Drunk and Disorderly

White Rock Lake


A reservoir, White Rock Lake covers 1,254 acres and was once used for a portion of Dallas' drinking water supply. Now that it's use as a water source has been supplanted, the area has become one of the favored recreational locations in the city. The forested shoreline is dotted with numerous small cabins, fishing piers, and sailboat docks.
The lake is surrounded by White Rock Lake Park, which is home to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Running through the park is a 9 mile trail designed for hiking, running or cycling.
Though swimming was banned here back in the '50's, it is still a popular location for area teens who generally enjoy the more deserted areas, using the beautiful backdrop as a makeout spot.


It's Friday. Beautiful, brilliant Friday. And with the sun pounding down upon the Earth, scalding its surface, it's no surprise that the occasional soul will have wandered over. One of said souls belonging to a very particular Blakeley. A particular, bad ass Blakeley that is nearly fully submerged within the Lake Water, swimming around despite the fact that swimming here isn't entirely legal. But then again, he's a hero. He should be given certain perks, right? …Right?

-

It's Friday. Beautiful, hot, sun beating down on the surface of the city, Friday. Scarlett, who has no air conditioning set up in the studio as of yet, has taken the day off. It'll be installed next week, but for now? The day before Beltane? She's going to be out enjoying the sun. That she just happens to be wandering by the lake in a pair of jean shorts and a tank top is no matter. Atop that, she's got a bag filled with food that she can enjoy down by the shore. Waltzing toward it with not a care in the world, she settles down on the sand and then watches the water.

Until she spots a head in the water.

"Hey! Hey! That's illegal, you know!"

-

It's slow, the way Hyde cranes his neck back to peer defiantly and coldly at the proverbial do-gooder. But once the vestiges of recognition cross his features…well, that's a completely different story, isn't it. Turning away once more, the ghost of a smile flits upon his face - wry, sardonic, and highly amused. Then, he changes course altogether, disappearing beneath the water And just like that, he's gone!

-

Far enough back on the shore that she misses the smile, Scarlett just watches the person disappear. She waits a moment. Then two. Then peers around. Oh goodness! What if that poor person is drowning? She couldn't just let them drown, even if it is illegal for them to be out there swimming. When the third moment crops up, she drops her bag on the sand, kicks her shoes off and peels off her tank. Then she's running into the water, and diving in to look for the drowner.

-

Something not very many people know about Hyde. He can hold his breath exceptionally long, and feels almost more comfortable in water than he does on land. He hadn't expected Scarlett to come jumping in after him…but that just makes his next move all the more sweeter. She wont find anything, but soon, she ought to feel a hand grabbing at her ankles, pulling her down into the water with a violent jerk as Hyde simultaneously resurfaces with a desperate gasp for air.

-

Oh, Scarlett knows all about the breath holding. Boy does she ever! She's just not figuring that it's Hyde out there swimming around, and trying to play a trick on her. When she can't find anyone under the water, she starts to surface. Only to have her ankle grabbed which causes her to shriek. Lucky for her though, she has enough control over the water to keep it from pouring down her lungs, even as she's jerked further down. She struggles there for a moment, watching her assailant start to surface. Then she reaches up to take hold of the leg before her, and uses it to pop herself back up to the top as well.

-

Despite how Hyde kicks as he strives to float up and maintain himself in a level position, Scarlett manages to grab hold of his leg and propel herself upwards. On his features, his lips are pursed slightly, but with the sort of tension that implies that he's struggling to keep a smile away. A broad, boyish, and particularly mischievous smile. There is no hiding the arched amusement in his eyes as he peers to the woman, even going as far as to swim closer to her. "I thought swimming was illegal," he drawls playfully.

Because it is. At least, over here, technically. It's a hot, hot Friday afternoon and the sun is shining down, and in a rather isolated area of the lake, Hyde and Scarlett can be found in the water. Some of Scarlett's belongings - a bag, shoes and her tanktop - lies abandoned on the floor.

-

"Christ, Hyde! You could have drowned!" Scarlett would smack him if she weren't so happy that he didn't drown. She smiles at him, then reaches out to rest her hands on his shoulders. All just so that she can dunk him under the water and start for shore. "It is! God! I thought you were stuck on something under there." It sounds like she's more upset with him for making her worry, than she is for the trick he played on her though.

-

"Heh. Worried about me, were yo-" The rest of Hyde's mocking is cut off as the man is forced to swallow a mouthful of lake water as he is dunked. But it's all fun, all fair, and soon enough he's resurfaced coughing and gasping for air away. It is only then that he notes how she is returning to shore - and alarmed, the young man shoots in after her. "Hey!" He certainly sounds authoritative as he strains to catch up to her. "Where are you going?"

-

It's after work, but Luke Allyn's appartment is too hot. Until he gets a fan, the windows opened on his new truck… well new to him… and driving around till evening when it coold enough to open the windows in the appartment, to air it out is the way to go. He pulls into WhiteRock lake, a few beers in the passenger seat beside him, ciggy in his mouth and loud tunes playing, he's just enjoying the view for now. As he pulls into a parking spot where hw has a good view of the lake. Then suddenly, something catches his eye as he's popping open the first beer.

