2019-07-20 - Girls Night Out

There are two points to going to the Firefly Club as far as Julia is concerned: drinking, and dancing. The evening started with tequila and now she's sweating it out on the dance floor. What's the music? It does not matter. There's heavy bass involved and crazy visual projections, and whenever she sees someone she knows, it involves shouting their name and giving them a huge hug.

Technically. Technically! Graham is still on the payroll of the club as a bartender. So it's not unheard of for him to be back behind the bar, though he's really not doing a whole lot of actual work. Right now, he's just getting in the way of the duo actually managing the bar tonight, trying to make his way out with a rum-and-coke in one hand and a bottle of beer in the other. This involves no small amount of squishing himself between them and the back of the bar, but he's finally free! Yay, Graham! "Next time," he kinda shouts over the music, shoving the rum-and-coke at Elise, "just order drinks like everybody else." And takes a hard-earned drink from his bottle, tipping it afterward toward Julia in a mute 'hi there.'

"I'M FUCKING THE BARTENDER! I SHOULD GET SPECIAL PRIVILEGES!" Elise should be using her inside voice, but she is kind of drunk already, which means she shouts in Graham's face when he shoves the rum and coke in her hands. But he gets a big smooch - MWAH! - and a happy, beaming grin from the girl with the flushed cheeks. And hey, she shouts so loud that she can be heard over the music, so yay! Also there are a couple of girls who look seriously disappointed right now. Elise hoists up her drink in the air in a salute to Julia out there on the dance floor before she knocks back a gulp over her drink, bumping Graham in the hip afterward a touch aggressively. "Let's go dance. I didn't wear a short skirt for nothing," indeed, her skirt was very short.

Jessica wishes she had a short skirt but the slave to her work journo is not known for public social activities; or trying to look good. But she's half Latin, so she definitely knows how to dance. Having knocked back a margarita (or two), the jean clad and t-shirt wearing brunette is among the dancing throng and deciding that a loud 'whoot!' is needed on most of the beats. The way she is flinging her arms about and pumping fists, she could knock someone out...and probably not even be aware. "I needed this!" she yells at Julia with a grin.

"You're welcome!" Julia shouts back to Jessica, "You should go see Graham, he's a bartender!" As if that accords special privilege. It doesn't. Except maybe for Elise. "Elise! Graham!" She jumps up and down to the music, beckoning toward them, "Come and dance! You guys are awesome!" Really, she loves everyone right now. Of course, she's two days out from burying her tia, so all of that energy needs to go somewhere.

"Fucking the bartender is the special privilege." Graham fails to do anything to promote the using of inside voices. He doesn't SCREAM at quite Elise's volume, but whatever; she's hot AF, he's perfectly happy to have the entire club know they bang. "Hold on, lemme - " Knock back at least some of this beer that he went and fetched himself, and winds up sputtering in the wake of that hip-bump, catching a fizzy dribble that he wipes on the inside of his collar. "How drunk are you?" He's asking the question of Julia, based on the trajectory of his eyes right now, but (coming on the heels of Elise's short-skirt comment) it could apply to more than one person.

Don't worry, Elise isn't going anywhere until that rum & coke is downed. But considering this is like, her fourth or fifth? She sucks it down like a champ, hardly spilling any when she hip-bumps into Graham. "HUH?" she shouts back at him from his question, though she probably actually heard him and is avoiding the question - thus the huge grin as she sets her cup down somewhere~ and grabs Graham by the belt-loop. She tugs, dragging him as she makes a beeline for Julia, which means she's got to elbow a few drunks in the process. Excuse her, step aside, coming through. "Hey!" it's not that far of a walk. "This was a good idea!"

"I think Graham is already being seen" Jessica laughs as she waves at the man in question and the lovely lady in a short skirt. Though a drink does sound like a good idea. "Hey! I'm Jessica." Her eyes narrow a moment as if she is considering the validity of that statement. A nod. "Yep, Jessica. I really need a 'nightclub name'." A laugh at the very idea. "Nice to meet you both. Anyone need another drink?" Since Graham is too busy dancing to serve - shame - she dances her way towards the bar.

"Not nearly enough!" Julia answers Graham, not seeming to mind if it wasn't meant for her in the first place before beaming at Elise. "I know, right?" She's yelling as she dances, of course, even as she turns toward Elise and Jessica. "Do you guys know each other? Jessica, this is Elise! Hi, hi!"

Oh no, poor Graham, being dragged along after a drunk woman in a short skirt; his whole life is just ruined! He's still sober enough to flash apologetic smiles at the people Elise is shoving outta the way, shrugging hugely at them with wordless acceptance of his fate and theirs. He's got the one arm permanently around Elise at this point, but he manages to reach out with the other and quit his beer on a table or whatever in passing. "All set, thanks," he answers at Jessica. "But do yourself a favor? Just order a fucking beer. Nobody likes the asshole that orders a cocktail when it's packed at the bar." This while he scoops Elise's cocktail out of her hand for her and stuffs it over there with his beer bottle.

