Promo: The Drinking Game.

[Guest Tonights Highlite]

"Hello, can I speak to--"

 

A mummer can be heard at the other end of the phone

 

"It's Ryan. Wait, before you--"

 

And just as quickly, a click and dial tone, can be heard.

 

"Damnit..."

 

 

 

Promo: The Drinking Game.

Extreme Drinking? It's HARDCORE!

 

 

Boston, Mass.

 

 

A small glass filled with nothing but empty promises -- the second of two items that sit atop a nondiscript table. The first being a regular glass bottle, with the traditional black label and white writing, also filled with nothing. And this is not a new occurance, at a bar like this one.

 

"Hey, Madison!"

 

Almost dropping the container she was using to mix the Kamikazes, the girl blinks quickly, her head swivelling to the side and almost knocking two of the shot glasses out of place.

 

"Huh, uh, wh--what?"

 

"I think you've mixed that enough, kid." says her boss, Rich, quirking an eyebrow at her, while expertly pouring out a shot of vodka, not even looking at the glass. "We do have a lot of customers tonight."

 

Madison blushes and quickly fixes the shots for the group of five in front of her. She takes the money from them and collects her tip, quickly averting her eyes. She thought she'd been caught...

 

"Hey, Madie--" the other girl behind the bar whispers. "--Madie, you've been watching that guy all night. Are you sweet on him?"

 

Apparently she was right. She had been caught.

 

Madison looks down, but quickly brings her eyes back up again. Not looking her in the eyes will just give her friend more ammunition. She just hopes she isn't blushing. Angela did catch her in the act.

 

"No, god, Angela!" whispers Madison furiously, in a feeble attempt to deny what clearly was true.

 

"LAST CAAAAALL!" shouts Rich, taking a look at his watch, as people rush to the bar to get their last batch of liquid confidence.

 

"Your totally crushing on him!" notes Angela, as Madision looks at her in abject horror. "And he's on his way over here." she says in a low voice.

 

Blonde tresses fall over pale green eyes, as he meanders towards the bar. Madison looks at him for a second and then her gaze shifts to his companion at the table. A local guy -- one of the professors maybe and a woman she'd never seen before. But it's clear she's with one of them. The local guy that frequentes the bar somewhat, yells something. "Diane's fuckin' wasted, Ry! And I'm well on my way, tooooo... and the only--the only waaay, you could drink me under the table is-if you're, an alcoholic!"

 

And it's obvious they knew each other from before tonight, due to the personal nature of the joke. I mean, they wouldn't let him drink if he was an alcoholic and he seems under control. They were drinking from his bottle of choice tonight. One of the classics. Jack Daniels.

 

Finally getting through the crowd, he leans on the table and smiles.

 

"Hey." he says, his voice is slurring, but suprisingly not as much as she expected, despite the amount he's had to drink. The main thing that gives it away, is the faint reddish tinge across his cheeks.

 

"Hey." she responds back, not sure where to go from there. Walking behind her, Angela whispers something that causes Madison's eyes to go wide. Angela shrugs, as Madison frowns, placing a discreet elbow into her side.

 

The whisper sounded something like. "Why don't you give him something on the house, to get his attention. I'm sure we can sneak it by Rich..."

 

"Can I get a water?" she's surprised at that. "It's not for me." he says with a laugh, probably at her facial expression. "My friends wife is a bit of a light-weight!"

 

Madison looks around and sees Angela distracting Rich with a subtle wink added for good measure. She looks him in the eyes and while his expression is playful, something about that doesn't quite add up. "Sure thing. In fact, how about another shot of Jack--on the house?"

 

"Why not, and hey--it's not like I couldn't use a drink for the road--but only if you'll let me buy you one. It's never fun to drink alone, especially when there's a pretty girl near by--if you'll do me the honor."

 

"Uh, sure. I agree, it's never fun to drink alone." Madison pours the two drinks. It's not like guys don't buy her drinks all the time. Being a bartender, makes you an unconquerable challenge to a lot of bar patrons. Plus, she'd like to think she's good-looking. Black hair, hazel eyes, with those little flecks of green that always get her compliments. And if you have to be trivial, she has a decent rack. With a clink of glass, they both throw back and down, lightly slamming their glasses onto the bar. He smiles at her and brings a hand through his hair.

 

"Names Ryan, I'm sorry..."

 

"Madison."

 

"Madison... I'd better get this water back to my friends..."

 

She frowns. They hardly got to talk at all.

 

"By the way, Madison," he says with a pause, paying for her drink. "you're a little too cute to have a frown like that. Thanks for the shot, we'll definitely do it again some time."

 

They lock eyes and Madison's frown turns into a quizzical expression. His face just doesn't match his eyes. She'd like to think that as a bartender, she has a good knowledge of human behavior. And human reaction. He seemed okay, but he definitely wasn't. The pain in those eyes...

 

As the blond leaves, water in his hand, Angela comes back over, her need for distracting Rich finished. "You guys had some animal attraction going." says Angela, faking a swoon. "Madison, I thought you might jump the bar and drag him back by his belt, before he left, the way you were staring at each other!"

 

Madison rolls her eyes. "He's cute, but we didn't even get to talk! And did you see his eyes, Angie?" she pauses. "He looked so--I don't know--sad, I guess."

 

"He looked like he was having fun tonight, to me! He really cut loose on that bottle of JD and he's not even all that wasted!"

 

Madison sighs.

 

"Guys like that; they drink that way because they have something painful to forget... not because it's fun." says Madison sagely, because after looking into those eyes, it's hard not to wonder just what was bothering the mysterious Ryan she met tonight.

 

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

 

"So, I meant to ask you..." the guy sighs, as he sits back down at the table with his friends. He knows what's coming. "Did you try and--"

 

"Yes." He says, interrupting quickly.

 

The woman at the table drinks her water quickly, but she's clearly not feeling all that hot, excusing herself to the bathroom. His friend looks ready to prompt him into a longer discussion, but he turns away and goes to look after his wife.

 

"I'd rather not talk about it, anyway." He says to noone in particular.

 

Ryan Dustin sits, his friends he's been with most of the night, are definitely not use to the amount of heavy drinking he is. But then again, he always has a reason to do this. Even if they aren't good ones. But he's not an alcoholic. No way!

 

Ryan sighs...

 

Normally vibrant emerald orbs are clouded over and faded. A dull drab green, at the realization that he's going to have to go into another Hardcore match, and this time he may hurt somebody. Specifically, Austin Sly. One problem is that it's not like he hasn't done this before. But the past is the past, right...

 

A cough.

 

The other problem is, as he remembers the look in those announcers -- Cyclone Comet and Bobby Riley -- eyes. He doesn't want to do it, again. Too many bad memories. But in the back of his mind -- befuddled by the brown liquid he's become so dependent upon -- he's not so alarmed at the prospect. Whether it's the alcohol in his belly or thoughts of whatever brooding point has brought about this self-introspective, he senses this feeling in the pit of his stomach.

 

And it makes him sick.

Edited July 4, 2004 by Tonights Highlite

[muzz 0]

Very nice work, I enjoyed it. Refreshing to see this sort of character, battling with demons, wondering how they'll get through it all again, reminds me of someone I know...

 

I get the feeling Madison will pop up again eventually, and I hope so, as it sounds like a good way to further the character as he progresses in the fed.

[Dace59 0]

Very sweet promo man. Though you probably know far to much about the pyschology of heavy drinkers. It's making for a very interesting character.