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Post by Gabrielle Delacour on Dec 29, 2011 22:52:36 GMT -5
CLICKTonight Gabrielle did not need to be at work, and it was her first night off in the months that she could imagine. She was not sure at what point it was that she had decided this, but she had indeed plans for a date tonight. The date was not planned to be fancy, and with it being with a muggle Gabrielle kept her ideas for the night simple. It would be dinner and a walk if they were lucky and hitting it off. Of course, the expectations were high since she had not been on a date in months. That made Gabrielle even more nervous. She knew that she was out of practice with this kind of thing, but it made her think that she could do this. Gabrielle was pretty and she had a mind, so her ideals to being a good mate was promising. She just hoped that he would live up to her expectations. Of course, maybe those were too high. When they met outside the restaurant he held open the door and in they stepped. He'd not made reservations so the wait for dinner was a bit longer than she'd expected. The two kept the small talk going, but Gabrielle had been becoming impatient. She looked to him and then they sat to eat. He ordered and so did she and he ordered them a bottle of wine. Gabrielle knew it was a cheap wine and wondered why such a supposedly rich man was going cheap. She shook her head and thought nothing of it. Her flirting skills were there, but he seemed dim. As their food arrived it happened. Gabrielle looked down to her seafood alfredo about to spin the noodles around her fork when he mentioned buying her club. Her fork fell to her plate as she looked to him with confusion, "My club is not for sale, Stewart." He looked to her and spoke about it being their reasoning to eat tonight. Her face fell flat and her head shook as she spoke, "No, you asked me on a date. I..I am sure that was what it was." When he said yes but the real reason was business Gabrielle scooted out her chair and then she grabbed her jacket off the back of the chair. Once she put it on she leaned her face in close to his and spoke her threat, "Do not dare come in my club ever again, banned, do you hear me? It is not, and will not be for sale. My club is mine. All paid for and all profit." Her heels clicked as she left him with the bill and her threat. She continued to walk out and then to a pub nearby. Gabrielle swallowed her shots like a pro and left more than enough to tip the bartender well. Then she walked to her own bar. The cold air seemed to soothe Gabrielle's hot temper as she made her way to her bar. Once she stepped in she saw that the people were enjoying herself. Something stopped her from getting a bottle of her liquor and heading to her own office. Instead she knew that a large bachlorette party was going on upstairs. All her male bartenders were upstairs and without shirts with black pants, black suspenders, and black bowties. Entertainment was provided from a hired entertainer too. Maybe she would go up there. Gabrielle went to her office and put her purse and jacket there before getting to the top floor. The room was dark and Gabrielle was already tipsy. She came to the closest bar and ordered a long island telling the bartender to not argue with her. After that she made her way to check on the bride. Once she was sure of the satisfaction she had finished her drink and came to Costin's bar. She smiled a bit and spoke, "This is as close as you get to naked. Also, a long island."
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Post by Costin Nicolae on Jan 12, 2012 20:01:56 GMT -5
Costin liked his job. He really did. He was having a good time at the bar. He flirted, served drinks, got really great tips. He did notice that that majority of his customers were female, but hey, he wasn't about to complain. And working here meant he could silently eye Gabrielle. He found her incredibly attractive. But of course he'd never do anything about it... unless given the chance. She was his boss, and he didn't want to lose his job. He had been working for a few hours when Gabrielle came in. She looked upset. He served a couple of drinks before getting to her. He smiled when she said it was the closest he was getting to Naked. He looked down at himself then at her, quirking an eyebrow.
"To me being naked, or to you being naked? Because if it's the latter, I'm quite disappointed." He said then smiled jokingly, started to make her drink. "What happened?" He asked her, she did seem... drunk and upset. He gave her the drink, He kept his eyes on her as he got a beer for another guy. "Seriously, what's wrong?" He didn't like what he was seeing. He kept serving, smiling at one of the women that he knew liked to tip big, he did still hav bills to pay, but he kept close to Gabrielle so he could hear if she said anything about what had happened.
