A/N Fic isn't dead, I'm just back in school. Back in college after year gap to be exact. Happy Labor Day, and happy reading.
Dear Mr. Steilsson,
We hope you find this email in good health. Thank you for your submission last month in the Canadian Wildlife. Your submissions were used in this month's issue, circulating 500 copies in total. As a thank you, we have decided to give you .25 cent in proceeds for each copy. Please follow the link below to automatically add your payment to your account. Thank you again for your submissions, we hope to work with you again in the future!
— Canadian Wildlife
"Talk about timing," Emil spoke as he finished reading the email. It wasn't much though, not even enough for rent somewhere else. Definitely enough for a dingy motel though.
After following the provided link, Emil found $125 added to his account. Not bad at all. It was enough for him for now until something else came up, that is if something else ever would come up.
But this was emergency money of course, only used for something he really needed. Like toiletries, or snacks. Absolutely no lollygagging with this blessed money that landed in his account. "Emergencies only." He thought aloud before he heard a knock at his door.
Emil closed his laptop and stood, going over to the door to open it. There he was greeted by his two hall mates.
"Good afternoon Emil," Lili said warmly.
"What are you doing cooped up in your room? It's Friday, don't you want to do something?" Sophia asked leaning against the doorframe.
"Well the last time we did something together we ended up training a cat that didn't need training and already had an owner, so I think I'm good."
"Oh, Emil don't be like that. Do you know how many stray cats are in this neighborhood? More will come around, trust me." Lili spoke.
"Besides, we had plans tonight. We're blowing this popsicle stand."
"To do what?"
"Bar hopping!" The two exclaimed together.
Emil looked at them strangely. "You two? Bar hopping? I would never expect it. Especially you Lili."
Lili blushed some. "I'm not as new as I used to be. Sophia taught me how to do it right so I end up with free drinks wherever we go."
Sophia nodded with a grin."That's right! We leave broke, come back drunk, and with fast food."
"One time someone ended up giving me money. Very unexpected."
"Well, the female privilege sounds fun going out. I have to pay to get into whatever club I go to, I'm the one buying drinks for cute girls, and guess who buys the fast food at the end of the night?" Emil asked before pointing to himself. "Me."
"Well stick with us and we'll get you where you need to be. Maybe someone will buy you a drink." Sophia said, nudging him.
"I don't know, I really shouldn't be going out with the money I just got. It's for emergencies."
"Emergencies?!" The two girls exclaimed together.
"Emil, you're too young to have emergencies," Lili spoke first.
"Yeah save that for the adults on the second floor," Sophia spoke next with a wave of her hand.
"We're all living in a community boarding house and you're saying I'm too young to have emergency money?" Emil spoke with a quirk of an eyebrow.
"What we're saying is you need to take a break. You've been nonstop looking for jobs and openings for your photography. A night won't kill you."
"Exactly. Maybe going out around people your age and having fun will give you some inspiration. Give you a different outlook for your photos."
Emil scoffed. "I don't even photograph people, being around them will not give me a different outlook."
"Oh please Emil? We just want to show you a good time." Lili said looking at him with a small smile and pleading eyes.
How could he say no to those eyes? He couldn't say no to her at all. "What's one night of bar hopping?" He asked with a small shrug.
The two girls exclaimed excitedly. "Just call us The Three Musketeers!" Sophia said smiling.
"Or, The Three Blind Mice." Lili offered, then the two of them looked at Emil.
Emil looked at the two. "Or The...Three Stooges?"
Sophia and Lili looked at each other before shrugging. "Needs work, but we'll go with it for now."
"So, does anyone have any plans this evening?" Feliciano asked over dinner.
"Talking to girls. You know a lot of them thought I was hot with my white hair. Thought I looked like some fantasy thing like a wolf or vampire." Alfred started first.
"Well I'm done with this week's homework, so I'll be enjoying my Friday reading books not pertaining to education," Matthew said, picking up his drink.
"Would you like to watch my stream tonight Matthew? It is a new game, and I believe two players as well...if you'd like to play." Kiku asked looking up at him.
Matthew smiled some. It would be a better idea; considering he's read half of the parlor books already and was just going to read a repeat he hadn't read in a while. "Sure Kiku, I'd love to."
"And I'm sure you've done all your homework for the week as well Alfred?" Feliciano asked.
"Nah I'll just pay Mattie to do it."
"Alfred I want you to know that I know my self-worth, meaning every time you ask me I will go up in price. So prepare to pay my way through college."
"And I'll be going on another date with Toris, my treat of course because this bitch, is rich," Feliks said, snapping his fingers.
"Oh good, so does this mean you'll be paying your rent early this month?" Feliciano asked, smiling warmly at the Polish man.
