[Luck Harris]

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I GUESS THIS IS ME NOW, IT'S JUST WHAT I DO

i'm chasing a feeling, cause there ain't no feeling like you

Luck had strived all his life to, at the very least, be a man of his word. Owning up to his mistakes, even when he knew the consequences would be brutal. Never lying when someone asked if he'd be there in the morning. If he'd stay for them. He'd said, months ago, that he was finished with his whiskey weekends. [break][break]

But it was Wednesday night, so... technically, he couldn't be faulted.[break][break]

And what a wild night it'd been so far. He'd tossed back one after another and lost count of how many beers he'd had in between. He wasn't sure where he'd lost the flannel overshirt he'd arrived in, had been handed his forgotten wallet or phone at least a half-dozen times, and had sifted carelessly between groups of raucous and eager strangers. Some of them more than happy to have him as a tagalong, willing to belt out karaoke and dance a few songs, and others who'd quickly tired of him and let him know. He'd narrowly avoided a couple of fights, won his fair share of pool games, and sent off at least a dozen (increasingly unintelligible) text messages (some, horrifyingly enough, with pictures and/or videos attached — he'd regret it tomorrow).[break][break]

He could feel the wind-down coming on — or, at least, the nausea that preluded it — and, as much as he didn't want to, he fell off from the current group he was palling around with to take a breather in a booth. Wiping the sweat from his face on his shoulder, he pulled out his phone, gave it a quick inspection for new cracks, dismissed several notifications, and then opened the dating app he'd recently... somewhat... grown accustomed to. [break][break]

Left, left, left. Ehhh... left.[break][break]

His thumb hovered over his screen, ready to swipe, when a familiar face cropped up. He huffed a surprised breath and took a moment to read over the bio (and reread, then reread again — it took a little longer than usual for the words to stick). He chuckled to himself, dropping the phone to the tabletop so he could toss his head back and wipe his hands down his face. God, he was a mess. He needed another drink. Or maybe some food. Or just to get his sorry ass home so he could plop facedown on his couch, only to curse his morning alarm when it went off what would seem like only a blink later.[break][break]

Groaning, he picked up the phone again and looked through the profile's pictures. It was funny to think how he'd been the one behind the camera in a couple of them. Or was just off-camera. Silly. Stupid. Stupid, stupid. With a shake of his head and a shrug, he swiped right — one great thing about the dating app, he supposed, was Nate would have to do the same fucking thing to ever know that Luck had done so. [break][break]

As soon as he did so, he closed everything out and pushed himself from his seat to make a beeline toward the bar, firmly deciding that he'd trade in a wind-down for a second wind instead.

i've been chasing a feeling i just can't get back to[break]
cause nothing can take me that high

Tag: Open! [break]
Time for Luck to be super annoying and unhinged and earn that "Messy" nickname. 😤 It happens every once in a while, right? Let me know if you'd like this thread tagged for you!

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[Felicity Everette]

Felicity Everette

To hell with it, let’s give it one more whiskey-go-round

If there was one thing that was incredibly predictable about the petite blonde bakery owner; it was that you could almost always find her out drinking. The girl didn’t know how to take it easy when it came to alcohol. Addiction was a messy thing for sure. In fact, if she wasn’t out drinking with friends; she was making new ones at the bars.

Oddly enough, alcohol and her level of tipsiness didn’t apparently impact her ability to maneuver through a crowd or a dance floor in a pair of heels. Felicity had only been back home for a few days, and she was back at her usual spots, catching up with her favorite bartenders and DJs. Most knew her on a first name basis… yes, the young woman clearly had issues when it came to that liquid courage.

It was only a problem if she couldn’t stop, and she could stop whenever she wanted… she just didn’t want to.

Yeah, sure. Let’s go with that.

Blonde hair that had started the night in a half-up half-down style was being twisted into a messy bun to keep it from sticking to her neck and face. Especially when she was dancing and sweating. Felicity just needed to let loose, enjoy some drinks and dancing, and just not thinking of anything serious. She had already accidentally fried her cellphone for the night, intending to scroll through the dating app and accidentally got a bit too excited. That was the only downside to her getting a touch carried away with her alcohol… she let her emotions control her electrokinesis.

She just needed to keep things light and fun… the last thing she needed to do was hurt anyone.

So, when Felicity found herself getting a touch frustrated on the dance floor; she decided it was time to get another drink. She was only lightly buzzed, which meant she had been taking things relatively easy so far… Which meant she was due for a shot or four.

“Tequila!” She said with a grin, holding up four fingers as she leaned forward against the bar waiting. Felicity already had her tab started for the night so she just waited patiently for her drinks, letting her hips sway slightly. Tonight she hadn’t dressed up trying to bring anyone home. She wore a pair of form fitting jeans, black suede heels, and a white crop top that showed most of her midriff and a black cardigan that she had already removed and tied at her waist.

“Thanks!” She gave a playful wink to the bartender as she looked at the drinks before her. The first two were thrown back in rapid succession, her face wincing slightly afterwards. Then the third and fourth. Felicity shook her head and coughed a little at the burn. Okay, so now she was ready to enjoy her night again. She turned a bit too quickly and ended up knocking into someone. “Oof- oh, I’m sorry!”

---

Notes: Did you say ‘Messy’? Felicity is great for messy fun! Especially involving alcohol! Let me know if this works for you!

TEMPLATE BY ANGIEBAE♥

[Luck Harris]

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I GUESS THIS IS ME NOW, IT'S JUST WHAT I DO

i'm chasing a feeling, cause there ain't no feeling like you

As Luck made it to the bar and sifted sidelong, trying to find an opening, he was suddenly caught off-guard by a woman turning and walking directly into him. "Ope." She stumbled a little, he stumbled a little more, but then he anchored the both of them with a hand on her bare shoulder. "Steady," he warned jokingly (uncertain if he was cautioning her or him). He grinned down at her as she apologized, immediately and warmly amused by her height. "S'alright, you're good darlin'." [break][break]

He intended to step past her, perfectly content to let both their nights resume in whatever normal way they would, but — as he widened his smile and his gaze skipped across her face — he stilled. His eyes screwed the tiniest bit and the hand dropping from her shoulder hesitated at her elbow; subconsciously turning her a bit with him as he sidled into the open seat beside her. "Wait, I know you." Did he? "I... think." [break][break]

She seemed familiar. He'd seen her somewhere, he was sure of it. Maybe. But where? Perhaps he'd seen her picture on that dating app? No... somehow, he suspected she was a little too young to be picked up in his algorithm. Then...? [break][break]

