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[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080][color=4a766e]"Well, I think you're a nice person too, and I mean it. I hope you have a nice night River. I'll see you some other time,"[/color] Iliana said with a smile before she went to wander around the party only to eventually return and start ice skating. 

River scooted a bit further away from the ice rink entrance and leaned back against the fence. He lightly crossed his arms over his chest and observed the party. He noticed a few lingering people around the tables and a couple doing cheesy dance moves like no one was watching, but otherwise things seemed to be a lot more calm and a lot less… [i]pornographic[/i], thank the Gods. As he looked over toward the bar, his gaze immediately locked on Anissa who was intensely focused on a shot held in her grasp as she walked straight toward him. He immediately adjusted his posture, standing up a little more but still trying to remain relaxed and leaning against the railing. He looked over his shoulder, double-checking to see if there was anyone around him but no… Unless Anissa was planning to experiment with shots and ice skating, she was heading right toward him. 

Seeing that she looked in better spirits made his lips tug into a lopsided smile. River’s gaze fell to the precariously perched cherry bobbing on top of the shot as she stopped in front of him. He met her gaze as she smiled nervously and asked, [color=5a3e85]"Hey… care for a nipple?"[/color]

First there was a noise somewhere between a cough and wheeze that caught in his throat. Then River’s careful balance faltered and he started slipping along the railing. His hand caught one of the rungs, steadying himself so he didn’t fall face first in the snow and make a bigger fool out of himself. He cleared his throat, cheeks turning as red as the cherry in the shot as his hands subconsciously felt for his nipples like they might have been poking out of his shirt or something. River spent half of his life shirtless but Anissa’s words immediately made him panic like he was flashing nip and looked stupid or something. But no, [i]he[/i] was just stupid. 

[color=86a8ad]"No. I already have two I don’t think I—"[/color] Then his gaze briefly fell to Anissa’s chest. His eyes widened and he immediately looked anywhere else, the ground, the sky, the fire… Were their people fucking on the bar? He could look there. [color=86a8ad]"Yours should stay in your dress,"[/color] he said while pointing at her but never once looking anywhere remotely near her. Then it dawned on him… She was carrying a shot and [i]maybe[/i] the cherry [i]could[/i] look vaguely like a nipple? River finally met her gaze and pointed at the small glass. [color=86a8ad]"[i]That[/i]... That’s a nipple… Isn’t it?"[/color]

The sight of him slipping against the railing and then patting himself for any escapee nipples nearly undid her. A laugh, sudden and unbidden, bubbled up in her throat. Anissa managed to bite it back, but the effort sent a wobble through her lips. Then his gaze dropped, not to the glass in her hand, but to her—to [i]her[/i]—

Anissa’s lips parted in shock and then pressed together hard. She ducked her head, the only indication of her suppressed laughter being her shaking shoulders. [i]He[/i] was mortified. [i]She[/i] was mortified on his behalf. And it was somehow the funniest, most human thing she’d experienced all night. Okay, sure, maybe she could have phrased what she’d said a bit better. But his reaction was nearly like the one he’d given when she’d joked about the gods, which, like her current situation, she felt the meaning was [i]obvious[/i].

There was absolutely no conceivable way he seriously thought she was offering to… to [i]whip out her nipple[/i] and… what? Hand it to him? In the middle of a crowded party?

The sheer absurdity of the notion finally broke her. Anissa’s shoulders shook harder, and this time the laugh escaped, bright, loud, and completely helpless. She clapped the back of her free hand against her mouth, but it was a futile gesture; the ridiculousness of the situation demanded oxygen.

[color=5a3e85]"Gods, River,"[/color] she managed to gasp between breaths, lowering her hand and meeting his wide, horrified eyes. [color=5a3e85]"Yes, [i]the drink[/i]! It’s the drink."[/color] She lifted the shot glass again, the cherry still miraculously perched on its creamy peak, and wiggled it slightly for emphasis. [color=5a3e85]"It’s called a Slippery Nipple. Not… whatever it was you just thought I meant."[/color]

