i'll drink to that }} teddy + justice

arx
Retired Staff

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Pronouns: she/her
last seen May 4, 2024 14:22:54 GMT -5

literally so gay, doing so many crimes

i'll drink to that }} teddy + justice Oct 23, 2018 12:49:57 GMT -5

Post by arx on Oct 23, 2018 12:49:57 GMT -5

justice

Sometimes it gets too quiet. I remember a time when I was young and watching the sun sink over the horizon and all I could hear was crickets and frogs and cicadas—I used to love the silence. Away from my parents yelling, away from my siblings flying fists, away from the endless drone of a Game's replay on television. I used to love the quiet; it's hard to believe that now.

I've emptied my drink for what feels like only the second time tonight, but I know it's been longer because the clock points it's hands at the twelve and I distinctly remember leaving dinner at five. "Fill 'er up," I grin, glass in the air. Haven't had enough to drown out the silence yet.

"You hear their naming a brand after you?" I cock my head to the side, eyes squinted, face full of inquisition. The guy nods, refilling my cup.

"Justice's Jameson." I don't think it's funny, but I can't stop laughing. I've got tears in my eyes as my face falls to the bar.

I wake up and the clock says it's two. My head spins as I lift it, string of saliva following me as I go. I blink a few times, eyes adjusting to the neon as my fingers wrap around an unattended glass. Crystal cold beneath my fingers, but the whiskey burns as I swallow it down. My vision swirls and jolts until I recognize an empty bar-

Plus Teddy Ursa.

Shit.

I wonder about leaving. I wonder about saying nothing. I wonder about drinking until I pass out again. I've always hated this, talking to other victors. It always felt serious. Too serious. Too much reality and not enough- just-

Talking about it seemed pointless. But even if I simply sat here quietly and he didn't say a word, I'd still feel it. That pain. The shared kind. Being so close to someone who just fucking gets it.

I hate it.

"What's your vice?" I ask, turning towards him with a grin. "Pretty sure I'm drinking bleach."

I almost forgot to laugh to make it a joke.

now i'm full
of r u m
a n d
regret
⋆

"I run on the road, long before I dance under the lights."

Benson Sharpe D3M [Tom]
Moderator

5,150 POSTS
Pronouns: He/Him
last seen May 4, 2024 12:19:55 GMT -5

OowoO

i'll drink to that }} teddy + justice Nov 2, 2018 0:29:26 GMT -5

Post by Benson Sharpe D3M [Tom] on Nov 2, 2018 0:29:26 GMT -5

☾

The bottom of a glass doesn't do anything to ease him of the pain.

Emberly would look at him as if he was losing himself. As if her death wasn't worth what he had become, eyes of a Lowe staring back at him. Stinging like the slap from Saffron Lowe echoing in the air as the fruity drink only takes the pain and shoves it under a layer of haze. Never truly the man that could make the twenty three others proud of him. Like how Ree Fer wanted him to die, without a voice. Parson Cham didn't need him. Jacob Choo was sentenced to death already from drugs. Quest Hertz was at the back of his mind due to bias, something he said he would never have, but he's broken down. Losing himself in the madness, unlike Emberly Lowe, who died without losing herself.

Lux was right. He had too much heart for this to survive. Alive, but broken for the karma of his collapse. The glass is refilled with something sickeningly sweet and strong, but he doesn't care. The bar is empty of others except the bartender and someone else who approached. Someone else who he decided to ignore instead of approach. No one needed to see the tears in his eyes. The victor of the year crying alone at a bar for things that haven't happened yet. Sweet like a teddy bear, but weak like one too. They're allowed to break down once in awhile, but he can feel his hand along Chester's chest and then it's broken by the other person's voice.

Hands wiping at his eyes as he looks up, ignoring the tears and plastering the PR like smile on his face as he groans softly to himself. "What's your vice?" The grin that took many of the capitolite's hearts perfected at him, but Teddy knew the truth. Fake smiles are easier to see than the real ones. Like Mack's own smile plastered on his face the first time they met, Teddy just gives a small smile back. "Pretty sure I'm drinking bleach." A chuckle from Justice Fray is all it takes for Teddy to recompose himself back together from his break down.

"Something fruity. Dunno what it is honestly."

A hand on the glass as he brings it to his lips and sips lightly at the edge. Like Adelaide's own gentle touch upon his skin. Parson's anger filling his blood with chills of pain. Eyes glance away from Justice Fray, playboy and heart throb of District One. Also, the most broken victor Teddy Ursa can see. Fingertips play gently around the rim before he stares into the bottom of his glass through the sweet tropical fruity liquor. Words on the tip of his tongue as he thinks of nothing more but a distraction.

"It's fucking good though."

Eyes glance back up to Fray as he remembers Kaiser's lips and hands on his own. How he wishes to go back to that some days, things would be easier than they are now.

"Care to have a drink or two with me, Justice?"

Too much of a heart will be his downfall.

Teddy gulps down another swig of his glass.

Made by hesper hart 🐺 d9f

arx
Retired Staff

2,427 POSTS

Pronouns: she/her
last seen May 4, 2024 14:22:54 GMT -5

literally so gay, doing so many crimes

i'll drink to that }} teddy + justice Nov 5, 2018 12:17:08 GMT -5

Post by arx on Nov 5, 2018 12:17:08 GMT -5

justice

"Something fruity. Dunno what it is honestly."