-

"As if." Scarlett stops just before her feet can touch bottom, and begins to tread water. Spinning around to peer at Hyde, she narrows her eyes at him. "Back to shore. Do you know how heavy denim is when it gets wet? Unlike you, I wasn't actually prepared to be out here swimming illegally and all." Dipping her head back in the water, and running her hands down over her face, she exhales a sigh. "Wait… why are you chasing after me?" As there are a lot of people coming and going from the lake area, she doesn't really take note of a new vehicle just yet.

-

"So take it off," Hyde suggests frankly when she details the shortcomings of jeans. As he floats up beside him, his expression grows solemn as usual. "Because I want to? What's it matter. Stay. I need someone to torture." He grunts, now an arm's length away from her. Similarly to the woman, Hyde is not Superman, therefore he doesn't have the super eyes necessary to spy upon Luke.

Scarlett senses: Hyde's fingers land upon Scarlett's waist, tugging her closer, and eventually moving to the front of her jeans to fumble with the button on the front of the denim, as if planning to undo them.

-

Luke had spotted the pair in the water… he rolls up the windows, at least part of the way, grabs his shades and climbs out. With the beer and ciggy in hand. Still wearing the work shirt, with his name on it since he didn't even bother to change. Can't get too sweaty in an air conditioned convenience store after all. Hopping up onto the hood, to sit there and watch the pair. For now content with that.. though they are a bit far to hear what they are saying he just chills, as if it were a perfectly normal thing to do. If the sun weren't cooking his head that is.

-

"Hyde, I can't take it off here…" Immediately, her eyes peer down at the water, then back up to the man. Scarlett shoves at him playfully once, and then just gives up on that. "It matters because I say it matters." She glances toward the shore to check on her belongings, and leans in to whisper something to the man who's now right up close and personal with her.

Scarlett whispers, "We have company." to Hyde.

-

"Okay, I'll take it off for you, then." Hyde volunteers. Because he's a gentleman like that, see. Although he does fly black slightly when shoved, he doesn't move very far - as though he's anchored to his spot by something or another. It doesn't deter him - after all, that was a weak shove. And if she actually wanted him gone, she'd do a lot more than just that. When the whisper comes, Hyde tosses a faintly disinterested look to the shore, coolly dispassionate. "Huh. So we do." He doesn't bother to whisper back, or lower his voice any. "Maybe we should give him a show, then."

Scarlett senses: Hyde not let up for one moment, and unless stopped, he will proceed to unbutton the jeans and unzip them. They are not slid off yet, thought. No, instead, his hands creep into her pants to settle on her rear end comfortably. Unless she takes action against it.

-

Luke pretends to be completely oblivious to the pair, as he sits there, watching the scenery.. After all, it is rather nice here.. and plenty to look at, other then people frolicing in the water. He idely watches people jogging or walking the paths on the other side of the lake, the ducks that seem a bit annoyed that there are people in their turf, etc. A woman jogger who happens to be rather full.. is definetly watched.

-

Widened eyes, a small shriek, and a nervous laugh. "Hyde, come on! This is so… public…" What she does at home is one thing, but here? At a lake, where they're technically illegally swimming already? It's enough to make the goody-goody in her surface. "No shows…" Even though Scarlett does just happen to move in half an inch, eyeing him curiously. He's being awful, but she doesn't seem to be shooing him away or anything.

Hyde senses: Scarlett wriggling around a little, one hand on his shoulder, the other trying to keep those shorts as much in place as she can possibly manage.

-

Hyde pauses, turning to peer over to Scarlett with his brows furrowed and his lips pursed thickly as he inspect every nuance of her features, ever half-hearted protestation, every shift of her person. And then suddenly, he's gone. He's pulled away from her with a low grunt and is swimming towards shore. It's a lesson he's teaching, of course. If she actually wanted him to go, she's won. But if she's only saying that she wants him to stop, like women often do, then she'll be sorely disappointed. Either way, he's heading for Luke.

-

Luke isn't paying attention to the pair now for sure, because even after the woman jogger has passed, her firm backside is still in view, lowering his sunglasses a bit and just eyeing her up… murmering something, but not enough for anyone to catch it. Acting like one of those love em and never call them back types. Then anything.. at the moment. Once she is out of site, he tips the beer bottle back for another swig. Scootching back some on the hood and leaning against the windshield, to watch the water some more and just vedge.

-

"Hey! Where do you think you're…" Scarlett dives under the water, chasing after Hyde. She's not going to be left here, taking the blame for swimming in a lake where there hasn't been swimming for fifty or so years. When she reaches the shore, she wrings her hair out and buttons up her shorts. Then she's moving toward her discarded tank top and throwing it on despite being wet. Just peering at Hyde now, somewhat irritably. Lesson learned? Maybe.

-

Luke just so happens to be located right beside the large, black backpack that happens to belong to a certain Hyde Blakeley. And so, when Hyde crawls out of the lake, dark blue trunks dripping with water, that's exactly where the surly youth happens to march to. To Scarlett, there is a dry declaration: "It's illegal, remember?" Striding right by Luke, he reaches down to rip a towel out of his bag.

