Business suits and combat boots [Amber]

[Lucas Blacke]

[Direct continuation of: See you again]

His feet were on the table as he took a brief moment to rest, getting his mind to calm down a bit and setting things in perspective, which maybe was not the best thing to do at that time. He had sent Amber his address and she could pop up at any moment, though that was not to say he wasn't thrilled for her to come over. The only thing mildly bugging him about her coming over was that he didn't quite know how to greet her, or what to do instead of just sit there and drink. Eying the two bottles of whiskey at the table he then wondered if he had bought enough, but eased his mind a bit as he remembered that there was more booze in the cabinet.

They really had nothing in common, Amber and Lucas. They just met one day and jumped into a pretty public place for some fun. While a teen impulse at some points those moments would surely earn a place at the front of his mind. Though he was sure those would quickly fade as he would no doubt fuck up and spend literal months trying to forget anything ever happened. Though that would be hard as he still vividly saw every movement she made due to his ability. Hell, he still remembered what his uncle said right before he passed away some five years ago.

He pulled himself out of thought though when he heard a knock on the door. Maybe it would be fun to invest in a doorbell sometime soon.. he got up then and almost ran into the same couch he was sitting on and would have definitely dropped back down if not for his ability. Wait, his ability. He suddenly remembered that his ability had a tendency of reacting out of whack when in situations he didn't quite know how to handle.

Like, what was Amber? He knew what he wanted her to be, but what did she want? Friends with benefits or something more? Lucas really had no idea, he figured as he finally got to his door and opened it as he turned the knob, revealing the gorgeous Amber.

''G'evening ta the gorgeous ma'am.'' He started before she could say anything.

[Amber Ignis]

Amber heard Luke’s footsteps moving towards to door almost instantly. She felt a patter in her chest as she anxiously waited for the door to open. When it finally did and he spoke to her with his Southern drawl, she felt a flush come to her cheeks. Sometimes after briefly meeting a person, it was easy to make them out to be more attractive than they truly were. But when Amber’s eyes met Luke’s, she was pleasantly surprised how well she remembered him. He looked just as handsome as he did in the mall earlier that week. And a little bit of alcohol would only make him tastier.

Amber stepped inside and decided to take a leap of faith by wrapping her arms around Luke’s neck and planting a soft, but quick, kiss on his lips. “Good to see you.” She then sweetly laughed and invited herself into his home. She walked past him in the house to look around. It was just as big as she thought it would be. A boy flaunting money in the mall was bound to live in a great home. She still wondered how he acquired so much money at a young age. Maybe he was a boy genius? Trust fund baby? All questions Amber was dying to find out.

After taking in her surroundings for a few moments longer, Amber turned back to look at Lucas. “So,” she began. “Are you going to make me a drink?” Despite Amber’s confident attitude and ability to take risks (like immediately kissing Luke upon her arrival) she still held a bit of insecurity and tendency for introverted behavior. She would be stupid to pretend she didn’t know where this hangout was headed. In the mall she was fueled by the adrenaline of spontaneity, but today she needed something stronger. In order for her to feel more comfortable, she needed to start drinking – immediately.

While she waited for Luke to answer, she plopped herself down on the nearby couch. For someone so prone to mood swings and unpredictable behavior, Amber sure knew how to take control of a situation.

[Lucas Blacke]

So she had arrived, and not without making an entrance in the form of hugging him and planting a kiss on his lips. And as she then moved on Luke would still stand there with the door opened and his eyes closed, leaning forward ever so slightly in a kissing motion before realizing she had moved on. Was it normal to want a kiss after just having seen someone once? He figured it wasn't, but then again she did kiss him first so that pretty much canceled each other out. Nevertheless it was a good kiss for how short it lasted, it was really just a greeting before being anything else. ''Good ta see ya too.'' He murmured softly as he then coughed to get his voice up to speed.

