fluxnet | video; un: jjones

[ Maybe it's a bit early to be sitting in a bar but this isn't a first for Jessica. Right now, she is sitting at the bar with a cup of coffee (or so it seems) sitting near her right elbow and some papers spread out in front of her. She currently has her device leaning against something, showing the rest of the open space behind her which seems to be a dance floor and a small stage where there is a DJ booth. ]

Hey, not really sure if we had a bar before or not but I have this place now. Figure it could be a safe place for people to hang out and unwind with all the crazy going on.

[ Plus maybe it's a rough town but people will learn soon that Jess won't stand for anyone messing with her or Pour Judgement. ]

I'll be opening up in the next couple of days. Just need to find some staff to help me run the place. Also, since I know we have a lot of kids running around and I know the ones I live with will ask, I'll allow you guys to hang out here most days until about nine. Then, after that, you have to scram. Also, there will be no drinking besides non-alcoholic drinks unless you're like...eighteen or nineteen. I haven't decided yet but I'll be watching and so will security. Whoever that might be.

[ A small stern look because, yeah, she might have a problem but she isn't going to let anyone else get like that. ]

Oh, and yes, the name of the bar is Pour Judgement. As in p-o-u-r.

[ She shrugs a little as she doesn't offer any more explanation and gets back to work instead. ]

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[ She'll take that. ]

Thanks. But no, I haven't. Guess I'm kind of picky about where I go to drink.

[ Okay, not really but she hadn't gone because she didn't trust the place or the people inside. ]

Have you?

I'm new here and after about 24 hours I decided that I really needed a drink.

[ It shouldn't be too hard for her to imagine why. His life back home wasn't all roses, but being ripped away and brought to this hellscape wasn't part of the agenda. ]

So I went. It's... pretty rough. [ Understatement. ]

Well, you made it longer than I did.

[ Oh, she more than understands. On all fronts. ]

Then they better hope they stay over there because I'll have security here.

Barely, to be honest. [ His mother is the one who tends to solve her problems with alcohol, but Malcolm likes his whiskey for sure. ] Good to know. I think all of us displaced people will be grateful for a safe place to drink.

[ Jessica would be the first to admit that she used alcohol to deal with her problems or, hell, even just to sleep. It's an ongoing thing. ]

Yeah, honestly I'm kind of surprised that no one had opened a bar before this with all the shit that goes on.

But hey, I don't know if I've introduced myself yet? I'm Jessica.

[ Malcolm would prefer not to sleep because of the nightmares that he has, but he's definitely numbed pain with alcohol before. It's quicker than therapy. ]

Good for you for capitalizing on a need.

Malcolm. Nice to meet you. How long have you been moving from place to place here?

[ Jessica hates the nightmares too, especially when they decide to show up without her being asleep. ]

It should be interesting either way.

Honestly, not that long. I arrived just at the tail end of their stay at the last place. Showed up, fought some monsters, got a few days of quiet time, and then got transported here. Now just waiting to see what happens next.

[ He's had those too. Aren't those fun? ]

It feels like we're waiting for the other shoe to drop here, but maybe that's just me. Have you seen any of the monsters that apparently inhabit the woods here?

[ No. No, they most certainly are not! ]

No, it's not just you. I feel like that all the time right now which kind of sucks. But no, I haven't seen any of them but supposedly there are monsters beyond the wall. I've thought about going to see....

[ PTSD, man. ]

I hate to be paranoid, but something definitely isn't right here.

If you go, bring a gun. I have one, if you'd like for me to go with you.

[ It sucks. It really does. ]

I don't like guns but you're welcome to bring yours. I have a truck that should allow us to get around more easily than if we were on foot.

But if I tell you to stay back or not to get in my way, are you going to listen?

I'll try.

[ Malcolm is notorious for throwing himself into danger, though he may not know what he's getting himself into with monsters. ]

How do you usually protect yourself, if not with a gun?

[ Luckily she has experience with people throwing themselves into danger. ]

I have my ways.

[ Have a raised eyebrow, Jessica. ]

Now I'm more curious about you than I am about the monsters.

[ She isn't affected by the raised eyebrow. Sorry, Malcolm. ]

Maybe you'll get a chance to see why one day but let's hope we don't run into too many of them.

Now that doesn't sound very adventurous of you.

[ Just kidding. He'd rather not fight any literal monsters either. ]

Just going out to find them isn't enough for you? I see how it is.

[ She had a feeling. ]

Is it really going looking for monsters if you're not going to throw yourself recklessly into danger?

[ Yes, Malcolm. You don't always have to do that. ]

It should be a last resort kind of thing. Do you ever do stakeouts?

Yes. I work with the NYPD back home.

[ Stakeouts can be horribly boring, but he's managed to sit through his fair share of them. ]

That's more the vibe I'm aiming for right now.

Alright. I can behave myself.

[ Usually. Unless something starts attacking them. ]

Good to know.

[ She's not going to make the same claim but she will defend them both if something attacks. ]

video; un: jjones

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