Cabriolet

LUCY NIELSEN
A brow lifted at his refusal, and a lecture balanced on the edge of her tongue, but blinking, Lucy shook it off. Stress was powerful, and not just emotionally or mentally... it was exhausting, physically, and she could see it in Killian. In his eyes and the tightness of his shoulders. A lecture would only add to that, and maybe he was right - maybe what he really needed was to let go for a few hours. To live a little.

"...Yeah. I'll come back with you." She said with a nod, "But you're right. This whole mess... all of it, it's like we're balancing on a tightrope when the ground is two inches away, and all we need to do is jump. So we'll go back, and get changed. And then we're going out. Maybe we'll save the sports cars and loose women for another night, though? Cause that sounds more like how we die..." Biting her lip, she shrugged, "I just wanna forget, for a little while."

There was a chance of course, that he wouldn't want her to go... they weren't exactly in the best position for being each other's wingmen, but what they did have was the solidarity of all that was happening around them. The murders... Rob... even Liliana, to an extent. It was enough to make even the biggest control freak in the city a mess. A few hours of forgoing the rules and maybe they'd be able to sort out what was going on without shaking apart.

Maybe... just maybe.
 
Killian Hopper
"We?" he echoed, sliding into the back of the car after her. "I'm not sure that's a great idea." She wasn't scolding him, but he had a hard time letting go of the worry that she'd have something to say about his night's life choices, which he knew ahead of time were not going to be great. Furthermore, it seemed like they couldn't go fifteen minutes of civil conversation before they were back at each other's throats, and he wasn't sure how alcohol would stir together in that mix. He looked at her with a heavy layer of doubt in his eye, but he eventually shrugged just as the car pulled out back into traffic, turning off the turnpike that headed towards the Killian Hopper estate.

"I won't stop you though, if you wanna come out," he finalized after a few moments of silence. "But… but," he clarified, pausing a moment to clear his throat. He leaned to the side, slouching against the arm rest in the door of the car and staring out at the city as it passed by. "You are not allowed to criticize me for any choices I make. You're not my therapist. In return, I will not pick at your shortcomings constantly or pick a fight. Do we have a deal?"

Maybe he'd pick up some girl in a club. Maybe he'd try some illicit substance. He didn't know what sort of trouble he was going to get in, but he didn't want to feel like he had a babysitter tied to him. In the same vein, he didn't want to hurt Lucy more than he already had. He needed a night out desperately. A night away from expectation and responsibility, a night that he could spend forgetting about everything that was sitting on his plate. It wouldn't go away, hell, he wouldn't even be able to forget for long… but for a few hours of sin, he could put it all aside.

The rest of the drive, Killian was quiet. He stared out the window as the city transitioned to desert with only a small splattering of houses. The towncar pulled up the drive and growled to a stop right outside the front doors.

"Thanks, Tom," Killian said in passing as he pushed open the door and went to get out. His body ached, and his head still throbbed something fierce. No amount of water or aspiring would cure it, he realized, but a few shots would do the trick.

 
LUCY NIELSEN
"Deal." There was no hesitation. Not for a moment. Whether internally she felt the same way it was difficult to tell, but outwardly, at least, she was determined to prove she could do this... Have a night out. Be an adult. Let loose... And not do what was expected of her.

The idea of Killian getting himself further into trouble... Of the irresponsibility of it definitely weighed heavy on her mind, but not enough so that she was willing to add to the damages he'd already endured. He was an intelligent man, and she couldn't be his conscience if he was determined to go without her to avoid the nagging. Climbing into the towncar, she looked out the window at the Cabriolet and frowned. Couldn't get much worse than it already was...

The drive back to Killian's was nearly silent, and when they arrived, Lucy disappeared upstairs to change. She wasn't accustomed to nights out on the town, but on a whim she had packed a little black dress that she wore out on the odd dinner date. It wasn't scandalous, but fitted, with a deeply plunging back and lace accents that pushed it just slightly out of her conservative wheelhouse. Heels and a pair of hoop earrings joined the dress, and reapplying her make up, with a dash of perfume, she was ready.

In the foyer, clutching her purse with perhaps more nerves than should have been necessary, she waited for Killian.
 
