I grabbed my drink and sat in the corner booth.

No matter who I worked for, I was always overlooked. For years. And I'm still overlooked. I do my shit. Help out where I can. But never a ......

I think it's time for a change. Done what I could here. Always be a nothing here. Others moved up, except me. I talked to the bartender at the, "What the fuck ever bar I'm at.", and he recommends ...... something to think about ......

I ordered another drink .... shit will more then likely change when I wake up. I remember hearing about and Bill W and Dr. Bob. Heard their speech .... fuck, it hit home most times. "I MAY have a problem." I tell myself, but I know what I know.... as close to death as I am I have no time for bullshit.

I ordered one more and headed home....

Isabella heads into the bar and runs RIGHT into @JohnnytheCon   "Oops!  I'm so sorry!"  She tried to help him back to his feet.  "Please let me buy you a drink to apologize for my klutzy behavior, Mr.  ????"

"What the hell??? Someone called me Mister?" I look up into the most beautiful eyes I've seen. "No worries Ma'am. Shit happens." I smiled as I grabbed her hand. "My name is Jonny. And you are?" I almost yelled out of sheer amazement. I steadied myself, got a good look at her, and decided she was good people. "Please, let me buy YOU a drink." We both laughed at that......

It was a hell of a day. Lordian had seen worse sure, but he was generally a numbers guy. He didn't get involved in strong-arming people. Not unless he needed to.

He certainly didn't have a taste for it.

But what better way to wash out a bad taste than with a good whiskey?

He took a step into the bar, and saw jonnythecon being helped to his feet by none other than Isabella_Luciano. And He knew wherever she was, there was bound to be a trail of suitors to follow. He was afraid he picked the wrong bar today, but there was no turning back now.

"I'll need a whiskey sour, and you know as well as I do that the woman standing over there is far too important to be buying her own drinks. Send her tab my way please."

He nodded to the bartender and took a seat at the far end of the bar, away from what was bound to be a sight to see in a few minutes. At least  neither of them would recognize him.

The bartender brought us our drinks, but told us they were paid by someone else. I looked around the bar and saw Lordian holding out money the the bar tender. I was in a whirlwind of shit happening at once. I knew who I was talking to and knew who paid for our drink ..... most likely, as always, I was WAY over my head.......

"Oh that's sweet of you!  Yes... I think I'd like that, if you're sure, Jonny?"  She offered her hand.  "Isabella.  Isabella Luciano."  She shook his hand and walked in, removing her gloves and adjusting her cloche.  

"Gin and Tonic."  She asked the bartender as she slid up onto the barstool. 

"Not a problem Miss."  He said.  "And your drink has already been paid for by the man down at the end of the bar."

Isabella looked down at Lordian and gave him a smile and a polite wave.  "Oh that's very nice of him.  Please let him know he's welcome to come join me and my friend Jonny if he'd like to chat and not drink alone.  No one should drink alone."

She turned her attention back to the man she came in with. "Where you from Jonny?"

"I was born in North Dakota. Lived there half my life. Currently in Cali." I told her. I motioned to Lordian to join us. Anyone who buys me drinks is golden in my books.

"She said no one should drink alone. That's how she put it." The bartender shrugged and continued to clean his glass. As Lordian looked up, he noticed Jonny motioning him to come over.

Much as Lordian didn't think he should be there right now, the Luciano's were not the kind of people you turned down, no matter what your reason was, or how much you liked your head where it was. Reluctantly he got up and made his way down to the pair.

"Thank you for inviting me Miss Luciano, Jonny. I don't mean to pry, just thought it would be nice to buy you both a drink."

He gave them a polite smile, and kept one eye on the door. He was sure someone else was going to walk in looking for Isabella any second now.

"I have to say, I'm surprised to see you out and about so soon after your Birthday Miss Luciano. I figured you might take some time away to relax and recover. Maybe enjoy some of the gifts you received."

"Eh? Birthday?" I said to myself. These two know each other, was my guess. I thanked Lordian for the drink and sat back as Isabella-beautiful eyes responded....

"Oh!  I've never been to the West Coast before but I'm dying to get out there.  I hear California is a lovely state with all manner of natural beauty and the BEST entertainment and shopping."

Turning to see Lordian she smiled, "Oh my party was really nice... Joli can throw one hum-dinger of a shin-dig but I can't be slowed down by one party and even a great deal of very nice gifts.  There are things to be done and places to go... and people to meet.  Speaking of which... I feel rather rude asking, as you seem to know me, but have we met before?"

Lordian nodded as a way of answering.

"I was um, assisting Joli for the party. She asked me to come and tend the bar for a while when someone else had backed out last minute."

He raised his glass for a second.

"Happy to be of assistance. I wonder, did you happen to get through many of your gifts? I regret not handing your gift to your personally, but I was, as I said, occupied."

He turned to Jonny.

"You should have come out, it was quite the show, live band and all. I know I've seen you around, but I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I'm Lordian, I help Jack_Diamond with some of his books..."

He clinked glasses with Jonny and took a sip before turning back to Isabella.

"...which is how I know JoliBebe. I answer to her as well."

He smiled and took a sip of his whiskey. It was aged well, had a bold flavor, but it certainly wasn't the last thing he wanted to have hit his lips before the night was over.

Odd, yet interesting. Was not too sure who Jack_Diamond was, but then again, I started with Sosa's crew. Had I of known it was Isabella's Twenty first birthday, (All women folks birthdays are their twenty first. Or so my Mama taught.) I would of sent flowers, or something. I clicked my drink back at Lordian. "It's a pleasure to meet you sir."

Lordian and Isabella continued to talk, I grabbed another drink and sat back at my corner booth.......

Realizing I was done here, I call the waitress and gave her three, one hundred dollar bills, "Make sure my friends are taken care of please. Anything left is yours." I walked over to Lordian and Isabella and thanked then for the conversation. I headed out the bar. "The morning will tell where." I repeated as I walked to my car.

Seems I am destine to be a fucking nobody. I can get behind that. I understand their are those more prone to favoritism. So be it.

I ordered another drink and thought back on my career. The crews I was with. Did what was asked, no questions. But not enough. I get that.

(OOC a thread for me to write what I think. No response needed, but accepted. I'm old and odd, deal with it. LOL.)