Shine Bright Like Diamonds

Eric smiled a little, happy to see that Dinah seemed to be looking at least a little bit better. Or, at the very least, acting like she was better. It was still an improvement at the end of the day, after all. “Only if you promise you won’t just run away again, too.” He nodded along. It wasn’t difficult for him to make a promise, not when he was counting on not going to jail- or getting caught- again.

She smiled at him when he said only if she didn’t run away too. “You stay I stay,” she told him then. “This is home so, I don’t plan on going anywhere. I’ll just deal with everything while staying rooted.” It was a promise that she intended to keep. She didn’t plan to leave at all. This was home, no matter how horrible life got she’d stay this time.

“Oh yes, I gathered as much from the previous comment.” He laughed and rolled his eyes. She was tipsy enough to be speaking plainly to him and it was amusing at the moment. “I don’t think my drink would have been saved with ESP. And that drink was a placeholder for the seat that you stole.” His attention was drawn more toward what she’d been talking about with his family and when she mentioned being nearly drained, Logan felt the blood drain from his own face. He’d been afraid of what Callie would do now that she was… a vampire. “Great? Heightened scent here, Dinah. It’s not just alcohol going through your system right now is it? Not that I’m judging but… maybe you should talk to someone.” He in no way meant himself. Logan didn’t do conflict. He threw charm, money or sex at an issue and if it didn’t run away, he did. 

“I don’t honor drink placeholders, so I guess I’m sorry I stole your seat.” She shrugged her shoulders. She actually heaved a sigh when he mentioned the she had something more than alcohol. “Yes. There’s more than alcohol, but I’m all talked out about it. I’ve forgiven everyone and I’m just trying to forget it.” And she was. Trying to push it down and drown it out completely. “Besides talking about it won’t fix what happened. And I’m not looking to be shrinked or asked how I’m feeling, because I’m obviously feeling just peachy.”

Nik observed the woman as she tried to make him believe that she was worth it. That she was capable. And it was amusing, in a way; he was used to women trying to play that game with it, and who was he to deny it? Besides, she was beautiful, and she hadn’t gotten on his nerves just yet. Those two factors were more than he could ever ask. So Nik held the woman’s gaze, admiring her confidence despite all the alcohol in her system. Perhaps she wasn’t all that drunk- at least, not drunk enough to do this without consent. “Oh, darling, I could have exactly what I want irregardless.” He spoke calmly, as he leaned closer to her, his arm around her waist still there, keeping her close to him. “As eager as you are- we might as well skip the little game.”

Dinah was having fun flirting with Nik. She knew that the man could have what he wanted. Hell she was definitely willing to give him anything he wanted. As hot as he was, she didn’t see how the man didn’t get anything he wanted at all points and times. “Oh I don’t doubt that you could.” To be honest, Dinah was relieved that they could skip the game. “Thank God, I’d much rather we skip the game and get straight to the point.” Her hands roamed up his chest to rest on his shoulders.

Maddy smiled into the kiss, feeling a rush of euphoric bliss envelop her as her lips parted, letting her in. She wasn’t quite sure if it was the kiss itself or the alcohol already running through her veins, but as she wrapped her arms around the girl’s neck, a word couldn’t help but pop into her head. Electrifying. They were electrifying. Pulling back ever so slightly, Maddy gave the woman a little nod, before telling her simply, “I thought you’d never ask.”

Dinah smiled when the other woman seemed to be on the same page she was. Her knuckles trailed down Maddy’s arm as she said, “My place is just around the way.” Her hand traveled down to take Maddy’s in her own so that she could lead the way. “Though it’s a shame I have to lead the way, I’m very sure the view of you leading the way would be just as beautiful as the view of you approaching.” The woman was a beauty from every angle.

