Snippet #2488176

D held Bal up as Arin let them into the club. The trio climbed the stairs. It was dark and empty. It looked strange to her without the press of bodies or the scarce day crew cleaning in preparation for the night crowd.

She helped settle Balthazar into a chair. With a slight smile she brushed his hair from his eyes. "Do you want water before you start drinking?" Her voice was soft.

"Fae have a pretty high tolerance for this stuff." Bal said with his eyes closed, enjoying the feel of her hand brushing back his hair. "I 'priciate yer offer though. Yer very considerate..." He was still slurring his words, but at least was a little more coherent.

"Arin is bringing you something to drink. He said you guys have a date with Jack and Johnny? Who are they?" Deirdre smiled at little as she looked at him. He looked a bit pale and tired. The back of her hand brushed his cheek. "Can I get you anything at all? I feel like I could be doing something to help you feel better." She lowered her hand. "They were horrible to you, weren't they. Vivienne said they would be. Bal...I am so sorry I couldn't stop her. I thought if I talked enough it would stall her."

"Mary, there's nothing you could have done." Bal slurred as his head fell forward resting on the bar. His head still felt muddled. "Syb...she's powerful...can never do anything against her..."

Deirdre stared at Bal. Mary? She looked over at Arin. He was getting glasses now. She said nothing to Bal about it. "Syb is a bitch. If I had a knife like that I let her see how it feels...." She hissed the words.

Bal barked out in rough laughter at that. "Syb likes making people her bitch. I'd like to stab her with something a bit more blunt in the eye."

"Oh Bal..." Deirdre rubbed the back of his neck lightly as he laid on the bar. "Arin, water and the alcohol. A cloth too please if you can?"

"I'm sorry she found you Mary...don't blame yerself ok? You didn't know..." Bal slurred out again after a minute of silence, his voice sounding ragged and distant again.

Deirdre looked down at Bal, her face full of concern. "Arin, Arin..." She looked up at him. "I need that water, the cloth...please, he isn't okay." She gently touched the back of Bal's head, stroking his hair.

Arin carried over two bottles and put them next to the glasses he'd slid down the bar. He took a cloth off his shoulder and handed it to Deirdre, "Want that wet or anything?" He pulled the fountain handle and filled one glass with water. "Deirdre, meet our dates for tonight. Misters Jack Daniels and Johnnie Walker. Bal, how do you take yours? Soda? Water? Rocks? Neat?" Arin grabbed the bottle of scotch and poured a generous amount into a glass.

Deirdre took the cloth and grabbed the glass of water. She dipped the cloth in and began to wipe the back of Bal's neck. "It is very nice to meet them." Her voice was level and serious. She looked at Arin, lowering her voice as she gestured for him to come nearer. "He called me Mary. Arin I don't know what they did to him but I think he is really sick or something." There was concern in her voice as she wiped Bal's skin with the damp cloth.

Arin leaned in when she gestured. He nodded, "Yeah. He wasn't in the best head space when I visited him. I suspect he'll need a bit to gather his wits." He leaned back, "You joining us Deirdre? I'm breaking all kinds of rules tonight already, so serving a minor isn't the biggest concern currently."

"Visited him?" Her eyes met Arin's, her hand stopping mid wipe. Deirdre resumed her normal volume, "Sure, maybe one or two but if I get drunk and fall down I am blaming you. I think though someone should stay sober to call us a cab and walk you two to the car."

Deirdre turned Bal's head a little so she could wipe down the side of his face with the cool water. She was worried that the fae might have done something permanent to him.

Arin nodded, "The bond and all, right?" He grinned, "If you fall, I'll catch you. But a sober mind to keep us from doing something too stupid is likely a good idea. Bourbon or scotch then? Or something else?"

