Chapter Three - My Way Pt 1:
Alfred and Arthur had caused quite the ruckus in the neighborhood last night. Not only had their social media escapade been viewed by almost all of Alfred's followers, which in turn got Arthur quite a lot of new followers himself – But it got taken to Snapchat. Alfred's story was filled with stupid conversations where Arthur is attempting to sound intellectual but was so drunk he just stumbled over his words, laughed before almost crying that he ballsed it right up. They also managed to stack the chairs into a wooden chair fort, courtesy of Alfred and that was put on their too via a series of photos and one video of Alfred giving a tour, and promptly fell over some chairs. Very unprofessional, very messy and Arthur honestly couldn't remember any of it...
He groaned as he opened his eyes. Everything ached, his head, his back, his sides, even his ears. What the fuck happened? Arthur squinted his eyes and looked around. This wasn't his bedroom... This smelt like his bar – No this was his bar. He was under a table, laying on the seat pillows, with an arm weighing down his chest. He jumped in surprise, before realising that it was Alfred. He was covered in pen. Alfred had the word 'Shnapple' written on his face and arms. That caused Arthur to remember parts of the night before he blacked out.
"Artie. What are you doin'?" Alfred pouted, as the Brit approached him with a marker pen with a glint of cheekiness on his face.
"Lad, Alfredo...Sncrabapple pie. You missed an opportunity. Your bloody username bollocks thing should have been Shnapple, you 'Murican bloke you..." Arthur stammered, being completely hammered and untidily writing over the American in permanent marker.
"Shit, that's a good one...Too late now." Alfred laughed, snorting in the process as he sat, swaying. "I'm guna tell my snapchat peeps about it, one sec..." He rose up his phone, squinting over the rims of his glasses and loaded up the app, trying to focus his vision.
"DUDES. EYEBROWS ARTIE BRIT AND I HERE~ Look at mah face! Shnnaaapppleeeee. Shnapple... "He waved at his phone, holding down the record button.
"Shnaapplleeee" Arthur pointed drunkenly to Alfred's cheek where he'd written it. "Should have been his username!" He nods, knowingly, trying to act sober, which only made it worse.
Then the 10 seconds were up. What followed on Alfred's story were several photos using the filters and one haunting face swap of the two which they do not speak of.
Dear god, what an awkward memory to have as soon as he woke up. Arthur's phone was dead, so he didn't need to deal with that for now. He looked down at Alfred, who was snoring. Even his snoring was obnoxious. Anyway enough of that - look at his bar!? Arthur needed to clean this all up before he opened at lunch time.
"Oi.. Alfred." Wow his morning voice was husky like he'd been smoking cigarettes. He cleared it. Ideally he just needed water, or a nice cuppa tea. Alfred didn't respond, so Arthur jabbed him in the rib. Alfred squirmed and let out a groan.
"Mngh... Arthur why are you in my fortress of solitude?"
Arthur just raised a brow. It was too early for this. Was he still drunk?
"Alfred you're under a table in my bar, not in the fortress of solitude. Jesus you're such a nerd."
"Ayy~" Alfred gave a fist bump to the air, with his eyes still closed, and a stupid grin resting on his lips. "You joined me under the table, dude. You're cool now."
Was he even listening? "Alfred. Wake up!" He shook his shoulder, knotting his brows. "I need to tidy my bar, go home."
"Huh – wha'?" He opened his eyes, blinking several times. "Oh... Ow... Moving hurts. I'm going back to sleep. Good night!" He then turned back over and closed his eyes again.
Arthur was getting irritated already. He went to stand up and drag him out, but hit his head right on the table, and fell back to his knees, grumbling obscenities under his breath. This wasn't going to be a good day.
Eventually, Arthur got Alfred up and on his way home, which turned out to only be about a block away. He lived in an apartment close to the bar, which is why he always popped in. The Brit managed to get his bar back to the way it was before the drunken antics, before Lovino came in for work.
Arthur sat on the customer side of the bar when he came in, holding his head, drinking an Alka Seltzer... Or as he sometimes referred to as a 'Fizzy make feel good...'