Feliks laughed nervously. "N-No, it just means I'll be taking you on a date afterward because I like, always appreciate my loving landlord."
"Ah, I can't wait to see how you will try to weasel your way into paying late again this time."
Feliks scoffed. "Me? Convince you of paying my rent late? Never! But I will say this, free wash and blowout on me this month."
Feliciano shook his head. "I won't tolerate another month of late rent...but I have been in need of a haircut. I do have a date tomorrow after all."
"That's right, Ludwig is coming this weekend." Roderich chimed in.
"Yes he is, and we'll be spending quality sibling time together. So going to the park and getting ice cream cones. That kind of deal." Gilbert said.
"You know Ludwig is too old for that, right?" Natalya asked, glancing over at him.
Elizabeta looked down the table. "And Lili, Sophie, do you lovely ladies have anything planned this evening?"
"Bar hopping." The two answered together.
Feliks pouted. "Without me? I can't believe you didn't invite me."
"You have a date Feliks. Besides, we've been out with you plenty of times, we invited Emil out with us tonight." Lili said looking over at Emil.
"Well you should be so lucky Emil. Take care of my girls tonight, they can get into some trouble if you don't watch them close enough."
"I could imagine. But it is I being led by the two troublemakers tonight, so trouble here we come." Emil said with a shrug.
"Emil you can shower first, we still have to pick out what we're wearing." Sophia said going back up the stairs with her two hallmates.
Emil looked at his clock. "It's 7:30 now. You all aren't going to take all night are you? I'd like to at least like to go to one bar where I don't have to pay to get in."
"Don't worry Emil, we'll try not to take that long." Lili said politely.
"I only...half believe that."
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.
Emil looked at his watch again. 9:30. He had been ready for an hour sitting in the parlor. Though he had decided to put some effort in tonight's bar hopping outfit. Black floral shirt with pink hibiscus flowers. That would surely get Lili's attention. He wasn't even wearing his usual ripped jeans. He was wearing his khaki pants and padmora shoes.
He looked at himself in the hanging mirror and rushed his hands through his silver hair. Maybe he should have ran his comb through his hair? As soon as the thought came, he heard steps approaching him. No time for that.
Lili poked her head into the parlor room. "Oh he's in here Sophie." She said turning away for a moment.
"Coming!"
Lili walked in, dressed in a mini dress with embroidered flowers on the deep V-neckline. Her hair was pulled back to see her beautifully made face, and she stood taller in her wedge heels. "I see you got the memo. I like your shirt. You look nice in flowers."
Emil gave a slow smile. That was all he wanted to hear. "Thank you, you look beautiful in your dress."
"Thank you, it comes with pockets." She said slipping her hands in them with a smile.
"Hey sorry, borrowing a pair of shoes from Feliks." Sophia said walking in. She also had her hair pinned up, and a made-up face. She wore a short, ruffled, floral romper with her borrowed wedges. "Wow Emil, you got the memo and we didn't even tell you."
"I just thought flowers would be a little different to wear. Apparently not."
"Lili and I dress alike all the time when we go out. It's in case we get separated." Sophia said, grabbing her lip gloss from her purse. "Ready to go?"
Lili pulled her keys out of her pockets. "Ready to go."
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.
.
Lili drove them out to the city and to the strip of bars and nightclubs she and Sophia usually went to. She parked on the street and turned off the car. "It's almost 10, we can find a place free before 10 if we're quick." She said grabbing her purse from the back.
"Alright so here's the deal Emil, we go anywhere where shots are free for ladies, they'll be on us. If we go somewhere where mixed drinks are cheap, we'll rotate on who buys the next round. If we go somewhere with expensive cocktails, then you just buy those on your own. Keep the creeps away from us. If they get creepy, we will tell them you're our boyfriend. Usually, they'll back off."
"And if they don't?"
"Well, that's a bridge we'll cross when we get there."
"But the number one rule to our outings is to have fun and be yourself. We're all single ready to mingle." Lili spoke with a grin as she hopped out the car.
Sophia and Emil hopped out behind her. "So where are we starting tonight?"
"Umm, The Sailors Den is free before 10, so is The Station, and Vortex."
"The Sailors Den always has shit people in it but the drinks are always great. But Vortex first definitely. They have cheap mixed drinks and free shots until 11." Sophia said pointing at the building with red and blue swirling lights.
The three of them headed over to the building and stood in the short line. They made it in with a few minutes to spare. Emil looked around in the slightly crowded bar with people talking with drinks in their hands and dancing with friends and partners on the designated dance floor.
"Are we dancing, or drinking?" Emil asked.
"I gotta drink to dance. To the bar!" Sophia said pointing towards it. She led the two to the bar and managed to get them to the front to order.
"Who's buying the first round?"