Deirdre frowned. Bond...Arin and Bal...he visited him. It was a bit upsetting knowing that Bal wasn't his usual self. "Drunk boys cause trouble, or so I have been told and well here at the club I have seen what a few of them are like. Um..." She looked the bottles over. "What do you recommend for someone who has only ever had two beers in her whole life?"

She freshened the damp cloth and ran it over Bal's cheek once more. He hadn't answered Arin and that bothered her. Had he passed out? "Bal what do you think? What are you drinking?" She tried to coax a verbal response from him. Her eyes moved to Arin and she shrugged.

"Me? Cause trouble? I don't think I've ever caused trouble." He winked. "As for a recommendation... both of these will be pretty strong for you, but I'll put some water in the scotch and you can get used to it that way. Water will cut the burn but keep the flavours."

"Bourbon, straight." Bal gritted out after a moment, voice sounding wrecked but a little more present, no longer quite in the grasp of hallucination.

"Perfect." Arin poured another generous amount of bourbon into a second glass and put it, and the bottle, in front of Bal. He then poured a more reasonable amount of scotch in a third glass, adding a splash of water before handing it to Deirdre.

Deirdre nearly dropped the cloth when Bal talked. She let out a breath. "Okay, scotch with water works." She gave Bal's face one more wipe. She placed the cloth on the counter and took the offered glass. "Cheers." She raised it to him.

The smell was strong and she frowned a moment with the glass under her nose. "Hmm." She tested it, a small trickle down her throat. Deirdre gasped a little as the alcohol went down. "Okay, that is...warm." Her stomach felt extremely warm and it was then that she realized she couldn't remember the last time she ate anything. "So this is supposed to burn or not? Because it kind of is...."

Arin smiled at her, "Cheers." He took a good sip of the scotch. "Just the stuff."

Bal sat up a little and knocked back his first glass in one go, already grabbing at the bottle to pour himself another.

"Yup. Makes you feel warmed up. It's a good burn." Arin kept at his, not throwing it back as Balthazar did, but then again, he hadn't had the same mental experience to try and recover from. If Arin was going to slug something he would have went with the bourbon.

"Oh I am warm..." Deirdre put a hand on her stomach and took another small sip. Her cheeks reddened. "Okay...I get it...I think but it is kind of intense." She put the glass down and lifted her hair from her neck, fanning herself a bit. "Bal you can just down it like that?"

"Nah, you're hot." Arin winked.

Deirdre blushed, her face turning redder as she dropped her hair. "Oh well..." Her hand reached out to take her glass again. She sipped her drink. "I can't do that...what Bal did."

"So don't. No one can tell you how you should take your drink. Enjoy it however you like." Arin shrugged. He finished his first glass and poured himself another. He wasn't going to take them all that quick. He also thought it a good idea to stay somewhat in control. Balthazar was in a rough spot and he didn't want to make Deirdre have to take care of them both.

Deirdre nodded and kept sipping her drink. "Club is different when there is no one dancing. No music....kind of peaceful. Hey Bal, what's your favourite club in the city? I love to dance. Arin took me to a fun one the other night." She was trying to help Bal focus on something other than what had gone on. The scotch didn't take long to affect her. Three quarters into her drink and she was feeling very warm. She leaned back against the bar.

"...Sapphire's good if you're looking for something classy." Bal managed after a moment, voice like gravel. "The underground clubs can get pretty wild though. Just depends on the night..."

"I don't think I would do well in a really wild club. I am not tough enough for that kind of thing. I always hit clubs with Heather and we.." Deirdre stopped talking. She took the last drink of her scotch and handed the glass to Arin. "Anyway I like the dancing but not the rest."

"You'd do great, and likely take center stage. Stick with me, I'll make sure it stays calm enough." Arin grinned, "Unless I'm not invited, I guess."

Arin took the glass and nodded sympathetically, "The dancing is the fun part. Especially watching all the pretty girls. But I guess you'd not be so much for that part." He chuckled, "Another?" He held her empty glass up.

