|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2023 11:16 pm
 |
|
|
 |
Finishing off the Lemon Drop with a flourish, Duke grinned. He was happy enough to pay another bartender a genuine compliment. "You're welcome." So, yeah, Lay had kind of laughed at him, but he didn't mind. Somehow, it didn't seem like Lay could do anything that wouldn't seem adorable. By Grendel, what was wrong with him? There was something distinctly charming about about his fellow bartender. It wasn't just his looks, either, although only a blind man could miss them.
"Very close," he agreed. "Almost a little too close, but if you're going to be there, I don't think I'll mind much." Or at all. Having finished the drink, he was looking for reasons to stick around. "Did you work at the 'Bin back before?" In the old days, before it had temporarily closed down.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2023 11:24 pm
|
|
|
|
The energy in the club shifted suddenly, and Duke felt it palpably. What he'd said had not hit the right note. Something unreadable flickered across his face as he watched Lay. He could tell immediately that something was wrong, but other than knowing it had to do with the past, he had no idea. "No, I never worked here. I've been a bartender for a long time. It's all I've ever really known or done. Started when I was pretty young but I never slowed down." He paused, considered Lay's expression, and the way he'd settled in near him.
"I've worked with a lot of bartenders over the years, but you have a rare knack." There was something about the casual elegance of Lay's mixology that really stood out from the rest. Not to mention that he truly was an excellent bartender. The drink Duke had enjoyed had been well worth it. "You make it look easy and taste good. Great, really." Duke grinned slightly, and nudged his companion back. "Something tells me you don't mess up much these days."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2023 9:13 pm
|
|
|
|
Somewhere along the way, Duke realized he was completely enchanted by the beautiful bartender. He was... well, probably in trouble. "You know, it happens that way sometimes. I have to admit that there was never a time I didn't really enjoy it. I fell into bartending, but I love it." Obviously. His eyes couldn't seem to quite tear themselves away from Lay's face.
Without really thinking about what he was doing, Duke looped an arm around Lay's waist as he leaned in toward him. "You really want to see it?" he asked, a slight, crooked grin on his lips. "But are we still talking about mixology?" Suddenly, all he could see was those big, beautiful silver eyes in a lovely, winsome face.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2023 5:55 pm
|
|
|
|
With an invitation like that one, Duke could not resist. He leaned forward, slipping his arm up so that he could cup the back of Lay's head, and planted a fervent kiss on his lips. Their first kiss, but he couldn't regret it. He'd been much, much too tempted. "As you wish," he said, and then slipped out of Lay's reach. It was time to get mixing.
He slipped behind the bar like a seal sliding into the ocean, totally in his element. As he slung the booze, he gave Lay a cocky smirk and then a wink. He couldn't help himself, he really could not. "Try this one out for size," he said, as he tossed together a Cosmopolitan... and then began to whip up a Sex on the Beach. Hey, a guy could dream. Even if it was just a flirtation, it was completely worth the cute look on Lay's face.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2023 5:47 pm
|
|
|
|
He wanted to freeze time, you would think he had never been kissed before for how stunned he was. He didn’t usually leave the ball in another’s court either. He may be a small pretty fellow but he led most of his one nighters along. This wasn’t no one nighter nobody though and it hit differently. The kiss lingered even after Duke slunk away to show off his skills. Lay smiled sheepishly.
He watched Duke silently at a loss for words, smiled a little wider at the smirk and wink his way. Behind his pleased face he did worry, he’d kept a barrier with anyone he worked with to not cause problems. It had happened before and it was not pretty. A workplace romance either was great or a terrible thing. It could also be a fling for all he knew, which would be ok he supposed if so, he wouldn’t let it affect the job. ’You have known him for a minute, stop fretting, just….
He got lost in his own head and watching Duke, he couldn’t pull away. He started when a drink slid up. And he laughed at the second one. “Two really good choices, did I tell you I liked Cosmos?” He didn't remember saying so, but he wasn’t sure anymore, it was trivial and not at all important after that kiss.
