out of ashes

That was a given, or should have been, Katya was sure there were probably more than a few young Fae who drank more than they should. The brunette took a good look at the other, raising a brow at her next words, “You make a good point, perhaps we should stay here, to guard it…yknow incase kids try to sneak some.”

~

“Yes, I’m glad you agree.” She shot the other woman a smile, leaning her back against the table that the dispenser was placed upon. Looking around and seeing the bonfire where people have been mingling with one another and being merry, reminded her of her pack. It left a throb in her heart. One that she tries to actively shove at the back of her mind. “How long have you been in Baron Hollow?” She asked, glancing at her before keeping her eyes looking far away.

“Is there anyone here who would want to do this sober?!” She was genuinely surprised, though she wasn’t sure if it was that people enjoyed this stuff sober or that there was someone else who would rather not just like her. Pouring herself a glass, Katya took a drink with a small nod of approval, “Not bad actually.”

-

“Kids probably. Not that they can drink.” Hyacinth nodded, agreeing to the woman. Even though the alcohol does help, she’s had a good time. People aren’t approaching her so much unless she started the conversation. No drunken men that needed their groping hands broken. “Isn’t it? This is why I’m staying right next to it. Wouldn’t want to run out before I pass out.”

Milo let out a gentle laugh when the woman said how it looked. He knew how he looked. He looked like an utter disaster. “I work here,” He explained. “But I get how you might think otherwise. It’s not as bad as it looks.” He tried to tell her, despite his head pounding.  

-

“Okay...” She said, not entirely believing him. Not one bit. “Oh you do? Law enforcement. Nice.” Hyacinth nodded approvingly. She raised a brow at him, as if daring him. “So if I poke your face you won’t flinch? Let’s try it.”

     “It’s warm at the very least…but it definitely seemed like a better idea when it was just that. I can be a little clumsy” he shrugged weakly. “I get that a lot, baby face and all that” he shrugged again, unphased. He had certainly had worse thrown his way, he could easily let that roll right off of him. 

“Well, I love fall so I love the chill. No summer for me. I’d rather not have my skin melt off of my body.” Hyacinth grinned and then joked, “Should I even ask why you’re still out at this hour? No curfew? But seriously I mean looking young has its cons. Drinking is definitely a con. I’m sure there’s perks in it somewhere. Getting a discount in the theatre? I don’t know what else, kid, I’m blanking.” 

     “Oh? Oh” Atticus rose a brow, between the stranger and the dispenser for a moment before removing the cup he’d retrieved for himself. “Not a big drinker…but I hope you are successful in that” he smiled sincerely. It was true. Atticus was a huge lightweight, and seeing as he was a danger magnet, or at least that’s what it felt like at times, mixing that with alcohol next to a bonfire seemed like a bad idea. 

“Thanks. I find the bonfire surprisingly dull. The only upside is this spiked drink. And the pumpkin cider. It’s got a kick.” Shrugging, Hyacinth spoke once more. “No offence but you kinda look like you shouldn’t be drinking anyway.”

Tanya was just about to take a sip of her pumpkin drink when she heard the voice telling her what happened to it. She had work the next day so decided not to drink. “Well you are more than welcome to have mine, I haven’t drank any of it yet.”She said offering her drink to her.

“Sure thing.” Hyacinth took the drink and downed it right in front of the other. The pumpkin cider did absolutely nothing to her to get her at least tipsy. So she refilled again. “So, enjoying yourself so far?”

“Unless you’re planning on getting drunk, you must know that pumpkin drink is spiked.” Hyacinth said standing next to the dispenser. “And since I am planning on getting drunk, here I am.”

“Luckily for you darling, flow is all i know. see what i did there?” cyrus smiled leaning forward. “SO first thing is first,” he said two glasses of wine appearing in his hand. “can’t be sober.” he shook his head. Cyrus;’ may have been a borderline functioning alcoholic. but at least he was a fun one. “So can i ask you something personal? Call it curiosity.” 

