Come As You Are // Open Post

[therealbrianna]

P.Y.T. [ Pretty Young Thing ]

(Taken during THAT mission that we do not speak of.)

Comments

[larue]

[ Nodding as he takes the instructions in, asling questions where he can interject just to clarify. Hands on the wheel, check rearview, foot stepping on the gas--

--and the car lurching forward that a moment of panic sets in and he hits the brakes. ]

Shit. Sorry, sorry.

[therealbrianna]

[ She is just amused. Clutching her purse tightly, but she's laughing. ]

It's okay! It.. happens. Also I'm thinking maybe you shouldn't step on the gas like you want to uhm... kill a bug?

[ She sends a reassuring look to Josh, just to make sure he isn't embarrassed or anything. ]

[larue]

[ It's not so much embarrassment as it is nerves. He's never driven a car before. Sure, his Dad was a mechanic, but they'd never had enough to indulge in an actual car of their own. Trips to school were school buses and then actual buses. And a lot of walking. ]

So uh, how...? [ Gesturing lamely towards the pedals. ] Sorry, I didn't expect it to feel so light. So step on it just a little, huh?

[therealbrianna]

[ How does one describe the amount of pressure... Hmm. ]

Actually, [ She places a hand on Josh's arm, pressing down lightly and keeping it steady. ] kind of like that when you're just starting out. Then if the road is clear or if you need to speed up, you kind of apply more pressure gradually! [ Demonstrating it still with her hand on Josh's arm. ]

[larue]

[ When Brianna demonstrates the amount of pressure against his arm, he isn't quite sure why he's glad that it's pretty dim.

At least until he feels his ears feel a little bit warm. ]

O-oh. Gotcha. [ Setting up and trying that again. Starting slow now, fingers adjusting their grip on the wheel because okay, Josh, breeeeathe.

Please work, please work... okay. Okay, better? ]

[therealbrianna]

There you go! [ She says encouragingly. ]

[larue]

[ Well, that certainly.boosts his confidence.

He drives slow, trying to get a feel of the way the car moves; there are the occasional stops, and there are about two times in which he deliberately slows down, but the engine doesn't die, and while it does take them a little longer than it probably should have to get to Haven's back door at Falner, they do get there.

This is Josh pressing his head to your steering wheel then, Bri; and he is laughing quietly with relief.

Tonight's been an interesting one so far. ]

Man, I am so happy we are here in one piece.

[therealbrianna]

[ ...That wasn't entirely bad, for a first timer. Actually, it wasn't bad at all.

It was a lot more funny than good, but that works to their advantage. Make stupid memories, right? ]

I am seconding that motion.

[larue]

[ He's laughing soundlessly now as he leans back, before he glances over and cants his head. ] Come on, let's go?

[ And with that, he's shutting off the engine and handing you back the keys before he slides out of the car to step on solid and steady ground.

It was pretty fun, nerves aside. He's already decided to ask Brianna about lessons if they find time over the next couple of days.

Holding his hand out for you now, Bri. It's a gesture that is more natural than it is deliberate, something that he offers just because he can and you're you. As it is, his eyes are fixed on the back door which has opened to let two of Haven's staff out for a cigarette break. ] I can definitely hear Rethe spinning.

[ The angel has a particular style. He's familiar with it now. ]

[therealbrianna]

[ She smiles at him as she takes his hand. She's thankful that at least the boys in her blade are gentlemen. No need to deal with the rowdy, annoying types. ]

Ooh, Rethe's on now? Let's go then! [ Gently tugging at Josh. ]

[larue]

[ And he's following her lead, nodding a quick hello to the staff who sort of recognize him now.

Inside of Haven it's a mix of light and dark, the place is classy and even if there are a lot of people given the hour and the person at the DJ booth, it never seems to feel claustrophobic.

Leaning close to Brianna as he makes sure to keep anyone from bumping into her. ] The mezzanine looks full tonight, [ and it is, so he's scanning a place for them. ] Want to hang out by the bar until we find a free table?

[therealbrianna]

Sure! Lead the way!

[ She's trying to shout out to him on top of the music. Haven is packed, but she doesn't really mind. It reminds her of her clubbing days in high school, except now she feels like she doesn't have to put on a show. She's extremely comfortable around Josh now. Besides, she's here to check the place out and to spend some time with Josh, not to fluff her feathers like a peacock. ]

[larue]

[ Leading her then to the far side of the bar and gently elbowing a place for them because for a Sunday, there sure are a lot of people at Haven tonight.

