Oswald walked past the bar with his records book in his hand. He sat at the bar before opening time, making sure the numbers added up, all money was accounted for, and recorded the time each employee started so far. Lazlo was late ... Again.
"Come on man, it's only ten minutes. Mooney will have my hide." Lazlo said glancing around to see if Miss Mooney was around. "Cover my ass Oswald!"
Oswald pursed his lips, almost in a mock sympathetic look. "Sorry Lazlo, no can do ... You should have been here ten minutes ago."
Returning to the bar with a case of whiskey from the back room, Murphy subtly gave Oswald a look of quiet amusement. He wasn't terribly sympathetic toward Lazlo. The guy hadn't even given Oswald a reason why he was late in the first place. Besides, he was kind of an asshole, in Murphy's opinion. And he couldn't be too terribly bright, making fun of Oswald for weeks before turning around and asking for favours.
"Oswald ..." Lazlo said.
"You're wasting company time now Lazlo ... Would you like me to mark you as fifteen minutes late since you aren't actually working?" He asked waving his hand as if to shoo him away.
"Okay! Fine, I'm going," Lazlo said irritably. "You don't have to be a dick about it." He shot Oswald an angry look before going to unstack the chairs.
It took a significant effort of will for Murphy to avoid openly chuckling over the little interaction. "You know," he said quietly, as he continued to set up the bar area. "It's oddly therapeutic watching you call people on their bullshit." And he thoroughly enjoyed watching Oswald display more confidence.
Oswald smiled gently as he looked back at the book, his pen in his left hand as he moved it over the pages, filling out each spot.
It wasn't long before Fish strode into the establishment, stopping to casually exchange a few quiet words with Butch at the door, her gaze quickly surveilling the club to see that all was as it should be. She had trained Oswald to the point that he was able to oversee more and more of the smaller details. He was competent enough and afraid enough of crossing her that he was able to help keep things running smoothly, while Mooney still remained firmly in control. Of course, he had recently overstepped a boundary again, even if it was a minor one… but overall, her umbrella boy had proven himself a useful addition.
She walked over to where he was sitting, going over the books at the bar … Which was unsurprising. He was always by the bar, when he wasn't directly at her side. Though he hadn't taken to drinking, like some of the others she'd had to let go. No, her little pet had a different vice. And, though it hadn't interfered with his work yet, it had already started to go to his head. It was best to step in and put his priorities in perspective for him, before it got out of hand.
"Oswald," she said, briefly pausing her stride to look over at him. "Once you're done with the books, I'll want a private word with you." She turned on her heel, then added, as if it were an afterthought: "Oh, and bring Murphy too. Ricardo can take over for him at the bar."
"Of course Miss. Mooney." He said. After a few weeks of working here, and Murphy's influence on him his confidence had boosted enough that ... Well he wasn't exactly confident, but his stutter had, for the most part, stopped. "I should be done in a few moments." He said glancing at Murphy.
Murphy nodded, returning Oswald's glance with a look of slight confusion. "Yes, ma'am," he said. Once Miss. Mooney had walked safely out of earshot, Murphy murmured: "Any idea what this is about?"
"Not a clue." Oswald hurried to finished the last of the records and closed it, quickly putting it away. He didn't want to keep her waiting. He met Murphy by the bar before making his way to her table in front of the stage.
Once Oswald and Murphy approached her table, Fish stood and, without explanation, headed for the stairs, gesturing for them to follow her. Murphy couldn't find even the slightest hint in her expression of what kind of mood she was in. That always made him uneasy.
Oswald looked up at Murphy nervously as he headed up the stairs, every instinct telling him to run in the other direction. But he would never go against Miss. Mooney.
Oswald's nervous glance didn't make Murphy feel any better about this; even if Oswald had no idea what Miss. Mooney wanted either, he spent more than enough time with her to know when there was cause to be nervous.
Reaching the top of the stairs, Fish sauntered into the same bedroom where Murphy and Oswald had first spent the night together. Murphy glanced suspiciously at the potted plant, wondering whether the camera was still there, or whether it had been moved elsewhere. No doubt Miss. Mooney knew that they'd discovered it. It occurred to Murphy that the same camera might have picked up what Tony and his pals had done as well. He cringed inwardly at the thought. Not for the first time, he wondered just how much humiliating blackmail material Miss. Mooney had on Oswald by now, and how much more she planned on collecting.
"Murphy, go stand over there," Fish ordered, gesturing with one manicured hand to a corner across from the bed. "You get to watch… which, by the way, isn't a privilege I grant just anyone."
Murphy glanced uneasily from Oswald to Miss. Mooney, but didn't dare argue. He still couldn't be sure where Miss. Mooney was taking this, whether either of them was in trouble or for what. And the last time he'd tried to intervene when Oswald was in trouble, he'd only made things worse. So Murphy kept his mouth shut and went to stand where she'd directed him to.
Fish smiled slightly at Murphy's confusion, before turning to look down at Oswald. The contrast between the two men couldn't have been greater … which was no doubt why it had slipped her notice for so long that their little connection had developed into an ongoing relationship. Despite all the evidence of what was going on, it still didn't make much sense to her. Using Oswald, teasing him, getting a rise out of him… she could see the appeal in that. His reactions were just priceless. But for anything more than that, Murphy was well out of this awkward little man's league. She had to wonder what the bartender's game was, and what use he had for her Penguin. She'd find out eventually.
"Oswald," Fish said in a pleasant voice, tilting Oswald's chin up toward her with her fingertips. "You really have made a great deal of progress since you started here. Have you stopped to reflect at all on just how much you've improved?" She didn't hand out praise very frequently; she had high expectations and everyone knew it. But Oswald had first skulked in here without even the flimsiest shred of confidence, and seemed to respond well to having his ego stroked occasionally.
"I ... No Miss. Mooney ... I really don't feel that I've improved at all ... I just do what I'm told to." He said smiling nervously, with a slight shrug.
"Oh, but you have improved," Fish smirked. Her little pet was always so respectful. He knew his place by now … for the most part, anyway. "I don't waste my time complimenting people who haven't earned it. Your job performance has gotten more efficient, more thorough, you present yourself better," she tugged lightly at his tie. That last statement was true enough; in his tailored suits, this odd-looking little man had cleaned up as well as he was ever going to. "Though …" she added, as if just remembering after a second thought. "There was that one recent little slip in your professionalism … throwing my name around for leverage just so you and Murphy could get a motel room together. Did you really think I would approve of that?"
