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."
Rook nods as he takes another sip of his drink. "I'm not surprised. You hold yourself in a way that tells me you are aware of your body."
He doesn't make a big deal out of it and notes that Ulysse is somewhat uncomfortable with people talking about him when he's not there. Even if he can be quite certain that the conversation had been in positive light. Maybe it's something about not being comfortable in a spotlight. But then, it doesn't seem quite like that either.
Rook shrugs, trying to lessen the tension with the careless gesture.
"Ever miss it? Competitive sports are a bit like a whole life when you take one on and at least I find that it's hard to give up the mentality."
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-
"Of course," Rook admits without bothering to hide the levity in that statement, pale eyes shifting down to the gumbo on Ulysse's plate and then back up to those midnight eyes. "Like I said, it becomes your life and changing that thought process just like that is like trying to reinvent life as a whole."
He shrugs again, this time with a twitch at the corners of his mouth, amused.
"You've kind of given me a half-way house for the whole process. Maybe I should take you dancing one day as a thank you."
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."
That smile draws on a string in Rook's gut. That obvious delight makes him wonder what the cop is even doing not taking this sweetheart out to dancing? Then he reminds himself not to push further, because he's not here to cause trouble and Ulysse is a taken man.
For a brief quiet moment, silence lingers between them as Rook pushes down every urge and instinct he has to respond to that with more. His jaw shifts to one side and then he forcibly puts his gaze down for a moment, drawing in a breath.
"Yeah, I'll look into that," he says when he lifts his gaze again, glancing at Damian. "I could teach him some basics about dealing with weapons and so on."
Then he meets Ulysse's gaze again, pale eyes calm once again. "There any dancing clubs in this town? I gotta warn you, I'm not much of a dancer."
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."
Rook assumes that Damian isn't capable of taking down the mooks that plague the bar because why wouldn't have Ulysse asked him to do it instead of getting someone like Rook to handle his business? He has a very specific skill set and he assumes it's why he was hired.
He listens to the break down of the dancing places and then shakes his head. "Why bother with something barely there? You don't want to just be bumping and grinding."
Then the last question makes him huff. Ulysse receives a very poignant look from the fighter. "Do I look like a guy, who brow beats himself into doing shit that I don't wanna do? I'll make you a deal. I'll tell you when I'm not interested in something and until then, you can just assume that if I'm asking for something, I'm interested in it."
"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.
If Rook didn't think that his new boss and the local sheriff weren't an item, he definitely would have made a play for it. Because he isn't the kind of guy, who just simply sits by and watches something he wants without trying to reach for it. Sure, he thinks he's not good for anyone right now, and Ulysse is the first person he's considered with any kind of interest ever since the accident, he hasn't even jerked off since then. His life has mostly just been a pleasure-less existence for so long. But he is paying attention now, to this one particular man.
And true to his habits, he doesn't insert any pointless pleasantries about either of these topics, he simply nods and takes another sip of his drink. He would tell Ulysse in no uncertain terms if he wasn't up for the dancing lessons.
"You happen to know anyone, who would be up for renting one of those house boats?" The harbor is right there and he wouldn't mind being close to the Roadhouse just in case some assholes would decide to ransack it during the close hours.
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?"
"Seems like the whole experience," Rook replies with a small shrug and a tiny, fleeting smile that twitches at the corners of his lips. Money is not an issue for him. He still has plenty lining his pockets from the glory days. Working in construction wasn't exactly a finance decision but something for him to do to get his mind off his situation. So, even if the salary Ulysse decides to pay him isn't enough to rent a boat, he'll be fine.
"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.
"Yeah, okay," Rook replies. He isn't worried about it being rough, but he'll figure it out. He would like to dock the boat somewhere near here.
"So, you gonna give me a shirt with the bar's logo on it? Or do you want me to continue going underground for this?" he teases a bit as he leans on the counter and looks meaningfully at Ulysse's plate. (Eat up, Boss.)
That pointed stare has Ulysse stifling a sigh and taking the time to have a few mouthfuls before he'll answer. Between his brothers and Rook, it will be a miracle if he manages to keep his figure, gosh.