He turned around finally as he closed the door and followed the girl into his own house. ''Aye, I'll make ya a drink. Protein shake, aye?'' He joked, moving out past her and hoping she'd turn around to follow him with her eyes. ''Jokes, good ta break th' tension.'' Not that there was any there, but still, jokes were good ice-breakers.

He got out two shot glasses from one of the cabinets in his kitchen (which for some reason was the other half of his living room, which was still huge) and turned around once more as he then pointed at the two bottles of whiskey he had bought just for this. ''Drinks?'' He asked in a way that really didn't have to be answered as he made his way over to the couch in front of where they stood.

He plopped down next to Amber (who had plopped down a bit earlier) and opened one bottle before pouring it into the two shot glasses and handing one of them to Amber as he put the bottle back in its place. He took one of the glasses but didn't yet drink though as he wasn't sure he should, not before getting some padding in there.

''First things first, I s'pose.'' He began as he put the glass back on the table. ''Somethin' ta eat? Bread or somethin'? Might make us last longer.''

[Amber Ignis]

Amber liked to see Luke squirm a little. She did notice how he got a little caught up in their kiss by the door, but she cut it short. She knew there would be time for that later, and she wanted to tease him a bit. She wouldn’t let on that she saw him, but she gave herself an internal pat on the back for being a successful seductress. It was possible that kissing him was a bit presumptuous of her – maybe he actually only wanted to hang out. But based on how quickly they moved in the mall, she was pretty confident that Luke wanted her the same way she wanted him. Well, there was a chance he was looking for a steady relationship, but Amber planned on avoiding that conversation as long as possible. That’s usually when her hookups took a turn for the worst.

She was surprised when Luke pulled out two shot glasses. She didn’t realize how quickly he was trying to move that night. She was more inclined to sip on a glass of whiskey – especially one as nice as Luke bought, but he was clearly eager to start the party. She wouldn’t mention that she would rather sip than take shots. She’ll let him lead for once.

When he sat down next to her, she felt herself move a little closer to him. She casually rested her hand on his leg as he handed her the shot. Soon after though, he put his back down. He mentioned about eating something. Amber chimed in, “Actually it’s a myth that bread soaks up alcohol. Protein is your better bet.” She seemed to be referencing his earlier comment about protein shakes, but she was actually speaking the truth. Though the comment was not a sexy way for her to be starting the night. She laughed at herself and continued. “But I actually already ate. I’m ready to go, cowboy.” She held her shot out to him in an attempt to cheers and waited for a response.

[Lucas Blacke]

Did he show her how much he didn't know about alcohol? After all he had only been drinking for about six months. Was it even okay for him to have gotten out those shot glasses? But whiskey needed to be done in shots, right? Or did she prefer entire glasses? Lucas had done that, but wasn't quite sure if that would be the acceptable thing to do. Anyway, if push came to shove he would hide behind the fact he wanted to get a little bit of the taste in before yanking out the actual glasses, which actually made sense and was not just a stupid reason like the ones he usually gave, like 'I was weak' or 'I need time' or the always magnificent 'this isn't working'.

Apparently though Lucas had lots of middle names and one of them was Risky, among such classics as Stupid and No-brain.

Then when his comment about food was shot down, ''Okay, gorgeous.'' he slipped back onto the couch and felt her hand on his leg, something he wasn't quite adjusted to yet but he figured that he'd allow it. After all, a smoking hot redhead touching you? Yes please. But, his comment was voided and she then said it was a myth, that protein was better? Luke didn't hesitate for a second and jokingly pulled on the belt he had bought from Hot Topic that day ''Got some protein here fer ya.'', he figured that would be a fun sight. Though he didn't pull it off he did leave it unbuckled, thinking that it'd end up undone anyway, so why not save Amber some time?

He appreciated both the looks and the alleged smarts of this girl, though he had seen enough shows to indicate that would likely mean issues later on. But then again, everything meant issues with Luke as he had a habit of finding them where there were none.

