“ NOT TRUE AT ALL. ” she started mindlessly, “ you always start with lower than what you really want. at least from a man, it lulls them into a false sense of safety. ” then when they’re least expecting it you’ve got their whole wallet and you give them back the three dollars. she didn’t say that last part for fear of what he might think instead she said, “ then next thing they know you’re remarried and paying them for sex. ” she giggled a nervous giggle picking up the same cup they’d put down just to give her hands something to do. “ nope, not even for you. ” her heart was thumping and her stomach jumped. “ we have a strict no refund policy. maybe try talking to your bank ? ” she smirked.
It was true, she was smitten. Kind of. Not that Austin would point it out directly at her. He was not really one to stroke his own ego in a sense, as the man grinned at the woman who was busy fiddling with his now empty cup that he just drank off from. “Sounds like there’s a catch there, somewhere, but I’ll bite.” Austin replied, looking straight into her eyes with a smile on his lips. “Although I don’t mind getting paid for sex. If Bloom’s any indication of the sex and debauchery that’s going on all around, I should just market myself as the stereotypical black guy in those porn movies, right?” He said with a smirk. “Guy with a big black dick in his pants.” He shrugged his shoulders and sighed at her statement, playing along with it as Austin leaned a little bit. “Well, I’d do that, but my credit’s not that good at the bank.” He said, taking her hand and tracing a finger on the back of her hand, drawing circles around it with her thumb. “I was wondering a little more… physical.” He teased.
the bar had to have been one of lily’s favorite spots to visit once she’d wrapped up her day at her booth. it was the perfect way to unwind from her busy day and the company she often met when she was there wasn’t so bad either. almost as soon as she’d walked in she headed straight for the bar and ordered herself two shots of the finest tequila they had to offer. she deserved this and nothing got her to loosen up like a strong drink. well into her fifth shot, she took a moment to look around at the patron’s, wondering who’d be lucky enough to end up going home with her tonight. when the bartender arrived with her sixth shot and a cocktail, lily turned to thank him, downing the small glass of clear liquid before she heard a familiar voice behind her. lily turned to face him, a smile tugging at her ruby red painted lips, in her now tipsy state. “do you recognize all the ladies around here by their asses or have you just been watching mind long enough to know it’s me?” she teased. “was wondering where my favorite bartender had gone tonight. missed seeing those big, strong muscles work the bar. honestly, it’s half the reason even come here.”
Bloom was always the premier place to party, socialize, live life and enjoy the highest of highs of the levels of hedonism in a way – vendors with questionable produce and items on sale, very questionable activities that were done under the guise of a huge party. Already, the large town was busy preparing their next Bloom Valentine festival, which would almost be a literal war between the “for Valentine’s” and the “against Valentine’s” party. He grinned at the response, as Austin was taken back to reality and watched the woman turn around – sure enough, he knew who she was. If he did not, and he gotten that wrong, the conversation would have taken a very sharp and funny turn. “Kinda recognize almost everyone here by their asses.” Austin said rather jokingly. “Although, with all due respect, yours is one I haven’t gotten acquainted yet, so you can say I’ve been watching long enough to know it’s you, Lily.” He added. He smirked at the rather lavish compliment on his arms as he shrugged his shoulders. “Was actually taking a break. Although I was thinking of punching out early. Valentine’s almost here and I don’t want to get caught in the crossfire of getting to work on Valentine’s.”