It might have been a crappy motel where Fish would never be caught dead staying herself … but it was in one of her territories, nonetheless. Thinking she wouldn't know what went on there was a beginner's mistake.
Oswald opened his mouth to answer and paused, blinking nervously as he looked at Murphy.
"Don't look at him," Mooney said snapping her fingers at him like one would to keep a pet's attention. "Look at me."
Oswald dutifully looked back at Mooney. "I-I- ... I'm sorry Miss. Mooney it's just ... He was a very rude man, he ... I ... I'm sorry I'm making excuses. Please forgive me ... I had meant no disrespect ... I was just tired and he wouldn't give us a room and ..."
"It's true, Miss. Mooney," Murphy interjected, for whatever it was worth. "He didn't mean anything by it; we were just tired and we didn't know what else to do."
Fish held up a hand to silence them both. "Murphy," she said coolly, not even looking at him, her unamused stare still focused directly on Oswald. "If I want to hear from my umbrella boy's fuck-buddy, I will be sure to let you know. Oswald… You're still making excuses. I know I taught you how to apologize better than that."
Oswald shivered slightly with nerves. It had been a long time since she'd had him grovel but ... He knew it wasn't something that Miss. Mooney was beyond doing.
Oswald didn't bother glancing at Murphy before he slowly moved onto his knees, staring at the floor. "I'm so sorry Miss. Mooney ... No excuses, I shouldn't have done it ..."
Murphy winced as Oswald went down onto his knees in front of Miss. Mooney. But there was nothing he could do or say to help the situation, especially after she'd already reprimanded him for speaking up once. So he remained silent in his corner, fearfully hoping that
Miss. Mooney didn't take things any further than this. If Miss. Mooney hurt Oswald, Murphy didn't think he had it in him to just stand idly by and watch.
"No, you shouldn't have," Fish crossed her arms as she looked down at him. He really was still just as pathetic as he'd ever been. "And after all the promise you were starting to show around here," she shook her head, sounding genuinely disappointed. "I really did expect better from you. But I can't have this sort of thing happening again every time you and your boy-toy get … tired. Now Oswald, what could you possibly do to make it up to me?"
Oswald stayed silent, not knowing how to respond to that. She knew he'd do anything for her, it was only a matter of what she wanted from him. There wasn't much beyond his job that he had to offer.
"Penguin," Fish said in a warning tone, lifting her foot to brush against Oswald's groin lightly, with the top of her foot, rather than with the pointed heel underneath … but the danger was still implied. "I asked you a question."
Oswald jumped slightly and forced himself not to back away despite the slight pressure against his groin. "I-I-I-I I don't know ... Please Miss. Mooney."
Murphy moved as if he were about to step forward, but a glance from Miss. Mooney stopped him. There was nothing he could do that would end well. Anything he did would just make things worse for Oswald. So he stayed put, hands clenched into fists at his sides.
Fish lowered her foot back to the floor, a smirk on her face, then reached down and pulled at the back of Oswald's hair, tilting his head back slightly to look up at her. With her other hand, she gently caressed the side of his face. "I really would hate to stay mad at you …" Where else would she find and train such an obedient pet? "So here's what we'll do. If you can please me tonight," her tone made it clear that she meant it as a euphemism. "Then I'll forgive you, and forget all about this."
Murphy's eyes widened. This … this was what Miss. Mooney wanted him to watch?
"I-I ... What?" Oswald asked confused. She couldn't mean ... He wanted to look over to Murphy but he knew better. She couldn't possibly mean ...
"Do you really expect me to repeat myself?" Miss. Mooney said, with a deadpan look. "Or are you just playing innocent and dumb because your boyfriend's watching? Haven't you told him by now about that little bit of fun we had after your job orientation?"
Murphy suddenly felt cold. Just how many times had Miss. Mooney harassed Oswald? From the look on Oswald's face, he could assume it had never gone this far before, but … but why did she have to keep humiliating him like this, grinding his dignity back down again when he'd finally started to show some sense of self-esteem? Wasn't he downtrodden enough already?
Fish looked over at the shocked and angry expression on Murphy's face. "Apparently not," she observed.
Oswald swallowed nervously. "W-what do you want me to do?" He asked so quietly even he barely heard it.
Fish almost pitied the pathetic little man, but it was so entertaining to make him grovel ... And he had gotten far too good at it. "You can start," she said, sitting down on the bed, her tight designer dress riding up slightly. "By putting that tongue of yours to work. Go down on me. You can think of it as a little experiment … See how naturally you take to it."
Murphy winced. This … this was wrong. Whether Oswald was even interested in women, that was something he should be able to figure out in his own time and his own way. Not like this. And … and … Murphy didn't want to watch him with someone else. Even the thought of it upset him.
This time Oswald did chance a glance at Murphy, unable to stop himself. "I ... I can't ..." Oswald said closing his eyes. He couldn't betray Murphy like that ... It felt wrong to him.
Murphy stared in surprise, touched that Oswald had actually dared stand up to Miss. Mooney for his sake… but he was terrified of what might happen now. He couldn't let Oswald get into worse trouble because of him. Not again. "Miss. Mooney," he started to say quietly. "Please-"
Fish gave Murphy an icy look, silencing him, before shaking her head disappointedly down at Oswald. She could respect the loyalty, but she needed his first loyalty to be to her. Letting people's personal lives keep them from obeying orders was no way to run a business in Gotham. She thought she understood, now, what he was doing with the Penguin. He was so far out of Oswald's league that Oswald would do or risk anything just to keep him. But Fish couldn't afford to have Oswald under anyone's thumb but hers.
"We'll deal with your indiscretion at the motel another way," she said. "Murphy," she cast a sidelong look in his direction. "I do hope you're worth it." She moved forward to stand up.
"Wait," Murphy said quietly, struggling to keep his voice from shaking. "Oswald … it's okay. I don't want you to get into trouble because of me, so … so whatever you do, I won't be angry." Not at Oswald, anyway. He didn't know how harsh Miss. Mooney intended to be about this… but he was worried nonetheless. And if Oswald could get out of whatever punishment Miss. Mooney had in mind by doing this … Murphy still didn't like it, but he didn't want Oswald to think he would hold it against him.
Fish looked at Murphy and shook her head. "Boy if another word comes out of your mouth-"
"Okay ..." Oswald said interrupting her, hoping he wouldn't be punished for it. "I ... I'll do anything you want ..." He said quietly, his voice squeaking near the end.
