Chapter Text
It was normal Friday night. Dorian was spending time with his friends Garret, Varric, Vivienne, Bull and Cole (he had no idea why such a good kid wanted to hang out with his group but he once followed them home and Varric wanted to keep him so there was that). The gang had suddenly decided to meet up after Garret told about this awesome movie he had seen and wanted them to watch it together. Well that was the idea until it turned out that his roommate (and on/off girlfriend) Isabela had ’borrowed’ the DVD player and refused to answer her phone. So movie night turned into just regular drinking night.
”Hey Hawke. I know you really wanted to watch that movie but I got an idea. And frankly it’s lot better than us drinking beer and watching you sulk.”
”Well Varric how about you tell me what else we can do then? I’m aaalways open for opinions.” oh Hawke… They knew he was upset but no need to be like that.
”Well I was just texting with Blondie and he’s out at the bar which is owned by his friend. Nice place I heard. Bartenders are all good-looking elves. Don’t know if that’s true. As you know I’m not into elves.” Varric said while typing new text for his friend.
”We’re not talking about that friend he calls ’Commander’ are we? She’s probably some damm drink nazi. Making me stop drinking way too soon...”
”Honestly I think we should go. Hate to say this to you buddy but I’m bored. And you don’t want that. Expensive stuff gets broken when I’m bored.” and that’s true. Once when Bull was bored, he broke Varric’s computer. Lucky him that Varric had backups of all his files.
”I agree with Bull and Varric. We could go out instead of rotting in here.” god knows Dorian would love to see some handsome elves right now. It’s been years since he broke up with his ex and after that he’s been busy with work. So no dating or hooking up with anyone. This dry season needs to end.
”Oh and those ’good-looking bartenders’ have nothing to do with your interest of going? Oh darling you’re so easy to read. Anyway I say we go too. I just hope you’re not dragging us into some run-down bar in a slum.” Vivienne looked at Varric suspiously.
”Me? No. Never. That famous food and drink critic… what was her name… Wynne! Yes her. She gave that place really good review.”
”Fine we can go. Stupid Isabela… Do you have the address?” Hawke said and went to get his car keys.
”Yes right here. We’re free to go. You coming kid?” Varric asked from Cole.
”Yes.” answered Cole and got up from the beanbag he had buried himself into.
”’Royal Elfroot’?! You gotta be kidding me!” Bull pretty much yelled at the empty street while laughing like crazy. Seriously it’s not even that funny… The sign was actually nice. It was wooden and the name was writen in black. Around the name there was gold and blue royal elfroot garland.
”I think it’s fun. Not very creative but fun.” Varric admitted.
”I like elfroot… Not so sure what to think about royal ones…” said Cole while looking… well not really anywhere.
”Ugh let’s just go inside okay. Papa needs a drink. Damm DVD player thief…” poor Hawke really was upset about that DVD player…
The inside of the bar was really cosy. The counter and booths were all made from oak and walls were either covered in murals or shelves full of all kind of different liquors. There were even some bottles Dorian had never even seen. Some foreign stuff which is probably hard to get. The room was big and open with some tables. There were even jukebox and dancefloor with laser lights and smoke machine. Oh blacklights too. The owner seemed to have thought everything. Speaking of owner where was she?
”There’s Blondie. HEY BLONDIE!”
The blond man leaning on the counter started to look around until he saw the gang. He seemed a little tired but cheered up as he wawed at them to come closer.
”You finally made it. Varric texted me like an hour ago saying you guys were coming.”
”You know Hawke. He gets lost while walking on a straight road.” Varric shrugged.
”I’m not that bad…” Hawke said while glaring at Varric and laughing Anders.
”Hah. You can’t be as bad as my ex! He got lost while getting the mail.” New voice almost made Dorian jump in shock. How couldn’t he see the woman on the other side of the counter… The woman was one of those tattooed elves. The Dalish…? She had long platinum hair tied on a loose ponytail and pale freckled skin. Her eyes were electric blue and her make up was quite strong. Black eyeliner and black eyeshadow and bright red lipstick. But it suited her. She was wearing army boots, shorts and and white top and leather jacket.
”Really?” Bull asked with a grin on his face.
”Well… No. But he could have. Oh but we haven’t been introduced haven’t we?”
