Closed pull me like a bass drum

Abigail Stacy Hayward had never met someone as stubborn as the man who had been going to this bar for the last couple of weeks. She'd been working here for more than a year now, and she already knew who the regulars were. This one was not a regular but was definitely on his way to becoming one with the frequency he'd started coming here. She couldn't say that she completely disliked it, though. The first time she noticed him, he'd brazenly asked her to go on a date with him, to which she stared at him incredulously. He didn't even look old enough to drink but he'd been let in so he was definitely at least eighteen. Still, she was busy, and she figured he was just drunk so she'd jokingly replied that he should come back tomorrow and ask her again when he was sober. She did not expect him to come back. And she did not expect him to ask again when he was sober. That flustered her because this did not happen. Nope. He was persistent, though; she'll give him that. She still hadn't agreed to a date yet, but she had been starting to consider it because he was certainly... interesting. And it wasn't like she could say that she didn't like being actively chased like this. "Back again?" she greeted him as she came to his table. Somehow, he always managed to sit in one of the areas she was assigned to. "You really don't have anything better to do?" she asked, one brow raised before taking his order because she was still on duty for another... fifteen minutes. Huh. He came late today.​

"Maybe this is the better thing I have to do?" Ru replied, leaning back in his chair with a grin. He liked Gail for several reasons and not least of all that she was funny. She was unique among the other waitresses he’d seen at this bar, and honestly if not for her he probably wouldn’t still be coming. He liked the bar well enough, but it wasn’t the usual type of place he was usually seen in, not with his money and not in this country. His english was fine, it was his mother’s native language and his second, but he was still far more fluent in Japanese and sometimes he felt like he wasn’t expressing himself well in english. Still, Gail had been receptive to him, and though she’d rejected him twice, and he’d considered not asking her again, he also felt like he needed to give it one more chance. The other times he’d asked her, she’d been in the middle of a service, and so really he shouldn’t have been disturbing her, but dropping by later this time, just before her normal end of shift, he figured he’d give it one more try and if she said no this time, well that would be the end then. “I’m usually busy during the day and on weekends, but I can spare some time for you,” he added, leaning forward across his table a little.​

Gail couldn't help but snort at the utter confidence the man had. He'd been here frequently enough in the last couple of weeks alone to be a well-known face and nearly a regular, and she was starting to wonder if he had a problem. "If you continue this you're either going to run out of money or kill your liver," she reminded him. It wasn't like the place she worked at was pretty cheap. It wasn't the most high-end in the area, but it was pretty up there, which was why Gail liked her work here. More cash that would fly between hands. Tips, after all, were a waitress' bread and butter. He really was particularly forward, but not disrespectfully so. It was almost amazing how he'd been able to find the balance, which was perhaps the reason she hadn't completely turned him down yet and why she continued to talk to him outside of getting his order which was technically all that was required of her when he would sit at her table. "And here I thought you'd be busy drinking the night away," she shot back with a smile, almost flirting. Or maybe she was. Her shift ended in a few minutes anyway, and she could see the next shift gearing up to take over the floor so he was definitely her last customer for the night. Once she brings his order to the bar and kitchen, she'd be free.​

Ru raised an eyebrow to her, clearly finding himself very entertained by this whole experience, and he grinned at the snort she couldn’t quite hide. “Ah, so you do find me funny. I knew i’d get a laugh out of you eventually.” he leaned his elbow on the counter, watching her with clealry amused interest. “If I run out of money or kill my liver, at least I’ll have died doing what I love - talking to you. A noble end, don’t you think?” he followed her movements subtly, attentive to her movements incase there was a shift in her mood that might have meant he was pushing her too far. He always took no for an answer, and once he’d asked and she’d rejected him, he would leave and come back another time, but he wasn’t going to keep pushing it, he wasn’t Theodore.

