DAMAGE CONTROL

Sawyer leaned back in the leather chair, eyes narrowing just a bit as she listened to her aunt, a wry smile tugging at her lips. The amber liquid in her glass caught the light as she swirled it, mulling over Nellie’s words. "Well, you've got more faith in me than most." Sure, she wasn't some greenhorn when it came to outlaw bikers and organized crime, but this? It was a different beat entirely. “Look, I can dance around the law all day long with fucking ease." She shook her head, a dry, humorless laugh slipping out. "And I can bend the system 'til it screams, but sooner or later, it will snap back—and when it does, the feds are standing there with cuffs." She paused, tongue sweeping across her bottom lip like she was tasting the weight of her own words. When Nellie had called her, Sawyer came running with no questions asked. But now, with things starting to heat up, everything the Decker family had bled for was dangling by a thread. And if push came to shove, blood before anything else. That was what she had always been taught. “I’m just saying,” she added, "They need to tighten shit up. Use their brains, or get real comfortable staring at bars from the wrong side."

"Well that's 'cause I'm smarter than most." she responded without hesitation. Sure, she wasn't book smart, but the street smarts she had picked up along the way suited her just fine. Her experiences along the way had taught her how to spot the difference between bullshit and the genuine article, even when that bullshit had been shined enough to see your fuckin' reflection. "Oooh, kinky," she murmured at Sawyer's imagery, unable to help herself. "Wasn't the best time for Leon to be stepping down, I'll give you that. I know you like the kid, but I'm not too sure how to feel about someone who was barely socially conscious for Y2K to be running things."

"I know, believe me. I will be spending a lot of time this weekend practicing my skills. But I'm gonna have to call you and Penny over to help, can't get drunk on my own." He had done plenty of that in the past year anyway. "You sure? My vodka cranberry is getting really good," he joked and kissed her one more time before getting back behind the bar to start on her drink. "How was work? You hungry? We're trying out some new things in the kitchen but I gotta admit, the guy Beau hired really does make some good classics." Devon didn't want to admit to himself that he was actually kind of enjoying it. He turned back around and placed the drink in front of her with a grin. "I'd say be honest with your feedback but I've never known you not to be so, cheers."

"You've already gotten in my pants, Sinclair, you don't need to be ply me with alcohol." Nellie shot back before taking a seat at the bar to watch him work. "Although I won't say no to you trying. Vodka cranberry can be round two." She was more than happy to be the guinea pig. She got free drinks, he got brutally honest feedback. It was a win...sorta win. But she knew he could handle it. It was something she admired about him. "Alcohol and food? You're really laying it on thick. What'd you do? I didn't think I'd have to put you in the doghouse so early on. The quality of the food will decide if you're forgiven, so bring me your best." She paused for a second then, as he placed a drink in front of her, and she couldn't help but look at him curiously, "So how are you liking all this?" She couldn't help but wonder. He was such an accomplished person, and she had to wonder if something like this felt easy and inconsequential or if it was just out of his wheelhouse enough that it felt like a challenge.

"Sorry we're clo-you know, I was just about to wrap up and come over to the Raven to see you." Devon felt relief flush through his body at the sight of her and he tried not to seem too eager as he came around the bar to pull her into his arms. "I am very proud to let you know I managed to make actual drinks today though someone's old lady told me I need to practice my long island iced tea more." Devon felt weird about the world he was recently thrown into. But he knew that between his nephew and Nellie, there was no running from the reality that his life would always be connected in some way to the damn motorcycle club. "I gotta hire a new bartender desperately, everyone's bailing on me," he admitted before he leaned down to kiss her. "But with that said, can I make you a drink?" @nelliedecker

It wasn't a well known fact, but...Nellie was awkward. Or she could be, sometimes. It was just usually she was easily able to cover it up with loud behavior and foul language. But this wasn't one of those times, as she wandered into the outpost, she wasn't exactly sure what she was going to find. Things had developed in a way that left her with no experience in the realm, and she was left with no idea in hell how to proceed. But then there he was, so sure in his softness, that it left her no room to doubt. "Well, good for you, sweetheart. But if you're gonna stick around and serve drinks, you better get that shit down. The ladies 'round here won't tolerate amateur hour. -- I'd offer my skilled hand but I think I might end up costing you money, I have a heavy pour."