(Do you maybe want to time skip to when Axel goes back to the bar?)
Kenji gave Axel a sort of sympathetic look as the male got out of his car. Brazil shifted around his neck, her tongue flicking out into the air a couple of times. "You're welcome. Take care, and I hope to see you back at the pub on a better occasion," he replied. When Axel shut the door, he waited in the drive for a moment to make sure Axel got to his door and went inside ok. He pulled backwards out of the driveway, turning up the alternative radio station as he drove back to his small home. It was one story- having a small kitchen and living room, one full bathroom, one half bathroom, two bedrooms, and a small attic for storage purposes. Once he got home, he first put Brazil into her tank, feeling exhausted as he got ready for bed.
(Sure!)
Axel had gone to bed after taking a soak in his bath. He might as well sleep it off. In the morning he woke up with a little bit of a headache. He got dressed and ready for the day before grabbing his wallet. He wanted to thank Kenji again and pay for the drinks from last night. He looked nice, wearing a simple grey turtle neck, a black knee length light coat, jeans and doc martins. His hair was tied up neatly in a ponytail with some stray hairs framing his face prettily. He exits his house, entering his car and driving quietly to the bar. He was nervous to say the least, parking and slowly entering. He adjusts his bag and clears his throat. He just needed to drop the money off and go.
Kenji had pretty much went straight to bed after going home. He had been tired from his long shift and had not slept well the night before. When he woke up, he showered and ate a light breakfast. He did not have to work at the bar, but would still go to hang out and have a drink or two while his cousin bartended. He left the house a bit later in the day, bringing Brazil with him as he drove down to the pub. Once there, he greeted his cousin and took a seat in one of the barstools. He ordered a beer, and took a sip once he got it. This time, he was dressed in much more casual clothes- a grey, crew neck sweatshirt, a pair of ripped black jeans, dark sneakers, various pieces of silver jewelry, and a black beanie. When Axel would have come in, he would still be sitting at the bar, chatting with his cousin as he stroked along Brazil's scaly body.
Axel was tense when he entered the bar. He wasn't sure if he should keep coming here or not. It was rather peaceful, he realized. He takes a deep breath, trying to think how to approach the other without making things awkward. He wasn't good with emotion, he never was. People were scary… And confusing. He takes a deep breath and wanders over to the bar, quietly nodding at what looked like Kenji's cousin before glancing over at Kenji. He recognized Brazil almost instantly, and his soft eyes flickered over to Kenji. "I wanted to pay… For the drinks from last night." His voice was quiet, tense even. He places the money in front of the other. "As well as for the ride home." It was more than his total, leveling out to about $150. "I'll be off then." Small talk wasn't his forte. So he stood, and moved towards the exit.
The bar was much quieter at the moment. Including Kenji, there were probably only around four people there. It was much calmer than the night before, that was for sure. When Axel came into the bar, Kenji's cousin, Jacob, looked up to greet the male. Jacob had recognized Axel as the guy Kenji had been chatting up the night before, and gave Kenji a nudge on the arm. Kenji looked over his shoulder to see Axel, and he smiled when he saw the male. "Hey, Axel," he hummed, though his brows raised at the mention of the payment. The money was set down in front of him, and he picked it up, counting the bills. $150? Kenji's jaw could have dropped to the floor. "Hold up, Axel. This is way too much. You only had a couple of drink and it was barely a ten minute drive," he protested.
He was glad that the bar was quiet, it made this easier, he supposed. He didn't really want to deal with a lot of people. He just wanted to be able to relax and wanted to get this over with. He needed to practice today after all. And he needed to get a commission done. He took a deep breath and smiled softly. "Hi," He nods to the others cousin, a nervous smile flittering over his cheeks. He hummed softly and waved glancing at the other when he was called over at. He shrugged, "I guess it's a thank you?" His hand was resting on the door knob. He wanted to go home, but he didn't want to ignore the other. His brown eyes flit over the other people in the pub. He didn't want to think about it too much.
Jacob made a home about how if Kenji did not want the money, he would take it. Kenji rolled his eyes at his laughing cousin and got up from his stool, going over to where Axel was. “Hey, man. For real, this is too much- I can’t accept all of this,” he tilting his head as he held out a couple of the bills. In the other hand, he held on to about $50, deciding that was what he deserved for the night, and Brazil, who was curled around his hand comfortably. He would give back $100, and then they would be even. It was only fair, he thought.
Axel glances over at the other, brushing some stray hair from his face and taking a deep breath. It was money, he didn't see what the big deal was. But then again he didn't really use money for material things. Axel shook his head when the other held out the money. "I suppose use it for Brazil or yourself." He shrugged a little bit. "It's really up to you." He offered a timid smile. He nods to Kenji's cousin before wandering outside of the pub and taking a deep breath.
Kenji had been about to say that if it was up to him, he would give the money back to Axel. But he was unable to say that because of how Axel hurried out of the pub. “You’re lucking out, huh?” Jacob laughed from behind the bar, and Kenji flipped his cousin off in response. He stepped out from the pub, hurrying to where he saw Axel on the sidewalk. “Hey, why are you just running off?” he questioned with a frown on his lips, brow furrowed. He had not even received a ‘goodbye’ from Axel. Was that it? Just drop off the money and leave right away?
Axel wasn't really one who liked much socializing, he feared what people saw of him. He couldn't remember the last time he had been treated as a human being, rather than a musician/artist. It had been nice, but he didn't want to think about it. He wasn't drunk right now, he wasn't chatty. Axel paused when the other asked where he was going, glancing back at the other. What the hell was he supposed to say? That he was bad with social interactions? That he had no idea how to talk to attractive men? That he wasn't used to being treated like a normal person? He shuffled and took a deep breath. "I'm…" He cleared his throat. "I didn't want to bother you too much. It looked like you were busy with your cousin." He shrugged a little bit.
