Elbow against the polished counter, with his chin resting on his hand, Jiho watches the other with a smile on his face. It was almost as if he was witnessing the most amusing show in his lifetime when it fact, bartending would’ve been the least amusing things he could possibly be watching given that he does it six days a week. Somehow though, watching another person do it was refreshing to him — or, at least, it may have been because it was Atticus doing it, not just some other bartender.
“ Hey, I’m not judging,” the male reassured, and really, he wasn’t. The smile on his face could’ve easily been misinterpreted by Atticus and Jiho just hoped he didn’t think it was because he was making fun of him. As the glass was slid towards him, Jiho was quick to try out the drink — and gave a nod of approval afterwards. “ Ah, too bad,” he puts down the glass, already half empty from his ‘sip’, before he goes on, “I would’ve paid you bucks just for this drink alone. It’s good. You should be proud. ”
Atticus enjoys Jiho’s company (one of the many reasons that he keeps asking the other to work for him), and this is yet another reason why. He’s one of the few people who says things like that – compliments, with no teasing or mocking or goading.
And he also hates his company for the same reason, he thinks, staring down at the bench-top and wondering where Bokyung is when he needs her to do her job the most. “ Thanks, ” he says, pretending that he’s not stumbling over his words and that his face isn’t flushed. Atticus is great at surviving when people are actually flirting, but a simple, genuine compliment is a lot harder to respond to.
“ You could get more free drinks if you worked here, ” he adds, relaxing into his usual mode of get Jiho to work for you at all costs.