Ana Lucia hits harder. (i_was_a_cop) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-01-31 00:23:00 |
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Entry tags: | ana lucia cortez, cinderella's prince |
Who: Ana Lucia and Tom
When: Christmas Eve
Where: A Bar
What: Wishes being granted
Rating/Warnings: Low (a few swears)
Status: Complete when posted
Ana Lucia sighed, watching the puff of her breath disappear into the night air, the glow of the neon lights of the bar the only other witness to the vapor. Reluctantly she pushed the door in to the establishment wondering what the hell she was doing here.
She wasn't generally the type to mope about the holidays. She usually spent it with family, such as Thanksgiving where she'd travelled back to NYC to spend it with her mother, cousins and her old NYPD buddies.
But with the epic snowfall in the OC and the fact flying across country so soon would be costly, she'd chosen to stay home for Christmas. And she suddenly realized she was miserable for it. Friends she had made here had come and gone, and all her old friends were back on the East Coast. In the nearly two years she'd been in California, she hadn't even managed to get herself a boyfriend. Not that Ana was desperate for one but it was a nice thing to have when it came to this time of year.
And quite frankly she hadn't had some since she'd left New York.
Inside it was just noisy enough with what few people were there to drink on Christmas. Ana stepped up to the bar, shivering off the cold as she ordered. "Stella." A pint of beer sounded pretty good right now.
Tom was sitting at the bar. It wasn’t unusual for him to be alone, but for once he wasn’t casing the joint for someone else to be with. He was focused on the drink in front of him, not looking around at the ladies who may or may not have wanted his company. That was, until one sidled up to the bar next to him. He turned to give her a smile in greeting, then gave his attention back to his alcohol. It was turning into a lonely night.
Ana Lucia almost missed the non verbal greeting as she was just impatiently waiting for her beer. California still made her impatient; especially when it came to things she wanted right away. Which was usually everything.
She glanced over at the stranger at the bar who looked about as miserable as she felt. She gave him a mirthless smile and said "Merry Christmas," in the most sympathetically dry way she could. When she got her beer she settled in the seat next to him. After a long quiet moment of them both sipping at their respective drinks, Ana said "This snow's a bitch huh? If I'd wanted a White Christmas I'd've stayed in New York."
“Merry Christmas.” Tom said, softly, then turned a bit in his chair so he could face her better. Good looking girl. He couldn’t deny that. She had the air of someone who could take care of herself. That was attractive, too. Not the kind of girl that Tom would normally go for, in all honesty. She wasn’t an easy mark. But this wasn’t him trying to get in her pants. This was just making conversation on one of the loneliest nights of the year.
“Seriously.” He added, then lifted his drink for a sip. He set it back down once he was finished. “No one around here knows how to drive in this shit. It’s clogging up the roads, making it even more dangerous than if it was normal for this time of year.”
Ana snorted. "Right? And define 'normal', cuz that's one thing this place ain't." She took another sip of her beer, savoring the earthy flavor. She had to admit, for a drinking partner he was easy on the eyes. At least that would make for a more interesting time while she got stupid drunk. She lifted her glass a fraction and said, "Ana Lucia," by way of introduction. If they were going to commiserate together at least they could know each other's names.
“Tom.” Tom responded giving her a little smirk. “And you’re right. Normal is about five thousand miles away from this place. Ever since I joined that stupid message board. I didn’t notice any of the crazy shit until I found Valarnet. You know it?” He asked before lifting his glass for a sip.
Tom?? Ana Lucia tried not to wince, though some measure of "oh god" flickered across her features involuntarily. Tom was the "fake name" the guy from her dreams used when she'd agreed to be his bodyguard. They'd met much like this, at a bar, drinking, after a miserable day. That trip to Sydney was what had gotten her on Flight 815 for the return trip which in turn ended up with her in a plane crash off a god forsaken island.
She distracted herself from the irony of this encounter by taking a long draft of her beer and answering him. "Oh I know it. Been on there for nearly two years now." Apparently it was a small enough world that she ran into Valar people on a constant basis. "You started dreaming yet?" She gave him a knowing smirk.
“Two years?” Tom asked, eyebrows rising. “That’s a long time. You must’ve dreamt a lot.” He took a pull of his own beer, too, and then set it down taking quite a bit of interest in the coaster. “Yeah, a bit. My dreams aren’t a big deal, though.”
Ana tried not to frown at the thought of how much she indeed had dreamt. It sucked. She finished her beer and flagged the bartender for another.
"Yeah. I have." She sighed and indulged herself in the fresh foam and cold beer that was placed before her. She wasn't sure if he was baiting her for conversation or if he genuinely didn't care for his dreams either. "I don't know if anyone's dreams are a big deal or not. It's kinda relative."