Minerva gets her ID checked and there's a bit of a smile to the door worker. The one eyed woman gives a look over the club and there's a moment taken to figure out where she's going to sit. She is dressed in a black dress with red accents and a pair of red pumps. Her hair is down and her makeup is done in it's usual minimalist way. She settles in at the end of the bar with a smile, "Just a beer. Whatever is in a bottle and not hot." she gives a nod to that. Her phone is settled down in front of her as she waits.

"I'm Elise!" Elise shouts back to Jessica, and then reaches behind her to pat-pat Graham on the cheek when he relieves her of her cocktail. "This is Graham! It's nice to meet you!" She's very pleasant. Very drunk, but very pleasant. "You should get shots, I'll do shots! No one's going to call you an asshole if you ask for shots," she looks behind her to Graham for confirmation of that, pulling his arm around her waist while she settles with her back against his chest; this seems like an appropriate way to dance tonight, something something nothing's wrong with a little bump and grind?

"No cocktails? But...but...I like being that asshole" Jessica pouts at Graham. But he's the professional, so he knows best. Right? And Elise has a great idea. "Shots it is!" Tequila of course. Dancing to the bar she ends up near Minerva, offering the other woman a slightly inebriated wave and smile. "Hi!" she yells over the music. "Jessica!" A pause. "I'm Jessica, I'm not calling you Jessica. Unless your name is Jessica. That would be pretty convenient." She tries to get the bartender's attention. And tries again. She should have worn a short skirt too. "Five tequila shots!"

"Shots!" Julia crows, a hand going up in the air in triumph. "Only better tonight if the right guy was here to appreciate my ass in this dress." She laughs. Minerva catches her eye, and she waves, her expression vague in her recollection of the other woman. She's not trying to think too hard about giant monster creatures eating dogs right now.

Sure, Graham is 'dancing' with Elise. At the very least, he's toeing the line of 'acceptable in public' behavior rather than just stomping right across it. Thus, he's a little distracted - being handsy and also doing things to the back of Elise's neck - when everyone starts talking about shots. "Wait, what?!" he calls over the music, blinking dumbly between Julia-Elise-Jessica. "I appreciate your ass," he shares helpfully, flashing Julia the kind of dimpled-winning smile that could probably get him in trouble. If he wasn't, yanno, pawing at his girlfriend at the exact same time.

It's a force of habit, to duck his head while passing under the door even if he clears it by a few inches. Everett tucks his chained wallet into his back pocket with his left hand while he uses his forearm to push the door open ahead of him.
And freezes. With his hand still perched over his rump, while his eyes drink in the atmosphere.
This isn't your club. You don't belong here.
But he's already here, so the large man continues forward, whatever stoic expression on his visage turning into a scowl perhaps hoping its bug spray to the crowd while he ambles up to the bar. Hand signals. Two, miming drinking and then it's time to reach for the wallet again.

Minerva gets her beer and there's a smile to the bartender as she hands over the money for it with a tip. She gives a nod to Jessica and the others, "Hey." she greets. Then she's drinking her beer and people watching for the moment as she settles comfortably in her seat. She looks to her phone with a frown, but nothing has happened to it. Maybe that's the problem.

So people will talk but Erin came anyway. Maybe because her cousin twisted her arm! Dressed in her usual expensive attire with heels that boosted her height so much she weaves her way through with a destination in sight. Straight to Julia she nudges her when she gets there and offers a light shrug. "Here I am," she says however loud above the music she has to talk to be heard. There's a look around then to see who all is here.

Julia says, "Gracias, papacita, but you'd best keep your appreciation where it belongs." laughs Julia, as she does herself a little hip shimmy so she can take in the room, and then, "ERIN!" There's a hug along with squeal, and even as she talks to Erin, she keeps dancing. "Okay, prima I only got one rule for you - one drink, one dance, and if you still don't feel good, then you can leave. Deal?""

Bennie's outfit has taken the 'little' in little black dress to heart, defying physics in some respect with female voodoo so it neither rides higher on her thighs nor lower with its halter. As per her custom when hanging out with Easton, she's chosen flat sandals that she's doctored with black ribbon that criss crosses up her calves and are tied in bows just below the knee. She might not dress like she has a million bucks, but she does her best imitation of it, with hair meticulously braided and coiled into a bun on top her head and tasteful - if a bit heavier than normal - makeup applied.

With her arm crooked into one of Easton's and Baylee's respectfully, she leads them into the club proper with a little excited bounce in her step as the first thrum of music hits them like a tidal wave. "I told you this is going to be an AH-MAZ-ING idea."