”Guys, I want you to meet Lumina Mahariel A.K.A Commander. We met in army. And Lumina, these are my friends Garret Hawke, tattoo artist, and Varric Tethras, bestselling author. And…” Anders hesitated. He had met Hawke’s friends only couple of times in parties but let’s be honest… He didn’t really remember any of those.
”I’ll take it from here. I’m Iron Bull, the best tattoo artist in the city, and this here is the great fashion guru Vivienne. Her trusty photographer Dorian Pavus. And the kid here is Cole. Works in a pet store.”
”Nice to meet ya’ll. How about I get you guys drinks? Free of charge.” Mahariel said and winked at Anders.
”Um hell yeah. Gime me a whiskey. Douple. No ice. Same for the others. But not for Cole. He drives us home.”
”I’ll just take ice water please…” Cole said while looking at the colourful bottles behind the counter.
”You have a lovely bar. But it seems quite quiet.” said Vivienne and pointed towards the room with only few people in it.
” The busy hours start by nine so you guys came right on time if you want to get a booth. The booths are gone in a second. So whatever you do leave at least one of you sit there. If you only leave your stuff there you lose your booth and wallets and phones.”
”We keep that in mind.” Varric said.
”You work here alone? That must be rough… Well rough in ’busy hours’.”
”Oh no. My cousin works here too. And few other pals. Though my cousin has a date tonight so I said it’s okay to come little late. Apparently Zev and Sera heard that and thought they can do that too… Luckily Solas is here. Though he’s sleeping in the backroom. Ugh I need a new staff…” Mahariel facepalmed but somehow Dorian knew she was just joking. She seemed like a woman who loved her friends no matter their flaws and would definitely not get rid of them for those.
”Seems like you have your hand full. We go get ourselves a booth. Let us know when the rush hour starts.” Anders said and started walking toward booths near counter.
”Screw you Anders!”
”She seems very nice. And chill. Hawke here called her ’drink nazi’ before we left.” Varric said to Anders.
”Wait until you see her throw out some drunks. She may look like small and fragile but she can easily throw out full grown qunari. I saw it once and it was the most hilarious thing I've ever seen.” Anders said with a small laugh.
”Well that is impressive.” Bull said and whistled. ”But know what’s even more impressive? The fact that Dorian has kept his mouth shut since we came here.”
”Oh leave him be. He’s just disappointed that there has not been any guys so far.”
”VIV!” Dorian shouted in shock.
”What? It’s what’s wrong right? All we’ve seen so far has been that bartender. And by the way I think she would make a perfect model… I’ll go give her my card.” and just like that she was heading back to the counter. Dorian couldn’t help but to look what will happen. The bartender wasn’t alone anymore. She was obviously nagging to this woman with short blond hair and guy with also blond hair and tanned skin. Guy was okay looking but didn’t really seemed like Dorian’s type.
Vivienne was now standing behind Mahariel and without hesitation tapped her on the shoulder. Brave woman. She just heard that this bartender can toss out a qunari with no problem and she goes to disturb her while giving her workers a piece of her mind. The bartender put on her best smile and turned around just to see Vivienne holding out her business card. She seemed to be confused while saying something to Vivienne but she didn’t listen (like she would ever do that when it comes to business). In the end she put the card in her pocket and turned back toward her employees, only to realize they had disappeared. Sneaky bastards slipped away while she was distracted.
”So she agreed to model for us?” Dorian asked from Vivienne when she returned to her friends.
”Not really. Offered to make her cousin do it instead but I told her that right now we need new female model. Though if that cousin is good-looking then maybe I have a reason to get rid of that no good alienage boy.”
Just like Mahariel had said, the busy part of the evening started around nine. At first people showed up little by little but in a blink of an eye the room was full of people. Most of them were almost hungrily stalking their booth. Hah no way they will get it.
”Maybe it would be time to get to the dancefloor. I’m seeing some good-looking people I would love to get to know better.” Hawke said while ogling the dancing people. ”You think I would have a shot with that qunari woman?”
”What a surprise Hawke. And no I don’t think you have. You guys go ahead. Me and kid will look after our booth.” Varric said and took a sip of his whiskey. Dancefloor is not safe place for dwarves and sensitive kids like Cole and Varric knew it.
”Why do we need to look after it? It can’t go anywhere.” asked Cole while looking at the table like it would just suddenly walk out of them.
