Ain't Technology Grand? [Zach]

[Kieron Sharpe]

‘6 Missed Calls’
Kieron stared at his phone, the mocking words bright against the dark background, and the Irishman sighed before deleting the notification without looking at whom the calls were from. He didn’t have to look. He already knew.

K had hoped that by moving back to Pilot Ridge he would finally have been able to escape the pestering of his family but he could see now that not even being in a different state was going to deter them. They meant well, of course they did, but that didn’t stop them being irritating pains in his arse. He had already spoken to his mother twice today, each time having to patiently explain that no, he didn’t want to go back to university. No, he didn’t want to be a doctor. Yes, he was quite happy being ‘just a school nurse’. No, he didn’t want to go home either.

In truth Kieron wasn’t happy being ‘just a school nurse’ as his mother had so condescendingly put it. He had never wanted to study medicine in the first place; he’d only done so because his parents had insisted on it. No son of theirs was ever going to waste their life skulking around in a boat looking at glorified fairground goldfish. Who needed happiness when there was money and prestige to be had?

Downing the last of his drink, Kieron set the glass down on the bar and slid his shades off the bridge of his nose and onto his dark hair. Long fingers rubbed at tired eyes. He didn’t normally drink like this, but tomorrow was his day off and desperate times called for desperate measures. ‘Same again?’ K gave a short nod of his head at the bartender’s question. “Yeah, please.” The phone that had been slid back into his pocket vibrated again. Another call. “Actually, can you make it a double? Thanks.”

[Deleted]

Zach sometimes liked to stop into the bars around Pilot Ridge. Though, over the past couple years, he had managed to make himself a semi-regular of the Churchkey bar, though there were only so many times that he could go there considering the distance, therefore it his visits were usually long and far between one another.

So it was no surprise that there were still many a customer there that he did not recognize or even know if they were regulars. Though Zach had a vague idea that he might recognize the person who seemed to be downing them pretty hard next to himself at the bar. Zach wasn't one to be nosey, but he did notice that not only was the man drinking, but he was actively avoiding answering his cell phone which seemed to be going off every five minutes(which was clearly an exaggeration, but not much of one).

Zachary glanced again at the man, who actually didn't look much older than himself, as the phone rang yet again. He sipped on his own drink for a brief moment then attempted an actual interaction with the man. "Um…sorry, this is probably really nosy of me and none of my business, but…couldn't you just turn it off?" Not that it was any of his business…but Zach had been drinking.

[Kieron Sharpe]

It had been a very long day at work, made even longer by the constant badgering from his mother. His dad was usually just as bad but something had clearly put a bee in his ma’s bonnet and really set off what she called her ‘concern’, but which K referred to as her bitch-phase. Though he never phrased it like that to her face, obviously. Maybe Niall had been fighting at college again, or perhaps Siobhan had failed an assignment. He idly wondered if his siblings ever got the same amount of pressuring that he did – maybe they had it worse since they were still at home and didn’t even have the option of just ignoring their phones. Or maybe he just got it all because he was their firstborn and had been their first real disappointment.

As the phone vibrated again long fingers moved from his eyes to rub at his temples and he tried to ignore it as best he could. After a moment he slid the dark shades back down over his eyes, allowing him to open them again, and he stared at the refilled glass that had been set down in front of him. It had been a very long time since he’d drank more than a glass of wine or two and he knew his head would be woolly in the morning; he just had to remember to actually walk home and not try to take a shortcut over the roofs. Last time he’d flown under the influence it had ended rather badly.

It took a moment for the nurse to realise the bloke sat next to him was actually talking to him, and he turned his head to face the other man. “Oh, crap, sorry. I didn’t realise it was bugging anyone.” Reaching into his pocket Kieron removed the phone and stared at it for a long moment. If he turned it off his ma would know because it would go straight to answer phone and she would be royally pissed… After pressing a button on the side of the phone and swiping his thumb across the screen, the phone powered down. K dreaded the inevitable barrage of shouty voicemail messages, and yet the simple act of just turning it off was a remarkably exhilarating feeling. “That felt good… Christ, I definitely need to get out more.” Kieron gave a soft laugh, the natural lilt of his Irish accent a little more pronounced thanks to the drinks he’d already consumed. K glanced at the other man’s face for a moment, taking it in from behind his shades. “Have we met before? You seem a mite familiar.”

