𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐈𝐓 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐑

As soon as Winter had noticed the Vipers in the room she had decided to take the drinking somewhat easily. She was already somewhat tipsy, mostly from the shots but she wanted to remain at a level where she was still alert. It was all going to plan until she started feeling dizzy. The glass she’d just drank from was placed on the bar as she stumbled out of the room. Once outside she started taking deep breaths, making her way out of the crowd of people. The last thing she wanted was to be surrounded by people. As much as she tried to breathe the fresh air wasn’t helping at all and soon her vision started to blur. In the corner of her eye she saw a figure making it’s way towards her. “Help- please.” She gasped out, trying to work out who it was.

@darlingtonwng​​

WINTER WASN’T THE Grayson Danny liked putting his attention on, yet tonight she seemed to be more on his mind than the sister he came on the arm with. And while he often let Wren cloud his judgment on the fact that he knew who her family was and what they stood for, the line on where he stood with the Vipers and how he felt for a singular person blurring, tonight he was allowing himself some much - needed clarity as he convinced his mental that what was about to happen tonight was strictly business. Nothing personal on his end. A job needing to be done and nothing more. So put himself out as a good date by throwing on an expensive suit, made small talk with people he’d never meet again, and played the role of a good wedding guest until it was time for a plan to be set in motion. 

He was outside before she was, his frame leaned on a trunk of a sycamore tree as he put out the last of a cigarette. Halfway through the night he had switched to water claiming it was vodka, before getting impatient and needing something to ease his time before things began to fall into place. It was nothing but luck seeing Winter stumble outside in the way that she did, no doubt her current state coming from the effects of special concoction made into her last drink, her mouth open and gasping for air as she walked on gravel past guests too drunk or too stupid to heed her any mind. He let her find her own way around until she was in a space open enough for them to meet alone, away from any wandering eyes and untzy DJ music. Any thoughts of Wren put on hold as he threw on a persona more fitting for the situation. 

Like the gentleman he was, Danny extended an arm out to her for the balance she clearly needed. ❝ Yo, you good? ❞

Rosalia scoffed, slightly annoyed that he knew her well enough to know she hated weddings. It wasn’t just weddings in general, but the whole idea of two people tying themselves together for life. There was nothing about any of it that made sense to her. On a normal day she wouldn’t have been caught dead celebrating love and happiness but sometimes weird things happened. “Bully? I didn’t bully anyone thank you very much. I had an invitation, with my name written on it and everything.” She quipped without really thinking about it. Her position in the scorpions had scored her the invite but she couldn’t have him knowing that. “If you must know, I know the groom. And stop checking me out while you’re being a jackass, I saw that.”

❝ YOU KNOW THESE people? ❞ He was trying not to sound surprised, but what the fuck did Rosalia have in common with the married couple for her to pull this off? Memories of her flashed before him in crystal clear vividness and he’d bet his last dollar that she was lying. Rosa didn’t have friends like Julia or Gabe. They were Care Bears in comparison to the tornado that was standing before him. Not that he was in any position to discuss his being here, he didn’t even know the couple until recently. Shaking it off, not really interested in knowing any more detail than needed after she explained how she knew the groom ( whatever ) he focused his attention on something more their speed. ❝ Nothing gets by you, does it? ❞ His gaze dragged back to her and then dropped back to opening in her dress. Danny had seen at least ten different variations of the same slit on different dresses on different people, yet aside from Wren, he felt like he liked Rosa’s the most. Only he didn’t need to tell her for her to know, he let his gaze do the talking for him, tiny corners of his lips pinching at their sides. ❝ Who’d you come with that’s got you cleaning up so nice, Rosie? Consider my interest piqued. ❞

~

Violet didn’t thrive in awkward situations and would try to turn them around by either talking way too much or leaving the conversation completely. Standing next to Daniel she could feel that their footing wasn’t quite right, mostly on her end since she was nervous to say the wrong thing. Their friendship only recently starting, or restarting the logistics a mess, and she wanted to be there for him. Especially knowing what she knew. “Are you even capable? I don’t think you’ve ever been shy or embarrassed a day in your life.” she teased although curious if there was a side to him that was different than the one he presented. “Oh come on, is this where I disagree and throw all sorts of compliments your way?” she looked at him before moving her head to look at the bar. “You look good Daniel.” she stated matter of factly, “Now let’s get a drink.”

