[OPEN] March Post

[catphishing]

Guilty Pleasures
March (alternate Fridays), open to all.

[There are closer bars for him to be visiting after work. His colleagues have even invited him to one. Instead he's here. Alone. Not for the strippers (though from the way he keeps looking at them from the corner of his eye it's fairly clear he's not uninterested), but because its location and reputation. He wants to make friends. Connections.

Which he would probably have a lot more success with if he could get up the nerve to talk to someone. He sighs, loosening his tie even further and summoning the bartender to order himself another Maker's Manhattan.]

Westminster
Throughout March, open to all.

[Since Oliver works in Westminster it's not unusual for him to be out on his lunch break in either a small cafe or a bench, weather depending. He likes to get out when he can, take some time away from his desk. Maybe he'll even get some time away from a screen, though he'll frequently have his phone out too, either texting or checking the Facebook app.

Sometimes he'll grab a coffee when he finishes, taking advantage of how many establishments have free wifi. He's not always quite done with the work day, just eager to be somewhere he's not quite so unenthusiastic about being. He doesn't actually have to be there to fix all the help desk problems. Some are quite easy to fix through remote access. Especially with a decent coffee and a fancy pastry to make the tasks less mind numbing.

Not that he's always working. At times the coffee's just a nice way for him to unwind before he has to face up to the crowds of the tube in rush hour so he can get back home. It's easier to catch up on news articles on a laptop screen in a comfortable coffee shop than it is on his phone crammed up against ten other people. Sometimes all he does is take the time to browse period dramas on Amazon, picking one out to rent for him to enjoy when he gets back home.]

Wildcard
Throughout March, open to all.

[Choose your own adventure! PM me or ping me at my plurk [technobabbled] if you want to plot something.]

Comments

Guilty Pleasures

[falsify]

[Eammes has... Mixed feelings, shall we say, about this place. It's nicer than a lot of similar establishments, but it is also owned and frequented by vampires. Which is a significant failing on its part, he's decided, so this is hardly a joint he frequents. But the people who work here are gorgeous (even the few women on staff are stunning, he has to say,) and though they're pretty good at keeping their mouths closed when it comes to sensitive topics, the patrons are significantly less so. Find a good seat in a bar frequented by supernaturals, it's amazing what you'll overhear.]

[It's pure chance that he notices the guy looking uncomfortable a few tables over, having looked away from the stage to glance around the room, and honestly the guy's awkwardness is making him feel a little uncomfortable. And more than that, it's so distracting he can't focus on what the people at the table behind him are talking about. So, Eames does what any kind soul would do in this situation.]

[He calls over a waiter to order a dance for the anxious looking human in the tie.]

[catphishing]

[Vampires are a big part of his reasons for being here. He has a good chance of encountering them here and he knows it. Though the downside of the establishment is that they might suspect his intentions of being slightly different than they actually are. Eames' generous gift quite possibly proves him right on that.

When the stripper comes over to him he initially thinks it's a mistake, because this is definitely not what he ordered, no matter how good looking he might be. A quick explanation and an indication of Eames tells him what's really happened though. Or at least gives him a better idea.

No one else has ever bought him a lap dance before, and honestly, given the complexity of his current state of singlehood he's not sure how he should deal with this. A dance is a dance, but he's not sure if accepting it might give the other guy the wrong idea. In the end he does anyway. It turns out the dancer's pretty talented, and he does have really nice abs.

Once it's finished and the dancer gone Oliver turns to look back over at Eames' table, raising his glass and mouthing an uncertain 'thank you?' at him. The question mark is practically visible.]

[falsify]

[He doesn't pay Oliver much mind once the dancer's been sent over, satisfied with his good deed for the day. Eames catches the glass out of the corner of his eye though, and raises his in return. The guy looks pretty confused by this though, and he returns Oliver's thanks with a questioning expression and a gesture toward said dancer on his way backstage, asking if he was good.]

[catphishing]

[He doesn't immediately get what he's asking, but a glance over to where he's gesturing makes it impossible to miss the dancer's retreating back. He turns back to give Eames what is hopefully a reassuring nod.

If anything he's even less sure though. The guy hadn't even been looking at him, so why had he done that? Was it random? Was he making fun of him for some reason? Had he just felt sorry for the guy spending his Friday night all on his own in a strip club? That last one admittedly seemed unlikely given he was sitting by himself as well.]

[falsify]

[It does seem unlikely, doesn't it? But it must be the case. Satisfied with the response, Eames goes back to watching the stage and listening to the conversations around him. Totally unconcerned with Oliver now that's over. He's gotta be more relaxed now, right?]