Barstool Sessions
Misato Mourns




The midday sun in Tokyo-3 was, as always, perfect. Light gleamed
everywhere and off everything as it did almost everyday since the
Second Impact. The day was just perfect for surfing, and that's where
Ben had been. He'd spent the day enjoying the cold Pacific waves he'd
never rode in his home town on Key West.


Ben hurried into McLeary's carrying a large neon flower print
wooden surfboard. He kicked the door open causing the few afternoon
patrons to look at him. Ben inhaled and exhaled rapidly attempting to
catch his breath.

The old man looked at Ben and sighed. "What the hell did you do
now? Is NEVR security on your ass again for trying to steal hardware?"
Ben shook his head. "An. Angel. Angel coming. Hurry." He
leaned against the wall.
The old man glared at his young bartender. "Dammit Ben. Stop
playing games, if there was an Angel attack there would be sirens going
off."

At that exact moment warning sirens began blaring. Everyone in
the bar began scurrying for the nearest shelter.

Ben regained his breath and glared at the other man. He stuck
his tongue out. "Nay. Take that. Maybe one of these days you'll
begin to trust me."
The old man ran by Ben. "Shut up and RUN!!!"
Ben turned and followed the crowd as they hurried to the shelter
only a few blocks away.





That evening Ben stood behind the bar. His usually tan skin was
just a bit darker today from his time at the beach. He wore a red silk
shirt that seemed to blend well with his skin tone. His duster was
hung in the back as always.
His oak brown hair, was a tad lighter due to the sun, was pulled
back into a ponytail reaching down past his shoulders. And as always
he carried a white dishtowel over his right shoulder.

Everyone in the bar seemed a bit shook up, but as with every
Angel attack that seemed to happen. As did the bar filling to
capacity. Without fail whenever one seemed to attack this bar and
others across the city seemed to fill up with people trying to hide
from the loss of friends and family or businesses.
Ben shook off his thoughts as he refilled another beer mug.
Gently he tapped the keg under the bar; it sounded close to empty. The
main taps had run empty hours ago, and the boss had moved to using kegs
to supply the customers.
Ben got up from behind the bar and walked out back to roll
another keg in. Ben stood the new full keg up next to the other one.
He watched as a pair of young women walked out laughing to each other.
He shook his head and refilled another beer.

A few hours passed and more people came and went. But somewhere
around midnight the patrons stopped arriving. The only new patron
after that was a buxom purple haired woman wearing a black dress and a
red coat. She quietly made her way to an empty table.
Ben waited until she waved him over before he approached her. He
walked up and smiled to her. "Good evening pretty lady. How can this
humble capitalist bartender help you?"
The woman smiled at him. "Beer. Yebisu. Lots of it."
Ben smiled. "How about I roll a keg out here for you?" He
chuckled at his lame joke.
The woman smiled joyfully. "Would you? I'd really appreciate
it. That'd be great."
Ben dropped his jaw. "You're joking right?"
She shook her head. "Ne."
Ben shrugged as he mentally calculated the price of the keg.
"Let's see. That comes out to 8000 yen. But let's see, there is the
contest. Nah. Look I'll cut you a deal. You finish the keg and I'll
knock a thousand yen off, sound fair?
The woman grinned happily. "Sure!"
Ben was taken back by her sudden change in attitude. He turned
and began walking back to the other kegs. He grabbed a full one and
rolled it to the woman's table. He stood it up next to her and
returned to the bar. He retrieved a mug and a pump, which he placed on
her table. "Heh. I'll be back in an hour with paramedics or with the
bill." He smiled and returned to his place behind the bar.

Ben waited on the last twenty customers with little to no
problem. He had to defuse one bar fight, but when the two fighters saw
him reach for the katana strapped to his back they thought better of
the fight. For the next half-hour Ben ran things like usual, chatting
with customers, taking orders, mixing drinks, all his usual activities.
But all the while he kept a close eye on the purple haired woman with
the keg.
As the half-hour came around he noticed the purple haired woman
wave at him. Ben excused himself from the discussion going on at the
bar. He wiped his hands on the towel and tossed it onto his shoulder
as he approached the older woman. "Hai?"
The purple haired beauty rapped her knuckles on the empty keg.
"Would you be a dear and get me another?"
Ben's eyes widened as he fell to the floor. "WHAT?!" He jumped
back to his feet. "You mean you finished that whole thing by
yourself?" The woman nodded happily. Ben nearly fell over again, he
reached out and gripped the chair next to him to keep his balance.
"Well? Will you get me another?" She batted her eyes and gave
the most kawaii look she could muster.
Ben nearly passed out as he nodded. "Let." He coughed to clear
his throat. "Let me call my boss. We've never had this happen
before." She nodded as Ben walked behind the bar to make the call.


