BURY THE MISERY.

However, she couldn't help but give into his amusing comments, a genuine smile now creeping upon her features as she swivelled on her chair, now facing the male before her. "Honestly, it's more so the soccer mom vibes, and wanting to hack their Instagram, and start posting some disturbing shit, ruining their perfect image." Again, societal influences, and their stereotypical natures. "Is this your way of trying to put in a request, Suarez?"

the family had been left with more questions than answers. each one a darker shade of anger than the last. they'd been targeted, and expertly hit when their backs had been turned. and in that, emir had been forced into a day to day that hardly allowed him any moment of reprieve. for he had long known which hands to shake, whose ear to bend when it came to needing information that was otherwise kept well under wraps. and he'd been on his way back from such a meeting, with his hand dirtier than it had been in months now. when her voice carried through the night, pulling him to a halt as his gaze was cast up towards her .

" you'd like that, wouldn't you ? " he countered, as he eased his stance. reached out a hand to lean casually against the closest car. he hadn't the slightest care for who it belonged to. " what, you want me to serenade you now ? figured you'd rather see me get hit by a car. or maybe a bus . " he stated, as his head tipped. as if to indicate the road just shy of him. it would be unlikely that many cars drove through at this hour of the night. but maybe he'd treat her to the possibility. " maybe i'm just out for an evening stroll. moonlit walk, and all that . " there was a casual grin on his lips. the ability to seemingly detach himself from the mistakes that he had made. the cruelty that he'd shown her. " why're you sitting out here on your own ? "

"I don't want you to fucking die, Emir. But no, I wouldn't be opposed to a little karmic payback, that's for sure." Ale admitted nonchalantly. Typical fashion, really. And that was very much true. The brunette didn't look back on their time with so much disdain that she wanted him dead. Maimed a little? Sure. But, death? Not so much.

But, much like he was doing right now, what she wasn't a fan of was the lies. "Out for a moonlit walk, my ass, Binici." She immediately called him out. But, at the same time, it wasn't really her business to know the extent of his trip. Sure, she asked the question, but mostly just to toy with him. "Lucky for you, I don't actually care what you're doing these days. So, by all means, keep it to yourself."

A shrug followed, not really sure why she was sat out there by herself in the middle of the night. "It's actually quiet out here this time of night. So, I enjoy it while I can." Given her career was tech involved, rather than people, was it really surprising that she'd rather isolate herself, than be sat out here with hundreds of people running around, completing their daily tasks? "Means, I don't have to come up with some bullshit small talk with my neighbours, 'cause they're all asleep."

Nellie wasn’t usually in the business of charity, but even she had her limits. She’d been watching the scene unfold from her corner of the bar, swirling the last of her whiskey as the bar’s very own resident creep zeroed in on his latest target. He was the kind of guy who thought no meant convince me, the kind who didn’t know when to take a hint. And tonight, his sights were set on the woman sitting alone at the far end of the bar. The way he leaned in, the way she leaned away. It was the same old routine, and it pissed Nellie off just enough to make it her problem.

She didn’t hesitate. Didn’t stop to think. Just slid off her stool, drink in hand, and made a beeline straight for the scene. “Jesus Christ, Victor,” she drawled, loud enough to cut through whatever bullshit line he was trying to sell. “Are you really pulling the hover and hope method again? Thought we talked about how pathetic that is.”

Victor turned, already scowling. “I don’t remem—”

“Yeah, that’s kinda the problem, huh?” Nellie cut in, giving him a once-over like he was something she needed to scrape off her boot. “Every time I see you, it’s the same shit. You slime up to some poor woman, ignore all the warning signs, and make it weird.” She tipped her glass toward him in mock cheers. “Real impressive streak you got going.”

His face twisted, caught between irritation and embarrassment. “I was just—”

“Leaving,” Nellie finished for him, tilting her head like it wasn’t up for debate. “Unless you wanna find out how fast you can run with a broken nose.” Victor hesitated, looking at her, then the woman, then back again—like he was weighing his options. Then, with a muttered curse, he stomped off, disappearing into the crowd.

