AN: Yo! So it's practically tradition in my fics (and by that i mean its happened once) that in chapter eight The Bartender makes an appearance! For those of you who haven't read my Wanted: Gray Fullbuster fic...he was just a random character who, obvs, is a bartender and he had to deal with drunk!Gray blabbing on about Juvia and also Lyon as well. Thanks to Shadow Mystery for reminding/prompting me to bring our bartender into it.
This is just a quick, short chapter to tide you lot over until i write an actual chapter...sorry.
Chapter 8- feat. The Bartender
As he glanced around the slightly unfamiliar interior of 'Molly's Bar and Restaurant', the bartender sighed and wondered how on earth he had ended up working there while he was supposed to be on holiday.
Reggie Bloody Davden, that's how, he thought, though he was surprisingly not that bitter about it, he preferred to be working anyway; it kept his thoughts away from unpleasant things, most of the time anyway.
The bartender, Davden and Davden's wife Molly, had all attended a managerial course together a few years ago and, several weeks past, Davden had reached out and offered the bartender a room at the inn he ran.
Though he usually never bothered with holidays, the bartender had decided he really should take one in order for him to be able to continue to put up with the customers he had been getting lately.
As it happened, he had arrived at Sunnysmile Inn around midmorning and had almost immediately been ambushed by two irritating old ladies by the names of Dotty and Maddy. The bartender's old friend had rescued him then, only to beg for help the moment they were alone.
Apparently the regular bartender at Molly's Bar was sick and Mr Davden had told his wife that he would find a replacement. Agreeing because of an old debt, the bartender had stomped up to his room, 212, and had dumped his luggage on his bed. He had thought it was just typical that he wouldn't even have time to unpack...
Currently the bartender was surveying the cosily decorated establishment run by his friend's wife and couldn't help but think Molly had rather expensive taste.
A bland faced person came up to the bartender and ordered a drink. While he prepared the beverage, the bartender smiled to himself just slightly.
It's nice and quiet without all those crazy wizards, maybe I should come work here more often to escape them…
For the past couple of weeks, ever since that troublesome Gray Fullbuster had sat down at his real workplace on Dandelion Ave, the bartender had been forced to endure the company of a plethora of local mages, and outsiders too.
He was now more familiar than he would've liked to be with most of them, especially those damn Fairy Tail wizards.
For some reason, 'The Gray', which was how young Mr Fullbuster introduced himself when he was drunk, came over to the Dandy Lion Bar every night…just to talk…and sometimes to just sit there…
The bartender snorted and handed the customer their drink before beginning to rub down the counter top, wondering why he felt a tiny twinge in his chest.
Tch, it's not like I miss those weirdoes or anything, he thought, shaking his smooth head, do I?
A lot of the wizards that came around and spilled their guts to him had, for some reason, made the mistake of thinking that he actually cared about all their problems, which he didn't.
The bartender sighed and stared down at the shiny bar, able to see the reflection of his handsome featured face for a moment in it before he sprayed it with a cleaning product. As the smell of citrus filled his nose, the bartender tried to convince himself that he really was fine with being without those rambunctious idiots.
They're the reason I needed a holiday. I don't like having days off, but maybe this time, after I stop working, I'll be able to relax…it's so peaceful here.
A flash of blue appeared in the bartender's peripheral vision and he instinctively glanced up. His mouth fell open as he registered that he was looking at someone from Magnolia. His widened, dark eyes took in the sight of the beautiful blue haired woman and he couldn't stop himself from saying her name.
"Juvia?"
The woman in question was by the front entrance of the building and her head snapped around at the sound of his voice. She recognised him instantly; he could see it in her face. Juvia let out a little frightened squeak and then disappeared out that door.
"Humph," the bartender grumbled, "Why is she so skittish? Not that I actually care…"
He turned around and began to organise various things around the bar as he explained to himself that he had gotten used to having those crazy mages around him and that it really would do him some good to get some distance and remember he was trying to hold a grudge against magic users. The bartender unconsciously rubbed his hand over his bald head and frowned.
Yeah, he thought, I need to stay away from them, thank god for Azolla Town and its general lack of wizards.
The next couple of hours dragged on for the bartender, but at least Molly's Bar was meticulously organised and tidy.
Just after he glanced at the old style clock over the fireplace, the bartender noticed a couple of people come into the building.
"Huh," he muttered dryly to himself, shaking his head as he observed Erza Scarlet walk in with a man he didn't recognise, "I just can't get away from these people."
The bartender never saw much of Erza as she only came into his bar when it was a group of them, but he had exchanged a few polite words with her, she seemed to be a sensible sort of lady. The bartender's forehead crinkled as he studied her strange companion, well, the man wasn't strange exactly, just unfamiliar.
The two new arrivals were directed by Molly to a table and she took their late lunch order. The bartender watched them because he was bored, not because he was particularly interested in them. He wiped down the bar yet again and stared at the man Erza was with, his gaze lingering on the man's dark purple hair.
The hand the bartender had on the wash cloth clenched and the other again ran over his head in a subconscious gesture.
Stupid magic, he mentally grumbled, it's just unbelievable.
AN: So yes, next chapter we'll see how Jellal (yes that really was him, in his disguise hehe) and Erza ended up having lunch! I hope some of you enjoyed that little reunion with the tsundere! I mean...the bartender! I know it was not a great chapter for some since it had no jerza but dudes, i have lots to write these days so... :(
Also did i ever tell you that i'm thinking about giving the bartender his own sort of series thing? Well anyways, see ya next time! I'll try my best XD