evergreen

"Ooh, and you're getting cozy with that being fired tightrope, sweetie," Andi only half-joked, though did so with a smirk and wink. She did have to admit though, perhaps the public kiss was a little reckless - with everything going on, did anyone want to enter something that held so much potential for pain. Nevertheless, she didn't regret it either. "Thank you," Andi took a sip, a hum of gratitude telling the other her job was safe - for now. She laughed at her statement, shaking her head a little. "Ah, I remember those days. Enjoy them while you can."

@riocantarella

"oh--" before rio could even form a response, the woman already had her hand on her shoulder for support for her to be able to take her shoes, and upon instinct, the bartender wraps an arm around ela's waist for support, a lightly chuckle leaving her, amused at the way she sighed in comfort. "i'm not going to be a hypocrite and ask you why you had those shoes on in the first place, when...i've kind of done the same thing." she says as she glances down at the shoes she was wearing. "hold on." rio the realizes that the woman needed to sit down so she stands up and offers her chair to the other. "there we go, come on. sit. you...doing alright, babe?"

It wasn't until Carmen saw the look on Rios face that her expression changed too. "I wasn't going to accuse you of trying to cause trouble." She looks away from the other, staring back out to the water like she had been before she noticed their presence. "I was trying to be friendly with you or whatever..." She didn't know why, but she suddenly felt embarrassed by her earlier comments. Regretting that she had spoken in their direction at all. "People are supposed to socialize at weddings or some shit, I didn't want to make it weird."

"it's not that, carmen. i wasn't--" rio didn't really know what to say, given how it's been so many years since she and carmen last talked, and how everything has just quickly ended. she only blamed herself though, for assuming that carmen also swung that way, or at least she also felt things the way that rio did--or perhaps, part of her still does. "i just didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable, like i did before--cross the line. i--" she figures it was time, better late than never for an apology, right? "i'm sorry, for what i did. for going out of line." it may be the alcohol in her system, but she knew she had to say something, eventually. "i...i tried to kiss you, carmen, i just assumed you're okay with it, that you're...i don't know. i'm just sorry, okay?"

"And what are you seeing, Rio?" She rephrased the earlier question, tongue rolling over her bottom lip as the bar owner smirked. "Just the martini, thank you darling," she chuckled, leaning against the bar as the drink was made. "A friend, or a friend you want to take you home tonight?" Andi rose a brow. "It's a wedding, there will be plenty of people here tonight tryin' to make sure they won't be going home alone."

"you gettin' cozy and kissing like nobody's watching." rio shrugs in response, it may look like it was just a bit of teasing, but she does care about andi's happiness, given how she's one of the people in hidehill who took her in and made her feel like she was home and she wasn't alone. she's also the person she looked up to all these years, in awe of how andi is the woman that she is. "nah, just a friend. i'm not really expecting to do such thing tonight." she shrugs as she was preparing the drink, and sliding it over to andi. "depends, really, on how the night would end. i won't say no to any cute girl, you know?"

Andi's eyebrow raises when Rio starts asking her questions. She had a bit of a soft spot for the younger woman, taking her in at La Vela and getting her up to speed on the life of working in a club. So, she wasn't going to bite her head off for asking. "Is that what it looks like?" Her head tilted a little, smirk adorning her lips. "It's-- complicated, yet easy, certainly not a struggle," she chuckled before nodding. "I'll have a martini, darling. And what about you? Are you here with anyone tonight?"

"i'm just talking about what i'm seeing, andi." rio raises both of her hands up in defense, though knowing she could tease her boss about a few things sometimes, including the thing she has noticed as of late. "so...you want both? talk about it and have a martini?" she wiggles her eyebrows at the club owner, before sliding the drink over to her. "a date? i mean i came with my friend, but that's all. depends if someone wants to take me home. i'm just enjoying the open bar and free food."

@hidehillstart || open

all rio had focused on the whole time ever since the reception started was get on the drinks by the open bar--drinking and perhaps making some for herself. well, besides that, she had been getting snacks in between, the sliders alex mentioned, but that's been all. perhaps she has been tired of the atmosphere of it all, not that she hated it, but she wanted to take a breather so she finds herself tiptoeing away from the reception, a drink in hand and shoes held by the other, unaware that someone was already there, until she spoke. "ah shit." trouble forms in rio's expression and immediately looks away. "just need some air, not causing any kind of trouble or some shit." so many years they haven't talked and it's the first thing that comes out of rio's mouth.

@hidehillstart 𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗: his and kit's reception | fig beach