Moment Name: Drunk Revelations
Participants: Aureus Ailward and Cornelia Bradford
Date: 3rd June, 2017

“You’re so much more than that,” he whispered, “So much more,” he murmured, his finger now under her chin tilting it up so they were gazing into each other's eyes. “So much more.” ~ Aureus Ailward to Cornelia Bradford.

Aureus Ailward: He really thought that he’d everything under control. It had been four months since the Isle had been destroyed and it had taken the faction that long for both of the Ailward factions to come together again enough to resemble somewhat that they were functioning. Of course they were being held by held by lots of tape and glue and if anyone looked too hard the cracks were very easy to see but at least now they could once again say that they could hold their own again amongst the factions of Evermore. All that had gone to s*** now. He’d never admit it to anyone but he’d really thought that it was all over when the barrier had been discovered. Erythreus had spoken with some of the guards who had passed on to the realm of death and they had told him that a barrier was the first thing that marked the beginning of the end for them. Since then the ailwards had been researching endlessly, trying to find if there was any mention of anything similar in history. The closest they had come was to the myth of Atlantis but Reus wasn’t even sure if that was believable or was still just a myth. They still had researchers on the case but it was beginning to look like it was a dead end. Reus had been looking forward to the six months of peace celebrations. It was something bright amongst all the gloom and doom that surrounded the aspects and guards since the fall and many had been happy for the first time in months. Then the damn barrier. Everything that himself and Eleanor had worked so hard to rebuild had crumbled when that first lantern had exploded. The barrier was like a shroud of darkness that had taken a grip over the minds of some of the guard and Reus didn’t have answers for them when they asked, fear on their faces. Helplessness was not something Aureus was used to. Today was a particularly bad day in the faction. One of the guard had been found in their apartment with a note “I can’t anymore.” The aspects had failed them and Reus had taken it hard. Who the f*** was doing this and why were they picking on the Ailwards? They had been around long enough to gather a few enemies but none of them seemed strong enough to cause this level of sorcery. He’d destroyed his office in a rage upon receiving the news and he was now out on the dark streets in search of something strong to drink. A small local supermarket was the first place that had caught his eye and a clenched fist through the glass plane in the front door had granted him access to the store. The selection of alcohol was terrible but the aspect of time wasn’t too picky about what he drank as he randomly swiped a bottle from the shelf and removed the lid, draining half the bottle in one go. Tears swam in front of his eyes but he refused to let them fall.

Cornelia Bradford: It was a cold and dark night. The chill didn’t come with the occasional summer breeze that blew over the city, neither was it the dark clouds hiding the crescent shaped moon. It lay in the fear in the resident’s features as Cornelia walked down the streets. It was evident in the paranoia, the aura of distress that followed the humans and supernaturals alike. And who could blame them for treading carefully? With the first lantern exploding into bright flames, indicating the presence of a barrier around the city, came questions with no answers. They had exhausted all their resources, gathered any information they could find, which was almost none, and were now left hopelessly trying to find a way to get out of the poor excuse of a supernatural sanctuary. The detective could see the agony in their dark orbs, the struggle evident in their features. And she could do nothing to ease the pain, at least not permanently. As her path took a turn, Cornelia found herself in a quieter part of the city. Away from the bustle and the nervous chatter, the angel-child strolled down the empty footwalk, her fingers pushing deeper into the pockets of her large black wrap sweater, belted over a pair of leggings. It drove her mad that there was no answer to this. Several ambassador meetings, countless ideas thrown around, yet nobody could even hint at an explanation. She had gone through every book, every file available with Alexander and Leona, and still, nothing. “Goddammit.” The blonde cursed under her breath, kicking a tin can with her heeled boot in the process. Things were beginning to change. She had finally been able to let go of her past and made peace with the present. It was supposed to be a fresh start after she’d come back from Bali, but here they all were, stuck in the city in a cruel game of fate. It was the sound of glass breaking that caught the detective’s attention as she stood in her tracks, looking around to trace the cause of the noise. Once she determined its source to be a small supermarket at the end of the road, Cornelia jogged over to the spot. Bending down to pull out her gun from the ankle holster, she stopped to listen to any activity inside. It must be a burglar, she thought, inhaling sharply before extending her arm and walking in, her phone with the torch app on, dangling from her fingers. Narrowing her azure optics, she moved forward, following the sound of the footsteps that echoed through the dark and empty market. However, as her gaze fell on the familiar male taking a swig from the bottle of alcohol, Cornelia arched an eyebrow, light from her phone washing over the Aspect Ambassador. “Well, isn’t this interesting.” (OUTFIT)

