❤︎ a u g u s t ❤︎

“in my experience, disaster is just another word for ‘great memories you’re probably better off not actually remembering’,” weston grinned, his shoulders lifting in a small shrug. “you know, because it’s shorter. catchier. less of a mouthful.” he gave her a tiny shrug of his shoulders, though, not putting up any sort of argument to her rules. “what my lady wants, my lady shall get. even if i totally think you secretly just want to get me drunk to flirt with me.” he’s teasing her, proven by the playful wiggle of his eyebrows that he gives her, before ordering their drinks, and asking to make his a double.

august wrinkled her nose and let out a melodic laugh when wes described his idea of the word disaster, “how great can they be if you’d rather not remember them?” she asked, folding her arms, “i mean, i want to remember everything” she cooed dreamily. it was no secret to august that some believed she wandered around with her head in the clouds, but she found it impossible to look at the world in any other way. she scoffed when he referred to her as his lady, but couldn’t fight the smile that the words had inspired, “why would i secretly want to get you drunk to do something you’re already doing? is there some kind of extreme-mode flirting?” she paused, eyes widening slightly at the thought, “if there is, i don’t know that i want to see what it looks like.” she added, lifting a finger to poke his arm playfully before taking her drink from the bartender and setting it neatly beside her sprite. 

“Mmh… well, being perfectly honest with you, I think it’s just a human nature sort of thing. Ultimately, I don’t want to be in an unfamiliar space, and then on the other hand I really don’t want to be alone tonight, so therefore it’s just easier for me to come here and complain about being bored than to subject myself to either of those alternatives.” Ki-jung offers the ‘I just overthought this’ explanation for why he sits here tonight, when really he probably could’ve just said that it’s more convenient to come here than anywhere else and just left it at that. It sort of goes along with his mood for the conversation thus far though, which is to make things just a little bit sillier than they strictly need to be, hopefully with the result of prompting more of August’s smiles. It’s been working so far, though that might just be her being polite, or a coincidence. “Oh? Not complaining? I’ll take that as a compliment, actually. The highest of praise from the only person in here tonight that seems to be worth talking to.” Lifting his glass, he tips it towards her in a sort of faux-cheers moment. “I actually think that’s been the best response I’ve gotten to my bullshit in weeks.”

august stretched her arms up to rest her elbows against the sticky bar and hold her chin in her hands, watching the man with unwavering curiosity while he explained the reason for his presence. her eyes squinted slightly, a mixture of concern and interest shining in her doe eyes, “but what if you take a chance and, you know, it ends up being the best night of your life? rather than just another night at a bar you don’t want to be at?” she asked, her tone soft rather than harsh while she picked apart his brain. she was fascinated by how other people thought, what their limitations were and how far they were willing to push their perception of existence and what it all met. she knew the conversation might be steering towards somewhere a little loopy, but it was exactly what her tired mind needed in that moment. he complimented her then and she straightened up, her hands falling to her lap as a quiet laugh left her lips and her rosy cheeks remaining so, “i think your first mistake is hanging out with people who think it’s bullshit.” she pointed out, clinking her glass against his with a cheeky wink. 

winter can’t help the giggle that falls from her lips as she nodded her head, taking another sip of her drink before she lifted one shoulder in a simple shrug. “well, i’d like to think i am,” she joked, shoulders shaking playfully. “i definitely know my way around the nightlife at the very least, so i mean… if you’re in need of a guide, i can definitely be your yoda. or… i feel like there’s definitely another fantasy character from star wars that fits that saying, i just can’t think of it off of the top of my head.” teeth catching her lower lip, winter let out a faint hum before her tongue darted out to wet her lips. “did you know where you wanted to start, or are we going full on virgin with you?”

the grin remained plastered over august’s features as the girl confirmed that she could, in fact, show her the ropes to having a good time beyond heading to her father’s place for dinner and a round of ‘go fish’. “what, you’ve got an issue with being my yoda? i mean you’re small and you seem pretty wise — seems like the perfect fit to me.” she teased, turning to rest her elbow against the bar and give the blonde her full focus. “i hate that these words are coming out of my mouth right now, but i think we’re going full on virgin with me.” she confirmed, clicking her tongue as if ashamed of herself. 