Seeing the look on Dinah’s face, Eric offered her a small, apologetic smile. It was all he could do, in a situation like this. Even when she came over and hugged him, he could only wrap one arm around her, scared that he’d hurt himself otherwise. Nevertheless, even the simplest of hugs seemed to serve its purpose, seemed to comfort both of them at least a little bit. “Of course we will be. We always recover.” He assured her after he read her notes. “It’ll hurt at first, but we’ll be fine, Dinah.”

The hug was so comforting. It was nice to know that she did have someone in her corner. Someone that she could lean on. Dinah didn’t know how she’d truly endured her years without Eric’s friendship. He was such a good presence in her life even if he didn’t realize it. “We will, but promise you won’t disappear on me, my Eric-less years pale in comparison to the years that I did have your friendship,” she wrote.

“There’s another name for that, darling. It’s called alcoholism.” Nik smirked, nevertheless. Perhaps he really was in a good mood; either way, he had to appreciate the woman’s beauty, even if she was about as drunk as any other breathers around this damned place. “I’ve experienced so much, you’d have to work really hard to do something to blow my mind.” He challenged her, keeping his eyes locked on hers. It was almost like a predator, cycling its prey. “I’d be surprised if they served anything with you in it at the bar.”

“You may call it alcoholism, I call it fate. Regardless of what it is, we’re both standing right here in this very moment,” she pointed out, noting to herself that the man’s smirk was even hot. “I can guarantee I try to be the best at everything I do. I graduated med school at the top of my class, so rest assured I don’t make empty promises about blowing your mind.” Dinah’s gaze never waved as she responded. Her words as confident as she was in the moment, and they were absolutely true of her nature, she was thorough and competitive and when there was a challenge, she always strived for nothing short of perfection at whatever it was. “They don’t but we could pretend they did for the night. Or just skip the pretending altogether and you can have exactly what you want,” she told him then, giving him a wink.

“Oh Dinah, I have a feeling what your fantasy!Logan does would make even me blush.” He knew he had no control over what people thought about him in the privacy of their own mind, even if those people happened to be close to the kids he loved more than anything else. “Watching it with what? A side-eye? Because your attention was nowhere near this poor defenseless drink you cast aside as you stole my seat.” While the last of her words were meant to be light and nonchalant, they sat horribly with Logan. “What do you mean?” He asked, tone very serious all of a sudden. “What’s happened?”

Dinah laughed. “Oh, trust me there’s nothing PG or PG-13 about fantasy!Logan.” Dinah felt comfortable joking with the man or maybe it was because she had liquid courage to do so. More than likely the latter. “I was watching it with my sixth sense. I’d know if someone did something to it. Besides you shouldn’t be leaving your drink unattended,” she lectured as if she were the older party in the situation. When his tone got serious she frowned. “This is not supposed to be serious time with Logan Hastings, but I don’t know how well you paid attention to me back in the day but I come from a family of witches, but I’m no longer a witch as of about four years ago. But most recently when all hell broke loose in the town, I was nearly drained and hospitalized for a few days. But everything’s great now.” Of course it wasn’t great but she was reconciling it all. Working through it, granted she was doing it with substances, but at least she was doing it.  

He could smell the alcohol on her, with ease, yet it didn’t stop the vampire from smirking as the woman stayed in his arms. “Anything that doesn’t require me dancing on the bar.” And while it was a tease towards her actions, he wasn’t really angry about it. Annoyed, perhaps, but right now, he had a beautiful woman in his arms. “Anything I want?” He raised a brow, then, taking a long, thorough glance over her before he fixated back on her face. “That would include something they don’t serve at this bar- but for now, I’ll take a whiskey.”

Dinah playfully rolled her eyes. “Had I not danced on the bar, I wouldn’t have run into you getting down from the bar,” she pointed out. “Must have been fate.” Dinah nodded at his question. “Things they don’t serve at this bar would blow your mind,” she told him, smirking. “Whiskey it is, but do tell me more about these things that aren’t served at the bar. Because I can pretty much name some things I can name that they definitely don’t serve at the bar.”

