An Evening Out – Billy and Elijah at the Alibi
Monday, September 22nd, 2003
An Evening Out – Billy and Elijah at the Alibi
A Billy/Elijah Chat
Billy: *I can't believe how long it's been since I've had a night out of the house. Let's just say my nightlife isn't what it used to be, and it wasn't much then, either. But after a particularly miserable Monday including three tantrums and a scraped knee (and the scraped knee wasn't even mine), I've decided I need an evening free of crossword puzzles and courtroom dramas. So it's to the Alibi I go for a drink or two, but no more than that, because I have school in the morning. I make the trip on foot, for it's a nice evening and a shame to waste a few blocks outdoors. Stepping into the pub I make my way to the bar, ordering a beer without a second thought.*
Elijah/Leon: *So it isn't The Viper Room, and why should I care. I left Hollywood for a reason, and I should be damn happy to be walking into a bar without any flashbulbs going off or people yelling my name -- or my date's. It's not a bad place, actually... this Alibi, and for my first time out and away from lunchmeat, it's a welcome change. Heading over to the bar, my mind is made up before I even take a seat... a nice cold beer would make my night*
Billy: *It's a quiet night at the Alibi, but it is Lauderville, and how would I know if it was quiet in the first place? I don't make it a habit to haunt the bar. For all I know this could be hopping. But something in me doubts that Monday nights are when they get their best business, though there is somewhat of a motley crew watching Monday Night Football in the corner. I ignore the chants and grunts of support/jeering and sip my beer, eyes shifting to the young man who has taken a seat at the mostly empty counter. Familiar face or no? I can never tell in this town.*
Elijah/Leon: *Looking around the bar, recognising one of my new employees with his friends chugging beer and watching sports, realising that he's the only familiar face here. In such a small town, I would have expected to see more people than this. Turning to glance at the man next to me -- obviously not a sandwich lover -- I flash a smile when I catch his eye* Hi.
Billy: *It takes me a second, and I do a bit of a double-take when I realize he's speaking to me. That's a first. Do I know him? He looks slightly familiar, but I somehow doubt I've met him before. Must be one of those glance-across-the-checkout-lines-at-the-market situations.* Hello. *I reply, the surprise not completely banished from my voice. Either way, suddenly I have forgotten all social skills and have no idea how to proceed in this bar-counter conversation.* Quiet evening, isn't it? *Nice one, Boyd, state the obvious. No wonder you're a social butterfly.*
Elijah/Leon: *Raising an eyebrow at your question, not because it's a weird one, but because you're the first person I've met here who has been so... quiet. I've gotten so used to the immediate personal question -- where am I from? what's my name? why do you own a deli? -- that I'm slightly taken aback* Uhm. Yeah... is that normal for this place?
Billy: *I glance at you again. Another person unfamiliar with the routine of this bar. Maybe you /are/ new around here. I shrug, taking a drink of my beer, eyes not leaving you.* Search me. I have no idea. I'm not that used to this place. *I won't say the reason is that I tend to stay in and avoid the happening nightlife of Lauderville. Wouldn't want to sound like a killjoy.* You're not from around here, are you? *Because you seem like the type who would know the practices of the pub; not because you look like a drunkard but because you look slightly more gregarious than most in this town, not to mention young. Of course, that's a horrible stereotype on my part.*
Elijah/Leon: From around here? Well, I am /now/. *Shaking my head, picking up my beer when you don't seem particularly amused* I only moved here recently. *Wondering if the same is true of you, seeing that you don't know much about this place* Have you seen the new Deli in town? *Smiles*
Billy: *I nod slowly, remembering passing it on my way to school.* I pass it on my way to work, but I haven't been in it yet. *It dawns on me what you're saying, and I raise an eyebrow at you.* That's your place, is it then?
Elijah/Leon: *Nodding proudly* Yeah, that's my place. You should stop by sometime. If you like sandwiches, that is. *Taking another sip of beer, setting my bottle down on the counter* Where do you work?
