can i buy you a drink? (Open)

[Quinn Collins]

With the changing temperatures and the onset of winter came cold and flu season. A season that Dr. Quinn was painfully aware of. She had seen more kids with the sniffles the past two days then she had seen in her office all summer. Most of them were fine, hardly a cold, hardly a thing that a few extra vitamins wouldn't cure. But mothers were always worried out of their mind that their child contracted some kind of deadly sickness. It took all Quinn had in her not to roll her eyes at them. Mothers always over reacted, demanded medicine and tests for nothing. Waste of time.

At least it was the weekend. Quinn was surprisingly ahead of her to-do list and decided to treat herself to a drink. A girl like her needed a drink sometimes and she hadn't indulged in a while.

So, after a quick shower Quinn threw on a pair of dark skinny jeans and a tank top. Over her tank top she layered a cardigan and put on a pair of boots and a chunky garnet necklace. She wasn't the most fashionable person but she wasn't trying to impress anyone. She was however not trying to look like a slob though. So she ran her fingers through her dark hair and put on some mascara before heading out the door.

The bar she went to was on the outskirts of town. The least popular bar and that was the way she liked it. She didn't want to see any of her co-workers or anyone who she knew had kids who she'd treated earlier that day. She felt that outside contact with patients or their relatives was a conflict of interest and therefore not very professional.

The bar had a nice amount of people in it. A few guys played darts in the back corner and there were several people sitting at the bar on the old rickety stools. Quinn slid onto one, the stool groaning under her weight. "I'll take a Sam Adams." She said deciding to start off simple.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani slipped out expertly and had a bag slung over his shoulder. There wasn't much in the way of loot tonight. He had just hit a house a few minutes away from Hammel and gathered a few things he figured probably wouldn't be missed. Jewelry especially, most people thought they just lost it, as long as you only took a few. It probably wouldn't be until the family went to look for their expensive diamond encrusted candlesticks that they would notice anything was missing. But then again, anyone who could afford diamond encrusted candlesticks probably wouldn't miss them too much. He also had a few miscellaneous objects stolen from fellow students, things that they wouldn't miss, just a few dollars and a few credit card numbers. They were so easy to duplicate all he needed was the number, name and the company.

He passed a group of carolers and smiled finally getting into the Christmas spirit. He needed to get a nice gift for his sister. He caught sight of a man out of the corner of his eye and went to him. After exchanging a few words the man took the bag and handed over a wad of cash. Lani flipped through it and with a grin pointed out the candlesticks. The man, an old friend of Lani's, laughed and handed over a few more bills. Lani pocketed the bills and bid the man a good night.

He found a bar near the outskirts of town and smiled, he could use a drink. Here there would be very little chance of him running into a teacher or something. He showed a fake ID at the door and slipped inside. He chose a stool next to a woman ordering a beer. He eavesdropped on her choice and asked to the same. He shivered a little and knocked snow off of his shoulders. "I'm glad its finally getting cold. It feels like Christmas now." He commented and thanked the bartender for the drink. "Gotta love this time of year, eh?" He asked looking at the woman with bright green eyes.

[Quinn Collins]

The bar tender slid her beer to her and Quinn took a sip, closing her eyes as the cold liquid slid down her throat. She'd made the right choice even if it was just an ok beer compared to the stuff she used to drink with Ian. He was a beer snob though and always managed to find snooty European beers. Perhaps that's why she'd been drinking American beers lately, just to spite Ian. That ass. She could feel her face flushing in anger at just the thought of him. The things she'd like to do to him... God. He just...

Her thoughts were interrupted by the guy who had slid in next to her. She looked over at him, her eyes still intense from her ill thoughts. She didn't catch the first thing he said but tuned in on the line about Christmas. What was it with all these people? Everyone was such a sucker for holiday cheer.

"Yeah. It's... Awesome." She said taking another swig of her beer. The boy next to her looked on the younger side. Probably one of the college students. Probably younger than her. That also angered her. She was starting to feel old. Her twin brother was already married with a kid on the way and she would have been married too by now but... things didn't work out that way. Another sip.

