bothbarrels | Sanctum IC Contact

[ She's still stiff, still sore but enduring Whiskey's scolding and some patching up meant the worst of brawling with Texas was a series of purpling bruises on her face and body, along with skinned knuckles and hints of a black eye - nicely faded, thank you modern technology, but only just.

Stopping by to make sure the AI were doing okay on New Years Eve had been promised well in advance. She's just quietly closed the front door behind her, exiting to the main street, when she stops to look up at flashes of light. Still a bit early for fireworks, but apparently someone plans on having a good time regardless.

She's not expecting to meet anyone heading this way however, as she turns out onto the main stretch of street. ]

[ North's aggravation with York has left him in a bitter mood, and his gait is aggressive as he makes his way back to the house. All of that latent irritation came out in a torrent of words and though he's sure to regret some of what he said later, he feels it was all true. York's been trying over and over to insert himself into this business, even when he claimed he was going to stop acting like he was the group's leader.

He spots a person approaching him in the darkness, and slows his forward motion just a bit. Even in the gloom he can tell this person has bright red hair. So he calls out to her. ]

Carolina.

--North? You're back early.

[There's a faint skid of boots as she comes to a halt, ponytail flicking over her shoulder like a lash as the redhead recognises his voice - though the edge to his gait is unusual. If only due to the rarity of North's anger making it past the slow burn phase. She glances behind him, but there are no other bodies staggering in an amused and drunken stupor, which means...? ]

Did a certain someone ditch you with the bar tab.

...No, actually.

[ He comes to a halt in front of her and shrugs with a jerk of his head. ]

We had an argument after the bar.

[ That earns the arch of her eyebrows, half hidden as they are by the sweep of her bangs. And yet, given how York has been acting lately...Even North would end up on his last nerve some time. That seems to make sense, on some level.

Her head shakes. ]

Should I ask why? [her head cants slightly as a thought occurs to her] Or would you prefer to hit a different bar to make up the rest of your evening?

[ He rubs his chin. ] As long as you're willing to put up with me when I'm in a shitty mood.

Pretty sure I can handle it.

And I can always leave if I don't feel like it any more. [her grin is lopsided] Without stiffing you with the bill, of course.

C'mon. [The bar Malcolm had told her about was back the way North had come] With any luck, District 1's celebrations should mean this place isn't so packed we can't find a seat.

[ All quite reasonable. He nods. ]

All right. Lead the way.

[ Lead she can, and lead she does. The bar is about 10 minutes away, and the walk gives time for idle small talk and silence enough for North to keep walking off some of that excess anger crackling in his stride.

Once there, it's pretty busy - it is, after all, New Years Eve - but after they push through to the bar and get their drinks, it's not too difficult to find a seat in a booth to the back. It's a little cramped for someone as tall as North, but it'll do for starters. Right?

Part of her is still surprised they argued - once upon a time, Carolina would have made easy money on the prospect of North and York teaming up for a long night ending with a bedpartner of their choice and one hell of a hangover the next morning. She can at least, on this occasion, help with one of these, holding up her beer bottle in mock-salute. ]

So which bar did you guys hit up in town?

[ North's glad for the walk and the company; he is cooling from his prior anger thanks to Carolina's measured way of dealing with him. It's truly appreciated.

Once they're served their drinks and move to sit dowm North sits with a casual stance, one leg sticking out of the booth, and picks at the beer bottle label. In response to Carolina's question he gives the name of the bar in question, and mutters a little something about how it had been more crowded than this one.

Now that they're seated it's the first he's gotten a good look at her and he sort of tilts his head as he gazes at her. ]

So what happened to you?

[ There's a faint grimace. ]

Texas. Texas happened. [she took a sip of her beer, briefly tumbing the mouth of her bottle] ...It was overdue.

[ Oh. Their rivalry was bound to come to a head at some point, though he wasn't sure Tex had ever felt the same way about Carolina as Carolina felt about Tex. But that didn't seem to matter anymore, if it had been true. ]

You give her hell?

I gave as good as I got, let's put it that way. [her frown deepened as she shook her head] Even if I didn't head out looking for her. I just needed... A walk. To clear my head.

[Just like North. Except hers ended with fists, and his has returned to beer. Debatable who got the better end of the deal.]

[ He reaches up and rubs at his neck. ]

Yeah. I know the feeling.

[ Not that that had been exactly what he'd been looking for when he'd headed out. He takes a drink and then looks back at her. ]

Seems like none of us can catch a break tonight.

..Would it sound weird if I said I felt better for it? [...it's been one of those days]

Well, it's not over yet. [she extends her bottle towards him] What's your sister likely up to?

We went out separately tonight. She probably went to hang out at a bar there in D1.

She was kind of annoyed I decided to go out with just York, to be honest.

[ And now, North is too. Funny how that worked out. ]

I can think of a few places over there that would likely welcome an Immune like her. She'll likely be enjoying herself, if only to prove she can without you.

[Funny indeed. Her head cants slightly] Not usual for you two to fight.

No, it's not.

[ It's still hard to express what his problem is with York, or why he's upset about it. He scratches at his forehead. ]

I just don't like his attitude lately.

He's been pretty keyed up lately. post-christmas news hadn't helped] But I don't live with him.

He's been talking out of both sides of his mouth. He says he's not in charge of things and then he calls me his adviser.

[she takes a long swig of her drink] He doesn't seem to know what he wants.

I took it for deception. Maybe I'm wrong, but I was upset when I told him that. [ He sniffs lightly and finishes peeling the label off his bottle, leaving ragged strips of paper still glued to the glass. ]

He never was a very good liar before. [her eyes remain fixes on his fingers stripping paper from the glass] I guess being here changes people as much as what happened to us all did.

[ She then eyes her own drink. Almost done. That didn't take long. ]

Want the same again? My round.

[ Between the drinks he had before and the beer he'd just had he was pretty wobbly, but why not. ]

Yeah. Sounds good.

[ There's a light nudge of his foot, long legs briefly blocking her as she stands to slip out of her side of the booth, and she gives his shoulder a friendly pat as she passes to weave over towards the bar.

She's gone a little longer than she'd like, but when she does return, Carolina sets a bottle in front of him before sliding back into her seat. Her empty bottle is also nudged his way - in case he feels like ripping the label off that too.

She's not had enough drinks to be wobbly herself, not helped by a strong metabolism, but she did ask for an extra shot at the bar. Hence the somewhat easier smile once she's resettled again. ]

Well. Enough about him. How was Theta's first Christmas?

Edited 2014-10-02 17:27 (UTC)

action; LATE NEW YEARS EVE

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