Patrick wasn’t expecting to have a good time, which was probably a terrible outlook to have when he was on his way to a party, but he’d also never claimed to be a fountain of overflowing optimism. He knew himself, he knew Lara, and that was just about all he needed to guess that he’d be tapping out long before the night was over. Still, it was a good excuse to get out of his stuffy apartment and he didn’t mind celebrating with Lara, even if it meant spending an evening drifting aimlessly. He arrived empty-handed, because Patrick hadn’t exchanged presents for someone’s birthday since he was thirteen and seriously skinned his chin at Carter’s roller rink party. And, just as he’d expected, the warehouse was already full of people -- too many people -- and not a single face he recognized. Patrick wrangled in the downward tug of his lips, expression decidedly neutral as he wandered further in. His shoulders slouched, the action reflexive and unnoticed to him while he continued to skirt around the edge of the party, trying to spot Lara without enduring any solo introductions.

“You’re kidding me.” Patrick’s dull, stubborn gaze was transfixed on the movie cover for Batman & Robin as the single rental copy was taken from behind it. He’d driven for over an hour, getting lost at every turn (fuck New York and fuck the grid system), all just to rent this shitty movie that was already in the hands of someone else. Someone else who... looked familiar? Unable to immediately place a name to the stranger’s face when he stopped frowning at the shelf of movies, he simply shook his head. “Are you seriously renting that movie?” Patrick pointed at the DVD in her hands, wanting to take it for himself. “It’s crap. You shouldn’t bother.”