The Adventures of Ron-Bee and Tal-wel Who: Ronnie & Tal Where: Lucky’s, El Rey When: September 14, evening
You got the best of me
Ronnie laughed.
He had thrown his head back, hand curled around the lip of the bar to keep from falling off of the stool completely. Tal had just told the funniest joke he’d ever heard (or maybe it was the combination of that and the four beers he’d thrown back already) and he couldn't help the surge of hysterics.
“Holy shit!” Giggling, he managed to settle back down.
Tal had become one of his best friends. Even before the split with Mikey and the food truck, the mechanic had been there for him. Hell, he’d even taken Tal to the cemetery when he’d visited his mother. That felt like a lifetime ago; he’d been scared shitless during that time, the stalker and all. But things had evened out.
Ronnie did his best not to reflect on that if he could help it. Alcohol certainly did the trick.
“We…” Ron began, pausing for a second to collect his thoughts. When he remembered he smiled and continued. “…we should do this again, man. Like every week.” It gave him something to look forward to. Between work, helping Brianna part time at Le Breeze, and the soup kitchen, he tried to hang out with friends.
Tal often had a few good jokes. And the alcohol had made this one lame joke hilarious. The taller man knocked back another shot of whiskey. His face was flushed as he smiled and the two beers, four shots of whiskey, and a planned fifth kept him jolly.
He sniffed back a laugh and nodded.
Ron was his best friend. Ever since Roman dumped him like a smudge of dust on his shoulder, Tal had taken to drinking. The bender he took soon after being dumped didn’t deter him. Ron had been there to help him get home and put a bag of frozen strawberries on his forehead where he whacked it on a restroom sink. And yes, he had been there for Ron when he needed him. Anything for his friend.
“Yes,” he hummed and sat the empty shot glass down on the bar. “Here, my place.” Tal didn’t want to disappear into his work, but it was a constant distraction.
At that point, Ronnie didn’t much care where they hung out only that there was hanging out. He wiped a tear from the corner of an eye with a knuckle and he took a deep breath. Like Tal, he’d let himself dive headfirst into his work. He drank, he always drank, but it may not have been any better or worse than before.
It wasn’t on par with his vacation from life, though. Not anywhere close.
“Don’t matter, man. As long, as long as you’re there…” Ron murmured, pointing at Tal, “and I’m here,” the digit motioned to himself, “we got this hangout thing down.” It probably didn’t make sense but Tal would get it.
Tal would hang out with Ron til the end of time if he had the say. He chuckled, the laugh reaching his barrel chest and reverberating. He had taken his being dumped quite hard, and was still not quite on calmer waters. Work, drinking, gazing at the stars while sitting in the bed of his truck, and hanging out with Ron.
He understood and smiled before turning to grab the freshly poured whiskey shot. “To hanging out together,” Tal offered as he looked back over at Ron and held up his drink.
“Hell yeah!” Ronnie lifted what was left of the beer and clinked it gently against the tiny glass. “To best friends hanging out and having a good time!” Then he drank to the good feeling.
He hated that someone had hurt his friend so badly, but that was how life went sometimes. Making sure he was there during the darker periods was important for Tal, but also having someone there during his own dark times too. Derek would always be there for him, but he was always glad to have Tal too.
Swallowing the last of the beer, Ronnie looked around a bit. Lucky’s really didn’t change. That was what he liked about it. He’d been coming here for years.
“You going to be okay?” He could walk home, would walk home, but he didn’t want to leave his friend there by himself.
Tal’s smile deepened at the clink. “Best friends!” He knocked back the shot and sat it down firmly on the bar.
He had thought Roman was so wonderful, royalty almost. But deep down, Tal had the thinnest sliver of doubt. He wanted to believe things would stay good, but felt the bottom fall out under his heart when he had read the text. But it was for the best. Tal was still working to believe that. Thank goodness Ronnie was still there for him.
Searchlight was home - small, kind, and unique. He felt like he’d never leave the area.
“Hmm?” Tal blinked. “Yeah, fine. Gotta a room at El Rey just in case. Would you like to go?”
“I dunno where you put all of that alcohol, man!” Ronnie laughed softly again. He was feeling good, coasting on a numbing buzz that always seemed to cause him to do reckless things. Not regrettable, but certainly reckless.
The motel wasn’t far, they could get there in no time at all. Lucky’s was friendly and all but he hadn’t forgotten Rocky’s reputation and the careful eye the bartender always had for him.
“Sure, man. We can keep the party going there.” It wouldn’t be much of a party but at least he could make sure to do the friend thing and ensure that Tal got back to his place safely.
