riverviewlogs | [open] late night drinks...or drink

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[open] late night drinks...or drink

who: Rey and whoever else!
what: After this lovely conversation, Rey is upset and meditating wasn't going to take the ~~hurt away~~ edge off. So to the bar she goes!
when: Late April
where: Random bar
warnings: none

Rey wasn't sure what would have been a better idea: heading to the bar after the conversation with a person who was Ren, or trying to meditate and fail, and end up breaking something instead. She wasn't a violent person, or had violent tendencies, but the wound she was trying to recover from felt like it had been reopened, poked and prodded, and left opened. Going for a drink wasn't a way to solve her problems, but it helped with clearing her mind far better than meditation alone. Better than crying or trying to drag anyone else into this mess: looking at the 'anon' comment she left, that all blew up in her face.

Maybe it was a sign she shouldn't talk about it anymore. Or a sign that she should only have friendships, nothing else.

Or maybe it was a sign to get a drink in her hand and not think about what happened. She found a random bar, went to a booth in the back where she could see the exit and entrance and ordered something strong for herself.

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This was one of those weird situations that Alec wished he had Izzy to talk to about. He knew something had happened to Rey, but none of the details. He'd assumed she wanted space and he wasn't good at understanding social norms, so he'd stayed away. Now, he wasn't sure if he should talk to her or not. Izzy would have been able to explain what the polite thing to do.

But Izzy had gone back home with Clary.

Magnus would be able to give advice too, but he was in his office, going over the paperwork. If Alec disturbed him, they'd be lacking a bartender and Magnus would forget about the invoices.

Sighing, he gave one of their customers their drink, realizing that tending bar gave him an easy enough role to fall into. Thinking of the Halloween party months ago, he moved toward Rey to get her order. "Sorry, but only non-magical drinks until the boss finishes up the paperwork."

Rey didn't even realize which bar she had stepped into. Her mind went on auto-pilot, running away from what was bothering her and going to a place that she thought wasn't familiar. She didn't want to be around people she knew, she wanted to....she didn't know what she wanted, but she knew what she didn't want.

A lecture, or to throw something against the wall, or to get more upset than how she was. Funny, she was telling herself to not get upset, but that frustrated her even more. It was having the opposite effect and there wasn't anyone she could talk to--or anyone she wanted to drag into. This was her mess--and she was going in circles in her own mind to the point where she missed who came up to her.

"Anything strong," she muttered, looking up a little to see it was Alec. She was taken aback, unaware she had walked into their bar.

"Hey...haven't seen you in a while."

For all of Chase's big talk on the network, his playful attempts at wrangling booze or whatever from others, he really... isn't much of a drinker. It doesn't always go so well with magic, and no amount of alcohol can compare to the thrill of Using, anyway. So whenever he goes out to a bar or a party or whatever, he tends to just nurse one or two drinks, and leaves it at that.

SO WHY DOES HE GO, YOU ASK?

Because he loves watching people get drunk and make idiots of themselves. Plus, bonus? They can be so easy to rile up. Just a little spell here, some magic there, and BOOM, one drunk idiot thinks another drunk idiot just spilled a drink on him, and a bar fight ensues. Better than tv!

And that's why Chase is already at the bar when Rey, whom he recognizes from the network, comes in, gets a drink, and retreats to a back booth. She's giving off waves of "I want to be left alone," so of course he's going to bother her because he's bored and what else is there to do here?

Plopping down in the seat across from her, drink in hand, Chase grins. "What's up, buttercup?"

Arching an eyebrow at her order, he considered what exactly he could make for her. He probably needed a little more information before deciding. "Strong is relative. Some beings have a higher tolerance than others." Alec could assume that Rey was fully human, but that might not be true. He didn't want to give her something that was too strong for her or something that had no effect when she wanted to get drunk.

Shaking his head when she noticed who he was, Alec glanced around the bar to make sure no one would complain if he spent a few minutes talking to a friend. It'd be embarrassing if someone complained to Magnus about bad customer service.

"I've been busy. We inherited our apartment building and it came with a club. I've been working on it to keep busy. You haven't been around either. I've only seen you at the Guard a few times."

