•Y/N: Your Name
•H/C: Hair Color
•E/C: Eye Color
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Author's POV:
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"Uh... Are you absolutely sure you want to go there?" Y/N asks, uncertain if she would actually like to step foot inside the establishment they stood outside of. She isn't sure why, but the place unsettled her. Initially, she thought it was due to the feeling she got off of some of the other people in line with them, but some part of her wasn't fully convinced that was it. There was something fishy about this place.
"Something about this doesn't feel right," she adds while looking up at the illuminated sign above their heads with the words, The Devil's Speakeasy on it in bright, red lights. A cartoon demon smoking a cigar leaned against the ending "y" with their tail traveling underneath the letters all the way to the starting "T". It's your average depiction of the devil: red skin and horns as well as a pointed tail. What seemed to unsettle her the most, however, was the wide, sharp-toothed grin across its face.
"Oh, relax, Y/N. We're here to have fun!" Samantha exclaims, too excited to catch onto what her worried friend felt. Y/N sighs in defeat, knowing she won't be able to pull her friends away from this place. Eventually, they reach the front of the line, where a bouncer stands tall over the four ladies with an intimidating scowl. It was no question why he was the one to guard the door, for while he did not have the most welcoming of faces, his arms were bulging with muscles shown clearly thanks to the tight, black tank top he was wearing with the same devil logo that was on the sign plastered on the back.
"ID, please," he requests curtly in a deep voice that sent shivers down her spine. Gulping down her nerves, Y/N presents her ID to the man, her friends following suit. Seems she was the only one bothered by the vibe he gave off. After reviewing the cards, he hands them back with an approving nod before stepping aside to lift the velvet rope blocking the doorway. "Enjoy your night, ladies." Y/N didn't like how forced his smile was, even more so after comparing it to the wide grin of the demon on the logo.
'Am I seriously the only one weirded out by this?' Apparently so because Y/N's friends gave a loud cheer before dragging her into the dark entry of the establishment without a care. After pushing aside a heavy, black curtain at the end of the short hallway, the group found themselves standing on a black, metal balcony overlooking the joint, and needless to say, the place was breathtaking. Starting from where they are, the balcony traced around three of the four dark walls and was crowded with people in expensive suits and dresses sipping on drinks and chatting. Blue and purple lights cast a glow on them from the ceiling above, switching colors every now and again to the sound of upbeat jazz playing live from the stage down below, covering up the sound of slot machines that took up nearly the entire left side of the room. The most beautiful part of the stage was the giant fish tank arching above it filled with colorful species of aquatic life in all shapes and sizes. Last was the bar, which could be reached by going down the stairs to their right. It was in the shape of a large half-circle, and behind it, stood three talented bartenders performing tricks while making drinks for their customers who sat upon red barstools. Behind the workers was a tall, cylindrical shelf of alcohol that shined colorful lights upon the bottles, giving them an alluring glow.
"Wow," Y/N mutters under her breath, eyes with wonder. Without even realizing it, all worries fled her mind after seeing how colorful and beautifully set up everything was. Samantha squeals excitedly while running up to the railing.
"Oh my God! This is so awesome!" Carly laughs and walks up to the blonde while pulling out her phone to take a picture.
"Everybody, get in." Amira and Y/N join the two by the railing and face the camera before getting into their poses, Samantha throwing her arms around Y/N and Amira's shoulders, while Carly makes a peace sign with her free hand.
"Say cheese!" Everyone gives their best smiles before the flash goes off, blinding the four momentarily.
"Go wild, girls!" Samantha exclaims after the phone is put back into Carly's pink purse. The three practically raced down the stairs, stopping at the bar first, leaving Y/N to follow behind them at a leisurely pace. A smile appears on her lips as she shakes her head, her loose hair following her movements. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, the women all look up at the large blackboard above the shelves of drinks. Written on it is the drink menu. Something Y/N found odd were some of the unfamiliar names.
