AN: New chapter. After like a month. I know! :( Sorry! We into fall now though lol, and life stuffs were going on. Also lots of new video games lol. xD My bad. And October's gonna be the worst for those distractions (Spiderman 2 and shit comes out in a few days)...But we'll see if I can get some more chapters up in the next few weeks!
In this chapter - KH3 ESRB rating about alcohol depictions lol!
Elrena sat up with a groan, throwing up her hands.
Another day, another boring evening passing her by in this boring world of Twilight Town.
It was starting to get as bad as back in Scala Ad Caelum, for pete's sake!
She had to do something about that. And fast. Immediately, actually!
After some deep thinking and careful considerations - she came up with an idea.
It wasn't her usual style, but...how terrible could it really go?
And besides, that whole talk about living life and bonds and all that shit Luxu had given her weeks ago, when he'd first made that big, egotistical offer to host her in his house as a guest...well, maybe just a teensy little bit of it had actually wormed its way into Elrena's Heart. Maybe a tiny part of her did think it was...at least worth trying out? After all, he'd insisted there was something to it - something worthwhile about it. This opening up your Heart crap...this bonding stuff...
So...screw it. She'd see how it went. What did she really have to lose, anyways? Another meaningless evening in her human life? Big whoop!
But if she was going to do this...unfortunately she was going to have to do something she really didn't want to do: she was going to have to ask someone for a favor.
She pulled on her clothes, brushed her hair down over her shoulders, and strode out of the room. She went downstairs, leaving the hall and entering the living room.
Luxu was sprawled out on a sofa - like the lazy ass he was. That hadn't changed from the Organization days...
"Hey," he said, sitting upright. "What's up?"
Elrena drew a breath in, then let it go again. Her face burned as she turned her head aside, glaring at the far wall of the kitchen. "I'm going out - and I wanted to ask you...for a...a..."
"What?"
"A- f-favor!" Elrena burst out.
"...All right. What's the favor?"
"Money..." Elrena murmured out.
"Money? How much do you need?" Luxu said casually.
Elrena did a double take, staring at him. "That's it? No questions, no-"
"It's not my business, is it? I don't care what you do - as long as you don't bring any sort of danger into this house. But beyond that? Hey, your life's yours, Elrena. And I'd be glad to help out a friend."
"W-well- how much do you- have?" Elrena sputtered out.
Luxu chuckled. "More than enough to cover whatever you need, I'm sure."
"That's funny, because I never seem to see you working," Elrena said lightly, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"That's because I'm always out there working," Luxu replied.
"Uh-huh. I'll take your word for it," Elrena responded.
"Great. So...? How much?" Luxu asked, getting to his feet. He went over to a bag on the floor and started digging around in it.
"Fifteen thousand...?" Elrena said uncertainly.
"What world's currency are we talking about here?" Luxu said absently. "That's either a lot or hardly anything, depending..."
"Radiant Garden," Elrena answered.
"Not too much skin off my back, then," Luxu nodded. He pulled out a small pouch, turned, and tossed it at her.
She caught it, staring at it in disbelief. "Seriously? You're just giving me this much munny? No catch?"
Luxu gazed at her intently for a moment. Then he sighed - held his hands out to her. "I owe you far more than money could ever buy...but it'll have to do for now."
"W-whatever - weirdo." Elrena shoved the pouch into her pocket and turned away, striding for the door. She stopped, as a damned feeling niggled in her chest. "Thanks," she said quietly, glancing back over her shoulder.
"No problem. If there's anything else you ever need, feel free to just ask."
"I'll...keep that in mind," Elrena said slowly, nodding.
She stalked out of the house and onto the grass, taking out her Keyblade and conjuring up a portal (one of the only other good things Luxu had done for her these past few weeks: freshening up her memories on how to pull this little trick off). She went through it, emerging on the other side in front of the Land of Departure's castle. She sighed, brushed at her hair, and hurried up the stone steps to enter it. She walked down the long, marble hallway, taking a turn to her right. She climbed some more stairs, entering the gaudy, second floor throne room.
"Helloooo? Anybody here?" she called out.
"Elrena? What are you doing here?" came a voice behind her. An annoyingly familiar voice.
She spun on her heel with a groan, spotting Terra walking up to her. "Anybody I actually want to see?" she added to herself.
