Chapter Text
Caelus wasn’t much of a guy for parties, really he preferred the company of himself more than human company, for the most part anyway. But here he was in a sea of partygoers, all dressed fancily in stunning clothes of silk and shining colors.
Most of the Express crew had dispersed to enjoy the festivities, leaving him alone on his own. He didn’t blame them, he was too awkward and aloof to really blend with how easily they conversed with others or carried themselves professionally, even March could. He really got why Dan Heng didn’t want to come, they were alike in their antisocial behavior, and Caelus was just better at faking being someone social. The two respected one another, but he had to admit after the Loufou, he didn’t know what to make of him. He had nothing to say about the new form he took, nor could he ever open up to them.
Not a friend in Penacony he had was here. The Express insisted he was a part of their “family” dynamic but he disagreed, they conversed with one another much better than he ever could. He was a late arrival and a mystery to even himself, with the Stellaron Hunters whisking him along in their plans.
He wished Seele was here, back on Belobog the two went to parties at the behest of Bronya, an attempt to get them more sociable with the Belobog upper class given how they were trusted members of her cabinet. However, it quickly devolved into the two sitting in a quiet corner away from people and music just talking about whatever that didn’t relate to the party.
But there was no Seele, no anyone really. He spied Black Swan moving about in the distance but stayed his course to avoid her, he was getting tired of betrayed. It wasn’t like she would help him uncover his true relation to the Stellaron Hunters, even if he already knew he was almost certainly a member of them in the past. His terrible secret to bear.
He looked off to the distance of the hall to find somewhere quiet to mope in. And find he did, a lone darkened booth, occupied by one individual he knew, Acheron, supposed “Galaxy Ranger” and a trusted friend, the Self-Annihilator being the only person he trusted here was terribly ironic, but she was the only person he ever could have trusted. He moved to the booth, head swimming with words to allow himself into her own moping session.
“Ah, hello, Caelus. I take it you’re here to get away from the party as well?” She was nursing a cocktail, one he recognized as a Drifting Wind, a drink he made plenty of times during his time as a bartender.
“Yeah, a bit too loud and fancy for my liking, plus I don’t really have anyone to hang out with, well except you if you don’t mind.”
“We agree on that then, please have a seat, I don’t mind. I would quite enjoy your company.” Her gloves tapped the seat to her side, calling him to sit next to her instead of adjacent.
He did as instructed, taking a seat next to the beautiful lady. “What brings you out this evening, especially if you don’t like parties?” Amethyst eyes glanced over to him.
“Oh, well the Express wanted to go out to enjoy the party so here I am, not enjoying the party. Well with you I probably can. Nice to see you here.” He gave her a smile, earning one from her in return.
“It’s nice to see you here as well. I also tend to not enjoy these types of events with such a large crowd, but you can learn important details from these places. Plenty of parties are planning to gain something from this event I’m sure. Even Mr. Yang and Ms. Himeko are likely investigating as we speak, even if they are moving between such pleasantries. Ms. March, however, I’m certain she’s just here for the experience.” She glanced out to the crowd, a pink set of hair twirling about in it.
“I’ve heard you are a renowned bartender now, interesting how things change for you.” She changed topics, changing her gaze from the crowd to him, sliding her cocktail over to him. “What do you think of this? I’m curious to hear what a professional has to say.”
He flushed a bit at the idea of an indirect kiss but quickly shoved down the thoughts, he had a request to fulfill, one from a beautiful lady.
“I wouldn’t say I’m as professional but who am I to deny you?” The rather forward words left his lips before his brain could approve them. He took a swig of the drink to move past the embarrassing statement. He could have made a better Drifting Wind that’s for certain.
“It’s nice but I think I could have made it better.” He looked over at her, spying a soft blush on her cheeks, he was confused as to why. “Is something wrong?”
She cleared her throat and the blush subsided. “Ah, nothing. Perhaps we should go to the Dreamjolt Holsterly, given how we are both clearly out of our element here. I would like to sample your own work.” There was a smile on her face, a foreign sight on her usually monotone face. He had gotten her to smile twice this night, a new record, and a new height for his heart to soar. But he knew better than to get his hopes up, she just wanted a good drink, nothing more…nothing less.
He opened the door for her, letting her into the rather empty bar for now. Siobhan glanced at the visitors before returning to polishing the bar, he didn’t need a teasing spell from her now.
She took a seat as he moved behind the bar, pulling out two wine glasses and the ingredients needed. Drifting Wind was already a very bitter drink, but given how Acheron’s sense of taste was incredibly dulled, he would need to take that bitter taste up a notch to let it register. Besides, he enjoyed a bitter taste as well, and for her, he’d enjoy just about anything.
She watched him prepare the two drinks, pouring in the concoction and Ice Soulglad, throwing in a great amount of ice to get a sensation from Acheron. A mint leaf topped it off as he slid the cocktail to her, the dark cocktail fitting the equally dark colors of her eyes. “Thank you, Caelus.” She pinched the stem between her index and middle finger bringing it up to her lips for a drink.
He watched in some anxiousness as she downed a quarter of the glass, her pupils narrowing as it hit the counter. “This is something I can finally appreciate the taste of, your skills surpass many bartenders here I believe.”
He flushed again at the compliment, not one easily stirred by compliments, any from Acheron was sure to get him blushing. She just had a way of making him feel things he hadn’t felt before. “Ah…I just learned that sometimes you gotta know what your customer needs and go from there. Since you can’t taste as well, I decided to make it even more bitter and added some extra ice to get a physical sensation.”
“Quite accomplished I see, more than you give yourself credit for” She set the glass down on the countertop, eyes glancing across the empty room. “What drink would you recommend for me? Given how you read your customers.”
