Joanna rolled her eyes at the drunks all singing and laughing. She wished they would put a limit on how many drinks you could get, but of course her boss was known to order a few drinks himself. So why would he narrow it down for his customers? Especially if they were willing to pay for every new drink or refill.
With a sigh and groan, she refilled the crowds glasses, attempting to ignore the flirtatious comments she got as she did. Every one was more crude than the last, but she had been in this industry for over a year at this point. “Why don’t you come over here and let me show you a real good time princess.” One of the men bellowed, taking her wrist. She yanked it away, and went back to filling all of their glasses. “ No quiero que me toques.” She muttered to him, turning away and walking over to a more stable group of people. They had just arrived, and were only on their first round of drinks. “Thank god.” She whispered to herself.
(I don’t want you to touch me^^^)
Kas spotted her and, regrettably, heaved a slight sigh of relief. So Redore hadn't gotten to her, at least yet. Good. He was about to just turn around and leave when a thought struck him, and he spun back around and stalked over to Joanna. Now was a prime time to get under her skin and ruffle her feathers a bit. He didn't care if it got him or her into trouble—he didn't care much about consequences to begin with. Besides, it'd undo the slight worry he had over her safety, get the tang of it off his tongue.
"Hello, princess," Kasiya purred into her ear when he slid up behind her, a grin already in place on his lips. His jacket was high-collared and pulled up around his neck to hide the old scars more than the choker he wore did, but they were still visible from the front as the jacket was left open. His v-neck t-shirt was pulled tight over his chest and showed off the tattoos covering the other scars. And as per usual, he wore black jeans along with his black combat boots.
Joanna could feel his hot breath on her neck, and knew who it was immediately. "Back off Kasiya. I'm not having a good enough day for this." She hissed turning around. She didn't want to hear a thing from him. Not a single word. "I mean it." She said sharply, clear on her face she wanted him to leave. "You know I hate that nickname, and you look to be in too good of a mood. You've done something, or are going to, and I don't want to see it happen." Her words were clear, and her facial expression cleared up any confusion. "I want you out of here."
She wasn't lying, she didn't want to see his face here. Not now, honestly ever, but that wasn't plausible. Tired of everyone here, she tossed a damp towel on the floor and using her foot to wipe spilled drinks from the floor. She was ignoring him on purpose, trying not to look at his toned chest and inked marks. Her breathing was short and quick, showing her frustration. Having him come here was probably one of the worst things that had happened, for tonight at least. She didn't want another creep up her back, even if he was increasingly hot.
Kasiya huffed indignantly at being ignored, not a fan of it in the slightest. "Far from a good mood, actually," he muttered, not quite quiet enough to be inaudible to Joanna, "but that's to be discussed on a later date." He stepped in front of her and grabbed her arms to get her to focus on him instead of ignoring him. "Look at me, Princess." His words were sharp and demanding, his equally bad mood slipping through as his black eyes darkened impossibly while also flashing with what could be described as a flash of blue lightning.
He was considering outright asking her if she's seen his twin, someone she's never met nor knew existed, but decided against that. Last time they've spoken, he was magic-less and was in a reasonably good mindset, save for the trouble-making antics. Now, things were different. He was spiraling out of control mentally, he had magic and loathed himself because of it, his twin was making him antsy, and he just wanted things to go back to normal. So, he reasoned, why not offer a challenge for old-time's sake?
Unable to help herself, she rolled her eyes laying them on his. She didn't want to pay attention to him, but wasn't given much choice in the matter. "What is it Kasiya?" She asked, insisting him to use her actual name. "I don't have time for this, I'm working." She muttered just as sharply as him. Most days she's attempting to gain attention to herself, but not right now. She wanted nothing to do with his, or anyone else's attention on the two rivals. "So get this over with before I have you thrown out."
Her words were sharp, and her expression was too. It was rather clear she would rather be anywhere else but here. Though she was stuck with the reality she was, and he was touching. Joanna yanked her arms from his, and crossed them so he wouldn't touch her again. She didn't want him to, not liking the idea of it. But he never seemed to understand that she didn't like it. Though she herself was rather ignorant on other people's personal space, she knew when people were getting on edge because of it. So she would back off. But this wasn't the case with Kasiya.