Terra laughed as he approached her, giving an easy smile. "Who are you looking for?"
"Skuld and A...Aqua," Elrena wrenched the name from the depths of her throat, muttering and looking away.
"Aqua, too, huh? Is something the matter? I could-"
"No."
"Are you sure about that? You and Aqua aren't exactly best friends-"
"And you are still the splitting image of one of my most hated people in life - whereas the Master of Bitch doesn't break the top five! So: get her for me, would you?"
"Doesn't break the top five, huh? I find that hard to believe..."
"Just. Get her. NOW!" Elrena growled out.
Terra held up his hands to her, all condescending! "Okay. Why don't you come with me and I'll take you to her - and Skuld."
"Fine...whatever...Just stay ahead of me. I don't want to see your stupid face."
"Alright."
They made their way through the castle, into the west wing. Down a flight of spiral stairs, and down to another level. Terra opened up a big, round wooden door - revealing a bedroom with a nice view. Sitting together in there was Skuld...and...Aqua.
"Elrena?" Skuld said, glancing up in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"What is she doing here?" Aqua said, rising to her feet.
Elrena flushed as all eyes landed on her. She tossed her head and stroked her hair. "R-right...oookay... Um, see, the thing is...my life's been pretty boring lately, and I was thinking about...how things are supposed to be different now. How I'm supposed to be- doing things differently. And...and then I came up with this idea, and I thought maybe..."
"What?" Aqua said, looking actually patient and non-hostile toward her for a change.
"W-well, I wanted to go over to Radiant Garden and check out that bar that that Tifa woman's had running the past few weeks now...annnnd I thought I might - you know - invite Skuld and...you. Aqua. Yeah. We could do the whole friends thing, make it a ladies night out. Have some fun, get drunk, play some games. Whatever...you know? So what do you say? I mean, Skuld's never had these grown woman experiences, has she? Never got the chance so far. And you, well...pfft, do I even have to say it?"
Aqua frowned intensely. "I'd like you to say it," she responded, threatening. Or challenging.
"Hehe..." Elrena giggled, putting her hand to her mouth. "I just thought it'd be a nice change of pace for you to pull that big, long stick out of your ass for once and-"
"WHAT?"
"Hey, you literally asked!" Elrena snapped. "Don't get pissy with me!"
"And you actually want me to come with you?" Aqua scoffed in disbelief. "Forgive me for getting the opposite impression."
"I invited you, didn't I? I could retract that invitation if you want-"
"Why are you even inviting me?" Aqua cut across.
Elrena glowered. Then she sighed, ducking her head quickly. "Well, because...because - because maybe we sort of have a few things in common or whatever?"
"Oh? And what would that be?" Aqua said curiously.
"W-well...you spent ten years in the Realm of Darkness; I spent ten years in a dungeon; and Skuld over there spent ten years as a human vegetable," Elrena blurted out, pointing. "So why the hell shouldn't we try and take back what was taken from us? All the things we should have gotten to do during our lost ten years - why shouldn't we take one night to go out and try and...do them? Make up for lost time? A-and I just thought maybe we could do them t-together because-"
"Because we have that in common?" Aqua said softly. "Wow...okay. That's...surprisingly thoughtful and- sweet of you, Elrena. Okay, then: I accept your invitation - let's see if we can't find even more things in common together."
"Really? You're agreeing? Because I mean-"
"I said I'll go," Aqua said flatly. "I'm fully aware of how to have fun, thank you."
"We'll see, then, won't we?" Elrena said sweetly. "Skuld - how about you? You're well above the drinking age now, you know..."
Skuld's expression was mired in conflict and hesitation for a long moment - Elrena thought she'd back out, honestly. But then she drew a breath and stood, nodding. She gave a flushed smile, brushing her hair behind her ears. "Sure - why not? I guess it could be fun to see what I've been missing out on for all these years."
"That's the spirit!" Elrena said. "Come on, then, ladies, and let's make it a night to remember!"
"It's definitely going to be memorable," Aqua muttered, shaking her head.
"You bet your ass it will, blue babe."
"What?"
"Oh come on. You might be sooorely lacking in the personality department, but you've got the body to make up for it - and that outfit of yours...wooh. It does it all the favors!"
