the night is young but i'm not (rue) [TW]

[Deleted]

December 16th, 2027

Galway was the place to party, that's what they always said.

Since moving to the UK several years ago, Mac hadn't visited this city. He didn't have the most rollicking social life, but he did know that he needed a break from his obsessive work habit. His mates had finally convinced him to take a three day weekend and go stay in Galaway for their Christmas festival. His birthday had been two days ago and they wanted to take him out for the weekend blah, blah, blah. He loved them, but they never let him get any work done.

Of course on their second day in town, his friend Tanya had got wind of a raging party off the beaten path. His friends weren't strangers to partying, drinking and doing whatever interesting thing came their way. As a healer and a scientist Mac did have his own sort of fascination with new concoctions, but he'd rather watch his friends experiment and keep them alive. But, when he was a little tipsy himself he maaay have let some of them get a little closer to death than was really nice to do. But everything was an experiment, right?

So, off they went to this party that spilled out of an old house and into the front cobblestoned yard. It was already eleven at night by the time they arrived and the party was in full swing. Tanya kissed him on the cheek and rushed off to find the good stuff, and Mac went off to grab a drink. He leaned on the counter, looking out through the crowd.

Surprisingly, he saw a familiar face. A potioneer he had seen around once or twice. He recalled someone saying they were a genius with their work, but couldn't recall who or what they had made for the person who recommended. Still, he tried to lock eyes with them, raising a glass in greeting.

prudence oria weiss

[prudence oria weiss]

━ the mirror's telling me to go home ━

AH IRELAND. IN ALL OF Rue's many years of living in England, and of course Scotland for schooling, they never found the time to travel around to other countries including Ireland or Wales. Maybe it was the lack of interest in the countries from the friends Rue tended to hang out with, despite Rue only truthfully being close to two people. Well. One. Regardless though, the Weiss found themselves around Galway, conducting business for their potions. Despite the Purifiers ultimately being dissolved as an..'organisation', Rue's potions continued to flourish and production had seemingly tripled. It meant there were more means for safety precautions of course, as the Weiss had been guided once. Which ultimately meant more security personnel, more warehouses to be established..the whole works.

But for Rue alone? It meant an opportunity to create more and test more..on well..themselves. Like most dealers would say, the typical rule of thumb was to never consume your own product. The potioneer understood this risk and decided to ignore it regardless, despite their dislike for risk-taking. The potions helped keep Rue stable and numb, void of most feelings that she simply didn't need to feel. However, in this moment of time, Rue was sipping slowly on their own glass of only Merlin knows what. The trip initially was for business, but after some convincing (they didn't need any truthfully), Mina had found her way in joining the Weiss, taking the opportunity to see the Christmas festival and generally relax outside of whatever chaos was ensuing around them.

Mina had gone off the initial path though, and hours later the two wounded up at some..party in an old home. Rue, of course knew no one but Mina, but saw empty bottles of their potions in the bathroom, when they went to 'freshen up'. And while it brought nothing but joy seeing their potions around, it also meant she had to keep a tight lip about who she was or what she did. Though with the hours passing, and Rue still sipping on their glass, the thought of where Mina had disappeared to only join the forgotten thoughts. As the Weiss looked up, they locked eyes with someone familiar and noticed him raise a glass in her direction. Did she know the guy?

Looking around confused and noticing that no one was in her close proximity, Rue too, raised their glass in the direction of the male, before slowly making her way over. Sure, Rue was cautious and conscious of most things, but he had a familiar and attractive face, and they were high enough to forget any embarrassing conversations for the next few hours. "Do..I know you?" They began, once the gap between the two of them had slightly closed.

| @mac |

hopefully this works!

[Deleted]

They approached him and Mac waited, deciding to be the stagnant one in this closing of the gap. When they reached him, asking if they knew each other, Mac smirked and shrugged. His smirk was of the kind that would make someone feel like they were missing out on a private joke that only he knew. That mirth in his eyes was like seeing two best friends exchange a mischievous lance -- in one person.

"Not quite, but I also work in the realm of research and discovery back home," he noted. "I've seen you around. Maclan," he held a hand out for them to shake, if they so chose, "Creature Induced Injuries healer. Lots of venom and fun potions and stuff,"he explained.

They had a glassy look in their eye that Mac recognized. His friends had dabbled in all sorts of stuff, and he always got a kick out of the way it affected them. He surveyed them while his hand was outstretched. They were aesthetically stunning. Of course, being demisexual, his attraction to them didn't go beyond aesthetic and curiosity at that moment. But they really were... interesting and gorgeous.

prudence oria weiss

[prudence oria weiss]

━ the mirror's telling me to go home ━

AT THE MALE'S SMIRK, RUE'S clueless mind couldn't help but try to match it. When they were incredibly high such as the state they currently were, anything and everything became amusing. Even if no one cracked any jokes.