''Anywho.'' He said suddenly as he reached over and took his shot glass. ''Bottoms up!'' He cheered as he then downed his drink in one go, using his ability to not show anything despite his very low tolerance to alcohol. The drink hit him like a truck but he had found out a while ago that alcohol actually didn't make him drunk, it made his ability take over while his mind was simply in the passenger seat.

''Small glasses though, ain't they?'' He asked as he looked at the empty shot glass before putting it on the table before getting up and grabbing two normal glasses. ''Luckily they're just lil' teasers o' whats ta come.''

He totally wanted to say ''me'', but failed to deliver.

[Amber Ignis]

Amber laughed out loud when Lucas offered her his...protein. She gave him a playful shove while being careful not to spill her drink. Luke was cute. Despite the fact that he was clearly innocent to the ways of alcohol, and his jokes walked on the line of being crude, he made her smile and he made her laugh. That was all she cared about.

When he raised his glass, she clinked hers to his and took the shot in one gulp. She then put her head back as she swallowed feeling the smooth burn go down her throat. "Mmm...boy knows how to pick his whiskey," the feisty redhead said.

Immediately she felt the shot going to her head. Before taking medication for her bipolar disorder, it would take Amber 3 or 4 drinks to get drunk. Now, one drink really did the trick. She was already pushing her luck by taking that shot so quickly, so she carefully reminded herself, Slow down, Amber.

She would take the next drink Lucas was preparing nice and slowly. She wouldn't push her luck or she would end up puking her guts out in his toilet. Drinking alone was terribly dangerous. It made her medication ineffective, but drinking every once in a while was not bound to hurt her too much- as long as she paced herself.

While Luke stood up preparing the next drinks, Amber took the opportunity to learn more about him. "So Luke, where do you like living better? Vermont or Texas?" The two states couldn't be more opposite in terms of climate, though she bet he people were pretty similar. She wondered which he preferred.

[Lucas Blacke]

As he had gotten to his feet he could already feel the effects of alcohol on his system, how it made him move more.. on his own. How he felt that there were slight adjustments being made. It wasn't like the Texan was drunk yet but the woozy feeling in his head had already taken hold, and his ability was compensating by translating his thoughts into proper movement. Which was a good thing, didn't need a stumbling boy just yet, or ever. He did slightly wonder if Amber was able to hold her booze as good as that one girl at that party that one time, she didn't show any signs of being drunk at all. Or maybe she did and he just didn't remember. Still, he couldn't help but wonder what Amber would do.

But she wouldn't be doing anything for now as he was sure that her tolerance was big enough to handle a simple shot, but then again she could be like Luke and rarely drink. He barely knew her, and she probably figured that the only way to rectify that was by coming to his house and, for some reason, getting shitfaced drunk.

After having gotten to the cabinet where the glasses were he got a few out and walked back over to Amber, putting them down on the table but not yet filling them. He looked at the girl as his hand reached for the bottle of whiskey and thought about her question, pouring the shots again (he didn't fill up the glasses yet) he hummed a bit. It was a good question as well as quite the loaded one. But hey, alcohol. So it was warranted.

''It used ta be Texas,'' He replied. ''b'fore I had me powers I was livin' with me uncle an' boy, was he awesome. He's part o' th' reason I got this house. See, me parents weren't allowed ta keep me so they gave me up an' handed me over ta me uncle. To this day I know nothin' of my actual family, let alone if I 'ave siblings.'' He continued as the shots were poured and he put the bottle back, shoving the shot over to Amber but not yet urging her to drink. ''An' then, several months after I left fer Hammel me uncle died an' me parents didn't even tell me. So ta answer yer question; I liked livin' in Texas more than 'ere.''

It was a longer answer than he had hoped, but anything to get close to the thought of his uncle again at that point.

''But now everythin' I 'ave is in Vermont. School, house, car, money, girls, Amber.'' He tried joking. ''But I 'ave really no more reason ta go back ta Texas. I hate me parents, me uncle is gone..'' He raised his drink and without thought threw it back before pouring himself another one.

''Naw, everythin' I 'ave is right 'ere, in Vermont.''