Slipping out his universal credit card now, sliding it over to the girl manning the bar who he actually greets by name. He's been coming here a lot in his spare time since his little encounter with Rethe, the both of them bonding over movies. It's only gotten a little bit more convenient for him to pop in after his shift at Rhiannon because switching from dinnertime in London to just two hours before midnight in Falner tends to leave him wide awake until about three in the morning.

He's turning back to Brianna just then, and because the music and the people are fairly loud, he ducks in just close enough so she can hear him, but still mindful enough to respect personal space: ] You want anything?

[ Yes. He's buying tonight. Someone's learning how to spend his hunter's earnings. ]

[therealbrianna]

[ His gesture catches her entirely by surprise because generally, she's the one treating people out. Though that doesn't mean she won't take this opportunity away from Josh. ]

You're feeling generous today! I'm planning to just go light, so maybe a rum coke?

[ Mm yum. She has an eager smile on her face. ]

Thanks, Josh.

[larue]

[ And he's smiling right back before he turns to the bartender and ordering you that drink and a Curant and Sprite for himself. It's not a beer kind of night, and you just taught him how to drive -- he likes celebrating little victories like that. ]

When was the last time you went out like this?

[ Positioning himself in a way that you're somewhat shielded from the press of the crowd. You're tiny by his estimation, okay ( though Kaz is still the shortest, heh. ) ]

[therealbrianna]

Hmm.

[ When did she last go clubbing, or at least chill out in a nightclub? The last time she went to The Fort didn't count - that's when Tala and Selene accompanied her to kill her fetch. Not exactly a happy activity, that one. ]

I honestly can't remember. It's been months, I guess. Been too busy and felt a bit reclusive sometimes.

[larue]

[ Nodding at that, smiling gently as he glances over your shoulder and reaches for your drinks and passing you that glass of rum and coke. ]

Well, [ he goes, before he lifts his own glass in salute. ] If ever you just want to chill here sometime, I'm only a text away.

Cheers?

[therealbrianna]

[ She thanks him with a big smile. ]

Definitely taking note of that. [ Raising up her own glass, clinking it with Josh's. ]

Cheers!

[larue]

[ He sips at his drink, scanning the area as he does, gaze finally stopping where Rethe is up on that DJ booth and having the time of his life. It makes him smile, because Rethe may look eternally young, but up there, where he's so totally engrossed in the music, it's like all the cares fall away.

Nudging Brianna now, and pointing him out. ] You said you wanted to see a real angel.

[ Well, there you go, Miss Lopez. One bonafide angel, spinning at the disks. ]

[therealbrianna]

[ She turns her attention to Rethe. Pretty soon, she's bobbing her head to the beat. ]

That is some amazing shit right there. [ Pardon her the foul word just this once, Josh. ]

[larue]

[ He's not going to mind that in the least, Bri -- for one, because that is exactly how he would put it himself.

So what you have is a chuckling Josh, grin so wide as he bobs his own head. He's like that for a couple of minutes, and then he's slipping out his pack of cigarettes and holding it your way.

Music by his first ever mentor and now friend, a good night of shenanigans to look forward to with his blademate, good drinks, good smokes? Pretty awesome way to spend a Sunday night.

Leaning in after about three songs to speak close to your ear so you can hear him over the din: ] What time do you need to be home?

[therealbrianna]

[ She's lifting up her hand adjacent to her cheek as she turns to Josh so her words don't get lost in the beat. ]

No curfew, really! People at home don't wake up til like, 6AM!

[larue]

Okay, [ laughing at that now. ]

We'll get you back well before that though, just to be safe.

[ He's not sure if the other DJ on-call is tag-teaming with Rethe tonight, but he's peering around and it doesn't seem like it. Eitherway, he figures the both of them can stay out as late as three a.m. before they head out.

For the next couple of songs, he's enjoying Brianna's company and buying her another round, making conversation when there's a lull -- mostly asking her thoughts on the mix, if she likes the song, and generally having a good time.

Eventually though, he needs to excuse himself for a bit. ]

I'll be back. [ He needs to use the restroom, but instead of saying that out loud he's jerking a thumb in the general direction of that. ] You gonna be okay here?

[ Crowd's not as thick as it was earlier, so he figures now's a good time as any. ]

[therealbrianna]

[ She nods at Josh, understanding where he has to excuse himself to. ]

Yeah! I'll just be right here. Go ahead!

[ She figures that Haven is safe, and if it's a place that Josh frequents, she'd be okay there. ]

[larue]

Aight.

[ And he's wandering off at that, glancing over to check on Brianna just one more time before he ducks around the corner that leads to the restrooms and spots the line.

Welp. This is going to take a bit. ]