"NOT IT!" Lili screamed first.
"NOT IT!" Sophia screamed right after.
Emil shook his head. "I'll just assume it's for my initiation for hanging out with the two of you."
"I'll get the first round of shots too." Sophia said and ordered the three shots before Emil ordered them drinks.
A few minutes later, they were handed a tray of three shot glasses of white liquid and 3 cups of green liquid.
Lili picked up her shot glass. "We should make a toast, for our first night out."
"Great idea. May we have a great night full of fun, laughter, and memories." Sophia said, holding up her glass. "Cheers lads."
"Prost."
"Skál."
With that, they clinked their shot glasses together and downed the shots.
Sophia shivered after swallowing the alcohol. "Did you say 'skál?' What language is that?"
"It's Icelandic."
"You're Icelandic Emil? I didn't know." Lili said, taking her drink off the platter.
Sophia took her drink off the platter as well. "There's a lot we don't know about Emil. We're gonna learn all we can tonight."
Emil gave the platter back to the bartender when he grabbed his drink as well. "There's not much to know about me. You won't be intrigued in the least bit."
"What's after Vortex?" Lili asked, drinking her drink.
"Whatever's free before 11." Sophia said, pulling out her phone. She went to the camera and turned the front camera on the three of them. "Smile."
Lili went in next to her friend and smiled. "Emil? Come get in the photo." She said looking at him.
"Ahh, why don't I just take a picture of you two?" He said and went to stand in front of them.
The two looked at each other before Sophia gave Emil her phone. He turned the phone horizontally and took a photo of the gorgeous, smiling friends.
"Thanks Emil." Sophia said, taking her phone and looking at the photo. Definitely a keeper. "Shall we dance?"
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After nearly an hour of dancing and one more round of shots on Lili, they stumbled out of the hot building.
"Jesus all black was a terrible idea," Sophia said wiping the little hairs from her forehead.
Lili fanned herself, walking around some to catch a breeze. "Yeah, I could have gone with a lighter color."
Emil watched as the girls cooled themselves off, patting away sweat on his face himself. "So what's next? Another bar?"
"Yeah, we'll go somewhere further down to cool off," Sophia said looking up the street. She beckoned her friends to follow her. "Having fun yet Emil?"
He shrugged as he walked. "I'm okay. Vortex was pretty cool, I'd go again."
Lili walked in between the two. "Well, what kind of bar settings are you more into? Are you into rooftop bars, or something more diverse, or patio settings, night club settings?"
"Karaoke?" Sophia suggested.
Lili gasped. "We're definitely doing karaoke before the night ends." She spoke with a nod.
"Emil, who do you think loves karaoke the most at the house?"
"The most? Probably Feliks? He seems multi-talented enough to probably sing as well."
"You're very close, but it's actually...Kiku." Lili said looking at him for his reaction.
Emil blinked. "Kiku? But he barely says anything?" He questioned.
"While that's true, he definitely shows his emotion in karaoke."
"Do you ever see that waitress that always watches him when he sings?" Lili asked.
"Of course I have. We have to get him out more. I bet that's the love of his life. Or maybe his girlfriend for now? I don't know how their love life would go but I hope it would be good." Sophia said with a nod.
"Well karaoke isn't my thing. Performing in front of crowds of people wouldn't be something I'd seek."
"Oh right, so what would be your ideal bar or nightclub?" Lili asked again.
"Um, something a little less crowded? Room to move and decent music."
"Oh I know the perfect place. It's a couple of bucks to get in, and the drinks are a little expensive, but they have cheap options. We can go there if you want." Sophia offered.
"Are you talking about The Veil?"
Sophia nodded.
"Ohh yeah, you would love that Emil. Perfect place for you." Lili said with a nod.
"Well let's head there."
The three adults headed down the street and turned into an alley that had a small line outside the door. Above the door was a neon sign that read The Veil in white script writing. The line was quick, and the cover wasn't bad. 10 dollars to enter, and they were greeted by a flight of stairs. They climbed up the stairs, and pushed aside the white veils that covered the doorway. Inside was quiet music being played as people were chatting quietly at tables and mingling to themselves. The lighting was dim, and the crowd was thinner than Vortex.
This is what Emil could get into. "This is really nice." He said looking around.
"We thought you'd like it. We usually don't buy drinks here since they're a little expensive, but some guys are kind of nice and want to buy us drinks, so." Lili trailed off with a shrug.
"And speaking of which, I see a willing contender," Sophia said looking at someone eyeing her up at the bar. He gave her a small wink and a smirk. "I'll be back." She said and walked over to the bar.
Then there was just Lili and Emil.
Lili looked around, she wasn't going to buy a drink unless someone bought her a drink. There were some cute guys here tonight, some definitely would buy her a drink in exchange for a little conversation.