It's safe to say what Elise is doing with Graham is not 'dancing' in the traditional sense, but she's got the hip-roll thing down pretty dang well. And she doesn't plant a heel in his foot or anything, so that's a bonus, right? There's a snort of laughter at Graham's ass-appreciation, rolling her eyes as she shakes her head. "It's a nice ass," she agrees, and then proceeds to look aside as Erin comes over. At least she doesn't raise eyebrows or anything. "Hey!" she offers by way of greeting. "I'm Elise!" This might go on all night.

The excitement from her cousin does make her smile and she steps back just a tiny bit since she's dancing and all. "How about several drinks and then a dance?" Not really joking, but she laughs to herself. "I'm not in a hurry to go to my empty home either, so this wins out either way. I'll go see about getting a drink and meet you back out here in a few?" The greeting has her looking over and returning it, "Hi Elise, I'm Erin." A smile but she starts to back off towards the place to get a drink.

In light of Bennie's admonition that they are 'going out' out tonight, Easton has duly put in just a touch more effort into his outfit than normal, if no more color. A black dress shirt, rolled up past his elbows and unbuttoned to mid chest is worn over his usual dark jeans and boots. He laughs easily as Bennie pulls him and Baylee into the club, though he soon unlocks his arm, kisses Bennie on the cheek and declares, "I'm far too sober for this. Let me get us some drinks." Before approaching the bar and raising his hand, all the way up to get the bartenders attention. Look, y'all are freaking giants up in this club. And soon is ordering a round of shots and rum and cokes for the group.

It'd be all too easy to dress like she's got a million bucks, but for some reason Baylee has dressed down, way down. She's got on jeans, a t-shirt, her hair is barely styled, and she's got some make-up on, but not much. About the only concession to money she's made is in the expensive pair of over the knee boots she's wearing, "Yeah. You did say that it'll be amazing." Clubs. Right. Whew. Nothing could go wrong. It's alright.

"Well, don't be all 'everyone look at my ass' if you don't want everyone looking at your ass. I just do what I'm told." Graham puts his attention back where it belongs, though only for, like, half a second before he reels back, looking between Elise and Erin with a confused furrow to his brows. "Aren't you Erin Addington?" he asks over the music. Which means he's being too loud. Which means like nineteen people stop to blink at Erin Addington. But it was all with the best of intentions, since he goes on to add, "I think we went to high school together." (Take a drink.)

Paying, without checking what he's getting, Everett slides the money forward and exchanges the same glance he received coming in with the bouncer checking identification. They know it too. A classy bar has two rolls of chicken wire around the stage. He's out of his element. Curling fingers around two bottles, either the usual cover or he's expecting someone, the large man turns and draws a long breath letting it go with a nasal sigh.
A table, by the dance floor unfortunately, but he heads for it just in time for there to be competition. He snarls, his lip curling. Elvis did it. Rabid dogs do it. She leaves and he sets his drinks on the table. Mine.

There is a light an airy laugh from Bennie as Easton threads away to tend to his most important need: booze. Her hand trails down Baylee's arm, tangling up fingers with hers and raising their conjoined arms above their head as Bennie tends to her most important need, and that's shaking her money maker into the knot of people already grooving their thing. "Aidan'll catch up." She assures Baylee as she claims a high top table near the dance floor by dumping her overly large purse onto it and then claims a square of real estate to immediately start Basic White Girl dancing which includes a lot of waving her arms like she just don't care.

Five tequila shots arrive for Jessica and she downs one immediately. "Another one." Looking over her shoulder to see more people hanging around Julia, she updates the order. "Make it another four. And a tray to carry them." Jessica was intending to drink them all herself but she can share too. Picking up one of the glasses she places it in front of Minerva. "Here. To tide you over until they call" she smiles sympathetically. Is that Bennie? Jessica was in the same year as Bennie...but VERY different circles. If Jessica was here for work, she'd make a beeline for her old schoolmate. Bennie is lucky.

Minerva looks over when Everett approaches the bar and the one eyed woman looks up a bit, then back down. Well, someone taller than Itzhak. It was a surprise. She watches him wander off to his table as well. Though she gives a look up to Jessica and there's a smile, "Thanks." she tells her as the shot is settled down. "I'm sure they're just running late." she adds. "You have fun." she grins. Then she takes the shot and downs it before settling the glass down and then sipping her beer.

With four shots and no Aidan in sight, it's like fate when Easton hears Erin's name and sees the amount of head swivels suddenly turned her way. He shoulders through the crowd a bit towards her and says, "There you are. I got a shot and rum 'n coke with your name on it. Come on, Bennie's here." He looks around and easily identifies his girlfriend's arms beating the air. He points with his face and says, "Uh. There." And then he's turning to lead her back to the bar when he sees Graham and Elise. "Oh. Hey, it's the Queen of England." He heads back for the drinks though before they disappear, hopefully with Erin following.

"I am well aware of the magnificience of my ass, thanks Graham, but I am also aware of Elise's good left hook, and maybe you should be too." Julia teases in reply. "Thank you, Eli, you are a goddamn queen." She offers general waves to folks coming in who catch her eye. "I think I need another shot!"

