Bar None wasn't particularly full this evening, but it was busy enough. People scattered about, drinking, talking about whatever sporting event was going on at the time, just being patrons of a New York Bar had a subtle Western theme to it. The door swung open, then closed as a figure walked in, looking like he stepped right out of a classic western movie. 

Tall, with an average build, long brown hair and a bit of a five-o-clock shadow. Brown leather cowboy hat, matching jacket, yellow flannel shirt with bluejeans, a brown belt with a big gold belt buckle sporting a cow skull and crossed rifles, topped off with brown leather cowboy boots. All that was missing was the spurs.

"It's about time you got here, Huckleberry..." the old man walking the floor grumbled when the younger man got close.
"Sorry. I made it. And don't call me Huckleberry," he said in a just as deep voice, but with a little more southern twang to it. 
"You got security duty. Hop to it."
Jericho merely nodded, tipping his hat and making rounds around the bar. 

Didn't take long for him to find trouble. Some drunk harassing a woman. Easy. While the guy was in the middle of his third cheesy pickup line, Jericho tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey buddy. You should prolly cool it."

"Hey. **** you."
Jericho shook his head; the guy wasn't his type anyway. "Get out." 

Then the guy tried to swing, but he was too slow, Jericho caught the fist with his right hand, then rocked the guy with an uppercut, then twisted the arm he'd caught behind the guy's back and pushed him out of the door and tossed him into the street just like one of those old movies. He came back in sporting a smirk, again taking to making his rounds around the bar. 

"Maybe this job won't be so bad after all..." 

Rayne had quite a busy day today at work along with a rather...rude client.  What he wanted is what she gave him but it took 20 different trips to draw it with extremely little tweaks here and there and then when she gave him what was wanted, he goes and switches up something major that affected everything else.  Then this client had the nerve to ask for a discount since it took so long.   Honestly Rayne almost sent him out of the parlor but didn't and may or may not have upcharged him a bit for all the trouble.   


For this, she wanted to drink and forget and start new tomorrow and this bar was the place to go when she wanted to relax a bit.  The country feel to it and the patrons there usually were more chill than a club type bar or a sports bar.   This time though, Rayne walked up to seeing a new bouncer throw a guy out.  So maybe not so calm today.  


She was already here and didn't feel like walking to a new place, plus this was close to home so she wouldn't need a cab or go back home to grab her bike.  Rayne pushes the door open and makes sure it doesn't slam shut before going over to the bar section and grabbing a seat towards the corner of the bar so she isn't in the middle of everything.   Raynes in her usual attire for work and just usual for her.  Dark tight jeans with some rips, black combat boots, a maroon modified off the shoulder Kane Brown t-shirt with her black leather jacket unzipped and her white hair is extremely straight.   Hats give creases to her hair and while she will wear them sometimes if the outfit or situation calls for her, not today.   


When the bar tender gets the chance and comes over to her, Rayne gives him a slight smile in recognition.  Shes been here quite a few times.   "Hey, Corona please."  When the bar tender slides it over to her, Rayne gives him a nod.  "Thanks." 

Upon throwing the unruly guy out, Jericho did manage to see someone that might have been approaching the bar, so he waited around and held the door open for the white-haired woman, his demeanor returning to it's normal charming and inviting state as opposed to the more serious attitude he'd had to adopt for the drunk fellow. Once inside, he let the door close behind them and he did his usual 'rounds' which mostly just consisted of him walking around talking to patrons and only kind of making sure nobody caused trouble. In this bar, the jerk from earlier was a rare exception.

People were pretty friendly with a few drinks in them, he'd realized, though tonight no one was really piquing his interest, so the Texan was hoping for either a change of pace or someone else to toss out by the seat of their pants, otherwise it was going to be a long night. After a few moments, he saw the woman from before sitting at the bar being slid a bottle. So, he sauntered up, sliding onto the stool next to her and tipped his hat in greeting.

"Evenin', Darlin'," he said with a charming smile, his southern bass voice rumbling a little as he spoke. "Sorry ya had to see that earlier; most people here are pretty reasonable. That guy just...couldn't take no for an answer." He gave another tip of his hat before relaxing on the stool a bit. 

Rayne greets some of the regulars here before sipping her beer after pushing the lime in of course.   Probably should stay for just a few beers. Chill and relax.  This atmosphere is perfect for it so long as theres no drunk coming up and propositioning her.  Just because shes alone and wearing tight jeans and a modified t-shirt and according to the guy, hot, she doesn't always want to have some guy ask for a quickie in the back.  


When the stool next to hers gets pulled out and someone sits, Rayne glances over at the person to see that's its the new bouncer.  Nods back to him in reply curbing her Australian accent to sound more American, "Evening cowboy.  And don't worry about it, I've seen worse."  Takes another sip of her beer, about half gone already and turns to face him.   "Taking a break on your shift?"

Cowboy. He didn't get that alot, but he liked it. And something told him that as he spent more time in the city; he'd probably get that alot more. He flashed the woman a charming smile. "Well, I guess it can always be worse," he said with a shrug. "Though I guess it's nice to flex my muscles every now and again."