Aqua glared at Elrena with shock and outrage - but her cheeks were flushing deep pink. "Alright, clearly you're trying really hard here, so I'm just going to say thanks and let it be..." she murmured, looking away. "Now, can we get going?" she added quickly, setting a hand on her hip.
"Yes!" Elrena said excitedly, summoning her weapon to hand and turning to create a new portal - to Radiant Garden. She gave a glance over to Terra, raised a hand to wave as she strode into the portal. "Don't wait up - buh-bye!"
Terra gave a small laugh, and raised a hand to wave back. "I won't." He looked to Aqua, smiling at her. "Have fun."
"Here's hoping..." Aqua muttered, following Elrena into the portal. Skuld brought up the rear.
Elrena stepped out of the portal, into the central square of Radiant Garden. She glanced around, then up at the stars. Smiling to herself alone, she started for the west side of the square. She led the other two women through the cobblestone streets. She moved down the curving road, lined with all those big, damaged houses. She stopped as she came out into a small, circular plaza, lit by hanging lanterns and flickering streetlights. She turned and pointed to the wide, flat building sitting in the middle of the right side of the plaza.
"Here," she informed the other two women.
It was large, wooden and rustic - but, compared to the rest of the structures in the city, it practically looked like new. There were multicolored rope lights strung up across the building's face - framing two large, wooden signs, one atop the other. They were polished and neat, with golden letters that read: Have a great day - Seventh Heaven. Old wooden steps led up to the front deck, and the entrance. Little tables and chairs were placed out across the deck, framing the entrance. There was a nice archway above it, too, supported by wooden beams and poles.
Elrena strode across the plaza, hurrying up the steps. She pushed open the double doors and walked inside.
The inside looked a lot like the outside - stone and wood, aged, but clearly polished up. Lightbulbs hung from the high ceiling, lighting up the long wooden tables, and the actual bar on the far side of the interior. There was a wide, flat television mounted up high on the wall behind the counter - along with a half dozen cupboards and shelves. All stocked full of bottles, glasses, and other essentials. And to the right, there were various sorts of entertainments set up: four different pool tables, a dartboard, and even a faded old arcade machine.
Some of those tables were already filled with people, eating and laughing and chattering away - and the bar itself had a few people seated already, too. It wasn't crowded or anything, but it also didn't seem like anyone's "slow day", either.
Skuld gave the arcade machine a strange sort of side-eye for a moment, Elrena noticed.
Not that she was going to ask.
Instead, Elrena strolled up to the bar and sat down on a black stool. She crossed her legs and lay an arm on the counter. Skuld and Aqua followed her lead, sitting down on her right.
"I thought I'd see you in here someday soon," spoke the black-haired, red-eyed woman called Tifa, coming over to them from behind the bar. She smiled at Elrena as she leaned over the counter. "What'll it be?"
Elrena flashed a smile back, craning her neck to eye the menu mounted up behind the bar. She dug her money pouch out of her pocket and smacked it onto the counter. "Let's just do three Cherry Spritzes - as a start." She looked to Skuld and Aqua, thinking a moment. She shook her head. "Eh - hold that thought: two bacon burgers and two sides of fries, firstly." She leaned in closer to Tifa, jerking her head discreetly at her companions. "It's their first time," she added, hushed, her lips curving.
"Oh?" Tifa looked to Aqua and Skuld. She gave a soft laugh, nodding. "Well, aren't you a thoughtful friend - good call! I'll make sure someone gets right on it," she assured.
"Thanks - oh, but first, could you get me my Spritz, at least? And be ready to fill her up," Elrena said quickly.
"Sure thing," Tifa said, amusement on her face as she spun away, going for the shelves. She took up a bottle, poured a glass and stirred - then came back to set it on the counter before Elrena. "Here you go!"
"Thanks!" Elrena withdrew her money bag, stowing it away again with satisfaction. She planted her elbows on the counter, setting her chin in her hands, watching as Tifa disappeared through a back door. She glanced sideways - saw Skuld and Aqua both staring at her. "What?" she said.
"I appreciate the effort - really - but the food isn't necessary," Aqua said.
"Wrong!" Elrena said gleefully. "You're going to be glad for it later. Rule number one for drinking: never do it on an empty stomach."