River’s cheeks remained a warm pink as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. While he was utterly embarrassed, seeing the way Anissa’s face lit up with laughter made him smile. His chuckle didn’t quite match her level of entertainment, but it was genuine and loosened the bit of tension that had taken up residence across his shoulders. [color=86a8ad]"Yeah, yeah. Ok. I get it. I’m stupid."[/color] He rolled his eyes, shaking his head with a lopsided grin. [color=86a8ad]"You asked if I wanted a nipple… I don’t know how you expected that to play out."[/color]

He cleared his throat trying to push past his awkward embarrassment as he took a step toward her. Slowly, River reached out and plucked the small shot glass from her grasp with a pinch of his index finger and thumb. He raised the drink to eye level examining the layers of red, clear and cream liquids. His gaze flicked back and forth between the shot and Anissa. He couldn’t very well turn it down when she made her way halfway across the party to bring it to him, especially in heels, on grass and tipsy. A soft chuckle rumbled in his throat as he noticed her more relaxed demeanor and the faint scent of alcohol that came with her. While he had zero intentions of getting drunk, if a few drinks put a smile on her face and made her happy, then he saw no issues with it.

[color=86a8ad]"You have to share it with me though,"[/color] River spoke softly while holding her gaze. He raised a brow before carefully plucking the cherry from the top of the shot between two fingers. With a proud smile, he held out the small piece of fruit for Anissa. 

Anissa's smile softened as he lifted the cherry between his fingers, and for a moment, she just blinked at it, her tipsy brain struggling to keep up with things somewhat. Reflexively, she reached out for it and only then did her gaze snag on the black fabric snug against her skin. 

Her gloves. Of course, she still had them on. 

The thought hit her like a hiccup of sobriety, sudden and unwelcome. As a result, her hand stalled in midair, fingers curling inward before her hand retreated to her side. For a second, she was caught in an internal standoff: a deep-seated reluctance to draw any unnecessary attention to the things she hid, warring with the ache for the simple, unthinking freedom everyone else seemed to possess. 

Then the warm, liquid courage of the bourbon carried her forward, deciding for her. If she couldn't take it with her hands…well. There were other ways. 

She parted her lips as if to speak, but no words came out.  Instead, Anissa leaned in, tilting her face upward so the cherry dangled near her mouth. She kept her eyes locked with River's as she accepted the offered fruit with a soft suck that pulled it from his grasp. The briefest brush of his fingers against her lower lip sent a tiny, electric jolt through her, a touch that was there and then gone, withdrawn entirely with her moving away. 

An involuntary hum of gratitude vibrated in her throat as she bit down, the burst of syrupy sweetness from the cherry mixing with the bourbon and overtaking her taste buds. 

[color=5a3e85]“‘preciate it,”[/color] she said around the fruit, the words muffled before she finally chewed and swallowed. 

River, obviously, had not been thinking about the fact Anissa was wearing gloves. The thought only crossed his mind when he saw her reach for it then retract her hand. Before he could decide if he wanted to toss it for her like a piece of popcorn or just awkwardly apologize and eat it, she tilted her head toward the cherry. He was unable to part his gaze from hers as she stole the small piece of fruit. Whatever redness had faded from his cheeks came back with fervor at the faintest touch of her lips grazing his finger. His eyes went wide, jaw snapped shut and he swallowed in silent, stunned disbelief. 

He cleared his throat and peeled his gaze away from her. Then before uttering a word, River threw back the shot. The warmth from the liquor and rich flavor of Irish cream, sambuca and grenadine rested on his palate before he swallowed it in a single gulp. He grimaced while raising the empty glass to study it. [color=86a8ad]"[i]Bleh[/i]... I hate grenadine."[/color]

If she noticed the way his ears were pink or how his gaze had darted anywhere but her after the cherry incident, she didn’t comment. Instead, Anissa latched onto his thoughts about the grenadine. 

[color=5a3e85]“Apparently, it’s supposed to make everything else go down easier,”[/color] she countered, licking the last trace of syrup from her lip. [color=5a3e85]“It’s not as bad once you acclimate to it.”[/color] Not that she was planning on helping him with that tonight, considering her plans to meet Blair. 