[Deleted]

The person next to him had an interesting accent. Zach made note to remember what it sounded like. It might be interesting to try to transcribe it later. Shoot, he should have brought his recorder, such a missed opportunity.

No, this wasn't the time for stalking and material gathering. Zach just wanted to enjoy a drink for once after a hard day. But it looked like this person next to him had an even harder day. "Isn't really bugging but…." If he wasn't going to answer it anyway, then what was the difference between ignoring it and just turning it off. The other person ought to have figured out he wasn't going to answer by now.

Taking another drink, Zach watches as the man turned off his phone and exclaimed his words of relief. "Heh…" Zach could relate. There was just something really empowering about turning off your phone like that…It literally sent a message to the other person who just wouldn't take a hint. Unfortunately, the person Zach pulled that on the most was his mother and older brother and sister…he didn't do it that much anymore though.

Though Zach just stared at him when his "familiarity" was brought up. Zachary let loose an exasperated sigh. "I don't think so, but I….I do have one of those familiar faces." Because almost everyone in Pilot Ridge knew at least one Bishop. Not that they looked anything alike, but they were still family. But now that Zach thought about it, the guy looked vaguely familiar to him too. "Actually…you didn't happen to go to Hammel, did you?" Another slightly pointless question, since many of the people in Pilot Ridge had gone to Hammel.

[Kieron Sharpe]

“No, it’s fine, I don’t mind really” Kieron said in response to the other man’s half-stated assurance. “I’ve already spoken to her twice today, half an hour of obviously not-answering won’t kill her.” With that Kieron realised he could have possibly let slip who he might have been talking to, which was a touch embarrassing, but he would probably have actually cared more about that if he had one less drink in his system. The pissy voicemail messages could wait until tomorrow’s inevitable headache.

Swirling the amber coloured liquid around in the glass, a small tired smile pulled at the corner of Kieron’s lips. Whilst it felt good to turn off his phone and send a clear ‘I’m not listening’ message, he did at the same time feel a little ashamed of himself to do that to his own mother. Despite the fact that all she tended to do was nag, he knew she meant well and just wanted the best for him. It was just annoying how she went about it, and how she always insisted he try so hard to become someone he didn’t want to be. He made a plan to call her tomorrow and apologise. Best keep a few hours free for that. He took a long sip of the drink.

Between the stare and the exasperated sigh Kieron was certain he’d said the wrong thing and he visibly shrank away from the other man, turning in his seat slightly. Whatever nerve he’d managed to hit was clearly a sensitive one, and K wondered if he was some sort of minor celebrity or something that had just been trying to enjoy a quiet drink and was fed up of people asking about him. Long fingers reached under his sunglasses again, rubbing at his eyes as he gave a short shake of his head. “Never mind, sorry. It’s not important.” Couldn’t even have a drink in the bar without irritating someone.

Kieron turned his head slightly back towards the man at his next question, fingers falling away from his eyes and the dark shades sliding back into place shielding them. “I did, yeah. Graduated in 2006.” He hesitated for a moment, and then slowly offered out a hand to the other man. “I’m Kieron Sharpe, I’m a nurse at Hammel.”

[Deleted]

Zachary lowered his head to hide his smirk as he worked through the hints that the man had made about the identity of his obsessive caller. "Sounds like my mother, actually." Which he really shouldn't have admitted, but Zach was feeling relaxed enough to do so after his first couple of drinks. These were the times when Zach didn't feel so much like an awkward creeper who sat in the corner and who could barely hold a conversation with…anyone really.