[Amber Ignis]

Amber definitely considered herself a skilled drinker. She started at the young and ripe age of 12. Someone who grew up in a sheltered home such as hers should have been innocent to the rebellious behavior, but Amber's illness turned her into a wild child. Prior to being on medication, the girl could hold her booze like a champ. Today, Amber wasn't sure if even standing up would be a good idea. She didn't want to fall and show Luke just how much of a light weight her medication made her. Then she would have to explain herself and she wasn't sure she wanted to.

To her dismay, she watched Luke pour another shot instead of filling up the big glasses. Great. He probably expected her to throw it back again, but whiskey like this is meant to be savored and enjoyed slowly- not thrown back like cheap vodka. Oh well. At least she wasn't paying for it. Not like she could afford it.

And she certainly couldn't afford to take another shot. No way. When Luke answered her questioned, she was glad he spoke for a while. It would buy her some time. She listened intently to the story about his family. She thought it was interesting that he was adopted, too. But she felt a little sad for herself when he said everything he has is in Vermont. She felt the opposite. Everything she had is in New Jersey.

"Well, it some ways you're lucky. You're right where you are supposed to be." She smiled, but didn't take the shot. She hoped he wouldn't notice.

[Lucas Blacke]

''Ya I don't think I'm lucky.'' He responded as he leaned closer to Amber and got his hand closer to her, before suddenly changing trajectory and aiming for the glass she hadn't touched yet. He noticed as he had poured his own drink again that she didn't touch it, so he figured he could take it instead. And he was feeling comfortable enough around her to be able to do so without asking as he wrapped his hands around the shot glass and leaned back again. ''I hate me parents, they took millions which were meant fer me, an' me uncle, th' only man worth anythin' in me life died an' me parents didn't even tell me.'' Sure there was the reasoning that they weren't allowed to say too much to him, but it still stung the way they ignored him. No kid should grow up without parents.

He brought her glass to his mouth and smiled, or tried to at least. ''Here's to women's kisses, and to whiskey, amber clear, not as sweet as a woman's kiss, but a damn sight more sincere!'' He didn't know why he said that right now but talking about his uncle brought back the little things he did, like his favorite toast. Now Luke wasn't even close to a drinking age at the time but he sure as hell remembered what his uncle used to say. As he did with just about anything he said..

He threw the glass back and swallowed the whiskey as he slammed the glass on the table, his eyes closing involuntarily and a shiver running down his spine as he instantly wrapped his hand around the glass he had just poured himself. ''Yer gonna get me drunk like this.'' Truth was, as Luke downed yet another glass and slammed it on the table, was that he was already a bit drunk. Damn his tolerance for alcohol.

He wouldn't show it though, his power would make sure of that.

''But yer right, I'm where I'm s'posed ta be.'' He replied finally. ''Right here with ye.''

[Amber Ignis]

Amber listened to his story about his family. It sounded bad. Not knowing your parents, loosing the one person who made you feel at home. But it also sounded like a whole lot of stuff he couldn't change. "Well my philosophy is: don't dwell on the past you can't change. All you can do is look forward. I didn't know my parents either, and while it still stings a little, I get through knowing I was lucky to be adopted by an awesome family. And now you're lucky that you're a young guy able to support himself and want for nothing."

Amber was then happy that Lucas took her drink without saying anything. He could have just asked her why I she wasn't drinking, but instead he took the problem off her hands. He then drank another shot saying that she was going to get him drunk like that. Amber took that as the perfect moment for a little whiskey 101. "Well that's because you're drinking it wrong!" Amber took the whiskey bottle and the two glasses and poured shot sized portions into each. She then handed one to Lucas. "Whiskey's meant to be drank slowly and savored. Surely a good southern boy like you knows that," she joked as she took a sip.

Good. Slow and steady. Amber was proud of herself for being responsible... Well slightly responsible. Then when Lucas mentioned again that he was right where he was supposed to be, she took the opportunity to bring up the "reason" she came over. "So where's that guitar collection of yours?"

