Welcome to the Jungle [Mocatta/Jack]

Nica didn't care too much that Ash was stiff as a stick. Maybe it had to do with his profession in the woods.
She busied herself dancing to the music, moving her hips and circling the man like a cat who's got her eyes on a delicious looking mouse.

My beer stands close by and gets less and less as I occasionally set down the banjo but then feel the need to pick it back up. It's too much fun to stop. I let the music carry me away even though the tips of my fingers are starting to hurt. Nothing compared to that damn knee though.
Every now and then I cast a glance at Ash and Nica, who seem to be feeling each other out.

During a slower song when the woman presses her back against the man behind her and slwoly moves her butt against his groin, I can spot two of the guys she's been talking to before come towards her.
Both don't seem very pleased with her grinding on Ash.

Now they have 90 percent of my attention because I can definetly see trouble when it's coming...other than Ash, who's got his back towards them. Not for long though as one taps him on the shoulder and makes him turn around.
"I think you felt her up enough now." Says the older one with alcohol lingering on his breath.

"Damn." I mutter to myself and place the Banjo on the ground next to me.
"I'm pretty sure Ash can hold his own against one guy but there are two."

"We're just dancing, Dave. Plus I can look out for myself." Nica assures him and keeps dancing with the man of her choice.

"Stop this!" They command in a much harsher tone now.

I don't know how Ash remains so calm because I only got shoved once and am ready to smash my fist into this guys face like I've done many times before with other men. If you ask people about me they'll tell you that I get easily aggrovated and get into too many fights. Not the lumberjack though. He stands his ground and remains calm. Then he does what I'm not capable off. He turns around and asks us to leave with him.

Nica takes a deep, thankful breath and nods because she is, as she said, not as fond of fights as I am.
I however stay where I am and keep staring at the two and make sure they are not attacking my new friends from behind.
"Be glad he's so calm." My eyes narrow. Of course I know it's for the better but I can't help the anger inside of me that wants to be set free in the form of my fist.

"If you're smart you'll do as he did." I hear one remark.

Instead of doing as I am told I close the distance between me and the older guy and shrug. "I'm not smart."
Then I pat him on the shoulder just to smirk into his dumb visage and turn to leave.

The fuse that burns through is almost audible as the guy snaps and pushes me again, this time from behind. I should have seen it coming but I didn't. Now I stumble forward, try to catch myself with my bad leg again. Pain violently shoots right up into my hip as I quickly throw my weight onto my other foot and fall against Nica, who in turn falls onto the next best table and sends every bottle and glass on it onto the floor.

I find myself face first on the wooden floorboards in a puddle of beer and a thousand pieces of broken glass, that have shattered into every possible direction.

Not too far away the second drunk has found Ash and managed to get one lonely punch in, which looks pretty weak against a guy of Ashs size.

Nica has now recovered and pushed herself off the table just to turn around and lash out at the two men she came with with a shitstorm of words.
"What the hell do you think you're doing? This is absolutely ridiculous! You should be better than this but instead you two behave like two old, overprotective watchdogs. Thank you very much. Never again will I go anywhere in your company, you immature assholes."
Her dark locks are dancing around her bright red face like little fireflies and her eyes sparkle dangerously as she grabs the nearest guys hand and twist it up in a strange kind of way that make him get weak in the knees.

Stunned both guys freeze, eyes wide open at the outbreak they have just witnessed.

OOC: Sorry, couldn't resist. I can edit out the punch....let me know.

The rain drops get more so fast that we casn't evade them but get soaked to the bone. What a sight we must be! Nica doesn't seem to mind the rain all that much though. Her curls spring up like they're loving the weather and she smiles up at Ash while she compliments him for his behavior.
"I really liked how you handled yourself in there...so calm and collected, that's rare."
Carefully she places her hand on his chest. "Very mature. I like that."

With it, of course, she implies that my behavior was very immature, which might actually be true.
Wiping the rain from my face I also wipe away that bit of blood that had run down from the small cut and stings a bit. I guess it serves me right for not being as mature as Ash is. Usually I'd dislike him for it but this guy is so calm and likable that I can't seem to think bad about him.

At first we pick up the pace but soon slow down because it's pointless to try and stay dry. My clothes already cling to my back like a second skin.

It doesn't take long until puddles are forming on the street turning the dust into mud, which makes everything slippery and walking for me harder. Lately there was so much rain that I have a good idea of what it's like to fall face first into a puddle of mud and don't fancy repeating the excercise in the company of a lady, so I slow down even more.
"Wait up, you two. I'm old and crippled." It's supposed to be a joke when in fact it is somewhat true.

Ten minutes later we reach the other bar in town where an enourmos amount of people has gathered just to get out of the rain. We can barely squeeze our way into the warm, damp inside of the room.
"At least we'll warm up soon here!" I shiver slightly.

