neither beast nor god

"okay, i need all the details," was the first thing that came out of jia's mouth when they finally sat down at the table. the past thirty minutes had been reserved for casual conversations, talks of the kids at work and minor details of a case daniel was working on. the dinner table was for the big things. like daniel's love life. "how are things going with lover boy ?" she waggled her eyebrows suggestively, knowing that this was new grounds for daniel but also, she was his sister and sisters are obligated to annoy the hell out of their brothers. "are we still liking him ? are we still spending too much of our time watching him dance at a club ?"

Daniel was taking a drink of his water when Jia launched the question she’d obviously been dying to ask all night at him. He promptly choked, placing the glass back down on the table and clearing his throat a few times. “We’re diving straight in, huh?” he asked, giving his sister a look that was both exasperated and amused. He took in a deep breath to steady himself, knowing Jia wouldn’t let this go until she got all the details she was looking for. “Yes, we’re still liking him,” he murmured, a shy dusting of pink across his cheeks. “And no, I’m not spending that much time at the club, okay? Just…enough to not look like a stalker.” Daniel rubbed the back of his neck, slightly embarrassed as he thought back to the sheer number of times he’d found himself at the club, watching Angel dance with a magnetism that seemed to pull everyone’s eyes towards him. “He’s…different. He’s not like anyone I’ve ever known and I just can’t keep my eyes off him,” he shook his head, burying his face in his hands for a moment as he let out a grown. When he raised his head back up, he offered Jia a self-deprecating smile. “He also has this way of making me forget how to act like a normal human being.”

it wasn't as if angel never got hit on while working. both la galleria and aurora had their fair share of people trying to give him their number. the people at aurora was, maybe not unsurprisingly, more respecting of boundaries than the rich and comfortable spending their money at la galleria. at aurora it was usually an appreciative nod and maybe a beer if he was lucky. la galleria was definitely not that. daniel wasn't like them, even though he radiated some of that same poise. first of all, he had not given him his number, even though he'd been eyeing angel most of the nights he had been there. angel thought that daniel was interested, but he was also blushing heavily every time angel said anything remotely flirtatious. somehow that made angel even more intrigued. daniel's gravitational pull hooked him every time. "you're so cute ! you really got worried that i would be upset ?" angel was oddly touched at the older man's gentleness and care for his feelings. it wasn't something that usually happened at aurora. he eyed daniel up and down, saw the tailored suit and styled hair. it was different from how he usually came and it immediately gave him an air of mysteriousness. "looking very handsome," angel allowed, crowding closer to him, wanting all his attention. "i'll be over on that side, if you want a better view." he pointed to the other side of the club, where one of the stages were. "want me to get you a seat ?"

As Angel crowded into his space, Daniel could feel his face warming, the easy smile on the other’s face doing absolutely nothing to slow the beating of his heart. He could almost visualize Jia laughing at him for being so visibly flustered, but there was something about Angel’s attention that felt disarming in a way that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. He wasn’t naive to think he was the only person who found Angel attractive and intriguing – but Angel’s attention in its direct, playful and somehow genuine expression felt like he was special. A man could dream, right?  “Yeah, I guess I thought…but maybe I overstepped or something,” he admitted with a shy laugh, rubbing at the back of his neck. Angel’s words helped melt his uncertainty, however, and Daniel managed to meet his gaze. The compliment unexpected, but welcome nonetheless. “Thanks. I wasn’t expecting that,” he chuckled. “You’re pretty damn stunning yourself. Ah, but you, uh, probably get that all the time.” Angel gestured towards the stage and Daniel’s eyes. His gaze flickered back to Angel, his pulse quickening even more if possible. “Y-yeah,” he said, a little to breathlessly. Daniel cleared his throat and tried again. “Yes, please. That would be great. If it’s not too much trouble. I don’t wanna pull you away from…whatever magic you’re already working tonight.”

SHE LOVED HER BROTHER DEARLY and it only grew bigger as he at once began to make a fool of himself for her sake. "i'm sure you make everyone around you swoon," she replied, while mimicking a gagging sound. "but please, never do that to me again." she waved her hands in front of her, as if to dispel whatever was happening in front of her. jia had never been sure exactly what had gone down with daniel's former colleague, but the details she had been given had painted a picture vivid enough that she understood the basics. daniel had beaten himself up enough over what happened, and jia knew that he had never really forgiven himself for it. "you couldn't have known things would end the way they did," she replied kindly, "their actions are not your burden. you didn't do anything wrong."

