// overripe&rotted ;;

          “hey dude, i was choking about the eyebrows, don’t get eyebrow shy on me now.” he lets his cigarette hang between his lips, his hands slipping into the front pockets of his ripped jeans. “oh, you were so implying. there’s a difference between fight and murder. one involves death. i wouldn’t win the fight but i’d sure leave you with quite a few marks, sheriff didn’t nickname me scrappy for nothin’.” he jokingly holds his fists up and bounces on the balls of his feet as if about to box but drops them and chuckles. “name’s teddy, and before you ask yes it’s short for something but will i ever reveal that? nope. you got a name or do i have to keep calling you tall dark and not murdery in my head?”

She clicked her tongue disappointedly as he shut her down, gently shaking her head. “Well, then that’s your loss man. But whatever, I’m sure I’ll find someone before I leave here tonight.” she glanced around the room a bit to scope out anyone who could possibly be worth her time. She was surprisingly enjoying chatting with him though so she didn’t immediately jump out of her seat now that she knew he wasn’t interested. “Dude, now you’re just doing this on purpose! Too big for him, come on!” she complained, using the back of her hand to smack him on the arm, certainly not hard enough to do any sort of damage. “But you gotta tell me more, that sounds…fucking insane! I’ve done some fighting back in my day but my secret weapon are these bad boys.” she told him, holding up her hands to show off her long and freshly painted nails.

There was a hint of a grin on her face as her jaw dropped slightly at his response. Even though it was pretty clear he wasn’t serious by the laughter, and the way he quickly backpedaled and apologized, Erika was still mesmerized and hoping he had actually been serious. “Hey, it’s no problem. If you wanna split me in half I will gladly accept.” she told him shamelessly. Who was she to reject such an amazing offer if he was actually offering? 

If he hadn’t gone on to answer her question, Erika probably would have continued to try and see if she actually had a shot. She was too concerned with the fact that he actually answered yes and now had to find out if he was messing with her or not. “Jack, I’m gonna be super honest with you. That’s hot as hell but do you mean, like, actually–like, snapping a person in half like a twig, killing them instantly? Cause that’s what I was thinking.” It wasn’t at all an appropriate question, maybe she should be laying off the drinks but she was having a good time! He seemed like he could handle some strange, prodding questions like this.

       “my bad, dude- maybe it’s the eyebrows?” though teddy has had a couple of occasions where people think he’s about to rob them. he is covered in tattoos and when he’s not smiling he doesn’t look all that inviting. but teddy not grinning or smirking is rare, even if it doesn’t reach his eyes most often lately. 

“wait, hold up, are you saying i can’t fight back? wow, shots fired and i’m wounded.” he takes a drag of the cigarette in his mouth before grasping it with his fingers and making sure to blow the smoke away from the other. he may be killing his lungs, doesn’t mean he’s going to kill other people’s. “okay, ixnay on the beer.” he hums trying to come up with something else. “you ever swing by sparky’s? i cook out back, next lot of fries you order are on me.”

     teddy nearly walks right into someone which- considering there’s a lit cigarette between his lips would’ve ended with someone getting burned. but thankfully the foster system was good for something, learning how to react quickly. his hands are up to stop the collide and he puts the breaks on before huffing out a laugh. “my bad, dude, wasn’t looking.” dark hues look a couple inches up to the guy’s face and he lets out a low whistle. “wow-” he blinks a couple times before getting his shit together. “you look like you could murder me and i’d appreciate you know- not being murdered so… can i get you an apology beer?”

@bletted​

Erika furrowed her brows and looked at the older man with confusion. He was in a bar and he wasn’t even going to order alcohol? She snorted a little but hey, she told him not to go too bougie and ordering soda instead of some really expensive whiskey worked for her. “Thanks for not breaking the bank man, you’re cool!” She grinned, patting him on the back as if she knew him her whole life rather than just sitting next to him and meeting him moments ago. 

She took a sip of her now refilled drink but quickly put it down so she could reach out her hand for a handshake. “Erika.” she finished for him. Had she not already had a couple of drinks tonight she probably would have kept to herself, but now she seemed very focused on him. “And what’s your name you…giant of a man? You–you look like you could just snap someone in half. You ever done that before?”

The pat on the back was unexpected, but Jack found himself leaning into it a little bit, touch starved from the last year out of the close-knit pod he’d lived in prior. He could be so much more weirded out from the interaction, but he wasn’t, really. A small smile pulls his lips, and he leans in a bit, as she begins to speak. He reaches out, takes her hand.

Erika considered herself a regular at Sparky’s Pub by this point. Usually, when she drank she was in a good mood and tonight was no exception. She had been drinking while she danced to the music playing but once the drink in her hand was finished she had to go get herself another one. Making her way over to the bar she had a seat next to a random person before getting the bartender’s attention.

“Could I get a refill on this please? And–oh whatever this person wants too!” she, told the bartender, gesturing to the person she sat next to. “Go ahead! My treat! Just don’t get too bougie though, I’m not made of money.”