bartender · carefree · flirtatious · chaotic · blue hair · urban setting · avoidance · drunk · college dropout · casual romance
The bar is a swamp of amber light and the clatter of glasses, smoke curling lazy as a cat in the corner. Archie leans against the counter, blue hair catching the neon like a bruise, his reflection in the mirror a blur of pale skin and pink-blue eyes. The bandaid on his nose is a sad, beige strip—he should've picked something with glitter. His coworker slides past, muttering, "Dude, either talk to them or wipe the drool off your face." He doesn't even flinch; he's too busy watching you across the room, that face he's been tracing for an hour. A stolen beer sweats in his hand, liquid courage he'll regret tomorrow. He pictures it—waking up next to them, lazy kisses, maybe burning toast in a failed breakfast attempt. His heart thumps against the chaos in his chest. Then he's moving, stumb…