Who: Baby and Katou What: Celebration time! When: Early July Where: Random bar Rating/Warnings: High/Language, underage drinking, general hijinks Status: Complete
Drinking wasn't something that Baby participated in that often. Sure, she'd have one every once and awhile, but she knew better than to indulge too often otherwise she might just become an alcoholic thanks to her addictive nature. As it was, she and Katou had agreed to meet at one of the local watering holes, and Baby was excited for a night out with her friend.
Baby had managed to snag her first two drinks for free from a businessman that thought he might have a chance. Baby thanked him for the drinks, glanced at the bartender and ordered a bottle of the same stuff to be delivered to their table before she turned to walk away. She laughed as the man cursed her, and she gave Katou a smile as she slid into her seat. "First one is compliments of the gentleman glaring at me. Bottle is my treat, and then we'll see what other idiots we can get to pay for the rest of the night."
She slid Katou his drink, and then raised her glass. "Congrats on passing, babe."
Katou, for his own part, drank frequently. His thinking was that he was addicted to heroin, and just because he couldn’t do that without turning into a fucking creep and binging for days at a time didn’t mean that he should cut himself off from all the other pleasures life had to give him. He was only eighteen after all, and didn’t want to go through his twenties swearing off alcohol just because NA told him that alcohol might make it more likely that he’d relapse. Besides, it wasn’t like he was running around doing blow. He tended to avoid most chemical drugs in general, mostly because they reminded him too much of his poison of choice.
Katou glanced over at the man glaring at Baby. He smirked at him and waved his fingers, before turning back to Baby. “Nothing tastes better than free,” Katou said, taking a sniff of the drink. He clinked his glass to Baby’s, and then took a sip. “Man, Katou the high school graduate. Who woulda thunk it, right?” A little over a year ago Katou was living in a warehouse and dumpster diving for dinner. Now he had a house, a job (even if it was on the questionably legal side), and a fucking diploma.
"Amen to that." Baby replied, a high pitched giggle bubbling forth from her as she cast a quick glance back over to the man. It wasn't as if he'd had a chance anyway. She clinked her glass against his, a smile still on her face before she too took a sip of her own drink. "I had all the faith in the world in you, Katou." Truly Baby did. He was a smart kid, and a great friend as far as she was concerned. She'd trust him with her life, and that said a lot since Baby didn't trust a lot of people.
"I'm happy for you though." Her smile turned soft, affectionate towards him, "And very proud too. Now," she leaned forward a bit, brows rising slightly, "are you planning on going on to college or is this it for now?"
Katou gave a vaguely embarrassed frown when Baby said she’d had faith in him, and stared up at very interesting patch of ceiling. Katou really wasn’t sure how to deal with praise, though it had been coming more often over the last year.
He did laugh out loud at Baby’s question. “Oh, fuck no. That’s it for me. I had enough trouble with high school, I don’t need another four or eight or however many years it’d take for me to get a second piece of fancy paper.”
Baby couldn’t help but to giggle again at the laugh from Katou, “I understand. I mean, shit, it ain’t like it does a lot of people any good anyway.” There were girls that worked with her at the club that had college degrees and they couldn’t find jobs in their field. Baby didn’t understand that. You went to school for all this time, and then they wouldn’t hire you because you lacked ‘real world’ experience or some other bullshit.
That made no sense to Baby at all. “I’ve still gotta go get my GED. I keep putting it off, but I think it might be time to bite the bullet and just do it.” It wasn’t like she was getting any younger, and one day she might need to find something else outside of adult entertainment. Of course, it was very doubtful that she’d ever do anything but, but still one day she’d like to see her name on a pretty fancy piece of paper.
“No doubt. Besides, even if I wanted to, it ain’t like I’ve got the cash for school or the grades for some scholarship dealie.” It was an afterthought. Really, Katou was just surprised he’d finished high school. For a long time, he’d convinced himself that the only reason he hadn’t dropped out was because rich kids needed someone to buy their blow and weed from, and it was easier if Katou went to school with them.
That had been a lie, obviously, because walking across that stage to get his diploma had been one of the proudest of his life. Even better when he’d gotten his six month coin from NA. “Why not? I mean, if I can do it, I bet anyone can.”
Baby could understand that. While she was doing alright in life now, that hadn't always been the case and there was no fucking way that she could afford to go to college either. Chuckling Baby lifted her hand, signaling to one of the waitresses floating around. "We'll see. Don't think it'll really do me a lot of good though. I mean, it isn't like I need it for the line of I'm in." It didn't take a genius to work a pole, or flirt with people for that matter, but still she thought it might be something nice to do for herself.
