The day slowly winded down, nothing exciting happened in the daytime, nothing exciting happened in the evening. Just dullness on dullness.
"Boooor-ring!" I let out at my ceiling as I carelessly tossed my controller off onto my couch. Watching the thing spring from the cushion and thump against the side of the arm rest. It hit and something flashed on the screen ahead of me, looking at it to find it not only unpaused the game but angled my character off into the wall. Grumbling, I slumped over and grabbed at the controller again, holding the main button before the shut off indicator came up and let me power down the console. Wriggling on top of the couch for a moment or two until I got comfortable I sighed.
"This place is so goddamn empty without you bro…" I didn't dare look around at the room, knowing there were tiny little memories scattered all over the place. So instead I popped open my contact list, scrolling through and through until coming upon one David Martinez. After our last job the other day and a couple of drinks in he'd suggested a hangout… what kind of hangout that was I was really dying to know. Then I flicked over to our messages, our chat history ending with a 'dope' from David after something I said. Two days ago, goddammit… What could I have been doing so wrong?!
I pulled my hands up to my stomach and let out a deep sigh, just when I did though a message suddenly popped up in the chat as I was thinking about it. It was so random that it shocked me into sitting up, hands falling to my sides again as the message appeared. I looked around the room then, hoping something wasn't staring down at me to judge.
David - 'Heyo, Becca. Free tonight?'
Rebecca - 'Fuck yeah, Choom. You got a job?'
D - 'Nah, looking for that hangout. Wanna come over?'
"Oh shit!" I spoke out to the room, turning over on my couch and hanging my legs over to the floor.
R - 'Sounds preem, still living up in the penthouse?'
D - 'Yeah, so you're down?"
R - 'Wouldn't miss it :D~~~!'
D - 'Noice, sending you directions choom."
"Hehe fuck yeah!" I gave myself a cheer as I pushed off from the couch, looking down at myself and realizing that I had been held up at home for the better part of two days. "Ah… shower, tidy up… what the hell am I gonna wear!" The possibilities started running through my head as I moved from my cushy hermit domain and skipped all the way to the bathroom. Feeling a familiar excitement pulse up my chest.
I put myself in front of the mirror, the obscured display fading up into the reflective one as it sensed me arriving. There was an unattractive splatter at the corner of the glass from the water or toothpaste or something. I drew my hand to the glass and rubbed it away on my metallic thumb before I turned on the water with my other hand and looked at myself in the mirror. Looking back at me was this mangy animal, hair all fucked up around my head, smudged makeup with obvious bags underneath my eyes.
My eyes peaked at a bit of drool out of the corner of my mouth and I cringed just a tiny bit at myself.
No way am I doing this half assed!
I brought my hand up to my face and splashed a bit of water over it before shutting the facet off, giving myself a smile.
Time for the big guns!
I felt a terse chuckle flood up my mouth as I turned off to the shower and let my excitement rush into my body.
I knew exactly what I was gonna do.
How do you impress an Edgerunner boss when before he didn't give you a second glance? Well… you try something new!
I never really took a lick of what Kiwi said as fact, even if it was kind of similar to what I decided to do now. Kiwi would just say I should change up my approach but something about that didn't sit right, if David was interested he'd have said so right? So maybe I wasn't putting out the right signals… at least I thought until a couple days ago. We were dancing and drinking and suddenly he wanted to hang out.
Kiwi was wrong, I was right, this was what is gonna work.
Right… so, a new outfit and a new hairstyle. If that doesn't scream 'I'm interested in you' I don't know what will! I brushed my hair out, taking the time to leave it soft and shiny looking. I even took time with my makeup, a glossy dark lipstick and soft pink eyeshadow and eyeliner. Formed to draw emphasis to the eyes.
Obviously my best features.
Thank the corpo gods for precision joints on my upgraded hands, otherwise I'd have crushed the makeup supplies before I had a chance to give myself that perfect touch. I took one last look in the mirror, I was clad in a simple shirt, split at the sleeves so I can get my arms through. Shorts that came down to my mid thigh just for that classy appeal, and the principal item! A alloy hoop earring, polished platinum finish with a built in radio receiver, micro tech was so nifty and the speaker quality was something else.
'Never without tunes wherever you go!' I remember reading when I bought the thing.
I clipped it through my right earlobe and held my hand beneath it to watch it gleam in the mirror. Against my hair it drew the eye, it was almost too flashy, looking downright corpo. Though… with that gaudy ass apartment he lived in now, it may be something he liked.
