calltoaction | ( closed to thegoodbad. )

[Frank is the kind of guy who is usually pretty content staying in with his family on nights like these, but even he knows it's good to get out of the house and do something for himself sometimes. In fact, Maria encourages it, despite seeing him only a few months in a year these days, and despite how much they miss each other. You look tired, she always says. Truer than she knows.

So what's one night like this, right? He can get a little chatty when he's got a beer or two in him so once the bartender slides his drink over, he's quick to take his first gulp.]

Ahh, gotcha. So you're the smart one. [There's a lightness to his tone, clearly teasing. The stranger can't see the way Frank's eyes give him a quick once-over.]

I'd say let's toast to our health but I don't see a drink in your hand. [Which is when Frank waves the bartender back down over to them, starting to order Matt a beer of his own without asking.]

[ Matt can pick up on that. There's the scent of the house, breakfast cooked this morning, his wife's shampoo, he thinks, his daughter's crayons, and freshly mowed grass. He chuckles at the insinuation that he's the smart one, and maybe he has his moments. ]

I mean maybe. [ He says it with a little shrug. He can hear the teasing tone, and it makes a bit of heat flush up his cheeks to his ears. He'll blame it on the drinks he's already shared with Foggy if pressed. He hears a change in his heartbeat, but he's not sure what it indicates quite yet. ]

Oh, uh, thanks. [ He reaches out to the empty stool next to him, and nods at it. ] Mind if I join you then?

Between us, I'm pretty sure my friend is going to ditch me for his girl. He says that it isn't a thing, but it really is.

[Frank is glad when Matt chooses to sit rather than run off, not wanting to scare him away by coming across too bold. Nothing wrong with a friendly drink with a stranger right? Especially when his own friend has ditched him already. Frank's eyes scan the bar toward the corner where Billy is still chatting up some pretty girl and he shakes his head in response to Matt's words.]

Tell me about it.

[A breathy laugh and he takes another drink, angling his body to be facing Matt.]

My name's Frank, by the way.

[ He scoots up onto the bar stool and leans against the bar, cane cradled between his knees. He chuckles as he says that, and sighs. Oh, he can hear the lines coming from Billy across the bar from them. He's good, he'll give him that. ]

Did you get drug out here and ditched too?

[ He takes the beer once Josie hands it over with a quick on your right, sweetheart at him. He holds it up, tilting the neck towards him in hopes for a clink. ]

Matt. Nice to meet you, Frank.

Something like that. Was supposed to be a guy's night out but... [His voice trails off with amusement, shaking his head to himself.] Guess that has different meaning when you're married.

[Not that he blames Billy whatsoever. Just getting out of the house and away from the silence is always good. Maria will be happy when he returns safe and sound.

As Matt tilts his drink toward him Frank takes the hint and clinks the bottles together, drinking right after.]

Same to you. Most people at these kind of places aren't always so friendly right off the bat.

Edited 2019-01-21 16:49 (UTC)

Pretty ladies get involved and then somebody ends up the wingman who is flying solo.

[ His friend sounds like he's having fun, though. Seems like they both need it. He takes a drink after the clink, and chuckles. ]

This place? Aw, these guys probably look a little rough, but they're harmless. I mean, mostly. I'm guessing on the looks, though.

[Frank isn't used to being around someone so candid about their disability since Curtis, so Matt's self deprecating jokes take him by surprise. That grin urges Frank to not be afraid to laugh too though, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as he reaches for some bar nuts too.]

Not too worried about taking them on if they get stupid anyway. Would like to avoid that though. I'd be more concerned about going back home with a black eye and dealing with the old lady.

[But there is a fondness in his tone that shows he's only joking around, that his home life is actually pretty great in between the struggles whenever he's back from a tour.]

So are you saying it's safe to come back another night?

[ Matt's had a long time to get used to it. The whispers, the silence sometimes, the questions: he's glad he's not getting that from Frank. It's refreshing. He's glad he's gotten him to laugh with him about it, too. ]

Oh, ouch. Sounds like if that went down you'd end up on the couch, so we should definitely avoid that.

[ He can hear the joking tone, but it's easy to play along. He chuckles, and can't help but take stock of the other guy when he says he's not worried about any trouble from guys here. No doubt. He doesn't seem like the sort of guy that would be a good one to pick a fight with. Compact muscle and a sureness in his own skin. Maybe an itch for trouble, too. ]

Definitely safe to come back another night.

[ Matt turns slightly in the direction of his friend's voice when Foggy starts to call for him. ] I'm---I'm here, Foggy.

[ Foggy starts leaning on him when he gets close, and Matt can't help his grin as he explains that Marci is waiting on him. ] Go on, Romeo. Go catch your mighty yellow steed.

[ Then he turns a little to Frank, tone clearly joking: ] Cabs are still that color, right?

[ He questions after Matt, and how he'll get home. Matt insists he'll be fine, he'll see him back at the dorm, and he's not really going to have too much more. Maybe. He's not sure. ] I---I promise, Foggy. I'll get back to campus fine. Ok? Go on.

[Frank raises a brow at the state of Matt's friend, cautious as the man stumbles away and out the door. He hopes he actually manages to flag down a cab without a problem, though Frank's voice is full of amusement as he leans toward Matt a little.]

Should we go make sure he makes it down the sidewalk alive?

[ Matt listens as Foggy stumbles away. He has a little trouble, but he's too proud to ask for or accept help. He'd be offended if they tried. He doesn't say that he listens in long enough to hear his friend successfully hail a cab, and climb in.

How would he explain that? ]

Ah, he'll be fine. Anyways, he'd get mad at me babying him or something if I tried to hail a cab for him. I don't think he's going to manage to get laid tonight like that though.

Yeah, probably for the best. Better luck next time. [Though Frank's chuckling and shaking his head, trying to remember the last time he had to worry about getting laid on a weekend while out with friends. A long, long time ago. A lifetime, almost. Before he was married and expecting a child.

He needs to take a longer drink at that, eyes scanning the rest of the bar before landing back onto Matt.]

Usually end up alone at the bar on nights like this. It's nice to have some friendly company for once.

[ Matt gives an answering laugh, light and carefree. It's not often that it happens, but it does. It's nice to have moments like that.

It's not often, but he does go out some nights. Nights when the city is too loud and he can't sleep. He sleeps better after he goes out, coming back bruised and bloody. The city just a little bit safer. He's still sporting the marks of a rougher night out earlier in the week. ]

Well, I mean, I have a late start class tomorrow. I can keep you company if you want.

( closed to thegoodbad. )

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