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Archie doesn't enjoy going out on her own. Although she knows it's what they have to do if they want to meet new people. Moving away from home on a whim to a strange city doesn't exactly come with a queer friend group package, after all.
One quick browser search reveals that Jackie'z seems to be the only gay bar in this town. Small cities are weird, man.
After a 15 minute ride on her motorcycle, she parks in the front, takes in the big sign and walks through the front door. There is a big man with his tits out letting people in, they swear that they hear someone call him Steak Knife.
Once inside, she notices the place is quite big, bigger than it looks from the outside. Groups of people are already filling up the booths even though it's still early.
The DJ behind the console is a guy with some tattoos on his face, wearing a sparkly black shirt. The speakers are blasting Chappell Roan. Great music choice, they’ll take it as a good omen for the night.
There is a blonde guy behind the bar, wearing the tightest crop top they’ve seen in their life, mixing some drinks. She asks him for a beer and he flashes a grin with some gold teeth and promises he'll be “right back.” Before he turns away Archie reads a name tag that just says “Swede” on his shirt. What is it with the nicknames around here? This is really nothing like any of the other queer places she's been to before, in a good way.
The bartender, Swede, comes back with their beer and slides it across the counter to Archie. They thank him and turn around to check their surroundings. Some couples and groups are filling up the dancefloor, bright rainbow lights flashing over their bodies in motion. Other folks, having decided to stay in the booths, caught up in conversations.
Archie has always loved this. The atmosphere of queer spaces, it's wonderful and electric. There is nothing like the sense of community and safety to just be unapologetically yourself. The over the top outfits, hair styles and make up, it's fucking amazing.
Her attention is immediately caught by a group of people that are sitting in a booth across the dancefloor. There are four people. An older bald guy that is smiling dreamily to what seems to be his partner, a very fruity guy, sipping on a drink with an umbrella on it, he has a dope beard, brown hair and a red handkerchief around his neck.
On the other side of the booth, they skim their eyes over a pretty fucking handsome as hell man, wearing a teal vest over his cream colored shirt and an orange beanie on top of his curls. Juicy lips, blinding smile and that is just what she can see from afar, damn.
Archie follows the arm around him with her eyes, just to find another hot as balls human sitting next to him. The fuck’s in the water of this place? They are looking at the pretty man with a smirk on their beautiful face, longer curls in a mohawk style and they're wearing an open button up shirt over their binder. Those two might be the most attractive people she's ever seen in her life.
Shit, Archie wouldn't mind if those two would we-saw-you-from-across-the-room- and-liked-your-vibe her.
She doesn't know what their deal is though and she's not looking to have a one night stand threesome, no matter how hot they are. They're looking for friends and new connections and their group looks approachable enough.
Archie takes her beer in hand and makes a beeline for the table. She's halfway across the floor when she notices that the pretty man and gorgeous human are getting up and walking towards the dancefloor. They were really hoping to get to know those two but it's fine, they can talk to the other two guys in the meantime.
When they reach the table, they clear their throat and raise their hand as the two men look up.
“Hey! I’m Archie. Is it cool if I join your table? I’m new here.” She waves at them, trying to appear more confident than she feels and nice, she hopes.
“I’m Pete!” The bald guy says. “And this is my husband, Lucius. Take a seat!” He seems very friendly. The brunette, who now she knows as Lucius, stares at her suspiciously for a moment.
“Hi Archie. Are you really here for us or did you just want to meet my friends?” He says as he points out to the two handsome humans dancing a few feet away from the table.
Archie can feel the heat rising to their cheeks rapidly and their eyes widen at the sudden call out. How the fuck does he know? Had they been that obvious?
“Babe!” Pete elbows him, giggling nervously.
Lucius takes some pity on her and laughs. “I’m just joking! Sorry I can be a bitch, it's my friendship language. You’ll get used to it.” he says, waving a hand to diffuse the tension. “So… you said you're new here? When did you move in?”