“Oh , no , they were just having a really rough day —” They joke dryly , grinning around the rim of their glass and shaking their head. “No , only’ jokin’ , they were reading a book. I suppose they’d started it to see if they liked it , then gotten carried away and nearly made it halfway through.” Shrugging , they smile. “I can’t say I’ve never been there.” A good book was just as likely to ensnare his attention as anything else might , especially when the emotions were compelling and the story well-written. “D’you read a lot?”

a soft gasp left august’s lips at kiran’s revelation, only for her lips to twist into a crooked smile when they clarified that what they’d said was a joke. “seriously? i actually thought someone had posted your shop in some kind of reddit thread telling people it was the perfect place to duck into for a mid-day breakdown” her smile broke into a grin and she took a sip of her drink, leaning forward against the bar to lean in even closer — totally engaged in their conversation, “i never used to. you know — i hated sitting still and thought books would just amplify that feeling. but since moving here and time sort of slowing down, it’s been a lot easier to pick them up.” she explained, biting her lip. 

fletcher was only a threat to the wrong people . his knuckles were permanently displaced , wobbly like broken piano keys from constant striking of brick walls , punching bags , people’s faces ; his features were still as if carved from stone , but before anything he was a protector over a fighter . having a younger sister himself meant that he had a soft spot for the wandering , doe-eyed sort , and as he finished his drink and clinked the glass against a wooden bar top he swivelled on the seat , hands balled in his lap . “ — like a groundhog day situation ?? i wouldn’t put it past this weird town . “ he responded , unfazed by the rambles of an individual who was so clearly out of their depth he should’ve been better tossing her a life-ring so she could reach the water’s edge . “ i’m gonna ask again , and i don’t want you to try and muddle my brain with meaningless words . what you doing here all by yourself ?? you know , there are some real creeps in these parts .. “ the drunkards that were there since the bar opened at midday , the conspiracy-theory nut-jobs that talked your ear off about crop-circles and abductions if you gave them half the chance . then again , august had no way of knowing whether fletcher was one of the very individuals he was warning against . “ what’s your order ?? go ahead . “ 

“i guess, yeah, like a groundhog day situation.” she agreed, though the comparison hadn’t really struck her until he’d brought it up. “or like an ‘alternate universes, fourth dimension soul fragments meeting’ kind of way” she suggested, widening her eyes playfully to compliment the lightness of her tone. truthfully, she was a little frightened by the man. not a ‘keys between your knuckles and i’m not afraid to use them’ scared, but he certainly made her nervous in a way she hadn’t quite experienced before. especially when his tone was so demanding. “my words are muddling your brain?” she asked suddenly, blinking at him and wondering if it meant that her ramblings were having a sort of white-noise effect — which was entirely embarrassing to say the least. realising that she’d once again avoided his question, her teeth sunk into her bottom lip and she lifted her shoulders slightly, “i don’t know... sometimes i set my mind on something and can’t think about anything else until i do it. impulse, i guess... coming in here alone was one of those impulses.” she explained, eyes dropping to his hands momentarily and noting the scars. she allowed herself to wonder how they got that way, then quickly lifted her gaze back up, as if worried she might be caught staring, “uh...” she turned her head to the bartender and cleared her throat slightly, “i’ll have whatever he’s having” she finally said, glancing sideways at fletcher and almost instantly regretting her bout of bravery. it was unlikely that he’d be drinking something that wasn’t going to make her face scrunch up, but at that point, she’d made her bed.

saint: you blacked out?! tony how'd you black out from a touch my guy? although this does explain a lot.

saint: what's the story with this doll esra is it going to make tony lose his hair? one touch and he's cursed liizzaaarrdddddddd

tony: i thought i heard your echo...

tony: also dont study me?

tony: but fuck me, why is this place a god damn maze, why did we come here of all places

tony: aug it's not my fault those things freak me the fuck out? just don't have glowing eyeballs and we're good

tony: saint don't ask me questions like that right now.. or threaten the locks on my head..

esra: tony's going bald for sure.

esra: over.

august: oh my god

saint: but you don't know if you ran up or into a room where you could literally see the night sky? tony- it's moments like this that make me question a lotta things.

saint: can he see you blink? aug can your eyes fuckin glow and you decided not to tell us? how is tony going to see you blink when he can't tell night sky from fuckin brick walls?

saint: jesus, i know i've made mistakes but what the fuck is this.

tony: that is a great question though.. i mean.. i feel they have to rest.. no?

tony: august don't fuck with me right now

tony: i cant handle it

tony: i blacked out? i dont fucking know, just find me..

tony: if augusts eyes are glowing please just give me a ten second head start.. i'll dive out this god damn window

tony: i hear u guys

esra: omfg you hear us because we're on audio

esra: how about we talk about ghost sleeping patterns after we find tony because if he's with a doll... yikes

esra: he might be better jumping out the window

esra: i'm so glad i suggested this

august: omg saint why are you yelling at ME about glowing eyes, i'm not the one who ran away and got lost

august: i can't believe the fine line between being my friend or jumping out a window at the sight of me rests on whether or not my eyes are glowing, tony

saint: who the fuck is zuul? you're about to find out sunshine boy. i hope a demon fly's right up your ass.

