Simple Pleasures [Shouhei/Cecil]

Cecil: Hey, it's Cecil.
Cecil: You, uh
Cecil: Wouldn't happen to know a good place to get a drink or two, would you?
Cecil: On me. I didn't forget.

After sending the texts, the blond lets out a long sigh.

Jesus, he felt dumb for overthinking this so much.

The buzz on Shouhei’s phone was a pleasant surprise, as he saw its sender.  Clumsily and slowly, he typed out his best on the phone, saying each piece aloud.

Shouhei: O!    I wuz wonderin when u would get back 2 me lol  
Shouhei: I wuz abt 2 hit u up  
Shouhei: Ya I kno a place or 2  
Shouhei: Keep m come inn @ suzie q  
Shouhei: Hell ya free booze!  

With that string of messages sent, he eagerly awaited the response.

Had Shouhei been there at that moment, he would bear witness to the most dumbstruck look on Cecil's face.
It took a few moments to adjust to that style of texting.

Cecil: O-Okay?
Cecil: So, uh
Cecil: When?
Cecil: Do we do this?

Cecil was quick to reply.  Shouhei only wished he could type that fast, as he again slowly typed and said out loud everything he sent.

Shouhei: Uhhh
Shouhei: I’m bizy af a lot  
Shouhei: But if it’s free booze I alwayz got time lmao  
Shouhei: U free 2morro @ 10pm?

Like he said he was free anytime, but he tried for a somewhat reasonable hour with Cecil.

Hmm. That was later than he was generally out on most...nights...

...he wasn't seriously getting hesitant over going to a place at 10pm when he runs around at night as a bloody terrorist, was he?

Cecil: Should be fine, yeah
Cecil: Guess I'll see you then.

Shouhei: Kk dat’s dat  
Shouhei: C u 2morro @ keep m come inn!  

With that (slowly) sent, Shouhei looked forward to the next night.



That following evening, Shouhei stood outside the dive bar, “Keep M Come Inn.”  Surrounded by college kids, bikers, punk rockers, and other seemingly unsavory types smoking and screaming, he hoped the crowd and the bar’s location wouldn’t deter the seemingly passive and timid Cecil.  He smoked a clove cigarette in wait for his newfound friend to arrive.

Cecil was looking rather sceptically at the building Shouhei had named. It looked like a fight was about to break out any moment...wait, scratch that. Some drunk guy that was being a little too pushy with a girl just got laid out. And honestly, he kinda deserved it.

Well, no matter. He was kinda expecting this when he asked his original question. He was just hoping wherever he named would be quieter.

Taking a deep breath, Cecil approached the building to eventually find Shouhei.

Shouhei cheered and hooted once he saw that lady lay out that no good punk, bouncing up and down.
“Fuck yeah!  Shithead got what was comin’ to ‘im!  Haha!”

A cloud of smoke billowed from Shouhei’s mouth as he turned to Cecil, cigarette tucked between his smiling lips.  “...Yeah, it’s not as bad as it looks.  Most of the people come here for the grub, it just happens to serve drinks on the side, and… you know how it gets sometimes.”

He then snubbed the cigarette out in a tin he carried specifically for that purpose.  Giddily he motioned for Cecil to follow.  “...Come on, let’s get some booze!”

Reflexively, Cecil held his breath a little at the waft of smoke waving his way. He pulls just about handle the smell, but something about cigarettes had never agreed with him. "I - cough - don't think I really do." He shrugs, and tries to suppress another cough. "Ah well. If the food's really that good, I guess I'll just have to try it."

Cecil snickers a little as Shouhei gestures in, and follows along. The music hit him as he entered, and while he didn't flinch, he rubbed at his ear a bit. "I didn't think it could get much louder..."

“...What’d ya say?!” Shouhei shouted over the combined roar of music and the packed masses inside the bar.  He lead Cecil through the throng, passing by full seated tables littered with plates of food and alcohol.  That aroma had to have pleased Cecil’s nose much more than cigarette smoke.  Hell, it was making Shouhei’s mouth water at the sight and smell.

“...Yeah, you’re gonna love the food here!” Shouhei continued, hoping his voice was loud enough for Cecil to hear.  The pair finally managed to find a small table for two, and Shouhei hopped onto a stool.

“...So why ask me out for drinks?” He genuinely asked, cutting straight to the point.  “Ya don’t seem like the type to do this kind of thing, especially after… you know.”

Shouhei didn’t want to name the incident that should not be named, lest he upset Cecil.

He had to admit...the food smelled good.

Cecil shudders at the words. "Dear god, do not remind me...I couldn't stand the taste of vinegar for a while." He shakes his head clear. "But, uh, anyway. It was just advice from someone else while I was trying to figure out how to hold up my end."
He pauses.
"...they told me I was overthinking things, and it was as simple as this. That you'd know a place, for that matter. And, hey, they've been right so far, so it seems like it's working out!"

“...Ya needed advice?  To ask me out?” A cheeky grin spread across Shouhei’s face.  “I mean, come to think of it, it was super thoughtful of you to ask me out for drinks, of all things.  Then again… maybe you’re tryin’ to take advantage of me?”

Shouhei burst into laughter, slapping a palm against the table.  While he was teasing, he hoped Cecil would see the kindness in his original gesture overall.  Once the laughter stopped, Shouhei’s tone became more sincere.

“...Either way I’m flattered, t’be honest.  Not too many dudes ask for advice for relationships.  It’s kinda admirable, really.”

Cecil starts to sputter, tongue tying itself in knots. "Hey, you, I'm - shush - I just wanted to get it right ok -"
He groans, and buries his face in his hands. He walked riiight into that.

Shaking his head, he picks himself back up. "I just wanted to know what would be good, and hey, it turned out I'd just stumbled on an old friend of yours. I'm not going to bash my head against the wall when I have someone who knows better right there to ask."

Shouhei’s face scrunched up in confusion.  “Old fr-”

“Shouhei!  Long time no see, I’m thinkin’ maybe you ain’t here for the food or booze, but for me,” a particularly attractive redheaded server exclaimed, interrupting Shouhei.  She had chin length red hair, brilliant jade eyes, freckles that dotted along her cheeks and the bridge of her nose, and full lips.  Today she was dressed for tips, as she wore a sleeveless dress shirt and red tie.




“...What’d I do without you in my life, Jules,” Shouhei said without any expression in his voice, but carried a gentle smirk.

“Exactly!  I see ya brought a new date tonight, maybe someone from your host club gig?  I didn’t know ya swung both ways,” Juliet giggled, continuing to tease him.

“...Maybe.  Maybe I wanted to hook ya up with ‘im.”

“Whatevs!” She huffed, her cheeks puffing out briefly as she handed them menus.  “Whaddaya wanna drink for starters?”

“...Pint of beer.  How ‘bout you, Cecil,” Shouhei angled his head to the blonde.

Anything Cecil might have said was derailed as the new face cut in to poke fun at Shouhei, and he found himself smirking a little at the boy's deadpan response.
And then he immediately turned flustered the moment the talk of dates started.
"Hey, hey, taken, Taken!"

Realising a little late it was a joke he was having a knee-jerk reaction to, he averted his eyes and took a menu, an embarrassed flush to his cheeks. "...just - just lemonade."