Happy Beerday!

[Leo]

Leo almost twitched at Dark's affirmation of not doing anything to Rayl, perhaps in disbelief. Though for the sake of helping him, he trusts that Dark can keep his word when he wants to. The artist heaved off a heavy sigh, this is a very difficult gamble.

"Fine, then.. I trust you." he reached for his forehead, massaging it tiresomely, "I'll TRY to get...drunk, and see what happens. ..I need Plan B though, if Plan A doesn't go so well..." Leo is, of course, worried. Never in his life is he regretful of his choices, but that's mostly because it almost never effect the people around him much. So now, his choice is going to effect Rayl, so indeed the artist is worried if he's making the wrong one.

Right on cue, Mitsuko spoke up that she's there, and reminded them all that she's a lady. Leo turned his attention fully to the angel now, almost set in making Plan B with her suggestion, whatever she's going to suggest. "T-that would be wond--"

But before he could finish his sentence, Mitsuko suddenly stood up from her seat, made her way towards him and enclosed him in a hug. Which caught the artist totally off-guard. "Um....yes.. Why thank you..very much." He awkwardly let out and half-hug the angel as well in return, by patting her back slightly with one hand.

"Please keep me in tabs and out of harm's way while I intoxicate myself for the sake of experimenting my inner loony."

[Duo]

"NOT A SHE-MALE!!" By that extremely quick response, it's very clear to see now that Duo is quite sensitive of the topic. At least when he's partly drunk. "Oh! Oh yea!! I almost forgot!" Thanks to Dark reminder, Duo finally remembers poor Leo needing help.

"Yo, Leo!" He called loudly, then slammed a large glass of alcohol on the table very near to the reclusive one. "Finish it! That's the only solution, maaaan!" Continued with that is a very annoying laughter. Indeed, this braided man is very drunk.

Even so, his ears are very perceptive and caught every word that was said, especially from Mitsuko's silky voice. "Pyotr Park?? ...Ohh! Oh yea! That's at Gradia, right?? Well, I SERIOUSLY wanna live in Gradia, cuz I'm really into all the mechanical and technical gizmos they have there, so ha! Of course I'll say HAI!" He kind of slurred through his words that most of it kind of sounds vague, but by active motions he did with his hands, it's easy to tell what he's talking about.

"Ow....dammit, am I drunk..?" He turned to Dark and pointed at his own face as he asked that. "How can you stay so sober?"

[Dark]

Dark look at Mitsuko in a teasing way, before smirking his oh so famous way. "My Angel... I know you are a woman... a beautiful as of that. But I don't think you want to have some 'flirting actions' with me here. Nor I think you'll agreed on those terms," he replied, suddenly getting the ale just beside him. "Though... I really doubt that. And I still do have some respect for ladies... such as you, my light angel," he added, chuckling afterwards as he look over at Leo.

Pausing a bit as the lady itself hugged in a comforting way the brown lad. And he tends to be jealous towards women showing affection. "Don't I get some hug too? I really need it to boost some advice," he commented, grinning boyishly and winking at Mitsuko.

He chuckled and shook his head, "Just kidding..."

And he raised an eyebrow when the she-male have started acting more civil. Looking over at the said braid haired man, whom offered a mug of beer. He suddenly took a hold of what Duo is giving to Leo, and in swift drink it all over. He looks at the bartender and signal an order. "One Chartreuse please, Elixir Végétal de la Grande-Chartreuse" he ordered an look at the bartender who gets bewilder for a moment.

Why so? It is a known liquor in the country of France which have a 71% alcohol, and it makes the drinker drunk instantly. And that's why Dark ordered it. For Leo to be instantly drunk and tests all of his theories. And of course... the said chartreuse is a cordial liquor... and Dark couldn't help but smirk on that thought. It renew the man's spirit to be free...

He look over at Duo. "Because I'm used to this stuff... not some she-male like you whom instantly gets drunk, dude." he replied, giving a cocky grin at Duo, though shrugged his shoulders as the bartender gave the purple haired guy the lime-ish green liquor on a small glass.

He smiled and look over at Leo, offering the Chartreuse. "Here... take this, it's an instant alcohol that would quickly effect you. Bottoms it up, will you?"