Lovino usually came in, gave Arthur a smart arse comment and went into the kitchen, but today he said nothing and just got on with it. Arthur was quite thankful really, he didn't want to deal with another headache today.
He had hired a young lady to be a bar maid when he couldn't stand in, her name was Natalia... Ivan's sister, whom he dared not refuse. At least she took no shit and did a very good job at serving customers.
Arthur was taking the day off to recover, and get some admin work done. He had things to plan, changes to make, a brand to rebuild. He had to make Empire great. His very own Great British Empire...
Ping!
ApplePieSnaps: EmpireTavern Wild party last night. I hardly remember it, but my aching body is telling me it was the best place to be in #NYC last night.
Arthur smiled a little. He hoped it would help... But then it went again. Ping!
Direct Message [DM] from ApplePieSnaps to ArthurKirkland:
I hope the bar isn't in too much of a state. Question tho? How did I get home?
DM from ArthurKirkland to ApplePieSnaps:
I walked you home this morning. I think you were still drunk. Thanks for the tweet.
DM from ApplePieSnaps to ArthurKirkland:
Ah, thnx dude. I skipped work today. Don't look at my Snapchat story.
About ten minutes later, Arthur replies.
DM From ArthurKirkland to ApplePieSnaps:
... Oh Fucking Hell. I've not been drunk like that in a long time. Sorry. Very unprofessional of me.
DM from ApplePieSnaps to ArthurKirkland:
No w8, we could make this work. It was hilarious.
DM from ArthurKirkland to ApplePieSnaps:
So is your spelling of a few words. How can we make that work?
DM from ApplePieSnaps to ArthurKirkland:
Are you making a dig at my grammar? Here I am helping you...
DM from ArthurKirkland to ApplePieSnaps:
Don't you mean "Helpin' u" ?
DM from ApplePieSnaps to ArthurKirkland:
Dude. I can rewrite those tweets I deleted.
DM from ArthurKirkland to ApplePieSnaps:
Alright. I'm sorry. I just can't stand seeing such misuse of the English Language, especially when your tweets are perfect. Then again your DMs seem to have improved now.
DM from ApplePieSnaps to ArthurKirkland:
Smart ass. Anyway, if you go viral you can get more publicity. Not sure what you could do though...
DM from ArthurKirkland to ApplePieSnaps:
I have an idea. I am also taking the day off today, Natalia is working the bar. I am going to do some market research in other bars. Know any other great bars?
DM from ApplePieSnaps to ArthurKirkland:
Are you calling your bar great?
DM from ArthurKirkland to ApplePieSnaps:
Yes. Don't question this. You know it's great. Answer my question, you Git.
DM from ApplePieSnaps to ArthurKirkland:
I know a few. I suppose I can join you later. Will drinking two days in a row kill me though?
DM from ArthurKirkland to ApplePieSnaps:
Wow you've never been to England before have you? Binge drinking will not kill you Alfred. It will probably make you feel better. Hair of the dog.
DM from ApplePieSnaps to ArthurKirkland:
What have dogs got to do with this?
DM from ArthurKirkland to ApplePieSnaps:
... It's an expression. It means drinking more to get rid of a hangover. You keep the buzz going I suppose.
DM from ApplePieSnaps to ArthurKirkland:
... Wow. You're a bad influence. Sounds awesome. I'll see you around 7 at your place? Remember to eat before Artie. ;)
DM from ArthurKirkland to ApplePieSnaps:
Now who's the smart arse? Yeah yeah, see you later, Apple Pie.
Arthur had been on his phone for so long, grinning to himself like a dork at their conversation, that he hadn't noticed the group of customers that had walked into the establishment. When he turned around, the group of blokes were standing at the bar, talking to Natalia, who only glanced at Arthur briefly. Arthur joined her behind the bar.
"May I help you, gentlemen?" Arthur asked, cautiously.
"Ye', we're lookin' for someone you may know. He's a Short fella', Italian, with a sorta' greeny brown pair of eyes. He's gotta big mouth on 'im too. "He pointed at his eyes, talking through a thick Boston accent.
