Desmond knew the moment he woke up that it was going to be one of those days that he should have called off work, stayed in bed, and read a book, but needing the rent money spurred his ass to climb out of bed, and go. When his motorcycle wouldn't start, and then when he was walking the two miles to the bar the rain came, he sighed heavily, knowing this was a sign of things yet to come. It was the universe's way of telling him he should have stayed home.
When he finally walked into the bar twenty minutes late for his shift, he found a sight that he never thought he would see. Ezio, Connor's cousin Edward, and Alanna, the girl that lived across from Altair, sitting around the table, eyes locked on each other. A few bills were sitting between them, and six empty shot glasses there as well.
Looking at his co-worker, Nate, he had to ask. "Alright, what the hell did I just walk into?"
Grinning, Nate leaned forward on the bar. "Well, Ezio made a comment to Edward that he could drink him under the table. Edward, of course, rebuffed that, telling Ezio that there was no chance in hell of that happening. Alanna somehow overheard, and said she could drink both of them under that table without a problem. Now, the three of them are in a challenge to see who can drink more without passing out, or puking. My money, if I had any, is on Edward."
Rolling his eyes, Desmond was not about to disagree. They had all seen what kind of alcohol the blonde could put away, and it was more than he could drink on a good night. But, to the woman's defense, he had seen Alanna drink copious amounts without passing out. Getting stupid, sure, but never passing out. Ezio, on the other hand, was not as adept to drinking hard liquor as the other two. The Italian could put away the wine, but actual liquor? Yeah, his roommate was going to lose this one.
"I'll get the mop ready, and I guess I should call Connor to come get Edward, and see if Kadar will take Alanna home. Ezio, well, I guess I'll call Leo. He'll come get the idiot." Putting a few glasses away, Desmond kept his eyes on the trio as they downed two more shots of what he found out to be Jack Daniels. Nate had just given then a bottle, and a six glasses. It was easier than carrying a shitload of shots over to them.
This 'entertainment' went on for roughly about a half hour before Ezio, after what Desmond could count had consumed eight shots of the whiskey, bowed out, laying his head on the table. Edward glared at Alanna as she took two more, putting her at ten. The girl wavered in her chair, but didn't fall. The older man's hand shook, but he got the shots down.
By the time they made it to twelve, both victims were so damn drunk, Desmond was pretty sure they couldn't see each other. Or at least one of each other. Altair had made his customary appearance for the night, but instead of taking his back table, the man pulled out a stool, and watched the whole thing like a bird of prey.
"Both are morons." Altair shook his head. "I guess I'll take her home. Whose got Edward and Ezio?"
"Leo should be here soon for Ezio, and Connor will be here in a few minutes to claim Edward." Desmond wiped down the bar with a sigh. "I swear, I think after this, I'm going to ban them for a few weeks. Either that or the hangover they'll all have in morning may ward off them doing it again."
Connor took that time to walk up. He must have heard the last part of the conversation. "You don't know Edward. That stupid ass would drink himself into a coma, wake up two days later laughing about it, and do it again."
Finally, it all came crashing down. Literally. Alanna reached for her shot, missed, and knocked it over into Edward's lap, causing him to fall backwards onto the floor. Ezio, who was passed out, lost balance on the table when it shifted, fell the opposite way, and crashed into the wooden floor, not once waking up. Since the agreement was the last one standing, or this instance, sitting, Alanna was declared the victor. That's when Altair stepped in to corral Alanna towards the door, but the woman had other ideas.
"Come on!" She tried in vain to stand, but when she did her legs wobbled like a newborn deer. "I am just fine." Her speech was slurred so bad that most people wouldn't have been able to understand her, but being around drunks five out of the seven days of the week, Desmond knew what she was saying.
"And you are completely wasted." Altair shook his head, holding the petite woman steady. "What the fuck possessed you to do that?"
She laughed, and wrapped her arms around her neighbor. "Because I could. Now, I want to rub it in their faces."
Desmond walked over at that time, taking Ezio's keys from the table, and pocketing them. "You can do that later, Alanna. Right now I think you need to let Altair take you home to sleep off the buzz."
"Buzz my ass." She snorted. "I am fucked up!" And laughing harder, she about fell down even with assistance. "Hey Des! Wanna tell you something."
Rolling his eyes, he knew he should just let Altair take her home. "What?"
"You are so adorable!" Peals of laughter left her lips. "But now I believe I'm ready to leave. Bu bye!" As they were heading for the door, he heard her say to Altair. "I think you like me because you are always the one to take me home when I do stupid shit."
There was a light chuckle. "Someone needs to watch out for your ass." And they were out the door.
Turning to Connor, who was trying to get Edward off the floor, the larger man growled. "Get your feet under you, idiot."
"I am not an idiot. Damn, you're worse than my mother." The blonde snorted, but did begin to get himself up. "No, you're worse than Haytham."
"Oh shut your maw and let's go. Be lucky you have me around to keep my father off your ass most of the time. Maybe, if you keep this up, I'm gonna let him know about your last night escapades to the bar." And that halted any resistance from Edward.
It took another ten minutes for Leo to show up to claim the intoxicated body of Ezio. Federico was in tow, and took one look at his brother, then laughed. "I hope he lasted a good bit."
"Eight shots, and he was done." The bartender smirked and nudged Ezio with the toe of his sneaker. "Hey, lazy ass, get up. Your ride's here."
A few muttered words of Italian escaped his lips, but no movement besides his mouth. So, Federico grabbed one arm, and Leo grabbing another, the two men hauled him to his feet. "Is his car here, or did he ride with someone?" Federico asked.
"I have his keys. I'll bring it home with me. Just make sure he doesn't puke all over the bathroom again. He has a bad habit about doing that." The last time Ezio had gotten drunk, he had made a mess of the bathroom, and it was left up to Desmond to clean it up.
With a few nods, they left, leaving him there to finish out his shift. At least he knew the remainder of the night might be dull, but after the day he had, he would take dull over excitement.