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[center][color=IndianRed][b]Location:[/b][/color] The Pink Room • [color=IndianRed][b]Time:[/b][/color] Nighttime[/center]
[center][color=IndianRed][b]Interactions:[/b][/color] A nameless girl in the wrong place at the wrong time, [@helo] Noah & [@Tpartywithzombi] Wren  • [color=IndianRed][b]Mentions:[/b][/color] N/A [/center]
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[color=silver]Locke didn’t respond right away. He didn’t rush to defend himself or fire something back just to match Noah’s heat. That wasn’t his rhythm. Instead, he twirled the glass in his hand idly as though the swirl of ice and amber was the only thing worthy of his attention.  A smile followed. Unhurried, subtle…the kind of smile that didn’t care if anyone saw it or not.

[color=cadetblue]“Oh how I’ve missed you, Noah.”[/color] Locke’s words almost came out warmly.  

[color=cadetblue]“And it’s sweet, really… the way you pretend this is about her,”[/color] he said with the faintest smile. [color=cadetblue]“But you and I both know who you’re really trying to prove somethin’ to, little brother.”[/color]

As his words were meant for Noah, he didn’t look at Wren, not directly, but his fingers moved against the table, slow and steady, tapping out a rhythm no one else would notice unless they were looking deep. And maybe she was. He gave her nothing more than that, not even the satisfaction of a glance. Just a thread, left loose, but one to tell her that he knew she had been looking.

Then he turned his attention forward again, eyes never quite landing on Noah but looking through him instead, toward something only Locke could see. Toward her.

[color=cadetblue]“Angel never did well in cages…”[/color] he said, quieter now, as though the words were meant for someone who wasn’t in the room. [color=cadetblue]“Especially not the ones your father builds… Respectfully, of course.”[/color]

His smile changed. Not wistful or broken, just... just tired. Like a man remembering something real in a place full of liars. There was a stillness after that, leaving space to let the truth in his words breathe.

Then Locke leaned back a little further in the booth, let his arm stretch across the seat as he tipped his drink to the girl next to him once more. He took his time, watching the dancer sip from his glass without truly seeing her.

And then, as if the thought had only just arrived, he looked back at Noah, voice calm as ever.

[color=cadetblue]“I’ll find her for you. I’ll even give you the [i]family[/i] discount…But if she don’t wanna come back...”[/color]

He left it there just long enough to feel dangerous.

[color=cadetblue]“...what then, brother?”[/color]
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