Violet Avett gave a sleepy, indulgent sigh and reached over without looking to her pile of clothes beside Leo Thomson's bed. She sifted through layers of cotton stiff with sweat and...other things until her fingers found cool metal. Grinning, she rolled over, unscrewed the lid of her flask, and took a long, hard pull. She swallowed, grimaced, and shook the thing at Leo. 

"Thirsty?"

"What is it?"

"Mother's milk," she replied drily, rolling, naked, from the bed to pull on her dress. Northern flapper fashions hadn't quite his Pickett yet, but then Vi had never been one to wait for permission. The forest green skirts nipped close, floating almost three inches above her knee. She pretended not to notice Leo staring in equal parts lust and admiration. The kid was three years young than her twenty-five and thought he was head over heels in love.

Vi just happened to agree. Boys could be stupid like that. 

"You gonna drink, or you just gonna watch me get dressed again?" She turned her head abruptly, the green of the dress making her eyes all the more verdant. 

Leo went six shades darker and took a too-big gulp, coughing half of it up over his bare chest. Vi rolled her eyes, but didn't laugh. Boys could be stupid like that, too, and she needed this one on her side. 

"You okay, cutie?" she said, doing her best to sound genuinely concerned. 

Leo nodded, still not quite able to speak. When he could, he dragged his hand over his mouth, eyes watering. "Y-yeah. This the stuff? It's kinda...um..."

"It's real," Vi finished for him with a shrug. "And it's real strong, too."

"And where'd you say you got it?"

Vi smiled and sat down on the bed, curls of red hair falling down over her bare chest. Leo moved under the sheets. Again, she pretended not to notice. "I didn't. But don't you worry, honey, it's fresh from the source. How much do you want for you and your boys?"

"Couple jugs, I guess, but Vi, that price -- "

Vi gave him her perfected pout. Willa had made her runner for the 'shine a year and a half ago, and she was good at her job. Maybe not quite the way Willa wanted, but she made the sales. 

"It's only fair, baby. We're getting it fresh from the source and carting it all the way out there to Erskine for you..."

"[i]I'm[/i] doing the driving, Vi."

She grinned and looped her arms around his neck. Her breasts nuzzled his shoulder, and he went red under her touch. "Yeah, but I'm coming with you."

Leo's face, skeptical, brightened at once. "Really? You're coming to the party? I--I mean the Winter Gala?" He'd already told his fraternity brothers about the 'older woman' he was seeing, he'd never be able to show his face again if --

"You're buying the 'shine?"

"Baby, if you'll be my girl, I'll buy the whole damn load."

Vi giggled and clapped her hands excitedly. "Leo Thomson, you are my Prince Charming."

Of course, she'd have to find her way to that stupid 'gala' now. But Leo never could hold his liquor. Chances were she could sneak out not twenty minutes after walking in the door.