"Oh, really?" Fish raised an eyebrow slightly as she regarded Oswald. "So all you needed was your boyfriend's permission?" She shook her head. "I'm afraid you've gotten a little confused about who your boss is."
Fish found that mildly concerning; Oswald was easy to control, which was probably why Murphy bothered with him … but if that started to determine who Oswald answered to at work, then they were going to have a problem. That might even be exactly what the bartender had in mind … if he was stupid enough to think he could play that game. It would be easy enough to discourage him, though.
"But I think we can set that straight." She sat back on the bed, leaning back slightly. "Now, do you need me to repeat what I want you to do?"
"N-No ma'am." He said swallowing nervously as he moved a bit closer to her. He still wasn't sure what to do, but he would have to do it.
Fish lay back on the bed. "Still so hesitant," she said, pulling up her skirt slightly. "Think you can figure it out?"
Murphy managed to keep his mouth shut for now; Miss. Mooney had made it clear that she didn't want to hear from him. He hated that there was nothing he could do to get Oswald out of this.
Oswald glanced up at her, noticing that she wasn't wearing any panties. Oswald's entire face turned red right up to his ears with embarrassment. He moved closer and closed his eyes for a moment before he leaned forward and tentatively licked her, the tip of his tongue barely touching her before he pulled away slightly.
It tasted weird ... Not unpleasant but he had to say Murphy tasted a lot better.
Miss. Mooney moved her legs a little further apart, smirking slightly at Oswald's obvious embarrassment. "Having second thoughts already?" she said drily. "I might feel a little insulted." She still half expected the nervous little man to back out; he clearly didn't have a clue what he was doing.
In the corner, Murphy forced himself to stay put and not make things any worse. He crossed his arms, hiding the fact that his hands were both clenched into trembling fists. It was bad enough seeing Oswald demeaned under any circumstances in the first place, but he couldn't stand watching this. He wanted nothing more than to just grab Oswald and run out the door with him, but he doubted they would get very far, let alone with their jobs still intact.
"No, Miss. Mooney." Oswald said before closing his eyes and leaning forward again, his tongue playing over her clit. His mind kept going over how he didn't know what he was doing ... At least with Murphy he'd told him what to do. He'd been caring and helped him along the way. This just made him nervous.
He kept moving his tongue over her, hoping he was at least doing something right.
"Hmm," Fish sighed as Oswald's tongue moved over her clit. She wondered if Oswald even knew what a clitoris was or if he'd just fumbled across it by accident. After all, there was no reason for Murphy to have taught him that. And he was clumsy enough about it that she was still certain he'd never been with a woman. "So you are going to try after all."
Murphy glanced away, his face reddening as Oswald went down on Miss. Mooney. Why had he said he was okay with this? He had to have been completely crazy.
Oswald's face turned even redder when Fish spoke. Did he really have a choice? He didn't respond to what she'd said, just tried to focus on what he was doing.
Fish ran her polished nails through Oswald's choppy and uneven hair. She glanced over and saw that Murphy's gaze was turned toward the floor. "Murphy," she said sharply. "Did I say you could look away?"
"No, ma'am. Sorry," he said, looking back up to see Miss. Mooney's hands running through Oswald's hair as she let out another breathy sigh. A stab of jealousy hit him. Even if she did control both their lives, she still shouldn't get to just … she didn't care about Oswald the way he did, didn't appreciate or respect him the way he did, so what gave her the right to put her hands all over him like that?
Oswald pulled away for a moment when her fingers touched his hair. But only for a moment. He closed his eyes as he pressed his tongue inside of her, hoping this was what she wanted and he wasn't overstepping his boundaries. Even her fingers in his hair felt wrong. Her fingers were thin, her nails scraping gently over his scalp. It didn't feel bad, just ... It wasn't Murphy.
Even despite how wrong this was in his mind though, his body was betraying him. Was reacting the way any male would when put into his position. He could feel his cock already pressing against the inside of his pants and he tried to will it to go away. Prayed that Murphy wouldn't see ... Wouldn't think he was enjoying this ... But he couldn't control it. He felt so ashamed. He wasn't even being touched and he was getting hard. Perhaps in a way he enjoyed being dominated and humiliated. Some part of him liked this but ... It was still so wrong.
Fish's hips rolled forward slightly in response as Oswald's tongue pressed inside her, a little surprised that he'd been bold enough to try it. But then, he was no doubt trying everything he could think of that might be pleasurable to her. Despite how clumsy Oswald's amateur efforts were, Fish found herself aroused by how obedient her little pet could be, and how unexpectedly forward he could become while following her commands, even when he was most intimidated by her.
At the moment, his efforts were more teasing than satisfying, though she wondered now whether this awkward little man really could eventually satisfy her through trial and error, all while Murphy stood back in the corner with that pitiful look on his face. Perhaps… but she wasn't feeling patient enough to wait around for that. "That's a start," she said, pushing back Oswald's head. "I'll allow you a few points for effort… Now, take off your pants and hand them to Murphy for safekeeping."
Murphy all but glared at Miss. Mooney, but said nothing.
Oswald swallowed nervously as he stood up. She wouldn't seriously ... What was she intending to do. He knew if he took his pants off he wouldn't be able to hide his erection anymore. He was suddenly regretting not putting on boxers this morning. Something he should have known better to do, though he doubted it would have made a difference.
He didn't meet Murphy's eyes as he took his pants off, and handed them to Murphy.
Murphy's breath caught in his throat at the sight of Oswald's erection. It hurt to see Oswald aroused by this, but rationally, Murphy knew that didn't mean anything, knew that it wasn't Oswald's fault, it wasn't as if the man could control it … But the look on Oswald's face was even more painful to watch. He looked as if he wanted to just sink into the floor and disappear. Murphy tried to make eye contact with him, to give him some non-verbal reassurance that it was okay, that it wasn't his fault, that Murphy didn't think of him any differently, but Oswald was too ashamed to even look at him. And Miss. Mooney had already warned Murphy not to say another word… He didn't dare risk it again. But when he took the pants, he discretely brushed his hand against Oswald's for a moment, trying to convey some sense of reassurance through touch.
"Good," Miss. Mooney said, smirking slightly. It seemed even Oswald's body was obeying her commands. "Now, get on the bed."
Oswald took a deep steadying breath as he moved over to the bed. "Yes Miss Mooney." He said as he climbed onto the bed, unsure of where or how she wanted him.
