-DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters in this story, other than Alice Redfern, nor do I make a profit from writing/posting it.
Hours passed and soon the bar was only filled with the fishermen who were about to head up north to Dutch Harbor in Unalaska, Alaska. The fishermen were just as rowdy, if not rowdier that the usual "hipster" college student crowd, who only came in to drink Pabst Blue Ribbon and Red Stripe. Alice had always wondered what it was with the beers that had colors in the names. There was a new comer in the group of captains, Blake Painter had recently been promoted to Captain of the Maverick for the Red King Crab season, but he only looked out of place as he was just as rowdy as the deckhands. The other captains were more subdued, talking about the fishing grounds or their gear.
"Let's make a wager," suggested Blake.
"Can't, not everyone is here," explained Sig.
"Just for the night then."
"Fine, what did you have in mind?" questioned Andy Hillstrand, who had shown up with his older brother Johnathan an hour before, sitting back in his seat, he would do anything for money; well, nearly anything.
"The red- headed bartender, whoever can get-"
"Stop," said Sig, but Blake continued.
"- a kiss, phone number, anything from her; drinks don't count." Sig glanced to Edgar who was staring daggers at the young and obviously ignorant captain.
"How much?" questioned Andy, ready to get this show on the road; Sig's look of distrust towards Blake went unnoticed.
"$200."
"I'm in," stated Andy, placing his $200 in the middle of the table, followed by Johnathan, and even Phil Harris of the Cornelia Marie. Blake put in his $200 and all eyes were then on the Hansen brothers.
"Nope," stated Edgar simply, he did not want to die today, but was shocked when he saw Sig place $400 down.
"You're in whether you like it or not." Edgar groaned and finished off his Moxie.
Another hour passes and no one was any closer to winning the bet, the conversation had turned to a more suggestive manner and Edgar was not pleased at who was at the center of this topic.
"Blake, shut up," said Edgar, finally growing too annoyed with the boy.
"Awww, c'mon Hansen. Why so flustered? You don't have a wife to hold you back."
"Just shut up," growled Edgar.
"You wanna make something of it? Why don't you make me shut up," the drunken Blake nearly yelled, standing up and leaning on the table.
"You know what, du unyttige stykke shit. Du frem rotet med mig? Du ikke fortjener å bli høvedsmannen, du pucken aseninnen lite hanen ut som liker å ta det opp asenet. Du er som tykke som kunstgjødsel og bare halvparten som nyttig," rambled the angry Norwegian. This, however, set Blake off, dragging Edgar out of his seat. Blake, throwing the first punch, landed squarely on Edgar's jaw, throwing Edgar back and in to, thankfully, an empty table.
"Hey!" yelled Alice as she witnessed Edgar landing in to a table, but she went unnoticed by the patrons. Alice hurried over, grabbing the metal bat from under the bar, hoping to get there before Blake beat the shit out of Edgar, who was getting no help from the other fishermen, not wanting to get involved. "Hey!" yelled Alice again, getting the attention of the captains and deck hands, but not Edgar or Blake. Grabbing the back of someone's collar, which happened to be Blake's, Alice threw him off of Edgar and landed on to a table covered with glasses that were waiting to be bused; but that did not deter Blake who got up and rushed Edgar, who was currently standing with the help of Alice, who also did not notice that Blake was still standing. Alice was pushed back as Blake crashed into Edgar. Sig caught Alice, who was about to fall, but was shaken off. Clutching the bat, Alice stormed back to the fighting duo, Edgar mainly defending himself, his Norwegian way telling him to beat the shit out of the youngster to teach him a lesson but the other side of him telling him that Blake is drunk and does not know what he is doing. Alice once again, pulled Blake off of Edgar and spun him around, landing a perfect right hook in to Blake's jaw. Getting his attention, she pushed him back again with the end of the bat.
"And what the bloody hell do ya think you're doin'?" questioned a furious Alice.
"He start-," Blake started.
"Shut up, it was a rhetorical fuckin' question!' roared Alice. 'You obviously weren' bloody thinkin," seethed Alice. "Now, as for that bet that you thought was so clever and sneaky…." Alice walked confidently up to the bruised and battered Edgar, placing a searing kiss on the lips, which was made even hotter as her free hand went to the back of Edgar's neck and found its way in to his hair. Pulling away from his lips, Alice pulled his head closer to her ear. "I expect at least 25% of that," hoarsely whispered Alice. Edgar only nodded as he removed his hands that found their way to her hips. Not even moving away from Edgar, she reached around him and snatched the top $300, folded it and carefully placed it in the front bra strap before walking away; only to return with a broom. "Now, Captain Blake Painter, I expect ya ta clean up the mess ya made," said Alice as she shoved the broom in to his hand.
"Dust pan?"
"Do you think you deserve a dust pan?"
"Well how else-"
"Stop. Just shut up. No, you're not getting a fuckin' dust pan," quipped Alice walking away. Blake only stared at the back of her head as if she was crazy. "If you're a real crabber, then ya'll figure somethin' out," and walked over to the front door to flip the sign from 'Open' to 'Closed' and promptly lit another fag.
Walking back over to the bar, Alice tossed the white wipe- down rag over her shoulder as she started to put the pony glasses away that her fellow bartender had cleaned.