"You have a lot of experience at this, then?" Skuld said.
"I have enough," Elrena replied. She hesitated, then sat up straight again. She snatched up her drink and started sipping at it, rolling the flavors around in her mouth. "Back in my Organization days - in my early days - I had this period of time where I went through the stage of denial. Started getting all weepy and worried over being a Nobody, having no Heart and all. So I just went out on my own one day and ended up-"
"In a bar?" Aqua said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes!" Elrena said proudly. "That was the day I learned that, yes, Nobodies can, in fact, get drunk enough to black out. After that, it sort of become a thing. And then, it sort of became a thing I'd drag Lauriam along with me for, too. He was a stick in the mud about it, though - never touched the good stuff with me. But, those times when I did it, when I was with him, well...I guess hindsight's a real bitch, huh? At first, there really was nothing going on inside me - but then, there started to be these little moments where I swore I felt things - but I always dismissed it as nothing. Lies and falsehoods. Memories and imitations. But we all know better now, don't we? I did have a teensy little Heart growing back inside of here," she concluded, tapping a finger to her chest. She paused, then shook her head and took a big, long drink from her glass.
"And you were happy about it?" Skuld asked quietly.
"About which part? The being able to get drunk part, or the little sparks of emotion?" Elrena replied.
"The emotions. You told me before that you were glad to be a Nobody."
Elrena turned to gaze at Skuld, frowning. She tossed her head back and drained the rest of her drink in one go, smacking it down on the counter. "I stand by that statement in full. Although...maybe I don't stand by what else I...said to you that day," she mumbled out, blushing. "Or the whole part where I...you know...slapped you..."
"It's alright," Skuld said, smiling at her. "You were going through an emotional crisis - and I didn't help you that day, did I? When I brought up what we did to you all, after the war-"
"Please, emotional crises are a dime a dozen, among this gaggle of idiots!" Elrena cut across, waving a hand. "We're all pathetic, broken losers."
"No - I shouldn't have called you sad, that day," Skuld said urgently. Her face was full of remorse and apology. "That was wrong, and I'm sorry, Elrena."
"Well I shouldn't have called you a dumb bitch - or slapped you," Elrena said quickly, looking away. "That was- way over the line. And I'm sor- sorry!"
"I'll accept your apology if you'll accept mine," Skuld offered quietly. "For what I said to you, and for what we did to you back then. Messing with memories, changing your minds, even if our Chirithies did it for us-"
"Okay," Elrena said firmly. She looked Skuld in the face - held her gaze. "Okay..." she repeated quietly. "I accept yours. Do you accept mine?"
"I do," Skuld said, so simple, so easy. Was she being honest?
Elrena wanted to think so - most people were good and honest, weren't they? Most people were better people than her...
"Then we're even - let's just forget about it," Elrena murmured, dropping her gaze. "Clean slate, 'kay?"
"All right: clean slate," Skuld agreed.
Tifa came back to man the bar - gave Elrena a nice, deep refill. Which Elrena downed in under ten seconds. Then she got herself a third drink - which she also drank in short order.
Elrena was on her fourth when Skuld and Aqua's food was brought to them.
"Is it that good?" Aqua asked, eyeing Elrena with curiosity. Or was that skepticism?
"Oooh yeah!" Elrena enthused. "It's the best - especially for nights like this!"
"Nights like this...?" Skuld said, confused.
"Nights when I have to entertain two goody two-shoes."
"You invited us, remember?" Aqua huffed.
"I might be starting to forget that little fact," Elrena replied, giving a grin.
"Wonderful..." Aqua murmured, taking a big bite out of her food.
Elrena went through two more drinks in the time it took Aqua and Skuld to finish their meals. After they were done, she motioned Tifa over again; the woman brought two glasses, placing them on the counter and filling them up.
"Okay, get ready for your whole world to change - and be irresponsible with your liquor!" Elrena said excitedly, leaning over to watch the two women. "Skuld - I bet you're braver than Aqua. Why don't you give it a little taste first? She's obviously not going to be capable of-"
Aqua picked up the glass and drank from it. Not a sampling sip, no: she got about half of it down before she stopped! She made a pretty interesting face as she put the glass down again, looking like she was trying to even decide how she felt about what she had just ingested. She turned to Elrena with a look of pure and utter smugness. "That was more disappointing than I thought it would be," she remarked. "It's just a drink."
