No Time To Rest • •

[Ember Thistle Grant]

It had been too long since Ember had been on what the feisty blonde call a “real” night out. She had gone for drinks with people and on dates with Brandon since she had been discharged for the hospital, but work and healing had kept her too busy to party like she used to. Even on the few nights when she had ventured to the Marquee, Ember had only stayed a while, often leaving when Brandon’s shift finished since he seemed to be getting the earlier ones lately. Tonight though, she talked Zoe into letting her hair down for a rare night on the town. Since school was over for the year now, the country girl couldn’t use that as an excuse to avoid the night out.

After a day of closing deals and correcting her father’s clueless assistant several times over, Ember was relieved when the time came for her to pick up her bike helmet, slip into her leathers and drive her baby home, weaving through the New York traffic like she always did, with the paperwork and her bag held securely in the box on the back of her bike. She wouldn’t do anything more than throw the lot of it on her desk and ignore it until Sunday now. Ember was going to enjoy this weekend like the twenty one year old she was supposed to be instead of playing the role of the business heiress that her father forced her into most days of the week. She was interested in the company and taking over, but at the same time she was still eager to enjoy the rest of her youth. She seemed to have more interest in the damn thing than Andrew did, but the blonde gave little thought to her brother now, even though her father and step-mom were still looking for him. To Ember, he didn’t matter anymore.

A quick shower later, Ember slipped into her bedroom and changed into her robe whilst she got ready for the night out with Zoe. After doing her usual smoky eyes and using the hairspray and variety of combs to make her tousled hair bigger, she looked like the partier she hadn’t been able to be in a while. With the music blasting and the two dogs curled up on her bed, Ember changed into the new dress she had bought during her lunch hour earlier in the week when she had gone shopping with one of the company secretaries who was in need of something to win over one of the guys in accounts. She had come to Ember since she knew her pretty well and needed something similar to the majority of Ember’s wardrobe for her date. Ember fastened the gold belt around her slender waist and slipped into her shoes, throwing on the jewellery too before checking herself out in the mirror, frowning at the pale scar on the left side of her chest and the obvious bump that still stood there. It would take a while for Ember to get used to seeing it there, looking so odd compared to the rest of her toned body and working as the only sign that there was something medically wrong with her.

Checking the time, Ember slipped her phone into the clutch along with the other usual bits before heading outside to hail a cab, giving him the Marquee as her destination and sending Zoe a quick text to tell her that she was on her way to the club and would meet her outside, knowing that the country girl probably wouldn’t be comfortable standing alone at that bar. After handing the cab driver some bills, Ember stepped out and glanced around, but Zoe wasn’t there yet. She walked to the door and chatted to Brandon and his co-worker whilst she waited, laughing as three guys on the wrong side of drunk were turned away and tried to convince Ember to go with them. Throwing a typical Ember-esque insult their way, she got back to chatting and waiting for Zoe.

[/size][/justify]

• • •

TAGGED! Zoe!
WORDS! 711
OUTFIT! Paint The Town Red
LYRICS! 4ever- - - The Veronicas
NOTES! <3

[Zoe Diana Tylers]

Zoe didn't do this often. She'd only agreed because she hadn't had a real night with Ember since she got into the hospital, and she did miss her best friend; they needed some sort of time to get things back to how it'd been before their big fight. And, seeing as this seemed to be Ember's preferred venue, Zoe hadn't seen another option but to agree and face the city she'd rather hide from.

She made it through her extended shift at work, enjoying the fact that she'd have extra money now that school was out and she could work longer hours. It'd mean more fun for her, and definitely some bills paid off that had been sitting for far too long. She got the email saying that her pay-check for the last two weeks had gone through and, after a quick good bye to her boss, she set off to prepare for her girls' night.

Tonight, the extra cash meant she'd get to go a little crazy and, having to walk past a couple shoppes on her way home, she couldn't ignore the temptation one pretty dress offered. It wasn't something she'd usually buy but, then again, most of the clothes in these stores were a stretch from what she wore everyday. And, she hadn't gone shopping in a long time; she had the money for it. Ember had moaned about her dress the last time they'd gone out and, with the sale signs screaming in the windows, Zoe couldn't help herself; she went inside and bought the little black dress, knowing that the blonde couldn't complain about no straps and a fitted top. The lady inside had pointed out shoes to match, and, as Zoe was on a "spree," she bought those, as well, priding herself on the fact that she could actually walk in these sorts of heels. She took a practice lap around the dressing room before handing over her card, suddenly a lot less nervous about sticking out in the clubs they'd no doubt be hitting tonight. She looked like a city girl for once.

