#━━ ✦ 004. / sunomaly.

[florencc]

@sunomaly liked for a starter (still accepting).

"would you mind just standing here and talking to me a little while longer? there's a creep hanging around by my car, and i don't really want to go over there yet."

[florencc]

@sunomaly : ❝ finish up the bottle , then we’ll go . ❞

"i hate to break it to you, but this bottle is already dead and buried." hand reached for the wine bottle between them, shaking it lightly to show off just how little remained. they'd gotten lost in their conversation, at least florence had, so much so that she'd completely lost track. "surely we haven't been sat here that long, have we?"

[florencc]

@sunomaly liked for a starter (still accepting).

oh no. florence might not have known that many people who worked in law enforcement when she'd been este, but there was something almost telling about a bar close to quantico. like there were more eyes on her than ever before, despite her hoping that they weren't. her rational brain knew that it was unlikely these people knew her. este was missing, presumed dead, from a small town in georgia, miles and miles away from here. este's husband, also dead. perhaps that had raised some suspicion that she wasn't aware of. not enough for quantico though, surely?

all of these thoughts raced through her mind as she tried to keep her composure. it would be distracting if she just bolted right out of a bar filled with people enjoying their evenings, no matter who it was. "oh god, i'm sorry." in the midst of her mind running through scenarios, she'd managed to elbow the patron beside her, and not lightly either. "i'm so sorry, please –– let me buy you a drink to apologise. i'm not normally a klutz, i promise."

[florencc]

"no, no ––" florence was quick to shake it off. the blonde seemed nice enough, and in another life she might have been more quick to trust. but these days, she wasn't sure who might hide a dark side that she couldn't quite see from the outset.

eyebrows raised slightly as the other spoke, with a knowledge about the topic of creeps that seemed a little more than just someone who'd seen it more than once. "you're an expert in these guys then?" she asked, joking through her words with a slight laugh, grateful for the company while she waited if nothing else. for a fleeting moment she thought that it was nice to have company, to share a laugh, a girls moment with someone. but it didnt last long, the mention of a badge sending alarm bells in her mind. "badge?" she tried to hold her composure, hoping it came off more genuine, than fishing. "you work for the police?" that made her nervous.

" right- i probably am coming off as a creep too for offering. " she's still a little.. new to socialising and all of that. what might be considered a harmless offer to her might come off a little scary to someone else. but she's working on it. that's something, at least.

" usually it's a lack of confidence. they feel like they don't quite measure up when you're in a public setting, so they wait until a woman is alone. kind of like how lions tend to hunt. preying on those who stray from the herd type of thing. " she probably shouldn't have taken the question so seriously, but she can't help it.. psychology is something she's passionate about, and this..? hell, this was what she did for a living. " i'm happy to stay and wait. it's good to be safe, especially when it comes to situations like this. i don't go anywhere without some way to protect myself. however long you need me to stay, i'm happy to do it. or, if you want.. i could always flash my badge. that tends to freak guys like that out a bit. "

[florencc]

florence knew she likely shouldn't have done it –– indulged in the wine so much so that they'd managed to finish the bottle. she was normally so careful. there was no telling how someone might slip up once more than a little alcohol was consumed, which was why she usual ensure she had a clear head. but she'd just been enjoying herself. "three hours?" even flo was surprised at just how much time had passed in their sharing of stories. "i don't think i've had this much fun just relaxing as i have tonight." perhaps more of a confession than she'd intended for it to be, but wine had a habit of bringing out the honesty.

time blindness was something that wasn’t typical for the blonde, but when conversation flowed and a little wine.. it was certainly a possibility. her eyes flickered down to her wrist, a laugh escaping her as she realised. " i hate to tell you but it’s been a solid three hours.. i had no idea it was this late. " hopefully she isn’t called into work tomorrow-

[florencc]

some might call it paranoia, but florence liked to consider it a form of hyper-vigilance, alert to her surroundings more than most because she'd seen first hand just what happened when guards slipped, even just for a moment. and all it took was one glance from someone who made her feel even the slightest bit uneasy, and she was asking for a little bit of company. safety in numbers, she supposed.

"you're very kind to offer." and while she didn't set off the same alarm bells as the guy hanging around by her car, florence still considered it with caution. not an immediate acceptance, but certainly not a refusal. "what is it with guys like that? as if we're just waiting for prince charming to follow us while we're running errands and wait by our vehicle? how dreamy." she offered with a slight laugh, an attempt to try and make light of the situation. "i appreciate you waiting with me. so thank you."

alyssa cast a glance over her shoulder, turning back to florence with worried gaze. she’d never say no to someone feeling unsafe. in fact she’s a firm believer in girls sticking together, knowing how dangerous the world could be. especially with creeps like that hanging around. " of course i don’t mind. "

" if he doesn’t leave soon, and if you’re comfortable with it, i can always give you a ride home. " the agent replied, fully willing to follow through on her offer. " or you can ride with me for a bit, and we can circle back to get your car when the guy realises that you’re gone. "