(Set at this exact date, No werewolves, modern tech, and *gasp* we get to see Saluce as a human in the flesh)
The man looked at the bottom of the shaker glass, a thin wash of whiskey settling at the bottom, his eyes looking through remembering back a few short months ago to a place much more desolate and hostile than this old hole in the wall bar he currently sat at. About the time he had gotten his “dear john” letter. The man was dressed in Marine fatigues, fresh off the plane, the adrenaline from Afghanistan still running hotly through his veins, with nothing at home to return to anymore. He had went on tour with a lady waiting for him at home, but a few months later he had received the news that she was leaving him. On top of the war time scenes of blood, death and the constant boredom followed by moments of pure shock. The marine was impressive physically, standing well over 6 foot, built, iron jaw line, blonde hair and blue eyes, and a temper at times to match..
He tapped the bar, motioning for another from the barkeep, the rounds where on the house. Seemed the barkeep and owner where veterans.
“Bourbon” the man quietly called out before returning to his thoughts. His best friend had died over there, father had died a few years ago, all he had left was his poor ole mother and he guessed he’d return home sometime to see her.
Today though he was content to sit at a bar, taste a bit of the famed freedom he was supposedly fighting for, maybe get into a fight, and get laid. Because when you’ve been on the edge for a year, it’s hard to drop that addiction in three days.
(Alas, her mind amuses me xD)
Every single one of them was a moron. At the thought, she struck her leg out, a black trainer connected with one of the many cans that littered the alley way, she huffed a little and raised a hand to run it through short red hair. Out on the main street there were many young girls, much like herself infact, but unlike she, they wore short clothes with everything on show and fawned over guys. “Urgh” she groaned once more, regretting her decision to leave the house and go out for a quite drink. Shoulda frickin checked if there were any events on first, moron! The amount of people out and about was a lot more than usual and crowded places with ‘slagged’ up girls made her both uncomfortable and irritated. It disgusted her, the way such girls depended upon males and threw themselves all over them, depended upon them and heck, some acted as if they would die if they didn’t touch a guy a few times a day.
After leaving her house, she’d.. encountered a group of already drunk females, one of which had approached her and attempted to, well, flirt with her, right up until the intoxicated female had reached out and touched her chest that is. Very quickly the female had changed from all charm and friendliness, to expressing disgust and calling names, all the while clinging to the arm of a guy within the group, her clothes covering next to nothing and her voice was strained and unnaturally high. If she hadn’t been so out numbered, she’d ‘ave sent the cow into hospital for the simple fact she needed her head checking, but alas, she’d ended up huffing and puffing in a filthy alley way.
It wasn’t being mistaken for a male that had set her of; she personally took that as a compliment, for she was dressed in heavy, black cargo trousers and an oversized bark brown hoodie, the zip low enough to show a pale beige Tree Days Grace t-shirt. Add in her above female average height and short styled hair, she very much looked the part, which is what she’d intended. Even the name calling she could have bared her teeth through, but the girl had clung onto some guy whilst doing so, talking in that high pitched voice and acting all meek and weak and making out that she was some victim in need of being saved from the ‘savage cross dresser’. Why did it seem as if every female was an incompetent fool?
Storming out of the alley, she crossed the street and entered what she hoped would be a quite bar. Pushing the doors open, she entered and manoeuvred towards the bar. Upon reaching her destination, she flopped down onto a stool with no grace and called towards the bartender. “Vodka and coke”. With her drink ordered, she scanned her eyes over those who had gathered, picking out a few respectable male examples.
It was normally at this part in the night that the Marine, formerly Civilian would stagger up to the Karokee bar and belt out an AC/DC tune, usually to impress the ladies but for the most part to fulfill some sense of rock star before retiring back to the bar. Bars where a place to pick up a drunk girl, have a fun night and then conveniently forget about the night before, but tonight he had little ambition to be anything more than a drunk at a bar. That was going fine until his curiosity was peaked, eyes scanning across the bar as a curious looking fellow joined them at the bar. Something about him had him wondering just what his issue was.
He downed the glass of whiskey just as easily as he had the last 4 and ordered another. Before turning to the man, studying his face for a moment. Being a special forces marine, he was taught how to read and observe without letting on he was doing so, but he was quite a few drinks in now and it was probably being telecasted across the bar. Finally he shrugged, and turned back in his seat, being rewarded with another glass, speaking under his breath.
