Who: York and Shaw When: 12 August Where: Bar What: Random Encounter Rating/Warnings: Low/None, fade to black on going home to her place for a shag. Status: Complete!
Shaw was slowly settling into the area, her training was going well and she was even starting to take on some of the sessions training some of the new recruits. One of the things she had found she liked was the bar scene. There were enough to keep her occupied and they all offered something a little different which was great for when Shaw just wanted a fight. Tonight however she was just after a few drinks, walking up to the bar she took a seat and ordered a beer.
York was getting back into the swing of things. It’d taken a little longer than he expected, since once he started working out and finding a place for himself in Orange County, weird shit started happening. And then the Dreams came and knocked him off his feet. But he was jogging, now, and getting all of his VA crap together. Still wasn’t driving, so he either took cabs or walked for almost everything.
And then a beautiful woman sidled up to the bar next to him and ordered a beer. He turned to catch her eye with his good one, then lifted his glass as if in a toast.
Shaw caught the guy’s eye, managing not to outwardly react to his damaged one and lifted her own glass in response, “Evening” she said in a relatively friendly manner, she didn’t tend to talk much at places like this but he had already intrigued her.
“Howdy.” York said, giving the woman a friendly smile. Hey, even though the world was fucking nuts didn’t mean he would change his easy-going and friendly nature. He sipped from his glass and set the pint back down on the bar. “How’s it going?”
“Pretty good. Settling in, how about you? Lived in the area long?” she asked, curious about whether he was a long standing resident or not. Either way it would give them a topic of conversation.
“Recent arrival. I’ve only been here a couple months.” York replied. He smirked softly, thinking ironically about the Dreams and how they brought the community together. “It’s a pretty interesting place, that’s for sure. Are you a local?”
“Not even a little, New York City born and bred” she told him, “Just moved out here a few weeks ago. Trying a change of pace. So what makes it so interesting?” she asked curiously, turning her body towards him as they continued the conversation.
Oh. This woman wasn't part of the Orange County crazy. It was almost refreshing for York to meet someone who wasn't Dreaming, who didn't battle crazy monsters, who would likely think him crazy if he mentioned it. So he held his tongue. “Well, I grew up in the Midwest. So it’s interesting to me. Must be old hat to someone from New York, though.”
“New York does have a lot of variety, it’s never dull” Shaw told him, “It seems pretty quiet around here but I’m sure I’ll get used to it. At least there are a good amount of bars to visit” she grinned as she took another drink.
York chuckled, lifting his glass. “I’ll drink to that.” And he did, then set the glass back down again. “What brought you to Southern California? Here for work?”
“In a way. More a change of pace, I’m an MMA fighter but I’ve been asked to look at coaching. I have a friend here who did something similar so figured I might give it a shot” she told him, “And why not do it where the weather is nice pretty much all the time”
York nodded, grinning softly. “Hey, that’s an absolute draw to a place like this.” He said, turning the glass around a little on the coaster in front of him. “One of the reasons I’ve decided to stay.”
“Oh yeah? You're a fan of the warmer weather too. It's definitely a good thing, beaches aren't bad either” she added, she'd been considering trying to learn to surf just for something challenging to do. “So what is it you do?” she asked.
“The beaches are nice. Lots of water. I was deployed overseas where it was hot and there wasn’t a lot of water, so it’s a nice change.” York was a little surprised by the question. It was so innocent, but it always caught him off guard. “Up until a few months ago I was in the Marine Corps. Right now I’m… not.” He motioned to the scarring on his face, his whited out eye.
“Figured as much” Shaw said with a simple nod, “I was in the army medical corp so...” she'd seen a lot was implied, “Any idea what you're gonna do now? Or you still adjusting?”
“No idea.” York said, glad that she wasn’t asking too many questions. At least, not about the accident or his eye. Just the important stuff. “Still adjusting. I’m crashing on my brother’s couch while I try to figure it out.”
“That’s good, taking your time I mean. So many people rush into shit just to be busy and active again then find they can’t stand whatever it is they’re doing you know?” Shaw said, she’d been lucky to find MMA to channel her violent tendencies after being told she’d never make it as a doctor.
“I can imagine.” York gave her a nod. “I’ve been a military guy as long as I can remember. It’s time for me to figure something else out. I’m pretty good with computers.” He mused aloud, then lifted his glass to have a gulp.
“Tech guy huh? That's a pretty good business to be in from what I hear” Shaw said, “That Stark guy is pretty big right?”
“Yeeeeeah.” York said slowly, stretching out the word as he considered. “That it is. Big company. I bet they have room somewhere.” He’d have to take a look at the job openings. “I’m sure someone at the VA could help me find a job.” He just hadn’t looked into it yet.
“Well you have time right? Plenty of bars to enjoy first and of course good company” she said with a smile gesturing to the barman to bring them both more drinks.
“Oh, absolutely,” he said, lifting his glass to toast to her. “Beautiful company.” He added, then gave her a wink. With his good eye.
“Careful talk like that can get you anywhere” Shaw said with a more sultry tone, “And I’m not easily handled” she added suggestively.
“Is that so?” York asked, breaking into a bright smile. “I think this calls for more drinks.” He lifted his hand to flag down the bartender, then turned his attention to her again. “Tell me more about this anywhere place I can go.”
“I can always get behind that” Shaw said, her time in the forces had led to her developing a pretty strong liver and she enjoyed drinking. Especially with good company. “Oh well it’s pretty amazing, if you think you can handle it. Not everybody can”
“Jesus,” York teased, unable to stop the bright grin. He gave a soft chuckle. “Do you have any idea how incredible you are?” He leaned against the bar and ordered a couple of shots from the bartender before turning his attention back to her. “I would be honored if you’d let me try.”
Shaw chuckled a bit then, “Please feel free to tell me” she replied with a grin, very approving of his order of shots. This evening was definitely going in the right direction, “I think that would be a very very good idea”
Another round of drinks was set in front of them on the bar, and the bartender (god bless her) wandered off to give them some privacy. York leaned over a little, raising his good eyebrow at her. “You want to finish this,” he motioned to the drink, “and get out of here?”
Smiling Shaw picked up her drink and downed it, “What are we waiting for?” she said with a wicked look in her eyes.
York gave another little laugh, then knocked back the shot. He gave the bartender his credit card to close out his tab, then offered her his arm. “I’m James Duggan,” he said, introducing himself finally. As exciting as an anonymous encounter sounded, he wanted to know who he was flirting with. “My friends call me York.”
“Sameen Shaw, my friends call me Shaw” she replied as she took his arm. She didn’t really have a lot of friends if the truth was known but it sounded better than ‘I make everybody call me Shaw because I don’t get too close to people’.
“Good to meet you, Shaw.” Now he knew what name he'd hopefully be calling out later. He smirked as they left the bar together.