[center][h2][color=00746b]꧁[/color]✧𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐲𝐚✧[color=00746b]꧂[/color] & [color=#3366CC]ᚠᚢᚦ [b]Aksel[/b] ᚱᚴᚾ[/color][/h2][/center] [hr] [color=00746b]“Thank you,”[/color] Ana breathes, relief flooding her. She fucking hated hospitals. They always ask far too many questions. Despite the pressure filled pain that ran through her veins and head, Ana goes to move, realizing all too late that she was still in Aksel's arms. She hardly knew him, why did he even help her in the first place? Why was he here? In fact, none of these people seemed like they belonged in a situation like this. There were real issues in the world. Ana pushes the spiraling thoughts away. Those were for late at night, when she lay down and neglected sleep. Aksel's face seemed to echo her relief. [color=#3366CC]"Don't thank me yet,"[/color] he replies. It was clear that he was only partially kidding. The still near stranger was wrestling with… something. He seems to be as relieved as she was that they had survived and made it inside; even if they were both quite worse for wear. And, while he was clearly sincere in honoring her request to not call an ambulance, at the same time Aksel doesn't seem convinced it was the right call. Aksel carries her to somewhere with a couch after someone had showed him where to go. After gently easing her onto it, he takes a step back. Ana places her head in her hands for a moment, cursing silently as she wished so deeply that she had pain relief or a cigarette or just-[i]anything[/i]... Then she remembers her old friend, one that never really seemed to fail her. [i]Brandy.[/i] [color=00746b]“I better be going,”[/color] she hums, moving to stand, inhaling sharply in pain as she moves to lean against the wall. [color=00746b]“Fuck,”[/color] she grits out quietly, her eyes closing tight. The taller man was on her in an instant, steadying her with a gentle yet sturdy hands. [color=#3366CC]"Whoa,"[/color] he mutters. He steps back immediately, as if feeling just as uneasy about the sudden closeness as she was. [color=#3366CC]"I understand not wanting to bother with an ambulance,"[/color] he says quietly in his melodic accent. [color=#3366CC]"Honestly, I do... but, I know for a fact you should rest here for now—even just a little while. There has to be a first aid kit around here someplace..."[/color] Ana watches him for a moment, her head fighting off drowsiness.[color=00746b] “Really, that’s unnecessary… I’m just going to get a drink and go home, I’ll be fine.”[/color] She says, her voice more clear now, the pain in her body though refusing to let up. [color=00746b]“There is a bar not to far from here, I’m just gonna go there.”[/color] He considers her words for a moment with a furrowed brow. [color=#3366CC]"I'll make you a deal,"[/color] he begins. [color=#3366CC]"Recover here for five minutes while I get out of this ridiculous outfit, and you do the same. After, I'll take you there myself, and buy you that drink. Whatever you want. It's on me. I just..."[/color] He trails of. Uncertainty mixing with the unease on his face. [color=#3366CC]"Deal?"[/color] He offers an outstretched hand. Ana listens to his proposal before sighing, taking his hand. [color=00746b]“Deal.”[/color] How could she say otherwise? A free drink? The things she wouldn’t do for that right now would be easier to list. She watches him for a moment, studying him, wishing she could see why exactly he was doing this. But people don’t have powers. She drops his hand after a moment, going over to where her things were and pulling off the ugly orange clothing, leaving her and a tank top and her underwear as she tugs on some baggy low rise jeans. Her head and veins still pained her, but slowly she was getting used to it, although her hands still trembled ever so much. [hr] Aksel watches her make her way to the other locker room. She seems a bit steadier now, and it was fairly close to the room they were just in. Once she vanishes inside, he quickly steps into the room across from it and found the locker he had used before. He pulls off the orange abomination and lets it fall to the floor. He couldn't care less what happened to it, or what anyone else thought about him for doing so. Especially now. Not after all that had happened. A small, dark something falls out onto