UNKNOWN.

RYDER.

.

“Or maybe,” Ryder offered, pointing at the apparently empty bowl in his friends hand. “Y’eat cereal at home. Can’t imagine the amount of flies you have to chase away.” Laughing a bit, the younger man shook his head at the compliment buried between Bryan’s words. He appreciated it though, Ryder never admitted it to anyone but he was proud of what he did. “Honestly I didn’t either. But something interested me and I just kind of fell down a rabbit hole.” Waving a hand away at Bryan’s concern about Seth seeing drinks being given out for free, Ryder grinned. “Seth can’t have his eye on everyone. What he doesn’t know what hurt him.” Still laughing at his own little joke, Ryder nodded at Bryan’s desire to do something more interesting. “I can understand that,” He said. “Though you could just spice it up and switch with one of the dancers at work.“ He said with a raised eyebrow. 

“Flies sneak into my place anyways. We do live in a swamp pretty much,” He reminded Ryder, or at least he thought that was why they sometimes followed him in through the door. “Well, y’know, it’s probably better for your brain be doin’ that shit than like serving drinks all day.” Ryder was way smarter than him, not that he minded. “Trust me when I say Seth definitely has other stuff to worry about besides me.” He was a good bartender besides occasionally giving out a free drink. “Not sure people would want me dancing instead of the actual ones. That’s part of the reason why they go there, not to see the bartender that gives them good drinks. I have no rhythm. Isn’t that obvious?” 

DANI.

…

“COCOA puffs or something like that. I’ve eaten lucky charms but I tend to pick out the marshmallows and I’m stuck with the ricecrispies cereals that isn’t great.” She tells him with a shake of her head. When he mentions what this was, she stiffens and nods her head. “I guess it’s pretty hard when you do that to someone… “ Dani sighs because she didn’t know if he even cared about her. “I guess I was more hurt not because you felt like you needed to take it but I thought I was your friend, someone you cared for. Someone you could have come to and explained things to. Maybe I was wrong.”

“Huh, cocoa puffs.” He took a mental note to maybe give her some cocoa puffs as a peace offering. “I just figured you wouldn’t listen to me. If I were you, I wouldn’t. I still wouldn’t.” He gave her no good reason to, honestly. Sometimes it was just better to push away someone who cared about him. “You were my friend. You still are.” Maybe it wasn’t reciprocated at this point which was understandable. “Would have you even given me the money if I asked?” 

MARISOL.

-

It’s too humid to run outside. Marisol had known that the second she stepped out the door. She had known that from growing up here and living in the south her entire life. And yet here she is, on a trail in the Nature Preserve, slowing to a stop because too many fly aways have glued themselves to her face. She pulls the band out of her hair, combing her hair back with her fingers until she’s content with the tight pony tail.

“You know that’s, like, maybe the weirdest version of a stranger with candy, right?” she says, pulling one air pod from her ear before settling down on the bench on the opposite side of the path. “The whole thing kinda just screams weirdo kidnapper.”

“Difference is, people usually don’t take the candy. Everyone wants some cereal, though,” Of course he was joking, no one really accept his cereal offer. “Good thing I’m not a weird kidnapper and I’m just enjoying my breakfast then.” He noted, giving her a smile. “I swear, just eating. I’m not trying to be weird.” Hopefully she knew that. “Are you actually running? That sounds fuckin’ horrible.” 

ISAAC.

.

He tried to nod in understanding, but there was still a look of confusion on his face. He scooped up Daisy into his arms, not wanting her to skip off ahead in her excitement. “Right, I get that. But uh, I never really thought of cereal with milk, in a bowl, as picnic food.” Isaac shrugged his shoulders, deciding the discussion that he was delving into was becoming particularly peculiar. “Look man, I’m not judging you, I just wasn’t expecting to run into… this.” He said, gesturing to him. “Were you camping up here or something?”