Rey was looking down at her drink, vaguely paying attention to whoever or whatever came through the entrance. As long as she didn't see Ben, she was fine. They had done a pretty damn good job of ignoring each other, and unless the Force wanted to be cruel, their bond wouldn't act up now. All she wanted was to be left along to process her feelings, and not think...Or forget about her feelings and not think. Either way, not thinking would be part of it.

She took a long drink from her glass, whiskey on ice, something strong to get her starter. Only one glass. That's all she wanted. No use in ordering more, not with how she was feeling. She didn't want to do anything stupid.

Placing her glass down, she saw someone coming over to her and internally groaned. Damnit, why did he want to come by? It's not like...they were friends or anything.

"You could've sat somewhere else," she replied with a glare, finding that to be a better answer than telling him to piss off.

"Whatever is strong for a human, then--just not beer." Because it didn't taste all that well to her. Even when she had pizza with Jim, the taste of the pizza did little to mask the bitter taste of the beer. Though, there were different types, but she wasn't interested in that. She wanted something strong that wasn't watered down.

"Oh, so you and Magnus have a few properties." Which would account why she hadn't seen much of him, then again she had been pretty busy herself. Busy with different things and staying busy for the sake of it. She didn't know what else to do. Better to work herself into a tired state than think about...feelings, romance or anything like that.

"Yeah I've been..busy with things.." Rey murmured, casting her glance downward, feeling bad for not spending more time with Alec. "I'm sorry, I should've kept in touch more."

"Beer usually isn't strong." He couldn't help smiling at her reaction. He wasn't fond of it either. Making a thoughtful sound he began mixing one of the drinks Magnus had convinced him to try. He wasn't even sure of the name since Magnus had told him some elaborate story that had involved speakeasys and gangsters and completely forgotten to mention what the cocktail was called. It was sweet and strong enough to cause a Nephilim to get a little tipsy but not dangerous to a human.

"I wanted to be sure of your physiology. Magnus is - " He pauses and makes a swirling gesture similar to his husband's spellcasting. "And my metabolism isn't normal. Didn't want to give you something that might harm you."

Finishing the drink - something tinted orange that tasted like citrus and berries - he set it on the bar next to Rey. "Not intentionally. Magnus inherited them both somehow, and he offered to let me run the other club."

Arching an eyebrow at her reaction when describing the past few months, he started putting the bottles back where they'd be within easy reach. "It's okay. I've been busy too, but you looked troubled." Alec probably had too with Izzy gone, but that had been easier to accept than Max leaving.

"That's what I've heard, but I don't want it regardless.." Just putting it out there so she didn't have something else come her way.

There was a nod of her head. That, she could understand. It was very doubtful being a Jedi...or Jedi in training, whatever she was now, would affect how well she could handle her alcohol. She wasn't used to it, nor was she a heavy drinker. Anything strong would do, but she picked up on Alec's meaning.

"Thanks, would rather not have another trip to the hospital." Because that would be boring and she didn't want to be poked or prodded with needles. Or have to answer questions....or make her friends worried. No, that was the last thing she wanted.

She watched him make her drink, noting the color of it and wondered what exactly it was called. She could smell the citrus flavor coming off of it, so there had to be orange or lemon, or the equivalent of it in the drink itself.

"So you're going to be pretty busy then, until things settle down...?" She was taking a wild guess at that, considering she didn't know how long ago the new club and apartment became in Magnus' possession.

As for how she was, Rey opted to take a sip of her drink, noting the other flavors in there before realizing how strong it was. It burned on the way down, but it made her think of something else, even for a few seconds. Did she want to lie to him? Tell him it was more work related or from her apartment? Both were..somewhat true, but that wasn't the reason why she was here.

"I don't want to talk about it..." she told him softly after placing her drink down on the counter.

"You? Are you doing okay?" Rey didn't know Izzy had left or if anyone else from his world had gone back.

"Wasn't planning on serving it to you. I'd be a terrible bartender if I didn't give people what they ordered." He wasn't as good at it as Jace, but he wasn't bad. And he understood keeping customers happy more than his parabatai did. Jace sometimes got in trouble no matter how charming he could be.

