crying in the bar

Rohan sighed deeply as he made his way out of the retail store he worked out, closing up the doors for the night and meandered his way over to the bar that was close by. It was a tuesday but that didn't mean that he couldn't drink away his pain. Nightowl leaving was still an insanely fresh pain in his chest. G9... he hated his nickname now. how stupid was it... The only person to ever make his heart flutter with saying that dumb nickname was out of his life forever. Sure he had quest still but quest wasnt nightowl... wasnt the man who greeted him to the server with a video call the first night he had joined. It all hurt.

Quest had messaged Jynx asking her how her day had been so far. He knew that she worked midday to nights most of the time but she always could spare a second for him. That warmed his heart. Knowing he meant something to someone. It... it was nice. >hey jynx i hope your shift is going nicely. let me know if you want to call tonight Part of him hoped he wasn't overstepping but he knew that she liked it when he checked on her. So he had to ease himself into the routine of it once more.

Totally not the same bar Rohan is heading to, Jynx takes the time of there not being a lot of people at the bar at the moment to read her messages. She grins at the sight of Quest's message, her heart sent aflutter.

>Hey, Quest~ <3 It's not too busy as of right now, so if it keeps up like this, then I'd love to call. God, just having a message from him boosted her energy to continue more at the bar, taking orders and making her signature baked potatoes that mostly the regulars knew. Like a secret menu sort of thing. She'd give anything to share them with her friends on the server. And...G9 and Nightowl...they could use one the most of them all. Jynx hasn't stopped thinking about the both of them since that night, and especially how things were going with G9 after Nightowl had left. To give both of them a big hug...

G9, also known as Rohan to his non online companions, walked into the bar. He felt like he should make a joke about this situation but he knew he couldnt really even crack a smile. He was teetering on the edge of leaving the server. What was the point anymore. BakedPotato and Quest where the few things keeping him there currently. He didn't want to leave them. but it wasn't the same after Nightowl left. It was barren in the server now. empty. no laughter. no fun. just... boring blooming panic with no debates he wanted to partake in.

Quest smiled seeing her reply. >good. I hope you get a moment. The server is still a little dead right now. Toaster is the only on currently and trying to make me play the final fantastic game again He chuckled at his autocorrect after hitting send. He hoped Jynx would find the typo amusing too considering how much toasty talked about the game.

After a small wave of people eager to get their drink on, Jynx plucks her phone out of her apron and lets out a snort. >I hope so too, can't imagine the day they make you cave and play that darn Final Fantastic lmao Teasing, that was the most fun in their relationship. Sure, it's sometimes more fun when their friends are there but it's still fun. Jynx spots more people coming in and puts her phone away to prepare to serve them. She notices one person who looks particularly down, and they seem like they could most certainly use a pick-me-up; such as a baked potato if they so desire. It's not something she normally does but she brings out that secret pamphlet from her apron that's meant for the regulars to choose toppings on the baked potato, readying it for the upcoming gloomy guest. And to also prep on getting their drink order, of course.

>oh if they ever make me play it- prepare for the worst Kitten Quest wondered what it would be like to hold her. To brush her pretty hair out of her face and kiss her. He sat on that day dream for a moment-that was his final fantastic. He was really falling hard for her. And she knew. she knew about his past and still was this cute little thing that wanted to tease with him. It drove him insane how often he wanted to kiss her. Just be able to fly over to her house and kiss her so soft and -

G9 sat down at the bar stool and ran a hand through his dyed green locks. The night nightowl left he panicked and (emotionally charged at that) Dyed his hair green. His dark hair took the green a lot better then he planned and yes while he got in trouble at work- it wasn't a super big deal because it was still in the realm of natural enough.

He laid his head on the counter and sighed. "A rum and coke please ma'am" He asked softly to the bartender, not even blinking at the other options he could have had. He wanted to stew. sit and think about everything for a moment and being in the server was too hard still... It would never be the same. No crying- damnit. G9 thought to himself

Jynx only briefly read the message before getting back to work, not wanting to be texting while she had customers to tend to. She snorted again before responding to the gloomy stranger; "Coming right up!" She chirps before quickly finishing up other people's orders first.