Arthur shook his head. "I don't know of anyone matching that description, gentlemen." His customers looked a bit wary of these men, and Ivan hadn't come into work yet as it was still early.
"But I suggest you make a purchase or vacate the premises, if you'd kindly..." He swallowed down thickly, glancing at the broad character. He and his 'friends' were all wearing sharp Italian suits, even if some of them were bursting out of them.
"Why we got's to do that slick?" The male arched his frame towards Arthur, trying to intimidate him.
"Because you fellows are frightening my customers, now I will ask one more time. If you do not plan to make a purchase, I'd have to ask you to leave." The Brit couldn't have this... Not in his Empire.
"Hey, Johnny. Tell slick 'ere who we used to talk to." The male tilted his head, and another member of the group spoke up. "Sammy."
"That's right. We spoke to Sammy. "He leaned down closer to Arthur's face, lowering his voice. "Until Sammy upset us. Now Sammy ain't around no more."
Arthur felt a shiver rocket down his spine. That was defiantly a threat. Not even a month and he was being threatened in his own home.
The male handed Arthur a black business card, for a pizza restaurant. "You change your mind you call this number, and you ask for our man, Luciano." Luciano's pizza parlour: He was sure he'd walked past there on his way to Central Park.
Arthur glanced at the business card, put kept it in his hand, and then returned his gaze to the one intimidating him.
"I think we'll take a drink after all. Say toots. A round for my boys." He didn't take his eyes off Arthur, as he gestured rudely to Natalia. Luckily, she had sensed the current mood and didn't say anything. She just got on with her job. "..." It wouldn't be ideal to bark at them like usual whilst her boss was clearly in danger.
Arthur was a fearful. He'd been in a warzone, fought for his nation against a common enemy, on a battlefield... But when someone brings the fight into your home, where you are supposed to be safe, it puts you on edge. Especially when you don't always know who the enemy is, or where they are. There is no one shouting Intel down your ear, no medic to patch you up and no one watching your back. Arthur was starting to feel cornered.
Finally 7pm arrived. Arthur hadn't left his bar, and the group were only just leaving themselves. Alfred stood out of the way for them as they walked out the door, double taking them before basically jumping through into the Tavern. "Arthur! You ready? Wow you look pale as shit dude. You still hangin'?"
Arthur looked up at him, jumping a bit himself. He was a bit out of it and was staring into a part of the wall when Alfred came in. "What? Bloody Hell its 7pm already... Haha. Okay. Let me just get my jacket from upstairs, one moment." Then the Brit darted nimbly up the stairs, leaving Alfred in the bar again. Natalia wiped down the side, glancing at Alfred, giving him her usual blank stare. It wasn't her place to say anything.
Arthur washed his face, and slapped his cheeks a bit. "Come on Arthur... You can handle this. Keep a clear head. "He grabbed his jacket and ran back downstairs. "One second Alfred, just need to get something from in here." He dashed into the kitchen, causing Lovino to jump out of his skin fearfully. "Shh, it's me... They're gone now." Arthur whispered to his employee. "Care to explain why the fuck they threatened me and came looking for you?"
"... Family rivalry Amico..." Lovino replied guiltily. "Mio fratelllo and I got caught in some shit... The Mafia aren't happy boss. I'm scared..." He admitted, looking at him like a scared little lamb. "Please don't give me up..."
Arthur had never seen Lovi like this. He felt sorry for him. "Of course I bloody won't. I need you as my chef. I'm not the kind of bloke to sell someone out for fuckin' blood money, Lovino. You can stay in my guest room if you're afraid to go home. Its upstairs, you know the code to the lock. "
Lovino almost started crying. "What about my Fratello...? "
"Urgh, if he needs somewhere to hide then... Fine, there is good too, but he better be able to cook like you." Arthur frowned.
"He can cook...Thanks boss." He wiped his eyes.
"Now get back to work after calling your brother. I am going out. Call me if you need me." He sighed, walked out and headed back over to Alfred. "...I'm ready now."
"Great dude. Let's get out of here!"
