Jing Jing
WHO: Callie Morgan & Collin Ives WHERE: Rock Wall Tavern, Glenrock, Aerilon WHEN: Evening (local time) Y02/12/07
Kylie was out with her boyfriend, something that Callie would not normally condone but considering the circumstances she did not want to upset her niece by taking her further out the normalcy. It would be something they would have to talk about. Truth was, Kylie needed her boyfriend, somebody that actually knew what the frak she was about. That was not Callie.
As the niece was enjoying an evening with her boyfriend, it meant Callie had some free time to use up which normally would have been spent in the rec room up in the stars on Avalon but now she was down on Aerilon, her home colony and she did not really know what to do with herself.
Finally, after not much debate, Callie managed to navigate her way to the local establishment for a little drink to drown those sorrows. She was still trying to be a full time mother to her niece, trying to get her career back on track and to find a balance between her own personal life which was frakking non existent. Callie perched herself on a stool, ordered herself some fine brew and started the evening on a high note with a large gulp.
Collin liked to mix it up when he went out for a drink. You will never find him in the same watering hole two nights in a row. He had a few rivalries with other ranchers and farmers who when had a few drinks liked to fight. It is mostly a stereotype which other colonist had of Aerilonians, but with the roughneck crowd, fist fights were the norm especially after a few drinks. It was almost honorable.
He came out of the falling snow, and into the Rock Wall tavern. Collin did not recognize anyone inside beside the bartenders. The crowd inside were made up of out-of-towners here for the opening of the ski season. It was still early, so he took an empty stool next to an attractive brunette. “A lager,” he ordered from the bartender.
Callie had already finished her first round and was ready for the next when she heard a masculine voice next to her ordering a lager. She placed her empty glass upside down on the bar counter. “I’ll have the same.” The bartender nodded and went to work on getting that order.
“I like a girl who likes a good lager,” he said after he heard her order. Collin was clean shaven today. He smiled at her.
“I’ve not decided if it is good yet.” Callie looked over his direction briefly to acknowledge him. It was not like she had tasted a whole lot of lagers considering she was on Avalon for such a long term.
The bartender came back with two full pints of the local brew and placed them on the bar in front of them. “Three cubits each.”
“Ah yeah, it must be tourist season,” Collin reached into his pocket to pull out a twenty cubit note. “I’ll get hers.”
“Thanks.” Callie raised her pint and took a sip and savoured the taste for a long moment and then placed it down on the counter. “Any time it snows its tourist season. Haven’t seen snow in a long time.”
“I’ve seen enough already,” he said after his first drink. “It’s been snowing in the highlands for the last month.” He paused. “I’ve not seen you around. Are you here for the skiing?”
“Tonight I’m here for drink, tomorrow I guess we’ll see what the gods have in store for me.” Callie looked aimlessly in front of her and then back to her drinking partner and then back to her drink, “I’m not exactly here for vacation.”
He took a draw from his glass before getting back to her. “If you are not here for vacation, then you’re hunting cubits. Work?” It crossed his mind that the woman could be a call girl.
“Depends on the cubits.” Callie joked into her glass with a smile.
He was sure now. “What if I gave you a hundred? What do I get for that?” He wouldn’t mind taking her for a ride. It was also payday.
Callie held her glass and looked his way, “A hundred? For starts a few shots”
“Bartender!” He raised up his hand to get the bartender’s attention. “Four shots of Jing Jing.” He then turned with a smirk. “Something to get us warmed up.” He then extended his hand, “The name is Collin by the way.”
Extending her hand out to shake, “Callie.” The girl loved her shots and it really did get her going when it came to having some fun and feeling better.
While the bartender started pouring the shots, Collin pulled out his billfold and took out two 50 cubit bills and placed them on the bar. “Keep the drinks coming until the cubits run out.”
“I like your style Collin.” Callie downed the rest of her lager and eagerly created a drum roll on the counter, waiting for those shots to arrive. She was not about to pass up on having some fun because it was not something she did a lot.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” he was surprised how she down her lager so quick. The shots arrived. He passed one to Callie, and then lifted up another. “Here’s to mud in your eye, and may you never have to eat dirt. Jing Jing.” He liked the name of Aerilon’s finest sugar cane rum. He drank up. The light rum burned the back of his throat in a good why.
“Here here” Callie tilted the glass back and gulped down the shot as it warmed up her throat on its way down. She turned the glass upside down and placed it on the counter with her other empty glasses. “That was good.”
“Then have another,” He passed the next shot.
Not needing any encouragement, Callie downed the next shot like it was the first.
“Damn woman, I should just order a bottle,” he laughed and downed his shot. Collin had a feeling this was going to be a good night, if only he could remember it in the morning.
“I prefer shots, besides this is just the starter.” Callie winked, chuckling as she grabbed yet another shot and tossed it back.