Chapter Text
Thumping bass is all Dorian can hear as he and Aedion pile out of Chaol's car and gaze upon The Glass Palace, his favorite bar in the city. It's a simple two story building, with the bar and dance floor on the first floor, and offices on the second floor. Dorian assumes the VIP lounge is up there as well, but he's never been invited up so he isn't sure. A couple windows adorn the black building, but it's main feature is the glass double doors that make the entrance. So many memories (some better than others) happened here that it's hard to keep them all straight.
Chaol, dressed in a simple black t-shirt and jeans, joins Dorian and Aedion in front of the bar. The three men all seem to take a collective breath, preparing themselves for the night ahead.
Aedion idly fixes the collar on his red and black flannel, which he wears over a simple white tee. The black jeans he wears pulls together his outfit nicely, making Aedion stand out among the men.
Dorian is dressed more simply, in just a white t-shirt and acid-washed jeans. His hair is slicked back, giving him a 90s look, but he does his best to modernize it.
"Don't get into too much trouble tonight, Dorian."
Chaol says, giving his friend a wide grin.
"What me? Trouble?"
All three men laugh at that. Dorian thinks of all the times he's gotten into trouble at this bar. Thankfully, he's never been kicked out or banned, but he's definitely gotten himself into deeper waters than he intended more times than he can count.
All three men walk through the double doors, pausing a moment to grab drinks at the bar before sitting in a booth along the smooth black wall. The booths are in immaculate shape, which speaks to the care that the owner puts into this bar. Dorian has never met the owner, but he can see that they really care about this bar.
A gorgeous woman sidles up to their booth and asks Aedion to dance, which he gladly accepts. Shooting a wink at Dorian and Chaol, he leaves them for the dance floor. Dorian sips his drink and has yelling conversations with Chaol… and then he has another drink… and another… and another…
Dorian has had way too much to drink in the past few hours. He was having a great time, but he was beginning to feel a little dizzy. Thinking that some fresh air might do him some good, he stumbles toward the double doors, ignoring Chaol's protests. He shoves the doors open, breathing in the crisp night air. He finds a spot to lean against the wall, where Chaol joins him.
"You okay, Dorian?"
"Yeah, just a little dizzy."
Dorian responds, closing his eyes and focusing on his breathing.
Chaol claps him on the shoulder in silent comraderie before walking back inside, presumably to save their seats.
Dorian takes a few more deep breaths before pushing off the wall, but stumbles into another patron.
After steadying himself, Dorian looks up to find a woman standing in front of him. It could have been the lighting, maybe the atmosphere around him, or that he was way drunker than he originally thought but his eyes met hers and he is stunned.
A pair of shimmering molten gold eyes meet his, and gods how he wishes he could drown in them.It's unfair how gorgeous her eyes seemed to him before he could even focus enough to see her full image. He admires her for longer than is polite, mere moments that felt like years to him.
"Dangerous eyes you have there- the most alluring shade of gold that I have ever seen."
He blurts out, filter faltering from the alcohol coursing through him.
The sound of her laughter echoes against the walls around them; a beautiful sound that sends delight-like warmth through him. He smiles, vowing to make it his life's mission to make her laugh as often as possible, if only so he can drown in the sound.
"How drunk are you?"
She asks mischievously. Her voice makes Dorian want to do dumb things just to hear it again. This woman is easily the most beautiful woman he's ever seen.
"I'm only as drunk as it takes to hit on such a work of art."
She laughs again, and gods that sound! He wants to roll around in it, listen to it for the rest of his gods damn life.
"Oh darling. You couldn't handle me."
Dorian smiles charmingly, hoping to get her to smile too.
"What's your name, gorgeous?"
She returns his smile and it makes his heart flip into his stomach. Or maybe that's just the booze.
"Manon."
He rolls her name along his tongue, savoring the sound. It's a beautiful name for an equally beautiful woman, and Dorian can't help but give her his name, even though she didn't ask for it.
"Are you here alone, Dorian?"
His name on her tongue, paired with the gentle concern he can feel emanating from her, makes his head spin. He's fallen deep for this woman, even though he barely knows her. But, he wants to know her.
"No, my friends are inside. I just came out here to clear my head, escape from the loudness for a moment."
Manon laughs again, shaking her head. Her white-blonde hair shakes with the movement, wafting the smell of strawberries his direction.
"You're a funny one, aren't you?"
Dorian grins, doing his best to be charming.
"I can be a lot more than funny if you give me the chance."
Manon smiles, a true smile that lights up her eyes.
"Tell you what. Give me your phone and I'll give you the chance to prove yourself?"
Dorian grins, fumbling for his phone. He hands it over to her, grin never faltering.
"You won't regret this, I promise."
Manon hands his phone back with a flirty wink.
"See you later, handsome."
Manon disappears through the double doors with the same ease that she appeared in front of him. Considering this a win for the evening, Dorian thinks that it's finally time to head home, which means he needs to go inside and find his friends. He stumbles his way through the doors, quickly locates his friends, and gives them the rundown of what just happened outside. He scopes out the crowd one more time, hoping for another glance at his little vixen, but she's lost in the throng of people on the dancefloor. Aedion gives him a high five as Chaol ushers them out of the bar and toward his car. As the chosen DD for the evening, Chaol climbs into the driver's seat and off they drive into the night