Zoe prepped and primped until she was satisfied with her loose curls and basic makeup. She slipped into the dress and heels, enjoying the thrill of feeling pretty and, literally, sparkly. She got the text from Ember on her way out the door and into a cab, texting back with an okay and estimated time of arrival. The traffic was in full swing, but she made it there and paid the driver, stepping out onto the neon-lit street. She walked towards the doors of the club, a smirk on her face as she saw who Ember was chatting with. Coming up to her best friend, she said teasingly, "I thought tonight was no guys allowed."

• • •

WORDS: 445!
TAG: Ember!
LOCATION: Ready for Fun, The Marquee
OUTFIT: CITY COUNTRY!
LYRICS: Tortured, Tangled Hearts by The Dixie Chicks
NOTES: This is terrible. Zoe was not sitting still xD <3

[Ember Thistle Grant]

The funny thing about the Marquee was that it had been the first club Ember had been able to sneak into when she was far from being of age. She had been sixteen, with a decent fake ID and no one seemed to ask any questions. Being tall for her age had proven itself back then to be advantageous and Ember hadn’t looked back from day one. Brandon once asked her about it and she just smirked, turning to him with a twinkle in her eye as she questioned if he really wanted to know the truth about that. She knew the detective in him would have a coronary and the bouncer in him would shudder to comprehend how no one had ever caught her out. Security had been a lot more lax back then and the bouncer was not an ex-detective from narcotics.

There were still a lot of stories she didn’t tell people simply because of how close they came to crossing a line. Brandon would be asking how she got away with it and Zoe would probably die of shock. Still, the ICD now meant that Ember could make more of those stories that at the time seemed like grand plans and excellent schemes. The little machine, or Squeak as Ember often referred to it, gave her back the life the pills had taken from her and now that she was on the all-clear from the hospital to go back to doing whatever the hell she liked, she was making the most out of it. However, if someone fell into her tonight or shoved her, and it hurt, then they would feel double the pain she felt. It was unprotected from anything and would forever be her Achilles’ heel now.

Grinning as she heard Zoe’s voice, Ember rested her arm on her friend’s shoulder and then cocked her thumb towards the bouncers, acting as though she didn’t know one of them so well. “He’s asking for my ID, can you believe it?”

[/color] She joked before grabbing Zoe’s hand and pulling her inside. “A dress and heels?! Have I converted you, or what?!”[/color] She joked over the music before pulling the country girl closer to the bar, squeezing her way through a group of college guys who she recognised. “Okay, so you look hot and now you need a drink to match.”[/color] Her eyes scanned the cocktail list and then smirked at the bartender came their way. “Two Cabana Club cocktails please, easy on the ice.”[/color] She didn’t want their drinks diluted to nothing. Turning to Zoe she grinned. “You’re drinking this one and then you can stop. Don’t worry; it’s not enough to get you even tipsy. It’s just a tiny single shot of rum and then a load of fruit juices and cream.”[/color] She knew Zoe wasn’t a fan of drinking, which was why she had picked one of the lighter cocktails for them to have.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size][/justify]

• • •

TAGGED! Zoe!
WORDS! 527
OUTFIT! Paint The Town Red
LYRICS! 4ever- - - The Veronicas
NOTES! <3

[Zoe Diana Tylers]

These nights were probably some of her favorites, even if she complained about them the next morning when she had a massive headache and felt half dead. Still, the nights out with Ember were exciting and gave her a chance to truly have fun with the blonde she called her best friend. No boys, no school, no drama; just them, being the college students they rarely got to act like. Zoe didn't usually dress up this much for the occasion, but she knew she needed something that would actually bring a few eyes her way for once. Ember always stole the show in whatever she wore, which was no problem to the country mouse who was perfectly happily blending in, though it was nice to know that, for once, she might actually get to be looked at.

She may've played good girl every other day of the year and played up the innocence that seemed so very rare in New York, but that didn't mean she couldn't break out when the time came. It was almost hard not to have fun when around Ember, especially when the girl seemed to have her heart set on making the most of every hour she was alive.

