[attr="class","hana"]

[attr="class","hana b"]

[attr="class","hana i"]bodies push in from every side. it's hard to move, hard to breathe. and for a moment, she wants to panic.

warm arms keep her tethered. keep her safe, keep her close.

and with his hand still in dangerous territory, she's opening shut eyes to glance up at him from his shoulder, his lips pressed into the shell of her ear. there's a mixture of things in a gaze, all fuzzy and stained with alcohol.

"lead the way," she murmurs, trying to be heard over the loud thrum of bass. and maybe she shouldn't be so willing to follow him wherever he'd go but he's proven already that he'll keep her safe.

and that, my friends, is good enough for her to fall for.

NIKO MANNER

[attr="class","hana"]

[attr="class","hana b"]

[attr="class","hana i"]he parts through the sea of people with an ease she doesn't possess.

his hand in hers keeps her tethered, keeps her close. and even with wobbly legs, she's following like a stray puppy hoping for a spare crumb of affection. some club attendees call to them, call to her. she's ignoring the catcalls until they're nothing but white noise, locked behind a closing door within moments.

and when it's just him and her and an alley, he's turning back to her.

"it was," she heaves out a sigh, stretching her body now that she's able to freely move around without worrying about hitting another person. god, crowds suck.

"thank you," comes softly, followed quickly by a warm smile.

NIKO MANNER

[attr="class","hana"]

[attr="class","hana b"]

[attr="class","hana i"]she stares down the extended pack, weighing the options. she's never had a cigarette. not really... does she want to try it? the night feels perfect for firsts but if she embarrasses herself, what then? run away, ghost him, never return to hoenn?

god.

alcohol makes her reach for it, an itch slowly growing until it's gnawing at her insides. and when she returns the pack, she's lingering for a lighter, cigarette held loosely between her lips.

"i can see why," she murmurs. "that kinda sucked. i mean, the drinks were good but dancing is not how i would want to be sandwiched." that sounds wrong. oh well. brain no work.

NIKO MANNER

[attr="class","hana"]

[attr="class","hana b"]

[attr="class","hana i"]it’s not as bad as she thought, per se. it drags a cough out of her lungs on the first inhale and burns on the second, third, fourth until she’s settling into a mild familiarity with the sensation. it leaves her lightheaded, fuzzy, dizzy. nicotine highs from that first cigarette hit differently.

she flashes him a warm smile, pulling the cigarette away from her lips. it settles by her side, cherry slowly burning away at tobacco and paper.

”guess,” she shrugs almost lazily, as if she expects him to know. and maybe he does or maybe he has other ideas she’d like more. the concept of her following him blindly doesn’t escape here. it only grows, festers, poisons until she’s in too deep and there’s no way out.

her body shifts to lean against a wall of the alley, brick smooth against her back. there she’ll watch him, moving to take another drag off her cigarette.

NIKO MANNER

[attr="class","hana"]

[attr="class","hana b"]

[attr="class","hana i"]a fuzzy smile wraps around the tan filter of her cigarette. she inhales, gently pulls it away, and exhales. tendrils of smoke curl lazily into cool air only to dissipate.

"no? are you sure?"

cut and layered brick leave scratches against a bare back. a memory of the detour rises. it provides a blueprint she wants him to deviate from.

"petalburg," lips curl a little further into her cheeks. it's not ecruteak but something about it felt too familiar to overlook. "i don't suppose you live in this shithole?"

maybe it'd be convenient if he did.

NIKO MANNER

[attr="class","hana"]

[attr="class","hana b"]

[attr="class","hana i"]she hums. verdanturf is pretty, quaint, peaceful. she wouldn’t mind lingering in a town like that, existing quietly and undisturbed. it’s a nice but impossible thought.

her head tilts as if weighing options.

”do you want to?” comes softly, almost unsure. a single night to end up leaving her wanting and waiting and alone. she squirms mildly at the thought.

and alcohol makes brain functions work slower than usual. it results in a bold statement, one she’ll kick herself for later.

”you could stay as long as you’d like to, you know.” the with me is silent, afraid, insecure.

NIKO MANNER

[attr="class","hana"]

[attr="class","hana b"]

[attr="class","hana i"]her smile brightens at confirmation. reassurance is one of her many love languages.

it gives her enough confidence to be bold, to raise her chin a little higher and look him in the eye. and now, it's time to say it with her chest.

of course, it's mostly alcohol leading her admittance but it's genuine regardless.

she uses her cigarette as a lifeline before speaking. inhale, exhale, repeat until she's slightly dizzy.

"you could stay if you'd like," she pauses and any confidence she had dissipates with the picking up of wind.

softly, as eyes fall to shoes, she adds, "with me."

NIKO MANNER