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Not only was this my first date with a man but also my first date in decades. What was typical dating etiquette nowadays? I was so unfamiliar with the new rules and regulations that I could not help but feel extremely anxious. This was ridiculous, I had nothing to be afraid of. What was the worst that could happen? Only being publicly humiliated in front of my people and my crush, no big deal.
Thank you, brain, for being so comforting towards me, I muttered to myself, displeased by the betrayal of my own mind. Was it not supposed to be on my side?
But I had no time to be bitter. I stood in front of the full length mirror, examining my outfit with an expert eye. Say what you want about me but you could never critique my fabulous fashion sense. Alastor and I were cut from the same cloth, in that regard. One of many reasons that I was so drawn to the man. I positioned my top hat – an accessory that I never ever went without – so that it only partially covered my golden hair, styled to my satisfaction. My cheeks had a rosy glow that was more vivid than usual but that was due to me being so flustered about what was to come. I then picked my pointy teeth clean so that no remnant of food remained trapped within them. And with that, I was officially ready. Ready for my...date.
Hearing that word, whether it be aloud or internal, caused my stomach to tighten. And not just because I was looking forward to the food. We had gotten a table at a very prestigious place; I had been eager to impress and I was pretty certain that it would do just that. Or so I hoped. Everything needed to be absolutely perfect. I could feel the pressure heaped upon me as though it were a physical weight – an extraordinarily heavy one at that!
I needed to calm myself. I refused to allow Alastor see me in such a silly state. My behaviour was verging on the pathetic and I needed to return to my cool, calm, and collected self before we were reunited.
Since there was nothing left to do, meaning that I could not possibly delay things any further, I made my way to the restaurant in question, inhaling and exhaling deeply as I did so. I reached it in record time - it was better to be early than late, after all – and was led by the staff to my table. It happened to be positioned near the bar. In other circumstances, I would have been disappointed by this but I still felt so frightened that close proximity of boozy beverages was a good thing. Great, even.
Alastor had not arrived yet but I was not worried. In fact, I could not keep my eyes off of the bar and the wondrous liquids that were on display. I knew that it was rude to start without him but I needed to obtain some sort of courage, courage that only a bottle could contain. After a few minutes – minutes that dragged on like hours – I could resist no longer. My throat was parched and I needed something to dampen it. Something that would render me intoxicated.
However, was that really a good idea? I was supposed to be being on my best behaviour and if I became absolutely sozzled, I doubt that this would be the case. Oh well. I shrugged off my unwanted doubts and strode over to the bar, tempted to order one of everything on offer. I loved to experiment, after all.
“Okay, bar man.” I began, licking my lips in anticipation. “May I have----”
“Drinking without me?” Came a familiar voice, a voice that set my heart aflame. A voice that made me tingle all over. A voice that I basked in as though it were sunlight.
I turned around slowly, embarrassed beyond belief that I had been caught in the act. Not that there was anything I had done wrong. I had not even consumed a single beverage. Yet.
“Alastor.” I said, drinking in his awe-inspiring aesthetics. “You are here.”
“Was I not meant to be?” To my relief, his tone was light. He had not been offended by my idiotic statement.
“Of course you were! I just...did not know----”
“That I would be here so soon?” He interrupted. “Personally, I am of the opinion that being early trumps being late. The latter just emanates sheer rudeness.”
“I...agree.” I said, surprised that his reasoning had mirrored my own.
“I am glad that you are of the same mind. I knew that I liked you for a reason.” He flashed me a toothy grin. “So. What boozy beverages are we partaking in tonight?”
“What would you like in particular?” I asked him, examining the shelves behind the bar as I did so.
Certain bottles appeared to be crystal clear whereas others had a kaleidoscope of colours swirling within their containers. To be honest, I did not care which drink we devoured, as long as we had a lot of fun whilst doing it.
“I do not mind. However, the stronger the beverage, the better would render this date a little more...spicy.”
“Spicy?” I echoed, my flush from earlier returning with a vengeance.
“Yes, spicy indeed.” Alastor teased. “We do not want to have a mundane date now, do we?”
“Of course not!” I exclaimed, shaking my head vigorously. At this point in time, he could have asked for anything and I would have willingly complied. “Can we have....one of everything?” I asked, noting the surprise on the bartender's face with amusement. “Do not worry, I can more than afford it.”
“I believe you, your highness.” The bartender in question bowed to me before turning away in order to retrieve our drinks.
We waited barely a minute before he turned back to us, a smorgasbord of delightful drinks now decorating the bar's surface.
“Cheers!” Alastor said, immediately plucking one from the bar and draining it all in one solitary gulp.
“Cheers!” I replied, impressed, choosing to follow suit.
The rest of the night went by in a haze. All I could remember was downing drink after drink after drink. The more time went by, the more tasty they became. We had consumed vodka, rum, whiskey, and cocktails galore. As I stared at Alastor through my rather blurred vision, he looked exactly how I felt. We were both drunk beyond belief and I was loving every last moment of it. This was not the first date that I had been expecting.
I had assumed – absolutely wrongly - that we would be sober, asking each other questions in order to get to know one another. The 'traditional' method. However, this was far more thrilling.
Besides, we had an eternity to get to know each other better so what was wrong with a drinking session or two? I had desperately needed to let loose, so to speak, and Alastor had provided me with the perfect opportunity. Oh, how I adored this man! Our first date had not even come to a close yet and already I was hyped for the next. And, judging from his gigantic grin, he felt similarly.