange, it was a completely random choice and yet it seemed to describe him almost too well. He had never thought to look up his name. Now he was curious about what urban dictionary had to say about Lani or anyone else. Maybe Odion. He shrugged innocently. “I guess that’ll have to be a secret.” He said with a wink. “What does it say about Diana?” He asked curiously.

He shrugged and flushed. “I know, I know,” he laughed, “Sometimes you’d think this was my first human interaction.” At least he took it in stride. He really didn’t know what that phrase was about. Had he known her better he might have jokingly added something about being a trouble maker. But right now he was underage in a bar and not really looking to get attention drawn to himself. Though he seemed to have already failed there.

Diana probably would fit in more than she thought in Boston. He smiled. “You should check it out, the people there are rather… interesting.” He finished once he found his keyword. Lani flushed and opened his mouth to answer but her addition of a boy threw him off. He nearly swallowed his tongue. “What? No, I mean yes. But a girlfriend,” he said quickly tripping over himself. “I’m not gay,” he felt the need to mention. But that wasn’t all true was it? Oh well too much thinking not enough alcohol. “How about you?”

[Diana Crow]

Diana laughed with him. “Zombies don’t eat already dead brains, they like ‘em fresh,” she said, her lips turning up in a snarl. If she was trying to be a zombie, she’d really have to sell it.

“So just a little drunk then?” She asked with a smirk. That’s usually why people came out, because getting drunk and acting stupid in the privacy of your own home wasn’t good enough. Whatever, if people wanted to get drunk on overpriced alcohol, why not capitalize on it? Diana turned her back on Lani for a moment, before handing him another drink. “It’s not a shot of vodka, I wouldn’t do that to you without you knowing what it’s like first,” she said. If Lani had never had it before, then he shouldn’t have it just straight. No, a Screwdriver would do just fine.

Odion was in Urban Dictionary, Diana had checked when she was looking up cool Irish names.

A few more clicks and Diana found what her beloved website had to say about her. “Diana, the most gorgeous girl you’ve ever seen.” She frowned, thinking there was much more to her than that. “Well that’s just the first one...” She said, scrolling through the list. “An amazing girl that has many good qualities, however is extremely modest about every one of them, including intelligence and beauty. They also are very nice and caring, however only to friends and other special people. They can also have extreme inner beauty that is very hard to find, but when it is found, you realize she is better than any other girl you may meet.” She scoffed. “That is so wrong.” Diana put her phone away, before she got too pissed off.

Diana grinned at him. “Is it?” She asked curiously. There was nothing shy about this girl.

“There are interesting people wherever you go, especially when you work at places like this,” she said with a smile, though she would add Boston to the list of places she wanted to see one day. Diana’s happy demeanour quickly faded. “What’s wrong with being gay?” Her eyes turned razor sharp. “No, but I do have my eye on a number of potential girlfriends,” she said. If Kyle ended up being a homophobe, she was going to have a long, hate filled night.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani shook his head and his hands flew up as he laughed to keep the shaking motion going. “Eww, no, that’s a terrible image!” He cried trying and failing to convey his disgust as he laughed at her impression.

With a nod he smiled and held up in fingers showing a little space between his two fingers. “Just a little.” It was actually probably a little too late for that, on his third drink he was working toward being tipsy and his inhibitions had already started to fade away. She handed another drink over and listened to her as he picked it up to examine it. It was orange in color and smelled good so Lani took an experimental sip. He gave her a smile. “You make good drinks.” He said raising his glass to her. The one bad thing about sweeter drinks was that Lani tended to forget he was drinking alcohol until it was too late and he was teetering.

Lani rested his elbows on the bar and watched her as she started reading through. He grinned as she started and then went to the second one. She seemed to get really worked up about what it was saying about her. She got in a huff and Lani couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s just a stupid website,” he told her, “Someone was probably just writing in there for fun. But is it so bad that you have what was it… ‘Extreme inner beauty’?” He spread his hands curious and unable to resist asking. That was his problem. Drunk he was like a child asking questions like the sun would never rise again. Questions and the tendency to make terrible life decisions. Such as the last time he got drunk some woman convinced him it was a good idea to sing karaoke. Well Lani proved he couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket.