Chuckling, Hyacinth nodded. “Can’t be sober. Got it.” Confusion was on her face, “I haven’t even drank yet, but sure. Although I can choose not to say anything because I’m still sober.” Smiling she took a small sip of her wine.

     “It’s taking a toll on you,” he tried reasoning with the other werewolf. The look in her eyes wasn’t the only evidence of his statement and they both knew it. Dante’s own tragedies taxed him the same, although, he had found a coping mechanism in pretending that they didn’t. How could someone come out of watching their family slaughtered in front of them without trauma? No matter how much he tried to act like he was fine, he had his moments just as Hyacinth was having now. The touch of someone who knew that type of pain was comforting, especially when Jade refused to talk to him about it. “There was nothing you could have done. Fighting would have only got you killed, Flower.” The nickname came out soft - softer than anything that sounded like it could come from the man. Reaching out, his fingertips inched up her arm, lightly grazing her skin. “You did what you could and that’s all you can expect from yourself. Running was the only choice you had.”

“Like I said, I’ll stop when you do too.” It wasn’t an easy bargain, they both knew that. It was hard to just let go and just pretend it didn’t happen. Dante was better off in pretending it didn’t. But it was apparent on how he talks to humans that makes it as if it’s bursting at the seams. Every time she closed her eyes she could see all the blood, hear all the screams, feel all the pain. Sleep had become far in between that she’s been running on coffee for the past few days. “No, you don’t know that. I know I could’ve done something — anything.” I could’ve died with them. Should’ve. He didn’t need to hear her say it out loud, it was already written all over her face.

“And you? Do you really think you did all you could?” She let out a sigh, her hands fidgeting, something she has always done when anxious. Which recently, had been a lot. Chewing the bottom of her lip, the fidgeting, was something she didn’t know she would ever do. Hyacinth was always in control of herself. Ever so sure of herself that nothing was going to get the better of her. But now, she’s starting to build walls, a plan to shut people out. It was easier that way. She wouldn’t get anyone hurt. Even Dante, who had become her confidante, a friend - a something in her life that she couldn’t risk being so close with. Trying to distract him from the tears that was threatening to fall down her face she asked, “Don’t you have Alpha duties to tend to? Far more important things than being here.”

“how about for once, we simply go with the flow?” he suggested, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “they do say trouble seems to find me after all.”

“And you didn’t learn from that experience?” He made a ‘hmm’ sound as he rolled the thought around silently to himself. But faes were tricksters and they had a way of getting what they wanted. Obviously this werewolf, Hyacinth, found it more amusing then he did. “Yeah, all bark and no bite for the most part. I got it.” Chase was ovviously unamused by her attempt at mocking him and simply it had been a mistake of the wrong time and wrong place. It was sometimes hard to see in shades of grey, but not every supernatural he crossed was out to do harm. Barton Hollow was supposed to be the place of amicable peace. He pointed back behind her, “Out the alleyway, down four blocks on the right hand side.” He said as easily as someone who had been their his whole life. “I work at the sheriff’s department, its my job to know where the bars are and what trouble might come out of them.”

“I’m actually more of a briefs man, but now that I know you’ve taken an interest.” He bit back. Chase had no idea how that all equated to him being new in town, but the fact she pinpointed the full moon, he logically made the connection. “Werewolves.” he rolled his eyes at the nuisance. “Hyacinth?” He repeated her name. “Preferring your middle name or not, do you just go around and tell every handsome stranger in back alleyways your name?” He queried with a smirk. “Well, if you tell me why you are, I’ll tell you mine. Why were you following me? Or did I just happen to get lucky?”

Chase’s scoffed in response to being told to calm down; he didn’t let his guard down even as his gaze fell onto the brunette who wasn’t making any attempt to hide. “Lull me into a false sense of security and what, bite my head off? Sink sharp fangs into the side of my neck. No thanks.” He was only human after all; he had no supernatural ability to know what kind of thing each person was on the creatures that go bump in the night scale. You trained like every one was the enemy and that’s how you stayed alive. “Yeah, I’m not that concerned. I can take of myself just fine.” A stated matter of fact. “If I was going to mug someone, I don’t think I’d stand around talking to them first.”