He definitely noticed the way her tone shifted ever so slightly, that smile hovering right on the edge of flirtation. “And here I thought you’d be too busy shooting daggers with your eyes at poor unsuspecting customers.” he clicked his tongue at her playfully, “maybe I’m your favourite after all.” he nodded towards the bar where she was placing his order. “Tell you what - once you’re off the clock, let me buy you a drink somewhere that doesn’t require you to carry a tray. Think of it as… a break from me hitting on you in your workplace. A courtesy, really.” he gave her a half smile, laning back slightly in his chair like he already knew she was going to say yes - even if she did’t, it was his last time asking her.​

"Maybe you just look funny," Gail shot back as he leaned on the counter, obviously flirting with her. Not that she was doing much to reject his advances. His next line though was just pitiful that she couldn't help but raise a brow at him. Definitely not his best line in her opinion. "A painful one, most definitely. Quick if you're extremely lucky, or unlucky?" she shot back, one hand on her waist while the other still hung loosely beside her, still holding her pen and notepad for his order which she had yet to take. "Unsuspecting," she repeated, more amused than anything. "If people kept their hands to themselves, then I wouldn't have to glare," Gail said with a shrug. Some seemed to think that in this industry, money could easily solve what they wanted in life. Unfortunately for them, Gail was not such an employee. She was their to take drink orders, and serve them. "Don't push it," she warned, though without any real heat to it. "Lucky for you, I'll be off in a few. So, are you gonna order, or did you just come here to occupy a table?" she said because there were still a couple minutes before she was off the clock and he did come inside. Since he was taking her out, she wasn't sure if he was still going to order or if he was going to be one of those customers who would come in and leave without actually ordering anything just for tonight.​

Ru chuckled at her, because whether she realised it or not, engaging him in his game was only indulging him and making him more determined to win. he was entirely unbothered by her jabs. “Maybe I do look funny,” he said, flashing her a smile that he knew she’d taken notice of, “but at least that means you’ve looked at my face enough to know what it looks like,” he added, leaning further into the bar. He was so amused at the way she was just standing there with her hand on her hip, her notepad in her hand like she hadn’t a care in the world, and he supposed she didn’t, he could only wish his life was as uncomplicated as hers. She was cute, and dangerous if she kept smiling at him like that. He was convinced she had the kind of smile that would make him fall for her too easily. Maybe it already had, he was trying not to make too many observations.

“I suppose there are worse ways for a man to go than being taken out by your wit,” he told her, musing as h tapped his fingers lightly against the bar. He agreed with her comment about hands, as if he’d ever touch anyone without consent, he’d even asked a guy in school if he could punch him. Of course he’d asked the boy in english and he hadn’t understood, but that was his fault for not paying attention since half the student body could speak it. He liked that Gail wasn’t the kind of girl who could be bought. “Alright, alright. I’ll make it easy on you. One last order for the night. Surprise me - dealer’s choice. Whatever you think I deserve.”​

Gail couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, she felt like she'd been doing that a lot lately, but she definitely didn't find him as annoying as she made it out to be. Exasperated perhaps. But he undeniably had her attention that even the other servers were waggling their eyebrows at her from where they were watching this interaction. "Kinda hard to not look at a regular's face especially when they happen to keep sitting at areas assigned to me." At this point, she was sure he had been bribing the bouncer. And the host. She wouldn't put it past him to bribe the other servers either. She wasn't sure how rich he was, but since he could come here as often as he wanted and with the amount he usually spent while he was here, she was willing to be pretty rich. Which was part of the reason why she'd been so hesitant. She raised an eyebrow at his comment and then smirked at his "order". Now why would he go and do that, she thought with much amusement. "And just for that you get the most expensive drink on the menu," she said as she scribbled his order down on her notepad and then turned to place his order. "See you outside in twenty baby," she said as she sauntered away towards the bartender to place his order before pausing and looking back at him. "And don't forget to tip your waitress!" A wink. And she walked away. It wasn't really the most expensive drink on the menu, but she did put down a sweet and fruity drink that had been up there in price, hopefully he would take much offense. She supposed she would find out in twenty minutes. Time to get ready. She had a date after all.​