@xsergeant warm, brown liquor stares at her from the bottom of a clean glass. she’d been here a while– not long enough to become familiar with the regulars, but long enough that her bar tab was now the furthest thing from her mind. “counselor– you’ve become misguided. you lack objectivity, and you will get your head screwed back on straight before you appear in my courtroom again.” judge petrovsky’s words were only a faint echo now that alex was nursing her second glass of bourbon. it wasn’t her fault she’d lashed out at a suspect, at her unreliable character witness, at the defending lawyer who was all too pleased with himself for getting under her skin. “i know exactly where my head is at, your honor.” unlike the defendant’s counsel– it’s not shoved up my own ass. maybe she was losing it, but there was never a moment where she didn’t feel absolutely justified. undoubtedly that was her issue– stubborn and determined and set in her ways were all how she’d clawed her way to the top in the first place.
a rush of cold air breezes into the bar and alex never looks up from her drink as warmth and perfume come to occupy the bar stool next to hers. “if you’ve come to berate me too–” she pauses, only long enough to take a sip from her glass and gather her composure. “i’m really, really, not in the mood.”
fingers twitch, her foot taps and annoyance grows… she needs a drink. darkness falls outside the walls of the squad room, and all she wants is out. papers are disregarded as she packs up, rising from her chair and turning to retire the day behind her. she’s done, she’s tired, and she’s leaving.
her mind wanders to alex as the elevator descends to the ground floor. they’ve all gotten their fair share of a beating today, but none as bad as the other woman. when she reaches the ground floor, olivia can’t help but worry how far down the watering hole alex has got herself into.
she exits the building, a rush of cool air bringing her back to reality. it’s cold, so she wraps her coat tighter around her frame and turns to the left, opposite the direction from home. her night’s not over, not until she gets herself a drink and finds the blonde. can’t help the inner detective.
she enters the first bar that comes to mind, and to her surprise sees alex at the counter. they don’t exchange greetings, not even glances. olivia just sits, finger up to catch the attention of the bartender.
❛ you and i both know i don’t have the energy for that. i’m here to get a drink. ❜
