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[b][sup][i]A collaboration between [@NeoAJ], [@Spooner] & [@Aewin][/i][/sup][/b]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/0tAeDVZ.png[/img][/center]
[indent][indent]It was a good thing Emilia had finished enough of her first drink, because she definitely wasn’t prepared for when Ava grabbed her and brought her up onto the makeshift dance floor the living room was being turned into. She could scarcely utter a startled [color=ffff1e]“Wha-!”[/color] Still, at least it was a sign that whatever clouds were hanging over Miss Esposito, they were able to be pushed aside at least for now. That was going to be a crucial part of Emilia’s strategy for the evening as well. So she set her drink back on the bar and let herself be whirled around by her fellow Kings fan. It was fun, and made Emilia a little bit dizzy. But that was a feeling she was going to need to get used to.

Eventually, plans were made and the various members of the suite departed for other ventures. Even Val and Nate emerged from their respective bathrooms and headed out to explore Vegas in the daytime.

But not Emilia. Not Josie. The two best friends hung back in the palatial room, content to decompress from what had been a somewhat stressful morning and a long RV ride into Sin City. Besides, there were still plenty of drinks available on offer. The only problem was the food.

[color=ffff1e]“When do you think room service is going to get here, Jojo? Can they even make it this high up? What if we’re too elevated to get food?!?”[/color] The mojitos may have been hitting Emilia already at this point, but she was too hungry to notice, and she didn’t dare break into her precious supply of Pizza Pringles already. What if the East Coast states didn’t have them? Nope. Best to let the hotel provide food. It just needed to arrive quicker...

Josephine wasn’t faring much better. After that thorough verbal spanking from Sami, Josie had taken to sulking on the couch with her blessed mojito. It was only her desire to eat that stopped her from mixing herself another drink, and luckily, Emilia had the same idea.

Josie found herself disappointed when she noticed hamburgers weren't part of the Bellagio specials, but she could do with a cheeseburger instead. There was no one to judge her, so why not? Josie lazed on the couch reading through the menu over and over again, her stomach complaining with every. Delicious. Word. [color=BD8C7D]"The menu says thirty minutes. It's only been four."[/color] It felt far longer than that, but when you're counting each second it feels like an eternity. [color=BD8C7D]"Ems, take this from me. If I keep looking at it, I'm gonna mistake it for chips."[/color] She waved the laminated paper over her head, somewhat amused by the wiggly sound it would make.

Emilia made the sacrifice of hopping off her bar stool and bouncing over to her pink-haired friend to claim the menu. Of course, she was in just as much danger as Josie of eating the options at this point. The desire not to eat the reserved cargo in her bag led to her ordering a Margherita pizza and now she was worried it would take way too long to make. [color=ffff1e]“I feel like we should have ordered more things. I mean, we are on vacation, right? We should be taking full advantage and seeing what we can get and do and eat and see and eat and I’m not helping… OK, think, what can we do to pass the time until our food gets here? We need a distraction or something…”[/color]

[color=BD8C7D]“And be so full that we can’t get drunk tonight?”[/color] Josie shook her head. [color=BD8C7D]“No ma’am. I’d like to go to bed completely shitfaced, celebrate graduation in [i]style[/i].”[/color]

Josie had seen Emi’s face that morning. Katie’s presence hadn’t been something either of them had been expecting, and the resurfacing memories clearly hit Emi in the feels. Josie didn’t want such a bad start to their trip leaving a bad taste in their mouth. A distraction was very welcome, from their emotional and hunger plight, and Josie had just the idea in mind. She finally stood up to join Emi at the bar. [color=BD8C7D]“How about a little game of Never Have I Ever? Get us in that Vegas hype?”[/color] She asked. Surely the best way to resolve your feels was to drown in alcohol! ...Well, it worked for her mom.

Emilia was a little unsure. She knew the game very well, but with just her and Josie going at it, and the fact that they both knew practically everything about each other’s lives, it was going to be very easy to make the other person drink.

But supposedly that was the whole point of the game, wasn’t it?

[color=ffff1e]“OK!”[/color] Emi agreed as she started rummaging through the bar. There was enough juice to mix with the rum that Sami had brought out so they could continue to keep pace even without those marvelous mojitos available. [color=ffff1e]“But don’t be too mean, OK? I want to at least be able to make it out the door tonight!”[/color]

[color=BD8C7D]“If you can remember your name by the end of this, I’ve failed.”[/color] Josie responded in jest. Truthfully, all Josie wanted to do was get their minds off their morning troubles. It hadn’t exactly been the best start for Emi, and Josie just wanted to help her friend.

[color=BD8C7D]“Wait,”[/color] Some movement at the balcony reminded her that they weren’t the only ones in the room. [color=BD8C7D]“D’you think Nate and Sami’re here somewhere? Leon and Val look like they’re ‘boutta hang out.”[/color]

Emilia hadn’t noticed the return of some of their travel party, especially given that Val didn’t make an audible noise of disgust when passing by. Maybe that meant she was in a good enough mood to just give the blonde an eye roll. Who knows? [color=ffff1e]“Did you ever notice Val seems to get along [b]REALLY[/b] well with the guys? Wish I had that ability.”[/color] Emi stopped in her motions for a second upon saying that, but shook her head and moved on.