After swallowing, he answers the teasing with, "I do have a shirt for you, but I'm not going to force you to wear it. This place isn't so big that the regulars won't start to recognise who's staff and who's not."
"I don't mind wearing the shirt," Rook says with a small shrug. "I figure it's one of those things, I don't have to argue with them about my authority if I'm wearing the shirt."
He watches quietly Ulysse make his way through the plate. Even that is somehow attractive, drawing attention to his mouth and the way his lips quirk every now and then, too small to be a smile but Rook finds it riveting to observe in any case.
He'll have to figure out how to deal with this attraction or this is going to be a very frustrating experience...
Ulysse flashes another of those small, quick smiles, and pokes a bit at his gumbo again to appease Rook before promising, "I'll get you the shirt after this, then. I have a couple of sizes because I wasn't sure how you'd like to wear it, if at all..."
He returns Rook's stare calmly enough, the both of them apparently content to just appraise each other in silence. Then he asks, "Was there anything you needed clarified before starting tonight?" And with a brief flicker of hesitation, he adds, "Is there anything I should watch out for to help... snap you out of it if something goes wrong?"
Not that Ulysse believes Rook will lose control, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared.
Rook's gaze narrows as Ulysse starts talking about business. Not out of irritation, just focus, different angle, professional.
"Stay out of the way," the fighter says quickly. "The farthest you are from the conflict, the easier it is for me to protect you. I'm used to heckling and mouthing off. This is not going to make me snap."
But talking about it reminds him again just how completely removed from most people he should be, and he shifts his gaze down to the glasses behind the counter, then at the billiard table at the other side of the bar.
"I'm not looking to kill anyone. I promise you that."
"That's why I wanted to know if I should have a way to snap you out of it," Ulysse shrugs, continuing to watch Rook's face closely to make sure he's not going to accidentally upset the man. The fighter is clearly still torn up about the accident and thinks he's dangerous, even if Ulysse himself is fast coming to the opinion that Rook is definitely not a killer. "I've seen men go berserk when pushed enough, and I don't want you coming up for air and finding blood on your hands."
Chewing thoughtfully on his next mouthful of gumbo, he glances over behind the bar, still pondering over things. "... Should I keep a bucket of ice water ready to throw on you?"
There's a moment of silence as Rook's eye twitches as he looks down at the glasses behind the bar, then his mouth twitches too, and a brief moment later he's laughing, head thrown back and grinning widely.
Like dogs fighting. Throwing ice water on them.
He leans on the counter, head hanging low between his shoulders as he shakes his head, glancing up at Ulysse only to end up with a few more chortles that shake his shoulders.
"Darlin', if you need to pull me back from the brink, more shock value isn't gonna do it," Rook mumbles, aiming for something more serious. "Just tell me I'm going too far. I'll believe you."
He's putting quite a bit of trust in Ulysse's hands in there. Not to mention admitting that just seeing him would probably break through whatever haze.
"... Are you sure?" Ulysse asks, uncertain but willing to take Rook on his word. He's also a little distracted from the pure delight he'd witnessed just now as Rook laughed so freely. Much like himself, he suspects Rook's not the sort to laugh all that often and he feels so strangely privileged to have been able to see it, especially so early in their working relationship.
He smiles a bit to himself without realising it, content in seeing that Rook must feel at least somewhat enough at ease to let such reactions out unhindered.
Sobering up, because no, laughing like that is definitely not usual for Rook and it's gone so quickly it's hard to really remember it even happening while looking at the mean looking man. Rook is silent for a bit, then looks up at Ulysse from the glasses on the counter.
"I'll let you in on a secret," he says quietly. "The only reason I'll be losing control of myself is if there's imminent life threatening danger. Where I grew up, you kinda had to look over your shoulder and be ready to fight. So, that kind of mentality isn't going away with shock. It'll double down."
Ulysse can understand that much. He'd seen enough violence in the Keys, moreso when he'd fallen in with Anton's crowd. While he himself had never had to fight that hard to survive, it had been a close thing, and he's forever grateful his brothers didn't give up on him and managed to get him out and to safety before it was too late.
