"There we go, Mr. clean himself couldn't have done any better." Dave looked around his newly cleaned studio. He had spent the last 4 hours cleaning the awful room. 5 trash bags later it was spic and span, though he'd have to get some air freshener later from the store. Dave walked out of the studio and headed towards the office. He had some papers he needed John to sign, most of them were liability forms and one sheet courtesy of Sollux that says that whatever tech John breaks he'll pay for fully. Sollux treated the tech here like his children... that guy is so weird and really good at video games. Dave had yet to beat him in one single game, someday he will though. After retrieving the papers he walked through the lobby just in time to see John talking to Jade at the secretaries desk.
"You're a secretary?" John gave her a weird look.
"Yup! Did I forget to mention that? I suppose its not that important, but I feel like it should've come up some where..." Jade smiled sheepily, John gave her his usual bright smile.
"Yo, newbie, your flirting can wait a few minutes. I have things for you to look at." Dave announced his presence with all the grace and poise he could muster. John turned red and glared at Dave who, in response to that incredibly cute expression, turned around and waved at john to follow him.
"We weren't flirting! Just talking whats wrong with that?" John followed a step behind the blonde. They turned in to the room were Johns interview was held, Dave had also taken an hour to tidy this room up too.
"Yeah whatever," Dave sat down in the chair behind the desk and john took the seat in front of it.
"I have some papers you need to sign, this place has some... well frequent accidents, to put it lightly. So Rose needs you to sign these liability stuff." He pushed about 5 papers torward John.
John picked up the first one and looked it up and down, "You guys don't have insurance?" He was a little worried about what he got himself into.
"Nope! So if you get injured here, try to keep it minor, but we do have a friend thats a doctor so she'd help a little." Dave watched as John read through the other papers.
"This last one... 'Whatever is broken will be shoved up the perpetrators ass.' Umm..." John looked up with a worried expression.
"Most of that is just threats, our tech guy treats the stuff here like his children, chances are you won't break anything and you'll barely see him. So just sign it." John read through all the papers again. Man this guy thorough, whats he looking for? Dave yawned and looked at the clock, 11:40. It was almost time for lunch, Dave had a brilliant idea. Lunch date. Of course it'd only be a date in his mind, he wouldn't say it out loud, lest he scare John off too early. John finally signs the papers and Dave prepared to give say his proposal.
"So you were hiding back here, I should have known that." A firm female voice came from the door. Both boys turned to see a women with short blonde hair, a long flowing black skirt and a dark purple t-shirt. Her lips were pitch black and her eyes were lined with a thick black line, a pure gothic beauty. "I see you are going over the policies with our new hire, hello John Egbert I'm Rose. I'm the manager here as I'm sure Dave has told you." Rose did a little bow. Instead of responding to her John just stared at her. Dave's stomach did something weird, he didn't like this. Not one bit.
"Yo, John you gonna start drooling?" Daves voice was a bit sharper then he intended.
"Uh sorry! I just well... umm no Dave didn't really mention you, but um Jade did!" John turned pink and tried to look every where except at Rose.
"Good job Dave, you are the best we have." Rose smirked a bit, her voice had heavy sarcasm. She turned her attention back to the flustered mess of dark hair. "Welcome to my family, I sincerely hope you'll enjoy it here." Rose gave a small smile to John, who risked a glance at her.
"Um thank you... I hope so too..."
"Dave if you wouldn't mind do you think I could talk to Mr. Egbert alone?" Rose stepped to the side and motioned to the door. Daves stomach was once again throwing a fit, but if he refused... well its simple, he just couldn't refuse. He silently stood up and walked out the door, he raised his eyebrow at Rose and she nodded at him. This was a silent conversation between them.
Dave- What are you doing?
Rose- Relax, nothing to worry about
The door was shut and Dave was left on the out side, without a clue as too what that women was saying to John. He'd never known Rose to be forward with men, actually he'd never seen her do anything with men besides turn them down, but for some reason this was tearing him apart. The way John was staring, how Rose reacted, and now them alone in a sound proof room. He took a shaky breath and tried to calm himself down.
"Bye Rose! Oh! and I'll try my best." John was all smiles and practicly glowing as he opened the door. Dave stood up straight and tried to look like he was simply, impatient.