"I don't want to send you to the hospital." Alec doubted that he could serve anything that would be dangerous to Rey if she only had one or two drinks. Magnus was too cautious to leave anything Alec or the other bartenders shouldn't have access to where they could easily find it.

"Most of it should be settling down. Magnus has run clubs before and this one was established before we got here." Most of what they'd had to do related to decorating and staffing. After that, Magnus had fit into the role of owner/manager easily. "We took in some of the flood refugees but that's calmed down too." The new club was what Alec was worried about, unsure if he could run a business... at least one with the goals Alec intended.

Noticing Rey's reaction to the drink, he barely managed to hide his smile. He'd been surprised by how strong it was when Magnus had served it to him the first time. Shrugging when she said she didn't want to talk, he went back to setting up bottles and checking glasses. "It's okay if you don't want to talk." Glancing up, he considered what to say to her last questions, and then decided on simplicity. "It's just the three of us now."

"Could've, but didn't." Honestly, Chase is like a cat. If you want his company, he'll ignore you. If you don't, he'll want nothing more than to be right next to you-- mostly to be spiteful and inconvenient. It's kind of his thing.

"Besides," he shrugs, undeterred, "I'm drawn to miserable people."

The simplicity of the answer caught Rey off guard. Just the three of them? Last she heard there were others. There was Izzy, his sister, and wasn't there another girl? Rey couldn't remember who she was exactly, but if it was the three of them... Alec and Magnus were accounted for. So, Jace still had to be around. Considering how close Jace and Alec were, if Jace was gone, Alec would've said something.

"I didn't know....I'm so sorry," she told him, sympathy in her eyes. That couldn't have been easy for him, or for Magnus. Was that why the warlock was doing more work? To help distract himself, or because he was just...naturally a business man? It was hard to tell as she didn't know him too well.

She gently pushed her drink off to the side, trying to see how well Alec was. If he looked like he was sleeping or at least eating. Guilt started to settle in her being. She should've checked in on him more.

"How long ago?"

"I am not miserable," Rey snapped, glaring at him. She wasn't miserable. She just wanted to be left alone to not think about what happened and just...not deal with people.

Being miserable would mean she was ready to cry and in need of company, and she wasn't any of those things.

"Think you prefer to annoy people instead--and you're buying." If he was going to be here, he was going to pay for her drink at least.

"Not many do. Just Izzy's coworkers and the people Clary knew." He wasn't sure how Clary had accepted being in this reality. After her talks with Jace, she hadn't been around much. He'd always wondered if Izzy was happy here, only staying to make sure that Alec was settled in married life. "It's been about a month. I think they both were needed in our world." Looking up from this fidgeting, he managed a smile. "They were from a different time than Magnus and me. Maybe when they reach that point in their timelines, they'll return."

When she pushed aside her drink, Alec gave her a confused look. "You don't like it?" It was okay if she didn't. He'd make something else that wasn't as strong if Rey didn't like how that one tasted.

How could it be that Izzy and Clary were from a different time than him and Magnus? Did he mean in terms of physical appearance, or was there something more to it? Maybe a different place than he remembered them to be? Like, in the past or maybe future? Rey wanted to ask, but seeing that small smile, she didn't want to push. Alec was dealing with a lot, more so than her petty argument on the network.

"Maybe they'll come back soon...you never know." Something to give him hope. Something to make him feel better. As for her drink...

"No, I didn't want to knock it over by accident. But.." she reached out for it again, taking another sip and not cringing at it. The drink was strong, just as she had asked and already it was starting to make her feel warm.

"I like it. Though, I think you're about to be busy..." she looked over to the entrance and saw more people were coming in.

"I don't want to keep you from everyone else, but find me later?"

"They might be." Alec would keep hoping that they'd return. They might, but he had the feeling that the wait would be a long one. "They're needed there more than I am." Technically, Magnus should be just as important, but maybe it was time for Magnus to step away from being a High Warlock. Maybe he was here to give him time without that responsibility so he wouldn't become dangerous like some older warlocks had. "My role was changing before I came here."

Which was something he missed and the reason why he'd become interested in Lux.