Aureus Ailward: The bitter taste of the cheap vodka burned on the way down. The quality of the alcohol made the liquid taste similar to petrol and smelt like the heavy duty paint stripper that Tatiana used to clean some of her brushes. It did nothing to calm the turmoil in his mind or the anger in his heart so his second swig was quick to follow leaving only two qurats of the 40% in bottle. He felt the presence the presence before the figure came into view. He scolded himself for being so rash. He’d left the house unprotected and in his current emotional state he’d more than likely make a haims of trying to fight off any attackers. He’d even left his gloves behind which was something he never did. “You're a mess,” he muttered to himself as a light was glared in his direction. The darkness of the store matched with the bright light shined in his face meant that Reus wasn’t able to make out who was holding the torch. A feminine silhouette was created by the shadows but that only put the Aspect on edge. Some of the most dangerous people he knew were female, he’d been around too long to count them out like some males tended to do. It would be ironic if this was was his end, Argent had quipped at him today jokingly about “a good bottle of scotch” would be his downfall. Almost in a parody of her words it wouldn’t be scotch that did him in but a discount bottle of vodka. He fiddled with his ring, twisting it slightly ready to transform if the female seemed a threat. The supermarket wouldn’t survive, which Ambassador felt slightly guilty about but it was really his only means of defence. The instant the female spoke he knew he would survive this encounter. Now that he knew it was Cornelia he could pick out the little quirks that made her her from her silhouette. The way she wore her hair, the way she favoured a certain leg when she stood still, Reus had them categorized away in his head. He smirked before he turned to the Nephilim, “You here to arrest me Detective?” Taking another drink, he placed the now empty bottle back on the shelf this time taking something a little more to his taste from the one above it.

Cornelia Bradford: “Well,” Cornelia started, slowly lowering the gun and the blazing light. She stood poised for a few moments, letting her gaze rest on Aureus. “You did break into a supermarket.” The detective pointed out with a tilt of her head to the side. She could make out the poorly hidden distress all over his face before she acknowledged the bottle of alcohol wrapped within his fingers. The detective brought her arms to her sides, unable to decide whether to arrest the ambassador for breaking in, or sympathise with everything he has been through and let him go. The Nephilim Ambassador knew about the events that had threatened to tear apart the Ailwards and Guards - the fall of the Isle of Skye, the adaptation to city life and then the barrier - she knew they had been through a lot, more than most of the others trapped in Evermore. Pressing her chapped lips into a thin line, she took a step forward, her gaze not moving from his azure orbs. The Time Lord was not just another Leader of the city to Cornelia. She had often quipped at his sarcastic retorts after ambassador meetings and the two were not exactly unfamiliar to friendship. And now seeing the male she had grown familiar to, being reduced to an alcoholic mess, it bothered her. The city needed to be fixed. “There’s a bar not too far from here, you know.” She informed, finally letting her British accent echo through the corridor, in an attempt to break the unnerving silence. The detective still had half a mind to quietly take Aureus in, let him stay overnight at the station and follow the normal procedures. But she just couldn’t bring herself to follow protocol and something told her they all needed a break. Exhaling deeply, Cornelia let her gaze travel from the lowered gun to his glassy hues, “Oh f*** it.” The angel-child cursed under her breath, shoving the weapon inside the pocket of her sweater. Impulsively, she moved forward to grab the bottle from his hand, swinging it to the side as she gulped down half of its contents.

Aureus Ailward: Reus laughed at the angel-childs suggestion they head to a bar. Half the people in the city thought that the Ailwards were to blame for the barrier, someone had the gall to try egg Malva the other day. Thank the gods the guard who had been with her had blocked it and Malva hadn’t noticed. That could have started world war three. Actually going to bar where those idiots had taking large amounts of alcohol? Reus might have a death wish but he’d prefer if he could go out in style, and if he was being honest the patrons probably wouldn’t be much of a challenge for him anyway. “You think I’d be welcome at a bar? Malva’s apprentice or not i don’t think Stephen would like it if a bar fight started because of us.” Aurues took that moment to actually take in the Nephilim. Her slim figure was silhouetted by the light shining in through the window from the dimly lit street. He could see the moment she gave up. Her shoulders slumped a fraction of a second before she uttered “F*** it.” The bottle was snatched from his gloved fingers, her hand brushing off the dark leather as the bottle was exchanged with between them. “Do I have to perform a citizen's arrest?” he smirked at her before grabbing a another bottle and sinking to the floor. “You care to join me as I drink to the death of society?"