He'd never have asked, normally. Never have been presumptuous enough to turn her his way or demand her attention. She probably had friends to return to. Didn't want to be harassed. In fact, he'd typically never have let that 'darlin' slip either (especially not in the too-easy, somewhat twangy way that it had). But the drink made him a little reckless. A little less self-aware and a little less conscious of his manners. [break][break]

So, rather than apologize and simply let her be on her way, he crossed his arms over his chest and lifted a foot to plant the sole of his work-boot on the bar beneath his stool. Then he squinted at her, humming thoughtfully. [break][break]

"Are you like... an insurance agent? Or, I dunno... maybe a dentist? Smiling all pretty on billboards and buses around the city?" Maybe that's where he'd seen her. Just a seven-foot face passed multiple times a day on his daily commute, seared into his memory more by mindless repetition than any sort of real familiarity. Perhaps the billboard was posted at the awful intersection closest to his work? The light there was always so long. Traffic was always insufferably slow. So many pedestrian crossings, too. [break][break]

Did people even recognize those faces when they saw them in person? Wouldn't they seem totally different?[break][break]

He chuckled, turning his attention from her to the approaching bartender. As the pair met eyes, he nodded to indicate he was back for the same thing he'd gotten the last... half-dozen or so?... times he'd come by. The man, with wordless understanding, turned on his heel, and Luck glanced back to the woman, closing one eye as he fished the wallet from his pocket (thankful it was currently there at all and not lost again). He grinned wide as he worked out the proper number of bills. "Ya'know, the whole — 'Got in an accident? Need a check? Call 1-800-yadda-yadda?"

i've been chasing a feeling i just can't get back to[break]
cause nothing can take me that high

Tag: Felicity Everette [break]
Quick post, let me know if it's too messy or if you need/want changes! Also — matching George Birge lyrics I repeat MATCHING GEORGE BIRGE LYRICS asdkfjahsdfjkh

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[Felicity Everette]

Felicity Everette

To hell with it, let’s give it one more whiskey-go-round

Normally, running into someone in such a crowded environment wouldn’t really dictate the start of a drawn out conversation, as it was practically expected in these settings to knock into someone. Shit, Felicity couldn’t even begin to recount to number of times she’d caught -or given- an elbow to someone’s side. But the man was able to keep them both upright and Felicity couldn’t help but offer a sheepish smile, even with the heels, the man was still a few inches taller than her. Though being only 5’2’’; it wasn’t difficult to run into people taller than her.

“Thanks.” She managed out with a slight dip of her head and would have likely worked her way back out onto the dance floor… but the man’s hand on her shoulder paused on her elbow and Felicity’s brow shot up curiously as she stepped back toward the bar and looked him over.

He didn’t look that familiar to her, she would have remembered. Felicity liked to make a mental note of the tall and attractive men she came across. Especially ones who said things like ‘darlin’. But, she did work in a bakery/coffee shop; it’s possible he’d been in there or at least seen her there in passing. Still, she was curious enough to stick around and hear him out. It wasn’t the usual ‘pick-up’ attempt, so she would humor him. In not to satisfy his curiosity, than for her own.

The smile on her lips spread as she broke into laughter, flattered that he might think she did something like that. She was much too… energetic for an office job, and medical equipment would be too expensive for her to be replacing constantly. But she found his guesses vastly amusing. “While both are decent enough guesses, that’s not my line of work.” She leaned slightly against the bar after easing into the seat beside him. Much too amused to be bothered with dancing now.

“Two strikes, would you like a hint before you guess again?” Her brown eyes gleamed with the amusement she felt, knowing there could be quite a few reasons she seemed familiar. If he frequently visited the local watering holes; Felicity wasn’t shy about her fondness for alcohol and dancing. Though, she typically didn’t make a habit of getting too reckless on nights when she was opening the bakery. Like tonight, she was enjoying the evening knowing that tomorrow she would be nursing one hell of a hangover, but at least she’d be around coffee and carbs to soak up the alcohol. Plus, she’d have help in the morning and that meant she didn’t have to be too terribly strict with herself.

The bakery was also the other place he might have seen her around, as she frequently worked the counter and had been tidying the front room. Then again, she had been out of town for a spell, so there really was no telling. It very well could be that she merely had one of those faces. The ones that look oddly reminiscent of someone else. Glancing up, Felicity gave a nod to the bartender, who would gave a kurt nod and supply her with another shot of tequila. “I don’t believe I’ve ever been featured on a billboard.” She offered with a shrug. Billboards; no. A few local advertisements online and in the paper; yes. They even ran a cute little piece on her bakery when they had their ‘grand-opening’ and joined the local chamber of commerce.

---

Notes: oh my gosh, I hadn’t even paid attention to the matching lyrics!!!!! (I was a little wine drunk and just vibing last night) lol

TEMPLATE BY ANGIEBAE♥

[Luck Harris]

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I GUESS THIS IS ME NOW, IT'S JUST WHAT I DO

i'm chasing a feeling, cause there ain't no feeling like you

The woman settled in the seat next to him, apparently not too bothered by his directness. Maybe he wasn't keeping her from friends after all. Or maybe she was willing to spare just a minute or two. Either way, her returned ease and lack of annoyance would have soothed a bit of his normal anxiety — had he been sober enough to feel any sort of discomfort in the first place. [break][break]

But he was well past that.[break][break]

She laughed, smiling wider than before, and the sight of it immediately placed her. Luck's face slacked, the corners of his mouth curled, and he started a slow, knowing nod. After a moment of simply watching her, cementing his certainty, he leaned the tiniest bit forward and lifted his brow. "Gotcha figured out now. You're Tawny's friend. I've seen you in her phone. The smile, the big one, yeah — gave you away."[break][break]

He was aware that Tawny juggled different "sets" of friends. That she was the type of person to have a "Friend Group A", a "Friend Group B", etc. And, for whatever reason, she preferred to keep them separate from one another. There were those she went to low-key, small-hang dinky bars with (that was the group he was most likely a part of, if not a "work-colleague" group) and then there were those she clubbed with (full of people he, by her very intentional design, had never met and suspected she was a wholly different person to). [break][break]

Luck huffed an amused breath. They'd have to take a selfie together and send it to her. Or he could show her tomorrow morning at work... when he showed up looking like she sometimes did and smugly boasted, "look who I ran into". He suspected she'd panic at the sight, unwilling to entertain even the idea of a "mixer".[break][break]

The bartender returned with their drinks (a glass of whiskey and a cold beer to follow it for him; a clear-liquored shot for her). Luck cheesed a grateful grin as he handed over the money in his hand. At this point in the night, it was a familiar amount and the man knew already that he could keep the change. And Luck knew he could expect the whiskey in his glass to be a rather strong pour. He'd switched from glasses of beer to bottles of beer a while ago, when he'd reached that level of drunkenness where he liked to roam — less chance that he'd end up wearing it that way.[break][break]