-

Luke peers over when the man walks past his truck, but other then that, really doesn't pay too much more attention. The woman is watched as she somewhat gets dressed. What man wouldn't? Seriousely? Though he doesn't linger long since Hyde is right there. He does slide off the hood to dig into the truck for another beer and his ashtray, so he's not littering. Pitching the empty into the truck. And pulling his work shirt off. At least he has a tank top under it. "You know dude.." he murrmers, for just Hyde, "Try it at night, seems the darkness loosens them up a bit. Wether there was someone out here in the parking lot or not. There was that chick over on west side, real prude in public, soon as dark hit, she was a real minx." Pulling one of the other beers to offer him..

-

Hyde's response? It's a scowl. Scarlett glares after him, and not having a towel to dry off with, she just moves her bag up to the grass. No point in getting full of sand if she can help it. Then she starts spreading out her food. A few sandwiches — for the selection, a nice potato salad, some vegetables, and of course, her sketchbook comes out last. It sits upon the grass for a while, her knees still to wet to place it there just yet. "I know. I'm the one that told you that, Surly."

-

The scowl and glare are turned on the man by the truck. Guess what? She's not deaf! "For your information, I'm not a prude, I just don't like skeevy guys looming on their vehicles watching me." Promptly, the food containers are thrown back into her bag.

-

"Minx?" Hyde parrots, the inflection of his tone openly derisive, and though he turns with the towel slung over his shoulders and his mouth open to speak - he immediately shuts himself up once he sees the beer held out in his direction. Rule number one in life - do not insult the person offering you free alcohol. "Thanks," he grunts, accepting the can before taking the time out to really rub down his damp hair before cracking it open. But then, Scarlett's fuming. He takes his sweet time, taking a deep, refreshing breath of the brew, before striding over to her slowly. "Calm down. Don't get your panties in a bunch," he demands without any sensitivity. However, as if offsetting his words, he does offer over his towel to her to use.

-

At least the beer is cold. Luke peers over at Scarlett, "I was referring to the woman on West Side as the prude, not you. I apologize if you missunderstood me m'am." he tells her. "And I was just relaxing after work, watching everything. It's pleasent here after all." He grins back at Hyde, but afterwords just shuts up on it now. Door closed and back up on the hood of his truck to vedge and watch the scenery some more.

-

Just tossing the sketchbook into the bag, she grabs the towel. There's no thanks, there's no appreciation. She just starts to dry off whatever skin is showing and then wraps the towel around her neck. "If they were in a bunch," she seethes, "you'd know it." Her hand reaches out toward the beer, so that she can take a swig and hand it back. A glance to Luke. "Actually, you were implying I'd be easier after dark." Her eyes shift to Hyde. There's nothing really to say, since they both know that's a lie.

-

"Then what are you, PMSing?" Hyde is frank and brutal in his inquiry. After all, he doesn't know any other way to be. When she steals his beer as well as his towel, the man frowns slightly, although he doesn't protest the thievery. Instead, he waits until she's finished to have at it again. "Statistically speaking, women are easier to bed after dark. Due to a combination of social conventions, daily demands, and female insecurities - their more comfortable with their bodies when the lighting is dim."

-

Luke chuckles as he hears Hyde's words. "If so then it's a good thing you didn't get too far, you know. Anyway, sorry about the 'block' dude, seemed the place to go to relax after work, untill it cools off at my place." He takes a swig of beer and just glances out over the water. "Came out to check out the scenery, just never expected to see that, you know…" he shrugs.. "Don't let me stop your fun though… plenty of stuff here to watch." apparently, another female jogger goes by… and his eyes are on that.

-

"Do I normally fit into a statistic, Hyde?" Scarlett rolls her eyes, slings her bag over her shoulder and gets to her feet. "No, I'm not PMSing. What I am is pissed that some stranger decides he knows that I'm easier to bed after dark." Rolling her eyes toward the sky, she crosses her arms over her chest. "What? You didn't expect to see two people illegally swimming in a lake? You think we're the only two people to break that law in the last fifty years? Christ. Buy an air conditioner or something, and quit being such an ass."

-

"I'm pretty sure that's not what he was talking about, Scar." Hyde drawls after Scarlett decides to go on the offensive and cross her arms over her chest. "I'm fairly certain he was insinuating that we were in the preliminary stages of mating, and is apologetic that he ruined the proverbial mood." Who's side is Hyde on? Why - that's easy, Hyde's side! As it is, he merely sips at his beer and sits back, watching Scarlett, then Luke out of the corner of his eyes. Curiously.

-

Luke nods in agreement with Hyde, "Exactly right. So, I looked other areas, unstead of at you. and I do eventually need an air condioner, but I am in low income housing. The truck, I need to get back and forth to work, and get my stuff moved in. Even if I did have it, it's a nice day, why stay in, when there's nature here? The lake, the forests. Why pass that up?" he shakes his head. Casting Hyde a look that clearly says 'Women'

-

"For the record, Surly, he's not the one that spoiled the mood." Not that they were really doing anything anyhow. Swimming together does not equate to sex. At least not in Scarlett's brain. "Whatever. Get a ceiling fan then, those are cheap." She should know, it's not like she lives in the Ritz-Carlton either. Reaching up to use the towel on her hair, she sends Hyde a look. "Give me that," she says, nodding toward the beer.

