My Kink is Karma

Walking in, the smell of paint hit her first. Shade Culture had been on her list of things to try for so long yet Amara had always imagined she'll come with some company to make the whole experience less daunting. The thought of bringing her mother had crossed her mind but the woman had called last minute to let her know she had a change of heart. She offered a small smile at the woman, who greeted her upon arrival and requested a glass of soda before heading towards the long table with set canvas. "Is this your first time, too?" She chuckled, taking a seat next another early comer. Noticing most of the seats were still empty, she hoped to at least break the ice and have a decent first experience.

"you're just in time for a little chaos," he teased quietly, eyes shifting from the woman who'd just moved into the empty spot at the bar, to a scene that was unfolding just a few feet away. all he'd heard so far was something about an ex being off limits and how it wasn't cool that the other hadn't respected that rule. oh, and how the other dared to argue against it. "should we step in or let them hash it out?"

"So, we have the winter white ale. I think it has notes of orange, cinnamon and nutmeg in it, I think. It's one of their most popular holiday flavours, which they're now giving away for cheap." He shrugged, laughing softly as he pointed to the next glass. "The winter lager's my favourite during this time of year. It's darker, but quite smooth. I love this one." Pointing to the next one, he made a face of slight disgust. "Now, this one... I don't know if you'll like it, because I don't think I will. Apparently, it's got a deep malt flavour with notes of caramel and toffee." He paused for a moment before continuing. "The next one is even worse. It's coffee-flavoured. Apparently, they were inspired by the espresso martini." It was safe to say that JJ had some hope for that one. "I think the next one is either the sugar plum or the chocolate and raspberry one. As I said, they're giving away their holiday flavours for cheap." He watched as she picked up the first one and brought it up to her lips. "If you don't like the flavoured ones, we can just stick to the winter ales."

"Wow." She said, taking another sip. "This is very good" She gave a nod, scootching the other glass with the same drink towards him. "Try." She encouraged, throwing the rest of it back. "How were the holidays?" she asked after a moment. "Anything super interesting happen?" she probed unashamed.

WHERE: Pint House Beer Garden & Brewery , Coral Coast.

WHEN: January, 2026.

Ever since their first meeting at Mic Drop during Thanksgiving weekend, JJ had been texting Holiday on and off during the holiday season. It had not been much. Just a few holiday wishes here and there, as well as an occasional message about the current book he was reading. It was not that rare for him to befriend someone new to town, especially when that someone seemed to bring out a side of him that he had not seen in almost two decades. Holiday was incredibly mature and offered interesting conversation while also encouraging him to come out of his comfort zone and live a little. Considering the recent events, he clearly needed that.

So, there he was, carrying a flight of seasonal beers for the two of them to try as he approached their booth at the Pint House Beer Garden & Brewery. "There we are." He placed the flight in front of her. "I got us a shot each of their top six flavours to try. Whichever one you like, we can start ordering that one by the pint." Chuckling softly, he slid into the seat across from her. "Ladies first."

She examined each glass slowly, "What do we have?" she asked, glancing up at the man curiously. "I didn't actually look at the flavors while you were off ordering for us" she chuckled, picking up a random one and slowly bringing it to her lips.

When she stumbled back, his hand lifted on instinct, hovering near her elbow in case she lost balance. "Chaos sounds fun until it isn't," Adrian said gently, crouching a bit so he was closer to her eye level, less imposing. "And I'm guessing tonight already crossed that line for you." His gaze flicked to the ground when she started scanning for the cigarette, then back to her face. He could see the frustration bubbling, the way her focus kept snagging on one thing at a time. He exhaled slowly. "Okay, we can look," he agreed, because arguing right now would only escalate things. "But we're gonna do it without you tipping over, yeah?" A small, reassuring half smile. "Team effort."

As he glanced around the sidewalk, he felt that familiar mix of resolve and sadness settle in his gut. This is exactly why I said no, he thought. And exactly why I'm staying. He didn't regret it, not for a second. "We'll find the cigarette, or we won't. Either way, we're not ending the night with you getting hurt." He straightened just enough to meet her eyes again, voice low and steady, something she could latch onto. "One thing at a time, Holiday. Start with standing still with me for ten seconds. We've got nowhere to rush to."

