oseyanke: (even while we sleep)

[personal profile] oseyanke 2024-11-25 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)

There's that surprise again as Ulysse dumbly takes the gumbo from Rook, recognising the bag it's been delivered in. "... You've met Michel?" he asks before catching himself and shaking his head. Of course Rook's met Midnight, otherwise how would he have brought the youngest brother's homemade gumbo over for dinner?

"I'm sorry, I hope he didn't bug you to deliver this," he sighs. "Have you eaten yet?" He knows Midnight will either have force-fed Rook, first, or packed double to have them both share at the bar.

oseyanke: (behavior)

[personal profile] oseyanke 2024-11-27 11:02 pm (UTC)(link)

"Michel can be a manipulative little devil when he wants to be," Ulysse retorts without any bite at all and all the fondness in the world for the imp he calls brother, gumbo set aside on the bar counter for the moment. "Never underestimate how much he can make you do what you would rather not."

That calm is interesting, though. A lingering effect of having spoken to Midnight, perhaps, or has Rook settled in the Keys so well after all? Ulysse puzzles over it, sneaking little glances over at the other man as they move together to set the bar up for the night.

oseyanke: (even while we sleep)

[personal profile] oseyanke 2024-11-30 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)

Ulysse doesn't comment on the alligator because of course that's what Midnight was doing. The little artist has a knack for meeting just about every person of interest that comes into town. What they might have spoken of, though... Hmm.

After giving Rook a wary sideling stare, Ulysse shrugs and finishes up on his side of the bar with the chairs. "A bit more than usual, yeah," he answers eventually. "People have heard Arie's back and likely to perform, so they'll probably come for him."

He casts a look over the bar, quietly content that everything seems to be in order, and asks, "Do you want a drink? We've got a lot of time before open..."

oseyanke: (behavior)

[personal profile] oseyanke 2024-12-05 04:19 pm (UTC)(link)

And just like that, Ulysse is finding his work taken out of his hands and looks a touch bewildered for a second, there, as he stares back at Rook making himself at home behind the bar. He's not annoyed, just a bit confused how they got here.

"... I was going to offer to make coffee while heating that up, actually. You're going to have your hands full dealing with the customers later..." he answers with a little sigh of defeat and a quick, faint smile. "Though I don't mind starting with something alcoholic instead."

oseyanke: (it's my own design)

[personal profile] oseyanke 2024-12-06 07:09 pm (UTC)(link)

Ulysse had finished up on tidying up behind the bar while Rook scarpered to the kitchen. He can privately admit that it actually charmed him a bit that the gruff bouncer had been so quick to take things out of his hands to take care of things, and it leaves him with a smile lingering over his lips as he finishes his work.

Then the gumbo is set in front of him and he can't help it, the sight of the napkin as well has him huffing a quietly delighted laugh, short and sweet as he meets Rook's eyes. "No, I'm not," he admits, the smile briefly growing before he lowers his gaze and plucks up the spoon to start poking at the gumbo. "Thank you, though, I appreciate it."

oseyanke: (it's my own remorse)

[personal profile] oseyanke 2024-12-07 01:34 am (UTC)(link)

Ulysse has a taste and shrugs, "It's delicious. Michel's a good cook and always has been."

He watches Rook right back, quietly inquisitive as they enjoy their food and drink. "He fed you before he let you leave, right? How did you like your visit with him?"

Midnight is a chatty one, and Rook so far has been the opposite. Ulysse wonders if his new bouncer is a bit like Grey in that respect where he doesn't mind so much the youngest of his brothers being so chatty, or if he was just tolerating it.

oseyanke: (even while we sleep)

[personal profile] oseyanke 2024-12-07 10:30 am (UTC)(link)

There's a little pause and visible surprise, gumbo forgotten for a moment as Ulysse puzzles over why on earth that would have been brought up in Rook's conversation with Midnight. Midnight's often expressed his regret that Ulysse had given up dancing to focus on taking care of their little family, but why mention it to Rook...?