"Oh sure, but she introduced herself, so I thought maybe she was already as drunk as I want to be and I figured if I gave my name I'd get the awkwardness over with." Aaaand there it was, the people blinking at her. She tilts her chin up just a little as if daring anyone to say something. "I'm going for a drink." Or twelve. For real this time though. That' when Easton approaches and she nods, following him a moment over to the bar "I don't want to be third wheel and stuff on your date, I'll be fine," she assures as she places an order for a double, on the rocks, Crown and waits.

"Of course he will." Baylee does not look ba...no, she looks behind her to see if Aidan is there. But she doesn't fight against the tide as Bennie drags her out towards a table, then to the dance floor. Poor Bennie, and those hands. Baylee isn't really that much better of a dancer, but she's at least got her arms under control.

"You have fun too" Jessica smiles to Minerva. "If you need company, we're the loud people on the dancefloor doing semaphore. Armed with a tray of tequila shots, she makes her way back towards Julia and friends; hips swaying to the music. "Anyone want one?" she yells. "I'm happy to do them all myself." A pause. "That's what she said." Jessica downs one of the glasses. "Shit. That's almost drinkable. Get stuck in."

"I'll kick his ass with my Thai kung-fu later," Elise promises to Julia with a wink, while 'threatening' Graham with another roll of her hips. He should be afraid, very afraid. She was about to say something else to Erin when the girl goes off .. and promptly forgets about it anyway because Jessica is here with shots. "I'll take two!" and that's just what she does, but at least she holds one up to Graham.

It's true that Bennie never met a stranger, so those that she actually does know? Get cheerful waves and pulled in for cheek kisses and warm hellos when they near her on the dance floor. Brushing a loose curl of hair back behind ear, the blonde's attention goes back to Baylee amid their bouncing steps to the beat. "So you have about two seconds to tell me what's the matter before Easton comes back with drinks..." She spies him over at the bar picking up his order with Erin, so maybe three seconds.

Slow on the uptake, Graham rocks forward onto his toes, the better to see over Elise's head, and watches after Erin for a second, asking below the thump of the music, "So wait, was that Erin Addington, or am I trippin'?" Then there's a drink getting shoved at him along with threats of Thai kung fu, and he knocks back the former with a laugh about the latter. "I live in a perpetual state of fear," he tells Julia. Then it's Easton with a, "Hey! What's up, Wesley!" He should be a good boyfriend like Easton is and go get more drinks, but he's going to stay here at least for a minute 'cause dancing.

Aidan does in fact catch up! It just... takes a little. He's wearing jeans and boots like Baylee is, though his jeans are red and the boots are just normal Docs. Alas. He's also wearing a sheer white chiffon tank-top which may look somewhat familiar to people who know Baylee, and through which it's fairly possible to see his tattoos for once. There's only two and they look probably pretty well done, though! He's got a cheerfully loud hawaiian shirt unbuttoned over top of that, and looks fairly cheerful himself, though the club is handling loud fine on its own. It's handy he's tall, because he's having to peer over a lot of heads to try to figure out where the Ladies B he's escorting have got to while he parked.

"I'm trying to not drink." Baylee is quick to point out, which means that being here, and Easton off fetching drinks, might be more problematic than she'd thought about when agreeing to this. There's a quick shake of her head, lips twisting lightly in a smirk before she lifts her hands up, spreading them outwards, "I give myself thirty minutes before I forget and drink anyways."

"Shots!" Julia crows in repitition, and seems happy to relieve Jessica of some of her burden. (She is not throwing away her shot.) She knocks it back, does a twirl, and continues to encourage Erin to get her proverbial freak on.

The call of Wesley, causes Easton to smirk to himself, but it took a while for him to realize Graham was responding to him. By then he's already at the bar, "It's not a date, it's a group of us." Easton offers Erin Aidan's shot and drink, but if she's got something else in mind, well then 'don't mind if I do.' Easton downs two of the shots and carries the rest of the drinks over to the table with a practiced hand navigating a dance floor with a tray of drinks. He sets them on the table by Bennie' giant bag and takes up his drink. He's not exactly rushing out on the floor yet, so Baylee has time. He pops up into a chair at the hightop, content to drink for now. The good news for Baylee is that if she keeps dancing, he's going to forget he got those drinks for other people.

"You're not tripping, but.." Elise doesn't finish the 'but' because she's very busy taking that shot like a champ while trying not to snort tequila up her nose when she laughs about how Graham lives. "You should've seen the bloody nose I gave him, he better watch himself," she tells Julia with a wink, before there's an adoring smile passed upwards to Graham. At the shout of 'Wesley', she stretches on her heels to look over, squinting at Easton there in the distance. "Is that the guy from the Pourhouse?" That question's directed to Graham, obv.