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Post by Gabrielle Delacour on Jan 15, 2012 13:16:47 GMT -5
When Costin looked down at himself Gabrielle couldn't help but laughing a bit as she took a drink from her own glass. She wanted to down what was in her hands and then order another, but she didn't need to appear to be a lush in her own bar. He asked his first question and Gabrielle let her eyes undress what was still clothed on him. She gave a smile as she spoke, "That is as naked as you are ever allowed to be or serve in at my bar." The way my bar came out was almost possessive and forceful. Gabrielle watched the bachlorette party and gave a laugh. her chances of ever having something like this were so slim. Men saw her as nothing but walking and talking money signs. His second question went unanswered as she tried to think of an appropriate way to broach the subject. Deciding that he did not need to be in the middle of her troubles she spoke, "trust me, don't ask." Gabrielle took another long drink from her glass and then watched him as he continued to serve the beer to the guy.
The guy shouldn't have been drinking being a dancer for the bachlorette, but Gabrielle let it happen knowing that those dancers had signed a waiver for tonight. Gabrielle saw him flirting with the woman and she debated answering him honestly. Instead she finished off her drink ordered another when he was free and then waited a few minutes while he made it. She looked to him once more, turning her stool to actually face him as she asked, "Why do men not find me attractive enough for more than money signs?" Money, is that why she was still single? Was money the one downfall for her to have true happiness in her life? Gabrielle felt her face flash hot with anger as she took a long drink through her straw.
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Post by Costin Nicolae on Feb 13, 2012 20:46:05 GMT -5
"Oh, well that I can definitely handle." He smiled and poured another drink, handing it over to a guy. "Well, I already asked, and if I wasn't interested, I wouldn't have bothered." He looked at her, honestly concerned. He looked over at the bachelorette party. He'd been sexually harrassed by three of them, one being the bride, but he didn't mind it, not really. They were drunk. And it was all harmless, they probably spent their days being mild mannered and nice ladies, so when they got out to have a good time there was no containing it. He smiled, he had actually been hired to bartend for some huge bachelorette parties so this was really something he was use to. He looked back at Gabrielle, frowning, she really did seem upset by... something.
He quirked an eyebrow when she asked about money signs. He laughed, unable to help himself. "Are you serious?" He asked. After a moment the laughter died. "You are..." He shook his head. "Anyone that looks at you, and sees anything but the gorgous, sexy, smart woman you are is either gay and hasn't admitted it, or in a happily commited relationship." He pushed a beer to a girl. "I would bet most of the guys in this room look at you and see what you are, gorgeous. I know that's why I see... which I can't tell you that on the record because you're my boss and that's inappropriate."
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Post by Gabrielle Delacour on Feb 13, 2012 20:57:48 GMT -5
Gabrielle heard him ak if she was serious and she slugged down the rest of her drink while rolling her eyes towards him to have the glass refilled. It seemed to be only then that he realized that she was serious. She nodded when he said "You are.." Gabrielle then looked out over the party and took into mind what he had just said. It made her smile, but only for a moment. She then shook her head as she looked to him and spoke, "There are mostly women here, so I suppose your odds might be right."[/b[ Gabrielle shook her head and then looked to him with a sigh of defeat as she spoke, "I had a date tonight. He wanted to buy my bar." Gabrielle took a long swig of the drink he gave her as she pushed her money towards him. She was going to get trashed tonight, and it was going to be bad enough that she wasn't going to be able to apparate cause she'd splinch herself.
Gabrielle looked to the bartender before her and she shook her head with a smirk as she spoke, "If I wasn't your boss."
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Post by Costin Nicolae on Feb 13, 2012 21:03:55 GMT -5
Costin quirked an eyebrow. "Miss Delacour, Gabrielle, in my life I have been around girls and women who spent obnoxious amounts of money and time to try and look as beautiful as possible. And none of them come even close to you." He said seriously, the traces of flirtation gone from his voice. "And I would bet my trust fund that they didn't have half the brains you do. If someone challenged them to run a bar, and turn it into one of London's biggest hot spots, they would take the money and spend it on surgery to tighten their skin up." He looked at her. "Then that man lost the best oppertunity he's ever had." He handed out drinks as he talked to her, shooting quick, charming smiles at the people as they ordered.
"You pay for drinks in your own bar?" He asked her as she pushed money towards him. He took it, he didn't have the right to deny it. "Tonight, I'm taking you home." He said, she was very drunk.
