Serving Martinis

There was only one way Carmen would ever dream of attending one of these events, and that was, of course, only if he was working at it. He was not a rich man, not when his only job was as a barista at some café. A majority of the buns probably had quadrupled whatever Carmen had; just some average joe like him wouldn't be here with an invite. Luckily, the work wasn’t all too bad, and the pay was good. Sure, drunk people could get annoying, especially when hounding him for more drinks, but everything for the most part stayed controlled at the ball.

He’d do his job, spotting another bun with long pink hair, empty-handed. Just as Carmen had been instructed for the night, he approached her. Extending his champagne-filled tray to her, he asked with a smile, “Need a drink?” Perhaps not as proper as he should be, but it’s not like he had been to many of these events to get a knack for ‘proper etiquette.’

Milki minding her business looking at the dance floor with no drink at hand when a brown white bun came over to her and asked her if she needed a drink. Milki thought about it for a second or two and said “Oh yes, I’ll get a champagne please. I love the gala champagne here.” 

Smiling as she got excited about her drink and looking at the bun again that asked her for a drink finding him a bit cute to her. Milki giggles to herself thinking of why she find him cute but doesn’t show it when the bun comes back with her champagne in hand. 

Carmen nods at her request, trying to keep a more ‘refined’ appearance as stressed for the staff to keep.  This wasn’t his particular scene, way out of his comfort zone.  He was used to serving simple coffees, and brewed teas, not acting as a butler for the rich.  But, he knew what it was when he signed up for the event.  Curiosity always did get the best of him.  

When he’s back with the drink, he’s extending it out for Milki to take, deciding now to reply to what she had said before he went off.  “There is an unlimited amount, but one should always be careful with how much they’re drinking in one sitting.  Miss Angora went all out for this event.”  Last thing Milki may want is to get wasted and make a fool of herself in front of all these people.  But, Carmen wasn’t going to be controlling about how much other’s wanted to drink, he’d just offer the off hand advice and hope they were careful .

Milki smiles and nods “Yeah I know but I don’t get much of this chance very often. So today is just the day I get to do it.” Milki looks at them as she drinks her champagne enjoying each sip from it. “So when do you get off? Or break if you get one.” Milki asked curiously as she want to make conversation with the bun liking the company she is having right now with them.

Carmen pauses as Milki asks him when he gets off, usually when one asks it insinuates that it is because they want to spend time with you after the fact.  The server wonders if he’s jumping to conclusions, figuring that he is.  All Milki was trying to do was provide some idle chatter, he didn’t need to look into it.  

“I have a few hours before I can enjoy the party outside of serving.” Carmen replies, punctuating his words with a smile. He stands there for a moment, looking to Milki before he looks to the dance floor.  She seems to be alone, perhaps the excitement from the festivities were too much for the pink haired woman.  

“Any reason you’re not out dancing with the others, Miss?” Carmen asks, returning his gaze to Milki.  He doesn’t know her name so he remains polite while addressing her.  

“Oh, um.” Milki looks down when Carmen asks. “I am trying not to get myself attention, I am a V.I.P and it can be a hassle because all buns get up close and personal to you.” Milki sighs, taking a sip of my drink wishing she didn’t have to hide at times because of her role. “But yeah that’s also a reason why I am here as well hehe..” Milki looked away as she was a bit embarrassed about what she just said to Carmen thinking she was getting too personal with him.

Carmen blinks as Milki explains.  A V.I.P?  He hadn’t recognized her, but then again...he doesn’t really keep up with pop culture, nor any news.  Being a celebrity of any sorts must be hard, he couldn’t imagine always being recognized and bothered. He sympathizes with Milki, her reasoning for not being with the larger groups was understandable.  

“Oh, yeah I get it.” Well, he really doesn’t, it’s not a problem he’s ever had to dealt with, but he wanted to validate Milki’s feelings.  He looks around quickly, trying to map out his surroundings before spotting what he was looking for.  Carmen takes a step back, reaching for Milki’s hand before stopping himself.  Typically he just grabbed people and would drag them along with him- Milki however was a guest of the venue he was working at, and he realized he shouldn’t be acting so familiar with her.  It wasn’t professional. “Uh- the balcony might be a better place to hang out in that case.  Less eyes, and darker so it might be harder for someone to recognize you.” The server explains, trying to recover from that moment of awkwardness. 

“Oh, well thank you! But I happen to like being here and talking with you is giving me some company here as well.” Milki smiles, fixing her hair some and trying not to show that she is blushing some from what she had just said. They didn’t know each other too well. Why would she say that? Milki thought in her head that she must’ve embarrassed herself and weirded the server out.

“Um anyway hehe.” Milki says, taking another sip of her drink and looking at it as it was almost done. “Would you mind getting me a keratini please?” Milki said drinking the last bit of her champagne.

Carmen is a bit surprised by her reply, he had thought for sure that Milki would have wanted to step outside.  Though, thinking on it more, if she had really wanted to step outside, she could have done so on her own already.  His shoulders drop a bit, expression shifting to one of contemplation.  Well, if the balcony wouldn’t do then maybe, just maybe there was another solution.  The server was so wrapped up in this problem he had created in his head that he missed a majority of what Milki was talking about.  

Oh!  Registering her words now, Carmen realizes that she had been requesting another drink.  Right, he was a server here at the venue, and she was a guest.  He had almost forgotten that he was here on a job.  “Ah- yeah.  Sure thing.” He tries to recover from his previous lapse, nodding along as he takes the empty glass from Milki.  Keratini.  Got it. 

As requested, Carmen trotted off to the bar to get the drink Milki had asked for, hanging around the counter as the bartender fulfilled the request.  The man wished he could enjoy the open bar for the night as well, but it wasn’t his place, and he didn’t want to get drunk on a job of all things, it could wait.  It doesn’t take long for him to secure the drink, and come right back to where he had left Milki.  “Here.”  Carmen’s tone remains short and polite.  

He recalls that before he had run off that Milki had mentioned enjoying his company, though unfortunately, the man was at work, and he didn’t want people pointing fingers at him for clinging to one guest.  “Is there anything else you need, Miss?” 

Milki shakes her head no, feeling a bit sad that the server probably has to do his job. Which is understandable since he is working and not off the job. Taking a sip of her drink thinking about what she is going to do once the server leaves. “So when do you get off of work? I would possibly be interested in hanging out more even if it isn’t at the ball.” Milki asked as she blushed some after saying that surprised when she had said it.

Buns kinda looking already at them but not really minding them talking so much as the ones at the bar are either tipsy or drunk. . 

Carmen blinks in surprise, not anticipating Milki to ask him again about when he got off, and this time with the obvious reasoning being because she did want to spend time with him.  He was a nobody, so it caught him off guard.  “I get off in a few more hours, but I had planned on spending some time with the other servers who are getting off at the same time.” Carmen replies, an apologetic smile on his face.  

“But, there is a coffee shop I work at, the daily grind, if you ever want to pop in.” He offers a way for her to see him once again.  “I should probably go check on the other guests...”  He starts to say, taking a few steps away from Milki as he speaks.  “It’s been nice chatting with you, if you need anything else don’t hesitate to let me, or another server know.”  With his final words parted, Carmen disappears into the crowd of the venue.