LACK OF MAN (part 5)
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They headed down the rest of the street towards the bar. Leerna was much closer to Hunter now that Vanessa was evidently out of the picture, almost attempting to hold his hand. They were both quiet. She was furiously scanning through ways to lead Hunter into her arms. He was collectively and simultaneously thinking about Leerna’s tongue and calling Vanessa to apologize in hopes of obtaining her warmth again. Both thought processes were admiral, and contained severely possible paths and futures. They had stopped at another crosswalk, Leerna shuffling ever closer, Hunter’s disgust with Vanessa’s attitude growing. He just stared into reflections of himself in the passing car windows. She stared into the bright red light until it turned green, her mind zoning out on the memory of waking in Hunter’s arms.
The streetlight changed to green and they both stepped onto the road. Leerna, for the whole three blocks, continued to use her peripherals to gaze at the newly single Hunter. Before long they had arrived at Collar’s, entering under the white and pale-blue painted sign hanging above their heads. Upon entrance Jenny, the bartender, was pointing at their usual booth. Sulli was sitting with Anth, three cans on the table between them. Leerna finally decided that it was time to take Hunter’s hand, squeezing it a bit as she pulled him towards the booth, holding up two fingers to Jenny; who nodded at the silent drink order. Both Hunter and Leerna shared the enjoyment of bourbon, among many other things like food, music, and thoughts pertaining to life.
“Hey,” Anth said loudly from his usual corner of the booth.
“What’s up?” Leerna asked, sitting next to Sulli, Hunter next to Anth.
“Waiting for our drinks,” Anth yelled out, catching Jenny’s attention.
“So what’d you get?” Hunter asked, spinning one of the cans to a picture of corn.
“Just some food,” Sulli replied, spinning one of the others. “Check it out…strawberries.”
“Holy shit, seriously?” Leerna exclaimed, grasping the can with both hands.
“Guy had ‘em at three-hundred credits,” he said.
“Three-hundred?” Leerna exclaimed again. “What do you want for them?”
“Why do you want ‘em so bad?” Anth asked, glancing towards Jenny.
“Had one when I was little. They’re amazing,” she replied, trying to smell through the metal. “You ever have one?”
“Nope,” Anth said.
“They’re so good,” she replied, inspecting the faded-green picture that was once a bright red. “So how much, Sulli?”
“Three-hundred,” he smirked.
“Piss off,” she sighed rolling her eyes towards Hunter. “I’ve been carr--”
“Here you go, guys,” Jenny said, setting down a tray of drinks.
“’Bout time,” Anth replied, smacking his hand on the table.
“Shut up, Anth,” she laughed, personally handing him his pint.
“Never,” he yelled.
“Shut up,” Distorp yelled back. Another half-Martian that repulsed Hunter. This one always sweaty with a scent and drunk and sitting in the same spot.
“You shut up,” Anth yelled even louder. “Fuckin’ halfie.”
“Enough,” Jenny called out as Leerna also kicked Anth’s shin.
“Prick,” she snapped.
“Ow, bitch,” he said, picking up his drink. Leerna gave another roll of her eyes towards Hunter, smiling at him, too. They both picked up their glasses toasting each other before shooting back the liquor. Sulli downed his pint, and then wiped away the foam moustache before taking the strawberries back.
“Please?” Leerna asked. “I’ll give you whatever.”
“Cigarettes,” he replied after some thought.
“Anything but that,” she sighed, hating him for asking for that particular item.
“Nope, that’s it,” he said, knowing she was roaring inside.
“You’re being mean about this,” she replied.
“No, I’m not,” he said, resisting his smirk and avoiding an elbow or fist. “There’s only one place I know that has cigarettes.”
“And I don’t want to talk to him,” she replied, disgusted by the thought. “There’s a reason we broke up.”
“So?” Sulli said, spinning his empty pint. “It’s not like yer gonna get back together with him from talkin’.”
“That doesn’t matter,” she said, waving her hand over the table. “Not talking to him.”
“Hey, Jen,” he called. “Got a can opener?”
“Piss off,” she said, slapping his chest.
“Seems like a fair trade to me,” Anth replied.
“Not at all,” she sighed, shaking her head and sipping her drink.
“Come on,” Sulli begged, poking Leerna on her shoulder.
“If she doesn’t want to…” Hunter said, finally piping up on the matter. He didn’t want to see that rich prick either. “Then she doesn’t have to.”