Archie relaxes on her seat and takes a chug of her forgotten-until-now beer. “Last week. I was tired of the big city, so I started applying for jobs in different places and got one here.” She shrugs. “Like it here so far but I’m still figuring it all out.”
“We’d love to show you around, right babe?” Pete says.
“Sure, our boyfriend Fang was born in this town so he knows all the best spots. His name is Kevin but everyone knows him as Fang.” Lucius explains. “He can't come tonight, we can hang out another day so you can meet him!”
“Thanks mate! I’d really like that. Would you like another round? It's on me.” Archie says.
“Yes honey! That's the kind of friend I need.” He adds, throwing his hands in the air dramatically. Archie snickers as she walks towards the bar, she really likes these guys.
The conversation sparks when she's back, Lucius tells her about the rest of their friend group. The hot ones on the dancefloor are Oluwande and Jim, they are indeed partners. Pete also mentions other friends who aren't there tonight, Ed and Stede that apparently own an inn, Roach who runs the best restaurant in town and Frenchie who is a musician, he is dating his grumpy old manager Izzy.
Archie knows Lucius and Pete mention other names as well but they're only half paying attention at this point. Their eyes keep darting back to the couple on the dancefloor, they can't fucking help it.
She is completely captivated by those two magnetic forces, swaying effortlessly, holding onto each other, always in sync. The movements are so enticing, a true work of art under the dim lights. Must be nice to have that undeniable connection.
Unsure of how long they have been staring, they're about to look away when Jim catches them red handed. Oh shit. Archie freezes in place as they watch Jim maintain intense eye contact while they smirk and whisper something in Oluwande's ear.
Archie is so fucking fucked and they haven't even exchanged a word with these people.
Jim places a soft kiss on Oluwande's cheek and takes his hand to walk him back to the table. Archie needs the earth to open beneath her and swallow her right about fucking now.
Lucius places a hand on top of Archie's on the table and snaps her back to reality. He smiles sympathetically at her. God this is bad, he’s seeing right through her.
“Sweetheart. You’ve clearly got a thing for one of those two or both of them and I'm not here to judge… for now. But it's going to be fine, they're very nice and approachable, you’ll really like them.” He pats her hand reassuringly.
“I feel like I already fucked it up if I'm being honest, mate. Not exactly playing it cool.” Archie responds, chuckling nervously.
“I promise, you didn't. Oh here they come. Hey babygirl! Had a good time out there?” Lucius says to Oluwande.
“I’m here too, you know.” Jim snarks back at him.
“I know but I'm more interested in my pretty boy Olu at the moment.” Lucius says and sticks his tongue out at Jim.
“I had a great time, thanks Lucius!” Oluwande responds cheerfully. “I see you’ve made a new friend.” He adds and suddenly all eyes are on Archie.
Fuck, she shouldn't be this nervous. It's not a big deal, what if they know she was checking them out? They both gotta know they're hot. It's going to be fine. She can introduce herself like a normal person, she can be smooth. Easy peasy.
“Hi there.” their tongue feels tied up, shit. “I’m Archie! Just met these guys earlier.” Okay, better. Not smooth but better.
Then they offer a hand for the two of them to shake, which they do pleasantly. Sharing names that Archie had already learned from Lucius.
“Nice to meet you Archie! Do you mind squeezing a bit on the booth for me and Jim to sit?” Oluwande says, smiling at her. The man is so pretty and so nice, it’s going to be the end of her.
Archie immediately makes room for the two of them, sliding the beer to the side with her. Jim sits first and then Oluwande joins, draping an arm around their shoulders and almost touching her arm. It’s crowded but cozy somehow.
Thankfully, Lucius picks up the conversation where it was left and fills both of them in on what Archie had shared earlier. Archie's still trying to get their shit together.
It becomes easier though, they are as nice as advertised and very cool, she might add.