[color=86a8ad]"I think one is enough for me, thanks. I need to have a clear head tomorrow."[/color] His gaze fell to his hand, noticing a drip of cherry juice running down his thumb. Without giving it a second thought, River slipped the tip of his finger between his lips to lick it clean. It was only when his tongue pressed against the skin that he noticed what he was doing and what had touched that skin a few moments earlier. There was the soft smack of his lips as he quickly withdrew his thumb from his mouth and wiped it off on his pants. 

[color=86a8ad]"I…"[/color] Nope. Nothing came out. All the words bunched in his throat but not a single one slipped out of his mouth. River cleared his throat again. [color=86a8ad]"Uh, thanks for the drink."[/color] He waved the empty shot glass between his fingers while sparing her a quick glance. [color=86a8ad]"It tasted… [i]interesting,[/i]"[/color] he added with a nervous laugh and a deep sigh. 

[color=5a3e85]“You’re welcome,”[/color] Anissa replied. [color=5a3e85]“And hey, ‘interesting’ is a win, considering the bartender looked like he was communing with the gods while making it.”[/color] The thought of the strange man fleetingly made her wonder what drink he might have concocted for Blair after she’d left. She supposed she could always ask once they met up again.

River chewed on his bottom lip as he set the empty glass down on the ice rink railing. [color=86a8ad]"So,"[/color] he tapped his fingers along the cold metal, [color=86a8ad]"What did you get drunk on?"[/color] His brows rose as he found the courage to finally look over at Anissa and hold her gaze.

Anissa leaned against the railing herself, seeking its solid support as the world continued its gentle, alcohol-induced sway. She tipped her head toward him, the motion carrying an unselfconscious grace. [color=5a3e85]“Bourbon,”[/color] she admitted, rolling the word around on her tongue as if tasting it anew. [color=5a3e85]“Three shots. In a row.”[/color] A self-deprecating smile touched her lips. [color=5a3e85]“With a new friend egging me on a little. Sooo,”[/color] she lifted a single finger in a playful, if relatively wobbly, warning, [color=5a3e85]“if I say or do something stupid tonight… well… you’ll know the exact reason why.”[/color]

He snorted out a laugh as he lightly crossed his arms over his chest. Unknown to River, even drunk, Anissa’s presence caused his shoulders to slack and some of his tension drifted away. An easy and authentic smile tugged at the corner of his lips. [color=86a8ad]"[i]Bourbon?[/i] When did you become an old man?"[/color] he teased, brows furrowing in playful disbelief.

His teasing earned him an eye roll. 

[color=5a3e85]“You should try it sometime, especially with how cold it’s going to be for a while,”[/color] Anissa replied, hugging herself. [color=5a3e85]“Makes you feel all good and warm inside.”[/color] 

The rascally tone was present, a thin veil over her honesty, but it faded a bit as she let her gaze truly settle back on him. He still looked rattled to her, and not just from the cherry fiasco she assumed. She remembered his voice on the beach, the tiny confession he’d offered about hating parties and how he couldn’t just hide away forever. The cause? All those pesky expectations clamped onto his shoulders. There was nothing she could do to take them away, but perhaps checking in would be enough for now. 

[color=5a3e85]“What about you?”[/color] she asked, her tone gentler now as she nudged his shoe with the toe of her own. [color=5a3e85]“How are you holding up under all this?”[/color]

River’s brows rose as he looked over at her. His smile faded slightly in a pensive silence as he uncrossed his arms and slid his hands into the front pockets of his pants. [color=86a8ad]"Made an awkward ass out of myself, fell in the snow,"[/color] he sighed and shrugged his shoulders. [color=86a8ad]"Mostly existing around the outskirts."[/color] His gaze drifted toward the large clock on the side of the arena. [i]Thirty minutes left.[/i] He could last that long. Then he did his job. He let everyone have their fun, tried to partake and was a good leader… He guessed. There was a part of him that felt a little guilty knowing the training he had in store the following day with half of camp being hungover, but in the end he wasn’t there to make friends. He was there to follow orders and train heroes, regardless of what that meant for his personal life. River looked over at Anissa trying his best to fake a somewhat believable smile. [color=86a8ad]"I’m alright."[/color]

Anissa studied him with narrowed eyes that weren’t entirely convinced by the smile he’d seemingly pasted on for her benefit. [color=5a3e85]“Mm. Liar,”[/color] she said softly, her tone a peculiar blend of sing-song lightness and unwavering seriousness. [color=5a3e85]“Existing around the outskirts, hovering on the perimeter of all this… that isn’t the same thing as being alright, River.”[/color]

The bourbon had loosened her tongue, made her braver than usual, and she received and released the words without her usual filter. [color=5a3e85]“You don’t have to be the perfect leader tonight, or what’s left of it. You don’t have to perform for anyone.”[/color] Her voice dropped, becoming more intimate, an invitation. [color=5a3e85]“You could just… be here. Be present. With me.”[/color] She turned more fully towards him, her body angling into the conversation as her lips curved into a tentative, hopeful smile.