The fact of the cigarettes was that they weren’t expensive like the 300 credit strawberries, or the 600 credit honey dew melon, or even the 1200 credit mango, it was that they were illegal. Time in prison with a charge for polluting the environment. Their city wasn’t much of an environment. Hunter barely noticed the lack of trees, grass, and shrubs. All of it was replaced with tall and short buildings, cracked roads, dirty gutters, and the massive wall surrounding all of Jasmin City. Hunter hated the wall, the Guardian as it had come to be known. He never trusted the metallic robot officers, their gun barrels always pointing at your head if within the specified distance. His trust had never eased in all the years since childhood, when he was forced to leave his home and dwell here. People had always informed him with persistence that they were simply scanning his face which would be in the database labeled no threat. He’d always call it lies and argue using only fictional examples that he’d read during his youth. Stories about machines gaining or being given self-awareness, effectively revolting across the lands. That never would nor could it happen. Programming had made sure of that, along with auto-kill switches for various parts of the city. People needed ever changing codes to complete these tasks, but were laughable at any training exercise or explanations to the city’s people. Hunter would just stand there, hand raised patiently waiting to give an example and ask if the programming had that specific solution to his fictional consequence.
“You wouldn’t want cigarettes?” Sulli asked.
“Not from that shit,” Hunter replied, trying to ignore the topic by sipping his drink as he looked around the bar.
“Come on,” Sulli sighed, inspecting the strawberry can and developing a devious smile. “I bet ya Mel will be there.”
“Why do I tell you things?” Hunter asked. Leerna grew even more uncomfortable about the fact of seeing them both. Thell for how he acted like he didn’t screw her over, wrapping his arm over her shoulders; hand always draped too close to her breasts, fingers lightly touching her skin or shirt. And Mel because she’d pull Hunter away within seconds of seeing him and get Vanessa off his mind in her own way. She knew Hunter would go. Wouldn’t he? She couldn’t take that chance, knowing Hunter didn’t find all half-Martians attractive, and Mel only had the tongue.
“Not sure,” Sulli replied. “But I’m glad you do so I can con you with them later.”
“Eat a dick,” Hunter sighed, taking note of Leerna staring into her empty glass.
“She might eat yer’s,” Sulli laughed.
“I have to use the bathroom,” Leerna said, getting up. Hunter watched her walk away, considering following to tell her she needn’t worry and to ignore Sulli’s comment about Mel. With his insides beginning to turn back to normal briefly, he felt less and less upset about Vanessa. Perhaps it was the glass of alcohol or Leerna being near and obviously wanting him. Regardless of what it came down to, it was like he had yanked on a chain that had become corroded, rusted deep into the metal, and then breaking it. Resulting in forgetting about all the problems it contained the second it was gone and replacing it with a shiny new one.
“Convince her, Hunter,” Sulli insisted, leaning into the booth’s back cushion, and grabbing Hunter’s nicotine.
“It’s her choice, man,” Hunter said, knowing he wasn’t going to let up.
“Come on,” he replied. “It’s cigarettes…and Mel is pretty damn hot. Barely even looks like, a halfie.”
“Meh,” Hunter said, wanting to say that Leerna was much more attractive.
“Meh?” he replied. “Ya went on and on about her.”
“So?” Hunter said, growing a tad irritated.
“So admit that she’s hot,” he replied, smacking his hand on the table.
“Fine…yes, she’s pretty fuckin’ hot,” Hunter said, shaking his head.
“Who’s pretty fucking hot?” Leerna asked, smiling a bit at Hunter, who looked down into his near empty glass.
“Mel,” Sulli replied, hitting Hunter's nicotine once more before placing it back.
“Oh,” she said simply as she sat.
“So…” Sulli smirked, poking her arm. “How ‘bout them cigrits?”
“You know what?” she said, looking at Hunter’s eyes. She could tell he wished she hadn’t heard those words. It wasn’t new information. He talked to her about Mel before and her looks and in length. It was her fault they even knew each other. “I’ll get you cigarettes.”
“Fuck yeah,” Sulli exclaimed, actually clapping his hands together. “Jenny?”
“Yes?” she called, looking up from wiping down the bar.
“Come ‘ere,” he called back.
“What now?” she asked as she stepped up to the table, putting her blond hair up into a thick bun.
“Smokin’ room still cool?” he replied.
“Sure is,” she said, taking a key from her back pocket and placing it on the table. “You know where it is.”
“Another pint?” Anth asked, sliding his mug across the table.
“Be right back,” she smiled, taking it.
“You not comin’?” Sulli asked.
“Nah, I hate that fuck,” he replied.
“No smokes for you then,” Sulli said, placing his canned food into the bag with his cherished device.
“What do I care?” he replied, taking his fountain pen and notebook out of his own bag. “Haven’t had one in over a year.”
“More for us then,” Sulli grinned. “Let’s go.”
To be continued…..