"Shit… I may need to rethink all of this…" But I didn't get a second chance as the cab service I requested suddenly pinged my holo.
Cabby-Dab: Your ride request has arrived at your current location, please proceed to your chauffeur.
Ugh, I remember explicitly searching for a non-uppity service but I guess it'll have to do. At least it isn't something like a Delamain.
Fuck it then, now or never!
I came to the hallway not too long after arriving in the cab, entrance, ID then elevator, I couldn't remember the last time I used a taxi service but it felt so, proper almost? I wasn't fancy looking by any stretch of the corpo imagination but I certainly wasn't bad looking right? I turned at one of the reflections I had in one of these metallic panels that decorated the hallway up to David's apartment. Reaching my large right hand to gently test a strand of my hair, I didn't pull but let it rest over my fingers. It looked alright.. but I kind of felt off. Maybe it wasn't me, but this building, it was massive and steeped in corporate grandeur. Gold and platinum paneling that spoke of the status and influence of the people who lived here. I felt out of place and David living like this similarly felt out of touch. Maybe I don't know him as well as I thought, but something like this hangout idea was perfect then. The right time to properly get to know one another.
Alone… right…
I moved on from the reflection and found myself quickly to the door of his apartment, the penthouse, the top dog's house. Reaching over to press the doorbell indicator which was answered nearly instantaneously by David.
"Becca?" His voice came through, minor clipping from the digital audio.
"Tis me, in the flesh, boss."
"Ah quit that and get in here." The door unlocked as he finished speaking, allowing me to reach and pull open the door to this massive high rise apartment. Analog door opening for a classic corpo pad felt odd. But maybe it was just for that sturdy aesthetic.
The place is just like something you'd see on those reality television shows just from the entryway. I set myself to go inside, trotting my shoes along the floor, pushing the door to close behind me as my soles squeak along the polished flooring.
Staring out into the bright nightlife of NC through a massive unobstructed view. It stunned me for the barest of a second before I jumped in elation, facing on towards the view as my words hitched out of my throat.
"H-ho-HOLY SHIT! This view is killer!" I stamped towards the large glass wall, holding the sight in my mind to memorize it.
It was like watching a beehive, AVs littered the airways, constantly flowing to and from the Arasaka tower and the other various high rise businesses. Advertisement shone through speckling the entire night air with fluttering light of holograms. Their intensity and brightness is brought down by a filter put on the glass. It was noiseless too, completely silent to stare out at the living breathing center of all of NC. Santo Domingo or Watson was miles away from what it felt like to see all this. Not even to mention my shithole of an apartment… It got better after Kiwi hooked up some cams and I was never bad at cleaning the place up. But the stark difference of cleanliness almost made me nauseous.
Then this desire shifted over my arm, taking me a few steps closer to the glass as it shifted up to press on the cool, smooth surface.
Sensing a rumbling turbulence from the exterior, it must've been deafening out there. All the music, vocalizing ads, I'd heard sirens coming out of the cab too so I could only imagine what else was going off out there.
But I'm here and not a peep is making it through, what kind of scratch gets you moments of quiet in a city like this?
"Wow…" I let out softly at the glass, close enough to see my reflection peaking back through all the shapes in front of me. I couldn't quite pin the feeling, seeing me reflected through all that busy traffic. But it sat somewhere in a pit of my body, twisting around in my guts.
"Yeah… that's about the same thing I did when I first got a second to myself here." David's voice came out from behind me and I barely shifted to look over at him. Not turning my eyes away but shifting my head ever so slightly so he knew I heard him.
"How does someone ever leave a view like this?" I heard him stepping closer to me, I couldn't tell how far away he was but he was certainly within reasonable distance.
"When you have work to do." He stated it so plainly that it felt dumb to even had asked. I took my hand from the wall of glass and nodded.
"Certainly a better view than my rinky dink place." I said out before turning over to look at him. Flashing a smile and winking up at this man, he shrugged at it and I got a look at him more proper-like.
He was still swol of course, but today he tried to be a bit more casual, dressed in a stretchy shirt that actually looked a size too big for him. Didn't help with the arms but his torso, sure. He was also wearing these shorts that came down to his knees with the waistband strings hanging off the front. Then… no shoes, just a casual fit for an at home hangout. I poked back up to his expression and saw a general picture of contentedness, his brown eyes were gentle as usual and his lips were smiling with that same kid-like flair.
