Ben rushed around the bar, taking inventory of all the drinks. Dressed in a white shirt, charcoal vest and tie, and a pair of blue jeans and cowboy boots, the younger O'Mara brother had a towel thrown over his shoulder as he tried to make sure that everything was ready. There was a big game tonight, Arsenal versus Manchester, and the big soccer games always brought in more people, since the Europeans generally felt the need to represent their sport. Couple that with the full moon being only a day or two away, and there stood the chance for some high tensions.
Ben himself felt the pull of the moon, like gravity was pulling upward on his spine, but he pushed it aside and concentrated on the task at hand. The amount of wings and fries that the Pack would eat tonight would be staggering, and he was waiting on the special delivery of chicken and potatoes that he'd placed, while he knew that he'd have to start eating himself soon, he still had to give to the Tank, as he called it, a large stainless steel drum in the back that held and kept warm close to twenty-five gallons of blood, solely for the addition to all of the vampires' drinks. Ben silently thanked Calvin and his Half-Heads, most of whom regularly donated to the tank, doing their part for the 'community'.
Calling back into the kitchen, Ben placed an order for a plate of chicken strips and potato wedges, the set about getting the blood pack ready, slipping the needle into his arm and taping down the tube with long practice.
Stepping back out into the bar, Ben started booting up the computers and televisions when he saw the door open and two females step in, one dressed rather demurely, the other with fire engine red nails and lips, both pale of skin. The younger O'Mara brother watched as Iris peeled off for her usual corner seat, while Rocket walked straight towards him, neon glinting off her fangs as she smiled. "Benji... Are you trying to get me worked up?" The vampish vampire gesturing to the tubes and blood packs that were filling slowly in Ben's pocket.
With a megawatt smile, Ben grinned at the alluring female, a touch of color rising to his cheeks, despite the draining blood. "I'm pitching in for the Tank. Tonight's a bit night, after all."
Rocket's smile got larger, always enjoying the repartee with that she had with Ben. "Maybe later you'll give me a taste? From your 'private' reserve, Benji?"
Unable to help it, the girl-crazy O'Mara grinned broadly and laughed, picturing the possibilities.
Ben himself felt the pull of the moon, like gravity was pulling upward on his spine, but he pushed it aside and concentrated on the task at hand. The amount of wings and fries that the Pack would eat tonight would be staggering, and he was waiting on the special delivery of chicken and potatoes that he'd placed, while he knew that he'd have to start eating himself soon, he still had to give to the Tank, as he called it, a large stainless steel drum in the back that held and kept warm close to twenty-five gallons of blood, solely for the addition to all of the vampires' drinks. Ben silently thanked Calvin and his Half-Heads, most of whom regularly donated to the tank, doing their part for the 'community'.
Calling back into the kitchen, Ben placed an order for a plate of chicken strips and potato wedges, the set about getting the blood pack ready, slipping the needle into his arm and taping down the tube with long practice.
Stepping back out into the bar, Ben started booting up the computers and televisions when he saw the door open and two females step in, one dressed rather demurely, the other with fire engine red nails and lips, both pale of skin. The younger O'Mara brother watched as Iris peeled off for her usual corner seat, while Rocket walked straight towards him, neon glinting off her fangs as she smiled. "Benji... Are you trying to get me worked up?" The vampish vampire gesturing to the tubes and blood packs that were filling slowly in Ben's pocket.
With a megawatt smile, Ben grinned at the alluring female, a touch of color rising to his cheeks, despite the draining blood. "I'm pitching in for the Tank. Tonight's a bit night, after all."
Rocket's smile got larger, always enjoying the repartee with that she had with Ben. "Maybe later you'll give me a taste? From your 'private' reserve, Benji?"
Unable to help it, the girl-crazy O'Mara grinned broadly and laughed, picturing the possibilities.