Zoe looked up at her blonde counter-part, rolling her eyes as she was used as an arm rest yet again. The pains of being short; which, between her towering boyfriend and best friend, she never seemed to be able to escape. "At least he ain't sayin' yer old," she joked back, laughing and trotting to keep up as she was dragged into the midsts of the Marquee. "I figured I needed something so you'd quit complainin'. 'Sides, I'm sure a certain someone else'll like it, too," she smirked, smoothing her sparkly skirt once again. Zoe would struggle with the strapless mini all night, but that didn't mean she wouldn't wear it again. "One'a us has to be able to walk by the end'a this, and I'm not in tha mood for crawling," she sighed as Ember ordered their drinks. "If I end up falling on my butt, it's gonna be your fault, Ember Grant," she warned playfully, shaking her head. Despite her views on alcohol, she did drink when she went out with Ember, mainly so she wouldn't get nagged about not doing it. She didn't like the taste, even when it was masked by fruits and frilly things, and she certainly didn't like the fuzziness it brought to her mind. One would get her a pass for the rest of the night, and that was all she'd need.

• • •

WORDS: 472!
TAG: Ember!
LOCATION: Ready for Fun, The Marquee
OUTFIT: CITY COUNTRY!
LYRICS: Tortured, Tangled Hearts by The Dixie Chicks
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Ember Thistle Grant]

If there was one thing Ember had learnt growing up in the city it was that a short dress and a great pair of heels could get a girl just about wherever she wanted to go. It worked with free drinks, playing the decoy whenever it was necessary, charming a cab, getting out of trouble…the opportunities could be endless and Ember had worked most of the angles before and pretty much always come off as a success. It was one of the best tricks and now she wore those outfits with confidence for a good night out, possibly with a few free drinks here and there, but there was only one guy she would go home with now; an idea many people found laughable at first, given her usual attitude to relationships and getting serious with someone.

Zoe seemed to be coming out of her shell more from back when Ember had first met the shy and quiet girl, which meant that she was usually more willing to tag along on Ember’s little adventures and actually have a good night now that the city wasn’t quite as daunting as it had been the first night Ember had talked her into coming out on the town for a chaotic night of fun, drinks and dancing.

Grinning, Ember looked down at the smaller girl and shook her head. “That is a game that would backfire very badly on him.”

[/color] There was an eight year age gap in the blooming relationship and Ember would usually find a decent joke to make or some way to wind him up about it. He had more than enough to throw back at her and that was pretty much one of the reasons why they worked so well; he could give it just as easily as he could take it, and taming the fiery blonde was not an easy challenge. Smirking across, Ember raised a perfectly arched eyebrow and placed a hand on her hip. “Now whose breaking the ‘no guys’ rule? Get the Englishman off your mind, pretty one.”[/color] She said playfully, nudging Zoe gently. Chuckling to herself as she ordered the drinks, Ember shook her head. She prided herself on her control while intoxicated and it was very, very rare that she couldn’t walk herself home if she felt like it. “Please, I’m always walking at the end of the night. And you having a drink or two won’t cause the end of the world.”[/color] Laughing, she handed the drink to the country girl and sipped at her own. “Yeah, yeah, my fault – whatever - just have some fun and stop worrying.”[/color] The taller blonde had a higher tolerance for alcohol and she wasn’t one of the girls who would flop into one of the booths and say “how wasted am I?” before babbling incessantly about nothing. Ember held herself better than that when she was drinking and her own downfall was the occasional fight whenever someone pissed her off too much. That wasn’t on the cards for tonight though and it wasn’t made easier by the fact she was dating one of the bouncers, though it did usually mean that Brandon instantly sided with her and not accuse her so much.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size][/justify]

• • •

TAGGED! Zoe!
WORDS! 573
OUTFIT! Paint The Town Red
LYRICS! 4ever- - - The Veronicas
NOTES! <3

[Zoe Diana Tylers]

Now that school was out, Zoe was positive she'd be getting dragged off for more nights like these. She and Ember may've both still had jobs, but, without school work holding them back, they had more free time to kill and more memories to make. The drinking and partying would still be spread out, though they'd probably be more frequent now that Zoe wouldn't have her nose buried in books every day of the week.

She was enjoying being able to enjoy her temporary home again. Nights with Ember, walks in the park, not hiding away after dark; it was nice to have that bit of freedom again. But, Zoe had another reason for wanting to make the most of these days. After this, she only had one more summer left in the Big Apple; one more summer until she graduated. And, then, she'd be back to fields, horses, and company that would look at her like she was insane for walking around in her current attire.

"Hey, watch it! I'm older than ya, too!" she laughed back. Zoe was the shortest by far, yes, but she was still older than Ember by a few months, and it was one more excuse for her to play the mom whenever they went out together. Ember was street smart and typically ran these things, but Zoe was older and more cautious; combined, they usually found a way to survive without too many bumps and bruises.