Like nothing could bring him down from the top.
"I don't know about that, your place has its charms." He chuckled as I set both of my hands along my hips.
"Ohoho! Well okay then, trade me, see how you like terrible AC and smoggy streets." I smiled broadly as I joked, earning a chuckle from him as he replied.
"I lived in Santo before, Becca, I don't need to remember shitty AC and smog." I waved him off but he continued. "'Sides, don't you make enough to move out of that rinky dink place?"
"Eh, it has sentimental value now, what can I say?"
"At least enough to pay for better AC…"
"What can I say, most of my scratch goes into gear costs to protect a gonk like you." I spoke with the absolute sweetest of tones. Feeling a smirk on my lips as I took just a few steps towards him, just closer, I didn't sidle up to him like I usually did because it was just different here. That spotless vibe made me feel like I shouldn't act too much like me, it unnerved me. "Besides I'd get too comfortable if I started living in a cushy place like this."
"Cushy huh?" Catching my words like that he gave a smirk of his own, but more of a 'you don't know what cushy feels like,' vibe. "Trust me choom, living like this is a whole other world."
David suddenly stepped closer to me then just past me, heading right up to the glass before he reached his hand up to it. I assumed he was interacting with some tech and in that moment I made the connection.
"This place got a home AI too?"
"For sure, it usually just orders groceries and fixes itineraries for the housekeepers, buuuut if I give you guest access you can give it commands."
"For real!?" I rushed over to his side to look up at him, feeling a bit excited at the possibilities.
"Ooooo yeah, it has an assortment of accommodations because I'm considered a platinum tier client." He worked away and then suddenly a pop up appeared in my vision.
Guest privilege granted - Limited command suite activated.
"Go on, Becca. Try something out, food costs come right out of my bank account so-"
"So you're footing for dinner?"
"So don't bankrupt me." He spoke with a small bit of laughter and I gave him a furrowed gaze.
"I don't eat as much as you, Mister Bulk." I took a step closer to him with a squinting gaze pushing myself a bit more into his space at the window view. He merely returned it before crossing his arms down at me, this moment made me pause being so close but feeling so natural. I followed his movements in return, crossing my arms before relaxing my eyes up at him. "Can't even imagine all the proteins you go through to get muscles that big."
"Oh god shut it…" He chuckled softly and moved past me, gently bumping my shoulder with his fist as he uncrossed his arms.
"I'm serious!" I laughed as I took the moment to follow right alongside him. "You're huge, like a big brick wall." He chuckled again, the kind that made him bring his hand up to cover the big grin overtaking his face that made my stomach turn up with fluttering feelings. Forcing myself to look ahead as he led us towards the open aired kitchen. In my peripheral I watched him raise a hand to his cheek, scratching at himself. "Look like you could snap Falco over your knee." I muttered.
"Geez… Becca will you just test the bot out?!" He spoke out at me with that smile when he stopped moving, turning just slightly towards me as he dropped his hand to his side. I had to look at him properly then when we stopped in our stride. I gave a face at his suggestion and wordlessly pulled up the commands, scrolling on through a truly expansive set of accommodations.
One section caught my eyes as I moved, only taking my eye because out of all the ones showing up for me this one was grayed out. Parentheses followed showing that it was in use, it was the master bathroom selection. It was strange but I kept moving to the main living room. Picking it to have a drop down selection of options, instantly snapping to one in particular.
"Oo, this one's good." I unfocused on the commands and looked down at my shoes, bringing my one foot to the other to hold it down as I pulled my body part from it. Kicking the shoe off to the side before doing the same to the other. When I looked back up at David and selected the command I wanted he had this puzzled expression.
"Getting a bit comfortable, huh?" I felt my eyebrow pop up at him, thinking about that before realizing that kicking my shoes off may have been just a tiny bit rude.
"Hey you gave me control of this thing, gotta utilize it to its full potential." I chuckled softly at the situation, just when my command took effect. David's eyes brightened and he looked at his own feet now.
"I see that. That's a good one."
"Right?! Definitely don't have heated floors at my place." I felt a need to gently pad my feet at the flooring as the warmth bled through the bottom of my low cut socks. David would also wriggle his feet at the polished top, hands bringing themselves up to his hips before he turned back to walk on towards the kitchen. I followed along, enjoying the heat pouring up my body from the floor. You never really would think about just how cold your feet get day to day.