Normalcy felt weird after everything that had happened. It had been a while since Alex’s funeral, and Billie thankfully hadn’t felt the need to run away from her grief this time around – but it still felt weird to do the type of everyday things she knew Alex liked to do. Things she’d done with Alex multiple times over. But it had to be done. Even if Billie hadn’t wanted to at first, all it ever did was get easier. Hell, at that particular night in question, she’d actually been enjoying herself, without forcing anything. Her heart actually felt a little relieved, when she realized it. Being tipsy enough herself to nearly buckle over when someone stumbled into her, Billie nonetheless had a wide smile painted across her lips as she turned to see who it was. “See, now I’m just trying to figure out a way to dance with you and get that free drink – I’ve always been a best of two worlds kinda person!” she joked, only the faintest of slurs tainting her words. “If I join you on the bar, will I get a free drink out of it?”

Dinah chuckled at her words. “If you’ve got amazing moves, I’ll buy you a drink,” she told her with a laugh, knowing that she was going to buy her the drink anyway dance or not. She just wanted to have a night of fun and if the other woman was going to take her up on dancing on the bar, who was she to turn that dow? “So what do you say? One incredible bar dance and then drinks are on me?”

It was almost rare that Mina would get drunk for no apparent reason. On some nights she’ll be nursing the one drink and singing in one of many languages she knew on the top of her head. But seeing Dinah dancing on the bar that night made her laugh real hard and started to shake her head, but decided against it and nodded. ‘Why not?” she said with a shrug as she down her sliver tequila shot.

When she shook her head, Dinah almost pouted. “C’mon live a little. Haven’t you always wanted to live out those cliche moments where girls dance on bars?” She asked her. The in her inebriated state, it was easy to have fun without a second thought. Other drunk patrons were cheering her on too. She reached out a hand for Mina to take so she could lead her out of the dance floor this time and they could have some fun.

Eric observed Dinah as she wrote. And, in a way, he could see she wasn’t okay, even if she was walking and talking, and seemed overall fine.Tragic events like this one were brought to bring distress and fear to people, and he couldn’t help it. And hadn’t he been a part of a horrific lifestyle years ago, he would have been far more traumatized. “I am.” He assured her, even if the look on his face didn’t really sell his words. But, instead of himself, he read what she wrote, and, carefully, he motioned for her to come closer, offering her a hug. His side was still sore and painful, but he could still go around it. “It’s normal. It’s going to take you a while to get through things. Learn to live with them.”

Dinah narrowed her eyes at him, giving him that look as to say ‘I read your chart stop lying’. Dinah went toward him when he motioned for her to come closer. She hugged him gently. “We’re both going to be okay, I hope you know that,” she wrote after embracing him for a long while. She really needed that hug, but she’s was so glad that she hadn’t fallen apart. “Broken and all, I’m glad we’re both alive.”

“Color me stoked,” Mads said, the corners of her lips tilting up into a bright smile. Maddy’s eyes widened as the brunette’s lips met hers, pulling back ever so slightly to tell Dinah, “Sounds great to me,” before wrapping her arms around Dinah’s neck and returning the kiss.

Dinah had to chuckle at that phrasing. It was a phrased that seemed almost dated, but she found it very cute. Dinah’s arms went to the other woman’s waist pulling her closer. This might have been the most perfect escape. Already having had alcohol in her system, adding what she hoped, if the kiss was any indication, mind blowing sex to the list was going to serve as the ultimate distraction. She deepened the kiss, working to kiss her breathless. It was only she herself needed air did their lips part so that they could catch their breath. “Wanna get out of here?” The bar might have been an enjoyable place, but she was trying to get to an even more enjoyable slice of complete and total blissful oblivion.

