Post by felnicwinter on Oct 21, 2009 8:25:28 GMT -5
There had always been an uneasy relationship between firefighters and paramedics. Even from his time in the Emegency Medical Technician Academy, the earliest days of his training, Felnic had picked up on the sense of animosity between those who ran into burning buildings and those who actually saved lives. Firefighters were overpaid and over glamorized by the news media because they ran into a burning building, even if no one was inside, to fight a elemental enemy that could quite easily claim their life. Most firefighters saw perhaps one fire a month and were mostly sent to car accidents, homes when a 911 call came in for a sick person, or grocery shopping simply because they tore through their food faster than an obese man at a buffet. That could not have been more true about the Redlands Fire Department.
Felnic sat at the side booth, the brown leather chairs were stuffed with cotton and tight, making the seat highly relaxing. He was decked, still in his Paramedic uniform of black dickies pants, a short sleeved black shirt with badges and insignias placed about it, while under the short sleeves shirt, he wore a long sleeved black thermal. Winter hated short sleeved shirts at work. Perspiration had formed on the side of his coke. The Flamingo was a pool bar that sat off of Orange Street, just a block from Krikorian Premiere Theatres and two blocks from Redlands Mall. It was known as a Police and Paramedics bar, with the Fire Fighters known to roam around some new joint off of state street. It was the only place that most Medics could come and not have to worry about dealing with their overpaid and fattening counterparts. Sure, fire fighters gave off high sex appeal in their twenties but when they hit thirty, those years of sitting on their asses in the station eating chips and watching day time soaps would start to catch up with them. By the time they were forty, they'd have bellies that hung out and down. Highly unattractive.
He had ordered a cherry coke and watch allowed a grin to escape was the sarcastic way the bar tender, a newcomer by the name of Eric had made it. Strait coke, with ice and a single cherry floating in it. As Winter eye'd they bartender, the thought the man had once worked at a bowling alley crossed his mind as most alley's made a cherry coke the same way. The booth behind him had four officers sitting together, their scents unfamiliar which meant they were not regulars and the booth in front of him had John Michaels, a rookie E.M.T. fresh out of the academy. The young man was nervous, it was his first week and obviously his first time being in The Flamingo; his partner a woman by the name of Susan was off shooting pool. It was a right of passage, if the rookie could survive in The Flamingo on his own and be accepted by his fellow medics outside of work, he would be alright.
"What a smelly dump!" a voice boomed over the sounds of people talking and light rock music playing from the establishments sound system. Winter gave a glance over his shoulder, spotting two men dressed casual though their faces were familiar. Newbie firefighters having just graduated from Crafton Hills Fire Academy. It was insulting that his school also catered fire fighters. "This place stinks. What the hell is that? Sweat and musk with a hint of...."
"...fire fighter stupidity." Felnic snapped. An uproar of laughter erupted from the other medics though the four officers behind him refrained. Felnic rose from his seat. Though not the biggest man in the room, he was known for having absolute disgust with firefighters, that disgust dangerously close to outright hatred. The smell for the Flamingo was unique, sweat and musk were on the air but so was the scent of beer. It smelled like a bar should. "You're bar is down the street. How about you go to your buddies. It's seven at night," He gave the clock a quiet glance, "Which means they've been drunk for an hour now. Happy hour always seemed to start extra early for you lot."
He picked up their scents, even as it mingled with the others of the room. He'd seen these two before, though both times they had been assigned to unwinding hose rather than doing anything useful... as if anything a firefighter did was useful. "Isn't there a trash can fire you can go put out or a cat in a tree you can fetch for an old lady?"
Both men glared at Felnic and with a cockiness to their stride, emerged further into the Flamingo. The Flamingo was not a private bar, which meant the public and unfortunately fire fighters could come and go as they pleased. Even tonight, there were some people around he did not recognize and for the most part Winter tolerated them but over paid lazy baboons were another story. It was at this point one of the four officers took a stand and interjected himself in front of the approaching fire specialists. "Perhaps it's best if you men left this evening. We don't need any trouble." Felnic watched the cop who kept a calm yet firm voice. Police deserved respect and the Paramedic ensured he gave it to them. They were the first on scene to any event and ensured it was safe for the Medics. In the world of First Responders, Police were Paramedics personal bodyguards and more often sided with Paremdics on almost any issue.