Well, now Zachary felt bad, he didn't mean to imply that the question was disturbing or anything, it was just reflex when the topic came up and quite honestly, Zach was a terrible liar. "No…It's alright. It's just…there are reasons why I have a familiar face that I'd rather not discuss." It'd be best if it was never brought up ever, but that was an impossibility.

When the man mentioned his graduation year, suddenly a light went off in the Bishop's head and he pointed at the guy as he spoke his name and occupation. "Right….now I remember, you were…kind of hard to miss with the…" huge wingspan. Zach didn't say it, but rather held his hand up uselessly for a moment before he continued. "You were the same year as my brother." He raised his hand like he was in school and spread his lips into something of a smile. "Class of 2008." He hesitated, then extended his hand, clasping it loosely around Kieron's "Zach Bishop. I'm a student at UVM."

[Kieron Sharpe]

At the younger man’s admission Kieron loosed a soft laugh, strong shoulders shrugging slightly. “Yeah… They should just all form a club. Like a book club, only they sit around phoning their kids instead of reading and minding their own damn busi-“ Kieron cut himself off, the soft laugh turning into a slightly bitter one. “Sorry, that was ranty. Been a long day.”

When the man tried to explain his exasperation Kieron couldn’t help his curiosity peaking, and it no doubt showed on his expression even with the shades covering his eyes. “Oh… Alright then, fair enough. I shan’t mention it again.” In that aspect Kieron was very good for his word; he could tell the other man was uncomfortable and he wouldn’t push to ask what it was, because even when semi-frustrated Kieron had better manners and respect for others than that. It didn’t stop his mind racing though, coming up with potential reasons for the rather ominous semi-explanation. Maybe he was related to a murderer and had been shown on the news. Maybe he was one of those idiot kids on Youtube that were trying to be the next Jackass. Maybe he was an adult movie ‘actor’. Maybe, shock shock horror, he’d even been in a Justin Bieber music video…

As the lightbulb went off above the other man’s head Kieron’s eyebrows raised in curiosity, his lips breaking into a smile at the held aloft arm. “Yeah, that was me. Some people get telepathy. I get wings that pose a hazard to low-flying planes.” Kieron laughed brightly, some of the frustration and anxiety visibly leaving him. It was an exaggeration of course, but not a particularly huge one. Many people got delicate little wings that fluttered gently. He got ones the size of a bus that could cause a draught strong enough to knock people over; which had its useful moments, but was hardly convenient the vast majority of the time. They were clearly memorable at least. “That’s probably why you seem familiar. Bishop… Bishop…” Kieron muttered, trying to put a face to the name. “Devlin? If I remember correctly?” Shaking Zach’s hand with a firm but gentle grip, Kieron smiled easily for the first time that evening. “Good to meet you, Zach. What are you studying?”

[Deleted]

At the other man's rant, Zachary couldn't help but snicker. Actually, he wanted to do more than snicker, but he wasn't quite that drunk yet. "No, I completely understand," Zach reassured him, "Only, in my head," he shifted on his stool to face the older man, "they not only phone their kids en mass, but discuss new things which they can nag their adult kids about. And they have monthly awards for whoever can get their kid to ignore them first." Zach really shouldn't be talking about his mother like that, but that's how he felt sometimes. And it wasn't just her, it was his siblings too, both older and younger, that were ringing it off the hook all day long.

Well, that's how it used to be…ok, no. It was still like that, otherwise Zach wouldn't be sitting here, enjoying a drink at this time of night, in a town that he no longer lived in.

"Thanks, I appreciate it," Zach nodded to his counterpart with a smile. It was amazing how much easier it was interacting with people when he had a few drinks in him. He wasn't the awkward gloomy person that stumbled over his words like he usually was. Zachary sometimes wished he could be like that all the time, but that would mean taking up alcoholism, and that clearly wasn't worth it. Besides, Zach had long already accepted that he was awkward, and he was Ok with it by now.