Killian Hopper
Changing, and having run a little water through his hair and washing his face, Killian proceeded downstairs in his deep navy suit, fiddling with the clasp of his watch as he proceeded. A keyring was hooked around his middle finger on his left hand, keys jingling against his palm. Only when he hooked the two ends of his watch, securing it on his wrist, did he glance up and meet Lucy. She was dressed up for their night out a little more than he was expecting, considering she hadn't brought that much luggage back with her when they went to her apartment last.

"Ready?" he asked, though didn't wait for a response before proceeding past her and down towards the garage. He didn't have time to wait for a town car and he wasn't going to roll up in a taxicab, so that left him only one option: to drive himself. "Ever taken a ride in a Lamborghini before?" he asked, glancing back over his shoulder as he proceeded down into the garage.

In the long line of cars, none of them particularly stood out any more than any other. They were all high gloss vehicles, incredible feats of human engineering and design. In total, the garage must have been worth a pretty penny, but there were a few vehicles that carried a slightly heavier price tag than the rest, one being the midnight blue Lamborghini that sat almost entirely unassuming at the far end of one row. The car's lights illuminated when he pressed the automatic start and the engine purred for a second, before roaring to life. The doors slid open on their own, not out, but up, as it waited in its parking spot.

"Get in.This is one of the first cars I bought once my businesses really began to take off. It's the only one I'm sort of sentimental to."

The navy blue vehicle sat next to same brand vehicles, but newer models, but there was always something to be said about the first of anything, and that car was Killian's first. Like the first girl he kissed in high school, she was special, though she didn't end up married at nineteen with four kids. "So, how much nightlife in Vegas have you actually seen first hand? Hell, have you actually ever been to a club? Any club?"

 
LUCY NIELSEN
Lucy followed after Killian back into the garage, and as the doors opened, she sank into the Lamborghini with the same appreciation she had all of the other magnificent vehicles he owned. She wasn't a woman who cared much for material things, but she would never turn her nose up at a luxury vehicle for anything. Sleek sophistication could be felt in the lines of the car, in the curve of the seat. Buckling in, she sighed with contentment.

"Stunning. Absolutely stunning..." She breathed, before glancing over to Killian. She had little doubt in mind that he knew the answer to the question he was asking, and it brought a small smile to her lips as she considered it, shaking her head, "Never. Well, not intentionally. I've been out a few times for bachelorette parties... some of my patients inviting me, to keep their heads on straight, but on my own, for recreational reasons? I'm sure you can imagine my views."

Or at least, what they were before she'd decided to try and improve herself, by branching out a little. Rules. They seemed so ridiculous in retrospect. Keeping herself from living any sort of life, out of fear of losing control. That, in itself, was out of control. And she had wasted so much time and energy on it, "You needn't worry though. I don't need a babysitter." Her eyes shifted to him, with a small, coy smirk, "I don't mean to behave."
 
Killian Hopper
"Even if you needed a babysitter, it wouldn't be me." He flipped up the visor and eased the car on to the turnpike, closing the garage door behind him. As they coasted, he shifted into a higher gear and sat back, letting the car accelerate down the mostly empty road without any hesitation, seeming to know exactly where he was going. He relaxed with one hand on the steering wheel, and a serious look to his face. Once on the Strip, he seemed to sit up a little, passing by luxury casino-hotel after luxury casino-hotel, a few of them his, but his eyes never cast away from the chaos of the streets. Las Vegas lit up like a Christmas tree at night, the sidewalks burdened with partygoers of all ages.

Near the end of the Strip, where the streets get slightly quieter, though not by much, Killian pulled the car into a circular drive and diminished it to a halt in front of a lavish club, with the word 'MINT' backlit in malachite green lights. Two bouncers in tuxedos stood out front with clipboards, and the line approaching the doors was enormous, wrapping well around the building and down the Strip.

The engine was left engaged as he slid from the seat, passing the valet boy a hundred-dollar bill as he passed, glancing back for Lucy to follow him to the front doors, skipping the line. The bouncer, with a polished bald head and a neck as thick as a quarter back's forearm lifted his lip back.

"Mr Hopper," he said, stepping aside so they could enter.

"Welcome to Mint," Killian mentioned to Lucy off-handedly as they walked through the front doors, past the line, and into a narrow, dark hallway vibrating with the bass of music. The hall emptied into a large room with a square bar at its heart, and a DJ stage to the far back. Inside of Mint, it was like dancing on Northern Lights; beneath the dry-ice smoke swirled an array of blues, greens, and golds. The music played over the dance floor as if it had fused with the bodies. It was a rich person's club, there were no two ways about it.