River’s gaze remained trained on her. Something about Anissa’s invitation felt… [i]different.[/i] It made him flush, although he wasn’t entirely sure why it did. Maybe it was the way her voice dropped slightly or how she simply sought his presence. He didn’t know. He sighed softly as he pushed off the railing and turned his attention fully toward her. River took a step closer, letting his hand linger on the metal fence. [color=86a8ad]"Alright,"[/color] he spoke quietly while looking down into her eyes. [color=86a8ad]"No leader… [i]Just[/i] River."[/color]

[color=5a3e85]“Just River,”[/color] Anissa repeated just as quietly as he had. It felt different to say his name this time; less like a title or a role he had to play, and more like the man standing beside her. The two words lingered in the space between them, but so did the silence that followed, a comfortable yet charged stillness that the thrum of the party couldn’t quite penetrate. Her mind, tipsy and uninhibited, reached for the only question that truly mattered to her in that suspended moment. It wasn’t about gods or leaders or expectations. It was simpler, and far more terrifying.

[color=5a3e85]“We’re friends, aren’t we?”[/color]

[color=86a8ad]"Of course."[/color] The words slipped out before he had the chance to ponder the question. Anissa wanted authentic River and that came with the part of him that constantly put his foot in his mouth. But he didn’t stumble trying to back pedal and take back the admission. Instead he sat in it, letting it sink into the silence between them. She was his friend, he wasn’t scared or embarrassed to admit that. 

Anissa’s smile wavered, a fragile expression teetering between relief and an unknown terror at his answer. The honesty in it was disarming for her. It had been so long—truly, so long—since she’d felt she had someone she could count on. Restless, her hand, suddenly unsure of what to do with the buzzing warmth expanding in her chest, drifted almost of its own accord along the railing until her gloved fingers came to rest gently against his bare ones. It wasn’t much. If anything, it was clumsy and muted, the fabric a barrier that dulled the potential electricity of skin-on-skin contact. But the intent was there all the same: an offering of solidarity, a thank you spoken without words. Perhaps the glove even helped, keeping the moment safely within the realm of [i]friends[/i], even as the simple pressure of her hand against his stirred something greater, something more dangerous for her to want, deep within her.

[color=5a3e85]“Good….because I think I needed to hear that more than I realized.”[/color] The words left Anissa on a shaky exhale, almost like she’d been holding them in for far too long. [color=5a3e85]“But I should…”[/color] she hesitated, then chuckled under her breath. [color=5a3e85]“I should find Blair before she thinks I ditched her for good. Last thing I need is her hunting me down with more shots as punishment.”[/color]

River’s gaze slowly drifted over to where her hand slid across the railing on top of his. He swallowed as the small, reassuring touch made his pulse quicken and his cheeks grow warm. But he didn’t move. On the contrary, he was half frozen like any movement or shift would cause her to pull away. It was only when she spoke that his thumb subconsciously brushed the side of her finger. [color=86a8ad]"Right,"[/color] he agreed softly with a slight nod of his head. His heart sank at how brief their conversation was, but he wasn’t going to keep her sulking in the corner with him when she finally appeared to be having fun. 

He put on his best smile that might actually be good enough to fool a drunk Anissa and tried to slip back into the more playful banter that felt normal for them. [color=86a8ad]"That’s probably smart."[/color] River chuckled quietly. [color=86a8ad]"Anymore and you might need a lift back to your cabin,"[/color] he teased. 

