Annakail:
Anna was in her cups, granted it was rare when she wasn't, she gulped down another bottle like water. With a satisfied hum she started to wipe the smooth stones they had piled neatly into a counter. Mrs Lovett's was still a fine establishment, maybe finer now for the pies were made with things that others could identify, not only the carnivores. Of course the menu for beverages had expanded quite a bit too thanks to Anna.

Sarah herself did not tend the shop as often, she was getting along in years and her sadness over her daughter had put her into somber moods. Anna had been more then happy to take up where her mother allowed though and with a broken bottle and deep blue eyes peering out from a mysterious hood she kept things lively but in line. She finished wiping the stones and set about polishing up the giant clamshells they used to serve their dishes in.

William:
"Slow night, beautiful?" The voice that came from the entrance of the shop was low and smooth, cultured by a "well-bred" mother, but his voice was all his own. William walked up to the counter and smiled across it at Anna. He produced a flower, something he had been lucky to find since there was still snow on the ground in some places and the world was still chill for the most part. He rested his arm on the counter and offered it to her with one of his charming smiles.

Annakail:
Anna brightened as she saw Will step in and quickly set aside the clamshell she had been polishing. "Not anymore." She smirked and hopped up to sit on the counter and took the flower carefully. With a flick of her paw her hood was thrown back and she tucked the flower into her wild chocolate waves. "It's pretty, where'd you manage to find it? It's still so damn cold I have to keep my drink batches from freezing."

She hopped back down off the counter and leaned over it instead in casual familiarity. William was her special confidant, like a brother, but much much better, william never annoyed her, even when he took her drinks. Sometimes she did wish she could get that kind of attention from another certain otter, but she clearly had to brush up on her flirting if she ever wanted to make progress like that.

William:
"Oh, you know I can't tell you that. If I did, you wouldn't be surprised when I bring them to you," William chuckled back with a quick wink. It made him happy that she tucked it into her hair, that she put her hood back just for him. Damn, how had he fallen so hard? Maybe it was because she was his friend. When he was younger, things were mostly him interested in females because they were pretty or smelled good. But Anna... She was his friend AND pretty and such. But he hadn't said anything. It was too hard, especially whenever she called him "brother".

"I hope you're not dipping too far into your concoctions again. Speaking of, any new brews?"

Annakail:
"I made a new one using some of mama's spices actually, but it's got quite a kick to it, burns a little going down too. I think it'll only do for the cold weather and then I'll have to stop making it. All my fruit brandies are coming along nicely if not a little syrupy because of this damn cold." She walked over to the barrel with a bit of cinnamon bark etched into it. With a grin she took up a clamshell and dipped it in before closing it again and walking over to hand it to Will.

"It goes nicely with mama's spice pie." She leaned over the counter to watch him eagerly. She loved her drinks, but then again she loved anything once it was fermented proper, Will was a better judge of what the public would appreciate.

William:
Will took the drink when she passed it to him and sipped it slowly. Being only half-vampire, there were a few perks. He wasn't good with sunlight and most things besides blood had a muted taste, but not liquor. It was strong enough that he could taste it better than anything else besides blood. It was hot and stung, but he loved it. He took it slowly, finishing it up with a sigh.
"Anna, you're a genius. How do you do it?"

Annakail:
"Hardly a genius Will, I just know how it's done and how to work with what I've got." She smiled and refilled the shell for him before pulling a flask out of the pouch in her hoodie. Only the heavens kenw what all Anna kept tucked in her pockets and pouch, somedays they bulged to the brim and others they seemed empty until she pulled a bottle or flask from them.

"It IS good isn't it?" She grinned quite pleased with herself. She took a swig from her flask and smiled as she gulped.

William:
Will looked down at the drink and glanced up to see her take out the flask and drink from it.
"What's that now? Every time I see you, you're pulling drinks out of your pockets," he said and snatched it away from her, giving it a little sniff. He worried, actually worried, that she would overdo it someday. Either she'd hurt herself or... someone would hurt her. He saw red at that thought but remained composed.