When the waitress came over, Baby ordered them a bottle and two fresh shot glasses. "That good, or do you want anything specific?" She asked Katou, one brow slightly raised.
“I dunno, maybe trig could help you figure out all the sexiest angles,” Katou snorted. “If you like you’re job though, might not be worth the trouble. Feels pretty great getting it finished though.
“Naw Baby, I ain’t picky about the free booze I get. I’ll drink anything. Though, I do gots me a soft spot for whiskey.”
"I think I've already got those figured out." Baby replied with a wink. She would think on it some more, it wasn't as if she didn't have time to figure it out. At least, she thought she had plenty of time.
Canting her head to the side, Baby pursed her lips and then looked over at the waitress. She changed the order to a bottle of whiskey instead, and then reached into her purse to pull out some cash to hand over. "Don't worry about the change." She gave a small wave of her hand, dismissing the other woman before turning her attention back to Katou. "You've still gotta come see me dance one day."
“Yeah I do,” Katou said, grinning. “Sometime when I got me more time.” Which was now, actually. Now that Katou wasn’t worrying about school, all he had going on was working for Kanan, who was still just sending him out on gopher jobs. It didn’t really eat away a lot of Katou’s time, so he found himself practicing his guitar or working out a lot. A change of pace wouldn’t be that bad, but now that he’d admitted to himself at least that he didn’t find the female form even remotely attractive, he just couldn’t bring himself to. Besides, what if someone could tell how lackluster he was about the whole thing? “That Wade guy alright with you dancing, be-tee-dubs?”
Laughing, Baby nodded. "That's understandable. Anytime, they've got a little something for everyone there." Kenya had added in men to the mix, and the guys were nice enough that danced there. Baby didn't have any complaints, just as long as the workers kept their hands to themselves and left her alone? She was cool. "Oh yeah, he's fine with it." She gave a small wave of her hand, "That's how we met actually." She paused for a moment, a thoughtful look coming across her face. "Wait, no, we actually first talked on the Network, then he came and watched me dance." Baby had called him a bitch the first time that they'd talked, it'd been funny to her, and even now it was still sorta funny to her. "But he supports me in what I want to do. I'd say it has to do with the fact that we're both a little unstable." She laughed softly and then glanced up at the waitress as she brought back the bottle of booze and fresh shot glasses for them.
“Well, that’s good. I don’t think I’d be so cool if my girlfriend was a stripper,” Katou said. He’d always been a jealous boyfriend, even when he was dating girls who he really had no real interest in. He’d always broken things off with them before it had become a real problem though. Before he had a chance to turn into his father.
“Man, that Network’s great for meeting people apparently. I mean, I met the last person I dated through a friend, but they was on the Network too so we probably would’ve met that way anyway.”
"I'm glad he's cool with it. Otherwise he and and I would have some issues." Baby couldn't be with someone that was controlling, or jealous. She came home to Wade each night, none worse for the wear, and she hoped that she'd get to come home to him for some time to come. Time would only tell if they would still be together down the road, but for now she was happy with the way things were between them.
She gave a nod, "It is. I think it's secretly a hookup site too." She gave a small nod, and a wink over in Katou's direction. "Maybe you'll meet someone on there sometime." Baby leaned forward and poured them both a shot, "Here, I think it's time for a few more shots." She raised her glass before tossing back another shot, the burn of the alcohol warming up her insides.
“He and I’d no doubt have issues too,” Katou said, grinning. He’d never met Wade, but Baby was his friend and he was nothing if not protective of his friends. “I’m glad though. It ain’t too often you find someone who really gets you, y’know?”
Katou couldn’t help but laugh. “Eh, I wouldn’t count on it.” Honestly, at this point Katou was half convinced he’d just remain single for the rest of his life. The only guys he was interested in on the thing were already in relationships. Very straight relationships. But shots, shots Katou could do. Katou raised his shot glass in a toast, tapped it on the table, and then knocked it back.
Baby laughed, "I don't doubt you one little bit." Again, she was grateful that Katou had her back. She'd have his too if he ever needed her, although she somehow doubted that he ever would but still, her unspoken offer was there. "Nah, it ain't. I'm glad that I did find someone though." They would be looking for a place, a bigger place, together soon she hoped. Baby was getting tired of her one bedroom apartment, especially with the gifts the dreams liked to give her.
"Never say never, love." Baby gave him a look, and then poured them another shot after they'd both tossed theirs back. She hadn't been looking, and well, the thing with Wade had happened. "But enough about that. Let's enjoy our night, and see what other free stuff we can land." Giving a waggle of her brows, Baby tossed back another shot, ready to let loose and enjoy her time with a good friend.