“I don’t think that it’s like that for me. No offense, but all of that pent up anger trying to claw it’s way out? Yeah. I already had that. It’s almost like a wait was lifted off of my chest in a way. Like ta dah! You killed someone. You’ve got that life stage over with, check. And that makes me sound like even more of sociopath then I already do… great,” He sighed running his fingers through his hair as he spoke. “So, what fucked you up to get you to this point then? If you don’t mind me asking? Nah. Don’t worry. It’s not the first time I’ve made deals with newbies. Here you go,” He said telling her the amount she owed him as he offered the brownie over to her.

“I actually envy that. Not that someone died, unless they deserved it, but that you don’t have that clawing feeling. But I don’t even think I can bear killing someone to find out.” Dinah sighed when Nate asked his question. It was a good question though she rarely verbalized what she thought often. “If I was human, I wouldn’t have minded turning. But I’m not. Or well i wasn’t and I just never recovered from losing my magic. But add to that I was almost drained and killed by someone I considered family…your family members,” she said, her voice lower at that point and yet she stilled adored the family regardless. “It was just like this time, this particular time I just couldn’t get over it. I almost died. And in the midst of getting nearly being done for someone I was trying to save did die. So honestly I can’t shake it. I can’t sleep. I close my eyes and I just…can’t,” she told Nate honestly. “I just need to…escape.” She took the brownie and asked, “So how much do I owe you?”

Nik reacted before he could even think, catching the woman as she stumbled into him. He’d seen her just moments ago, rolled his eyes at her for being an obvious light weight. And, so close, he could smell the alcohol on her breath. Nevertheless, the old vampire smirked, keeping his arm securely wrapped around the woman’s waist, even if she already seemed stable. “I don’t dance. Not to… this.” He spoke. “I’ll take a drink  instead.”

Dinah smirked, noting their close proximity and how hot he was in general. Not that she never knew because she always noticed. “Hello, handsome,” she said, greeting him. “What do you dance to?” she wondered curiously. “Deal, anything you want.” She looked over at the bartender. “Whatever he wants is on me,” she told him, making no efforts to move. Had she not been drinking her mind would have told her not to stand in this man’s personal bubble for this long. But alcohol brain was slower much slower of a reaction than her normal one.

“I said it could be seen as an act of aggression. Not that I would get aggressive. You know me, I’m a lover not a fighter. Never raise a fist when a swift word will do.” He smiled at the woman perched on his stool. “I was just dancing, I can’t control who cuts in around me.” He took the next seat over and turned his attention to Dinah. “And just which of the kids had been getting aggressive with you?”

Dinah laughed because she definitely knew that. “What you do in my fantasies is between me and fantasy you,” she joked. “I’m kidding. I do know you’re not getting aggressive any time soon. Besides, I was watching your drink for you.” She slid it back over to him. “Not purposely aggressive. More like accidental aggression due to the monsters within. They keep biting me and not in a good way.”

“Bad. Very, very bad.” He turned to the woman and tried not to sigh. “You wouldn’t know if there’s anything good here, would you? Something that’s actually worth a visit?”

“I would say that there was but no, unfortunately I haven’t seen anything good here in a while.” It definitely didn’t help her possible distractions. “I was trying to find distractions and this isn’t doing it.”

Nate gave her a little nod. “Yeah. Trust me I get it. I kind of started drinking after the whole turned into a werewolf thing,” He admitted with a shrug. The boy who had sworn off of alcohol for his entire life was now pounding back shots. “Edibles are the same as brownies. How about one brownie?” He chuckled. “We can start there and then I can explain you through the other options once we wait for the brownie to kick in?”

Dinah gave Nate a half smile at his words. “Oh, believe me, I rarely ever drank but after turning? I went on a bender. There was just something about the full moon turns, the painful shifts…the underlying thing inside me that felt like it was going to claw its way out? And losing my magic. Drove me to drinking. Almost dying…drove me to drugs.” She shrugged. Her tone didn’t even hold much life as she spoke. It was more like she was detached and stating facts than anything else. “Okay, one brownie and you give me info on what the hell all this means. Deal. And thanks for not laughing in my face about me being hopeless when it comes to this.”