Lesson 129- You don’t need to change who you are to make someone like you. Just be yourself!

He winks at her. Lindy stands up, moves across the bar and goes to sit by Torin. I expect that to be the end of it, but Rick (Dick?) Gets up and follows her, undeterred by Tori’s presence. Lindy seems exasperated and looks to me for assistance. I follow them over.
“Dick? I mean… Rick? Aren’t you scared of Torin?” I ask bluntly. Trying to work out why he seems so totally unbothered. Yesterday he seemed suitably frightened. Why the sudden change? Rick just shrugs.
“He’s not so bad. I thought at first he might be manipulating you somehow, that you only thought he was a decent guy. But I’ve seen what a truly evil demon is like, and this guy isn’t evil. Dangerous? Probably. But he doesn’t seem like a bad guy. If he was, I doubt he would let some little human boss him around the way you do. Besides, if he was going to hurt me, he would have done it when I first turned up here.” He says cheerfully. I nod my understanding while Torin seems to be stewing.
“There’s still time for me to change my mind.” He mutters under his breath, making me laugh. Richard seems completely unbothered as he takes the empty seat closest to Lindy. She frowns and clutches her pelt tightly, glaring. Richard just smiles.
“I already told you that I have no interest in your pelt.” He reminds her, his voice surprisingly gentle. Then he turns to me.
“Can I get a whiskey, and one of whatever… Lindy was it? One of whatever she’s drinking.” He gestures to Lindy. She scoffs and shakes her head.
“Hell no.” She immediately refuses. Richard turns back to her, his charming smile back in place. I swear his eyes are smouldering. Total bedroom eyes.
“Come now sweetheart, it’s just a drink. Think of it as an apology for me. Besides, if you really hate me, then you can enjoy spending my money on drinks knowing that I won’t get anything out of it.” He suggests. She contemplates this answer, her eyes narrowed suspiciously like she’s trying to find the catch.
“I don’t get it. What’s in it for you?” She demands. Richard shrugs.
“I get to buy a pretty girl a drink while I do my best to slowly win her over.” He says cheerfully. Lindy frowns, but eventually she nods.
“Fine, but only because the idea of wasting your time and money amuses me, Dick.” She adds his name at the last moment. At least I think she was using his name. She might have just been calling him a dick… Richard beams a smile.
“Great!”

Lindy stays for the entire night, even when she starts to get drowsy she waits for Torin to be available to escort her home. To my surprise, Richard sticks around all night too, and while he socialises with everyone in the bar, he never strays far from Lindy, occasionally making attempts to tempt her into conversation which she brutally shuts down. It’s actually impressive to watch my timid friend set such firm boundaries. She DOES let him pay for her drinks though. When I tell him it’s time for him to clear out, he stops and makes one last attempt to talk to Lindy.
“I don’t think I’ve made enough progress to tempt you to agree to dinner, but I could give you a ride home if you like?” He offers. Lindy shakes her head.
“No.” She answers flatly. Richard sighs but continues, undeterred.
“Fair enough. And I don’t suppose you’ll give me your number either?” He tries again. She shakes her head in refusal.
“Understood. Well, in that case…” He pulls a twenty dollar note from his wallet and using a pen I had behind the bar, scribbles his number on it then offers it to her.
“I don’t want your number.” She argues. Richard shrugs.
“Then take the money and spend it then. What’s the harm?” He slides it across the bar towards her. Lindy doesn’t touch it but he leaves it there anyway. Richard gets up to leave.
“Well, it’s been fun. Nice to see you again Rina. Torin… Well thanks for not kicking my ass I guess. Lindy, I’d love to see you again. Feel free to call me any time.” Richard winks at her with his charming smile back in place, then turns and limps his way out of the bar. Torin locks the doors behind him.
“Well, that was interesting.” I say in a teasing voice.
“I am NEVER going to call him.” Lindy insists, venom in her tone. I nod along, not arguing.
“Of course you won’t.” I agree easily. I start to clean the bar while Torin prepares to take Lindy home. I hug her goodbye and see them off. It’s not until they’re gone that I notice the twenty dollar note with Richard’s number is not on the bar where he left it anymore. I smile to myself. Very interesting indeed.

I’m kind of exhausted by the time Damien calls to check in on me. We chat for a little bit. Mostly I just tell him gossip about some of the regulars at the bar. Not the full story with all the magic stuff and everything, just harmless bits and pieces. I’m halfway through a story about Eli and our game of truth or dare when Damien interrupts me.
“Rina.” He cuts in.
“Hmm?” I respond, my thoughts totally derailed.
“You walk about Torin a lot.” He comments.
“Well… Yeah I guess so? We’re friends and this is his bar. I see him every single night.” I point out. There’s a long pause before he answers.
“You’ve had friends at work before, you don’t usually talk about them so much. You never tell me much about any of your friends actually.” He adds.
“Huh, really? I’ve never noticed particularly.” I respond vaguely. Shoot, my brother is feeling nosy.
“Come on sis, you’re not dumb. You know what I’m getting at. I want to know what your relationship is with him. He’s a hard guy to read, but he seems fond of you, and I know you. You are more than a little bit attached to him.” Damien states. I hesitate.
“We’re just friends right now.” I answer slowly.
“Right now?” My brother hones in on the last part of my answer. I didn’t even mean to include that part. It was a slip of the tongue on my part. I sigh.
“My relationship with Tori is… Complicated. You’re right that I like him, and I think he likes me. But there are… Other issues.” I tell him.
“Issues… Are these issues the temporary kind that you’ll get past or are they the lingering kind that rule him out as potential relationship material?” Damien asks awkwardly.
“Uh, well… I’m hoping they’re the temporary kind. But I can’t be totally sure.” I respond, just as uncomfortable with this subject as he is. I’ve never really dated much, so he’s not had much opportunity to do the overprotective brother thing, at least not when it comes to me dating. But apparently he’s taking the chance now.
“Hmm. So should I be considering him as a permanent addition to our lives, or is he more of a passing fancy?” He asks, totally serious. I choke out a laugh.
“Damien! What does that even mean? I said he’s my friend, have you ever known me to ditch a friend? As for Tori’s… Issues. I’m pretty sure it’ll all work out. But until then, I’m not getting my hopes up too much. Understand?” I say clearly. Damien sighs.
“Alright, alright. But if the label on that relationship ever changes, keep me updated, okay? It’s my job to look out for you. Even if you are making it awful difficult these days.” He grumbles and I smile.
“I love you too Dami.”