Work Text:
“I’ll have a shot of you,” Callisto smirked at the waiter. Callisto eyed him like he’d talked him up all night and had bought him four drinks already, when in reality this was the first time he’d talked to him.
“I’m not on the menu,” the blonde waiter chuckled and tapped his notepad, “How about food?”
Andromeda spoke up, “No, I’m thirsty. Why don’t you take a break and join us for—”
“I’m working, sorry,” the waiter cut her off. He nervously tapped his notepad and shifted uncomfortably.
“How about forgetting their orders and bringing the table a pitcher of whatever takes the longest to fill up?” Rayla smiled at the waiter and chastised her group.
“That sounds good,” the waiter’s shoulders relaxed as he scribbled something onto the notepad quickly. “Any food?”
“Nachos,” Rayla held up a hand to stop Callisto from making some lewd comment about drizzling cheese on his chest. She’d joined him on so many bar outings that she knew his pickup lines.
“Excellent,” the waiter smiled. He picked up the others’ menus, smiling awkwardly when they both winked at him. When he turned to pick up Rayla’s menu, he mouthed ‘Thank you’ quietly before making his way to another table.
“Rayla, you’ve got to lighten up,” Andromeda groaned and crossed her arms, “He was cute.”
“No, he was hot,” Callisto snorted and pulled out their phone, “Seriously Rayla, just try and relax? We’re at a bar, it’s what people do.”
“I don’t know why I keep coming with you two,” Rayla rolled her eyes and leaned back against the leather seat.
“Because you want a date,” Andromeda wiggled her eyebrows and bit her lip, “You deserve a date. It’s fun. You deserve some fun.”
“When I asked you to help me find someone, I didn’t mean… using five cheap pickup lines over several Friday nights. It’s tasteless.”
“Ugh!” Callisto gasped and covered their heart, “They are not cheap! I’ve gotten three dates with the nacho cheese—”
“Exactly, doesn’t that feel… wrong?” Rayla grimaced.
Andromeda giggled, “You sweet summer child. You’re babe swaddled in the cashmere blanket of ignorance.”
“Here’s that pitcher,” the waiter returned. He was also carrying a shot that he set down in front of Callisto, “This is from the gentleman next to the karaoke machine.”
“Oh, really?” Callisto grinned and glanced in the direction of the singing, “Interesting…”
…
“Rayla, aren’t you going to chat anybody up tonight?” Andromeda whined as she chomped on a nacho, “I feel guilty about leaving you alone at the table, but that guy Marcos isn’t letting up. And I don’t want him to stop…”
“Go, have fun and be free,” Rayla replied in a breathy tone, “Go! Explore and delve into your heart’s desires.”
Andromeda narrowed her eyes at her, “You don’t want me to go. That’s fine, I’ll take his number and we can go—”
“Seriously, go and have fun,” Rayla stopped her and smiled genuinely, “You’re interested in him, and I want you to have fun.”
“And you’ll be okay if I leave you alone?”
“Callisto didn’t even ask, he just left,” Rayla snorted and lifted her beer, “I’ll finish my drink and then head out.”
“Well… okay,” she smiled and moved out of her chair, “Have a good night. And stay safe, okay? Call me if you need anything. I’ll mess up an asshole when it comes to you.”
“Yeah yeah, I know,” Rayla smiled and grabbed a nacho, “Call me if you need a ride in the morning.” Andromeda nodded, and then tried to hide her excitement as she walked over to Marcos’ table.
Alone again, Rayla sighed and took a sip of her beer. I’ve got to stop letting them drag me out here.
“All alone now?” the blonde waiter returned and picked up the empty glasses her friends left.
“Yep. I’ve never really been the bar kind of gal,” Rayla shook her head and popped another nacho in her mouth. The waiter smiled and nodded his head.