However, if Zach had any idea of the things that Kieron was thinking that the mere college student was, he would have actually laughed out loud to the point of falling off his chair.

All in all, he was relieved to see how much Kieron didn't respond to hearing Zach's name. Strange how different people thought different things were important. "Yeah, Devlin. That's him. We're nothing alike," he added with a laugh as he reached out his hand. "Well, I'm a writer, and going through the Creative Writing program." He looked down, a little self-conscious of himself, and then back up again to meet Kieron's eyes. "I'm working towards being a novelist." Obviously.

"What about you? It's been quite some time since I've seen…you.." Zach needed another drink. So he took one. Or two. "What have you been up to since graduation?"

[Kieron Sharpe]

As the younger man agreed with him a small smile pulled at Kieron’s lips, the nurse turning towards him so they could converse a little more openly. His job made it a little easier for Kieron to be able to talk to people but he had hardly ever been one to be authoritative and confident in group settings and tended to prefer to be a listener rather than a speaker. However, a few drinks inside him seemed to be helping to settle those quiet, ever-present nerves. He laughed softly. “I’m sure my ma would win that award. Seriously, I think sometimes she just dials with nothing to actually say and then just pulls a random nag-worthy subject out of her ass if I answer.” It was mean yes, but it was hardly any harsher than her constantly phoning to bitch about every little aspect of her son’s life.

He did sometimes feel a little sorry for Niall and Siobhan. They were still stuck at home with her.

Whilst the name did ring some bells for Kieron he could tell the man didn’t want to talk about it and so wouldn’t push it. “No problem at all.” Kieron had hardly been a social whirlwind when he had been a student at Hammel, something that hadn’t really changed up on his return as a nurse, and thus he hadn’t had many chances to form lasting memories of any of the Bishops. A few fleeting moments here and there but nothing he could recall of any major note. From the way Zach seemed to be acting about it all, he could only assume that was a good thing.

As Zach announced what he was studying Kieron’s smile lit up with genuine enthusiasm, the nurse shuffling on his stool to face him better before taking a long swig of his drink. “Oh, how interesting! What genre do you write in?”

When the question swung back to him Kieron gave a quiet, slightly bitter laugh and idly scratched the nape of his neck. What had happened to him after graduation was perhaps the most intense argument he would ever have, ever, followed by him dropping his acceptance to Virginia State University to study ichthyology and instead… “I went to Rivier University, back home in New Hampshire. Snagged a BSc in nursing and then came back here in August this year.” He took another long drink, emptying the glass. “This place is like a magnet, isn’t it? So many people leave, but so many of them end up back here eventually.”

[Deleted]

Zachary and Kieron had that quality in common, being a better listener than a speaker. Zach had always been relatively quiet for as long as he could remember, though he did have a few memories of his childhood being the typical rambunctious boy with his elder brother and some of his younger ones. Though Zach also remembered just being completely attached to Dev too, not really expanding his social circle outside of his sibling(s).

Zach chuckled, matching Kieron's own laughs. "My favorite part is when she calls in the middle of class or work," Back when he had a part time job, "and then rides on me about not answering the phone. Worst part is, she knows my schedule and that I can't have my phone on in class." He took another long drink, enjoying the hoppy taste of his beer as it went down. "She'd call me at work, I had it on for emergencies, just to ask how I was, or if I needed anything from the store, or something else trivial like that." Zachary may have been exaggerating a little, he knew that his mother was a little more reasonable than that, but it had gone down like that more than a few times before Zach finally managed to argue his case.

He was pleased to hear that Kieron thought his major was interesting enough to say so and to inquire more. It wasn't something that people often asked and wasn't something that Zach offered to talk about. He could honestly go on all day about it, given the chance. "Well, I dabble a little in all genres but," he knew this didn't really fit his image, "I actually prefer fantasy and science fiction. I think it…allows for more freedom in my writing."