Daniel grinned, a bit sheepish, as he ran a hand through his hair. He loved to give Jia a hard time, and he thoroughly enjoyed whenever she sassed him back. It was a love language of sorts and it was all their own. “I haven’t had any complaints,” he chuckled. “But noted, never again.” Daniel raised his hands in mock surrender as Jia waved hers in front of him.  His expression turned somber as her words about the past hit him. “Thanks, Jia,” he said quietly. “In my head, I know you’re right, but…it’s just hard to shake, you know? I should’ve said something sooner. Maybe it wouldn’t have been as bad for her.” Daniel exhaled slowly, as if to release some of that weight on his chest, and he shook out his limbs before offering Jia another smile. “I appreciate you saying that though. And I appreciate you feeding me. I couldn’t do another night out.”

sometimes it paid to have no filter, to see the good in people—even if they were staggering or holding a full can of beer. calahan found it difficult to judge even the patrons that looked the most tired, the most haggard. they needed a place to stay safe, a salvation, a church. in a way he never expected to, calahan offered that in the pour house. there were no little wafers for their tongues, no pews or sermons, but those that came through the door would always find a soft place to land. calahan softened. “you know what? that would be brilliant, if you have some names in mind. all i need is somebody dependable and willing to learn. i’m happy to help with the rest.” their adverts, of late, hadn’t drummed up much interest. he relied almost solely on the one bartender that was any good, a young transient that needed to use his calculator to add up change—he was a little slower, but he was the best they had. it was all calahan could ask for. “i hope the place is up to your standards, then, if you're quite the connoisseur. i'm calahan,” he reached to offer a firm handshake. “cal.”

Daniel nodded, a smile breaking onto his face as he met Cal’s handshake with a firm grip. “The place is definitely up to standard,” he chuckled, glancing around the bar. The Pour House was rough around the edges, but it still held a certain charm – something that felt genuine, but like the man who apparently owned it. “It’s hard to find a place where people feel welcomed to come as they are.” He was pleased that Calahan was willing to accept a few employee referrals. There were quite a few people on this side of town that just needed a chance to prove themselves and somebody to believe in them so they could believe in themselves. “There’s a couple of people I can reach out to for you. Might not be pros, but they’re solid people.” There was a respect in Daniel’s voice, admiration for the way that Cal seemed to be willing to take a leap of faith for others. “Hell, I’d even be willing to pitch in myself a few nights and weekends. You’re doing something really good here, Cal.”

CONTRARY TO EVERYONE'S BELIEF, angel wasn't one for random hook-ups. there might be some prejudice coming from people, given both his sexuality and place of work. most of the snide looks came from soccer moms and, sadly, people wanting him to put out. but it had been a long time since angel let that get to him. he paid them no mind and just brushed them off, a few free drinks later. besides, angel would never mix business with any sort of pleasure, no matter how much people might want it. daniel wasn't like that. he was cute, in an awkward, confused-puppy way. they'd bumped into each other during pride and angel was pretty sure that daniels life had just opened to another dimension. ever since then daniel had been a constant fixture at the club, eyeing him curiously as he danced. it wasn't predatory, angel never felt uncomfortable, only a slight pulse of desire as he knew he was the object of daniel's affections. but then, as quick as it happened, daniel's gaze would turn away, shoulders hunched as if embarrassed. angel was charmed. it was stupid, really, the way angel loved the attention he was getting. it was irrational and made him feel like a teenager, almost giddy with it. it was no different tonight as angel saw daniel appear at the entrance. he didn't move from his spot, just waited for the other to approach. "hi there, stranger," angel said, voice sweet as honey. "i thought you wouldn't show up. i've been waiting."