“Well, if you’re interested... don’t make it obvious, but do you see the pair of gentlemen behind me? One is blonde, the other with brown hair and a scarf?” Rayla rose an eyebrow at the waiter and slightly leaned to the side. She knew who he was talking about, but it made her feel less awkward by making a show out of acting like she hadn’t been sneaking glances that way.
“Red scarf?”
“That’s the one,” he smiled and tapped his nose, “He seems quite interested in you.”
“Yeah, well… so have the other three guys that tried buying me drinks,” Rayla scoffed and looked to the side. “Did the second one really think talking about his money would work?”
“Oh, I know who you’re talking about,” the waiter faked a gag, “He’s here every weekend. I hate serving his table. He likes paying in hundreds and asking me to break change.”
Rayla shook and made a ‘bleh’ sound.
“Yeah, yeah, tell me about it,” the waiter laughed and shook his head, “But scarf boy over there seems… nice. I think both you and him aren’t exactly into this scene. His blonde buddy over there has been trying to hype him up all night and keeps pushing for him to talk to someone. Maybe you should go say hello. Or not, I’m just dispensing information, not trying to obligate anyone.” The waiter shrugged his shoulders and gave her a wink, then took the empty pitcher and left the table.
Rayla glanced over at scarf boy, and this time she knew she saw his head turn.
That’s… cute, she smiled and traced her thumb along the handle of her glass. Well… talking to him might be harmless… she lifted her glass and stood from the table, he seems awkward, which hopefully means he can listen to a no if need be. Straightening her dress and taking a deep breath, she made her way over to the handsome young man. His friend’s eyes widened when he saw her coming over, and he elbowed the young man to get his attention.
“Ow! Damnit Soren, what was that for?” scarf boy complained, which made Rayla giggle. Scarf boy froze when he heard her voice behind him, and he slowly turned around. He looked so painfully awkward. A half smile here, a nervous chuckle there, uncertainty everywhere. Rayla held her hand out and offered to shake his hand.
“Hi, I’m Rayla.”
“I’m… Callum,” he smiled warmly at her and shook her hand.
“Oh, thank the Primals, you can shake a hand properly,” she laughed and let go, “I hate it when the other person is all… limp. It’s better if it feels like they’re trying to break your knuckles, but that’s only because it’s less sad and noodle-y.”
Callum snorted and covered his mouth, “That is such a funny way to sum up something so uncomfortable. Excellent job.”
“Thank you,” she smiled and then waited. Time went on as she stood there quietly, the both of them waiting. Eventually, Callum started to look confused, and she could tell he was panicking slightly.
“Ah-hem,” Soren coughed and then repeatedly looked down at the table and then back at Callum.
Callum looked between him and the table for about two seconds, then his eyes widened, “… OH! Oh my—Would you like to sit down?”
Rayla giggled at him, Oh, you’re so cute. “I would love to sit down with you,” she smiled and gracefully took a seat.
“I’ll be over there if you need anything,” Soren nodded, “That guy’s been giving me the look all night.”
“Have fun,” Rayla smiled at him and watched him leave. She then turned back to Callum, “Have you known him for long?”
“You could say that,” Callum smirked and shook his head, “We had some issues when we were kids, but he’s a good friend now. He’s kind of this big loveable guy. It’s hard to say no to him.”
“Well then, cheers to the guy who’s been giving him the look all night,” she laughed.
“Oh yeah,” he rolled his eyes, “As long as he’s prepared for ‘the line’.”
“’The line’?” Rayla rose an eyebrow.
“Don’t get me started on it,” Callum held up a hand and looked up high to signal disdain, “He’s been trying all night to get me to use it.”
“On who?”
“W- what?” his eyes snapped back down to her, his ears suddenly flushed.
“Who’s he been trying to get you to use a pick-up line on?” she grinned, “Who’s the lucky one to receive an unlucky pick-up line?”
“W-well,” he coughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck.