He really wanted a drink but knew that even he probably couldn't get away with drinking on the job. Then again his uncle Frank was probably watching him closer than the other employees. As far as that went, Jericho was sure Frank was doing a favor for his brother, not his nephew. "Somethin' like that. Should be an easy night if nobody else decides to be stupid," he said smoothly. That guy had done it all wrong. You couldn't just go around being blunt and expect to get anywhere. Play it cool. Take your time. And most importantly, respect the word no and you won't get tossed out on your ass.

"Name's Jericho," he said after a moment, But feel free to keep callin' me cowboy. And ignore the old man that insists on calling me Huckleberry..." his smile faded into a bit of a grumble at the last bit, but he was more or less coming to terms with that again. But damned if he let the old man know that.

"As a bouncer I'm sure you get to flex your muscle as you say, more then you would otherwise."  Rayne does what she can to not flex her muscle.  Her animal sides make her stronger and really, why would she fight?  The higher her emotions the less control she has usually.  Specially in a real fight or a life or death one.   


"This is a bar, so someone else is bound to be stupid.  Can't run from that."  Even at a bar like this, the more laid back, always get one or two a night.  Least that she has seen anyways.   "I wont be one of them, promise."  Finishes her beer and raises the empty glass to the bar tender for another then looks back at the bouncer who gives his name.  


"Jericho, I'm Rayne. Nice to meet you."  When her beer is slid over to her, gives the bar tender a nod in gratitude, pushes the lime in with her thumb then takes a sip.  "I'll stick with your name.  No worries on your last."  Cowboy will be his nickname if they be come friends later on and if it continues, probably his last name if she gets pissed at him.  Gotta have a line. 

"True. Though I usually end up with cleanup duty or something stupid; I lucked out and got security tonight," he said with a shrug. "Though one might say I can be strong as an ox sometimes," he joked with a sly smile, only hinting very slightly at his mutation. He didn't know why, it just seemed appropriate.

"True, but the less people decide to be stupid, the more I can hang around and shoot the breeze, right?" he said, a gleam in his eye and a strong Southern twang in his voice. "Well, if you do decide to do anything stupid..." he gave yet another wink and a tip of his cowboy hat, "I promise to be gentle." He let that sentence hang in the air for a moment as he took in her name.

"Rayne. It suits ya nicely," Jericho complimented. "Hey, I been called a lot worse than Cowboy, trust me. Last name you'll have to work for though," he teased lightly, though it was probably more of an outright lie. Last names generally meant commitment, and Jericho was pretty sure he wasn't ready for any of those just yet. Cowboy was really just looking for a good time(or a few, depending on how things went). Occasionally, his eyes would scan the bar as he half-assed looking for anyone making trouble or being unruly. As it stood, the pretty lady next to him had his full attention.

"So you are a floater in the bar?"   What she means is that he floats between jobs at this bar.  Whatever they need is whatever he becomes for the night.   To the bar it should make him indispensable with a safe job.   Rayne tilts her head slightly at his ox comment trying to sense if there is anything...extra about him.   Can't today though, its been a very long day and to that, takes another sip of her beer.  


"The less people be stupid the less you get to throw people out of the door."  Takes another drink from her beer then laughs lightly at his next words.  "I'll keep that in mind though."  Rayne wasn't looking for a good time.  Its not her thing, though he seems like a nice guy, probably a good friend.  "Unfortunately, if you are looking for something stupid tonight," uses his own words from earlier, "you are going to have to check someone else out.  Figured I'd tell you now so you can walk around."   Being up front on this is who she is and if hes looking for that from her, shes going to tell him now so he doesn't get his hopes up.  

"Yep. Just sorta trying out everything until Uncle Frank figures out where I'll work out best, I reckon," he said with a shrug.

"Yep; though...the more people I have to throw outta here, the higher chances there are that one of 'em'll be able to kick my ass," he said with a half-cocked smile. "And I ain't sure too many people wanna see that. I mean...I sure as hell don't."

The shutdown was classy. It came pretty early in the game, but she attempted to let him down easy. However, there didn't seem to be anyone else worth his time at the moment, and she was pretty good company, even if he wasn't going to get what he was really after out of it. But...perhaps he'd hang around and entertain her for awhile anyway. At least until someone more...susceptible came along.

"Welp, thanks for lettin' me down easy, but...I don't have to go unless ya really want me outta your hair. You're still good company, if you don't mind me saying," he said, relaxing a bit on the flirting and trying to appear more sincere. "Though I will have to get up and actually walk around eventually, especially if the old man starts watchin' me. But in the meantime, it'd be nice to know I'd have somewhere to light and chat awhile." He gave her a nod; all she had to do was tell him to piss off, or something along those lines, and he'd drift on his way around the bar. Otherwise, he was going to hang around for a bit longer.

His uncle was smart, making him work a few different jobs at the bar to see where he would work best.  That way he will know for sure what the best fit is and not place him somewhere that wont work out and just fail or have bad repercussion's for the bar. She likes this place and having it shut down for something stupid...that would suck.   


