happy hour

[risen_from]

Tonight, the goddess Aphrodite is playing the part of your friendly neighborhood bartender, and has dressed accordingly in jeans and a deep green t-shirt with a deep v-neck. Her hair (tonight, golden) is swept up into a messy but very fetching ponytail, a few tendrils fallen loose and framing her face

Comments

[averyhasagun]

Paul doesn't yet understand why his name is up on the specials board. His current guess is something along the lines of, 'well, there's probably more than one Paul Avery in the whole multiverse.'

"Any chance I could get an Aqua Velva?"

Yes, he's been trying to cut down on his drinking (and he's been doing fairly well at it - to the happiness of his liver and most of the people who are concerned for his health), but he does like a little alcohol once in a while.

[risen_from]

Welllll, he does have brown hair.

But you'd think, if he were Paul Avery, he'd be saying something about it.

"There is, actually, an excellent chance." Aphrodite smiles at him, significantly.

(What? He's cute.)

"Gimme a minute, sugar. That's ... mmm, vodka, gin ..."

She bustles pleasantly about the bottles of alcohol, pouring out the right ones into a glass.

[averyhasagun]

The smile that Paul offers Aphrodite in return is significantly more - for lack of a better word - confused, largely because he has never been terribly good about not letting his thoughts translate from his brain to his face. (Is there a bounty on his head?)

Still, he makes himself comfortable at the bar, drumming his fingers along the counter.

[risen_from]

After a moment, Aphrodite slides his drink across the counter.

"So who are you?" Her tone is low and curious, and just skating intimacy.

Still, that look on his face leaves something to be desired ... should she have worn the girdle? Is he gay?

(Sometimes Aphrodite is a little bit vain.)

[averyhasagun]

"Uh.

"My name's Paul."

(He figures he's probably not going to last long pretending to be Joe Smith, anyway.)

[risen_from]

HOW VERY INTERESTING.

"Ohhh!"

Her eyes narrow. Aphrodite's eyes are an irreproachably beautiful sea-blue, and right now the expression in them is saying: you can't hide from love, Paul possibly-Avery.

"Mr. Paul ...?"

[averyhasagun]

"Avery?"

This lady is kind of a lot more intimidating than he'd expected.

[risen_from]

"Aha!"

Aphrodite does not point triumphantly with her index finger, but somehow her laugh gives that impression.

She leans forward with her elbows on the Bar, expression exceedingly mild.

"Just what, Mr. Avery, are your intentions toward my sister?"

[averyhasagun]

"Which -- what?"

He has a vague idea of what this is about, but he's still clinging onto the scant hope that this isn't My Talk with Demeter 2.0 or something like that.

[risen_from]

Aphrodite examines him very seriously, as if she is looking into his soul.

Then she gives up and giggles, straightening up.

"I'm just kidding, sugar," she says.

"I mean-- not about being related to her. But any kind of what-are-your-intentions, shotgun-on-the-front-porch scenario ... you'd have to ask her brother."

[averyhasagun]

"Assuming we're both on the same subject, I think the phrase that they use is 'my intentions are strictly honorable.' Eloping isn't my style."

[risen_from]

She laughs.

"That already puts you a cut above this family. Next you're going to tell me you don't plan to kidnap her, either."

[averyhasagun]

"Why, is that that much of a stretch?"

[risen_from]

"It is for us, Mr. Avery."

She smiles.

"We're a very ... old-fashioned bunch. And not in the chivalrous euphemistic way, either."

[averyhasagun]

Paul's smile turns a little wry.

"Still, I vow against both eloping and kidnapping. Seriously, though, a guy like me isn't gonna be able to do anyone harm. No upper arm strength."

[risen_from]

Aphrodite laughs, making a fist of her right hand and flexing her arm.

... She may be a lot of things, but 'buff' is not one of them.

"You and me both, Mr. Avery."