"John wanna go out to lunch with me? I'm starving." Dave was pretty sure he pulled off the relaxed kinda impatient tone in his voice.
John's smiled went down a bit and he cocked his head. "You want to go out to lunch? Isn't there a fridge here?"
"Yeah, but I didn't bring anything and everything in there has a name on it. So I'm going out."
"Ummm yeah, I guess I'll go with you."
"Sweet, it'll be my treat." Dave turned and started walking down the hall way toward the door.
"You don't have to do that I can pay for myself!" John jogged over to Dave and walked quickly to keep up with Dave.
"Consider it a welcome meal."
"I can pay for myself really... it's okay."
"Where are you two going and what's Dave being stubborn about?" Jade leaned over her desk and tipped her head.
"We're going to lunch-"
"And he's paying for me." John finished Dave's sentence.
"Ah..." Jade gave Dave a smirk and sat down straight in her chair. "Have fun and stay away from dark alleys" Jade smiled brightly and waved as the two boys left, Dave held the door open for John.
"So where are we going?"
"A little restaurant that my friend works at."
"Okay... whats the name of it?"
"Drunk Kitten."
"We're going to a bar?" John stopped walking and gave Dave a disbelieving look.
"No! I promise, my relative owns it. The name is an inside joke with with the co-owner." Dave turned to look at John.
"Sooo, you're not planning on drinking at noon?"
"Maybe just a few drinks, they make great bloody mary." Dave smirked and continued walking.
"So, it is a bar?"
"Half-restaurant half- bar, so it'll be alright."
"You better not get drunk, I will not carry you back."
"Relax, it takes a lot more than one Bloody Mary to make me pass out, trust me." Dave's tone of voice went off a bit. He thought about all those nights he sat in that bar while the world spun in an awful dizzy mix. All the times he had had to be carried out, dragged out, and once taken on a gurney. In short he'd spent way to much time there and should, in reality, hate it, but the bar was kinda like a part of him. Familiar and almost like home, it didn't really help that his little brother worked there, and pretty much owned it, with his make-shift aunt.
"Do you go there often?" John, in spite all of his usual ditsyness, seemed to notice the difference in Daves voice.
"Not as much I should, seriously, their Mary is like nothing you've ever tasted." They rounded a corner and the bar came in to view. As part of the line of buildings the bar was strangely out of place. There was a clear line of slightly faded hot pink paint, where one shop ended and the bar began. Dave could clearly remember the argument his Aunt had with the Town Council about the paint, They called it 'tacky and unneeded' she called it, and he quotes 'sill... Stygl...stylin...stylish' the council quickly stopped trying to argue with the women when they realized she was currently, shit-faced drunk. The sign above the door looked like it was haphazardly tacked on with card board, Dave knew, without ever asking, that this was his little bros doing. No doubt he thought the signs design was 'ironic' and Dave agreed with this wholeheartedly.
"Wow that's... quite the paint job..." They stopped in front of the bar with the street between them.
"Yup." Dave jay-walked across the road when he saw the coast was clear, John jogged across the street in front of Dave who continued to walk across.
"You know when you jay-walk, it doesn't actually mean you have to walk."
"What you expected me to run across an empty street? Sorry, but that ain't happening." Dave hopped on top of the curb and led the way through the bar doors. The bell above the door announced their entrance and a bobbed blonde head popped up from a bar counter.
"Daveeey!" The blonde haired women ran out from behind the counter and tackled Dave.
"Roxy! Agh! Get off of me..." Dave slammed to the ground and his hands flew up to keep his glasses on.
"Aww why? Davvey you haben't coome here un shooo looonnng... we missid youu" Roxy hugged Daves neck.
"I know I know I'm sorry, now, off." Dave got a grip on her shoulders and pryed her off his neck, she now took notice of ,the very nervous, John backed against the door frame.
"Oh hello there cutiie hope I didn't shcare ya, dis heres my stuuborn wittle nephew." Roxy tried to go back to hugging the pinned man beneath her but his arm were still keeping her away.
"Roxy get off." Dave sounded a little more commanding.
"Fine mr grumpy pants... humpf." She stood up and fixed her sleeveless purple dress.
"Um hi..." John waved a bit meekily.
"John meet my alcoholic aunt, Roxy Lalonde." Dave stumbled up and brushed off his backside.