Billy: I will! *I nod, thinking what a nice change it would be to not have to make my own lunch in the morning.* I work in Towerston, at the school. I'm a first grade teacher. *I grin and hold out my hands, finally ready for proper introductions.* I'm Billy Boyd.
Elijah/Leon: *Taking your hand and shaking it, surprised to hear what you do* Oh. Hi, I'm... Leon Sparks. *Smiling* Nice to meet you. Sorry, but I just would have never known you were a teacher. Not that there's anything wrong with that. *Hoping I didn't just offend you in some way*
Billy: *I grin as I shake your hand, part of me pleased that I don't fit the teacher stereotype, if there is such a thing.* Well, I tend to prefer to leave the teacher part of me at home when I head to the pub. *Or at least that's what I'm saying tonight.* It's nice to meet you, Leon. *I release your hand and fiddle with the label on my bottle for a moment.* So, what compelled you to settle in a place like Lauderville? *I hope I'm not prying, but I really /am/ curious.*
Elijah/Leon: *I've answer this question so many times that the answer almost comes automatically* Graduated from business school recently and wanted to get away from the city... so I started my own business... the Deli... and here I am. *Smiles* Nothing very exciting, sorry. I'm sure you had a more interesting reason to leave England... *Hoping I got the accent right* you're Scottish, aren't you?
Billy: Aye, I am, but I'm afraid I don't. *I shrug helplessly, knowing that this story will sound just as silly as it did the last time I told it.* A distant relative left me the house I'm living in in her will, so since I was looking for a bit of a change anyway I took advantage of her generosity and moved out here, a little over a year ago.
Elijah/Leon: You've been here for a year? *Wouldn't have guessed that either* Well, your story is /still/ more interesting than mine. *Smiling at you, then drinking more of my beer* So... what do you usually do... since you don't go to the pub much? Just curious...
Billy: *Ah, the ever present question. Just what /do/ I do? As usual, I scramble for something resembling interesting.* Well, I prefer to spend most of my evenings at home, you know? I read a lot. Watch films. *I grin stupidly, knowing how miserable that sounds and for once making the conscious decision not to care.* Rather sad, really. But I get by. What about you?
Elijah/Leon: Sad? *Laughing softly* Nah, not at all. *Turning in my seat to face you more* Wanna hear a typical night for me? Talking to little old ladies in the deli about their pets. Listening to music for hours. Going out to buy more music. Listening to it. Reading reviews in magazines to see what else I should buy... *Grins*
Billy: Well, you probably wouldn't want me to come and visit the deli then. *I grin, giving a chuckle.* I'd probably end up being just like one of those little old ladies, chatting about their pets. *Lord, perhaps it's time I get a concrete hobby.* You have an extensive music collection then, I take it?
Elijah/Leon: You have pets? Never said I didn't like pets. Just as long as you don't have like fifteen cats or anything. *Smiling* And yeah, big cd collection... vinyl too, actually. What kind of music do you like? *Hoping he doesn't say classical*
Billy: *I smile a bit nervously, knowing the cat thing often weirds people out.* Just three, actually. *I shrug and bite my lip.* I like just about anything, as long as it isn't too loud or full of screaming. Anything I hear on the radio, which isn't a lot, not around here.
Elijah/Leon: Well, three cats isn't so bad. *Smiles, noticing how nervous you seem, wondering if I'm the reason for it. figuring you might just be kind of shy, I get an idea in my head* Um, I don't listen to anything with lots of screaming... so you could always borrow something of mine if you'd like. *Remembering that you like watching films, hoping I wasn't being too forward* I don't have a television so that's why it's always music for me. Have you seen anything interesting lately?
Billy: *It's nice of you to offer, and it's an interesting prospect; kindling a friendship over music. Then again, I'm not much used to making friends at all.* I'd like that. *I reply sincerely, smiling softly. I try to think back to some of the films I've seen lately and come up with a big fat blank.* There's never much worth reporting on the telly. Old films, mostly. Or whatever's popular at the moment. *Cor, listen to me. Going to the pub for an evening out and discussing my evenings in. I gesture with my bottle around the bar.* Must be a pretty drastic change from the city, this place.