She finished mixing a couple of poorly-leveled drinks at the bar. Clearly missing the skills that Sami brought to the table, she brought the cocktails over to where her friend sat. [color=ffff1e]“All right, you want to go first?”[/color]

Meanwhile, out on the strip, it turns out finding out that one of your best friends has a secret relationship with the girl you’ve had a crush on for ages, and breaking up a fight drains you of energy. Who would have known? Not Nathan Matthews in any case. The walk back from the gym was quiet, or at least Nate thought it was. He might have grunted and hummed when Leon asked something but nothing of substance. His thoughts were completely somewhere else.

Somewhere along the way, the pair of friends got separated and Nathan was alone for the first time in hours. He decided to stay behind for a while, walking around and taking in the craziness that is Las Vegas. He didn’t have his camera with him but he got some good shots on his phone. After a while, he decided it was time to head back to the hotel. Nathan hoped dearly that the rest of the group had headed off for some sort of adventure, all he wanted was to collapse on his bed and take a long nap before AJ probably dragged him out to some show.

As he stepped out of the elevator on their floor he thought he caught a glimpse of Val stepping into the elevator next to him going down. This boded well for him having the suite to himself. But when he opened the door he was met with a sight he didn’t expect to see Emi and Josie obviously a little tipsy getting ready to play a game by the looks of it.

[color=AD5050]“Oh!”[/color] he tried to sound a little less disappointed than he was [color=AD5050]“You alright guys?”[/color]

Ah, exactly the person Josie wanted to see! The morning awkwardness, despite being unpleasant for the two of them, really helped clear the air. Josie had even promised Nate that they’d hang out once at the hotel. She waved him over, a giddy expression on her face. [color=BD8C7D]“Come come, I was just asking about you.”[/color]

[color=BD8C7D]“We’re gonna play never have I ever, come join us!”[/color] At least the game wouldn’t finish too soon. [color=BD8C7D]“You look like you could do with a drink. It’s not gonna be a Sami style mojito, but I can assure you that rum and…”[/color] Josie took a sip of the drink that Emilia had mixed for them. [color=BD8C7D]“Apple juice? Yeah, it isn’t so bad. [i]And[/i] it's made by our girl Emi.”[/color]

Emilia closed her eyes and smiled at Josie’s last comment. [color=ffff1e]“I’m sure I can find some other juices if you prefer! I know there is orange soda still kicking around from the RV ride!”[/color] She took a drink from her own mug. It definitely wasn’t anywhere near Sami’s mojito but it tasted enough like apples that it should do the trick.

Nathan rubbed the back of his head looking towards the room and bed that was calling his name. [color=AD5050]“Mmmmhhh….”[/color] he pondered looking from the girls to the room and back again. He let out a little sigh [color=AD5050]“Sure I’ll play”[/color] he chuckled softly before heading over to where they were sitting. [color=AD5050]“I’m sure it’s very tasty Emi”[/color] he smiled broadly at the blonde as he took a glass from her. He took a sip and almost choked on the liquid running down his throat. He had spoken too soon, but kept his poker face up so as to not hurt her feelings.

[color=AD5050]“So who starts?”[/color] he asked looking between the two.

[color=BD8C7D]“Don’t worry Emi, it tastes… fine.”[/color] Josie gave Emilia a reassuring grin before turning to consider Nate’s question. Given that the question had come up twice, Josie decided to answer. [color=BD8C7D]“I’ll go first.”[/color] She then gave her friends a conspiratory smile. [color=BD8C7D]“Don’t worry, I’ll go easy. Never have I ever been to Vegas before today.”[/color]

Emilia’s drink remained at the level. She did get to take a trip with her father last year during one of the road trips, but it was pretty uneventful. They went for dinner at one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants, and then she spent the rest of her time at T-Mobile Arena before the team headed back to Los Angeles that night. Hardly debauchery at the levels promised today. But still it counted. [color=ffff1e]“Sorry, didn’t get me!”[/color]

[color=AD5050]“Sorry…”[/color] Nate held up his glass, confused with the rules since he wasn’t really used to playing drinking games. [color=AD5050]“So… I drink if I have been here before or… if I haven’t?”[/color] he laughed at how stupid he must have sounded.

[color=BD8C7D]“Ah shit, that’s my bad. I started off with a bad one. You drink if you’ve been here before, yeah.”[/color] She laughed sheepishly before suddenly pausing. [color=BD8C7D]“I… I think? I’m sure that’s how the game goes anyway.”[/color] Like Nate, Josie wasn’t exactly used to participating in drinking games. Most of her knowledge came from late night fanfiction readings on Tumblr, and they [i]usually[/i] ended quite… explicitly. [color=BD8C7D]“So, like, I won’t be drinking because this is my first time in Vegas as well.”[/color]

[color=ffff1e]“Ohhhh, um… shoot.”[/color] Emilia sheepishly took a drink from her glass. Figured she would misunderstand the rules already. [color=ffff1e]“Fine. Ummm… never have I ever… dyed my hair?”[/color] Yeah, it was a cheap shot at Josie, but she had to get her back for the first drink. And at least make it known that she could play this game.