"Is this because you slept with Easton?" Why oh why does the song decide to change at Just. That. Moment. Bennie's voice is unintentionally loud, meaning to speak over a thumping beat, but instead there is just that brief break in music that she accidentally fills the void of.

Looking down at his bottles, Everett curls a paw around one, and starts to peel a portion of the label off in small pieces, using his thumbnail to scratch the paper down to the glass. The activity is done for a moment, enough to scratch a line an inch or so long. His head is lifted, to give a cursory glance at those around him and then a pull from the bottle, Adam's apple bobbing.
Attention returns down to his beer and with a cant of his head, turns the bottle slightly, resuming a few more scratches. Shouts for shots lifts his head again, then a glance to the bouncers, then back down to his craft.

Minerva gives a smile to Jessica, "Thank you for the offer. It's appreciated." she tells her. Then she watches her head off. She turns back to the bar and there's a question asked to her by a guy that's sitting at the bar near her that makes her roll her eye at him. She finishes her first beer off and settles the bottle down on the counter, "Can I get another?" she asks with a black lipped smile.

Erin gets her drink and glances over with a wave to Bennie. Instead of going back there though, she tells Easton. "I'm going to go sit near the dance floor so I can watch the dancing. Thank you though, I appreciate it." Walking over to the last taken table she glances at the guy there, Everett, and looks as if she's about to say something. Instead, she just pulls out a chair and joins him at the table without asking. "Thanks," she says dismissively, in advance for the chair.

"Why?!" That's Graham, reacting to whoever Baylee, who just said she's trying not to drink, though he has no clue who actually uttered those words. A look goes around, at all the people he's already seen drinking, and whatever, he puts his empty shot glass down over there with the growing collection of empty drinks. Anyway, he kisses Elise on her adoring smile and is still mostly doing that when he answers, "I dunno," about the guy from the Pourhouse. "I mean, yeah, that's the guy. And I'm, like, seventy-two percent certain that Julia's dancing with Erin Addington right now. Or trying to, anyway. Hey, what happened to the chick that was bringing us drinks?" His sigh is huge 'cause now he's gonna have to detach himself from Elise and go get drinks himself, gdi.

Yep, Jessica is convinced that's the Bennie from school. She always had a way of talking about sex. Loudly. At inopportune moments. At least that is what the Latinx heard since she was usually in the library at high school - though she also read something similar on bathroom walls. Bennie made quite an impression in her brief time at school. At least a few of her drinks have been taken away but that still leaves her with...a quick count, and then another one...five. Four after she downs another. "Still plenty here" she notes, while also holding the tray back away from the others a little.

"Erin, prima, come back and daaaaaane with me!" Julia calls out. Wait, somebody slept with somebody? Oh, well. The rhythm is gonna get you. Gloria Estafan says so.

Pushing the one untouched bottle of beer to the edge of his table, Everett bends over, and over. Aaaand over the table to rest his elbows on the surface. Shifting his weight to his right leg, his left bent then swaying on top tip while he continues to pour his attention in carving.
And then he has company. Just like that? Yeah, just like that. She's given a look, his army green eyes the only thing he lifts. "Go away," the warm welcome is given, his voice deep but not quite a basso profondo. He looks back down again, amassing more paper trash on his table. "Can't you see I'm brooding?"

"Well that's one reason, but not the entire reason." It's a damn good thing that Baylee has zero shame, and isn't easy to embarrass, or this might be hella awkward suddenly. "Like...just general poor decision making skills, and trying to not get ruled by them." Which has nothing to do with the specific decision made, Bennie! But maybe to prove just how many bad(good) decisions she can make sober, she takes advantage of the next song to drag Bennie in close for less Basic White Girl arm flailing dancing. The WHY, evidently was answered, Graham, since he's listening in. She's a bad decision maker.

Hearing her cousin, Erin lifts her glass, she's got to get some drinks inside before dancing. After a drink she focuses on the guy at the table she'd joined. The welcome isn't missed, she arches one perfect brow while her lips twitch in wry amusement. "Brooding is more fun when there's someone to bitch to. When you're alone, no one knows you're brooding. So start bitching, I'm in the mood to hear someone else is having as bad a year as I am."

"Seventy-two? That's a weird percentage," Elise says back to Graham, before she points a thumb at Jessica and reapplies his arm around her waist. "She's right there, G, it's not like she wandered away! Hey, how do you know Julia?" this question is asked to Jessica while she relieves her of another two tequila shots. One is held up to Graham, whilst she downs the other.

Watching Baylee drag Bennie in close causes Easton's eyebrows to raise. Wait is he going to get to watch his girlfriend make out with another girl? Not one to passively hope for things, Easton is a man of action. He calls out, "Make out already!" to the two women. He sees Aidan walking around and tries to flag him down, but again, short people problems.