"Is there such a thing as picnic food? I mean, I could bring anything I want and it would be considered a picnic as long as I was outside.” He shrugged, “Besides, picnics are supposed to be chill and whatnot, that’s what this cereal makes me. I feel zen, almost.” That maybe wasn’t the right words but he wanted to get his point across. At Isaac’s question, he looked at him as if the answer was obvious. “No. I hate camping. I don’t know what’s out here. Any wildlife could come at me in the middle of the night and kill me.” He wasn’t sure what wildlife lived out here but he assumed there was bears. “Do you camp up here or something?”

SAWYER.

–

Spewing a thick cloud of smoke off to the side, Sawyer let out a little sigh of relief at Bryan’s answer. Given everything he’d grappled with in the past, he hadn’t been sure if the younger man needed help or not. But upon realizing that he only wanted to get together and play music like they used to, Sawyer visibly relaxed and his usual easy smile fell into place on his lips. “Yeah, sure,” he agreed, giving a gentle nod as he tugged another drag from his cigarette. “Gotta warn ya though, I’m a little rusty.” Truthfully, he hadn’t even picked up a guitar since he’d been home, but he wagered that singing in the shower still counted as doing something musical. He ran his thumb over each of his fingertips, finding that the callouses that had once lived there were no longer present— another sign of just how out of practice he was. “Be a miracle if I can even remember how to play Smoke on the fuckin’ Water.”

He shook his head at the other blond, “It’d be pretty fucking pathetic if you couldn’t. Those are the simplest chords in the world, man,” And versatile too on most instruments. “It’s like riding a bike.” Sawyer was one of those people where Bryan could just chill, and not have to worry about anything. He hadn’t screwed him over, hadn’t done anything bad to the other man, so he was a pretty solid friend for him. He could relax around him. “Besides, we’re not playing Smoke on the Water. Hotel California’s way harder. We gotta give you somewhat of a challenge. We can just use the studio at my dad’s place.” 

BOWIE.

-

Bowie sits with their arms folded on the bar, tapping the platforms of their heels together to the beat of the song playing. “With the effect I have on people, baby? Ain’t no way both of y’all wouldn’t have been lookin’,” They tease Bryan, but the loyal little clientele they have coming back to The Dive again and again speaks for itself. “It’s on the house,” They say with the same joking air, bringing the glass up to their mouth to take a sip. It’s to their liking, but goddamn is it strong. “Ooh, shit,” Bowie laughs, grimacing a little as they rub their chest. The warmth of the liquor burns all the way down. “That shit’ll put hair on your chest, my god,” They say, entirely amused as they go for another sip. 

“If I didn’t have ten million people needing a drink, I’d just be staring at you.” He promised as he wiped down the area in front of him. “It’s on the house as long as you don’t say anything to Seth.” He added, having no problem giving them a free drink. It wasn’t on him. “There’s more where that came from. ” He’d be happy to give them another hit. “Are you dancing till the end of my shift tonight? I need someone to come with to get some breakfast at the diner before I go home.” And what better person to come with him than Bowie? “It’ll be on me.” 

RYDER.

.

Ryder had a feeling that it wasn’t just said out loud to the other man but he didn’t mention it. “So you drank your milk already, so you’re just out here with stale rice krispies?” He was right, this was way more entertaining than hanging out at work. Leaning his hip against the corner of the bench acting as breakfast table, the younger man shrugs. “Goin. I mean the day job is boring - but my own research isn’t.” Even though he knew that many people he hung out with didn;t agree. But that was fine. “What are you up to besides eating gross cereal in the park.”

“I never said it was the best idea, Ry. I’m learning as I go. Maybe next time I should bring the milk in a cooler.” That way it would cover the stale rice krispie taste. “Well, you know, it takes some skill to do that research thing. Like I wouldn’t even know where to start.” It was his long winded way of giving Ryder a compliment. “Got work later, the usual. You should stop on by. I’ll give you a drink on the house,” He added, “Just don’t tell Seth. I don’t need him on my ass.” He didn’t want to screw Seth out of a profit but one or two free drinks wouldn’t hurt. “I’m just tired of doing the same shit every single day. I need something fun to do.” 

