your time will come

Rose smiled, watching as he took the menu she had offered, mind focusing on that rather allowing herself to think of what to order. Of what he would pick. It took all of Rose’s will not to allow her thoughts to echo those selections, that menu with it images and detailed descriptions committed to memory. Despite herself it was. “Oh I’m not really hungry,” she said then, looking towards the bar. Teeth finding the inside of her cheek briefly before she’d look back to him, “But I can offer you the moral support? Eating alone can be rather depressing–I’ll even order a liquid dinner if you’d like,” she teased. Masking her discomfort—an art she had mastered a very long time ago. 

Pursing his lips and giving a small nod, Isaac picked up his cue to leave the stranger alone and simply returned his focus back to the menu before he heard her speak up once again. “A liquid dinner, huh?” Taking a moment to take over the girl’s appearance and check over her body language, he couldn’t quite put his finger on the vibe she was giving out. “Only if you want to—don’t feel like you have to keep me company now, I’m a big boy, I’ll be okay.” 

Jenny nodded her head with a laugh. “Yeah, potatoes are the best thing that’s ever been invented,” she pointed out as her eyes rested on the male next to her. “Isaac, it’s nice to meet you.” A smirk coming along her features as she reached over, picking up her own glass and bringing it to her lips to take a sip of it. “What else would someone go with in a situation like that?”

“I do,” Cal confirmed with a grin. “I can show you my pay stub if you’d like some proof.” Another grin touched his features to let the other know this was just a joke. “Oh, food,” he said, humming thoughtfully. “I personally love the mozzarella sticks, but if you’re looking for something a little more meal-like, I would highly recommend the bacon cheeseburger. Especially with the beer.”

“Nah, you’re good—you look like a man of your word, so I’ll trust you on this one.” Isaac added with a soft smile, letting the guy off the hook. He seemed nice enough, there was no reason to be a jerk for no reason. “The bacon cheeseburger compliments the beer, that’s what you’re telling me?” Eyes narrowing for a second, he let a bright smile take over his face. “I think you’re exactly right. Yes, let’s do that. Thanks, man, couldn’t have handled this one without you. What’s your name?”

Lucas was on his way back to the tattoo studio after grabbing lunch with some of his biker buddies down the street. Walking past the busy downtown area, Lucas lit up a cigarette and figured he’d take a quick break on the corner to finish up his smoke before returning to work. Somehow Lucas managed to let his receipt from the copper penny and loose change slip out of his pocket when he pulled out his lighter, which was brought to his attention by a stranger, “It’s alright. It ain’t important” Lucas responded with the shrug of his shoulders, “Want one?” He asked, extended the box of Marlboro’s to him.

The guy didn’t seem too concerned about what was on the floor so Isaac didn’t give a second thought to it, either. However, as the stranger offered up a cigarette his interest perked up and he sat forward. “Sure, thanks,” Isaac nodded, glancing up to him as he reached for the box of Marlboro’s to take one for himself. “You live around here?” he asked, sticking the cigarette between his lips as he stood and gestured for him to light it up. “Or are you just passing through?”

“It’s the best combo. I know you’d have great taste.” She winked at him then, noting almost immediately how hot he was. “Asking to share some food? Maybe you should ask me out on a date first.” She teased of course before nodding her head. “I’d love to share my food with you.” That was a big move for the brunette, but she wouldn’t scare him off by telling him that. “Starved. Also, always up for some small talk at the bar with an hot stranger.”

“Chose to sit next to you, didn’t I?” Isaac retorted quickly, keeping that smirk plastered across his face as the girl sent a wink his way. Eyebrows pushing together a little as she teased him, he decided to keep up. “Isn’t that what this is? I mean, there’s no more sacred, intimate act than sharing a meal together.” The girl—the extremely hot girl—seemed to be up for spending a little more time together and Isaac definitely wasn’t complaining. If this was how his first night in town was going to go then hanging around the sticks for a while might actually be fun. “Well, damn. You’re pretty smooth, did you know that?”

Alexandria was out for a quick bite to eat between finishing her shift and having to go run errands. The Copper Penny had become a bit of  a regular place for her now, so she was used to the ins and outs now. She was just waiting for her food when the man come in talking about the long drive he’d had. “I am a huge of the chicken wings. But if you are thinking about a sandwich the Hot Roasted Pork one is good.”

The girl beside him had her answer ready to fire off at an instant, which gave Isaac faith that this place had food that wouldn’t leave him too disappointed. “It’s like you read my mind. Unless, I’m that predictable and my whole aura is just screaming out a strong desire for chicken wings?” Offering up a smirk, he turned to put in his order to the guy behind the bar before looking back. “Thanks for your help on the very serious matter.”