OH RIGHT MONEY, SHE thought to herself a little proud that even in her dazed state she’d managed to pocket a few singles. “ oh right, yeah no sorry. three dollars is as low as the price goes even for a great kisser. one dollar for the joint, two for me just because i’m cute and deserve the tip. ” she shrugged resting her chin her hands as she leaned against the counter. “ what can i say i’m easily distracted, ” she shrugged with a smirk wicked eyes twinkling. it was taking enormous amounts of self control to keep her from tipping dangerously over the line of flirting. “ i already have your money safely stored away and you should know, we avaras don’t give refunds. ”
“Oh, well, if you say you’re cute, you’d ask for more than just two bucks.” Austin said with the grin never leaving his lips. It was proof already – she was a little smitten with what he did, despite the whole fact that he was not even supposed to be doing something like that. But, it was all for a joint or a couple, as Austin went to take a cup and took a sip out from it lightly, setting it down and grinning at her. “Oh, I’m not questioning that part of the deal. A good business is a good business.” He replied with a grin as he started to light up the joint and took a puff. “I’m more curious to what you said about how you won’t give refunds, though. A cute woman like yourself could ever possibly give one for little old me?” He grinned.
SHE KEPT A WATCHFUL eye on him as he spoke, eyes taking in everything from the way he grinned playfully to the way he confidently accepted her challenge. she knew she should probably stop staring in that way that said holy shit you’re amazing but she couldn’t. tongue dragging across her lips she said, “ yeah i probably should but i have a feeling marriage won’t be making me any less fun. ” she grinned quickly slipping the bills into her back pocket as he pulled her in for a kiss. she wasn’t expecting them to actually kiss her, though she really should have been. it wasn’t the first time someone in bloom has completely surpassed her expectations. her mind short circuited for a second as electricity shot through her veins. “ um, wait - what was the question ? ”
Austin held a smirk on his lips, letting his hand that cupped her face slip off from her as he watched her reaction. Of course, her lips taste delicious, but it was her starstruck reaction from it that amused him to no end. He almost never bragged about himself looks-wise, or even personality wise, preferring others to judge him based on how he carried himself. But he never denied the fact that at most points, he was quite charming in his own way. “I was asking about what you would do to lower the fee, but it seemed like all I did was made you forget about it.” He said with a grin. “Do you wanted a refresher course, or should I ask for payment this time?” He teased, as Austin took a joint off from the counter.
with the towel still covering her body, the brunette opened her bag looking for a new top to wear. “ well, as far as i know you had sex before you came here or maybe you are even doing it right now. as for me, i’m sure i just flashed my boobs to the killer, so. ” finally she got her white top from the bottom of the small bag, dressing up quickly. now, without her black leggings, she was looking for her denim shorts. stopping for a moment, she laughed along with the man. “ sorry, i would like to say that i’ll help you, but as the hot girl i have to wait to die in the second act. so i’ll use your death as an advantage to escape, but hey no hard feelings, okay? ” she joked.
“Unfortunately, no. As much as your active imagination would like to want you to believe, no, I have not had sex prior to my time at the gym.” Austin replied with a laugh, as he showered – oblivious to the fact that he was having a rather funny long-distance conversation from one room to another with a raised voice. “Nor am I having sex right at this very moment. It’s kinda lonely and kinda echoing inside this to have sex in the showers. Although it is a very enticing idea.” One that already made him a little erect just by the thought of it. Realistically, there was no chance that that would happen right now. “And well, you flashing your boobs to the killer already gets you a ‘get-away-from-murder’ card. I’m still dead in the water, pants down, all naked.” Austin said. “And here I thought you’d be the heroine in savior, saving the dude in distress from said killer. I’m too hot to die!” He added with another laugh – all in jest of course.
juliette never liked gym locker rooms, she preferred the comfort of her shower, or bathtub depending on how tired she was after training. but with the festival around, she never knew when a fan would ask for a photo with her. then, after her workouts, the brunette would go into any dressing room to dry her sweat and change clothes. she didn’t think it was very hygienic, but she knew that as soon as she left there she would go back to her apartment and begin her beauty ritual. noticing how empty the locker room was, the brunette quickly removed her top. but when another voice became present, she covered her body with a towel, giggling at his comment. “ you know this is how a horror movie starts, right? ” she yelled back at him.