His sly smile emerged and his eyes sparked and he jumped onto the question making it a joke. He leaned forward conspiratorially. “If these guys in white show up just warn me,” he said instead of answering her question. He gave her a wink before he started chuckling at his own joke.

“I bet,” Lani nodded, after all she had probably met all sorts of strange people throughout the years. Lani wasn’t prepared for the amount of venom in her voice after he had said he wasn’t gay. He swallowed and shook his head keeping himself from answering too quickly and making it seem like a lie. “Nothing, absolutely nothing,” he said his voice getting shaky as if he were afraid she wouldn’t believe him, “I was just stating that I am not.” He was speaking softly and he wondered for a moment if he could ask her for advice. After all what were the chances that he would see her again. Lani’s eyebrows jumped, he had terrible gay-dar, he was always surprised when people told him they were gay. Well unless they dressed and acted like it was the only thing that defined them. “Oh really? You you’re quite the ladies… woman?” He asked recovering quickly after taking another drink. “Hey do you mind if I ask a strange question?” He asked feeling emboldened by his alcohol.

[Diana Crow]

If this kid was starting to feel it by his third drink, he was not going to enjoy those frat parties. Assuming he was telling the truth, and Diana was just going to give him the benefit of the doubt even though her gut told her not to. “A little drunk, coming up right,” she said, toying with the words and grinning as she did so. Tonight was going to be fun, and though she doubted she’d be friends with this kid, at least he could say he had a good time. She smiled at him, “That’s what they tell me.” It was a good place to work at. “You should see when it gets really busy around here.”

Diana was still frowning. “I know it’s just a website, but I thought mine would at least be fun,” she shrugged, trying not to think about it. It wasn’t working. “Inner beauty is great and all that, but that’s not anything special, everyone has that.” Diana leaned across the bar from Kyle. “Urban Dictionary does allow you to add your own definition, I’m going to come up with something spectacular and put it on there.” She grinned. This woman was bound and determined to show Urban Dictionary who was boss. “Don’t ever look up Cesar Salad though,” she shuddered, “not pleasant information.”

“Aw, there’s no fun in that,” she said, just picturing two guys walking through the doors with a straight jacket between them. Her eyes grew wide suddenly. “Oh shit, you better run,” she said, looking at him with sheer panic in her eyes, before they softened into deep pools of mirth.

Her eyes were still squinted. “Good, because otherwise I’d have to knock you out,” she said. She had had a few heart to hearts with Greg about stuff like this. Pilot Ridge needed more open people. Diana would hate to see this kid turn into a monster. Contrary to what Kyle was thinking, sexuality wasn’t the main thing that made up a person. It was just another thing to add to the bunch of things of a person. She laughed at how he struggled for words. “Ladies woman? If they’re interested, then yes. Though there are plenty of guys around here who don’t get the hint if you know what I mean.” Maybe Kyle wasn’t as bad as she was beginning to think.

And here came the inevitable counseling. “Shoot,” she said, picking up a red drink straw, and sticking it between her teeth.

[Lani Hunter]

Yeah Lani was a lightweight, he could feel the alcohol running through his system already. At least he knew he wasn’t going to get drunk so easily. It didn’t take a lot to get Lani to be bold but a little more to be tipsy and then drunk. Lani’s brow came together and he laughed toasting her with his glass. He took another sip again ignoring the little straws. “Is it crazy?” Lani guessed, “Drunk people everywhere and doing stupid things. Must be entertaining.” He laughed and shook his head, “Sometimes you have the best seat in the house just watching the drunk people act silly.”

