<div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/b9/12/b6/b912b65afa67d5dd3d90994c8172a94b.jpg)</div><strong>Character:</strong>Sophia Thomson (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=293586.msg14406317#msg14406317)<br/><strong>Time:</strong>21:00, Sunday, June 1st<br/><strong>Where:</strong>The Lanai<br/><strong>Status:</strong>Taking a break<br/><strong>Content Rating:</strong>Light<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Dom (mentioning), Mick, Open<br/><hr/><br/>Mick was trying to be nice, to reassure her that she hadn't done anything wrong, but Sophia only shook her head in protest. She knew she should have handled it differently; maybe if her head had been clear, maybe if she'd just asked Dom to make sure Rodrigo kept his distance things wouldn't have gone down that way. Sophia just hadn't learned not to let him get under her skin, but then again he had a way of making her emotions spiral out of control. Rodrigo was never one for physical abuse, but mental abuse and manipulation, that was practically his middle name.<br/><br/>"He was just trying to talk to me, but I lost it, Mick. I mean, I came really close to punching him in the face." She gave a dry laugh, more just to make light of the subject, but she wasn't joking. It was like an episode of reality TV, or what at least what felt like one. "We just can't be in the same room together."<br/><br/>When Mick conceded to a drink and walked with her through the swarming crowd to the bar, placing his hand on the sway of her back protectively, she gave him a grateful smile. Did she need a drink? Probably not, but she knew it was the quickest way to take the edge off. If it came down to that or having a break-down, she'd always choose the drink. They had almost reached the bar as Mick leaned to caution her and Sophia's smile broadened affectionately. She wouldn't have expected any less from him, but she knew it was his way of showing he cared and so she didn't tease him about it.<br/><br/>"I promise, I will. I'll even have a water while I'm at it," she assured him, raising her hand to rest on his arm and giving his bicep a brief squeeze. Her gaze met his briefly before they continued on, and with a few more strides, they reached the bar where Mick promptly flagged down the bartender. To her surprise, he ordered two shots, explaining soon after that he'd join her. Sophia tried and failed to hide her delight.<br/><br/>"I like the sound of that. My shift starts early tomorrow anyways," she replied, leaning close for him to hear. As she did so, her hand pressed to his side and she leaned slightly against him, whether on purpose or on accident it wasn't obvious. It took a few moments for the bartender return, and though Sophia's hand did not linger on Mick, her gaze did. She couldn't help but reflect on all the times he'd been kind to her, and really had been a support system. She'd started teasing him merely because he was so serious all the time, but though she hadn't entirely realized it until now it had gradually turned to flirting. And why shouldn't it have? Mick was an attractive man.<br/><br/>The shots arrived and Sophia reached to take them both, handing one off to Mick with a demure smile. She held the glass out to him in 'cheers', letting him tap his to hers before she drained it into her mouth and sequentially down her throat. With a wince, she set the glass back down and shook her head, feeling it burn all the way down. Whiskey was not her favorite, but she wasn't in a place to complain. As promised, she ordered a water when the bartender returned, and quickly brought the straw to her lips to take a few gulps when it was delivered. With a sigh, she set the glass down and glanced back to Mick.<br/><br/>"I'll talk to Raj and hopefully he'll let me leave early," she started, biting for a moment at her lower lip in hesitation. "Would you mind walking me back to my room? Just in case... you know."