When going to a bar, Kai never expected anyone to talk to him, and he much preferred to be left alone – he was there to drink, to get drunk. Not to make friends, not pick up a pretty girl. He didn’t mind the occasional conversation with the bartender, but he just wanted alcohol, and that was it. Not that he was even much of an approachable person, but maybe that was on purpose, and maybe it was the sort of image he wanted to give off. But Kai wasn’t really a people person – he could be very social, when he wants to be, but it was hard for him to get comfortable with someone. Awkward was like a middle name for Kai, but he had always been like that. He knew how to be professional, but when it came to his personal life – that was a completely different story.
The bar was full of people, mostly groups of young adults and groups of older business men. What their purpose was, Kai didn’t really know, nor did he care. There was a young guy singing off on the stage at the other end of the bar, though it was hard to hear with all the talking and laughter echoing off the walls, so for the most part he let himself zone out completely, focusing on finishing off the glass of pure whisky that thin, fingers stayed curled around. The sting from the whisky as it ran down his throat was unpleasant, but it was enough to satisfy him – a light buzz was enough.
“I need a new partner in crime.”
Or maybe it wasn’t enough.
“Huh–” He blurted out without even taking into consideration the fact that the stranger could mean several things by that. But of course, with the way his mind worked, his first thought was that he knew. His entire body was tense and his mind was racing with hundreds of thoughts were millisecond, but why should he just assume? It took a moment or two for him to relax, instead cracking a small, confused smile as he glanced over at the man next to him. “A partner in crime, huh? That’s an odd thing to ask– For what?”
jongdae didn’t make it a habit to socialise at work -- he went to hypnotise and enthral with an ethereal voice, downed a drink laced with too much sugar to be healthy and not enough alcohol, and left without a word that wasn’t sung in a voice soft and stable. firstly, he had always presumed that the mystery added to his allure, and so giving out any sense of being ordinary or one of them, as the boy really was, would detract from his attraction -- a point which also drove the inspiration for a stage name, along with the intent to hide away his more heinous, lewd deeds, in which his name could have slipped. secondly, he was often minutes away from falling asleep right where he stood, and so didn’t want to waste any time and put his head to a comfy pillow right away.
there were also some days where he craved entertainment, though, and it was easy to find in a club with an ever-growing crowd; one that appeared more lively that day, with jongdae’s voice very nearly blocked out by the chatter and susurration. still, he tried his best as he would any day, and attempted to remain hidden as he stepped down from the stage to mingle through the assembly of bodies, waiting for someone to catch his eye. if he didn’t manage to find someone, then he’d probably find the some satisfaction in forced, vivid imagination -- but it wouldn’t be quite the same, and he’d probably be quite disappointed, so he was hoping for the best.
then, his eyes settled on a man at the bar, completely tuned out, and it seemed almost too perfect of an opportunity for jongdae to just... appear. as he stepped towards the unfamiliar figure, openers ran through his head -- a simple hello? a tap on the shoulder? something completely out of nowhere? there were so many choices, and with jongdae’s feet working to a faster pace, very little time, and what eventually spilled from his lips was unplanned.
“i need a partner in crime.”
studying the brief moments of panic on the stranger’s face, jongdae took a second to contemplate his choice in person. then, deciding that it’d be strange to just leave, he consoled his worries and gave a grin in response to the man’s reasonably confused smile. he ruffled the hair at the back of his neck for a moment, humming in thought, then settled on saying, “i don’t know, i just need some fun -- even if it does turn out to be some sort of illegal. you got any ideas?”