[Lucas Blacke]

He talked and she listened. And even if Luke ended up drinking more than her he wouldn't care all that much because it was starting to look like some kind of bonding exercise or something, or the mandatory digging-through of the brain or some shit. Which Lucas was fine with, especially seeing as he was doing so with a girl he liked. He knew it was way too soon to say anything further, and maybe it was even pushing it just saying, or thinking, he liked her.

He had taken her drink when she mentioned the solution to everything. Which kind of beat her down a notch but he supposed it was just a way of showing she listened, he supposed. ''Tellin' me ta not dwell on th' past is like tellin' a minister ta stop bein' religious.'' He replied as she told him then he was drinking his whiskey wrong and would tell him what he needed to do with it instead, which was odd as, well, it was alcohol, who cared how you drank it? He noticed her face when he took her drink though, and while it was minor she seemed to be relieved with him taking her shot. So maybe she wasn't used to alcohol as much as she said she was? But then she poured them the two normal glasses and handed one to Luke, so that though went right out of the window.

He was confused, but oddly okay with someone telling him what to do in this scenario. And even more so when she took a sip. Maybe she was just wanting to sip instead of shot, Luke didn't know.. he joined her in taking a sip and instantly felt that a single sip of the stuff burned more than a shot did, but he didn't mind and set his glass down on the table and turned to Amber with a laugh.

''Even th' best make mistakes.'' He replied with a wink. ''An' besides, I have yer cuteness ta make up fer it.''

But then she began about his guitar collection. Collection? Lucas was caught a bit blindsided by that, but he supposed she was right. He had about six electric guitars in his room, all ranging from cheap to holy-fuck-you-wouldn't-pay-that-for-a-car-let-alone-a-guitar. And not to mention all the acoustic ones he had, and of course all the bass guitars.

Well, it was her reason for coming over, though he hoped it was only part of it if he was being honest. ''Me bedroom.'' Yes, he slept with his instruments. The only thing not in his room was the piano his uncle left him, which was actually in the room they were in right now, though blocked by a piece of protruding wall. He'd get someone to knock it down one day.

''Wanna see them?'' And like that he realized he had invited her up to his room.

[Amber Ignis]

The first minutes (or hours) hanging out with a new person was always awkward for Amber. It took her a little bit of time to settle in and feel comfortable in the presence of a new person. It was interesting that she felt that way with Luke since they had already slept together, but regardless they were still strangers. She liked that besides being sexually compatible that they could also sit down and have a deep conversation. Though Amber was not by any means a relationship person, she wanted to care about the people she chose to go to bed with. Her and Luke were still fighting through the awkward phase, but so far Amber had high hopes for him.

Amber took another sip of her drink. This time she held the glass up to her lips a little bit longer than before, but she didn’t take much more liquor into her mouth. She merely held the glass up longer so that it appeared that she was taking a longer sip. She needed to make it seem like she was keeping up with him though she was really feeling the effect. She was loosening up, but she knew she couldn’t push herself much farther. Damn medication. Amber took another ‘seemingly large, but actually very small sip’ of her whiskey.

Amber decided to leave the conversation about his past in…the past. It seemed like he wouldn’t take her advice of not dwelling on it so she decided to change the conversation to something lighter. Ironically enough, Amber couldn’t even take her own advice. All she did was think about how she could change the past and make it so her brother didn’t hate her anymore. But alas… it was time for her to focus on the future.

Just then Luke took another opportunity to call her cute. He seemed to do that a lot and Amber certainly didn’t mind. She took the opportunity to lean over and give him a kiss on the lips. She lingered for a moment before pulling away and agreeing to follow him to his guitar collection. Of course she wanted to see the guitars, but it was mostly an excuse to see more of his house and potentially go into his room. To her excitement, he told her that the guitars were in his room. Lucky her.

She followed him noticing the piano in the corner. She wished her house was this put together, but unfortunately it was pretty bare. “How long have you lived here? This house is gorgeous.” She couldn’t tell if she slurred her words at all, but her head definitely spun a little as she stood up.

