Today's workload warranted a drink. Shea had definitely seen to that.
The rose bushes were pruned, the pansies prodded until their petals shone with happiness. His employer would surely be satisfied with his work, as most of those that hired him were. The magnolias had proven a bit more difficult, yes, their lack of interaction making them shy, but with some coaxing from him, they too now dazzled their owner's landscape with their lustrous white colors. Their good mood contagious, he found himself smiling as he made his way along the side of the road toward the nearest tavern.
Every man deserved a pat on the back for his good work, and nothing qualified more as a good pat on the back than checking out the attractive men that stayed at The Rusty Spork. The name didn't appeal to Leslie much, always making him turn his nose at the lack of taste and refinement, but there was no denying that only the best-looking people came to this particular inn. Especially at this time of day. After all, this was no sultry, poor side of town. Wealthy people lived in these parts.
Ignoring the ugly, rotten sign with a spork scratched into its wooden surface, Leslie stepped in through the door, beaming at the patrons as they looked up at him. No doubt they envied his chosen attire for the day--a frock coat of the most dazzling shade of burgundy, with baby blue silk-faced lapels to match his eyes. Even his striped trousers of a lighter burgundy drew the eyes of the bartender, and he preened under the attention.
Assuming and air of indifference, though he glowed on the inside, he looked around the bar as though searching for someone. In reality, he merely wanted to find the most attractive man there and join him.
Then his eyes lit upon a man hunched in the back corner. Though he was fairly good-looking, what drew Leslie to him the most was the aura of gloom that latched onto him like a terrible shadow. And so he made his way toward him.
"Excuse me," he said, voice practically singing as he grabbed the edge of the nearest chair at the table which the man sat at. "Is this seat taken?" Without waiting for an answer, he sat down, anyway, hands under his chin as he grinned brightly at the stranger. "My name's Leslie."