xp_logs | Care for a drink?

x-psylocke.livejournal.com posting in

Pete and Betsy have a conversation at Harry's, while sharing a drink, or two.

Pete: Braddock? What're you doing in here?

Betsy: Having a drink, what does it look like?

Pete: Apart from drinking, obviously.

Betsy: Relaxing, amongst the locals. What are you doing here?

Pete: Down to my last pack of cigarettes. Came out looking for more, and then I heard the booze calling me name. Relaxing amongst the locals? Staff not relaxing enough for you?

Betsy: No, definitely not. *sighs* Emma takes a nice drink to the extreme, Essex is too caught up in himself to be caught in civil conversation, and well the rest of the staff, doesn't condone a good sherry. Ah, but here, at Harry's I'll have to settle for a shotty gin and tonic.

Pete: Yeah, the school being dry's... interesting. Want to bet on how long it'll be before the first of the kids figures out fake ID?

Betsy: With John back home, two weeks, maximum.

Pete: I was hoping it'd be Jono. With the prosthetics on, the boy's weird enough looking that no-one's going to card him, anyway...And don't get me started on Allerdyce. I mean, I've got time for Charlie, I really do. But this is just fucking stupid...

Betsy: *motions to Harry for a refill* Well, no one ever said the man was without faults. You either accept, or move on...at least for now.

Pete: Yeah, I know, but this is Lensherr's kind of line he's endorsing here. Never thought Essex and I would be saying the same thing, y'know? And if the think we've got in common is Charlie's mistakes, well, I don't like where that leads...

Betsy: I know, and I'm not going to say how I feel about it, because Charles is a stubborn git. I think he'll see reason, soon. *takes another sip, and laughs* Or it's just as likely we'll all be buggered. Pete, come sit, drink, and be merry....

Pete: I'll sit and drink. Merry will take a few more drinks. *He grins, wryly. * I'm starting to think me holiday's about to be over…have you ever met MacTaggart before?

Betsy: *sarcastically* No, not since Essex set her on her manhunt. She seems like a lovely woman, I'm just not in the mood for her interrogations at the moment. *takes another healthy sip* So, you're leaving us again? As a woman, I'd say I'd have serious abandonment issues if we were involved. As your colleague, I'd wonder if you were up to the challenges. You seemed more distant than me at that 'party' of Emma's.

Pete: If what's going on back home is bad enough to send the wicked witch of the north running over here with the bit between her teeth, I think I need to get back there to shout at some people. I've never been the favorite son, but I thought they were at least listening...Mostly; I was worried that Shaw had made me as part of the break in. That'd have been ... embarrassing back home. I don't think he did. And anyway, I've never liked the American Hellfire Club that much.

Betsy: I seriously doubt it, though a purple-haired woman, causing a distraction in the lobby will be a harder fact to dispute. Sometimes, I wonder if we're spinning our wheels, whether I'm spinning my wheels. I'm so tired of fighting.

Pete: Yeah, but you're not on an HMG payroll these days. They're trying to get cosy with the hellfire club these days, at least the London one... but it ain't wheelspinning. Charlie's way isn't going to work as long as there are bastards out there. And he won't hit them where it hurts until they hit him first. So someone has to hit them for him.

Betsy: But, at what cost? What else will we have to sacrifice for the cause?

Pete: God, here we go. Deep and meaningful thoughts time is it? Fuck knows. But how do we stop? How do we say "No. It's not my problem any more." when there's a houseful of kids up the road?

Betsy: We can't.....fuck sake. *looks to the bar* Another one, Harry!

Pete: And another two here, too.

Betsy: Honestly, who else would bother, Pete? *massages temples* Damn.

Pete: No-one in their right mind, that's for sure. You getting headaches?

Betsy: Headaches are the cost of the being who I am. I can say full-heartily that I live with it better than I should.

Pete: So you're going to, what, kill them with a hangover? *he motions to the drink and grins*

Betsy: I'd rather skip the hangover all together, I think I have a chance.... *smiles back, pauses* Sometimes, I think maybe that's why Charles recruits them while their young, foolish, lost, and confused. But, I would die for him. Silly, isn't it?

Pete: That's really not something I wanna think about right now. It ain't Charlie I'd die for.

Betsy: Who then?

Pete: Jesus, I dunno. What, maybe. The job. Charlie ain't the job. He's just some guy at the front.

Betsy: Now, that's a scary prospect.

Pete: What is?

Betsy: That you would die for that job, it's not worth it, Pete. You don't seem right happy about the idea, either....

Pete: Christ, not *my* job. No, *the* job. Making the world a little bit better.

Betsy: There's a difference. Dear me, you haven't had enough to drink then....

Pete: Not yet, no. Let me catch up with, and then we'll talk.

Betsy: *cradles the cup in her hands and drinks, a wicked grin on her face* God, this feels so much better. Yes, you can't try and have a civilized conversation while the other party is slightly inebriated. Isn't fair, you know.

Pete: That's a vile slander. I've never had a civilized conversation in me life...*He knocks one of his drinks back in one*

Betsy: *listens to the glass hit the counter* Could’ve fooled me, Pete.

Pete: Don't tell anyone. Me repuation'll be ruined.

Betsy: Oh, we wouldn't want that. What would Jono think of his hero.... *smiles* He’d be heartbroken.

Pete: He's already caught me reading big books with actual words in. He'd cope.

Betsy: *laughs* Heaven forbid....*finishes off her glass* Thank you, Pete.

Pete: What for?

Betsy: For making me forget for a bit, I needed a laugh. Actually, I don't think I've done it in quite some time.

Pete: Ah, no charge. The school's not a place I'd want to stay copped up in, you know? If it ain't being an example to the kids, it's not pissing off too many of the staff... Too many toes to be careful of...

Betsy: Oh, believe me. I know. I have an advantage *taps to her forehead* Though it doesn't work on everyone, but it helps. *pauses for a moment* By the way, are you going to Muir, when Moira heads back, or will you be gone by then?

Pete: Dunno. If I'm still here, I won't be heading to Muir, but I think I'll be gone by then...

Betsy: *nods her head solemnly* Well, is the booze speaking to you yet?

Pete: Yes. What it's mostly saying is "Get a carry-out and head back to the school." I'm still going over these fucking schematics.

Betsy: Uh, I don't think they do carry-outs, but I doubt they'd say anything if you walked out with the glass in hand. Last weekend was a nightmare, I'd rather forget, if you don't mind.

Pete: You and me both. *looks to glass* That'll have to do then. I can bring 'em back tomorrow, anyway. Come on, let’s get back. You get to be a teacher, and I get to be a bad influence...

Betsy: Is this the sort of game you play when no one's looking?

Pete: What?

Betsy: *shakes her head* Never mind. *throws two bills folded bills from her wallet onto the table, and rises* Ready?

Pete: Ready.