While working, she couldn't help but almost feel the same as Quest. She wanted to be by his side so bad, to feel those large arms around her and his lips on hers. She even bit her lip out of instinct from her imagination running wild. One of her regulars even noticed and jokingly pointed it out; "Don't go too far into the clouds now, Jynx!" The older man chuckles, "I won't get that baked potato if you go too far into dreamland about that boy." "Oh, you only ever care about your food, Geoff. Let me daydream!" She sticks her tongue out at him before returning to Rohan with the rum and coke, "Here you are, hun." She also leaves that little pamphlet with his drink mentioning the baked potatoes and whispers, "It'll be on the house if you're hungry." She taps the pamphlet before taking a step back to collect empty glasses.

G9 looked up at her and nodded. Free food? For this piece of miserable shit? He wouldn't mind actually. When was the last time he ate? Had to be this morning actually, a slice of toast with jam. How sad.

He looked at the pamphlet and sighed. bacon sounded good on it. He took a long swig of his rum and coke and sighed softly after putting it down.

He hurt ... was nightowl even alive? If he was going to live with his mother, he might as well be dead. The things this lady did to him, the lack of love this parents had for their son... it was a lot to take in. Quest sat at his computer , waiting for people to log in for the night. He and June were talking about something, he wasn't really paying attention and june knew it.

June: you're thinking about baker potato huh?

Quest: a baked potato sounds really good right now yes June.

Jynx sees that tiny little spark of interest in the baked potato and grins, approaching the stranger again. "What's your name, stranger? Feel up to chatting a little?" As much as she wanted to get this guy's story, she didn't wanna pry too much if the story was too sad to talk about. She points to the pamphlet; "I'd recommend the mixed cheese and bacon, by the way."

Meanwhile, server shenanigans;

Xyx: Which potato?

NakedToaster: Hm, I wonder.

"Rohan. I'm.. yeah you can call me Rohan. " He pushed the pamphlet back to her and nodded. "I'll get that then if you don't mind...and another rum and coke. I'm gonna be done with this one soon..." he trailed off thinking about how the last time he drank was with nightowl. Damn why did everything go back to nightowl.

He felt like crying more. After the 12 hour day , open to close he had at work... he felt... hopeless

More server shenanigans;

Quest: ...I'll mute you both for harassment ...

June: aw but it's cute. You really like potato don't you? ^_^

Quest: potatoes are good and healthy yes.

"Of course." She takes the pamphlet and dips her head, then holds out a hand to Rohan, "I'm Jynx." She turns to prepare the next drink, then puts it next to his current one. "Whatever's got you down, Rohan, I hope it turns out okay in the end. Just keep your chin up, that's my only request for the free potato." She joking winks, trying to lighten the mood for the poor dude. Her own attempt at it, at least. Anything to lift a customer's spirit.

Even more sever shenanigans;

NakedToaster: Yes but THE Potato

Xyx: You looooooveeeee potatoes! So much starch in your life isn't good for you (edited)

He smiled weakly. "I just lost my best friend and the guy I was falling in love with. So it's a bit hard." He winced at opening up but it was the bartender, who was she going to tell??? It's not she knew his friends in the server or anything.

Quest rolled his eyes but he did laugh. How silly was this group. He was glad he stayed. He would have missed everyone...

Quest looked at the time and judged that Jynx had about 5 hours left of her shift. He could do this. He could stay up to talk to her.

Jynx is surprised at the response, but quickly returns her smile and leans over the counter with a sympathetic look. With those teal eyes looking directly into Rohan's, she lets out a bit of a sigh. "I'm so sorry to hear that...I can imagine it's hard to keep your spirits up in such a situation." She sits back up, "If you don't mind me chatting with you some more, you're more than welcome to vent to me if you need to. This bar is open to whatever lifts the weight off anyone's shoulders." She points behind her to Geoff; "I know more about him than his own mother!"

"It's true!" Geoff raises his beer to make himself known, making the others around him laugh.