His eyes bounced around the bar they were in, catching a few stares and glaring at them until they dropped. This was their business, not anyone else's. After articulating a plan, he finally settled his eyes back onto Joanna's. An easy smirk slipped over his lips as he hunched down some to be closer to her level. "Then I'll make this quick, Jo. As it might be, shit happened and I've found myself on the curb. Also as it might be, you happen to be the only person I know in these parts. Care to help a poor soul out and lend a hand?"
He wasn't exactly lying, he was jumping from hotel room to hotel room at the moment. It'd be nice to at least have a place to stay until he found some income and a will to live. But that wasn't the reason he was asking. He finally came up with a challenge, and if she said yes, it'd be much easier to win if he was in her space nearly 24/7. Basically a win-win if all things went according to plan. If not, he'd have to find some other way to entertain himself long-term.
"How bad is life going for you?" Joanna asked stepping away from him, and over to the drink counter. She picked up a glass, and poured herself a glass of whiskey. "Obviously pretty bad, if you've come to me of all people for help. But what am I looking at for rooming you?" She inquired sipping from the glass slowly, trying to weigh the odds of having the person she most hated, besides her ignorant parents, stay with her in the apartment she was living in. She needed a lot more information before she was just going to say yes. The only reason she considered, was because she'd have something to hold over him when he started acting out against her.
Joanna continued to simper over the glass she held, starring him up and down. "I mean, how long would you need to stay?" She inquired him, leaning against the counter. A thought came to her, so right after leaning back she sat up again. Setting her glass aside, she grabbed another one, pouring a drink for him. She held it out to him, picking her own back up and draining it off.
"It's complicated," he grumbled, eyes darting to the side as he thought about how his life went from bad to worse. This is what I get for helping out a friend. And to rub salt in the wound, he freaking left me after the fact. Kasiya shook his head to clear his thundering thoughts, then focused on Joanna as he watched her and listened to her questions. "I honestly don't know," he admitted with a shrug, grabbing the drink with a terse nod of thanks before downing it in one go. Gods, he really needed that.
"But," he added slowly, grateful that she had decided to not be difficult and actually talk to him, "I can offer a challenge. Y'know, for old times' sake." That devilish and easy smirk making its way back up his lips. "I'd also be in your debt, so there's that as well." C'mon, Princess. Say yes. I know you want to. Me, asking for your help. Perfect opportunity to get back at me for everything you think needs justice. Revenge is sweet, you know.
Picking up a new bottle, she popped the top off, offering to pour him a second glass. "Challenge? What kind?" Joanna questioned him, unsure she liked the idea of his vagueness about details. It was unsettling, but if he was going to brush her off, she'd just ask more and more questions to get under his skin. Mostly for the sake of annoying him, and he'd leave faster if she did say yes. "I don't accept any kind of deals without a contract where I've read the fine print."
Joanna wasn't lying, she wasn't about to trust him on anything. He was being weird, and it was starting to worry her. Something was wrong, but he was going to keep things to himself. Maybe tell someone else, not her. She poured herself a half of a sip, before holding it back out to him. 'Maybe if I get him drunk enough, things will go easier for me.' She thought sarcastically, a smirk on her own lips.
He barely even thought about it as he held out his glass for another drink, definitely needing the alcohol to calm his nerves. "So I've got you interested. There's a start." He cleared his throat dramatically and grinned, standing up to his full height once more. "We act like we're going out. All the mushy stuff couples do. My bet is you won't be able to resist my charms and will fall for me." His arrogance was true, but most of it was a mask. He was still worried about his brother, but maybe this was a good distraction from that worry.
Kasiya really didn't have anyone to go talk to about anything. He didn't like getting close to people, because all they did was turn their backs on you. His family, his one friend, everyone. Joanna was a slight exception, but that was just because they hated each other and constantly schemed to get under each other's skin. She didn't count. He highly doubted he'd be opening up to her anytime soon about anything that didn't concern her.