Fish pressed a hand against Oswald's chest and pushed him down onto his back, enjoying the look of wide-eyed nervousness on his thin pale face. She took his cock in her hand, her thumb caressing teasingly over the tip. He was far too easy to toy with. "I think you've earned a reward for your effort, don't you?" she asked lightly, knowing she was just making this all the more awkward for him.
In the corner, Murphy could do nothing but hold Oswald's pants and watch while Miss. Mooney mercilessly caressed Oswald's cock in front of him. He wanted so badly to put a stop to this, but what could he do? He'd have begged Miss. Mooney not to do this, to take her hands off of Oswald and leave him alone, but he knew she wouldn't listen. Speaking up would no doubt just make things worse. He was shaking now with anger at what Miss. Mooney was doing to both of them. He'd worked so hard to build up Oswald's sense of self worth, and had been so careful to make sex a positive experience for him, not one where he felt used or ashamed. And now Miss. Mooney was undoing all of that.
Oswald closed his eyes as she touched his shaft, unable to control the shiver that ran down his back. He couldn't stop her but he wished that Murphy wasn't here at the very least ... He couldn't look at him. He'd seen the look of anger on his face. Saw his knuckles white from gripping his pants so hard ... Murphy was angry and there was nothing he could do about this ... Short of making Miss. Mooney angry. But at the moment Oswald wasn't sure which he feared more. Murphy's anger, or hers.
Fish looked down in amusement at Oswald's reaction. He really did seem to be trying to conceal his arousal … It was just a pitiful attempt. She was certain Murphy could have seen that shiver even from where he stood. And he certainly couldn't hide it from her. Fish considered demanding that Oswald open his eyes again … but thought of something better. Without a word of warning, she straddled his scrawny hips and lowered herself over him, angling Oswald's cock into her wet entrance until the tip pressed inside of her.
Murphy felt sick as Miss. Mooney straddled Oswald. It was just too upsetting to watch her do this, here, in the same bed where they'd first … Why did she have to do this? Hadn't she already made her point? No one here was questioning her authority. Couldn't they just have each other without her walking all over that too?
Oswald groaned in pleasure unable to stop himself as his hands moved up to the head board. She hadn't given him permission to touch her and even if she had he didn't want too. But he couldn't help that she felt so wet and warm around him, it felt good. Once again different from Murphy, but this was far more enjoyable than what she had him doing before.
Oswald's cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red with both embarrassment and guilt. He couldn't help the reactions his body was having ... And she'd only taken the tip inside of her. His cock twitched inside of her begging for more while his brain screamed at her to stop.
Miss. Mooney looked down at Oswald appraisingly, staying on top of him with just the tip inside her, not yet taking him in any further.
"Hmm…" she mused. "Something's missing here … Ah, I know." She pulled off of him abruptly, sitting back on top of Oswald's skinny legs, as if he might try to run off somewhere. She gestured carelessly at his attire from the waist up. "Take the rest off," she said. "Quickly." Fish wasn't particularly interested in seeing Oswald's scrawny, undernourished body naked, but she knew the exposure would make him feel all the more vulnerable. "Murphy," she snapped her fingers. "Come collect his jacket and tie. I won't have them sitting rumpled on the floor."
Murphy's shaking hands clenched again, but after a moment, he quietly stepped forward to the side of the bed.
Oswald tried to hold back a sigh as he awkwardly struggled out of his clothing with her sitting on his legs. He still couldn't look at Murphy, especially after the reaction he'd just had. She'd barely been on him and he was already aching for more. He felt like he was cheating on Murphy. In a way he supposed he was.
The reality was, he could say no ... Walk away. She wasn't raping him, he was technically consenting ... But he needed to keep this job. He couldn't spend another three months looking for another ... And if Scott found out he was no longer working for Fish ... He didn't dare think of what the man would do to him.
He handed Murphy his clothes without even looking at him, his hands shaking slightly.
Murphy took Oswald's clothes wordlessly, anxious that Oswald wouldn't look at him, so Murphy couldn't even reassure him with a sympathetic glance. And this close to Miss. Mooney, he didn't dare try to give him a comforting touch on the hand either. He thought he had some idea what was going on in Oswald's head right now … No doubt it was exactly what Miss. Mooney had intended. Murphy turned away before Miss. Mooney could see his hate-filled glare, about to head back to his corner.
"One more thing, Murphy," Miss. Mooney said, gesturing to a dresser not far from the bed. "I need you to get something out of that top drawer for me."
Murphy glanced over at her uneasily, but nonetheless did as he was told and opened the drawer. He froze. Inside the drawer were several sets of handcuffs. "Is…" his voice shook slightly. "Is this really necessary Miss. Mooney?"
Oswald was already humiliated enough. They hadn't even talked about kinks before. He had no way of knowing yet whether Oswald would even be comfortable with that normally. But with Miss. Mooney? With no explanation and limited choice in the matter? She could ruin the very idea for him permanently.
"Boy," Miss. Mooney said with a cold, deadpan stare. "I know you're not about to make me come over there and get them myself."
There was nothing Murphy could really do. Even if he refused to assist with this and she fired him, even if she was angry enough to make things worse for Oswald, Miss. Mooney would still ultimately do exactly what she wanted. His stomach twisted into knots as he picked up the handcuffs and nervously handed them over to Miss. Mooney, sparing a glance at Oswald's face, wondering anxiously how much this might bother him.
Oswald didn't respond as Miss. Mooney took the two handcuffs from Murphy, allowing her to place the cold metal around his right wrist and attaching the other end to the thin bed post. He reacted as indifferently with the left as well, his arms nearly fully stretched to either side of the bed. He kept his eye closed trying to ignore how hard this was making him.
'Think of something else ...' Oswald thought to himself. 'You're not here, you're at home. You're anywhere else ...' But no matter what Oswald thought about he couldn't block out how hard he was, nor the woman above him who clearly had every intention of riding him. Even that thought made his cock twitch, a bit of precum leaking from the tip.
Watching closely, Murphy didn't see any sign that Oswald was terribly distressed by this, though he was clearly trying hard not to show any reaction, so Murphy couldn't be sure. He couldn't help noticing that Oswald's cock seemed even harder now … not that it necessarily meant he was happy about this. It was just one more thing Oswald couldn't control.
