[m] Sins falling from your lips

Music, cocktails, and karaoke: the trio of promises hung in the air, a welcome invitation for Ruìsāng. Yet, it wasn't a simple decision. Sure, the city was speckled with karaoke joints, perfect for tipsy amateurs seeking their vocal glory. But a private room, that was another story. It meant shelling out money he didn't have. With no affluent benefactor on his side, he had to think this through.

His solution? The Lunar Lounge, his workplace, a spot that embodied modern elegance blended seamlessly with cosmic allure. Soft moon-like lighting painted the room, casting an ethereal ambiance. Lunar-themed artwork adorned the walls, inviting guests into a celestial dream. Plush seating offered comfort in abundance.

And then, there was the grand bar, a masterpiece of dark mahogany etched with glowing lunar motifs, where Ruìsāng found himself amidst the evening bustle, manning the bar with his colleague until his date would arrive.

Tonight, a curious experiment unfolded. His guest, set up for a blind date, remained blissfully unaware of Ruìsāng's identity. This anonymity allowed Ruìsāng a playful freedom, a chance to observe without being seen. As the night wore on, he brimmed with curiosity, wondering how the evening's events would unfold.


maturity rating: sexual themes throughout thread.

Ruìsāng's bartending attire was a blend of style and practicality. The tailored vest, snug over a pristine white button-up shirt, teased at his well-defined physique. The top button of his shirt was left nonchalantly undone, adding a hint of casual allure. His black fitted trousers, with a polished leather belt, perfectly complemented by his polished black shoes. His hair, swept up in a relaxed ponytail, framed his face, adding to his effortlessly charming appearance.

Ruìsāng's eyes lit up with mischief as he spotted the green-haired man among the crowd. He acknowledged him with a nod, taking a moment to appreciate the sight before him. The man looked even better in person, a delightful surprise. His nerves were palpable, a fact not lost on Ruìsāng. Why not have a little fun at his expense?

“You look like you could use a drink,” Ruìsāng teased, his hands confidently finding their place on the counter. His gaze was teasing, and his tone playful. “What can I get you?” His lips curled into a mischievous grin as his fingers drummed lightly on the counter, anticipation sparkling in his eyes.

Ruìsāng couldn’t help but tease, his eyes sparkling mischievously as he observed the pretty boy's flustered state. His cheeks were flushed like a Christmas decoration in combination with the green hair, adding an extra layer of charm to his already intriguing appearance. Ruìsāng's chuckled, playful and amused.

“Of course. That’s easy,” Ruìsāng answered with an easy smile. “Don’t worry. I’m an expert at calming nerves.” He leaned in slightly, his grin widening. “But, my dear, to serve you, I'll need to see some identification. Can't just go around taking risks, you know,” Oh, he was terrible. He had always enjoyed an unjust game when the scales were tipped in his favour.

As he waited for the ID, Ruìsāng couldn't resist the temptation to prod a little further. “What got you so nervous? A date?” He feigned innocence, his bandaged hand tapping lightly on the table. Ruìsāng was a master of the game, revelling in the thrill of the unfair advantage he held.

Even asking for his identification seemed enough to bring the poor boy to more panic. Ruìsāng pushed down another chuckle. He patiently accepted the ID and examined the details. Vince Newman. April 2003. “You’re all good, Vince,” he reassured the younger man, emphasising his name as if he wanted to etch it into his memory, as he pushed the card back to its owner.

He didn’t seem to be sure whether or not it was a date, which Ruìsāng found utterly endearing. His playful banter continued, as he probed into Vince's reason for being there. He couldn’t resist a teasing comment. “A catfish? You don’t know who you’re waiting for?” he asked, feigning innocence as he prepared the ingredients for a Mari Koriko cocktail.

“A blind date? You don’t quite seem the type. What convinced you to go?” Ruìsāng inquired, his tone light. He deftly mixed the ingredients in the shaker, all the while his gaze remained fixed on Vince. Poor, unfortunate soul.