"Mind if I steal you away gorgeous?" Someone asked, touching her elbow gently. Lili turned around, greeted by a tanned man with high end brand clothes on and a gold chain around his neck. His cologne even smelled expensive. He was handsome though, head full of brown hair and hazel colored eyes, and a little stubble on his chin.
Her breath hitched a little, and she felt her face heating up. "I-I wouldn't mind that." She spoke shyly.
Emil looked at the two. This dude screamed 'creep' to him, but apparently not to Lili. He was probably just some rich guy that worked in the city that liked to hit on pretty girls that came here. But there was something just...off about him.
"She isn't with you, is she?"
Emil snapped out of his thoughts and gave a half-wave. "Just take good care of her." He had his approval...for now.
With a nod, the man whisked her away to another side of the bar.
Then it was just Emil.
Emil went to go sit at the bar, glancing at the expensive drink menu. 15 dollars for a margarita? "It better come with a private dance, or a sparkler."
"You're talking about the drinks, aren't you?"
Emil looked over to find a young Asian woman looking at him. Her long dark ponytail was flipped in front of her long-sleeve green bodycon dress. "They are expensive here. That's why I come already drunk."
"You don't want to go somewhere else?"
"Why would I? Too many people anywhere else. Plus the music isn't bad either."
"Oh. Well, I'm Emil." He spoke, trying to engage in more conversation with the woman.
"I didn't ask for your name." She spoke with a shake of her head and looked up at him. "I'm Lien." She looked him up and down. "What brings you here tonight, Emil?"
"I'm bar hopping with a couple of roommates." He said and looked around to find them. Sophia was having drinks with her acquaintance and Lili was still sitting at a table talking to hers.
"Sounds fun."
"Bar hopping is okay."
"No, I meant having roommates. Friends in general. I don't have many of those." Lien said, putting a hand under her chin.
Emil blinked. She was more relatable than he thought. "I understand what you mean. I'd rather be in my own company than anyone else's." He said leaning on the bar to get more comfortable in his seat.
"What do you do for a living Emil?"
"I'm a photographer."
"Ah, friendship in photos."
"I guess you could say that. I only do landscape, wildlife, and architecture."
"A photographer that doesn't photograph people. Even more interesting." She looked over at the bartender, beckoning him over. "Would you like a drink Emil?"
"You're buying me a drink?" Emil asked.
"Are you surprised?"
"Moreso flattered."
Lien gave a half-smile and ordered him a cocktail. "So, no people in your photos. Why is that?"
Emil shrugged. "Just a preference. What about you? What do you do?"
"I'm a writer."
"A writer? Do you have anything published?"
"Why is that always the first question someone asks? It's never 'how long you've been writing,' or 'what do you write about?' It's like telling an artist to draw something when they tell you they're an artist. It's sickening." She spoke with a shake of her head.
"Sorry to hear about your angst," Emil spoke, taking the drink from the bartender. "One of my roommates is a commission artist so I'm sure that's a frequent question she gets." He said looking around for his girls again.
"Didn't mean to vent to you so suddenly. Figured you'd be the type to listen though. I've only published 2 books. They're mysteries; not related to one another."
Emil took a sip of his drink. "How long have you been writing?"
"Over 10 years. Used to write as an outlet, now it helps me make money, I guess. How long have you been taking photos?"
"6 years. Started in my teens as an outlet too."
"Do you have anything published?"
"Small stuff. Nature catalogs, and blogs that want to hire me for their photos." Emil said, still sipping.
"But surely photographing people would be a more lucrative career, wouldn't it?"
Emil looked away for a moment. "I'd rather be on my own. I can't be on my own taking pictures of people. Crowding up my workspace, their opinions on the edits and poses. I receive no judgment from landscapes."
Lien placed her hand on top of Emil's. Her fingers danced on top of his hand before her index finger slowly circled around the knuckle of his middle finger. "You're not afraid of judgment, Emil I can tell you that."
"Oh really? And what do you think I'm afraid of?" Emil spoke sarcastically as he picked up his drink, sipping it quickly.
Lien pulled her hand away. "You're afraid of your own feelings."
Emil sputtered out some of his drink, covering his cough with his arm and turning away.
Lien giggled mischievously. "Aw, Mr. Tin Man needs a heart, doesn't he?" She asked with a smirk.
"You don't know anything about me." He said in a raspy voice. "I'm perfectly fine at processing my own feelings."
"So it's the processing that's hanging you up?"
"No it's—"
"The fact that you don't take pictures of people?"
"What is so bad about me not taking pictures of people? I don't like it. I hate it. Why would I take pictures of people when I can't even take pictures of mys-self." He spoke, trying to stop himself at the end, but couldn't. The words just came out like word vomit.