Nodding, she filled his glass to the rim with a slight smile. She was going to avoid drinking anymore. But hearing his challenge made her choke on her own saliva. "Excuse me?" She asked setting the bottle aside. It was one thing to propose they start fake dating, but it was another to assume she'd fall for him. "How can you be so confident I'm not seeing someone? Don't you think that they would get rather upset seeing another guy coming up and running his hands all over me?"
This was ridiculous. He was assuming and expecting too much of her. Her heart began racing, and her face flushed some, but not because of a fluttery feeling she was gaining. She was rather upset with him. It bothered her a lot, but she knew she had to accept the challenge. Though she needed her moment to freak out, and be pissed off at him. Joanna had to accept the stupid challenge, otherwise he'd feel like he had the power over her.
Kasiya rose a brow and pointedly looked around the bar she worked at—at all the drunkards that were likely doing that exact thing she said her hypothetical boyfriend wouldn't like him doing. "If this supposed boyfriend had a problem with that, he'd have issues with your choice of career," he drawled, rolling his eyes. "Or girlfriend, whatever you want your imaginary significant other to be." He downed his drink again, then set his glass off to the side and stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets, tipping his head to the side and biting at one of his snake bite piercings. He studied Joanna for some time before speaking again.
He shrugged and shifted, as if getting ready to leave. "Your choice, shortcake. Say no, and you won't see me again. Say yes, and I'll be in your debt." Either way, it was a win-win for her, and he had offered it like that for that specific reason.
Joanna's doll like green eyes narrowed, watching him down the whole drink. It was oh so tempting, and she didn't want him to actually leave. No, no, no, she actually liked having someone around to tease. Sucking in a deep breath, she ran a hand down her face and nodded. She had already had a few drinks spread throughout her shift, and only now realized she was feeling a little tipsy. "Fine. I accept." She said simply.
She had done it, she had accepted the challenge and there was no going back. She was stuck with him, and now the two of them were about to start touching in a lot more intimate ways than before. Everything was about to change between them, and nobody would believe her when she told the, she wasn't actually dating her rival. But this was a risk she was willing to take.
He smirked triumphantly when she agreed, leaning back down to her level again. "Then it's a bet. How much?" he asked, eyes sparkling. Bingo. He got a place to stay and entertainment, and a chance to earn some cash. He wouldn't fall for her, that much he knew, so he was safe if she wanted to add onto the bet. "Also, when's your shift end? I don't particularly care to hang around here doing nothing while waiting for you."
Despite how much of an asshole he was, Kasiya knew he wouldn't push Joanna around too much when it came to all the couple-stuff they'd have to do. He might just a little bit to push her buttons a bit, but he wouldn't go too far. He was an ass, but not that much.
She looked up to him, a little taller than usual with her heels. "I dunno, twenty bucks?" She offered in a quiet tone. Her eyes flitted to his lips, watching them carefully. Joanna didn't want to see them too close, but they were already breaking that wish. She knew that for this challenge they had to get close, and the thought of him staying at her place weighed her down. She groaned internally at remembering that tiny insignificant detail.
Joanna was going to win this, there was no way she was letting Kasiya. Never in a billion years. So she had to get on her a-game to be as seductive as possible. So she decided to start now. Resting her hands on his chest, she trailed her finger downwards. "I get off in about 45 minutes. So you have time to wander. Though I should probably get your number."
Kasiya's eyes flicked down when she placed her hands on his chest, then flicked back up to hers. That's not going to be so easy, shortcake, he thought with amusement, but didn't pull away to humor her—and because now they were supposed to be fake dating. "Yeah, should probably get that." He reached back and grabbed his phone from his back pocket, then handed it to her. He didn't have anything on it for her to snoop, so he wasn't worried about her finding anything he didn't want her to find. "I'll probably just walk around a bit while I wait for you. I'm not hanging around all these drunkards."
Joanna took his phone, and tapped her number in quickly. She named her contact, mostly to humor him, Princess, and handed his phone back over. She bit her lower lip some, and leaned back against the counter once more. "Sure thing hot stuff." She whispered some, holding her head high. "I have my car with me, I decided to drive today. So I'll meet you at the park in 45 minutes." She told him slipping off to go finish working her shift.