Lani smiled at her. “Yeah I’m sure that you are a lot more fun than your definition lets on.” Lani considered her for a moment scratching his chin. That was interesting. Everyone has inner beauty, did that mean that even a thief like Lani had it. “Is that so?” he asked curiously, “Even bad people?” They said that mirrors were windows to the soul and one could see just how ugly or beautiful they were from a mirror. It revealed the truth. “I believe it, I’m going to keep checking back to see when someone changed that definition. I expect it to be great.” He nodded at her and laughed a little. He gave her a lopsided grin, “You know that now I’m practically obligated to check right?”

She was right, the white coats were no fun. Lani had gone not to them but to the therapist once and it was awful. Never again. He nodded in agreement and then going with the act he whipped toward the door and made as if to bolt. He found himself collapsed in laughter on the bar before he could keep up the act for very long. He looked up at her when he finally recovered and saw the bright shine of humor in her eyes. He clung to his head, “Geez, don’t do that, you scared me half to death,” he chuckled his eyes alight.

Lani ducked his head and smiled at her. He really would have been afraid if she would want to deck him. Sometimes a woman’s fury was far more terrifying than some hugely muscled guy. After all this woman was making his drinks and who knew what she could do with them. Lani laughed a little and gave her a pitying stare. “I’m sorry about that, that must be awful. All that unwanted attention.” He nodded a little and realized he was looking at her in a different light. Not because of the new knowledge he had about her but that she was strong enough to deal with drunk guys making advances toward her. Lani finished off his drink and looked down at his hands and he swirled the glass in his hand. He was wondering how he was going to phrase this without becoming offensive. “How did you know?” He asked finally looking up at her, “I mean how did you know you like women and not men?”

[Diana Crow]

Diana smiled at Kyle. No one had ever toasted her before, well, not especially when she was working. He may be a little shy, even awkward to start a conversation with, but there was something special about this guy. Something she wouldn’t forget. “Crazy, stupid, entertaining, yes it’s all those things and more!” Diana said, as though she were trying to convince him to work here too. “I guess I am a bit of people watcher,” she said, her eyes going back to some of the better looking ladies that had shown up tonight. She grinned, a sleepy looking smile on her face.

Diana looked at him curiously. Was he tipped her off? Was he a bad person? “Yep, even bad people. What people do doesn’t necessarily define who they really are.” People that killed others usually had justified reasons, and even those that didn’t she still felt sympathy for because they probably had really hard lives. Not that that was good justification for their actions, D just knew there was inner beauty inside of every human being. She raised her hands and shook her head ‘no’. “Oh no! Don’t, it’s really gross.” She said, cringing at just the thought. She had looked it up totally innocently too, and that was saying something, considering Diana had such a dirty mind.

Laughing with him, Diana was glad he had gone along with her stupid joke. Sometimes she could be really lame, but hey, if it amused the customers... “Sorry, I must’ve been seeing a couple of ghosts or something,” she said with a shrug, as though anyone would mistake medics for ghosts. Simple human error.

She sighed as though she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. “I know. I mean, I know I look good but jeeze, guys just don’t get a clue.” She smirked. Just another reason why she didn’t like men that way. Especially the kind of men that floundered around here. She could tell he was being genuine about the questioning, and he probably wouldn’t be asking if he wasn’t truly curious. Why, she didn’t really care about because it wasn’t any of her business. “It’s different for everyone,” she said, not trying to be vague but real. “For me, there just isn’t a connection there. But for some people it just goes back to that inner beauty thing. You fall in love with the person, not the gender.” She grinned, flicking the straw about with her tongue. “Though I do find females more physically attractive,” she added for good measure, being sure not to make Kyle feel uncomfortable.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani smiled at her and nodded a little his laughter coming out again. “Me too,” he told her. He was very much a people watched but mostly he was watching for easy targets. There were plenty of people around to entertain as well. Boston was a fun place to people watch because people were so much the same and yet so different. The accents were what got most people and Lani like any other good Boston thief will keep an ear out for a nice southern accent and target them. It was actually surprising that Lani didn’t have a thick accent like his father but his mother was from the south and he had gotten a mix of her slow relaxed tone and his father’s accent.