Coming into the open kitchen he took himself closer to the fridge as I came around the side of the island. Bracing my right elbow on the top of the counter.
"What did you wanna drink?" He opened the fridge as I looked away towards the view again. It wasn't as wonderful as before but there was this allure I couldn't account for. The atmosphere was sweet and casual when I went to reply, hardly looking at him until I finished my response.
"Whatcha got?" I said, turning to see the man fiddle around for a moment before drawing back from the fridge with a pair of brown labeled bottles. He held them up for my approval and I merely nodded at him.
"Preem," He reached into the tops and screwed off the bottle caps, moving over to the island but not before pushing the fridge closed with his back. He would set my beer next to my arm and I would stand properly to face the counter. David took up the edge to my immediate left when I wrapped the entirety of my hand around my drink. "So, anything planned lately?"
As he spoke I took the time to drink, turning it up to sip at its contents. Having to turn my head just a bit so I could look at him as he spoke. I drew the bottle away and moved to respond.
"Whatcha mean?" He took a sip before answering.
"Just… What have you been doing since our last job?" I sipped only a bit before letting a grin spread over my features.
"Ohoh! When did Mister David develop all this curiosity about my private affairs, huh?" He went to sip but smirked at my insinuation. Lowering the bottle to the countertop. "The luxury life finally leads to his one true desire! Gathering intel on the sweet girls in his crew, trying to sell their information to rapscallions and goons for that sweet thrill!" I gave that little speil all the theatrics it would need, holding my free hand out like all those old school actors used to do. David rolled his eyes and leaned onto the countertop properly.
"Ya done yet?"
"Oh! But whatever shall the fair maiden do, we wonder? No matter how handsome and proper this man is, he is still a brute! Destructive and terrible, sweet and lovely. Her dilemma spirals further."
"Who are you describing?" I took his interruption as time to drink, he matched me. Waiting for his beer to settle on the hard top.
"Eh, I'm done now."
"Really, handsome and terrible? Making me sound like the villain."
"Not all villains get to be handsome." His fingers twitched along the side of his drink and I didn't even really realize I saw it. But that bare perspective instinct made whatever snide remarks that were still floating around remained firmly unsaid. "Why do you wanna know, choom?"
"Don't I reserve some leeway in asking about my friends and crew." Something about that stings when he says it. Making my own fingers tense up around the cool exterior of my drink.
"I suppose that's true." I squeezed my precision grip along the neck of the bottle. Feeling something in me pulling back what I really wanted to say. "Well, nothing really, got the ammo sorted the day after that Pacifica gig… then polished off the gear and tweaked some stuff. That Unity was pulling hard on the trigger like you said so I was testing it out a bit. Got it fixed up so it should pull a little easier now."
"Ah… thanks. But-"
"But really I just stayed home, ordered food and played this new game I got. Something analog to keep my coordination sharp."
"No shit? You really play that archaic system, heard adapters get crazy expensive nowadays."
"Goddamn David have some faith in my skills, ain't nothing a bit of wiring and troubleshooting can't fix… and maybe a couple boxes of slagged components." I muttered that last bit as he went to drink again, I felt he had pulled me purposefully off track. I moved my hand around the bottle, lifted it, and took a sip.
"Well, Becca, guess I was really asking how you've been." His face turned at me, making me want to talk.
"In what way? Bored mostly." I questioned but still had an answer that I thought he was looking for.
"I mean with everything." My ear started ringing and I couldn't remember when it had started. My hand found a grip on my bottle and I found my voice shortly thereafter.
"That's a bit of a tall order outta me-" He looked away from me and suddenly my lungs forced the words out. "It's been different, honestly." His expression came back to me and I let my eyes shift downward at my drink. As if the subtle sheen of fluid along the mouth of the bottle was going to make me feel any better.
"Like…"
"Like with life, it's just different. Things happen, you always kind of know deep down that things will happen but can't really know what's gonna happen afterward." I took my bottle up and drank. Flashing a look to David as he somewhat slumped forward on the countertop.
"I get what you mean… I just was… I realized that…" He was surprisingly lost for words, pushing himself up on the counter at first, palming the cool top. Stared out at the edge opposite to himself before letting his head hang down, dragging those eyes to his bottle in front of him. "I realized that I have not actually talked to you about everything, or anything really."