“I guess we make whatever kind of deal out of them that we want to,” Tom said. He wanted to simply leave it at that. “You have time off work for the holidays?” That might be an easier question to ask. An easier line of conversation to follow. His job was boring, but it wasn’t singing and being a sleezebag like his dreams were.
"Shift just ended. Patrolling in a place that never sees snow and gets a shit ton is just boatloads of fun. At least I'll get New Years off after pulling Christmas." She smiled wryly and sipped at her beer while looking at him. "Irvine P.D."
“Ah, I see. I can only imagine. I’ve been trying to stay out of the stuff as much as possible, really. Snow isn’t exactly my thing. And it’s making it dangerous out there.” Tom responded. “Officer, then? Or Detective? It’s surprising how little I know about how the force works.”
Ana shrugged a little. "I come from New York so snow is just a part of life for me. Was just hoping not to experience it again for a good long while." She smiled when he admitted ignorance about law enforcement, and turned to him fully, leaning an arm on the bar. "What, no handcuff pickup lines? I'm almost disappointed." It was usually the first thing out of a guy's mouth once she mentioned it. "I'm an officer. Detectives don't patrol. They're the ones showing up at the crime scene after everything goes down and then digging through paperwork and stuff to find the bad guys. I'm the one on the front lines trying to catch the bastards before they commit another crime."
“I don’t blame you. I hate the snow.” Especially when there wasn’t supposed to be any snow. Though it was coming yearly now, wasn’t it? At least, the last few years it had. He shifted his weight, turning to give her his attention, too. “...Those are a bit sleazy to be given to an actual member of law enforcement. But hey, if you’re offering.” Tease. Flirt. “Well, thank you for your service, then.” He said, and gave a funny, little salute.
She smirked at his reply and slowly sipped at her beer, keeping him in her sights. He really was handsome, she’d have fun flirting with this one. She started to laugh at his silly salute, but nearly choked on her beer. Ana coughed and laughed behind her fist. “Jesus, that’s a horrible salute. I was Army too.” She reached over and adjusted his arm before he could fully finish the move. “Your arm’s gotta be parallel to the floor. You can’t just pull that Benny Hill shit.” She gently adjusted his arm to the proper position. Normally Ana wasn’t the sort to reach out and touch someone so quickly, but it was probably the alcohol kicking in on her nearly empty stomach and the loneliness that had her less reserved tonight. “There. Like that.” Of course, she hadn’t been an officer in the military, but Tom looked cute saluting so she’d go with it.
Tom gave a soft chuckle, and let her position his arm however she wanted to. He found that he wanted--needed--the contact. It felt nice, actually. Maybe the alcohol was kicking in for him, too. But he smiled, and gave the salute in a proper way. “Better?”
She returned his smile as she pulled back a little, their faces much closer now. Man, his eyes were startling, a gorgeous shade of blue and full of expression; they were almost hypnotizing. "Better." She said after the pause between them bordered on awkward. Ana sat back on her stool, tucking a lock of dark wavy hair behind an ear. She distracted herself by sipping on her beer and then ordering some pretzels and dip. She needed to eat something.
"So, what do you do?" She said, turning back to Tom.
“It’s really boring,” Tom said after swallowing his own sip. “I work in investments. Run the West Coast branch of my father’s company. Nowhere near as exciting as police officering.” He finished the last of the drink in his glass, then set it down on the counter.
"You're right," she replied with a wry smile. "That is boring." She plucked one of the thick, three inch length sourdough pretzels from the plate that appeared before them and popped one end into her mouth, sucking on the salt as she held the other end with her free hand; she rolled the pretzel along her tongue as the salt dissolved. She pulled it from her lips when she spoke again. "But that also means you could afford to drink me under the table with the best stuff." Or you know, buy the lonely cop a drink.
“Hey, that I can absolutely do.” Tom said, reaching for one of the pretzels. He lifted it up, raising an eyebrow. “You just have to promise me that if I do, you won’t try to drive home.” Not that she would. She was a cop. They didn’t do things like that did they?
Ana smirked. "Concerned for a chick you hardly know? I'm touched." But she knew he was right, catching a cab was essential if they both planned on getting plastered. "Guess that means we'll have to share a cab." In this weather that could take a while. She chuckled at the thought. "You know we should probably call one now, maybe it'll get here by the time they cut us off." She took a sip of her beer and then idly perused the drink menu that had been there already.
“We could end up back at my place. I’ve got beds and more alcohol there. And it’s free.” Tom suggested. He pulled out his phone to dial the car service that he normally used.