Deirdre nodded, "'Another. I'd like to try and get used to it." She smiled. "I like going with you Arin. I bet you and Bal would get all the attention at a club. I'd be left by my lonesome." She grinned wider. "Such is the life....No, I am not much for pretty girls but I do like to watch people dance. Bodies are amazing things when they move."

"Bodies are amazing. And you'd only be alone if you wanted to be. Besides, if I went with you, I think I'd be getting all the required attention and I'd not want to give you the chance to get lonely." He smiled again. The light chatter was good for distracting. Overall, he felt pretty good with what they'd accomplished. Given their situation going in, they turned it into a good outcome. He was busy with Balthazar, so missed any details that seemed to upset Tim and Arey, but he couldn't see anything to be down about. A couple good drinks and light chatter should get Balthazar back on his feet, mostly.

Deirdre stared at Arin. Something about the way he talked, that things were just so matter of fact for him made her smile.She couldn't help wonder if his acceptance of things was due to being half fae or if he had just grown up with this outlook on things. Her mind wondered once more if he was really in his twenties or much older. She pushed those thoughts all aside.

"The city is so amazing. The clubs, the people...all of it. It is so different from how I grew up. Bal used to live in Paris, Arin. Isn't that cool?" She put a hand on Bal's shoulder. "I don't know if I would ever want to leave the city permanently but I would love to travel some." She took a drink of her refreshed glass.

"Tres frais." Arin chuckled. "And before you ask, no. I don't. Just a couple words here and there I've picked up. Being a bartender in this town is a lot like travelling vicariously. I've met a lot of people from a lot of places. But travelling would be fun. Though I think I'd love a long road trip on a bike before I got in planes. In terms of priority, I suppose."

Arin looked over a Balthazar, unsure if getting him to remember the past would be a good idea. Maybe just talking about the present would get him in a better state of mind. "So you know the underground clubs. How long you've been in New York then? What else you do for fun here? Unless it's all clubs, all the time." Arin grinned.

"Got here in the eighties...pinball man...huge. Think I was gold at it too..." Bal tried to recall, one hand on his face as he went for another large drink of the bourbon.

"Oh yes Bal, what else is fun to do in New York? I can do things now and I need to know the best places in this city." She let her eyes moved over Bal's face. He looked a bit better though still not himself. She wondered what the fae queen had done to him and what Arin witnessed in their bond. She could only imagine the things in Bal's head after so many centuries of life.

Deirdre had her glass in her hand and she walked to the middle of the dance floor. It was wide open unlike the last time she was her. She took a sip of scotch as she thought of the other bartender she had been talking to, about going to the bar and seeing Arin but never getting a chance to talk to him. She remembered the bathroom and Arey with the girl on the floor.

She closed her eyes and began to sway to music only she could hear. Arin's voice carried in the empty room and she wasn't so far that she couldn't overhear the conversation, she just needed a moment to herself.

"Pinball?" Deirdre was still dancing with herself. She took another drink. The scotch was making her feel relaxed. Deirdre hadn't realized how tense she had been. She should have known, given everything that had gone on. "Do you both like to dance? I love to dance..." Her voice had a slightly dreamy sound to it and a smile played on her lips. "I love getting lost in the music. In the crowd. I miss having a partner and doing duets..."

"A regular pinball wizard. Cool. Been a bit since I played at a real table. Did it as a kid for awhile. It was one of the few competitive things I could do that wouldn't raise too many suspicions." Arin shrugged, "Once I found bikes though, that was it. Individual, so I could push myself and the bike and no one would suspect."

He watched Deirdre move, enjoying the flow of her body. He finished his glass and slowly poured a more reasonable amount for his third, "What music do you like to dance to the most D?"