Tal let out a laugh, bowing slightly as he didn’t care who heard him. This buzz of being blissfully drunk was good. He didn’t think about the cracks in his heart.
“Good, good.” He smiled as he pulled some money from his wallet and dropped it on the bar. “Let’s go before I order another shot.” Tal stepped over to Ronnie and lightly punched at his friend’s shoulder.
Ron nearly flailed back on the stool from over-exertion. There was no way the punch to the shoulder had that much force, it was more the alcohol. He giggled, grabbing onto Tal for support until he got his bearings. “Hey, hey! Watch those hands.” Sliding from the stool he grinned up at Tal and let go to smooth down the front of his own shirt.
Then he pointed at the sky in a very eighties style manner, “To the El Rey!”
From there he closed the distance to the door, heaving it with a shoulder before he remembered that it pulled instead of pushed.
Smirking, Tal reached and gripped Ronnie by the arm as to not let him fall. If he held too tight, he himself would have wobbled. “Pfft, you keep balance.” Letting go of his friend, he laughed softly. There wasn’t a care in his head or heart.
“To the El Rey!” He echoed.
That pushing at the door made Tal snort and giggle. “Come on, Ronnie. Not going to get anywhere.” He reached around Ronnie and pulled at the door just enough before playfully nudging him out.
“Yeah yeah,” Ronnie replied, waving at Tal playfully.
The evening wasn’t exactly brisk but it was cooler than the scorcher of a day which was something. Ronnie squinted at the El Rey sign in the distance. Damn that looked far.
“Cool. So yeah, let’s buzz.” He had no idea why he said that but it was done now. Moving along, he walked easily enough beside Tal and only almost tripped over a rock or a soda can twice.
The evening was beautiful to Tal, not quite like the day but still enchanting as the stars twinkled above. It was easier to see them here than in Vegas. He was starting to wobble, swaying a little.
“Buzz?” Tal smiled through the question. “Going to need to keep going.” He shook his head and bumped Ronnie with his swaying motions.
“Buzz buzz,” he sounded like a bee. Even his arms had come up to mimic wings but they resembled bird and not necessarily bee. “Keeping up that buzz..” he sang to himself, “…with my pal, Tal.”
An arm would wind around Tal to keep him steady though he wasn’t as keen on his own feet.
Finally the El Rey sign began to look less far away.
“You’re funny, Ronnie,” Tal smiled as he watched him. “So funny. Be careful you’re going to buzz and fly away.” He was swaying like a ship on a slowly building wave.
Feeling that arm go around him, Tal curled one around the back of his friend’s shoulders. “Not too far now.” He grinned as he pulled the room key from one of his pockets.
Better funny than a dick. He snorted at his own joke. Ronnie wandered up to the lot, stepping over a barrier, then approached the door. This place was so familiar, he’d been here often.
When the door swung, he let Tal go in first and then padded in after.
It was exactly the way he remembered it being. “This place is timeless, man. It never changes.”
Tal followed along and nearly caught the toe of his left boot on the barrier. He couldn’t remember being this relaxed and hilarious.
Saundering in, he tossed the key onto the small round table by the window. “That’s a good thing.” He commented as he stepped over and closed the door. Stumbling Tal bumped his legs on the foot of the bed, twirled and wobbled before he fell down to sit on the bed.
“Come on. Take a load off, Ron-bee.”
Ron-bee. A fit of giggles would ensue. Then he flopped down on the edge of the bed next to Tal only to begin sliding toward his friend from the caved in mattress. “You gonna be okay?” He felt like that was a fair question. He didn’t want to leave his friend in a bad state but walking home seemed daunting.
You had to party responsibly.
His smile had widened, making his eyes squint as he loved hearing Ronnie giggle. His arm wound back around his friend as he flopped down and began to slide towards him. “Me? Sure. You? You can stay if you want.”
He blinked, smiling and looked away as he sniffed. With as much alcohol Tal had imbibed, emotions could turn on a dime.
Before he could say anything for or against camping here, Ronnie turned to look up quickly in time to see his friend's expression change. “You sure you’re good?” They both had been through a lot the last few weeks, alcohol had a way of bringing those buried skeletons back up.
“Is it terrible that I want French toast?” It was his go-to when he was drunk and staying somewhere.
Reaching up Tal wiped his face before the tears could find their way down his cheeks. “Yeah,” he frowned and looked over at Ronnie. Flickers of memory floated across his mind. A louder sniff and he shoved the frown away to grin slightly.