Biting his lip, he tried not to let his amusement over Rey's reaction to alcohol show too much. She seemed to have little taste for it, like Alec in some ways since he only liked a few types of drinks. The one he'd mixed was one of the few that he'd been able to tolerate when Magnus had been showing off one night.

Looking toward the door, he nodded, noting how many customers were coming in and when Magnus had said he'd take over so they'd have a little magic to entertain the patrons. "I should be able to go on a break in about half an hour."

"You're always needed." The words easily fall from her lips, knowing how Alec felt about certain things. He was needed, just like the rest of them. Maybe he was given a chance to have something of a normal life--something that he wouldn't have unless he was here. Maybe that was the will of the Universe, the Force, or whatever deity he believed in.

"Your role? In what?" She didn't know much about the world he came from other than he was a warrior, a fighter, and magic existed. He mentioned things here and there that she tried to keep track of, but it was hard to do. She had her own things to worry about, things she hadn't shared with too many people outside of her friends from her world.

She took her drink and started to pull back from her friend.

"Okay, find me on your break. We can catch up." Drink in hand, Rey gave a small smile, moving towards the back of the bar, taking a booth in the back that gave her a view of the exit and entrance. her eyes looked down in the bottom of her drink, as if the answers to her problems could be found there. The feelings with Ben were an utter mess and she....she didn't feel like yelling anymore. More like, she wanted the feelings to stop and to not care about what he said or what was said between them.

"I might not be needed there if I'm already there." Which sounded weird, but Magnus had said that time wasn't as linear as Alec assumed. He hoped that his husband was right about that since it might mean that in some reality, Max was still alive.

He considered how to answer her questions even as he started getting ready for the next wave of customers. Some were regulars so he began setting up glasses, anticipating their orders. Before he'd left New York, his role had been changing to something new that he hadn't been able to name then. Now, he went for a simple answer. "Protector."

He smiled before turning his attention away from Rey to focus on customers. Eventually he was able to take a break, pouring himself a glass of juice before heading for her table. When got to the booth, he nodded toward the seat across from her. "May I sit with you or would you prefer to be alone?"

"Bartenders don't normally deliver to tables, but when I realized this was for you I couldn't help wondering why." Jace slid into the booth opposite Rey and set the glass down. It wasn't a question and from the look in Rey's eyes he wasn't going to ask what could cause her so much pain.

So he offered some advice instead.

"I know from experience that this-" He pointed to the glass and then gently pushed it over to her. "-only numbs the pain for a short time and then everything feels much worse after it's worn off."

Even now he waned a drink. For all the wrong reasons. But he also knew he was a work in progress.

"If you're wondering about the pretty colors the drink is called Sex on the Beach." He smiled, trying to switch the conversation to something lighter until Rey was ready to talk.

Rey wasn't expecting anyone to come to her booth. She wanted to push thoughts away, she wanted to crumple them and turn them into dust. However, the more she tried to forget, the harder it became. The harder it became, the more frustrated she became and it was an endless cycle. She shouldn't be upset. She needed to let go and move on--and she thought she had!

But now....now old feelings were coming up and she hated it.

When someone started to speak to her, she was prepared to glare at them and have that scare them away. But, it was a face she hadn't seen in forever. Her anger gave away, blinking at Jace, surprised she walked into a place where she had a friend.

"Don't know about that, don't think it'll compare to to what I'm feeling..." there was a hint of a weak smile on her face.

The drink was colorful, and it had a strong scent. She brought it closer to her, ready to take a sip when Jace told her what it was called.

"....you're joking, right?" Thinking about anything having to do with sex or the word of it was the farthest thing from her mind. She managed to take a quick sip and wrinkled her nose. Okay that was strong, very strong, but it gave her something else to focus on...and Jace was a great distraction too.

"How much alcohol is in this?"

Rey was lost in her own thoughts, only coming back to the real world when Alec approached her. She had been nursing her drink, only half way done with it. The ice had melted some, diluting the drink, but she didn't care.

"No...it's okay, take a seat." she gestured to the seat across from her, wanting him to sit down.

"I'm...reflecting...that's all." Reflecting on things and trying to make those feelings as small as possible and push them all into a box that she could lock away.

