Acquainted

[Lucy Serrano]

Usual habits were the hardest to break. It wasn’t like Lucy absolutely needed to drink, but the desire to do so was fast to catch her when night fell. And when she went searching for the very last bottle of something strong enough to suit the usual craving, she discovered the complete lack of availability in her own apartment. Distractions had disallowed her the advantage of replenishing her own stock. And it was late, so going out it was.

Far be it for the ink manipulator to find her interested in spending a lot of time out over a weekend. Between work and her newest available company, it seemed stupid to leave her home at all. Staying so frequently at someone else’s place was the very reason for the issue that faced her.

So she went out - alone - to a place downtown that seemed busy enough. Probably, no one would speak to her.Possibly, that was a very good thing. The last thing she needed was a muddled mind in tandem with a hot girl.

But as she waved the bartender down for a refill - whiskey. Neat - she felt the presence of another person nearby, stealing the last available seat at the bar that happened to be beside her. Tapping her fingernails against the bar, she tilted her head and indicated towards them. “And whatever they want, too.” She declared, because random generosity to complete strangers couldn’t misdirect her at all, right?

[Elliot Hunter]

Midterms were fast approaching and Elliot was well on his way into his studying routine. Drink a lot, try to cure his hangover and somewhere in between, study. Computer science was an easy major, perhaps because it was one giant cake walk with his ability because he could talk to computers, cellphones and tablets. Even if he could do coding in his sleep, there were still other aspects of his major that he could very well do without. He was mediocre at most things, barely passing classes in grade school well before he had manifested. He'd never been the smartest of the bunch.

After pre-gaming in his dorm room with a few of his friends, Elliot was ditched for studying in the library while he still wanted to party. The beauty of being twenty-five was that he could go to any bar, any club, any place and buy as much alcohol as he wanted. The earlier days of his adulthood and even more so when he'd been a teenager had been spent trying to sneak into clubs, passing with fake IDs that he'd paid practically a fortune for and having his parents send a driving service to fetch him when he called his brother in a completely drunken stupor. He'd learned his limit of the years though and never let himself get to that point anymore.

Elliot waved his way through the crowded bar and sat in the last empty seat beside a seemingly attractive girl and some sloppy drunk who kept knocking his drink and spilling half of it on the counter. His grubby hands reached into the peanut bowl and Elliot turned his nose up, angling his body towards the girl instead. As she added his beer to her tab, he was taken aback, yet pleasantly surprised. "Cheers," He angled the beer bottle neck and smiled. It wasn't often that women bought his drinks. It was definitely often that he bought other people drinks.

"Hey thanks, I got the next one, yeah?" Elliot offered, knowing full well that his wallet was filled with plenty of money to be a little reckless in his drinking and spending.

[Lucy Serrano]

It was barely a half a look in the direction of whoever took the seat and Lucy was already offering. Truth be told, she didn't expect any kind of reply; this was a place notorious for things being taken without a need for thanks. Hell, she didn't even want thanks. But the slackened nature it was given was better than the thought.

An equally slack smile caught her lips when he continued on. She offered a sidelong look partially over her own shoulder as she refused to outwardly turn her attention towards him. Finally, she raised a hand, offering a little wave with as little smugness as she could muster. It was surprisingly easy despite how muddled things were already starting to become.

"No need." She replied, evenly. At least on some level she wanted to sound a bit grateful for the thought.

[Elliot Hunter]

Her response also was unexpected. She hadn't seemed ungrateful, though perhaps she hadn't seemed anything but indifferent. Perhaps it was a pay-it-forward kind of attitude that she was feeling and Elliot supposed he could get behind that. He took a look across the bar and spotted a pretty girl, drink-less and being chatted up by some loser that was clearly out of her league. With another wave at the bartender, he told him to set up a tab and pay for the pretty girl's drink. Elliot looked back at the girl beside him and tipped back his beer.

He was trying to think of something to say. Usually he could get away with cheesy pick-up lines or bad jokes, but this girl wasn't like his usual. Her general lack of interest in him (and his face) was discouraging, and yet, he still felt like he wanted to try something. Something different, that wasn't his usual game. Improvisation didn't always fair well for him, but he figured his best bet was to remain casual. Flesh her out without coming on like he was trying to pick her up. Rejection was a bitch that he'd come across a time or two.

Elliot, despite everyone's belief, was a genuine people person. He liked connecting with people, having a nice conversation and getting to know quirks. It helped him feel more human and allowed him a chance to practice the correct responses and reactions. Even eleven years after his manifestation, he struggled with that aspect of his ability. "Haven't seen you around before, you new to the area?" Because that didn't sound lame at all. He was falling flat when it came to starters with this girl. Something that wouldn't come off horribly douchey.

[Lucy Serrano]

With a small interaction gone, Lucy's attention vacated to nothing in particular, just as it had been when he first spoke to her. Now likely wasn't the night to meet strangers and follow through with the usual protocol that happened then. She didn't really have the option anymore, and she was certain she was fine with it.

But he spoke again. And she exhaled with a small laugh at the way he tried.

"No." She replied honestly. Truth be told, he might have had a point to the statement he offered. Because actually, she felt incredibly new to the area she used to call home. "But I'm not the best at keeping to myself." She replied with a shrug. Because there she was buying drinks for strangers. And even here, her face graced covers of tattoo magazines at stands and in stores all through the city.

She looked at him properly then, the corner of her mouth dragging a touch at the sight. Even she couldn't help but notice the way he looked, and how he seemed acutely aware of the attractive nature he harboured; "What're you looking for?"