Cornelia Bradford: Cornelia arched an eyebrow at the Aspect Ambassador, a hint of a chuckle dominating over her features, “Fair enough,” She spoke, her teeth catching hold of the soft rose-tinted flesh of her bottom lip. The detective debated thoroughly before coming to the conclusion that the ambassador deserved some time and space to heal after everything that had happened. And above all, the city had far more important things to worry about than an invisible dragon breaking into the local supermarket to get drunk. As she reached forward, a little hesitant yet firm with her decision, Cornelia wrapped her digits around the bottle of cheap vodka, her fingers briefly brushing against Aureus' leather gloves. She looked up momentarily to let her gaze rest on his before travelling back to the bottle, the touch reminding her of his ability to see one’s memories. A soft yet sharp exhale leaving her her slightly parted lips, she took a swig from the drink, the clear liquid hitting the back of her throat before burning its way down. Cornelia winced slightly at the distaste and the slight stench that came from the cheap bottle. She narrowed her icy gaze at Aureus at his words, “Just because I am not arresting you doesn’t mean you can mock me.” She replied, albeit playfully. She blinked at his offer, running her fingers through her sun-kissed strands of hair before shrugging and sliding down against the shelves, slumping on the floor. Bringing the bottle closer to her mouth, Cornelia took another gulp, knowing that it would take a lot of time for the alcohol to kick in, “Here’s to natural tolerance,” She said with an exasperated sigh, throwing her head back to lean against the wall of products. “So what caused the Time Lord to decide to get smashed?”

Aureus Ailward: It was nice when people remembered his “gift”. Since touching was such a part of everyday life it always seemed unusual to other people when Reus avoided it like the plague. It touched him that Cornelia remembered. “It’s fine,” he muttered quietly. He’d seen some snippets of her life before, nothing coherent, from brushes after Ambassador meetings but he’d never asked her about it. Life was private even if Reus could cheat. “Hey,” he laughed looking up at her from the ground “if we get caught you’ll be in more s*** than me.” He smirked as he took another swig from the vile vodka. Her descent to the floor had been a lot more graceful than his own. His old body had protested on the way down but there was no way he was going to stay standing now that he had an audience. “Sucks to be you,” he said tapping his bottle off her before knocking his own back. Before he’d been executed it had taken a lot to get drunk but it seemed that the change of species had brought down his tolerance. The first time he’d found out about that had been hilarious for everyone involved apparently, not that he remembers it very well. He knew his limit fairly well these days but tonight he didn’t give a s***. He was drinking to forget so there was no limit. “Besides the whole barrier and sense of impending Doom you mean?,” he remarked sarcastically. He sighed thinking about whether he should just tell her everything or hold some of it back. In the end he just opened his mouth and let it flow not caring what came out. “A Guard was so frightened about the barrier and what had happened on the Isle that they took their own life.” He stared into the bottom of his bottle swirling the clear liquid in a circular pattern as he remembered the report he had read.

Cornelia Bradford: “Gloves,” She acknowledged with a slow nod of her head. As she pondered over his words momentarily, a nonchalant shrug rolled down Cornelia’s shoulder, “Totally worth it.” She spoke, a smirk turning up the corners of the detective’s lips at the words. Descending on the floor, the Nephilim Ambassador stretched out her legs in front of her, pressing her lips into a thin line. Finding herself in this situation surprised her, if not made her laugh. Here she was, Detective Bradford, the self-righteous angel-child, sharing a drink with an ambassador who had broken into a local supermarket in search of alcohol. She sympathized with him. Knowing what it was like to lose everything one’s worked hard for, she still admired Aureus' strength. “On other cases, I would fight you on that.” Cornelia chuckled as he pointed out how it sucked that she couldn’t get drunk too easily. “But right now, I’m just going to test my tolerance and try to not end up intoxicated to death.” A chuckle leaving her lips, the blonde let the ends of their bottles clink. As she put forward her concern, Cornelia watched Aureus retort sarcastically, throwing her head back to finish the contents of the bottle, “Yeah, other than that.” She replied, her words accompanied by a slight roll of her crystal hues, “That is too mainstream of a reason.” However, as the Time Lord confessed to her about the events, a silence fell over the duo. Her gaze snapped back to his features as she let her hues take in his vibrant blue optics, to his well-trimmed scruff - even in distress, the male still was a sight. She swallowed the urge to say something, knowing from experience that nothing could overcome the guilt. Losing someone one had sworn to protect was not easy to handle, and no one knew it it better than Abraxas Bradford’s daughter. Flicking her tongue over her bottom lip, she tucked a lock of stray hair behind her ears, instinctively reaching out to place her hand over his glove-clad fingers, “Hey,” She spoke, the sneer in her voice fading to give way to solace, “It’s not on you.”

