Way of Escape

[Ethan Black]

The Afterlife. A fitting name. Particularly for the reason he was there. One of his friends had just broke up. Something that should've been obvious from the start. Yet despite the warnings from nearly everyone he'd gone through with it. Now he was paying the price. Ethan was patient enough. Going to the club with him as he drank himself into a stupor. Drunken and slurred threats and laments left his mouth far too much for them to be serious. Ethan simply nodded and watched.

Time passed and the tab grew. Finally he pulled him out before he died or got kicked out. Ethan really didn't want to lose his chance going back. But there was a downside. Now he had to walk back to the car with him nearly limp in his arms. "You are so entirely useless." It came out as a growl. Shifting the arm over his shoulder, Ethan held on as best as he could. Another downside: the smell. "I just might dump you in a perfume shop and hope for the best." The remark came with a smirk, despite things.

[Elizabeth Halliwell]

Liz was happily bobbing her head to the music pumping through her earphones as she made her way to a bar. Any bar, she had thought initially. She just needed to get her drink on and fast. Liz was no fun while sober at night.

As she was nearing the bar, she saw two men stumble out; one drunker than the other.

Unplugging her earphones, she hurried over to them and cleared her throat to announce her arrival. "Hey, do you need help?"

[Ethan Black]

A voice spoke up. Ethan raised his head and noticed a girl hurrying towards them. Did he need help? Smiling at the offer, he nodded. "That would be very much appreciated." It was easy to admit. His friend was not exactly easy to carry. Nor would it get any easier on the way to the car. If help was being offered, Ethan would take it. Even coming from a stranger

"As you can see, my friend here isn't exactly being the most helpful. His girlfriend dumped him and alcohol was clearly the solution." The statement came with a roll of dark eyes. "If you would grab his feet, that would make this far easier. Please." He was already heavy enough without his feet dragging behind. Hopefully he wouldn't try kicking the girl. Although she didn't look like his ex, Ethan wouldn't be surprised if he lashed out anyways. "And thank you again miss...?"

[Elizabeth Halliwell]

Smiling at the response, Liz came closer, chuckling awkwardly as she heard the man talking about his friend's predicament.

"Been there. Should have done the drinking at home though. Less casualties."

Looking down at the drunk man, she shrugged when she realised he wasn't that heavy. Lifting his feet wouldn't be much of a chore.

"Oh, Liz. Please." She nodded as she maneuvered her way around the two men, figuring out the best position to be in to pick the feet up. "And it's no problem. Someone helped me carry boxes earlier at work. Just paying it forward."

Bending down a little, she gripped the man's ankles and lifted him slightly off the ground. "Where are we dropping him?"

[Ethan Black]

She smiled and came closer, chuckling a little awkwardly. He didn't blame her. This was not exactly a normal situation. But she'd been there. He should've drank at home however; less casualties that way. "That's what I tried to tell him, but he can be as stubborn as a bull." Staying at home would've made it easier to monitor him. When he passed out, it would've also have been less of an issue. But it was already done and here Ethan was.

Liz. Easy enough to remember. "Ethan. Glad to meet you, Liz." He introduced in turn. Ethan watched her maneuver around them.  Likely trying to find a good way to pick his feet up. It was no problem. Someone had helped her earlier with boxes at work, and now she was paying it forward. Smile changing to smirk, Ethan nodded. "Because helping carry a drunken man isn't appealing enough on its own?" He couldn't help but tease her. It was in his nature. Still he was thankful all the same.

Where were they dropping him? "I'd love to say here, but we need to go to my car." After checking his hold, Ethan started walking. There was a bit of silence. Then:. "So then, Liz, what brings you out here? Going drinking yourself?"

[Elizabeth Halliwell]

"You're a good friend, then." She chuckled. Liz would have extended her hand for a shake but they were both occupied by then so she nodded. Briefly snorting at the joke, she shrugged. "Definitely not something I'd be striking off my bucket list any time soon." She responded with a smirk of her own.

She nodded with a grin and they walked over to where his car apparently was.

His question had her nodding. "Checking out the nightlife here." She explained. "I would have brought friends along but then I'd be obligated to make up excuses if someone wanted to bring me home." She continued, grinning suggestively at him.

[Ethan Black]

He was a good friend. A rare compliment for him. Especially from a stranger. He joined her in chuckling. Then she snorted.Definitely not something she would be striking off her bucket list any time soon. Now she was smirking too. It was nice to see he'd run into someone with a sense of humor. And someone who'd offered to help him in the first place. Not exactly what he'd been expecting.