Elijah/Leon: *Topic turned back to me, I nod then swig the rest of my beer* Drastic, yeah. *Forcing myself not to start a rant about Hollywood* This place is like... paradise... compared to L.A. I mean, sure... you don't have nightclubs and bands touring here. But there's something about this place. Maybe it's the people. *Giving you a smile* Have you ever been to Los Angeles?
Billy: No, I haven't made it to L.A. yet. I'm afraid this is the extent of my exploration of the US. Besides the Portland airport. *I know what it's like to prefer the middle of nowhere to the city, because I'm exactly the same.* I've heard enough stories to be fairly sure it wouldn't suit me, though.
Elijah/Leon: *Ordering another beer, nodding* Yeah, it didn't... suit me either. Things weren't working out. *Looking down at the counter, realising I do miss certain aspects of that whole culture* Don't plan to ever go back.
Billy: *I follow your example and order a drink, figuring I might as well live a little.* It's always a tough decision, leaving home. But then you come to a place like this and if it's your kind of lifestyle, it becomes home. *I reach for my new beer, figuring I had better take a drink before I drown in clichéd phrases.*
Elijah/Leon: *Nodding, wondering if you're just saying that or if you really mean it* Does it feel like home to you here? To be honest... I really like it here. But I don't think I've really settled in yet. When I walk down the sidewalk... I still feel like I'm visiting or something. *Frowning a little* I haven't even gotten any mail yet. *Shrugging, remembering that I need to go by the post office first thing in the morning* S'pose I should find out why.
Billy: *I pause, considering. Lauderville is where I see myself in ten, twenty years. But is that because it's home to me, or because I haven't given any place else much of a thought? But really, I'm comfortable here, and I suppose that's all that matters.* I think it's as much home as I'll ever need. *I reply, smiling.* It takes some getting used to, but then you'll begin to settle in. *I roll my eyes at your comment about mail and grin.* It also seems that it takes some time for the postman to find where you live. He's new as well and every once in awhile he'll discover new corners of Lauderville that haven't seen any mail in the past month or so. He's getting better, but you might want to go in and check on that.
Elijah/Leon: *Laughing at your expression as much as your description of the mailman* Ah. I'll do that then. Was planning to drop in tomorrow morning, anyway. *Drinking more of my beer, then thinking of what you said again* So you know him well? The mailman? Sounds like he's found your house, at least. *Grins*
Billy: Aye, he did. Surprisingly enough, since it's not really on the main drag of Lauderville. *I shrug, twirling a coaster around on the counter.* I know him as well as anyone, I suppose. He had a bit of an accident the first time he delivered my mail, so I suppose you might say that started the friendship. *I laugh; looking back on the incident it seems odd he hadn't run screaming from my house.*
Elijah/Leon: *Tapping my bottle down on the counter, leaving my hand around wrapped around it, sighing* Friendship... *Shaking my head, realising I just said that aloud, figuring I've already bored you to death and now you'll think I'm just...weird* That's cool that you've become friends. Guess it means you'll always get your mail on time. *Hoping that came out in a humorous tone and not a jealous one*
Billy: Yeah, but if he were really my friend he's stop bringing me bills. *I grin, shaking my head before I finish off the rest of my beer. I give a glance to my watch and realize should be leaving if I'm going to be coherent in the morning.* Best be off. Got work in the morning. *I pull some bills out of my wallet and leave them on the counter before turning back to you.* Listen, I'll stop by the deli sometime soon, ok? You can introduce me to your taste in music.
Elijah/Leon: *Checking my watch, surprised at how much time has gone by, but not really in a hurry to get home yet. I at least want to finish my beer first* Alright, Billy. Be sure to bring your appetite with your when you stop by. *Smiles* Was nice talking to you. *Giving you a wave then glancing at the football score on the television as another cheer erupts among the guys in the corner... never liked that sport*
Billy: I will. See you around, Leon. *I get up off the stool and head out, grateful as the cooler air of the outdoors hits me and grateful to have met someone else in town I may be able to call a friend.*
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