"That's not something you have to do," I paused and David watched me when I lifted my bottle from the counter to hold it closer to my body. Maybe it was the subtle buzz in my stomach or maybe the situation. "You don't gotta feel responsible for me or whatever. It just is what it is…"
"I don't feel responsible for you. But you are my friend, I want to know." He took his bottle into his right hand and moved from his edge of the space and to the corner closest to me. He leaned his other hand against the top as he drank his beer. Leaving his eyes to watch me for my response. My mind didn't particularly enjoy him getting closer, as in it wasn't handling it well, I felt my neural pathways flood with chemicals until my eyes unfocused and I felt a tad lightheaded. This felt a shitload more intimate than just flirting and dancing and whatever, and then he's asking me all these questions.
Pilar flashed through my head and I couldn't stop the feeling of pain in my chest. The unfairness and cruelty of the world just rushing back like I was a kid again. Realizing what it was like to go hungry because it was his turn to eat that day.
Why'd he have to be so stupid to fuck with some tripping out gonk? Like it'd have been any better if he was blown away on the job.
At least you could justify it then… but now… then Dorio and Maine. It wasn't fair.
"It just… sucks." I finally said, realizing I hissed it out through clenched teeth.
"What was that?" He spoke, I relaxed myself, lest I go psycho and get put down. I don't know when I started looking at my left hand but it trembled ever so softly before I clutched it into a fist and resigned it to my side. I breathed out and looked up to David.
"I said… that it sucks." He had this complex expression on his face. As if he was frustrated or even sympathetic. Momentarily I felt dumb as I let out such a beautiful monologue about the state of my life with the revelation that it 'sucks.'
"But it just is what it is." He repeated at me.
"What a stupid saying…" I muttered sharply.
"It really is, why did you say it then?"
"Because it's dumb… still being upset about those dumb assholes. All of them were just so… obsessed…"
"Obsessed?"
"Yeah, obsessed! Pilar with his stupid ego and Maine being just as fucking bad… getting Dorio killed-" Then I caught a look at his face and the expression it held made my lungs seize up. Crushing down the next words when I brought up my beer to drink once more then the contents finally were exhausted. Forcing my eyes closed to spare myself that visual before hissing in a breath through my nose. "If those two hadn't been up their own asses… I don't know, maybe they'd still be alive."
"Yeah… you're probably not wrong about that." I didn't look at him right away. Setting my emptied beer down and grumbling lowly in my throat.
"Fuck… I'm sorry, didn't mean to bring us down so hard."
"Becca-"
"You got anything stronger than this cause I'm feeling like I need something-"
"Rebecca, when I lost my mom I thought I lost everything." His voice was forceful and put my overacting mind back down. I hadn't even noticed the deathgrip my hands formed around the edge of the countertop. My dual colored digits threaten to crack into the polished perfection. "Then I met all of you, Maine, Dorio… Pilar even, things got better." I huffed warmly as he tossed in that subtle dig at Pilar. "When Maine and Dorio died I didn't know what we were gonna do so I kept doing the only thing I could think of."
"Which was…"
"Earning eddies and keeping you all safe." I chuckled then, finally feeling my hands relax around the counter. Glancing lowly at David as he set his empty beer in my peripheral. "Sometimes it's the simple shit that'll keep us going."
Sometimes it's the simple shit that keeps us going…
"Well… fuck…" That hurt, for sure, but not in a bad way. More like a realization I had been refusing to have. Suddenly then my eyes welled and I couldn't see as clearly anymore and I moved my arm up to rub them clear. "That's some sappy shit…" I didn't even sense him getting closer to me until his hand came up to flick my forehead.
"It's true shit though, ya gonk."
"Being the guy gettin' shit done really has its perks." I moved my arm from my face, hoping the makeup didn't smear too badly when I looked at him. Only a year and this kid was owning that edgerunner lifestyle… big house, big presence. "Well… I'm glad we talked that through a bit." He nodded and then the silence came. It felt awkward, he sighed out and reached a hand back to his neck to scratch at what I assumed was his chip slot. Leaving me to quietly stand there as the talk stalled, dammit why couldn't it have been some simple hangout and then making out or some shit.
"Fucking gonks…" I muttered which drew him back into looking at me before I suddenly moved forward and hugged him. It was unexpected and I had the moment to push my ear against his torso as my hands bundled around him tightly. He was a warm presence, smelling like sweet things with a dash of spice. It made my lips smile and filled my chest with a delighted sensation even if this wasn't my intention. "I'm not good with all these words, never been good at anything 'sides guns. But… you can count on me to keep it real with you, David." I breathed his name so gently that it was terrifying, could've ended with dimples, or choom. Some cute pet bullshit that could keep my feelings just a little bit hidden but instead his name was sincerely spoken.