-

Hyde shrugs his shoulders, in a leisurely and casual manner. But the way Hyde turns to look at the woman and the way his lips curl upwards into a broad, deliberate smirk? Well, it spells danger. "You told me to stop." He deadpans easily enough. When she calls for the beer he arches a brow, sizing her up, before finally handing the can over as he turns away to try and pluck out a shirt for him to throw on.

-

Luke offers, "There is another cold one on the passenger seat, if you'd like your own." Though he eyes the woman, shades lowered once more, "Are you telling me I can't be here, enjoying nature, whenever I'd like? Last I checked, it was a free country, and a public park." there is more on his mind to say to her, but he just drops it now. Idely digging for another ciggarette and lighting it.

-

The way Scarlett clutches the can, and downs about half of what is left before shoving it back at Hyde is very telling. She's agitated, sure, and the beer is not likely to help anything. "Mmn. No this one is fine." She doesn't care that Hyde's been drinking from it apparently, so why should the stranger. "No one said you couldn't be here. What I said is that if you can't afford an air conditioner, you should get a bloody ceiling fan." Her eyes roll toward the sky again and she finishes trying to dry her hair.

-

"Yeeeah…" Hyde grunts as the near empty beer can is literally shoved into his gut. "You should get laid. It'll chill you out a bit. You wont be so strung out and…tense." Slowly, the man allows his tongue to wet his lips. The rest of the beer is downed, and now that he's only soaked from the waist down and is wearing a shirt, he can face the pair more comfortably.

-

Luke shrugs, and having heard her call the man Hyde, "Well then it's yours Hyde, the last beer." he says, indicating the passenger seat. If the man wants it. Smirking at his words to the woman. To the woman, "Lease says no holes in the walls, which I would presume means ceiling as well, and I got box fans, that don't do a hell of a lot."

-

"Buy. Larger. Fans." Scarlett just stares at the man, then tosses the towel at Hyde. "That an offer, or you wanting me to go find someone else?" Her brow is raised, and she's pretty much poised to just walk away at this point. She can always give Carter a call. Hell, she might at this rate. "You looked better without a shirt," says the generally prim and proper Fontane sibling. With the way she's been acting lately? She really can't get down on her brother about anything.

-

And then, the towel flies towards Hyde's head. The man blinks once, before having the fabric cover his eyes. Slowly, he lifts it off of him and decides to hang it around his shoulders, turning to just peer at Luke, before returning his attention over to Scarlett. "If you start throwing rocks at me next…" He trails off, leaving the unsaid threat hanging. It's possible, considering how she chucked the towel and shoved the can. "I suppose it's my duty to man up and help you with your specific…problem.

-

Luke nods, "Thanks for the advice, next payday I will concider looking into that." Sliding down off the hood of his truck, reaching for the ashtray and climbs into the truck. "Well, have fun." THough he's not starting it, he reaches for the other beer, cracks it open and just relaxes in it instead. Letting the couple alone now. His windows open and just reclining there.. he might just nap here for awhile.

-

Scarlett peers between the two men, then just glares at Hyde. "Your duty? Screw you, Hyde. Seriously." Then she hears the assumption from the other man, and it's pretty much the last straw. Turning toward the water for a moment, she's extremely silent. Just staring at the lake as though none of the conversation that has happened, has actually happened. Then she slowly points a finger out at the lake, twisting to point at Luke. Suddenly, Luke is going to find about four liters of water crashing down upon his head before he gets into the vehicle. Then she's storming off down the walkway, not giving a care one way or another that she just used magic around civilians, and not caring one iota if she's followed or not.

-

"Exactly. Screwing you is my duty," Hyde repeats, solemn and monotonously. But, unfortunately for him, he might have pushed the woman a bit too far. Or perhaps Luke did. In the end, the result is the same - water showers down upon Luke. Hyde, awed and surprised, is nearly floored. And finally…she's gone. "What the - did you see that?" He is flabbergasted, staring wide-eyed to Luke for confirmation that he's not gone crazy.

-

Luke had just opened the truck door, when he is doused with water, "What the f*?!!!?" he exclaims. Assumption? What assumption? Have fun has many meanings. He was just in need of a nap or something. Though he's not getting in the new truck with cloth covered seats, soaked. No way in hell. His ciggy of course is drowned out too. "What the hell was that for?" Eyeing Hyde, wondering if maybe he can give a clue. Yeah, it just happened. "You got your hands full with that live wire dude." Checking to make sure his seat isn't too wet. "All I said was have fun… Whatever you decided to do with the rest of your day.." he sighs and heads for the hood again, at least the seat's not wet.


(Scarlett has now left the lake, on her way to the Warehouse)

Scarlett picks up her cellular phone and begins to dial.
<Phone> You hear the phone ringing at the other end.
<Phone> The phone is picked up at the far end.
<Phone> Carter sound sleepy, "Hello?"
(Directed into the phone) Scarlett says "Hey, Park Boy. I'm on my way to the Warehouse. Feel like joining me?"
<Phone> Carter tries to pull himself together, coughing a bit. "Sure, sure. Just let me change clothes. I'll meet you there in about… half an hour?"
(Directed into the phone) Scarlett says "Eh. Considering I'm soaking wet, it really doesn't matter. Yeah, thirty minutes is about what it'll take to walk there from where I am. I'll see you soon."
Scarlett clicks her cellular to disconnect the call and hangs up.