Elrena grinned widely, leaning over the counter and joining her hands together atop it. "You only say that because you have no idea what's in store for you - drink the rest."
Aqua held her gaze continuously as she picked up the glass once more, and then proceeded to drain it. She lowered it again, giving a thin, curved smile. "Done. Was that all?"
"You are so going to regret that soon!" Elrena crowed. "This - this is going to be fun!"
Skuld watched the two of them with apprehension. Then she picked up her glass, and sipped. She made a face - then sipped again. And again. And then she took a nice, looong one before setting it down again. "I'm not sure what I expected - but it wasn't that," she commented, sitting back and brushing her hair behind her ear.
"It was good, though, right?" Elrena prompted.
"It's a bit strange - but I think I could learn to like it," Skuld said with a shrug.
"Yes - you will!" Elrena promised.
Aqua gave a little snort, shaking her head. She shifted in her seat and ran a hand over her hair, pushing it out of her face. She turned around on the stool, her gaze wandering. Then she got to her feet and started off across the bar - toward one of the pool tables.
"Oh - you want to play? Yesss!" Elrena jumped up and started after her quickly. She beckoned Skuld, and the woman obeyed after giving her glass a lingering look. "Okay, first off - do you even know how to play?" she asked, as the three of them gathered around the pool table.
Aqua glared at her - then sighed. "No," she admitted. "No idea."
"Awesome - Skuld?" Elrena added, looking to the other woman.
Skuld shook her head. "No idea, either."
"Fun! Luckily, the two of you are going to get to learn in a way better environment than I did," Elrena confided, stalking to a nearby rack to take up a pool stick. "When I was first learning to play, there was this guy who got up in my business and grabbed my ass."
Skuld stared, aghast. "That's terrible!"
"Oh, don't worry, he got the worse end of the stick," Elrena said, giving her pool stick a spin. "Literally..."
Aqua's eyebrows raised. "I almost want to ask."
"I'll save that fun little story for later," Elrena said cheerfully. "Right now, why don't we focus on getting you girls ready for this. This is a game of skill, precision, mathematics, and foresight! And I'll be teaching you all about it - with zero ass-grabbing involved!"
"T-that's- appreciated?" Aqua stammered, her cheeks flushing.
"People actually do things like that?" Skuld said, still looking rather perturbed. "During a game? In an open...?" She glanced around pointedly. And maybe a little warily, now.
"Oh, Skuld, you really have no idea what people think they can get away with - right out in the open," Elrena answered sympathetically. "But, tell you what: if anyone wants to even try a single thing with either of you two, you've got my personal guarantee that they'll have a half dozen knives buried in their chest before they can blink!"
Skuld looked torn between being even more disturbed, or just plain grateful. She chose grateful, apparently. "Thank you," she said, heartfelt.
"I appreciate it - but I can handle anything...troublesome, myself," Aqua told Elrena lightly. "In fact, I'd prefer it."
"Got it," Elrena nodded. "You can have first stab."
A small smile came to Aqua's lips. "Thanks."
Elrena smiled back as a warm feeling filled her chest. The sort of feeling only the likes of Lauriam had given her before - and maybe once or twice, Namine.
Huh... Maybe there really was something to this whole "friends" thing...
As a kid back in Daybreak Town, surrounded by all those other little idiots running around screaming and laughing, joking around and screwing with each other...well, Elrena had dismissed them all as just idiots. She admitted, she'd thought herself...better, for not being like that. Thinking she didn't have to bother. That she never would bother! Keeping to herself, keeping her head - even when she went out on missions with her ever-changing party members - she had thought that was the way to be. It was the way of being she'd always been most comfortable with, after all! She'd never really wanted to be any way else. To be...like everyone else.
But, now, well...maaaaybe she had been just a little bit hasty in her previous judgements!
Sure, she still wasn't a fan of all these other people filling up the place (she was, in fact, pretending pretty hard that none of them existed around her), but if she just focused on herself, Skuld, and Aqua...this whole experience wasn't really all that bad. It was turning out...nice, even. And while nice was not a word she usually employed, it felt like it fit well enough, right then.
So, okay...