"BEN!" Joseph would raise his voice from the other end of the bar. "Come here now." He was clearly unhappy about the flirtatiousness of his conversation with Rocket. "What are you doing?" noticing the syringe, "Are ya mad kid?", Joseph thought of their blood being the kind of blood that shouldn't be drank. He would walk into the back to talk to Ben. "Look do what ya will, but if you get eaten alive cuz your blood tastes especially good in the Tank, don't come crying to, I'll let the fuckers eatcha." He of course would never let that happen and it was likely that Ben knew this, but he didn't have a whole lot more he could threaten his brother with this far into their lives. "Just clean up and make sure that there is plenty of Bloodwine under the bar, those fuckers like to drink when they watch Futbol." he would walk into the kitchen and then into the fridge to get out the slabs of raw meat, it was common for the Pack that Ben was a part of to eat a couple hundred pounds of meat the week of The Full Moon. He'd also noticed that the "OPEN" sign wasn't on when he looked into the security Camera... and there was no Bouncer. "BEN WHERE THE FUCK IS OUR BOUNCER AND WHY IS THE OPEN SIGN OFF!?" he was a bit of a harsh individual at opening, this was common, an hour from now he'd be more relaxed.
Ben grinned and walked backwards away from Rocket, chuckling and making eyes at the female while she made eyes back, until Ben gave a small wave with his fingers and turned, meeting up with his brother. "Yes, oh lord and master of cock blocking? How may I serve you?"
At Joseph's complaint about him coughing it up for the Tank, however, Ben simply rolled his eyes and put his hands up, starting to walk away. "You need to stop being a dick, or I'm going to shut you in the freezer." Continuing to walk away, especially because his food was up, the younger O'Mara was almost out of the kitchen when Thorn's eruption caused him to wheel back around, staring at his brother with an exasperated expression upon his face, waiting for the elder to finish, rather than try to talk over him. "The open sign isn't on because we literally opened..." With a exaggerated show, Ben checked his watch for the time. "Three minutes ago! And the bouncer isn't here because when the fuck do we need a bouncer at three thirty in the afternoon?!" Throwing his hands back into the air, Ben backed out of the kitchen, glaring at his brother until he grinned, pointing an accusing finger at his family. "You need to get laid."
Snagging his food and vanishing back into the bar proper, found a corner table and ate quietly as he synched up the stack of trivia game controllers.
At Joseph's complaint about him coughing it up for the Tank, however, Ben simply rolled his eyes and put his hands up, starting to walk away. "You need to stop being a dick, or I'm going to shut you in the freezer." Continuing to walk away, especially because his food was up, the younger O'Mara was almost out of the kitchen when Thorn's eruption caused him to wheel back around, staring at his brother with an exasperated expression upon his face, waiting for the elder to finish, rather than try to talk over him. "The open sign isn't on because we literally opened..." With a exaggerated show, Ben checked his watch for the time. "Three minutes ago! And the bouncer isn't here because when the fuck do we need a bouncer at three thirty in the afternoon?!" Throwing his hands back into the air, Ben backed out of the kitchen, glaring at his brother until he grinned, pointing an accusing finger at his family. "You need to get laid."
Snagging his food and vanishing back into the bar proper, found a corner table and ate quietly as he synched up the stack of trivia game controllers.
Joseph was irritated, but would stay about getting the meat out. He would make sure to get a hold of KC or Omaha and see if they would keep the crowd down. They wouldn't normally come in for futbol, but for a few bucks those two would do just about anything... even bury a dead body.
Joseph would close the walk-in, then move his way to the fryer and get them warmed up, going to be making a heavy amount of fried food and that grease would need to stay hot. The game wouldn't start for a few more hours, but that was okay, being able to pump out food fast would put it in the crowd, draw more in, etc. There was some cleverness about it.
Joseph would make his way to the bar, make himself an Irish Car Bomb and get the evening started right, little bastard had already started to piss him off, but hey it's all part of working with family. He would down the thing in seconds, owning a bar had some perks, one of them included increasing his alcohol tolerance and getting free booze. "That's a little better... wonder what that shit head brother of mine has planned for the night..." He would look throughout the bar to see him messing with the game controllers... "for now that should work..." Joseph was especially uptight due to the Full Moon coming in a few days, this meant shit can happen here, and Ben was going to get more... assholish than usual... "Fuck I need another drink..."
Joseph would close the walk-in, then move his way to the fryer and get them warmed up, going to be making a heavy amount of fried food and that grease would need to stay hot. The game wouldn't start for a few more hours, but that was okay, being able to pump out food fast would put it in the crowd, draw more in, etc. There was some cleverness about it.