"Hey, me too." Graham is way too happy to have someone else with poor decision-making skills around. "What'd you do?" He missed the part where Baylee banged someone. "'Cause unless charges got filed, I guarantee you, my shit was stupider." He smiles with the high-beams and the dimples, like he's really trying to help brighten someone else's day, not at all like he's just watching chicks dance with each other. "Who's right where? Who are we even talking about?" Cool, more shots, he drinks that and, with the glass still in hand, throws a thumbs-up at Easton back there with the 'make out already' (with the arm not around Elise so she never has to know about his endorsement).

An air kiss is blown Erin's way before Bennie's laugh comes easily as she's drawn in by Baylee. Because if she's harboring any ill will about said incident, it's buried deep beneath her layer of sunshine so far it'll never see the light of day. Her legs splice around one of Baylee's as she bops a little lower with a booty pop complete with duck face that lasts for a few measures of the song before she realizes that Easton is back at the table when he cat calls. "Looks like he just got you a coke!" Because surely Easton knew that Bailey wasn't drinking and there is no way there is Jack in there, right? With another laugh, she plants a quick kiss on Baylee's mouth and then drags her back to the table to do shots (If there any remaining!)

The big man looks up again. He levels a look at his companion until he blinks and then stands erect. Sighing, deeply put upon, Everett casts a glance over his shoulder from where hence he imagines she'd came from, then brushes his hair over his shoulder with the hand he'd been using to scratch out better labels as evidenced by the scrap of white now tangled in his hair.
Ever have one of those moments when you don't know you just said the worst thing?
"Why? Someone you love die?"

In possible proof of Baylee's poor decisions, that's about when Aidan's friend-spotting results in him ending up in her and Bennie's general vicinity, and he slides in behind her, wrapping arms around her waist (and Bennie's, now that Baylee's pulled her in close enough that between would just be awkward) and resting his chin on her shoulder. Which means she can hear the laugh when he makes out what Easton yelled, glancing over in the direction of the voice he thinks he recognizes, and also when he adds with a grin, "I mean, don't let me interrupt. I can go try to make out with Easton. It's gotta be my turn by now, right?" He's just letting go to go do that (maybe) when Bennie starts dragging Baylee back as well, so at least he won't lose them again. Probably.

Elise is blissfully unaware of Graham's endorsement to see two chicks kiss or whatever, but she heard somebody shout that they should make out already. And, well, Elise thinks that shout's for her, which explains why she twists about in Graham's arm, grabs him by the ears, and pulls him into a kiss. MWAH! "His shit was way stupider," she says over his shoulder to Baylee afterward, "So it could be worse?"

"Us Latinx are naturally drawn to each other" Jessica explains to Elise about her knowing Julia. "Who else are we going to complain in Spanish about white people with" she winks. Damn, they keep taking her shots. She's going to need more at this rate. How terrible. "Julia is even organising a Latin night soon. You think the dancing here is wild?" A wiggle of her eyebrows before she has to put the tray down to get her groove on better. No one to dance with, so she dances with everyong. "How long have you two been dating!" she yells at Elise and Graham. But then they're kissing and Jessica will give them some space.

Julia catches Bennie and Erin's kiss, which has her stop and stare for a blink, and then she laughs giddily, like she's a little kid who just got the best toy ever. Everybody's kissing, and she seems to approve of this. She looks over at Jessica and laughs. "I'm not entirely sure everyone can handle it! But the Hispanic Festival's coming up in like, a month."

There is nothing but a flip of the middle finger for Easton, because...well. Because Baylee clearly wasn't going to try and steal his girlfriend from him when he wasn't looking, but there is a kiss and her brows go upwards. "Well okay then." She offers, a hand moving to grab Aidan's hand, because in all the chaos she didn't miss that he found them, even if the dancing ends quickly after. So as she gets drug, she drags Aidan, calling towards Graham and Elise, "Never had any charges stick!"

Graham should not stop kissing Elise just so he can say, "I told you they were talking shit in Spanish, I fucking told you," after Jessica's admission, but damned if he doesn't blurt that out into the middle of that lip-lock, flailing so he can point vaguely in the direction of Jessica and Julia. Having been proven so right, he shares one more high-beam smile for Baylee and notes, "Then you don't have any priors, so what're you worried about? Drink up!" yw for da pro-tip

Erin looks after Bennie and smiles, blowing a kiss back. Settled as she is at the table she nurses the drink, not going for a fast drunk but heading there on a slow, steady path. Even when the man looks put upon, Erin keeps there at the table, not really caring about interrupting. Except Karma's a bitch isn't it? Erin knows that most everyone knows who she is and so she makes the assumption he does too. Especially with it being said out loud several times. It never really occurs to her that he doesn't know her. So when the question comes, it sets the Addington off. Without even thinking, she reacts and lifts a hand, the one not hold the drink, and attempts to throw a punch at him from her seat.

