I KNOW THE END.

The honesty takes Seth aback. He was not prepared for the woman to just outright tell him that she wanted to have sex. It’s not like it wasn’t… welcome. However, it was an interesting confession in any sense. A soft smirk rises on his lips as he stares at his own drink in his hand for a moment. He chuckles to himself for a moment before looking over at Liv. “Dunno who the fuck that guy is and dunno who the fuck you are hangin’ out with. I ain’t heard anyone but fuckin’ grandmas and desperate chicks try and call it that,” he scoffs, a bit confused who the fuck the woman was hanging out with. Clearly, not the right people, even though she was somehow under Club protection but not fucking one of them. There’s no way one of his fucking members would call shit ‘making love’. It practically makes him gag at the thought. “Sure know how t’pick ‘em, eh?”

He’s not sure if this is all a desperate ploy to head back to his place or if she’s really just typically that open with strangers but either way, Seth bites. “Was gonna say, you’d better say you like the place when you’re talkin’ to the fuckin’ owner or I’d be happy to show you the fuckin’ door.” he reminds her, unsure if she actually knew that he was the owner but it makes Seth puff out his chest for her, pompous over his accomplishment. “Yeah, course I fish and hunt. You ain’t look like the type but seein’ as you’re not good at it, I guess that makes more sense,” he teases, raising an eyebrow as he sips on his drink.

❋

Bluntness, over time, has become a way for Liv to diverge from true honesty. She wasn’t one to open up, the notion alone made her uncomfortable. But crude bluntness was just the right amount of openness for her. It alluded to her nature, the true nature of who she was. Not the best, not the worst. Somewhere in the middle. For a moment, she wonders where Seth lies on the spectrum. Bad, good, or right in the middle. 

“I’m a loser magnet, then. Introduce me to some horny non-losers, since you know so many.” The blonde jokes, a laugh weaving through her words. Probably the first sincere one all night. Her eyes look to her drink once more before darting back towards Seth. The term desperate chicks certainly captures her attention, “You endure a lot of desperate chicks, Seth? You bragging or something?”

The profanities that ooze from him next earn more laughter from her, then a shake of her head. Another generous sip of her beer comes next, eyes surveying the bar around them. One man almost tips over, cackling like The Joker as he just about hits the ground. “This what you always wanted to do? Own a bar and be a biker?” The blonde asks sincerely, head canting to the side as she looks towards the man beside her once more. 

Cue more laughter, “What do you mean I don’t look like the type? I never said I was bad. I’m tough as fuck. Weren’t you taught not to make assumptions about others?” Liv teases, the booze starting to get to her a little. But, it was fun. More fun than she’s had in what feels like ages. A sigh sounds from her then, a content one, finishing off her beer. “Another one, please,” She says to the bartender that passes who, who then sends her a wink, grabbing her a new beer. “So, you like it here? In Olympus, I mean.”

where: the watering hole who: open

“ — how the fuck was I supposed to know that you guys have a fifteen dollar credit card limit? It’s not like y’all have a sign,” the raven-haired woman raised an eyebrow at the clerk who’d been eyeing her since the moment she walked up into this stupid sports bar. Helena had gotten used to getting those kinds of judgmental looks since she stepped out of prison and back into society, but was finding it more and more difficult to not let it affect her. Taking a deep breath to collect herself, Helena peered up at the ceiling before setting her gaze back on the woman behind the bar. “Look, okay — I have some change in my bag, just give me a sec…” she trailed off, hyper-aware of the crowd that was forming behind her as she frantically dug through her coat for a couple of dollar bills.

❋

Everything about motherhood would always surprise Liv. There are days where she feels completely helpless. Today was one of those days. Her eldest, Megan, seems to be going through a bout of puberty. She’s insecure about certain things. The acne that’s beginning to clutter her forehead and the hair under her arms. Liv does what she can to console her but nothing seems to work entirely. Liv was simply terrible at this. So much so that she takes the day to drink and collect herself as the sitter watches her girls.