That was interesting. He looked at her thoughtfully and tried to take in what she was saying. So was she saying that people like Lani had good in them? But then was she also saying that people like his boss had inner beauty? Lani had to admit that that wasn’t too far from the truth, his boss was an evil man that was for sure, but he wasn’t as bad as he could be. “You think so? What about serial killers?” He asked curiously. He had a hard time being able to accept that people who killed other people for fun had any goodness in them. Maybe that could be said for thieves or for people like them who had never really done anything horrible. But there were worse people weren’t there? Lani snickered and raised his hands in yielding, “Alright, I won’t look it up.” He was lying of course.

D was really the funniest person he had met in a long time. “Hmmm, maybe we’re both looking out for someone,” he commented on her mistake, “Maybe we were in the same place,” he joked and shook his head. There was an asylum nearby wasn’t there? Well at least somewhere in the state there was.

Lani grinned at her and hid his smile behind his hand. “Most guys aren’t very good at picking up hints,” he told her sympathetically. He could say that one from experience. When he and Adrianna started hanging out together it had practically taken her spelling it out for him to get. Lani leaned forward a little listening hoping she was going to give him some straightforward answer. Apparently it wasn’t that easy. Lani held back a sigh and listened. That was an interesting concept. But what if there were two people and they had opposite genders? Things weren’t simple at all. He was a little jealous, at least she was sure that she was attracted to one rather than the other. He had thought it would be easy but it wasn’t proving to be so. He toyed with his cup. “That’s complicated,” he said and looked back up at her. “But…” it took him a while to figure out what to say, “What about people who like both genders?”

[Diana Crow]

Diana sighed, wishing she didn’t have to think about this one. “I don’t like what they do, that’s for sure, I dunno,” she looked at Kyle thoughtfully. No wonder he was in college. “I feel sorry for them, for whatever reason makes them act out.” There had to be inner beauty in there somewhere. D thanked her lucky stars though; at least Kyle wasn’t asking about cesar salads.

“Maybe we are,” she said, smiling in a very convincing, almost eerie way. “I’m surprised they let me work here, after looking at my record and everything.” She raised her eyebrows at him. How else could she be so good with drinks if she hadn’t had some illegal practice? She had no idea where this was going, but hopefully she wouldn’t get lost along the way.

D poked the hand hiding his smile, grinning full on. “Don’t be embarrassed, it’s probably part of genetics or something.” She laughed. It was something her and her brother had talked about a lot. Kyle was having some personal dilemma about his sexuality and Diana was only too happy to be asked her opinions on the topic. Something was making it complicated, because liking someone wasn’t complicated at all, it just happened. She watched him and listened carefully. “That’s bisexual honey, and there ain’t nothin’ complicated ‘bout that.” Maybe Kyle was having a hard time deciding who he liked more, and maybe there wasn’t one he liked more because he liked them equally. This was all hypothetical of course. “When you like someone, you just know. And unless it’s just a one night stand, that someone is irreplaceable,” she smiled, remembering her last long term girlfriend, “annoying, but you’re probly better off with ‘em.”

[Lani Hunter]

Lani nodded considering what she said. Why would she feel sorry for them? They were the ones that stole bright lives from their families. Wasn’t that wrong? But would it be wrong for them? She had a point, of all of the things he had heard serial killers all had their reasons. They may be completely out of touch with reality and cruel but really was it all their fault? Lani shrugged, “Either way, I don’t like it.” He shook his head. “Life throws in a hard hand and people choose how to rise to the occasion. They chose one direction when they could have chosen another.” No, Lani really didn’t feel pity, more just confusion of how someone could get so screwed up.

“Maybe we’re there now,” Lani countered, “Maybe you’re just a figment of my imagination or I of yours.” He raised his brows wondering what she would say to that. Lani was actually terrified of going insane. Not being able to tell reality anymore. He had heard storied of telekinetics who overextend to the point where the headache does some real damage to the brain. If he ever became a vegetable he wanted to be unplugged. He couldn’t live in an existence where he was trapped motionless and senseless.