Zoe glared playfully back at Ember, nudging her elbow into the taller girl's ribs. "At least mine ain't here spying on us," she said, nodding towards Brandon at the entrance of the club. He'd no doubt be peeking in on them throughout the night, even if he didn't come over and physically talk to them. She didn't mind, though she wondered if Ember would be as crazy as usual because of it.

She took the drink reluctantly, sipping at it lightly and trying not to grimace at the taste. It wasn't that she disliked it; the fact that she was drinking never sat well with her stomach or mind. "I'd still rather be sober and remember at least some of tonight," she sighed back, taking another sip of the drink and wincing at the tingling feeling as the liquid slipped down her throat. Zoe hoped she wouldn't be forced into taking another one.

• • •

WORDS: 425!
TAG: Ember!
LOCATION: Ready for Fun, The Marquee
OUTFIT: CITY COUNTRY!
LYRICS: Tortured, Tangled Hearts by The Dixie Chicks
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Ember Thistle Grant]

Summer might have officially befallen them, but for Ember that didn’t mean all the fun and games got to start there. Her father already had planted a ton more paperwork in her IN tray and her emails had been screaming at her since finals to sort out, negotiate and finalise more deals. She enjoyed her job, but she felt as though Mr Grant was officially punishing her in some way with all of this added work which meant she had to take it home with her most nights and that annoyed Brandon who kept reminding her that she was supposed to be taking it easy still, though saying those words to Ember Grant was about as effective as politely asking a new-born baby to sleep through the night.

Ember never was and never would be the type of woman to lose herself in work though. Despite Brandon trying to pull her away, it wasn’t necessary and if she worked late three nights, then she took four nights off and made the most of them, whether that was by having a quiet night in with her boyfriend or painting the town red with some of her other friends. She would always be the party girl who lived for the moment, she had learnt too many times that life was too short for career grinding and lazy days. The only difference now was that she had a six foot, messy haired man to keep her around and step in before she did something totally reckless and stupid.

“And yet the baby of the group is the one who has died…twice.”

[/color] Ember joked. People often fell silent when she acted so light hearted about those tragic moments in her life, but to her it was something she had bounced back from and if she took of those cardiac arrests as some terrifying event then she’d probably be a recluse by now. Ember was a survivor and she didn’t want sympathy from people who found out about her close encounters with The Reaper, so joking about it like that seemed to keep them at bay from pitying her. It might have earned her a few whispers in the office and led to a few employees thinking she was a little on the crazy side, but it did what she wanted it to do. She might have been opening up more, but she didn’t need everyone racing to get inside her head.

Peeking over her shoulder to look at the ruggedly handsome man at the door, Ember smirked and shook her head. “Mine knows better.”[/color] Was all she said to the smaller blonde. If Ember caught Brandon spying on her night out, then a pretty big explosion would happen and he’d risk her hiding back behind a mask again. He might look over once or twice when he was doing his lap of the club to make sure everything was okay, but he wouldn’t keep his eye trained on her. Ember could take care of herself and Zoe if she needed too and she had already told Brandon before they fell into this that she needed her space and her independence. It was the one thing she refused to let anyone take from her and if he tried then it would be a pretty heinous break up.

“But there’s fun to be had filling in the blanks!”[/color] Ember laughed, forever amused by Zoe’s sensible and cautious nature. She had never been like that in all of the years she had been alive and she doubted that she ever would be, even when she was much older than she was right now. “Come on; let’s see you work those dancing shoes.”[/color] She grabbed Zoe’s hand and pulled her towards the slightly crowded dance floor as one of the latest hits blasted from the speakers.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size][/justify]

• • •

TAGGED! Zoe!
WORDS! 642
OUTFIT! Paint The Town Red
LYRICS! 4ever- - - The Veronicas
NOTES! <3

[Zoe Diana Tylers]

Zoe was lucky in the fact that all she had to do to earn her bread was wait on people. The job got frustrating on occasion, sure, but she lived to serve and helping others wasn't something she found to be a chore. Her smiley attitude often got her decent tips, something the other workers envied and often teased her about. Zoe was comfortable there though, and she enjoyed what she did, even if it payed less than amazingly. It was enough to keep her apartment; enough to keep her and Tessie fed. That was all she really needed for the moment, even if it didn't leave a lot of wiggle room for things like shopping sprees and expensive date nights.