The blonde is on her second beer when the commotion beside her ensues. Her eyes avert to the source, watching as the women in question looks through her jacket pockets for some money. By some stroke of sudden kindness, Liv reaches into her wallet and plucks out a couple dollars, sliding it over to the dark-haired woman. “Here, my treat,” She says, turning towards her fully. Really, Liv was shallow, she does it because she thinks the woman is pretty. Pretty people seem to be one of her weaknesses. “You alright?” Liv asks then, head canting to the side. “Here, let me buy you another drink. What’s your poison?”

‎

He maintains a hard glare trained at his sister even when she denies any such cahooting with his boyfriend. It’s strange to think of Danny that way, and it’s stranger that he thinks that it’s strange. The two had parted on unclear terms and though neither of them were ready to admit it, the last couple of months had been hell for their relationship. Not to mention, the involvement of few (several) unstable variables makes things a lot more complicated than he and Danny or Liv could ever currently imagine.

“Whatever.” He backs down from his accusations mostly because Liv doesn’t deserve them, not when she’s so graciously cooked for them tonight, though he’s not ready to dismiss them altogether. She insists for him to take a seat so they can properly talk, and somehow, he has trouble deciding between which is worse: an ambush from Danny, the man whose proposal he rejected right before moving to Louisiana or an ambush conversation about said man with his dear tvilling who, despite good intentions, isn’t known for such vulnerability.

With no Danny in sight, he supposes there’s nothing to compare one to the other with, and so with a sigh, he moves around the table and pulls up a chair as she prepares their impromptu wine glasses, one with a cartoon character print and the other that says DRAMA QUEEN in big, bold pink lettering.

Unwittingly, and in a most ironic fashion, he grabs the latter.

“Grab a machete and crack my head open. Maybe you’ll get what you want from me.” The words are murmured into the rim of the mug before he takes a sip. Instantly, the guilt turns into a bitter aftertaste on the bed of his tongue.

“…sorry.”

Like a scolded child, he cups both hands around the mug, turning it in the same place as he fidgets. “I just… don’t know what to make of all this? What does he expect me to do? It’s been months, Liv. How was I supposed to know he still—”

Loves him? Thinks of him?

“—wants to see me?”

He can’t look at Liv then, because it’s really less about that and more of the few or several unstable variables. For the sake of keeping it together at the moment, he only refers to them in his mind as things that have to do with Oliver Stone and Adrian Hendrix and things to do with what he does with them behind barns and in the dark.

❋

The response to her sudden openness was expected. It’s common knowledge that Liv was usually quite stiff and unwilling. She hasn’t even mentioned the disappearance of her husband to be, one Hallen knew vaguely, and she’s been in Olympus for about two years. She simply wouldn’t budge. But something about the way her brother has been drowning within his own sorrow kicks her instincts into high gear. Instincts she wasn’t even aware she obtained, for that matter.

One hand reaches out to take the last standing mug, pouring a generous amount of wine into the cup before setting the bottle down once more. She decides not to speak. Not yet, anyway. For now, she wants to listen, mainly because she assumes that’s what most people want when they’re asked what’s going on with them. To be heard and listened to. Liv didn’t want Hallen to feel like he was all alone with his problems. Not anymore.

“I’m gonna ignore your little comment, smartass,” Liv says with a chuckle, sipping at her wine as she continues to listen intently to what her twin has to say. 

At his words, Liv can’t help but purse her lips, head canting to the side. “That’s ridiculous, Hallen. He loves you. Why wouldn’t he want to see you? Sure, you two didn’t exactly end things on...good terms, but...maybe he’s just trying to get back on track..” Not the best advice, but the blonde certainly tries. “Danny’s a good one. That’s hard to come by. What’s really scaring you?” 

That’s when her mind wanders, landing on the man she’s seen Hallen hanging around for the last few weeks. The one that talks too much and has a smile so bright it annoys her. “Is this about the other man? The one that talks too much? I can’t remember his name..” She sighs, “I saw you guys talking at the festival. At the dunk tank. Your face was doing that thing where it tries to fight a smile. Mom used to say you always did that, even as a kid..”

‎

When Liv schedules dinner for them that week at her place, he’s relieved that he doesn’t have to cook this time. Frankly, he hasn’t really been in the mood to do anything but get take out on the way home from work, so maybe something that isn’t deep fried and oozing with saturated fat would be nice for a change.