"He did, did he?" Shaking his head, Ulysse resumes eating with a little shrug. "Yes, I used to dance. Quite a few years ago, a long time before I opened the bar."

oseyanke: (it's my own remorse)

[personal profile] oseyanke 2024-12-11 08:26 am (UTC)(link)

Ulysse smiles a bit, relaxing despite himself at Rook's shrugging and apparent attempt at... small-talk? Or is this mid-talk?

"I wasn't really in it long enough to get to competition level of work," he explains with a small, elegant shrug of his own. "But... yes, I do miss it. I like working towards a goal, and I like dancing, so putting the two together was nice in that respect."

Not that he regrets quitting. Family always comes first, and he would have regretted it far more if he hadn't been there for Midnight or their father.

Peering curiously into Rook's face that's so full of history from the little scars and fine lines showing a lack of consideration for sun damage, a crooked sharp nose that had probably been broken at least once in a past fight, Ulysse can't help but wonder-

"What about you? Do you miss it?"

oseyanke: (we will find you)

[personal profile] oseyanke 2024-12-11 01:31 pm (UTC)(link)

The offer is an unexpected one and it surprises a wider smile out of Ulysse. He's not teasing, now, but there's definitely a lightness to his voice as he comments, "You're the last person I would expect to offer to take me dancing. I'd be an idiot to turn that offer down."

But he recognises he'd better keep it professional. Or at least, avoid letting this go into more intimate territory, given Rook is his employee and there's still the matter of Anton sniffing around ready to cause trouble...

A man can dream, though.

"If you ever get an itch to spar, though," he begins slowly, casting a thoughtful glance over to the staff entry where Damian might show up at any minute, now. "You could always talk to Damian. He doesn't do MMA as far as I know, but he's dabbled outside of just boxing."

oseyanke: (it's my own design)

[personal profile] oseyanke 2024-12-11 10:32 pm (UTC)(link)

Ulysse's smile returns and he slowly answers, "There are, but it depends on what you're up for... I could take some time to teach you the basics of whichever you're interested in? Though if you want to just go somewhere where it's just about bumping and grinding, that hardly needs any practice at all."

He doesn't bother mentioning Damian's knowledge of weapons and disarming them. That's for the waiter to disclose as he decides himself along with information about the twins and their inherited involvement in the gangs of the area that had made such knowledge a necessity in the first place.

"... Do you actually want to go dancing?" Ulysse asks, smile softening a bit. "I don't want you to do something that would just make you uncomfortable."

oseyanke: (Default)

[personal profile] oseyanke 2024-12-12 12:41 am (UTC)(link)

"That certainly makes it easier to understand you..." Ulysse muses, eyes crinkling with silent delight as he finally lowers his gaze to eat a bit more of the gumbo. "I'll keep that in mind for future reference."

Which also unfortunately tells Ulysse that he definitely shouldn't read into these little interactions with Rook. If Rook were actually interested in pursuing him for something more than a strictly professional or even friendly relationship, he'd make it obvious.

"I guess we'd better set some time aside for your dance lessons, then," he suggests. It would be nice even without any undertones, because Ulysse cherishes his few friends, and it's starting to look like Rook might be able to worm his way into those ranks whether he wants to or not, and spending more time with him outside of work would be nice.

oseyanke: (even while we sleep)

[personal profile] oseyanke 2024-12-14 09:35 am (UTC)(link)

Ulysse glances towards the windows through which he can still just about make out the harbor with the darkening of dusk, brow rising as he then returns his gaze to Rook. That's quite the shift in conversation... Then again, perhaps Rook felt he'd exhausted the topic of dancing.

"I know a couple of guys," he answers slowly. "You want to live on the water?"

oseyanke: (behavior)

[personal profile] oseyanke 2024-12-31 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)

"I suppose," he agrees with a little shrug. "I'll give you some names and suggestions for which docks are fairly comfortable to live on. Some of them can be a bit... rough."

Ulysse will probably end up asking Midnight and Grey if there's any space in their area, because at least then he can be sure Rook won't be on his own and getting jumped by Anton's ilk.

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