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[color=c9bef3][b]#c9bef3[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/9rCxtTi][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=808080][b]party > her cabin[/b][/color]
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[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080][color=b22222]"Well-well-well... if it isn't the life of the party again. And the doll who's wearing it,"[/color] Baxter teased her gently, eliciting the faintest bit of authenticity to slip into Blair’s smile. Then his tone and demeanor shifted to something softer, almost sympathetic and laced with concern. [color=b22222]"Oh noooo. No-no-no. Honey? Do you need me to take the edge off enough that you could still enjoy a glass of bubbles for when the clock strikes? I don't think a glass of water's going to get it done, with what I'm looking at."[/color]

She adjusted on the stool, crossing her legs while letting her shoes dangle freely from her fingers over the edge of the bar. Blair’s expression softened a fraction as she met his gaze. It was a little odd for her to find comfort with the bartender of all people. There was always the trope that the lonely and depressed alcoholics treated bartenders like their own personal therapists, and yet there she sat across from him, lost in her own dour thoughts. [i]Ironic.[/i] But even so, Baxter was the one person from the party that she didn’t have to demand attention from. He gave it willingly, enthusiastically. As vain as that might be, that stuck with her. 

[color=c9bef3]"You’re a sweet one, aren’t you?"[/color] For what it was worth, the kindness in his words alleviated some of the weight from her shoulders. It didn’t bring back her palpable aura, but there was a ray of light peaking through the dark clouds. [color=c9bef3]"Well you don’t have to worry about little ole me,"[/color] Blair did her best to put on her usual charm as she rapped her fingers against the counter. [color=c9bef3]"I’ve been [i]significantly[/i] more drunk and [i]far[/i] more sad than this, darling. I will persevere."[/color] She flashed him a small wink of reassurance. 

At one point Blair thought she might have overheard some comment about a midnight kiss, but considering it was New Year’s Eve, it was hardly something of note. She imagined everyone would be locking lips in the next couple minutes. But an abrupt sputtering of alcohol and a startled shout of [color=4a766e]"TRINITY!"[/color] [i]did[/i] caught her attention. 

[color=c9bef3]"Jesus christ, it’s just a kiss… not sex,"[/color] Blair muttered under her breath, too quiet for anyone to really hear. 

Her brow rose curiously as she watched the flowers bloom around Iliana. The naive girl looked flustered beyond measure at the mere mention of a kiss. Blair couldn’t help but wonder how frazzled she’d be if the question was of a far more intimate nature. If it wasn’t obvious before, it was clear the girl was [i]definitely[/i] a virgin and had never been kissed. [i]Poor thing.[/i] That sounded horrible. 

[color=4a766e]"Sorry, I wasn't expecting that kind of question. No, there's no one. Plus I doubt any guy would be interested in me anyway. I am not as attractive as someone like you, Andy, and others."[/color]

Blair didn’t really have plans to shove her way into the conversation but between the alcohol and her own girl code, she had a hard time sitting idly by as someone was self-deprecating. She never liked hearing someone talk that way, especially another woman. It was far more unattractive for someone to speak of themselves in that way. Regardless of how vain she could be, even Blair knew that there was far more to a person than a pretty face. Beauty faded. Everyone should know their self worth and degrading themselves wouldn’t do anyone any favors. 

She turned in her seat toward Iliana and cleared her throat to get the girl’s attention. [color=c9bef3]"Men like confidence,"[/color] Blair interjected plainly, offering her nuggets of wisdom, whether or not the girl wanted them. [color=c9bef3]"Know your worth, because if [i]you[/i] don’t see it, then they sure as hell won’t."[/color]

Before she could add anything else, the first firework whistled as it flew up through the air and exploded in the sky over the party. Blair watched the glittering reds and golds as they blossomed overhead with a content, albeit faintly sad smile. Her gaze fell, scanning the party, initially for Ace, as her thoughts sought the baser gratification of at least one person who might enjoy her company, but he was nowhere to be found. Instead her sights settled on a surprising spectacle by the bonfire. It wasn’t even midnight, but she caught a glimpse of Anissa straddling nipple boy and lost in a passionate kiss. Her smile grew slightly, proud of her friend for making a move. [i]Good for her.[/i]

[color=c9bef3]"Looks like we’re out of time, handsome,"[/color] Blair spoke loud enough to be heard over the fireworks as she turned back to face Baxter. [color=c9bef3]"But just for you…"[/color] She reached out her free hand and grabbed one of the flutes of champagne. She waited patiently until the climatic roar of fireworks rumbled all around them, signaling the beginning of a near year. As others throughout the party cheered and kissed, she lightly clinked her glass against his then drank the champagne. Unlike before, she took her time, finishing her drink in a couple sips rather than a single gulp. 

After the glass ran dry, she set it back down on the counter. Without much warning, egged on by her high blood alcohol content and the festivities around her, Blair leaned forward and hooked two fingers around the collar of Baxter’s shirt. [color=c9bef3]"It’s bad luck to enter the new year without a kiss."[/color] Was that [i]technically[/i] true? She had no idea. But it was bad luck for her. She closed the remaining distance between them, pressing her lips against his as they hovered precariously over the filled champagne glasses. By Blair’s standards, it was a remarkably innocent and ordinary kiss, no tongue and nothing overtly sexual. Just a sweet, celebratory kiss for the one person who noticed her when no one else did. 

It only lasted for a second or two before she pulled away, releasing her hold on him with a warm, and slightly guilty, smile. [color=c9bef3]"Happy New Year’s, Baxter."[/color] Then without another word, Blair slipped off the stool. With all the grace of a new born deer, she stumbled her way out of the party, across camp, and eventually found her way to her cabin… after a couple wrong turns. [/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]

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[color=808080][b]interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] baxter & iliana [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] anissa & river [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none[/color]
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