[Deleted]

Redder and redder the angel went, she could see it now: getting lectured about all the reasons why a woman shouldn’t go to a bar. She knew a few of them already, guys can take advantage of her and they have by kissing her when she’s drunk, and Dark she knew he would try and give her a kiss, drunk or not, but eventually she’ll have to find a way to draw the line, but since today was Duo’s birthday she didn’t want to spend it in lecturing these men.

She got drunk once in her life, and she vowed to herself to never allow that to happen ever again. But since Duo was drunk she felt safe since he’s there, and so she just remained seated next to him, as she listened to Dark explanation about a certain type of alcohol she made note of it, since she was going away in a few months. The reason why she made note of it, she didn’t want to drink something without knowing what it actually is, and she didn’t want to get drunk ever again.


“Thank you for the compliments Dark, but looks fade over time, perhaps eventually you’ll learn to look at a person’s heart right? Haha. And if you don’t try anything I will hug you again, your comments this evening have made me a little uncomfortable, and I am sorry if it offends you, but I have to be honest. While I accept you for who you are if you respect me then haha try not to make me go red too much with your commentary okay?”

Mitsuko wasn’t rude about her words but she was gentle with them.

“Duo, I have another song for you. I hope it encourages you to remain strong. That is my greatest wish for you on your birthday, especially if those out there that discourage you or hurt you in a anyway, I heard this song on the radio and I wanted to share it.”

She went to the band that was performing and she told them to play her a beat. She had the microphone attached to her clothing, and her hands were free since she would hug her friend at the end. In truth she didn’t really fit in with the guy’s conversation, so the best way to make most of Duo’s special birthday is to keep singing.

You know the bed feels warmer
Sleeping here alone
You know I dream in color
And do the things I want

You think you got the best of me
Think you've had the last laugh
Bet you think that everything good is gone
Think you left me broken down
Think that I'd come running back
Baby you don't know me, cause you're dead wrong

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone

You heard that I was starting over with someone new
They told you I was moving on, over you

You didn't think that I'd come back
I'd come back swinging
You try to break me, but you see

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone

Thanks to you I got a new thing started
Thanks to you I'm not the broken-hearted
Thanks to you I'm finally thinking about me
You know in the end the day you left was just my beginning
In the end...

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone

[2x]
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone

(When I'm alone)

The reason why she sung this song, it was particularly powerful at the chorus and she wanted Duo to keep making strides in his life, no matter what he goes through Mitsuko knew that her friend was strong, and his birthday is a celebration of another year of being alive. She knew that there will be moments in which he’ll get down and sad, but he can pick himself up she truly believed that.

He was her good friend, and it will always be that way.

[Duo]

Duo was rather surprised, even in his half-drunken stage, when the angel suddenly announces that there's another song she'd like to sing for him. Her words hit him deep somehow, his eyebrows creasing at Mitsuko's encouragement for him to remain strong.

He wanted to ask why she suddenly thought of that all of a sudden, but just as he raised up his arm, the angel had gone off back to the band. Duo blinked, dropping his arm slowly as he wondered what exactly did she meant by that. ...Or rather, did she know about Solo?

Duo took great care to listen to her lyrics, maybe the answer is there somewhere. To his shock, there is. His heart beats a little faster, and he's not smiling at all now.

'What's wrong? Afraid the nun had already found out about the demon inside you?'

'No.. No. No, Miss Mitsuko is simply just encouraging in a general way... She doesn't know about you at all--'

'What if she does?'[/i]

Duo puts down his mug of alcohol back on the table, suddenly looking very sick.

'What if the song is dead wrong?'[/color]

Duo clasped a hand over his mouth, almost as if he's about to throw up, and by the look of the beads of sweat all over his forehead, the braided man looked as if he needed to quickly go to the toilet.

'What if I CAN kill you? Does that makes you stronger, makes you stand taller, makes you a fighter? You will be DEAD.'[/color]

This is NOT good. Duo could feel his eyesight fading, and that's a sign that his irises are changing color again. Solo is about to come out.

'No no no!!' As Mitsuko sang the song, Duo's internally fighting with his other self. His body hunched forward, and his wild hair is covering his whole face. His long braid had fell over his shoulder and hanging limply beside Duo's paling face.

'Damnit, NO! LISTEN!! LISTEN, DUO!!!'

"You didn't think that I'd come back
I'd come back swinging
You try to break me, but you see.."