The night went smoother than Arthur's day, and much smoother than the night before. He didn't drink too much, but did learn a lot about the local bars, and what seemed to be popular, and what wasn't.
Over the next week, Arthur began making changes to his bar. He slightly redecorated, got plumbers into improve the bathroom facility's, he had two excellent chef's working the kitchen and making a splendid menu, even if one was part time working from his laptop for the local newspaper, they were just happy they could hide out upstairs and not be followed down the street by a rival family.
Arthur got a load of old wooden barrels and fixed them onto the walls as decoration, giving the bar a vintage cellar look, like a wine bar. It was really starting to look a little classier than a dirty New York watering hole. He got a lot of new drinks in, some in bottles, and some on tap... Ales, Lagers, Ciders, Stouts all on tap and ice cold. Wines, spirits and other liquors lined the new shelving with nice under lighting that he had installed, with help from local builders. All of it got progress shots from Alfred via Instagram and Snapchat. Arthur was starting to really feel greatful for Alfred keeping to his word.
ApplePieSnaps: #EyebrowsBrit ArthurKirkland is bringing the class to the EmpireTavern *Photo Attached of the Bar's new look, with Arthur pulling a pint in the background, winking cheekily*
Arthur had a new dance floor, fixed up the stage and put in a new sound system, lighting and added more music to the juke box too. Arthur had even opened up the roof, put tables up there with candles, for a nice smoking area, with patio heaters and fairy lighting. It was more like a secret garden. The Brit wasn't going to let the Mafia stop him from reaching his dreams. He still had to prove to Alfred, and himself that he could make it.
Natalia and Lovino seemed to actually get on, as she got more shifts due to Arthur working on rebuilding the bar around them. She and he would often spend breaks together and hung out. Of course, Lovi was really trying hard not to hit on her around her brother. That bloke still scared him and he had enough on his plate right now. Arthur had a few of the rival families men walk in to talk to him, but luckily for him a police man came in for a beer at the right time, causing them to leave subtly, out the back door without making a scene.
Arthur and Alfred had been getting on well, and seemed to talk about building the brand every day, often going off topic and talking about some stupid shit. Arthur wasn't aware that maybe he'd found himself a friend in New York City. He was beginning to look forward to the obnoxious American coming into his bar every day. It always brought him good news and great publicity...
At last, Arthur was setting up for his first open mic night.
He was testing the sound on stage, before anyone even got there for the show.
ApplePieSnaps: EmpireTavern is holding an open mic night tonight. Think I should rap ArthurKirkland?
ArthurKirkland: ApplePieSnaps Please don't embarrass me on my big night?
ApplePieSnaps: ArthurKirkland your big night? Oh you mean the first open mic night. Got'ya. ;)
Arthur was too busy to reply to that. He glanced across his little Empire. Natalia was drying a glass with a towel. Lovino and Felicano were working like usual in the kitchen, and Ivan stood outside in a nice suit and long coat and scarf. Arthur let out a sigh of relief. It was going okay. He didn't know why he felt so nervous. It was like something was just there, poking him in the back today, warning him. He shrugged it off, and went back to fixing the microphone stand.
The bar was starting to fill out.
EmpireTavern: Open Mic Night at 7pm! Free Entry! #NYC #Manhattan #OpenMic
VargasFamiglia: EmpireTavern Great. We'll be there, soon Amico.
ApplePieSnaps: ArthurKirkland check your DM'S dude...
DM FROM ApplePieSnaps to EmpireTavern:
Arthur, that isn't Lovi and Feli... I found the business card on your table the other day after they were in the bar. You need to hide Lovi and Feli. Cancel the event dude. Cancel it and call the cops.
No reply from Arthur.
DM FROM ApplePieSnaps to ArthurKirkland:
ARTHUR. Now is not the time to ignore me dude. Cancel the event. Please. This is what happened before Sam got really sick...
DM FROM ApplePieSnaps to ArthurKirkland:
ARTHUR. I'M BEING SERIOUS. Shit. That's it I am coming over. Be there in 5...
DM FROM ApplePieSnaps to ArthurKirkland:
ARTIE. I'm on my way...