Nice.
She was supposed to be being nice, herself, too.
Something which Elrena thought she was totally nailing tonight!
Really, Aqua wasn't nearly as unbearably insufferable to be around as Elrena had thought she would be.
Or maybe, came a little tiny voice in her head, the problem was always you. Namine called it, right from the start, remember? You...are just a bitch.
Okay, well, maybe that was true, yeah, but...
But I'm trying not to be - can I have some credit for that?! Shut up, head voice! God! You know damn well how hard this all is for me to even be here, let alone- UGH!
"Elrena? Are you okay?"
Elrena blinked at Aqua. Both her and Skuld were staring at her! "Peachy!" she exclaimed, whirling away to hide her burning face. "Grab your own sticks and I'll tell you how this game is played."
"If this is uncomfortable-" Aqua began, in a cautious voice.
"What?" Elrena hissed. "Why would this be uncomfortable?"
"Well, you did just tell us that during one of the previous times you played-" Aqua spoke on, in that stupid voice of hers. With that stupid- look on her face now!
"So what?!" Elrena exclaimed. "So I'm supposed to just never play again? I'm supposed to be all weepy, boo hoo I can't stand looking at a fucking pool table because I might start bawling my eyes out over-"
"Okay - okay, I'm sorry!" Aqua said quickly, holding up her hands. "You're right! I shouldn't have assumed-"
"Whatever..." Elrena sighed, starting around the pool table to collect the balls. And that stupid triangle thing to hold them all in the middle of the table. Meanwhile, Skuld and Aqua took up pool cues for themselves. "There," she said, after she'd finished setting up. She glanced at Skuld and Aqua; they were just watching her, all attentive and neutral-faced. Good! Elrena carefully removed the triangle and set it aside. "Okay. The rules are simple: you knock the white ball into all the others, and you try and get them into any of those pockets along the edge," she started to explain, pointing. "Solid colors are worth two points, stripes are worth three. The black ball is worth five. We'll go for ten rounds. Ten turns, each - it'll go me, then Skuld, and then you, Aqua. Got it?"
"Understood," Aqua said simply.
"Got it," Skuld agreed.
"Great! Let's get started, then- oh, no, hold on a second!" Elrena whirled away and strode back over to the bar. She didn't even have to make eye contact with the bartender before the woman was hurrying forward. "Get me and Aqua filled up again - thanks," she said absently. She turned back to look over her shoulder while the other woman did as instructed. "Skuld, are you going to even finish yours? That's a waste of a perfectly good Cherry Spritz! I'll drink it if you won't!" she called out.
"You can have it," Skuld told her, shrugging from across the bar.
"Yes - mine!" Elrena said gleefully, snatching up Skuld's glass and taking a long sip. She haphazardly collected hers and Aqua's now-full-again glasses as well, and made her way slowly back over to the game table. She set Skuld's glass down, then handed Aqua hers.
"Thank you," Aqua said, taking the drink and staring down at it. She frowned for a moment, then shook her head and started downing it just like she had the first!
"You're either a little crazy inside, or really naïve, aren't you?" Elrena said, smirking with amusement. "Give it another five minutes or so and that's going to hit you. Hard. Unless you're a dirty liar and you actually do have experience with handling your liquor. I guess the whole prim and proper Keyblade Master thing is just an act, huh? You need to keep up appearances - can't tarnish the image? Don't worry, I won't tell anyone! It can be our secret!"
Aqua flushed, looking highly offended. "Being a Keyblade Master isn't about appearances."
"Whatever! Let's just start playing now," Elrena dismissed, waving a hand.
Aqua glowered for a good five seconds. Then she set the empty glass down, took a breath, and nodded. "Okay. Let's play."
It really didn't take too long for Elrena's predictions to come true. Over the course of their game...well, things got a lot more interesting! Aqua started doing even more terribly than she had already been doing; she fumbled with her cue stick several times over, started whiffing her turns completely, and once she even tripped over the edge of the game table! (Not that Elrena was all that far behind her, after she'd filled up on a few more drinks...)
"Whose- turn is it this time?" Aqua hiccupped, her face completely red.
"Mine?" Elrena said instantly. "It's obviously mine! Right - Skuld?"
