[FIN] Bottom of a Bottle

[Suudonym]

There was a kind of myth that went around that Luke had become acquainted with during his time in Kodo, and it had something to do with the idea that one's worries could be washed away, even if only temporarily, through the effects of alcohol. He might have felt inclined to experiment with the concept sooner if it weren't for the fact that the worst times in his life were often paired with sensitive medications, but at this point, he had no such limitations, and the thought of mental freedom was an alluring one.

He had made the mistake earlier in the day of calling his father again, thinking that if he gave him time to cool his head, they could reach a solution. The conversation had been pitifully short, terminated moments after Luke confirmed that he had no intention of reconsidering his decision about his political career, and he was left standing alone in the city, revisiting all of the harsh feelings he had hoped to put behind him. It was miserable, and he didn't want to go home this way again - or, more accurately, he didn't want to face Rosie this way again. He didn't want to trouble her with his stupid, self-absorbed depression. But where did that leave him, then?

At the entrance to one of Camphoreon's many pubs, apparently. One of the documents he had seen while working as an ambassador had been in reference to this particular establishment; the owner had submitted an application to renew his special license to serve to Grande Insulaires aged twenty or older. As far as he knew, the application had passed, so...

The interior was somewhat gloomy in its design, the walls and ceiling paneled in dark-colored hardwood with a few incandescent lamps casting a dim, warm glow. The brightest place by far was the bar itself, an illuminated cabinet filled with bottles of various shapes and sizes constituting the majority of the wall behind it. It was early enough in the week that there weren't too many patrons present, though the atmosphere alone was alien enough to make Luke uncomfortable as he sheepishly found is way to an open seat at the counter and presented his identification upon request - the bartender gave a sort of nod that suggested they probably didn't serve Grande Insulaire exceptions all that frequently before taking his order.

Luke honestly couldn't have repeated what it was that he wound up with; he had merely resigned himself to nodding at the suggestion he was offered when he couldn't express a proper order. He knew that it tasted bad, though, and he knew that thus far this whole ordeal was doing extremely little to improve is mood. He frowned into the amber beverage, steadily settling back into his state of misery.  

[Blood_Goddess]

"Yeah- whelp, that's the last of it, sir."
With a light huff, a dark haired man hopped out of the back of a rather ordinary looking van straightening up to a group of people in dark jackets.
One of them reached a hand up to take a look at the time on what looked like a phone, before letting out a heavy breath and sliding it back into his back pocket.

"Look like we're stayin' int he city t'night." he replied, glancing up at the eyes that were on him. Each one of them members of his team for the past few months now. And over that time they've gotten better at getting the job done in a good amount of time, tonight though was a lot more work then they usually had, so by the time they were finished the night had snuck up on them after a full day, leaving them pretty warn out.

There was a moment as the group let out a breath, the girl next to Jerome reaching a hand up to rub her face while one of the other men spoke up with a sigh "I'll get Kyle, have him take up back to base." Ryan said, making a gesture to the passenger seat where.

"Naw man, not me." Jerome replied "Ya get the van back, I'mma hit up a bar 'roudn here fer a bit."
The shorter man shifted his stance, glancing over at them. "Any a ya comin'?"

"Not until after I wash up." Jaimee said with a wrinkle of her nose.
"Yeah I'm with her on that." Jamie agreed.
Ryan of course wouldn't be going without Kyle, and seeing as Kyle was the driver, he was the one who needed to take the van back.
"You go ahead Sir, we'll meet up with you later on our way back." Ryan offered, stepping up into the passenger seat while the other two made their way to the back sliding door.

It was instinct that watched his team go, knowing the job was done for the night was it was difficult not to be as watchful as he needed to be.
He stood alone for a couple of seconds when the van turned, and the red glow of its tail lights vanished from the dark allyways.

"Gar Gar-" a soft chuckle of Jerome's best friend and closest partner, Bro' announced the reemerging of the ghost type, and a rise in temperature saying that he was no longer concealed in the man's shadows.
inked eyes slid toward the Gengar, watching the half glowing ghost for a couple of seconds before a rough hand reached out and draped it across the Gengar's head and ears, starting his way down the alleyway himself.

The bar wasn't that far away, it gave Jerome a reason to exert some energy through his free running and climbing before he reached his destination.
As the ex gangster entered, hands pulling out of the pocket of his jacket as she slid his shoulder into the door to allow him in, his eyes glanced around the guests already in it before he and Bro' made his way up to the bar to order a drink.
The bar was scares, once he had requested his beer the man glanced along the seating. An old man in the corner, and a few seats away a young looking red head looking... to Jerome at least severely out of place.
Jerome arched an eyebrow at him, before his beer was placed in front of him.  

[Suudonym]

He didn't really like the feeling of being sorry for himself - that was quite literally the exact opposite of the reason he had come here - but Luke had the feeling that he looked like a miserable spectacle. The drink was dry and bitter, but he'd paid for it, and it seemed wasteful and impolite not to at least try to stomach the majority. He set his elbow against the table and dropped his forehead into his palm. The entire reason he was subjecting himself to this strange, uncomfortable environment was to avoid thinking about everything, so why was it that he just couldn't get it all off his mind?  

[Blood_Goddess]

"Two shots" Jerome muttered to the bar keeper as he passed him his beer, taking a moment o slide out of his jacket, that he draped over the stool.
Much more comfortable in his V neck tshirt, his arms much freer anyway, the man sat back down quietly, with every intention of minding his own business, only to be drawn once again to the red head sitting a few stools down, as he moved into a posture any poor b*****d knew pretty damn well.