He stares at Rook with soft and sombre eyes that are full of empathy and he nods. "All right. If it gets that bad, I'll get everyone clear of you." And try to stop Rook, if the man actually was telling the truth that he would hear Ulysse telling him he's going too far.
Rook is quiet as he takes in that look in those velvet dark eyes. Maybe he could tell this man all about the fight, or the fights in his youth. It seems possible, but who is he to do that here? Build that sort of rapport with a man, who is supposed to be his boss.
With a sigh, he shakes his head. "If I couldn't handle it, I wouldn't put myself in this kind of position. You don't have to worry about me," he promises quietly. "And if you truly do do worry, you shouldn't hire me. What kind of bouncer is looked after by their boss to make sure they don't melt in a bar fight?"
"A careful one," Ulysse counters, lips twitching in a faint smile before he resumes poking at his gumbo. "Everyone's capable of losing control. You just happen to be more dangerous than others when you do, like most bouncers are. I don't think it's such a bad thing for the boss to check their bouncer to make sure things don't go too far, right?"
He sets down his spoon and fixes Rook with an intent stare. "I'm trusting you to look after my bar. I don't see a problem in you trusting me to look after you in turn."
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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."
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He doesn't make a big deal out of it and notes that Ulysse is somewhat uncomfortable with people talking about him when he's not there. Even if he can be quite certain that the conversation had been in positive light. Maybe it's something about not being comfortable in a spotlight. But then, it doesn't seem quite like that either.
Rook shrugs, trying to lessen the tension with the careless gesture.
"Ever miss it? Competitive sports are a bit like a whole life when you take one on and at least I find that it's hard to give up the mentality."
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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?"
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He shrugs again, this time with a twitch at the corners of his mouth, amused.
"You've kind of given me a half-way house for the whole process. Maybe I should take you dancing one day as a thank you."
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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."
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For a brief quiet moment, silence lingers between them as Rook pushes down every urge and instinct he has to respond to that with more. His jaw shifts to one side and then he forcibly puts his gaze down for a moment, drawing in a breath.
"Yeah, I'll look into that," he says when he lifts his gaze again, glancing at Damian. "I could teach him some basics about dealing with weapons and so on."
Then he meets Ulysse's gaze again, pale eyes calm once again. "There any dancing clubs in this town? I gotta warn you, I'm not much of a dancer."
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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."
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He listens to the break down of the dancing places and then shakes his head. "Why bother with something barely there? You don't want to just be bumping and grinding."
Then the last question makes him huff. Ulysse receives a very poignant look from the fighter. "Do I look like a guy, who brow beats himself into doing shit that I don't wanna do? I'll make you a deal. I'll tell you when I'm not interested in something and until then, you can just assume that if I'm asking for something, I'm interested in it."
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"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.
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And true to his habits, he doesn't insert any pointless pleasantries about either of these topics, he simply nods and takes another sip of his drink. He would tell Ulysse in no uncertain terms if he wasn't up for the dancing lessons.
"You happen to know anyone, who would be up for renting one of those house boats?" The harbor is right there and he wouldn't mind being close to the Roadhouse just in case some assholes would decide to ransack it during the close hours.
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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?"
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"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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"So, you gonna give me a shirt with the bar's logo on it? Or do you want me to continue going underground for this?" he teases a bit as he leans on the counter and looks meaningfully at Ulysse's plate. (Eat up, Boss.)
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That pointed stare has Ulysse stifling a sigh and taking the time to have a few mouthfuls before he'll answer. Between his brothers and Rook, it will be a miracle if he manages to keep his figure, gosh.
After swallowing, he answers the teasing with, "I do have a shirt for you, but I'm not going to force you to wear it. This place isn't so big that the regulars won't start to recognise who's staff and who's not."
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He watches quietly Ulysse make his way through the plate. Even that is somehow attractive, drawing attention to his mouth and the way his lips quirk every now and then, too small to be a smile but Rook finds it riveting to observe in any case.
