It's Business Time (Colette, Keeran, Open!)

[HunkyDory]

It was time for business. It was business time, if you will. Colette had made her rounds to the bars in this town weeks ago, but made absolutely no progress. She figured this was probably because she did more drinking than work. In fact, she did nothing but drink and did absolutely zero work. Minor details. Because today was going to be different. For starters Colette had made her way to her first stop just after lunch. She had a feeling she'd feel much less inclined to drink if she had the rest of the day ahead of her After all, she didn't need to build up the reputation that she was an alcoholic. That is, if she hadn't already.

Stopping just outside the Moonlight tavern, the woman let out a heavy sigh. Her last visit here was..awkward to say the least. Not this time though, she was going to be nothing but professional. She wasn't even going to ask for a drink! Colette thought about that while opening the door. Well, she probably wouldn't ask for one. Shutting the door behind her, Colette practically skipped down the stairs while rephrasing that thought in her head one more time.

Well, maybe just one drink.

[CynicallyYours]

Loric was sitting on the bar, drink in hand and feet on the stool when some woman came skipping down the stairs. He raised a brow at her, and started to grin, "You know we're closed right now, right?..."
The red head was shirtless and in sleep pants, hair much more spikey than usual. Yes, he was aware it was noon, but since he was rooming with Keeran, he was up late anyway. The young man was nursing a Long Island Iced Tea and he looked over at the near empty large pitcher he had used to mix his special wake up drink. He nodded his head towards the pitcher, "Help yourself. If you're looking for Keeran, she's still in bed."

Loric glanced over at the girl, before taking a drink once again, enjoying his buzz that warmed his body, though he didn't look tipsy in the slightest.

[HunkyDory]

Were these stairs this steep last time she was here? Now she understood why Reece took that little tumble. Almost tripping down the last few steps herself, Colette managed to just jump to the ground floor with a loud thud, the bottoms of her feet aching from the impact. Nonetheless she managed to spring back up, nearly flinching when she heard a man's voice. Why did she only expect to hear Keeran's voice? Was it because it was the middle of the day and she expected there would be no customers around? Or was it because she didn't think anyone else worked here? Whatever the case: color Colette surprised.

Gaze snapping into the direction of a rather outlandish man, it took a few moments for the girl to even register his words. "Oh, uh." And another few moments before she could properly respond. Apparently she was early, way early. Early enough that they weren't even open. Huh, now that she thought about it, that made sense. She usually only went to the bars after work, so she never really paid attention to see how early they opened. She eyed the beverage offered to her and responded to his smile with a lopsided grin of her own. No, no! She stopped herself for reaching for the alcoholic drink, instead taking a sideways step and sitting on the opposite side of the table. This was business, she could not get distracted. He took a sip of the drink, apparently very satisfied by the refreshing taste. Well..if Keeran was still asleep she supposed she could have on-GOD DAMMIT. This was harder than wrangling a puppy.

"I'm actually here for business-" She paused, thought about it for a moment, and then added, "Sir." to her sentence. There. That was more professional. "You see, I run the Vineyard, in uh, Maji Meadows." What a weird name, she'd never remember it. Hell, she wasn't even sure how to pronounce it. For a moment she just sat there, staring at the pitcher, eyeing the cool water droplets slide down the glass. Snap out of it! She sure was feeling lazy today, and apparently had a compelling urge to get drunk. "Do you uh," She needed to say something to get the ball rolling, and more importantly to distract her. "Do you work here? Colette's my name." She held out her hand to the man, that noticeably crooked smile returning. "You are..?"

[CynicallyYours]

Loric raised an eyebrow at the young woman as she refused his drink with much restraint. Guess not all people drink at noon, which seemed strange to the young man since the girl did come to the tavern.
Business? Ah well, that makes sense. The red head grinned when she mentioned running a vineyard and such. That was definitely promising. Loric would definitely like to tour the grounds during harvest, he was sure she would appreciate the free labor next fall.
When the girl extended her hand in greeting, he took her hand and pulled it to his lips, kissing Colette's knuckle with a feather-touch and grin, "My name is Loric Vaan Kelly. I am currently staying with Keeran during the winter season, so... No, I do not work here. I'm just a visitor."
Glancing over at the pitcher, Loric released Colette's hand and smiled at her again, "Keeran will be sleeping for quite some time, one drink will not hurt, right?" He sighed and looked a little pained, "I really don't want it to go to waste, but it would be best if I don't finish off an entire pitcher. I'll be much more friendly than usual, and I'm sure you won't want that." Loric winked and poured Colette a glass and slide the glass down the counter in front of the girl.