As he glanced fondly over his drinks, his mind returned abruptly to the question of her occupation, and he lifted a hand to pinch at his brow. "Was the billboard thing the hint...? Ah, fuck... you're..." he snapped the fingers of his other hand, trying to think. Where did she work? The pictures of her that he'd seen, none of them had been particularly professional or illuminating. All he could really put together at the moment was that, when Tawny hung out with her, she was often dead to the world the next day. Walked through the office with sunglasses to hide her bloodshot eyes and two cups of coffee instead of one — wait, coffee.[break][break]

He snapped open his eyes and looked to her, dropping his hand to the bar. "You do the coffee thing, yeah?" His brow furrowed and he gave a tiny shake of his head, quickly deciding to expand a little. "Or the, the baking thing. Yeah... y'all get trashed together and she brings your treats to work in cute little boxes." He leaned back, daring to look a bit proud of his deduction, and brought his glass closer to him. "She never shares, by the way, but they do always look oh so good."

i've been chasing a feeling i just can't get back to[break]
cause nothing can take me that high

Tag: Felicity Everette [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes/tweaks! Or if you need more!

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[Felicity Everette]

Felicity Everette

To hell with it, let’s give it one more whiskey-go-round

To say she was fairly confident he was mistaken, or simply recognized her from the bakery; was an understatement. But she was in no hurry to get back to dancing, Felicity was out solo tonight and this might possibly be the most entertaining part of her night. Not that she didn’t have high hopes for enjoying her evening, but that she was mostly out tonight just to drink and turn off her mind for the night.

So, when this man’s expression changed, appearing much more confident than she believed he had any right to look; she was curious. And at the mention of her friend Tawny, her jaw dropped open.

Genuine shock and surprise was not a look she often wore.

“You know Tawny?!” She gasped, the surprise still clear on her face, but she was smiling. Okay, this was vastly more entertaining than dancing. Tawny was one of her favorite friends to party with. It wasn’t often that Felicity maintained female friendships, something about her being terrible at relating to personal and emotional things.

Ew, no.

Felicity was the friend you called for a night of debauchery and fun, not the friend you took to family events or when you needed sensible advice. That just wasn’t her. She was more the friend you called when you needed distractions and chaos. That was much more her ‘thing’.

“Oh god, hopefully it wasn’t one of the unflattering photos.” She laughed out, shaking her head. Felicity was a pest about dripping her friend’s phone and flooding it with so many pictures. Not all were winners, but all were hilarious.

Brown eyes returned to the bartender as he returned with their drinks and she nodded, letting her hand pick up the shot, but she didn’t immediately throw it back. Instead, she let her gaze fall back on the tall stranger and considered him. He wasn’t a member of their party group, but Felicity was almost positive she knew all of Tawny’s attractive friends. Oh well, she’d have to ask her about it when she saw her again. Or, perhaps when she had a functioning phone again. Now she throw back the clear liquid and shook her head, barely flinching as it burned down her throat and she set the shot glass back down on the bar, shaking her head to the bartender. She probably should let those five shots settle before she made herself sick.

“Hey, I doubt you need my help with hints if you know Tawny.” Tawny was Felicity’s favorite taste tester before she ran any new pastry in the bakery. And after nights of fun, she was often sending her to work with goodies. They didn’t make the headaches any better, but at least she wasn’t going hungry! Why the sight of him trying so hard to think of something was amusing, she didn’t know. Except that the way he was snapping his fingers as if just on the precipice of recalling something important; was adorable.

“Wow, that’s right… impressive.” Felicity leaned back against the back of her seat as she grinned, of course Tawny didn’t share the goodies. Those were for her, especially after partying with Felicity. The petite blonde wasn’t known for taking this easy, regardless of their work schedules the next day. The only way she could make up would be to supply her friend with goodies to help her make it through the work day. “Oh, I’m not the least bit surprised about that. If we party too hard, I like to send her off with her favorites to make the work day more manageable.” She shook her head gently with amusement.

“Felicity…” Her smile gracing her lips as she extended her hand in a more proper and intentional introduction. “Though being known as the friend with the big smile is acceptable too.”

---

Notes: I love that that is what he recognized her from! 🤣 lemme know if you need me to tweak anything!

TEMPLATE BY ANGIEBAE♥

[Luck Harris]

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I GUESS THIS IS ME NOW, IT'S JUST WHAT I DO

i'm chasing a feeling, cause there ain't no feeling like you

His mention of Tawny earned a particularly enthused reaction and Luck couldn't help but beam in response while he nodded his affirmation. Mutual friends were typically a good bridge. A connection. But Tawny was a bit younger than him and... having come to know her initially through the workplace... Luck understood some of their more "social" circles were in wild variation of one another. It would be a stretch to assume Tawny liking someone meant he would like someone. Or, more probably, that they'd like him. [break][break]

But none of that gave him pause now. The woman was smiling freely, laughing with more certainty, and — Tawny being her friend or not — that was choice company in a bar. At least when he was drunk enough to lean into it with equal abandon. Which he was. [break][break]

"Unflattering? No, no... nah..." Luck feigned a frown and shook his head. "Even the ones where y'all are hugging toilets, laid out on the sidewalk, or..." he squinted, making a show of thinking hard. "I... recall a short mirror video where you're cutting her bangs...?" He lifted his brow, almost unable to stifle a short laugh. "They're all, we'll say... endearing." He nodded, pleased with the decision. [break][break]

She introduced herself and Luck took her offered hand, bobbing it in a (very long, very distracted) shake as his gaze drew sidelong and he slowly repeated her name under his breath, counting the phonetics of it on the fingers of his other hand. Four syllables. He puffed a breath in his cheeks, eyes widening. "That's a mouthful," he announced plainly, exhaling the held breath in a single 'whoosh' while he smoothed a thumb and forefinger forlornly across his lifted brow. [break][break]

At this point in his drinking, everyone's names tended to devolve into something easy and short, just to keep them from falling apart in his mouth and tying him up; from slurring from his lips halfway through and bringing a reoccuring knit to his brow. 'Tawny's friend' only had three syllables. 'Blondie' and 'darlin' only had two. 'Babe' — his faithful go-to and probably the reason he'd come close to getting himself socked already a couple of times tonight (most men didn't like it) — only had one. [break][break]