[color=5a3e85]“Hey, if you’re offering. I might need that,”[/color] Anissa joked as she straightened up from the railing. She tested her balance subtly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. The movement required a touch more concentration than usual, but to her benefit, not too much. Regretfully, she slid her hand away from his, the loss of contact leaving a cool absence in its wake. Almost as a reassurance to herself, she added, [color=5a3e85]“I’m not going far. Probably just skate around for—”[/color]

Her gaze moved and caught on the clock she’d glimpsed entering the party, the great hands seeming larger now than they had earlier when she hadn’t thought to pay them any mind. [color=5a3e85]“—not that long apparently, damn.”[/color] Something about the relentless progression of those hands made the entire moment feel painfully temporary, like a kind of magic that existed only in the liminal space before the hour struck. It reminded her of Cinderella’s enchanted gown unravelling back into a servant’s rags at the final chime. Anissa knew, with a sinking certainty, that she would unravel too. Soon, she would revert to the girl who didn’t wear daring thigh-high boots, who didn’t laugh so freely with people she’d just met, who would never risk the simple, brazen act of brushing her hand against someone else’s. When the night ended, so too would the borrowed courage the bourbon had lent her, and the curated masks she wore every day would inevitably slide back into place.

All in the matter of 30 minutes. 

When Anissa stood up without the assistance of the railing and attempted to balance herself, River’s hand hesitantly hovered in the air near her, prepared to catch her before she too took a dive into the snow. While his ego could survive the embarrassment of falling over like an idiot, he’d rather spare her a similar fate. [color=86a8ad]"Is it smart to skate while drunk?"[/color] he asked, his brows knitting together with concern. [color=86a8ad]"You’ll have like… [i]literal[/i] blades on your feet?"[/color]

Anissa gave an unbothered laugh, an airy sound that brushed aside the understandable concern present in his voice.

[color=5a3e85]“I think I’ll be perfectly fine,”[/color] she assured him, her tone light yet confident. [color=5a3e85]“I’ve been skating since I was a kid. Honestly, it’s probably easier for me to be on ice than on solid grass right now.”[/color] She glanced down at her thigh-high boots, lifting one foot slightly as if to examine the impractical but beautiful footwear. [color=5a3e85]“Especially in these beauties. Love ’em, but…”[/color] She let her foot drop back to the ground with a thud. [color=5a3e85]“… you gotta admit, they’re not exactly the most functional choice.”[/color]

River’s gaze fell to her boots as she raised one of her feet. [color=86a8ad]"I prefer the boots,"[/color] he admitted quietly. It took a couple seconds for his brain to catch up to whatever bullshit his mouth spewed out that time. While his appreciation for her thigh-highs wasn’t a secret, that didn’t necessarily mean he was trying to rehash that conversation again. His face turned red… [i]again[/i] and he averted his gaze while rubbing the back of his neck. [color=86a8ad]"I’m gonna blame that on the alcohol. So that was technically your fault."[/color] He laughed awkwardly and kicked a small lump of snow with his shoe.

One could easily tell that Anissa was holding back a grin, her lips twitching as she watched him squirm. [color=5a3e85]“Yeah, yeah, sure, I remember. Legs in the shoes, guy,”[/color] she recited back to him, rocking slightly on the heels of her boots. Still, a strange sense of loss enveloped her despite his standing right there, and the words slipped from her before she could second-guess the desire, [i]the desperation[/i], they contained. 

[color=5a3e85]“Don’t disappear before midnight, okay? Party hater or not, you shouldn’t have to bring in the new year alone.”[/color]

River raised his right hand and motioned his index finger in an X over his heart. [color=86a8ad]"I’ll…"[/color] His gaze drifted around until he saw the familiar spot by the bonfire no longer occupied and isolated, just how he liked it. He pointed over his shoulder with his thumb in that general direction. [color=86a8ad]"Be over there. Someone’s gotta make sure you don’t kill yourself before the new year,"[/color] he chuckled slightly. He couldn’t very well stop her from doing whatever she wanted, but drunk and ice skates really sounded like a terrible idea. He’d be a lot less panicked if he could, at least, keep an eye on her. It wasn’t his job but… Friends look after each other, right?

Anissa held his gaze, her eyes searching his face for any hint of a lie while she willed herself to ignore the traces of reluctance she detected. She was not about to back out now, not after she’d declared her intentions to Blair. Yet, intertwined with that determination was a more selfish kind of hope: that his apparent concern for her might be enough to anchor him here, to keep him from slipping away while she was occupied.

