[inferno] smack snack [circe]

The club was pumping, the band was great, and Corey was happy to be there. He was a little high, on some potion he had never heard of, but he was feeling good from his head to his feet. The lights felt so bright, the music so loud that he felt it in his soul. He had danced the night away, drank, and was feeling festive. He cheered as they started the countdown to midnight. He screamed the numbers loudly into the abyss, dizzy and full of hope for 2004. 2003 had been a good year, who’s to say 2004 wouldn’t be even better? He was starting school, he had a job, he was going to learn to take better photographs and maybe even get his work displayed in a gallery somewhere. He was feeling good, and everything was going his way.

He had had a rough start to his life, with his mother smothering him and neglecting him simultaneously. School had been hard for him, too. Things had changed since then, though. He was happy now, making money and doing what he loved. He didn’t need school, N.E.W.T.s, or anything else. He just needed the freedom to go after what he wanted—and take it.

As the countdown hit midnight, Corey impulsively grabbed the first girl he could see, kissing her hard. She was a pretty blonde, not that he noticed. It was about the tradition, about the fun. His heart was racing as he pulled away.

@Circe Sutcliffe

Circe had been anxious about the idea of spending the holidays in London. She loved Jam and Jae but things with Ezra were still awkward. She couldn't help but feel like he hated her. She didn't understand. She thought she'd done him a favor, honestly. He didn't really seem that into her and the idea of spending her holiday break in the same apartment as him was a bit much for her nerves. Manny had invited her to stay with him and his brother, Dez, instead. It was nice. She and Manny had made cookies on Christmas Eve and she'd made pancakes for everyone on Christmas morning. One of those really wholesome family moments. It was just a shame that her actual family couldn't be more like them.

She'd gotten another tattoo and it was still healing, though she'd used some potions to speed along the process so that she wouldn't be too uncomfortable to dance. Even if she weren't friends with everyone in the band, she'd have still been a fan. They had a really great, unique sound and she and Manny cheered for them in the crowd. She'd picked out a dark blue dress with a mesh overlay and silvery constellation patterns with rhinestones and sparkles all over and she'd put streaks of blue and silver in her hair to match. The dress was paired with a pair of ankle booties. All in all, she thought she'd done pretty well for having had minimal help from Jae this go around. The other girl had a lot going on and Circe hadn't wanted to trouble her.

She counted down loudly, though not quite as loudly as Jam was his spot on the stage. As the clock hit midnight, she suddenly felt herself being pulled in and kissed by a boy she didn't know. It took her a moment to regain her senses and she pushed him away before smacking him across the face.

"What the fuck??"

Corey certainly deserved the slap, but it didn’t end his fun. He smiled broadly at her. “Happy New Year.” He offered, instead. She was lucky to have kissed him, really. She was pretty, certainly deserved it, but he had not picked her for her looks—rather her immediate proximity. When it seemed certain that she was not playing around, he softened a little as he looked at her. “Hey, hey, sorry. Just trying to keep to the tradition.” He offered. “Buy you a drink to make it up?” He didn’t need anymore drinks, but he was feeling good regardless.

“Corey.” He called over the loud music, eyes flicking up to the band. The lead singer, a pretty mixed girl, seemed to be shooting daggers at him for some reason. “What’s your name, gorgeous?” He asked. “Come on, about the drink, eh?” He asked.

“I deserved the slap.” He offered, as a way of apologizing a bit. He knew he had done wrong, but he was feeling too good, too high to really register that he might have disgusted her.

An American. Typical. Circe's eyes narrowed despite the boy's grin and she crossed her arms over her chest. "Happy New Year." She looked around for a moment to see if Tock was around. She had been hoping that he'd be her New Years kiss. At least he'd apologized, right?

I mean, it wasn't like he knew her or knew her situation. He was kind of cute. And she could use a drink. "Sure." She agreed, tugging at her dress a little nervously. She wasn't really used to boys being so forward with her. "Circe." Circe smiled despite herself.

"You did deserve it, yeah." At least he admitted it. And his accent was nice. "Where are you from? You don't sound British." Probably somewhere in the Southern United States, by the sounds of him. She'd always wanted to travel to the US. Perhaps someday. At least she'd be moving out of England for the next few years. She'd decided on art school in Paris, despite her parents' protests.

"As for the drink, surprise me. It better be good."