Lani’s hand dropped as she poked it and he shrugged. “Genetics or just gender.” He shook his head. Yeah, there were a lot of stereotypes about both genders that was for sure. “Ah,” Lani nodded, why hadn’t he thought of that before. He had never thought that being both was an option, or at least a legitimate option. Lani had always thought it was kind of a copout. “Seems pretty complicated to me,” he commented dryly resting his head on his hand. She had to know what question was coming next. “What if it’s not all black and white like that?” He really couldn’t make much sense of it on his own. She was helping a little bit but then who was it? Did he like and know it was Adrianna, or was it Odion? He really didn’t want to think about it. After all Adrianna was trusting him not to break her heart and Odion… well Odion had just gotten out of a relationship. He laughed a little. “So it’s true that sometimes the most aggravating of people are the ones we like the most.” He shook his head, “I have a friend like that, he drives me up the wall but… but he challenges me, to be a better person, you know?” No Odion was not going to be the one to tell Lani what he wanted to hear.

[Diana Crow]

Diana wasn’t above being philosophical. “And what if they had chosen that other direction? I know what you’re saying though. But what if they had chosen to take the higher road? Then that would be something beautiful. But everyone has the choice, whether or not they believe there’s something good in them is what really makes or breaks a person.” Kyle was a confusing person all around, and Diana hoped what she said made sense. It did in her mind.

Laughing, Diana shook her head. “No, this must be reality. My imagination is so much more vivid than this place.” Besides, if she were crazy, why live in a monotonous place, working? That didn’t make any sense. And why pretend to be having a chat with a man when she could be in bed with a woman? Or on a beach having a strawberry daiquiri? She didn’t mind the conversation though. The question of being meta human hadn’t come up.

“Either way,” she said, nodding at him, “no embarrassment allowed.” There was nothing to be embarrassed about, Kyle hadn’t done a damn thing to her. To Diana it wasn’t really complicated, people just had to make it that way. “I think it is,” she said adamantly. “I mean, either you like someone, or you don’t. There’s no in between.” Diana smiled. “Well yeah, they hit a nerve and you just can’t stop thinking about them. It’s agony!” She laughed. Her ex had been like that - so full of life and spunk. Diana sighed, knowing exactly what Kyle was talking about. “Sounds like a good guy,” she said, even though she wouldn’t know Kyle’s friend from a hole in the wall.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani’s brow raised and he had a fleeting thought that maybe he had actually found someone who was into thinking in loops and unknowns like he was. He scratched his chin as he considered her comments. It was an interesting notion, believing that there was good in oneself. “I see,” he said pausing for a moment thinking it over. “But what other people tell you is a big influence. If a child is told forever that they are not good enough, or that they have no worth, they start believing it. So does that child really have a choice at all? But then why would life set them up to be monsters?” He pondered. There was always a choice but what if there wasn’t? At least not really.

D laughed and he really couldn’t say he disagreed. He grinned back at her. “True story, that’s actually not a bad check. Now if there were flying cats,” he chuckled at the private joke, “Then we would be sure it wasn’t reality.” But then how do you define reality. It was a strange concept because he knew that everyone in here had a mind, had thoughts and dreams but then if they were going to question everything route how would he know? He wouldn’t. Minds are something he could see and so he could never prove their existence it was still a mystery to Lani himself how if telekinesis lived in the mind how could it pick things us? How could a nonphysical thing affect physical things?

He laughed a little and nodded consenting. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be embarrassed. After all there was so much against both genders in assumptions. It was assumed that most women were weak and sensitive and it was assumed that men assumed women were weak and that they were chauvinists. Lani cocked his head at her. “But what if there are two someones?” He blurted and ducked his head realizing how terrible that sounds. “I mean, it’s not uncommon for people to like more than one person, right?” Great, he thought, good job Kyle now she’s gonna think you’re an asshole. He nodded emphatically. “Yes! It’s really hard to find someone who will tell it like it is. I mean plenty of people can go ‘no, no you’re great’ but there’s only so many people who will tell you straight up that you’re being an idiot.” He laughed a little. Those were the best of friends. He nodded, “He’s great.” His eyes wandered down to his hands and a small smile rested on his lips, yes Odion was that person in Lani’s life who was most diligent in telling Lani when he was being an idiot.