Honestly Rayne could probably kick his ass, though she wont unless he gets handsy and she likes to keep her background quiet.  Better to surprise them.  "Why don't you take some classes then so you don't get your ass handed to you one day?  Or you can just break their nose or knock the wind out of them.  Most people don't want to continue when they have a busted nose.  Or if they get winded."   That should be very safe to say since most girls know how to at least do that to defend themselves.  Of course the guys wont kick others in the balls so she wont mention it to him.  

Rayne shakes her head slightly and takes a sip before replying.  "You don't have to leave if you don't want to, I was just letting you know so you didn't put in all the work for nothing.  Figured I'd save you some time and energy."  

Jericho's posture had changed a bit when she turned him down. He still had his usual confidence and swagger, but he had created a tiny bit more distance, and maintained a respect for her space. "I've taken a few, but yeah I do prefer ending it quick. But it's like my daddy always said, no matter how bad ya are, there's always someone badder," he replied with a small shrug.

"Well, that is very kind of ya," he said gently. "I think I will hang around anyway, if you don't mind. After all, there's more to life." Whoa. Did he actually just say that? What was the world coming to? It was clear he had no chance with her, but he was still hanging around for some reason. Maybe he was stubborn, or maybe it was just nice to talk to someone; who knew?

After a few moments, he gave another tip of his hat and stood up to go make his rounds around the bar. Two guys were getting a little too rowdy, but he managed to calm them down without much incident. Someone looked a bit young so he carded them and got to show some sixteen year old blond girl with a bad fake ID to the door, a lot more gentle than he had with the drunk man from earlier though.

Then he made his way back to Rayne, chuckling a little. "Underage, fake ID. Little rascal has some sort of lightning powers. Zapped me on the ass when I led her out..."

Takes a sip and nods at him.  "That's true, there is always someone worse than you at a fight, however, there is always the chance that someone will be actually trained.   Then its you being cleaned up on the floor."  Takes another sip, finishing her drink and sets it down, raising her hand for another.  "Then again...," looks over at him, "You very well could get a girls sympathy on the beatdown and get her to nurse you back to health for a night."   Or it could backfire on him and the girls wouldn't want to help someone who lost a fight, but she wont say that all.   


Rayne looks at the bartender again and nods when he brings over another beer, pushes the lime in with her thumb and looks back at Jericho.  "Don't mind at all.  You aren't bad company."  When he leaves a moment or so later to do his rounds, Rayne glances around the bar before taking a few longer sips of her beer before asking for a whiskey, double.  Something to have later.   


During this time, Rayne can hear the two guys getting just a little too rowdy for this bar and watches Jericho head over and calm them down.  Its a good thing they didn't want a fight, two on one never really ends well.   Though the little girl he escorts out makes her smirk.   Either get a better fake ID or don't try.   When Jericho does come back, Rayne chuckles lightly.  "Maybe she liked your ass despite being angry you caught her."  The bartender would have caught the fake, shes seen it a few times already since she has been coming here, but that was funny. 

"I mean, I have some limited training, more than enough to help me here, but if I ever try to toss out a retired prize fighter, I'm screwed," he said with a small chuckle. "I wouldn't mind being nursed back to health if I could find the right one to do it," he commented with a smirk; he wasn't necessarily flirting with her anymore, but this was his usual tone of voice. He smiled when she said he wasn't bad company. That was a little bit of an ego boost, anyway.

"Yeah we get those alot, teens coming in with fake IDs. I try to catch em early, save the bartender from havin' to deal with it because between the orders, the drunks, and just people being assholes, they have enough to deal with." Jericho chuckled again at the comment about the girl liking his ass.

"I mean...I guess someone in this room had to like my ass, but I'd rather it be someone who won't ask me for help with their science fair project," he replied, smiling as he sat back down, relaxing on the bar stool. "Though, I will admit...that **** actually kinda hurt. More than your standard zap, not as bad as let's say a cattle prod or something." He shrugged.

Rayne chuckles at his words.  All guys want to be nursed back to health by a 'hot chick'.   She doesn't understand the fantasy of someone in a nursing outfit with all the pain they could be in and the blood and stuff.  Then again...the outfits that have been made, the slutty ones.  Eh, she could see it.   "Lemme guess, they would need one of the nurses outfits?  Or would you be happy with someone just hovering over you all worried like?"   


Taking another sip of beer Rayne shakes her head slightly.  "Why underage girls need to come to a bar to get a drink and risk being caught, I don't get.  Just grab someone older who will buy you a case of beer or something and drink at home or somewhere authorities wont be at."  That's what all her housemates did back home as a kid.   Woods are always a good place to start, so long as you are back far enough to not see a fire light or hear the loud noise. 


Glances at him with a side eye and a grin.  "So you are saying you have been stuck by a cattle prod huh?"  Seeing as hes a from Texas and kind of a cowboy hes probably worked with cattle and might have missed hap with it, but its too easy to poke him with this.  "Well you do have plenty of over science fair age girls here for you to pick from, just keep walking your rounds."