Take Me to the Top

Sutton recognized Felicity, even though they never actually had a conversation. It was hard not to know who Felicity was when her name was plastered across every newspaper, and she seemed to be there every time something seemed to be going on with one of the clubs. “Eh, not really. My brother’s bring their friends around the house sometimes it gets kinda rowdy so I like to duck out whenever I can. What about you?”

Felicity nodded, she understood the need to get out of the house. “I am currently staying with my cousin so I am just trying to stay out of his way and not wear out my welcome until I get a new place, luckily it won’t be long.” Felicity took another shot of tequila, “What’s your go to drink at a bar? I’ll get you one and maybe some of these boys won’t bother us when they get too drunk because we will be talking with one another.”

“I completely agree,” Benjamin nodded at her, “But there are so many people elected that aren’t going to do anything about it.  Like the Sherriff.  He claims to hate the clubs and yet look at all the crime that goes on in this town that he hasn’t even made arrests for yet.  That’s not going to stop the clubs, but the next election if an opponent who is actually willing to do something about it happened to be endorsed by the paper…well that’d change things wouldn’t it.”

Felicity smirked, she really hated the police system in Olympus. She nodded confidently, she understood him crystal clear. It was rather nice to talk with someone who understood how to talk to her. “It certainly would. I will do everything I can to make sure our wishes come true.”

“Who did you think I was?” he asked with a bit of amusement, thinking it funny that the alcohol had taken such an effect on his cousin. “But I wanted to get you a gift. It’s your birthday— you have to have a gift. And living in my house for a bit doesn’t count.” He’d been about to deny whatever gift she was planning on offering him, but then the mention of getting drunk spiked his interest. That was something he could get on board with after having such an absolute shit week. “I would not be opposed to that,” he said with a half-grin, already trying to get the bartender’s attention.

Felicity rolled her eyes with a sigh, “I thought you were Andy at first glimpse.” She turned with a smile, “But to my relief you aren’t.” She smiled as the bartender approached, “I would like four shots of tequila and two beers.” She smirked at her cousin, “I’m buying so I get to pick the drinks.” 

“Thank you, it’s hard ‘round here because we have tons of good food.” One of the best things about living in the south, in his opinion.“Well if you know anythin’ about anyone planning to take me out, just don’t tell me. I’d rather not know and die without anticipation.” He was pretty serious about that, he would never want to know.

Felicity smirked at that, he was rather clever for what a brutish man he was. Of course she knew who he was from her past and she always found him to be quite funny even now, despite herself. “Whatever you say.” She shrugged, it was only to her benefit. “I can tell you that you are not so interesting these days, I’m sure it’s still in there.” She stopped with a smile.

pheme-felicity‌.

It’s not that Ryan didn’t want to defend Rowan, she’ll always want to, but Ryan had a fiercly stubborn moral compass and there was no changing that. She stuck by what she believed no matter who got involved, family or not. “That’s really good, I’m relieved. Still, if you ever need anything just let me know. Despite the things you’ve done in life, especially within your career, you’ve done nothing to deserve to lose all of your things. That’s just fucked up.” A gentle, reassuring smile graces Ryan’s expression before she turns her gaze back to her hands. The mention of Reina makes her stomach turn almost instantly, and she has to fight the urge to roll her eyes. “You have a point. But Rowan is still a grown adult who can dictate her own choices, and she chose to do this, and for that I’m sorry.” The smile on her face grows, looking back over to the other blonde. “I’d love that, honestly. The first rounds are on me. What are we feeling? Whiskey or tequila? I’m thinking tequila.”

Felicity watched the other woman, studying her for any sign of a lie as she did with everyone, it was almost confusing the other woman really did seem to not be lying about what she was saying. Felicity smiled softly almost wondering if kind people really did exist. “Let’s not talk much about her then, I’d rather just get drunk and until I feel good about myself. It won’t take too long.” She said with a smirk, she really didn’t need much help to get back to that.