"I'm not going to get hurt Ian" she mumbled, the name of her ex-fiance slipping clumsily past her lips. She tried to catch it, "Adrian" she corrected herself. She exhaled a sharp, frustrated sigh and tried to pull herself into what she thought was a commanding posture. In reality, she was still slumped heavily against the brick. "See" the word rushed out, biting. Her eyes hooded further. "Just find the thing"

"You know what? I think I can manage that." He agreed, readily, pleasantly surprised by her request. He and Holiday had never really spent time together outside of Aquatic Grove, but he was all for the idea. "Yeah, yeah, I'm very lucky. Without your unmatched skills, I'd be doomed to experience the disappointment of another quiet crowd. There's only so many of those a man can take before he starts questioning his ability," he teased back, taking a moment to glance down at his watch, ensuring he still had some time before the show.

"So, where do you usually go for dinner?"

"Suppose it depends on how far you wanna go and what you're in the mood for. I'm not super picky."

When she told him to get less sober, a sad little smile briefly appeared on his face. "Yeah," he said gently, "that's kind of the thing, I'm not looking to be where you are at the moment." He scooted in a tiny bit, still giving her space, but still making sure they were connected. "I think tonight's kinda asking for something a bit quieter than dancing," Adrian said. "I think you might need someone who can keep both feet on the ground."

Her very last question squeezed at his chest. "No," he said again, a little stronger. "I never said I was going anywhere, yet." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I said we weren't going to do anything we'd regret later, big difference." He looked out towards the street, where the air was cooler and the lights weren't so loud. "Let’s get you somewhere calmer," he suggested. "Coffee, water, then a walk." We don't need to make any more decisions tonight." His look got softer. It was like he wanted to watch out for her, but not in a possessive way. "I'm here with you, Holiday. I'm staying put."

"Yet," she bit out, the word vibrating against her teeth. "But you are disa—ing..." She trailed off, her tongue feeling twice its usual size as the words muddled together. She shook her head, a chorus of "Nah, nah, nah, nah" falling out of her mouth as she stumbled back. Her shoulder clipped the wall, but instead of wincing, she let out a dizzy, breathless giggle.

"I think tonight is for chaos, Adrian Sinclair!" She looked down at her hand, blinking at her empty, curled fingers. The cigarette had vanished. "Shit," she hissed, her focus narrowing down to the sidewalk with a desperate, drug-fueled intensity. "Where is it? Help me find it."

He lifted his hand and settled it over hers as her fingers held tight to his jacket. "I like dancing with you," Adrian admitted, honest as ever. "And under different circumstances, I'd probably already be halfway back inside." A breath hung in the air. Then he let it out, steady and low. "But tonight? I don't think I'm the guy who should say yes to that."

He tilted his head toward the street instead of the door, offering an alternative without making it a rejection. "If you want quiet, I'm good for that. Coffee somewhere still open, a walk, sitting and talking like this without the bass rattling your head." His gaze softened. "Something that doesn't feel like tomorrow you might regret it." He met her eyes again, calm, present. "I'm not disappearing, I just want this to land right, for both of us. Besides, if we go back in there, one of us is definitely stepping on the other's foot. I'm too sober to recover gracefully."

"Well maybe" she said, almost completely ignoring his suggestion- the idea disappearing into the fog of her mind. "mayyybe you just need to get not so sober." she inhaled a long shallow breath. Her eyes stared up into his under heavy lids before her brows pushed together with another 'too long to be a normal blink' blink. She followed with a few quick blinks, seeming to bring her back to reality for a moment, "Did you say you're disappearing?"

"Those fish are the real A-Listers around here. I could stare at them forever, they're just...so cool." Cool didn't even begin to cut it. Freddie ducked his head, his smile softening at her response. "We've been working on some new educational material too. So I get to do what I do best and talk everyone's ears off while our buddies in the tank get fed. You're gonna love it. Oh - and please ask questions? Give me a challenge, I need someone to break the ice. The past couple days everyone's been so quiet. Even the kids." While he could play off awkward silences with the best of them, it did but a pit of a damper on his excitement when it felt like the crowd wasn't engaged.