“Damn transgendered faggots”
Ice clacked against the side of the glass as the bartender passed her drink over. Slowly she raised it up and took a sip, enjoying the burning feel as it ran down her throat. So far, her day had been boring, having had to go to work and sit behind a desk all day repeating the same sentences over and over again as she dealt with ‘distressed’ customers and she’d been harassed by a drunk female in the evening. Downing the glasses’ content, she opened her mouth to order another when a distinctively masculine voice reached her ears. Standing up quickly, the stool fell behind her and she stormed over to where the larger male was located. All she wanted was to sit in the bar, get completely drunk and wallow in self pity, but apparently this guy was going to interfere with her plans. Clenching her fists at her side, she brought her face up close to the other, intruding upon his personal space and staring him straight in the eye.
Close up to the male, she begun to feel intimidated by his larger size but she kept her cool and ground her teeth together somewhat to clam herself down first; hitting first never got her anywhere, heck, the guy may have aimed the comment at someone else. Taking a deep breath, she raised her fists slightly in the case that things escalated. “Oi, soldier boy. You got something to say to me?” she spoke, her voice remarkably even considering how worked up she was from her accumulated stress, apart from the word 'boy' of which she made as mocking as the word could be.
He heard the stool and a grin spread across his face, at least tonight he’d get one thing done on his check list, bar fights where always interesting. Eyes looked at the bar keep with a flair of excitement and he only shook his head. Hot breathe came across his neck, and he didn’t flinch, the adrenaline starting to fly through his body as he took another long drink. A soft ahh sound escaped his lips as he finished the drink, not choosing to address the high pitched male beside him.
Damn Aussie was all that was going through his mind as his head swiveled to meet the offending patrons gaze mere inches from his face. If he had recognized this person as a girl, the position would have proved to be much better for kissing but since the threat was addressed more as some short boy trying to prove a point he only offered a quick grin.
“Ahem, I believe I said, Damn Transgendered Faggots, yes I do believe that was it.” He turned in the seat then standing right before him, chest barreling outward pushing the girl/boy thing back just by the act.
“And just what exactly do you think you can do about it”
As the other rose to his feet, she found her self being forced to take a few unsteady steps backwards. Still, undeterred, she moved forward back into close proximity of the other; the closer she was, the less time the male would have to react if and when she choose to act. Grey-green eyes scanned over the other, taking in just how much bigger he was than her and she suddenly felt like some dwarf as she stood before him. Clearly, her ‘companion’ was looking to picky a fight and that thought was more than backed up by his words as he spoke a form of challenge to her.
Slowly, she placed a hand upon the bar, putting little weight on the arm; the action meant as a subtle distraction and nothing more. Bringing her face closer, in an attempt to block his sight some, her accented thickened and she practically spat the single word out. “This”. Quickly, she raised a knee and aimed it towards his package; although she may act make, she was more than willing to kick a guy in his groin if said guy clearly out powered and out sized her.
He watched the body language of the other carefully, fully aware that small shits like this one loved to sucker punch. The arm, the closeness with which they brought themselves up to him. It all screamed sucker punch, but even as he started to anticipate it, his eyes looked along the things hoodie finding two little bumps along its chest. He played it off for the time being, figuring that fact didn’t matter before they caught him off guard and a swift knee was delivered to his groin.
Okay that was a chick move even as he reeled a bit before his hand grabbed their hand that was clutching the bar, twisting it around and then in turn them making them back him. His arm around was brought up along their body to choke hold them when they across those two very womanly attributes across the now girl’s chest. It still didn’t deter him for the moment, the surging pain in his groin reminding him of his anger over this situation for the time being. Arm reached her neck but didn’t apply much pressure, more to prove a point than anything.
“Seems you hide yourself well” he whispered into her ear.
Her teeth ground together and she clenched her jaw shut with rage. It had been a long time since she’d found herself in such a predicament; the majority of guys normally saw her as a weakling and didn’t pay any attention to her so that she could dispatch of them at her leisure. Wriggling around, she tried to break free from the hold, but found herself hopelessly restrained. Resigned to the fact she was pretty much screwed, she let out a loan, miserable groan. As the other spoke she froze perfectly still and struck back in an attempt to catch the others shin or connect with anything really.
“Let go o’ me this instant, ya bastard” as her anger rose, her accent thickened and boy she was majorly p’eed of that she’d gotten pinned by some drunk soldier wanna be. A rebellious streak ran through her and she wriggled around, despite the others choke hold and pinned arm. Her joints complained some from her wriggling, but she wasn’t gonna give in so easy. “Dammit, lemme go!”