Men were well-dressed in suits, sipping cocktails with diamond encrusted watches, flashing keys to expensive import cars. The women were starved skinny, model pretty, and all in heels that gave them four, five inches of height.

Lucy didn't want to be babysit, and Killian didn't want a babysitter, so he didn't hesitate to head straight up to the bar, his arm hooking around a pretty woman sitting on the edge of the bar in a slinky red dress with pristine black skin.

"It's been a hot minute, Amaya," he said to her with a grin.

"Killian!" the woman laughed, throwing her head back and sweeping her eyes over his face, hesitating on Lucy for a moment, before returning to him. "A celebratory body shot for your return?"

"Mm, how could I say no?"

The woman slid off the bar, her heels hitting the floor as she leaned back across the top. Wearing a dress, she hiked it up to her bra, revealing black, lacy underwear, before throwing herself back across. A bartender placed a shot glass on to the woman's bare stomach, right in the nook of her belly button, and spilled a healthy shot of whiskey into it.

"Bottom's up, sweetheart," the woman laughed, throwing her head back as Killian placed his arms to either side, taking the shot, and dropping the glass from between his teeth on to the bar. He pressed a kiss into the woman's side, right below her ribcage before rolling to his back, elbows propped up against the bar.

"Lucy, how do you feel about a body shot?"
 
LUCY NIELSEN
It was a little different in theory than it was in execution, and as Lucy passed through the doors of Mint on Killian's heels, there was no other way to say it except that she felt utterly out of place. The women were stunning, the men like polished marble, and between the driving beat of the music and the flashing lights, she felt like a four year old with sensory overload.

But she was determined not to be a wet blanket, and despite her nerves, she could feel a sense of adrenaline filling her that was entrancing. It didn't stop the concern from rolling through her however, at Killian's behavior. He was a man on the edge - a man who had everything on the line - and he seemed fairly close to losing control... the bad sort of control, where one became sloppy and indecent, and wound up with more than one regret the following day. She wasn't there to lecture or nag, but she wasn't there to watch him implode, either... and she wasn't afraid to ruin his night if it meant keeping him alive and out of jail.

He didn't need to know that, however, and she wasn't about to advertise it. As he sidled up to the bar and looped his arms around a woman sitting there, Lucy's brow rose, but she said nothing. It was with a twinge of discomfort she watched the display a moment later, but she held it all in with a dignified, if not indifferent expression. When Killian turned his question to her, however, she couldn't quite hold the look of shock that momentarily crossed her features.

"...Depends on the body, I guess." She said, coolly, but a moment later, recovered nicely, adding with a note of ease, "Who's taking it? Me or you?"
 
Killian Hopper
It burned all the way down. The shot wasn't poured from a cheap liquor store bottle, but that didn't change the fact that it scorched his throat like a brilliant fire. He cleared his throat and threw his head back, relishing in the heat it provided. It would be several more shots and mixed drinks before he was inebriated, but it didn't matter. He was on the path to a carefree night, even though he could see the look in Lucy's eyes: like she was fighting every fiber of her being not to say something adverse about what he had done, and what he'd continue to do. He wondered if she'd break her promise.

Levelling his head once more, he looked back to Lucy through half-opened eyes as the woman next to him slid off the bar and adjusted her garments properly. Covering everything, though admittedly, barely. She flashed a dazzling, manicured smiled and turned back to the bar to fetch her half-sipped down cocktail drink.

"You, of course," Killian replied. "I've already proven I'll do them. Come on," he pushed off the bar with a slight shake of his head, turning his weight on to one hip and dropping cash on the bar for a round of shots. "You wanted to come out and be… oh, what did you say in the car? You didn't plan to behave? It looks to me like you're behaving. Lighten up, no one is going to judge you for anything." He couldn't believe he was trying to talk her into anything, let alone completely relinquishing her grasp on control. He'd promised her he wasn't going to be her babysitter, and that he wouldn't pick an argument.

Sighing, he only shrugged and offered a small smile in her direction. "Suit yourself, though," he clarified after a moment's pause. "If you don't want to stay, I can get you a ride home. I don't want you to sit out all night and be miserable. I know you're babysitting me, but you really don't need to." His tone wasn't assaulting. Though in other circumstances, he might have been offended. There, he knew she was coming from a place of concern. "Despite what you may think, I'm a big boy and can handle the consequences of my actions."