Deirdre turned and faced the guys. Bal had his back to her as he sat on his chair but Arin was facing her. She smiled at him. "Hmm. I don't know that I have a favourite. It just has to make me want to move. Fast, like club type stuff or even just fun pop is good for getting out a lot of energy, for just getting absorbed into it but slow...like emotional...I don't know bands and or stuff...I have this random mishmash on my phone..." She crossed to the bar and pulled out her phone. Bringing up the playlist she hit play. "Slow and emotional is best for connecting to it. For figuring out how you feel. I loved duets, real romantic ones. Let me experience something I hadn't even imagined."

Music came out from the speakers of the phone. Deirdre frowned and hit pause. "Meh, the phone isn't great but here..." She slid the phone towards Arin. "I download stuff I think sounds good so it is really, really random. Heather gave me stuff too. Music is sort of an obsession I guess." Deirdre took another drink. "What about you Arin? Bal? What kind of music do you listen to?"

Arin picked up the phone and flicked through the list a bit. He nodded appreciatively, "Yup. Random." He smiled. He put the phone back down and leaned under the bar, rummaging around, "Punk, mostly. Metal. Hard driving music that gets my adrenalin up. Helps training." He pulled a wire from under the bar and, with crackle, plugged it into Deirdre's phone. He vaulted the bar and handed Deirdre her phone again. "Show me. I'll try and partner. But show me your favourite."

"My favourite?" Deirdre was staring at Arin. "Song? I don't...you are going to dance with me to something not like at the club?" She smiled a little.

Arin smiled nervously, "I'd like to try. If only to see your side."

Deirdre looked down at her phone and flicked through song after song on her playlist. She hit play and put the phone down on the bar. "No laughing Bal." She nudged the fae gently and walked to Arin.

"Love, I get so lost, sometimes. Days pass and an emptiness fills my heart...."

She smiled at Arin. "It isn't exactly a slow song. Slower yes but I just really like it."

Deirdre took his right hand in her left, grabbed his left hand and put it on her waist. "Simple dancing, nothing fancy. Just move with me..." She began stepping side to side.

Arin followed her lead, "I don't mind fancy. When you're doing it. I can catch you, or whatever. Just give me a warning and where I'm supposed to hold you. The idea is I get to watch you and help you do the fancy stuff while I stand here, not getting in the way." He smiled.

"In your eyes...the light, the heat...your eyes..I'm complete..."

Deirdre smiled, "Alright." She took switched her grip in his right hand. "Going to turn away from you and when I come back, my back will be to you. My leg will be out. Grab my thigh and around my abdomen. Lift and turn on the spot, slowly." She gave him a wink and spun away from him.

Arin nodded and followed her movements. When she spun into him he did as she asked. He was able to make it look effortless, if not well timed, and his turning was more jerky than a dancer would make it. Still, he grinned the entire time, enjoying the feel of her in his arms and the sight of her lines in the mirrors behind the bar.

Deirdre was smiling as she put her foot on the floor and lowered her other leg. Turning she faced him once more. "Very nice.." Her eyes shone. "Want to try something else?"

"Playing to my strengths, literally. Absolutely will try something else."

"Love I don't like to see so much pain. So much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away...."

Deirdre sat on the floor at his feet and put her hands out. "All you do is pull up. I'll jump and you catch me. If you can try for mid thigh. If you are feeling really strong you can go for calves. Takes more to pull up and get me that high. Then you just slowly let me down. Course...means my body rubbing against yours if you do it right."

She blushed though it was hidden by the red in her cheeks from the scotch.

Arin chuckled, "Yup. I'm going to like this one." He grabbed her hands and with a slight nod to tell her he was ready, he pulled. He put most of his strength into the pull, and was easily able to grab her calves. He held her up for a few seconds, turning so she could see in the mirror as well. Finally he let her slide down, slowly, keeping very precise control of how much she moved. The strength required of him was not pushing his limits at all and he smiled the whole way, making it look easy.

