At Warriors

[itsastretch]

Ralph is in an unusually sober mood as he enters the bar. He's not sure if Ollie has told anyone else the reason behind the gathering, and it really doesn't matter. He just needs to get out of the house for a while. People are greeted with waves, small nods, or the occasional slight smile - though his heart is obviously not into the latter. "Thanks for coming guys, glad you could make it."

Comments

[straight-arrow.livejournal.com]

Hey, for an old pal, no sweat.

It really came out of the blue, huh?

*is clearly digging*

[itsastretch.livejournal.com]

Ralph casts Ollie a more serious look, just for a moment, well hidden from any other viewers, before giving a sad nod.
"Yeah... I mean, there's been signs I suppose, given the stress of the hero life, but I didn't see it coming."
After the reply, he takes a drink from his beer mug, only the extremely observant might note he's using an old showman's trick - a big, obvious motion to pull the eye away from a quick bit of jotting on a napkin, quite able to write, at least a little, without looking.
The final note on a bar napkin, turned to Ollie absently, again, Ralph's eye never straying, says 'not here, play along'
The napkin shortly thereafter disappears forever after being used to blow the world-famous nose.

[straight-arrow.livejournal.com]

I know how that can come. *Ollie nods seriously* Dinah's caught me with that once or twice.

She'll come to her senses, buddy. She's just freaked out right now is all.

[itsastretch.livejournal.com]

Ralph sighs, then nods. "Maybe you're right. I don't hold out a lot of hope on that. But then what happened was pretty drastic too... Right now I'm trying to just hold things together and still do my job. Too much at stake."

[straight-arrow.livejournal.com]

Well, don't worry about that tonight. Tonight we're going to kill the pain.

*checks Ralph's glass, signalling the barkeep*

[itsastretch.livejournal.com]

Of everyone present, Ollie has spent the most time drinking with Ralph - though its been years since the drinking buddies of the JLA hung out quite like this. So its likely obvious to the archer, but probably no one else watching, that Ralph, while he drinks, doesn't drink nearly as much as he's capable of, and is slurring just a touch, and a little unsteady on his pegs well before he ought to be. Right along with the other hints he's dropped here and there. Tonight is all about appearances, selling a show that he knows *someone* is watching out there, and that means getting it past his friends too. If they believe it, it makes Sue and Ted's gamble more likely to succeed.
The one person here he can't fool, and he knows it, is the guy who's known him for ages. That's the other reason not to have Carter along - not only would Ted get a mace shoved somewhere uncomfortable if Carter bought the story, but Carter also knows Ralph enough to know when something's not right. So Ralph has to quietly make sure Ollie is in on the act, but without knowing enough to be dangerous, at least until they can talk somewhere he's sure is quiet.
This place, he's extremely sure, is being watched still.

"Thanks Ollie, knew I could count on you."

[straight-arrow.livejournal.com]

*nods at the bartender to fill Ralph up, even though he's not empty yet*

Keep 'em coming, barkeep.

[itsastretch.livejournal.com]

Perfect. As long as his glass keeps getting refilled, it looks like Ralph is drinking a /lot/ more than he really is. He's going to owe Ollie after this one.
After a while, Ralph falls silent unless spoken to, just nursing his beer between refills, and playing the part of the heartbroken drunk.

[guy-lantern.livejournal.com]

* Guy takes over for his temp and brings over a beer stein topped with some foam, places it in front of Ralp and looks at Ollie. *

You havin anything?

[straight-arrow.livejournal.com]

Same as the rubber band, I guess.

[guy-lantern.livejournal.com]

"No prob."

* A dark German beer gets set down in front of Ollie. *