Kieron seemed hesitant to providing an answer to his question and when he did, Zach was suddenly reminded of Maebelle who had also come back to Pilot Ridge after a five year absence when things didn't go quite as she had planned. The same thing had happened to Oliver, though his best friend had always made a point to stay close by. "Yeah, it seems that way. I keep trying to leave, everyday even if it's just in the next town over, but," he raised his hand, indicating their current location. "Obviously that's not happening." Zach didn't think he could ever leave, though.

[Kieron Sharpe]

Memories of his youth were all too often revisited in moments like this. Kieron knew he had become something of a disappointment to his family; he had never been the brightest of kids and had always struggled through school, but still they had kept pushing and pushing in the hopes that he would become something great eventually. That plan had gone sour rapidly. A Sharpe as nothing but a lowly high school nurse? What a disgusting thought. Kieron often wondered if his mother nagged so much because she was still looking for any hope of any return in investments they had made in Kieron's life. It was an unpleasant thought, usually only stirring in moments where there was a significant amount of alcohol in his system, but Kieron would be lying if he said he didn't think there was the slightest possibility of there being some truth to it.

Kieron gave a soft chuckle, nodding his head in understanding. The nodding continued for slightly longer than he realised, the alcohol slowly starting to come into effect. “Yeah... My phone's off at work all the time now. Can't have it on, even on silent. Too many missed calls all the time.” Kieron swivelled slowly on the bar stool, fidgeting idly with the now-empty glass, his accent slightly more pronounced. “They think they're helping, but see, they don't think.”

As Zach announced what his preferred genre was Kieron's hazel eyes lit up behind their dark shields, the nurse quickly turning to face the younger man and his voice filled with genuine enthusiasm. “That's perfect! I mean, fantasy is the best genre there is. In my opinion anyway. There's so much variety, isn't there? You have Pratchett and Lovecraft and Tolkein and and Rowling and Martin and Gaiman and Howard, obviously... and... YOU! Someday!” Kieron made the last revelation with a wild and dramatic flourish of his arm. The Irishman could handle his alcohol pretty well, but when it hit, it hit hard and sudden. Strong emotions and a sudden swerve towards a subject he was deeply passionate about greatly helped (or, rather, hindered) with that. He waved to the barman and indicated to his glass. “Another, my friend! And one for my author friend here!”

[Deleted]

Zachary was glad that he had made a point to stay in school, though with graduation coming up at the end of the semester, he was faced with what to do after that. Continue into a graduate program for a degree he probably wasn't going to use, or join the workforce and have even less time to work on his writing. There wasn't even any guarantee that he could get a job that paid well enough for him to maintain his current livelihood. Which would mean moving back in with his parents and mooching off of them until he did. And while Zachary could probably do any job he was given, but his biggest obstacle was his lack of social skills. Which meant he would be potentially out of a job for a long time…..

Sigh….it was a lot to think about. Zachary really didn't need the graduate degree, he didn't even know what he was going to study, but it would at least give him more time to work on his book and try to get something submitted to a publisher and money enough to keep living on his own.

"No," Zach agreed, "they don't. Or at least, they think we don't think." Hence why he was constantly bugged about doing his laundry…which honestly Zach did have a problem with, but since he was on his own, it was still Zach's problem. At least that's how he thought of it.

Kieron's excitement might have been a bit overenthusiastic, so it took Zach by surprise. He didn't think it was anything to get so excited over. But he was quickly caught up in the excitement, courtesy of about 1.5 glasses of IPA, because it was so rare to find another fan of the great fantasy classics. "Yes! Well, I'm not so sure about me but…yes, all of those I've read over and over. Actually…" Zach finished off his drink, "Pratchett is probably my biggest influence." The others were great in their own ways, but Zach had his reasons for preferring Pratchett over the others.

Zach shook his head, not really declining, but still impressing that he didn't think he was as great as how Kieron seemed to be making him, to the point of getting him another drink. "Really, I'm not quite an author yet. I've….barely got a handful of stuff published in…in some random magazines that nobody's ever heard of much less reads."