Joseph would make his way to the bar, make himself an Irish Car Bomb and get the evening started right, little bastard had already started to piss him off, but hey it's all part of working with family. He would down the thing in seconds, owning a bar had some perks, one of them included increasing his alcohol tolerance and getting free booze. "That's a little better... wonder what that shit head brother of mine has planned for the night..." He would look throughout the bar to see him messing with the game controllers... "for now that should work..." Joseph was especially uptight due to the Full Moon coming in a few days, this meant shit can happen here, and Ben was going to get more... assholish than usual... "Fuck I need another drink..."
Ben was halfway done with his meal and halfway done with the task of synching the trivia controllers when two of his pack members walked in. Kansas City and Omaha filled the doorway, one less than half a pace behind the other, all thirteen feet and close to six hundred pounds of them. The two were the default choices for muscle work, because they were innately a team, hardly ever communicating with anyone but each other.
Though his relationship with the Pack was strained due to his part in the bar, the younger O'Mara slipped from his seat and approached the pair with a smile on his face and his arms open in friendship. "Hey guys, glad you could make it." The silence that stretched on from the pair reminded Ben of the fact that they collectively had over a foot in height on him, and they personally each outweighed him by a hundred pounds. "You two up for some work tonight?" More silence, prompting Ben to sigh and roll his eyes. "Usual deal. Fifteen percent off food, ten off alcohol. If you two manage not to break anything or cause a scene, it'll be twenty off booze. Deal?" At last the two hulking brothers smiled and took places by the door, and Ben's heart slowed a little. He got along better with KC and Omaha better than anyone else in the pack, simply because they never called him a traitor. Benjamin had gotten lucky when he and Thorn were opening the bar, because Carson had been lit when Joe and himself had gone to talk to the Alpha about their plans. Carson had demanded sovereignty, which Joe outright refused. Because his brother hadn't been a wolf, he wasn't bound by dominance like Ben was. In the Alpha's drunken anger, he cut Ben out of the pack, inadvertently removing his own control and essentially setting Ben on equal footing with himself.
Strolling over to the bar rather than dwell on the past, Ben fixed himself a drink while he talked to his brother. "Omaha and Kansas City are on board for the evening, I sent them a message earlier asking them to come by. I gave them the standard deal, plus an extra ten percent on hooch if they don't break anything..."
Dropping a slice of lime in his SoCo, Ben locked his eyes on his brother, his lips slowly curling upward into a smile. "You look old, Thorny."
Though his relationship with the Pack was strained due to his part in the bar, the younger O'Mara slipped from his seat and approached the pair with a smile on his face and his arms open in friendship. "Hey guys, glad you could make it." The silence that stretched on from the pair reminded Ben of the fact that they collectively had over a foot in height on him, and they personally each outweighed him by a hundred pounds. "You two up for some work tonight?" More silence, prompting Ben to sigh and roll his eyes. "Usual deal. Fifteen percent off food, ten off alcohol. If you two manage not to break anything or cause a scene, it'll be twenty off booze. Deal?" At last the two hulking brothers smiled and took places by the door, and Ben's heart slowed a little. He got along better with KC and Omaha better than anyone else in the pack, simply because they never called him a traitor. Benjamin had gotten lucky when he and Thorn were opening the bar, because Carson had been lit when Joe and himself had gone to talk to the Alpha about their plans. Carson had demanded sovereignty, which Joe outright refused. Because his brother hadn't been a wolf, he wasn't bound by dominance like Ben was. In the Alpha's drunken anger, he cut Ben out of the pack, inadvertently removing his own control and essentially setting Ben on equal footing with himself.
Strolling over to the bar rather than dwell on the past, Ben fixed himself a drink while he talked to his brother. "Omaha and Kansas City are on board for the evening, I sent them a message earlier asking them to come by. I gave them the standard deal, plus an extra ten percent on hooch if they don't break anything..."
Dropping a slice of lime in his SoCo, Ben locked his eyes on his brother, his lips slowly curling upward into a smile. "You look old, Thorny."
