So...remember me? /shot/
[I don't really remember/understand the guild structure...this takes place in the first building, please forgive me if I screw up the layout. Thank you.]
It probably wouldn't be a stretch to say that most the city was currently being kept awake by a certain establishment. It was actually a near miracle that no one had come hammering on the door of the guild to shut them up. Then again, it'd be futile even if they had.
If asked exactly what it was that the members of Fairy Tail were celebrating on the particular night, they'd probably be hard pressed to give a straight answer. In fact, many very different answers might be offered, and none would really be wrong. It was just another night in Fairy Tale, and anyway, that was reason enough for celebration for some.
And at that particular moment, tables were flying. Amazing, considering that they had been bolted down not a week ago. Actually, there were multiple fights going on, but no one actually knew who they were fighting, and anyway, who's counting?
Ever glowered into her glass.
She loved parties, she did. But fairy Tale didn't do parties; it did disasters, and watching Elfman running around without a shirt could only occupy a girl for so long (admittedly, it had been pretty long).
Gossiping with Mira had also lost its fun, once all the regular subjects had been covered. Now the bar maid was busy entertaining Levy and co, and Ever slipped out of her seat. The ground shifted a bit beneath her tipsy feet, but she made her way over to the stairs, anyway.
It didn't take magic to know where her boys were. Bickslow liked to pretend to be some big-shot party animal, but he could only take it in small doses, truthfully. And then Freed...well, he didn't need much an excuse to weasel out of a party.
Ever reached the first balcony, where Alzack and Bisca were getting...pretty intimate. She made a face, resisted the urge to catcall them, moved on.
On the roof she found who she was looking for - that is, if what she was looking for was a very drunk Bickslow balancing on the railing that ran around the side of the roof, while Freed sat back and watched, mildly amused.
Ever was seized by an inexplicable urge to see how long he could stay upright whilst being tickled. She contained it, for the moment.
"Are you two still dodging parties? Freaks."
Bickslow jumped a little at her voice, which left his balance in the hands of gravity, grinning as he swayed, perilous. Freed studiously ignored him, "And I suppose you're here for something else?"
"Meh," she replied, nonchalant, "Elfman's going on about being manly again. I swear, for all these peoples' talk, they wouldn't know a real party if it started making out with 'em...And get down from there, moron, before we have to find a new fourth member!"
Bickslow put on what might loosely be described as a pout, tried for a back flip off the railing, landed awkwardly, and ended up in a very drunken heap at his team mates' feet.
Ever gave his ribs swift justice with her foot.
And for a moment, then, the three fell into a familiar silence (if you could call it that, past the noise beneath their feet). There was a slight breeze, and Ever shivered, but it wasn't nearly enough to break the trance. Bickslow, on the other hand...
"Remember when I broke your face up here?"
Freed made a sound like a wounded animal. Apparently, he remembered well.
"My nose, actually. If you had broken my face, I don't think we'd be here talking right now." He corrected, reproachfully. But he was smiling, in the dark.
In one fluid movement, Bickslow rolled over, and lay spread-eagle, staring up at the sky. He squinted through his mask. Looking for something, or maybe trying to remember. Considering he had most certainly had quite a bit more than one bottle tonight, it was quite the valiant effort.
"How long ago was that, do ya think? Seven years? No wait, that would be more like..." he scrunched his face in thought.
"Thirteen, technically." Freed murmured. Bickslow glowered.
"That's way too old! I still consider myself fourteen half the time!" Freed appraised him through the corner of his eyes.
"Funny, so do we."
Ever crossed the roof, and leaned back against the railing, tuning out the squabbling of her team. It did seem like a lifetime ago, though. Ages, and yet, like it had all happened yesterday. Years of missions, booze, willing and unwilling sleepovers; all compacted into a few small moments.
"...like we blinked, and suddenly, we're adults."
Oh, had she spoken aloud? She watched them through lowered eyelashes.
"What, then, will we find when we blink again?" That was Freed. He was resting his head on one hand, staring past the other two. Judging by his look, he was considering answers to his own question. Ever said nothing. When had they all grown up?
Certainly, not here. Not drinking, and chasing girls (boys, in her case), and sleeping in because none of them could be bothered by real work. Nothing had changed, in those small moments, so when had everything gone and twisted itself about?
Bickslow rolled over again, and covered his ears with his arms, moaning.
"I'm too drunk for this." They laughed, then, all three; because it was so typical, so normal. And probably they'd be old and winkled and still doing dumb stuff on the roof, because really, who had time to blink and grow old in such a crazy life?