Definitely not like dumbass one and three from earlier, Rayla smiled and relaxed back in her seat. It felt… safe, being around him. He wasn’t some suave jerk who thought he could manipulate her. “It’s okay, I’m just picking on you,” she smiled and waved in the air, “Don’t let it get to you. I mean it in a playful manner. It means I’m enjoying talking to you.”
“Oh, okay,” the blush spread to his cheeks, “Thank you for saying that.”
Okay, definitely not like any of the other guys here, she smiled and took a deep breath. “So, Callum, why were you also dragged by your friends to this bar?”
“Also?” he smirked, “I think there’s more to that question.”
“*Huhhhh*, just… I thought my friends would be helpful is all.”
“And instead, they’ve run off with their own newly-found-dates?”
“Interesting theory. How’d you know my whole group left? Have you been watching me and my friends?”
Callum paused, then narrowed his eyes at her, “I pay attention to lots of things.”
“To everyone at the bar?” she grinned and leaned in, “You’ve got one hell of a memory.”
“Of course I do,” he grinned back at her, “It’s the key to my art.”
“An artist?” she covered her mouth dramatically, “And to think, I pegged you as the gym type.” Callum choked and she laughed in response. She picked up her beer and took a large swig.
“I am not the gym type,” he shook his head and took a bite out of the fries left on the table.
“So… what is your type?” Rayla lead into the question gently. She liked how this felt. It felt like a conversation rather than a game of words.
“Well…” he paused and looked down at the table thoughtfully, “Definitely not someone who thinks a nacho cheese pickup line is hot.”
Rayla choked this time.
“You heard him?!” she laughed and wiped her mouth, “I swear, it’s awful. But seriously, come on, what’s your type?”
“I was being serious,” he smiled at her, “I don’t… I’m sure you can tell that all of this—” he gestured to the bar that they were in, “isn’t my scene. And… I don’t feel like it’s yours either. My main evidence for that is you’re not making me uncomfortable right now. A blushing mess, yeah, I know, but not uncomfortable.”
“You’d be correct,” she nodded and leaned back against the chair.
He rubbed at the back of his neck, “I don’t like all the pick-up lines and showing off stuff. It feels wrong. It makes me feel like I’m treating the other person as an object.”
Rayla nodded her head, “Yeah, yeah, I understand that. Whenever people hit on me, or try to show off,” she tightened her legs, “it makes me feel like I’m just a pair of legs to be split and conquered. It,” she shuddered and felt cold, “I hate it. It makes me feel so disgusting.”
Callum jutted his hand out towards her, “Exactly. You’re a human being, you—”
“Actually…” she flushed, “I prefer elf.”
He paused, then raised an eyebrow, “… Really? Do you use that at work, or am I just special?”
“You’re special. You have no idea how much fantasy I read,” Rayla looked off to the side. She couldn’t handle him looking at her weirdly—
“… You’re an elvish being,” he smiled at her, “You deserve to be talked with, not at. Especially not with words that make you feel awful.”
“Thank you,” Rayla looked back at him with red cheeks and nodded, “It’s nice to meet someone who feels the same way.”
“Likewise,” he smiled and pushed the fries towards her, “Food?”
“Thank you,” she selected a crunchy, burnt fry and popped it in her mouth. “So, what’s the worst pick-up line you’ve heard?”
“Worst as in uncomfortable, or worst as in just bad?”
“Hmmmm… go with plain bad.”
“Okay,” he cleared his throat, “Have you seen how hot my mom is?”
“Oh shit,” she bent forwards and shook from laughter, “Their mom? Really?”
“Hey, at least they didn’t ask their mother to come over and start vouching for them,” Callum laughed with her, “I mean, that one is just horrendous. Has that ever worked on anybody?”
“No, it’s never worked. It’s never worked once,” she shook her head and stuck her tongue out, “Gahhh, that’s just awful.”
“Yeah, it’s not quite what makes me uncomfortable, but it was just too funny to pass up on sharing. So, what about you?” he laughed with her, “What has just made your skin crawl?”
