we're hollow like the bottles that we drink

[schnapp]

Who| beth greene and you.
What| the arena's done and she's back from a traumatizing canon update. drinking? drinking.
Where| the tribute center bar.
When| post-arena
Warnings/Notes| mentions of alcohol, natch. more to be added.



All things considered, she's surprised that the Capitol kept her new scars. It didn't seem like they would have, since she can see the billboards spanning the city that promote perfection in every physical aspect - all possible by plastic surgery, they boast. These scars weren't there the last time she was in the city, but they are now. The healed-up versions of them, remnants of Dawn's temper - being pistol-whipped across the face isn't something that just goes away.

Beth doesn't care. She doesn't know what it says about her, if it supposedly tells the world that she's weak and not worth saving like the ones hidden by her sleeves. It doesn't matter, because she's in the Capitol now, and not Grady Memorial. And it's honestly hard to tell which she'd prefer more at this point.

She'd had her first drink only a few weeks ago. Her dad used to be an alcoholic, and she'd never wanted to disappoint him. But he isn't here, and -- well. She has the blood of three men on her hands now, even though she doesn't want to admit it. Beth makes her way down to the bar with the unease of someone who is not used to being there. Chin tipped up, ready to challenge anyone who tells her that she's too young to be here.

They ask her what she wants and she replies with the first thing that pops into her head - the only other alcoholic drink she really knows, other than moonshine.

Peach schnapps.

Doesn't matter that you're not supposed to drink peach schnapps by itself. That's what she does anyway.

Comments

[fuckitall]

The shoulder bump is enough to get him out of his daze. He taps his glass against hers and nods, his eyes telling hers that he'll be all right. Or he hopes so, anyway. He just barely swallows his AMF as he lets out a laugh at her reaction. It shouldn't be as funny as he's making it, but the buzz helps.

"There's a reason why it's called adios, motherfucker." He lets out another chuckle as he lets the warmth take over. "Can't tell you how I found out the hard way the first time."

[schnapp]

"Adios, motherfucker?" she can't help the laughter. He's laughing at her reaction, but she's laughing at how patently ridiculous he is. And maybe, just a little bit because it's nice to be in a place where they can laugh about something as ordinary as liquor.

"Dear Mister Nick," she tilts her head at him with a smile. "I think you're a real bad influence, you know. But I'm alright with that."

[fuckitall]

"Hah, you know it." Others have called him reckless before and there had been many occasions where he wouldn't disagree. "But I bet you can handle yourself, Miss Beth." He grins at that. If a stranger were to look at him now they never would expect that this same man had experience so much trauma before. It's been a rough ride and it's still going, but for now, even for just a few more minutes, he can put it aside. The fact that he can do that at all says something.

He slides his glass forward for it to be taken away. "Listen, not to kill the vibe or anything but...next time we're out there? You can stick with us." He knows she's got Daryl and Rick, and really would not blame her for preferring to stick with the ones she's been traveling with the whole time. "I mean, you got your own folks but...anything can happen, y'know?" The offer stands still and he knows Luke and Clem would say the same.