Baby, it's 3am I must be lonely

Alex: how do u make pasta

Alex: preferably without me almost burning my apartment down like last time

Liam: buy a microwave meal. save yourself the hassle.

Collin stood in the dark and dirty men’s room, the light above him flickering on and off as he looked in the mirror, the scab over the cut on his lip had busted open again. Which didn’t bother him other than the fact it made his whiskey taste funny, the pain of it was nothing, it was welcomed in fact. He wads up some paper towels and presses them to the wound to slow the bleeding down and once he’s happy with it he tosses the bloody towel in the bin and steps back out into the pub. He pauses in the dim hallway letting his eyes adjust, “Oye, get another shot and a pint over ‘ere.” He points to his spot at the bar as he grabs  napkin to touch up on the cut.

Liam was spending a night doing what he did best: drinking and lingering on the edge of getting in to trouble. For once, or perhaps more frequently these days, he was spending the night at one of his own bars. Why would he not after? Free drinks. Full access and the simple line ‘yeah, this is my bar and i literally can’t be kicked out’. He was hovering near the end of the bar, chatting to one of bartenders when he heard the voice cut through the low hum of chatter. A dry smile spread across his cheeks as he slipped behind the bar and approached Collin. “You know you can’t just walk in here and start making demands.” Even though he spoke stern words, he continued to smile as he grabbed a pint glass and a shot glass. “You look rougher than usual. Don’t usually let bad ‘uns like yourself in. But for you I make the exception.” 

“apparently you can’t roll your own cigarette out in public without having an old lady call the cops because she thinks you’re smoking weed in front of her shop. can’t a broke man smoke his shitty, hand-rolled cigarettes in peace?” 

“listen, the ol’ bat was probably just worried about your health. she’s probably up there injecting crack as we speak. don’t fuss about it.” liam said frankly as he looked over at the other, reaching in to his pocket to withdraw a packet of cigs. “want one? for the effort. and to save you and your shitty roll.”

“I had a patient come in today that wasn’t able to pay their hospital bill.” Jake explained with the saddest expression plastered onto his face. He hated the idea of someone needing care, and not wanting to go through with it because money is such an issue. “So I offered to pay it for them. This young girl already had to deal with being with child, I just couldn’t stand thinking of this putting her even farther behind. So as a thank you–she showed up as I was leaving work with the cutest Beagle puppy that I’ve ever seen.” Smiling down at the dog that sat patiently at his side, the grown man all but melted at the small dog. “If I wasn’t happily taken, this little guy would make one hell of a wing man.” 

“You know who’s to blame for that? Brexit.” Liam remarked flatly as he shoved his hands in to the pockets of his hoodie, wondering just why the woman had been made to pay but he could barely keep up with what the NHS was up to these days, let alone what they did and didn’t charge for. “I mean that’s a lovely gesture and all, don’t get me wrong. You swooping in all heroic Captain Stethoscope but where did she just get a beagle puppy?” He still extended his hand to the sweet dog, yet his confusion remained present. “I don’t think he’d be allowed in clubs anyway. Doesn’t have smart enough shoes.” 

alex looked up from his phone with an displeased expression on his face, and looked to the nearest person to him and immediately started chatting, “can you believe this shit? i take this quiz, right? it’s supposed to be telling me who my disney daddy is. and after i finish, i get fucking john smith. who the fuck likes john smith? even his name is a fucking joke.” he wasn’t exactly the kind of person who was shy, per se, and was also a bit of a chatterbox. not a very good combination of traits to have. 

liam instantly grimaced. “if your original intention was for me to judge the answer then you’ve lost me at the fact you took that quiz.” he said honestly but a smile was creeping across his face all the same. “i wanna ask more but i’m also really worried what you’re going to tell me next.” disney daddy? honestly? what was wrong with younger people these days? liam didn’t pretend to understand. “you better just settle with the truth, kid. john whoever is gonna....nope, i actually can’t even bring myself to say it.”

Yara: LIAM!

Yara: I'm having a venue crisis

Yara: Please tell me one or maybe ALL of your bars will be available this weekend?!

