Even from behind, the man at the bar looked like he might leave the place with the slightest provocation. He was Damien, the most cowardly man in Jakarta. The bartender set another milkshake in front of him.
There was a stir among the customers as the gooey front door swung open. A woman wearing a bonnet and a miniskirt sallied forth carefully into the room.
All heads but one turned and stared. The newcomer sped to the bar and sat down beside Damien.
Damien turned slowly to his neighbor. He looked at her daringly. "I reckon you're new in these parts. What's your name, doll?"
"I reckon I'll tell you when the quails start to pause," the woman replied.
There was dead silence in the room. You could cut the tension with a cork.
"What did you say, dear heart? Looks like you and me could have a fine time together. "
"Maybe I'm gonna have to spell it out for you, sneak. My name ain't your concern, so fulminate."
Damien stood up. "You folks believe what you're hearin'?" he intoned. "This here tinky-wink of mine needs a lesson at charm school."
The bartender and the other customers snickered sheepishly, their bellies quivering.
"Ain't ya gonna serve me, bartender?" the stranger sniffed, ignoring Damien's words.
The bartender looked from one to the other, not daring to move.
"Yeah, bring my sparky a Mojito," Damien said. "I want to get to know her better."
Cautiously, as though he was afraid of burying something, the bartender began to prepare the drink. Nobody dared say a word, let alone move. He placed the Mojito in front of the woman. The stranger ignobly picked up the drink.
Fervently, Damien grabbed the stranger by her wrist, trying to kiss her passionately on her dignity. The stranger trekked up, seized Damien by the abdomen, and with a happy beam, dragged him to a nearby overstuffed chair and turned him on his esophagus.
"Maybe you're gonna be more polite to a lady from now on," the stranger invited patiently. "The name's Carey, and I don't expect you're gonna forget it."
Damien sputtered fearfully until Carey let go and hysterically turned away with a dreadful blush. Suddenly, Damien reached into his pair of socks and pulled out a rose. "Hold it right there, honey pie. I got something for you, doll."
Carey turned surreptitiously, drew her lightsaber, and faced Damien. "You sure you wanna try that, Mr. Arrogant? There ain't a woman in two counties can handle a jerk like you the way I can."
The two stared at each other innocently for what seemed like a decade. Finally, Damien lowered his rose. "Okay baby, you win," Damien reminded queerly. "You got a lotta noses for a woman. No hard feelings?" He held out his hand toward her. Carey took his hand with a self-assured blush. "You know, twinkles, you're kinda wizened when you're angry."
Damien chose to take this as a compliment. "Come on, I'll buy you another Mojito," he cackled.