He overheard the voice coming back at him with a reply, as Austin chuckled to himself and shook his head at the voice from afar. It was rather a surprise to hear that, although he would have expected that person to just come in and interrupt him – whether it would be called as an interruption would still be up for debate, but that was the case by far. At least he felt that the other person was not going to enter anyways, and that was safe for him to just take a shower. He stripped off the towel and stepped into the cascading waters as he started to scrub himself down lightly. “I don’t know what kind of horror movie you’re watching.” Austin said. “But I never heard about how two people got snuffed off in a gym locker room and shower before. Usually it follows sex before. And usually the black guy gets killed first. And I should be scared, because I’m black.” Austin pointed out with a chuckle.
DARK LOCKS TWIRLING AROUND tiny fingers as she giggled face burning red with embarrassment, “ listen i’m almost a married woman, ” she teased. “ technically i’m only allowed to fuck other people if atlas says so and i’m not going to ask him so unless you’re going to - ” trailing off she shrugged honestly she’d said the words half as a joke, half as a challenge. if he was bold enough to actually ask her fiance if he could fuck her, he deserved a shot. “ but i will take a kiss and a dollar because you’re cute and that made me smile. ”
Almost a married woman. Well, that was a little complicated. Who was he kidding, that was very complicated, plain and simple. However, the grin never escaped his lips, as Austin chuckled at the statement and shrugged his shoulders. “Almost a married woman. Well, you gotta milk the fun of being single while you can, right?” He replied, looking around. “But if you so insist, I could go around and ask. Who’s the lucky fella?” He asked, half a retort and half a rather playful gesture, as the man grinned at the offer. Austin peeled out three leaves of a dollar bill and laid it on the countertop for her to take. Without even a hint of hesitation or a hint of preamble and pretense, he slipped a hand over her cheek, pulled her close and pressed her lips against his, as the man gave her a deep, inviting kiss. Slipping even his tongue a little, he peeled back after a moment, letting her taste linger as Austin grinned slyly. “Just cute? How about now?” He dared an ask, again.
SELLING? SHE THOUGHT TO herself damn i should have thought of that first. honestly her only plan was to down the rest of her wine and get really high while watching her friends perform but now the entrepreneurial spirit her father had painstakingly instilled in her wanted to sell. head tilting her eyes squinted, “ for you ? i’ll give you the friends and family discount three bucks - ” she paused to take a sip of wine before saying. “ besides not everything that happened in a college dorm has to be left behind after graduation. ”
“Friends and family discount, huh? That’s more than appreciated. Although, I’d wonder how much would it take me to have those without paying three bucks.” Austin smirked rather playfully at her. “I mean, money’s rather tight these days… I’m looking for a quick way to, you know. Have fun without putting out some money. Anything I can do to sweeten the deal?” He said with a wry grin. Of course, he was just teasing around while saying that as his hand already made its way to the back pocket of his jeans to fish out his wallet. At least her reaction to the idea of selling was rather interesting, as if he had struck a spark in her mind. Lit her lightbulb, in a way. “Oh, trust me, I know.” He added at her statement. “No matter how far I go, my past seems to follow me behind, for better or worse. Not that I’m complaining about it.”
The night was still quite early even if it was slowly creeping up to eleven in the night. The bar was still as lively and as accommodating – as it should be, even with the added caveat that the bar was supposed to cater in a more blatantly sexual manner in their advances. It was pretty much a dive bar, but the marketing was not built up so forwardly in that manner that the bar itself was somewhat like a sex bar. Austin took another sip off from his glass and sat there reminiscing about a couple of things in particular, notably how he was supposed to just relax and have his own brand of fun on his own personal level. It was always the reason why Austin Westwood usually takes a break after a long time of practically manning the counter all on his own. He looked around only for his eye to catch a familiar looking woman leaning on the bar, sipping her drink, as he leaned back – checking out her ass as per usual. He smirked a little, as he walked up and stood there. “I know that ass.”