Kenji stood with his hands partly rested on his hips, Brazil having slithered farther up his arm. "I wasn't really busy. I had nothing to do so I was just grabbing a beer," he said, tilting his head a little to the side. Axel was definitely not as chatty as he had been the night before. It really seemed like Axel wanted to get away from him. "If you're busy, I'll just let you go. If not, you could always come hang out at the pub or something?" he offered. He left it open for Axel to decide, not wanting to pressure the male into hanging out with him or anything like that.
He was surprised the conversation was still going. That the other wanted to talk to him. He nods a little, his head tilting ever so slightly when the other spoke. "Oh, okay." He murmured quietly. He was glad at least, that he hadn't been interrupting something. It was nice not to be stared at, but he was so tense and nervous around men he found attractive- He shoved that out of his head. He wasn't busy today… his manager had things to tend to, so he was left to his own will. He figured he might as well stay, talking to Kenji was nice, and oddly soothing. So he nods slowly and offers a tiny smile. "Yeah… I can stay." He nods a little bit, tucking some hair back from his face and glancing at Kenji to take the lead.
Kenji smiled when Axel agreed, eyes squinting from the expression. "Great. It'll be a good time," he started, leading Axel back over to the pub. He held the door open for Axel and followed him in, taking a seat back at the barstool he had sat at previously. "You want anything to drink?" he asked, taking a sip from his own bottle of beer. He was not planning on getting drunk or anything. He would probably have one more beer, and then would put that weed his cousin gave him to good use. He wondered if Axel smoked and if he should invite the male to leave eventually and have a smoke with him.
Axel hummed at that, a tiny smile on his lips. "Sure…" he muttered quietly, following after Kenji back into the bar. He was nervous if he was being honest. It was rare for him to hang out in public spaces, but he settled into the chair and relaxed. He figured he should be at least a little careful. "Something light, if that's okay?" He glances over at Kenji's cousin, a small smile on his lips. He had somewhat recovered from last night, but that loneliness still tugged at him. He glances over at Kenji, not sure how to start the conversation. He could try some light chatter, but he wasn't sure how to ask anything. It was just easier when his manager told him to sit still and stay quiet. "So what are some of your interests?" He asks curiously.
Kenji looked over at Axel, then back over at his cousin. Jacob nodded when he was told to get something light. Jacob brought back over a beer for Axel, handing Kenji another bottle as well. His brows quirked upwards when he was asked that question. Axel seemed a bit awkward at the moment, so he decided he would lead with the conversation. "Well, I'm super in to music. That's always fun- I'm pretty good with a piano. I like hanging with Brazil and just watching her do her snake thing. Smoking weed is also really fun, just as a little past time," he hummed, throwing in the last bit about smoking weed to see if Axel was into that sort of thing or not.
Axel places some money on the counter for Jacob before taking his beer and sipping on it quietly. Maybe a drink would help him ease up a little, loosen up and talk more. Axel wasn't really one to come out of his shell. He was more of a guy who had steel walls surrounding him. He nods, listening intently to each word that Kenji says. Music…. Music was good. They had that in common, which relieved him. Brazil was rather adorable, he loved snakes, and she was particularly beautiful. As for smoking weed, "I've never done it. I've been curious, but I've never had the time or my manager was watching me like a hawk." He took another sip of his drink.
(hi hi, sorry for the delay! i just had midterm week and am finishing up finally, so i’ve been very busy, but i’m back!)
Kenji was quite talkative. If given the chance to talk about things he enjoyed, he could carry a conversation for quite a long while. Axel was quiet and all, but he was not one to just shrug off company. At the mention of weed, though, his brows raised in an excited sort of manner. “Oh yeah?” he asked, tilting his head and taking a sip of his beer before continuing. “I was planning on going to smoke after leaving here. You want to come? I have bud on me right now.”
(Hey, hey no worries! I've been working too, so no rush hun!)
Axel hummed in thought, he liked the fact that the other was talkative. It let him listen and not have to talk a lot. It was comforting really, when someone talked, especially with how Kenji was treating him. He was used to being seen as an object rather than an actual person. He hummed and tilts his head a little bit before nodding slowly. "Might as well, I need to live at some point." He offers a tiny, sheepish smile. He wasn't sure what to do, but he was glad that the other had offered, he'd certainly take the other up on the offer. "When do we want to go?" He asks curiously.
(ok ok cool, thank you!)
Kenji grinned brightly when Axel agreed to go and smoke with him. He held a hand up when asked when they would leave, bringing his glass up to his lips and downing the rest of it. Once he quickly finished with the alcohol, he set his glass down, along with a couple of bills to tip his cousin. "We can go now, or in a minute if you're not ready," he offered, tilting his head to nod towards the door. They would most likely just drive back to his small home where they would be a bit more in private and less likely to get caught.
(No problemo!)
Axel smiled a little bit in reply before tilting his head when the other held up a hand. He sipped at his alcohol while the other finished his off, a tiny smile on his lips. He nods before finishing his own drink and setting it down. He offered a rather nice tip to Kenji's cousin before glancing at Kenji. He was nervous to say the least, it would be his first time getting high and honestly he wasn't sure what to expect. Not to mention it, he was smoking with a near stranger. "Alright. I'm ready to go." He offered a tiny smile. At least he was getting out of his shell, that was nice.