A PART OF him wanted to tell her he had felt embarrassed before, and in front of her no less, thanks to an unwanted history between them that he would have done anything to diminish. Only the words never found their way onto this tongue since a piece of him felt like it was starting to relax the more they leveled this friendship, if you could even call it that. It also didn’t help that Violet Marino didn’t seem to have any ill intent towards him except to point fun at the awkwardness that came from wearing a suit that cost more than people’s rent. He thanked her with a nod of his head, chin dipping as he started to follow her lead as he waved the second compliment off. ❝ Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don’t give me a big head about it. ❞ While he still felt like she was full of it, he couldn’t help but feel a bit more at ease. She didn’t look too bad herself and that simple fact brought a question to his lips.  ❝ Where’s your date? ❞

xx.

the hand at the small of her back was nice, relaxing even. soren could easily find herself melting into him as she’d done many times before, but the one that slid beneath the slit of her dress was like throwing a match onto gasoline. it was an innocent enough gesture, but the warmth provided by his touch and the drinks that were racking up made for a heady combination. “ mmhmm. “ she agreed with a nod, squirming slightly against his lap as the tip of her tongue danced across her lower lip. she kept the light grasp she had on his tie, curling it around the palm of her hand as she felt his breath hot against her skin. the comment made caused her own to catch in her throat, and while the blonde wasn’t much for blushing and she’d swear up and down it was fault of the liquor coursing through her veins, the heat the rose to her cheeks among other places was undeniable. “ should we test that theory? “ her voice no more than a whisper as she met danny’s gaze, hooking a finger beneath the neck of his tie to loosen it just enough that she could free the button at his collar.

THERE WASN’T A thing between them that wasn’t deliberate. Every gesture was pointed, made with purpose. Wren made for a great lay, but more importantly to him amongst all other things, a great distraction. She was a, if not the only, steady constant in his life just as much as he was sure he was to her. Only what Danny hadn’t quite figured out after all this time is whether they pulled each other out of the darkness of whatever was looming over them, or if they dragged each other deeper into it. Either way, he craved it. The hand on her thigh rubbed slow caresses over smooth skin as he heard her murmur words meant only for him, her own hand still busy at the base of his tie as she began to loosen it. Leave it to Wren to start unraveling him in public at a wedding. A dark brow lifted in speculation, the corners of his lips ready to turn upward into a smirk. ❝ You suggesting we sneak off on the sly? ❞ There was an implication that perched on his tongue, instead, he drew it out along his lower lip, and brought his lips back up to Wren’s jawline, the hand on her backsliding to curve at her waist to bring her closer to him on his lap. He dropped his tone to match hers, ❝ Baby, you don’t have to be so coy.❞

ft x. @darlingtonwng​

   the blonde could honestly say that this was the first wedding she’d attended that she didn’t totally hate. although that could mainly be attributed to the open bar and the company that she kept, both things she was taking in unabashedly. soren arrived back to the table from where she’d been waiting at the bar, a slight sway to her step, thank you whisky. she set the two glasses down on the table before easing herself down onto danny’s lap, arms draping over his shoulders as hazel hues peered up at him through thick lashes. “ you know, you look really sexy all dressed up. “ she mused, her fingertips falling to run along the fabric of the tie that adorned his neck. it wasn’t often she saw the man dressed in much other than leather, but she wasn’t disappointed by the sight in the least. “ remind me to buy you more of these. “ the words falling from her lips as her fingers curled around the tie and she gave a gentle tug. 

HE HAD NEVER heard of Julia Montgomery or Gabriel Marchand until today. Never met them, never saw them. He didn’t even know where the happy couple was to bring his attention to during the ceremony until he found his gaze settling on two figures already on the other end of the aisle murmuring their vows, his attention having being elsewhere for the remainder of the service. Distracted being an understatement, weddings never really being much of his thing. Only what the ceremony lacked ( alcohol, a good time ), the reception reaped in abundance, making his decision to come as Wren’s date a more fruitful choice now compared to when he thought about it few hours prior. 

Not that any of that mattered now. A few amber hued drinks in and suddenly this all wasn’t too bad, his frame sitting slack in his seat just in time for a certain blonde to drape herself over him. The familiar warmth in his lap made it easy to relax, hands instinctively going to places they both knew they’d be comfortable at: one steadying at the small of her back, the other finding its way atop the barest part of her thigh hidden under the slit of her dress, allowing them to fit together like puzzle pieces. ❝ Do I now? ❞ He wasn’t one for compliments, but he let hers wash over him with such ease that his lips almost pinched into a smile, not even stiffening at her touch when she went to reach for the tie around his neck. He felt her tug and the hand he hand on her thigh tightened on the skin. ❝ I’ll try make a note for Christmas, ❞ His voice murmured as he brought himself closer to her, lips inches away from the curve of her jaw.  ❝ though you know I’m always more interested in what you take off of me than what you want on.  ❞