"Ooo! That one sounds good! Hey, bartender!" Samantha shouts, gaining the attention of a man behind the counter whose eyes were shaded by a grey fedora. His uniform consists of a white button up, black dress pants and shoes, a grey vest with black buttons and the devil logo on the breast pocket, a black necktie, and a black apron tied around his waist. He grins, showing off his pearly white teeth, sending a shiver run down Y/N's spine in... Delight?
'Well, that's new.' She shakes the sensation off when the man strides over to them and leans over the counter with his arm.
"How can I help you fine ladies?" He asks in a smooth, silky voice.
"I would like to try Black Magic," Samantha orders, the rest following with their own selection of drinks.
"Hmm... I'll take a Bloodbath," chimed Carly.
"And, I'll have the Eyeball Martini," says Amira.
"Comin' right up." The bartender seemingly doesn't notice Y/N standing behind her friends, but she couldn't really blame him, since the women all blocked her from his sight. The man wastes no time and begins expertly tossing around numerous things to form the drinks the three had ordered, mixing them to perfection before pouring them into their designated glasses. Samantha is given a shimmering cocktail made with black vodka and lime;
Carly's drink is blood-red due to its mixture of pomegranate juice, vodka, raspberry syrup, and lemon juice and has a few fresh blueberries floating upon its surface;
Lastly, Amira's Eyeball Martini is made with vodka, lychee juice, blood orange liqueur and green tea syrup, while the "eyeballs" are composed of two lychees stuffed with blueberries run through with a toothpick that is then placed upon the rim of the glass.
The three clap, having thoroughly enjoyed the show the bartender put on. However, when they reached for their drinks, the man pulls them out of reach.
"Easy now, girls. They ain't finished yet," he claims, causing them all to raise a brow. The man reaches for something behind the counter before throwing in a dash of an unknown substance into all three beverages. It almost looks like pink sugar. They all took a step back when a cloud of smoke exploded from the drinks like a bomb, causing them to stare in awe.
"Bottoms up." The bartender grins while pushing the drinks towards the three ladies, but they hesitate to pick up the glasses, bringing the drinks up to their lips for a slow, uncertain sip. Y/N felt that she should intervene, since that last ingredient made her feel uneasy, but it was too late. Her friends had already ingested the alcohol. The three smack their lips a bit, tasting their drinks to the fullest. Suddenly, a grin appears on all their faces as their eyes lit up like fireworks.
"This is amazing!" They shout in unison, much to Y/N's relief. The bartender can't help but laugh lightly as Samantha slams down the money for the drinks before running off with Carly and Amira to the casino, leaving Y/N behind. She sighs and has a seat on one of the barstools, knowing they probably weren't going to come back for her until later.
"And, what can I get for you, Doll Face?" The man behind the bar asks while resting his chin on the palm of his hand, directing the female's attention to him. She gives the man a polite smile before saying,
"Oh, nothing for me, thanks. I'm actually a designated driver, so..."
"I get it." He throws up his hands in mock surrender before grabbing a hose and spraying a carbonated drink into a glass. The drink is then set in front of the girl, and a gentle smile appears on the man's lips. "How's about a Sprite, then? On the house." Y/N couldn't help but feel a little stunned, but her smile slightly widens due to his kindness.
"Oh, thank you." Y/N picks up the clear glass and has a sip of the bubbly liquid before looking around. Eventually, her eyes fall back on the bartender who was wiping down a washed glass with a white rag to dry it before setting it on the shelf behind him.
"Hey," she calls for his attention.
"Yes?" The man turns his head towards the E/C-eyed woman with a smile on his lips, awaiting her words.
"What exactly did you put in their drinks that made them blow up like that?" She asks, still feeling bothered by that little detail. The bartender chuckles lightly and plants his hands on the counter, leaning towards her slightly.
"Can't say. Bartender secret." His smile widens as he brings a finger to his pale pink lips. Y/N can't help but raise a curious brow at him, but presses no further; instead, she faces the band on stage and taps her toe to the beat of the tune as the beautiful lady sings the lyrics to Shoot Him Down! She's a lovely woman with curly, brown locks reaching down to her tan shoulders. Her sparkling brown eyes shone underneath the stage lights as her sparkling dress flowed with her motions fluidly.
'At least the music's good.'