[FIN] Tonight's Gonna be a Good Night

[BlackFireKitsune]

Even though he expected a response along those lines, Abel was still glad to hear it - he would've felt bad turning her down, alcohol or no - so he shot his boyfriend a smile, one he turned to their guest as she sat down and introduced herself. "Isn't it though? I thought so too," Abel agreed with a brief chuckle as he inspected the bottle in the bucket pushed his way. Hmm, not a bad choice; not bad at all. After removing the bottle from the bucket he tilted it towards her in silent question; do you want to open your bottle yourself or no? "It's nice to meet you too, Charlie... Ah, I can't blame him either then; kid birthdays are always important, and for little girls especially. So you're an architect, you said? D'you design stuff or build stuff, or something else?" Architecture was an interesting thing, of course, but not one he'd ever been interested in professionally, and thus he didn't know the first thing about it. Maybe she wouldn't want to talk shop though... but she did say she wanted to celebrate something work-related, so maybe she would? Eh, she'd let them know one way or the other.

Sonia perked up a bit at the address from the stranger, though not out of excitement or anything more than a brief, mild surprise at being addressed by said complete stranger. Still, she wasn't about to be rude, so she gave the woman a brief nod and polite, "Zor."  

[TawnyAngel]

Charlie did seem like an agreeable sort, but then he was inclined to think casually-well of anyone who offered him a drink... A safe drink. "Thank you," Zevran smiled as he took the bottle and popped it open - always a satisfying noise - before filling the three empty glasses. Not only were the visibly empty of course but she would have no way of knowing which glass each of them might choose if there was anything invisible smeared on one or two. It was highly unlikely there would be of course, two men together with a pokemon as well hardly looked like a target! It made him feel better to know all the same.

"Thanks!" Charlie smiled again as she accepted the glass Zevran offered her and raised it. "Here's to success, and to company!" Once they'd clinked glasses and she'd taken a sip Charlie relaxed in her chair with a contented sigh. "But, yeah, Tim and I run a small design company and we just got a big contract to design a new place for a wine dealer, I didn't know there was so much money in it but there must be with what he's paying us!"  

[BlackFireKitsune]

Abel relinquished the bottle to Zevran without issue or complaint - he really didn't care who opened the bottle, so long as someone did - though he happily leaned in close to him with a "thank you" and a fond kiss pressed to Zev's temple as one hand wrapped around one of the remaining two glasses. "And thank you," he added to Charlie once he'd straightened back up in his chair, then toasted along with the both of them. "Both is good! And that sounds pretty cool," he added after he'd taken a sip of his drink - yep, very good taste - then set his glass down and swirled it a tiny bit over the table. "I won't pretend to know the first thing about contracting or wine, so I don't know how much money there is in it, but that's good that it sounds like it's quite a bit, yeah?" Was it too much though? Legitimate, or almost too good to be true? He really had no idea, but hopefully it was legitimate. She seemed thoroughly pleased with how good it was, and he'd hate for that to be spoiled if it turned out not to be.  

[TawnyAngel]

Mmmh, public displays of affection; Zevran smiled at Abel and nudged their knees together under the table in return. "I know a good wine when I taste it," he said with an approving glance at the bottle of sparkling wine, it did not taste like any rare vintage but it was a good bottle. "Architecture, again I know what I like but little more than that." She seemed like she wanted to chatter and he was happy to let her do so for a little while, at least as long as he was drinking the alcohol she'd bought.

"I can see you're both men of good taste," Charlie winked. "The money though? Yeah, well it's the biggest deal we've ever done. It's not going to make us wealthy but it'll pay the bills for a nice while, give me a chance to put a bit away too. One day I want to design my own house and have it built instead of planning out cavernous wine cellars for other people!"  

[BlackFireKitsune]

When Zev's knee touched his, Abel happily responded in kind and shifted his leg to lean gently against his boyfriend's as long as he liked. Brief touches were nice too, but sometimes he preferred something that lasted a little longer. "Mmh, I like to think I know a good one when I taste one, but to be honest I don't drink wine that much, so," he shrugged. It didn't really matter too much to him. After taking another sip of it he added, "It is really good though."