"Research and discovery?.." Rue repeated, looking down at the hand he extended before deciding to shake it with their own. "Intriguing..know any department hiring for something like that?" They added, the corner of their lips rising into a wider smile. Venom would be a good ingredient to add within their own potions, but the Weiss also loved looking at other basic potions for inspirations. Basic is what led to their most popular seller - their reinvention of the Pepper-Up potion.

"Rue." They added, giving Maclan a quick one over. Rue wasn't particularly...interested in relationships given their substance abuse, but they knew an attractive individual when they saw one.

| @mac |

hopefully this works!

[Deleted]

They smirked too, but it looked a little forced in Mac's opinion. Still, he liked to know that his smile had an effect. Mac was always happy to be noticed, generally preferring that in a positive way but could take a negative interaction if he had too. He didn't sense this one being negative, though.

They repeated what he said about research and discovery, shaking his hand. "Hmm... that's a good question," he considered. He really didn't know a lot about experimentation outside of the hospital and you had to have Healing training to be able to work their. "Could always use an assistant in my own studies," he half joked, but realized that maybe that could be a good idea, especially with someone he had heard rumors about being a genius.

An obviously incredibly high genius.

Their smile after asking about the 'hiring' was a sight to behold. Kind of terrifying, but he also felt himself leaning forward slightly into the handshake as they offered the name. "Rue."

They clearly looked him over, which was fine with him. "Rue, a pleasure to meet you," he released their hand. "My friends are around here somewhere, looking for the next high," he explained flat out, raising his glass to his lips and taking a sip. "I'm usually the one keeping watching. Not necessarily for safety. Mooorree for experimentation," he admitted.

prudence oria weiss

[prudence oria weiss]

━ the mirror's telling me to go home ━

AT MACLAN'S REPLY, RUE'S BROWS furrowed. It wasn't everyday that someone couldn't answer a question regarding their work. Rue knew this well, considering she had an answer for almost everything regarding her own work. But even then, there were always departments for different kinds of things like that. Picking up on the joke, the corner of Rue's lips rose, her tongue sweeping against her teeth as they sought an answer. "I've been an assistant before..no harm in going back to what I know." They added.

Rue couldn't tell if it was the atmosphere or the potion settling in their system but this newfound confidence was helping with everything. "Next high?" Rue questioned. They had seen their own creations scattered around in the bathroom with the odd mix of Muggle inventions but Rue had only met the guy. How did they know it was safe to be discussing these types of things without inwardly revealing themselves? "Ah, so you're the type to sit back and relax while chaos ensues." They joked, taking a sip from their own drink.

| @mac |

sorry for the wait!

[Deleted]

They furrowed their brows at him, which just made him maintain his amused smile. He was amused by them. Then, at his comment about needing an assistant, the corner of their lip perked up and he happily took in the response. They'd been an assistant before. "Ah, good," he replied. "Though, I'm sure at some point you would have plenty to teach me-" he paused, pursing his lips to the side. "I'd have to consider pay, however. I do most of my experiments for my own gratification rather than a lot of income coming from it. Though, maybe you have a knack for marketing?" he chuckled, not sure if that was at all relevant, but...

They questioned his comment about the 'next high' his friends were seeking. "Yeah, it's a party, isn't it?" he countered, knowing he hadn't given them enough information to really get his friends in trouble. Plus, they looked... well, not sober. They concluded that he was the type to sit back and relax while chaos ensued and he grinned devilishly, lowering his glass to chest level. "That, or poke and prod at them with comments or suggestions to see what they do. Nothing too cruel, of course. And I always make sure they get home safely," he assured them.

prudence oria weiss

[prudence oria weiss]

━ the mirror's telling me to go home ━

KNOWING THEY WERE STEPPING INTO dangerous territory, Rue Weiss couldn't help but enjoy the push and pull of their words. It felt like..mild teasing, but the kind that was enjoyable, to keep the Weiss entertained despite how high they were. "Ah the whole student becomes the master type?" She asked, her smile forming into a small grin. At his next statement however, the Weiss' head cocked a bit. "Marketing?" She hadn't revealed her own business ventures yet..but was he a customer of hers?

"Party is an understatement.." The Weiss muttered, finally lifting their glass to finish off their drink. It was a reminder that they needed another eventually. "What a kind friend." Rue retorted teasingly. Mina was that kind of person the Weiss could rely on, even if she was drunk or high herself. It's how their friendship had worked all these years. "Wanna grab a drink with me?"

| @mac |

sorry for the wait!

[Deleted]

"Exactly," Mac agreed. "Or a give and take type of situation. Mutually beneficial," he explained. "Symbiotic relationship," he added, taking the last sip of his drink. He dropped his hand to his side, his fingertips holding the rim of the glass. "Yeah," he continued as they questioned his marketing suggestion. "Getting experiments to the right people,"he explained. "I'm afraid I get so wrapped up in my studies I forget that they may need some funding now and then," he added.

