I'd rather go blind, boy

Ash was used to the slurry of compliments and even the occasional flirt, but it was usually by 70 year old grandmothers recently single who were feeling a little saucy. He smiled at the compliment for that reason, looking over his shoulder at the man. “Hey, thanks. It wasn’t my best but not my worst either. Is it your first time here?”

Jazz Aesthetic ; requested by anon

Ascher was pretty used to people taking advantage of his good nature. It was, after all, the name of the game when it came to show business. If he wasn’t so generous, he might have minded, but he didn’t buy drinks for people and be kind to people just to get something in return. So even if Ryan was just using the situation for a free drink and a conversation, at least he was getting to have the pleasure of someone else’s company for a change of scenery. Day in and day out he mostly saw the same people, at least since moving to Brighton.

“Yeah, it’s my main spot. Sometimes I do a little singing on the corner but my musical tastes aren’t as appreciated there. It doesn’t pay as well either. What about you? What do you do?”

Ash held up a hand when Ryan pulled his wallet out, fishing into his own pocket to hand over one of his many drink tickets. He didn’t get sloshed at work, it was just bad form, so he had a stash of the things from his gigs. “Help yourself, whatever you’d like. It’s on me. Or rather, on my employer, but you know.” He flashed a grin Ryan’s way. “If you want to stay, I mean. If not, still have a drink on me. No hard feelings. It’s nice to meet you too, by the way.”

One would think, with working in a lounge, that Ascher would have more opportunities like this. The sad truth was, the majority of his audiences were married couples, or if they happened to be singles, they were older than shit. So it was no surprise his curiosity was piqued, seeing a younger man - and a cute younger man - in the crowd tonight. Ash couldn’t resist, and yeah, maybe he should’ve thought up something a little more flirtacious and romantic than all out running into Ryan with his shoulder. But it’d worked so far, right?

“Oh, yeah. I do when they’re cute.” Ash grinned over the rim of his glass when Ryan joined his side, spinning around on the stool he sat on to get a good look at him. Yep, definitely as cute as he’d initially thought. “You always go joining people at the bar after they run into you after their sets?” He laughed, swallowing a bit of his drink, then placing the glass back on the bartop. “I’m Ascher. Or just Ash, really.”

“Oh, no,” Ascher shook his head. “See, I’m really retro, like soul and blues and jazz retro.” He grinned. “I do like an 80s anthem every now and again, especially mixed to sound more bluesy. I do a lot of covers of top 40s stuff mixed that way, and covers of like… Etta James, Nina Simone. It’s a really low-key club so they let me do just about anything within reason. But in my personal time… I sing everything. Whatever I get in my head to do.” He grinned, rattling on about his favorite subject. “What’s your favorite song?”

Ascher ended his set with one more of his recent favorites, a cover of Sunflower by Post Malone. He enjoyed the guitar adaptation of the song and the range it took to deliver a good rendition. Once he finished, he smiled and took his leave from the stage, heading to the bar for a water and a shot. He passed by the stranger on his way, sweating from being under the lights and a little nervous to initiate conversation.

Originally posted by classymeh

“Great job, there.” Jackson added as the other man passed by him. It was a really good show after all and the man was kinda hoping to come back another night to catch another one, hopefully. 

“Alright, I’ll concede to that,” he laughed. The insult had been crude but hilarious, so Daithi won that round in his book. The news that Daithi took his shirt off for a coworker had Ascher amused. He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had seen him shirtless, yet alone naked, which was sad if you asked him. You’d think working in a night club would earn you more sexual clout somehow, and yet there he was, basically a virgin all over again, especially in this town where everyone was so attractive and apparently having sex with everyone except him. “Oh? What kinda music?” Ash asked, suddenly more curious. ‘Retro’ could mean anything, but it sounded up his alley. “I’m more a jazz and blues performer, so we might be speaking the same language. For once.” He grinned.

It was another night at work for Ascher. Unfortunately, not too long ago, music had become more of a means to make a living, rather than the outlet it used to be early on in his career. Still, he was lucky enough to make an ample living doing something he loved, and work or no work, he was having a decent night.

He had just started crooning into the microphone, an old Etta James piece that he saved for morose nights like this. Someone in the second table caught his eye, and he smiled into the lyrics, tipping the attractive stranger a wink.

He had just started crooning into the microphone, an old Etta James piece that he saved for morose nights like this. Someone in the second table caught his eye, and he smiled into the lyrics, tipping the attractive stranger a wink.

“Oh my god,” Ascher cried out with his own clipped laugh. He was almost ashamed to laugh at something so crude. “I would say I’m disappointed in you, but, well, I laughed at it anyway.” Ash tossed his own cup and followed behind Daithi back to the car, fishing his dead phone out of his pocket so he could bring it back to life. “Well, regardless, I appreciate it. A lot. If you ever wanna come by the club, I’ll get your drinks for the night. Or you can just hang out. It’s not a bad place, just a little shady a few nights a week. They usually don’t schedule me unless they know an appreciative audience is gonna show up.”

“What… The hell… Is a ‘baw bag’?” Ascher’s eyes were wide as he asked; he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to know, but his curiosity won out in the end. The singer chanced a look over at Daithi as he licked his lips. He was a simple man at the end of the day, and as such, the simple act had him flush in the cheeks all over again. He was grateful for the distraction though and he nodded in acceptance of Daithi’s plan. “Yeah, for sure.” He finished off his own drink - the other man probably didn’t want open stuff in his fancy dancy European car - and stood up. “Thank you again. I really appreciate it. Not everyone is as kind as you’ve been.”

Ascher snorted a laugh at Daithi’s description of the fight. He had a nice voice, though he could barely understand some things that Daithi said under the thick Irish brogue. He was getting used to it though, and really starting to appreciate all the different accents and dialects of the area. Brighton was a little cultural melting pot, and he appreciated that much about his new home. “Did you take your shirts off? Because that sounds like a good time to me.” He lifted his own cup to Daithi and grinned playfully over at his new friend.

“Maybe, but you’re just the terrible person who laughed at the terrible joke I told,” Ascher pointed out with a grin. He was glad for the comedic relief though. He shared the stage from time to time with comedians, and he couldn’t hold a candle to them, so it was a good thing Daithi found his dry humor at least vaguely entertaining. “Yeah, that’s a good point, wouldn’t want body juice all over your fancy goth clothes,” he mused. Ascher’s cheeks flushed when Daithi complimented him; even if it had just been a tit for tat situation, a compliment for a compliment, the other man had picked up what he’d laid down. And after all, they were drinking coffee - well, coffee and tea - together. It was kinda the perfect setup for exchanging vaguely flirty compliments, wasn’t it? Maybe he was reading into things too far.

“Gee, thanks,” the singer laughed. “I guess you’re not ugly either.”