Aureus Ailward: A comforting touch was not something Aureus was used to. It had been years since someone had purposely reached out, knowing his power and been totally sincere about it. The other Aspect didn’t understand what it was like not to be able to do something as simple as touch. One of his five senses had been corrupted and was at sometimes useless because of his curse. He instinctively cured his own hand around hers. The other tightened around the neck of the glass bottle. “I’m no stranger to Death but this...I couldn’t….I can’t,” he stopped to take in a few soothing breaths. “This barrier needs to be ripped down and it’s creators..,” he left that sentence unfinished. He was supposed to be a grand supporter of peace but these last few months...Aureus had begun to doubt himself. Rage always seemed to be bubbling just under the surface since the Fall and he’d noticed that his personality had begun to poisoned by it. “Do you want to know the worst part?” he said to her looking her full in the face, frustrated tears ready to fall but he kept them back by shear force. He couldn’t hold her gaze guilt eating at him. He took another chug from the bottle emptying the thing and let it off into the darkness before he spoke again. “It won't be the last,” he said to her hand as he turned it over and looked at her delicate palm. He rubbed his thumb across the softness distractedly. “And that’s not just going to happen in the Guard, I'd keep a close watch on your angels."

Cornelia Bradford: As Aureus curled his fingers around her, Cornelia exhaled softly, relieved that the mere action had brought him some comfort. Call it a trait of the nephilim kind, or the effect of losing so many people she cared about, the detective couldn’t watch the distress on the Time Lord’s features. She extended her free hand up to grab a bottle from the shelf above. As she pulled another bottle of what seemed like cheap Vodka, the detective didn’t hesitate before opening it, devouring almost a half of it in a go. She tilted her head to the side to look at Aureus as he spoke, “You don’t have to,” She reminded him gently, “It’s okay to not be strong sometimes.” Seeing her vision tilt to the side, Cornelia knew the alcohol was slowly kicking in. The female was used to guilt, used to death and pain and everything that came with it. She had lost more people than she cared about and she was aware of how it could tear one apart; how it could throw someone into the hungry mouth of darkness. So, when he deviated from his path of peace and expressed in anger, Cornelia knew not to blame him. “We’ll bring that b**** down, whoever’s behind this.” She spoke, distaste evident in her bitter tone. She hummed at him curiously as Aureus continued, pushing the mouth of the bottle against her lips as she gulped down enough alcohol to make a mortal pass out. She turned to look at him, his demons reflecting in her own blues, as she swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat, watching him carelessly caress her palm with his calloused thumb, a gesture that soothed her now-buzzing mind. Wincing at his words, Cornelia nodded her head, knowing he was right. This wouldn’t end anytime soon. It never does. “Keep a close watch,” She chuckled, blinking back the tears that pricked at the corner of her eyes, “That is all I am capable of doing these days, really.” Cornelia picked up the bottle once again, drowning her emotions in the aftertaste of the alcohol as she emptied the second bottle, placing it beside her before continuing, “Watch as everyone you care about ends up in a coffin.”

Aureus Ailward: He didn’t even know what was in the next bottle. It green and tasted of apples and was sweet enough that Reus wanted to spit rather than swallow. He made a face rather than take another drink. He’d taken it off the shelf that was at ground level rather than reaching up to where he knew the vodka was. His free hand was shaking slightly, sloshing the sticky liquid on his gloved hand and the floor beside him. He placed the thin container on the floor and it tipped as he knocked his hand against it pulling away. //F***// he said to himself and the sugary fluid split under the shelf. Absently he put the glove between his teeth and pulled it of dropping it in the green puddle. His head swam slightly as he looked at the Detective. He hadn’t meant to make her cry. He clumsily leaded in an wiped the tear that had stuck to her eyelash as it tried to escape. His now naked thumb brushed against her tender skin but the alcohol blurred anything that transferred. All he got was gumbles and snippets and none of it made sense, not that he was trying to understand. He was close enough that he was invading her personal space but he didn’t want to pull away. “You’re so much more than that,” he whispered, “So much more,” he murmured, his finger now under her chin tilting it up so they we gazing into each other's eyes. “So much more.”