Speaking that truth had made him feel weird. Upset, and angry, but angry at himself? It made him feel empty, lonely, and isolated. This is why he kept these things to himself, but Lien just got it out of him like it was nothing. Like she knew him. It was comforting, so comforting in a way that it almost made him want to cry for some reason. And he never cried, never liked to show emotion in that way, but crying seemed like a good idea to get out this dissatisfying, hurtful feeling.
"You know it's okay to let others in to learn about yourself, Emil."
The voice pulled him away from his silence. "Why are you so good at this?"
Lien shrugged. "I write books for a living, it's easy for me to read the stories of others." She leaned close to him. "Let your roommates guide you into letting people in. They're doing the right thing."
The mention of the girls made him look for them again. No change with Sophia, but Lili's acquaintance had left her to go to the bar.
Lien watched him as he looked past her. "Looking for your roommates? You must have a crush on one of them."
"Yeah, what about it?" He said as he watched the man wait for drinks.
"Are you going to tell them?"
Emil watched as the man pulled out his phone while still waiting. "Probably not. And before you ask why, I just think it's for the best." He focused intently on the man's mouth, trying to make out what he was saying. His fuzzy vision from alcohol wasn't bettering the chance either.
"Emil we just talked about this. Let others in to learn about yourself. They may have something to teach you. Learn it before it's too late."
'She is pretty.'
'Blonde.'
'...Money.'
"Lien, I'm not telling Lili how I feel. I'm not even going to be around her long enough for further feelings to develop." Emil spoke, not taking his eyes off the man.
'...downstairs now.'
"Oh Lili is a pretty name, and it's going to be a name you'll never forget if you don't tell her how you feel."
The man got the drinks and put his phone away the same time he pulled a small vile out his pocket. He twisted the cap off and poured the liquid into one of the drinks.
"Oh no."
"What?"
Emil stood from his seat. "I have to go, it was nice talking to you Lien." He said and gave her a quick peck on the cheek before going down to the other end of the bar and grabbing Sophia by the arm. "We've got to go. Now." He spoke pulling her out the seat.
Dazed and confused Sophia frowned and waved quickly at her acquaintance. "Call me Sebastian!" She called as she was dragged away from them.
Before the man could get back to Lili, Emil forced his way between the two.
Lili looked at her roommates, then back at her new friend Sadiq bringing drinks back for the both of them. "Something wrong?" She asked, looking at her friends first.
"They probably just came to check on you, see that you're doing fine." Sadiq interfered as he handed her the tampered drink.
Lili smiled as she took the drink, but before she could bring it to her lips, Emil snatched the glass out of her hand and poured it out on the floor.
Lili looked confusedly at her friend. "Emil?"
"Hey what's your problem man? You told me to take good care of her, right?" Sadiq asked, stepping to Emil.
"Yeah, but I should have found someone better for the job. Come on Lili we're leaving,"
"O-Okay." She spoke, grabbing her phone and slipping her purse back on around her.
Frowning, Sadiq shoved Emil. "Listen here you little shit. I don't know what you think you know, but you're done pissing me off tonight." He spoke through gritted teeth and his fist balled.
"Hey, dickhead!"
Sadiq felt a hand tug at his shoulder, trying to force him around. He looked back, and a cup full of alcohol was splashed into his eyes and face. He screamed at the burning sensation in his eyes.
Lien dropped the now empty glass and looked at her friend. "Get your girls out of here Emil!"
With that being said, Emil grabbed Lili's hand, and re-looped his arm around Sophia's and dragged them out of the bar and down the stairs.
Once they were out of the building, Emil looked around quickly.
"Emil, what the hell is going on? Who was that guy?"
"Did Sadiq do something wrong? He seemed really nice."
Ignoring their questions, Emil continued to look around the alleyway.
"Emil what are you looking for?"
He turned around completely and found a white, unmarked van at the other end of the alleyway. His blood ran cold as he stared blankly at the van.
"Emil, you're freaking me out, what is going on?"
"Sadiq was planning to take you, Lili." He finally said.
"What?"
"He was ordering drinks while on the phone. He was talking with someone 'downstairs now.' He said that 'you were pretty,' and that you were 'blonde' And he mentioned 'money.' I don't know in what context but it couldn't have been good if he was slipping something in your drink."
Lili's eyes widened. "I-I don't understand. He seemed so nice. He was telling me about his summer homes in Europe, and that he was a talent agent. He thought I'd make a great model." She said before pausing. "Oh my God, it sounds so much worse downstairs than up there." She said putting her hands on her face.
Emil went over to the bouncer and gave him the tip-off of the van parked at the other end of the alleyway and gave a description for Sadiq. Then he beckoned the girls to follow him out.