marchand wedding | open to anyone

In the space between the ceremony and the dreadful traditions that followed, Asa made time to slip beyond the tree line and leave her head somewhere in the clouds. Agreeing to attend had been a mistake, she’d realized when she arrived. The last wedding she’d attended had been her own, and it wasn’t like she was ever ready to revisit her years as a wife. Though she trusted Sage enough to put her life in her hands, her emotions, the damage they’d endured, was another story altogether. When her hands started sweating around the time the bridesmaids made their march down to the alter, she decided she would need to slip outside for a little pressure relief. One small lie about needing to make a phone call after the nuptials was all it took. Leaned against an old tree, she tried making smoke rings, failing a few times before she turned to find someone closing in. Glancing down at the rolled piece in her hand, she paused for a moment, then drew it back to her lips. “Just tell me now if you’re going to tattle,” she said through an exhale of smoke. “So I can go ahead and leave now. I’m not really in the mood to ruin someone’s wedding day.”

SOMEONE IN THIS wretched place had to have a lighter. Had Wren not abandoned him earlier to meet with some face she knew then he would have just snagged his own from her ( from that thing she called a clutch that she managed to hold several different objects inside of ), only she did leave and that left him with the only other option of venturing out on his own away from the thick of things to ask drunken strangers lingering around the farm as they turned to him in the same regard as someone would if they were asked to make a sudden charity, unable to shake the feeling that he didn’t belong here. He was just about to put his faith in the nearest outdoor cater waiter, since he was almost positive they had to have one somewhere or at least know of someone who did, but then he heard her. The voice pinning him at halt just as he cut his eyes towards the direction of a tree, a woman leaning against it. The same woman from the grocery store who got on him for fruit and cat food and here she was holding a joint in her hands. He lifted a brow and gave her a shrug in return, not wanting to poke holes into someone’s mood during such festive activities. ❝ And I’m not in the mood to be at someone’s wedding day. ❞ He stuck the cigarette he had in his hand prior behind his ear, a curl of dark hair hiding it from outside view. His hands found their way into his pockets as he met her with another shrug, adding in the most important part. ❝ I’m also not a snitch. Your secret’s safe me.❞

OPEN TO: Everyone LOCATION: Outdoor Open Bar

The wedding was beautiful and though Kat didn’t see one of her own in the near future she still appreciated being able to attend this one. She could still remember the look on Harrison’s face when they ran into each other for coffee, the invitation seeming to come out of no where but Katerina couldn’t deny herself a good reason to have a night off. He seemed nice enough, charm dangling off every word he spoke, they were having a pretty nice evening together until the man excused himself for a trip to the bathroom. The brunette looked around, her gazing landing on the outdoor bar for look long to ignore. She didn’t want to look out of place as his plus one and figured the best place to do that was a location she found herself at often. She looked around as she took a seat, wondering if the bride and groom picked anything out a signature cocktail for the evening. Lost in thought she barely heard someone walk up beside her, their presence only knocking her out of her thoughts when they began to speak. “Hey what can I get you?” She asked, shaking her head the moment she processed what she just said. “I’m sorry…I’m not really used to being on this side of the bar.” She laughed. “Is it that obvious?” 

THE MORE DANNY found himself alone during the reception of the wedding ( Wren off somewhere with friends, her sister. Never too far out of reach but far enough to make him feel like he was sticking out like a sore thumb whenever she wasn’t around ), the more he  realized he knew more of the faces around him than not. One in particular taking up in his view by the bar, a hand ready to tap her on the shoulder but watched her snap her head around instead before he could.  ❝ Hey ― what? ❞ His head shook with hers as he processed what just happened, dark brows knitting their way together as he bit down what could have been regarded easily a laugh. ❝ Uh, yeah, ❞ Danny answered her question out missing a beat, a hand going up as he pinched the open air space between his index finger and thumb. ❝ just a little bit. ❞ He took a moment to regard her dress and felt his lips lift by their corners into the tiniest pull of a smile.  ❝ Though I’m sure everyone’ll have hard time thinking your the help looking like this. ❞ 

where: wedding reception | cressino farm

who: @darlingtonwng​​

“Well don’t you clean up nice. This should become your go-to look from now on!” Violet approached Daniel, even adding a low whistle for good measure. Her tone was teasing, obviously, because she could already sense just how much he hated it. “You know the more you fidget with the tie the more people will think you have a rash or itching cream or somethin’” chuckling at her own joke with a shake to her head, finally looking at him. She hadn’t expected to see him but was glad that he was here. They had finally gotten to a better place in their friendship and Vi was pretty determined to keep it that way.