"Looking old is what I do best little brother." he would say as he poured another drink, "It doesn't help that I'm the one who's got to watch over you, I mean if I die I think you'll turn this place into a brothel or at least a gambling parlor." he would laugh with the deepness in his hardy voice... when Joe laughed it was typically heard around the bar. Kind of hard to hide that deep of a laugh even in a crowd. "KC, Omaha, get over here, I'll pour you a drink to start out the night." The two would likely be reluctant, but free booze was never turned down. "Let me pour us a few shots" he would get out a bottle of Crown Royal, pour four shots, "Okay boys to an easy night and a good game!" he would raise his glass in toast. Joe was feeling better they'd been open for a few minutes and all hell hadn't broken loose... yet. He would wait for the boys and then down his shot. "Now go ahead and take your posts, and if I need something else I'll pay you in booze." he'd laugh as they walked away. "Ben, I'm gonna do something I NEVER do okay?" he would look at Ben with a serious face, "I'm going to go get some food, get a drink take a booth and watch the game tonight, I don't think I've had a day off in...six... seven years?" It was true, the bar was open three hundred and sixty-five days a year, and had been for the last seven years. Every night Joe would work the bar and handle the kitchen as well as any paperwork, the man worked harder than most, and it could be seen in his greying hair. "Think you can handle it hoss?"
Ben had chosen to wait, downing his shot of Crown along side his brother. Switching back to his SoCo and lime, he tried to keep as serious a face as Joe but couldn't. The younger brother's face cracking wide into a grin, he felt the brotherly need to talk a bit of shit. "That doesn't sound like taking a night off. That sounds like you're trying to make me feel better about my position in the management of OUR establishment?" The younger O'Mara had worked and scraped and fought hard to purchase his half of the stake in the bar, though much of his time was spent with the 'community' and the daytime tasks that had to be done. "If you really wanted to take a day off, you'd get drunk and make a pass at Iris."
Soothing any uproar with a charming grin, Ben clapped his brother on the shoulder and took a sip of his drink. "Relax, bro. I'll be fine. I've got plenty of help tonight, and the paperwork is a cinch. Chill out, watch the game, and try not to pick any fights from your booth." Turning back towards his food and the task of the controllers, he did cast one more comment over his shoulder, one more barb to fling. "You do remember you're American, right? Same as me? You're talking like a mick again."
Soothing any uproar with a charming grin, Ben clapped his brother on the shoulder and took a sip of his drink. "Relax, bro. I'll be fine. I've got plenty of help tonight, and the paperwork is a cinch. Chill out, watch the game, and try not to pick any fights from your booth." Turning back towards his food and the task of the controllers, he did cast one more comment over his shoulder, one more barb to fling. "You do remember you're American, right? Same as me? You're talking like a mick again."
Joe was more and more acting his route, as they were both of Irish decent. The more he drank the more it came out in him, though it was more based on his love of the culture than his want to be Irish. "I know this is OUR establishment, my brother, but all the same I couldn't do it without you, and you without me." he would laugh at the hitting on Iris comment, "You know women and me don't mix as easily as they might for you." he would continue to pour shots for himself and his brother, "Another one for health Brother." he would hold his glass up. "I'm American, but my blood is Irish, meaning is one hundred fifty proof." he would chuckle at his toast, and then shoot back the glass. He would then walk back and fry up some chicken and fries for himself. Take that and walk to the corner booth that was reserved for the boys themselves. Sit down, and relax.
Ben couldn't help but grin at his brother, giving an exaggerated heaving sigh and turning with melodramatic grudging slowness. Two lethargic steps, then he perked back up and quickly slammed the shot down, bouncing off to finish his task, barking a few quick orders to one of the senior waitresses.
Snatching his own plate of food, he wolfed much of it down as he carried it to he and Joseph's table, knowing it would be safe there while he ran around. A shout came from the kitchen, and Ben jogged to the back, his normal calm breaching only with a slightly annoyed grunt at the beef, chicken, and potatoes all arrived at the same time.
Benjamin wasn't stressed, and the tasks were all things he had done before, and even done them by himself. The werewolf entrepreneur simply wanted everything done now, less patient for things to get done in their own time.
Snatching his own plate of food, he wolfed much of it down as he carried it to he and Joseph's table, knowing it would be safe there while he ran around. A shout came from the kitchen, and Ben jogged to the back, his normal calm breaching only with a slightly annoyed grunt at the beef, chicken, and potatoes all arrived at the same time.
Benjamin wasn't stressed, and the tasks were all things he had done before, and even done them by himself. The werewolf entrepreneur simply wanted everything done now, less patient for things to get done in their own time.
Joe would watch Ben put down his plate of food and think the same thing sounded good, he'd order a burger and fries as well as another stiff drink seeing as he had finished his. "I wonder who will win..."
"The red team." said Rocket as she slid in next to him, "I always go with the red team." she would look at him devilishly.
