The Tomb Raider (lara) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2017-04-08 16:34:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, aria t'loak, bo dennis, harley quinn, lara croft |
Was she ever a dancer?
Who: Lara, Aria, Bo and Harley Quinn
What: Lara and Aria chat, Bo serves drinks, and Harley makes a move on an Asari
When: recently
where: Logan's bar
status: complete
Rating: PG-13
Orange County was proving to be quite a place. Aria had survived the Reaper attack here, and she wondered just what that meant for her in her dreams. She’d begun to discover what was going on with the Collectors, so she had a feeling that any time now she would be crossing paths with Shepard in her dreams. And Garrus as well.
But today, she wasn’t worried about the dreams, though the possibility of turning into an Asari at some point was always in the back of her mind. Today, Aria had been running some errands related to getting Afterlife up and running. She’d already hired some staff, but she was still hoping to find a bartender that was on Bo’s level of talent and attractiveness.
Which was probably she ended up at Logan’s bar again. Bo was working, and Aria seemed to be there enough now that she merely needed to give Bo a signal for what she wanted to drink. Aria got several heads to turn when she came in, signaled Bo and claimed a table for herself. Flipping some blue hair over her shoulder, she eyed Bo for some moments before looking over the people there. Her end goal wasn’t necessarily to end up in Logan’s office, or somewhere else, but she wouldn’t be opposed to it either.
Lara sometimes came in too. She enjoyed the atmosphere, especially as it had gotten a bit more modern than it used to be. The regulars were nice and liked her, and seeing Bo in action was always fun. She sometimes missed bartending. Though she never did something so brazen as kiss Bo in public, she still leaned close when chatting with her and gave her her full attention.
Today her boots were dusty, and her shirt was a little torn, revealing impressive abs. As usual, her arms were exposed. Lara might have developed a bit of vanity, and she’d rather show off her guns, scars and all, than the girls.
Aria noted the brunette that spoke to Bo now and then. The dust on her boots indicated she’d been outdoors. The tear in her shirt that revealed the abs was hot. She liked a woman who was confident and showed off her assets like that. Though just by the way she saw Bo and the interact, she wondered if that was the fiancée Logan had spoken of. Deciding to go say hello instead of sit and wait, Aria got up and moved up to the bar to retrieve her drink from Bo.
When Aria approached the bar, Bo had an ‘oh crap’ moment. She still remembered how Aria and Logan had gotten it on in the office. “Your drink’s coming right up,” she assured Aria.
Aria gave a nod to Bo, leaning an arm on the bar as she glanced at Lara. “They’ve got an excellent bartender here, don’t they?” She said to the nicely muscled woman. Aria’s own shirt had strategic rips in it, ones that had come with it when she’d bought it. Her own abs and biceps would be seen as well.
“She’s lovely,” Lara said, her smile widening. Objectively, Aria was incredibly hot, but she didn’t really do anything for Lara. Bo on the other hand… “I always enjoy watching her work. I used to do this, when I was working my way through University. I got along well enough but I never had her charm or way with people.”
“That I can understand. A little charm sometimes goes a long way.” Aria agreed with a smile as her drink arrived. “It’s difficult to find bartenders of her caliber.” If there was another one to be found in Orange County, Aria was determined to find them. “Are you her fiancée, or simply one of her numerous admirers?”
Lara lifted her hand to flash her ring. “The former. To be fair, she was the one that had to chase me at first. I’m usually oblivious to those sort of things but that, ah. Quickly changed.”
It was a source of amusement for her. She knew how attractive Bo was, and even though Bo had turned her head, it had still come as a shock to her. And it always would.
“Congratulations. Clearly it was worth it that she chased you.” It didn’t take a mind reader to see the looks the two had given each other before Aria had come over. Aria sipped her drink. “Does it ever bother you when these people hitting on her?”
Lara shook her head, answering easily and without needing to think about it. “No, not really. She’s faithful to me and I trust her.”
Survival needs notwithstanding, Lara believed and trusted Bo that she wouldn’t stray, and she didn’t get jealous if Bo flirted a little. She’d been through that phase, and she’d hated herself for it. So it wouldn’t happen again.
“I can appreciate that. Jealousy doesn’t suit many people.” Aria glanced at Bo, watching her interact with another customer. “Does she have a sister? I could use a bartender like her.” Aria could tell Bo was special, but it was probably that kind of special that was a once in a lifetime special.