The Warehouse


A dark womb of black, and purple encompass The Warehouse nightclub. The room is a fair sized club area that has been built out of an old warehouse. Most of the club has been well-lit with neon tubing, but the lighting around the booths and back wall are shadowed to provide some modicum of privacy. Other than the dance area, the floor is a deep mauve, with light patterns displayed haphazardly on it. A ring of black light surrounds the ceiling, causing the lighter colors in both the club and on the patrons to fluoresce.
A catwalk spreads over the dance floor, the black iron rails holding state-of-the-art varilights and floods which reflect off of the large disco ball that dangles from the ceiling, splashing the LED dance floor with light. The dance floor itself flashes and pulses to the beat of the music, continually changing colors in a neonic frenzy. On tall black step-platforms set out randomly throughout the dance floor are black dance cages, roomy enough for two people to bump and grind to the music in them.
The bar matches the rest of the nightclub, tall and black with a strand of purple LED's running along the sides and the outer edges. The stools in front of it are white and chrome, reflecting the purple light that washes over the bar area. Behind the bar is a high-tech, mirrored drink area with glass shelving. Various libations, ranging from alcoholic beverages to fruit juices and sodas line the shelves.
The music here is blisteringly loud, but startlingly clear. Heavy bass notes throb, speakers buzzing slightly when the volume reaches its peak.


Thirty minutes pass, the hot Dallas sun doing wonders to dry Scarlett off. She's almost dry by the time she reaches the Warehouse. While it's not generally open at this time of day, they've got some diva singer in at the moment, that wanted them to open for an afternoon performance. She's not bad but she's not really great either.

Sitting at the bar, tank top still mostly soaked — enough so that her bra is showing through — damp hair hanging about her shoulders, denim shorts still wet, Scarlett is nursing a beer. Fingers tap upon the top of the bar, and she grumbles at herself quite loudly.

-

Carter wanders in a few minutes later, having high-tailed it from his car all the way to the entrance. He has a black hoodie thrown over his shoulder. His own attire is fairly simple. Black Nirvana t-shirt (sporting the cover of the Nevermind CD), blue jeans, black boots. He peers around the bar for a long moment before seeing the Fontane sibling he's supposed to meet. He moves over toward her and offers her his hoodie. "I brought this for you. It should help a little bit. If I'd been thinking, I guess I would have brought a towel." He leans in to peck at Scarlett's cheek. "How are you? Other than probably catching a cold now."

-

Tossing the hoodie on without a word, Scarlett glances at him and smiles. "Thanks, Park Boy. Not that I care about being wet, but a white tank and black bra really kind of paint me a whore." The hood is left down, and she finishes off her beer before saying anything. "I dumped about a gallon of water on some jerk at the lake… that's how it's going." Her eyes denote that she didn't do it physically either. "You?"

-

The club isn't very full and it's not even supposed to be open quite this early in the day, but a diva singer is currently taking up the stage. Carter and Scarlett can be found at the bar, engaging in some 'pleasant' conversation. Scarlett is now wrapped in a hoodie, nursing a beer.
"So, you dumped some wa-…" Carter trails off there, his eyes growing a little wide. "Oh. Ohhh. Yeah, that's not so great. I can see why you're a little upset. I'm sorry." He frowns, his brow quirking a little bit before he moves to sit down beside her. "And you're not a whore. Don't say that." Carter motions the bartender over. "Another for her if she wants one, and a Coke and rum for me."

-

"Christ, Carter. That's not why I'm upset. I mean, sure, it's part of it, but damn." She can't really go into it all right now. She just silently motions for a second beer, and then exhales a sharp sigh. "No, I am. You don't know the half of i —" Since Scarlett is getting another beer before her silent order comes, she just nods at him and starts to drink this one as well. "I probably shouldn't have even called you, but… look. I like you. Want to head back to my place?" It's a proposition, and a sloppily handled one at that.

-

The search for the hormonal she-devil, also known as Scarlett, was a long, arduous one. After he shook himself out of the shock of witnessing magic for the first time in his life, he had jogged after her, intent on learning what exactly had happened. But then she disappeared. Trying the ARTS proved fruitless, but he did learn from a proxy that if she wasn't at the Grisly Bar, he should try the Warehouse. And so, here the man is. Still dressed in flip flops and a newly dried pair of swimming trunks, with his hair unnaturally unruly, due to the fact that he hasn't the opportunity to set it back with gel and the like. Dark eyes dart around the club slowly, but thoroughly. And when they fall upon the very person he's been searching for?

There is a pause. But he gets over this temporary state soon enough, striding over with his lips furrowed tightly and solemnly and completely ignoring the fact that she's talking to someone else in the process. "What was that?" He demands.

-

"What?" Carter blurts out, staring at Scarlett as though she has two heads. He reaches over and gives her a squeeze on the hand. "Scarlett, I like you very much. Err…" The blond mulls his options over in his head. A) Go to Scarlett's apartment and take advantage of whatever womanly breakdown she's having. B) Turn her down, Ivan calls him a fag. More than normal. "We don't have to do that, Scarlett. You're upset. It wouldn't be… genuine." When Hyde comes up and starts demanding answers, Carter raises a brow and points to the tall, brooding man. "Is this the one that you…?" He asks.

