Playing House: Less Top Gun, More Cocktail

[notjustaface]

The new job isn't bad, he's only been working a week and they've already upped his hours to almost full time - working the happy hour till after dinner shift six nights a week. Somewhat as he'd expected, the tips are good... really good, and getting better as he starts to draw a regular crowd of people that are drawn to the kind of guy that does what he does.

Which is essentially being shameless.

As it is, it's almost six-thirty and he's already stripped down to his jeans and a bar towel slung over his shoulder - sweat (and just a little bit of the tequila a VIP asked to take a shot of off his abs) shining up his torso. It's kind of his element... like it or not. And admittedly, he kind of likes it... even with his rings on he's the center of attention.

"You missed your calling as a stripper." The owner smirks, handing off a pair of empty glasses to pass back to the dishwasher. "There's more money in it."

"I like this!" He protests, pouring out a double and a vodka martini. "Besides, I'm married." He holds up his finger as though she hadn't clearly seen the evidence when he applied.

"Honey, you think they care?" She raises an eyebrow toward a group of women approaching the bar - clearly ready to party.

"On it, boss."

Comments

[notthatcrazy]

And it seems natural to lean into the embrace.

"You save all your best moves for me, then?"

[notjustaface]

"I don't need moves for you..." he murmurs, brushing a kiss in his hair.

"You already think I'm amazing."

[notthatcrazy]

"I already know you're amazing," he corrects.

"How much longer you got on your shift?"

[notjustaface]

Even in his state, the praise is enough to draw a warm flush across his cheeks as he leans in to kiss him properly.

"Two hours..." he murmurs, breaking away. "Want to stay and work up an appetite for that big tip?"

[notthatcrazy]

"Sounds good to me. Not like I've got anything better to do."

He's mostly spent the last week drawing and babying the spider plant he brought home in place of a pet, to Face's eternal amusement.

[notjustaface]

His bare chest brushes against Murdock's shirt and tingles of arousal spread.

"You, uh... You don't mind me showing off, right?"

[notthatcrazy]

"Nah, not really."

He hooks a finger through one of his belt loops and pulls him closer.

"Long as you go home with me at the end of the night, I'll be fine."

[notjustaface]

"You have no idea how much I'm looking forward to it..." He murmurs, squeezing him tight. "Mine."

[notthatcrazy]

"You know it, babe."

He leans in and kisses him again, warm and tender.

"Always."

[notjustaface]

And if he keeps kissing like that, Face is gonna need a little longer than a five minute break to deal with it.

"How's the little guy?" He forces himself to change the subject and put a bit of distance between them.

[notthatcrazy]

"Hmm?"

It takes him a moment to figure out exactly what 'little guy' he means. It's that kind of conversation.

"He's doin' pretty good, as far as I can tell."

[notjustaface]

He'd be equally confused if he hadn't said it himself - he's trying to be good and while getting off in the backroom would take the edge off before facing the crowd again, he's pretty sure it's a bad idea.

"I was thinking about maybe a dog, you know? Something we can take with us if we go back."

The 'if' is mostly accidental, good thoughts and good shots getting the better of him.

[notthatcrazy]

His restraint has been noted and will be rewarded as soon as they get some actual time to themselves.

"You think that'd work out?"

He catches the 'if,' but the significance of it isn't really registering yet.

[notjustaface]

He half-shrugs, the small towel drooping lower on his broad shoulder.

"It could... I mean we worked out and the odds of that happening were pretty slim, right?"

[notthatcrazy]

"I mean, we're talkin' about a tiny little critter that's dependin' on us to take care of it. It's a big responsibility."

Not that Peter Parker the spider plant isn't a responsibility, but it's hardly on the same level.

[notjustaface]

"It's a dog..." He shrugs again, "not like I'm talking about getting a baby or something..."

It's probably the small but significant amount of booze in his system talking, but he can't help drawing a parallel between wanting to settle down now and when he wanted to settle down with Charissa.

"You know what, nevermind. It's a stupid idea."

[notthatcrazy]

"Hey now, I didn't say it was stupid."

He pulls him close for a quick kiss on the nose.

"It'd just... take some planning."

Even if they do settle down, they're still wanted men.

Speaking of...

"I think your public awaits, darlin'."

[notjustaface]

He lets out a sigh, about to say something that'd probably end up with both feet in his mouth.

"Yeah..." He frowns, shaking his head. "You should stick around, maybe learn a few more of my dirty con tricks."

[notthatcrazy]

He doesn't like that frown.

"Sure, I'll stick around for a while."

He doesn't want to be distracting. (Except that he kind of does.)

[notjustaface]

There's a big difference between a distraction and an observer - and Face likes to think that Murdock wants to function as the latter. Proving to him that nothing too shady is going on.

Because really, it isn't. He's in control of his libido for once in his life, and it actually feels pretty damn good to be able to say that.

"Stay as long as you like. I'll let Marilyn know you're a VIP."

[notthatcrazy]

He's happy to observe. Especially if he keeps his shirt off.

"Sure thing."

He pulls away slightly, holding a hand out to him.

"Shall we?"

[notjustaface]

Keeping his shirt off is practically required after five... it keeps the tips flowing freely, after all. And makes the bar feel a little less warm after a few free drinks.

"We shall..." He moves to join his hand with Murdock's and instead slides his arm around the other man's waist. If he's going to be out - he may as well be all the way out.

"I don't recommend more than two of those - by the way..." he nods toward the strong drink in Murdock's free hand. "It's kind of like drinking paint thinner with a vanilla chaser."

[notthatcrazy]

"Gotcha."

He slips his other arm around his partner, not too shy to show off a bit.

That's right, girls, he's taken.

[notjustaface]

Returning Murdock to his barstool - and himself behind the polished cherry wood - he's not shocked to get a few curious looks when he kisses Murdock's temple gently before going back to working the ladies.

"Alright... dinner specials!" He calls out, hammering the bar; "Two-dollar drafts, four dollar cocktails - stump the bartender you get the first one free but you've gotta drink 'em all night."

[notthatcrazy]

Knowing Face, the ladies'll just find him even more interesting now.

He's content to just watch for a while, as he works the crowd.