'You CAN'T take me now! No! NOT NOW!!' His mind screamed. Fighting Solo is so hard whenever his spirit is crushed, which is why Solo kept degrading Duo, so he could emerge to host the body.

As Mitsuko sings the rest of the reassuring song, Duo kept his ears sharp, just listening to her voice and her voice only, tricking his mind to fully believe that all of her words are true. He CAN fight this off, it's not like he hadn't won.

Several times, Duo did managed to overpower Solo when he tries his hardest to hold onto all the positive thoughts he could gather. It worked. So as Mitsuko sang, he listened, despite his pained mentality, and little by little, it cured his overwhelming fear.

Duo pulled his head back and sat straight again just as Mitsuko had finished her song, his eyes the usual metallic blue. He won the fight...till another day Solo decided to overtake him again, at least.

That is the whole reason why when Mitsuko doesn't even have the time to step out of the stage, Duo had already climbed on top of it, holds the angel by the shoulders as he stared at her with his teary chibified eyes and red-drunken face, and actually literally hugged the angel while crying like a grown baby.

"Ohh-hh, th-ank you, Miss Mits-ukooo..!!" he even hiccuped in between his words, truly touched that her singing actually drove out Solo.

[Deleted]

Mitsuko hugged back Duo tightly and when she heard him cry she rubbed his back. Truth was she had sensed from the very day he ran out during the party preparation gathering between him, Saiya, and herself, the angel knew that Duo was battling something within his soul. She’s an angel after all and she is almost always in tuned to what others are feeling.

The angel was a big sister to everyone --- she wouldn’t abandon anyone in need Even if a person chooses not to disclose with her what it is that they are dealing with, her door is open to them.

It could be years from now, but if they choose to talk about what was bothering them she would always be there to listen. There was no time limit for her to help them, so as she hugged Duo she offered him a piece of advice.

“In life we go through many things, but I find that one of our hardest battles that we have to fight is the battle that occur within us. Our negative emotions tend to overpower us but it doesn’t last forever. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. You my dear have a good heart, no one is perfect but everyone has good in them.

Think about what makes you smile, music right? If you have your keyboard with you, we can perform together; when you play you can feel the emotions of those people that you play for right? Their happiness.”

The angel wiped Duo’s eyes with a tissue by gently dabbing them with a tissue.

“It’s your birthday, the day of celebration of you being alive, and growth. Now’s not the time to be sad right Duo?”

The angel took Duo’s hand and faced the crowd.

“Everyone, this is my friend Duo. Today is his birthday and I want you all to join me in wishing him a happy birthday, please.”

As the angel started to sing the happy birthday song, she pointed the microphone to the crowd, and they started to sing with her in wishing Duo a happy birthday.

[Dark]

Dark look blankly at Mitsuko, though smirks afterwards as Mitsuko slowly told him of what she feels. He chuckled, freely as he shrugged his shoulders; though a look of real gentleman suddenly appeared from the Dark Angel. "I must say, if you get offended or gets you uncomfortable... I do apologize for my actions," he let out, looking at her; but nevertheless looking away.

What could a flirt man do to console someone, he was trying to be true; but the mere fact that someone hit his ego hard... it really hurts from the man whom thinks nothing but being carefree.

He grinned boyishly at Mitsuko, "But, I'll behave and try to be a good boy, just to get a hug." he added, winking as Mitsuko have led herself directly at the stage to sing a song for Duo.

He then look at Leo, whom holding the glass with the Chartreuse. "So, Leo... which is which? You going to take your whole self with the care of that drink?" he asks as he look forward, at Mitsuko and Duo's way.

"But you see... just go believe in your instinct once you've drink that." he said, mentioning the glass Leo is holding. "I assure you I am here to assist you," and there goes the boyish grin he let out.

He looks away, not wanting Leo to be forced to drink it while he was looking at him intently. Hell it would be a pressure to someone like him whom have never taste an alcohol. And he isn't the type of forcing someone, he just concluded about the alcohol thing, not forcing it.

His eyes wandered at Mitsuko and Duo, "If only..." he murmured and shook his head. Nah, he doesn't really want to have a deeper attachment to everyone. He still have something to be taken care of.

[Duo]

Duo beamed a wide grin towards Mitsuko, all the while when she's trying to comfort him through his drunk crying spasms and dabbed his tears dry. "I'm not sad at all," he said to her with that winning smile of his when Mitsuko said that he shouldn't be sad on his birthday, "On the contrary, I'm very happy right now."