”I’ll stay too. I’m way too tired to dance.” added Anders ”Had a rough shift at the hospital today.”
”And so will I. Don’t really feel like going there if there is no one interesting to dance with.”said Dorian. The bar was full of people and yet there was not one person who would be his type. Maybe he should just lower his expectations if he doesn’t want to go home alone. But that would never happen.
”You guys are boring. Fine. Bull, Viv let’s go.” Hawke said and led his friends into the crowd.
Around ten Mahariel climbed on the counter with megaphone and all customers were cheering for her. It seemed like she really was well loved around here.
”ALRIGHT EVERYBODY IT’S TIME TO GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!! YOUR FAVORITE ELVES ARE HERE TO KEEP DRINKS COMING ALL NIGHT!!!” it seemed impossible but customers got even louder. Behind her three hooded guys climbed on the counter, leaving only bald guy standing down and handing drinks to customers. Dorian assumed that two of them were bartenders he saw earlier, which would make third guy to be the cousin or that Solas guy who was sleeping in backroom. Because of the hood Dorian could’t see his face but damn that guy got such a good body. He was slender but muscular and his skin was pale and freckled. He was wearing black leather pants, army boots and vest, which right side was full of patches and pins and some chains, and tie but not a shirt. His other arm seemed to be covered with tattoos and Dorian really wanted to get close enough too see them. Well he really wanted to get closer anyway, no matter the tattoos.
Then the speakers started to play some fast tempo music. That was the cue for the four to start dancing and the other guy finally put down his hood. And Dorian? Well he was smitten. The guy seemed about 22-25 years old. His hair was platinum like his cousin's (seriously why are they all blond? Was it required for the job? Go blond or go home) and it was shaved short from the left side and rest were either collected for a bun or were hanging loose on the right side of his face reaching over his collarbones. According to the shine, he had several earrings and brow piercing. His make-up seemed to be matching with his cousin’s, minus the bright red lipstick. Though it could be just shadow… Whatever it was he pulled it off.
He seemed to really enjoy dancing. He had wide smile on his face, which brightened up the whole room, and his body seemed to move like it’s own. Damn the way those hips move should be illegal… Dorian watched with a pang of jealousy as guys and women next to counter where groping his legs as far as they could and actually putting money in his boots. Sure he was smiling and winking at the customers but something of him told that he doesn’t actually enjoy being touched by drunk, horny strangers.
”Earth to Dorian? You still there Sparkler? Guys… I think we lost him…” Varric was waving his hand before Dorian’s face but latter wasn’t reacting.
”What happened to Dorian? He looks like he’s in trance.” asked Hawke as he, Bull and Viv returned to the rest of the gang.
”Think he have the hots for one of the bartenders.”
”Isn’t that cute! Our little Dorian has a crush.” Hawke squealed ”And just so you know, I totally have a chance with that qunari woman.”
”His hips are moving like wawes. Smooth… Yet powerful… His every move is one with the music like he was made to dance… Want… Need to take him and see if our moves sync…”
”NO NO NO!” Varric said and slapped his hand over Cole’s mouth ”Just look what you did Sparkler. You broke the kid. Blondie I bet you know other bartenders too?”
”Yeah I do. The other woman is Sera. She’s… Well interesting character. Heard she’s lesbian. Bald one is Solas, likes to nap and doesn’t really come along with Sera. Tanned blond is Zevran. Bisexual who flirts with everyone. Speaking for experience here. And the last guy is Mahanon Lavellan, Lumina’s cousin and according to my sources… Bi and available. He’s the one I assume your friend here is drooling after.”
”Oooh hear that Dorian! He’s available! Do not throw away your shot.” Hawke said and clapped his hands like seals in zoo in order to get the fish.
”We can go talk to him after closing time if you want.” Anders said to Dorian. ”I’m waiting until they’re done with cleaning since Lumina promised to drive me home.”
”Yeah… Thanks…”
"Well… Now I get why is this place called ’Royal Elfroot’. HAHAHAAA! Get it!? Elfroot! Most of the staff is guys!” Bull was laughing so hard this time that it was a surprise the bartenders didn’t hear him.
Alright… Dorian had about six hours for calming down and figuring what he’s going to say to Mahanon Lavellan. Talk to him… Without all these people around them… This will not be easy…