A smirk came to her lips as she walked off swaying her hip in the process. Maybe she shouldn't drive because she had had a drink, but she didn't take them like shots. So she felt she'd be fine. Though she clearly wasn't think straight. That's not how this kind of thing worked, so the drive home would be interesting.
Kas rolled his eyes at the 'hot stuff,' watching her go. He knew the change of attitude was because of her determination to win the bet, so really he was just amused by it. He stood up straight and glanced around the bar, adding a certain look to his gaze—a look of possessiveness. If he was to act like her boyfriend, then he might as well look the part to others. Which meant that he had to play the part of a protective boyfriend.
"Ugh, I'm going to drive myself nuts by the end of this," he muttered under his breath as he turned to leave the bar, "I'm thinking too much. Time to blow some shit up." 45 minutes was ample time to get into some harmless trouble. The only factor was what trouble he was going to get into. Gambling wouldn't work, as he had little money. Or, perhaps, he'd sneak off to somewhere secluded so he could work on his magic. He didn't like that idea, but he had to to avoid losing control of it. Besides, he reasoned with himself, he'd have the chance to blow stuff up.
(Do we wanna go ahead and skip until she comes to meet him at the park?)
((Yeah, I think skip is the best))
((Alright~))
Joanna had driven over, and was walking through the park carrying her heels with the tips of her fingers. She hummed softly, looking around for her "boyfriend" feeling a little sick to her stomach. Things were starting to clear through her head, and she realized what she had agreed to in a more serious sense. "What have I done?" She asked herself, rubbing her face.
"I've doomed myself, with that son of a-" She caught herself, sucking in a deep breath. Letting it out slowly, she dropped her shoes and sat down on the grass next to them. "Relax Jo, you'll be fine. It's only a game." She muttered, looking up at the night sky.
Kas walked into the park, split lip and a few cuts on his face and arms. His magic had backfired, yet again. He had tried to use it on some discarded garbage cans, and it had whipped around and hit him instead. So to say he was back to being pissed was an understatement. He had no plans to mess with Joanna at the moment. He just wanted to get some sleep and pretend his brother didn't exist like he had done a long time ago.
He found Joanna on the ground and came up behind her. "Let's go," he said, avoiding eye contact with her and hoping she didn't notice the cuts and slight drops of blood on his face. His hands were stuffed into his jean pockets to hide their cuts.
Joanna glanced up at him, pushing herself off the ground. Brushing herself off, she bent down, and picked up her shoes. "My car is that way." She pointed off towards the parking lot, and started strutting off to one of the few vehicles in the lot. Pulling her keys from her front pocket, she unlocked the doors and opened her own. "Come on loser get in." She called after him slamming her door shut.
Starting the car, she clicked her seat belt in place, leaning back in the car seat. She shut her eyes, and rubbed her face trying to relax after the long day. Her car was neat and sleek on the inside, with leather seats, and a dark interior. She did not have an electric car, but she rather wished she did. So in hopes of selling this one she kept it as clean as possible.
"Alright, so we're both in a pissy mood. Wonderful," he mumbled as he opened the passenger door and slid in, ducking his head down so he didn't hit it on the frame. There were perks of being tall—he got to intimidate other people pretty easily, could reach stuff easier, could see over people's heads—but there were also some serious cons to it, which usually resulted in bodily harm.
He settled into his seat and clicked on the seatbelt after a moment of deliberation. Joanna would probably yell at him if he didn't, and he wasn't in the mood to argue with her. He, instead, distracted himself by admiring how clean she kept her car. Either she's a neat-freak or she's planning on doing something with the car.
If you knew Joanna well, you'd know she was absolutely not a neat freak. Far from it besides her car and 75% of her apartment. Everything else in her life was a mess, but she never had the time to fix it. So she struggled with the effects of a messy bedroom and unable to find a single thing in it. She hoped he wouldn't insist they sleep together in the same room, because that would be the point she would get up and kick him out. No matter if she owed him 20 bucks or not. For now at least.
She turned down the radio, switching the station to a quiet hum of popular music. She didn't care for it much herself, but she thought it was probably the best choice if it was quiet. "So, how's life been so far?" She asked, attempting to start a simple conversation. Mostly expecting him to brush it off, or tell her it was fine.