Neither firefighter made a continued scene and both nodded acknowledgment to the Police Officer, who himself was still decked out in his uniform. Felnic let out an irritated sigh which momentarily caused both leaving men to pause. "Damn monkeys." He spat as he retook his seat. Not one for public places or large crowds, Felnic did not mind coming to The Flamingo, even if for an hour or so once a week. Tonight, he would shift and run through the Redlands back hills. Nothing beat a decent shift and run but until then... he'd make nice.
Felnic sat at the side booth, the brown leather chairs were stuffed with cotton and tight, making the seat highly relaxing. He was decked, still in his Paramedic uniform of black dickies pants, a short sleeved black shirt with badges and insignias placed about it, while under the short sleeves shirt, he wore a long sleeved black thermal. Winter hated short sleeved shirts at work. Perspiration had formed on the side of his coke. The Flamingo was a pool bar that sat off of Orange Street, just a block from Krikorian Premiere Theatres and two blocks from Redlands Mall. It was known as a Police and Paramedics bar, with the Fire Fighters known to roam around some new joint off of state street. It was the only place that most Medics could come and not have to worry about dealing with their overpaid and fattening counterparts. Sure, fire fighters gave off high sex appeal in their twenties but when they hit thirty, those years of sitting on their asses in the station eating chips and watching day time soaps would start to catch up with them. By the time they were forty, they'd have bellies that hung out and down. Highly unattractive.
He had ordered a cherry coke and watch allowed a grin to escape was the sarcastic way the bar tender, a newcomer by the name of Eric had made it. Strait coke, with ice and a single cherry floating in it. As Winter eye'd they bartender, the thought the man had once worked at a bowling alley crossed his mind as most alley's made a cherry coke the same way. The booth behind him had four officers sitting together, their scents unfamiliar which meant they were not regulars and the booth in front of him had John Michaels, a rookie E.M.T. fresh out of the academy. The young man was nervous, it was his first week and obviously his first time being in The Flamingo; his partner a woman by the name of Susan was off shooting pool. It was a right of passage, if the rookie could survive in The Flamingo on his own and be accepted by his fellow medics outside of work, he would be alright.
"What a smelly dump!" a voice boomed over the sounds of people talking and light rock music playing from the establishments sound system. Winter gave a glance over his shoulder, spotting two men dressed casual though their faces were familiar. Newbie firefighters having just graduated from Crafton Hills Fire Academy. It was insulting that his school also catered fire fighters. "This place stinks. What the hell is that? Sweat and musk with a hint of...."
"...fire fighter stupidity." Felnic snapped. An uproar of laughter erupted from the other medics though the four officers behind him refrained. Felnic rose from his seat. Though not the biggest man in the room, he was known for having absolute disgust with firefighters, that disgust dangerously close to outright hatred. The smell for the Flamingo was unique, sweat and musk were on the air but so was the scent of beer. It smelled like a bar should. "You're bar is down the street. How about you go to your buddies. It's seven at night," He gave the clock a quiet glance, "Which means they've been drunk for an hour now. Happy hour always seemed to start extra early for you lot."
He picked up their scents, even as it mingled with the others of the room. He'd seen these two before, though both times they had been assigned to unwinding hose rather than doing anything useful... as if anything a firefighter did was useful. "Isn't there a trash can fire you can go put out or a cat in a tree you can fetch for an old lady?"
Both men glared at Felnic and with a cockiness to their stride, emerged further into the Flamingo. The Flamingo was not a private bar, which meant the public and unfortunately fire fighters could come and go as they pleased. Even tonight, there were some people around he did not recognize and for the most part Winter tolerated them but over paid lazy baboons were another story. It was at this point one of the four officers took a stand and interjected himself in front of the approaching fire specialists. "Perhaps it's best if you men left this evening. We don't need any trouble." Felnic watched the cop who kept a calm yet firm voice. Police deserved respect and the Paramedic ensured he gave it to them. They were the first on scene to any event and ensured it was safe for the Medics. In the world of First Responders, Police were Paramedics personal bodyguards and more often sided with Paremdics on almost any issue.
Neither firefighter made a continued scene and both nodded acknowledgment to the Police Officer, who himself was still decked out in his uniform. Felnic let out an irritated sigh which momentarily caused both leaving men to pause. "Damn monkeys." He spat as he retook his seat. Not one for public places or large crowds, Felnic did not mind coming to The Flamingo, even if for an hour or so once a week. Tonight, he would shift and run through the Redlands back hills. Nothing beat a decent shift and run but until then... he'd make nice.