"Are you okay Lili? We can go home if you're feeling weird about it." Sophia asked.
Lili shook her head. "I was having a really fun time, I don't want that guy or anything like that to ruin our first night out together. The night continues." She said with a nod. "But thank you Emil for keeping an eye out. I would hate to know what would have happened had I drank what he was trying to give me."
"Yeah, and your friend was really nice too for throwing her drink in that asshole's face so we could leave." Sophia said afterward.
"Yeah, Lien, she was nice." Emil said thinking back on the conversation they had. "She bought me a drink."
That made the girls squeal with excitement. "She bought you a drink?" They asked together.
Emil chuckled some. "I've got game. I know how to flirt to get what I want sometimes too."
"Oh, ho, ho, but did you get a number?" Sophia asked as she pulled out a napkin.
Lili shook her head. "You're too good Sophia."
"Yeah I would have gone for another guy's number but his conversation was pretty good. He's a photographer like you, Emil. He has a studio somewhere around here."
"Oh I hope his business is going well."
"He's looking for more photographers to hire. I know you don't like taking pictures of people, but maybe it's a good start."
"Hmm, maybe." Emil spoke, trying to end the conversation there. He hadn't wanted to get back into the 'why' of his photography, still swallowing those feelings.
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The rest of the night had been more of the club scenes, making it easier to stay together. They got back into their mixed drink rotation, danced with each other, and the people around them, enjoying the rest of the night. The weird feeling at The Veil was leaving them, and Club Sapphire was giving them just what they needed to wash the feeling away.
The next club they went to was Skyline, a rooftop bar & grill. By the time they made it to the rooftop bar, they were well washed down with alcohol. The trio made their way to the bar, taking a seat. They had been too tired to stand around at this bar.
"I'm hungry," Sophia whined as she looked at the menu.
"Is it bad that I want three orders of poutine?" Lili asked as she looked at the menu as well. "I just...I just need them. Emil, have you ever wanted poutine so badly, you wanted to just cry?" Lili asked with a crack in her voice.
Sophia looked over at her frowning. "Lili, I swear to God you cry over poutine, we're going home."
Lili sniffled. "B-But you don't understand Sophie. I still have to order it, and wait for it, and I want it now." She said putting her head down on the counter.
"I know honey, I know. But crying is just going to make your makeup run." She said putting her hand on Lili's back to console her.
Emil watched the friends interact with each other. He could have guessed what kind of drunks they were. Lili was definitely an emotional drunk. Cries at everything, good or bad. And Sophia was the mom drunk. Comforting the friends when things got out of hand. Their friendship was to be admired.
Emil waved at one of the bartenders walking past them, and he stopped to take their orders.
Lili's head popped back up and she quickly grabbed her menu, naming off the three kinds of poutine platters she wanted. After she ordered, Sophia and Emil ordered after her.
"Are you sure you're going to eat three orders of poutine Lili? Seems like a lot."
"Don't worry Emil, when I'm drunk anything is possible," Lili spoke with a wave of her hand.
"It's always mind-boggling to watch. You wouldn't think such a tiny body could pack so much food away."
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The moon was full and the breeze was gentle as they ate their club meal. Emil ordered lamb stuffed cabbages. And Sophia ordered a fish and chips combo. Lili hummed quietly as she munched away at her three different orders of poutine.
"You know, this is pretty fun." Sophia said, picking up some fries. "You're really fun to hang out with Emil. I hope we can do this again."
Emil nodded. "I'm having fun too. I didn't think my first night out with the two of you would be so...eventful? But, I haven't had this much fun in...I'm not sure when."
Lili looked over at Emil. She put her fork down and placed her hand on top of his. "Emil, I hope this doesn't sound strange, but, would you be our friend? Like after you move out at the end of the month would you call us and send us postcards? We'd surely miss your company."
There was that feeling again. That feeling he had with Lien when he was word vomiting. No one has ever asked to be his friend. He's never had friends to ask that.
Growing up an only child, and being sheltered by your brother for so many years that you just leave a note in your room and leave without a single goodbye...You wouldn't know what friends were.
"Emil?"
"I don't like taking pictures of people because I don't even like pictures of myself. I barely even like myself." He shook his head. He felt pricks at his eyes. God what was happening to him?
Lili and Sophia glanced at each other. "Oh Emil," Lili started quietly.
Emil rubbed at his eyes. "I'm sorry that was stupid to say. I shouldn't have said that." He spoke as he attempted to stand up from the bar.
"Emil, wait!" Sophia said, grabbing his hand.
Lili grabbed his other hand. "It's okay. We want to help you, and be friends with you."
"Help me? What do I even need help with?
