6.) [text.]

[ijustlivehere]

I hate the frakking friend zone, you know? No girl ever seems to see me as anything besides... I don't know, a kid. Or any guy, for that matter, but I'm so afraid of my own bicuriosity that I don't even want to admit it to myself. I'm not that young.
I haven't had a real date that didn't involve a mistaken identity or being used for some ulterior motive since high school, pretty much.
It just freaks me out sometimes, because I'm afraid I'm going to end up alone.

Comments

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Only slightly after the count of three, Neil follows suit. He manages not to choke or spill, but he does bite a little too hard into the lemon and end up with juice on his chin. He laughs as he swipes it away with the back of his hand.]

Nice.

[He flashes Lucy a thumbs-up, then takes a swig of his beer.]

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[Lucy smiles at him, her bottom lip tucked between her teeth. She nods and then takes a sip of her beer.]

See, shots are fun. And it helps the karaoke go down a little smoother.

['Cause it's kinda bad]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

That's probably true. I'd better not drink too much, though, or I'll sing just as bad as anyone.

[Well, he says that, but his words don't really match up with the way he's guzzling his beer.]

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

Are you kidding? I'm pretty sure karaoke is Japanese for 'bad singing' and I don't even speak conversational Japanese. [She nudges him with her foot and laughs then she leans over and orders two grape sodas, more shots, uncomplicated this time with the added bonus of red bull.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

It actually means 'empty orchestra' but it might as well.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

Look at you with the big brains. [The shots come, purple and fizzy. She passes his over.]

This one, you just slam back.

[Neil pumped up on redbull and alcohol sounds like the best idea ever.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Neil beams at the praise.] Okay, I'll count this time?
One, two, three!

[Neil knocks it back, and he totally recognises the taste of Redbull. He's used that for late-night gaming fuel many times.]
This totally has Redbull in it! Awesome.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[Lucy slams hers back and laughs] It does. It's called a grape soda and it has grape schnapps and Redbull in it.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

I like that. They should totally serve these at Soul Calibur tournaments.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

After three or four of them, the tournaments might get sloppy.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Truuuuue. At least we'd stay awake. [He nods mock-sagely, then keeps drinking his beer like it's going out of fashion.] I miss those tournaments, oh man. I used to kick so much ass.

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

You should throw one here. [Lucy takes a sip of her beer. She's pacing herself. She knows there are more shots coming.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Now that is a totally ace idea. But only if you'd come.

[...Neil, on the other hand, has no clue about pacing. Which could prove at least mildly hilarious.]

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

Duh. Dressed as one of the Soul Caliber girls. Every function needs a cheerleader slash hostess.

[She drinks another sip of beer and orders two Sweet Tarts: another Redbull shot.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Heck yes! You would totally make a kickass Sophitia. [He doesn't bother to hide his grin as he imagines it.]

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[She giggles at that.] I have no idea which one she is. You'd have to supervise costume buying. [Lucy loves playing dress up. Literally. She has a slave Leia costume she occasionally wears. The shots come and Lucy slides one over to Neil. The poor guy is never going to sleep again.]

This is another one you just toss back. I'll count this time.

Three

Two

One

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Neil slams down the glass a little hard after that one, so he's clearly starting to feel something.]

I could so do that. Oh, uh, how many of these things is it normal to drink, by the way?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

This quickly...you ought to be feeling it. And we should probably space the rest of them out over the rest of the night.

[She wants him drunk enough to have fun, not too drunk to stand.[

Are you ready to sing?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Totally. But, ladies first, right?

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[She grins, tucking her bottom lip between her teeth then nods.]

Okay but no backing out or running away if I'm awful. You have to be supportive and yell loudly.

[And she gets up to go sign up to sing.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

I'll be your biggest fan. Promise.

[He flashes her a thumbs up. The fan thing, that's something he's really good at.]

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[After a bit of indecision, Lucy finally gets up on stage to sing Because I'm Awesome (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2By1X26GqE). Rather badly, not horribly but not well either. At least she's enthusiastic and she's got volume.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[True to his word, Neil shouts, whistles, claps, and generally makes a big scene like he's seeing a hit band in concert or something. He definitely knows how to do the fan thing, and the alcohol and caffeine are giving his enthusiasm a boost.
When Lucy comes back, he high fives her.]

Nice one! I'm up.

[He heads for the stage. He addresses the bar, and all traces of his usual awkwardness seem to be gone with the drinks and the audience.]

Hard act to follow, eh folks? [He winks.] Let's bring it down a notch. Take a breather.

[He combs a hand through his hair and starts into a pretty faithful rendition of Penny on the Train Track (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHNYMaq8jp8), complete with a fake Southern American lilt to his voice. He really gets into it, too, seeming way more at home on the stage than he generally is in his day-to-day life.

When he's finished, he grins and bows.]

Thank you!

[mghtbconcussed.livejournal.com]

[Lucy does her part as fan, digging a lighter out of her purse and holding it up in front of the stage. She screams, whistles and considers throwing her bra on stage but it's a little too early in the evening for that. Don't worry, Neil. It'll come.

She meets him at the bottom of the steps with a mischievous grin. She wraps one arm around his neck and kisses him. On the lips. When she pulls away she laughs.]

You were amazing.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Neil is too amazed to respond for a moment, but when the initial shock fades, he gives her a shy smile.]

Thanks.