She cleared her throat and tried to talk in a deeper voice, “Hey baby, have you got a mirror in your pants? ‘Cause I can see myself in them.”
Callum’s upper lip curled, and he straighten his back, “See, that’s the kind of stuff that makes my skin crawl. Or vomit. It’s definitely got the whole,” he waved his hand in the air and in circles, “conquer vibe.”
“Yeah,” she widened her eyes before drinking her beer, “Deplorable, I know. So… why are you here? What made you come along with your friend tonight?”
“I…” he sighed and rolled his eyes, “I’m not the most social. I’m more into nights-in and boardgames, but it’s hard to meet other people like that when we all take nights in.”
“So, social needs. And you came to a bar for that?”
“I—” he couldn’t help but laugh at himself, “I would like to meet someone who’s nice and is also into those things. Soren said he could help with that. It took a while tonight before I felt like he was actually capable of coming through, though.”
“Oh really? And… when was that?”
Callum grinned harder and blushed, “When… he ‘told’ me to ask you to sit down.”
“Awwww,” she made cutesy eyes at him, “you’re so cute and sweet.”
Yep, Callum flushed redder than his scarf now.
“I am nervous, okay? I was trying to think of a way to introduce myself before you came over. But I’m not exactly smooth. Although, I’m really glad I didn’t cave and try out Soren’s dumb line.”
“We’re both glad about that,” Rayla smiled and lifted her glass, “Would you like me to buy you a beer?”
“No thank you,” the side comment seemed to help relax him, “A Bait-Cola would be nice, though.” Rayla waved over the waiter and ordered him a drink, and then returned her focus to him.
“So, what about me caught your eye? I am pretty great,” she put her hand underneath her chin and let him laugh at her. It was a relaxed laugh, a fun one. Maybe… coming to the bar wasn’t a bad idea.
“Honestly… I liked how you talked to the waiter.”
“How I talked to the waiter? Just now?”
“No,” he smiled, “When you first sat down. Your friends were hitting on him and making him uncomfortable. You were considerate. The man was working, he was in an awkward position. It just, caught my eye. Or ear, actually.” They laughed, and he continued, “And now that you’re over here and talking to me… I like it.”
“Oh, you do now?” she smiled and traced her fingers on her napkin.
“I do,” he smiled warmly at her, “I’d like to talk to you more, including after tonight. If that’s alright with you?”
“I think it’s more than alright,” she nodded her head, “Do you have anything in mind?”
Callum pondered and threw a fry in his mouth, “Do you like ice-cream?”
“Will Moon-Berry Surprise be available?”
“Of course.”
“Then yes.”
“There’s an ice-cream parlor next to the local art museum. I can show you around and tell you all of the interesting art facts, and then we can get ice-cream afterwards. And since you like fantasy so much, and if you can give me enough details, I can draw some fantasy characters for you.”
“Are you serious?!” she shot forwards, “Hell, let’s skip to that last part!”
Callum laughed loudly at her enthusiasm and held his hands up, “Okay, we’ll do that part first. Can I have your phone number?” Rayla tucked a hair behind her ear as he pulled his phone from his pocket and offered it to her.
“Sure,” she took it and started entering her contact information. When she handed it back to him, he glanced at it and smirked.
“Rayla the Elf?” he grinned broadly.
“I could have put ‘Best girl’,” she spread her arms out and relaxed, “But I figured elf was more relevant.” He shook his head at her and typed something in his phone, and then her pocket vibrated. She pulled her phone out and saw a text from an unknown number. She smirked, “High Mage Callum?”
He shrugged, “I’m into fantasy, too.”
“Oh really?” she grinned and touched his shin with her foot, “What do you read?”
Callum laughed nervously, “Damn it, I’m awkward again.”
Rayla rested her chin on her hands and bit her lip, “I like awkward.”