"Loving yourself, mate. The mirror's not as big and bad as you think."
Emil sighed, rubbing at his eyes more. "It's not a physical problem. I just..I'm not what I thought I'd be. I'm not what I want to be. I'm happy doing what I love, but there's always something missing. And it's the same reason why it's so hard to look at myself."
"Emil, you have to love yourself from the outside in. You can always change and unlearn the toxic things you don't like about yourself. Could be things others taught you, maybe they're things you've taught yourself."
"Lili's right. Besides, it's your own experiences and learnings that take you where you want to go. So that means experiencing the people around you, and learning from them."
This had been the second time Emil heard this tonight. Letting people in to understand himself. Maybe it was time. Time to give it a try. Time for a change.
"Sophia, maybe I will give your friend's studio a try. And Lili, I would love to be both you and Sophia's friend." Emil announced.
The two girls cheered excitedly for their new friend as they wrapped their arms around him. "We did it Lili, we found our 3rd person!"
"Yes, but keep that between us Sophia we can't have Feliks know."
Emil tensed at the physical contact but soon relaxed into the affectionate touch. "Yes yes, we're now the power of three, isn't it lovely?" He spoke in a half sarcastic matter.
Lili and Sophia gasped pulling away from the Icelandic man. "Power of Three?" They asked excitedly.
"I love it! It sounds whimsical and aesthetically pleasing." Lili spoke with a grin.
"And here I thought you only saw us as The Three Stooges, I didn't think you had it in you."
Emil shook his head. He was in for a ride with these two, and if he didn't know that then he definitely knew it now. "Participation is key in friendships. I read that on Google when I was like, 13." He spoke with a shrug as he went back to his cabbages.
.
.
.
"So Emil, upon having this emotional breakthrough, would you like to head back home? Or one more place?" Lili asked as they headed out of Skyline.
"Well after being so emotionally vulnerable the only way to block it out again is to drink it all away. One more bar." He spoke.
"That's the spirit Emil! To the Sailors Den we go!" Sophia spoke.
Lili frowned. "I don't know about The Sailors Den Sophie. Every time we leave there you always end up drunker than you should be."
Sophia rolled her eyes. "I appreciate your concern Mother Lili but I will be just fine. Emil's drinking with me, which means I'll only be half as drunk as I should be."
"It makes sense to me." Emil chimed in.
Lili sighed. "Fine. Sailors Den is the last place. Then we're going home." She spoke.
...
Upon paying the 5 dollar cover, the group walked in. The Sailors Den had a nautical look to it. Fish hanging from the ceiling, ships in bottles on shelves, fishing nets, and lifebuoys on the wall. Also, more people than Emil thought it would be.
The three of them sat at the bar, and Sophia got the bartender's attention. "Lili are you in on the pitcher?"
"Sophia, I have to get us home safely if that's okay with you." Lili spoke flatly.
Sophia simply waved her off and ordered one pitcher and one bottle of water. "So Emil, it's just you and me on the pitcher tonight."
"One pitcher tonight Sophie."
Sophia glared at her best friend before looking back at Emil. "Have you ever shared a pitcher with someone?"
"Never had anyone to share them with."
"Well, you're in luck." She said before a pitcher of blue liquid sat down in front of them with four straws already inside. "We've got to drink this down in 10 seconds."
"Why?"
"Because if we don't that means we have to buy another...which are the typical rules if we were actually playing, but since we're only restricted to one we won't get another."
Lili grabbed the bottle of water, opening it up to drink. "Don't freeze Emil." She advised her friend.
Sophia grabbed two of the straws in the pitcher. "Ready?"
Emil grabbed the other two.
Lili counted off. "3...2..1. Go!"
With that the two drank the alcoholic beverage down as quickly as possible while Lili counted backwards from 10. The lower she got in numbers, the faster they drank.
"4...3...2...1!"
Emil and Sophia stopped drinking and Lili looked at the now empty pitcher. "The pitchers down!" Lili announced excitedly.
Sophia spun around in her bar seat triumphantly as Emil massaged his temples. "I got a brain freeze." He spoke with his eyes shut tightly. He couldn't even think about the liquor rushing suddenly to his system.
Lili shook her head. "I told you not to freeze."
"Don't worry it always happens the first time Emil." Sophia spoke as she continued to spin in her seat.
"Sophie you should really stop–"
"Oh fuckin' hell now I've got to take a piss." Sophia said stopping her chair on the dime. "Lili, coming with?" She asked, sliding out of her chair. The movement out of the chair made Sophia stumble back some and into another person, spilling half of their drink on them.
Sophia turned around embarrassingly. "Sorry about that love."
The girl with the 'Birthday Girl' banner and tiara on looked at her now soaked red dress. She grimaced at Sophia. "You should be sorry, look what you've done to my dress!" She screamed at her.