"But no pressure if you don't want to, of course." Jynx adds, giggling at Geoff.

"Its..It's... frustration I'm feeling. Like did I do something wrong? Is he okay? Is he gonna survive living with borderline abusive parents???" He angrily took a long swig of the last bit of his first drink.

"I never knew I could feel this much for someone. It's been so long since I felt anything.... it is weird not having him around anymore." He sniffled and looked up at the ceiling.

"It just sucks and I work so much I can't even hire someone to look into this for me. I miss him... so much.."

Jynx's eyes soften, listening intently while Rohan vented. She only briefly left to get that potato ready, and bring it out to him. While handing it to him, she gently smiles; "Love can be quite the rollercoaster of emotions. And not having that person there is quite the empty feeling; I almost lost contact with my partner kind of recent, actually." She leans into her arms on the counter, "Just the moments before he was considering leaving, it was...scary. So, I can't imagine how it would've felt had he left our little group."

She takes a quick moment to refill another customer's drink across the bar, who seemed just as sad but not as talkative before continuing. "I bet you anything that it was nothing you did, and every moment he gets, he's thinking about you too. And if you care so much about this guy, there's a good chance that fate will bring you two right back together. Fate is just funny like that."

Rohan sighed. "I'm sorry you had to almost go through this. I don't wish it on anyone. " He paused while she filled the drink for the other customers. He hoped he wasn't bothering her too much...

When she came back and told him Fate was funny - he couldn't help but doubt. Everything sucked at his job. He had no hobbies from working so much... wouldn't fate or luck or something give him a break at this point? He was struggling to keep everything contained.

His life sucked and his nightowl made it better... but now without him it felt so grim and lonely once more.

Sensing that he was still feeling bad, Jynx just sighs with a smile and gently pushes the potato towards him; "I'm sure you're hungry now, why don't you eat up? Let me know if there's anything else I can get you." She takes a step back; still within earshot, of course. But another customer has flagged her down, and she went to take his order next.

Geoff chuckles; "Wasn't trying to eavesdrop but you got one lucky thing going for ya, youngster- you were lucky Jynx is working today and gave you a baked potato. Those are usually just for regulars or those who know about them, cause she doesn't make them for just anybody. It'll perk ya right up."

Rohan smiled politely. "Thank you sir." He told the older man before digging into the potato. He felt like crying over everything once more AND because the potato was really comforting.

He wiped his eyes and sighed. Stupid nightowl. Making G9 FEEL things. He wasn't great with emotions and cried easily but... maybe it wasn't a bad thing...

He drank more of his rum and coke and dug into the potato more. Letting the cheese melt in his mouth.

Quest frowned. G9 hadn't been on in a few days.. was he okay? He had gotten really close to nightowl and they had made up before nightowl left but the news of nightowl leaving and moving back home really shook the man to the core it seemed. Nightowl was closer then anyone to G9. Despite how much quest tried- G9 just gravitated towards nightowl.

Quest: Anyone seen G9 lately?? Quest: I haven't heard from him lately and I'm a worried.

Geoff dips his head before returning to the tv above the bar, smirking at the baseball game currently going on. Next to him was another gloomy young man, resting over the counter slightly and blankly downing a shot of an amber-colored drink that Jynx has just given him, then just stares off into space. The world...SUCKED. Not to mention lonely.

Jynx sits at the back of the bar, waiting for her next customer or someone else to order something, she brings up her phone and back onto the server she went.

Xyx: No.

NakedToaster: I'm getting a bit worried too tbh

BakedPotato: Same. I wish I could just give him a hug and tell him everything would be okay...

G9 didn't even notice the other lonely figure. He was so wrapped up in the fact his own world sucked. He wiped his eyes again and hiccupped slightly, crying for real now but trying to hide it.

"God this sucks ass." He muttered downing his rum and coke.

Quest frowned as he continued to work. Bakedpotato came online, which was nice but they all felt awful that G9 wasn't here. Quest: hey potato. We are all worried about him.. I think he's only been here once or twice since ....