He doesn’t dress up because they never do, not to these things, so he shows up in his favorite grey hoodie layered with a black polyester jacket and some jeans. He looks slightly younger, although the lines on his face do not lie. He rings the doorbell once, twice, thrice, though he’s sure Liv had heard the first one. He just likes to make sure. A force of habit.

He frowns at his sister’s greeting the bottle of wine he was just about to offer before she curses playfully at him. “Well, fuck you, too. I brought some vino.” He moves past the door and closes it behind him, shrugging his jacket off by the coat rack. “The girls in?” He didn’t get the chance to give them their bracelets since he bolted so quickly from the barn that night. The living room looks tidy enough, so he can only assume either she put them to bed early or sent them off to a friend’s house. He follows Liv to the kitchen where he sets the wine down on the table. “Is this what tonight’s about? You interrogating me about Danny? Is he gonna show? Did you two set this up?” He perches himself on the edge of the dining table behind his sister. “‘cause that’s not cool, sis.”

❋

One look at Hallen makes Liv soften. His demeanor seems younger, more fragile. She silently can’t help but wonder if Danny’s arrival had something to do with this sudden change. In truth, that’s probably why she asks so bluntly, especially since neither of them were experts in the art of opening up. So, she takes the plunge regardless and hopes Hallen braces for impact without a warning.

The blonde heads back over to the pot of mashed potatoes, stirring the contents before removing it from the burner. She looks back at her brother for a brief moment, “They’re in the back watching a movie. They wanted to stay up so they can see you.” Liv says, eyebrows arching upwards before turning back towards the oven. She opens it to check on the steak before allowing it to close once more, turning back towards Hallen. “First of all, I’m insulted that you think I’d ever do that..” She says, lifting a finger, “He’s not here, for the record. It’s just me, you, and the girls. I wouldn’t do something that fucked up.” 

Deep down, Liv loathed not knowing what’s going on with her brother and she wished terribly that she knew a smoother transition into doing so. But, nothing ever comes. Her emotions always leave her stranded and all Liv can do is stare at them from a distance and do whatever her impulse desires. 

With that, Liv pads to a drawer beside her stove, plucking the wine opener from inside. Before heading over to the dining table, she removes two mugs from the overhead cabinet, “No wine glasses. Movers broke ‘em on accident during the move.” Go figure. “Come on, sit. Tell me what’s going on. I know we’re not...good at that but, I wanna try.”

The thing was, Seth hadn’t been joking. Her hired protection from the Club didn’t mean that he felt one way or another about her, a very limited relationship bonding them. Either way, he disregards the statement. Those that have to say they are not good company, probably want too much attention for Seth to give them, at least so he thinks. Dark eyes watch the man, wondering how long until the man talks too much, ending in him getting a fist to the jaw or a gun to the temple. The man wouldn’t last long, not with these sorts of people. “Don’t think he’ll get very long,” Seth agrees, his eyes coming back to the bar. The cigarette that burns between the two of them creates a nagging sensation in the back of his own throat. How long had it been since his cigarette break? The bar had been so busy, which has now calmed down, leaving the craving behind. “Yeah, well, folks don’t ever fuckin’ know when to shut up,” Seth says, pouring himself a drink before making his way around the bar to sit down next to her for a quick break.

“Plenty’a things to do ‘round here for fun. Just depends on what kinda fun you’re lookin’ for,” Seth tells her, an eyebrow raising toward the woman. He pulls out his own pack of smokes, sliding one between his lips and lighting it. Breathing deep, he smirks over to the woman. “‘Mean you found the only fun bar in this fuckin’ town. Guess I ride with my Club a lot. ‘S one of the most fun things we got ‘round here. Got the gyms now that they ain’t in pieces. Got fishin’ ‘n’ huntin’ and rodeos and shit too.” All those things were fun to Seth, although they may not be the same for her. “All that fails, drink ‘til it’s fun.”

❋

For a moment, Liv decides to just listen to Seth speak. Despite yearning for a taste of comfortable silence, she supposes embarking in casual conversation wasn’t doing any harm. Truth be told, she had only asked him the previous question just to be polite. She would have felt weird if she sipped away at her beer and stared at the wall like he wasn’t even there. Sure, she wasn’t the best person, but perhaps she had at least one polite bone in her body.