The shots were delivered, slid across the bar. Killian gripped one immediately and threw it back before returning the empty glass. "So, what'll it be, Lucy?"
 
LUCY NIELSEN
A brow lifted as he called her out, her own words the ammunition he used to take her down. Slowly, she shook her head, as she eyed the shots slid across the bar top. She wasn't a prude. Conservative, perhaps, but by choice... and those sorts of things... Body shots and keg stands and late drunken nights stumbling home... walks of shame from strangers cars? They were for frat boys and desperate girls with daddy issues.

But there was something infuriating in Killian's behavior. Something that drove her to a place of near competitiveness... a place she didn't entirely feel comfortable. There was too much risk in competition, and this wasn't a dumb game of half-drunk darts or Pac Man. She wanted to keep him safe, to make sure he didn't completely fall apart, or worse yet... wrap his car around a light pole, and she would gladly make a fool of herself if that's what it took... but whether or not Killian understood it, there was a lot more than pride at stake.

Watching him, her eyes fixed on him, as she reached out for one of the shots and without turning away, she threw it back, then shifting, she hiked her dress up over her hips, just past the lace waistline of the boyshorts she wore, and pulled herself onto the bar top. She wasn't as mortified as she expected but then, she had stripped down in front of him before... And there was something bigger, something more important to prove. It wasn't about letting go or breaking the rules. It was showing him that she wasn't afraid to compromise herself to keep him from self destructing, "Well, big boy? Handle it."
 
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Killian Hopper
He'd expected her to pick up a shot and take one herself, not splay herself out across the bar with her dress hiked up. His eyes grazed over her form, landing on her face, which didn't seem to be lacking confidence, but nor did she look particularly keen. Two shots in and not one to back away from a challenge, Killian placed the cold shot glass in the groove of her navel, one of his hands coming to rest on her hip bone as he did. He wrapped his mouth around the rim and dropped his head back, letting the alcohol slide all the way down his throat and pulled the glass free, setting it back down on the bar, empty.

Just like he had with the woman before, Killian dropped his head to press an alcohol-laden kiss against Lucy's side, just below her ribcage. Afterwards, he straightened, resting his weight on his hand next to her head and pressing a second kiss against her cheek.

"You're not half bad, when you're not being so stuffy," he teased. Three shots in a stretch of five minutes hit him rather abruptly. Though the room wasn't spinning nor did his speech slur, he could feel the warmth and tingles rushing through his veins. He didn't care about self-destructing, or whether or not he was going to. All he cared about was the pleasant burn.

He stepped back, his hand sliding away from Lucy's hip so he could shake his head as the unpleasant taste made its way down his taste buds. He'd call the burn pleasant, but the first few seconds of the raw alcohol stung his gums. He'd have to start switching to mixed drinks there quickly if he planned to make it a few hours into the morning, because those shots were going down too easy, too quick.

"Now, get down here and drink," he said. Picking up the last shot from the bar, he handed it out to her. "You're too sober."

 
LUCY NIELSEN
The first kiss had not surprised her... she had seen him do it with Amaya, and while her stomach fluttered at the motion of it, in her mind she knew it was little more than a tease - a part of the game. Both the actual game and whatever game he was playing with her, personally. The second one, however... pressed against the apple of her cheek brought color to her skin, and sitting upright, Lucy frowned at him, tugging her dress back down over her narrow waist and hips.

"Not entirely sure how I feel about this version of you..." She admitted, slipping off the bar top. It wasn't said with an air of judgment or offense, but rather a note of curiosity. It was always a little difficult to tell what aspects of Killian were real and what was calculated... thrown in there to throw her off. She wasn't dumb enough to think he really genuinely wanted her there with him - especially since by word and deed she'd made it pretty clear she was more chaperone than wingman, but whether it was because he found her stuffy, and difficult to have fun around... or because it wasn't so easy to act out with her weighing on his conscience, she couldn't tell...

Either way, she had to agree... she was entirely too sober, and that particular feeling made it difficult to sort through the rest. Reaching for the remaining shot, she tossed it back, setting it beside the empty glasses. Reaching out, she straightened Killian's collar, her lip curved in a small, subtle smirk, and leaned in, she whispered near the shell of the man's ear, "The night is young, Mr. Hopper... and I've only just begun."