Lara threw her head back and laughed. “That’s not the first time I’ve been asked that, but that’s the first time it was related to bartending. She doesn’t have a sister by blood, just one by bonding but I don’t think Kenzi would be what you’re looking for. Thinking of stealing her from Howlett?”
“Already tried, and he shut me down.” Aria said, shrugging a shoulder. “If I could find a bartender half as good and half as attractive as her, I’d be happy enough.” Now, Aria could do it herself, but she wasn’t wanting to work behind a bar in her own club. She wanted to watch from above, watch people enjoy her club for everything it had to offer.
“I’m almost as good,” Lara chuckled. “But haven’t done that since I got my degree. And I’m not as personable as she is. Or charming.” Or able to flirt. “I can throw a bloke three times my size out on his arse at least.”
“With those biceps, I believe it,” Aria commented. “Though are you actually looking for a job?” Lara would certainly make an excellent bouncer, but Aria practically had a private army of those kinds of people already. She didn’t precisely need another one.
Lara grinned, and couldn’t help but flex. “I’ve got one I enjoy. I even get to throw blokes out on their arses sometimes, but that’s not usually a common occurrence.”
Mostly she just got shot at surprisingly often for archaeology.
Aria appreciated the flex. She certainly admired strength. “Can’t blame a girl for trying. My search simply continues, limited by my high standards.” So really, Aria was probably shooting herself in the foot with that, but she wasn’t going to lower her standards. That was when things would go awry, and she was smarter than that.
“If you’re looking at Bo,” Lara said. “Then you’re never going to find anyone who can compare.“ She took a sip, “I’m afraid I don’t make the rules.”
Bo was amazing, and beautiful and sexy and smart and she got Lara. “You’ll have to settle for lesser.”
Maybe Bo’s ears were burning at this point.
“Suppose I’ll just have to have something Logan wants and not give it to him.” Aria responded, eyeing Bo. Of course that something could be sex, but Aria wasn’t quite wanting to blue ball him at this particular point in time. “She’s definitely fucking hot, that’s not something that’s easily replicated. Was she ever a dancer? Call me curious.” She meant exotic dancer, but whether Lara got that without clarification remained to be seen.
Bo’s ears were definitely burning. In fact, she kept glancing their way now and then, seeing Aria talking to Lara. And sometimes looking at her. She was fairly certain if she was single or not monogamous that Aria would definitely be hitting on her.
“Can I get you guys anything else?” Bo asked, finally making her way back to that end of the bar.
“I don’t think so,” Lara said. Outside of clubbing or the privacy of the manor, dancing of any sort had never really come up. “She’s got the grace of one, but she’s a bit top heavy for most dancing.”
And she definitely hadn’t twigged on what Aria had meant. Lara grinned at Bo when she approached. “Just a water, I need to drive back.”
Aria had to chuckle softly, sipping her drink. “That’s not the kind of dancing I meant,” she corrected. “I meant exotic dancing. Stripping, if you wish to be crude.” Aria preferred exotic dancing because it was an art form, one she had mastered. There was more to it than simply taking one’s clothes off. “I’ll take another drink.”
“Coming right up.” Bo gave Lara a wink, then grabbed her a water and went about making another drink for Aria.
Lara’s face must have been red when Bo got there, though she didn’t respond until her fiance had departed. “Ah. I uhm. No, I don’t think she’s ever done that. She mostly sticks to bartending.”
Bo definitely noticed the red face, and she gave Aria a slightly pointed look before she went off to deal with other customers.
Aria had to grin a bit. Oh this was priceless. Lara turned red at the mention of exotic dancing. “I see. Pity, she could’ve made a hell of a lot money at it. She’s got the looks for it. You’re a lucky woman.”
“I know I am.” Lara would be lying if she said she’d never actually considered it. She had. Once. When staring at bills with Sam and about three breaths from calling the lawyers about her fund. But she’d stopped herself, and it had been worth it.
“Then you’ll be fine. Knowing what you have is what helps you keep it.” Aria seemed to speak from experience. However, she was conscious of what her exes were, and she’d broken up with a couple because she wanted something different in life. The last one, however, she’d left her and disappeared. “So long as what you have is what you want, of course.” But Aria was fine being single. She had other focuses, and she didn’t need the distraction of a relationship getting in the way.