"Rocket please feck off?" he was rather annoyed by her presence.
"Ah what's wrong tall and grey? Don't want a pretty girl to sit next to you and watch the game? Afraid you'll be too preoccupied to watch the sill futbol match?" she would say with a cutesy little voice.
Joe would turn his head completely to her attention, "Rocket, you have less than three seconds to vacate my booth or I will send you straight to hell and take a sip of my drink before anyone here realizes you're gone... One... Two..." he would say in the most sincere voice... he'd do it too...
"The red team." said Rocket as she slid in next to him, "I always go with the red team." she would look at him devilishly.
"Rocket please feck off?" he was rather annoyed by her presence.
"Ah what's wrong tall and grey? Don't want a pretty girl to sit next to you and watch the game? Afraid you'll be too preoccupied to watch the sill futbol match?" she would say with a cutesy little voice.
Joe would turn his head completely to her attention, "Rocket, you have less than three seconds to vacate my booth or I will send you straight to hell and take a sip of my drink before anyone here realizes you're gone... One... Two..." he would say in the most sincere voice... he'd do it too...
The vampish vampire of questionable sanity waited until the two and a half count to rise and vacate the seat next to Joe, but not the booth. Instead, she slid into the seat across from the older O'Mara and brought her glass of wine to her lips, taking a small sip as she zeroed in on one of the larger televisions, clucking her tongue at some faux paux in a college football game before turning her gaze to Joe. "Why do you hate us, Joseph? I'd say it was because of your brother, but I think you treat us worse than the wolves."
Ben came out of the back, his gaze falling on the sight of his brother and Rocket talking. With a slightly bad feeling, Ben tsked at the situation and ignored it. More bodies had begun to filter in, including two more of his servers and a group of about six Half-Heads. Quirking a brow at what could be a worse situation than Joe and Rocket talking, the younger O'Mara snatched up some menus and seated them himself, his apprehension on having them in the bar on a big night dispelled when he saw Calvin come in a few minutes later.
Checking in with KC and Omaha, Benjamin got some food and beer headed towards his impromptu door men and placed another order for himself, quickly downing a fresh SoCo and lime. He felt as if there was a guitar string running down his spine, and he could feel the moon rise into the sky, strumming a chord as it went higher. Normally, the boyish younger brother of Joe O'Mara took it easy on the couple of nights leading up to a full moon, but Thorn trusted him, put his faith in Ben, and Ben would be God damned if he didn't shoulder it like a champ just to prove Joe right.
Ben came out of the back, his gaze falling on the sight of his brother and Rocket talking. With a slightly bad feeling, Ben tsked at the situation and ignored it. More bodies had begun to filter in, including two more of his servers and a group of about six Half-Heads. Quirking a brow at what could be a worse situation than Joe and Rocket talking, the younger O'Mara snatched up some menus and seated them himself, his apprehension on having them in the bar on a big night dispelled when he saw Calvin come in a few minutes later.
Checking in with KC and Omaha, Benjamin got some food and beer headed towards his impromptu door men and placed another order for himself, quickly downing a fresh SoCo and lime. He felt as if there was a guitar string running down his spine, and he could feel the moon rise into the sky, strumming a chord as it went higher. Normally, the boyish younger brother of Joe O'Mara took it easy on the couple of nights leading up to a full moon, but Thorn trusted him, put his faith in Ben, and Ben would be God damned if he didn't shoulder it like a champ just to prove Joe right.
Joe would stare down the vampire, unlike most people he was not afraid to go one on one with any supernatural, making him an almost scary human. "I don't hate you, all, just how you act with my brother..." he would show the older brother in him, "He's all I got, and he's already a werewolf... don't be fucking up what a good thing he's got going here..."
Rocket would look at him calmly and laugh in his face, "You think he's got a good thing going on now? Wait til I rock-" Joe wouldn't take the laughter very well, "One... two..." he would say for the last time...
Rocket would look at him calmly and laugh in his face, "You think he's got a good thing going on now? Wait til I rock-" Joe wouldn't take the laughter very well, "One... two..." he would say for the last time...
Rocket stopped laughing and stared at Joe coldly, crossing her arms and leaning back in her seat. They said she was crazy, and she was, but the lady in red was also certain of something that no one save Ben was, that being that Joe wouldn't shoot her down without a valid reason, which she had yet to provide.