He shook his head to clear it and, realizing he still had Felicity's hand clasped in his, gave it a final shake. "Luck," he offered simply, lips threading up at the corners before he chuckled. "Is my name, I mean." He tipped a bit forward, grin widening and voice raising into something a little more crooning. "Ain't that easy?" He leaned back, slipping his hand from hers to reclaim his drink, and then — not even a couple seconds later — his gaze dropped to the glasses before her and he was leaning forward again. [break][break]

"Alright... Felicity... friend of a friend with a big smile," — and how many fucking syllables was that? Luck chortled amusedly as he reached out to take one of the handful of emptied shots — "What are you drinkin' here, let's see..." [break][break]

He brought the glass under his nose and, almost immediately, his face crinkled; brow dipping with a severe knit and lips pulling into a wincing grimace. "Whew," he set the shot to the bar and hastily pushed it back among the rest, gaze flitting to her face with a bit of exaggerated bewilderment. "No lime? No chaser? Not even some damn salt?" He sounded genuinely incredulous and, lending to the disbelief, his eyes darted about her face with a seeking sort of urgency that seemed equal parts wary and dumbfounded. He prepared to say more — 'Girl, don't you love yourself?', 'Tryin' to prove somethin' tonight?', or maybe even 'Damn, who hurt you?' — but his mouth only parted and pressed back closed a few times before he gave a hammed-up shudder and turned more squarely to the bar. [break][break]

"Reckon you're — wait," Luck started the ambling sentence, lifting his beer to his lips, but then halted with an abrupt thought and let the bottle fall again. He looked to Felicity, bafflement swung fully back in place. "You shoot all of those just now?" [break][break]

She weighed what... a buck and some change? How the hell did Tawny have the pitiful alcohol tolerance she had, if she was hanging with this gal as often as she did? Five shots and she'd be on the floor within the next half-hour, alternating between giggles and groans, and likely needing toted back to her apartment in a fireman's carry. "Hope you handle your liquor better than our friend!"

i've been chasing a feeling i just can't get back to[break]
cause nothing can take me that high

Tag: Felicity Everette [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes/tweaks! Or if you need less/more!

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[Felicity Everette]

Felicity Everette

To hell with it, let’s give it one more whiskey-go-round

As a friend of Tawny’s, she was decidedly more interested in meeting him than dancing for sure. While dancing was a fun way to enjoy the comfortable buzz from the alcohol, it was also the way to end up face first in a bathroom stall. And she wasn’t trying to get sick, at least not in public. Though her drink of choice definitely didn’t help. Still, Felicity gave a genuine laugh listening to him explain having seen a variety of their photos and even some videos. “Oh god, I still can’t believe she let me do that!” Her laughter calming to a rather amused smile settling upon her lips. “I don’t even cut my own bangs!” She shook her head.

If Felicity counted anyone as her ‘best friend’, it was definitely Tawny. The two weren’t the type to get super serious or emotional like a lot of the girls their age. In fact, even when they got extra friendly with each other; it wasn’t weird. The most ‘serious’ conversation they’d ever had was sharing about their dads during a drunk baking evening at Felicity’s apartment. The pair had seemed to master the art of being friends without all the emotions and drama. She couldn’t help but wonder which side of Tawny he was familiar with. She nodded and couldn’t help but chuckle. “My gran calls me ‘Fel’, but I can think of several approved names.” His long drawn out shake of her hand amused her. And she couldn’t help but wonder if he often drank this much.

“Luck, yes that quite easy to recall.” Felicity said with a gentle bob of her head as she hummed with vague amusement. Nodding made her head feel all swimmy, exactly the state she preferred to enjoy being in while out in big crowds. Because she was still aware enough, but everything was funny and entertaining like this. She watched with a curious expression as he moved one of her empty shot glasses to guess her drink, and she couldn’t help but erupt into laughter at his reaction.

It wasn’t the first time someone found her drink of choice alarming. “The salt just makes me feel even more dehydrated than the alcohol, unless I’m doing a body shot; I’ll take it straight.” The petite blonde’s shoulders shrugged lightly as she offered a sheepish grin. “I have decent tolerance.” She assured him with a nod, sliding off the chair and giving a little spin and laughed. She typically chalked up her tolerance to being a member of the ‘dead parents club’ in her early teens. And while her grandmother tried her best; she let Felicity have a lot of freedom to do as she pleased.

“Oh gosh, one time I had to get the Uber driver’s help to get Tawny out of the backseat because she said her legs weren’t working anymore.” Felicity shook her head with a grin. She needed another night of hanging out with Tawny soon. Dark brown eyes flitted back to Luck’s face as she leaned against the bar with a grin. “Oh, I’m just peachy. In fact, I’m ready to dance again… wanna join me?” She quirked a brow with a playful smile.

---

Tag: Luck Harris
Notes: sorry for the delay, was in a bit of a slump for Felicity. Let me know if I need to change anything!

TEMPLATE BY ANGIEBAE♥

[Luck Harris]

[nospaces]

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I GUESS THIS IS ME NOW, IT'S JUST WHAT I DO

i'm chasing a feeling, cause there ain't no feeling like you

Luck propped an arm on the bar and dropped his jaw into his palm, grinning with an easy tilt of his head. Felicity's laughter and fluctuating (but still decidedly fixed) smile continued to keep him light and soothed. A couple of whiskeys and a few beers prior, he'd likely be worried he was being a little goofy. Stupid and annoying. Chatty. But, at this point, he couldn't be bothered. Even if she did show some displeasure, he'd probably just give her a parting bit of snark before milling off to the next person or group of persons. Wear down their tolerance of him. Then he'd find another. Until someone sent him home, set him straight a little more firmly, or he passed out, slunk down in some corner booth. It was how he'd spent most of his bar-going days, back when he'd known no steadier ground. [break][break]

He gave a faint shake of his head as she offered 'Fel' as a shorter name. He didn't speak on it, but he knew he wouldn't be using it. It was what her Gran called her. He wouldn't assume that the name wasn't special in some way to her. Even if she did offer it. Some things like that were a little sacred. A small fondness shared between two people like a secret. He'd have to think of something more fitting to try... and if he couldn't (he probably couldn't)... perhaps he'd ask after some of her other "approved" names. [break][break]

A brow quirked at the mention of body shots, one corner of his mouth sneaking upward more slowly. Yep... she was young. It was almost baffling to reconcile his experiences with Tawny with the image of Felicity. She never touched tequila when they went out together. And, though they'd come close a time or two, the photo evidence of "Felicity and Tawny" night-outs looked a bit different than theirs. Felicity was in a different league than him, for sure. And he'd most certainly be mentioning the Uber story to Tawny the next time he saw her (if he even remembered it), just to watch her drop her face in her hands. She'd probably hit him. Or dredge up some of his less shining moments to make him back down. [break][break]