Ruìsāng observed Vince with amusement, enjoying the nervous energy that seemed to surround the poor guy. The anticipation of revealing his true identity was almost thrilling if he was this nervous. He was testing the waters, seeing just how far he could push before Vince caught on.

Cute. The other seemed too shy to even look him in the eye and Ruìsāng wondered if he would have been able to hold a conversation with him if he knew he was the one he’d been talking to. Maybe he should throw a compliment in the mix, to see if it’d make matters worse. Sounded fun.

When Vince said he started to regret the date, Ruìsāng hummed thoughtfully. He continued to prepare the drink, his movements smooth and confident, despite the underlying current of amusement. When finished, he poured it in a long mug and slid the finished drink towards Vince, his gaze unwavering.

“You’re regretting it already?” Ruìsāng echoed, his tone teasing and light. He leaned in closer, resting his chin on his bandaged hand, his expression one of amused curiosity. “You did show up, so you must have some expectations for this date. What is it you’re hoping for?” he wondered, fully aware that he was toying with Vince's expectations.


* the mug, top right

Vince's pleasantly surprised expression only fueled Ruìsāng's playful demeanour, eliciting another smile from him. When questioned about the cocktail's ingredients, he responded with a soft hum.“Cherry and syrup liqueur, pineapple and lime juice and dark rum, of course,” he explained, the words rolling off his tongue smoothly. The combination might have seemed simple, but Ruìsāng had always appreciated the delightful fruity notes, perfectly balanced by the strong, flavorful dark rum.

Listening to Vince unknowingly discussing him, Ruìsāng found it oddly entertaining. Vince had assumed he was stood up, expecting a night of fun. Ruìsāng couldn't help but chuckle. “Are you sure about that?” he teased, arching an eyebrow playfully. It was time to unveil the truth; the joke had run its course, and Vince had been teased enough.

With a mischievous grin, Ruìsāng decided it was time to reveal the truth. “So, I’ve got the drink part down. The karaoke rooms are upstairs. Care to join me?” he asked, his tone light and inviting, waiting for the moment when everything would click into place for Vince.

The moment everything clicked, Vince's already flushed cheeks deepened in colour, a reaction that only fueled Ruìsāng's mischief. His smile widened, red eyes glinting with playful amusement. Oh, the poor man was utterly flustered, but Ruìsāng couldn't help but find it cute. Wasn't this interaction just perfect? They had managed to chat without the usual awkwardness. Vince should be grateful, really.

Suddenly, Vince downed the cocktail in a swift motion, and Ruìsāng's eyes widened in surprise. Oh, that wasn't the best move. There was a lot of rum in that one. His confusion briefly wrinkled his nose, but it quickly shifted into amusement as Vince spoke again.

Screw you. Let’s go.

Ruìsāng giggled. “Come on, Vince. Don’t be mad,” he pleaded theatrically, adopting a mock pout. “I just wanted to get to know you a little before it’d turn awkward,” he explained, hoping Vince would be charmed enough to let it slide.

“If you want to hit me, we can do that upstairs,” he continued, wiggling his eyebrows playfully and shooting Vince a mischievous wink. With a short gesture, he told the other to wait a moment as he made his way around the bar and approached Vince, extending his hand with an amused glint in his eyes.

“Ruìsāng. I hope you’re not too disappointed, Vince,” he grinned, holding out his hand in a somewhat proper greeting. The order of things was a little fucked up now, but there was charm in the unknown.

Vince's slightly hurt tone made Ruìsāng wonder if he had already messed things up. He hadn't intended to hurt Vince's feelings; this was supposed to be an apology for his earlier behaviour. Nonetheless, Vince was still here, and Ruìsāng was determined to make amends and turn things around.

As Vince asked about the pronunciation of his name, Ruìsāng grinned, his eyes alight with mischief. “My friends call me Sāng. That will do,” he said, his tone warm and inviting. It was the easier part of his name, as the tone made it sound fine if it was pronounced in their common tongue. Plus, that would make them friends, right? See. Easy.

