32- Don't talk to strangers , but it's okay to smile . The bar is fairly rowdy tonight , and I suspect that at least half the reason for that is that about three minutes ago , Elijah the incubus walked into the building and I swear the volume in this place doubled . There aren't even that many women IN here right now , but the few that are around have zeroed in on him and I'm pretty sure it will only be another minute or so until someone approaches him . I could pretend to be all special and mature , say that I don't understand the appeal of him , that these women are stupid and that he's only going to use them and leave . But they know how it all works , and to be honest , I remember how his magic felt . I can definitely see the appeal . Not to mention , he makes movie stars look ugly . That's not to say I'd let him pick me up . I won't ... Probably won't . I'm not really a one night stand kind of person , not that I have a problem with those who are , it's just not my thing . Plus I'm working . Still , the slightest bit of temptation is still there . I suspect that as long as he's around it always will be . I don't know a lot about his type of magic , but with some things it's impossible to not see the point and this is one of them . I'm deep in thought when I'm interrupted by Elijah's voice which immediately sends a pleasant shiver down my spine . " Hello again , gorgeous . " He greets me and I can't help but smile at him , although I'm careful to keep my hands out of his reach . Mentally I tell myself ' please keep your hands and arms inside the bar and do not say yes to a good time . ' The stupid thought makes me smile even brighter and Elijah winks at me . " Miss me ? " He says sweetly and I laugh . " You can't miss something unless you're aiming for it . " I sass him and he holds his hand over his heart as if I've hurt him and pretends to be offended , just like he did last time . I suspect that Elijah isn't one to show genuine emotion all that often . " So cruel to me . " He jokes and I roll my eyes . " Yes , I'm sure that you're very hurt , truly devastated . I doubt that your ego will ever recover . Now , I know you don't buy your own drinks , so are you talking to me for a reason or are you just here to call me pretty ? " I say sarcastically . " Isn't that reason enough ? " He asks . When I continue to stare at him unimpressed , he sighs . " Spoil sport . Fine . What are my options tonight ?" He asks , turning and leaning against 29 ل [ 1 ] 1/4 12:01 Fri , Aug 29 Lesson 32- Don't talk to strangers , but it's okay to smile . the bar as he looks around the room . " Dude ... I'm not some pimp . " I say flatly and he rolls his eyes . 100 % " Good , because I'm not paying you . I just want you to tell me who I should steer clear of. Which are the women with jealous boyfriends and who has already drunk too much to be an acceptable target for wooing . " He explains . I continue to stare at him and he shrugs . " Hey this is win - win . You make sure I don't get my lights knocked out by some jealous guy because his girlfriend isn't as loyal as expected , and you get to protect all the poor drunk girls here by warning me off of them . " He says it like it's obvious . I sigh . " Ugh , fine . Whatever . In that case , avoid the redhead down the back , she came in with someone , and keep your hands off the blonde sitting over there . She's been downing shots like water . " I warn . " You're the best Rina . " He says warmly and I scoff . " It's true , you are beautiful , caring , sweet , sexy and- " he cuts off mid sentence and lets out a nervous sounding laugh . " You know what , never mind . Thanks for your help , lovely . I'll let you get back to work . " His words are normal but his tone is pitched just the tiniest bit higher than it was a minute ago . He rushes off as if he's in a hurry . Well that was weird . I spend a few minutes arguing with the ever present vampires as they whine about their drinks . I wander over to Torin afterwards to complain about them a little . " Seriously these guys are here basically every night , all night . Laura told me they sleep during the day , so they must spend practically all their time here . Don't they have jobs , or lives ? Hey look at me , I've been threatened and technically kidnapped and I'm still managing to hold down a full time job . " I joke . Torin blinks a few times and stares at me . " Okay , to be fair that was a lot funnier in my head . " I mutter . " I suppose it was kind of funny . " Torin reluctantly answers , but he doesn't so much as crack a smile . " It's alright , it wasn't really that funny . Are you just going to sit here all night ? " I ask . Torin shrugs . PO 29 29 لی 2/4 ||| O < Aug Lesson 32- Don't talk to strangers , but it's okay to smile . " Maybe . " He grumbles . " Don't you have any actual work to do ? I've seen your office . " I say pointedly . " Maybe . " He answers again and I laugh . 100 % " Okay , okay . I'll stop hassling you . You've been running this place just fine without my nagging , you don't need me to start now . " I pat his hand and get back to serving drinks . Although to be honest the thought of his messy office is bothering me a little . It's the only disorganised room in this place and I'm itching to fix it up . Sigh . Torin stays in the bar all night , it's not until it's time to lock up that he actually gets up from his seat . He offers to help me clean up but I refuse and send him on his way . It's time for operation ' dust spite ' and step one is to make sure that this room is SPOTLESS . But before that , I move the mats from behind the bar and pull the trap door open . " Uh ... Hello down there ? " I say awkwardly . Now that I know the creature isn't really a threat I'm not scared anymore . But it's still weird . I accepted all this magic and monsters stuff because I had to . But this is the first creature I've met that has no chance of passing for a human . I wait for a moment and the creature starts purring again . Good , it is happy to see me . " Well ... There are some empties on the bar if you want them , and I can go check for leftovers if you're interested . " I offer . Immediately a shadowy limb reaches out and takes one of the empties . " I'll get the leftovers when you're done with those I guess . " I mutter and get back to cleaning . As I work , I explain my plan to the creature . " So first I'm going to set the bait by making sure this place is as clean as possible , then I'm going to lay out these fly traps . Not the most complicated plan , but hopefully it'll work . " I explain . The creature purrs . " Thanks , I'm glad you approve .. Uh , do you have a name ? Well ... I guess you can't tell me . Can I give you one ? It feels weird calling you ' creature . " " I decide . The purring gets louder . " Awesome . How about .... Jerry ? " I suggest . The creature stops purring and makes a clicking noise followed by a soft ' tsk ' that I interpret to mean it doesn't like the name . " Okay , what about ... Alfred ? " I offer . More clicking . O O 423 29 ل ) 3/4 12:01 Fri , Aug 29 Lesson 32- Don't talk to strangers , but it's okay to smile . " Not Alfred , huh ? Patrick ? " I try again and the ' tsk ' sound is much louder this time . A thought occurs to me . " Oh hold on , these are all boys ' names . Are you a girl ? " I question and the purring starts again . " Right , sorry . My bad . Okay .... What about ... Jane ? " The purring gets loud again and the crunching of glass continues as the creature returns to it's snack . " Great . Jane it is then . " I decide . I finish cleaning and give Jane the leftovers from the kitchen . I also lay out those paper fly trap things over as much of the bar and as many of the perfectly clean tables as possible . I figure they're clean and white so the dust sprites have GOT to be tempted by them , right ? I say goodnight to Jane , close her door , replace the mats and then go snuggle into my nice comfy bed . Chapter Comments 5 Write Comments < SHARE