latino_menace | OOM: Dinner

"Not really, not yet. I like places like this. I used to work in a place like this. The chefs are the best. They're overpaid, under stimulated, over trained."

He glances at Ramon with a quick smile, then back across the room.

"The specials are usually best. They get a chance to liven things up a little. Might actually care a little more. I always go for the specials here. Oh, look at that girl. She's set her sights on you, baby."

'You worked in a resturant? Doing what?'

He hadn't known that before. He looks at him, hen turns to find this girl.

'Where? Is she hot?'

"Waiting, obviously. I cut a nice figure in black, and I'm fast on my feet. When I was a lot younger."

He takes a sip of water.

"She's over near the other window. Sparkly red dress. Big breasts."

'Big, eh?'

Oooh. Even better. He turns around without shame, finding her and openly looking her over. She doesn't seem to mind. He smiles in a yes I'm interested kind of way, then turns back to Random.

'She's a dog. You cut a nice figure in anything. And nothing. You having some wine?'

"Is she? I think she's pretty, in an angular sort of way. I would like some wine."

He looks at Ramon's hands.

"What'll happen if she comes over?"

The wine is in the process of being poured - just a taste at first, of course, and Ramon is given the cork to sniff. He does, in a bored kind of way, then has a sip.

'It's fine.'

The waiter nods and fills two glasses, then leaves them to it. Ramon picks his up and looks at Random.

'I don't know. What would you like to happen? She could have a drink with us.'

He waits for the waiter to go, even though the man's discreet enough to not overhear anything, no matter how plainly it's said, before shrugging lightly.

"Please, no."

Why not? You're afraid I'm going to get ideas and want to take her back with us or something?

He just looks at him with dark eyes and says evenly,

'As you like.'

"Thank you."

He's panicking quietly, and hiding it well.

"Pour me some wine?"

He's not hiding it that well. Ramon looks at him, then looks at the wine the waiter poured, then looks back at him.

'You alright?'

He knows he's not. And he doesn't want to be mean, but Random pointed out the woman to him - he's not considering doing a thing with her, even if she were to come over. But that Random would think he might, after the conversation they just had in the museum - it annoys him.

"Yeah, I will be."

He takes a sip of wine, rather larger than he usually would.

"I'm just getting lost in my own head. Tell me something nice?"

Ramon sits back, frustrated. He hates it when Random won't just spill what's bothering him and because he's annoyed now, he's rather less inclined to draw it out of him.

'I don't know,' he says, rather sullenly. 'Why don't you tell me something nice?'

"Okay."

He sips the wine.

"Don't know how much I can say, not with a crowd" and his voice is light, casual enough, that it's obvious he's trying to make it an answer to more than the obvious question.

"But, well... I've talked to Gustava. The girl outside our room. Drove her over to rehab."

'Right.'

So?

He toys with his glass, then sets it down.

'Good, I guess. How'd you convince her to do that?'

"I'm paying it."

That was a big help, obviously.

"We talked for a long time, a couple of days in a row. She works that street most days. I stopped her one day, and we got talking. I'm good at that."

'Yeah, I guess you are.'

He lights a cigarette and goes with the conversation, for the sake of convenience.

'You talked her into wanting to change her life? That's good of you. Are you paying it or am I?'

"I am, I guess."

The question sort of hurts, just a little, and he has to look away.

"Whatever you're paying me for drumming. I've never thought of you as my employer before. What do I make?"

Ramon frowns, the question annoying him even further as well as the connotations of it.

'I'm not your employer. You own half the club, remember?'

I gave it to you.

'For that matter, there's $20 million dollars in your name in a bank in Colombia. Didn't you read the note I left you when I gave you my favourite house?'

He hadn't meant to lash out. It was just there suddenly, and he couldn't stop it.

"Then I'll pay for it."

He can barely put any breath behind the words, just mouthing them faintly and taking a shaking sip of wine.

'Pay for what? Half the club? The girls' rehab? What are you talking about?'

He's getting wound up now, confused and just...hating this.

'I didn't say you had to pay for anything. What the fuck is this about?'

"Please don't do this here."

Half the glass of wine is gone now.

"The rehab. Just. Please, Ramon."

He glowers but doesn't say anything else for a few moments. He does finish his wine and pour another though.

'I don't care if I'm paying for it. It's not important. Forget it.'

This isn't about money. Which isn't to say that it isn't pissing him off as well.

"Later."

He has to put the wineglass down before he drops it.

'Alright.'

If he were feeling more casual, he'd say 'whatever'. Possibly it's a good thing he isn't.

The first course arrives and he just starts to eat in silence, hardly tasting it.

He manages a few bites. It's dry.

He says so, politely. But the wine is good, he adds.

Random will always know how to be polite. Disconnected.

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