Fish waved Murphy away impatiently, directing him back to the corner. Murphy hesitated for a moment longer, wishing there were a way to make her lose interest and just leave Oswald alone, hating everything about this, filled with an intolerable mix of concern and hurt and anger and jealousy. But if he made Miss. Mooney angry, she was likely to take it out on Oswald. He couldn't risk that. There was nothing he could do but step back and let her get this over with.
Fish smirked as she moved forward over Oswald, positioning herself over his cock again. He was trying so hard not to react … but that wouldn't last for long. She took the tip inside herself again, before ever so slowly moving down his cock, gradually taking more of him inside her.
Oswald moaned a little louder than he would have liked, unable to hold it back as he pressed his heels into the mattress. He shifted his hips up against her, his eyes still closed, trying to imagine it being Murphy sinking down onto his shaft. God it felt so good.
"Murphy." Oswald moaned before he realized what he'd said.
Fish slapped Oswald hard across the face, leaving a stinging red mark on his pale skin. "Open your eyes," she ordered, fury clear on her face. "Look at me." Before he could respond, she hit him again with a back-handed slap across the other cheek, her nails leaving a scratch across his cheek.
"Stop!" Murphy yelled, stepping forward. "Please, Miss. Mooney, he didn't mean to-"
"Not another word out of you," Fish said coldly. "Get back in your corner and keep your mouth shut."
There was nothing Murphy could say or do that would help Oswald right now; anything he did on his behalf would be a threat to Miss. Mooney's control … and that would only make things worse. So he stepped back meekly, hating how useless he was to Oswald right now.
Oswald closed his eyes tighter when Miss. Mooney slapped him, the sting in his cheek burning harder than she'd ever hit him before. Then another slap came and he knew his cheek was bleeding from her ring. He could feel the hot blood running down his cheek. Nevertheless, he looked up at her as she commanded. He said nothing, not sure what to say. He knew she would not accept an apology. So he let her do as she pleased … Though now, watching her, and seeing Murphy standing not far behind her watching them …. There was no fooling himself. No imagining …. Just harsh reality.
Fish gripped Oswald by the hair and tilted his head to look at Murphy in the corner. "Is Murphy the one in bed with you? Has he done anything to help you this entire time? In fact," she said, leaning forward over him. "Have you ever been in trouble here without Murphy being involved?"
Oswald forced himself not to close his eyes again as she pulled his hair back. "N-no ma'am ..." He said after a slight hesitation. But it was usually himself getting into trouble and Murphy getting himself involved.
Murphy winced. He couldn't really argue with that. He worried that he'd made things worse for Oswald several times already, and even if that wasn't true, he'd never managed to make the situation any better. And right now, he was more useless to Oswald than ever; he'd just been reduced to another tool that Miss. Mooney used to humiliate Oswald.
"Now," Fish said softly, pulling sharply at his hair again to turn his head back to look at her. "Say my name."
Oswald wanted to look away from her but he knew better. "M-Mooney ..." He said his stutter starting up slightly.
"Again," Fish said, taking his cock a little further inside her. "More clearly this time."
"M-m-mooney." He said his stutter getting slightly worse with nerves.
"Louder," Fish commanded, working her way further down his cock at an agonizingly slow pace.
Oswald didn't say it again. He closed his eyes and tried not to think about this. This was so humiliating.
Fish pulled roughly at Oswald's hair. "What did I just tell you to do?" she said sternly.
Murphy could do nothing but watch, silently livid, all the more furious at Fish for what she was doing to Oswald. The way she humiliated and belittled him… he couldn't stand watching it.
"Mooney." Oswald said, forcing himself not to stutter as he defiantly looked up at her, not because she demanded him to, but because he was starting to become angry with the situation. Angry at himself for using her name to get a room, angry her for doing this ... And unexplainably angry at Murphy for just standing there ...
"There's a good little Penguin," Fish smirked down at him, patting his cheek condescendingly. Then she suddenly sank down on Oswald's cock, taking it all the way inside her, before riding up and down at a gradually increasing rate.
Oswald opened his mouth in a silent moan as she sank all the way down onto him and started to ride his cock. It felt amazing and Oswald once again found himself thrusting up against her, his hands gripping the short chain of the hand cuffs. After the long build up, and now this, he knew he wouldn't last long. He could already feel his orgasm slowly building.
"Miss. Mooney ... Stop ..." He begged.
In response, Fish just kept riding up and down his cock. "You don't get to quit just yet," she said warningly. Though she knew he had to be close, that there was no way he could hold back for much longer. But she still wanted the opportunity to teach him a lesson one more time before she sent him back to work.
"Miss. Mooney ... No ... I ... I'm going ... Stop ... Please." He begged as she rode him harder. It felt too good, he wouldn't last ...
"Miss. Mooney, please," Murphy said urgently. He didn't know how Miss. Mooney would react if Oswald came inside her, but he could guess she wouldn't be at all pleased with him.
Fish ignored both of their pleas and rode Oswald harder.
Oswald's mouth opened again in a silent moan as he tensed, he tried to hold it back but he couldn't. He came hard inside Miss. Mooney, his hands clutching the handcuffs as his entire body was wracked with pleasure. Once he finally calmed, fear gripped him and he was afraid to look up at Miss. Mooney.
Fish looked down at Oswald with a hard, cold stare. "Oswald," she said lightly, though danger lurked beneath her tone. "Did I tell you that you could come yet? For that matter, did I ever say you could come inside me?" Of course, she knew that, cuffed to the bed with her on top of him, Oswald wouldn't have been able to pull away no matter how hard he tried. And she'd taken precautions, so it wasn't as if it would cause her any practical problems. But there was a principle to uphold. Oswald had forgotten his place lately. She would take the opportunity to remind him.
"N-n-no Miss. Mooney ... I-I-I-I'm sorry I-I-I I couldn't stop ... I-" He closed his eyes as he felt cum dripping down his softening cock. He couldn't believe he'd done that. He'd surely be punished for it.
"You what?" Fish pulled off of Oswald abruptly, his cum dripping from her. She held up Oswald's softening cock between her thumb and forefinger, a disgusted look on her face. "And what am I supposed to do with this useless thing, hmm?" she said, before letting it fall limply. She hit him with a hard, backhanded slap across the face, her ring cutting into his skin again. "Do you think I want to hear your excuses?" She hit him a second time, and a third.
"Stop," Murphy said before he could think better of it, his fists clenched, his voice shaking with anger. "You know damn well he couldn't help it. You've already made your point. Please, just … Stop."
