[hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/XiUHyUc.png[/img]     [img]https://i.imgur.com/K7gWNb1.png[/img]
[color=fa912b][h1]& Bianca Manalo[/h1][/color]  [/center]
[right]Interactions: Sloane [@Atrophy], Trevor / Meifeng [@Punished GN]
[code]The Bar that Ruins Hopes and Dreams, The Halloween Festival[/code][/right][hr]
[color=9966CC]”Two nights ago-”[/color] Anya started under the gaze of her captivated audience, ready to jump into the interesting details of a dream she’d wandered into, when she was rudely interrupted by the [i]last[/i] person she wanted to hear from again. 

Like a mechanical doll, her head jerked around in three sharp motions, creaking practically audible. For a moment she wondered if it was possible to drown in a cup of alcohol. Or perhaps if she fell the right way, she would break her spine. No. Her will to survive was strong enough to withstand this. She could survive his awful flirting, horrible voice and strange hair playing. She had already been through it all while alone on a supposed 'date.' Of course, she'd hoped that would be the end of it. She would meet him again if her hand was forced, to protect her own life... but she was beginning to think that perhaps dealing with him was a fate worse than death. He was certainly making her lose the will to live, which was something of a miracle. 

[color=9966CC]”How could I forget you?”[/color] Anya intoned, flashing a very forced smile towards Trevor. Not only had he suggested that it was fate that they’d ran into each other [i]once[/i] but he also threw out what Anya supposed was meant to be a pickup line but felt more like a threat. She’d rather he wasn’t her anything. How he'd gotten it into his head that he could be anything like that, she didn't know. [color=9966CC]”Oh, I feel [i]so[/i] much safer already with you here to protect me. Why don't you go find some armour that can do the job?”[/color]

There was a subtle sarcasm to her words that would likely bounce right off Trevor's thick skin and be easily picked up by anyone with half a braincell. However, she was quite hopeful about him going to find a knight costume and giving them an opportunity to leave before they returned.

[color=fa912b]"Oh man, this is brilliant,"[/color] Bianca snorted as she watched the whole thing, covering her mouth to stop herself from bursting out laughing. 

Anya ignored the rest of the PRA, Bianca included, and focused on Meifeng. What she said was incredibly irritating. Unprofessional. Their lives were at risk and she’d decided at face value that Sloane was going to be annoying by asking for help? Knowing these people were the ones ‘protecting the city’ in an official capacity had her feeling less safe than if they hadn’t been around at all.

[color=9966CC]”Don't worry, [i]Meifeng[/i], I'll forget all about how you push us onto a junior- no, trainee, is it not?- agent when we were merely looking for help with a very murderous problem,”[/color] Anya smiled pleasantly, eyes creasing slightly - the picture of genuine joy even as her words were as sharp as a knife. [color=9966CC]”At least Bianca seems to have the necessary protection. I wouldn't want us all wiped out. Truly, [i]Bea[/i], it's lovely to see you again. Properly. How was meeting Linqian again last week? I hope you had a pleasant catch up. She certainly seemed to enjoy it.”[/color]

[color=fa912b]”Oh, it was good,”[/color] Bianca smiled back. [color=fa912b]”It was nice to catch up with an old friend who had [i]no[/i] interest in my work. I'm glad you cared enough to ask.”[/color] 

Anya’s lips curved into something closer to a sneer, head snapping back round as Sloane’s hands slammed down on the table in a delayed reaction (ah, she was so drunk). It was easy to read what was such an openly expressive look from Sloane (to Anya, likely not to others). What was she sorry about? Why did she… no, she wouldn’t think about that bit. But Sloane even moved around to block the free seat next to Anya, preventing Trevor from taking it. Was she not-

Oh. Sloane invited Trevor to join, and then proceeded to give one of the worst shows Anya had seen in her life, ending in her own drink being stolen. Generally she enjoyed finishing her own drink before the end of a performance, quite quickly during the starting act if the quality was like this. But she understood what Sloane was doing. She was trying to give Anya a way out, with an incredibly clumsy execution. She didn’t want to abandon Sloane, of course, but she couldn’t turn down her so awkwardly set up plan.

A small amount of warmth unexpectedly sparked in Anya’s chest, and her smile softly lit up her eyes.

[color=9966CC]”Alright, I won’t be long-”[/color] As she went to stand, a tanned hand landed on her shoulder and pressed her back down.

[color=fa912b]”I'll get you both a drink,”[/color] Bianca interrupted cheerfully after stopping Anya from standing up, hand still on her shoulder. What Sloane was doing was painfully obvious, and she wasn't going to let her see Anya (with bonus Sloane) suffer plan fail. Not when Trevor was coming out with such insanely cringey lines. [color=fa912b]”On me, since we're [i]old friends[/i]. I wouldn’t want you to be dragged away from poor Trevor so quickly! What do you want?”[/color]

[color=9966CC]”... Old Fashioned for us both,”[/color] Anya gritted out, unable to push up past Bianca’s grip. She was surprisingly strong. Or perhaps Anya herself was weak. Her smile wavered for a moment. Not only were Sloane’s efforts going to waste, but she was going to be forced to stay in Trevor’s company. For a moment, she considered throwing away everything she’d been working for, the carefully built up image she’d made for herself, and stabbing Bianca with a hairpin for stopping her. 

No, jail would be much too uncomfortable. She would just ruin her dreams later.

[color=fa912b]”Got it,”[/color] Bianca grinned, finally letting go of Anya’s shoulder and making her way over to the bar with a slight skip in her step. 

After following Bianca's back with a narrowed eyed look, Anya leaned in towards Sloane, voice dropping to a whisper. [color=9966CC]”Thank you for trying.”[/color] 

[color=9966CC]”Well,”[/color] Anya straightened back up and turned around to look at Meifeng, gesturing to the seats in front of her and Sloane. There were two, after all. [color=9966CC]”Why don’t you join us too, and prove that you weren’t just trying to play the matchmaker? I’m not looking to discuss much business, but it’s only fair you get to know us after your immediate judgement of Sloane.”[/color]

And perhaps Trevor would be a tad more restrained around his both. At least, he would stick to horrible pickup lines over all the weirdly sexual things he discussed on their ‘date’.