Further tensions were abated, however, when Ben slid into the booth, playfully hip-checking Rocket farther in as the younger brother tried to finish his plate of food before something else came back up. "You two are so cute, glaring at each other like a couple of fourth-graders. When can I expect you to start making angry, glare-y, hate-babies?" Without waiting for a reply, Benji slid from the seat for less than a minute to give some directions to a staff member needing it, then was back, a cherry Coke fizzing in his hand. "Where were we? Oh yeah, y'all were about to cuss me out." Rocket for her part turned her face away from both of the boys, arms still crossed tight over her chest. Ben hated baiting her like he did, but he'd make it up to her later.
Further tensions were abated, however, when Ben slid into the booth, playfully hip-checking Rocket farther in as the younger brother tried to finish his plate of food before something else came back up. "You two are so cute, glaring at each other like a couple of fourth-graders. When can I expect you to start making angry, glare-y, hate-babies?" Without waiting for a reply, Benji slid from the seat for less than a minute to give some directions to a staff member needing it, then was back, a cherry Coke fizzing in his hand. "Where were we? Oh yeah, y'all were about to cuss me out." Rocket for her part turned her face away from both of the boys, arms still crossed tight over her chest. Ben hated baiting her like he did, but he'd make it up to her later.
Joe left the booth, he would start to walk away, then turn back to Ben, "Please keep an eye on the bar Ben." he would continue to walk away, he needed a drink that little bitch had ruined his buzz... he inheritly didn't like Rocket because of the way she flirted with Ben... but he also didn't like her because she did that with just more than Ben. "Little bitch..." he'd say as he got a drink for himself and he looked to the booth, he would get a couple people drinks, take a few orders then leave the bar to the current bartender... he was helping the rush at most. He would make his way to the back of the bar, "I'm going up to the apartment to watch the game, if you need anything let me know Ben." he would let his brother know he wasn't in a great mood, but wouldn't let that ruin his futbol game. He would make his way up the stairs up to his apartment, a small one bedroom studio above the bar, it shared a wall with Ben's much larger apartment. Joe liked the smaller apartment because it meant he had less to clean. He had a flat screen on the wall across from his couch and bed, he would sit down on the couch, find the remote, all the while grumbling about it not being where it should be, even though that was mainly his own fault. He would turn the game on and lean back just in time to hear someone knock at the door... it was a light knock, but he heard it. He would turn the volume down, "Who is it?" he would say, it was easily heard likely...
Ben said nothing to his brother after he walked away the first time, his jaw taking the set that it did whenever his normally very long temper suddenly found itself very short. The younger O'Mara blushed furiously with shame and embarrassment at Joe's words, which both he and Rocket heard quite clearly. Turning his gaze towards his guest, he gave her his most apologetic smile. "That wasn't right, and I'm sorry that you had to deal with that. Please, you're welcome to this booth, and I'm going to personally take care of your tab tonight." Sliding from the booth, Ben started towards the other tables, intending to do a quick walk around before taking care of the vampire.
Rocket, however, caught his wrist before he could walk away. "Please, Benji, do not worry about it. Perhaps I was baiting him when I shouldn't have."
Ben gave Rocket a small, sad sort of smile and shook his head. "It's no excuse, Rocket, and he knows that. We were raised better." Slipping his hand from her grasp, the younger O'Mara looked around, his dark mood becoming evident as another vampire walked in, this one wearing a bar staff shirt. "COLE!" Ben's voice wasn't necessarily loud, but it was sharp when it needed to be. "Get behind the bar, make yourself a drink, then start making everybody happy."
Calvin watched Ben yell at Cole, and though he knew Ben didn't mean it, he also knew that the impressionable young set of fangs would still feel stung. Excusing himself from his table, the senior Half Head placed a ten on the bar in front of Cole and ordered a beer, giving the boy a smile as Cole pried off the bottle cap. "That wasn't directed at you, Cole. Once Ben calms down, I'm sure he'll be over to apologize."
Cole nodded some and shrugged, a sore look upon his face. "I know. Still sucks though."
"I know. I know." Calvin reassured him, then slipped towards the back, about to mount the stairs to the brothers' apartments when he heard the knocking, a puzzled look coming to the former blood pet's face before he backed away, hoping that someone was trying to defuse the stress rather than add to it.