Both eyebrows went up at that.
"Oh really?" Wow, this one didn't beat around the bush at all. "I've heard it's a little risky going home with someone you just met." She teased. "Just remember, you try anything and I know half a dozen ways to pin you down." She smirked, her dwindling pint of beer in one hand, watching him as he called for a ride. Being a keen observer of people as all cops were, she took the time to take in all of his features. Bright, charming eyes and a smile to match, pretty fit, well groomed, and he dressed well enough for someone simply trying to get drunk alone. Ana bet that in a better mood he probably charmed the panties off of nearly every woman he met; he just had that...vibe. "How long till they get here?"
Tom gave a little laugh, holding up both hands in an ‘I surrender’ sort of gesture. “Honestly, trying something is genuinely the last thing on my mind. I just…” and here’s where he opened up a little, exposing the soft, sensitive creature buried deep within. “I just don’t want to be alone right now, you know?”
Then he cleared his throat, covering that sensitivity up, and called the service. It was a short conversation. Just giving his name, the address, and a thank you before he hung up. “Fifteen minutes.”
Wow. It seemed like he really meant it. And knowing how he was feeling, Ana definitely could relate. She nodded at his confession before taking another sip. "Same here."
She grinned. "Well that's just enough time to play one round of I Never." She tilted her chin up at him. "You game?"
So, the guy from his dreams--the “Dream Me” as he referred to him--was very scary for Tom. He didn’t want to be that guy. He wanted to be both charming and sincere. Some of the time. Okay, most of the time. And tonight he thought he was succeeding.
“I’m always game,” he said, finding a bit of the smirk and playful flirtation that he’d been lacking. “You want to start?”
"Okay," she smiled and took a moment to think. "I never kissed a girl." She didn't drink. She figured starting off easy was best.
Tom laughed. He sipped quickly, then set his glass down. “If that’s the way you’re gonna play it, I never kissed a boy.” One eyebrow rose in a challenge.
Ana smirked at the eyebrow raise and sipped a little longer than he had. "I never went to college." She knew for someone in his line of work he had to have.
Tom took a sip. “I never wore a badge.” He replied, smirking proudly.
Ana matched his expression and sipped. "I never got a speeding ticket."
Tom laughed and drank again. “I’ve never…” God, his mind was getting fuzzy now. “I’ve never… talked my way out of a speeding ticket.” He said. Though, then he had to drink again, too.
Ana Lucia laughed. "I thought you looked familiar." She teased. "What did you say to the officer?"
She chewed on her lower lip as she thought about another one. It took her a little longer than it should have thanks to the alcohol. "I... never skinny dipped."
Tom shrugged his shoulders. “Just appealed to their logical mind? I suppose? I have honestly never bribed an officer.” He didn’t drink at that one.
Then he laughed again. “All right.” He sipped. “I’ve never… fired a handgun.”
"Well if you ever want lessons," she smirked, raising her glass and then sipped. Ana realized she wasn’t doing ‘I nevers’ that she’d actually done and was probably getting Tom more drunk than she was becoming. “I never...wore heels." She paused as if she wasn't going to sip and then did. "I lost a bet with Vice. God those were some high 'fuck me' heels. Never again."
“Hey, I can’t say no to such a generous offer. From a beautiful woman with a loaded gun.” He added, playfully. He lifted his drink in a toast, but didn’t sip. He’d never worn heels. He chuckled softly. “I don’t blame you. They look like torture.” He glanced at his phone to check the time. “The car’ll be here any second.”
Ana laughed. “Good answer.”
She drained the last of her drink as Tom stated the obvious about the shoes. “They were torture. I don’t know which was worse; how sore I felt afterwards or all the catcalls I got from the guys at work for weeks afterwards.” Working with knuckleheads seemed to come with the territory of being a female cop. They were good men, just juvenile sometimes.
Ana paid up her tab and waited for Tom; slipping off the barstool had been easy, but the world went a little wobbly once she stood. She leaned against the bar a little. It was a good thing they were calling a cab. “C’mon Tom…” the name still felt wrong because of her dreams. “I’m calling you Sexy Tom. Because the Tom from my dreams...was not.” Yeah, she was kind of starting to enter the realm of being drunk.
Tom gave a laugh, wrapping his arm around her once they were both on wobbly feet. Bar tab paid, there was nothing left to do but stumble out and wait for the car service. Of course, it was waiting for them on the curb. The driver opened the door to admit them into the back of the very expensive car, and Tom let Ana climb in before him.
“Good.” He said, settling in beside her. “Because if I’m only one thing, it’s sexy.”