Zoe couldn't help an eyeroll at Ember's comment, playfully bumping her elbow into her friend's side. "She's also tha one who promised a fun night; let's forget about yer robo parts for a couple hours," she joked in return. It'd still take time to completely play it off like Ember did, but that was Zoe's worrying heart. One day, it'd be normal and she'd be able to laugh about it, too; tonight, she would just smile and pretend.

"You've been training yers for a bit longer. Got him jumpin' through hoops yet?" she said, smirking at Ember and taking another sip of her drink. Zoe was happy for her friend, and even happier that someone else would be there looking out for her. With Andrew gone, Zoe was worried that the blonde might go out on another of her reckless streaks, but, hopefully, the new boyfriend would help prevent that a little.

Zoe shook her head as she was pulled to the dance floor, not protesting as they wove their way into the crowd. She didn't stumble in her new shoes, actually enjoying her boosted height for once. She fit into the movement of the crowd, keeping close to Ember and attempting to stay away from any guys who might pull her away. This was a girl's night; she didn't need some handsy idiot ruining it for her and her best friend.

• • •

WORDS: 403!
TAG: Ember!
LOCATION: Ready for Fun, The Marquee
OUTFIT: CITY COUNTRY!
LYRICS: Tortured, Tangled Hearts by The Dixie Chicks
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Ember Thistle Grant]

Ember didn’t mind working in the family business, which surprised some people, but the tall blonde was beyond caring what people thought about her. The only thing that really frustrated her was when her father acted as though he was doing her a favour each time he stopped by her office with more files and deals for her to sort through, as though it was down to him that she wasn’t out drinking and dancing already. She did more work than he probably did and he didn’t seem to realise that it was by her own choice and not his demands. If she didn’t want to be there one day, then she would just pack up and leave everything until the morning; there was no stopping her. She did it more often than she probably should, but there were days when sticking around would only result in someone getting fired and a black eye to go with it.

Chuckling, Ember shrugged and then flipped her hair back from her face. “You’re just jealous that you’re not the bionic woman.”

[/color] She teased before dropping the subject. Ember did promise a night of fun and Zoe was wrong to doubt her, but she knew that her small country friend wasn’t quite comfortable with how the gunslinger joked about her condition. Hell, she had to live with it her whole life and if she didn’t laugh at it then she’d have done something a lot more destructive by now. Her HCM would probably throw up another obstacle eventually, but she wasn’t going to sit by and wait for it, not when she could be out living her life and proving to everyone that she could have fun, be well and still raise hell from time to time when she felt like it.

Her laugh was louder this time and she gripped the bar to stop from doubling over. The idea of training Brandon was one she found hilarious and probably enough for a plotline to a new sitcom. “Remind me to tell you the full story of me and Brandon one day.”[/color] If anyone had been trying to train anyone it had been the other way around with him trying in vain to reform the rebellious little girl he had met on the streets. They still had their differences and he always had something to say whenever one of her old buddies showed up at her apartment in some sort of trouble, but Ember also added something each time he went out with his old cop buddies too. They would probably never have it all smooth sailing, but she didn’t want that in a relationship, if they managed to last.

She didn’t mind the crowded dance floor or people squeezing past to make their way to the bathrooms or the bar. It was just another part of the Marquee atmosphere and she loved it. However, the minute hands began to stray on either her or Zoe, she would waste very little time with the polite excuse me routine and would probably just grab that hand and threaten to break it amongst other things that always proved effective at giving a drunk, desperate guy a message. That could happen if it happened though, for now she was content to move her body to the loud music, sip her drink and just soak up the atmosphere that could only be found in New York City.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size][/justify]

• • •

TAGGED! Zoe!
WORDS! 604
OUTFIT! Paint The Town Red
LYRICS! 4ever- - - The Veronicas
NOTES! <3

[Zoe Diana Tylers]

Zoe usually tried to keep some control on the events of the evening. Ember pushed, Zoe pulled back; it was how they found their happy medium, even if it involved a bit of bickering before that middle ground was reached. When they were still in school, it gave her more of a reason to protest and convince her blonde friend to retire with movies, popcorn, and cheap chinese, but, that excuse wasn't hanging in the air, and Zoe felt free tonight. The dress and heels were working their wonders on her, and the small bit of confidence she had had grown since she'd slipped into the sparkly outfit.