Pulling back, she tapped his chin, then with a wink turned back to the bar, wiggling her finger around the empty shot glasses, "Fill 'em up." And when the new tray was placed, she plucked up one more and giving Killian a salute with it, tossed it back with the others.
 
Killian Hopper
"You've only just begun, have you?" he mused, raising his chin a little and lolling his head to the side so she could straighten his collar all she wanted. "Well, so has this version of me, so, we'll see where I wake up tomorrow morning." He had every intention to get drunk—real drunk—and forget about everything: murders, Liliana, his hotels. He would spend the quantity of his entire off-shore bank account if he had to. Three shots down, he didn't care about much aside from getting more. Perhaps it was a bad life choice. In fact, he already knew it probably was, but so was waiting around for the police to show up and bang on his front door.

He had limited options available to him, and this was the lesser of many evils.

Lucy finished the last shot and, like magic, they were refilled as though they had been produced in the Horn o' Plenty. He took the shot offered to him and rolled his head back, swallowing it down and setting down the glass. Four shots in five minutes had been a little woozy for a split second, but the burn subsided and the shots became less revolting with each one that passed through his lips.

"Excuse me." A man, nothing short of a sun-kissed Grecian, stepped up behind Lucy and tapped her gently on the shoulder. Even in the low light of the bar, his eyes were a bright leaf green. His lips were pale and thin, in a smile, and his nose slender and rounded. A prominent jaw curved gracefully around and the strength of his neck showed in the twining cords of muscle that shaped his entire body. "I saw you from across the bar, miss. May I buy you a drink?"

His smile widened, showing manicured teeth. He placed his arm on the bar, putting space between her and Killian, a glistening hunk of watch shimmered on his wrist in the flashing light.

Behind him, Killian frowned and shrugged in a sort of way that said 'not bad,' before giving Lucy a thumb's up. Good for her, he decided. She deserved a handsome one-night stand just like anyone else, though he still didn't venture too far. Even a little tipsy, he kept a wary half-eye on her.
 
LUCY NIELSEN
A brow rose at Killian's words, and for a moment, Lucy wasn't entirely sure what to say. It was never quite clear when Killian was serious or not, but the implications behind what he said were faintly jarring. Then again, the man was a few shots in and while she could hold the three she'd had without too much difficult, she wasn't exactly a beacon of clear judgment.

But it didn't matter, because a moment later there was a tap on her shoulder and twisting around, Lucy glanced up at the walking marble statue with a slow smirk, a brow lifting at he words, as she nodded, "You most definitely may." It didn't matter that she had Killian's approval... as far as she was concerned, she didn't need it, but she couldn't help but note that he remained close and whatever she'd said about not wanting a babysitter, she wasn't disappointed. She was out of her element, and wherever the evening went for him, she wasn't about to get sloppy and go home with a stranger...

She'd nearly been killed enough for one week.

Sinking onto a stool, she extended a hand to the man, feeling the heat of the shots creep up along the back of her neck, pooling color into her cheeks, "Lucy. And you are..."
 
Killian Hopper
Once he saw that Lucy was comfortable and didn't need a diversion to escape her secret admirer, Killian turned off, smirking as he hooked his arm around Amaya's waist, whispering something in the ear that caused her to giggle and throw her head on to his shoulder. Somewhere in the mix of lights and bodies, they disappeared.

He'd promised her, after all, that he wasn't going to pick a fight, and they agreed they neither of them needed a babysitter. It wasn't necessarily easy for him to let go of that, the thought of her and Rob flaring into his brain for only a moment, but he forced the memory to recede. He wasn't her sitter and it was clear she didn't need one.

"Jonas," the man replied, taking Lucy's hand and sliding his fingers around hers, but instead of shaking, brought it up to his lips and pressed a kiss to it. "Nice to meet you, Lucy. What a beautiful name, suitable to a beautiful girl."

He slid his weight a little more against the bar, waving the bartender over and ordering himself a whiskey sour before turning his eyes to Lucy, the sparkling green lit up by a strobe light that passed across his face. "And whatever the lady would like." He swept the empty and discarded shot glasses aside, turning so his posture was opened towards Lucy. "So, what brings you to Mint tonight, Lucy?" he asked, raising his voice to a low scream over the rattling bass of the music.

