There's an old man sitting next to me Making love to his tonic and gin

[emptynight]

[Thomas is standing behind the gleaming mahogany bar, a Boston shaker at his elbow as he watches the bar with a lazy, indulgent smile. Every so often, the light catches in his eyes with a gleam of silver, but for the moment he's content to just watch. And pour a drink for anyone who happens to pull up to the bar.]

Comments

[jackedthename]

[Jack pulls up to the bar in good time, quirking an amused eyebrow at the man behind it.]

Come here often, handsome?

[emptynight]

[Thomas grins at Jack's entrance and sets down a clean glass] Too often. Finally got pressed into service after my tab got too high.

[jackedthename]

You poor darling. Are you having fun, at least?

[emptynight]

All the booze in the world and an eight hour shift before I can drink any of it? It's a particular kind of torture.

What're you in the mood for, Jack?

[jackedthename]

Well, I guess I'll just have to take your mind off of it, hm?

A martini sounds lovely.

[emptynight]

Martini it is.

[A low, sexy chuckle escapes Thomas' throat at Jack's words.] So of all the gin joints in all the cities in all the world, you had to walk into mine.

[jackedthename]

I don't look half as good in a dress as Ingrid Bergman, sorry, handsome.

[emptynight]

[That makes him laugh again, and Thomas adds ice to the bottom of the shaker, then measures out gin and vermouth, chatting as he does so.] Maybe not, darling, but I bet with enough drinks I could convince you to give it a go.

[jackedthename]

[That gets a low chuckle out of Jack, too, and he's watching Thomas very intently.] Confidentially? For you, we might not need the drinks.

[emptynight]

[He shakes up the martini, then pours it into a chilled glass and tops it with a twist of lemon before sliding it over the counter.]

I suspected, but I thought I'd give you the excuse.

[jackedthename]

[He nods in thanks, and then takes a sip, pausing to savor it a bit, before he's back to grinning at Thomas.]

Thoughtful of you.

[ttlynotanagent]

[A moment later a small platypus walks in wearing a hat.

He slides up to the bar and watches the bar tender for a moment. He then picks up a menu and points to a fruity drink with an umbrella sticking out of it.

He's had a long day, thwarting his nemesis was extremely trying today and Major Monogram made even more ridiculous jokes than even he had patience for...not to mention that BACKSTORY from Doof. Ugh, don't ask him about THAT.]

[emptynight]

[This face. This face forever.

Thomas looks at the platypus that just walked in, then glances at the door to see if any stray cameramen are lurking, and then looks at the platypus again.]

I have not had enough to drink to be hallucinating platypi.

[ttlynotanagent]

[Perry will just give YOU a look now, like, 'Dude, just give me a drink, you aren't hallucinating.' Of course he can't SAY that because he's a platypus, they don't really talk.

He'll wait, but seriously if you're going to take this long he'll hop back there himself and do it. He makes a mean martini after all. He drums his fingers to make a point.]

[emptynight]

[The thing with hallucinations was that either you thought too hard about them, or you just went along with it for the ride. The latter was easier, even if it had the potential to be less sane.]

What's your poison, duck boy? Gin and tonic? Rum and Coke?

[He gestures behind the bar at the rest of the selection for good measure. Playing charades with an imaginary platypus was not going to work out well.]

[ttlynotanagent]

[For the last time he's not a hallucination. Seriously, you are the only one who has ever thought that bartender person.

He sighs and points to the menu again. The fruity drink with the umbrella.

Also he is frowning at you for calling him Duck Boy. Does he LOOK like a duck? Sure the bill might be misleading but, come on, he doesn't even HAVE feathers.]

[emptynight]

[Thomas glances at the menu and nods at the platypus' gesture.] Hurricane it is.

[He eyes the platypus as he adds ice to the bottom half of the Boston shaker, then a glug of passion fruit juice. One of light rum. One of dark rum.] So are Tiki drinks a platypus thing or you just special?

[ttlynotanagent]

[Perry is probably just special. He hasn't meant many other platypi that are also secret agents. Not unless you counted alternate dimensions or that time Doof was cloning him.

He shrugs, he doesn't drink that often anyway. It wouldn't do good for his cover as an ordinary platypus if he was drunk]

[emptynight]

[And along with the juice and rum goes the grenadine, and Thomas adds a splash of lime for good measure. He shakes it up and strains into a Hurricane glass. Instead of passing it over to the platypus, though, he reaches under the bar for a handful of paper umbrellas in different colours and floral prints.]

Pick your favourite, chief.

[ttlynotanagent]

[Ooh he gets to pick his fancy umbrella. Excellent.

He plucks out a blue one with orange flowers and holds it up to Thomas.

Thanks]

[emptynight]

[Thomas laughs at the choice but dutifully spears a piece of pineapple and a maraschino cherry on the umbrella before adding it to the drink and sliding it over to Perry.]