He'll have to figure out how to deal with this attraction or this is going to be a very frustrating experience...
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Ulysse flashes another of those small, quick smiles, and pokes a bit at his gumbo again to appease Rook before promising, "I'll get you the shirt after this, then. I have a couple of sizes because I wasn't sure how you'd like to wear it, if at all..."
He returns Rook's stare calmly enough, the both of them apparently content to just appraise each other in silence. Then he asks, "Was there anything you needed clarified before starting tonight?" And with a brief flicker of hesitation, he adds, "Is there anything I should watch out for to help... snap you out of it if something goes wrong?"
Not that Ulysse believes Rook will lose control, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared.
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"Stay out of the way," the fighter says quickly. "The farthest you are from the conflict, the easier it is for me to protect you. I'm used to heckling and mouthing off. This is not going to make me snap."
But talking about it reminds him again just how completely removed from most people he should be, and he shifts his gaze down to the glasses behind the counter, then at the billiard table at the other side of the bar.
"I'm not looking to kill anyone. I promise you that."
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"That's why I wanted to know if I should have a way to snap you out of it," Ulysse shrugs, continuing to watch Rook's face closely to make sure he's not going to accidentally upset the man. The fighter is clearly still torn up about the accident and thinks he's dangerous, even if Ulysse himself is fast coming to the opinion that Rook is definitely not a killer. "I've seen men go berserk when pushed enough, and I don't want you coming up for air and finding blood on your hands."
Chewing thoughtfully on his next mouthful of gumbo, he glances over behind the bar, still pondering over things. "... Should I keep a bucket of ice water ready to throw on you?"
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Like dogs fighting. Throwing ice water on them.
He leans on the counter, head hanging low between his shoulders as he shakes his head, glancing up at Ulysse only to end up with a few more chortles that shake his shoulders.
"Darlin', if you need to pull me back from the brink, more shock value isn't gonna do it," Rook mumbles, aiming for something more serious. "Just tell me I'm going too far. I'll believe you."
He's putting quite a bit of trust in Ulysse's hands in there. Not to mention admitting that just seeing him would probably break through whatever haze.
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"... Are you sure?" Ulysse asks, uncertain but willing to take Rook on his word. He's also a little distracted from the pure delight he'd witnessed just now as Rook laughed so freely. Much like himself, he suspects Rook's not the sort to laugh all that often and he feels so strangely privileged to have been able to see it, especially so early in their working relationship.
He smiles a bit to himself without realising it, content in seeing that Rook must feel at least somewhat enough at ease to let such reactions out unhindered.
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"I'll let you in on a secret," he says quietly. "The only reason I'll be losing control of myself is if there's imminent life threatening danger. Where I grew up, you kinda had to look over your shoulder and be ready to fight. So, that kind of mentality isn't going away with shock. It'll double down."
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Ulysse can understand that much. He'd seen enough violence in the Keys, moreso when he'd fallen in with Anton's crowd. While he himself had never had to fight that hard to survive, it had been a close thing, and he's forever grateful his brothers didn't give up on him and managed to get him out and to safety before it was too late.
He stares at Rook with soft and sombre eyes that are full of empathy and he nods. "All right. If it gets that bad, I'll get everyone clear of you." And try to stop Rook, if the man actually was telling the truth that he would hear Ulysse telling him he's going too far.
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With a sigh, he shakes his head. "If I couldn't handle it, I wouldn't put myself in this kind of position. You don't have to worry about me," he promises quietly. "And if you truly do do worry, you shouldn't hire me. What kind of bouncer is looked after by their boss to make sure they don't melt in a bar fight?"
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"A careful one," Ulysse counters, lips twitching in a faint smile before he resumes poking at his gumbo. "Everyone's capable of losing control. You just happen to be more dangerous than others when you do, like most bouncers are. I don't think it's such a bad thing for the boss to check their bouncer to make sure things don't go too far, right?"
He sets down his spoon and fixes Rook with an intent stare. "I'm trusting you to look after my bar. I don't see a problem in you trusting me to look after you in turn."