Another drag of her cigarette comes then, eyes looking to the wall behind Seth before back towards him. “Depends on what kinda fun I’m looking for...” Liv says, echoing Seth’s own words. One hand reaches over to flick some ash into a nearby ashtray, pursing her lips in thought as her eyes wander. “I wanna have sex.” The blonde confesses, looking to Seth once more, “I wanna have sex and I wanna have sex with a man who doesn’t call it making love ‘cause I think that’s kinda dumb. Why does everyone call it that these days?” Just saying it in that statement made her skin crawl. She had no problem admitting that. “That guy over there, he calls it that,” Liv says, nodding to the anxious man that now heads for the exit as predicted. “I said we should head to his place and he said he doesn’t make love on the first date.” 

That’s when she turns towards the busy bar once more, watching as people mingle and dance. It was a fun bar, probably the only fun one in town. She’ll give Seth that. “You fish and hunt?” She can’t help but ask, a chuckle sounding from inside her throat. “This is a fun bar, by the way, you’re not wrong. A little raunchy, but fun. I like it.” Another sip of her beer, “Anyway, the last time I went fishing I slipped on the dock and got six splinters in my ass. Caught a giant one, though. So, it was worth it.”

He really hadn’t been around the clubhouse lately, and figured that it was time to pop in. Not that it was his job or anything, but y’know, he liked to make an appearance and hang with any members that were around. Turning towards Liv, Wes smiled. He didn’t wanna tell her he was scared as shit. He knew good dad’s, look at Andy for example, and he wasn’t sure he’d be able to live up to the same expectations. Being just an uncle was a lot different than being a dad, “As ready as I’ll ever be,” He admitted, “I heard parenthood’s pretty hard, though. What do you think?” He knew she probably would know from personal experience. “What are you doin’ around here?”

❋

Being deeply scared of parenthood is something Liv knew well. Even now, she was still wary of her methods as a mother. She often doubted herself which reflected onto her daughters. In truth, Liv wasn’t the greatest mother. What matters was that she tried and she loved her daughters more than anyone and anything. She can sense a bit of nervousness from Wes, which is expected. Liv decides not to pry just yet. “It’s hard as fuck,” The blonde says with a laugh, nodding towards a table in the corner of the clubhouse. She signals for Wes to sit with her, “It hard but it’s worth it. What’re you most nervous about?” 

At his question, Liv can’t help but shrug. Her eyes anxiously move to the nearest window, surveying outside before allowing her gaze to fall upon Wes once more. “I, um, I needed to clear some things up. Club things..” By now, she’s aware that her protection deal with the club might be common knowledge among the members. Though talking about it was hard. Liv equates it to revealing weakness. “Hey, when did you learn to shoot a gun? If you don’t mind me asking.”

Inviting Hallen over for dinner was nothing new. Tuesday was their usual day, the one the girls always prepared for each week. Liv does what she can to prepare a decent dinner but everyone knew that Hallen was the cook of the family. She makes a basic steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans on the side. It’s nothing fancy and both the mashed potatoes and green beans are from a bag, but that was enough for Liv.

Once there’s a knock at the door, Liv wipes her hands against a dish towel and jogs over to the front of her home. As she opens the door, she gets right to the point, “Fuck you, dude,” The blonde says with a quiet chuckle, “Were you gonna tell me that Danny was in town? I looked so bad when I ran into him at the hospital.” She states, heading back towards the kitchen, nodding for her brother to follow. “What’s going on with you? You usually tell me this shit.”

STARTER FOR: @livmacmillan​ WHERE: olympus medical center

First day back and he’s already running errands for his mom—he can’t say he’s surprised, though. Danny agreed to take care of a few things for her but at the same time, he’s trying to be careful to not run into Hallen. Though the other already knows he’s in town, thank to his mom’s big mouth, Danny still wants to wait until this afternoon, keep at least a tiny portion of his original plan intact. Fingers crossed he actually gets there.