the floor, however. Aksel curiously inspects it. With a smile, he realizes it's the remnants of the Prince's spliff from earlier. He gladly scooped it up and tucks it away as he exits In the hallway, he posts up a short ways down the hall form the locker rooms. It was only a moment or two before Anastasiya makes her way out and heads his way. [color=#3366CC]"I have a surprise for you that will help you feel better,"[/color] Aksel says with a smile. He falls in beside her as they make their way to the front door. The place was deserted now. The asshole at the front desk was probably given the rest off the day off. [color=#3366CC]"Hold on a moment,"[/color] he says. Aksel hops behind the desk and rummages briefly through the drawers. After nicking something, he makes his way to the door, holding it for Ana to exit. After a few strides, he pulls out the remnants of the spliff, offering it patiently. Once she takes it, he pulls out the book of matches he took from the desk. [color=#3366CC]"Hold a moment,"[/color] he says, halting. After striking a match, he cups a hand around the flame and holds it to the end. [color=#3366CC]"An appetizer while we walk."[/color] Aksel matches her pace in silence for several moments. [color=#3366CC]"So, what's your poison? Whiskey? Vodka? [i]Tequila[/i]?"[/color] On the last word, he attempted and failed a Mexican accent, sounding ridiculous. He was trying to lighten the mood. [hr] Ana breathes the smoke out in relief, the familiar sting in her throat the only current comforting pain. [color=00746b]“Thank you,”[/color] she says as the smoke leaves her parted lips before she shrugs, [color=00746b]“I usually get brandy or vodka.”[/color] She hums, an amused grin on her face as his attempt at being humorous. [color=00746b]“And you?”[/color] [color=#3366CC]"Oh, Brandy,"[/color] her replies with a smirk. [color=#3366CC]"[i]Classy[/i]. Me? I like [i]Mjød[/i]— uh, or, [i]meeed[/i], as I believe it's called here. Whiskey, as well.[/color] Ana hums, raising a brow,[color=6ecff6][color=00746b] “Really?”[/color][/color] She glances up to him, taking the smoke stick between her fingers, inhaling more smoke and turning her head to exhale, [color=00746b]“Didn’t take you for a whisky enjoyer. I thought it would be some type of beer,”[/color] she hums [color=#3366CC]"Oh, I enjoy beer as well."[/color] He answers. [color=#3366CC]" Some more than others. If I'm being honest, it's... inefficient for me to drink beer. Unless I am slamming back beers that are 10%+ as fast as I can, let's just say it's an expensive way for me to get fat. Without even a buzz."[/color] Ana raises a brow, a grin playing on her face. [color=00746b]“So, you can hold your liquor pretty well, huh?”[/color] She asks in a slightly amused tone. Aksel's face settles into a similar grin. [color=#3366CC]"You could say that, yes,"[/color] Aksel answers. [color=#3366CC]"A little too well, unfortunately... though, it's nice that nobody has to worry about people getting into too much trouble, since someone is always sober. The other edge of that sword, is that person always ends up being me."[/color] Ana keeps her eyes on him for a moment, narrowing them slightly in thought. Always being sober sounds like… hell. She fucking loves being drunk. She says nothing, humming before looking forward again. As they approach their destination, Aksel's stride lengths subtly, allowing him to reach the door slightly before she does. He grabs the handle and steps to the side, the door gliding with him, allowing her to enter without breaking stride. [color=00746b]“Thanks,”[/color] Ana says softly, walking through the door and making a beeline for the bar counter, [color=00746b]“Two vodka shots,”[/color] she asks nearly immediately. Dulling her current pain feels… necessary. [color=00746b]“And a glass of whiskey, neat. And Crown Royal. Please,” [/color]she adds hastily at the end, taking out her card and handing it to the bartender who she hadn’t even made eye contact with yet. Now that the distraction of conversation was gone, the burning in her veins seemed to amplify harshly. More so than before, as if the more people she was around, the more aware of the blood flowing through her body she became. She could hear it in her ears, rushing loudly… Ana would be sure to leave a good tip to make up for being so short.