It didn't take long before Ben finally broke down and made the
announcement. "LAST CALL!" Those fatal words that every bartender
says. Soon enough the few remaining patrons paid their tabs and left
or ordered another drink just to prevent being kicked out for a few
minutes longer.
It came as no surprise to Ben when the purple haired woman waved
him over. He placed the towel and the shot glass he'd been cleaning on
the bar top, and made the, what seemed, familiar trip. He nodded to
her, "Last call what's it gonna be?"
She grinned at him, showing very little of the drunken stupor Ben
had been expecting to see. "Oh hun. Please would you make a pitcher
of margaritas? Just for me." She flashed him one of the most
beautiful smiles Ben had ever seen.
Within seconds Ben was behind the bar again hunting down the
necessary ingredients for his special Key Lime, Key West Ecstasy
Margarita. It was a little drink he'd learned to make while growing up
in Key West, which he'd brought to the McLeary's here in Tokyo-3.

"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones began
playing over the loud speakers as Ben turned the blender off. He
rimmed a chilled glass with rock salt and filled it with the lime green
liquid. Taking a small sniff he sipped the liquid and smiled,
"Perfect!" He filled a similar glass and carried it and the pitcher to
the woman's table.
He placed the pitcher on the table, and the glass before her.
"Here you are milady. One perfecto Key Lime, Key West Ecstasy
Margarita, just for the lady with the purple hair."
"Misato," she whispered. "Call me Misato."
Ben grinned as he bowed. "Very well Misato. Enjoy the drink. I
need to write up your bill." He rubbed the back of his neck as he
walked to the cash register.

Closing time. As always Ben ran the few remaining people out of
the bar. He only had to run off ten people this evening, not bad for a
day with an angel attack. Ben pulled up a stool and began punching in
numbers for the different drinks Misato had ordered during the night.
It took nearly five minutes but the young bartender finally came up
with a full bill to present to the Major.
He printed off and whistled to himself. He looked around and
noticed that they were the only ones left in the bar. "Miso-chan.
Grab that pitcher and sit at the bar. I'm gonna clean up, alright?"
Misato picked up the pitcher and glass and moved to the bar. She
took up seat right in front of Ben and looked at the print out. "Wow.
I owe that much? Hope you take credit cards."
Ben smirked. "Don't feel bad. I've seen bigger bills."
Misato grinned and returned to her drink.

Ben began walking around the bar cleaning the tables and placing
the chairs atop the tables. "So Major? What brings you to my little
bar and keeps you at this time of night?" Ben wiped off another table.
Misato looked at him slightly confused. "How did you know I was
a Major?"
Ben pointed to her jacket. "The bars. And I've seen you on the
Internet. I've got a few friends in NERV that keep mentioning a
gorgeous purple haired Major that can out drink anyone alive. When you
ordered that first keg I knew who you were."
Misato nodded. "So you've been watching me?" She gave the young
bartender her sultriest look she could. She pushed her chest out a bit
and pouted. "You know if you ever asked, I would have met with you."
Ben shook his head as he picked up and flipped another chair.
"Sorry Major. But I think Kaji would have a problem with that."
Misato fell silent and turned back to her drink.

Ben turned to Misato and noticed the look of defeat on her face.
He shook his head and walked to her side. "Misato I'm sorry, I didn't
know. He was here the other day. We talked and he told me he thought
he was going to die that night.
"He said he'd left you a message. I told him that if he survived
the night that he should go find you and talk with you. He promised me
that he would, and when I last saw him he was headed home."
Misato brushed a tear from her eyes. "He's dead. I loved that
bastard and he died on me." She slammed her fist down on the bar.
"That bastard!"
Ben nodded and stood next to Misato. He wrapped his arms around
her as she cried. Her tears didn't just stop with Kaji.

