Nodding, Angela gave him a small smile. She knew that Holden didn’t think much of his own appearance when it came to the pair of them, but she had always adored how he looked and how he dressed. “I know so.” She responded quietly, drinking a little as she glanced around the room at everyone else. It was such a lovely event, well put together. Ange’s smile grew to a wide grin as he placed his arm around her waist and kissed her on the forehead. It was the little things she so adored about the man. “Well I certainly consider myself lucky to have him, so.. maybe we’re both just real lucky.” Nodding at the mention of food, she chuckled. “God, please, I ain’t eaten much, ‘n these tiny finger foods are doin’ nothin’.”

mutual luckiness sounded fair, though holden would still contest that he was on the reciprocating end of the most luck -- or a miracle, even. still, arguing ( though it was more like amicable teasing ) about it got boring real quick, so he decided to put a cork in that conversation for the evening. instead, he let his chin rest idly atop angela’s head for a moment as they prepared to locate and, blatantly, devour, whatever food the event had to offer. “never understood the appeal of that shit, we’re all adults, aren’t we? no need to be subjected to miniature finger foods at forty, surely.” smiling, he pressed another kiss to the top of her head before forcing himself apart and heading in the direction of a table that looked like it might have food that could actually sustain a human being. “i don’t know what half of this shit even is, ange.”

Ella pushed her files back into her bag and shook her head. “No, go ahead.” Ella said as she nodded towards the other side of the booth. “I’m not really working, just go over notes.” Ella smiled as she looked up when a waitress brought her drink over. Ella curled her hand around the mug, and sighed happily at the warmth. “I forget how busy this place can get.”

holden muttered a thanks, hoping the smile he offered ella as he took up the seat opposite came across at at least a little grateful. “i see,” he took a hearty sip from his coffee before placing the to-go cup and croissant on the table. “goin’ over notes sounds like workin’ to me, but i get what you mean.” inhaling and straightening where he sat, holden gave a cursory second glance around the room and emitted a near silent chuckle. “yeah, this is damn near mayhem. we must’ve hit the wrong time of day, huh? i don’t think i’ve ever seen this place so busy.”

PERSON A is trying to control PERSON B from a drunk fight.

@atlanta-rpgstarters​

“Alright brawler I think that’s enough.” Dawson hummed, trying to keep the amusement from his voice as he reached for the others shoulders tugging them back slightly, just firm enough to let them move alone but evidence he wouldn’t let them surge forward again. He hadn’t even known what the altercation had started over, and he suspected it was something stupid, but since no one else had thought to do anything about to Dawson had decided to step in and break up the growing tension - this was a nice even after all. “Is it really worth ruining you buzz for the night?” 

Angela bit down on her lip in an attempt to hide her smile; she’d spot the heat come to his cheeks as she spoke, and though there probably a multitude of reasons they were so, she’d hoped it was because of her. She would always hope to compliment him at an appropriate rate. She knew he would never get used to it. “Oh please, we look like a damn great pair, if you ask me.” She mentioned quietly. Ange sipped on her drink, eyes on his when he asked his next question. “All of ‘em, every single one.” She teased back, playfully. “Ain’t anyone else I want to compliment, Mr. McBride. Just the man ’m with.”

@holdcnhq·

“It’s official, you pull off a suit a lot better than I do, Holdy.” Mark gleamed, passing over a glass of whiskey to his friend. “Nellie mighta told me already but these days a lotta things go in one ear and out the other but you and Angie a…thing thing now?”

closed for @holdcnhq·

PERSON A and PERSON B are both a little tipsy and dealing with the aftermath of knocking over a whole plate of h'orderves before anyone notices

By this point of the evening, Angela was around three wines down and completely loving her life. She had a chance to speak to everyone she’d wanted to, and to top it off, she was there with Holden. Not a run in as friends, not a polite conversation as they’d seen each other to give an excuse for speaking to each other. She was there. With Holden. Looking over to him, she took another sip on her drink before grinning widely. “I told you how dashin’ you look this evenin’?” She questioned, tilting her head to the side.

Whatever effort she made, Angela knew Holden would appreciate it regardless. The smallest difference, perhaps he’d notice. Even if he didn’t and she had to tell him, he would still have ended up making her blush from his response. “Plannin’ my outfit for our next date already, hmm?” She teased in reply to the comment about her pyjamas. Angela was already shaking her head at his comment before he finished, and disagreed. “You look.. incredible, y'know? I love that suit. ‘n your hair.. you just look real handsome.” She told him. “If I were a teenager 'n not 43, 'n I knew we’d just fall over, I’d totally jump your bones.” She chuckled. Linking her hand through his arm, she smiled over at him as they began to walk. “I ain’t got a single clue.” Angela laughed. “Long as it tastes good.. you’re gonna have to do that whole wine tasting thing.”