Felicity slipped from her seat, reassuring him of her steeled tolerance as she gave a spin and laughed. Luck turned his mouth into his palm to smother a smile, eyes closing as he nodded encouragingly. "That's very good," he agreed, voice half a chuckle, and, really, it was impressive — he wasn't so sure he could do the same, especially once he finished his current glass. [break][break]

She prompted him to dance and Luck's face slipped from his palm. He caught himself but still sloshed half of his remaining whiskey across the bar. Using the napkin under his beer, he wiped it up while shaking his head and grinning. "Oh, well I dunno about that," he started, scrunching his face and feeling lines gather at his eyes. He couldn't claim that he didn't dance because he did, he loved it, and he was far better at it drunk than sober, but still... [break][break]

Still... what? What was the issue, exactly? He tilted his head, unable to remember. He made a noise in his throat and shrugged his shoulders. "Okay, actually, yeah — hell yeah, let's dance," he tossed back what was left in his whiskey glass, pushed it among her empty shots, and then turned a suddenly-serious look to her as he lifted a finger. "But..."[break][break]

He paused, letting the moment breathe; allowing it an air of playful severity.[break][break]

"For everyone's safety... I'm putting a three-strike system in play. If I step on your toes... no," — he paused, brow pinching as he reconsidered — "If I step on anyone's toes... that's a strike." Pleased with the amendment, he bobbed his head. "I fall down, that's a strike. If I lose my hat or someone, anyone, knocks it off..." his voice trailed, lapsing once more into thought. After a long, silent beat, the hand he was counting on lifted to sift through his hair. His eyes widened as his fingers found only curls, slightly smushed because — he'd been wearing a ballcap earlier. [break][break]

Where had it gone? Hadn't someone snatched it off at some point to playfully pull over their own hair? Surely, he'd gotten it back? Maybe he just put it down somewhere? [break][break]

"Oh, shit... I already lost my hat... ha-haah," he crooned a clipped and quiet laugh, eyes pinching briefly closed, then stood and grabbed his beer in one hand. "Oh well, doesn't count. And enough rules, I s'pose." He emptied a bit of the bottle with a couple of measured pulls (making dancing with it a little "safer"), then motioned for her to lead the way. "Who knows... seeing how ya step just might make choosing a nickname a little easier."

i've been chasing a feeling i just can't get back to[break]
cause nothing can take me that high

Tag: Felicity Everette [break]
Woops, this ended up being a trainwreck lmao. [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes/tweaks![break]
Or if you need more to work with!

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[newclass=.post-frosttalonbar-o]background-color:#3C584D;width:460px;padding:15px;[/newclass]

[Felicity Everette]

Felicity Everette

To hell with it, let’s give it one more whiskey-go-round

Nights like this were not an 'uncommon' thing for Felicity. Though she did typically try not to party too hard when she knew she worked early, but sometimes… well, it couldn't be helped. With her Gran a few hours away and nothing but a cat in her apartment; it was easier to just get out and let time pass dancing, drinking and just not be quite so alone. Not that she would ever admit that. Because, ew. Who had time for pity parties and feeling sad? Definitely not her! She would take another round of shots over talking about how she was 'feeling' any day. Which was exactly how she'd become a 'regular' at just about every bar and dance club in town. Honestly, it would be sad if she ever actually let herself take a moment to unpack anything.

She gave a nod to a group of people who she occasionally bar hopped with, but she was quite intrigued by this friend of Tawny's. The two girls were definitely party friends, and Felicity knew if she ever needed someone to hang out with who wasn't trying to get her to talk; Tawny was her girl! There was no telling how many times Tawny had been there when Felicity needed a distraction from life, especially whenever it rolled around to the anniversary of her dad's passing. Her already high alcohol intake also saw a drastic increase, if that was even remotely possible. How the girl didn't have any serious health issues; she was still baffled. Especially when she drank tequila like it was water.

The petite, twenty-five year old blonde offered a satisfactory grin as his comment. Honestly, she would never quite understand how she'd manage to have such high tolerance for alcohol. It wasn't as if she just woke up one day and started drinking heavily. But she definitely wasn't one of those girls who waited to be of 'legal' drinking age to start her alcohol consumption. Hell, her Gran had been royally pissed when she realized the bottles in her liquor cabinet had been 'refilled' with water. Felicity had more 'black out' moments than she did of actually memories from her late teen years.

Felicity waited for his response, curious to know if he was going to join her or not. At first it seemed like he might not tag along, and she wasn't the type to insist if told 'no', but then he seemed to reevaluate his decision quite enthusiastically. She watched him throw back the rest of his whiskey and turn to face her with a more serious expression as he lifted a finger. Her left eyebrow rose curiously, waiting for him to continue.

His 'rules' seemed fair enough, though that he had already lost his hat and not realized it made her laugh. She couldn't help it. “Oh wow, that's exactly why I don't wear hats when I'm out drinking anymore… lost a few too many and got tired of replacing them." Though hers typically got lost in transit from the club to her apartment, or whomever's place she was going to. She chuckled as he stood at last and seemed to be ready to get out there, his comment about possibly choosing a nickname for her based of her dancing amusing her immensely. “Then I better not embarrass myself." She teased, knowing a goofy nickname being coined wasn't a particularly huge worry of hers. After all, how likely were they to see one another again after tonite?

Felicity wasted no more time getting back out to the dance floor, she didn't know the name of the song currently playing, but in this setting it was more about just moving your body than actually knowing the music.

---

Notes: Give me a nudge if this works for you, sorry for the delay!

TEMPLATE BY ANGIEBAE♥

[Luck Harris]

[nospaces]

[attr="class","post-frosttalonbar-o"]

[attr="class","frosttalonbar-post"]

I GUESS THIS IS ME NOW, IT'S JUST WHAT I DO

i'm chasing a feeling, cause there ain't no feeling like you

Felicity laughed and shared that she'd stopped wearing hats altogether to curb her own habit of losing them. Luck nodded solemnly, his addled brain finding her "solution" undeniably sage but... not exactly an option for him. He just loved his ballcaps too much. Largely because his hair was a nightmare he didn't want to deal with most of the time. [break][break]

He preferred it with a little bit of length — because having it "played with" was (of course) nice, but also because keeping it cut short had its nuances. It grew quick. Figuring out what to do with in its "middle stages" was always awkward. He could never decide if keeping it short made him look too old or too young. And, without a bit of length, he found he had to keep his face clean-shaven to match — and that was another, entirely exhausting task on its own. [break][break]

But when it got long, it could be messy. Especially on nights out, when he almost always got a little sweaty and disheveled. A hat was the quickest, most reliable fix. He always had one (or three) on-hand.[break][break]