[HunkyDory]

He was smiling when she mentioned her Vineyard, great! That was a good sign. Maybe that meant they would be willing to do business with her. God knew Colette needed steady customers. Not a whole lot of individual people came to her Winery for taste testing, meaning it was high time she got some connections with the local businesses. As far as she knew she was the only Vineyard on this island, so that meant she shouldn't really have a whole lot of competition, but still she was nervous. This was her first business transaction, and that smile was reassuring.

The kissing wasn't.

Colette was so stunned from the gesture that she didn't have any time to stop him. Or punch him, or whatever she would do in this situation if she had time to think. This was a first for Colette. This sort of greeting was something completely foreign to the girl, in fact any sort of kissing was foreign to her, let alone as a introductory gesture. Her face was such a beat red from fury and embarrassment it looked like she might fall over from heat exhaustion. She was at such a loss that she almost completely missed the man's introduction. And this reaction was from just a kiss on the hand, if that brief instant could even qualify as a kiss. It was reasonable though, the closest Colette had ever come to a man was putting him in a headlock. Lips were not involved.

When he loosened his grip on her hand Colette nearly yanked it away before doing something she could not control: she laughed. Loudly. A rather obnoxious, slow tempo nervous laugh she couldn't seem to stop. When she did begin to tone down, the man winked at her which made her laugh some more. She wasn't quite sure if she was blushing or compelled to hit the man. When Loric slid the drink down to her Colette just blurted out, "Oh Thank GOD." Before practically downing a good quarter of the glass. Taking a moment to breathe, Colette wiped her chin with her hand before saying, "I'm sorry." She took another large gulp. "Just a little nervous." Hopefully this buzz would relax her a little.

[CynicallyYours]

Well, that was not a normal reaction that Loric was accustomed to... Colette seemed rather shocked and embarrassed by that gesture, he wouldn't have been surprised if she had punched him. It would be best to keep the flirting to a minimum, lest he would walk around with a black eye for quite some time. She looked like she could pack quite punch, though it was easy to walk the walk of a tomboy, but Loric was not going to chance her talking the talk.

The young man couldn't help but burst out laughing when Colette dived for the beverage like a swooping hawk, he calmed himself enough to nod at her when she said she was nervous. "Its understandable. My guess is that Keeran is your first business transaction, and you are afraid it will not go well."
Loric yawned then smiled casually over at the young woman, "No need to be worried. You should already consider yourself a business partner. You owning the only vineyard in the village means you are a direct supplier, which means the only two bars in towns will definitely count on your business since importing is so very expensive. So..." The red head stretched, lazily, resembling a lounging lion for a split second before setting his emerald eyes on Colette again, "So relax, love. Drink your fill and congratulations on your new business partner and success."

[HunkyDory]

Colette's lips parted with the glass again to let out another gasp, out of breath from chugging down her beverage nonstop. Slamming the now nearly empty cup on the table, the girl took in what the man said while allowing the wafty light-headedness kick in. There, that was more like it. When Loric assumed this was her first business transaction she tried to correct him, "Ah, not actually," She played with her glass absent-mindedly, "Well uh…when you think about it." She straightened  up in her seat, focusing on her glass. "…Technically not?" Colette glanced over to him with a wide sheepish smile, not realizing she sounded more pathetic than ever. She should have just gone with the pity route and let it be.

Leaning forward she grabbed hold of the handle's pitcher, before pointing at the beverage and asking, "Do you mind?" Pouring herself another glass she settled in her seat again, confidence restored with her filled drink. "I used to work a Ranch before I moved here. Did business transactions all the time." She leaned back, taking small sips and actually enjoying her drink instead of gulping it all down. "This is the first time I've tried to do business from a Vineyard though," The ice rattled against the glass, reminding her she had plenty of liquid courage left. "Or was my own boss.." She almost let out an audible sigh with that statement. This was all foreign to her, especially all this power. Of course she had made deals before, but only after her father approved of them, now she didn't have anyone to turn to. Well, except for this Long Island Iced Tea, and this very reassuring redhead.

Looking up at him past her glass, the girl let off another crooked grin. "I shouldn't drink my fill." She examined her drink, realizing she was halfway through her second glass. "I drink a lot." Well if that wasn't the most honest statement ever I don't know what is. "Thank you though." Her cheeks were still a bright red, and it probably wasn't going to go away anytime soon, but at least she seemed more calm around the man. "So, Loric?" She paused, glanced at him to see if she got the name right, and continued. "How long have you been friends with Keeran?"