Abel countered the wink with a smirk. "I like to think so. And damn, I can see why you wanted to celebrate! That sounds like an awesome deal then. I'm surprised you haven't designed you own house yet - or at least thought about it - even if you can't build it quite yet." Ah, designing her own home... What would he do if he could design one for himself...? As if he'd ever get himself a house; what a laughable thought. He'd probably just live in apartments for the rest of his life, which really wouldn't be too long...

But he wanted it to be, if it meant more time he could spend with Zevran.

...damn.

Abel took another quiet sip of his wine.  

[TawnyAngel]

Zevran gave a deep chuckle and shook his head. "Ah, to be fabulously wealthy. If I could have my own home designed it would have one of those infinity pools, all glass sides. A jacuzzi would be a must of course and a game room, a bar, a home cinema, and naturally a gym." As he spoke Zevran ticked off the obvious necessities on his fingers. After a pause to sip at his drink he added; "And a wine cellar, of course."

"You forgot the spa and the walk in wardrobe, can't miss them out!" Charlie countered playfully. She then turned to Abel and smiled wryly. "Oh I have, believe me! You know a lot of little girls design their dream wedding dress? Well, I was busy drawing out where my cool pony-shaped pool would go. The hooves were hot tubs. Problem is all the big ideas I have cost big money, I really need to scale back to something a bit more achievable unless this deal is the start of an upward curve."  

[BlackFireKitsune]

"Mmh, you forgot those," he tilted his glass towards Charlie and her suggestions, "and about the gorgeous landscaping to match," the taller blond put in after swallowing another sip of his drink. "And where are the bedrooms in all that? How many of those would there be, hm?"

And he couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of a pony-shaped pool. "That's cute, though yeah, all of that sounds really expensive - pools especially - so hopefully things start heading in that direction. More money's useful in that regard." More money... he hadn't been too sure what to do with his money since Alyssa died - or whatever her name was - but an idea had been rolling around in his head for a while now, though now he wasn't sure if he'd follow through on it. Having a motorcycle could be fun though, and Zevran would probably appreciate it as well. But should he...? Hm.  

[TawnyAngel]

"Humm," Zevran mused, "I had been thinking of a place in a large city, but if I am to be unfairly rich perhaps I own land regardless. Fountains? There would need to be some fountains." After this thoughtful utterance Zevran turned to look at Abel again and the corners of his eyes creased just a little with fondness. "Humm, six? I like the number six. The master bedroom of course would require a large attached bathroom and a very large bed."

"Well, you've got to be comfortable," Charlie chuckled. "I don't do the interior side, that's more Tim, but there are some really wild ideas out there I can tell you. For me, I guess I can do without the gold leaf and the mahogany furniture. A piano would be nice though, even if the room isn't set up to be acoustically perfect."

"Mmmh, and what about a nightclub?" Zevran continued thoughtfully with a gesture at their surroundings. "It would generate income and you would never be lost for company!"  

[BlackFireKitsune]

"Oh, there's plenty of rich mansions with gorgeous land around here," Abel said as his eyebrows lifted a bit. "Have you never been to the ritzier parts of Camphoreon? I can take you around to one of them sometime, if you haven't. I figured you'd have something like that, infinity pool facing the ocean and all that. And fountains for sure, inside and out," he added with a chuckle, countering Zevran's quiet, fond look with one of his own. "Six is a good number, I think, and an excessively large bed is absolutely required. What about a hot tub in the master bathroom too? Whatever you want, really; it's your dream house after all."

Abel took another sip of his drink and pondered the matter a bit more before nodding towards Charlie, "That's fair. I could do without those too, though I don't play piano. Guitar, sure, but not piano. Hm.. Would you build a nightclub on the floor below your house, or would it be in a separate building?"  

[TawnyAngel]

Zevran laughed briefly but genuinely at Abel's question and shook his head with a gesture to his tattooed face. "I have not, if I wandered around such places alone I think I would soon find myself speaking to officers of the law who wished to know my business in the area. Some people have no appreciation for art. If I were with a respectable looking gentleman like yourself however I am sure I would be safe! We could window shop for mansions; one that looks nice on the outside, we can always change what is on the inside." Ah, life would be much easier if what was on the inside of people was as easy to alter! Oh well, altering and decorating the outside was nearly as good and lately... lately things just felt better.

