Well, this jobwasfun.
He pouted for most of the evening after that, finding some pleasure in escorting out a couple of drunks
who insisted on singing ABBA on repeat and throwing their beers at the audience when they got
booed. He promptly deposited them all outside without any permanent injuries as ordered, walking
back in to take his post by the door.
He saw the bartender he had helped earlier beckoning him over with a friendly smile. He frowned,
glancing around for Rees. He didn’t see him, cautiously approaching the bar. He wasn’t supposed to
leave his post, asking quickly, “What? Is someone else bothering you?”
“I wanted to thank you,” she replied, smiling warmly and sliding a shot of something dark toward
him. “The way you totally kicked Kevin’s ass was like watching art in motion. Thanks.”
Snod frowned at the glass, gently pushing it back. “I’m on duty,” he said shortly. “I need to be alert.”
“Wow! Are you always this serious?” she asked with a soft laugh.
“Yes,” he replied. “Especially when I’m on a mission.”
“Mission?”
“Working,” he tried again.
“Right,” she drawled, holding out her hand expectantly. “Well, Mr. Serious, my name is Mandy.”
“My name isn’t Serious. It’s Snod, Obadiah Penuel Snod,” he corrected quickly, shaking her hand
awkwardly. “You may call me Snod.”
“Nice to meet you. So! How do you know Rees?”
“I don’t know him. He’s a friend of... he’s a friend of my boyfriend’s.” Snod couldn’t help the warm
little smile that curled his lips. God, to admit that out loud, to say that he had a boyfriend, was
absolutely liberating.
“Oh!” Mandy grinned brightly, seeming surprised.
“What is it?” Snod felt a moment of panic at how she had responded.
“I just can’t believe Rees has any friends,” she replied with a wink.
“I heard that!” Rees’ disembodied voice called out from the back, growling in protest. There was a
brief fit of coughing before he yelled again, “I have plenty of friends, you nasty little hussy!”
Mandy giggled, shouting back, “You know I love you, Rees!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Rees mumbled, strutting out to join them with a dramatic roll of his eyes. “Whatever
you say, darling.”