DANI.

…

DANI hadn’t noticed immediately when her money had gone missing. She’d looked for it throughout her entire house and knew the only person who’d been there was Bryan. Then he fell off the face of the earth and it wasn’t hard to put two and two together. He’d taken it and she hoped, above all else, he was avoiding her because he felt bad. “Bland. No taste to it.” Dani said with a little laugh. “I like a sugar rush with my cereal.” Her shoulder fell into a shrug. “I know. Kind of feels like you’ve been avoiding me.” The brunette tests the water, wanting to see if he’d admit to at least that or just shrug it off to time and place. 

“So I’m guessing you eat lucky charms?” Or something of the sort, he figured. “I haven’t been avoiding you.” At least not intentionally. “I’ve just been busy with working and the club. I would’ve reached out but,...” His voice faded, finding no excuse for it. “If I’m being honest, I just didn’t know how to approach this.” He said as pointed his finger between himself and her. Honesty was what she probably deserved at this point. “I’m sorta shocked that you’re even talking to my right now. If I were you, I’d just kick me in the balls and bounce.” 

SETH.

☠

“Should’a but then your ass would’ve been bitchin’ that you ain’t got enough help,” he reminded Bryan. Seth knew Bryan was one of his better employees, if only because the man had stuck around so long (bartenders tended to be a dime a dozen these days), which made him like Bryan a bit more than most. Summer was ending and soon, fall and winter would arrive, slowing the tourists to the town and bringing business down a bit. So for now, they’d roll in the dough and enjoy the hipster tips because for some reason, they felt personally responsible for the economics of a small town bartender. Fuckin’ hippies, is all Seth could think. “Sounds like you need to add some fuckin’ interestin’ shit into your life then,” he mentions. Even if it was just some roleplay, who didn’t love acting like they were someone else? However, immediately, Seth’s defenses come up when he’s sure that Bryan is referencing Emme, someone Bryan had obviously seen him with when they were dating in the past and since her return, well, it seemed confusing for everyone. “We ain’t together so I ain’t with anyone,” he says, failing to mention that he was hoping to be— someday. “Kid’s good. She ain’t talkin’ much but she makes all that shit that’s like half’a word so I keep tellin’ her to say ‘dad’ so I get first dibs on that shit. Pretty sure she’s gonna say ‘no’ first though or ‘mom’. Kinda just waitin’.”

"I don’t bitch,” He scoffed, “I complain. There’s a difference.” There was one, right? His life was pretty mundane compared to others around here, but that’s because he just did the same things over and over again. He woke up, went to the Clubhouse, went to work, and then went to bed. It was the same shit over and over again. “You’re right but y’know, that takes effort that I don’t feel like giving.” For what? Just to get attached to someone that’ll ultimately leave? “How’s that work then? Do you just see the kid whenever?” He couldn’t imagine how complicated that made shit, not being with his baby momma. “Knowing your luck, she’s gonna say beer first or something. Maybe that’d be a good sign, though cause she can take over the bar eventually when you’re too old to do anything which I’m guessin’ is soon.” He teased, knowing that Seth wasn’t old but he was older than him and that counted for something. “I can’t even imagine having a kid. I wouldn’t even know what to do with it.”

ROWAN.

♣️

“That’s because Blood Mary’s are disgusting,” she points out as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world and her opinion should be taken as fact — which it should in her mind. They’ve never appealed to her, finding them way too heavy and practically a meal rather than a drink. Anyone who can slam them back all night is insane as far as she’s concerned. “You should try vodka water with some of those flavor shots you can get. Keeps you hydrated – plus no calories.” Not that she thinks that’s something Bryan is all that worried about but hey, it’s a plus in her books. His question has her shrugging, not really wanting to get into semantics about the fact that she still neurotically dilutes all of her kids juice when they drink it specifically to avoid that. “Nah, not really. Sometimes a sugar crash after a birthday party or somethin’ or if someone’s given ‘em too much candy. Not so much juice, though.”