"I am nut an alocohelig alcohonik...al-co-hol-lic... I am a coneesi...conessuuer..."
"Yeah whatever, Wheres Hal?" Dave grabbed a few menus from the host desk.
"He's in the bath room, though god knows what he's doin in der..." Roxy giggled to herself and Dave quickly hit her arm, lightly of course. Roxy handed Dave two menus after she wrestled them out of a cabinet
"Tell him that I'm here when he gets back," Dave turned to walk towards the sitting area, "Oh and can you get us two BM's?"
"Sure thang Davey and Johnny." Roxy walked back to the bar and started mixing the drinks.
"She's rather interesting..." John scratched the back of his head as he followed Dave to a booth.
"Yeah, shes a lot better when she sobers down." Dave slid into a booth near the back of the restaurant.
"Huh, you said she's an alcoholic?" John slid into the seat across the table.
"To a degree yeah, though she knows how to do it without killing herself so no one really minds it."
"She still should get help though... I mean what if she hurts herself?" John looked down at the table.
"John, Roxy's fine. She runs a bar and in all honesty she seems to run it better drunk, so lets get off this topic. What about your fam what do they do?"
"My family? Well umm my dad runs a bakery, my mother left when I was young, one of my cousins disappeared on his cruise, and my other cousin works with my dad at the bakery."
"Woah, lost me at bakery. Your father runs a bakery?"
"Mhm it's on the other side of town, he gets pretty good business. Chances are you've been there before. Jokers Goodies, weird name I know." John rolled his eyes.
"Holy shit that place is great! The cup cakes there are just... man they are like a tiny rave on your tongue and the cops are just about to knock on the door because the rave is just that ridiculous."
"Yeah, I've been told that before, though it was never described quite like that..." John giggled a bit. Dave had to look out the window because that giggle was just way too adorable.
"Dave you got to come by more often, It seems like I haven't seen you in forever!" A boy with pure with hair and odd triangle shades pushed Dave over and sat next to him in the booth.
"Hal, bro be careful I'm precious cargo." Dave rubbed his shoulder where he was shoved.
"Yeah, whatever who's this?" Hal looked John up and down.
"I'm John Egbert, hi!" Johns energy seemed to be coming back, Dave was glad. He wasn't a big fan of the calm and shy John.
"I'm Hal Strider nice meet you, there's a 100% chance that you are extremely cute." Hal winked at John. "If you see me hitting on some lady don't ruin my game K?" Hal smirked.
"Ha ha ha alright." John laughed a bit, turning pretty red.
"Hal you're 16 you have like exactly zero game."
"No, I have all the game, Dave, You just never see it cause you scare off all the chicks." Hal stuck his tongue out at Dave.
"What ever man go see if Roxy passed out, I asked her for bloody marys a while ago and, well, I'm still completely sober."
"If she is, you're helping me drag her to the bathroom." Hal jogged over to the bar, leaving them alone.
"Is his hair naturally white?" John asked.
"Yup, he's pretty cool like that, shit I should've told him what we wanted... wait what do you want?" Dave hadn't even open his menu, he knew it by heart.
"Umm well what are you getting?" Johns eyes skimmed the inside of the menu.
"I'm gettin some cheesy fries." Dave watched Johns perfect blues eye dart around, reading all the words.
"Isn't that just an appetizer?" John looked up at Dave.
"I don't eat that much usually, so all I can really get are appetizers." Dave shrugged and John put the menu down.
"Alright I'm gonna get a BLT." John seemed pretty proud of himself.
"Heh, what are you a health nut?"
"No! I just love bacon, plus it does sound good."
"If you were a health nut, we couldn't be friends cause I'd be too big of a bad influence on you." Dave smiled a bit.
"Oh really? How would you be a bad influence?"
"Dude I'm gonna order fried sticks of potato smothered in processed, melted, and salted cheese."
"Touche..."
"Shes alive!" Hal had come back to table.
"Thats good, before I forget again, we'd like some grub." Dave gathered the two menus and gave them to Hal.
"Oh joy, I actually have to work... what do you delinquents need?" Hal took out a small note pad.
"My usual and a BLT for him."
"I can order for myself you know!" John was once again bright red. Dave smirked at Hal and he smiled back, unbeknownst to John the two brothers shared a silent conversation that went something like this.