But the topic didn't warrant a rebuttal. And, when Felicity started toward the dance floor, Luck took a long pull from his beer and followed behind; just barely stopping himself from reaching out to use her as some sort of tether or lead when he acknowledged the tilt beneath his feet and the sway in his step. He wouldn't be able to walk a straight line right now to save his life. It was a good thing most dancing didn't require it.[break][break]

The dance floor wasn't packed — it was a bar and not a club, after all. But the space was still decently-sized and the music was fun and jaunty. The people milling about, all laughing and grinning with lights bouncing off their big smiles and wide eyes, set the tone just right. Luck lifted his beer in the air and let the music settle in him. In his current state, it was a simple, natural thing to find the beat of it and let his body respond to the rhythm. His mouth curled lazily as he watched Felicity before him and tried to mirror whatever she did, all while trying to think of a fitting nickname.[break][break]

It was a futile endeavor, though. His mind was too muddled. Himself too swimmy. He had to choose between focusing on the music and moving or thinking. He couldn't do both at the same time. Which meant, what he could come up with... wasn't worth suggesting.[break][break]

(***)[break][break]

As if proving the fact he couldn't think and dance at the same time, Luck's attention caught on a woman swaying about a few paces away and he slowed to a stand-still. Atop her head was his missing hat and... hey... she was also wearing the overshirt he suddenly recalled starting the night with.[break][break]

Oh, yeah. Now he remembered. [break]
Well... sort of. [break][break]

He could remember when the woman had pulled the hat from his head to slip over her own hair. Her grin had been cheeky and daring. And he'd been drunk enough to be amused and not annoyed. How she'd convinced him from his shirt was a little more foggy. And he couldn't recall what exact group she'd been a part of — one that he'd slipped from when he needed a breather or one that'd grown a little irritated with him when he began to get too noisy. [break][break]

Motioning to Felicity for "one moment", Luck took another drink of his beer and moved in the woman's direction, giving her a quick study as he approached — trying to recall anything else that might be pertinent before he reached out to her (like, for example, her name). But nothing came to mind. All he could think was that his dark-blue, checkered flannel was too big on her, in that particular way he found just "nice" when it came to women borrowing his clothes. It fluttered around in pleasant contrast to the tight fit of the tanktop she wore underneath, the ends of it danced mid-thigh, and she'd bunched the sleeves to her elbows. [break][break]

Unable to keep a slight pull from his lips, he plucked the hat from her head — careful enough not to tug at her hair but not so slowly that she might feel it slipping and could lift a hand to hastily try and intercept. She spun around fully, face twisted with lightning-quick accusation. But her gaze darted about as Luck smirked and smoothed the cap over his curls (feeling immediately pleased by the familiar feel of it) and her face slackened with recognition. Her lips curled and he leaned forward to speak, then chuckle, close to her ear. "I'll be gettin' the shirt back, too."[break][break]

She pulled back, brow lifting questioningly as she tipped her head (probably trying to decide if he was flirting or not). "Will ya now?" she asked finally, eye drawing down the length of him before lifting back to his face. After a long moment in which she seemed to consider... she nodded, turned her back again, and began a sway. Securing his beer bottle expertly between the knuckles of a pinky and ring finger, Luck curled the rest in the shoulders of his flannel and let her dance her (slow, purposeful) way out if it. His smile inched wider, and then wider still when she turned back to him and nabbed the bottle from his fingers, watching his face curiously. He huffed a quiet laugh through his nose, eyes narrowing briefly as he studied her back, and then he leaned forward once more. "Hope you have a good night," he said, smile evident in his voice, and she nodded (a bit knowingly) before they both turned. [break][break]

He found Felicity easily enough and started his way back to her, pointing to his reclaimed hat and letting his mouth pull in a wide, obviously-proud grin. He began shrugging into his flannel as he moved, trying once again to think of a nickname before he reached her. But then... the toe of one boot caught over the top of his other and... he couldn't think anything at all as he fell forward and ended up on the floor right at her feet. [break][break]

With a groan, he rolled on his back. Then he laughed, eyes cracking open as he folded his legs and gazed up at her. "Strike one," he mumbled, wriggling around to finish working on the shirt he'd only half-managed his arms through before falling. Then he wiped a hand across his face and laughed harder as he reached for the hat that'd — once again — abandoned him. "And two — hah-ha!"

i've been chasing a feeling i just can't get back to[break]
cause nothing can take me that high

Tag: Felicity Everette [break]
If he's too much of a wreck and this is a lot, just LET ME KNOW lmaooo. I can dial back. He's supposed to be an embarrassing/annoying drunk when he gets wasted drunk (which is precisely why he's been so tame about it for so long), so I'm just having fun at this point sdkfjhsdkjfh~ But if it's too "🙄" or the vibe's just off for you, then I can edit lolol. Otherwise, gimme a nudge for any other desired changes/tweaks! [break][break]

Also, we can break this post in half if you'd like. If I did too much. I was just worried I wasn't giving enough to work with at first and then I got carried away and went on a whole-ass sidequest. So, if you'd rather I cut out the second half of this post starting at the (***), then that's totally cool with me!!

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[Felicity Everette]

Felicity Everette

To hell with it, let’s give it one more whiskey-go-round

Felicity’s laughter mixed with the music and the low hum of conversation. She couldn’t help but shake her head at Luck’s antics, a mix of amusement and exasperation brightening her eyes. “You know,” She began, reaching down to help him up, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were doing that on purpose.”

With a quick spark of electricity running through her fingers as she grasped his hand, Felicity pulled Luck to his feet. The brief shock was playful, a tiny jolt meant to wake him up a bit. “Careful there, cowboy,” Felicity teased, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. “Don’t want you getting more bruises than you already have.”

She looked at him, the pride still evident on his face as he adjusted his hat and flannel. “Nice retrieval mission, though,” She said, nodding towards the dance floor where the woman had been. “Almost like you had it planned out.”

“Come on, let’s get back to dancing before you lose anything else,” She said, tugging him towards the center of the floor. The music shifted to something with a heavier beat, and Felicity let the rhythm take over, her body moving fluidly to the sound. She watched as Luck tried to follow her movements, his coordination slightly off but his enthusiasm making up for it.

As they continued to dance, the world around them seemed to fade away. The bar, the people, the music—all of it became a blur, leaving just the two of them in their own little bubble. Felicity felt a surge of energy, a connection that went beyond the simple touch of their hands. It was as if the electricity that flowed through her veins had found a kindred spirit in the chaos of Luck’s presence. It reminded her of her wild nights with Tawny. Fuck, she missed her friend! She would be calling her sometime tomorrow.

