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[themanclion]

When Gene comes in tonight, he looks cheerful enough. As usual, he heads straight for the bar and orders a pint with a whiskey chaser. He's a bit thrown when he gets a napkin instead.

'...you what?'

Another napkin, which says much the same thing.

'Not on your bloody life, luv.'

Yet another, with the same polite request and, just maybe, a mention of the

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[scots_wolf]

"Now you will have to serve me scotch," Urquhart says, leaning on the bar and grinning like a shark at the tender.

[themanclion]

Gene? Looks unimpressed.

'Don' 'ave t'do a damn thing, Goldilocks. I don' serve scum, so sod off.'

[scots_wolf]

"You serve everyone if the bar tells you to," Urquhart says. "So, please, scotch."

[themanclion]

He snorts, a vague hint of humour in it.

'Bu' she didn'. She asked me to take a shift. Didn' say I couldn' pick an' choose me customers. I'm in charge back 'ere f'r the next few hours an' I say, no drinks fer scum.'

[scots_wolf]

"You're to serve drinks," Urquhart says, "and not to say who is scum and who not. Leave that to Security."

[themanclion]

'When I wan' your opinion, I'll bloody give it t'you.'

He's not budging.

'An' I 'ardly think I'm in the minority when it comes to the general opinion on murderers.'

[scots_wolf]

"It doesn't matter," Urquhart says. "I'm not interested in your opinion, either. I just want my drink."

[themanclion]

'Then go get it off one o'the rats.'

He crosses his arms and continues to exude stoicism.

[scots_wolf]

"I think slapping the bartender would be even worse than slapping an ordinary patron," Urquhart muses aloud.

[themanclion]

'You c'n try, Goldilocks,' he says, ominously, 'bu' this is one barman tha' slaps back.'

He jerks his head in the direction of somewhere away from the bar.

'Go on, sling yer 'ook. You'll be gettin no drinks ou' of me.'

[scots_wolf]

"Unless I stick my fingers down your throat?" Urquhart says.

[themanclion]

'You wan' t'lose them fingers?' he replies, casual as you like. Casual enough to be entirely serious.

[scots_wolf]

"Attention -- barkeeping policeman bites!" Urquhart says, with a sneer.

[themanclion]

'I do worse than that, Sunshine.'

He's not sneering, not taunting. He just simmers with a cold kind of calm, ready to explode if he has to.

'But I don' recommend you tryin' t'find out.'

[scots_wolf]

"Go ahead," Urquhart says. "Don't cramp your style. It will be immense fun to see that dangerous little Security girl haul you away to the cells for it. I can take over your shift, if you like, when that happens?"

[themanclion]

He half-smiles and shakes his head.

'Don' think so. It's no' me that belongs in jail and I don' let scroats like you wind me up enough to get in trouble over. You ain' worth that. An' anyway, I know all abou' the self-defence rule 'ere so you want trouble, you go ahead an' start it.'

He'll finish it, one way or the other.