"Y'get two kinda' brother's in' 'ere- th' pimped out ******** who got somethin' t'celebrate, an then ya got the ones who got somethin' in em t'drown."
He spoke, his calm voice loud enough for the younger man to hear him, eyes fixed on the far wall behind the counter as he took a drink, only to shift his gaze back over to the red head while two glasses were set in front of him, and filled with a liquid from the bartenders bottle.

The Gengar, who had been grinning slyly, glancing from the boy to Jerome turned his attention with hands rubbing together to the shots, plucking one of them up and downing it easily into his massive mouth.
A moment later a shiver ran through the ghost type, causing the spines along his back and his ears to prickle up at the alcohols sharpness, but letting out a satisfied breath afterwards.  

[Suudonym]

The voice was close and familiar enough to draw Luke's attention, and it was with a small start of surprise that he realized where that familiarity came from; the man's appearance wasn't so generic that it would be forgotten easily. The situation unfolding seemed strange and mildly confusing - was he simply being trusted to be prudent enough not to cry Rocket and send the whole place into a frenzy? Although in the first place, he didn't have a great deal of reason to call attention to the fact that that person was a Rocket. A person trapped by Team Rocket... For all Luke knew, he didn't even want to be involved with the organization.

At any rate, Luke could at least keep his mouth shut for the sake of repaying the mercy of having his life spared. Though it was awkward and just faintly stressful, he supposed he could give a conversational response, "Guess it's obvious which category I fit."

This was weird.  

[Blood_Goddess]

The initial reaction from the boy went completely without surprise or comment from Jerome. Though it was a common reaction from a good number of people he met, this time he didn't stop to think that maybe that his appearance wasn't what the young man was reacting to.

As far as Jerome was concerned, he had never seen this other person before. It went along with his terrible memory for faces, and even worse for names, Though as Jerome watched him for a couple of seconds he couldn't help but wonder if he's seen this kid somewhere before.

"'Bit" Jerome replied though implied as an understatement.
Bro, on the other hand was staring at Luke with one eye squinted, pulling his lips over his teeth a little in his curiousness before he seemed to just let whatever was going on in his mind go, taking his trainer's distraction for a moment to reach out and pluck up the other shot glass.
Before he could get it very far though, Jerome's hand shot out to snatch it out of the Gengar's hands, amazingly not spilling any of it as he returned it to the counter and earning a frown from the Ghost type.
"Ain't ganna do much with tha' water though." Jerome said making a gesture to the drink that Luke had.  

[Suudonym]

The Gengar didn't strike him as familiar, though its apparent mischievous disposition reminded him of a few pokemon he had known. The gesture to his drink moved Luke's attention thence, and he frowned at it in mild confusion. "...What do you mean?"  

[Blood_Goddess]

Jerome paused with his beer brought up to his lips, lowering it back onto the counter where his elbows rest.
So, it looked like Jerome had a newbie on his hands.
After a moments consideration as if to pick out his words, the gangster replied instead by sliding his shot glass across the table toward the red head.
Followed with a gesture to the bartender for two more shots.  

[Suudonym]

A newbie not only by token of being inexperienced but also unstudied. He transferred the direction of his frown to the small glass that was passed to him. He had never really liked the feeling of not knowing or not understanding while being in the presence of someone who obviously did; it left him uncomfortably self-conscious. With some hesitation, he lightly tipped the glass to his lips, thinking to test the taste. He recoiled slightly with an involuntarily grunt of disapproval. If what he had was water, then that was sewage.  

[Blood_Goddess]

A grin moved over Jerome's lips at the red heads response to the drinks taste, but he otherwise said nothing, drinking from his own beer.

"Gar Gar" Bro said with a gesture to Luke, plucking up the new shot that was put down by Jerome and downing it all, as if to show Luke how it was done.

This was followed with Jerome picking up his own shot, gesturing it to Luke in a kind of half hearted cheers... of sorts, and bringing it to his lips, but waiting for Luke to do the same  

[Suudonym]

Luke frowned in helpless confusion at the Gengar's demonstration. Why would you do that. It was so bad. Though it could have been that it was because of the fact that it tasted terrible that it was meant to be taken all at once. Well... honestly... whatever. Maybe it was awful, but everything was awful. What was one more awful thing added to the pile? With a partial, resigned shrug, he bit the bullet, raised the glass, and downed the contents, his expression souring appropriately in response to the flavor and sensation. "Arceus, that sucks."  

[Blood_Goddess]

A deep but short laughed broke from the older gangster at the face that Luke gave, managing to take his shot with a straight face.
Bro however trumped the laugh with his own cackle, flying over to Luke and patting his hand on the kid's shoulder. the other hand slapping the counter and gesturing for the bartender who refilled Luke's shot glass.

"Drown N'that." Jerome spoke more calmly, turning back to his beer.  

[Suudonym]

"That's so terrible it almost pisses me off," he commented idly. And yet for some reason the glass was filled again. Well, that was just what he had earned, wasn't it? It was a fitting match for his father's disappointment and contempt, and for his own failure and shame. With a heavy sigh and a deep reluctance, he drained the small glass, biting back on his reflexive response and silencing the hiss of profanity that jumped to his lips.

Thus far he really couldn't see how this sort of thing was supposed to improve a person's mood in any way. This was pretty much miserable.  

[Blood_Goddess]

A single chuckle from JErome, as he continued to sit rather idly with his beer "S'does that mean s'doin' what ya need it t'a?"  

[Suudonym]

He set his chin in his palm, disgruntled. "I don't know. I was sort of hoping to not feel like garbage, but no luck with that, I guess." Maybe he'd misunderstood the reason people did this sort of thing.