Deirdre looked down at Arin as he lowered her. She stayed close and he ensured she came down slowly. She was breathing hard, her arms wrapping around Arin's neck as her feet touched the ground. "Very, very nice." Her voice was a whisper in his ear. Deirdre put her lips on his cheek as the song ended.

It immediately switched to the next song. This one much heavier, more aggressive and Deirdre started to giggle. "So much for emotional and close." She wasn't sure if it was the scotch or just Arin or the combination of the two but she felt drunk.

Arin closed his eyes when Deirdre whispered to him. He didn't let her go immediately after the next song started, but he chuckled, "Oh, see, this is much more up my alley. Of course, you don't so much dance to this as you bash into the rest of the people around. Hard to duet a mosh." He swept her up in his arms and carried her back to the bar, "However, I can't say I don't like tossing you around. Actually, I think I like catching you more, but gotta toss you first."

Deirdre giggled as Arin picked her up. She nuzzled his ear with her nose as he carried her to the bar. "I like being tossed and caught. Something amazing about a good partner and the trust there. To move together, to simply know they will be there to catch you..." She kissed Arin lightly. "Have to show you some others that we can try, if you want. Maybe even some other moves..." She looked at him through her eyelashes.

"I'd love to see all your moves, D" He winked. He could tell she was a little tipsy. A few years at the bar and it became second nature to look for the signs. He didn't want to push too many tosses tonight because he didn't want her to feel ill. However, he looked forward to trying again. The training room had high enough ceilings, so he was patient. He placed her on the stool by her glass and phone. He grabbed his drink and sat next to her. The bottle in front of Balthazar was over half empty. Arin nodded to himself, "You having anything else D? I think I'm done. Bal, you can take the bottle. You heading back home, or to the shop? There's a futon in the shop."

Deirdre shook her head, "No more...I think...I think I might be a little bit...drunk." She was sitting now and she felt slightly giggly.

Arin raised an eyebrow, "You think?" He chuckled good naturedly. "That was the point." He was feeling a good buzz himself. Relaxed by well within control. He finished his scotch and corked the bottle. "I'll put this stuff back. Just a sec." He grabbed the unused glasses and the bottle and put them where they belonged. "Bal, I'll have to switch you to disposable cup. I can explain the alcohol. Easy to address from my pay. But the glass would be more frowned on. Management doesn't mind the occasional personal visit if we're responsible about it." He switched Balthazar's glass for a plastic beer cup.

"Arin you are such a good guy. All responsible and stuff. My parents would love you if you know...they actually wanted me to have a boyfriend..." Deirdre leaned on the bar. Her eyes closed.

Arin chuckled, "It's a good show, right? Nah, there are some things it's not worth being irresponsible about. The way I ride isn't all that responsible. I've had more than my share of confrontations that weren't responsible. I guess, in the end, I have let a lot of the sense of honour from Lance bleed through. It's easier that way. When I was a teenager I tried to rebel completely against that. I was quite the jerk for awhile. But every night Lance would berate me in my head and after awhile, that just got more annoying than it was worth. So, yeah... That's one of those, merge past with present things, that I mentioned."

"But you have had lots of time to learn to handle him. You are lucky. He doesn't sound like a bad guy at all..." Deirdre sighed. "I guess you aren't such a good boy after all...." She giggled. "I don't mind."

"Well, I've had maybe five or six years on you. I mean, I knew about him since as long as I could remember. Mom told me a lot before he ever really came out. Then I was about your age, maybe a bit younger, when he really started making himself known. I tried to fight it off by denying the whole thing and acting completely opposite to him. That didn't work. So, I've had a few years to find the best way to make peace. There are still things I do that he doesn't like, but we've mostly come to an agreement. He butts out and I don't start treating people like shit." He chuckled.

"By years you mean centuries right?" Deirdre leaned on one hand. "You have had a long time to work with him. I don't have that..I don't have centuries. You cool fae people have that, I am nothing special." She looked thoughtful.