[Lucas Blacke]

That would no doubt be the first time his guitars had gotten him laid. In this house anyway. Not that he remembered his time at Hammel well enough to say he had gotten laid there because of it but still, he did know of a few times he got close because of a guitar though. But right now.. he wasn't too sure about a guitar actually helping his chances when Amber actually knew he was a good lay, and by god he was. And so was she, actually. But in order to not think about that he tried to recall all the songs he knew on guitar, which were lots actually, and he was close to being able to play it like he actually learned it from the best, being able to jam and randomize tunes like he was able to on piano.

The sip she took from her drink though.. she didn't finish it and there was the idea that she didn't drink what could have been ingested in that last sip of hers. But he failed to even say anything about that as she planted a kiss on his lips soon after, which he reacted to by giving in to the kiss and returning it, pretty much voiding his attempts not to think about.. that.. as he pulled back.

''We ain't there just yet, doll.'' He stated with closed eyes and a smile on his face. Obviously the night would end with a bang, but she wanted to see his collection of guitars first so he was damn well going to show them. And he would do just that as he got up to his feet moving as graciously as ever due to his ability nullifying the effect alcohol had on his body.

When she followed by getting up he instantly saw a wobble, but nothing bad enough to have to physically hold her up right as she seemed to comment on his house, mentioning it was gorgeous and asking how long he had lived there. ''First off, it ain't as gorgeous as this smokin' hot girl I'm with.'' He replied jokingly. ''An' second, maybe a month or two?''

He hadn't been living there long to be used to it himself, but the routines had been seeping into his brain bit by bit, like most things before they became automated.

''Need ta christen th' place, but that's why yer here.'' He said with a wink.

[Amber Ignis]

Amber was definitely thinking about how the night would end, but she was also genuinely interested in the guitars. The girl herself only had two, but she bet Lucas and his money had quite a few. She still wondered how he got all that money. Maybe from that uncle he mentioned? That would make sense. Some sort of inheritance. She secretly always wished that one day she would receive a letter in the mail telling her that her birth parents had died and left a fortune to her and Jonas. She stopped caring about knowing her parents a long time ago, but if they had money she would definitely want to know that.

There Lucas went again complimenting how hot she was. Amber came to the conclusion that he was not interested in a girlfriend and instead would rather just have fun. He further solidified that by constantly alluding to having sex with her. And yeah he bought her whiskey, but he never once asked to take her out. Suddenly she remembered something that made her stop in her tracks. “Wait! When we were on the phone, you went somewhere after the grocery store. What did you buy?”

The mystery had been haunting her the entire trip over that she couldn’t believe she had forgotten. But now she needed to know! This was more important than the guitars.

[Lucas Blacke]

Obviously he did have quite a few guitars, five to be exact. 3 electric ones and two acoustic ones. Now he didn't know what kind Amber would prefer, but he was sure he had it seeing as he even had a sitar. But she would no doubt not like the sitar, heck, he didn't even know if she knew what a sitar was! But Luke.. Luke was into music so much to know lots of instruments and he had the money to own them, so a small collection of five guitars actually took up the least space out of all the instruments he had.

He'd be able to buy more if his parents hadn't been hogging the money his uncle had meant for Lucas to have, he got only a small amount of it, after all. He wasn't even sure how much it was exactly, but having known his uncle it likely exceeded one million. So.. this turned the story slightly morbid as Luke actually waited for his parents to die now. He didn't know all that much about them anyway. Now only if he would grow over his crying habits, seeing as he would no doubt bawl his brains out at the news. Hey, fun or not, they were still his parents.

When she spoke to him he halted his motion and turned in her direction as he heard the words said and slowly formed them together in a sentence, his brain was a bit too busy with other things to really notice Amber right now, but he soon changed that and uttered an audible chuckle. ''Somethin'. All I'm sayin' is that I had a use fer it.'' He replied mysteriously and as floaty as possible.

And use it he- she would.