Running into Liv, though, that’s a surprise he wasn’t prepared for. He’d heard she and her daughters were here as well but he wasn’t anticipating to run into her this fast. “Hey stranger,” he plasters a smile onto his face at the sight of the woman. “Jesus, I haven’t seen you in forever. How are you?”

.

Chaos always found Liv and Hallen. It was sewn into their fate as twins and humans. There was never a dull moment, every piece of them sprouting new weeds into the ground of their own misfortune. Though running into familiar faces, or familiar ghosts, was something new. Mostly because this ghost wasn’t drenched in that unfortunate sorrow or greed. Danny was welcomed, a kind man. Liv has always liked him and it’s obvious that Hallen has too, despite all his convictions. 

“Oh my God,” Liv breathes out, her hands reaching up to touch her chest, having almost jumped at the sight of him. By now, Danny was mostly aware that Liv wasn’t exactly the hugging type. Neither was Hallen. For a moment, she thinks she should hug him for the sake of doing so, something to remind him that she was still human. Though she barely feels human most days. As usual, she refrains, keeping her hands close as her expression morphs into a mixture of shock and glee. “I’m good, fine. Working here now. As a nurse, if you can believe that.” The blonde says, one hand reaching out to swat the air, signaling towards the hospital. “Jesus..what are you doing here..?” She trails off, getting another look at him, “Have you, um, have you seen Hallen yet?”

Being stood up was not the way Liv wanted to spend her evening. She’s been staring at her glass of water for ages now, watching as the water stills and then moves again when someone passes her silent table. In truth, Liv could care less about the man who stood her up. She’d been playing him from the beginning. It’s the principle that counts, the idea that someone had the fucking nerve to do this to her, even if she was bound to use the man in question. And to think she was trying to stay sober for the date too. Fuck this guy. “A bottle of wine, please. Anything red that you have.” She says to a waitress at the table beside her who nods politely and pads away to get Liv’s request.

Once it arrives, she drinks alone. Something out of an old folk song. It looks a tad pathetic from afar but Liv tries to own it. Not very well, but at least there’s an effort. Across the way, in the distance, she notices a woman with sharp features. She looks like a Disney villain. Pointy brows, high cheekbones, skinny frame. Attractive. The woman walks around the restaurant examining, it seems. Liv can only assume she’s the owner or a manager of some sort. “You own this place?” Liv asks as the dark-haired woman circles her way around and is just close enough, “It’s nice.”

Another child being brought into existence within Olympus. Liv can’t help but wonder if raising a child here was even a good idea. Even she had her worries despite already being settled in this town. There was no going back now, it seems. Perhaps nobody in Olympus was meant for a life with ease. Which is probably why Liv fit in here so well, a missing puzzle piece. 

The blonde was just wandering through the clubhouse, approaching the exit. She was there for reasons she didn’t exactly want to dwell on. If someone were to ask, she’d make up some excuse and not tell them how she saw a suspicious car that she swore was following her. Paranoia was her most notable trait these days. It’s buried under her skin, coursing through her bloodstream. Seeing Wes was a welcomed distraction, a subtle smile gracing her expression as she nods to him, “Congrats, man,” She says, “You ready for fatherhood?”

A free day meant play-dates for Liv’s daughters. Or, a play-date for Julia while Megan slumped in the corner with her cellphone. She wasn’t even sure if giving Megan a phone so young was the responsible idea, but it keeps her teenage daughter entertained and busy and she supposes that’s what matters. 

Nimble fingers pick at her torn jeans as she watches Julia and Maddie play. Robot Princesses, apparently. Rowan Thane was a new friend, truth be told, someone she’s known but has never had the guts to approach. Perhaps because she was embarrassed, embarrassed of her situation and how she once slept with a club member and then had to ask for protection from them. 

Or maybe she was cautious at the prospect of her own approach at motherhood. Liv wasn’t the greatest mother but she tries. She didn’t have a lot of money and she didn’t have a lot of experience, even with a thirteen year old. Rowan was a natural mother, her maternal instincts were undeniable. Meanwhile, Liv was lacking in that area. “You’re really good with them,” Liv says with a smile, reaching down to pick up a toy that falls to the ground in the yard. “Seriously. You were made for this. Those kids are lucky. Andrew too.” 