Jynx hears Rohan and frowns, trying to at least get this other guy to open up even just a little. It wasn’t weird having more than one person so down in the dumps at the same time but…this felt different somehow. “What’s your name?” She asks the stranger.

“J-Jaedyn…” He almost whispers with his chin buried in his arms. “Could I get another, please?” He asks her as he raises his empty shot glass.

While handing him another shot, Jynx checks her phone again. BakedPotato: Hey Quest… I know. I just hope he’s okay wherever he may be. And…same for him too. She sends it, hoping that her vagueness was enough to not sour everyone’s moods too much.

NakedToaster: …Yeah

BakedPotato: I’ll be lingering but I got two customers down in the dumps here, so I may be on and off to try and help them out a little

Rohan looked over at the stranger talking to Jynx and wondered if he too was going through it. Jaedyn. Pretty name.... he thought to himself ,getting a little tipsy with how fast he had been downing the mixed drinks. Rum hit him hard everytime. Not as bad as tequila , but still hard.

He pulled out his phone and almost texted someone before realizing , he didn't really have anyone to talk to IRL. Damn.

He was lame.

Quest: it's all good. Do your job potato. I bet those guys need your help too. Quest: we are here all night.

June: it's gonna be okay!! I bet you G9 will come on tonight

"Better get him a potato too, Jynx! On me this time so you get something out of it." Geoff says as he slaps a ten dollar bill on the counter.

Jaedyn forces a small giggle and shakes his head, wiping his eyes; "N-no thank you, I'm not hungry. But I appreciate it." He spoke a little louder, some people in the bar cheering at the baseball game. Jaedyn took his next shot and sighed, rubbing his brown hair; "I'm just going through shit, no need to waste too much time on me."

Jynx briefly looks up from her phone and laughs, "That's the Drunk Armadillo does, though! We love helping, even if it's just having an ear to listen to." She points to Geoff, "Anything to not hear more of his 'former love' stories."

--

NakedToaster: I hope so, it'd be nice to just see he's alive.

BakedPotato: Just to get a 'hello' would bring me some comfort.

Rohan leaned against the bar and furrowed his eyebrows. yeah... he was lame. he had no friends. no one in the server in was really his friend. quest maybe was... potato maybe too... but it wasnt worth it to stay somewhere when he was so miserable....

Rohan sighed and stood up, finishing off his drink and headed off to the bathroom, pausing for a moment to try and figure out what bathroom he needed to go into due to the funny signs on the doors. which one was the men's restroom?...

-----

Quest nodded and remembering they couldnt see him at the moment he quickly typed. Quest: Yeah. A hello or something would be pleasant to have..

Jynx looks up from talking to Geoff and this Jaedyn, noticing that Rohan had gone. She excuses herself and walks around the bar, spotting him and smiling. "Need help finding anything?" She asks in a chipper tone, leaning against the wall a little.

Jaedyn was a little curious where the bartender went, though kept conversation with Geoff now, just playing with the empty glass in front of him. At least this place was nice...maybe he'd frequent it to get away from his mom...that could get him away from her occasionally ...

"Is the men's bathroom.... the armadillo or the boot?" He asked , furrowing his eyebrows and staring at the bathroom signs more. He seriously couldn't understand. Maybe it was the drinks he had but he really was brain foggying up now. Maybe he should just go home.

He looked behind him and looked at this jaedyn person- he looked like he was in mourning with the all black he was wearing. He felt that.

She laughs, "The boot. I told my boss they need to be more obvious, but he never listens." She stands back up from leaning on the wall, and she looks a bit more concerned, "Are you gonna be okay?"

Jaedyn ends up meeting Rohan's eyes and flinches. Something looks just a bit familiar about that guy but he can't put his finger on it... maybe he's had one too many shots?

"ah okay.. Thanks. I'll be fine. I just need to pee." He mumbled and walked into the boot bathroom. He needed to take a moment and breathe. Or he would end up having a panic attack in a bar- which didnt sound fun at all.

He winced slightly thinking about how that Jaedyn person flicnhed seeing him. Was he that depressed looking? Maybe. he hadn't been sleeping well... Late nights doing nothing and early mornings at work was a lot to handle. Rohan entered the bathroom stall and sat down, not even needing to pee- he just needed to cry not in public.