I ruined that little charade that could've been called friendliness. I could tell by the way he shifted in my arms, I felt that movement and I knew he was looking down at me in his space. I knew he understood my sincerity by the way his heartbeat shuddered in his chest. Low rumbling thuds that misstep when I spoke his name like that. I didn't want to say his name with any less sincerity ever again if it meant I was understood.
"Rebecca," he said gently, his own arms drawing right up to my shoulders. Fingertips being careful not to intrude across my back before speaking. "Same to you, here's to keeping it real." Those arms drew around me tightly, hugging in return so fully that it felt a million times more comfortable than any heated floor or impressive view.
What the fuck is up with this..?
Eventually his arms moved away and I wanted to just grab him and make this dumb, sensitive cutie kiss me… but I stopped myself. The usual confidence I wielded from day to day felt infinitely away now. My large hands drew away from him and intentionally rested along his sides for a moment longer. The barest time that was noticeably delayed, I pushed myself away after that. Looking up to him and forcing a familiar grin that tried to hide the fact my face was burning up.
"How about that stronger drink, boss." He chuckled at that and nodded along with my request.
An hour or so later I was actually feeling a bit tipsy.
We had found our way to the living room at this point, both holding our respective glasses with a good portion of strong liquor within them. I had a vodka soda and cherry syrup, something sweet and easy to drink. David even had real fruit from one of those Biotechnica regrowth centers. It was perfectly made and only held that barest hint of burn when it rolled down my throat. He was drinking something similar to mine but he'd made it for himself rather than two of the same. It was a soft rum color and was ringed in a thin line of salt, all these drinks were seriously top tier.
"David, gotta ask since for a kid like you it's so unlikely." He perked up at my words, bringing his drink to his lips as he let me speak. "You download some bartending soft or something? You're almost upsettingly good at making these things." I was propped against the end of the couch, letting my head up while the rest of my body laid across the plush sofa. I had my drink rest on my belly where my shirt was slightly pulled up from. Not trying to show off skin but it just ended up that way.
David held up his hand defensively after my accusations and held his drink in the air off to his right.
"Would you tell me it's cheating if I did?" He let out a smooth chuckle at that, taking the moment to sit up from the couch, propping myself up with one arm and then drinking the delightful tasting beverage.
Fucking hell even the ice ratio is solid.
"Nah I'll just say that you gotta start using it a whole lot more." His eyebrows perked up and he followed my speech.
"Why's that, Becca?" A sip from us both that time when I would readjust myself to push my legs over the edge of the couch.
"Because choom, shit is tasty." I brought the drink to my lips and drank properly, the ice pushing against my lips before I drew it away with a sigh. "Can't beat a cold beer though, easy drinking there."
"Much easier than mixing stuff up." He gave a derisive smile towards me.
"Yeah but if you're the one doing it, that's the easiest thing in the world." He scoffed and drank again, using the opportunity to down the rest of my glass, leaving only the cherry at the top of the leftover ice. I held the glass lower and picked it from the container before drawing it up to my lips. Gently grasping it with my teeth before pulling it from the stem and rolling it back into my mouth. As I chewed I let the glass rest along the four others I had already drained. It had been an hour and I had finished five cocktails of varying flavor that all sat here, it was rare to have so many options for classy drinking. I looked over at David as the cherry mushed in the space of my cheek. Watching him toy with his third and latest drink. The chrome we both had filtered alcohol extremely well, so I had hardly a buzzing sensation in my head, I could tell for Mister Universe over here that he was feeling a similar vein of inebriation.
Meaning very little.
"What're you drinking, Martinez?" I inched along the sofa, half standing from its surface to move closer.
"Just something new I'm trying out."
"Oh? Never thought you were so inclined to experiment."
"Yeah, well, you know how people have their own drinks named after them and all that?" I nodded at his question and he continued. "I'm trying to think of one…"
"For who in particular?" He blinked at me, looking at the glass in his hand and gently swirling its content with a stirring straw.
"Don't know just yet."
"That's both cryptic and morbid." He hummed an affirmation as his gaze shifted past my face, he didn't seem to be particularly bothered by my approach to his space. There might've been a question there but he didn't voice it. "What's in it?"
