Wounded Souls (closed)

[Asa]

https://68.media.tumblr.com/a7fe09252bbafa8723db467de94b5541/tumblr_ojc5aqsG9X1skqjozo1_400.gifLove
https://68.media.tumblr.com/6cfa4f88618fd1c88ed51bc585f6b84b/tumblr_ojrbpo9n3h1skqjozo1_250.gifhttps://68.media.tumblr.com/d448eddb3118036ed508cdb48fc36510/tumblr_ojrbrg2CbH1skqjozo1_250.gifTrue wild and tender
Two wounded souls
Two worlds transformed
https://68.media.tumblr.com/361f1b994cc7775b2b7c3814692435f4/tumblr_oi7chh2K7f1skqjozo1_400.jpg
His world was simple he was the visual epitome of the bad boy. Muscle cars motorcycles tats and a record... owned a repair shop and lived either in the apartment above or the bar next door... In a word... Trouble. Or so everyone always assumed. Maybe he was never letting one night stand be any more than that... A one night stand. It wasn't for not wanting someone in his life to be loyal to and love with all he was or ever would be but none of them was him... None of them ever hit that place in his heart because most didn't think he had one.
https://66.media.tumblr.com/2607584361c25c6465126d0887651cbd/tumblr_oa2ycgnMf01skqjozo1_400.jpg
She was tired of her "world" that place where she was always expected to take care of everything exactly how the petty and fickle bastards and snobs around her expected. A world where love was little more than a convenient space of time not the caring lasting soul kissed warm embrace of loyalty and truth. Maybe that's why she found herself in this bar... Staring at a ring that no longer meant anything beyond the petty dollar sign that bought it and ended it.

He found that one person who struck that place in his heart and now could she give him a chance? She couldn't fathom someone true genuine passionate and determined to love her but could she let someone else in? Could they blend their very different worlds together or create one all their own?

-----------------
She stared at the ring as it laid on the bar before her. She just wanted to forget. He had barely noticed the divorce being too busy running off to who knows where for who knows what.

The bartender walked over and took the other glass and placed a new drink in front of her and walked away. Almost a little more protective of her since she was an outsider from the regular crew.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Kerry knew all the bad decisions a person could make in a life. Ran away from home at 14, dropped out of school at 16, joined a gang the next day, and in prison as a felon at 19. In a way, his stint in prison was the best thing to happen to him. It shook him out of his narrow focus on just surviving to the next day and taught him that he never wanted to go back in ever again. Getting out after his 28th birthday, he set to work building up something for himself. There wasn't much a convicted felon could do, but he always loved cars and engines. He was lucky enough that his prison had a garage where he could work on police cars and had about 9 years of experience when he rejoined society.

And his hometown always needed mechanics. Between farm vehicles, construction crews and everyday vehicles, there was always work for a crafty mechanic like Kerry. It was hard work, but eventually, he managed to build up enough cash to buy the garage from the owner who had given him a chance when he got out. It was good money and came with a place to crash, which he used nearly every day since he got out. It was the best for them both as the owner went off to retirement. Still, he learned just how hard it was to keep the place operating. Pretty soon, he found he wasn't making much more than he was spending on parts, and utilities.

That's when he got the idea to buy the bar next door. It was a favorite place for motorheads and bikers of all stripes. More often then not, the bar was the unofficial waiting room for customers at the garage. But he needed to have both jobs in order to do better than tread water. He wanted to build something, make something of his life. Problem is, most women wanted no part of his plans. They would see his prison tattoos and his grimy hands and that would be enough to scare most of them off. As he started to make headway, the more he wondered if he'd ever have that part of his life filled.

He was idly thinking about that when a new woman came to The Pit Stop, his bar next to his shop. He'd never seen her before, and she looked too "nice" for the usual clientele of his bar. Already he could spy a few lingering on her from across the bar. Rather than give them the chance to send her a drink, he poured a refill for her and set it on the bar. "On the house," he said simply as he took back her empty glass and washed it in the sink. She seemed to have a lot on her mind as she didn't seem to react to her fresh drink at first. She was fixated on her ring. It looked pretty big, too big to be flashing in a place like this. Probably wrestling with a marriage going back. Stepping back down the bar, he stood before her, clearing his throat. "Sorry to ask, dear, but is everything okay?" he asked, that slight Irish lilt in his voice still there since being born in Ireland and living there until he was 10.

 

[Asa]

She shrugged.
Just deciding what it's all worth. Thanks for the fresh drink.

She wanted to throw it in the ocean. She wanted to to be free from ot and all the bullshit it now meant. The news came on her ex-husband's name mentioned and the bizarre exit of the female face of his empire. That had her on her feet and far from the tv but not out the door to her car instead to a balcony still holding the ring wanting to throw it wanting to scream.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

"As someone that knows what you can get for it, you probably want to hang onto that for a rainy day. The diamond alone will get you-"

He paused as he saw the woman looking past him at the TV behind the bar. He turned and saw some stuffed suit with a very gorgeous woman beside him in a video clip they played about some business thing happening. Whatever it was about, the woman sprang from her stool and ran out the back to the deck above the hill below. Kerry ran after her, worried she was going to throw herself over the railing. Instead, she reared back, ready to throw the ring. He caught her just in time and clasped his hands around her ring.

