The other day I got invited to a party but I stayed home instead

[latexspectre]

WHO: Laurie Juspeczyk & You!
WHERE: A drinking establishment with jazz music!
WHEN: December 2nd, throughout the night
WARNINGS: Language, possibly
SUMMARY: It's Laurie's birthday again and she's celebrating by drinking.
FORMAT: Your choice!

Normally, she'd stay at home if she wanted to drink. Or she'd go to someplace expensive and order something incredibly overpriced. But Laurie didn't have an expense account in the City, and since moving into Sally's now vacated apartment, she didn't feel much like celebrating her birthday with all of her mother's things. That was pathetic and sad, and Laurie was anything but. Even if she was choosing to celebrate by drinking alone. At least she'd do it in public.

She was seated at the bar, listening to a pianist pick out "Misty", waiting for the bartender to bring her another scotch mist. Her trusty trenchcoat was draped over the stool next to her, eyes fixed on nothing in particular as she soaked in the atmosphere and tried to enjoy this odd little birthday alone in the City.

Comments

[latexspectre]

"It's pretty ritzy for me," she admitted, taking a quick drink of scotch. It burned a bit, and she made a bit of a face. "But I wanted to go someplace nice tonight. It's my birthday, you see."

[out_of_time]

"Really? I didn't know." Jack was a very good liar, but right now he wasn't trying very hard at it. "Happy birthday Laurie." And he handed her a small box with a simple card. The box contained a bottle of new perfume, nothing too fancy but not cheap crap either.

[latexspectre]

Laurie opened the box, an eager smile spreading over her face. She couldn't help but laugh when she saw the perfume, opening it immediately and spritzing some of it onto her wrist.

"This smells fantastic! Now I won't have to smell like that old Nostalgia perfume anymore!" She spritzed some onto her other wrist, inhaling the scent with a happy sigh. "Thank you, Jack. This was a very thoughtful present."

[out_of_time]

"I'm glad you like it," he said, and he meant it. Jack wasn't the world's best gift-getter, but it was good to have made Laurie smile. She had enough grief already.

[latexspectre]

"Every time I wear it, I'll think of you." She grinned at him, smelling her wrist again. It might be an odd thing to say to her boss, but she was just tipsy enough that it sounded alright in her head.