[color=BD8C7D]“Low blow.”[/color] Josie pouted in Emilia’s direction before taking a drink. Of course, dying her hair was as natural as breathing at this point. Some may even question what colour her hair naturally was. She sent another pout in Nate’s direction, knowing that he was the last of the group yet to take a drink.

Nate screwed up his face in thought trying to figure out a question to ask. [color=AD5050]“Uhm…”[/color] he looked around the room for some inspiration. He was coming up with blanks. All he could think about was Val’s pouty face when she freaked out earlier today in his Van. [color=AD5050]“Never have I ever… been forced to do something I really didn’t want to do.”[/color] he blurted out. Crap he got himself, he had to drink. Confessing his feelings for Josie was something he had been pushed to do by none other than Val herself. He lifted his glass to his company and took a long drink.

Josie took another sip of her drink upon hearing Nate, her heart feeling heavy all of a sudden. Was working at the Pet Inn really forced upon her? Questionable, but she felt that she had no way out of that life. No matter how many times she'd told herself that it was for the best, she could never help that twinge of disappointment each time.

She wasn't sure whether it was just her, or had the air had really gotten thicker after Nate’s turn, but the sip of her drink had really helped. Josie sighed, rubbing her cheek awkwardly. [color=BD8C7D]“I have a feeling you're going to need to make us more rum and apple juice.” [/color]

Emilia had to think about the question, but thinking about the question led back to a place she was desperately trying to avoid at the moment. There were times when she stayed at parties later than she wanted to, times when she hung out with people she didn’t want to. But she did it for someone else. Someone who… who…

The drink request from Josie derailed the tear train in Emilia’s head for the moment. [color=ffff1e]“Drinks? Oh, yes, drinks! Um, I’ll see how much apple juice is left! Yes!”[/color] Focusing on trying to outdo her rotten apple cocktail was now first and foremost in her mind. Aside from the game at hand. [color=ffff1e]“Also, never have I ever paid for a camera!”[/color]

[color=AD5050]“Your tone sounds very pointed right now Em!”[/color] Nate laughed as he drank once again. Obviously he had paid for many cameras and wasn’t planning on stopping anytime soon. 

Josie laughed, feeling the tension pass finally. She even decided to jump in after Emilia, get her revenge on Nate. [color=BD8C7D]“Never have I ever had a part time job.”[/color] Sure, she was shooting herself in the foot, but that sip of her drink had never tasted more sweeter.

Again, no drinks for Emilia as she prepared a new batch of cocktails for her friends. They seemed to be losing the game worse than she was. Or was it winning? Maybe she should start giving herself a drink or two. She would have a fresh one, as her particular style of mixing didn’t require much effort. Put in an ice cube, pour in alcohol, pour in whatever juice was available in the bar. This time it was mango. She looked around for a sort of tray, and decided to empty the one that sat and offered coffee fixins for the drinks. That made this feel like a part-time job at least. Still doesn’t count though. Does Kings’ unofficial mascot count? Probably not.

In any case, Emilia rejoined her drinking companions and handed out the new beverages. [color=ffff1e]“I don’t think I’m doing too well at this game. I haven’t drank in a while.”[/color]

[color=AD5050]“I feel like one does never do good at drinking games… do you win if you get the most drunk? Or if you stay sober?”[/color] he queried, taking another sip of his drink, since he has had a part time job since he was 15. [color=AD5050]“Ok! Never have I ever had hair past my shoulders!”[/color] he burst out laughing [color=AD5050]“Good one right? Huh? Right?”[/color] he looked from Emi to Josie who both have long gorgeous locks.  

Surely the win condition was to be the one as sober as possible… But then again, Josie’s fanfictions never lasted long enough for her to confirm. However, did it really matter? Josie could see that both Nate and Emi seemed to be in good spirits, and that alone was enough to warm her heart.

Unless that was the rum talking...

[color=BD8C7D]“Emi…”[/color] Josie turned to face her best friend, a glint in her eye. [color=BD8C7D]“How about we team up. Two against one, he can’t get the both of us!”[/color] 

After Emilia took a long drink from her original apple cocktail, enough to finish it off and allow her attention to be fully turned to her new mango concoction, she turned to her bestie. [color=ffff1e]“Girls against the guy?”[/color] She looked back at Nate. [color=ffff1e]“Oh yeah, we can take him.’[/color] The pizza was forgotten. The troubles were forgotten, Josie having unwittingly staved off another potential breakdown. Val was forgotten. There was only one thing that mattered in the moment. She took a small sip of the mango drink to make sure it was good to go. Once that was verified, she set her mug down and pointed at the lone male in the contest. [color=ffff1e]“Let’s dance, Nate!”[/color][/indent][/indent][/color]