Enjoy.

[ttlynotanagent]

[He tips his hat slightly.

Thanks.

He starts sipping it through a straw. Yes, that's the stuff]

[sponsorigami]

[Here's a sushi chef waiter who desperately looks like he needs a break and caffeine]

[emptynight]

[Thomas eyes the newcomer and waves to one of the empty stools.] What's your poison, chief?

[sponsorigami]

[He gladly takes the seat to give his weary feet a rest.]

Um... is there any tea or coffee back there? I only have a fifteen break.

[emptynight]

[Thomas glances back at the bar and its myriad alcoholic options.]

Not unless you like your tea the Long Island way. Soda or Red Bull I've got.

[sponsorigami]

[Thinks about it for a second]

One soda please.

[emptynight]

[Thomas nods and fills a glass with ice cubes and soda. He adds a straw and a wedge of lemon on the edge.] Long day, princess?

[sponsorigami]

P-princess?

[Ivan drops his head. He takes the glass, wounded pride is not new to him. Someday he hopes he'll be a strong, manly Hero... but now he's just a waiter.]

Thanks, I thought I'd be used to the workload by now.

[emptynight]

[If Thomas notices the wounded pride, he doesn't say so. Or maybe he didn't notice. After all, he called most people ridiculous pet names regardless of gender.]

Comes and goes. Today was busier than normal. Even I noticed.

[sponsorigami]

Is there something going on in the area? Or a promotion?

[He takes a sip of soda. If there is something, Ivan didn't get the memo]

[ladymoonlight]

[Selene loves mortals, loves mingling with them and trying to fit in with them. It was a favorite past time of hers since Endymion... So why not do so tonight?

Although the room wasn't full or anywhere near it, she still managed to find all the crowds to pick her way through as she made her way to the bar. Leaning on the bar, she gave the tender a slow smile.]

Evening.

[emptynight]

[Thomas finishes wiping off the counter, where someone had spilled most of a bad beer, and looks up at the woman who'd approached.]

Evening, darling. What can I get you?

[ladymoonlight]

[Selene watches him for a moment, appearing thoughtful. And really, she is. You can't exactly go up to a mortal bar and order ambrosia.... She rests her chin on her hand and gives a small shrug.]

How strong can you make my cosmo?

[emptynight]

[He grins.] How strong do you want that cosmo?

[ladymoonlight]

[She shrugs her shoulders again.]

Surprise me?

[emptynight]

Of course darling. [He begins adding things to the shaker, a splash of cranberry for colour, far more vodka than he normally would use... And sets the pale pink cocktail in front of Selene.]

Cosmo for the lady.

[brokenallthelaws]

[Technically speaking, Xigbar is supposed to be out on a reconnaissance mission. But while this isn't the world he's supposed to be gleaning information about, there's also a certain something to be said for the way information tends to flow in establishments like this. And besides, he's almost done with that world; surely Xemnas won't mind him seeing what he can pick up about other worlds besides.

So he's still in the customary coat of the Organization when he slides up to the bar, although he's got his hood down. One odd patron here won't be out of the ordinary.]

Long day?

[emptynight]

[He rinses a glass and chuckles at the guy in the coat.] Not as long as most of my customers have been having. What's your poison?

[brokenallthelaws]

[There's a slight nod at the first comment. Though he isn't going to talk about the nature of his work in even the most vague of terms, he can agree that it has been a long day, and it's not even over yet.]

Surprise me.

[emptynight]

[He begins making a Manhattan, adding an extra dash of bitters, a little extra whiskey, and tops it with two cherries.]

If everyone were so easy to please I'd be out of a job. Usually it's "make my martini with vodka, not gin, and no vermouth but just a little cranberry juice." Might as well order a Cosmo at that point.

[brokenallthelaws]

[Xigbar watches as he makes the drink, although he makes no indication that anything ought to be changed. If anything he's more curious to see what goes into a drink, when he lets the bartender have his way.]

Ah, you can't expect everyone to know the right names for things.

[sailorgenerous]

[And this would be your front-end manager, looking rather pleased.]

How have things been tonight, Thomas? Not too many problem customers, I hope.

[emptynight]

[Thomas had tried exactly once to not do what Rarity said. After that time, he was content to just do whatever the manager wanted. It made for far less pouting and hoofstomping that way. So when Rarity moseyed up to the bar, he grinned and slid over a glass of sparkling apple cider.]

Nothing I couldn't charm my way out of, sweetheart.

[sailorgenerous]

[It was a simple but effective way to maintain authority, and she rarely ever had to do it more than once. As it was, she was rather glad that she and Thomas had come to an understanding, and she took the glass of cider and sipped it delicately.]

Hopefully not too much charm. We don't need another...situation like we had last month.

[emptynight]

[He pouts.]

Come on, Rarity, even you had to admit last month wasn't my fault. I was just pouring drinks.