Arin gave her a confused look, "Centuries? What? No. Half fae, remember? I'm only like five years older than you D. Lance came around for me at about seventeen, eighteen. Around there. So, it doesn't take centuries. And I think you're special enough. That should count for something."

Deirdre looked at Bal and then at Arin. "So you aren't like Viv or Bal? You aren't already hundreds of years old? But I thought...." She looked down at the bar.

"I'm not entirely sure how it'll work D. But I do know I am what I am, right now." He shrugged.

"Oh...okay..." Her head wasn't clear enough for her to process it all. "You think I am special?" Deirdre looked back up at Arin and she smiled shyly. Her eyes moved to Bal, concerned about him. "Maybe we should just get Bal to a bed...and then we can...talk or sleep or..." Her cheeks warmed.

Arin nodded, "Talk or sleep. Sounds good." He picked up the bar phone with a direct line to a cab and arranged for a pick up. He finished cleaning and returning the bar to normal. Then he helped Balthazar, with his bottle, outside to the waiting cab. He opened the door for Deirdre and let her climb in the back. He deposited Balthazar in the front seat, thinking fresh air from an open window might help. He climbed in next to Deirdre and gave the driver the shop's address. Balthazar had given no indication on where he wanted to go, so Arin went with the shop first. If Bal wanted to go home, he could head from there.

Deirdre laid her head on Arin's shoulder. "Wasn't calling you my boyfriend, just so you know. I know you don't like labels and stuff...I was just saying if my parents weren't assholes they might like a guy like you paying attention to me."

Arin chuckled, "I never said I don't like labels. I just meant that I wasn't going to be looking for a word to describe where we are. I'm more than happy if you want to put any kind of word you like. If you consider me your boyfriend, I'll be flattered, not offended. So, don't apologize." He ran a hand through his hair, messing up his spikes a bit, "And I think your parents might have a thing or two to pick on. End of the day, the only person's approval I want is yours. If you like the attention, I'll give it. If you don't like it, I'll stop. I won't be happy about it, but I'll stop."

"Not asking for anything. I was just talking..." Deirdre snuggled against him. "I won't call you anything, I don't own you. I like your attention. I like paying attention to you. I like you. I like you an awful lot Arin." She wrapped her arm around his arm. "If I could keep you forever I would." She giggled into his shoulder.

Arin chuckled, "I appreciate the sentiment. Might be a bit early to make that kind of commitment." He ran a hand through her hair, "You know, asking for something isn't wrong, either. As long as you're ready to accept whatever the answer is. I think we've seen enough 'owning' for one night. Let's assume neither of us is looking to control the other."

Deirdre sighed. "Control? No...no I would never want to control you. I like you the way you are. I just want to spend time with you. I like when you smile at me...I like when you touch me and how I feel better with you just near me. I am not asking you for anything, never have...okay not true I might have asked for things...but not more than...I don't know...I don't make sense in my own head right now." She put her head back to look at Arin's face. "I like you and I just would like you to like me. That is all."

Arin chuckled lightly at her comment about making sense, "I know the feeling." He smiled at her and gave her a light kiss, "Deal. Sealed and everything."

"I made another deal?" She frowned, her eyes closed now. "I can do those. I am useful."

"Yes. Quite." Arin grinned and ran his hands through her hair gently again. He had a feeling he might be carrying her to bed but he didn't mind.

"Did I make a good deal? Did anyone get hurt this time? They are mad at each other. There was nothing I could do....Tim was right to seal it. I hurt Arey again. But not you right? I haven't made you mad at me?" She was sleepy and Arin's body was warm next to her. Deirdre tried to climb into his lap, whimpering as the seat belt kept her from moving.

Arin dropped his hand around her shoulder and squeezed, "It's okay, D. Gotta stay belted in while we're driving. I'll put you to bed when we get to the shop. And no, no one got hurt because of you and no one is mad at you, least of all me. I think you made a good deal. This time, and earlier."