The last situation Andy thought he’d be in was this – Finding himself at some nameless bar somewhere downtown, just to have found himself standing next Felicity after he ordered another drink. A slight churn in his stomach comes at the sight of her – Truthfully, he hadn’t given her much thought in the last few weeks, distracted by his own demise and Rowan showing up at his door. Sleeping with her didn’t mean anything to him, nothing more than a void being filled by someone who happened to be nearby. But regardless of any emotion or lack there of, she ended homeless. He had no idea what to say to her, sure it wouldn’t be a good idea to even say anything at all. But then she speaks to him, and he’s not drunk enough to pretend he didn’t hear her. “Uh –” He begins, pausing for a moment to take a large gulp of his whiskey. “Hey.” 

Felicity was filled with regret for even giving Andy the time of day again. She wasn’t sure why she even had, perhaps nostalgia. It entertained her for the time being but it certainly wasn’t worth her house being burned down. She rolled her eyes at his response. “Hey? That’s all you have to say for yourself? I’m not sure what I’m more annoyed with the fact that you’re here at all or the fact that someone thinks your cock is so great, they wanna burn down my house.” She took a shot of tequila, “And just so you know, it’s not even close to being that good.. you can’t even moan the right name.” 

“It’s you?” Rolled off the brunette’s tongue instantly as she heard the other speak up. The two weren’t close but she was one of the few who had been welcoming to her at the community center. Allana often felt like the two of them were both sort of outsiders to the MC world and she liked that there was at least someone in her playing field. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Allana shouldn’t have been out for too long, but here she was. After all, she was cooped up at home and really needed some fresh air and new faces. “Everything okay?”

Felicity sighed, “No, sorry.. it’s been a bad week for me, nothing to do with you.” She smiled softly and offered Allana her second shot of tequila before taking her own. “I just turned thirty seven and I don’t even have a house and I’ve been sleeping with a guy I care nothing about and I’m too old for that nonsense.” She frowned, “Sorry, I’m dumping a lot on you.”

He gave her a shrug back, “If you don’t wanna lie to me, then you should tell me. Just sayin’.” There had to be some sort of double standard there, right? “I’m a little worried that you’re gonna tell people about my diet. I don’t want ‘em to think that I’ve finally given in to cutting out soda.”

Felicity couldn’t help but laugh at that, it was rather funny. “Well, your secret is safe with me. I wouldn’t want anyone to know that you actually are trying to stay alive longer by being healthy. They may take that as a challenge.” She smirked

If there was one good thing to come of the fire— it was that Felicity taking up residence in his living room until she found a new place had given the two cousin the chance to continue to familiarize themselves. Of course, the fact that her birthday was right around the time had been all but inconvenient, and it only made him feel worse for her. At her greeting, he raised a half-amused eyebrow at her before teasing a little. “Wow— so that’s the hello I get for bringing your birthday present by? Maybe I should just go return it…” he joked a little.

When Felicity turned, she realized it wasn’t who she thought it was at all, it was her sweet cousin, the only person in all of Olympus she knew she could trust completely. “No no, Desi, I thought you were someone else. Tequila does not help my observation skills much.” She lifted up a shot and took it. “You know you didn’t have to give me a gift, letting me stay with you is more than enough... in fact I should be giving something to you. Can I get you drunk this evening?” She smirked.

ryan’s gaze averts to stare at her hands that rest on the bar before her, trying to ride out the sudden anger and surprise that begins to course through her.  ❛  jesus fucking christ.  ❜ the older woman mumbles to herself, wanting terribly to not believe a single thing felicity says, but she knows it’s true. it has to be. ryan knows too well that she’d do anything if it involved andy.   ❛  my sister — my sister is a fucking child sometimes. i’m sure you know that by now. she’s become a product of her surroundings, so i guess we can’t really blame her. but if it makes you feel any better, from the outside looking in, you’re the better person in this situation. you did nothing wrong.  ❜ she sighs,  ❛  let me help you find a new place to live, or at least help you get some new things. it’s the least i can do to make up for my sister’s behavior. i’m really, really sorry.  ❜

Felicity was shocked the other woman didn’t immediately defend her sister. She was so accustomed to everyone in Olympus choosing Rowan over herself for many reasons that it was actually shocking that it wasn’t happening again. “Well, I have a little house I’m going to look at but thank you, you’re kind to say I’ve done nothing wrong, perhaps not this time.” She laughed a bit at herself, “Don’t be sorry for your sister, you can’t control her or her decisions, that’s what Reina does.” She smirked, “But you can get drunk with me and help me forget I’ve been miserable all week.”

