― prove it.

“I wouldn’t know, I’m still not one.” Leo joked, his drink of choice far stronger than hers, and her namesake so as far as he was concerned it was like a tribute to her in a glass, neat no mixer. 

Whiskey being there was a comfort to him, one that reminded him of just how much he missed having her around the bar every day, though he was happy that she had moved on to the next stage of her life. 

“You must be used to this sort of thing now.”

❝ IT WAS VERY usual, it was very comforting thing -- she missed every single bit of his presence, and she also missed how she was around him; the real her, not one she tried to be to please the others, one that had to think twice on how to fit in.

with leo she was just whiskey. 

       John acknowledged her careful silence. To his eyes, it looked as if she was measuring her every move. Keeping up with appearances, perhaps. 

❝Don’t worry. It’s awkward for us too,❞ he reached out for Scarlett’s hand, grazing her knuckles. John had been doing this since he was born, but it would always be new for her. 

❝ SHE GLANCED AT john, eyes not being able to escape his gaze -- not that she wanted to. quickly, they dropped to the floor between them, it didn’t matter how long it has been, what was her last name now. she was never going to belong there. 

       John almost raised an eyebrow when he saw the motion of Scarlett’s hand, saying no to the glass. He didn’t follow her, even if he knew he should have. Anyway, there was nothing more festive than sipping from a flute of crisp sparkles.

❝Are you bored yet? It will be over soon,❞ he looked at her as he drank.

❝ SCARLETT BIT THE inside of her cheek, trying to consider what to say next. it was not usual, ponder the words directed at her husband, but that night felt like it. 

“Just water?” Leo emphasised the liquid, feigning shock at the choice. Of all her time spent working at his bar before all of this, that was the drink he had seen in her hand the least. 

“It’s like I don’t even know you anymore.”

❝ AN EASY SMILE met her features at the sound of his voice. leo was family -- and she was more than glad to have him around all of those years; faintly, she acknowledged, maybe without him, she wouldn’t have been able to last that long in that world of theirs. 

Whiskey had never been a Darling to her, even after the wedding. Which was why Silver was so much more honest than she ever would have been to John or Wendy. “George likes to believe he is a god.” Silver said quietly. “A god who can decide when and if his children get hurt. I never agreed with it, why do you think Wendy likes me at all? I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets weirdly protective over whatever you decide to pop out when the time is right.”

Silver couldn’t understand the relationship between the Darling siblings either, it was a curse of being an only child. In some ways, she was envious. They were never truly alone. Then again, neither was Silver anymore. At least as long as Whiskey was around. She had thought of Whiskey as a sister for years. “Least they support each other. Kind of. I don’t know, I feel like Michael’s about to be locked in the tower now.”

Silver’s smile faded slightly as she realised that John would think she was only there for him. But Dylan was here too and she didn’t have an entire family rallying around her. “Youngest brother, I guess. They would be the most worried about him.”

Silver smiled, giving Whiskey a tiny pat on the head as she drank the coffee. “You’re all good. I know how it is to be sitting at a hospital. Gets draining after awhile.” She placed the coffee tray down, she could give them out as the Darlings came through. “That’s all John needs right now. You’re here and that’s important.” Silver sighed, taking a sip of her own coffee. “He’ll be alright, yeah? Michael, I mean.”

Silver had already been home and come back, looking far more like herself than she did before. Her take away tray was full of coffees, all different orders that she had memorised throughout the years. Each Darling family member had a different mix of coffee, milk and sugar but that didn’t matter. She just did what she could. One sat on the left with a S carefully printed on the top. “Here. I only asked how everything was going so don’t worry. Drink your coffee first.”

john: he says hi

john: put on a show

scarlett: i hope you don't mind if i pop some buttons off of your shirt.

john: I don't make the rules, my love

john: I'm showing him this text

scarlett: you know what i think abut the rules, baby...

scarlett: hello roberto

john: okay good idea excellent idea

john: is it midnight yet?

scarlett: do you have to wait until it's midnight to kiss me, darling boy?

john: I love to see you blush

john: I love other things too

john: but I am in public

scarlett: i love when you make me blush

scarlett: i love you a whole lot oh my god

john: I'm serious

john: I hear things about my hair every day

john: but that was the best

john: you're the best

scarlett: stop making me blush

john: did you know

john: this is the best compliment I've ever received

scarlett: ah, a humble king among us