With a nod she smiled, claiming yet another one of curly fries and dipping it within the beauty that was that mayo. Savoring the taste as she slowly chewed. “I’ll have to let the chef know that you believe his mayo is an angel,” she teased, redirecting his words—unable to apply them to herself. Marianne watched expectantly as he took up her offer, a part of her worried that she may have over sold things. A laugh, small and perhaps relieved, fell from her lips at his reaction. “I’m glad you like them,” she’d say feigning a theatrical sense of relief—hand swiping at her brow.

“I was talking more about you than the chef,” he clarified, offering up his signature grin. “But it’s good to know you’re tight with the chef.” Of course, he didn’t know whether or not that was true or if she was simply passing along the ‘angel’ compliment because it didn’t apply to her—which made the stranger more interesting in Isaac’s mind. A quiet laugh escaped at her actions and he let out a low whistle to signal his own relief. “So, do you have a name?”

Gaze dropping to her side, Aubrey realized he was addressing her before her brain reacted to it. ‘’Uhhh, craft beer’s always good, if you like beer.’’ She shrugged. ‘’Other than that, it’s like everyone else,’’ She offered a smile as her eyes went over the duffel bag and then back at him. ‘’You a newcomer or a returnee?’’

“Craft beer, huh? Maybe we’ll work our way up to sampling some of those after these two—” Isaac paused, pointing over to the bartender, who was pouring the first one. “We gotta figure out what I’m eating, though. I’m wasting away here.” Offering a smile of his own as the girl sent once his way, Isaac nodded in response to her question. “Newcomer. As fresh as they come. You a local?”

Eric looked up as the man spoke, startled as he always was whenever someone spoke to him unexpectedly. “Um…” he said, clearing his throat a little. “I don’t really, um…drink much, but I like the wine.”

Isaac caught onto the fact that the kid beside him was a total bag of nerves and he had to wonder whether he’d been too abrupt with his intro but settled on the stranger just being nervous. “Wine, okay. Well, let’s talk a little and if we get to that point, we’ll crack open a bottle,” he continued—his voice deadpan but the humor underneath. “Food? I’m guessing you eat.” 

Jenny nodded her head. “Yeah, french fries are the way to go or potato wedges.” She leaned against the bar as she put her fingertips on the rim of her glass. “Jenny… You can call me, Jenny.” She lifted her eyes up towards the male as she gave him a little look. “And you are?” She teased as she kept her gaze on the male. “Guess you have point there, better safe than sorry, right?”

Cal was off-duty at the bar tonight, but he’d stopped by to pick up his check and figured a pint before heading home couldn’t hurt. “Ah, well, I work here, so I suppose I’m supposed to say everything,” he said with a grin. “But I’m particularly fond of the beer.”

“You do, huh?” Isaac asked, taking a moment to scan over the guy to see whether he was joking or not. After concluding that he was serious, he gave a small nod. “Then you should know better than anyone, you’re the man I need right now. And yeah, beer’s a solid that’s why I’m doubling up. I need food, my man. Lots of it.”

Damon came to the Copper Penny for one thing and one thing only — beer and sports. Naturally when the stool next to him became occupied, he was completely oblivious to the new presence, too caught up in the game playing on the screen behind the bar. Of course, when said presence offered him a direct question, Damon huffed. He stretched across to grab a menu that was a few empty stools down from him. “I don’t fucking know,” he retorted, throwing the menu in front of the male. “What do I look like, a waiter? Take a fucking look—” Out of nowhere, Damon pointed at him, a grin breaking out across his face. “Oh man, I so got ya. You thought for a second that I was actually a douchebag.” Snatching the menu back, he opened it up. “To be fair man, I ain’t ever had any food from here. Not sure I want to either,” he frowned, glancing at some of the options before him.

Immediately, Isaac’s eyes turned to look at the wise guy who thought he could talk to him in that tone and throw shit his way; feeling his fist clench almost instinctively. If he were in New York, it would have been a different story—he wouldn’t have waited to see who was acting brave. However, as the guy continued it was clear to see he was fucking about by that goofy grin that took over his features. “I thought for a second I was about to lay you out on this gross fucking floor,” he admitted, feeling a smirk tug at the corner of his lips as he snatched the menu back. “You can be the guinea pig. Order something quick and if you survive maybe I’ll order it, too.” 

“Wouldn’t know, sorry…” she offered, sliding the menu along that wooden bar top towards him, with a shy smile. Gaze no longer trained upon those words and pictures—hypnotizing as they were. In fact she managed to look to him. A true, though small, smile finding her lips, “I hear everything’s not bad, if that helps?” she added, not truly a lie for although she hadn’t been in town for long Janice had sun the Copper Penny’s praises.