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Post by Gabrielle Delacour on Feb 16, 2012 17:16:44 GMT -5
Gabrielle heard his words and she looked to him and then she shook her head as he continued to speak to her, but by the end a small blush brushed across her cheeks. Gabrielle was not sure if it had been him or the alcohol that was getting to her system. His flirtation died and seriousness rose and Gabrielle felt the flush die a bit on her cheeks. He wasn't flirting with her, he was her employee. There was nothing there, there couldn't be. Gabrielle looked to him and she spoke gently, "You are far too kind to me, Costin. There is no need to be such a flirt with me." then he talked about her and her bar and she shook her head again as she spoke, "Yeah, and what has this bar gotten me? Money? I could live without that. I mean hell, all I have is money and a side of the family that takes me in because they feel guilty."
Okay, that wasn't the total truth. Fleur loved Gabrielle as much as her own small family, but it wasn't the same? What did Gabrielle have to show for her life? A bar that helped other people get what they wanted in their life. She shuttered a bit and ran her hand over her arm and then she felt the furry rising. She tried to subdue it. She has the Weasley's, but they only accepted her because she was Fleur's sister. Sure, they loved her, but it was plainly obvious that none of them really understood or knew her. Gabrielle lived for the family that she didn't have and longed for that need of being a part of something that would last past the day she died. Gabrielle heard him tell her that the guy lost his best opportunity, and she sighed and felt her shoulders slump as she spoke, "I suppose so."
He took the money and Gabrielle nodded as she spoke, "yep, otherwise I would drink myself out of a bar. I can be a patron too." He told her that he was taking her home and she nodded, not wanting to argue, as she looked to him and spoke again, "Good, I can't drive." She looked out to the bride and then she shook her head as she spoke very very gently, "Lucky, bitch."
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Post by Costin Nicolae on Feb 16, 2012 17:53:08 GMT -5
"And that is where you're wrong." He looked at her. "there is a need to flirt, after all, how else could I tell you I'm interested without crossing the Employee/employer line?" He asked, The bar was pretty busy, so as he spoke he continually walked back and forth, pouring drinks and popping open beers. "There is no supposing, that lucky bastard missed out on you. Obviously he doesn't deserve to have someone as wonderful as you in his life. He'll die alone or with a wife that only wants him for his money." He predicted. "And probably at a young age, men like him tend to have a lot of stress... Healer was my second job choice... after Wand Maker." He smiled. Being a Wand Maker would bring him in a lot of money of his own eventually, and his parents money kept him going when he needed it. So he didn't need a woman with money.
"Gabrielle, how old are you? I would guess... thirty at the most." He was hoping he was under... "You have plenty of life ahead of you. We live to be over a hundred years old. You have over seventy years of life to look forward to. You cannot give up on yourself just because you haven't found the right guy yet." He said honestly. "I think you did the right thing. You're now at a point that you can find a husband and start a family without the worry of him leaving and you having nothing. I find it's more responsible to make sure you're financially stable before starting a family... Stable on your own." He added, there were plenty of rich families that he knew of and they were financially stable, but not of their own doing.
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Post by Gabrielle Delacour on Feb 18, 2012 8:34:27 GMT -5
Gabrielle listened to him, and she wondered if she'd honestly just heard the man say what she was sure she'd heard him say. She looked at him as he moved serving people and she couldn't help but glance at his half nakedness in wonder what that would feel like. He face flushed again as she looked to her drink and tried to not think about that. He was her employee, she couldn't take that chance. She could lose everything. That would do her no good. She then heard him speak again and she looked in his face willing her eyes to not look at his shoulders, arms, or bare chest. She listened to what Costin expected of that man's life and she laughed gently and shook her head as she spoke, "Well, I suppose he will live how he lives. I wish I could say I cared." It wasn't just because she was drunk that she didn't care either. That man had ripped her out of her comfort zone, and she was too confident to be dealing with that.Gabrielle just waited for the moments when he started in on her. Right now she needed to be extreamly careful because he would have people in her bar trying to make a scene. Somewhere in her mind it was a deep thought she didn't quite break down fully yet.
