Devil's Nest | Thursday Evening

[defenderofdesmoines]

After two weeks away in the Maldives, Annie was slightly blonder, much tanner, and -- naturally, because the progression of time was very much a visible thing in her life now -- even more pregnant, now that she was back behind the bar.

And you know what? Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and not only did she grace Tiny with a smile he completely ignored, but she also all but gave her blender a hug upon arrival.

"I've missed you," she sighed, taking to her specials board in celebration.

~*Specials*~
Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri
Frozen Peach Margarita
Frozen Chi-Chi Cocktail

[and OCD-free because we are on Lake Time over here.]

Comments

[sword_chocobro]

And since it was Thursday and he wasn't trapped in a nightmare house and his favorite bartender was back from her vacation, Gladio was definitely there, settling into his usual spot.

....and wearing a shirt.

"Well," he stated, "I hope you're happy with yourself" and gave shirt a small tug to indicate what he might be referring to.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"...did I come back to the right Fandom?" Annie had to wonder, theatrically frowning in confusion at Gladio's shirt and looking around the bar as though for other signs of other-dimensionality. "Are you a pod person? Is it...not Thursday?"

Teasing though she might have been, she was kinda curious why she was being blamed-slash-credited for this change to Gladio's Thursday attire.

[sword_chocobro]

Gladio grinned a little. "Right Fandom," he said. "Not a pod person. Definitely Thursday, as far as I can tell. But, apparently, someone offered to potentially mix someone up drink and show off her blender trick to someone else, so now I gotta follow dress code in case she takes you up on that one of these days."

But while the tone was droll and complaining, the grin on his face didn't really seem to match.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"And here I was thinking that my blender trick was very much a secondary draw there," Annie noted, placing a hand on her hip with a grin. "You're putting a shirt on in case she stops by?"

Her grin grew, just a little bit more, because there was something sort of...like, sweet about that. It made her think of those early, early days with Diego. "You must really like her."

[sword_chocobro]

"I get yelled at when I don't have a shirt on." Gladio was being a little hyperbolic, maybe, but he also seemed perfectly fine with this fate. "So, yeah, I'm putting a shirt on in case she stops by, because I do really like her.

"I might even watch my language, too."

Probably not that one, actually, but it's not like he was even that bad! His canon was a Teen rating!

[defenderofdesmoines]

"What a gentleman," Annie replied, actually meaning it even if she was playing it up a bit. "That's so cute, Gladio. I'm really happy for you guys."

It gave her a sort of nostalgic twinge to hear about these kinds of early, sweet beginning stages, when you were watching your language and still getting to know one another. Maybe it was the pregnancy, but it was likely more just that Annie was, and had always been, kind of a romantic.

"And you know what a good wingwoman I am, if she comes in," she had to add with a wink, because, like, Gladio, she and her subtlety were here to help.

[mylandmyrules]

Nell did actually manage to gather up all her courage and slip in.

"It is a very nice shirt," she said with a smile.

[sword_chocobro]

"What?" asked Gladio, taking a moment to look down at his tank top. "This old thing?"

But then his attention shifted entirely over to Nell with a grin. "Thanks. Figured you might've liked it. S'why I wore it, actually."

He threw in a wink.

"How're you doing?"

[mylandmyrules]

Nell happily nudged him with her shoulder. "Oh, you "

She smiled up at him. "It's very nice. And my day has become much better now that you're here with me."

[sword_chocobro]

"Oh, me," Gladio agreed, nudging her right back a little with his elbow. "And definitely no argument there. Glad you could make it in, get to see what all the hype is about."

Well, not all the hype, since he wasn't living up to those Shirtless Thursday vibes anymore, but at least some of the hype.

[pocketpretzels]

“Good evening, Annie,” Watts said, as he and Marc who would ping in his own thread in a bit arrived, and Watts deposited his hat at its usual spot hanging atop one of the axe range axes.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Hey, Llewellyn," Annie called brightly, resting a hand on her bump as she meandered over. "How's it going?"

Had she missed anything fun??

[pocketpretzels]

“That is- a complicated question,” Watts admitted.

[defenderofdesmoines]

Annie winced uncertainly, lifting a brow. "Complicated in a good way?" she ventured hopefully.

[pocketpretzels]

“Well, yes? Ultimately, anyway,” Watts said. “I will be moving in with Steven and Marc. Relatively soon.”

[hasaknightjob]

Marc did, in fact, come in with Watts albeit much later irl since the mung has a migraine. "Hey, how's it going?"

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Pretty good, Marc!" Annie replied cheerfully, snagging a glass en route as she crossed over behind the bar to greet him. "Already missing vacation, but that's how it goes."

[hasaknightjob]

"Not that we're trying to kick you out or anything," Marc said, "but when's your last day? Radio made it sound like we missed it."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Probably the beginning or middle of October," Annie replied, shaking her head as she grabbed the whiskey. "I'm due on Halloween, so we've got a minute yet, but it also all kinda depends on how much my kids believe in showing up on time."

Or causing issues before they showed, for that matter. Potential bedrest for her last few weeks had sounded absurd months ago, and made perfect sense to Annie now.

[hasaknightjob]

"Got it," Marc said. Because he was an asshole but not the kind of asshole who would miss Annie's last day before maternity leave if he could help it. "Though that's fucking closer than it should be."

How was it mid August already? How??

[mylandmyrules]

And here was a rather shy Nell dropping by. "Hi, Annie."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Hey Nell!" Annie greeted her with a bright smile, immediately tamping down on the impulse to be any more effusive than that. No need to scare her off! "Good to see you! How's it going?"

[mylandmyrules]

"M'good," she said with a smile and slid a packet of teas across the bar. "Thought you could maybe use some more of these. How was your trip?"

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Oh my goodness, you continue to be a lifesaver," Annie sighed happily, taking the packet and clutching it to her heart. "And it was excellent, thanks for asking. Lots of sun, pretty much constant pampering, and it was beautiful. Couldn't really ask for more, trip-wise, honestly."

Maybe a bit more adventure, but that was for other, less pregnant trips.

[mylandmyrules]

"Sounds like exactly what you needed then," Nell said with a smile. "And good to do it now while you can take enjoy it."