Theea
Yla
I feel my face flush when Koa reacts, that sort of warm, startled embarrassment that hits fast and leaves me laughing under my breath. “Yeah, really,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck with a sheepish grin. “And I’m pretty sure my mom could get tipsy from sniffing rum cake, so… odds are not in my favor. I’d like to remember my first drink without also remembering falling face-first into someone’s lap.”
Which, of course, is the exact moment Mateo swoops in with a lipstick intervention that leaves Kaisel puckering like a model and me blinking through the chaos. “‘Kay,” I say, squinting between them, “honestly I don’t even know who to listen to anymore. This whole bar is suspiciously good at peer pressure.” I pause. Wait. Mateo… as in—
Then Vesper ’s adamant about Soh’s shot before I can finish that thought, conjuring two glittering, hypnotic shots that look like they were made by sunlight and poor decisions. I glance at Sohalia, flash her a grin, and tap my glass lightly against hers. “Cheers.”
This one goes down stronger, the burn more pronounced, and I wince—just a little—but it’s not bad. It’s warm. Pleasant, even. Like lighting a candle behind my ribs. I breathe, blinking fast. “That tasted like an enchanted mango and also a dare.”
And then Kaisel — who apparently does not have a verbal filter — drops the phrase shots off someone’s body like it’s the most casual suggestion in the world.
”Wait, what?” I blink at him, slowly. “How—where do you even put the shot—? Is that a thing people actually do or just something you made up while high on glitter?” I glance at Sohalia like she might confirm this is real, then take another sip of water. “I’m already two shots and half a float in for the first time, I can’t be processing anatomy-based drink logistics right now.”
The buzz is hitting—soft but noticeable, like someone turning the volume down on all my usual nerves.
Which, of course, is the exact moment Mateo swoops in with a lipstick intervention that leaves Kaisel puckering like a model and me blinking through the chaos. “‘Kay,” I say, squinting between them, “honestly I don’t even know who to listen to anymore. This whole bar is suspiciously good at peer pressure.” I pause. Wait. Mateo… as in—
Then Vesper ’s adamant about Soh’s shot before I can finish that thought, conjuring two glittering, hypnotic shots that look like they were made by sunlight and poor decisions. I glance at Sohalia, flash her a grin, and tap my glass lightly against hers. “Cheers.”
This one goes down stronger, the burn more pronounced, and I wince—just a little—but it’s not bad. It’s warm. Pleasant, even. Like lighting a candle behind my ribs. I breathe, blinking fast. “That tasted like an enchanted mango and also a dare.”
And then Kaisel — who apparently does not have a verbal filter — drops the phrase shots off someone’s body like it’s the most casual suggestion in the world.
”Wait, what?” I blink at him, slowly. “How—where do you even put the shot—? Is that a thing people actually do or just something you made up while high on glitter?” I glance at Sohalia like she might confirm this is real, then take another sip of water. “I’m already two shots and half a float in for the first time, I can’t be processing anatomy-based drink logistics right now.”
The buzz is hitting—soft but noticeable, like someone turning the volume down on all my usual nerves.
occupation: aspiring beam of light