“That’s okay, I’m sure I can figure out what’s edible at the very least,” Isaac sighed out, taking the menu from the girl with a small smile sent her way. He was in a good mood—he was finally at an establishment with food and booze, so the night could only improve. “You know, that actually does help,” he nodded, keeping his eyes on the menu. “That means we’re working with a little hope here. Maybe we should start safe and share some fries?”

When the man had stepped up to the barstool directly beside her, Nia was quick to glance over everything in his position. Her brows perked up just a bit, while she rested her chin against the palms of her hands. “Nothing,” she then let out with a playful smile as she looked up at him. “If I were you, I’d probably just grab my stuff and turn around. That, or you’ll be stuck eating the best cheesy jalapeno cheddar bites that will make you regret every walking into this place because then all you’ll ever do is think about them for days on end. I’m tellin’ ya…take the chance to run while you still can.”

“Ah, the one word I didn’t wanna hear,” Isaac huffed out, letting all the air leave his body for a moment before inhaling and picking himself back up. The girl was smiling and he was too, so it was safe to say they were on the same playful page. “See, I would do that but I’m so weak from all the travelling—I need sustenance before I can travel again, so...I mean, I guess I’m gonna have to force down the best cheesy jalapeno cheddar bites that will make me regret walking into this place because then all I’ll ever do is think about them for days on end.” Shrugging his shoulders innocently as he recited her own words back to her, Isaac gestured to her with a nod of his head. “And you can help me. Actually, you can take the first bite so I know you’re not talking shit.”

      It was the kind of joint that catered to such a regular crowd they likely forgot sometimes someone new rolled through. Caine chuckled underneath his breath after a quick glance right, then leaned over the bar to swipe a terminally beer spattered, grease soaked menu from behind. “The hot wings ain’t half bad if you don’t mind the mess—“ he started while passing it off to his neighbor—- “and you can’t go wrong with one’a their burgers if you do.” Then, unable to miss neither comment nor the baggage he’d carried in, he nodded to the duffel and asked, “Where’d you start?”

Taking his spot on the bar stool, Isaac wasted no time accepting the menu—which was, in true bar fashion, disgusting—and gave the stranger a quick nod as a thank you. “Wings V. Burger, huh? I guess I shoulda guessed that coming into a bar,” his eyebrows knitted together as he scanned over the menu quickly before logging it all and discarding it to the side. “I’m thinking wings.” The comment was directed to the bartender but his focus soon shifted to the guy beside him. “New York. I feel like a fish outta water. You from around here?”

     Looking up with wide eyes, Alara nodded and released a soft laugh, “Maybe I have amnesia?” The woman joked quietly, going back to the menu for a moment before clarifying her statement. “I don’t— I probably shouldn’t joke about that kind of stuff.” She frowned and blew out a sigh, choices when it came to food a constant conflict between head and stomach. “It’s been about three years.” She smiled, placing the menu back on the bar. “I assumed the menu would be the same seeming as the interior hasn’t changed.” Alara shook her head and took a quick look around, affirming her original thoughts. “Solid choice for a non-vegetation, you can’t go wrong with a lot of mozzarella.”

“Damn. Then that makes me the insensitive jerk cracking jokes about amnesia, doesn’t it?” Isaac adding, his own smile growing as the girl’s did. “Join the club.” Looking on a little more curious now that he heard it was somewhat of her own homecoming, his eyebrows raised. “Three years is a long time, where’d you go?” Realizing he’d called that one completely wrong, Isaac let out a quiet laugh and nodded his head. “You know, you’re not wrong about that. Alright, let’s try it and see how we do. I’m trusting you on this one.”

“That all depends on how hungry you are,” she offered with a smile. By the sound of it, and the bag he toted, Kelsey had a feeling he was looking to eat. “As far as appetizers go, the hummus and calamari are my favorites. The wings are bomb too. Every time I come, I order a different flavor and they’re all so good. For a meal meal, the fried fish sandwich is a must-try but you really can’t go wrong with any of the seafood. Unless you’re allergic, then maybe the meatball sandwich is the way to go.”

Remaining completely silent as the girl offered up a slew of options, Isaac weighed and compared what he really wanted by what would take the least time to whip up and finally settled on the one. “Wings are an excellent choice—especially now I know they’re the shit,” he nodded, reaching a hand up to scratch along his jaw. “Alright, let’s see, what in your professional opinion would you consider the best flavor of wings in here? Keep in mind, I’m pretty ravenous at this point and I got no time to waste on nasty food.”