"Tequila, synthetic grapefruit juice and a bit of salt to taste." I gave him a soft 'ooo' at his explanation. Coming a bit closer and standing to height as I did so. Holding out my hand towards it.
"Lemme try it?" He peered at me, as if debating to allow me a drink, eyes flicking off at my collection of glasses before holding his arm out. I reached and took it from his hand, grasping it from the bottom before lifting it back to my own mouth. That stirring stick drifted around the interior of the glass and I instinctively drew it between my fingers and stirred. Looking at the drink curiously while David watched me.
I mean… the moment is just so perfect.
I couldn't explain what was coming over me, but we were alone, sharing drinks. He didn't seem to mind me being closer or open with him. Maybe he didn't comment on my appearance but he did hold me and we talked about the real shit around us.
What better time could a girl hope for?
I lowered the glass a bit to look down at David, our eyes connecting for that instant and his expression remained solid. Blinking once as the energy started to buzz up the backs of my legs, I felt tension pulling up my throat.
I drew myself to the rim of the glass and took a long lick of the salted edge. Flicking my eyes at his lips when I did so, his neck swallowed hard, but his expression remained steady. I let the taste mellow out the sweet in my mouth, leftovers from my own beverages, this drink of his was a type of sour.
I liked it.
I purposefully let the salt settle across my tongue when I drew the glass around to the side he had been drinking from. Moving directly into his space where he sat on the couch, strategically placing my leg between both of his as I drew his drink up to my lips and took a slow, deep sip. His eyes fluttered up at me and the tone of his face flushed that tiny little bit when I did so.
It was teasing but overtly plain just what I was doing. Taking his space and drinking from his glass quite purposefully. There didn't need to be a word here that screamed out about how much I wanted him to grab hold of me. It was all implied.
Especially when my knee pushed against his right leg. Opening his position just that tiny bit wider, feeling out for any resistance, any hint of unwillingness. It wasn't there as far as I could tell, he was just watching me stand here and drink his drink. Pressing myself close to him like earlier but with a very different energy.
My other leg pushed onto the couch, kneeling on top of his other leg, pressing most of my weight to the other leg so as to not make him bear my full form. Still holding the beverage at my face I would shift myself onto his leg. Sitting back on his thigh and letting my legs fall limply across his lap. The right leg crossed his entirety to the other side of the couch while my left continued to sidle up alongside his opposing one. David just sat there without a word, his eyes rolling down the side of my face as his arms instinctively moved to not disrupt my movement. His right arm came up to rest at the back of the couch, his left hovered back against the cushion and almost refused to touch on me. Which was a bit strange considering I was now settling on his lap.
He certainly didn't try to stop me and I took that and ran with it. Bringing my legs together to cross across his lap and leaning myself against his shoulder with my own. Still holding the drink in my hands when I finally turned myself to look at his face as he watched me intently. He didn't turn his full expression at me, just letting his eyes roam. Locking on my own when I turned at him.
I swirled the Tequila and grapefruit juice a few more times, letting the ice clink in the quiet air as the only noise between us. I swallowed down a rushing feeling, budding our shoulders together and sitting in his lap was hardly a thing to lose my cool over. Even when his face was really close and really cute. I purse my lips out then draw them back in after a few moments of uninterrupted closeness…
Clink…clink…tink…bink
The soft ice went on and on about its existence as I stirred and stirred. David and I just held onto this eye contact, feeling internally that I really didn't want this moment to end.
"Rebecca..?" He broke the silence first, his voice steady and poignant. Making my ceaseless stirring come to an end.
"Mm… yes?" He blinked at my causal airs, his gaze shifting down over my form as it sat on him. Making my legs jitter just for a second in happy bliss. He came back to me with this confused expression. I lowered the drink a bit so it wasn't in our eyeline.
"What are you doing?"
"Uh… the simple shit." I chuckled warmly at him, leaning towards his face with a playful grin. Holding up his drink towards his mouth. "Why not indulge yourself, Mister?" David looked between me and the drink, squinting his eyes at me for a moment. Before he brought his hand up to take the glass from the bottom.
Taking it from me and allowing my hand the freedom to move to hold his face. The chill from the glass pooling on his cheek that made his face shiver subtly.
"Becca…" he huffed sharply.
