so struck down by you, I didn't know what to do; I started on breaking my own heart

[justsookie]

She'd read it all in articles before. How being single was nothing to lament, but instead something to be celebrated; how the end of a relationship was better viewed as the chance to start fresh, start new, to find something better than the last, to remember oneself again. And it was the hope that she could hinge herself to such a mindset that had

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[likesthestooges]

Aidan needed a drink. He needed a lot of drinks, really, but he wasn't so self destructive or have so little self control that he was going to drink himself into a stupor. But a few drinks to take off the edge would certainly be welcome.

Dressed in a dark button up shirt and jeans, Aidan stepped into the Winchester and glanced around. He knew most everyone in here by sight and didn't see anyone in particular that he would like to avoid. Of course, right now the only person he really wanted to avoid was Martha and he doubted she'd be out drinking on a Saturday night.

One person in particular caught his eye, a girl he didn't usually see as a patron here but as one of the staff. She looked good though, and if Aidan was going to be miserable why not at least have gorgeous scenery?

Sitting down next to her, he offered her a smile that was actually rather pleasant. Aidan, if nothing else, knew how to pretend to be things he wasn't.

"Mind if I have this seat?" he asked.

[justsookie]

It was amazing, how much a little change of dress and attitude could draw to Sookie, even after so many weeks of waiting tables and cooking at the Winchester. The faces were familiar, but the expressions that they wore were different. Sookie had no doubt of the rumors that were probably circling, for anyone who cared enough to observe the emotional state of the staff, but without the ability to peek in their minds, she found that she just didn't care. She'd throw the whispers to the wayside, only smiling in response to the few approving nods she'd been given, taking any opportunity to boost herself up, however short-lived. When a customer stopped at the stool next to her own, Sookie gave him a sweep of her eye, a slight curve to her grin.

Aidan, if her memory served correctly. She tilted her head, lightly coy, even as the alcohol seemed to make the entire world thrum around her, blurred sensation and sound.

"Go right on ahead," she smiled, resting her temple against her fingers. "I could use the company."

[likesthestooges]

"That's good, because with the way that dress looks on you, I have a feeling you're going to be getting a lot of offers for company," Aidan said, warm smile still in place. He wasn't flirting, not exactly, but a charming manner came easy to him after all these years and it was a hard habit to break. Besides, she had obviously got through a bit of trouble to look so good, so someone ought to notice.

"Any special occasion for it?"

Whatever her occasion was, he was glad for it. She was a nice distraction, someone who looked like they might be pleasant company and was more than easy on the eyes. It was just the sort of thing that he needed right now.

[justsookie]

Having attention called to her dress was a slight wake-up call to Sookie. But only slight. She made no effort to cover herself up, though she glanced over her dress with a considering look, nose wrinkled and lips pursed. To deny that she wanted someone to talk to, maybe even someone to cuddle with, someone to take the edge off of the loss that she felt, would have been a blatant lie. But to suggest that she was desperate only seemed to leave a bad taste in Sookie's mouth, apparently obvious even after several drinks too many. The last thing that she wanted, even then, was to come across as some unreliable, flighty woman, capable of leaping out of a year-long love and directly into abandon.

"You think it's too much?" she asked, frowning lightly as she looked up, her eyes earnest, and looking for an honest opinion. "I wore it 'cause... I don't know, I just broke up recently with my boyfriend, and maybe I just wanted to make sure that I'm not the complete screw-up between the two of us. Though I guess lookin' pretty is only one really,

[plntfood]

Between his friendship with Neil and the open invitation he's given to have anyone in the Winchester ask him to fix things that might need fixing, Mathias goes in and out of the bar several times a week. Though he doesn't often stay to drink or eat, he's seen the people who work there, knows their faces, if not their names, and he smiles at the girl at the table. She waits tables there, he knows that much, and although he doesn't often feel comfortable inviting himself to take a seat with someone he doesn't know, she seems to want the company.

"Hi," he says, hesitating for a moment before he slides into the seat across from her. It isn't strange to be doing that, he knows. So many people on the island make friends this way, by simply introducing themselves or inviting themselves to share a meal with someone, but it isn't something Mathias is prone to doing very often.