I chuckle. Feel like I haven't known that answer since I was seventeen. Rich of me to ask him and expect any other answer. Doesn't much matter what it is—never really has, just as long as it numbs enough to function. Or not. Suppose that condition depends on the night.

"It's fucking good though."

His fingers dance around the rim of the glass, eyes staring through it to the bottom. I wonder if he's found any answers there, if he's found what his looking for through the swirling liquid. I'd be jealous if he did, but-

I don't think anyone ever has.

I take a sip. It burns. I revel in it. I'm so fucking repetitive, predictable. Another sip—"Care to have a drink or two with me, Justice?"—and I'm still wondering about running, trying to convince myself I'll feel better if I just- don't.

"Make it four or five," I grin, stumbling as I stand. I catch myself, lack of a right leg catching me off guard again. Seven years later, just when I think I've finally gotten used it—I need a fucking cane.

I shake my head and fall into the seat next to Teddy, clapping my hand against his shoulder with a grin. I finish off my drink, slide the glass across the bar. My ring glints in the low-light; I should've left it in my room. Fuck. Thoughts of Elara swirl in my thoughts and I can't yank the gold band off my finger fast enough—she doesn't deserve this. It's easier, hiding responsibilities and loved one's away in your pockets while you make mistakes.

"Now I just need to find someone to keep me warm tonight, y'know?" I say, leaning against the bar, only now noticing that the bar is devoid of anyone but us. "Looks like I won't find her here though."

She was back in District One, sleeping with her husband and holding her son.

Shit.

"Can I just get a whole bottle of- uh, whatever's up there?"

I point to the top-shelf past the bartenders head, fingers desperate to cling to something familiar, easy. I force a smile—it's such a natural thing now. "I'll drink to whatever you're drinking to," I say, neck of the bottle in hand, lip of the bottle pressed to my own, and I don't think I can drink fast enough.

I catch my breath, offer the bottle to him.

"Here," I nod. "We can share."

now i'm full
of r u m
a n d
regret
⋆

"I run on the road, long before I dance under the lights."

Benson Sharpe D3M [Tom]
Moderator

5,150 POSTS
Pronouns: He/Him
last seen May 4, 2024 12:19:55 GMT -5

OowoO

i'll drink to that }} teddy + justice Nov 12, 2018 11:40:32 GMT -5

Post by Benson Sharpe D3M [Tom] on Nov 12, 2018 11:40:32 GMT -5

☾

"Make it four or five,"

Might as well make it more as if it'll make a difference in his low of the night. Justice Fray was known for his excessive drinking. At least, that's what he's heard and seen when he's gotten the chance to hear or see it. A small hum of agreeance is what he lets out to the older victor. Rumors were just rumors, Justice Fray could be someone else entirely from the alcohol. Though Teddy Ursa knew when someone was broken and Justice Fray had more to him than he let on. A silence fills as Teddy watches him move with a grin.

The victor stumbles with either alcohol or struggles with missing a leg. Teddy didn't dare let loose a laugh, after all, his left leg still had struggles of getting used to the phantom pains and memories of being whole. A grimace as he takes another sip of his fruity drink that now is a bit more bitter from the mixture rising to the top and the pure alcohol sinking.

A hand clamps onto his shoulder and instantly something flashes in his vision. Chester's face staring back at him with thanks for having his back. Something in the pit of his stomach rises, but Teddy pushes himself into the touch flashing his grin at Justice Fray. The ring of a partner glittering in the low light, but he doesn't even glance to it as Justice Fray's life was none of his business. Nosy victors were not good victors, but friendly ones could offer help. Justice Fray wasn't seeking help or even a friend, but maybe Teddy could sneak his way into helping without the victor knowing.

It's the least he could do for Kaiser Fray.

"Now I just need to find someone to keep me warm tonight, y'know?"

A chuckle falls from Teddy's lips as he finishes off his glass. Warm beds were better than nothing, though the chill felt more like reality than warmth. Sweating buckets in a rainforest will do that to a man. Eyes glancing to Fray's ring, but wordlessly not saying anything or pointing it out to Justice. Wordlessly, he lets Justice finish his train of thought.

"Looks like I won't find her here though."

Jokingly, Teddy lets himself find words in the haze of alcohol.

"Is that an offer, Fray?"

A wink and another glance at the empty bar around them, fingers wrapped gently around his glass as he leans slightly forward, but positions himself toward Justice Fray.

"Can I just get a whole bottle of- uh, whatever's up there?"

Teddy doesn't even hesitate as he pushes dollars forward to pay for the entire bottle that'll be theirs for the evening. If Justice was choosing, Teddy would accept. A smile on his lips as Justice Fray continues.

"I'll drink to whatever you're drinking to,"

Bottle offered to him as Teddy accepts it with a lighthearted smile.

"Here," A nod. "We can share."

Lip of the bottle to his own as the burn swirls down his chest and into the pit of his stomach before he pulls away with a breath.

"To whatever the fuck makes us happy."

A smile on his face face as he stares into the bottle, setting it back on the bar without a hesitated moment. Maybe it was the alcohol or the memories floating in his head, but he lets words slip out breathlessly.

"I'm sorry for Kaiser."

Made by hesper hart 🐺 d9f