He met Holiday's gaze, standing up straight once more. "Plus, I always like to hear what you're curious about."

The girls smile melted into something more admiring, listening to the way Freddie beamed about the fish. It was endearing, and she found the way he was so in his element to be comforting. A soft laugh at his request to ask him questions in case of the crowd being stale and she nodded "You sir, have got yourself a deal." she replied "On one condition" she added eyeing him for a moment "We go get dinner after your shift. I'm starving."

"You are very lucky I'm good at asking questions" she teased, elbowing his arm gently. "I will save the day."

That flat note in her voice - he recognized it right away. A small nod came, nothing more. She wasn't keeping secrets, but she wasn't handing out details either. He gave it space. Adrian spoke without rushing. "Fine by me," he said. "Sometimes 'good' is all there is to say."

At the mention of the Lucerna party, his mouth curved into something knowing. "It was… exactly what you're imagining," he admitted. "Big night. Full house, fireworks, champagne, the whole fresh start illusion." He glanced back toward the door, then returned his attention to her. "You would've enjoyed it, or at least enjoyed leaving halfway through." His gaze softened, curious but not pressing. "You sticking around out here long," Adrian asked, "or just borrowing the quiet before diving back in?"

When he asked her plans, she pushed herself off the wall and slowly closed the remaining distance between them. Her hands gently gripping at the edges of Adrian's jacket as she tipped her head to look up at him, any and all inhibition completely gone. "I dunno" she said tugging against the fabric to pull him closer. "We could go in and you could dance with me." she tipped her head the opposite way as if a visual representation of the other option. "Or we can go hang out somewhere else." She gave him the options like there was no others, not even considering that he may not want to hang around her.

He took another drag, exhaled slowly, watching the smoke disappear into the cold night air. "Yeah," he added, nodding toward the door behind them. "It's a lot in there tonight, feels like the walls are inching closer every song. I needed the air before I started regretting all my life choices."

Back against the wall, he shifted into the same stance as Holiday, close but not too near. A pause settled as his eyes traced her features, slow and deliberate. "I'm fine," Adrian replied, his voice calm. "Just taking a breath. How about you?"

She took a long pull from her cigarette, the end lighting brighter for just a split second, nodding slowly at his comment. "It is a lot in there right now" she agreed. Ashing the cigarette she shrugged at his question. "Been good." she replied simply, there was nothing to report on, nothing worth mentioning anyways. "I heard you had a big party over at Lucerna. Too bad I missed it" she tipped her head gently, letting the brunette curls fall over her shoulder. "I know the kind of parties you throw" she grinned, a mischievousness played behind the expression.

He hadn't been to any clubs in town, and he had no intention of starting to go now. Too many people, too much noise, too many opportunities for overstimulation and paranoia. Alexios passed Super Nova, planning to bypass the music throbbing against its walls. As always, though, he took note of the people he passed—including Holiday, searching for a cigarette.

He slowed, coming to a stop a few feet away from her. Alexios unzipped his leather jacket and reached into one of the inside pockets. He emerged victorious a few moments later, Marlboro Reds and lighter in hand. He had kicked a lot of vices over the years, but not this one. He'd grown up around smokers, came from a country full of them—his last name may as well have been Karelia. He wasn't above smoking the occasional cigarette to calm his nerves.

She inhaled as it sparked and exhaled a smooth stream from between her lips. "Thank you" she said finally, she leaned against the wall, letting it hold all of her weight and blinked a few times before answering his question. "I've been wonderful, as always." It was a lie, but whether or not just didn't want to admit it or she was so engulfed in the feeling she had now- it didn't matter. "How about yourself?" she asked taking another drag from her cigarette. "Were you inside?" she asked pointing over her shoulder, her brows knit together just slightly as she knew he wasn't much of a club goer.