She danced with Ember for awhile longer, sipping at her drink and trying not to stumble terribly in her shoes. They didn't bother her, but the small amount of alcohol in that drink was enough to give her a fuzzy feeling, and that didn't help when it came to strutting around in platforms. Zoe pulled Ember away from the floor, looping her arm through her best friend's and going back towards the bar. She squeezed between a group of people, taking a seat on a stool and looking back to her companion. "Another round? I'll buy if you order something that won't kill me," she smirked teasingly. Ember was usually pretty good at keeping, at least Zoe's, drinks light, seeing as the country girl didn't have a clue when it came to what she was ordering, but that didn't mean the blonde would always play nice.

Zoe could confidently, and rather proudly, say she'd never been drunk in her life; she was smarter than that. Besides, she never wanted to experience the whole hungover, puking your guts up side drinking could have; she'd never been a fan of being ill for longer than a day. She needed to be up and moving and enjoying life, and lying around recovering from a night out didn't allow that. But, there had to be a first time for everything, especially when you were young, pretty, and in need of some fun.

• • •

WORDS: 405!
TAG: Ember!
LOCATION: Ready for Fun, The Marquee
OUTFIT: CITY COUNTRY!
LYRICS: Tortured, Tangled Hearts by The Dixie Chicks
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Ember Thistle Grant]

Ember was the kind of spontaneous creature who let the night take her where it may. If that meant that the Marquee led her to another party, which led to some place else, then Ember was good with that. She knew Zoe was a little more cautious though and didn’t carry a gun in her purse like it was as important as her house keys. That was why more often than not Ember partied alone; she had less people to answer too that way. Tonight, she had every intention of staying in the Marquee unless the calling of bad take-out or another club took their fancy, which it very well might, depending on what happened as the seconds turned into hours and the songs changed.

The tall blonde was lost in the music, singing along with her favourites and generally just enjoying herself on the dance floor, the contents of her drink lasting just about as long as every other girl’s interest in the drunken bachelor party who were beginning to make their sloppy rounds. As Zoe grabbed her arm, Ember’s attention snapped back to her friend, wondering what the matter was. She hoped that the country girl wasn’t ready to call it a night or had been annoyed by some handsy guy who didn’t understand the concept of personal space. Her glossed lips broke out into a grin though and she happily slipped into place at the bar, choosing to remain standing. Unlike Zoe, Ember spent most of her life in unnecessary heels that worked to make her seem that little bit more intimidating, especially in the office. She caught the attention of the bartender she knew well and then placed her order, making sure Zoe’s was lighter on the stronger spirits, as per her friend’s request. The new cocktail wasn’t a virgin, but Zoe had never specified for one and Ember was feeling in the mood to play on technicalities tonight. She ordered a daiquiri for herself and then pushed the wild blonde hair back from her face as she glanced around, shaking her head and glaring at a guy she caught eyeing the two blondes up.

Hangovers were something Ember could handle now. Sure, she snapped and they made her hide under the duvet until at least the afternoon, but she took them as a sign of a good night. Recently, any hangover had been solved with a scruffy haired bouncer bringing her coffee and the greasy food that she craved when she felt that rough. There was an old diner where she ate as a kid that had managed to scrape by every inspection by some sort of miracle, but it did the best hangover cures in the city and was her solace after a night of heavy drinking and when her quick mouth was redundant to groans and incoherent drunks. The bartender slid the drinks across the bar again and she let her friend hand the money over for them, sliding Zoe’s cocktail over to her as Ember sipped from the sweet strawberry daiquiri that tasted just like juice to her. “Come on, you can’t sit there all night!”

[/color] She teased with a smirk, grabbing Zoe’s hand and pulling her friend back to her feet. If she wanted to wear the heels tonight, then she was going to have to pay the price come the morning; it was all part of the charm of painting the town red!
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size][/justify]

• • •

TAGGED! Zoe!
WORDS! 606
OUTFIT! Paint The Town Red
LYRICS! 4ever- - - The Veronicas
NOTES! <3

[Zoe Diana Tylers]

Zoe had never been so ready to kill and giggle at the same time. She was having a blast, that much was true, but Ember had bought the country girl one too many of those frilly drinks, and they were starting to take effect. Zoe found herself stumbling in her monster heels, laughing and clinging to her best friend as they danced to the pounding music. She didn't regret tonight; at least not yet. Tomorrow morning, she might be puking up a different story, but, for now, she was honestly enjoying herself and not caring about the consequences. Maybe this was the reason Ember did this so often; it let you forget and not worry about life outside the club. Zoe could see the appeal of it, of drowning your troubles in a glass or dance floor, but she was already experiencing the dangers. And, in a few hours, there was no doubt she'd be going through a few of the drawbacks.