“No, not terrible. Sounds good,” he nodded as he slowly pulled his friend close.
“Hey, hey,” Ronnie said, frowning. He curled his arms around Tal, tugging the larger man into a hug. Boohoo’ing was liable to get the waterworks going with him, too, if they weren’t careful. “Hey it’s okay man. If you wanna let that bad shit out you go ahead.” He wasn’t judging anyone.
Hugging was a favorite of his and he’d hold on for as long as Tal needed. Ronnie patted his friend on the back and set his chin on Tal’s shoulder.
Tal didn’t want to burden his friend, but welcomed the hug. He leaned against Ronnie and wound his other arm around him, pulling him against him. The larger man had a bit of insecurity, almost believing he was worthless, one to be deserving of being dumped by text message like he was just some acquaintance or onet-ime, random flat tire fixer.
“You’re not going to leave me?” he asked as he gently leaned his face against Ronnie’s head.
“Couldn’t if I tried,” Ronnie laughed softly. He clung to Tal, rubbing his friends back. Comforting his friends was something he would never stop doing. He couldn’t let anyone suffer, good or bad. Maybe it was naive but he didn’t care. Tal seemed as if he could use the company and he had no where else to be.
He held onto Ronnie, squeezing just a little. Those hands rubbing his back calmed him even though the emotions still bubbled in his chest. Tal would comfort his friends too, help them, protect them like he had time and time again.
After a few moments of silence, he asked softly, “Are you okay, Ronnie?”
“Yeah man, I’m fine. Really.” He’d gotten as much off of his chest as he could. Whatever was left he’d deal with as it came. There wasn’t any doubt he felt safe here in those strong arms.
Thinking about what happened with Mikey was not what he wanted while with his friend.
“Good,” Tal smiled and turned his head to press a kiss to Ronnie’s dark curly hair. He wanted to get past the way he still felt for Roman. But he shoved it down a lot. The drinking numbed things for a little while and yet brought it back up in little bubbles.
He didn’t want to let go of his friend.
It was looking as if they would be stationary for a while. Ronnie shifted slightly, repositioning for comfort. Tal was warm. He closed his eyes and hummed softly to himself. The alcohol made him feel a bit warmer than usual.
Tal closed his eyes as he lightly rested his chin against Ronnie’s head. “You’re staying here? Promise you I’m sleepy.” He was also sad. He’d deal with the latter when he could.
Ronnie made himself relax so his muscles wouldn’t get sore. Chin tucked against a strong shoulder. He maneuvered a touch closer as if there was any space left to begin with in case his body started getting stiff.
“Yeah man.” He couldn’t let Tal stay by himself like this. Who knew what could happen? “I’m gonna stay.”
“Thank you,” Tal whispered and gently squeezed Ronnie before loosening his arms from around his friend. He was more relaxed and comfortable. It wouldn’t take much for him to fall asleep. The larger man let go of his friend to haphazardly climb up the bed and settle.
Ronnie drew backward as those strong arms let him go. He felt colder, emptier. Why? Shaking his head at himself he kicked out of his shoes. Then he slid up the bed and stretched out next to Tal.
“C’mere you big softy,” Ron said, waving a hand at his friend. He opened up his arms and waited for the other man to settle in.
If the tears returned, Tal didn’t want to make Ronnie cry too. And he shook when he sobbed, so it was better to just sleep it off. Slowly blinking, he watched his friend kick off his shoes and slide up the bed alongside him.
Smiling, he edged close and settled in Ronnie’s arms. Tal draped an arm around his friend and pressed his cheek against the smaller man’s chest. That heartbeat calmed him, Ronnie’s warmth was wonderful. He felt safe and loved. “Nice and warm, Ronbee.”
That nickname was a keeper. His nose wrinkled in amusement and he wrapped his arms around Tal. “I totally get that from you, man.” He brushed a hand up and down Tal’s back and shoulders. He knew that was what made him feel better sometimes.
“Just rest. I ain’t going nowhere.”
Tal exhaled as Ronnie's hand moved up and down his back and shoulders. “Am I a furnace?” He grinned a little as he settled a little more, resting against his friend in his arms.
“Good. Don’t worry, ‘bee.” He yawned and listened to Ronnie’s heart beat until he fell asleep.
“I mean,” Ronnie began, smiling down at his friend. “I ain’t complaining about the warm. It’s better than being cold.” With the reposition, Ronnie began to buzz softly at Tal in lieu of a lullaby. Soon after he closed his own eyes and drifted to sleep.