Sutton raised her eyebrows. “Well happy birthday,” She knew who Felicity was, at least by name and reputation alone. She hadn’t ever had a conversation with her before. Or if she had she had completely forgotten, but she didn’t want to be rude, so she held out her hand. “Sutton Chambers. I’m sorry that it’s been a bad day, care to talk about it over a few more shots of tequila?”

Felicity stuck out her hand. It couldn’t hurt to make a friend or possible story in the mean time. “Sure, why not?” Felicity smiled coyly at the other woman, “So, what brings you to this bar? Bad week?”

Benjamin didn’t look down at her legs, he didn’t think to as she continued talking. “I agree, which is why we’re working on getting the power back,” Benjamin admitted, “The problem is, the town has been complacent with this for too long, so in order to really start fresh you have to start over in so many places.  Which I’m sure you can agree, considering that seems to be your strategy with the paper.”

Felicity couldn’t help but notice he didn’t look at her legs, he was either a man of high will power, really loved his wife, or didn’t find her attractive for some reason which she found hard to believe. “Yes, I very much have to agree. Olympus is going nowhere being ruled by a bunch of... criminals to say the least. I am sure originally it was nice but these are different times and the MCs need to be stopped and just my paper alone isn’t going to cut it.”

Sutton and her brothers had a biweekly ritual of bar hopping around Olympus and the surrounding area. But this week it was just Sutton and Jordy, and while she loved her older brother, he was a lot. The only one of her brother’s who didn’t learn to back down from the but when are you going to meet a nice boy and settle down conversation, had alternated between taking shots and reminding her that it wasn’t too late to change her mind about “all that club business.”

Now, he was out playing pool with a random woman they bumped into on their way in, leaving Sutton thankfully by herself, without the questions about her livelihood or relationship status. Knocking back almost her entire drink in one, she looked around at her surroundings and caught the eye of the woman next to her. Raising an eyebrow at the blonde’s reaction, Sutton blinked. “That how you greet everyone or am I just special?”

Felicity sighed, she knew who Sutton was or at least where she worked. She had never been of any note for one of her stories but she was a pretty girl who was good with automobiles and lived in Olympus so Felicity assumed someday she might have a story. Felicity got two shots handed to her that she had ordered for herself and slipped one over to Sutton. “Forgive me, it’s been a bad day.. I just turned thirty seven.” She sighed. “Getting older is the worst. Don’t try it.”

her nerves begin to subside a tad, feeling strangely accomplished at the idea of felicity actually knowing who she was. it was a nice reminder that she wasn’t a total ghost within this town.  ❛  you’re welcome, sweetheart.  ❜ she nods her head and mumbles a small thank you for the shot, downing it quickly. she really needed it in moments like this.  ❛  thank you very much. like i said, it’s always a safe space. people know better than to start shit over there. oh, wow. that’s so sweet. thank goodness you have him, at least, especially right now. who’s your cousin ?  ❜ at the mention of rowan, ryan’s head snaps towards the other woman, eyebrows furrowed. in truth, she goes instantly into protective big sister mode, a strange sort of sinking occurring in her stomach.  ❛  excuse me ?  ❜ she questions, her voice raising in tone just a tad.  ❛  what does rowan have to do with this ?  ❜

Felicity took her second shot, not sure how the other woman would react. “Your sister is mad at me because I slept with Andy.” She shrugged, “The thing is it wasn’t even that serious okay? We just have this old stupid thing where we use each other and it’s stupid and purely sexual.” She sighed, the world spinning slightly from the tequila. “Anyway..” She looked around to make sure no one, even the bartender could hear her. “I know exactly who burned down my house and why and I think you do too.”