Every little piece of information that Archie learns about these two makes them better in her eyes. Jim owns a fencing academy where they teach kids and Oluwande is Roach's sous chef. Both of them also run a small business with someone called Zheng. They like to do hiking in nature when they get the time. They also came to the town to start fresh and build up their life here, she hopes she can settle like that someday.
They seem genuinely interested to learn about Archie too. Asking about their job, what they like to do in their spare time and even their plans for the future. It's refreshing, even if it's just small talk probably, they're not used to having the attention on them in a way that feels good intentioned.
She likes this, she likes them. Maybe a little too much.
Once Jim realizes that they have all been out of drinks for a while, they ask Archie to help them bring another round and brings Oluwande along to help. Which seems suspicious to Archie because there is no way that these many hands are needed. Lucius shares the sentiment because Archie can see him throwing them an incredulous look when they're leaving the table.
When they reach the bar, the Swede guy is extremely busy, mixing drinks at great speed with more theatrics than necessary. Archie leans on the bar while she waits, Jim and Oluwande mirror her on the other side, they are leaning into each other.
It might be an inappropriate thought to have about your new friends but she would love to be filling in that sandwich.
Jim clears their throat, when Archie looks up the knowing smirk is back on their face. Suddenly the temperature is rising in the room and she can't wait to get that drink.
“Hey Archie!” Jim calls as Oluwande slips a hand around their waist and smiles at Archie over their shoulder. She feels like a damn prey being watched by predators.
“Um… yeah?” Archie swears that they're usually sharper than this. These two have just rendered them speechless, multiple times, the whole night.
“Are we going to address the elephant in the room then?” Jim quirks an eyebrow and Oluwande giggles behind them. Not fucking fair, it's two against one. And not the way they like it.
“I don't know what you're talking about, mate. Care to explain?” Archie adds smiling coyly, she can play this game too. Not gonna break first.
“Oh come on Arch, you know what they're talking about!” Olu is the one who speaks this time, his tone is much warmer but still flirty. She’ll just pretend her stomach didn't do a happy flip at the nickname.
“Listen, it's not fair from both of you to corner me ya’ know.” Archie shrugs. “So if you want to bring something up, just do it.”
“Fair.” Jim says as they crowd into their space. “We think you're pretty, cool and that you might be interested so we would like to get to know you better.”
Wait, fuck, that is not what Archie was expecting at all. Are these guys interested? Genuinely interested? She thought all she’d get was good friends and possibly a good fuck. She likes this way better.
“We would like to take you on a date, you know if it's not too much. We know we just met, we can always hang out as friends.” Oluwande adds, offering a friendly smile. He's giving her an out, which is extremely sweet and attractive somehow.
“Oh. Well you know I would not say no to that. Pretty much caught me checking you both out earlier.” Archie tries to laugh it off but they know damn well their cheeks look like fucking tomatoes.
“Awesome, Arch! Either me or Jim will text you to discuss the details, I have some places in mind, you're gonna love it here I'm sure.” Oluwande says, handing his phone for them to add their number. Archie is pretty sure they already do love it here.
Might be dumb but this feels like the start of something new and exciting that Archie can't put a name to yet. Whatever happens, it feels like Jim and Oluwande are in her life to stay.
“Oh hey babe!” Oluwande suddenly waves and calls to someone behind her.
When Archie turns around there is a hot woman wearing a black tailored suit and heels walking towards them in a rush.
The stranger walks past her to give Jim and Olu a quick peck. “Hey loves. I’m sorry I'm late, had a good time?” She says smiling warmly at them.
Archie feels absolutely awestruck. Is everyone in this fucking polycule hot? Can they get an application sheet immediately?
“We did, mi amor. This is Archie, a cool person we met tonight!” Jim says pointing at her. “Archie, this is Zheng. Our partner.” So that wasn't just a business partner, amazing.
Zheng turns to them and gives them an appreciative look. Fuck yeah.
“Nice to meet you, Archie. I hope you have fun here!” She says extending a hand for Archie to take and she does.
She bets her tits she will have fun here.