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She had an audience, down the bar, settled in a seat with two empties next to him and a half-drunk vodka tonic between his fingers. This place was close to home, now, which meant when Zed was busy [often, these days] Ever could find his way down and have a chat with the bartender. With the very, very straight, definitely not a temptation bartender. No room for anyone to get annoyed.

When he started recognizing people, it was probably a sign he came here too ofter; a solid two nights a week, a symptom of not having enough friends, nor enough hobbies to distract him. This girl, with her tumble of pink hair, he'd seen enough times that she'd become -- well -- familiar. A kindred soul.

Just, well, one that had more fun than him. Great.

So, he watched her; watched her entice in some sucker with a bat of her eyelashes, and not for the first time, and when she was done with that one he summoned the bartender over to send her a drink.

It'd show up at her elbow with a paper umbrella shoved into it, fizzy and bright. The bartender's expression was amused as he tapped the bar beside it and leaned in close to make sure she could hear him -- "From the gentleman down that way. He said to make sure you know it's called a Jezebel."

"That's because they usually are actually interested in ******** you." It could have been offensive -- it should have been offensive, probably. There was a mocking edge that was just the tiniest mean, but it came with such a bright flash of friendly smile, such a wickedly amused light behind his eyes, that it was obvious that he didn't quite mean it that way. Probably.

He sipped his own drink, rotating on his own seat to look over her admirers, head tipped to consider some of their assets as they turned away from the duo. Surprising she'd turned them down. "Not that they have much of a chance, I don't think. All temptation with little follow-through..."

"You do it a lot." It was, at least, without judgement -- more amused than anything else, maybe primarily to let her know that Ever'd been there, and that he'd seen it before. Two or three times, at this point. He sipped at his own drink, eyes taking in the men down the bar.

They looked jealous, at this point, and that made him grin despite himself, flashing them a wave. He was more interesting than them, at least. Ever'd take the compliment, whatever it meant.

"Your strategy's off, though. The trick is to get in with the bartender." He smiled back at her instead. "Get him in your pocket."

"Uh huh, though I usually put out." This was said with the grin still on his face, Ever tipping back what was left of his drink in one long swallow. He slid the glass halfway out onto the bar, and the expression faded down some -- considering. Debating.

"You play games like this a lot? I mean, do you also do that thing where you lean in over the counter to try and coax hapless cashiers into applying the employee discount to your order, too?" His eyes flashed up onto her face, genuinely curious about the answer.

"Do you have any actual substance or is it just all style and batting eyelashes?" He couldn't help the tone, the note in the back of his voice, couldn't resist the desire to get a bit under her skin. While he waited for her answer, he tapped fingers against the rib of his glass, hunting for more alcohol. Always.

"Do you have any skills that dip deeper than the surface?"

He could have teased further; there was a flicker across his eyes that meant he wanted to add something else, some other taunt. Instead, though, he was quiet, turning his glass against the bar and watching her with his head tipped to the side. Something about the expression that settled, calmer, across his face -- well, it made it clear this was an interview, perhaps, though an interview for what --

"Do you have a job?" Ever fished out a piece of ice to crunch between his teeth.

"I'm going to offer you a job, but it's kind of a one-shot deal. No time to think. You have to take it." Ever sat back, finally, thinking for a moment -- and then left a couple horribly crumpled bills on the counter in front of him and stood, rolling out his shoulders. Sitting, he hadn't seemed that tall. Standing, it was potentially surprising; just over six-feet, and skinny enough to make it seem taller.

"Meet me out back in twenty minutes if you're interested." He flashed her a smile, but behind it, his eyes were very serious.