Fish sent a cold, dangerous glance his way. "You're no longer needed in here," she said calmly. "Put Oswald's clothes down on that chair, and go back to the bar." Before Murphy could open his mouth to protest, she added: "If you can't at least do that without arguing, I'm not sure what I'm paying you for."
For a moment, Murphy just stared back at Miss. Mooney and Oswald, eyes wide and frightened with worry. He didn't want to leave Oswald alone with her, especially when she was this furious. There was no telling what she would do… But he wouldn't be able to stop her, even if he stayed. And if he got himself fired, Oswald wouldn't have anyone here looking out for him.
"Yes, Miss. Mooney," he said in barely more than a whisper, though the anger in his eyes was unmistakable. He laid Oswald's clothes over the chair as she'd ordered, and left, wondering if Oswald would be able to forgive him for abandoning him like this.
Oswald shivered slightly, in both fear and nerves at what Miss. Mooney planned on doing with him. If she sent Murphy away it couldn't be good.
Fish got up from the bed, unlocked first one cuff, then walked around and unlocked the other. "Turn over, face-down on the bed," she ordered, tapping her foot on the floor, waiting for him to obey.
Oswald closed his eyes as he rolled over onto his stomach, rubbing his wrists that had a red circle around them from where the cuff cut into his wrists.
Fish barely allowed him a moment's reprieve to rub at his aching wrists before putting the handcuffs back on him in his new position, not bothering with any explanation as she strode over to the dresser and opened a lower drawer and returned with a riding crop.
Oswald couldn't see what she was doing as as he heard her shuffling around the room. He heard her come back toward the bed and swallowed nervously.
"Please Miss. Mooney ... I'm sorry." He begged.
"Oh, I'm sure you will be," Fish said, rapidly swinging the riding crop down on Oswald's pale, scrawny ass.
Oswald squeaked when the riding crop came down on his ass, leaving a long red streak on his pale skin.
"Miss. Mooney!" He squeaked as his hands gripped the chain of the handcuffs again.
"At least you said the right name," Fish smirked. "We're making progress already." She walked around to the side of the bed, and lifted Oswald's chin with the riding crop, tilting his head to face her. "Here's what's going to happen now. You're going to count aloud how many times I hit you, and thank me for each one. When I think you've had enough, I'll ask you what you've learned from all of this. Once I'm satisfied with your answer, you get to go back to work." She looked down at him, almost pitying just how pathetic he looked. "Does that sound fair to you?"
Oswald couldn't believe he could feel his cock hardening against the mattress. He couldn't possibly like this ... This was wrong! This wasn't sexual, it was a punishment.
He nodded. "Y-yes Miss. Mooney." He said quietly.
Fish abruptly pulled the riding crop away from Oswald's chin, walked down to the end of the bed, her designer heels clicking against the floor, and struck him with the riding crop again.
Oswald whimpered as the ride crop connected with soft flesh.
"O-one ..." He said shifting his hips against the mattress making it look as if he were flinching from from the hit.
Fish shook her head. "You forgot to thank me," she said. "Start the count over." She lashed out with the riding crop again.
Oswald moaned shifting his hips again. "One ... T-Thank you Miss Mooney." He was rock hard again, luckily though it was hidden from her view between him and the mattress.
Fish gave him a quizzical look; that moan sounded more than slightly questionable. It could just be out of pain … but nonetheless, she wondered. She brought the riding crop down hard again, watching him closely.
Oswald moaned again. "Two ... Thank you." He said his voice sounding more like a moan, his hips shifting still. Why did this feel so good? It hurt and it stung but the burning sensation sent a wave of pleasure through him.
Fish brought the crop down with more force than before. "If I didn't know any better," she said with an amused smile. "I'd think you were enjoying this."
"P-Please Miss. Mooney." He begged not counting that one hoping she'd have to start again. "Please."
Fish actually laughed at that. "You really are enjoying it, aren't you?" she said, trailing the riding crop lightly down his back, teasing rather than actually striking with it again. "It's almost a shame that I sent Murphy away … What would he think if he saw this, I wonder?"
"Please don't tell him!" Oswald said shocked. "I ... Please ... I don't want him to think ..." But Murphy already thought that. That Oswald was a little slut begging for anyone's attention. Maybe it was true. If he was enjoying this so much.
Fish brought the riding crop down sharply on Oswald's ass again. "Hmm…" Fish frowned as if considering the matter. "I suppose I don't have to tell him, as long as you're good and don't step out of line again." Better to let Murphy think that she'd done something terrible to him up here, and that he'd made things worse for getting involved. He'd be less likely to encourage Oswald to forget his place again. And her timid little pet would no longer have such lapses in obedience. "I wonder, though … have you learned anything from this at all?"
"Y-Yes Miss. Mooney." He said struggling a moment. "Just ... Please." He said managing to get up onto his knees, a difficult position since he was still handcuffed to the bed but he didn't want her to stop.
Fish shook her head, smirking slightly in amusement at his pathetic request. "Well, now that you like it, perhaps I ought to change the rules," she said, her riding crop lightly tapping at Oswald's ass as she thought. "So, if you don't want me to stop, tell me … What have you learned from all of this?"
Oswald groaned in frustration, tugging at the handcuff of his right wrist wanting so badly to touch his shaft. "Please ... I ..." What did he learn? What was he being punished for? "T ... To remember my place."
"That's right," Fish said approvingly, before bring the riding crop down hard on his ass three times in rapid succession. "Though I don't think you've ever had trouble grasping the concept … so why do you seem to keep having trouble with that, I wonder?"
He tugged on the handcuff again, trying to work his hand out of the metal ring. He knew she'd punish him for it if he got it out but he wanted to touch himself so badly. And by the feel of it, it wasn't coming out anytime soon. His hands were too big and his wrists too thin.
"I ... I'm sorry." He begged, a bead of precum dripping down onto the sheet.
Fish saw what he was trying to do, and swatted sharply at the back of Oswald's hand with the riding crop, though not enough to seriously hurt him. He was far too entertaining. "Case in point," she said, then lashed out at his ass a few more times, adding to the small collection of red marks. Even if he liked it now, she knew he'd be sore from it later. "You'll be uncuffed when I feel like it, and not before. Do you understand?"
"Yes Ma'am." He whimpered as he stopped tugging. His ass was raw and he knew he'd feel it for days after this ... He might even have trouble sitting for awhile ... But the burning sensation and the thought of her doing this felt so good. His thoughts strayed back to Murphy again and he couldn't help feel guilty again. Murphy would have every right to think him a slut ... Perhaps he was ...