saint: is that possible esra?

tony: something touched my fucking leg, i ran ok? idk where the fuck i am

tony: saint, not now

tony: can someone pls find me, theres a doll & i'm about to convulse

esra: ghosts don't sleep, auggie baby.

esra: i don't think demons can 'fly' but i suppose tony's ass could get possessed

esra: oh no

esra: not at doll 🤡 that's what we're looking for

august: what do you mean ghosts don't sleep, how do they dream?

august: what if i'm the doll

saint: tony is gone it's only zuul now

tony: who the fuck is zuul

tony: i'm in the sun room

tony: or the attic, i'm not quite sure

esra: are there windows...

esra: or did you literally climb a ladder and/or stairs to get there?

august: i'm so scared that my laughing is going to wake up the ghosts

saint: well i lost tony

tony: i've lost tony

esra: you are tony.

esra: where are you?

rose couldn’t help but release a small giggle as she nodded her head, because while her drink looked good - colored like cotton candy and beautiful, - it tasted even better. and, of course, it was a plus that it matched her outfit. then again, anything pastel colored tended to go with her usual pastel pink. “it is good,” she hummed emphatically. “you should totes try it!”

“i will if you understand that you might be responsible for carrying me out of here by the end of the night.” she mused, the tension of being somewhere new and unpredictable melting away the more she spoke with rose. she lifted her hand shyly, smiling as the bartender approached them. “uh, two more of those, please” she chimed before shooting the other girl a smile, “may as well buy you another too — since i’m forcing you to keep me company.”

“oh, i know what that’s like,” weston snorted lightly, teeth catching his lower lip for a moment as he gave a one-shouldered shrug. if he got drunk enough, he knew he could be a downright mess, but he also knew how to hold himself back just enough that he was just fun, and not messy. “but where’s the fun if you’re not turning into a bit of a hot mess every once in a while?” one of his eyebrows quirks up before he brings his glass of scotch to his lips, draining it in one go before he gives a tiny hum. “i say we order ourselves a pair of matching margaritas, get a little wild, what do you say?”

august’s eyes squinted just slightly at the man’s question, but they widened once more when he polished off his drink — seemingly chasing his words on intoxication and its relationship to fun with searing hot action. “i’d say that sounds like a recipe for disaster.” she teased, looking back down at her bubbling sprite her expression clearly giving away that she was thinking about it, “but i guess, it’s all in the name of fun.” she mused, motioning to get the bartender’s attention. “i do have one rule, though. yours have to be doubles. otherwise it’ll be totally unfair.” 

he couldn’t help the smirk flash across his lips in amusement at the pouty nature the blonde expertly exuded and with the sudden gasp at his words escaping her, saint took it upon himself to mock the same breathy inhale with one of his own in response.” i’ll stick around and be appreciated. you’re welcome and stuff.” he quipped before shooting back the rest of his drink and letting the glass bottom click down against the bar-top.

august licked her lips, an amused smile forming on them as saint mocked her for her rejection of his offer, only to propose the exact same thing in her own words. “yeah, yeah, hot shot” she mused, turning her body towards his and tilting her head to the side. “tell me about the time you’ve been the most drunk in your life. like wake up in a different country drunk.” she prodded, poking his arm lightly with her finger. “assuming you’ve got a story like that and aren’t, like, a super boring drunk.” 

her shoulder’s lift in a casual shrug when the other thanks her, none too fazed by the thanks. “you don’t spend as much time in bars and clubs as i do without starting to notice a thing or two, you know?” a grin crept across her face as she did. “especially more casual places like this. they don’t have bowls and fresh produce and cutting boards back there - usually they just mass-slice some in the mornings before they open.” which was precisely why she didn’t order anything that came with any sort of garnish, because she had no desire to find out what happened to limes that were cut over twelve hours before. pasting a grin on her face, the blonde extended her hand easily. “i’m winter. it’s nice to meet you.”

august wasn’t about to allow herself to think about what might have happened if the friendly stranger hadn’t warned her about the limes. she couldn’t think about what might be lurking in that bucket of limes, and what she’d be putting in her mouth as a result. not that she screened everything that she allowed in her mouth. “hi winter. it’s nice to meet you too.” she chimed happily, reaching out to shake her extended hand with a grin. “so. you spend a lot of time in clubs and bars?” she asked, tilting her head to the side and blinking at the the girl, “does that make you like, the yoda of nightlife here? because i sure as hell need a guide.”