Thread: Eternal Bliss [OctopusPrince and gio-vanne]

Helios looked up from her empty beer when she was addressed by the bartender, who seemed... nervous for whatever reason. Polite, but nervous. She was being offered a glass of their finest red wine, and as the beautiful, rounded glass was set before her, she was still a little confused. From Mr. Lucian, ma'am. The bartender explained, gesturing as politely as one could while pointing someone out and letting Helios' eyes follow until they were landed on a man who was relatively isolated in the bar, seemingly drinking the same dark red beverage from the looks of it. She stared, for just a moment, forgetting herself a little... When was the last time someone actually attractive had bought her a drink? She couldn't tell just how handsome this man was, but she could tell he wasn't an old creep trying to sneak up behind her chair and cop a feel either. She held up the glass next to her cheek, tipping it a little in acknowledgement and smiled, mouthing a thank you before looking down into the wine glass the way she had her beer. the ruby red liquid like a mirror. She took a slow, delicate sip and found the flavor incredibly refined-- the best wine in the house? No kidding, Helios could tell from teenage years of sneaking into her parents' wine cellar that this was top dollar shit. Helios smiled to herself, and felt a sinking, nostalgic pain at the same time. She wasn't a teenager anymore, sipping Merlot when her parents weren't home. She wasn't a college student, busting her ass and working three jobs while training to be a professional cellist. She wasn't top of her class anymore, she wasn't first cello, she wasn't a scholarship candidate or being told every other day by her mentors she should apply for Juilliard. She was just a graduate now, a nobody, and she couldn't even call her parents. She was no one, but at least, she was a pretty enough no one that night for a nice glass of wine. It was a nice gesture-- a questionable, expensive one, but she didn't really have the mind to care as she finished the glass, thanked the bartender, and ordered another chocolate stout. Ah- I've been told to inform you you can have as much as you like. The bartender again seemed nervous. What's the matter? Helios asked, as contradictory as that was- wasn't the bartender supposed to be getting HER to spill her emotional grievances? Before she could tease him about that, he leaned over to whisper to her. That man's a VIP, and that glass of wine he just bought you was a 140 dollar glass of wine. He purchased all three bottles we have in stock and said you could drink as much as you'd like. Helios blinked. Wow. Shit. That was... Her mind did quick math and she glanced down at the empty flute in her hands. She almost wanted to laugh out loud at it-- she was homeless, and today was the day a man who could afford thousand dollar bottles of wine had decided to buy her a drink? It was funny on a sort of cosmic level. Luckily for Lucian and his wallet, Helios said, leaning in conspiratorially, If I had more than three of these? I'd be dead weight tomorrow- red wine always gives me such a hang over. It was half a joke, and it landed, the bartender grinning in amusement at her. It's... thoughtful, but... there's about, She glanced around the Sky Bar, eight other women he'd be better off buying red wine for in here. She told the bartender, and he chuckled again, None as pretty as you tonight. Lady in Red He sang at her, and she rolled her eyes, smiling and waving her hand to make him stop, both of them laughing. That's why she liked this bar. It was atmospheric, high end without being a murder on the wallet if you knew the menu, and it just... felt nice. When people talked, when people bought her drinks, when people danced and even when people got a little too wasted- it was fun and a relief from the shitty world she spent her days in. The bartender delivered her another chocolate stout, and announced, a little more confidently, Also anything you get, including your usual swill, is on his tab. Helios laughed out right, she and the bartender had discussed that at one point, that he hated stouts and while she loved the dark, rich flavors they offered, and it had been enough of a conversation that he could joke with her about her taste without getting himself in trouble. She couldn't blame him-- chocolate stout was trash, but she loved the layered flavor of it, chocolate, coffee, hops, herbs... it wasn't refined per say, but it was her favorite. Yay free swill, She said unenthusiastically, before her eyes slid, carefully, curiously, back to the man who was officially paying for her drinks. Was he going to come over? Or was she really that bad at hiding how bad her day had been? Either way, she grinned a bit, feeling flattered by the gesture, and took a long sip off of her new beer.