#c. kathryn haringer

[lydsdonovan]

tonopahella w/ @kathrynharinger

"Hey, bookworm! I was wondering if I was going to run into you," Lydia greeted excitedly, a slight slur evident in her words and a bit of her drink spilling out the top of her plastic cup with such sudden movements. There weren't many weekends that the redhead had to herself, but with Landon on a camping trip with some friends (and their very trustworthy parents), she was in the mood to let loose and have fun. "Did you just get here? I didn't see you over at my booth earlier -- oh my god, I've been here since, like, ten in the morning working. I'm like, so happy to be off. Do you wanna get a drink? They're serving ah-mazing mojitos."

[lydsdonovan]

"Oh, don't worry -- it was high school. Some stupid burnouts liked to call me fire crotch. I'm not even, like, a natural red head." She remarked with a laugh, recalling the memory. Though Lydia was quite popular in high school, that didn't mean she wasn't immune to the occasional taunts like most other kids. Her only issue was that she was far too kind for her own good and would just sort of take it with a roll of her eyes. It wasn't until she got older that she grew some sort of backbone. "Perfect, I'll put my full faith in you, Kathryn." And she did. "I mean, yeah, I guess I can do whatever, but I don't like the idea of leaving all the grunt work to my employees, y'know? I'm just, like...a really good boss." Lydia lifted her shoulders in a playful shrug. Meredith had always instilled that type of work ethic in her, and she learned everything she knew about being an effective leader from her late mother, which meant showing up and doing the dirty work alongside the people she paid. "Um -- okay, Primms Pitcher?" She repeated, getting the word wrong immediately. "I could get behind that. I like, love being outside. Unless it's, like, too humid or muggy or whatever." Maybe she didn't like the outdoors, actually. "I do love a good gin and tonic though, and I love anything floral. What about, like, lavender?"

"Whoever called you worse needs a box to the nose." It was something her father would've said once upon a time. Watching Lydia, her movements, the way she was so free — it made Kathryn want to be exactly the same way. And because it was kind of different to her usual self, it was nice to see. She'd came here to do the exact same thing she was, so with a shrug of her shoulders, she turned her head and said, "Well, you're here with me now. Everyone's having a ball, but we're gonna' have an even better time." And she meant every word of it. "That schedule...if you made it, can't you change it? I mean, boss lady, you are the woman who gets a say in how it all pans out." the smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "I'm sure there's someone working who could do with the other time and give you a damn break." If not selfishly proposed, so that Kathryn could spend the time with Lydia, herself. "I'm a bad influence," she countered. Following where Lydia was pointing, Kathryn flashed a smile, feeling relief that she wasn't completely alone. "First things first, you'd get a Pimms pitcher. Enough to knock you flat on your ass in a beer garden if you aren't careful. And a beer garden isn't reserved for a weekend. It's any day the sun makes even a slight appearance — no joke. " glancing at Lydia to see her reaction, she grinned. "I'd also say go for a gin and tonic. Not just any gin and tonic, though. You'd want one with all the trimmings—cucumber, juniper berries, maybe a sprig of rosemary. They take their gin seriously over there, and trust me, it's worth it."

[lydsdonovan]

"I mean, I've been called worse." She tossed back sarcastically, self-aware enough to know that this wasn't exactly the same persona that she carried the majority of the time. In fact, Lydia couldn't remember the last time she'd even allowed herself to have more than a few drinks, always maintaining an air of prudency in her every day life. "I was -- and, honestly I wasn't even really planning on sticking around until I saw how much fun everyone was having. Ugh, isn't it? And do you know what's even worse? I'm the one who made the freakin' schedule and put myself on for most of the day." Lydia couldn't help but roll her eyes, her work ethic getting in the way of her personal life as per usual. Her smile widened when Kathryn thread their arms together, using her free hand to point out one of the more crowded bars across the way. "Right over there! They're like super minty and refreshing, which is so needed right now. I'm not sure about you but my hair hates the humidity. I swear it was, like, three inches taller two hours ago -- I teased it and everything." Boy, she was a chatter box that day. "Okay wait. So, if we were in, like, the UK, what would be the drink I'd want to try?"

"You're a little pocket rocket, aren't you?" Laughter bubbling from her crimson painted lips, Lydia's tipsiness wasn't exactly concealed. But it would be the source of entertainment until she managed to catch her up. And oh boy, was she willing to try. Kathryn always found Lydia to be friendly, even more so when she’d had a bit to drink. “Hey, been here a while, wandering around. I didn’t see you either; I figured you’d be busy at your booth." jutting her chin in the general direction. "I can't believe you've been here since ten! That, first, is fucking criminal, secondly...sounds exhausting.” Do you want a get a drink? What a silly question. "Of course, c'mon, lead the way — I need to find out what these amazing drinks you speak of tastes like." threading her arm through Lydia's. "You're speaking my language."