He flashed a suave smile, his eyes studying every corner of her face and genuine interest rising through his eyes as he did. "This is my first time in Vegas, can you believe it? I'm from Canada, myself! I'm a physical therapist, what do you do?" All of his intentions seemed genuine and, in fact, Jonas was a down-to-earth, genuine guy—with a lot of money, if his wrist watch had anything to say about his bank account.
 
LUCY NIELSEN
Lucy watched from the corner of her eye as Killian disappeared with the bar floozy, and bit back a small frown as she shook her head. She shouldn't have been concerned. Killian was his own man, and he had just broken up with his girlfriend. If he wanted to bang every tramp in the place, that was on his conscience. But she had shared something with him earlier that evening... and she'd thought she made it pretty apparent that she felt something for him, even if it was confused and distant... and for him to be so cavalier about it... whether he meant it to or not, it hurt.

Looking back to the man beside her, she smiled faintly, "A mistake. A mistake brought me here. But I guess that's not important, right now. Welcome to Vegas." Chuckling softly, she sank back on the stool and nodding to the tender, ordered a Dry Vermouth Buck, "Funnily enough, I'm a psychiatrist. Guess we cover it all, between the two of us." Her drink delivered, she plucked it up and took a sip and for the first time that night, she did not turn her eyes to the crowd.

Because despite what she'd said, despite her concerns for Killian, if he was determined to cut himself off from the only person who gave a damn about it, if he was determined to self destruct all over the place, she couldn't stop him. She knew well enough from the history with her patients - a person who was dead set on acting out was going to act out. He couldn't care right now, not about her or the repercussions of his behavior. In the morning, maybe he'd regret it. Maybe not. But right now, he was trapped in a self-centered bubble and she wasn't going to be able to pop it.

And if some nice man from Canada wanted to buy her a drink, so be it. Anything was better than feeling like second fiddle to a loose woman in a red dress.

"This isn't actually my usual scene. I came with a friend, but it seems he's found new friends." With a shrug, she smiled, "How long are you in town for?"
 
Killian Hopper
"Downright shame that," he mentioned when she suggested her company found different company, forgetting about any previous conversation about careers and welcomes to Vegas. "Maybe he just saw me and thought he didn't have a shot?" He gave her a playful wink and a perfect laugh, not timid, but not over-the-top boisterous, either. A perfect little laugh, like he'd rehearsed it, and gone to school for the smooth act of casual, opening conversation.

"I'll be here a few months," he replied, swirling the straws around his drink before sipping from the edge. "I'm thinking of moving my practice here. I have family in Vegas. My mom and pop moved here a few years ago when they retired and I thought, maybe I should join them, you know? To be there when they need someone to help them out… mowing the lawn, and all of that. Though there isn't much to mow in all this heat, now is there?" Again, he sipped his drink, but put it down a moment later and laced his fingers together on top of the bar.

"You know, this isn't much usual scene either, Lucy. What do you say to dinner? It's late, but I'm sure we can find something—a dive somewhere on the Strip," he asked, flicking his arm over and looking down at his wrist watch. It wasn't that late, and with all the bars and clubs, there had to be something open. "Promise, just innocent. You said your friend found new friends, right? Well, why don't you find one, too? I bet there is something within walking distance. It's a warm night… what do you say?" Jonas leaned over and nudged her elbow playfully with his own.

"I could use a bite of American food, anyways. I hear you have the best burgers in all the land. That true?"
 
LUCY NIELSEN
Chuckling softly, Lucy shrugged, "That's definitely a possibility..." Except that she knew Killian. His ego was far too large for him to think anyone was above his league. If he'd wanted to prove as much, he wouldn't have wandered off to do private body shots with the Slinky Red Dress.

The practiced note of the laugh drew Lucy's attention back fully, and a brow lifted, but was replaced a moment later by a smile, "That's really sweet. Not a lot of people out there who care enough. We act like it's a good thing, all these new resort like homes for the elderly... but they're just fancier and more expensive nursing homes, so kids don't have to feel obligated to take care of their parents, but won't feel guilty about it, either." Blinking, she laughed, and taking a drink, shook her head, "Sorry. I have a really bad tendency to vent.... and lecture. I warn you. I've been told I'm pretty increasingly flawed. Oh... Control, too. Though I'm working on that last bit. With flourish." Taking another sip, she set the glass down.

It wasn't more than a third of the way drained, but with the three shots before it, Lucy's head was swimming, and she knew well enough it was time to slow down. With the alcohol, anyway. Jonas's suggestion brought her brow to an arch again, but there was something in that was more enthusiastic this time around, and nodding, she pushed herself to her feet.