"Now, I know you are upset; I can see that, but you don't want to waste it on a ring that he'll never see again. If anything, the best thing you can do is use it to set yourself up for whatever comes next. I don't know the specifics, but the best thing you can do after a break-up is thrive. It's not revenge." he said, slowly letting her hand go as she seemed less likely to throw it.

 

[Asa]

You don't know Callis Daniels. He acted as though he barely cared letting his lawyers handle the divorce after he thought I "might be a little too angry to look at him" as I am.sure you saw in the report just now I am allegedly the crazy one for leaving him and destroying every trace of my ever being anything to do with that company.

I got tired of it all. He didn't want kids so he made sure I never could. He wanted me to be the model for the company not because I enjoyed it but because it made him look good.

She shook her head and stared out over the landscape with a sigh.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Kerry leaned against the railing beside her, listening as she laid out what's happened. "Sounds like a real piece of shit. From my experience, you have to be to get anywhere in business. Something tells me that that erasure was a long time coming; the so-called 'Great Man' has to look like he built it all himself. You didn't see it coming because you trusted your husband, and the love that the ring you wanted to pitch represented. Best thing I can hope for you is that this doesn't crush that love and trust out of you. But, that's one bartender's opinion." He offered.

"Look, I gotta get back in there before they steal everything out of the register. If you want to keep trust in your life, can I trust you not to pitch your ring or yourself over the ledge? I'd rather not have to go looking through the forest for either of you. I don't have fresh batteries in my flashlight for it," he joked, smiling at her as she stood gazing at the terrain as it rolled down to the big city below.

 

[Asa]

No you don't get it I erased every sign I was attached to that company. They all came in to my.banners shredded and posters and portraits burnt or burning.

She laughed a little and nodded about not throwing the ring.

Fine

 

[such_a_bad_man]

"Ah, so they couldn't use you as the face of the brand anymore. I get it now," Kerry said, starting to understand better. "Well, if you need anything, you can find me at the bar or ask one of the waitresses for Kerry," He says before heading back inside. "I'll try to give you some privacy out here until closing time."

And so Kerry kept things civil in the bar most of the night. He managed to steer people away from the deck as night descended on the town. A lot of people liked to use it to look down at the city, but he came up with a cover story to keep everyone inside. It was the least he could do for the woman working through her feelings about her divorce. He got so busy that after a while he forgot she was back there until he had to carry an empty keg around the back to the pick-up spot. Stepping out, handily toting the metal keg on his shoulder, he didn't look for her when he walked over to the rack for the empties and slid it in there with little effort. One thing prison did for him was carve him into the fittest he'd ever been. He had to in order to stay ahead of the beatings and fights in there. With all the manual labor of the garage and the bar, it kept him in that same shape. He'd also slipped off his long sleeve shirt so his prison tattoos were on full display. Even under the dim deck lighting they were hard to miss.

 

[Asa]

I guess I should get going. Thanks again for the drink.

She started to make her way out to get to her car. One of the few things she owned free and clear of Callis.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Kerry turned toward the voice, seeing the woman from earlier still out on the deck. He smiled as she spoke, thanking him for the drink. "Not a problem; I felt you could use some time alone so I tried to give that to you," he said. He frowned a little as she headed for the door. "Okay, drive safe," he said as he went back inside to handle closing up for the night. He let the woman leave his place and his mind, figuring it was another chance encounter. He resigned himself to never seeing her again as he took care of the last few of his regulars that hung around.

 

[Asa]

She got to the car and sat there not fully sure where she was going to go. She took out her phone and looked through tonsee who she could call who was not a friend through her ex husband. She was tired of the hotel and all the questions.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

After closing up the bar and settling the register, Kerry walked around the bar, shutting off everything in the bar. With one last scrub down, he walked out the front door, locking it up for the night. As he turned to head next door to his place above the garage, he saw there was still one car left in front of the bar. Narrowing his eyes, he caught sight of the woman from earlier, her face lit up by her phone screen. She had left the bar, but didn't leave the lot. He worried she had no place to go.

Walking over, he knelt down before knocking on the window lightly. He winced a bit as she turned toward him with a start. He didn't mean to startle her, so he held his hands up to show he wasn't there to hurt her. He waited to see if she would roll her window down. "Hard time finding some place he won't know, huh?" he asked, starting to piece things together. "I know it's presuming a lot, but if you want some place to sit and think things through, I have a place right up there next door. Not asking for you to move in, but it might be more comfortable than a car tonight. Plus, you won't have to drain your battery down powering your phone."