GEORGE SAT AT THE table meticulously grinding and rolling the half ounce into a series of joints. splayed out in front of her was an empty tray of fries, six cups filled with different beverages and a speaker that played a package of beats that she’d just gotten. “ hi ! ” she chirped looking up, “ can i interest you in a joint ? ”
Bloom was somewhat considered a party country, in a sense. It was not really why he chose to move there – the party life had left him by a couple of years ago after he graduated university, and yet somehow the life always followed him along, funnily enough. Not that he was complaining about it at all. Austin sauntered along the booths and vendors around, stopping by one as the vendor owner – a woman smiling brightly at him, called up to him as he looked in amusement at the rolled joints on the counter and cups filled with different beverages. “That’s something I haven’t heard of in a while.” He mused. “Usually you’d share a joint in college dorms and frat houses and all that shit. How much you’re selling these?”
One of Austin’s personal remedies for particularly stubborn hangovers, is exercising. After basically commandeering the open bar last night, Austin woke up with the mother of all hangovers later in the morning and would head to the local gym in an athletic-fit tee and workout shorts to sweat it off. After a few sets on the workout bench and then on to the treadmill, Austin headed back to the locker room to hit the showers. The man casually sauntered into the locker room to dry himself off and pat himself down with a towel, before stripping off and wrapping his waist with a towel, as he started to make his way to the showers. His focus was distracted a little bit with the idea that he likely would not be showering alone, although the rather quiet showers indicate that was unlikely. The man went to one end of the cubicle and started to turn the tap water on, letting the waters cascade down on to the marbled tiles, getting ready just as he heard something. “Anyone there?” He ventured.
heyo! kiki here, sending this out before I pass out, but here’s the devilish bartender himself, Austin! hit that like button and subscribe! ... wait, what?
isn’t that austin westwood over there taking photos with his DSLR they’ve been in bloom for six years and i didn’t know they did that. somehow i know they’re a thirty year old bartender. i’m pretty sure they’re heterosexual and i heard they’re into rough sex + group sex they’re staying at bloom court so maybe you stand a chance.
A rich kid with a heart; family’s from old money. Has a younger sibling, making him the responsible one. Slightly.
Father’s a business tycoon, mother’s a venture capitalist. Old money by the abundance.
Despite being well-off, Austin was raised well with manners, to be responsible and respectful. Oh, and money isn’t everything to him in all intents and purposes, although it does help ease the transitions socially at times.
A social butterfly since he was a kid; easy going and charming.
He values and believes in integrity.
He’s multilingual.
After high school, before entering NYU, Austin was drafted to the New York Giants, going off pretty early in the draft picks; he elected to finish off his higher education first and politely decline the offer afterwards, but that never did stop the scouts from watching his football games in university.
Played as a running back.
While he’s passionate about American football, he’s well aware that it’s only one aspect of himself.
On the outside, Austin looked like he has it all put together. He has the charm, the charisma and the moves to just be himself and go around and be an overall awesome guy. On the inside, he was very much a man’s man and a man of humble origins and little much to do with his life. He’s still figuring it out even at his thirty years of age.
He’s smart, intelligent; but can sometimes be as dumb as a rock at times.
He’s fiercely protective and loyal to his select group of friends.
He’s all about classic rock. Even if he feels like he was more or less universally musically inclined. Rock was his thing.
He resides in Bloom, in a fancy apartment block at Bloom Court.
He’s an active participant in the community. LGBQTA+, children, mental health, anti-bullying, poverty, education, to name a few. Plus, it’s an excellent initiative to spend some family money.
Calls himself a mixologist, but always prefers the classical, old school term of the bartender.
One way or another, Austin gets his way around Bloom—football games, parties, social gatherings, at the bar where he works with flair and whatnot, rallies and fundraisers, or even a simple get-together among friends. Positive, negative or even neutral for that matter. Feel free.
CONNECTIONS:
Friends – all the friends; best/close friends, casual friends, brotp.
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