"I'll pay you… two hundred to go over there and kiss him," the half soused recruit grinned, waving the remains of his paycheck in his compatriot's face.

"Hey, I'll get in on that," another espoused, rifling through his own wallet. "I've got around a hundred. Guy's gotta eat."

"And drink." Their drinking partner was not amused in the least and rather irritated he had allowed his eyes to wander over to the barfly wafting through the tables like a stiff breeze that would blow him over if it gusted. He knew half the crew that had come down here tonight was out to prove he wasn't a priest and would back it up with funds if necessary.

That didn't mean he was going to do it.

Running a hand over his forehead, Rude focused rather intently on his drink as more and more money was added to the pool. He stopped listening entirely as the total made it up over a grand, thankful he never removed his sunglasses. Seeing his eyes bug would have added fuel to the fire although he could have played it off on the smoke in the bar. There was enough in here to choke a chocobo dead and the redhead hadn't helped matters, smoking enough of his own. Rude had noticed the full pack was now half empty, his fingers never without a burning rolled white stick.

"Come on, Rude! If money won't do it, what will?"

He said nothing, swilling the last of his drink.

"Will you at least let me buy you another?" Not waiting for an answer, the two youths ordered a drink each that the bartender sat before him with a raised brow but not a single word. Rude eyed each of them.

"Thanks," he muttered, shoving the empty glass toward the back of the bar. He picked up the second glass without taking a drink, listening again to the conversation of those around him. Most of it was idle chatter about the week's events, what reports they had to file, who had what assignment, what assignments were botched. Then there were the ever present rumors about who was fucking whom and for what reason and what levels of angst were involved. It seemed he was the only one who had better things to do with his time than worry about stupid sexual conquests. Didn't anyone READ anymore?

Normally he hadn't minded the dingy, smoke filled walls of the little pub and preferred to come here when he wanted to drink. The prices were reasonable and they kept a tab for him, something they didn't do for just everyone. Rude was reliable and they knew it.

Letting his eyes wander again, he surveyed the room that wasn't much larger than the conference room they used for weekly Turk meetings with the President and Vice-President of the company. Placed here and there without much rhyme or reason were rough wood tables and chairs, some tables with only one chair while others had more than the surface could reasonably handle. They didn't seen to move the chairs at the end of the night or mop the floors or even wipe down the tables unless some form of bodily fluid was spilled and even then they only mopped the immediate area. Seeing the patches of less-dirty-than-others made him slightly reconsider his drinking choice.

However, the bar was pristine. All the bottles were clean and fronted and shined, the bar top was clean and whatever barkeep was on duty was continuously wiping over the surface with a clean rag, the glasses were kept clean and inside racks where they belonged. Compared to some of the other places Rude had been, the décor was the least of his worries as long as the glasses were clean and the booze was uncut.

Someone bumped against his side and Rude turned toward the movement, catching the red ponytail as it whipped over his shoulder. Rude buried himself in his drink.

"You've got a backlog, there, Big Man," Reno noted with a nod toward the beverage, his own half-consumed drink in his hand. "Tryin' t'take it easy, lightweight?"

Rude snorted, convinced he could drink at least a bottle more of anything in the place than the slight dervish beside him, although he didn't voice it. Years of training and years of life had taught him the value of silence. People were uncomfortable in silence. They would offer forward more information in discomfort than they would out of question and answer sessions. Well, without torture, anyway.

"Like you could drink more than he could. He's got, what, fifty pounds on you?"

"Probably," he dismissed with a jerk of his head. "Doesn't mean he drinks as much as I do, either."

"Yea and his liver won't be the size of the continent." Elena breezed by, taking drinks for herself and several giggling co-workers to her table. Reno considered them carefully before turning back to Rude.

"What's all the money flipping around here for, huh?"

"That all that drew you over here, Reno?" More soused than before, the dark-haired recruit threw himself over Reno's shoulder and clung to him chummily. "We were offering your partner here money if he kissed you."

Reno drew back, eyes narrowing mischievously. "You wanted me t'kiss 'im, all y'had t'do was ask, yo."

"Nah, we knew you'd do it. We wanted to see him do it. Man's a fucking priest, man." He stopped, contemplating his words before breaking into a fit of giggles. "Man's a man…:" he managed between snorts. Rude sighed heavily, the admission hitting a button as well as being just plain irritating. He could hook up with someone if he wanted.

Reno sighed and took his drink from the younger man's fingers. "Maybe you need t'lay off. M'thinkin' you're the lightweight." He pushed the drink over in front of Rude. "Why don't you walk it off and go home?" Reno shoved the man into his friend's arms and ushered them out the door. Returning, he picked up the copious amounts of cash from the bar and tucked it into his pocket. He thought better of it, pulling the money back out and shoved it into Rude's jacket pocket.

"What's that for?"

"Hey! It speaks! Nothin', man. They were too fuckin' drunk t'know the difference. If they remember the money tomorrow, just tell 'em they gave it to you t'kiss me."

"But I didn't."

"They don't know that. Just keep it for aggravation factor, yo." He turned to go. Rude reached out and snagged his wrist. "What, you actually need t'kiss me before it makes it alright? Okay, fine." He leaned in and planted a kiss on the slack lips, his hand wrapping around the back of Rude's neck. The moment didn't last nearly long enough before the warmth was gone and Reno was headed to the far side of the bar, leaving Rude gaping.