Since I'm soaked to the bone and the dirt is even flowing under my clothes I'm grateful when Ash offers me a hand and pulls me to my feet where I hold on to him until I'm stable again. My filthy hand reaches around the grey wooden handle of my crutch when I hear him suggest that I had too much to drink.
Grinning and wiping the mud from my face I ask. "You reckon?"
Of course he's right but I don't care. I'm just drunk enough to be in a little less pain and worries, which is nice for a change.

Briefly I look at Nitya, who is only a little wet because Ashs big coat is protecting her. I raise my brow at her but refrain from any remarks. She looks pretty with her hair wet, I must say.

He asks for the way so I nod in confirmation and point in the right direction.
It doesn't take long until i fall behind them again. By now I'm numb but still uncomfortable because the rain and wind is so fierce.

The man who comes toward us makes me tense with the way he looks at us. Like we did something wrong. Does he know about the fight?
Averting my gaze I hobble on until we're finally at the doorstep of the old house, I live in.
The grey walls are as wet as I am but what lays behind the big oak doors is much better. Inside we climb the creaky wooden stairs to the first floor where my small apartment is on the right side.

I unlock the door and push it open to let my friends into my small, yet cosy place that is furnished with an old sofa, a kitchenett, table, chairs and even a bed in the other room.

Since I don't want to get everything dirty I slip off my boots at the door and then walk only a few steps in.
"Mind turning around, Nica. I gotta take these muddy clothes off." I warn her before pulling on my shirt, which lands on the floor right next to me. After unbuttoning my work pants I work on pushing them down, which is a hard task even when they don't cling to my injured leg like a second skin.
Groaning and cursing I finally work it down. to my ankles just to reveal the ugly multi coloured swelling around my left knee. It doesn't seem to get better. But at least it's disguised with mud now.

"Make yourself at home, grab a drink. Do you need dry clothes?" I ask standing before them in my underwear because right now I don't even care about that thanks to the alcohol level in my blood.
Silently I hope that Nica might be as soaked as I am and change into something dry as well.
Then again, she's only got eyes for Ash plus I hate girls right now.

At least Ash is aware that his behavior is a little inapropriate and blames it on the booze. I don't care much since my dress is not very apropriate either. Nica has a smart remark on her lips when I bring her the blouse. 'I hope you're not thinking of wearing that.'
"Why not? I look fabulous in it. Brings out my feminine side." I come back with just as much sarcasm before I hand it over and she dashes off to put it on.

Ash seems to be a little uneasy about my nudity and asks me to sit down or put some clothes on. So I explain. "The whole point of me being naked is not to get everything dirty but I'm pretty cold. So I'll take a quick shower."
I turn to leave to my bathroom where Nica comes towards me in my blouse.
"It does look better on you, pretty hot!" I wink at the tight fabric before I hurry on into the bathroom.
But then I stop dead in my tracks and turn around to shout. "Don't get it on on my couch. I expect you two on your best behaviour." Laughing loud I vanish in then bathroom.

The water is cold at first but soon warms up. One of the perks of living in a multi apartment building is that somebody had the furnice going for a while and I don't have to wait ages for warm water.
Soon I step in the shower and let the warm water run over my shoulders and head. Dirt and sand travels down the length of my body and soon the warmth chases away my shivers. The small cuts on my hand burn a little but what's worse is the pain in my knee and now even my hip from the constant over use of that side. 'Soon it will be better.' I tell myself with a deep sigh. I'm starting to get less nervous about Monday.

The skin on my back becomes red and I decide it's time to get dry and put some clothes on.
Ten minutes later I'm clean and refreshed when I step back into the living room in sweatpants and a thick woolen sweater to keep me warm.

The wind is still blowing around the corners of the house with a long howl and rainsdrop keep knocking on my windows.

"I'll have a cup." I holler over to the kitchen because I might as well pour the cheap liquor into the coffee.
I find Ashs obliviance pretty odd but maybe he's just not around people enough or has his mind already in a twist because of the pretty girl.

The fact that he rejects my offer to drink some more makes me roll my eyes. "Seriously? What are you? A guy or a chick?" I mock him but then slump down on the couch next to him.
It's nice to get off my feet because standing on one all the time has made my good leg pretty sore as well.
With both hands I lift my left leg up on the coffee table and then reach for the cup Nica is handing me. "Thank you." From the bottle on the table I pour a big shot of cheap booze into it and enjoy the first sip after I blow some hot steam off it. It travels trough the room and reminds me how cold it really is. After the hot shower I can't feel it so much.

My head is still spinning from the beers and the coffee only makes it worse. It make it hard following Nica and Ashs conversation.
The girl has sat down on the coffee table next to my foot and has her bare feet between us now. Apparently her socks were wet but I'm too lazy to get up and get dry ones for her.
She eyes me with interest and asks. "Do you won this place or rent?"
"I rent. But I've been living here for almost four years. I like it. Nice neighbors."
She just nods and sighs. "I wish I had a place where I could stay for four years. I move too much I guess." Slightly drunk she rolls her neck to get rid of some tension.
"What about you, Ash. Do you live alone?"
Her fingers are now twiddling one of her dark curly strands of hair while my eyes are slowly drifting close because the shower and drinks have made me tired.