After another round of drinks and Zoe nearly dropping flat onto her butt, she found herself being half-dragged from the club by Ember. It took her a few tries to walk in her shoes, but, eventually, they made it outside and to the curb with the smaller blonde still hanging onto the taller one. "Are we goin' somewhere else?" she babbled, tilting her head to look up at her best friend. "I thought we agreed to stay here tonight." She blinked with wide eyes at Ember for another moment before catching sight of her dress twinkling in the city lights. Zoe pulled out of Ember's grasp, twirling around clumsily in the pretty black dress. "Isn't it sparkly?!" she giggled, stumbling and falling back against her friend again. She righted herself, running her hands over the sequined skirt and fixing the necklace chained around her neck. Looking up at her companion again, she said, "Can ya get me another one of those... those... what are they called?" She stared up at Ember, forehead bent as she tried to focus her muddled head. The blurry vision, the painful head; this was all part of the reason Zoe didn't drink.

Zoe clung to Ember as her head started to pound from the flashing of the club sign, closing her eyes to try and block out the pain. It took a long moment, but, soon enough, she was being hustled into the back of a yellow cab. She collapsed against the seat, leaning back and buckling herself up. "Where're we going, Em?" she pressed again, turning her blank eyes to her best friend for some sort of answer. When the alcohol was drained out of her system, the girl would be dead, but, for now, the country mouse needed someone to help her get home half alive.

• • •

WORDS: 497!
TAG: Ember!
LOCATION: Ready for Fun, The Marquee
OUTFIT: CITY COUNTRY!
LYRICS: Tortured, Tangled Hearts by The Dixie Chicks
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Ember Thistle Grant]

Ember was in hysterics at drunk Zoe, especially when it had only taken a handful of cocktails to get her in this state. The taller blonde, who had been drinking long before she turned twenty-one, was only feeling a slight buzz from what she had drank, which had been stronger mixes and several shots of tequila. Still, it was too funny to miss the country girl who lectured Ember so much about her partying habits, stumbling and swaying all over the nightclub without a care in the world. She had snapped a few photographs on her phone for evidence, determined to use them to show Zoe that she had actually had a good time, regardless of how rotten she’d probably feel in the morning once the pounding kicked in and the nausea.

When Zoe looked like she was about to hit the floor and stay there, Ember decided that it was probably time to call it a night and get her friend somewhere safe. She kept her arm around Zoe so that there were no major accidents and so she didn’t get lost in the crowd as Ember guided her towards the door, dreading the moment the fresh air hit Zoe and knowing from experience that she would probably feel much more wasted by the time the cab dropped her off. “We’re going to take you somewhere so you can sleep this off.”

[/color] Ember laughed, barely slurring her words. The city girl would’ve been more than happy to stay out longer, but she didn’t really want to reach the point where carrying Zoe was the only way to get either of them home. She raised an eyebrow at Zoe’s sudden need to admire her outfit and then laughed, pulling her friend out of the way before she knocked some poor guy over who was trying to get by them. “You are a freakin’ mess.”[/color] She stated through the laughter, shaking her head and grinning over at Brandon while he hailed them a taxi. “What you need now is coffee, a lot of it and strong.”[/color] She told her, remembering Zoe’s “disgust” at the start of the night for the same cocktail she was trying to remember the name of.

Ember carefully bundled Zoe into the back of the cab, kicking her friend lightly to slide across the seat while she said her goodbyes to Brandon and stole a quick kiss before falling into the backseat beside the country blonde. Leaning forward, she gave the driver the address of Romeo’s apartment. She knew it was late and would normally have just taken Zoe back to hers but she didn’t want to be around for the killer hangover that she was going to wake up with and she didn’t know if Brandon planned on stopping by after work to make sure that Ember got home without maiming anyone. It seemed to be his thing after she had threatened a cab driver who was making suggestive remarks to her a few weeks back. “You, my semi-corrupted babe are getting dropped off at the home of your Shakespearean lover. I’m heading back to my penthouse after that to deal with the fun and games over there!”[/color] Her dogs would need one last run outside before she could crawl into bed and the seasoned party girl was going to follow those handed down rules for fighting off a hangover prematurely.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size][/justify]

• • •

TAGGED! Zoe!
WORDS! 601
OUTFIT! Paint The Town Red
LYRICS! 4ever- - - The Veronicas
NOTES! <3

[Zoe Diana Tylers]

Even if she'd regret it in the morning, Zoe was having fun. It was the kind of thing she needed every once in awhile; a break to just let her hair down and not worry about the consequences come morning. The chance for nights like these were rare and far between, but, with Ember as a tour guide, it was inevitable that, one day, Zoe would follow in her footsteps and knock back one too many of those throat-searing shots. Tomorrow morning, she'd be curled up in front of the toilet for sure; for now, she was going to enjoy her sparkly dress and try her best not to fall over in her heels.

