#129pb

“I’m very grateful for the drink, don’t get me wrong” Abel hummed before he took a generous sip, enjoying the taste all the same. He turned the note over in his hand though, trying his best to figure out who sent it. “I just hate secrets, you know? I won’t be mad about it, just tell me if it was you”

“How do you always find me?” Saph asked as she heard someone approach, and she’d recognise those lanky legs anywhere. She was pretending to be annoyed, because that’s how her and Slate worked, but really, she didn’t mind, she rather it be him than the majority of people inside the building. “You’re sort of stalker I think”

If he wasn’t so drunk, he’d avoid him, because things had been off ever since that night, but he was drunk, and his inhibitions were almost non-existent, so when he seen Ashton duck out towards a balcony, he followed him. He stumbled over his feet as he made his way outside, trying to act like this was an accidental meet up as he fished his cigarettes out from his pocket. “Hi” he said, clearing his throat when he realised his voice had cracked. “Want one?”

“We meet again” Saph said from her usual spot at these balls, hiding in a corner so that nobody could find her and bother her. She’d lost her tributes now, so even if she randomly got the motivation, she didn’t have to talk up sponsors any more. It was a small bonus in the otherwise pretty grim situation.

“Weird location for the ball this year?” Sapphire hummed, mostly to herself, but turning to her right she noticed Lilith at her side. “People think I’m into scary shit because I wear black, but honestly I’m a bit creeped out myself”

“You think they’d have enough power to at least stop the snow” Saph grumbled as she pulled her small jacket around her waist, doing her best to keep from freezing to death as she sucked down the cigarette between her lips. It was times like this where she really did consider quitting, if only she had the willpower.

“You must be sick of these things by now” Luca hummed softly as he approached Addy, placing a few empty glasses on her tray in an effort to help out, and as a distraction from the ball itself, because he was never a fan, especially when he was pushed to sit with all the other stuffy sponsors for most of the night.

“You think they have people with tiny hands set up in the kitchen to make the tiny burgers and tiny tacos?” Luca asked as he picked up a chicken skewer from the food table. He was always amazed by the food at these things, but never quite understood why it the portions were always so small.