 

[Asa]

I would hate to impose. Just tired of all the stares and questions at the hotel.

She bit her lip. He was so genuine and the tattoos added genuine art to him. He was definitely not someone her ex would ever expect her to be around. Plus hopefully he would know where she could put her car. She didn't exactly trust just leaving the 71 hemi Cuda his father gave her out in the open.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Kerry nodded. "I don't mind; I have a lot of space up there. It's just me, but I think the previous owner raised his family up there. Plus, I run the garage under it so you can get this beautiful car of yours off the road. I wouldn't put it past some of the crews that run around up here to try and swipe it with you in it," he explained. He wasn't trying to frighten, merely communicate the reality of life this far outside the city. "Start her up and whip her around. I'll get the door open."

Kerry stood and walked over to the garage, pulling his keys as he went. Finding the right one, he unlocked the office door and went around to roll up the garage door for her and her car. As it rose, he wondered if she would take him up on the offer.

 

[Asa]

She finally agreed and drove the car to the garage. It had been Callis dads car and his dad gave it to her since she showed more interest in it and his hobby of restoration than Callis ever did.

Thanks... one of the few good things that came out of my time in that family.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Kerry nodded as he took a better look at the car under his shop lights. "I couldn't take out whatever happened between you and you ex on such a fine car. You don't see work like this anymore." He observed as he rolled the door back down and locked the shop back up for the night. "My place is through here," he offered, leading her through the rear of the shop. Past the paint stall and the parts storage, he arrived at a hall in the back that led to a flight of stairs above the shop. Opening the door at the top, he stepped in and turned on the lights for her. He kept his place pretty clean, but it still looked very "lived in". While there wasn't loose clothes laying around the living room, a blanket lay scattered over the couch with remotes for the TV and stereo in easy reach. There were no dirty dishes in the sink in the kitchen to the left, but the cooking oils and other shelf safe sauces lay out in easy reach near the stove. A hall to the right ran along the back of the building to the bedrooms. One of them had been converted to an office and another to storage of all sorts of junk car parts before the bedroom that appeared to be Kerry's in the back.

"Make yourself comfortable. Can I get you a water or anything while you relax?" Kerry offered, hanging up his jacket by the door. Peeling off his long sleeve shirt, he tosses it into a hamper by the door. He stood, not hiding his tattoos, as he went into the kitchen to get himself a drink even if his guest didn't want one.

 

[Asa]

Yeah water would be fine thanks.

She sat down on the couch and with a sigh leaned back closing her eyes for a moment.

So tell me about yourself?

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Kerry grabbed a pair of water bottles from the fridge and brought them over to the living room. He passed one to his guess before flopping into the armchair in the room. He didn't want to sit on the couch; she didn't need crowding right now. He cracked his bottle and took a deep drink before she asked her question.

"Ahhh... well, my name is Kerry. I..." he paused before he began his story. "I just realized. I know your ex's name, Callis, but I don't think I caught yours, even on the news broadcast. If you think it's better I don't know it, I respect that, but I hope you'd trust me with that at least," Kerry said as he leaned forward a little.

 

[Asa]

Layna... nice to meet you Kerry.

She smiled a.little relaximg a little more. So you were telling me about you?

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Kerry reached out a hand to her, smiling warmly. "Nice to meet you, Layna." He answered. He hoped she didn't mind how rough and calloused his hands were after years of working on cars and tending bar. There was very little that was soft on Kerry's body anymore these days.

As she sank into the couch a bit more, he nodded. "Right, I was." He paused to sip his bottle but really he needed a moment to consider how much he wanted to tell her since this was their first meeting. "Well, I'm not just the bartender next door. I own the place. I bought it with money saved from running the garage downstairs. I got that from the previous owner who was looking to retire and managed to work out a deal to take over from him. Might not be a lot of money but it's all mine and it's all legit." He said, figuring she might have questions about the tattoos she saw earlier.

 

[Asa]

Wow.. so what about all the art work on your arms?

She smiled relaxing almost completely.

It's nice to not have to worry about him.showing up.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Kerry frowned a little, looking down at his arm. "An artifact of my past I can't get rid of," he said, hoping he could leave it at that. "And a reminder to not make the same mistakes again," he added, looking over at her. He felt he needed to say it to help her feel safe. She was just starting to relax and he didn't want to put her off about deciding to come up here with him.

"You're the first person not that asked about them out of curiosity and not worry," he observed, smiling at her as he met her eyes again.

 

[Asa]

I have always found it in many respects a true dedication to share one's life good or bad through art. Where better to share personal story art than on the body that lived it.

She shrugged.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

"Yeah, but you're stuck with it when you make a change into a different person," Kerry answered, sliding a hand over wrist. He frowns at the insignia he still wears there, unable to find a shop to cover it.

 

[Asa]

She just nods understanding knowing even if she went back to her maiden name she would always be known as Callis ex-wife