She watched as the bar tender gave the stranger his Sam Adams. Clever. "Do you normally spend your friday nights at a bar alone?" She asked looking over at him again. He was young, he looked like he'd have a lot of friends and clearly wasn't afraid to talk to strangers. It was weird seeing him in the bar alone, specifically this one. It wasn't really a good place.

[Lani Hunter]

It was probably the moment when you sneak into a bar after just being handed a wad of money for stolen items that maybe one would wonder if their life was going in the wrong direction. Lani had pondered this before but not at the moment. He loved the rush of potentially being caught, the thrill of being a shadow. He wasn't going to think about his life tonight. What's done is done. He tapped his fingers gently on the bar and watched the woman and his eyes drifted up as the bar tendered put the bottle down next to her. He slid his around in his hand for a little while before taking a sip. Most people said beer was an acquired taste and Lani would agree mostly but he did like it. He ignored the thought that started to bloom in his head and turned with a smile to the woman when she spoke.

He chuckled a little into the neck of the bottle at her rather unenthusiastic response. Lani looked back at her. She was older but he couldn't really tell by how much, she looked quite young, but then it had to be at least three years.

He grinned and nodded at her. "I guess holidays don't cheer everyone." He was just excited for the possibility that he could go home and pretend things were normal for a little while. Be with his little sister and mother, hell he would even give anything to fight with his dad. At least when his dad and he fought he knew it was out of love but he hadn't spoken to his father since he came here and every time he called his mom said he was out or Lani pretended he needed to go when his mother asked if he wanted to talk to him.

At her question Lani just shrugged. "Its complicated." Lani said and then went onto explain his lie. "I'm visiting family and that just in general makes me need to drink and I kind of really would rather not risk running into old... friends." He then looked her over. "What about you?" She looked like should would be popular and probably actually have more fun at any other bar. This was just random really, and he lucked out having been this close to this one.

[Quinn Collins]

Well he seemed rather upbeat despite her lack of cheer. She really was sick of talking about the Holidays to be honest. The more she talked about it the more stressed she became about the upcoming event of her brothers and father coming to visit her still not finished apartment. She hadn't been doing as well as she wanted them to think up here alone. She missed Ian. She didn't do well without a partner but at the same time had no interest in opening up her heart again even though it'd been a year.

Quinn chuckled into the neck of the bottle as he explained himself. Oh she could sympathize... running into old friends... people who remembered her at her most awkward times was not something she enjoyed which made her really wonder why she came back to Hammel. Stupid girl. But she also did like to surprise them. She'd really changed from her tom boy geekdom.

"I guess you could call me somewhat of a loner." She said finishing off her beer. She had every intention on getting drunk tonight even if she ended up alone. She really didn't care. This might be her last chance before the hectic holiday hell really did set in and she was feeling lonely. She wanted the comfort of alcohol. "That and it's not particularly professional to be out drinking with my patients parents." She said looking back at him again.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani smiled as she bought his excuse. He wasn't sure who Lani was becoming at the moment in her eyes but he didn't really care as long as the 'I'm not 21 yet' thing never came up. He nodded a little bit. "Cowardly I know," He said his cheeks flushing as she laughed. He twisted the bottle in his hands before taking another swing loving the way it was smooth down his throat but sent a little bit of lightness into his brain. He hadn't been drunk since he came to Hammel and part of that was he only drank with his friends or boss after a good heist. And even then he was paranoid about how his power would react. That was what worried him to most but so far he seemed ok.

He listened and nodded a little bit with a knowing smile on his face. He looked around this did seem like a loner's kind of bar. Not many people talking. There was no loud music and more of a peaceful air of people just wanting to get drunk and not have to answer to anyone. He tipped back the bottle and finished it. He set it down and looked at her as she started speaking again. His eyebrows raised in surprise when she explained herself further. He nearly had a panic attack wondering if she worked at the school but calmed himself quickly. His face never lost the cheerful carefree expression. His parents were here and he had never seen this woman in his life, why was he freaking out?