He hummed with pleasure after trying it. “Maybe you can help me make new fun drinks for the place with me. I have been testing some out but nothing has stuck.” His idle chatter covered his true wants. He glanced at the other drink more than once wondering if it meant something. Maybe it was just the mood and how he already drank more tonight than normal.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 12:17 am
|
|
|
|
Another little smirk found its way to Duke's lips and he gave a fluid shrug. "You didn't exactly say it so much as it just seemed to suit you." The Sex on the Beach... well, it was wishful thinking. Maybe for them both, judging by the way Lay had responded. Once he'd finished the Sex on the Beach, he set it in front of Lay as well. "Give it a taste, tastemaker." He couldn't resist a wink at that.
Every once and awhile, he found himself glancing at Lay's lips, and genuinely wondered what they might taste like now... and shook himself. Seriously, he needed to keep his head in the game. It was an issue. A developing one. He felt like, although he barely knew Lay, he was in very real danger of becoming enthralled. Assuming that he wasn't already. "Maybe I can. I've made a lot of drinks over the years."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2023 11:17 am
|
|
|
|
The tension was thick. So, he felt anyway, he was treading the unknown with this one. Exhilarating and frightening. Where did he stop? He wondered. The same thoughts popped up, the what ifs, the possibly problems that could ensue, or maybe there wouldn’t be any problems. He started to think he should end it soon and head out. He knew he’d see him a lot so there was time, plenty of time. He wasn’t sure he really wanted to take
Setting the Cosmo down and picking up the Sex on the Beach he tilted his head down to not spill the full glass, but he found that he looked up and stared right at him as he tasted and let the flavors mingle in his mouth as he set it back down. ‘’Hm. Yeah, I like that too.” He licked the sweetness off his lips.
“Mr. Abs, come here.” He wagged his finger to coax him closer over the counter, a sly grin played on his face.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 14, 2023 12:17 pm
|
|
|
|
"As you wish," 'Mr. Abs' said, closing the distance between them. "I take it you're satisfied with my demo?" he asked, staring down at Lay. He'd set all the supplies back in their proper place, as was his habit. Leaving expensive booze and mixers on the bar was not something Duke did. Not even just long enough to spend some time with Layzel. He was a little self-conscious right now, a bit more shy than he'd expected.
Somehow, that sly grin that Lay was wearing had brought that out. "So... what now?" he asked, a bead of sweat dripping down his forehead. Apparently he'd put a little more into his little show than he'd thought, if he was sweating. Or maybe Lay was just that hot. And oh boy was it a good thing that his companion was not, to his knowledge, a mindreader.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 14, 2023 6:08 pm
|
|
|
|
Well now. Duke had absolutely zero complaints about where this was going. He had, at least, received a few much appreciated kisses tonight. If he never got any more intimacy from Lay, he could consider himself spoiled. The kiss the bartender laid on Duke sent his head spinning, just a little. What a cutie Lay was, always hovering between confident and shy. Maybe he was much the same way. He'd not dated coworkers before. Usually he wouldn't so much as kiss one. But kiss Lay he had, and he had no regrets.
He didn't quite release Lay, even as Lay's arms loosened around him. "Should I walk you home?" he asked, as if this were a date. Was it a date? It was... sort of magical, whatever it was. He felt truly fortunate that Layzel had decided that he was worth a second kiss. A grin tugged at his lips, and he cocked his head to the side. "Or maybe help you clean up first?" Technically it was both of their responsibility.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 15, 2023 3:21 pm
|
|
|
|
Ah, Duke knew that he often had unreasonable standards for how to keep a bar. There were a few little things here and there that he would not have kept out, all things considered, but he supposed it was nothing pressing. "Well. I guess not much. Nothing that can't wait for tomorrow night." And really, it was more important to walk Lay home in time to beat the sunrise back here than it was to clean up the club. After all, he could simply do that in the evening. "Should we head out, then?" he asked, holding an arm out for Lay.
He didn't mind walking him home. It wasn't like it was always safe to head out alone, though really Lay probably could handle himself. Duke didn't exactly want him to have to, though, when push came to shove. It'd be nice to just treat it as a sort of unofficial date they'd had. He could pretend, at least. It was part of the fun.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
