Intermission from Doom

[Doomguy]

I gave the waitress an order for whatever was the cheapest thing on the menu, at the moment I was just interested in topping up that an actual meal. She asked me if I knew that it lunch was three hours ago, and I explained to her that I didn't care. She left to get my food, I gave the bartender the signal for a beer and advise to just start a tab, and I spent the time wait looking over the little details of Costa del Sol. The beach bums were active as always, armed in the latest fashion of swim wear, living vapid lives of trying to out due each other in the competition of the "best" tan or surf or whatever distraction they were hooked on to. A view of the beach and the gentle waves splashing across gave an enticing promise of cold water in this sweltering heat, but recent memories giant monsters of the depth tore that idea to ribbons. Perhaps I could find something that kept me away from the ocean.

As I glanced over my PDF to listen to the smooth voice of Ron Burgendy tell me what has been ailing the Omniverse today, I felt the presence of someone invading my personal space in the bar stool right next to my own. I gave the man a quick glance over, my helmet offering a bit of protection from that being noticed. Long blond hair, black doo-rag, scruffy beard, dopey look on his face, The kind of Californian surfer-bro that wouldn't have looked out of place here or even at him, if he wasn't a head taller than I was. At least he had the decency to have a shirt on. I noted the bit of caution he gave me as he got comfortable at his seat. Couldn't really judge, to be honest. I was carrying enough kit to run this place over.

I gave him a nod and grunt of acknowledgement, just the barest enough I could afford to show I wasn't hostile. I generally prefer close friends for a drinking buddy than a complete stranger, but at least I could officially say I wasn't drinking alone. Because that would be sad and depressing. And you don't want a sad and depressing space marine.

"So, you’re on vacation as well?" was the voice I heard to my other side and I shifted my sight to see a young kid sitting down in the other seat, requiring me to look down to get a good look of him. He was very much a young kid in attire and look at first glance. But it wasn't hard to notice the weapons that he was carrying, the bandages across his entire body that covered hidden wounds, not unlike the ones covered by my armor. It was tempting to shoo the little guy away so I didn't cause some trouble with whatever parents he was avoiding, but I decided to give him a little attention.

"I guess you could say that" I answered, giving a glance over to the bartender as I waited for my beer "More like in between missions. Just got through a fight, not long after being pulled in here, and I need to stop before I burn myself out"

"What about you?" I asked the head band wearing child as I glanced around "You look like you've been through quite a bit already