"Oh is my hand cold? I'm so sorry… maybe I should warm you up?" When I moved in this time I didn't hesitate to kiss him, finally bringing that warmth to myself in all its sweet spicy flavor. David stiffened up beneath me and I moved my left hand from his face to the space of his chest. Holding him against the couch as I indulged my desire, drawing my lips wholly into his, melding ourselves together slowly and assuredly. Trying to map out his unique profile so I'd know it purely from memory. His expression softened, playing against me so slowly that it enticed a giggle from my throat. Tickling against his mouth until his free hand came up to hold me at my back, those fingers pressing just in the space of my spine through my shirt. Hard enough to make me flush with warm sensations.
Then his other hand came up, glass still in hand as he suddenly pushed his arm on my shoulder. Pushing me back rather forcefully and making me draw away with a surprised huff.
"Rebecca!" His tone was so sharp I instantly pulled my hand away from his body, still having that sensation of warmth on my face and his taste across my lip. But my eyes widened, then that powerful thumping beat in my chest started to stutter with worry.
"Ah… something up choom?" I pushed back on his lap just a little bit as his face turned down in the space between us. Rolling breaths coming from his core, shaking his head momentarily.
"Becca… I'm still with Lucy." I blinked at that, feeling numb for a second. I rolled my lips into my mouth and then proceeded to make a soft pop in the air followed by a soft inhale. Drawing my legs off of his lap and setting them against the floor before sliding myself off of him onto the couch beside him. Flumping softly on the cushion as I made us take some space.
"Well…" I started out with an embarrassed warmth coming over my expression. "I… did not know that."
"Uh…" He stared off, looking over at me confused.
"Ah, invited to a penthouse, getting all dolled up. Alone, drinking… talking." I felt a dread overtaking me, bringing a hand up to my head and scratching the tips of my fingers into the scalp. "Dumb, don't know why I thought… fuck."
There was this unmarked silence then. He didn't move and I just stared ahead as my digits scratched an unknowable itch in my skin, before dropping my arm to the couch. The seconds moved agonizingly slow, thoughts moving back on the weird things about tonight.
"She's… upstairs isn't she?"
"Yeah…"
"She hadn't shown up for awhile, and you never really talked about her."
"That's true," I moved a hand to brush my hair back over my ear, glancing at him as he spoke. "Never really occurred to me that something like this would happen…" He looked down at me, a pang of frustration flooding my heart
"Well why would it occur to you…" I hissed out an emphasis on just how I felt about such wording. "You jackass gonk!" He stared at me for just a moment longer before looking at the space between us. I turned my own eyes at my lap to not fill myself with guilt from his sight.
"I'm sorry."
"I… I really didn't mean that,"
"Yeah…"
"I just feel like an idiot." He nodded soberly and when he went to turn that time I reached a hand up to him. Taking him by the shoulder, leveling my expression at the far off end of the room for a few seconds as his eyes bore down at my cheek. "I think..." I looked over at him and gave a weak chuckle, drawing my hand away but not before bumping a closed fist against his front. He nodded at that, swirling the drink in his hand before leaning forward and setting the glass against the tabletop. "I think…" the words… they didn't want to come out. Resting at the back of my throat with a painful acidic taste.
I moved my hand to the sofa and let myself look forward away from him. Feeling a painful squeeze around my beating heart, like every other throb was being pressed by an unseen hand. I pressed my legs together and forced my feet to soothe themselves along the warm floor.
"I… like your hair Becca." I flicked my eyes over at him, confused momentarily at the words said to me. Then I inched my left hand up to my face to draw a strand of hair in between my fingers.
Did it not occur that this would happen, or that it could happen?
What a strange time to compliment me, and it wiggled its way up my neck and tickled the flesh of my lips. I shifted my eyes away and felt a dumb smile force it's way onto my expression, I managed to keep it low.
But it was there.
"Thanks, David. Thought… I would try something new." He nodded at that, and he leaned back against the couch before bringing his hands up to support the back of his head.
Then that was that, with a kind of drowning silence taking over the space in the afterword. I felt a buzzing warmth in my chest even after the embarrassment. Thinking back on the events for a moment or two longer I sort of had a realization, chuckling wryly to myself before bringing my own hands back to my head and mimicking David's relaxed poise.
I sighed out softly and I felt David's expression turn at me.
"Something up Choom?" I spoke out, leaving my eyes shut to enjoy the moment.
"No, nothing's up." Then that was that, quiet warm relaxation taking over the space.
I didn't want to get my hopes up, but if Lucy and David split.
I have a good feeling about my chances…