HE TRIED, he really did, to not stiffen at Violet’s words, not entirely sure if she was making fun of him towering in a suit that definitely cost more than anything he’s ever worn or why he would have cared even if she had. He wanted to roll his eyes at her words, hands already lowering away from his neck and back into their folded position across his chest, only he settled for a speculating raise of his brows because . . . did Violet Marino just low whistle him at in public?  ❝ Don’t make me blush, V. ❞ He tried to humor her even though his words came out like they always did, all hollow. Danny shook his head, ❝ You don’t need to lie. I know I look ridiculous. ❞  

Rosalia almost couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw Daniel himself at a wedding and in a suit. It felt almost wrong to see him in such an unfamiliar setting but it was still hilarious. He stuck out like a sore thumb and not only because he towered above most people in the room. Barely able to contain her laughter Rosalia drifted over to him, tapping the way too tall man on the shoulder. “I didn’t think weddings would be your thing.” She laughed as she spoke, unable to keep it in any longer. Her hand went up to his tie, tugging lightly on it. “Where did you steal this from? I find it hard to believe you actually own a tie.”

@darlingtonwng​​

IT WAS THE tap that got him to turn, but the voice that caught his attention and snapped him into place as he found a certain someone’s hand hovering its way onto his tie. ❝ And they’re supposed to be yours? ❞ Danny bit back his own laugh as he held his hand above her wrist before she could get too comfortable and peeled it off of him. This fall festive, Pinterest board of a wedding was just as much his scene as it was hers, that much he knew, which brought a question to his lips as he chose to ignore the ones about his tie, not wanting to feed into her mess since he didn’t personally find it that hard to believe he owned one ( but at least she wasn’t commenting on his suit, then he’d really have to cut the conversation short. ).  ❝ Who’d you bully into taking you here? ❞ He tipped his chin down at her, eyes skimming over the barest part of her leg from the slit in her dress before taking his view to the crowd to try and make out any assumptions of who it could have been since it would take a lot of convincing to get him to believe she knew either bride or groom.  

THE MARCHAND NUPTIALS

📍 THE CRESSINO FARM.

HE WAS SITTING in the audience with a drink close to hand as lights overhead shifted across the room in cool shades of greens and blues, bathing the stage before them all in some sort of surreal haze as dancers came and went, dollar bills flowing all around them in heaps. It was rare to find him out here in the thick of things, his preference for this place being confined between the bar and car lot, rarely ever taking the time to enjoy a show since his interest was only ever on for a certain blonde. A friend of sorts if anyone ever asked. Tonight was an exception, however, as he sat among the crowd alone by one of the lounge couches. Dressed in black, eyes fixed on faces he’ll never see again coming from off the stage as he brought his glass up to his lips, attention shifting just so when stolen by the sight of Wren.

SOMETIMES THE EMERALD felt unreal. Fading color lights, music that hits your system. For a moment it almost felt like his heart was beating through his chest as he let all those drinks from earlier fuel everything from the sly way he spoke to the way he walked across the floors. He felt good, real good. . . until he saw Rosa within spitting distance of him.  

❝ ‘SUP, KATNIP. ❞ While he wasn’t known for his pleasantries, Danny often found the time to let whatever hardened demeanor he happened put on for the day slip into something with more ease whenever he came by The Emerald. Glittering bodies and flowing dollar bills while liquor poured high, the man could only guess that was the point of the place. To make you feel at ease. To intoxicate you while you sink into those plush seats, eyes bright as curvy bodies dance in front of you. For you even, for the right price. Only he wasn’t here for leisure. Just meeting a friend who was probably off . . . somewhere in this place which ended up making his first rule of business being a pitstop to see Kat ( who he’d considered his favorite bartender in this damn place ). Danny rested his elbows against the counter and propped himself into a lean against it, ❝ Busy or you got a sec? ❞

HIS FINGERS TWITCHED. His head was taken care of, dazed and dulled on expensive drinks fed to him by pretty bartenders he’ll never remember the names of, and he was now itching for a cigarette, a joint. Something, anything, to keep his hands busy while he waited for a certain friend to finish their shift. It was a bad habit, the smoking, something he picked up shortly after he started in with Vipers, the memory of coughing on his first one while a flock of old Russians poked fun at him in their native tongue was one that still followed him. Any of the doormen nearby had to be smokers, he was sure of it, there was undoubtedly a secret society of chain smokers disguised as the help, club bodyguards included. He’d always been able to bum a cigarette off someone in a uniform when in tight pinches like this. 

He hit a corner with his hand stuffed deep into his pockets to stop them from their jitters and curved onto the sidewalk blindly, distracted with thoughts that traveled through his mind like smoke off glowing embers. Too surprised to curse, ( or too drunk ), he simply stumbled back, dark eyes drawn to the face of a woman he would have paid his own money with to never see again. All this sudden familiarity hitting him in the face like a slap unwarranted.

And like always, his mouth was working quicker than his brain. 

❝ Wow. You really know how to fuck up someone’s night, don’t you? ❞