"Okay." Deirdre smiled sleepily. "Are you putting me to bed alone?"

"Your call. But talk or sleep was the specification."

Deirdre pouted, "I won't make you stay. I asked if you would but I know you are smarter and more experienced at these things than I am. I said if things went well and you said yes...more control...I liked the less in control you....it was a turn on..."

Arin grinned, "Thanks. You aren't making me do anything. You said if, I was making sure you felt the same as before. I will take that as a yes."

"Oh yes...laying next to you is the best feeling in the whole world...or maybe that is when you hug me...no kiss me...no...no when you put your fingers..."

The cab stopped and Deirdre's head shifted forward off of Arin's shoulder with a jerk that made her wince. "Ow."

Arin winced as Deirdre reacted to the momentum of the cab. He settled her back, briefly, as he took care of the fare, "D, be right back. Going to settle Bal." Arin helped Balthazar to the futon and then headed back outside for Deirdre.

"Okay..." She laid her head on the window.

He reached into the back of the cab and assisted her out. Scooping her up in a cradle he headed to his apartment, "Just going to take you to mine, okay? A little easier than carrying you through the whole place."

"I was supposed to be taking care of you while you got drunk. How did we end up here like this?" Deirdre wrapped her arms around his neck. "I like your bed. It smells like you. My bed smells like you too now."

"I suppose it would. I tend to be the one sleeping in it." He chuckled at her fascination with scent, "As long as you like that, I guess. There is laundry if you don't."

He brought her through the external door to his apartment, "We got like this because you were introduced to Mister Walker, and I, having met him before, know what he's like. It's fine. He's friendly right now. We'll get you some water though. Otherwise he can be pretty annoying in the morning."

"Did I like him? Was I well behaved?" Deirdre sighed slightly, "Okay water is okay."

"You were, this time. So far." Arin winked. He laid her on his bed and went to fill a glass of water. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll be back with water."

Deirdre laid out on the bed. "Comfortable..." She kicked off her shoes and wiggled out of her tights. She stretched herself out on Arin's bed. "Hmm." Sitting up she undid and removed her coat, dropping it to the floor. "Better..." Deirdre laid out on her side.

Arin came back with a glass and coaxed Deirdre into a sitting position, "Drink. You'll thank me tomorrow. Or, well, you won't know why you should thank me and therefore you'll thank me the first time you forget to have water after drinking." He chuckled. He looked over her tights and coat on the floor and leaned to pick them up. "I think I have a shirt you could use like a night shirt. Or shorts. I can't imagine sleeping in a skirt will be comfortable. If you want, I'll run down to your room and get you your own pjs."

Deirdre sat up slowly. She smiled at him. "You are always looking out for people." She took the glass and drank about half the water. "I'll take a shirt. Easier than explaining why you are going to get things from my room right?" She downed the rest of the water. "If you get it for me I will go to the bathroom and what not and change." She stood slowly. "Look own two feet!"

Arin shrugged nonchalantly, "It's what I do. Part of that deal with Lance." He stood and pulled out a shirt for her, "True. I doubt this is a good time to explain." He handed her the shirt as she stood, and chuckled. "Congrats. Good thing you didn't have that third one."

"Third one?" Deirdre cocked her head a little, wobbled on her feet and frowned. "That was not cool...Okay bathroom...I don't get the third leg thing..." She turned slowly and made her way out of the room.

"Drink, D. Third drink... nevermind."

When she returned a short time later she was wearing Arin's t-shirt and her own clothes in a neat pile in her hands. Her hair was a bit smoother and her face a little damp. "So...." Deirdre blushed. "Can I come to bed?" She put her clothes down in the corner.

Arin had taken the time to change into a pair of comfortable shorts and laid down in the bed. He patted a spot next to him, "When you're ready."

Shyly, Deirdre moved to the bed and crawled in beside him. She laid down next to him and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you."