Sophia put her hands up in defense. "Alright, chill out love it was an accident. I'm in a good mood, don't want to ruin your birthday further. How about another drink on me, eh?" She asked.
"Emil, I just got a bad feeling." Lili spoke next to her friend as she looked at Sophia and the Birthday Girl.
The Birthday Girl laughed. "Ruin? Too late for that, love. I don't need your piss poor apology drink. How about you just finish the rest of mine?" With that, she splashed the rest of the drink on Sophia's romper.
"Uh-Oh."
Sophia gasped at the cold drink on her body. Birthday girl certainly wanted her night ruined further, and Sophia was just the one to help with that. It wasn't even a second before her hand was in her hair and her fist connected with her face.
Stunned, the Birthday Girl reached for Sophia's hand, trying to pry it out her hair with one hand while the other hand was smacking and hitting Sophia in the face.
Emil's eyes widened at the sudden event that spiraled in front of him. What did he even miss?
Sophia pushed the Birthday Girl down on the ground, falling right on top of her. Her hands continued to slap and punch the girl repeatedly. The people in the bar around them moved away to avoid crossfire.
"Sophia, get off of her!" Lili said getting off her seat.
Emil climbed out of his bar seat and pulled Sophia off the girl.
Sophia laughed as Emil pulled her off of the Birthday Girl. "Some birthday gift that was! A well deserved ass beating by yours truly. Happy birthday, cunt."
Lili saw security shuffling over to them in the crowd. "We have to go. We have to go now." She said tapping Emil's arm.
Emil looked in the direction of security and turned on his heel with Sophia still in his arms to make their way out of the crowded bar.
The Birthday Girl was trying to scramble to her feet, blood dripping out of her nose. "You bitch! You'll pay for this!" She spoke looking around and pulling one of the security guards close. "Get them! It's those assholes in the flowers!"
Emil stumbled outside with Sophia, and Lili close behind.
Lili scrambled for her keys in her pocket and unlocked her car from across the street. "Get to the car now."
Sophia scrambled out of Emil's arms, falling on the street soon after. "Ow, ow, owww." She whined, grabbing her elbow.
Emil winced. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Are you okay?"
Lili grabbed her hand, and forced Sophia off the ground. "She's fine. In the car." She spoke as she led Sophia to the car and opened the back seat for her. Emil helped Sophia in the car as Lili started up the car. He looked back, and saw the security guards coming out of the bar. "Shit, shit, shit." He said and climbed over Sophia in the seat.
"Lili, get us out of here." Sophia said closing the door.
"I'm trying." She said putting the car in reverse. Being blocked in a parallel parking space wasn't making this easier. She moved her gear shift from reverse to drive, watching as the security guards got closer to the car. Lili reversed again.
"Um, Lili? They're getting kind of close."
She put the car in drive, turning the wheel. "Almost…" She reversed, turning the wheel.
Sophia could see the two security men's faces visibly now in the car. "Lili!"
Lili forced the wheel to the opposite direction, put the car in drive, and sped off down the street.
Lili pulled up behind the house, parking in her usual spot before turning off the car. She sighed. "Home sweet home."
Emil and Sophia got out of the car and Lili got out behind them. They went to the patio door, and Emil slid the patio door open for them. "So, you think we're allowed back to the Sailors Den?" Emil asked the two.
"I hope not." Lili muttered.
"Well I would hope I'd be allowed back since I won the fight. The Sailor's Den shouldn't allow losers."
Emil started his way up the stairs first. "I didn't think you had that in you Sophia. It happened so quickly I didn't even know what happened." Definitely changed his perspective of their drunk selves. Lili was definitely more of the mother type, and Sophia is the one that fights when provoked.
"God blessed me with fists to fight, but cursed me with a temper to use it violently, I always say."
"Sophie we were working on your anger management, and tonight was a terrible setback."
Sophia sighed. "I know, I know. But Lili, she had it coming, and you know she did."
"I know she did, but sometimes, violence isn't the answer."
"Try telling that to Malcom X." Sophia said, rolling her eyes.
Emil made it to their floor. "Either way, that birthday girl was being too bratty, and had no reason to throw the rest of her drink on you."
"Also I heard her call us the 'Assholes in Flowers.' It would be best if we never wear these clothes out together again."
"Lili's right. I've got to get out of this now. I'm all sticky. Need a shower."
Emil walked over to the bathroom, opening the door. "Well before you do that, I've got to—" His sentence was cut off by a sharp scream.
A/N Long chap with a cliff hanger, who is in the bathroom? You guys don't know but I do. I'll try not to take so long with the next chapter to get over the cliff hanger fast but I will see you all next chapter. Please review, thank you.