[justsookie]

Back in the days of high school, watching couples flit in and out of love, watching the tears and pettiness which often followed a nasty break-up, Sookie had sworn to herself that she wouldn't fall into the same traps. That she wouldn't strike out in the hopes of validation after being dumped, that she wouldn't be forever ruined for love by a lie, or a betrayal, or a simple incompatibility of personalities. Breaking up with Mitchell didn't mean that she couldn't find love again, didn't mean that she couldn't even with a vampire, if it came to that. It wouldn't have been fair to cut off all opportunity, just thanks to a small hiccup along the way

[plntfood]

Mathias doesn't often blush, but he feels heat creep up the back of his neck at her comment. It's so unlike him to take a seat without first being offered, but he'd done it anyway, thinking he'd seen an invitation in her smile. For a moment, he doesn't say anything, his expression relatively blank, though in his head he's debating whether or not to apologize.

Finally, he nods, another faint smile turning up the corners of his mouth. She's teasing. At least, he thinks she is.

"Mathias," he says, then reaches across the table to offer her his hand. There are so many beautiful blonde women on the island, so many girls who look nothing like Veronica, yet remind him of her anyway for just a moment. Henrich would tell him to lunge, to date and get out, but he can't. Not like that. "Were you waiting for someone else?" he asks, the apology rising anyway, unbidden. "I didn't... I can move, if you like. I..." He's a little flustered, though he tries not to show it.

[justsookie]

There's something immediately charming about the flush that settles on the man's cheeks, humility of a sort that Sookie doesn't often see in men. Or perhaps she just hasn't looked hard enough. She remembers most men giving her a decent amount of space back in Bon Temps, her reputation preceding her most nights, save for the fellows who worked at Merlotte's, who knew better than to think of Sookie as being overly nosy or with a tendency to pry. And, well, the staff at Merlotte's was always a group that Sookie saw as off-limits in that way, not wanting romance to taint the only steady employment that she'd enjoyed since she became old enough to work full-time. Here, though, telepathy doesn't get in the way of anything, and all most people know about her is that she's a relatively capable member of the Council, and a waitress at the Winchester who does her best to smile at all the customers

[little_moons]

"I think you're already drunk," I say, sliding onto the stool beside her and dropping a kiss to the sharp curve of her bare shoulder. I'm not workin' the bar today, so I'm free to sit here with her.

Which is a good thing. I walked in, took one look at her, and knew that this could be trouble. Tiny dress, spiked heels and too much alcohol, and it's pretty fuckin' obvious she's here to pick somebody up.

Not that I've got a problem with that, but I can't help but feel like it's my responsibility to at least look out for her.

[justsookie]

I share the very first thought that comes to mind, knowing that Neil's the last person who'd hold it against me, turning just in time- proving that I'm not completely gone, I'll have you know- to land a kiss on Neil's cheek, though he's moved sooner than I'd like, off onto a stool that's too far from me to easily lean across and give him a hug.

"Why d'you have to be attracted to men, Neil?" I ask, nose wrinkled in frustration. "Life would be so much easier if you'd be willing to pick up a nice girl, because I'd be on the first step, and then we could... get married, raise the girls, and life as happily ever after as this island would allow."

I pause, breathe. "Which may not be much, but if there's anyone who'd be able to hold onto that, it'd be us. I swear. And I've only had a few drinks, I'm not anywhere near drunk enough, as you can see by my ability to still come up with life's best ideas."

[little_moons]

"Yeah, well, life'd be easier for me if you had a dick," I say with a smirk, scooting my stool over until it butts right up against hers.

"This a platonic marriage you're plannin' out for us?" I ask, reaching up and wrapping a strand of her hair around my finger, careful not to pull. "Figured you felt too sisterly or whatever toward me to want anythin' else."

[justsookie]

I make a face at the very thought, shaking my head, though not quickly enough to tug my hair out of his reach, instead leaning in slightly, until my weight rests against his shoulder. "Nuh-uh. That... would be a real travesty, because I like wearing dresses. And I don't mean kilts, I mean full-out dresses, like with flowers and flirty skirts," I drawl, brows furrowed in thought. "And the only person I've known who can balance a dress and a dick is Lafayette, who you'd love, but I'm not gonna assume that I'd be half as fabulous as he is. Plus, I'd wanna keep the hair, and even, even Eric couldn't pull off the hair."

With a light groan, one that plays up my drunken state a little above where it actually is, I tuck my head against Neil's shoulder, resting a hand on his chest, sighing heavily. "Also, I would totally give up sex for you. Yeah, I don't know how that'd turn out if we tried." There's just a touch of a joke in my voice, but it probably says something that I actually thought about it for a second at all.

[lastof_five]

Having just fished Kate out of the bar the evening before, Helen had hoped that this evening would be a nice, quiet dinner and possibly a drink or two before going home to Will. He'd cried out, catching up on patient files, and Helen was more than happy to fly solo.