Warmth ran to her cheeks and she could feel her skin running red, further adding to her shame. The instant he lets go, he's a dead man...
It seemed for now she was content with trying to desperately get away as much as possible. Her squirming body, being countered each time she chose to try an avenue of escape. He was beginning to enjoy this, already feeling a bit of a thrill man handling her in such a fashion. The marine wasn’t much on rape, or forcing a woman to do anything but she had hardly acted anything lady like. But still her protests where met with a soft chuckle, grip tightening around her.
“How bout you let me by you a drink and we can call a truce to this before you risk further embarrassment?” it was the oddest pick up line, and or way to talk to a girl he had ever experienced but hey he wasn’t going to not try it. Her lithe body wiggling in his hold helped to reaffirm her gender. He was drunk but damn he could still ascertain by how her body moved, how well she hid just how well built she was underneath all those baggy clothes.
“Come on now girl in guys clothing, Lemme buy yah a drink and apologize”
Damn him, damn him, damn him! I hope he rots in hell…Wriggling still, she made one more attempt to break free before she finally surrendered to being restrained with an incoherent grumble. Despite being humiliated and out matched by the guy, she had to admit deep down that she was haiving some fun, for she rarely met anyone capable of outsmarting and outmatching her in a physical fight. Swirling her head, she tried to face her captor and did her upmost best to glare at him.
“Wha the” her reply was instant and without thinking, having been caught off guard by the man once more. Narrowing her eyes, she swerved her head from side to side, in an attempt to see the expression on his face and figure out if he was being serious. Regardless of whether he was being serious or not, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity for freedom and a free drink. “Fine” she huffed in response, her tone of voice indicating she wasn’t the least bit pleased nor impressed with him.
All was good and well till the ‘girl in guys clothing’ comment. That one truly struck home and she practically hissed at him. “Great way to start apologizing, dick” she spat out at him.
It just seemed so natural to act in such a fashion with her, even if it was taxing to be on his guard all the time. But as he released her from his grip he could only smirk a bit at her comment, giving her a flash of a smile before asking the bar keep to fix her another drink. The bar keep returned his gaze with a questioning one, seeming to say the same thing he was thinking in his head, just how the hell did that work. But he didn’t care, he had her taking a drink next to him. If for nothing else he’d get some interesting conversation.
“Oh dreadfully sorry, but I must say, you are very quick” he figured if he couldn’t get a laugh out of her he might as well compliment her skills. She had kneed him in the balls, and his groin still pained him quite a bit. The humiliation was a part of his retribution for such a terrible act. Finally he sat back down at the bar resuming drinking his glass, wondering what exactly this girls problem tended to be. Dressing like a guy, acting much like one, a fire ball of fury, and he guessed passion in there too, except he wasn’t sure where it was aimed.
“So why do you dress that way? It doesn’t quite fit you. There is much more suitable attire for a woman who wants to walk around and fight any man she comes across”
Finally she was free to move as she wished once more, turning around she caught the smirk upon his face and made a mental note to smack him another at some point just for the smug look. Git had thoroughly humiliated her and she could do nothing but meekly sulk over to the bar and slump on the stool next to his and accept the free drink; from the looks of things she was gonna be needing more drinks than she had initially anticipated to brighten her mood. As he complimented her, she lifted her shoulders in a slight shrug, simply acknowledging the fact as it was; she’d caught him a good blow and he couldn’t deny her of that.
Instead of responding nicely, she cocked her head at him and mimicked the smirk she’d seen on his face moments ago. “How’s ya balls, mate?” she asked, her voice taking on a more playful note. It was a low blow, but she was sulking and it was the best she could come up with. Not to long after the other had ordered the drink, the bartender returned and she scooped the glass up and took a long, very much needed, drink.
When the other questioned her, she turned to face him and gave him her best ‘get stuffed’ expression. “Skipping over the commoner’s basic introductions and skipping straight to personal enquiry, oh how his royal highness demands so much.” She retorted and then paused, bringing an arm up and resting a elbow upon the bar and dropping her face into her raised palm. “Then let me ask you, why’d you go picking fights in a bar?” answer a question with a question to avoid talking about her self was her plan of action now.
He slumped into his chair, turning to lean against the bar nodding at her comment about his family jewels. Oh they still bothered him, would for a while. He only nodded and acknowledged the bow with a stupid grin. The marine took another healthy swig of his drink while he looked across that the perturb girl. Noting her features, she normally wouldn’t have been his type, little to lithe, not a very endearing or nice soul but still he couldn’t figure out now what was drawing him to her. Must have been the alcohol.