“Trust me, I’m aware. I’m also not a huge Tabasco fan when it comes to vodka with it. Maybe that’s just me.” He had made plenty of those to know how to make them pretty well, but he still couldn’t get down with it. “No offense, does it look like I drink vodka water? But hey, if it’s the doctor’s orders, I’ll do it.” He teased, happy to drink more. “They’re young. Just give it time and wait till they’re about to hit their thirties. Then those juice hangovers will kick in.” He was getting old, wasn’t he? Calling kids young and shit. “What’s up with you, anyways? Are you just at the Clubhouse for fun?” He figured there had to be a reason for her to be there. 

RICK.

starter for: anyone / open. location: no names.

While his car was in the shop for routine maintenance, Rick was taking Uber everywhere and occasionally walking when he could. Today, he walked to the gym, going over his usual workout routine as a slight drizzle blanketed Olympus. By the time he was done, it had begun to downpour, the sound of thunder rattling through the sky. So, he was sitting at the front watching the rain pound against the gym windows. He had an umbrella inside his gym bag, but it was his daughter’s, so naturally it was extremely small and had Elsa and Anna on the front. As a forty-one year old man, he makes the decision to just wait until the rain stops instead of braving it with the kid’s umbrella. 

“It’s really comin’ down, huh?” He says, realizing last minute that he sounds just like his father. Internally, he cringes. “I suppose it’s better than the heat. It feels like walkin’ into an oven most days.”

Of course it was raining. He figured he should wait it out a little bit before riding his bike in the rain, at least until it was a little lighter. His ass was probably going to get wet no matter what.  “The worst is right before when it’s humid. Makes my hair frizz up. I look like that little kid with the curly blonde hair. Uh, Shirley Temple.” Of course he had to know that drink name in his field. “Any reason why you’re not goin’ out there? I know you’re not gonna melt.” Rick was anything but wicked. He was a good guy, someone that Bryan even looked up to. And always helping him out if he needed to. 

DANI.

…

DANI hadn’t seen him in what felt like years. She doesn’t know if it’s due to shame or indifference from him. They’d been friends and he’d stolen from her. Could a friend who cared steal as he had? She didn’t know. The brunette paused and placed her hands on her hips at his question, slightly taken aback. “Cereal?” It was the most random question ever. “I don’t like the rice krispies kind. She’d always been the type that would go for the most sugared cereal that she could find. How’ve you been?”

After always talking to Dani, there was part of him that wanted to make amends. Well, more than just a part of him, he really did want to make amends. But he was the one who fucked up, he was the one who stole money from her. The reason? Just because he could and he needed the money. That’s what he told himself to justify his actions. “It’s a classic. What’s wrong with rice krispies?” He asked her as as he looked down at his bowl. “I’m fine, just the usual.” He didn’t feel like elaborating, knowing they were just exchanging pleasantries. “It’s good to see you out here. I mean, in general. It’s been a while. What are you doing out here?” 

REINA.

Reina has absolutely every intention of popping in and out of Calliope tonight — of keeping to the back of the house to get some shit done in her office and sneaking out before anything can go wrong. She trusts the managers working enough to leave them to their own devices, and she’s just sneaking back when Bryan catches her before she can. Rolling her eyes, she furrows her brows when he greets her like he hadn’t expected to see her here — as if she doesn’t fucking own the place — and crosses her arms in front of her. “You realize I have absolutely every right to ban you from this place, right? And that admitting you’ve apparently stolen from me isn’t helping your case?” Glancing over at the table in question, Reina raises an eyebrow back in Bryan’s direction. “And that bread comes with your meal?”