Skuld looked between the pair of them, toying with her cue stick. "It's actually-"
"It doesn't matter - I'm- I should...need to get home..." Aqua suddenly said, dropping her stick onto the edge of the table with an annoyingly loud clatter.
"What, is it too far past your bedtime?" Elrena said, frowning at the woman.
Aqua pursed her lips, looking back at her with furrowed brows. "No: I think I've just- just had enough of you for one night."
"Oh, say to my face!" Elrena exclaimed, starting around the table.
Aqua wobbled, gripping the edge of the table. Holding her ground. She raised her chin at Elrena. "Just...did," she pronounced slowly.
"That's it! Do you want a knife right up your-" Elrena started loudly.
"She's right: I think it's best if you three call it a night!" Tifa had come over to the game table, her gloved hands on her hips. "Come back any time, of course - but I really think you should head out now."
"Of course," Skuld said swiftly. "We're sorry if we caused you any trouble-"
"Not at all - not yet, anyways," Tifa said, with a small grin. "Let's just say I've seen far worse from some of my other evening patrons...but let's not let it get that bad, okay? We don't need to let things get that exciting your first time out like this, do we?"
"Whatever..." Elrena mumbled, pushing away from the table and summoning her Keyblade. She aimed it out, and a light portal appeared in the middle of the bar. "Thanks for the drinks," she told Tifa, before she stalked into the portal.
Upon exiting the portal, into Luxu's living room again, she didn't find him there.
He showed up within seconds, though, emerging from the hallway in a hurry. "I thought I felt someone showing up. Welcome back. How'd it go with whatever you were-"
"Never mind that! Where's Lauriam's place? Take me to his house!" Elrena demanded loudly, stepping forward. Somewhere between leaving Tifa's bar and coming back here, she'd had the spontaneous thought to...well...do things a non-drunk Elrena would never think to do. She had to do them before she sobered the hell up!
Luxu looked her over - like the pervert he totally was! Eugh! "In this state? You don't think it can wait until morning?"
"No! I have to see him - NOW! And keep your- stupid eyes to yourself..." Elrena snapped back at him. "I've got some really...really important shit I need to tell him, okay? So do me one more favor..."
"Okay. One more favor, coming up." Luxu sighed. He turned and summoned his Keyblade, making a portal of his own.
Elrena hurried through, not glancing back. She spilled out the other side, into a narrow sidestreet in Twilight Town proper.
Luxu came striding out after her, the portal vanishing behind him. "Come on - over here," he told her, taking the lead and hurrying past her.
She followed him as quickly as she could while maintaining her footing.
He led the way down the sidestreet, taking its winding path past garages and big metal gates and plenty of narrow homes, above which the train tracks wound all about, on great bridges and archways of stone. Eventually, he stopped, in front of the door to a two story home that was squashed between two others. How could Lauriam seriously live in such a cramped place as this? It just made Elrena feel all...well, it wasn't a good feeling! She'd rather leave! But...she had to do something here that was more important than those uncomfortable feelings.
Elrena hurried up the small stone steps onto the landing. She raised a fist to bang on the door without hesitation. "HEY - LAURIAM! WAKE UP IN THERE, NOW!"
"Wow - great work. You want to get him in trouble over noise complaints?" Luxu remarked, shaking his head at her.
"You want a Keyblade through your chest?" Elrena shot back at him.
Luxu just snorted at her in response.
Elrena would have taken another shot at him, but the door to the narrow house opened in that very moment - revealing a disheveled Lauriam, dressed in loose shirt and pants.
He rubbed at his eyes and blinked at her for a minute, like he thought she wasn't real or something! Then he gazed past her, noticing Luxu. "Is something the matter...?" he spoke quietly.
"Yes - let me in - I need to talk to you!" Elrena said loudly, stepping forward and pushing past him. Lauriam turned aside easily, letting her go through (a bewildered look appeared on his face, though). Elrena stalked down a short little hallway and rounded the corner - then stopped, putting her back to the cool wall, when she realized Lauriam wasn't following her!
"...She insisted," Luxu was saying. "You know her - I couldn't just say no. She might have come storming over here on her own..."
"Of course. Thank you for seeing her here," Lauriam responded, all calm and polite and whatnot. Like he always was...