He asked her her age, and she gave a sigh as she spoke, "I am thirty, just turned thirty." Why was she telling him this? She might be telling him because she knew it might deter him, but in actuality she wanted it to make no difference. She listened to him as he talked and she shook her head as she listened to him speak. He just seemed to not get it, and her sitting here drinking and trying to explain it was doing no good. Gabrielle looked to him and wondered how she could even begin to explain to him what the importance of her having someone in her life who cared would mean to her. She just looked to him as he moved and opened her mouth. She shut it again and shook her head gently as she spoke, "I've spent my whole life becoming financially stable. When do I for once get to let loose, cut all the strings, and truly do something for me?" The question, she thought, was directed to herself more than Costin. She pushed her drink away, thinking she might have had enough as it was getting towards closing time, and spoke again, "I didn't open a bar because it was my dream. I opened a bar because it was financially stable. Don't get me wrong, I love this place, now. I just don't want to wait thirty more years to do something for myself."
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Post by Costin Nicolae on Feb 18, 2012 16:07:02 GMT -5
Costin nodded. "See, you're not old at all." He said. He didn't consider thirty old. He didn't think she even looked thirty, he just vaguely recalled someone saying something about her age. He smiled as a girl asked if she could touch his abs. "Sorry love, You can look but can't touch." He didn't think Gabrielle would be okay with it. It was one step too close to strip club. he smiled and gave the girl another mixed drink. "After this though you should think about getting water." He suggested to the girl as she giggled and walked back over to the bridal party. He shook his head as the crowd died down enough that he could go back to talking to Gabrielle without neglecting his work with the other people in the bar. He leaned, his forearms on the bar.
"Well then, do it now." he said. "You have three choices, either sell the bar, bring in a partner, or find someone you trust enough to run the bar. You can't think about finding a man or starting a family if you're going to be spending as much time as you do now around here." He figured she knew that. "If you were asking me, I'd say go with one of the first two options. Find someone else to help make decisions so you have someone to help you with the stress around here. Or someone to take it on entirely." He tapped his fingers on the bar. "You'd have to make sure you had an airtight contract regardless of what you pick. If you need a lawyer, my family has one that can make sure you get the best deal possible." He offered. "When you make your decision anyway. Though again, I'd say either sell the bar or take on a partner."
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Post by Gabrielle Delacour on Feb 18, 2012 17:21:53 GMT -5
As the music died down Gabrielle looked to the dj and the bridal party. She saw him handle what she knew might be his last customer for alcohol. She looked to him and spoke, "Switch to water. their rides will be here soon, and I know what I said about not stopping." She then pulled out a cell phone that she'd aquired since being a owner of this place and flipped it open. She let it ring and then spoke again, "Hello, Mark. I'm going to need three taxis and a limo sent over to the bar. Yeah, just put it on my tab. I will come handle it tomorrow. Yep. Thanks." She hung up and then looked to Costin as she asked, "Help the ladies fnd their way down? It should all be waiting outside in about ten minutes. The bridal party in the limo, obviously."
Gabrielle glanced to his forearms on the bar and gave a small smile at the strength that seemed to sit there. She listened as he spoke, and she felt a fear jump into her throat. Take on a partner? Sell the bar? He was starting to sound like the guy from tonight, but she knew he wasn't like that. She bit her lip and looked to him as he continued to talk. He was offering her help. She shook her head in confusion. Let go of her bar? It was all she had left. Earlier she'd been considering opening another business, and now she needed to consider letting go of this one? Gabrielle took a deep breath and looked down to the counter not sure what to think. Is that what it would take for her to get a man, give up the only thing she had? Plus, who would want to co-own a bar with someone as dedicated to their bar as she was here.
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Post by Costin Nicolae on Feb 18, 2012 17:50:16 GMT -5
Costin nodded as she told him to help the ladies. he walked around the bar, stopping next to her. "I know it sounds scary, giving up control. But sometimes you have to give up something to get something better." He said gently. "I'll be right back to walk you home." He promised. "Alright ladies." he grinned. "Bar's closing, it's time to head on down." He held out an arm and the bride took it. "Our beautiful hostess," he indicated Gabrielle, "has taken care of your ride." He chuckled as the bride kissed his cheek. "None of that, i don't need your future husband hunting me down." The girls laughed and he led them down to the limo, helping them in and watching the Limo drive off. Then he turned and headed back inside.