Misato cried over the multiple times she'd nearly lost Shinji and
even Asuka. She cried over how her friendship with Ritsuko was
damaged. She cried over the loss of her father during the Second
Impact. Her tears flowed long and hard.
Ben held her as she cried. His own tears began welling as he
listened to her story. He felt compassion for her pain. Ben brushed a
strand of purple hair from between her eyes.
"Misato. You don't need to be driving. Why don't you give me
your keys and I'll drive you home."
Misato looked at the young bartender. "You're right." She
reached into her jacket pocket and removed her keys. She placed they
on the bar next to the register.
Ben reached out and picked up the keys. "Miso-chan. Will you
give me five minutes to clean up here, then I'll take you home."
Misato reached out and grabbed the younger man. "NO! Please. I
can't take being alone tonight. Let me stay with you please."
Ben looked shocked. "Misato. I barely know you. I understand
you're going through a lot of pain and all but this isn't the answer.
I'm no replacement for your loss."
Misato buried her head in Ben's hair. The tears began falling
down her face once more. "Please. I can't be alone. Please stay with
me." She was close to begging.
Ben held her unable to argue with her. He nodded once. "Very
well. Its obvious in your state that you couldn't take being alone.
Alright, let me finish here and we'll get you sobered up."

Ben took the five minutes he said it would to clean the bar,
sweep the floors, and wash the glasses. He walked around back and
grabbed his duster. He slung it over one shoulder as he walked Misato
out to her car.
The door closed behind the pair and auto locked as the sign
outside shut off. Ben led the way to Misato's car.


Misato slept soundly that night in the arms of a new friend. She
knew that it would never last.
Ben slept easy too. As he'd watched Misato sleep he saw what
would become a strong friendship bloom. He never chased Misato's
heart, knowing it belonged to Kaji. Though he would listen to her when
she needed a friend.





*Chibi Dude Slayer does official author's jig*

TDS: Hello all. *yawn* Woke up way too early today. I'm a night owl,
5:30 should not exist.
CDS: I have nothing to say. Your own damn fault for having a Jolt then
going to sleep.
TDS: Shut up you little shit. Or I'll cut your Jolt supply. Now do
you mind if I actually do an author's notes or do I have to tie
you up again?
CDS: *runs off to hide all rope in the house*
TDS: Good. Now where was I? Oh yeah. Anyway, was up early. But I
did this story today. Spent all day on it. That's not the kick,
the kick is that I've never wrote three fics in one week. But I
did this week. Well I gotta send out props to my pre-readers who
keep me writing this stuff. Who until this morning I was
beginning to think were the only ones that read my stuff.

Guess how surprised I was when I found 12 reviews for "PS: This
Is Asuka" on Fanfiction.net this morning. Anyway. This fic has
no real inspiration or any real reasoning behind it. I just HAD
to write it, don't ask me. I don't understand my brain.

On a lighter note. Most of you are thinking that I wrote Ben
taking Misato home because he's going to sleep with her. Well
you hentais no he doesn't screw Misato. He does take her to bed
with him, but sex is not in the cards. I just figured I'd
mention that in case someone gets the stupid idea to MST this
fic. HA! I'd like to see that. It'd prove SOMEONE reads this
crap I write.

CDS: Hey people read your stuff. But I'm betting most don't like it.
TDS: *holds up handcuffs* Find me a chair and some duct tape. I'll
take care of you.
CDS: Eeep! *jumps and runs off in a cloud of dust*
TDS: Well. While I take care of my chibi. HEY! PUT DOWN THAT WAL-
MART SIGN! SHIT! Well come back for part 3: Gendo's Gripes.
Chibi Dude Slayer. DAMMIT! Put that down.
*ducks a flying object* Shit. Uh, anyway. I'm gonna go stop my
chibi. Ulp. If I can survive.

While I do that why don't you check out my website. Its not
much, but its mine. I did it all by hand. Or HTML which ever
you chose to say.

http://the_dude_slayer.tripod.com



Ja ne!

No! Not the Mello Yellow cooler. AHHHH!!!!