He laughed a little. "Yeah I can see that being a problem. So are you a doctor of some sorts?" He asked with interest. He gave a little laugh and motioned the bar tender over. "Two shots please." He thanked the man and took one holding it up in the air. "To avoiding people better left unseen."

[Quinn Collins]

"Yeah of sorts." She said raising her shot to him and then taking it back like an experienced drinker, which she was. She'd dropped Ian and taken up drinking as her new love. She knew it wasn't healthy, hell she even instructed alcohol awareness classes at the school a couple times a year but she didn't care. She found it humorous even. Alcoholism didn't run in her family anyway, that she knew of. Even if it did.. Bottoms up!

"I'm a pediatrician." She told him then looked at him. "What about you?" She had a feeling it'd be doubtful he was out of school. Hell she had half a brain to ID him but as the alcohol entered her bloodstreem she cared less and less.

As she turned her attention to the boy who she had accepted as the man of the night an old washed up man entered the bar carrying a guitar. He walked over to the pitiful excuse for a stage made of a few pieces of nailed together wood and plopped down a bench. "Dear God." She said looking over at the man as he started to play a very bad cover of wonderwall. She then looked at the bar tender. "Two more, something witha high alcohol content I don't even care what."

[Lani Hunter]

Lani threw his shot back loving the thrill as the liquid burned down his throat seeming to clear his sinuses as it did so. That was some strong stuff. He laughed as he set the glass back on the table. There was a certain thrill of breaking the law that ran through him. It was an adrenaline spike he always got when he stole. Perhaps that was why Americans were so ridiculous about the whole thing. It became a thrill because it was illegal.

"Pediatrician? Wow," Lani said impressed. He would never in a million years be able to be a doctor of any sorts. "I'm still in school," Lani lied smoothly. "I'm studying Math." He added pulling a random major out of the air, at least he was good at math. "But glad to be out for break."

He followed her gaze as the old man came in. He felt a little sense of dread go through him and shut it down. "Maybe he's good," Lani started to defend him but after he started he just shook his head and laughed. "Or not..." He grinned at her and picked up the drink that was set down before him and examined it before taking an experimental sip and finding it rather spicy downed the shot. It had a strangely pleasant licorice taste with a burn.

[Quinn Collins]

Studying math huh? Ok. If he said so. "What school?" She asked not sure if she was doubting him or not. "Hell." the alcohol was starting to hit her. "Lets stop pretending i know you're younger than me by at least....." She looked him over. "Four years.... but age is just.. whatever!"

Yes, It was definitely starting to hit Quinn harder. She grabbed the new drink in front of her and downed it not even tasting the burning liquid. For an avid drinker she really was a bit of a light weight and she'd been trying to contain herself for the entire conversation, avoiding looking drunk. And still she wasn't drunk but she was feeling it and the walls were quickly coming down. At least the ones regarding her giving a damn about his age.

She looked over at the man on guitar and smiled. There was a lone standing mic on stage with him. "Come on..." She searched for his name. Had he said it? "What's your name?" Before he could answer she was heading for the stage anyway with him. "You know this song right? Ready for some karaoke?"

[Lani Hunter]

He smiled. "I'm actually taking a semester off." He said with a smile carefully avoiding having to answer detailed descriptions about a college he had never been to. I just need a while to work and figure out what I'm doing with my life." He shrugged and gave her a smile letting out a laugh at his hopeless sounding lie. Lani's eyebrows rose and he smiled a little bit. "Probably. Yeah just a number after you hit all the ones that matter." He laughed at his own joke. Yeah after sixteen he was waiting until eighteen when he could actually live his life and after that was twenty one then what? Nothing really noteworthy until fifty.

Lani was starting to feel the lightheaded bliss of drunkenness. He hadn't actually planned on getting drunk this soon. Lani always got extremely happy when he was drunk. It was like nothing in the world mattered and he just smiled and smiled.

His eyes widened when she said to come on. Come on where? He smiled. "I'm Lani, and you are...?" He gestured a little wave of his hand. She grabbed him though without warning and he stumbled after her his legs getting tangled in the bar stools. "Oh no!" He cried out with a laugh seeing her destination. He couldn't hold back a laugh and he was flushing a nice crimson as they stood on the stage behind the mic. "Oh God... I mean I do... but I can't sing! This is a bad idea!" He yelped.