“Just got back from Afghanistan. Fresh off the plane. When you’ve been through as many battles, life and death struggles as I have, you’ll realize, there is no drug that could mimic the pure adrenaline running through your body. So within three days, you tell me if I still don’t feel the same need for that rush?” he had answered her question in a roundabout way but he still didn’t forget that she hadn’t answered his. Which was one of his favorite tactics. But it didn’t matter, whatever she chose to dress as he would just have to put up with it for now.
“So what’s your name miss, if your hell bent on treating this like a normal bar conversation? Should I now say some witty pick up line so you can punch me? Because it is rather tempting” he said, his eyebrow arching.
She raised the glass to her lips and held it there in mid air as she listened to the stranger speak. Funnily enough, soldier boy claimed to have been, well, an actual soldier, but what he said made a reasonable amount of sense so she simply dipped her head in a simple nod, then took another sip of her drink. “That’s all good and well, just don’t start on me next time dick” she mumbled, her anger finally starting to subside; adrenaline rushes she could relate to, so she couldn’t hold his actions against him, but she could hold his poor choice of target against him. Taking another sip, she relaxed into her seat a little more, slowly adjusting to being in the presence of the other.
“Call me miss again and you won’t need some witty pick up line to earn yourself a punch” she responded sharply then paused to think, lifting a hand she waved an open palm between them, “Wait, feel free to give the witty pick up line, suddenly have the compulsive urge to hit you in the face and need a reason to do so.” She smiled sweetly at him, in contrast to her words. They guy had one of those faces that needed to be hit and his choice of words just added to the need. “Gotta be able to claim self defence and all that jazz. Or would being insulted first even count in self defence?” she was practically talking to herself, drifting of into thought half way through.
Idily, she bit on her thumb in a gesture of thought and then allowed her hand to fall free and reached for the glass and took another drink. “I’m Taylor” she finally introduced herself, mimicking his expression and lifting her own eyebrow.
It seemed all the two of them had in common was a healthy habit for fighting, and sparing words, both of which appealed to the marine in many ways. So he listened to her mix of words, finding them oddly strange but seeing through them a bit, as he watched her body language. Taking another sip he only nodded for the moment, working it over in his head whether or not he wanted to give her a pick up line or not. It was tempting; her throwing another punch was just a good excuse for him to get close to her again. Close enough to ascertain just how built a girl she was. But he gave her a smile instead, a genuine one as his body fully turned in the bar stool to give her his undivided attention.
“It is tempting, but in all honesty I’d just use another attack as an excuse to get close to you again,” he spat out with a grin. Meanwhile the bar tender was currently watching the scene shaking head, wondering just how exactly this happened. A marine and a butch looking girl who had just a few moments ago been fighting in his bar where now sitting, talking and getting drunk. He’d have to keep an eye on them, curiosity drove him to figure out what happened as the night went along.
“Saluce by the way, odd name, get it a lot, you can call me Sal if you’d like.”
A grey-green eye remained fixed upon the other, watching him in a wary fashion as he turned to face her. This one confused her, to say the least. Most men she’d encountered before and especially those aware of her true gender had been easy to read and figure out, and yet this one remained a mystery to her. What does he want from me? The question was bugging her and her curiosity began to flare, anchoring her to her stool even after she drowned the last of the glass’s contents. Twisting around on the stool, she angled her body slightly more towards the other, but not quite fully around like he had.
As the bartender looked her way she waved her glass and mouthed ‘another’ in his direction, not bothering to offer the strange male a drink; she was being pleasant and remotely well mannered and that was all the guy was getting out of her, she was a tight wad and would not waste money on buying a complete stranger a drink. Distracted as she was with ordering a drink, she’d almost missed what the other had said. Almost. Two eyebrows rose as her eyes narrowed and she turned to face the other and shot the guy a suspicious look in response.
Still staring at the other with a guarded expression, she noted the grin upon his face and before she knew it she was laughing at his audacity. To say the least, this one before her was an interesting drinking companion. When he introduced his name, she gave a slight nod, accompanied by “Strange, but then who am I to judge.”
In the sneakiest way she could manage, she allowed her eyes to run over the other, this time making a point to get a good look at him; alls fair, since he’d had a good feel, she’d have a good look. Once finished, she grabbed the drink the bartender offered and took a sip. I think the drinks getting to my head or this guys remotely good looking. She wasn't sure what shocked her more; the fact she'd so boldly checked him out when he was right next to her, or the fact she liked what she saw. Not that she was gonna let him know the last part.