Sookie, it seemed, wasn't planning on a quiet evening if the shots had been any indication but Helen was hardly in a position to judge; she'd had her fair share of issues of late and wanting to feel numb was something she could certainly understand, even embrace. Mind made up, she crossed over to her.

"Sookie? Is everything all right?"

[justsookie]

All it took was a glance in Helen's direction, and Sookie felt all of her resolve fly out the door. She had wanted an easy night, one where she could just lose herself in it all, find someone who could bolster her confidence for the evening, maybe even make her feel loved. Anyone who could restore her belief in the fact that she would eventually find someone to spend her life with, and someone whose personality she could accurately peg. Of course, she was under no illusion that she'd find it all in one night, not daring to belief it even when several drinks under, but just a start to any of it would have been nice.

But all denial was impossible to maintain around Helen, always had been, and always would be. Her lower lip began to tremble, and she shook her head, silent. Because if a single word slipped out from her lips right then, she knew that she would lose it.

Instead, she held out her arms, wanting a hug.

[lastof_five]

That was different from usual but Helen certainly wasn't going to deny her the contact if she needed it and it was only half a beat before she slid her arms around the other woman and hugged.

"Did you want to talk about it, any? Or just this? I'm no psychiatrist but I sleep with one, so we can hope some of it rubbed off."

[justsookie]

Tucking her chin against Helen's shoulder, Sookie wavered over whether or not to nod, though it seemed that her hiccups and breathing were doing the job for her. Suppressing a little sob, Sookie simply tried to moderate her breathing, not yet letting go of the embrace, feeling anchored by it, feeling safe. For all that she'd tried to put up appearances, it seemed that they were toppled all too easily.

"I broke up with Mitchell. I think- I think it was the right decision, but I- I miss him so much that it's drivin' me mad," she managed in broken bursts, finally pulling back in order to better wipe at the tears which were already falling from her eyes. "So no, things aren't really okay, and I don't know if they'll ever be okay, and I just- I just wanted things to work out."

[leftwithmybones]

Now, that's definitely not a sight that often accosts McCoy the minute he walks into a bar. Hell, it's definitely not the worst one, but it's something new alright. He wanders up to the bar, unsure as to how to act around a woman that beautiful -- it's been a while since Jean, after all -- but he manages to keep it together as he gives a nod of his head to the woman when she fixes a gaze on him.

"Evenin'," he greets her, recognizing her from that day with Rogue. "You're looking gorgeous tonight, if I can say so."

[justsookie]

She didn't recognize him upon first glance. Then again, most people tonight aren't really recognizable at first glance, if only because Sookie's aim is to let loose, forget about some of the things that have plagued her as of late, trying to find a way to start over altogether. Apparently, that process even puts friends and family to the wayside, even some of Sookie's closest friends requiring a second look before their identities sink in. (She blames it on the fact that she's been looking for faces from Bon Temps all night, seeing Hoyt here, Jessica there, all based on a haircut or a shade of auburn. There's a part of her tempted to simply stick to Jason's side for a couple of weeks, but he's got better things to do.)

But as soon as he draws close, Sookie's eyes finally light up at last, and she beams at him, under the praise of someone who, by all means, should be an objective third party.

"Why, thank you kindly, Doctor, and of course you may say so," Sookie grins, before gesturing to the seat next to her own, offering it up,

[leftwithmybones]

"Well, everything but the handsome part," he replies, seeing as he still feels like a run-down shell of what he used to be, even these days. He takes a seat, though, because any company is good company and though her accent's several states away from home, it's still closer than most in these parts can offer nowadays. "Forgive me for pointing out the obvious, incidentally. Once upon a time, I swear, I used to be better at his."

Although, maybe that's just the effects of a divorce. Maybe once it all comes crashing down, there's a part of you that gets irrevocably lost and never comes back.

[justsookie]

Sookie almost speaks up to point out that he must've been decent at it only recently, to have dated someone so gorgeous, so sharply intelligent. The kind of woman who'd still put most others on the island to shame. But then, with a small intake of breath, she remembers what she's heard, being on the Council. There are few disappearances that go by unknown to Sookie anymore, another one of the burdens that she carries regularly now, but in some ways, she prefers this narrow aspect. It feels safer, somehow, for all of this to come at her in a regular fashion, people calmly reporting disappearances to the office, the process of removing someone systematically from everything. Housing records, mailboxes. Like putting an end to a story