Ever since the pride festival, Daniel had been visiting Aurora with a certain regular frequency. It may have had something to do with the stunning young dancer that worked there. Maybe. When he first met Angel, Daniel had been more than a little blown away. He was attractive, obviously, but there was something simultaneously mischievous and sweet in his smile that completely drew him in. Angel was absolutely enchanting and Daniel just liked being in his orbit. He’d all but dragged Jia with him the first and second time, but by the third time he asked, she had been onto him and told him to just man up and talk to Angel. Which Daniel did try to, although, his words didn’t always come out making sense.  Daniel spotted Angel as soon as he walked in, and as always, that familiar fluttering in his stomach hit him hard. He locked eyes with the other and felt drawn to him from across the room. He grinned sheepishly as Angel greeted him, his heart doing a little flip at Angel’s honeyed tone so much so he had to remind himself to keep his cool. “Hey,” Daniel replied, leaning a bit closer. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to keep you waiting, just got hung up at work.” His cheeks grew warm at the thought that Angel had been waiting for him. It was funny, really – how someone like Angel, who seemed so unbothered by everything, could make him feel like he belonged in this place. Daniel was so sure that he looked as awkward as ever in his suit, but he hoped Angel didn’t mind. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

IT WAS COMFORTABLE AND SAFE to engage in the ribbing between daniel and themself. it hadn't always been, but after enough time ash felt certain the he wouldn't lash out and hold it against them. "do i have to teach you everything, old man ? first swiping across the keyboard to write and now how to behave like a normal human being ?" they accepted the cash and let out a small sigh of relief when they finally locked the register. "thank you, mr choi. your charity is always astounding. and i'll keep my eyes peel for this glowing review." ash nodded in acknowledgment, motioning for daniel to make himself comfortable. it was rather nice to have company as they hurriedly swept the broom back and forth across the aisles, trying to make it tidy but also not keep daniel waiting. "so, any particular reason you're all the way over here ?" they asked as they put the broom back in its place, quickly popping their head in to the staff room to get their backpack.

Daniel lifted a hand to his chest, taking a staggered step backward and let out a soft gasp. “Right in the heart, Ash. Just go for the jugular next time, I think it would be less brutal,” he joked. The keyboard swipe hack had been a revelation and Daniel maintained that it was simply a feat of witchcraft. He let Ash’s comments drop, only offering an amused smile as acknowledgement that he’d heard them. Daniel leaned against the counter, opening his candy and unwrapping a Starburst to pop into his mouth.  He finished chewing as Ash asked their question and he nodded. “A new kid showed up at Bright Sparks – tried acting like they weren’t looking to talk to anyone, but I’ve been volunteering there long enough to know,” Daniel said with a shrug, popping another Starburst in his mouth. They’d manage to talk to the kid having a slight personal crisis and encouraged them to come back anytime. “They live over on this side of town, so I offered to drop them off at home. I figured I was in the neighborhood and I haven’t seen you in a bit.”

𝐅𝐎𝐑: @dailydanielchoi

RELIEF FLOODED HER SYSTEM, and jia immediately felt back on track with ribbing her brother as usual. "and wha strong, sturdy shoulders they are. so handsome, so wide." it had been a common, teasing tactic jia had employed after seeing some girls giggling over daniel when she visited him in college once. it was her sisterly duty, after all. the name rung a bell, but nothing that immediately stuck out. "arizona ..." jia hummed thoughtfully, flipping through her internal flash drive of stories daniel had told her over the past thirty or so years. "oh, the ... the other woman so to speak ? she's here ? in blue harbor ?" jia remembered when everything had been going down. daniel had been especially worn out that time. "is she alright ?"

As Jia returned to her merciless teasing, Daniel rolled his eyes, but but his mouth turned upwards into a smile despite himself. He could see the tension releasing from Jia’s own shoulders and he knew had had made the right call. He played along and dramatically flexed his arms in different poses, chuckling to himself. “What? These old things?” The smile on his face slowly dropped as she recalled who Arizona’s name. Daniel cleared his throat, nodding solemnly in agreement. “Uh, yes. Her.” Jia was probably the only soul he’d ever told about the predicament with Arizona. Finding out that she was the girlfriend of his married colleague. He had wanted to do the right thing, but he thought it would be enough to confront the man to do the right thing. Well, he never did and the news had gotten out before Daniel had ever gotten the chance to warn her. “She’s in Blue Harbor – Has been for the past year apparently. I don’t know how I missed that – she was as kind as ever to me and I can’t help but feel like I didn’t deserve it.”