gunsforhire | log: bar post #something

"Well, if you stick a rag into a bottle of whiskey and light it, you have a molotov cocktail so..." He just wouldn't trust Church's aim.

"It is scary," Wash agrees. "And then sometimes it's... boring. Tedious. War involves a hell of a lot of sitting around not doing very much." That had surprised him once he'd hit the front lines, how little he ended up doing.

"Let's maybe not talk about burning alcohol in the middle of a bar unless I'm the one setting things on fire."

"Former UNSC?" Delta asks Wash, because it sure sounds like it.

Wait... "You set alcohol on fire?" Delta asks his older brother. "Why?"

Wash nods. "Yeah. I was a marine. I'm done with them." After everything he's seen, is it surprising that he doesn't want anything to do with them?

"Cuz...it's a thing you can do with high proof stuff on top? It looks cool." Duh. "Probably not as cool as shooting shit in space, but."

"Wow," Delta says, a bit awed. A friend who was a marine, and one who was a air force pilot. Lucky him. But his awe is for Wash, not Church. Who he wishes would go away. He wants to talk to the relative stranger.

"Not as cool, Church. Not even."

Wash shrugs. "It's really not as cool as it sounds. Lots of boredom interspersed with moments of mind-numbing terror, and officer incompetence."

He shakes his head. That's a bad train of thought. "Do you drink it while it's still on fire?"

"Wha- no, of course you don't drink it while it's on fire. You've seriously never seen me set something on fire? Which one of you wants a flaming drink?"

"Him," Delta says, pointing cheerfully and quickly at Wash. This is an instance where years of training at 'not it' is good for you. "He does."

Wash blinks, gapes a bit. "What? Why am I getting volunteered?" he protests and sure, maybe he shouldn't have been so hasty.

"Fine. Let's see this flaming drink," he says, flashing a grin at Delta. "You're calling the ambulance if it sets me on fire."

"You realize you don't...you don't actually drink it while it's on fire. Unless you're drinking through a straw, then that's okay. Or if you're really brave, and by brave, I mean stupid. I'd definitely lose my job if I let you drink it WHILE on fire."

But he starts layering the shot until the everclear sits nice on top. Then he lights that sucker up and slides it in front of wash.

"Hold on a couple seconds, then blow it out. Woo, playing with fire!"

"Shhh, he won't," Delta giggles in that way drunks do as he focuses intently on Wash and the drink. "It's bluish-green. Good sign. Good colors. Go on, drink it."

This is an experience, definitely.

Wash would point out that he has done way dumber things in his time, but it's probably best not to point it out when Church is making the drink.

"It's pretty looking," he agrees as he takes it. He let sit burn for a moment and then blows it out before downing it in one go.

"Holy fuck," he ends up gasping.

"I mean, it's mostly for show, but sometimes the heat does alter the flavor a bit. I could get something to sprinkle overtop for a nice little sparkle show, buuut..."

He laughs a little at the reaction. "Refreshing, huh?"

Delta stares at Wash, not sure how to take that. "Good, bad?"

His attention turns to Church again. "What was it?"

"Jesus Christ, I think it stripped the skin out of my throat and nose," he says, but he's grinning. "It's like when you have a really strong mint, except alcoholic and on fire."

"Call it the flaming mouthwash, Agent Wash." He sounds smug. That's because he is.

"That doesn't sound..."

Delta pauses and frowns at Church. "Agent? Your nickname for him?"

"It's not terrible. Just has a hell of a kick and-"

He goes still when Delta asks that, stares down at the drink. "Military title. part of a special project."

"Yeah, I haven't actually pinned down a nickname yet. I mean...the mysterious dude who is Wash but isn't? Falling through another universe? I dunno, haven't found anything fitting. It'll come to me eventually."

"Falling through..." Delta starts and he looks at Wash. "What's he talking about?"

This was a terrible idea. Why had he ever thought that something could go right for him, especially when AIs were involved? Especially when Church is incapable of keeping his mouth shut.

"I did say I came from off-world."

"...I'm sorry, is this a thing? Are we doing a thing?" He looks between the two of them. "I kinda thought people knew. Was I not supposed to say shit? Could someone maybe say something to me if I'm not supposed to say something?"

"Go away," Delta tells his brother firmly, a touch angry. Then he turns his attention to Wash.

"That's why you look like the Washington I know?"

He gives Church a look. "What, you think I just go around announcing I'm from another goddam universe?"

He sighs and leans back in his seat, staring at the bar. "Yeah. Except older, more tired and bitter."

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