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This place was too rich for the likes of him. He knew that, and yet, he just kept coming back. Not night after night, of course not, that would be unseemingly. But whenever he had a "job" to do in the neighbourhood, and when it wasn't too far out of the way, he would stop in, find an isolated place at the bar, and partake in a few of the more affordable beverages before slipping quietly back out.

Tonight, by the quick count of money in his pockets, was going to be no different. Still, as he walked along that initial hallway and let his eyes skim over the pictures of many, many attractive men, they always hesitated on one in particular. One he'd seen bustling around the club, and who always seemed more popular among the clientele than all of the others.

Had he the money, he knew he would have chosen him too. <********> He really needed to find a richer family to work for.

There was no more hesitating. Nico made his way straight to the bar where he knew he could at least afford to be and slid onto one of the stools.

It didn't take long to get the bartender's attention, and perhaps it was indicative of how recognizable he'd become to at least some of the staff that all he had to do was hold up two fingers and soon after, two shot glasses with his drink of choice filled to the brim were set in front of him. He slid some money over, plus a little extra.

He didn't hesitate to down the first one, the glass clattering on the dark bar surface as he set it back down, empty. Ice-blue eyes gazed at nothing, his face a blank slate as he replayed the night's earlier events in his head, mulling over how it had gone and whether there was anything he should have done differently. He was always trying to learn from his mistakes.

A voice pulled him out of his silent contemplation, and he blinked, swivelling in his spot to see who was addressing him, before blinking again in surprise, a sudden smile tugging on his lips, only partially in response to the charming one that was being sent his way. It was the guy from the picture in the hallway, the one he always, without fail, hesitated on before heading to the bar. He leaned one arm against the bar and regarded him for the first time face to face, and recognized without question why he was the most popular host here.

He chuckled at the offer, and gave his head a small shake, dark hair falling in front of his eyes that he reached up to sweep to the side. "I already have a job." A shitty one, with a shitty family that didn't pay him what he knew he was worth, but a job nonetheless, and one he actually enjoyed doing. Still, his eyes flicked to the card that was slid towards him, and to the phone number emblazoned upon it.

Hell. Why not. He'd been coming in here for a while now and this was probably the closest he'd ever get to the guy. Might as well shoot his shot, right?

He looked back up, meeting the blonde's gaze, leaving the card where it sat. "But what if I was interested in something else? Could I still call you?" He asked, his smile growing a touch wider.

"The job's great, the pay...could be better." He admitted, now idly and slowly twirling his still full shot glass as he spoke, "I just need to find a better employer." Or go freelance. He'd been considering it more and more lately. He knew a few Assamites that seemed to be doing ok that way.

The twirling of the shot glass stopped when he saw the way the other guy was looking at him suddenly. When did anyone ever look at Nico that way? Especially anyone as good-looking as him. Never. It never happened. Or at least, not that he could remember. Though maybe he could just chalk that up as an occupational hazard. He had always been hesitant to put himself out there, because of what he did.

And now here was his chance, right in front of him. As far as pick-up lines went maybe it wasn't the best but hell, at least he was trying.

"Ah, no, nothing like that." He said, feeling a bit puzzled. Maybe he hadn't been clear? Either that or this guy was brushing him off in a very weird way.

Nico reached up and scratched at the back of his head. "You know, I don't think Lux has got much use for my particular skill set." He said, "So like I said, I'm going to have to pass."

Suddenly Matteo was closer to him. Much closer. Okay, so maybe he hadn't just gotten brushed off, which could mean that there had just been a bit of miscommunication instead. His eyes flicked down to the shot glass and he pushed it toward the other guy. "Here, why don't you have it, unless you're not allowed?" He supposed if the guy was working then he probably wasn't supposed to be drinking, but the offer was there just in case.

Oh ya. A miscommunication for sure. Okay, time to try again.

"Like to take you out, of course. Or, we could just hang out and get to know each other better."

In whatever state of dress or undress that might be. He had a little smirk on his face at the thought.

Nico watched the other with some amount of bemusement as he first downed the shot and then spun in a circle on the stool. There was something about him that already seemed so endearing, but also a bit silly. Maybe Matteo was just eccentric? Though, it was possible that Nico was so focused on the other's good looks that he could care less about how he behaved.

The amusement on Matteo's face when he stopped did not feel like it boded well for Nico's prospects, and at that moment he mentally prepared himself for a full-on rejection, half expecting to be laughed at in pity.

When affirmation came instead of laughter, Nico blinked his ice-blue eyes and had to school his face into maintaining composure. "Ya?" He said, trying not to sound too surprised, and then had to stop himself from making a choking sound when Matteo mentioned not charging him for it.

Well...that was good...

When the bartender came with the drinks for Matteo, Nico made eye contact with them and raised two fingers again, waiting for a nod before his attention went back to the guy he had just asked out. He flashed a smile and gave him a nod.

"Sure, I'll wait."

He heard the commotion and glanced at the tray of drinks that was just sort of sitting there in front of Matteo. "You should probably go deliver those before there's a riot."

Well. This had certainly become an interesting night. Nico couldn't help but feel at least a tiny bit smug, knowing that he would get to leave with the best-looking guy in the place. Not only that, it was the guy; the one he'd been admiring from a distance each time he had come in to drink at the bar and mourn his lack of better funds.

One day soon, he hoped to go and work for another family, one that did not provide him with a mere pittance just because he was one of theirs. He was good at what he did. He deserved more.

"Oh, I won't be going anywhere." He assured Matteo with a smirk, as two more shots were set down in front of him. His confidence had been given a little boost from the interaction, and he held up one of his shots as if in salute before offering the other a wink of his own and downing it. Eyes followed Matteo as he left the room, and Nico eventually turned back to the bar with a slight, disbelieving shake of his head.

-------

The hour had seemed to pass quickly, but in that time Nico had downed a few more shots and had begun to feel that pleasant warmth that lifted him out of his usual more sombre and quiet state. By the time Matteo had returned, he was actually feeling pretty good, so when the voice sounded off behind him he swivelled around in his stool with his final shot in hand and took Matteo in with eyes that raked him up and down, taking in his change of clothing and what was displayed.

It didn't seem possible, but the guy had managed to make himself look even better.

"Always." He responded with a sharp grin, throwing back the shot and setting it down with a clatter against the dark, polished wood of the bar before he rose from his stool and gathered up a jacket of his own. lifting a hand, he set it on Matteo's shoulder before stepping a little closer to say in a more hushed tone with a slightly wicked glint in his eyes.

"Let's go and have a little fun."

* Rosemarie looks around and notices the club ibefore her was huge and beautiful outside Different from the university where her mothers had raised her. She looks at Linus and watches him open the door. She follows him side. She loved him dearly and was glad to be with him.

Once inside She stares atd ark wood decor,high backed chairs. Before spotting the bar. She smiles and takes his hand. She was excited and glad she was with him and meeting others like herself. She hadn't met to many other vampires the university she grew up in held just her family as of late.. approaching the bar she watches Linus and smiles at him* " we are here my love, whom do watch for?" * she watches everyone.*