There are two tequila shots and three rum and cokes at the table with Easton, so they aren't too late. He hops off his stool to enthusiastically greet Bennie with a quick kiss and offer her the chair. He shakes his head and says, "I'm going to assume that was just the warmup? I still probably need a few more in me before I'm quite warmed up enough to hit the floor." Baylee and Aidan get an upnod and an explanation, "Wasn't sure what you were drinking, but I'm ready for round two so let me know what want and I'll head up." Yea, he's apparently getting after it tonight. (okay, the tonight part wasn't really required in that statement)

And then of course Erin throws a punch. Easton's on his way over toward her table with little more than a muttered "fuck" and growled "Move" to anyone in the angry little man's way.

Minerva's phone lights up and she smiles at that. Until she sees the message. There's a bit of a frown and she downs the beer she was working on. "Can I get another?" she asks the tender and seems to focus on her drinking for the moment. There's a moment taken to pick up the phone and shoot a text off. But she seems like she's going to get over whatever just happened. Then...someone is trying to throw a punch. Huh.

Elise leans back to look sideways at Graham when he stops smooching to blurt that out. Like, really dude? But she just rolls her eyes and smacks him on the bottom, before she turns back around to address Jessica. "Uhhh, a month?" she replies to Jessica's question, though she doesn't seem entirely certain. "I've known him for forever, he's my best friend!" And not in that weird like, my boyfriend is my best friend 'cuz we're dating sort of way. She probably has more to say, but punches go flying, and there's a gasp from Elise. "Oh shit, I think Erin Addington just tried to knock that guy out."

Bennie plops down in the offered chair, leaning with plans to snag Easton by the waistband of his jeans before...shit, did Erin just try to punch that dude? She scrambles to take a shot really quickly - priorities - and then trails after to help! Muttering, "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god." As she does.

"Oh, shit!" Julia half gasps, half laughs as Erin tries to punch the guy near her table. Ambling her way over, she's grinning wolfishly to Erin. "Tengo que quitarme los pendientes, prima?" Because if they're going to scrap, she realy does neeed to take her hoops out of her ears.

One of the things about dancing in a club owned by a notorious crime lord is that there's a strict zero tolerance policy when it comes to fighting. Can't be having the police roll up in this joint, after all. So when even the notion of a fight seems like it's brewing, the security is all over it. The GIGANTIC bouncer materializes on the peripheral of this cluster, all ready to dive in and break up the fight, or at least be a presence that silently commands people to behave themselves.

"Yeah, she did. And I think Erin Addington's about to get her ass tossed in the parking lot." Graham chin-tips toward Andre's approach. He should go, like, help or something since he works here and all, but he just uses it as an excuse to pull Elise into him more, saying things into her ear that aren't fit for polite company.

Violence! In a bar? That almost never happens. Which means it is a story. Paricularly with Erin involved. And being a journalist, Jessica knows exactly who she is. Plus, the man she took a swing at...or in the general vicinity...is about three times the size of the Addington girl. Time for Jessica to save the day. She rushes over, shot glasses sliding off the tray onto a table - some shattering. But now she has a weapon; an aluminum circle of death. "Leave her alone!" The tray raised to smash down on Everett's head, or glance off harmlessly, Jessica means business. And so does that huge security guard she nervously smiles at.

He sees the rage in her eye. And it's no stranger to him.
Fortunately for him she'd forgotten she has a drink in her hand, or maybe she hasn't. But when she swings the big guy swipes the air. Like shooing an annoying gnat, and slaps her hand out of the way. His first reaction then is to look at the bouncers, he had noted their locations before, and now he's glad he did when he gives them a quick check with a half-step back and putting his hands up defensively.
"Hey, hey. Hey." The right corner of his mouth upturned in a soft smirk. "I get it. I'm sorry. Why don't I--," he looks around again, this time it's not at the employees but at the attention. That's what you want. A reputation for smacking around ladies. There's a quick flash of pink, he wets his lips. "-- let me buy you a drink." He points to the untouched bottle he had left on the table, "I apologize," he points, hand on his chest, upwards, "I'll just go."
Backwards step. Backwards step. Hands lifted again, unaware he's backing into getting tray-bonked.

It was a reaction new to Erin, the urge to curl up a fist and smash it into someone else. Pure fury is spitting from her eyes just long enough for him to stop and alter her forward movement by so very easily swatting her hand away. It twists her and she falls face first onto the table, bumping that perfect nose of hers! Lifting her head she winces as blood trickles from it and she lifts her now empty hand, because her drink went out of bounds. "Well, damn." It's her own fault, she knows it is, but it lessen her anger so much. Getting to her feet with as much dignity as possible, she glances at those gathered, cheeks flaming, embarrassed, even as the bouncer approaches. "I'm going, I'm going." There's an apologetic look not to him, but to her friends and her cousin. But with her head held high she turns on her heels (very expensive heels) and marches for the door.

