[ Shortly before eleven that evening, Nashua has made her way back to the parkade with the intent of heading home. As nice as this place is, she can live with the silence but she can't sleep in it; it feels a little less real, unbound by the rules that have dictated her entire life, and she doesn't trust it to keep her safe while she sleeps.
But the heady mix of free (if poorly mixed) alcohol and the party atmosphere have left many fluxdrifts simultaneously drunk off their ass and thinking they're invincible. She's rifling through her bag for her keys when one such group approaches her.
"Hey," one of them says, his words greatly slurred. "Let us take your car."
Her expression only tightens for a second. When she turns around, she looks calm and mildly concerned. ]
I don't think you should be driving, man. But I can give you guys a ride. Hop in the back.
[ She's only just finished jerking a thumb toward the back seat when the ringleader, unsteady on his feet and his breath practically damp with the smell of beer, reaches for her bag. When he tries to pull it off her shoulder, she steps back, all patience vanishing from her face. ]
Dude. Come on, let go.
[ There likely is a better way to handle this, but it's late and she's tired. He has her almost pressed up against the side of the car when—
The sight of a very familiar set of boots rounding the corner causes her heart to leap into her throat. Turning her face away so it's hidden, she leans close to the guy and keeps her voice low. ]
Seriously, fucking go. I'm trying to help you.
[ The only response is a beer-soaked laugh in her face, one hand hard at her shoulder as the other rifles around in her bag. When his thigh presses against her leg, she feels her whole body shrivel. ]
2/2
But the heady mix of free (if poorly mixed) alcohol and the party atmosphere have left many fluxdrifts simultaneously drunk off their ass and thinking they're invincible. She's rifling through her bag for her keys when one such group approaches her.
"Hey," one of them says, his words greatly slurred. "Let us take your car."
Her expression only tightens for a second. When she turns around, she looks calm and mildly concerned. ]
I don't think you should be driving, man. But I can give you guys a ride. Hop in the back.
[ She's only just finished jerking a thumb toward the back seat when the ringleader, unsteady on his feet and his breath practically damp with the smell of beer, reaches for her bag. When he tries to pull it off her shoulder, she steps back, all patience vanishing from her face. ]
Dude. Come on, let go.
[ There likely is a better way to handle this, but it's late and she's tired. He has her almost pressed up against the side of the car when—
The sight of a very familiar set of boots rounding the corner causes her heart to leap into her throat. Turning her face away so it's hidden, she leans close to the guy and keeps her voice low. ]
Seriously, fucking go. I'm trying to help you.
[ The only response is a beer-soaked laugh in her face, one hand hard at her shoulder as the other rifles around in her bag. When his thigh presses against her leg, she feels her whole body shrivel. ]