Fish kept hitting him relentlessly with the riding crop, wondering how long Oswald would continue enjoying this before the pain would start to outweigh the arousal it was causing, wondering how much more frustration he'd be able to take. "Why do you keep stepping out of line, forgetting your place, hmm? Have you just wanted to be punished all this time?"
"No ... No I ... I didn't think when I did it ..." Oswald winced as it was really starting to hurt. He lowered his hips back down so he laid against the bed and shifted his hips, rubbing his cock against the bed.
"Didn't think?" Fish repeated, pausing to brush the riding crop lightly down his leg. "And how do I know that won't keep happening again?"
"I'm sorry." He said feeling his orgasm building as he kept rubbing up against the soft mattress.
"Are you really?" Fish smirked, landing another hit with the riding crop.
Oswald moaned as she hit him again, he was about to cum again, he just wished his hand was free. His face turned red at how embarrassing this was. He was handcuffed to Miss. Mooney's bed, being spanked with a riding crop while he humped the bed begging her for more ... This couldn't get more embarrassing. But he was so close.
"Answer me, Penguin," Fish said, her voice stern. "Are you really sorry, or are you just lying to humour me?"
"No ... I ... I'm sorry." He said moaning as he stiffened, cumming between himself and the mattress. He panted as he pulsed against the sheet a few moments before he went still, resting his head against the pillow beneath him.
Fish gave him one last forceful hit with the riding crop. "And I suppose," she said, a mildly amused look on her face. "That's one more thing you don't want Murphy to hear about, hmm?"
"I ..." He didn't know how to respond to that. He didn't want to keep secrets from Murphy, if he was even still talking to him at all, but he didn't want him to find out from her. "No ..."
"As long as you remember your place," Fish said, putting away the riding crop and striding over to the head of the bed to unlock the handcuffs. "It can be our little secret."
Oswald sat up, rubbing his wrists which had started bleeding slightly. He nodded feeling much like a dog that was taught a new trick, and if he obeyed he wouldn't be punished.
Fish patted him on the head. Overall, he really was a good little pet. She tossed him the handcuffs. "Put those away and get dressed," she said, heading for the door. "I expect you downstairs and back on duty shortly."
"Yes ma'am." He said putting the two sets of handcuffs in the drawer before getting dressed after she left.
When he'd righted his clothing and his hair to the best of his ability he walked gingerly down the stairs and back into the club which now had customers milling about. He couldn't meet Murphy's gaze as he got to work, careful not to move too quickly, and trying to hide the pain that was no longer as pleasurable as it had been when it was happening.
Murphy had been anxiously glancing back toward the stairs ever since he'd gone back to the bar, worrying what Oswald might be enduring up there. He let out a quiet sigh of relief when he saw him finally come back down. But he couldn't catch Oswald's eye; he still seemed too ashamed to look back at him. And, just from watching him from a distance while they both went about their duties, Murphy couldn't tell what had happened. As far as he could see, Oswald didn't look badly hurt. But he was moving more slowly than usual, so he was most likely in some degree of pain.
After agreeing to handle some of the more difficult customers for him, Murphy was able to get Ricardo to switch break times with him again, so that he wouldn't have to wait until closing to talk to Oswald.
Oswald glared at Lazlo who seemed to be amused by Oswald's pain, knowing he'd been brought upstairs to be punished. It wasn't that hard to figure out.
"Karma's a bitch isn't it?" Lazlo said handing his tray to Oswald. Oswald's eyes narrowed as he practically ripped the tray out of Lazlo's hand and headed behind the bar to grab a bottle of champagne.
Murphy met Oswald at the bar, handing him a chilled bottle of champagne, his hand lingering briefly over Oswald's, though not long enough for anyone to notice. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly, his eyes searching Oswald's for some indication of how he was doing.
Oswald took the bottle from Murphy and popped the champagne bottle open. "I'm fine." He hissed as he poured a glass and placed it on the tray. He put the bottle on the tray and carried it over to Miss. Mooney's table.
Murphy watched, concerned, as Oswald walked stiffly over to Miss. Mooney. He still wasn't entirely sure what she had done to him, but as the evening progressed, he noticed that Oswald moved carefully, as if something was hurting him, and never once sat down.
Three hours later Oswald finally headed towards the back door to the back alley. He needed a smoke. Already since coming down he'd had three men and two women grab his ass while he was walking past. The first time he didn't think anything of it, though he had been shocked. The second time confused him, by the third he was fully convinced that Mooney had put them up to it.
There were still four hours left on his shift and he was in desperate need of a cigarette.
Murphy quickly followed Oswald out the back door, anger burning behind his eyes. If he saw one more person grope Oswald, he was going to punch someone. And he hadn't been oblivious to the way Oswald had flinched, either. Miss. Mooney had hurt him, he was sure of it. Though he still didn't know how much, or how badly she'd humiliated him. He leaned against the brick wall, and waited to speak while Oswald lit a cigarette. He'd needed so badly to talk to him, and now he didn't know what to say.
Oswald stood against the opposite wall, careful not to touch his back end to it as it was still extremely sore and feeling worse as his shift progressed. He couldn't believe he enjoyed it, but looking back he couldn't imagine it happening any other way. He'd let her do it again, and that thought alone kept him from looking up at Murphy as he slowly puffed on his cigarette.
Murphy took a deep, calming breath, taking in the familiar scent of secondhand smoke. "What did she do to you?" he asked quietly.
Oswald flicked ashes onto the ground. "Nothing." He lied simply. "Look Murphy ..." He said still unable to look up at him. "I ..." He paused not sure how to continue.
Murphy didn't push the matter; the last thing Oswald needed right now was an interrogation. "What is it?" he asked softly.
Oswald took another long drag of his cigarette and held it loosely in his hand. "I ... I think you should find someone else ..." He said quietly. So quietly he wasn't even sure if Murphy would have heard him.
Murphy froze, Oswald's words hitting him with an almost physical shock. "What … What do you mean? Is she making you do this?"
"No ... She couldn't care less who either of us is with ..." He said finishing off his cigarette and tossing the butt into a nearby puddle. "But you deserve someone better than me ..."
"Oswald, no … I … I don't want anyone else," Murphy said, clearing the distance between them and gently laying a hand on Oswald's shoulder, even though Oswald still wouldn't even look at him. "None of this was your fault," he said firmly. "You … you know that, don't you?"