"And I feel like a horrible friend for not keeping in touch as much"

"A lot. I made it myself." Jace laughed a little, glad the distraction had worked. He was surprised to see Rey looking so...hurt. And angry? Or frustrated? He wasn't sure what it was, but it felt familiar somehow. "I won't pretend I understand what you're feeling. And it's not my place to tell you how to manage...whatever it is you're trying to manage."

But he did want to help. He knew what it felt like to bottle things up and to lose what few outlets he'd found. Izzy and Clary were gone. TJ was gone. He'd tried reaching out after their dance....And Alec and Magnus had moved to their own place.

"So if you need to drink. Drink. Have a few drinks. Maybe then I can put you on your back." He teased, smiling with understanding. He didn't know the cause, but he understood pain and frustration very well.

A lot....well, Rey wanted something strong. She wanted something to take the edge off. She wanted something to help take her mind off things and numb those feelings and allow her to feel something other than the pain of heartache. Rey took another sip, feeling the alcohol burn on her tongue, numbing it and then glided down her throat.

Her gaze fell from Jace, trying to put up a wall around her, to hide her feelings and school her face into a neutral expression. But, she was tired of doing that. Tired of putting on a calm facade and pretending she was fine. She didn't want to say what happened, she didn't want to rehash things...and Jace, he was trying to be there for her without trying to get the details. She was appreciative of that.

"Am I that easy to read?" she asked, finally looking up at him with a weak smile.

As for trying to pin her down, to anyone else that would be an innuendo, but she didn't take it as such. She merely snorted and shook her head at him.

"Right..I'd still find a way to pin you down before you have me on my back." Another sip, another moment to have alcohol enter her system and help numb her a little more.

"You sure you're allowed to talks to your clients? Aren't you working?"

"No, not easy to read. I just have some experience with numbing the pain." Jace's smile and teasing softened a bit. "Do you like it? The drink?"

He hadn't tried it before so he was a little curious. It looked tasty and he knew by the contents it would help Rey numb the pain. At least until it wore off. Which made him wonder how easily she could get drunk and if she'd be okay. Maybe he shouldn't be encouraging her to drink. But that wasn't his decision to make. His decision was to not drink himself.

And then he laughed. Truly laughed. If he'd been talking to anyone else he'd enjoy the teasing innuendo, maybe flirt, use charm and toe the edge between friend and something more than friend. He might even say something about enjoying being pinned down.

"I'm on a break. The bar is being managed so I have a little time."

If he did say it he would be saying it to the wrong person.

"Maybe what you need is to put someone on their back. I heal quickly. And it's more satisfying than beating a dummy. You should come see the new training room I've been working on."

He had a lot more space to work with now that he lived alone.

"Seeing I'm in pain means I'm easy to read," she murmured softly, briefly averting her gaze to the glass of alcohol in front of her. As if the glass itself held all the answers, but it didn't. She didn't want to dwell on it for long.

"It's good, I can taste the alcohol in it, but it's not making me wince or anything." Just to prove her point she took another sip, not grimacing or anything of the like. Though, she was beginning to feel warm and her mind felt fuzzy around the edges. Good, this was the feeling she wanted to chase. Nothing else.

Now she was starting to catch onto the joke enough to cover her mouth as she tried to stifle a laugh.

"Stop volunteering to be under me," she teased back, not shy or blushing over the innuendo she tossed his way. Rey didn't know about the training room he had been working on, or anything else that happened. Then again, she didn't let too many people know she had moved. That she was alone once more, and that..that was a story she didn't want to share.

"You should be saying things to other girls, or someone who'll blush and maybe take you up on that offer."

Setting down his glass, he sat down where she indicated while trying to assess her mood. Something was bothering her, but he didn't know here well enough to know if he should push. With his family, he'd know. Others were complicated, especially when he'd only grown up around a few people.

"Reflecting sounds like something that you should be doing in a garden or on a yoga mat." Did Rey know about yoga? It might not exist in her world.

"You shouldn't feel terrible. You had things you needed to do. I know you're not happy here." People who didn't like Quarantine seemed to be less willing to put down roots. Alec knew that Magnus and he were oddities in the city. "I assumed you were trying to find a way back to your reality."

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[open] late night drinks...or drink

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