Never in his life has he shed happy tears. He was always such a crybaby growing up, so it surprised him that he could cry when he's happy. This is the first time he's doing it and Duo couldn't be any happier.

The angel then turned to the crowd and announced his birthday, to which Duo blushes and scratched the back of his head using his other hand. "Ahahah, aww c'mon, I'm just one man." Still, he's touched that everyone started singing him a birthday song.

"Aawww, you guys, thank you!! I wish I can give all of you a hug. Brohugs to everybody~!" And Duo ended up chasing the more unwilling men and attacked them with hugs. The crowd is laughing now with mirth that they even attract strangers outside the bar to see what's going on, automatically increasing the number of customers.

"OH WAIT!! My birthday wish!!" Duo suddenly hollered out of the blue and merrily skipped his way towards where his boys are, but not before helping Mitsuko down the stage first so she wouldn't get lost in the large number of men inside the Sweetwater Saloon.

"Leo, my man!" He called enthusiastically to the artist, seeing he's already holding a mug of a peculiar yellow-greenish alcohol. Quickly, Duo turns to Dark, "Has he drank it yet?"

[Leo]

'Elixir Végétal de la Grande-Chartreuse.' Leo repeated the name of the drink that he's about to commit suicide with. His sharp mind is able to recall things even when its his first time hearing it, or maybe it's just his worries acting up that his memory automatically saves the drink of death's name in his mind.

Despite the loud atmosphere in the background involving Mitsuko singing and Duo making a ruckus, Leo is able to hear Dark's voice asking him if he's going to put his whole self for sacrifice, just so he could loosen up a bit and might just act normally like a real man in front of Rayl. The thought of her name strengthens his will. "Yes. I will."

He nodded at Dark's reassurance that he's going to take care of him once the unexpected happens.

So like the purple-haired had advised him, Leo drank it all in one swing. Slamming the heavy mug on the counter, the artist hangs his head low, his shoulders hunching to hide his face a bit. His black hair that curtains over his face makes it even harder to see what his expression must have looked like.

And then, the unexpected did happen.

Leo shifted a bit, as if he's loosing consciousness, but then sharply pulled himself back. He let out the faintest sound of hiccup, and then he pulled his head up very slowly, almost as if imitating he's being possessed by a ghost.

"What of it?" Leo rarely-- or actually never uses his deeper tone of voice, but he's making good use of it now that it might actually scare people who have known him. "So what if I'm an artist, doesn't make me much less of a man." His eyes peeked out of his black bangs, and they're not in their usual half-lidded state either. They're wide and sharp, almost in a threatening way. "Did any of you even dared to thought such shallow perceptions?!"

He snapped all of a sudden, the force pushed him out of his chair and immediately toppled down. But his arm caught the table counter so Leo is perfectly on his feet. Seems the chartreuse is waking up his inner insecurities. Having no father figure in his life, Leo grows to be a very passive wimp with no ability whatsoever to voice out what genuinely annoys him.

But the chartreuse actually broke the blockade that's been keeping his voice trapped all these time. "I bet!" Leo suddenly brings his finger up, wagging it to all three of them in front of him, "I bet I can take out anyone now! Even the father I never knew of, hahaha!!"

[Dark]

Dark stared at Leo quietly, his eyes widen for a moment as he chugs down the alcohol in one shot. He whistled in awe as he look at the said black-haired guy. Duo suddenly went up to him.

"Just by now..." he let out, eyes looking at Leo only. Staring at him intently, seeing the sudden change from the quiet, blank, emotionless man. Turning into something different.

A smirk plastered on his face. Ah yes... Leo have finally shown the inner self he have hidden for years in his living. He stood as Leo stumbled but get back on his feet perfectly.

He walk towards him and patted his shoulders, "Now, whoever said you were about to fight someone? Nah... don't worry pal, no one ain't fighting someone..." he let out, offering the said guy to take a sit to where he have been awhile ago.

"Now, why don't we just discuss things over, Leo?" he started as he took a sit beside him. "We have so much discussions to do... like-" he let out, looking at Mitsuko and Duo with a look that says 'chill and don't be nervous'. "Like someone like your lover, shall we?"