They agreed that it was indeed a party, that he had make an understatement. they were talking quietly, finishing their drink as well. 'What a kind friend,' they retorted. He deserved the sass, he knew that. "Well, they keep inviting me, don't they?" he countered. Really, he loved his friends - they were bonkers, but he always took care of them. When it mattered. 

Then they asked if he wanted to grab a drink and he grinned, looking down at his empty glass. "Yeah, I do," he said firmly. There was a small nudging at the back of his mind, reminding him that this person was a complete mystery and possibly dangerous -- possibly even dangerous to themselves. Just a little reminder to keep him in check as far as getting to know a new person. 

"Anything specific you recommend?"

prudence oria weiss

[prudence oria weiss]

━ the mirror's telling me to go home ━

SMIRKING AT MAC'S RESPONSE OF a 'give and take' type of relationship, Rue knew they needed to throw any sort of random thought out of their head. It was difficult to do so, considering how high they were, how the buzz of the alcohol made them feel and how their push and pull flirty-behaviour made them feel. It was all a lot and nothing at the same time. "Symbiotic.." Rue repeated, enjoying the way the word rolled off of her tongue.

"So you fund..all sorts of projects or studies like that?..Or more of just the incredibly fascinating types?" The more Mac spoke the more interested Rue became in this..niche topic. But at his response regarding that his friends keep inviting him despite his actions reflecting him to be a..poorer choice as a friend, the Weiss shrugged. "Maybe you need to decline every now and then. Knock some sense into them."

As he accepted their offer of getting another drink, Rue smiled, somewhat starting the walk as they led him to the bar. "Depends. Are you a neat or on the rocks kind of guy?..Sweet or dry tastes?"

| @mac |

[Deleted]

Symbiotic. Mac was never good at those, but there was a first time for everything.

"The more fascinating, the better," he explained. His curiosity had often been stronger than his moral ground, depending on the situation. But, the hope was any discovery he really cultivated would be useful to people rather than hurtful. He was a healer by trade, after all. 

At their suggestion about declining his friends invitations he laughed, "oh, I decline often. Just makes them more aware how lucky they are to have a 'designated driver'," he joked. "Someone has to be... semi-responsible," he added.

He followed them leading him to the bar, conversation continuing. "Dry, rocks," he explained. "But, as you've gathered, I'm always willing to experiment. Where do your preferences lie?"

prudence oria weiss

[prudence oria weiss]

━ the mirror's telling me to go home ━

AT HIS EXPLANATION, RUE COULDN'T help but grin a little wider. Words like 'fascinating' always held a little extra meaning behind them, but despite their curiosity, the Weiss didn't press any further. As Mac continued, mentioning that he declines often and someone needed to be responsible every now and then, Rue couldn't help but think of Mina.

Mina as of late had been out...less times than Rue could even count. Unless they were going on a slight walk around her area, Mina's partying days were slowly coming to an end. Rue didn't mind truly, as she would always crash at Mina's apartment prior to obtaining her warehouse, but their fun moments together felt a little rare lately.

As Mac started following the Weiss on their way to the bar, Rue leaned over the counter once they arrived, looking at Mac. "I'm..also an open-to-anything kind of person." They grinned, waving for the attention of a bartender. "I'm a sweet with the rocks kind...How about we just order something random for each other?"

| @mac |

[Deleted]

Rue's smile was intense, something that he could easily see people being interested in. What thoughts were lurking behind those teeth... interesting. Fascinating.

Just like this night. He caught of a friend across the way and waved. They waved back. "My friend Maria," he nodded that direction, explaining to Rue why he was waving. Maria nodded back and kept dancing with some person, having a great time.

Rue leaned over the counter when they arrived at the bar, and Mac turned his back to it, resting his elbows on the bar behind him. "Well, good. We'll get along fine then," he agreed. Sweet with rocks, she said... and then suggested they order something for each other. "Perfect," he agreed. He turned over his shoulder to look at the bartender.

"She'll have a... Paloma, on the rocks," he chose randomly. It was a sweet one, maybe too sweet. They'd find out.

He also thought to mention that this outing with his friends was sort of a birthday celebration for him but... he'd wait on that. Didn't need a song and dance right now.

prudence oria weiss

[prudence oria weiss]

━ the mirror's telling me to go home ━

NODDING IN THE DIRECTION OF Mac's friend, Rue continued onwards to the bar, sure that Mac was following behind. With Rue leaning over and Mac's back against the bar, the Weiss snuck in a quick look, solidifying the fact she had made a wise choice to speak to him. If only she had worn a better outfit..

Clearing her throat as she realised her eyes were lingering too long, Rue's brow rose at Mac's choice of drink for her. "Tequila and grapefruit? Surely you're trying to sweeten me up." They teased, grinning as eyes quickly scanned at the cocktail menu and over at across the bar. "Old Cuban for him please but..a little extra ice." Old Cuban's were fairly high on Rue's 'love' list, but considering they were both going down the sweet-drink route, why not start there?

| @mac |