-

"What was what?" Scarlett just shoots Hyde a look of annoyance, and then turns back to the hand squeezer. "Like hell it wouldn't be genuine, but whatever." She brushes it off easily enough as him not really wanting to be near her, and yanks her hand away. "Him? No it was some other jerk by the lake. He's lucky it was that and not a punch to the face. I can't afford to break my wrist while I'm doing commissions for McNaab." The man is very… egotistical… at least as far as she can tell. The portrait wasn't enough, now he wants a sculpture of his head. "This is… damnit… how the hell did you find me here, Surly?"

-

"You know what you did. That thing with the…" Hyde pauses here. Granted, Scarlett did do her thing out in the open like that, so it can't be that much of a secret, but still. He finally pauses to eye Carter out of the corner of his eyes. "That thing with the water. It wasn't normal." There. That ought to be sufficiently vague. As to how Hyde found her, the man purses his lips further. "Destiny." It's a curt, not entirely made up response.

-

The word 'destiny' brings about a snort from Carter. He very slowly starts to inch his hand towards Scarlett's. "No breaking your wrist today." He knows that Scarlett can fairly well handle herself - at least verbally, and thus he stays out of it for the most part. He sizes Hyde up for a moment before glancing back to Scarlett. "What is normal anyway?" He quips as his rum and Coke comes. He takes a long drink of it, trying to hide the wince he makes from the sudden intake of alcohol.

-

"So you're stalking me now? Is that it?" That was her excuse at the cemetery. Destiny. Fate. Chance. Could have been that, but there's no way someone would come here looking for her unless they knew her past with one of the bouncers. Scarlett motions for the bartender to bring Hyde a beer. "Don't mind the singer. Stupid diva if you ask me."

"What thing with the water? So it… decided to randomly pour on a guy. It's not like I have control over the weather." Okay, lame excuse. Scar just really doesn't want to elaborate in public. "And I'm a weirdo. Leave if you want. No one's forcing you to stay." Her hand, with Carter's brushing against it, is just sort of stared at in a 'whatever' type of manner.

-

"I prefer the term hunting you down. And frankly, I am now. Yes. There are things for me to learn." There is no hesitation when Hyde semi-confirms the 'stalking' accusation. He even nods his head once. But then, she's whipping up a drink for him and changing the subject - but he will not be deterred! Not this mule-headed individual, no sir! "Oh yeah. Localized rainstorms, right?" The sarcasm in his tone proves that he doesn't believe that theory for a second. But then he turns to stare coolly to Carter. "Who are you?" He deadpans. "And normal is not what she did."

-

The blond man moves his hand from Scarlett's after seeing her 'whatever' expression, mouthing mostly to himself 'okay then'. He shakes his head and downs the rum and Coke, motioning to the bartender for another right afterward. He listens to their conversation rather impassively for the next few moments until Hyde directs a question at him. "My name's Parker. Pleased to meet you, Surly." There's a slight pause after that. "Willing suspension of belief. You don't know if she did anything or not. Besides, acid rain exists. Who's to say that there wasn't a random shower and it just happened to shower on you?"

-

"Wasn't on him," Scarlett mutters, peering between the two. "Right. So you hunted me down, Surly. You want answers? Fine. Ask away. Excuse me if I don't answer. Why are you here again?" The second beer is finished off rapidly, and she's motioning now for a third. "Your name's not Parker, it's Carter, silly." She's not drunk, she's just really not concentrating too hard on the conversation. "Acid rain doesn't fall like that either, really."

-

"Don't," Hyde snaps, turning to sneer coldly in Carter's direction, "call me that. The name is Hyde." Which, considering its literary background, fits in perfectly. "And you're lying to me, now. I'm convinced you're in on it too. You know what she can do - you're covering for her. And, for the record, you're doing a piss poor job of it." It is only then that Hyde swings his dark gaze back onto Scarlett. Slowly, almost intimidatingly, he approaches her. A hand is reached out directly to the side of her, almost as if he's intending on pinning her against the counter…but then it comes back with his newly ordered beer in hand. "What was that, Scarlett? How can you control the elements? Are you a witch or…or a goddess or something?" He'll ignore the query as to why he's there for now.

-

Carter gives Scarlett something of a look like 'great, thanks' when she reveals his 'secret'. His very poorly kept secret. He shakes his head. Carter slams back the second rum and Coke as it comes. He doesn't really answer Hyde as the man accuses him of lying, save for giving a shrug of his shoulders. He watches them a little more closely as Hyde leans over Scarlett. At the mention of Scarlett being a goddess, Carter can't help but start to have a gigglefit. Low tolerance ahoy.

-

Seemingly unphased by the fact that Hyde is looking like he's going to pin her to the counter is likely a little telling. Scarlett just watches him, then starts to laugh. "Sure. I'm a goddess. M'names Athena at any rate. May as well be a goddess, right?" Three beers, and she's almost done for. Only two here, but she had more than half of one before walking all the way. "You are Surly though. So you may as well be called that, yeah? Just like Carter here is called Park Boy. And the bouncer's name is Slugger. Get over it. It's a damned nickname."

