Kieran chuckled and made half an attempt to smother the sound behind their hand, so as to not wrongfully offend Lucky. “Geez, don’t push yourself too hard,” they laughed. “I know that wasn’t exactly my best line. I’ve apparently got quite a ways to go before I reach satisfactory flirt levels. Honestly, though, your lines are a lot better than anything I’ve come up with so far.” They paused, considering. “Huh, maybe I should be taking lessons from you, hmm?”
“But, no,” they sighed. Kieran turned to look out at the crowd, leaning back against the bar on their elbows. “No takers. I don’t think I’m being particularly picky or anything? And I’m not really fussy. In fact, some people usually call me ‘desperate’. But, whatever, I’m a person of simple pleasures. “ It was a line of thought they preferred not to look into too closely. They weren’t a stranger to people that took an issue with their flirting, or those that criticized them for ‘sleeping around’. Best not to let it get to you, you can’t please everybody. They gave a small shrug before turning inwards to face Lucky again. “But, hey, I like your cheesy lines and your jokes,” Kieran admitted, smiling almost shyly. “And, y’know, if you’d gone into comedy I’d like to think that I’d still go and see your shows. You still have to let me know when Dream Tsunami’s next gig is – I’ll be there. And if you ever decide that a career change is in the cards, you’d better at least shoot me a text or something.”
Just then the bartender approached them from the other side of the counter, carrying both Lucky’s jack and coke and their own vodka tonic. Kieran took both of their drinks, thanking the bartender as he left. “I think,” they drawled, looking up at Lucky through their lashes, “that I’d be the lucky one if you were trying.” They placed their vodka tonic down on the bar but kept hold of the jack and coke, gently swirling the ice around inside the glass. “And, if you really wanted to be that lucky guy, you could help me ‘get lucky’ tonight.” To punctuate their proposition Kieran slowly took a sip of Lucky’s drink, maintaining eye contact with the Scot as they did so. Once they’d swallowed they handed over the jack and coke with a coy smile, letting their fingers linger against Lucky’s hand for a moment longer than was strictly necessary. “You got any plans after this?”
Shrugging nonchalantly, Lucky offered a smirk. “My lines aren’t much better, to be fair. I’m not sure you’d learn much more from being in my company,” he reasoned, before adding, “Still... You wouldn’t hear me complaining about getting to spend a little extra time in your company.” A wink accompanied his words, his trademark. Perhaps he was joking, perhaps he wasn’t. That was for him to know, and for Kieran to consider.
As Kieran looked out at the crowd, Lucky followed their gaze, nodding almost in agreement. He supposed he understood that predicament. “Hey, that doesn’t make you desperate. That makes you a person who enjoys the things that make them feel good. If you can’t even do that without being judged then what can you do?” He nudged the other gently with one arm, offering a smile of what he hoped was reassurance. “But I’m glad you appreciate my jokes. Someone’s gotta. And yeah, sure. I’ll let you know the details of the next gig. I’ll be looking for you in the crowd to distract me from stage fright so you’d better be there.” Then, he scoffed a laugh and shook his head. “No, that’d never happen. I’ve worked too hard to get to where I am and I honestly love it. But on the off chance that it did ever happen, you’d be the first to know about it. I promise.” And that was genuine. Lucky knew that if he ever had a crisis like that, Kieran would be the first person he’d text for advice. He trusted them like that.
Spotting the bartender approaching, Lucky reached for their drinks but was beaten to it by Kieran. He breathed a soft laugh then, shaking his head at Kieran’s flirting. It was probably the most successful attempt from the other thus far, however, and Lucky couldn’t help but smile almost nervously. “Oh, really? I’m the lucky one here, though.” His gaze never left Kieran’s face as the other spoke, holding eye contact the whole time. The tension between the pair was tangible. As his drink was handed over to him, he reached to take it. Seemingly he and Kieran had the same idea as their hands seemed to linger over one another’s for far longer than they really needed to. He eventually took the glass with a grateful smile. Taking a sip and still maintaining eye contact with Kieran, he finally spoke. “Mm, yeah. I’ve really gotta be somewhere after this.” Setting his glass on the bar, he glanced down at his watch. “I seemed to have forgotten how to get there, though. Think you could help me?” A large hand settled on Kieran’s waist then, pulling them slightly closer as Lucky once more met his gaze. “It’s this little place called your bed."