“Here’s to more nights like this,” She said, her voice barely audible over the music. “And maybe, just maybe, fewer lost hats.” She winked, and for a moment, it felt like the whole world was in on the joke.

---

Notes: it’s all good! Messy chaotic characters are fantastic!!! 🫶 hope this works for you’ give me a nudge otherwise!

TEMPLATE BY ANGIEBAE♥

[Luck Harris]

[nospaces]

[attr="class","post-frosttalonbar-o"]

[attr="class","frosttalonbar-post"]

I GUESS THIS IS ME NOW, IT'S JUST WHAT I DO

i'm chasing a feeling, cause there ain't no feeling like you

Felicity laughed, shaking her head as she stared down at him. Her eyes were bright but not irritated, so Luck simply grinned back. He let her help him to his feet — making sure to put enough focus in the task that he didn't end up dragging her down — and made a noise in his throat when the fingers slipped in his palm gave him an unexpected jolt. "That'd be giving me too much credit," he answered (a bit breathlessly), flinging his hand out with a quick, bewildered laugh as he watched her smile. The shock left a tingling, almost numb sensation curling to the tips of his fingers and up his wrist. His brow gave a quick, curious knit before smoothing just as fast. [break][break]

He straightened himself up as she continued, accusing him of planning the interaction with the woman before. He tipped his head with a breathy chuckle and a slight widen to his grin — not quite an affirmation or denial, but something vaguely... somewhat slyly... both. [break][break]

It'd probably been some sort of game in the beginning of the night. When he'd been a little more sober. Letting the woman steal his hat. Just a little bit of give. Maybe some insurance. An excuse to approach her later, perhaps. He couldn't remember if she'd put her number in his phone but he did have some fuzzy, vague recollection that she might have been trying to make someone else jealous when she slipped his shirt over her own. [break][break]

It was just the sort of thing young people did in bars. He was probably too old, or at least too out-of-practice, for it now. But it'd still felt familiar. [break][break]

He could still see it happening around him. To him. The openings and invitations. Where he was given the space to act or sidle in. Moments where someone raised a brow or stretched a pause — waiting for him to be bold and stake some interest. Suggest. Phish. It'd been a simple thing back in the day. A dance-around he knew well. The only one he'd known for a decent chunk of time. [break][break]

But... now... he was struggling a bit with the follow-through. He wasn't certain whether playing was what he wanted or if it would be just him falling into old practices and patterns because they were easy. Most of his "breathers" of the night — his slipping away to "get another beer" or his sitting in a booth away from everyone to "recharge" — had been simple excuses to turn away from someone when things began to feel a little too pointed. [break][break]

Felicity's hand found his again, stoking the buzz lingering in his wrist, and she tugged him back into the throng. And, once again, Luck let the feel of drink in his body and music in his bones find each other. Everything coalesced into an easy, effortless hum. Eventually, he couldn't keep the empathy from seeping from him; from casting in a slow-spreading net around him, dipping into the emotions of everyone else and pulling them into himself to feel with them. He focused on them. Named them. Felicity's especially — even if she wasn't the closest person to him, it seemed what she felt was a bit stronger. A bit warmer. The easiest to sink into and identify. [break][break]

She leaned in, speaking over the music to share her cheers for more nights of the same — maybe without him losing his hat. Luck nodded enthusiastically as she spoke and then let his drunken brain actually process what she said. "Sure... but the two tend to go hand in hand!" He laughed, letting the grin that parted his lips stay spread across his face as he tipped his head back. [break][break]

He blinked slowly at the ceiling, watching the lights play through the rafters and listening to the people laugh and yell around him. He played her words again in his head, considering them further.[break][break]

Did he want more nights like this? Was this fun? Was it why he was doing it? For fun?[break][break]

The drum of blood in his ears... the pound in his skull... was, for a brief moment, louder than the beat of the music. Someone bumped into his back and he felt their spike of drunken irritation grate inside him. He tried to shake it. Maybe he needed another drink. His gaze sifted to his hand and he flexed his fingers. He'd had a beer, hadn't he? What'd happened to it? Had he finished it? No... right. The woman had taken it.[break][break]

The world tilted with the realization and Luck tried a chuckle. God, he was so drunk. So much drunker than everyone else. He tried to find the music again and dropped his stare to Felicity, watching her wink... her smile... and trying (with a sudden edge of desperation) to snatch onto that obvious, light levity she embodied. But he was feeling a little too hot now, a little too off-beat, and he leaned close. "I'm gonna go for a smoke. If I don't make it back in," he fished the phone from his pocket and tried a smirky grin that felt convincing. "Can we take a picture or two for Tawny?"

i've been chasing a feeling i just can't get back to[break]
cause nothing can take me that high

Tag: Felicity Everette [break]
Give me a nudge for any changes! Or if this doesn't work for you!

[newclass=.frosttalonbar-post]background-image:url(https://i.imgur.com/b4srj7B.png);background-repeat:no-repeat;width:360px;text-align:justify;padding:20px 50px 25px 50px;background-color:#f5f5f5;color:#666;line-height:1.2!important;[/newclass]
[newclass=.frosttalonbar-post b]color:#3C584D;[/newclass]
[newclass=.post-frosttalonbar-o]background-color:#3C584D;width:460px;padding:15px;[/newclass]

[Felicity Everette]

Felicity Everette

To hell with it, let’s give it one more whiskey-go-round

Felicity could feel the tipsiness making everything a bit brighter, a bit warmer, and Luck’s awkward chuckle didn’t go unnoticed. She smiled, trying to steady herself as she leaned in closer to hear him better over the music.

“A smoke, huh?” She teased, her voice light and airy. She was aware of the mix of emotions flitting across his face, sensing his struggle even in her buzzed state. She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry, we’ll get a good picture for Tawny.”

She fumbled for her phone, then remembered it wasn’t working… not since she zapped it earlier. With a sheepish grin, she shrugged. “My phone’s dead, though. So we’ll have to use yours.”

Her eyes sparkled with a mix of mischief and understanding. She knew what it was like to feel a little lost in the chaos of a night out, to question if the fun was real or just a habit. “You know,” She said, leaning in closer so he could hear her over the music, “Sometimes, a breather is exactly what you need.”

She playfully took his phone from him, holding it up for a quick selfie. “Smile!” She cheered, capturing a picture of the two of them. “There, now you’ve got proof you met me.” She said, showing him the photo.

Felicity gave him a light pat on the shoulder before stepping back. “But if you come back, I’ll be right here. We can dance, get another drink, or just sit and talk. Whatever you need.”