Quest messaged the group chat at the same time Rohan popped online, hiding in the bathroom stall, tears rolling down his cheeks as he hiccupped and tried to restrain his sobbing.

Quest: I found some nice fanart, if anyone wants to see it.

G9 IS ONLINE

june replied straight away.

June: G9! So good to see ya

G9: ....

Jynx was worried about this guy now, poor Rohan. She only wished she could do more to help. She returns to the bar, whipping out her phone again to read messages.

Oh shit, was he staring? Jaedyn rubs the back of his head and sighs, the gears turning in his head a little thinking about why that stranger was a bit familiar to him. Maybe they just bumped into each other at Wal-Mart or something?

---

Jynx jumps seeing G9 online and smiles, quickly typing away.

BakedPotato: G9! How are you???

NakedToaster: I hope everything's okay.

Rohan sobbed and wiped away tears with his sleeve. he grasped his phone so tight his fingers turned white.

G9: hey

G9: Today sucked. work is awful . i hate it

Quest frowned and rubbed his tattoo, hoping that G9 would pull around and have a good day here soon.

Quest: We are glad you are here though G9

G9: seriously?

G9: "youre glad im here" Fucking bullshit. I just bring down the mood and

He cut himself off while typing , sobbing harder. He threw his phone on the ground and panicked hard when it bounced and cracked loudly.

-G9 IS OFFLINE-

Jynx flinches hard reading the messages, her eyes going wide. Shit...

BakedPotato: G9...

NakedToaster: ...

Jaedyn notices the bartender's expression when she returns and cocks his head to the side. It was just so sudden and weird not to notice.

She runs her hand through her long red and teal hair and lets out a heavy sigh, feeling the need to just step away for a bit to focus on work. She should've been doing that anyway...She continues to serve drinks, and takes the empty glass from Rohan's spot at the bar to clean and put away.

Rohan scrambled to grab his now broken phone off the ground. SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT. What was he suppose to do for work then. That had all his alarms and schedules and everything for work. SHIT. He would just call in- wait he cant call in if his phone is broken. shit he might lose more then just nightowl now. he could lose his job - he probably lost all his friends,,,

He gathered himself up enough to go out of the bathroom, pocketing his broken phone. "I gotta go thank you jynx for talking with me" He said softly, passing her a 50 and waved as he walked out, a very generous tip for the girl considering his drinks maybe cost 15 all together.

Jumping again, Jynx takes the 50, confused and even a little overwhelmed with how many things were going on at the same time. The timing of a lot of things was...strangely perfect. "H-hey wait!" She shouts for him, not so much about the money but to just see what was the matter, she was interested in finding out what prompted this rush to leave, and she could tell a few of her other customers were interested in finding out.

Even Jaedyn was intrigued, watching Rohan take off. He could briefly see the puffiness in the man's eyes and also shouted, his voice not so hoarse and quiet like before. "I-I wouldn't drive while upset, if I were you!" He still had to shout pretty loud over the other customers, so if that didn't stop him, then there was just hoping that the familiar stranger gets home safe. (edited)

Rohan kept walking , ignoring everyone. He needed to at least calm the fuck down... Home would be his safe place. home wouldnt hurt him. He just wanted his bed and the soft glow of the fairy lights surrounding his room.

He wanted to just cry- alone. Thankfully he didnt live too far from work so he could just walk home, but walking alone at night while emotional was almost worse then driving home emotional as well.

He got in his car and headed off home- wanting to scream and shout and just sob, but he couldn't nothing would come out.

Seeing him disappear into the parking lot, Jynx just sighs again and stares down at the money he gave her. As nice as it was, she hoped he’d comeback so she could at least give him change back. She only wished she could’ve helped Rohan some more… she turns to Jaedyn and forces a smile, “Well, I suppose there isn’t anything that can be done now, unfortunately…”

Jaedyn nods, biting his lip worriedly and sitting back down. “…I suppose I could go for another drink…”