Aidan blinks in the direction of all the furore, watching half his tablemates take off after it, and then glances to Baylee. "I'm gonna... not go get involved in that," he decides, and tries to tug her chair closer to his instead now they're sat, so he can lean in and talk to her more easily. "Should I get us, like, sodas or something? Well, when people stop trying to hit each other by the bar, anyway?"

Watching Erin face plant into the table, and the big guy take it extremely well, Easton slows his approach. By the time the bouncer is there, he's all but stopped and is just watching Erin. She then does as admirable a job as possible of trying to walk out with any dignity still in tact, and Easton turns to Bennie to ask, "Should I offer her a ride home?" He looks leery of saying anything to Erin right about now, and then offers the less direct, "Or just text Geoff a heads up that maybe she's not doin' so hot?"

"I'm staying out of it, too." Look at this! Good decisions already, guys. She leans over towards Aidan to kiss his cheek before she shakes her head, "You can drink." She crosses her legs, letting her attention swing towards the people at the bar before she reaches for the coke on the table, passing it towards Aidan instead of drinking the drink herself. She fully suspects that there is alcohol in it, and Aidan can have it, or at least check it for more than coke.

Minerva gives a look over the situations that are unfolding and she finishes the last of her beers and her second shot of tequila. She gives her phone one more look and then shrugs as she tosses it into the coffin clutch she carries. Stood up was about par for the course with the evening. She gets to her feet. A little sway in her willowy frame and makes her way for the door.

Bennie comes up behind Easton, hands going to his upper arms to cup them and peer over his shoulder as the situation dissolved. "Text Geoff..." She says quietly, ducking her face into the slant of his shoulder to impart the words quietly as he turns. "If I were Erin, I wouldn't want an audience right now." Though her eyes go in sympathy to the Addington as she departs, her own instinct to go after her kept in check with a curl of her fingers into the ex-Marine's biceps. Oooh, biceps. She's easily distracted, okay?

Julia looks a bit like someone kicked her puppy when Erin leaves. The only way to console herself is with another drink. And Erin got to drink and sock someone, so maybe she got some ctharsis. Which is the point, really.

Keeping his hands up, Everett turns his torso to follow Erin until she gets to the other end of the dance floor. His hands come down then, as he clears his throat. Most people seem, too, to sense there's (little) blood in the water and are dispersing. A look given to the table that was his, his beers, the on he'd only managed to carve N and O into remain. Brows uplifted, Everett gives Andre a nod, more of a question, if he's allowed to stay.

Some finagling leaves Graham with an arm around either of Elise's shoulders, tucking her right into his side while he says, "How 'bout I promise to throw you over my shoulder when we get to the house? Next best thing, right?" He's steering her on toward the door now, having thrown a pair of thumbs-up at Andre for a job well done, man. He should probably say bye or whatever to all the people they've been hanging out with, but he forgets to do that. 'Cause short skirts, man, he's easily distracted, too!

Jessica happily hands over the tray to Andre the Giant before gesturing back at the damaged glasses. "I'll...umm...fix that up too." She backs away, smiling sweetly, before turning her attention on the departing Erin. Should she go and interview her right now? If she was television...definitely. But she will let her be. Everett gets a scowl - by brushing off her attempted punch he's probably down for assault - before she is heading back to Julia and friends. "Me hico el tonto?" she asks Julia with a blush to her cheeks that is not alcohol.

Erin continues to make her way outside. Once there, if anyone happens to notice, she gets into her Maserati. Into the passenger side. Then the car drives off down the street piloted by a mystery driver.

Julia gives Jessica an airy wave of her hand. "Girl, you fine. Get back in here. Tomorrow Erin will wake up with a hangover and a sense of relief, I promise you."

Elise gets tucked, and really, it looks like the best time for leaving is now. But Andre does get a wave and a smile before she scoffs in Graham's direction. "Wimp," she sticks her tongue out at him before she gives him a pat on the ass, tap-tap, light encouragement to hurry up and leave. She does wave to Julia on her way out though.

Aidan accepts the glass from Baylee, leaning to give her a kiss on the temple in return. "You should drink something, though," he says, "so you don't dehydrate," before taking a sip of the Coke. Yup. That is not just Coke. "Not this though. We could go see if they can make anything interesting?" Another sip. "Orrr we could just go dance." He's got half an eye on all the kerfuffle, just because it's interesting, but it seems like it's simmering down right quick.

Pulling out his phone, Easton fires off a text or two with a small shake of his head. He also gets distracted though by Bennie's hands on him and leans back into her and starts to dance. He slides the phone back in his pocket and shimmies to the music, at least trying to get into a groove even if he would really prefer to have a few more drinks in him first. He reaches across and takes Bennie's hand to spin her around in front of him. "I believe you promised me an 'AH-MAZ-ING' time Ms. Oakes." His light mockery of her earlier statement is accompanied by a mischievous wink.