He’ll do anything to keep her talking to him. He knows she’s forbidden fruit considering she’s with his president and he knows he has no chance but he likes the chase with something he knows will never happen. “You gonna put my sign up on the door with my picture then? At least make sure I look good on it or else people won’t recognize me,” He joked, figuring there was no way she was serious. Though it’s Reina, she’d do whatever she wanted to do. “But I’m a good customer, I come here sorta often. What’s the fun in banning me and not getting to see my shining face?” He then looked down at his bag, “I know it comes with bread but not enough bread. Maybe I could put that in the customer suggestion box.” Did places even have those things anymore? “But y’know, if you’re almost done working, you can come snatch your bread back from me if you join me.” 

ANDY.

He’d intended to go for a run that morning in the hopes to beat the heat, and when that didn’t work out – For some reason, he thought going in the afternoon in the middle of August in Louisiana was a good consolation. Now that he’s actually half way through the Preserve, he can see he was a fucking idiot. He stops at one of the picnic tables to catch his breath, trying (and failing) to cool down. Bryan wasn’t mean to be part of that, but it’s not entirely surprising that they’ve ended up at the same place at the same time. The apparent box of cereal? That’s throwing Andy for a loop. “What the fuck are you going on about?” He finally answers with a confused look, hand running over his face before pushing his sweaty hair out of his face. “How much did you smoke, man?” 

Bryan finished chewing before speaking, “Keep up, man.” He didn’t feel like repeating himself, though. “You can’t just assume I’m high, man. It’s not like I smoked enough anyways.” Just to have the munchies. “Why the fuck are you running out here? Training for the Olympics? Cause I hate to tell you this but you’ll probably have to give up smoking.” There was too many vices that he wouldn’t want to give up personally. “Cause you smoke like a fuckin’ train that’s still running on coal.” 

ADRIAN.

-

Adrian had slipped out to the back parking lot for a cigarette before finishing up the rest of his shift. His spiked heel nudges the cinderblock out of the way of the door when he reenters the emergency exist, letting it swing fully closed behind him. He’s done his best to keep clear of Bryan, so ending up alone with him in the backroom on his last night isn’t something he’s thrilled about. “Few hours left,” he answers, his voice frosted over as he leans over the dimly lit mirror to check his make up. “Then I’m outta here for good.”

His hand ran through his hair as Adrian spoke, a coping mechanism he had when he was nervous or uncomfortable. But it wasn’t like they could avoid each other forever. Or at least he didn’t think so. “You mean for the night, right?” He couldn’t imagine Adrian quitting, or leaving, or whatever he wanted to call it. “Are they tippin’ nicely out there? Cause I gotta admit, I’ve barely made a chunk of change so far.” 

ROWAN.

♣️

The kid is clearly hungover and for a moment Rowan thinks about taking pity on him, but then it’s like she can’t help herself and she makes a point of dropping her bag on the table in front of him with just a little too much force, causing a loud bang to ripple around them. Not that she particularly has a problem with Bryan and wants to specifically cause him pain, but she gets a kick out of teasing the prospects a little when it comes to hangovers or something simple like this. “Sorry,” she apologizes with a small laugh. “Hair of the dog is supposed to be the best cure for that, y’know. You’ve got a whole bar back there you should be takin’ advantage of.” 

“Thanks, Doc. I guess I should be keeping that in mind.” He shifts his legs so that he can get up and head towards the fridge to look for something to eat. “Bloody Mary’s don’t even taste that good even when I make ‘em.” He always liked to add a little touch to class drinks for himself but Bloody Mary’s, they always tasted fucking horrible to him. “Everything else seems to get me hungover nowadays. I stay away from sugary drinks so it’s not like I’m an idiot.” At least he didn’t think he was. “Your kids ever get hungover from juice boxes or Caprisun?”