-

Hyde is undaunted by their giggles and immaturity. He remains steadfast in his quest for knowledge or…something. However, Scarlett's lack of cooperation is visibly irritating the man, and in an attempt to calm down, he downs a quick swig of alcohol. "Who the fuck's the bouncer? And I'll respond to whatever nicknames I want to respond to, they are supposed to be a representation of me and if I dislike them…" That isn't the point, though! But…discussing the point has become exceedingly difficult. "Jesus Fucking Christ, you're drunk off your rocker."

-

"He's quick, eh?" Carter asides to Scarlett as he orders another rum and Coke. He looks over to the auburn haired woman and tilts his head somewhat. "Athena? Really? That kind of contradicts what you had said earlier. I could see you as Circe, for sure. But Athena's a bit of a stretch, don't you think?" He watches Hyde for another moment and then covers his mouth. He has to turn away from the two to hide his laughter a little more. "Where'd you find this one?" He asks a touch too loudly, drawing looks from a few patrons and the singer on stage herself.

-

"Maybe I am, yeah." Scarlett isn't going to deny that she's drunk. She's had four beer now, and that's usually enough to make her drop to sleep. "Circe? Yeah, she's my ancestor or something." At least that's the way family history goes. Not telling if it's true or not. "How's Athena a stretch. I'm wise. Drunk, but wise." Glaring at Carter now she shrugs. "Grisly. I like him." Peering at Hyde, she shrugs again. "Robert. Not in right now… why? Gonna go punch him for me? That'd be funny." Grinning like a madwoman, she laughs. "So seriously, Hyde… you wanna know the truth? I'm a big scary witch. Go buy me a broomstick and a pointed hat. Surprise." She's drunk. Chances of him believing her? Very slim. She hopes.

-

Hyde turns to slowly peer at Carter, resonating frost, practically. But after a moment's thought, he tucks his tongue firmly in his cheek and proceeds to look back to Scarlett, ignoring the blonde for all intents and purposes. "Isn't any maybe about it. You're plastered - useless to me. You can't take this as seriously as it ought to be taken. You should be taken home before you do something you regret." But then, she's talking about Robert. "Maybe I am. And…a witch?" He sounds skeptic, for sure - but he's also filing this bit of information away. Someone will be hit up when she's all sobered up.

-

Carter's third drink comes and he sucks it down as though he's a dying man in a desert. "Alright, fine. Mighty Mighty Athena." He waggles his brows at Scarlett as he turns to face the two once more. He misses Hyde's frosty look completely — only managing to catch the tail end of it, ending up just countering it with an already drunken grin. Lightweight. "Does something she regrets…" Carter says very quietly, and this makes him laugh all the more. The whole situation seems very funny to him. As annoying as it is, he can't stop laughing. At least he's not a violent drunk. "Yeah, maybe you should go home, Scarlett. You've been drunker than this before though, haven't you?" The two final words are slurred together. Haven'tshoo?

-

"Have I? Probably, when I punched that psychic bitch in the face." Scarlett giggles a little then turns to face Hyde. "You plannin' on slinging me over your back and takin' me home, Surly? C'mon, you probably wanna. Aren't drunk women easy? I'm sure that ass at the lake would say so." Finishing off her beer, she stands and just looks between the two men. As though she's waiting for someone to make a decision.

-

Two giggling drunks. This gives Hyde a very distinctive advantage, the one associated with having a clear mind and particularly calculating disposition. For once, it is Carter that is watched. And watched with a very specific intent, at that. The next time he moves, his steps are definitive and offer no room for hesitation or apology. The meager distance between himself and Scarlett is cut in half, and he sticks out his hand to attempt to hook it behind her head so that he can keep her still as his lips move to crash down upon hers. Words are for chumps and peacocks.

-

If poor Carter were a lesser man, he'd probably cry. Instead, he scowls like a sonofabitch. He waves the bartender over. "Another for me! And could you maybe squirt these two with your little hose thing? Like a couple of fuckin' cats in heat." Carter lets out a very manly belch that sounds perhaps… a bit too chunky for his own good. He eyes Hyde for a long moment and then narrows his eyes. "Guess I should have left with her when I had the chance. Touche. You've won this round…" He mumbles something that sounds like 'fuckhead'. But it could have been buckethead. Or duckfed. He's starting to wobble on his bar stool a little dubiously at this point.

-

Even if Scarlett wanted to protest about the testosterone owning that's about to happen, she really can't. She's toasted. So when Hyde kisses her, she 's pretty much left to be kissed. She has no way to get out of it without punching him in the face.

Carter's words make her back off a bit, but she doesn't back off that far. "Park Boy… you're drunker'en a skunk." Which basically means he's drunker than she is. "You could've? I offered, Carter. I offered good. Who's duckfed?"

-

And Hyde kisses her good, too. Just to shove it in Carter's face. In fact, a portion of the kiss actually occurs with Hyde's eye peeked open and fixed upon Carter's person, openly mocking the other man. But then she's pulling away to turn and face the other individual as well, and he lets out a snort. "Face it, kid. She's only here because I pissed her off in the first place. If it wasn't for that, needless to say, the activities du jour wouldn't exactly be Disney approved." The way his hands settle low upon her hips, familiar and possessive, is designed just for Carter.