He walked back up to the bar and smiled at Gabrielle. "You ready to head home?" he asked her, then thought about it a moment. He knew she was worried about the idea of getting help. The idea of having to give this up. He knew that as soon as she got what she wanted, she'd be thrilled, but until then she'd think she made the worst mistake ever. He looked at her then went to go get his shirt. he got dressed and walked back out, offering her his arm with a soft smile. "For the record, I know you're not going to believe me when I say this but... the reason you're not always dating is because guys are intimidated by your looks. Jerks see past the beauty, to the money. But guys that really like you for you... we're a little worried you'll break our ego by turning us down."
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Post by Gabrielle Delacour on Feb 18, 2012 23:32:08 GMT -5
Gabrielle heard him speak and then she knew he knew her fears. She bit her lip, and she nodded a bit not sure if she could agree. She watched him as he flirted with the bride and she couldn't help but smile. She watched the ladies and Costin leave and watched as her other barmen began to clean their stations. Gabrielle began to clean what she could from her side of the bar. Once she'd finished she'd laid her hand on the bar and felt it slam knowing she'd hate herself in the morning for that.
Once he was back up she heard him speak and she nodded as she spoke, "I am sure that I am." She got up and went to put her jacket on before remembering that it was in her office. She took his arm as he held it out and then she looked to him as he spoke. When he did she shook her head and spoke, "Great, so I should just stop trying basically. Either my looks, my money, or egos all get in the way." Gabrielle slipped into the elevator and hit the second level. Once there she stepped out and went to grab her jacket, purse, and keys. She stopped to look at her desk for a moment. She then came back and slipped into the elevator and spoke gently, "I cannot trust someone else with this place."
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Post by Costin Nicolae on Feb 18, 2012 23:49:20 GMT -5
Costin shrugged. "You could look at it that way if you really wanted. Or you could see it as you're just that incredibly beautiful." He said and waited as she got her jacket and everything. He sighed and looked at her. "Gabrielle, it's a bar. I know you've put your whole life into it, and it's a great place. But at the end of the day, what's more important, your bar or having your own family?" He asked her. "Which do you think you'd regret more in the future, spending less time obsessing over the bar, or giving up the chance to start a family?" He looked at her. "I'm on the same side as you. I want to have a family. I am one of the few guys my age that would rather find a woman to settle down with than spend the next several years partying."
He walked towards the front door. It wasn't too cool outside, just cool enough. "So, How did you end up owning a bar?" He asked. "you just... got out of school and decided 'I want to own this place'?" He asked, glancing over at her. He stopped at a cross walk, a car speeding by them, his hand automatically going out to make sure she was going to stop. He watched the light turn and he took her hand before crossing, not letting it go when they reached the other side. he wondered just how drunk she was. he was hoping not very... he did want her to remember this conversation. This evening.
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Post by Gabrielle Delacour on Feb 18, 2012 23:59:10 GMT -5
Gabrielle heard him and she listened and her mind wrapped around the ideas he was throwing at her. She looked to the bar behind her as she spoke, "I know which I will regret more, I do not question that." Her sigh came gently as they stopped to look at the street. She knew she wanted a family, but she also knew right now this was all she had that was hers. Plus, if she let someone else into the bar, then she had to respect their opinions too. She wanted to call the shots. It was her bar. She heard him say what he did, and she laughed a bit as she spoke, "Well, how is that going for you, any good prospects?" She didn't want to know the answer to that. The answer wasn't something that she needed to hear. She was enjoying this, him, too much.
His question came off a bit harsh, and she wondered how she should answer him but in the most honest way. His hand went out as if to protect her and she tried to convince herself it was just because he was being nice, and nothing more. His hand then took hers and they went across the street. Once there she expected his hand to drop, but when it didn't she found a small comfort in it as she spoke, "My sister married when I was young, and she moved here to England. Then my parents died five years ago and left me with a small house to sell and a small amount of money. I sold the house and came here. I bought the bar with a dream. It was run down when I got it. It's all I have." She looked down almost ashamed of that fact as they walked again.
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