Seth’s been minding his own business— laying low, to put it one way. Following Delphine’s departure from Olympus, he’s been a little bitter to say the least. It seems like every time he turns around, the woman he’s fucking at the time disappears into thin air. The sting of Del’s departure isn’t quite the same as Emmeline’s, the fact is that he didn’t and couldn’t care for Del the way he did Emme. That pain was something much deeper rather than bitter. For now, he decides to busy himself with the bar, sipping drinks from behind the bar. It’s something he’s always frowned upon for his bartenders but when you own the bar, no one is going to tell you no. He serves one drink, he drinks one drink. Back and forth, till he’s feeling a bit… less than sober. 

The bar just keeps filling up and that’s when he spots Liv at the bar and she’s talking, which he only half listens to. Given that they were supposed to protect her, well, he’s definitely not the one putting his neck on the line to do so. It was a request of another member, something that he won’t disobey but her requesting him to make her sound like a disgusting bitch— well, he’s not much of an actor. Doesn’t seem like he’ll need to be either. “I’m sure it’s not,” Seth smirks. His eyes linger to the man that he’s assuming that she’s talking about. He’s seen him around town but it’s not someone that Seth recognizes as a frequent Dive-goer. “Why you avoidin’ him? Afraid he wants to put a ring on your finger?” he asks, chuckling beneath his breath. “He ain’t a Dive-kinda-guy.”

.

While she didn’t know Seth well, she was aware that he has his own sets of misfortunes. Everyone in the club did, as well as every person in this town. It wasn’t hard to miss. When it came to the people of Olympus, Liv has learned, that their problems were sewn somewhere onto their skin. A little like the leather cuts these bikers wear, a symbol for suffering. Liv hasn’t quite figured out what her symbol might be, what her piece is that’s sewn onto her body. Perhaps hers was a simple open flesh wound, her sour personality, and endless wrongdoings doing the work for her. She didn’t need a metaphorical piece in order to signify her bad ordeals. She was the bad ordeal. 

A chuckle sounds from her then, the sound paired with another drag of her cigarette, “I don’t think you know me well enough then,” Liv teases in return though she’s stating the truth. Most eventually learn that Liv wasn’t great company. Her poor fiance hadn’t learned soon enough, wherever he may be. The prospect of a ring on her finger earns another chuckle, her eyes going wide. “Jesus, I hope not..” Besides, she was still technically engaged. Though her soon to be husband has been missing for two years now, presumed dead. His family was still fighting the righteous fight when it came to his return but Liv has accepted the odds. To her, he was nothing but dead. 

“You’re right about that, at least. He’s a talker. He wouldn’t survive fifteen minutes in this bar. He’ll leave soon, I just have to hope he doesn’t spot me.” With that, she turns back around, facing her drink and the bar. “I wish people knew when to shut up.” A random thought, though it correlates. A swig of her drink comes next before the blonde turns to Seth once more, “So, what do you do here for fun?” Fun. Yeah right, Liv.

Even with the risk of sounding cruel, Liv wasn’t very bright. As far as her education goes, she was borderline mediocre. You would have never seen her sporting a medal or going to special classes for the smarter, more ahead students. She was, as stated, mediocre, and the term still stands. Her knowledge for most things seem to dwindle even more as she gets older, especially as her daughters seem to be learning more than her at school as the days go by. They often come home with homework that Liv doesn’t have a single clue how to crack or figure out with ease. Thankfully, Julia was still so young, only four. Her work was simple. Her oldest was another story.

So, that brings her here, trying to muster enough knowledge about the history of Olympus for Megan’s book report. Megan, Liv’s oldest, was quite intelligent and Liv isn’t sure where she gets it from. She assumes her father but Liv doesn’t like dwelling on him for too long. Not when she can avoid it at all costs. As she continues to look around, her gaze soon lands on Ryder, a club member who has helped her ever since she came to town. He was young but mighty, willing to protect her before anyone else would. She appreciate him deeply despite being bad at showing it, “Hey, Ryder,” The blonde says with a subtle grin, adjusting the strap of her purse against her shoulder, “You up for giving me a history lesson on Olympus? My oldest daughter is starting to realize that her mom is as dumb as a rock.”

