Chapter Text
Pushing the heavy door open, Miguel slumped into the bar. He tossed a gold coin at the barkeep and in response received a foaming glass of an amber liquid he didn't recognize entirely. Never mind that, as long as it contained enough alcohol to help clear his mind.
He scanned the grubby room for an empty seat and only found a booth with one man seemingly asleep across from it. He took a long swig from his drink before lumbering towards the bench and collapsing on the well worn cushion.
He took another drink from his glass and grimaced, whatever it was sure was disgusting. It was however quite strong and he found himself raising it to his lips once more.
He knew this wasn't healthy, he acknowledged the fact every time he had the chance to escape to a bar on his lonesome. He liked to reason with himself that he had it in his rights seeing the life he lived.
Miguel groaned as he finished of the drink, sometimes he wished they had never found that blasted city.
Signaling for a refill he began to tune into the endless chatter surrounding him and heard the gruff voice of a man sitting with his friends at a table no more than eight feet away.
". . . Girl had the nerve to speak against me, talking back to her father. Did forget her position didn't she. I was offering a social stepup and she thought to refuse my proposal."
Miguel chucked, doubting any girl would find pleasure in a union with man such as him, and found himself speaking up, "'haps she would've 'cepted if you had any chance of being pleasant company, or . . ." He eyed to man up and down, "'ad any good looks to you," he could hear his words slurring together but couldn't bring himself to stop talking.
"Why, you . . ." The man started, anger radiating off him.
"Oh boo hoo' you couldn' buy your 'ay into the heart of one of the pretty girls you been tormenting, not used to bein' said no to are you?" His voice was slowly raising and he was attracting curious looks from the other patrons, "you think you're life is 'ard? I live on a boat with the man I'm in love with and 'is girlfriend," he gave a humorless laugh, "get to see 'im fawning over 'er day after day, remin'in me I 'ave no chance with 'im."
The man gave a disgusted grunt and looked as if he were about to move forward before he spotted the glinting hilt of Miguel's blade that was clutched in the Spaniard's fist. Deciding he didn't like his odds while unarmed, the stranger turned his back and stormed out of the bar, his friends in tow, muttering slurs and curses as a way of farewell.
"Bloody cowards," a voice came from the opposite side of Miguel's table, the drunk stranger had awoken; or perhaps he was awake the whole time, "look mate I get ya, my girl and I were set to be married when 'er father revealed a planned arrangement for 'er and a rich man. She ain't in the right condition to fight back and I 'ave so little almos' think she's better off with 'im."
Miguel sighed in sympathy and relation, "I don know wha's wrong with me, I'm not ev'n jealous of 'is girl, I'm fine with there relationship," by now Miguel had abandoned drinking and instead was breathing in the fumes rising from his half full glass, "I jus' somehow wish he could want me too."
"An' why shouldn't he you seem a fine man, anyone would be foolish ta let ya go, 'haps he is int'rested an' jus' hadn't realized it."
Miguel felt pinpricks in his eyes as the threat of a full emotional break down was steadily growing, "You're to good to me, bu' I know I don' got a chance he jus' not into me, but at leas' we're still frien's."
"At least you're still friends," the man echoed with a long sigh as both men gave in to the burning pressure of tears.
Settling into their grief and pity, the men leaned on eachother for emotional support trading stories of their loved ones and offering comfort when appropriate. Slowly the bar began to empty, though neither man noticed. Miguel drained his glass and started on a new one, that stuff really was disgusting.
By the time the clock struck midnight, their veil of despair was so thick any nearby would feel it rubbing off on them. Still, neither man left and and the cloud grew ever thicker.
Miguel didn't notice how late it was, late enough that he should have been home hours ago. But that didn't mean that a very worried someone back at the ship hadn't noticed either.