Liam: YARA

Cleo tilted her head to the side with an amused expression on her face. This was exactly the reaction she expected from him. They must not know each other for a very long time but they spent enough time together during the last couple of weeks to anticipate each other reaction. But in the end, she knew she would win this time because they loved to party equally. “Yes, dance with me. I’ve been dancing all alone for too long. Please pretty please,” Cleo threw her arms in the air when he agreed and grabbed his hand. Her cheeks were slightly flushed because of how hot she felt, but also because of the drinks she already had and because she was genuinely excited. “You usually like it when I take the lead, don’t you?” The brunette teased him as they made their way through the crowd. Once they found a little spot for the two of them, she faced Liam and placed on hand on his shoulder. “Show me your incredible moves.”

“Dancing alone? Well that just makes you sound really sad. At least I’ve been at the bar alone.” He was teasing her as usual but he was never going to deny her what she requested. Sure, he didn’t dance and sure, he didn’t even know if he could but he was used to making a fool of himself and not giving a shit. And with her it probably wouldn’t be too bad. “Oh yeah I love confidence in a woman but there’s a difference between taking the lead in the bedroom and making me look less of a man in the bedroom and a difference between showing me up out here.” He was joking for the most part but when she turned on him and put her hands on his shoulders he looped his around her lower back in response. “I don’t have incredible moves. I just have moves. And they’re mediocre at best.”

“Hey, you never know, maybe you don’t know your little sister as well as you think you do,” she said with a wink. The truth was, she hadn’t really played with the idea of swinging parties and gang events. She had just always assumed they weren’t for her. Sure, she enjoyed sex, but she had never been someone who had a desire to share her partner. And the thought of sharing Ivy was also not something she was particularly keen on. “Actually, I think you should spill! Tell me all about that!” Just because she couldn’t imagine it for herself didn’t mean she was any less intrigued by it. A playful roll of her eyes followed. “Kissing means kissing. At least for me. Clearly, it’s code for something else for you heteros,” she mimicked his way of speaking. “Oh, you wouldn’t dare going near her,” she said with a grin. She knew exactly that Liam would never do something like that to her. Especially not knowing it was serious for her. 

“We are not on good enough terms for you to be calling me honey,” she pointed out with a scoff, stealing a glance his way. “That’s a shame, though, about the dresses. You seem to have great legs, I’m sure you pulled those dresses off amazingly.” Despite not being big on fancy parties, she had to admit she wasn’t having the worst time. There was good music and plenty of booze to go around. A good combination in her books. “Yes, surprisingly. Looks like I’ll be forced to give this event a raving review on my show. My boss will be ecstatic.”

“Oh I call everyone honey if I’m in the right mood. You might start doubting the terms we’re on if I crack out a darlin’.” Liam said with a wide smile as he folded his arms over his chest and looked over at the woman. When she mentioned it legs, he moved rather fluidly and drew a hand up his thigh in an overly sensual manner. Well....not so sensual for anyone looking but definitely with intention. “I pull off everything I wear with the utmost ability. It’s a talent. I won’t share my secrets.” His voice dropped to a secretive tone before he grinned. “Forced to? You’re having a good time. That isn’t forced. Be honest.”

❛ You look like you need some help… I can help, if you want.  ❜

Cleo had had a couple of drinks already and as surprising as it was, she actually enjoyed this party. She had low expectations when she received the invitation in the first place but alcohol usually made things better. She walked out of the crowd that was on the dancefloor and made her way to the bar where she saw the familiar face of her favourite bar owner. She could recognise him anywhere and a smile immediately spread across her features. “Dance with me,” Cleo whispered in his ear, placing her hands on his hips from behind. “You’re always at the bar, it would be a nice change, no? Just once.” She pouted, something she usually never did except when she was tipsy, or drunk. She looked a little bit childish but she only wanted to have fun with Liam.