Besides, Aria was kind of difficult to date in the first place.
“I expected to be alone. Looked forward to it, actually,” Lara admitted. “I had a friend, a very close one. Things might have been more with her but I’d have been content either way. Bo was a surprise, who managed to fit into my life in a way that complimented it. Not everyone would put up with a woman who sometimes spends more time studying ruins than around real people.”
“Likewise not everyone would put up with their fiancée having a job like this. Though at least you both found happiness, which seems to be the point of existence. I prefer enjoyment, however.” There were multiple connotations to that. Aria wasn’t one who pursued happiness in relationships, and she never expected anyone to put up with her in such a respect.
Coughing a little, Lara raised her drink to her lips. “I’m sure you do, and I hope you can find it somewhere.”
A woman wearing too much makeup, with her hair pulled back in a multi-colored ponytail, plopped down on a stool next to Aira. Harley looked her up and down. “Well ain’t you a hottie.”
“I always do,” she purred in response with a little smirk as she took a sip of her drink. Her attention then shifted to the woman who sat down beside her. “Well hello. Clearly I’m not the only one here who enjoys multi-colored hair.”
“Darn tooting!” Harley flashed a too-toothy grin and leaned her elbow on the counter. Her clothing was tight, and mostly not there, and she was looking at Aria like she was a delicious cupcake. “It’s really fun when the carpet matches the drapes. Unless it’s all tile. But I met a girl once who was linoleum.”
Harley remembered she was supposed to seduce one of these ladies over to her and Helena, and decided linoleum wasn’t very sexy.
Aria arched an eyebrow at the carpet comment and smirked. “That is something that I’m not telling. That’s best shown.” Her smirk widened a bit as she tossed back part of her drink. She glanced at Lara, mostly to see if she was turning red or not before she looked back at the new woman. “Got a name?”
Lara was pointedly ignoring them, and focusing soley on her drink.
“Harley.” She held out her hand. “Why don’t you come over to that table to meet my girl. We have what you’d call an open relationship.”
And Lara choked on her drink.
“Aria,” she replied, shaking Harley’s hand. And then Aria’s attention was piqued a bit as she looked Harley over. “An open relationship? That’s not something one hears of every day. Sure, I’d like that.” She then glanced back at Lara, who choked on her drink. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Lara,” she said, not wanting to be completely rude and just leaving without acknowledging the conversation they’d had.
Meanwhile, the red auras at that end of the bar had started to blind Bo. She’d pointedly stayed away from that end for the time being. The woman talking up Aria had quite the aura. And actually, so did Aria. But finally, braving that sexual energy that was starting to emanate from the those two, Bo headed over to Lara, leaning forward a bit.
“You okay?” Which really was something Bo should ask herself. She was starting to feel the temperature rise, and Lara may get pounced on when she got home, depending on how long Aria and Harley stayed there building that sexual energy.
“I’m fine.” Lara squeaked. “Are you?” Open relationships were an option? People liked that? They were crazy, but more power to them.
“Somewhat? So long as they take their sexually charged auras out of here, I won’t go nuclear.” Bo did have that look she got when she got hungry. It was one that Lara would definitely know by now.
“Lets just hope they leave sooner rather than later.” Lara put her hand on Bo, though that might have its own dangers. “Drink some cold water.”
“Seriously. At least Aria isn’t here for another round in Logan’s office. That would make me go nuclear.” Bo said, squeezing Lara’s hand. “I will. I’ve got a glass of it back here.” Might be about time to down it and refill it.
“We can get them back in his office,” Lara suggested. And then she couldn’t believe she’d actually said that out loud. Or at all.
Lara wasn’t the only one who didn’t believe that. Bo blinked at her as she processed what Lara had just said. “I wouldn’t be opposed,” she responded. Though she wondered how pissed Logan would be if he found out about that.
“I don’t think you’ll make it home,” Lara pointed out, glancing back over at Aria and the other two. “I’d rather not risk it.”
“Alright,” she said, then got her co-worker to cover the bar while she took a break. Bo came out from behind the bar, giving Lara a nod to follow her into the back and into Logan’s office. That office was definitely getting a lot of action lately.