Hal- "You trying to score?"
Dave- "A bit more than that, but yes."
Hal- "Sweet, I wish you the best of luck with the blue eyed babe." With that Hal left and whispered something to Roxy who in turn giggled. Dave knew he was going to get so much shit for this later.
"I know you can John, but I wanted to order for you because I can." Dave smiled semi-sweetly at John.
"If you keep this up, people are going to think this is a date." John pouted and slid down in his seat a little. Dave was a bit shocked at this, he ran over some quick thoughts in his head. If John was gay would he say that? Would John even think about that if he wasn't gay? Or is he really straight and doesn't want to be seen as gay... A small panic attack was brewing inside Dave, he was very thankful to his glasses for hiding his panic.
'Im happy~ I'm feelin sad I got sunshine~ in bag I'm useless~ but not for long-'
"Ach! Umm one sec I gotta take this..." Dave shoved his hand into his pocket and answered his phone. In all honesty he was greatful for the distraction.
"Douchebag, plans have changed movie night is tonight." Karkats lovely voice commanded from the speaker.
"Great greeting as always Karkles, but I can't do it tonight."
"Oh shit really? Too busy talking to your two fucking listeners? I got forced into a signing tomorrow and I will have exactly no fucking time to watch shitty movies with your dumb ass."
"We both know that the movies are only shitty when you choose them and I have three listeners, but anyway I guess I can cancel my important plans for you. I was gonna go see my grandma and maybe knit a few sweaters with her, but I guess you are more important."
"Damn right I am, so 7?"
"7." Karkat hung up on Dave, as per usual. "Sorry about that, my friend likes to call at the worst of times."
"Who... was that?" John was staring at Dave with huge eyes, Dave remembered that John had borrowed an album of Karkats from him. John was obviously a fan of Karkats.
"Well I think you already have a hunch of who it was but I'll confirm your thoughts, it was Karkat Vantas." Dave about burst into laughter as Johns eyes got even bigger.
"I-I knew that you two talked, but I though it was just business stuff, are you guys actually friends!?"
"Karkat and I have and been friends for years, I warn you though he's as bitchy in real life as he is in his songs."
"Here you go and I promise that your drinks have only a few ruffies in them." Hal placed the food and bloody marys in front of the two men. Dave started on his bloody mary right away.
"Thanks." Dave and John said in unison.
"So are you and Karkat hanging out tonight?" John asked as he took a large bite out of his sandwich.
"Yup, when ever he's in town we do a movie night, they usually suck though because his taste in movies is the worst."
"Heh, what did you guys watch last time?"
"The proposal, It was an awful chick flick and I felt my man hood be stolen away from me as he cooed and awed next to me."
"Wow... how could you not like that movie? I thought it was pretty good."
"John, you're obviously gay, you'd have to be to even consider it a decent movie." Dave said this light heartedly as he waved Hal over to pay. Out of the corner of his eye he saw John get flushed as his eyes darted left and right.
"I just thought it wasn't too bad... I'm not like that or anything..." John looked away. They were quiet for a while as they ate, Dave was happy to see John take sips from the bloody mary, Roxy usually didn't put too much vodka in it so Dave was pretty amused to see John squint his eyes at the drink. John drank half of the glass though and Dave completely drained his. When they were finished Hal brought the bill and Dave handed him a credit card before John could object.
"Thanks Hal, we'll hopefully be back soonish."
"I could have paid too you know." John got up from the booth just as Dave did.
"I know, but I didn't want you too." Dave waved to Roxy as she poured herself a martini. John did a half wave, Dave also found that cute. He was beginning to find everything about John cute.
"Man Dave you really are making this seem like a date..." They walked out the door, Dave holding the door open for John.
"I gotta head home and fix up my apartment, tell Rose it's Karkat, and I hope you enjoyed your date with Dave Strider." With that Dave turned and walked the opposite way of the studio, because he lived that way, not just because he wanted to seem cool. As Dave walked down the sidewalk he ducked into an alley and poked his head out to see that John was gone, because Dave's apartment was in the direction of the studio, Dave was actually an idiot. An idiot who needed to get home to hide any of his possible rom-coms. An idiot who will also most likely regret saying that last sentence to the possibly straight John. Dave the idiot walked somberly back to his apartment, this idiot needed to think about how screwed he may be.