[color=5a3e85]“I’ll be careful,”[/color] she reiterated, her tone now one of genuine assurance. [color=5a3e85]“I promise.”[/color]

[color=86a8ad]"I’ll hold you to that,"[/color] he said with a smile while pointing a finger at her. River took a slight step back, sparing a glance over his shoulder toward the bonfire. [color=86a8ad]"Well… You’ll know where to find me."[/color]

She took a small step back, testing her balance again. [color=5a3e85]“Yeah…see you then.”[/color]

Her gaze lingered on him for one final moment, but this time she wasn’t searching for deception. Instead, she sought something more essential: a reassurance she could carry with her onto the ice to counter her own trepidation. Whether Anissa found it or simply decided not to wait for doubt to poison the moment, she turned toward the rink’s entrance.[/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]

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[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080][i]Baxter Marsh.[/i] He was a bit of an odd one, strong on the eccentric side, but he was entertaining, and surprisingly camp had been quite lacking when it came to [i]entertaining company[/i] since she had arrived. His enthusiasm for mixing drinks was contagious and who was she to deny him the opportunity to craft something inspired by her dress? Aside from Ace who promptly got her out of it, Baxter was the only person to give her the attention she desired considering the amount of effort she put into her appearance that night.

The way he seemed to entirely forget who his father was until Blair guessed was actually hilarious, in the adorable way drunks or toddlers were bewildered most of the time and needed help turning on their own lightbulbs. She laughed softly, resting her chin on her clasped hands in amusement. If Baxter hadn’t said anything while hiding a bottle under his arm, she honestly wouldn’t have noticed the liquor or the faint glistening gold flakes floating in the liquid. Her smile grew knowingly, quietly appreciating that he either took playful instruction well, or they were of like minds when it came to the glitter. 

[color=firebrick]"Ooo don’t do that,"[/color] Bax replied after she introduced herself. [color=firebrick]"If you don’t tell me your name now, I won’t feel so bad asking your name again in the morning."[/color]

Blair’s brows rose as a mischievous grin tugged at the corners of her lips. [color=c9bef3]"[i]Flirt,[/i]"[/color] she mused a second time. [color=c9bef3]"At least buy me a drink first before talking like that… [i]Oh wait.[/i]"[/color] She smirked and laughed at her own lame joke.

It seemed an offering of a midnight kiss pulled him away from his game of cocktail mixing, if only for a minute. Baxter set down his collected bottles beside an empty glass and held his chin pensively. When nothing came to him he started pouring the liquors as he attempted to regain his rhythm. 

[color=firebrick]"Aaa—?"[/color] Blair’s smile grew. [color=firebrick]"—Perr—?"[/color] Then faded. [color=firebrick]"—Ol..?"[/color]

[color=c9bef3]"Do you mean ‘Apollo’?"[/color] she asked, cocking her head to the side.

[color=firebrick]"Uh—Yeah!"[/color] he replied enthusiastically. 

[color=c9bef3]"Then no."[/color]

[color=firebrick]"Oh…"[/color] Baxter’s shoulders sagged as his excitement slipped away.

Seeing his sudden shift made a small frown tug at her lips. Feeling generous, Blair decided to offer him a life line, although she didn’t imagine it’d help much when he struggled to remember his [i]own[/i] father’s name. [color=c9bef3]"But you were on the right track with the ‘A’."[/color]

Her comment seemed to brighten his spirits, shoulders raised back up and he immediately got back to work on mixing his mysterious concoction. Blair’s gaze followed his movements with an amused intrigue, watching him grab two separate glasses and then simultaneously mix two shakers. While he might have had a flighty air about him, she was impressed with his coordination. She could never juggle that, or maybe a part of it was the alcohol talking, but she was impressed nonetheless. 

Her brow raised as he began pouring a cream colored liquid into the martini glass. She looked up to meet his gaze as he spoke. [color=firebrick]"Uh! Not done."[/color]

[color=c9bef3]"Ok."[/color] Blair held up her hands innocently with a soft laugh. 