She followed along once he started walking, speaking up. She'd been checking out the night life. She would've brought friends along but then she'd be obligated to make up excuses if someone wanted to bring her home. The answer came with a suggestive grin. Mirroring the expression, he chuckled. "Makes perfect sense. As much as I'd love to make that kind of offer, I've already got to take one person home." He glanced at the unconcious figure. Then scoffed and looked back up. "Unfortunately he's not nearly as easy on the eyes as you are. Or even half as witty."

[Elizabeth Halliwell]

Chuckling to herself, Liz feigned disappointment. "Darn."

When he responded with just as much a flirtatious vibe as she had put out, Liz shrugged. "Too bad. I'm sure we'll run into each other-" she paused so she could hoist his friend up a little. "Some other time. Just...don't bring the unconscious guy." She lowered her eyes down to his friend. "Kinda kills the vibe."

[Ethan Black]

Darn. Although she looked like she was only feigning the disappointment. Which only made his smirk grow. "Darn indeed." He agreed. Dark eyes turned away for a moment to check where they were going. Then he looked back at her. It was too bad. But she was sure they'd run into each other again. Just don't bring the unconscious guy. Kind of killed the vibe. Ethan ended up laughing. "Noted." He spared another glanced down. "He really doesn't make a good wingman does he?"

Soon enough he was starting the see the cars. Which was both a relief and a disappointment. He much preferred her company to the passed out boy in his arms. "At first I couldn't get to my car fast enough to dump his unhelpful body in the car. But now I feel like stalling." His eyes turned to her with the smirk still in place. Mischievous. "I blame you for that part. Him for everything else."

[Elizabeth Halliwell]

"Well, he did get me to come help you out so he already did his job." She grinned. The body was getting heavier so she positioned him properly.

With his next words, Ethan actually made Liz's cheeks heat up a little. That didn't happen too often, seeing as she was always the one making other people blush.

"I take full responsibility." She responded with a cheeky grin. "Tell you what. I'll swing by here in a couple more days. Maybe we can accidentally bump into each other and we can have a do over."

[Ethan Black]

Well he did get her to come help Ehtan out, so he had done his job already. Ethan grinned with her and shrugged. "True enough. I suppose he's not entirely useless after all then" But it was getting tiring to hold him. Both fortunately and unfortunately the car was getting closer. She ended up blushing from his comments though. Somehow he got a feeling that was rare. Which made him grin.

She took full responsibility. Throwing a cheeky grin in to join the sentence. Tell him what; she'd swing by this place in a couple of days. Maybe they could accidentally bump into each other and they could have a do over. The offer earned a smile from him. "Sounds like a good deal." Of course they could always exchange numbers, but where was the fun in that? The chance encounter would be sweeter.

Finally they reached the car. Ethan had to dig his keys out from his pocket. Then open the back door and dump the boy inside. "Don't worry, he's got a hard head." A joke with a smirk. After that was dealt with, Ethan turned back to her. "Hopefully his stomach will hold out. It would ruin the good mood you've put me in."

[Elizabeth Halliwell]

Once Ethan's friend was deposited in the back seat, Liz straightened her hair out, suddenly very conscious of how she looked. Even though it shouldn't have mattered to her. Considering the fact that she already knew he liked her. At least on the surface.

"Tape a paper bag to his mouth." She suggested with a low chuckle. "Unfortunately the good mood has to end here." She turned to look at the man in the car and smirked. "Can't you keep him in there with the windows rolled down?" She teased.

[Ethan Black]

He was all too glad to shut the door and turn to her. She straightened out her hair. His lips quirked up in a wider smirk. He could tape a paper bag to his mouth. A tempting suggestion. Although he had no paper bags. And unfortunately the good mood has to end here. Both sets of eyes looked at the man in the car. A sigh left his lips. Couldn't he keep him in the car with the windows rolled down? The idea was worth a chuckle.

"I'm very tempted to do just that." He could go spend the rest of his night in that instance. "But on the off chance he wakes up, I think it would be better for him to be home. It would be safer for my car too." Another chuckle came with it. Then he studied her for a time. Truthfully he didn't want to leave now. But he would have to. "Well, I suppose I'll see you next time. And without my friend here."

[Elizabeth Halliwell]

Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, she laughed lightly at his statement, nodding. "Nothing against your friend but I'm looking forward to it. Remember. Couple more days." She grinned, holding up finger pistols in his direction before dropping them almost immediately.

You're twenty-five years old, Halliwell. Act like it.

She chuckled awkwardly before turning around to walk back to the bar. She turned around briefly and waved at Ethan. "See you Ethan."