I was able to move my ten-pound heavier self (thanks to all those Christmas BUCHES ) to DragonFly on Saturday. I was on my first Gunpowder drink with some friends by the bar when I met Nader, who chatted me up by asking what was in my drink (not the most original line, but it works) and offered to buy me another one. So, I thought it would only be fair if I verified the ingredients with Ninio the bartender aka my unofficial therapist.
Ninio made us shots which tasted exactly like strawberry cheesecake mmm. I’m not usually into long beards-types but there was something charming-like and intellectual about Nader’s. He worked at a local non-profit and seemed like a down to earth kinda guy.
We were on our third round of drinks when I noticed that Nader’s voice was the loudest in the bar. Even when he laughed his voice would echo. People eventually started turning around to give him and even ME the “look” (ja2ra). It’s the look you get when someone is trying to scold you so you know your annoying them and stop what it is your doing immediately! I see it happening a lot in Lebanon. I usually give it to people who try to cut in front of me in line. I think it’s a form of passive aggressiveness that we’ve just become accustomed to. This look is similar to one of those natural reflexes like honking; drivers here beep at anything and everything, even at a bird if it was in the way! I didn’t know Nader enough to tell him to keep it down, so I decided it wasn’t my problem but it seemed Ninio had gotten some complaints. Ninio politely asked Nader to keep it down but Nader took offense to this. He wanted to know exactly WHO was complaining. Yeh!!! Ninio told him to relax and have a good time, its Christmas. Bas macho Nader wasn’t having any of this and started yelling, saying that if anyone had a problem with this they should let him know. Just then three guys got up from the table behind us and were all up in Nader’s face. Things escalated quickly and within seconds they pushed their way out of the bar taking Nader with them. I won’t lie Nader had it coming. The guys didn’t hurt Nader, they just forced him to go back in, pay his bill and get lost. Nader pays his bill and tells me “yalla lets go.” Nader’s display of aggression was a total turn-off. For him to assume that I’m about to leave with him was a JOKE. Not to mention the fact that he ordered me around as though he owned a piece of me or something?!!! I told Nader I’m sticking around and he started throwing a hissy fit. Jarasny!! One of the three guys wearing a red sweater walked up to me and asked me if Nader was bothering me. He had piercing blue eyes. Before I could nod he practically carried Nader out of the bar. I felt a strange movement in my stomach, these weren’t regular butterflies, these were butterflies on steroids. You bet I ended up thanking the guy in the red sweater and Yeeees I may have gotten his number 
but it’s almost 1:00pm and I’m about to walk into a pretty deal breaking meeting. So I promise to be back wiz all ze juicy details…bisoux
