May 4

[notfaking_it]

When their roles are posted, Lily smiles knowingly at Nina across the small crowd of mostly disappointed dancers, then crosses over to her and tells her they're going to have a party to celebrate. She tells Nina to invite whoever she wants, says she'll host it, it'll happen this weekend, then she disappears to make plans. She leaves Nina without time to protest on purpose.

On the night of the party, she has drinks and food set out in her kitchen. She's invited most of the people she knows and even a few she doesn't -- dancers, mostly, because she doesn't want to leave them out -- and there's already music playing even before anyone has arrived. The intention is to be casual, relaxed, but there are pills in Lily's pocket, for anyone who knows her well enough to ask, for anyone she thinks might need to relax a little.

Nina's doing better now, but Lily has no problem helping her come out of her shell if it comes to that. And she has no problem helping anyone else either.

Comments

[notfaking_it]

"She's dancing the role of the prince to my Sleeping Beauty," Lily says. "And she likes to talk about dancing. A lot." Sometimes she thinks Nina uses it as a security blanket of sorts. She doesn't have to be Nina so long as she can be the dancer.

"And she's shy," she adds, smiling again. "Try not to scare her."

[wipeawaythedebt]

"I'll do my best, but I can't make any promises. Least I didn't come armed?" He opens the jacket he's wearing so she can see inside. For once, no guns. Although there was a razor-sharp knife in his boot.

No sense being crazy.

[notfaking_it]

"Well, wasn't that sweet of you," Lily says, laughing as she examines the inside of his jacket. Just because he's not carrying any guns doesn't mean he's completely unarmed, but she appreciates it anyway. "So at least I know no one's going to leave my party in an ambulance. Probably."

[wipeawaythedebt]

"Long as everyone plays as nice as you, I don't think we'll have a problem." He looks down at her as she examines his coat, wondering what in the hell he's doing. This kind of socializing, it isn't him. Never was. She's a pretty girl, but she's out of his league by a mile and more.

Maybe he should just go home and stay sober for a night.

[notfaking_it]

"My friends are all very well behaved, I promise," she says, but there's something in her tone and in her smile that says otherwise. Even if her friends are usually well behaved, Lily knows she isn't, which is part of what makes parties like this so much fun.

"Except maybe that one," she says, pointing to one of the dancers. "She's terrible."

[wipeawaythedebt]

"I didn't say I wanted well-behaved, kid, I'm just looking for nice." He smirks over the rim of his drink as he looks around the room, eyes falling on the dancer she points out.

"That one, huh? Guess I'll have to be careful."

[notfaking_it]

"You're right, there is a difference," she agrees, returning his smirk. For the most part, though she's sure some might disagree, she's perfectly nice, if not always well-behaved. "She's not the only one, most dancers have their little rebellions. I think it's compensation for having to be so rigid the rest of the time."

[wipeawaythedebt]

Rigid control? Sounds like how Elizabeth was raised, locked up in her tower like some kind of princess. Hell, is she going to have a little rebellion, too? He's not sure he can handle that, he can barely handle her as she is. He's not father material, never has been.

Feeling a spike of pain in his skull, he closes his eyes for a moment, pressing the bridge of his thumb with his fingers. Hasn't had a pain like that since Finkton.

He needs another drink. "Can I get you a refill, Lily?"

[notfaking_it]

"Yeah," she says, watching as he closes his eyes. "I'll come with you. Are you okay?" He looks like he might have a headache and she has more than enough advil stashed in her bathroom if he needs it. The drink will probably only make it worse, but she's not about to tell him he can't drink.

"Do you need a painkiller?" she asks. "I can grab you something."

[wipeawaythedebt]

"No, ma'am, I'll be fine." The last thing he wants is to be thinking about these damn headaches again. Gone as soon as they arrive and damn if he knows what's triggering them.

The pain's already subsiding (thank God it didn't come with a nosebleed this time) and he motions to her hand again. "How about that drink, huh?"