Details and Decanters

There was just over a week left until the official grand reopening of the Cloud 9 Bar & Grill. Molly was trying not to let the little things escape her. Details such as the fact that she still had not interviewed a single bar tender that she felt confident in hiring. They were not just meeting the standards of the Restaurant Manager / Co-Owner - Mrs. Temperance Minock, her current alias. If it were that simple she'd have committed to one of the surprisingly competent last three. All experienced. All known around Port Town with marginally acceptable references from names that she recognized. Should have been easy choices. The thing was even approaching the Cloud 9 since the upgrades tracked everyone. Once inside, it was simply in greater detail. None of the applicants had a satisfactory background. Molly was surprisingly understanding, just not very trusting. Not everyone was tickled that she had returned to the life she had built, but most were and that suited her fine.

These days she wore her hair straightened and sleek, but beneath the illusion she remained a naturally curly mess, as any bit of rain or humidity could attest to. But a curly-headed moron she was not, even if she was spectacular at giving that impression. She knew when something was too good, and was rewarded when she found out that the comparatively good three had all been other infochants, looking to profit..off her. They would be lucky if they did not get a surprise visit from a Black Sun Enforcer in the night. Give them a few more elbow joints in their arms, maybe.

She had purchased a few serving droids to help out the staff while they were training, and because they were recording everything. If she had to she could adapt one of them to the bar. It was not as profitable having a droid. People liked the connection with the bartender. The right one could make them feel like they were an old friend. Maybe they wanted to catch up... Info for free.

Molly had been that girl, set the precedent. Now she just had to find someone else that could do the same.

Easy. Right.

Cloud City, Bespin, wasn't where Lukas Dantes had thought he'd find himself at this point in his quest... but as far as Imperial locales went, this was surely an upgraded situation. The city's architecture was stunning and complementary to the phenomenal views beyond transparisteel windows. Plus, he'd learned there was quite the information network that flowed out of this particular place... and that was one thing Lukas was in need of, both personally and professionally.

He was clad in a vintage D.T. Spool and the Skroaches t-shirt, multi-pocketed dark pants, and boots, and wore no obvious weapons. His dirty blond hair was unruly as ever, sticking out in odd places, and - overall - he looked more suited to a rock concert than the Cloud 9 Bar & Grill that he had just stepped inside. Lukas, however, was thoroughly unconcerned about what others thought about his appearance.

T' know me is t' love me, he thought, grinning to himself.

Hazel eyes cast around the establishment, looking for someone who seemed to be in charge. Rumor had it the bar was looking for a bartender, and slinging drinks and dren was surely among his many odd talents!

Molly had watched his approach from the office. Leaning back in the also new and more her style desk chair, Molly's feet were crossed at the ankles on the corner of her desk, high heels tapping to the music playing in her ear. Which was curiously in time with the footfalls of the imminent arrival. She had no other appointments, so that meant he was a walk-in. Which was also fine, she was casting a wide net for just what she wanted in a bar tender, but if the right one walked unbidden through the shiny new front door that was also fine. Her large blue eyes scanned the details available about him based on his face. There was admittedly not much to go on, which could be the truth or maybe there was more? That swagger in his step though... she knew that kind of boldness. She recognized the way he walked in grinning, looking for someone to inform that they could all relax now, he was here to solve all their problems.. no doubt.

Actually, that was how she got the job here as a waitress, years ago. Mu had flat out told her to take a hike, instead she had picked up a broom. She was eager to find out what he would do.. Swinging her legs to the floor, she rose and straightened her customary little black dress into place before walking down the corridor into the dining room of the Cloud 9.

"Hello, are you here about the position?"

Lukas' head turned toward the sound of the woman's voice and he took a moment to look at her - from the very blue eyes to the little dress - then nodded, easy grin still on his lips.

"Hey... yeah, I am. Word was ya still need a bartender?" he asked.

It was always worth clarifying; what if "the position" was now dishwasher - or worse - and he failed to be certain of what he was applying for? Not only would a grunt job be boring as frak, but the info he'd be able to gather would also be less useful than what he was seeking.

Molly had already given the guy a point in his favor for specifying the position. It would be a lie to say that the thought of making him push a broom around for a few days had not crossed her mind. She could have learned a lot about what he was willing to do, instead she had learned that he was pretty sharp. She liked that.

"That's right.", she agreed, clicking forward on heels that had no place in a restaurant.

"Do you have previous experience, mister...?" Molly let her question trail off on the last word, obviously seeking his identity. Despite the fact that she already had a name, and the basic intel on him.

She wanted to see just how forthcoming he would be. That had been the flaw with the last three. They thought they were smart. Maybe they were. Just not smarter than her. Also, a cute face went far, but knowing recipes also helped..

"Donovan," he replied, extending his right hand toward her. "Lucas Donovan."

At least, that's what his identification presently said. He'd been traveling for nearly a year on that faux surname just fine, though Lukas suspected that - post-Bespin - it would be time for a change.

"An' yeah, I've got experience... wanna taste test?" He smiled and offered up a coy wink with his usual flirty fun style that bar patrons seemed to like. "Name a drink an' I can fix 'er up for ya t' see for yourself..."

Smiling when the name he supplied matched what was displayed before her, Molly accepted his hand giving him a friendly shake. She hoped he did not mind that she had record cold fingers, and she gave him a bit of a squeeze. Enough to imply that she would not underestimate him. "Temperance Minock, I'm the manager.."

She grinned at his wink. It was just the sort of thing that would encourage bad decision making and hefty tips. Molly approved.

"Well, Mr. Donovan, you cannot tend a bar on Bespin without being able to produce an aesthetically pleasing Bespin Fizz. Dazzle me."

She extended a hand toward the bar, prepared to let him show her his skills while she poked into his background just a little more. It was clean. Weirdly clean for Port Town bar tender. Personally, she liked criminals just fine, just not being lied to about their skill set. The lengthier their record, the more she knew about them. Less guess work. Mr. Lucas Donovan was a trifle mysterious in that regard.

Lukas offered her a respectful bow from the waist, grinning the whole time, then walked over to the bar and surveyed the supply. He took a long moment, knowing he also offered her a long look at his backside, recognizing that some fems enjoyed that peek.

Then, he set to work on the Bespin Fizz, plucking a rum from the counter along with its other ingredients. Easy smile still on his face, Lukas looked like an artist at work, mixing the drink with contained flamboyance. He lifted a tall, thin glass from below the counter and poured. Eyes narrowed and at eye level with the glass, Lukas gave it an extra stir, producing the signature cloud swirl that made this so reminiscent of Bespin.

He resumed his full height, picked up the drink and carried it back to his potential boss. "One Bespin Fizz for one Ms. Minock..."