Nellie exhaled through her nose, then turned her gaze to the woman left in his wake. “You alright, or should I toss his drink on him for good measure?”

Thankfully for her, it didn't take long for a blonde woman to catch sight of his arrival. Evidently, she was familiar with his ways of 'working'. Tone frustrated, and full to the brim of fire. There was no way this wasn't going to go South for him, and she couldn't help but enjoy every god damn second of it. Ale may have suffered listening to his drawl for only five minutes, but she got the impression she was just one of many today.

Their conversation was pretty one-sided, the woman before her, very quick to de-escalate the situation, encouraging him to take a hike, essentially. Which, ultimately, he did. Despite the look of disappointment, and pure annoyance. Meanwhile, the brunette carrying the polar opposite of expressions.

"I think you're exactly who I was thinking about when people asked me who I wanted to be when I grew up." The smirk very evident across her lips as she muttered as much, before she continued on. "I'm inclined to say 'throw the drink' just for shits and giggles." A shrug followed, uncaring on how that all turned out, if she was honest. At the very least, she would be left amused.

She twisted the faucet off, dabbing the raw skin with a wet paper towel, nose crinkling at the sting. The bleeding had subsided, mostly, but she could already see some bruises forming. So much for discretion. "Whatever." Arden mumbled by way of agreement, eyes flickering up to meet the brunette's as she brushed past her. "That mean you're buyin' then?" Brows arched, adding then, "or am I expected to hand you another 'favor'?"

"You just gotta promise to be this ray of sunshine the whole evening," Now she was purely messing with the woman, again, entirely aware of her evening, but her dry sense of humour unable to be contained. She continued seconds later, "or I'll take back that offer."

And with that, she pulled the bathroom door open, head tilting towards the exit as she beckoned the woman towards it, encouraging her departure and entrance back into the club. It would likely be a better turnout than in here, and the smell of piss lining the floor from drunken idiots attempting to relief themselves. "Hop to it then." The smirk now unruly against her features, whilst allowing the woman to pass.

@bloodnglorystart

The sound of the club's music vibrated through the walls -- a dull, rhythmic pulse that thrashed against Arden’s ribs as she braced herself against the bathroom sink. The fluorescent light overhead flickered, casting shadows across the red-streaked porcelain. She exhaled, slow and steady, flexing her fingers. Blood had started to dry along her knuckles--some of it hers, most of it not. It stung when she curled her hand into a fist again, but the pain didn't really bother her. In fact, it felt good; it meant she still had feeling in her hand.

This particular negotiation should’ve gone smoother -- a simple meeting in a private area of the club, one that was simply intended to discussed already agreed terms of a deal. Alas, these guys were a bunch of bastards, and this time they tried to renege on their promises in order to make a quick buck. If there was anything that Arden hated more than arrogance, it was disrespect. Thankfully, she was able to deliver the message loud and clear.

Arden turned on the faucet, watching the water swirl pink as she rinsed the worst of it away. The door creaked behind her, and her eyes flicked up to the mirror, catching the reflection of someone stepping inside. She didn’t turn, just reached for a wad of paper towels and pressed them to her split knuckles.

“If you came to check on me, save it,” she muttered, voice low and edged with something sharp. “I don't need a babysitter -- I need a fucking drink."

Before long, many eyes flashed over to the earlier quiet section of the club, that seemed significantly less so now. The young brunette storming off into the restrooms, or so she assumed based on her direction. A part of her keen to check in, considering the looks of those she surrounded herself with.

Against better judgement, Ale pushed the door wide open, resting against the crux of the frame, immediately stopped in her tracks verbally, as the woman insisted she didn't need a babysitter. "Lucky for you, you're at a bar, eh?" The brunette countered, head nodding in the direction back from which they came from.