Baxter grabbed the bottle he attempted to hide earlier, but she didn’t look away, trusting the process. She watched as the golden flakes rested on top of the creamy drink. As it all came together Blair tilted her head to the side with an amused smile. Then in the second glass, which was quite larger than she would have imagined, he started pouring out the second shaker and adding fruit.

[color=firebrick]"So… for the dress."[/color] He slid the martini across the counter towards her. [color=firebrick]"We have a modified ‘White Rabbit’. White Crème de Cacao, vanilla vodka, amaretto’s nutty depth, with just a splash of Goldschläger’s cinnamon to add that extra bit of spice. And that you wanted edible gold flakes are just a lucky, happy, seren-dip-i-tous coincidence as you might expect in Wonderland."[/color]

Baxter then slid over the second, and much larger glass. [color=firebrick]"And what better chaser for the ‘White Rabbit’ than ‘Alice’?"[/color]

Blair studied the second drink thinking it looked a little familiar. [color=c9bef3]"Is that a tequila sunrise?"[/color]

[color=firebrick]"Sunset. The blackberry brandy would make it a sunset. You look like you do better with sunsets than sunrises. And for you, I’ve blended the better parts of a Hurricane and a Tequila sunset. With just a few fun surprises to make things interesting. Which I think are how you prefer life anyway."[/color]

[color=c9bef3]"You know me so well,"[/color] she praised him as she reached out to gently grab the stem of the [i]White Rabbit[/i]? Blair pulled it in closer, spinning it slowly between her fingers as she watched the golden flakes shift lazily around the drink. [color=c9bef3]"You’re also trying to get me fucking hammered,"[/color] she teased before bringing the brim of the glass to her lips. [color=c9bef3]"You planning on taking advantage of me, Baxter?"[/color] There was a devious glint in her eyes as she spoke. She tipped the glass back to take a sip then proceeded to down its contents until there was nothing left but a stray golden flake clinging to the side.

[color=c9bef3]"Oh, [i]wow[/i]."[/color] Her eyes went wide as she met his gaze from across the bar. [color=c9bef3]"I probably should have started my night with that."[/color] Blair smiled, swapping one glass for another. She stared down at the darker liquid knowing full well how much her head was going to hate her in the morning. But as her inhibitions, what little there were, floated away so did her fucks. She took a long drink of the chaser. As she pulled the glass away from her mouth, Blair licked her lips with a pleased smile. [color=c9bef3]"Do you have a killer hangover remedy in that crazy head of yours?"[/color] she teased.

Blair’s head was already spinning and she was sitting completely still. She slowly looked over her shoulder, smile growing as she caught a glimpse of Anissa and the nipple guy having a friendly conversation. That was right, she was supposed to meet her over at the ice rink. She sighed. The thought of ice skating while plastered sounded like a horrible idea, but she gave her word. There was no way a little ice was going to keep her from the possibility of a new friend. 

She turned back to the bar and downed the rest of her second drink like someone who had plenty of practice drinking obscene amounts of alcohol. She smiled at Baxter, lightly tapping her hands on the edge of the bar as she slowly, and a little wobbly, stood up. [color=c9bef3]"It’s Athena, by the way,"[/color] Blair whispered, leaning forward slightly like she was sharing a secret with him. [color=c9bef3]"She’s the smart one,"[/color] she added with a little wink.

With a sigh, she pushed off the bar and took an uneasy step backwards. Blair snapped and pointed her finger at Bax. [color=c9bef3]"You, my friend, make dangerous drinks."[/color] Her smile grew as her cheeks flushed from the copious amounts of alcohol. [color=c9bef3]"But you’re cute, so I’ll let it slide."[/color]

She wiggled her fingers at him in a little wave before turning to face the ice rink. It took a [i]lot[/i] of focus for her to walk in a straight enough line and make her way towards Anissa. Her feet kept going when her mind told them to stop and she bumped into the railing next to the entrance with a quiet [i]oof[/i]. Blair looked over toward the brunette whenever she left the sexy brooding guy to join her. [color=c9bef3]"I [i]may[/i] have had too much to drink,"[/color] she confessed with a laugh and guilty smile.[/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]

[center][sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img]
[color=808080][b]interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] anissa & baxter [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] river [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none[/color]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center]