"Sure, sure," Luxu replied. There was a little silence, in which Elrena heard the guy blow a fucking raspberry. "Well, good luck..."
Lauriam didn't respond to that one; Elrena heard the door close, and then he came around the corner. He stopped, blinking at her, all up close and personal. All surprised and...like adorable maybe? Maybe...
Elrena pushed off the wall and stumbled her way into a small living room. She turned sharply on a heel and fell backwards onto the tidy little lilac-colored sofa. "Hey! Lauriam! Get over here so I can talk to you without- killing my own head...fuck...shouting..." she called out, closing her eyes and pressing a hand to her face.
She heard Lauriam sigh, and then he was seating himself on the sofa with her. "Alright. I'm here. What is it that's so important that you had to come to me at a time like this? No, on second thought, let me ask you an important question first: exactly how drunk are you at the moment?"
Elrena laughed, dropping her hand and shaking her head. She pulled herself up into a sitting position, sighing loudly. "Oh, I'm incredibly drunk! And thank god for that, because that's- that's the only way I'm ever going to be able to even tell you...the things I want to tell you tonight..."
"Well...I'm listening."
"Good! Because I'm not repeating myself! Right. Okay. Sooo...what I want to say is...is..." She frowned, shaking her head. She pushed her hands into her lap, squeezing them together. "I want to say that I'm...sorry!"
"Sorry? For what?"
"For...these last few weeks. For- for- oh, you were right, okay?!" Elrena exclaimed. "I couldn't handle it - the whole us thing! I panicked, I- I got all freaked out and I got s-scared and I ran away! I ran and- and hid myself away from you! And I'm...I'm sorry for that!" Elrena took in a deep, shaking breath as she wormed her hands over each other. She heaved her shoulders and let them fall again. "It wasn't- great of me. Wasn't my best moment! I was a total wuss and a bitch and I'm sorry for chickening out!"
"It's alright, Elrena. I understand that. And I have no hard feelings about it. You weren't ready, and that's perfectly fine."
"Really? Great, 'cause I think I'm ready now!" Elrena blurted out. "After these past few weeks of thinking and...and after tonight in particular... I want to-" She stopped. She drew herself up, turning to face Lauriam. "I want to really, really, really, really...really...try for you. 'Kay? I do! I promise I'll be all- mushy and vulnerable and intimate and whatever! All of it! I'll tell you all my dirty little secrets, I'll spill my guts out - or my Heart! Just ask! I'll be like a candy dispenser! Except it isn't coins you stick on in me to get a sweet reward!"
Lauriam blinked, his face flushing intently. "That's - all right. If you feel ready to try now, I don't have any objections."
"You just w-watch! I'll be- Elrena 2.0! No, 2.5! No...3.0! Better than all...all previous models! I'll be the best- p-partner and...g-giiiirlfriend - eugh - that anyone's ever seen!"
Lauriam chuckled, nodding to her. "I don't doubt that."
"You'd better not!" Elrena fell silent, staring at him.
He stared at her.
"Soooo...yeah...I just said all that..." Elrena murmured, dropping her head again. "What do I do now?"
"I think...you'd best get some rest. Sleep this all off. We can talk again in the morning."
"Got it. Okay! Sleep time. Great. I love sleeping...I do so much of that lately...woohoo..."
Lauriam smiled, standing up; Elrena fell right over again, laying flat on the sofa. "I'll get you some blankets, then...if you need them?"
Elrena blinked up at him, flushing. Of course her first instinct was to say, fuck off, I don't need to be treated like a baby. But saying that would sort of defeat the whole concept of...what she was trying to do here, right? So...so maybe not...say that? Maybe try and...try to... "T-thanks? That's- you know- um...sweet? I guess? Right...?"
"I suppose if you think so...and you're welcome for it," Lauriam said warmly, before walking away.
Huh. That really wasn't too hard. And...it felt sort of...and the way he looked at me because of it! That was just...
Something she maybe wouldn't mind...having a bit more of in her life?
And, all in all, the whole night hadn't gone too badly either, had it? Maybe she'd also try that out again sometime, too...
AN: Sooo yeah, Elrena made some strides...but she also has totally terrible drinking etiquette lol! At least she left her utterly drunk ass friend with her SOBER friend. Though that was more happy coincidence during the abandonment. xD