Nice guys bother her. By now, Liv has accepted that she was simply a bad person. Maybe not to her core. Perhaps her heart truly had good intentions but her execution was just poor. But until she gets to the bottom of her murky personality, she’ll withhold her steady and most plausible assumption that she was just shitty. 

It’s her first date since moving to Olympus and she should be having a good time. He’s taken her out to dinner and keeps complimenting her. But it makes Liv sick. By the time the date ends she’s telling him she’ll call him but she knows she actually won’t. She’ll leave him stranded as she usually did. It’s better than seeing him and than endlessly cheating like she did with her ex. Once again, shitty person.

After the date, she heads to The Dive, somewhere she feels safe, mostly because she knew she would be surrounded by bikers who have been hired to protect her from her abusive older brother. She pushes the door open, the smell of smoke and whiskey being the first thing to hit her nostrils. It’s a welcomed scent as well as a welcomed atmosphere. Liv pads towards the bar, plucking her pack of cigarettes from her bag. She adjusts her bra like nobody’s watching and sits down on the nearest stool, “Beer, please. Whichever you have.” The blonde says casually, her body turning. A loud crash comes from the corner of the bar. Someone must have thrown something. A quiet chuckle sounds from Liv before she shakes her head, minding her business. Her gaze soon travels to the dancers and the ones who take various men into the back, “Must be one hell of a paycheck.” Liv says to the nearest person, brows furrowed. She takes a long drag of her cigarette before turning towards the man beside her. That’s when her previous date walks in, looking like a confused puppy, “Jesus Christ,” Liv says, attempting to hide her face, “If that guy over there asks for me, make me seem like the most disgusting bitch on the planet, if you can. Don’t worry, it’s not that far-fetched, anyway.”

Being late for work wasn’t exactly a rare thing for Liv. There was always some excuse, most of which being factual, and most of them involved her daughters. Not having a steady sitter yet, she’s constantly wondering where to put them when she has a long shift. You’d think she could just drop them off at Hallen’s and call it a day. But, no, not while he’s working. She wouldn’t do that. Hell, he’s law enforcement, for crying out loud. Liv wasn’t stupid enough to mess with his schedule.

So, here she was, dropping her children off at the little daycare center. Megan is pissed about this as she’s thirteen years old and believes she could babysit her younger sibling herself. “I can’t leave you home alone that long, Megan, and you know that.” Liv says once more, gathering her things, “The day will go by fast, I promise. Just...I don’t know, play with the other kids. Mentor them. Watch your sister. They have snacks too, so..” With that, the blonde leans down to kiss Megan’s head and then Julia’s. “I’ll be back, okay?” She turns then, running towards her scheduled destination. It’s currently noon so, everyone was on lunch, which gives Liv some time to wind down before starting her day. 

It’s nice to see a familiar face once she heads into the large cafeteria. Liv wasn’t good at friends so she wasn’t quite sure if she could even call Teagan a friend. But, she was someone, regardless. Someone she knows, someone she speaks to. “Hey,” Liv says, smiling as she sits down beside her, putting her things down onto the ground beside her. “How is it today? I’m hoping Sandra doesn’t have my head for being a little late.” The blonde says with a laugh, settling into her spot, “Hey, do you know anything about children’s birthday parties by any chance?”

Harlow gave the male a grimace when he handed over a corona she hadn’t asked for but he’d mistakenly poured for her. Groaning slightly, she walked around in an attempt to get rid of the drink. Half tempted to just head to the garbage can, the decision only changed when she crossed paths with someone who seemed empty handed. “I got an extra drink that I haven’t touched. I wanted another beer and he mistakenly poured a corona,” Her nose wrinkled, visibly disgusted by it. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the taste but she’d gotten sick one time and it had been enough to turn her off of it. “It’s all yours if you want it.”

.

After walking around with her daughters for a while, watching them laugh and play games, she decides to let them wander on their own as she goes for a smoke break. To her surprise, her evening was turning out much better than she expected. She anticipated bouts of panic to envelope her at every turn. But, in truth, she was having a nice time even if something like this wasn’t really her speed.