New York [USUK/UKUS - APH ]

Chapter one - New York, New York:

New York Classified Ads:

Bar in need of urgent take over: Local tavern in the Heart of Manhattan. Looking for owner with experience in bar ownership, a good heart and the capability to keep this old family run watering hole going, after the loss of its previous owner.

This was the advert that caught a certain emerald eyed Brit's attention. You see, Arthur Kirkland; a former Officer in the British Army whom had to quit after injury was looking for a change of life style. The Private schooled blonde was sick of being put down by others.

He'd tried owning a pub in London, a quaint little joint that saw its fair share of drunken episodes, fights, debates and mishaps: Like most pubs in the UK did at some point.

Arthur could handle this, but the issue he had with his quaint little pub in the heart of London, was that it attracted his former colleagues: Soldiers and officers who had to see him for what his life became... No longer able to lead, or serve, he felt utterly lost, and useless. He couldn't bare it anymore. He needed a change of scenery away from his past - Which is why this little classified ad for an opportunity to live and work in New York City excited him a little. We say a little, but honestly, he was jumping right on a plane to take it without even seeing it in person. Desperately running from his past in London, he finally paid and was handed over the keys to the Empire Tavern.

Arthur was in for quite the culture shock. Sure, the British Pilgrims sailed on the original Mayflower to American shores but everyday life wasn't the same as back home.

Firstly, Arthur had arrived in February, meaning the city was under a blanket of snow and it was bitterly cold. Coming from London, Arthur certainly wasn't used to this level of cold – or as he liked to word it 'Freezing his bollocks off' – not literally of course.

He had so many layers on, and still couldn't feel his toes, or face. All he wanted to do was walk through central park, but found the large fountain had frozen over. He stood their shivering before deciding to head back to his new home.

As he walked, the sky high buildings surrounded him. London was tall, but nothing on this scale. Manhattan was bustling. He almost broke the Jay walking law on the first day, before being shouted at by a rude New Yorker who found that Arthur got in the way of his trudge across the side walk.

The subway was dark and pretty menacing at first; it was wider than the tube in London. No, in fact everything was bigger here: The portions of food, the buildings, the rage, the lack of manners... People weren't afraid to shout right in your face without a seconds notice. Arthur had been here only about a week and already he wanted to just curl up and have a nice cup of tea and a biscuit to dunk into it. But of course, cookies were all he could find. Oh how he craved a chocolate digestive biscuit. This was going to be harder than he first thought.

The bar itself was pretty nice but you could defiantly tell the owner before had taken over from his father, and so on. There were little trinkets and bits that Arthur wouldn't normally want to see in a Tavern. Family photos, random objects that had been picked up from their travels and a collection of random beer glasses... He wanted to redecorate so badly. He wanted to serve cocktails, ales, lagers, ciders and wine, add some class and flair to the place, but the response he got from the locals that drank there was all seemingly negative. They liked their local bar, and missed the old owner, Sam greatly. Seemed the patrons were all in their mourning period for Sam. No one wanted to let go of the past here. No one wanted to move on. All caught up in their thoughts and own ideologies, afraid of change. He supposed it was like that in most communities really.

Another thing that pissed Arthur off was the social media response to his arrival. Yes, he kept an eye on it. No one in the bar knew that Arthur had actually taken over the entire bar's social media. When he was handed over the reins, he also took the brand. He would fly this flag proudly if he could... He'd just not posted anything yet. The Brit had been watching Twitter closely for his bars name yet all he kept seeing was the same user name, over and over again.

@ApplePieSnaps : First song on the juke box is New York by Sinatra.. How Ironic, The new owners been here like 5 seconds. #Lame This city will chew you up and shit you out. #RipSam @EmpireTavern I bet he lasts about a month.

@ApplePieSnaps : No food at the @EmpireTavern anymore. How do you expect us to drink with no food dude? Sam had food.

@ApplePieSnaps : Eyebrows hasn't hired many bartenders. Come on dude, I'll die of thirst. @EmpireTavern #StillMissSam

@ApplePieSnaps : I bet #EyebrowsBrit at the @EmpireTavern can't even cook. That's why he doesn't have a menu.

Who the fuck was this!? He knotted his brows as he pulled a pint whilst he scanned the room for the most obnoxious looking moron he could find. He'd started putting peanuts and crisps out for sale, and wanted to see what this prick thought about it.

Then, out of the blue was the loudest, most irritating laugh he'd ever heard. Normally, he would block it out, but today he noticed it loud and clear. Oh that was obnoxious sounding! This had to be this cocky twat known as 'ApplePieSnaps'... He followed his gaze to the source of the annoyance, and plain as day was a guy on his phone, laughing with the stranger next to him. He had fashionable looking glasses on, A camera bag, a nice coat which rested on the chair he sat on, with a scarf folded on top, but was in a Captain America hoodie. What was he? Like 12? He was sure he ID'd this git... Fuck. What was his name? The dirty blond coloured haired male laughing had to be him... Arthur was sure of it.

Ping! One new notification from Twitter.

@ApplePieSnaps: #EyebrowsBrit at the @EmpireTavern is now selling food. Peanuts and Chips dude. I'm dying. Sam is probably laughing too.

Arthur had glanced down at it, after serving a customer, and was close to saying something unprofessional to the American. Instead, he decided to play it safe for now. He'd find out more about this person and show him that this Brit should not be underestimated.

He wants food and more bar staff? Fine, he can do that. He wants more music in the Jukebox? Great... He wants Sam back... Well, that was one thing Arthur couldn't do. He can't bring back this beloved character that filled these 'locals' hearts with so much joy and left with nothing but wonderful memories and his name carved into the wood of the bar. Sam was gone. His name ended with him.

Arthur knew that he would never be Sam. He was an outsider to these people. An outsider in the City that never sleeps, just trying to find his feet in this frightening city. The Brit knew he had to make himself better. This was his little empire now.

'If I can make it there, I'm gonna make it anywhere
It's up to you, New York, New York'