“if you’ll even have me for a second date,” he laughed nervously, still very much of the opinion that there were ample opportunities for him to fuck this up ahead -- even if bailing unexpectedly had been ruled out. finding himself all but bombarded with compliments holden shifted awkwardly and cleared his throat, staring blankly at his own suit momentarily. “well... uh, thanks.” he often didn’t know what to say at the best of times, how was he supposed to come up with a response to that? chuckling, he nodded his agreement. “mmh, maybe leave the jumpin’ ‘til we at least have somethin’ soft to land on. don’t want a trip to the er to start our date.” he squeezed her arm gently. “might just have to be a gut instinct thing then -- or if either of us have heard of one of ‘em we’ll just get that. s’pose we might get a recommendation from the waiter, too.”

“I used to work as a server. And a cook. And a host. I’ve done a bit of everything and for so long, I’ve wanted to tell shit customers off. Now I can- within reason, anyways.” Marsh couldn’t help a tiny smile forming on his face. He looked curiously at Holden, raising eyebrows. “Sometime mid-week? I have the week off. So. If you’d like to go get drinks or something…” He explained, unsure of what he was even doing. “I still think you should do a trial run at my restaurant. We need a bar manager who knows what he’s doing.” 

he raised both brows, puffing a quiet breath in disbelief. “glad i stuck with the marines, then. i’d’ve definitely been kicked outta the service industry before retirement age.” ordering another drink as marshall spoke, holden leaned back in his seat and made a vague gesture. “think i’ve got all day thursday off but i could be wrong, to be honest i’m not even sure what fuckin’ day it is now. but, uh, yeah we could go for a drink if you want.” head at an angle, he rolled his eyes slightly. “you want a bar manager who’ll drain your bar dry himself, i’m your man. think you’re probably better off without that, eh?”

His addition to their conversation made Angela lightly roll her eyes, knowing he was right but convinced that she’d have forgive him regardless. She knew that if the ball was in his court and the roles were reversed, Holden would have done the same as hers. There was something between them, a connection she hadn’t had with anyone for a very long time. That was not something she was prepared to throw away. “Music to my ears.” She mentioned quietly, before furrowing her eyebrows at his question. “No you didn’t tell me you got a damn cat.. when did you get a cat?” She questioned, amused at the thought. Holden and a cat - not a pairing she would have ever put together.

“just after i got back,” he began, still fighting back his own laughter. admittedly, the whole thing sounded even more absurd now that he’d said it out loud. maddie had been the first to know, and was overjoyed that she could demand all the pictures she wanted from her father -- he was, of course, more than happy to oblige. “went for a walk and ended up at one of them, uh, rescue places or whatever. next thing i know i’ve got a fuckin’ one-eyed cat.” holden gave a slight shrug. “think i might be stuck with him. he’s a real clingy thing. probably love you to pieces.”  

Angela wondered if she would be grinning this madly all evening, knowing that she probably would, and feeling as though her cheeks would be hurting by the end of the date. The date. His reaction to when she opened the door was something she would probably never forget. He finally got to see her in that dress. “Well I ain’t complainin’.” She commented, placing the flowers on the shelf by the front door. Holden told her she was glowing, and she bit down on her lip, her hand going up to tough the loose curls she’d created no more than an hour ago. “It’s.. well, it’s all for you, Holden.” She told him with an almost shy smile as the truth came from her lips. Of course it was true; he’d seen her at her worst for goodness sake, and this - by far - was one of her best. It was only then that she realised her compliment for him seemed pale in comparison. She wanted to say so much more about how he looked, but he’d already begun saying something. “That sounds wonderful. Could always get a taxi if we have one too many.” She pointed out, jesting. Angela grabbed her coat from the rail, and shrugged it on, walking out before locking the door behind her. “After you, Mr McBride.”

features softened considerably, the smile smaller but nonetheless firmly still in place; he wasn’t sure it would get a chance to disappear all night which was certainly a change. angela seemed to always have that effect on him, but by god it had been magnified recently. “y’know you didn’t have to do anythin’, right? coulda shown up in your pyjamas and i’d’a been more than happy to take you out.” as much as it seemed a joke, it was absolutely true. “but, uh, i definitely appreciate your hard work, even if you’re makin’ me look barely scraped together in comparison.” holden moved out of the way as she grabbed her coat, laughing quietly and giving a nod in agreement. “exactly,” without hesitation he stepped up once more, offering angela his arm to take or hook her own through. “apparently the wine list at this place is as long as my arm, do you know much about wine? i’m hopeless.”