Rocket, however, caught his wrist before he could walk away. "Please, Benji, do not worry about it. Perhaps I was baiting him when I shouldn't have."
Ben gave Rocket a small, sad sort of smile and shook his head. "It's no excuse, Rocket, and he knows that. We were raised better." Slipping his hand from her grasp, the younger O'Mara looked around, his dark mood becoming evident as another vampire walked in, this one wearing a bar staff shirt. "COLE!" Ben's voice wasn't necessarily loud, but it was sharp when it needed to be. "Get behind the bar, make yourself a drink, then start making everybody happy."
Calvin watched Ben yell at Cole, and though he knew Ben didn't mean it, he also knew that the impressionable young set of fangs would still feel stung. Excusing himself from his table, the senior Half Head placed a ten on the bar in front of Cole and ordered a beer, giving the boy a smile as Cole pried off the bottle cap. "That wasn't directed at you, Cole. Once Ben calms down, I'm sure he'll be over to apologize."
Cole nodded some and shrugged, a sore look upon his face. "I know. Still sucks though."
"I know. I know." Calvin reassured him, then slipped towards the back, about to mount the stairs to the brothers' apartments when he heard the knocking, a puzzled look coming to the former blood pet's face before he backed away, hoping that someone was trying to defuse the stress rather than add to it.
"It's me... Iris." a soft voice would come from beyond the door... "I just wanted to talk to you... make sure you're okay..." She would say as she considered walking back down into the bar.
"Oh, Well wait just a moment." he would say as he got up and walked over to the door turning down the volume on his way. He would get to the door and open it to reveal a beautiful vampire... Iris. "Hey there, um... Come on in." he would gesture to her. She would sheepishly walk in the door to the room. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay... Rocket was getting on your nerves, but I've never seen you get so upset." she would say hoping he wouldn't lash out at her the same.
"Well I'm just stressed about the full moon, and while I'm trying to relax, I feel like my brother is going to goof off and hand out free drinks all night..." he would say in a shameful tone knowing he'd gone a little overboard... "When you see Rocket, tell her I'm sorry and that she didn't deserve that, but that when I tell someone to go away, I usually mean it." he would say, but hesitate with.
"Yeah I'll let her know, so you're okay? Nothing is going on?" she would say in a prying tone, which was very unlike her, but she had grown close to the older O'Mara. "Can I help with anything?"
"Well... I'm just looking at myself and realizing I've accomplished a lot, opening a bar, taking care of my brother, becoming profitable in a downed economy... but I have nothing else... I'm lacking in social skills, I'm mean as a junkyard dog when I'm pissed off, and no one really wants to be around me." he would realize he'd unloaded a bit more than he'd intended... "I mean... I'm not gonna cry in a corner or something..." he'd stop fearing he'd made a fool of himself already.
"Oh, Well wait just a moment." he would say as he got up and walked over to the door turning down the volume on his way. He would get to the door and open it to reveal a beautiful vampire... Iris. "Hey there, um... Come on in." he would gesture to her. She would sheepishly walk in the door to the room. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay... Rocket was getting on your nerves, but I've never seen you get so upset." she would say hoping he wouldn't lash out at her the same.
"Well I'm just stressed about the full moon, and while I'm trying to relax, I feel like my brother is going to goof off and hand out free drinks all night..." he would say in a shameful tone knowing he'd gone a little overboard... "When you see Rocket, tell her I'm sorry and that she didn't deserve that, but that when I tell someone to go away, I usually mean it." he would say, but hesitate with.
"Yeah I'll let her know, so you're okay? Nothing is going on?" she would say in a prying tone, which was very unlike her, but she had grown close to the older O'Mara. "Can I help with anything?"
"Well... I'm just looking at myself and realizing I've accomplished a lot, opening a bar, taking care of my brother, becoming profitable in a downed economy... but I have nothing else... I'm lacking in social skills, I'm mean as a junkyard dog when I'm pissed off, and no one really wants to be around me." he would realize he'd unloaded a bit more than he'd intended... "I mean... I'm not gonna cry in a corner or something..." he'd stop fearing he'd made a fool of himself already.
Iris, rather than judge the elder O'Mara, instead smiled and reached out to tentatively place a hand on his arm. "Don't worry about it, Joe." Looking around for a moment, the lovely lady gave a shy sort of smile, then ventured forth her question, a little hopeful that she would be invited to stay, if for no other reason than to help out her friend. "So you're watching the game up here tonight?"