Cornelia Bradford: Watching Aureus struggle with the bottle made Cornelia arch a lazy eyebrow at him. Watching the liquid pool around them, she chuckled slightly, shaking her head in silent laughter. “Idiot,” She muttered, a grin dancing across the detective’s lips, one that reflected in her tear-filled orbs. “Gross.” She pointed out as Aureus placed his glove over the liquid, sitting up on her knees facing the green spill. It was when the Time Lord instinctively reached out to brush away a stray tear that Cornelia straightened up in his touch, “Aureus,” She whispered, reminding him of his bare thumb hovering over her skin, “The memories are painful.” Was what she seemed to care about. In the drunken haze, the Nephilim Ambassador sat vulnerable to him and yet, what worried her was the impact her dark past would have on him. She had heard about how these memories impacted the Aspect. She was aware that it was not an easy task to fight one’s own demons while vividly seeing others’. However, once he spoke, the detective couldn’t tear away her azure hues from his. The wicked control of the alcohol combined with the warmth in his baby blues captivated the young female. A shaky breath left her parted lips, her head tilting back under his touch. Thoughts that raced in her mind not too long ago now faded away to let silence echo. She didn’t know what to do; the alcohol now slowly taking over her body. She attempted to lean in, move closer, but instead, the angel-child saw the world tilt around her. Losing her equilibrium, she pushed against his chest, sending Aureus on his back on the floor, their intertwined fingers pulling her with him.

Aureus Ailward: Alcohol had the power to reveal a person's true face. Didn’t matter if you were a saint when you were sober if you were a demon when drunk then Reus had no Time for you. The fact that Cornelia thought of him before herself even while she was intoxicated spoke volumes to the Ailward. It was hard to find genuinely nice people in this city particularly after the barrier. It was evident that people had begun to put themselves first even this soon after the barriers erection. The alcohol impaired his memory vision but he didn’t advertise that. It was nice to have people think you were scary 100% of the time, even when drunk. Even some of the other Aspects didn’t know of this, he didn’t want them to take advantage. “So much more,” he said once again, attempting to draw her in, trying to draw her to his lips like he was a burning man and she was his water. It seems he lead her too well for for the next thing he knew he was lying on his back in the puddle of green liquid sugar with the female sprawled on his chest. His hands gripped his hips to prevent her from headbutting him and to stop her from falling in the goop. Her hair fanned her face as she lent over him and he couldn’t help but chuckle as he slurred “If you wanted to be on top all you had to do was ask.”

Cornelia Bradford: Running her tongue along her bottom lip, Cornelia tried to speak as he repeated his words, again and again. “So much more,” They echoed in her mind. Parting her lips, she finally forced the words out of her mouth, “So are you.” The Angel-Child told him, her vision now blurry from the after-effects of the alcohol. She felt light-headed, to say the least, yet her gaze never moved away from his. “Much, much more.” She added. However, the next few moments were a blur as Cornelia watched the entire world shift, her body losing balance as she fell over the Time Lord. Sprawled over Aureus, she placed her arms on either side of his head, supporting her body as he gripped her waist. It took Cornelia a few moments to comprehend the situation, before his words broke the awkward silence. Squinting her eyes at him, she let out a muffled groan, “Just shut up and kiss me already." Surprised at her own words, induced by the heavy dosage of alcohol, the detective didn’t even wait for either of the two to process the words, her mind buzzing as she lay over him, before finally leaning forward instinctively to draw her own rosy lips against the Ailward’s.

Aureus Ailward: Lust is a powerful thing. Many mistake it for love but Reus had seen and lived enough lifetimes to know the difference. Right now Aureus Ailward was in Lust with Cornelia Bradford and there was no way he was going to be able to deny it. The floor of the supermarket he had broken into was a great place to have this little revelation but he was too drunk to care right now. “As you wish,” he muttered after he got over the initial shock of her words. They were at a strange angle as their lips met for the first time and the male could almost feel the crick forming in his neck. He subtlety put his hands under her and flipped them both in a movement any drunk would be proud of. Now Cornelia was beneath him and was the one in the green goop. The thought would have made him chuckle if he wasn’t too busy devouring her lips. The first taste had tasted like her lip gloss but every taste after tasted like desire.

~♦♣♠~