"You know what? Sure. Why the hell not. I'm a little tired of being the dragon in the cave." Holding up a finger, she grinned, "That... that's probably not going to make a lot of sense to you, but I promise it's relevant, somehow." Breathing out, she pushed the glass back from her hand and bowed her head in another nod, "The burgers are fantastic... Let's go."
 
Killian Hopper
Jonas smiled to her agreement, again forgetting about any of their previous conversation and pushing his mostly full glass away. "Great, I could use a burger right about now. That sounds amazing."

Except, Killian wasn't really that far off. Far enough away that there was some distance, sure, but near enough that he could see Lucy getting up with Ken Doll. It didn't bother him that she was choosing to have a good night, but he rose from his seat and prowled through the crowd all the same, after off-handedly mentioning, "hold on, I'll be right back." Cutting through the bar, he placed his hand on Lucy shoulder for just a second before withdrawing it.

"Heading out?" he asked. "Have fun, and be safe." It wasn't his intention to stop her from making the same decision he was probably going to end up making, but with everything that had happened… Killian's trust was a little weak. With all the ongoing investigation and happening, he was almost convinced that Rob was behind everything that was happening. He certainly proved violent enough with what he'd done to Lucy's neck, but until someone was actually caught and jailed, Killian wasn't going to be too affirmed in his suspicion.

"Back off, man," Jonas said off-handedly, barely passing a glance to Killian who had taken on a surprised look with arched eyebrows.

"Yea, alright," Killian replied, holding up both of his hands to show he had no intentions of doing anything further and taking a step back. "Sorry, mate, just a friend."

"Well, she has a new friend now because you're not a very good one, apparently," Jonas shot back, turning his back to Killian and letting the smile return, offering his arm out to Lucy. "Ready?"

Killian shook his head a bit and turned on a heel, whistling as he did. Fair enough, he decided.
 
LUCY NIELSEN
Anger rose in Lucy as Killian returned to her side. She didn't need his permission, and she didn't want his advice. He wasn't allowed to hover like a Helicopter Mom and tell her to be safe. Not when he was taking body shots off strange women and throwing back shots like he was at a college kegger. Maybe with all that was happening he had some concerns, but clearly those concerns didn't bother him enough that he couldn't go out on the town and get wasted.

There was no balance to his behavior... He was worried about her, but not enough that he wouldn't let her leave with a complete stranger in an area of town she wasn't familiar with. Was this the way things would always be? Trapped in a weird half-way-there relationship? Where they danced between the awkward lines of 'almost', but never reached closure on either end? Was that what they were destined for? A confusing, frustrating mess...?

Frowning, watching him retreat away again, Lucy shook her head and turned to Jonas with a small, terse nod. She didn't like the idea of wander off, not really. And not just because it was dangerous, but because leaving Killian to his own devices still bothered her, even if she wished it didn't. But if he wasn't phased by it, why then should she be? It was a burger... and she was an adult, Killian be damned, , "Yeah. I'm ready."
 
Jonas Hob
"Alright, let's go, sweetheart," he replied, never sparing a glance back to Killian as he grabbed his coat and made a beeline for the door, gently nudging his way through the crowd until they were outside in the slightly cooler, night air. Streams of cars raced down the Strip, mostly taxis, and people flooded the streets—walking, staggering between drinking hole to drinking hole. "So, what way is it?" he asked, his head turning towards Lucy with a smirk slightly more dangerous than the one he wore before. There was nothing malicious about him, or even contemplative, but he did relax a bit in the open atmosphere.

"We can take my car, if it's far? Up to you, of course. No pressure into anything," he said, giving her a playful wink as they stood outside the club everyone in the blocks around seemed to be trying to get in. "But, you know, if you're still interested in spending some time together after we get our dinner, I have a nice hotel room at the Venetian. Amazing room, you can see the entire Strip for miles and miles from the top floor."

Sliding his hand into his trouser pocket, he produced a carton of cigarettes and slipped one free, placing it loosely between his lips before holding the pack out towards Lucy. "Smoke?" he asked. "Damn, it's a nice night. I'm glad I decided to come out. I almost didn't. I thought, you know, I could just stay up in my room all night, enjoy some pay-per-view and the mini-bar, but this is much better, much, much better."
 
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