Iris smiled a bit more, inadvertently flashing a bit of fang, her hands clasped nervously behind her back.
While Iris was doing her best to calm the older brother down, the younger brother set his anger aside to be taken out on Thorn later, and turned to more constructive avenues, such as inciting a wing-eating contest between the wolves that had begun to trickle in, an strategy that made good use of their natural competitiveness. After checking the food and beer stocks, making a round of the tables and the waitresses to make sure that both customer and staff were taken care of, Ben slid back into he and Joe's booth, alone, to eat his now cold food.
Iris smiled a bit more, inadvertently flashing a bit of fang, her hands clasped nervously behind her back.
While Iris was doing her best to calm the older brother down, the younger brother set his anger aside to be taken out on Thorn later, and turned to more constructive avenues, such as inciting a wing-eating contest between the wolves that had begun to trickle in, an strategy that made good use of their natural competitiveness. After checking the food and beer stocks, making a round of the tables and the waitresses to make sure that both customer and staff were taken care of, Ben slid back into he and Joe's booth, alone, to eat his now cold food.
He was surprised by her question and at the same time enjoyed it, "Yeah I think my time is better spent up here, would you like to join me?" he was hopeful that she would indeed join him. He wouldn't even realize the game was on at this point, she was far more interesting. Joe had a thing for Iris, and the reason being that she was so unlike those she hung around... Rocket was kind of slutty, and the others seemed all brooding and dark, which was incredibly annoying to Joe. Iris on the other hand was the kind of girl he'd like to spend more time with not matter the situation. "Iris if you'd stay I'll have a couple drinks and some food brought up to us." he was hoping she'd say yes.
"Sure, I'd like to watch the game up here anyone, a little quieter." she would sneak a smile to him. "What kind of food is good while watching a game?" she would laugh, considering she didn't eat and hadn't for quite some time.
"Sure, I'd like to watch the game up here anyone, a little quieter." she would sneak a smile to him. "What kind of food is good while watching a game?" she would laugh, considering she didn't eat and hadn't for quite some time.
As the night drew on, and the match between the two rival teams dragged on like a heavyweight championship match, the crown grew larger, louder, and rowdier as expected. KC and Omaha had to get off of their stools and start moving around, the pair adept a putting out fires before they began, though there was a very tense moment when a beer was accidentally spilled all over a younger Half-Head, but the moment passed when the ghoul laughed and Ben brought a fresh one over himself.
The younger O'Mara put his frustrations and tensions to good use, directing his energies into the smooth sailing of a busy night. Between the bar, the kitchen, tables, serving, and hosting, the young werewolf even began to work up a sweat, his charming smile firmly stuck in place.
The younger O'Mara put his frustrations and tensions to good use, directing his energies into the smooth sailing of a busy night. Between the bar, the kitchen, tables, serving, and hosting, the young werewolf even began to work up a sweat, his charming smile firmly stuck in place.
The night would go on and the oldest O'Mara would enjoy his time with the quiet Iris, the game would end, but the night was still young. "Would you like to stay up here and just, um..." he was nervous something none of the patrons had ever seen likely, "listen to some music?" he had a large collection of vinyl and a very nice system connected to it.
Iris was reluctant, but she would decline, "That sounds great, really it does, but I've got to get back home to do some busy work." she wasn't lying, but it likely sounded that way so she added, "I tell you what maybe on the full-moon we can go catch a movie?" she wanted him to know he was at the least interesting to him. "I mean if you're not too busy here?"
"I would love to, but I will have to see if my brother can handle that, or if I'll have to stay here..." he figured that the younger O'Mara was more than likely going to be unwilling and unable to work that night. "Tell you what come by the bar on that night and we'll go from there?" he would say hoping she would know he was also interested.
Iris was reluctant, but she would decline, "That sounds great, really it does, but I've got to get back home to do some busy work." she wasn't lying, but it likely sounded that way so she added, "I tell you what maybe on the full-moon we can go catch a movie?" she wanted him to know he was at the least interesting to him. "I mean if you're not too busy here?"
"I would love to, but I will have to see if my brother can handle that, or if I'll have to stay here..." he figured that the younger O'Mara was more than likely going to be unwilling and unable to work that night. "Tell you what come by the bar on that night and we'll go from there?" he would say hoping she would know he was also interested.