Zoe pranced clumsily in the heels, suddenly too restless to be standing outside on the noisy sidewalk. The music pounding from the club was much more interesting right now; it promised more fun than the yellow cabs whizzing up and down the street. Pulling on Ember's arm like an impatient child, Zoe whined, "But the club's so much more fun! Let's go'n dance, Em! Please? Pretty, pretty please?" She didn't want to go home yet; going home meant dealing with all of this and the buzz tickling every inch of her body. If they stayed, she could put the real world off for a little longer and enjoy her night of freedom.

She let herself be pulled away by Ember, not even noticing Brandon as she tried to focus on her friend's words. "Are we goin' to Starbucks?" she asked, tiliting her head to the side as Ember said she needed coffee. "Can we go to Starbucks? I want one'a those big muffins; the chocolate ones." Zoe was rambling, but the muffin did sound kind of good; maybe it'd help soak up some of the alcohol poisoning her system right now.

The address Ember rattled off sounded familiar, and Zoe was positive it wasn't her apartment building or Ember's; she was taking her somewhere else. "Yer takin' me ta Romeo's? B-But I slept with him last night!" she said, blinking at her friend. She huffed, falling back against the cab seat. "I want to go home. And I want'a muffin," she demanded, glaring at the other blonde with unfocused eyes. Zoe was never going to believe she'd said any of this to Ember, not even if her best friend video-taped every moment of it; it was too unlike the country mouse for it to be even close to try.

• • •

WORDS: 458!
TAG: Ember!
LOCATION: Ready for Fun, The Marquee
OUTFIT: CITY COUNTRY!
LYRICS: Tortured, Tangled Hearts by The Dixie Chicks
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[Ember Thistle Grant]

Ember needed her nights out. Even if she wasn’t acting as reckless as she had done in the past, she still needed the break from her reality that only alcohol, dancing and a great pair of heels could provide her with. If she didn’t have them then it seemed as though the stresses of her daily life got the better of her and made her more frustrated than normal, usually only leading to some dangerous antic that threatened to put her back into a hospital bed. It was a perfect escape for the young blonde and while it might not be the healthiest, drinking was now her only vice and with Brandon in her life she seemed to be in the gym more, using him as her sparring partner how that she was cleared for her kickboxing passion once more.

Usually, there were a few more hours left in the night before Ember would feel the ache in her feet and the dull throb in her head. Tonight though, an early finish was probably going to be best for everyone, especially since Zoe looked like she was just a few seconds away from barrelling into a group of people and sending them flying like skittles. She already had noticed a few lecherous guys glancing their way and while Ember could easily send them on their way, she’d rather not turn down that route; especially since it only ever led to an earful from Brandon about “doing his job for him”. Laughing, Ember reached out to spin her friend around playfully, making sure her smaller companion didn’t meet the sidewalk in an ugly fashion too. “If you dance anymore then you’re going to hit the floor!”

[/color] The fresh air was making Ember’s head spin a little more, but she was entirely in control of herself still.

Raising her eyebrow, Ember shook her head in disbelief. She had heard some pretty crazy cravings when people were drunk and had had plenty of her own, but never had anyone wanted a late night trip to Starbucks before. “Most people want greasy food, not muffins!”[/color] Ember said with a laugh, refusing to get the cab to drive to nearest twenty-four hour one since she couldn’t even think of where that was from here right now.

Ember’s head snapped around quick enough for the gun slinging blonde to jar her neck, the profanities pouring from her lips as she rubbed the back of her neck to try and get rid of the sharp pain. “You slept with Romeo last night?!”[/color] Ember screeched, almost forgetting that her friend was an innocent girl from the country for a few moments as she stared her down with wide blue eyes. “If you go home alone, you’ll pass out on the hallway and then probably be worse for wear come the morning. If Romeo is as heavenly as you say he is, then he’ll be more than happy to take care of you.”[/color] She said with a roll of her eyes, caring too much to dump her friend at her own apartment in case she woke up in her own vomit, feeling like death had come and toyed with her before deciding he had better things to be doing.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size][/justify]

• • •

TAGGED! Zoe!
WORDS! 576
OUTFIT! Paint The Town Red
LYRICS! 4ever- - - The Veronicas
NOTES! <3