-

"Yeah, real cute, buddy. Who are you trying to convince, me or her? Come off of it." His fourth drink arrives, and Carter sucks it down with aplomb. He slams the glass down on the bar top and looks over to Scarlett. "Well, I thought you were too drunk then! Besides, you were all… emotional and shit." He rolls his eyes and then makes a dismissive hand motion to the two. "So what? This is the part where you two go fuck in the bathroom noisily? Don't let me stop you." He's more or less telling them to get the eff out and eff off. Possibly literally in this situation. Hyde's open mocking of him just makes him sneer in disgust, looking as though he has a bad taste in his mouth. For the time being, he doesn't seem too put out by all of this. Then again, he's starting to look like he has other things on his mind. Like his rising gorge.

-

"Carter…" Scarlett gives him a look. Well she did try to warn him. She really did. Then she's turning to Hyde. "You don't really want me either. And I'm not here because you pissed me off, Surly. That jackass with the truck did. He got what he deserved." She waves everything off, and quickly downs a fourth (fifth?) beer. Just because she can. "That the way you feel, Park Boy? Honestly?" A glare, then, "Fine. Whatever. I invited you back to my place. Not my fault you didn't take me up on it." Then she's off the stool and stripping. At least, stripping in so much as she's removing the hoodie in a drunken manner… which drags her tank top up a bit, but not enough to show the black lacy bra underneath.

-

"Basically. You can come watch, if she wouldn't mind. Get it into that fucking skull of yours that you're a worthless loser, and even if someone drops by to throw you a bone ever once in a while? S'only because she's drunk and you're the second choice. Plan B. The safety school." Well, far be it from Hyde to resist such a dismissal! Ignoring Scarlett's version of the thing - because shh, the men are talking now dear, stary out of it - his attention is literally ripped over towards her when she hops off and proceeds to…strip? "Oh Jesus Christ." With a liberal roll of his eyes, he stomps forward to forcibly push the tank-top down and preserve her modesty, all the while attempting a relatively gentle grab for her arm so that he can steer her. "C'mon. I'll get you home or something. You can't take care of yourself now."

-

Carter reaches over and takes his hoodie. It's Carter's last stand. In all of his dramatic flair, he calls out "I'm talking my hoodie back!" He puts it over his shoulder. When he tries to stand up from the stool, he falls almost flat on his face — if the bar counter hadn't been there instead. On his way to the ground, he hits his chin on the bar and bites into his lower lip. Within a matter of seconds, blood starts to seep into his t-shirt. "It's alright, I'm fine!" He says, getting to his feet carefully. When he talks, blood and spittle fly everywhere. "Just… aw, fuck it." He says to the two, turning on his heel and staggering toward the door, possibly looking like a zombie.

-

"I can take care of my — awww crap." Scarlett glances after Carter and frowns. "Okay, someone dial nine-one-one…. he's like a hemophiliac…" Which is bad. Really, really bad. She doesn't want park boy to kill himself on the way home. "Seriously, please?" Drunk as she is, she didn't forget the important stuff, right? "Hyde… don't be an ass… Carter can come if he wants." Which he obviously doesn't since he's taking his hoodie back. "Why are you trying to keep this down? What do you care? Seriously? I mean…" She's being steered out the door. "Seriously though, he's going to bleed to death if we don't help him, and I actually like him. I don't want him dead, hurricane Hyde…"

-

"He's presumably something that resembles a man. He can take care of himself." All the bleeding, all the fuss - Hyde is not impressed by it. At all. He's beelined his way to the door, but when Scarlett continues to nag… "Shut up for half a fucking second. You have a phone don't you? Call for him, then. Or here, take mine." There's a liberal roll of his eyes from Hyde, who doesn't seem to realize the severity of the situation, as he fishes out his cell phone.

-

"I'm fine!" Carter calls out over his shoulder. He uses the hoodie to staunch the bleeding. "It's just a little scratch… I won't drive home." Their bickering is lost on him as he stumbles out the door and starts to hail down a taxi. Not that most cab drivers want to pick someone who is bloody up. At least he isn't trying to drive himself somewhere. Eventually a cab stops. He glances around exaggeratedly and huddles into the back of the cab, waving at the club. "Sayonara, fuckers!"

-

Digging for her own cellular phone, Scarlett frowns. "Okay, whatever park boy! Screw you!~" She's not exactly forgiving right now. When he gets into the cab, she doesn't bother with her call. Concerned as she is? He's a grown man and can take care of himself. "You'd better not bleed to death, or I'll kill you," comes the rather drunken, somewhat out of it reply. then she's leaning against Hyde, and still trying to follow after Carter, unless she's dragged elsewhere.

-

"You're starting to become a bloody hassle." Pun intended, after that display. There is no hesitance in Hyde's actions as he begins moving - ignoring the cab-bound Carter, the drunken slurring from Scarlett paired with the emotional threats. Instead Hyde drags her off to the car lot, with all the patience of…well, himself around small children that need constant tending to.

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