@liamxhill

Liam loved a party. He loved to see alcohol flowing, smiles showing and people coming together in the sake of a good time. Maybe that was why he had originally started to run bars. Not simply because it meant he could drink for free but because so many people made stories within the four walls of hideaways bars and just off the street pubs. New tales to tell and people to meet. He loved it. But as usual, he was at the bar away from the actual festivities. Trying to drink enough to make his suit not feel so uncomfortable. However it was the feeling of her hands on him that flooded him with reassurance once again. “Dance? With you?” He snorted lightly and plucked up his drink from the bar. “Are you sure you’ve got the right man?” He was teasing her but there was also a sincere shyness behind his words. However, Liam Hill didn’t bow in the face of something new. “Just try not to step on my toes or take the lead too much, okay?” He sighed as he drained his newly purchased drink and held out his hand for her. 

Right, that was it. Marco knew he remembered him from somewhere, but he hadn’t been able to put his finger on it until Liam reminded me. “¡Salud! I figured, when you mess up your first impression, why not try and make up for it in your second.” He sipped his beer and couldn’t help but wince slightly. He wasn’t a beer man, but it was a lot cheaper than the drinks he would usually get and he wasn’t exactly overflowing in wealth right now. “Your name was Liam, right?” 

“Yeah pal, salad to you too. But we’ll forget all useless garnishes and accidental attempts at blowjobs over a beer because this...” He lifted his glass to his lips and gave it a kiss, treasuring it as if it were a trophy. “This can make me forgive, and sometimes forget, everything.” For a few moments he smiled to himself before taking a sip and nodding at the other man. “Indeed it was. Good memory. Marco the fancy writer, right? That was your full name wasn’t it?” 

“Is it depressing that I’m here alone?” Veronica asked as she held her fruity drink close and gazed out upon the crowd, her back to the bar. “I feel like everybody is here with someone and I don’t usually mind being alone, but I will admit I’m feeling some embarrassment right now.”

Liam looked across at the woman as she spoke, his eyebrows furrowing as he lifted his own pint glass to his lips. “I don’t see why people perceive being alone as some kind of reason to feel embarrassed. I drink alone all the time. And go see movies. And go out for dinner.” He smiled in her directions. “Besides, just means now you end up talking to random people like me. What a treat for you.”

“I live plenty thank you.” He replied as he finished his first and only drink. “I just don’t live through drinking.” He added. “Would you like me to call you a cab or something?”  He offered.

Liam snorted and looked back at his little creation, considering where he would put the next bottle once he’d drained the liquid from it. “You don’t live through drinking. You live to drink. And no, who needs a cab? I’ll just crash behind the bar when I’m tired.”

“You know, I wasn’t looking forward to this, but the music is decent and I still haven’t gotten anything spilled on my dress,” Isla commented, glancing at the person next to her. The station had asked her to cover the event and she’d begged them to find someone else, but she’d be forced to admit it wasn’t the worst party she’d ever been to. “Enjoying yourself?” 

“You haven’t spilled anything down your dress? Oh honey, I’ve had to change my dress three times since I got here. So tragic.” Liam said over dramatically as he beamed behind the drink he slowly lifted to his lips. It was enjoyable to see so many people enjoying themselves. Sure, he’d been hopping back and forth between his own nearby bar to check on service but as he fell in to conversation it was easier to forget responsibility. “Yes. Very much so. Yourself?” 

EVENT 002: BLACK AND WHITE PARTY

Would he have had this confidence if he hadn’t already had two pints and half a dozen shots? Definitely not. Dressed in his three-piece suit, which was – he had previously realised and now drunkenly disregarded – a bit much, he strode towards the other, two pints of beer in his hands. “I love your outfit,” he shouted over the loud music. Holding out the beer to them, he gestured they could take it if they wanted.

Liam was not the kind of guy that usually conformed with formality. Sure, he’d originally turned up to the event in a white t-shirt and jeans but upon some insistence he’d changed in to a crisp black suit. When he saw a familiar face, striding toward him through the crowd, he smirked and extended his hand to pluck up one of the beers. “Wow, nice to see you greeting me on two feet rather than with your head against my crotch.” He smirked and tilted the drink toward the man. “Cheers.”