"Oh, it would have to be separate," Charlie replied easily but then she looked thoughtful and added; "But of course you could build a tunnel to be your personal VIP entrance in case you want to go over when it's raining or windy or whatever. Also hot tubs in the master bathroom are required, and really fancy showers."  

[BlackFireKitsune]

Ohh, how he loved Zevran's laugh. Traces of fondness crept into the grin that formed on his face as he chuckled. "Oh, probably! Though I can't imagine why you'd consider me a respectable gentleman; I think you're mistaking me for someone else." After taking another sip of his wine he gestured with his glass to Zev, "Window shopping is fun though, I can take you for a drive up there and we can check out all the mansions if you want. We could get lunch while we're out, too -- next weekend maybe?" There, that would be a nice little date in the not-too-distant future. It wasn't very exciting, to be fair, but it would mean they'd get to spend a while enjoying each other's company.

"Mmh, separate's probably a good idea... and a tunnel sounds even better," Abel agreed with a small lift of his brows in surprise. He never would've thought of that. "Not that clubs are really my scene anymore, but that's a cool idea. So's fancy showers, that sounds like another mansion requirement for sure."  

[TawnyAngel]

"Eh," Zevran waved his free hand airily, "comparatively respectable. But yes, that sounds like fun! For you, I will clear my busy social calender." Because he definitely socialised with other people in more than one off encounters, definitely.

"That does sound like fun, there are some pretty nice ones around- of course there's plenty of pretentious crap too," Charlie smirked. "Watch out for the big white one on Saffron Pass, there's servant's quarters hidden around the back."


They passed probably a couple of hours more in the bar, hours with Zevran rather enjoyed! He also enjoyed a couple more alcoholic drinks on Charlie before switching to soda for a while, he wished to maintain a pleasant state of slightly drunk- getting so drunk you couldn't walk straight was dangerous and it also lacked style.

Other people did not seem to share his inhibitions and as the bar grew rowdier and patrons drunker the three of them agreed that enough was enough, but the night was young and when Charlie invited them back to her hotel room for a few more - friendly! I can see I'm not going to get a look in here - drinks he had been happy to accept.

As they stepped out into the pleasantly cool night air Zevran inhaled deeply and then laughed. "Ah, I love the smell of beer and cigarettes in the evening."  

[BlackFireKitsune]

Abel alternated between soda or water between alcoholic drinks, the latter of which he had fewer as the time passed - he'd driven here and didn't particularly care to walk back here sometime the next day because he'd been too drunk to drive or anything - so by the time they stepped back out into the chilly night air and he pulled his coat back on, he felt pretty good and had a bit of a buzz, perhaps, but that was about the extent of it. "Ahh, don't tempt me," he sighed as he slipped an arm around Zevran's waist, playing up the unhappiness in his voice even though he really wasn't unhappy in the least, "I do too." So saying, with his free hand he pulled his vape pen from his coat pocket to take a hit now that they were outside.

"So what hotel are you staying at again? I can drive us all there so we don't have to walk," Abel said once he finished with his vape and slipped it back into his pocket for the time being.  

[TawnyAngel]

"You sure you're good?" Charlie asked, but it seemed a more or less rhetorical question because she then gestured up the street to the right. "It's the Hotel Cicero, it took me about five minutes by cab to get here I guess. We can grab a cab there if you'd rather, and you can get one back later. I'll only feed you coffee if you've gotta drive!"

"Ah, there is hardly anyone on the road, I am sure he can cope," Zevran said casually as he casually slid his arm around Abel in return. He then smirked at Abel and added; "You know how I love to tempt you into all manner of terrible things."  

[BlackFireKitsune]

"Yeah, I'm good," he assured them both with a nod. "None of my drinks have had even a little alcohol in them for a while now, I won't crash or anything, don't worry -- especially since that isn't far from here." He'd never been to that hotel before, but he was at least pretty sure he knew where it was. If not, they'd find it soon enough.

Smirking down at Zev, he gave him an affectionate squeeze before pressing a similarly affectionate kiss to the top of his head. "You are terribly tempting in every kind of way -- but don't tempt me to smoke again, you know I've been trying hard to quit."