Caelus flushed at the opportunity to recommend her a drink, he couldn’t disappoint now! “I’d recommend the…well Siobhan picked out the name but…it’s named after me, and of course, my own design. It’s a bit bitter but pretty damn strong. Would you like to try it?”
“Gladly, I would like one ”Caelus” please. Actually, make it two, one for you and one for me.” She threw up two fingers, tapping the counter with a gentle smile.
“Coming right up, Miss Acheron.” He gave her a smirk before ducking for the ingredients under the bar.
He retrieved all the required supplies, plenty of ice to help the chilly nature of the drink, Ice Soulglad for even more, Soothing Soda, Ultimate Syrup, and finally, Blossom Dew. He set them all on the counter and began his art piece.
“So this is what you’ve been up to, I was wondering where you went off since I never found you around the hotel. Making drinks, how many talents do you have at this point?” She watched Caelus slide a generous lot of ice into a cocktail mixer before adding syrup and some Soothing Soda. “Oh, were you looking for me? Sorry I wandered off, but….you did the same to me plenty of times so consider it payback.” A teasing smirk rose from him.
“I didn’t try to, I got lost from you.” The bar echoed with a rather aggressive tap to the counter, getting Caelus to retreat from his teasing. He knew better than to mess with her of all people, but it was cute to see her blush, even if it was a rare sight. She chose to ignore the other bartender laughing from down the bar.
“Siobhan I don’t know if I’d laugh, she’s not the type to take that.” He began to shake the beginning of his cocktail, ice clattering around the shaker. “Oh I just thought you two looked cute that’s all, reminded me of a play I did once.”
Caelus cleared his throat to try and put down the teasing, the blush obvious across his face. Acheron looked over to the woman. “Thank you.” Caelus nearly dropped his shaker.
Caelus finished the cocktail with a pour of Ice Soulglad to the top, adding a light blue layer to the yellow and purple one below. A pretty-looking drink with an origami bird placed atop the drink, looking out into her eyes as if it was challenging her over the beverage. “Cheers.” Caelus held out his glass to hers, inviting her to the toast. “Cheers.” She returned the motion, the ting of glass confirming their toast. She brought the glass to her lips and gave it a short sip.
A cocktail that understood her painfully well, a bitter taste matching her life, a broken sensation filling her throat followed by the quench of her thirst, the drink was the opposite of dry despite what she expected. It was melancholic, which was something strange to feel from a drink, but it would seem Caelus knew whatever language he used with this cocktail well. “I feel as if this drink speaks to me and understands me like nothing else before.” She swirled the glass in her fingers, watching the colors collide into a broken mess. Another sip filled her throat, and a new sensation entered, something dancing on the reigns of sweetness, barely noticeable but it still stood out from the bitter taste so suddenly. There was sweetness in a life so bitter, oh cute, Caelus.
“So you like it?” Caelus finished his own glass, setting it gently into the sink beneath him. “How do you manage to hide the sweetness with how much bitterness is there” She glanced at the ingredients left on the counter. “Oh, the syrup at the bottom can pop in the bitterness, it brings it out when you swirl the drink or get to the bottom. Kinda hidden away but once you get deep enough you see it.” Acheron smiled at his confirmation. “I quite like it, I can see how you put yourself into this drink, yet at the same time, I feel as if it reflects myself.”
“That’s why he’s so damn good! My Drinksmith is unmatched” The woman slapped him on the back. “I believe so as well.” Acheron smiled at the blushing Caelus.
The woman was quick to recede to her corner of the bar, tending to the countertops with a rag, a picture-perfect bartender.
“She’s my teacher and at this point co-owner of the bar, since I kinda own this place in her absence.” He began to stow away the ingredients from his masterclass drink. “You own this place?” She finished her glass, savoring how the bitter flavors melted into a light sweet taste. “Kinda? Since she’s busy with dealing with the Family she decided to hand the keys over to me, but I still consider her the owner. I just work here, even if I have a set of keys. I certainly attract a weird lot here, considering the bar’s frequenters are the old Family attractions. Taking in strays pretty much…and all the problems that come along with them.” Caelus directed his gaze to a few of the Dreamscape robots toiling in the outer reaches of the bar. “I guess it takes one to know one.” The bartender sulked a bit, tapping the bar with a finger before taking her glass to wash. “And perhaps that’s why you and I are always pulled towards one another.” Acheron looked him in the eyes, generating some twisting unease in his stomach, a batch of butterflies floating about in there as her beautiful eyes looked into his. “Maybe.” He whispered, not at all catching himself staring into her orbits. She did nothing to prevent herself from looking into his.
Neither registered Siobhan muttering something about lovebirds.
“Caelus…” She neared his face, his breath smelt of his signature cocktail. Her lips brushed against his, probing for any resistance. Caelus gave none, moving his head forward to meet her lips, locking the two together. His mouth tasted of his drink as well she noted. She began to sink her weight into him to deepen the kiss, inadvertently leaning herself forward atop the bar. With one push too far she fell into him, and of course, up and over the bar. Siobhan snickered across the bar.
Caelus hit the back shelf, the items on it thankfully unharmed as he slid down it, taking Acheron with him. Acheron merely looked down at him as she straddled him inadvertently. “Ah.” She murmured to herself, rising to her feet and pulling the stunned bartender up with her. “Sorry about that.” She returned to her seat on the opposite side, a bright pink blush across her cheeks. “No-no It’s uh…fine. I don’t mind…the falling over thing-er I meant the kiss ah-er-” He stuttered out, blushing like a someone with a school crush. Siobhan was practically howling across the bar.
“How about another drink, Caelus? I would like the same house drink. I tasted it on your lips and would like another.” There was a slight smirk on her lips, teasing now, wasn’t she?
“Ah-right… coming up.” Another snicker from Siobhan had Caelus sending a death stare down the counter.