She watched him for a moment longer, hoping her words had helped, even if just a little. “Take care, Luck.” She added with a gentle smile, then turned back to the dance floor, letting the music and the night sweep her up once more.

---

Notes: just give me a nudge if that works. Feel free to close with your next post if you want.

TEMPLATE BY ANGIEBAE♥

[Luck Harris]

[nospaces]

[attr="class","post-frosttalonbar-o"]

[attr="class","frosttalonbar-post"]

I GUESS THIS IS ME NOW, IT'S JUST WHAT I DO

i'm chasing a feeling, cause there ain't no feeling like you

Felicity was unabashed and, probably for the best, she took the initiative with the picture — taking his phone from him and setting them up for a quick selfie. When she handed it back, Luck gave it a glance and tried not to grimace at the look of himself. He could see the drunkenness in his countenance; his mind working in the picture, as if lagging behind, trying to pick through all Felicity had said, and only just barely managing to cheese before the camera's shutter. In comparison, Felicity looked fresh and chipper as she beamed; smiling wide like in the pictures he'd seen in Tawny's camera roll.[break][break]

She gave him a pat, a reassuring hand squeeze, and an empathetic smile. And, still lagging, Luck thought through all the gestures individually — trying not to find pity in them but unable to. He managed a flickering grin. She was nice. Effortlessly light and kind. And, as encouraging and uplifting as that should (and would normally) be, in his current spiral, he felt he shouldn't demand more of it. Shouldn't stick around to suck it out of her. "Thanks... you too," he mused, leaning close and putting that last bit of chuckle he could manage into his tone as he squeezed her hand back. Then, with a shrug, he tossed an arm across her shoulders and pulled her in a loose, jostling half-hug against him before stepping away. "Sorry, I couldn't come up with a nickname. Maybe next time." [break][break]

Then, as she turned back to the dancefloor, he turned toward the door; letting the half-hearted grin fall from his lips and letting the tremble overtake his fingers as he moved to the exit and fished for his pack of Marlboros. Purposely not slowing or pausing to apologize when he inadvertently bumped into a half-dozen people on the way, unable to afford the effort, he pulled free a single cigarette and stuck it between his teeth.[break][break]

Usually, leaving the bar after a night inside was nice. The first, cleansing breath of fresh air after the stuffy atmosphere of smoke, food, and people. The first step toward the warmth of home, when he tipped his head back with a happy sigh to peek appreciatively at the night sky (admittedly not as capturing and visibly star-dusted in the city). It was the best. Usually, he wasn't this drunk though. He was rarely this drunk anymore. And when he pushed through the doors, it was in an unsteady stumble toward the street. It required all his focus — his whole mind — to keep himself upright as he moved, intending to seat himself at the gutter. [break][break]

Misjudging the distance, his own squirrely distribution of weight, or whatever other natural (typically thoughtless) precursor that drunkenness tended to throw out the window, his foot caught the edge of the curb and immediately skipped down the side of it. His body followed in an unceremonious hurtle; phone clattering to the ground while he lurched sidelong to catch himself with his hands and plopped hard on the sidewalk. "Fuck's sake," he muttered around the cigarette in his lips, brow pinching as he adjusted, folded his knees before him, wiped the sidewalk grit from his palms, and began patting at his pockets for his lighter. [break][break]

Once his cigarette was lit, he pawed around, found his phone, and gave it a quick study. He was collecting cracks across the front and back and chips in the side and at the corners of it like he was seventeen again. He pulled up his messages and, after a couple minutes of squinting and muttering, managed to attach the selfie in a text to Tawny, occasionally testing the ache — and, no doubt, the impending bruise — of his ass beneath him. He checked twice... then three times... then one more time... that he was sending the picture to only her... but somehow... the image was on its way to two other contacts he'd added while trying to keep that exact thing from happening. [break][break]

Messages sent and phone locked, Luck tried to focus on smoking. On the relative quiet of the night. But eventually, when the keen and tilt of the world became too unsettling, he rubbed a hand across his face and drew his knees close enough to drop his forehead to. Even with his eyes closed, he could feel the unsteady and misbalanced pull within him; as if gravity was yanking him down and in a couple different directions all at the same time. He tried to recall where he'd parked his truck at the start of the night. Tried to make mental note of whether or not he could feel his keys in his pockets. His wallet. Reminded himself to set an alarm so he wasn't late to work in the morning. The cherry of his cigarette nipped at his knuckles and he smushed the rest of its life out without a wince. [break][break]

His phone buzzed audibly against the concrete beneath him and he parted his knees to glance down at it. A barrage of messages landed on the screen in quick succession and he tucked his arms under his legs to open the conversation. A picture of Tawny, face-palming in the dim light of her bedroom. A bunch of 'no, no, no, no, no's. A reminder that it was a weeknight. A promise of being as loud and grating as possible in the morning, if he made it to work. A threat that, if he didn't apologize to her friend for having to put up with "that level of Drunk!Luck", she'd drag him to the bakery herself and make him buy the whole office the most expensive selection of treats. [break][break]

He read through the texts, lips giving a faint quirk while he exhaled an amused breath. It pulled a little more genuinely when, moments later, another barrage of messages followed (with less ALL-CAPS), to let him know that if either of them needed babysitting tonight, she'd have the aspirin, blankets, pillows, and snacks ready in no time. He locked his phone without responding and stretched his legs out before him, breathing deep and trying to center himself. [break][break]

For a long moment, he considered going back into the bar. Finding Felicity and asking her if she wanted to journey to Tawny's together. If he really tried, he could probably shake the impending gloom. It might even be easy, he thought, as he imagined them, cackling and keeping each other from tipping and stumbling as they walked the sidewalk toward Tawny's building Downtown. He pictured Tawny's bright-eyed and sober exasperation as she herded them inside and made sure they had everything they needed, even as she chided them with her hands on her hips. It'd be fun. Safer (and less pathetic) than sleeping the night off in his truck with his keys tucked away in the bed's toolbox. And she could make sure he made it to work in the morning. [break][break]

Then his stomach roiled threateningly. And he recalled that Felicity hadn't been nearly as drunk as he already was. That she was probably eager to enjoy the rest of her night on the dancefloor. Tawny herself would be sober. It was Wednesday. Maybe it'd be fun only to him and, to everyone else, it would be just what Tawny had said — babysitting. Until he passed out, a sweaty mess on her living room floor. [break][break]

Maybe his truck, he finally decided, was the better route to go — call it a night while he was still (relatively) ahead and the morning only required a few apologies.

i've been chasing a feeling i just can't get back to[break]
cause nothing can take me that high

Tag: Felicity Everette [break]
We can close with this, unless you have other ideas!

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