[Diana Crow]

Diana thought about it for a moment. Her eyes lit up at the prospect of talking about hypothetical things. “You’re so right. But I’ve read some things about resilience. There’s something like, one out of a hundred people, who no matter what you do to them or what you say, they get up and keep trying. Not that I think parents should beat up their kids or anything, but life is nature and nurture, right?” Diana wasn’t trying to have an argument, she was actually interesting in talking about this stuff.

“What, you’ve never seen a flying cat before?” She asked in complete seriousness, you know, to add to the joke. Diana wasn’t especially fond of cats. If that were her reality, she would probably then think up a dream world similar to her current reality. Now that was a lot to wrap her mind around.

D smiled at him. She knew the what ifs were his reality and that was probably why he was here. But she wasn’t one to assume things, and she wasn’t one to judge or point fingers. Unless he was being a heartbreaker, that just wasn’t nice. Now if she would’ve known that he was thinking to himself in the third person, as his fake name no less, she might think him a little nuts. “No, it’s not uncommon. A little soap opera-y, but not uncommon.” Diana was one to speak her mind and assess situations at face value. She just didn’t like her own life being filled with drama. Other people’s drama, that she could handle.

The way Kyle’s eyes lit up when he spoke about his friend, Diana could tell it was more than just the alcohol. “So who’s who?” She leaned in like it was a big secret, even though no one else in the room could give a damn about a boy chatting up the bartender. “Who’s the annoyin’ chip on your shoulder?” Was the friend the one who told Kyle how things really were? Or was it his girlfriend? Diana had a single eyebrow raised, obviously interested. She liked to think she knew already. Not a lot had been said about the girlfriend.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani’s eyebrows shot upward as he heard what she said. “Really? That small?” He shook his head, well he certainly wasn’t one of those one out of a hundred. When he was beaten he gave in. It was clear from his position in his job. Someone threatened him with something attacked him verbally and he bent. Not all the time but most of the time. He shrugged. “I think a lot of it is nurture. But you can’t help what you’re born with. Fate certainly has a strange way of making things happen. Though I’m not sure that a good swat now and again isn’t a bad thing,” he smiled a little. Part of the reason he didn’t fear his father. He had never raised a hand to him and so Lani hardly took his threats seriously. Now his mother… that was a different story. Just one look and Lani would be apologizing from Boston to the moon and back.

Lani couldn’t help laughing. “What have you? I think I must own someone money now if that’s true!” He couldn’t help laughing. Not that he would tell Odion about his conversation with this woman, no, not when things were getting so personal but maybe, just maybe he would let him know that he wasn’t the only crazy one who thought about flying cats. “What a strange world we are living in, D,” he commented with a bob of his head.

It was only too clear that Lani’s hypothetical situation was very much a reality to him. After all how could someone come up with such a tale on their own. Well, Lani was a good story teller and maker, but that was beside the point. Besides Lani had just a little too much alcohol in his system to come up with a brilliant story. At least one that made sense. Still Lani listened snickered a little at the soap opera reference. His mother watch those. He was convinced that every character in those shows was immortal. No one ever died, for real at least. At least he wasn’t the only one. “Not too soap opera-y,” he protested. Lani for a long time had enjoyed a relatively drama free life, but all of that was upside down now.

Lani raised a brow not following her question. Who was who? Then she added on and he nodded a little ‘ah’ slipping from his mouth. “That would be my friend.” He said with a definite nod of his head. “He doesn’t let me get away with stuff.” He wrinkled his nose as if he were long suffering. Adrianna didn’t do that, she thought him wonderful and it was all Lani could do not to break down and tell her everything just because what she was seeing was a mask. “Adrianna, is great,” he added, “She the kind of person who can see the good in anyone.” He paused for a moment smiling at D, kind of like this kind bartender.