"Not at first no ..." He said swatting Murphy's hand away from him. "When you left she ... She spanked me with a riding crop ... Hard ... She stopped but ..." Oswald's entire face turned red with embarrassment and shame. "I begged her not to ... You deserve better than a fucked up whore, Murphy." He said, still not looking at him.
"Stop saying things like that about yourself," Murphy said, upset, still trying to process what Oswald had just told him.
So Fish had taken a riding crop to him … and from how gingerly he'd been moving all evening, she'd taken it too far. Everything about this was wrong. But Oswald had begged her not to stop? That … that hurt to hear. It was hard to even wrap his head around. But given the circumstances, Oswald couldn't reasonably claim this much of the blame.
"Okay …" Murphy said slowly. He absently ran a hand through his hair, thinking it through. "So she spanked you, you liked it, and you asked her not to stop …" He shook his head. "Oswald, you didn't want to be in this situation in the first place, remember? She didn't really give you much choice in the matter. I don't like this," he said more quietly now, suddenly having to blink back tears. He'd hated watching Miss. Mooney touch him, thinking about what had happened afterward, knowing she'd hurt Oswald, and knowing that she'd aroused him… He hated all of it. "But I still don't think it's your fault."
"How can you be so calm about this?!" Oswald asked turning up to him. "Everything I do you just take in stride! Are you so oblivious to what I do, or are you just ignoring it as my mother does?!" He asked his voice an angry hiss. "I've killed people Murphy, I've had sex with someone who wasn't you, and I liked it ..." He backed away from him slightly. "And I can't promise if she asked I wouldn't do it willingly. I ... I enjoyed it Murphy. A lot." He said. That last part wasn't true ... He wouldn't go to Mooney willingly, unless she forced him to or ordered him to ... But Murphy deserved someone better than him. If that meant he had to hurt him, to push him away ... Then so be it.
"You make it sound like I'm happy about this!" Murphy said, his voice shaking with hurt and anger. "I'm not under any delusions about you, you know that! But …" he shook his head. "I don't believe that last part. I don't believe you'd go back to her just for the hell of it. Because you care too much about hurting me," he said, his eyes never wavering from Oswald's. "Otherwise, you wouldn't be telling me this. You wouldn't be telling me to go find someone else; that doesn't benefit you at all. If you didn't care, you'd try to keep me in the dark about this as long as you possibly could. And you damn well wouldn't have told me about the people you've killed. You didn't have to risk telling me any of that. I don't believe you would go to all that trouble just to throw it away."
"And what would you have me do Murphy? I'm not a good man! We fight more often than not ... I'm not worth it ... You can find better." He said turning away from him and wrapping his arms around himself. His last sentence came out more like a choke than anything else, as if the fight in him had just fizzled out.
"Oswald …" Murphy said quietly. He hesitated a moment, and then stepped forward and put his arms around Oswald, holding him close, half expecting Oswald to push him away again. "Were you listening to anything I just said? You told me things that anyone else would have kept buried, just because you thought I deserved to know. Almost no one would do that … and you expect me to go find someone else?" And the one major fight they'd had was because Murphy hadn't had the courage to do the same. Other than that, hadn't they been happy together? "I … like being with you. You're absolutely worth it to me."
Oswald turned towards Murphy, his face red and streaked with tears as he hugged him. "No I'm not." He said quietly.
Murphy sighed. "Can you at least trust that I know what's worth it to me and what isn't?" There was more that he wanted to say, but he still didn't think Oswald was ready to hear those words yet. And right now, it would probably just overwhelm him. So Murphy simply repeated: "You're worth it," and leaned in to kiss him gently.
Oswald didn't kiss him back. He backed up slightly and glanced down at his watch, using his free hand to rub the tears away from his face, his eyes swollen slightly. "Break's over … We should go back in before Miss. Mooney gets mad." He said ignoring what Murphy had said.
Murphy nodded. "Right," he said quietly, trying not to feel hurt that Oswald didn't kiss him back. Oswald was dealing with a lot right now … guilt, embarrassment, probably confusion ... He wasn't going to just instantly work through this. Reluctantly, Murphy headed back inside.
Oswald stayed outside for a few moments, waiting until his breathing was under control before heading back inside as well.
Miss. Mooney looked up from her table as Oswald walked back in. Even from here, it was pathetically obvious that he'd been crying. His face was a mess. Really, it wasn't as if this was the worst thing that had happened to him here … She supposed it could be the result of relationship drama, but at the moment she didn't particularly care. Whatever the reasons, at the moment, Penguin was simply unpresentable. She shook her head, a disgusted look on her face. "Go home, Oswald," she said. "Come back when you've pulled yourself together."
"I'm fine Miss. Mooney. I ... I apologize." He said picking up the bottle of champagne and refilling her glass, grateful that his hands were dry … Well, as dry as they usually were, his hands were usually a bit sweaty. But at least they weren't covered in tears.
Miss. Mooney waved her hand to shoo him away. "I said go home," she repeated. "Presentation is important. I won't be seen with a weepy, puffy-eyed umbrella boy. Go. I expect you to be presentable again by tomorrow."
Oswald looked like he wanted to argue, with how often she sent him home (usually for results of her own actions) he was losing a good portion of his pay cheques. But he knew better than to argue.
"Yes, ma'am." He said putting the bottle back down and gingerly walking past the bar, Lazlo snickering as he winced in pain from moving a bit too quickly.
"Too bad you didn't have my back earlier Penguin." He said making Oswald sneer at him. "I would have-"
"You wouldn't have done anything Lazlo, don't waste your breath." He said passing Murphy as he head towards the door.
"Wait," Murphy said quietly, so that only Oswald could hear. He caught up to him in a couple of quick strides. "Go to my place," he said, pressing a key into Oswald's hand. He'd only had his own apartment for a couple of days now, but he'd planned on giving Oswald a key soon anyway, and had had a second one made almost immediately. "It's closer." That, and given how much pain Oswald still seemed to be in, someone should really take a look and tend to whatever damage Miss. Mooney had done.
Oswald stared at the key for a moment before he took it. He didn't want to go to Murphy's but it was a sight less embarrassing than explaining this to his mother.
"Okay." He said quietly but didn't thank him. He hated this.
Murphy nodded, visibly relieved that Oswald had at least accepted the offer. He'd half expected him to be stubborn and insist that he didn't need any help. He headed back to the bar to work the rest of his shift. "Table three looks pretty impatient Lazlo," he said pointedly as he walked past him.