Vince said he didn’t like getting pranked, to which Ruìsāng’s smile softened a little. “Then I hope you’ll forgive me. Your nerves were a little too cute to break the bubble just yet, but I won’t do it again,” he promised as his hand was taken. As they shook hands, Ruìsāng couldn't help but notice Vince's firm handshake, somewhat like that of a businessman. He found it amusing but endearing and decided to maintain the physical connection, holding onto Vince's hand.

“Come. Let me make it up to you,” Ruìsāng invited, guiding Vince through the downstairs area and up the stairs to the karaoke rooms. Ruìsāng had reserved one for them to ensure their privacy. “I reserved one for us for a bit of privacy,” he explained, scanning his card to the door to open it up.

Inside, the room was tastefully decorated with navy blue walls, a corner couch with plush seating, a stage with a microphone, and a screen displaying song lyrics. A small bar on the other side offered various alcoholic beverages, and two glasses were set on the table. Ruìsāng led Vince inside and closed the door behind them, effectively silencing the noise from outside.

“Make yourself comfortable. I’d ask if you wanted something to drink, but…” Ruìsāng chuckled, hinting at Vince's earlier chugging. He was being considerate of Vince's tolerance, lest he ended up in the same state Ruìsāng had been in not too long ago.

His mother tongue, Fènghuáng, was a complex language. Being born in Cerynia, but raised by immigrant parents who spoke the same language, Ruìsāng understood the nuances and tones. He had always longed to visit the region, but circumstances had never allowed it. Fortunately, the pronunciation of Sāng was quite straightforward, and he acknowledged it with a smile, “That's right, you've got it.”

Vince's revelation about being bullied struck a chord with Ruìsāng, and he showed a fond smile. “Teenagers can be merciless,” he agreed, without excusing their behaviour. As someone who had been taken away from his family as a child, he had seen how harsh kids and teens could be. “But don’t worry. You’re not being made fun of. You were cute, is all,” he assured him. Ruìsāng had a soft spot for cute boys, which he didn't hesitate to admit.

Vince stammered when Ruìsāng mentioned privacy, and he couldn't resist sending an amused glance Vince's way. When Vince declined the drink for the time being and inquired about Ruìsāng's plans, Ruìsāng playfully reminded him, “'A good time and a better night,' those were your words.”

“Don’t worry. Tonight can be whatever you want it to be,” he continued. In the p-p-privacy of this room. “I just thought it was a nicer place to chat than amidst the bustling downstairs. Are you sure you don’t want any? I make good cocktails,” he said as he walked up to the bar, taking the two glasses off the table with him.

“Tell me a little more about yourself. Let’s start with that,” Ruìsāng invited. He hoped to get Vince more comfortable and engaged in the conversation. While he considered turning the evening into a game of truth or dare, he knew how unpredictable those could be.

Vince surprised Ruìsāng by accepting another drink, which pleased Ruìsāng immensely. He flashed a charming smile over his shoulder at Vince before perusing the limited selection of bottles on the bar. With a thoughtful expression, he drummed his nails on the counter, contemplating his options. He had brought some of his own favourites upstairs, anticipating the need for a wider selection than the regular guests might require.

As he looked through the bottles, Ruìsāng asked Vince to share more about himself, and Vince complied, revealing he was a college dropout musician. Ruìsāng raised an eyebrow. “Dropped out to chase music?” he asked curiously, as he finally grabbed the bottles he wanted to use for their drinks. He decided to go with a classic— a margarita.

“My best friend is a musician too. I dabble a bit myself,” Ruìsāng confessed as he filled the cocktail shaker with ice, skillfully adding the ingredients for a classic margarita. “If you’re ever looking for a job or a night to perform at a bar, I could help out. Of course, I’d have to know if you’re any good first,” he continued playfully, fully aware that this proposition might fluster Vince a bit.

With the drinks expertly prepared, Ruìsāng handed one to Vince and settled down on the couch beside him, leaving just enough space between them to be tantalising. “So, music, huh? Planning to swoon me with your incredible singing voice?” he teased, his lips curved into a mischievous smile.