[Deleted]

The angel was glad to make her friend Duo happy, especially on his birthday. When it’s someone’s birthday it is a celebration of their life and on this day it was extra special. Mitsuko hugged Duo so gently but it was a hug that once she breaks it he will still be able to feel it.

In the background Mitsuko could hear Dark speaking again about lovers and only him would have a conversation like that, so she blushed. But she had a question to ask Dark and she never thought that she would have to ask Dark this, but he seemed so knowledgeable about the specific topic, and that topic is alcohol.

While Mitsuko was a very pure and holy woman and never made the mistake of ever drinking again by accident, she knew that this question had to be asked.

The angel used Duo as her protective shield as she went near Dark, and she cutely stood behind Duo and peered over his shoulder.

“I am sorry to interrupt your fine conversation Dark, but I do have a question for you. What is your favorite alcohol and is there one that has a mild alcoholic content? Meaning it doesn’t get people drunk so quickly?”

[Duo]

That scared the crap out of him. Seeing a good-natured timid mad suddenly transforming into an assertive deep-voiced berserk made Duo jumped out of his skin and held onto Mitsuko in a tight hug from behind her.

"W...What is he even angry at..?!" Duo asked, particularly to no one, when Leo suddenly snapped out of nowhere. Thankfully, Dark took the responsibility in keeping the boy in his seat, and proceeded to take advantage of Leo's drunken state to extract in some information.

"Dude, that is unfair." Letting go of Mitsuko after he calmed down, Duo then sneered at Dark. "But good idea!" Being drunk can make anyone speak and do things they normally won't.

Then, Mitsuko made her prescence known by peeking over one of his shoulders to ask Dark a question regarding alcohol. Duo blinked amusingly at the angel and chuckled, "Oh wow, is there any reason why you would ask such a thing from him?"

[Leo]

Leo stumbled on his feet as he was pulled back to his seat, slumping back on his stool just at the right time before he really fell on the ground. He can hear incoherent voices around him as he tries to sharpen his view, now feeling very unstable and strange.

It was a deep man's voice that seems the closest to him which sounded the clearest in his head. "WhaaAAAaat?" His tone changes as he said so, clearly not in the right state of mind right now, but tries anyway to listen to the guy's voice properly.

"My LOVER?" Leo thundered, pulling his upper body away from the guy and gave a rather unfocused glare to the purple-haired man. He then shoved a finger to Dark's chest, jabbing it in the process. "You-you stay awAY from heeER...."

[Dark]

Dark stared at Duo, chuckling afterwards as he glanced at Leo. "All is fair in Love and War, she-male" he let out, pertaining to Duo. He sighed at his reaction, "Can't you sober up so you could help me here?" he paused and look at Duo, he shook his shoulder. "Nevermind..." he murmured and look at Mitsuko as they took a sit.

He raised an eyebrow as he look at Mitsuko, asking something about low alcohol content. He nodded at Duo, also curious at the sudden question and curiousity of his light angel. "Yes, why ask?" he is also curious of her question.

"Favorite?" he let out then look at Mitsuko. "Red wines are one of what I like. Probably Domaines Auriol made from France. Red wines does have a low alcohol content, and healthy. Domaines Auriol are smooth and easy to drink and they have those fruity flavor of cherry and plum." he explained. "What's the occasion?"

He chuckled, backing both his hands in front of him to let Leo stop jabbing his chest. "No... don't worry pal. I won't do anything to you lover. It's more like if she's here, you're do one that have something to do..." he let out, emphasizing the last phrase, shrugging his shoulders. "Like telling something what you really feel to her." he added, grinning at Leo.

[Deleted]

While this was an unusual question to come from an angel, she was just preparing herself for if she were to get married one day, then she would have to look into light alcoholic beverages since people were known to drink at weddings.

IF she were to allow alcohol at her wedding then she would want something that doesn’t get people drunk to quickly. And since Dark was familiar with alcohol he was the best person to ask.

“I was just thinking if I were to get married one day, then I would have to look into drink choices, people are known to drink at weddings in celebration of the couple. Dark is the person that is familiar with alcohol I mean he just explained an alcoholic beverage in great detail. And if I were to get married… I would want to make sure my guests are happy but safe, and not out of place you know?”

“While I won’t drink at my own wedding, I know my guests probably will and I don’t want them to get drunk so fast where they start acting out of control.”