[CynicallyYours]

A farm girl, huh? You'd have to have to be somewhat of a tomboy to get around Conamu comfortably. Loric smiled, "Being your own boss is great and if you have any experience - Even better!" The young man picked up his feet and turned his bottom on the bar, planting his feet behind the bar as he hopped down, filling up the near empty pitcher with a various range of alcoholic beverages, "Drink a lot? Goodies. So do I!' Looking around playfully, Loric looked perplexed before grinning, "And what luck! We are in a bar, plenty of alcohol to spare!"

Finishing up mixing the drinks, the redhead grabbed the pitcher and hopped back on the bar, Spiderman-style, taking a gulp from the pitcher itself, looking rather blissful, "But if you don't wanna drink, I understand. I'll take this for myself." he smiled and took another large gulp from the pitcher, holding it like a coffee cup in his large hands.

((OOC: Crappy post, I'm sorry! D:))

[HunkyDory]

Colette was usually very slow on the uptake, this instance was no different. Sarcasm was never one of her strong suits, so when Loric playfully looked around the bar, Colette could only stare blankly. Well, of course they were in a bar. Was he stating the obvious? Bars always had plenty of alc--Ooh. It took her a moment but the girl finally laughed at the joke. Again, embarrassment had her cheeks flush, but seeing how they were still plenty red it was safe to say it would have been hard to spot.  And if anyone asked why her cheeks were red she'd deny it, anyway. Blaming it on the cold would have been easy enough.

Loric managed to capture her attention again when he hopped over the bar. Watching him intently as he filled up the pitcher, she just sighed. That pitcher of mixed drinks would have probably been half of her weekly budget. He sipped from the pitcher, looking rather content with himself. Well..it probably would have been worth it. Finishing her Iced tea Colette leaned back on her stool and said, "You sure know how to tempt someone." But no, she promised herself she wouldn't drink. Then again, that drink did look good. "Well..maybe one glass." Those previous drinks didn't count. Just one and she'd be done.

(OoC: Sorry for the shortness! D: And sorry we keep on missing you in the LC T___T )

[CynicallyYours]

"On the house. No worries." he said, charmingly, as he stretched over towards her on the bar, filling Colette's glass.

Recalling her question about him and Keeran, Loric smiled, "Oh, Kee-Kee and I have been friends since we were little ones. My da was a close friend of the family and I was an only child so I spent most of my days at her family's local tavern pestering the ol' girl like I always have. I'm more like an older brother to the lass."

Loric had been drinking since he woke up, his verison of an Irish coffee being whatever alcohol was within reach as he made his way down to the bar earlier this morning, so it was safe to say that the redhead was getting pretty drunk. The warmth that had swirled around in his head had reached his entire body and he felt tingly all over.
Deciding it would be best if the young man sat flat on the counter, Loric planted his rump safely on the bar with a grunt as he raised his glass... Er, pitcher... To Colette before taking a few large gulps, setting the now empty pitcher on the wooden counter with a loud thud. "Now... I do believe I should cut meself off... Don't you?" He grinned over at Colette the pointed at her like he was scolding, "Don't let me drink anymore or the next smooch will not be on your hand." he slurred his words a little, with a wink.

[HunkyDory]

He explained that the drink he was pouring her was free, which made Colette's grin widen, (if that was even possible). Thanking him, Colette just began guzzling down her glass. Hopefully she had a full stomach or she'd be out cold with the way she was drinking. Peeking out to look at him from the top of her glass, the listened to Loric recall his childhood. He seemed so fond looking back on those memories. Even when he was talking it looked like he was having a hard time surprising a chuckle here of there. It was nice, to see someone so content with their childhood. Someone who had good memories.

Stopping when her throat began to burn, she placed the glass on the table, nostrils flaring something awful. Loric didn't seem to be finished just yet though. Raising a brow she watched the Irishman gulped down the entire pitcher, slamming it on the counter when he finished it off. She just stared at the empty pitcher eyes wide. To think, she could barely tolerate a glass before stopping to get some air. Apparently his triumph wasn't without consequences though. The man looked tipsy now, if not just plain drunk. At this point she wouldn't be surprised. What DID surprise her though is what he said next.

"Don't let me drink anymore or the next smooch will not be on your hand."

The same loud and obnoxious laugh emitted past Colette's lips once again. Fortunately this time she got a hold of herself a lot sooner. The girl sprung up, immediately regretting that action when the lightheaded-ness kicked in. No matter, she'd pull though. "We should distract ourselves then!" She was hopping from one foot to the other, like and ill-conceived dance step. "Just gotta get our minds off of alcohol is all!" Apparently she was seeing Loric's tease as a genuine threat.


(OoC: Sorry about how late I am. ><)