Saluce continued to watch her actions, only breaking his eyes off her to continue taking drinks of his whiskey. Finding it running empty he ordered along with her, feeling the several glasses he already had starting to get to him. He’d have to cut himself off soon or else he’d never make it to a hotel or place to stay for the night. But right now that didn’t matter, as soon as the glass was back in front of him, he felt her eyes on him. It was interesting to have a chick so brazening check him out, much like he would have if she had been wearing more form fitting clothing. He only chuckled a bit and took a drink before returning his gaze back to her, cocking his head to the side with that silly grin across his face.
The marine never liked to admit that he was a complete softy when it came to the opposite sex, nor did he like to admit that even though his tough exterior was a bold one, a friend only had to hint that they needed his help and he was there. Saluce didn’t have many friends though, partially because most of his friends were still in the service. His tour of duty had ended and his four years where done. He had been offered a two year deal to stay but had decided to take some time to think on it.
Again he let his eyes roam across her, acknowledging her own hidden curves when he was able to detect them before a song came over the radio playing that made a silly idea come to his mind. He was a sucker for slow songs and as he stood the unmistakable air of embarrassment and what looked to be shyness came over him as he spoke.
“Don’t suppose you’d like to dance would you?”
Her expression quickly turned from comfortable amusement and a touch of embarrassment to that of complete and utter dumbfounded shock. Her hand twitched and tightened around the glass as she tried to come up with some witty response, but came up with nothing until she remembered what had started this entire… whatever this was off. Cocking her head to the side slightly, short red strands of hair bouncing and moving with the gesture, “Just how much have you had to drink…” she muttered under her breath, allowing herself to be dragged along at his pace ever so slightly. Looking up at him she smiled sweetly, “Not afraid of being seen dancing transgendered faggot like myself are you big boy?” she asked, forcing her voice thickly sweet, allowing her natural accent to thicken and dominate her speech.
Without a second thought she downed the remaining contents of her drink and rose to her feet from the stool to stand before him; feeling once again dwarfed by his larger form. Leaning in closer and rising on her toes some, she brought her mouth up to his ear “This all seems like another attempt to simply ‘get close’ to me again” she whispered, before pulling back and allowing her feet to once more be firmly planted on the ground. “You’re lead” she teased, raising a questioning eyebrow at the other.
He watched with anticipation, wondering what her reaction would be to the proposal. As he figured it was met with the same bravado she had exhibited earlier, and even a bit of shock. Just as he had hoped, her smile and her sultry tone spoke enough of what she really wanted for him to continue this leap of faith. A chill ran up his spine as her words were spoken so close to his ear, making his skin crawls with excitement. The words to the song where just starting when she gave her blessing, or rather a cleverly disguised one.
Saluce stepped in closer to her; the bar had no dance floor so the space between the bar and the nearest table would have to work for now. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her out to that little gap and began the slow steps, matching the songs intensity. As the song progressed he pressed her in closer to him, letting her hips match his own, molding her to him. Leading her just like she told him too, he flashed her a smile and leaned down to whisper his own quip.
“Bet you didn’t think you’d get in a fight and dance with a guy in the same night?”
Twisting others words, talking in a round-about way and never stating what she truly wanted were habits she’d learnt from surviving the terrors that were school; drunken women on the streets were one things, but high school girls were a force to be reckoned with and so she’d learnt to defend herself with words and if needed, physical force; it seemed society often rejected those who choose to live a different lifestyle. Maybe it was because this stranger didn’t persistently question her choices, nor did he voice disgust at her appearance that she found herself oddly enjoying his company; he was entertaining to be around and unpredictable.
A slight smile tugged at her lips, pleased that the other hadn’t been deterred by her choice of words. As ridiculous as dancing in a bar to a slow song in next to no space seemed, she was all up for it; enjoying the simple thrill of the moment. When he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in, her reflexes kicked in and screamed for her to step back and distance herself. Squashing such impulses she allowed herself you be drawn into the others personal space, relaxing and moving with him to the music without a second thought about how ridiculous they must have looked.
Muscles tensed with what could only be anticipation; for what she didn’t know, everything that was happening was new to her and she could only follow along blindly as the other proceeded at his own pace. Hearing his words, a genuine smile spread across her face.
“Can’t say it was what I had in mind for this evening”
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