Flash Fiction Challenge: The Cocktail

Today the awesome Chuck Wendig proposed a 500 word challege to tell a story inspired by a cocktail. This is what I came up with:

Irish Gold

The elevator doors binged open. I stepped on to the black and white marble floor, heels clicking, nearly sparking in the reflection. The slot machines whirled, fake money clinked into the metal receptacles, yet only spitting out vouchers. He’d said to meet him at the bar, but there were five bars here. I flicked my bangs out of my eyes, pushing on sides of my too short skirt. It had seemed like a good idea when I was standing in front of the mirror.

I closed my eyes for a moment and tuned out the gamblers and smokers. I turned my head to the side, focusing on the men in the nearby bar. Seeking through the mélange of leaches and lushes I finally heard the unmistakable whine of Jimmy.

Making my way through the maze of blackjack tables until I finally came up behind him. He was ogling the waitress, a hand slipping out to graze her thigh as she reached across the bar. I hit him over the head with my clutch before she had a chance to.

“Thanks there doll,” she winked at me before spinning away.

“Pig of a human,” I sneered at Jimmy, sliding onto the barstool, careful to keep my knees together.

“Being human doesn’t make me a pig,” he whined. I spun in my seat, kicking him in the shin. “Damnit!” he swore, rubbing his leg. “Besides, I’m only half human.”

“Do you have it or not?”

“I said I have it, didn’t I?”

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

“Well, I do.”

“Then hand it over.”

“Not until I get what’s coming to me.” He crossed his arms over his chest, bunching up the cheap suit jacket.

“Fine, what’s your price?”

“I want to be rich,” he lifted his hands in front of him, “So rich women will throw themselves at me.”

“Original,” I closed my eyes, taking a moment to saddle my temper. “Stop drooling.” I pulled out a black and white casino chip worth one hundred dollars, handing it to him.

“Is this a joke?” he demanded.

“Go over to the roulette table, place it on seven, let it ride twice, then zero, then seven again. That should get you plenty of money.” As I spoke Jimmy hastily wrote down my instructions on a cocktail napkin.

“That’s it?” he asked, cheeks flushed, eyes glassy.

“Well there is the small matter of the…” I held out my hand.

“Right, here!” Jimmy handed me the four leaf clover. If he hadn’t been half troll he would never have found it. I opened the locket on my chain and set it inside, breathing easier. It was pretty embarrassing being the first fairy caught by a troll.

I watched Jimmy scramble to the roulette table, placing the bets as I instructed. Before the dealer could give him his winnings for the last bet security swarmed over him, confiscating the black and white chip, slipping open the back, revealing the computer components inside.

“Got what’s coming to you.”

Cocktail Recipe
Irish Gold
Ingredients:
•2 parts Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey
•2 parts ginger ale
•1/2 part peach schnapps
•splash of orange juice
•lime for garnish
Preparation:
1. Build the whiskey, schnapps and juice in a Collins glass filled with ice.
2. Top with ginger ale.
3. Garnish with a lime.