[Quinn Collins]

Quinn had hardly listened to him. "Quinn." She answered shortly. She just hoped he was legal because the more drunk Quinn got the more determined she was to at least make out with this boy by the end of the night. It'd been a while and she was lonely and he was there and Quinn knew A) she looked hot and B) he was the best looking male she'd see in that particular bar that night. She didn't want a connection with him and she frankly didn't wish to see him again after tonight. She just knew she wanted someone now.

She hadly noticed that he was stumbling. She was so set on her target, the stage.

She smiled over at him. "Good i can't either!" She said then loudly started squawking the lyrics to wonder wall into the mic. It was really terrible, Quinn could hardly sing without the influence of alcohol and she wasn't even trying to be good. She was loud and obnoxious and her voice was ringing through the bar like shattered glass. It was a good thing that she was good looking.

QUinn laughed and looked over at Lani. "Who care's if you're good! Lets get drunk and have a good time" She said then leaned in close to him whispering in his ear. "Every guy in this bar wishes they were you right now by the way."

[Lani Hunter]

Lani almost missed her name as she tossed the word at him. Quinn, he had to say was a lucky find. He certainly hadn't expected to find any very beautiful women in this bar and had only expected to get hammered and find a nice hole to curl up for the night but perhaps he had lucked out on more than one area. He eyed Quinn and smiled a little shaking his head denying himself the thoughts that were arising in his mind.

Lani's mouth fell open as she started belting out then he collapsed into laughter and shook his head unable to believe what he was doing. He stepped up to the mic next to her and tried horribly to harmonize with her. He wasn't as bad as he thought he was but he certainly should never sing in public. He laughed a little having to turn away for a moment. He caught her eye and she laughed and he hoped to god she wasn't laughing at him. He knew he was horrible.

When she whispered in his ear he flushed bright red and his eyes widened. He recovered enough to look like his feathers hadn't been ruffled too badly. "Good," he answered. "I do have the hottest girl in town all to myself right now." He gave her a charming smile and his eyes shone with humor and just a hint of drunkenness. He cleared his throat dramatically and started to sing again pitching his voice lower and lower with each verse until he could barely breathe. His voice came back up in octave with a horribly embarrassing squeak. He coughed and laughed at himself. "Wow, sorry about that."

[Quinn Collins]

It was unclear rather Quinn was trying to be bad or really was just THAT tone deaf. She used to try to sing, but her talents unfortunately were not in the arts and it looked like music was no exception, not in the least. It also didn't help that this wasn't exactly a karaoke bar. But she didn't give a f*ck. She was making a fool out of herself but didn't care because really she had nothing to lose. She hadn't had a thing to lose in a while, and perhaps that was her greatest downfall.

Quinn danced as he had the microphone. The alcohol was definitely starting to hit her harder now and she threw back the remaining liquid in her glass. She didn't feel like stopping. Not now. When his voice squeaked she nearly lost her pickles. She was in stitches laughing. "Jeeze i knew you were young but i thought you'd at least made it through puberty." She said letting him still sing. She was starting to lose interest in this now anyway and was already searching for the next fun activity. She was really lucky the owner of this bar seemed to get a kick out of her.

OOC: So sorry! i thought i replied. I keep doing that!

[Lani Hunter]

Lani laughed at himself and his cheeks burned as she laughed. He grinned sheepishly and shook his head. "Sorry! My voice just disapproves of going that low." He laughed again shaking his head, now laughing more so because she was laughing. Wow the alcohol was starting to hit him hard. He was a little worried that she stated she knew he was young but he just shrugged. Who cared? No one would believe his ID was fake unless they actually ran it, which they wouldn't have any reason to.

He took her hand and pulled her away from the microphone and onto the little space for dancing. The man started a faster song and Lani felt a tap on his shoulder and one of the bar tenders was walking around with a tray of shots. He grabbed two and handed one to Quinn holding it up before downing it and putting it back on the tray. As the night was dragging on the bar was getting more crowded and more people came and started dancing.