Annakail:
"It's the older batch, has a bit more zing to it, I always keep the stronger stuff for myself, can't go getting all the flesh eaters riled up...who knows what they'd do." She said wryly, but there was a dead undertone in her voice that said she knew exactly what real carnivores did when they weren't treated to pies and home brewed alcohol. Yes, Mrs Lovett's shop was simply a fragile veneer, a mask for the true bloodbath that lurked in the darkness of the oasis.

"Come on now Will, give it back, you know you've lost one of my flasks already, you owe me." She smirked and held her paw out.

William:
Will smiled at her and held it away.
"Ah, how about we trade. You give me something, and I'll give it back," he replied in a teasing tone, though he himself wondered where he was going with this. Keeping the stronger stuff for herself was even less of a good idea, part of him wished he hadn't asked. It was dangerous around, especially for her family. She and her mother worked around predators daily and her father was a protector of the Oasis. What could happen to her if she was inebriated... He mentally shuddered and kept his crafty smile.

Annakail:
Anna cocked a hip and eyed Will curiously, she was not going to paw at the flask like an infant reaching for a bottle. She did however want it back so she pretended to consider the offer.

"Hmmm what is it your fishing for? A delicious hot pie? A bottle of my special peach brandy?" She leapt over the counter then trying to startle him into dropping the flask right into her waiting paws.

William:
Yeah, Will, what DO you want?
"Hmm, those sound good... but for now, I think a kiss will do," he finally said, the last bit a little rushed, but he was too good to sound nervous. He put an elbow on the counter and rested his chin on his paw, looking up at her with a smile.
"Well?"

Annakail:
"A kiss?" She giggled and shook her head. "Oh William when will you grow out of your games, alright then hand it over and you'll get your kiss." She smirked and held her paw out for her flask. Of course Anna believed that William flirted with her as shamelessly as with every other female, and she in turn was so easy with him because she knew that he knew exactly where her desires lay. Indeed she intended to kiss his cheek with sibling like affection, for she did have a deep affection for him.

William:
Will thought about insisting for the kiss first, but changed his mind and simply smirked a bit as he handed the flask back to her.
"Fairs fair, your turn," he said with a nod. He only really took her bottles and flasks for her own good, but he was sure he heard enough of it from her parents. She probably didn't want him chiding her, too.

Annakail:
She grabbed the flask back eagerly and tucked it into her pouch with a smile. Much better, she found herself often sinking into depression when she hadn't had enough to drink. It was dangerous, unhealthy, and the only reason Anna tried to keep her drinking somewhat under control was for her parents sake. She had to pretended sobriety lest they both become more concerned.

"Alright now..." She leaned over the counter and smiled kissing his cheek softly.

William:
Right before she met his cheek, Will turned his head, so that she missed and he instead shared the kiss. One paw came up and pressed to her cheek, but not too much, not keeping her there. He had a feeling, in the very back of his mind, that this would get him in trouble, but he couldn't help it. He cared about Anna and he was sick of keeping it to himself. Either way, what was done was done and there was no going back now.

Annakail:
Anna's eyes opened in shock as she felt her lips connect with Williams instead of the soft fur of his cheek. Her skin warmed under his paw coloring her pale fur with a tint of pink. She jerked back and stood looking at him shocked for a moment before throwing an empty clamshell at him.

"Oh William you rotten scoundrel!" She shook her head then laughed and sighed. "Really Will, aren't there all sorts of ladies out there begging for your kiss?"

William:
Will caught the shell and sighed, shaking his head at her words.
"Perhaps, but that doesn't mean I want to oblige them," he replied, setting the shell on the counter and for once allowing a serious look to cross his face as he watched her.
"For some reason, I only seem interested in you, Anna." He ran a paw over his hair. He didn't want to be a rotten scoundrel, not in her eyes.

Annakail:
"Interested? In me?" Anna blinked and frowned her own voice loosing it's teasing laughter. This was all wrong, so wrong! William knew, he knew how she felt, he knew how badly she wanted Drake. Why would he say something like that to her? He was her best fiends, like a brother to her, she didn't feel romance, lust, passion, not for Will.

"You shouldn't say such things William..." She slipped over the counter and hugged him "Oh will, I know you didn't mean it, it's okay...your...your my very best friend." She nuzzled his neck before smiling up at him trying to dispell the seriousness. They could just pretend it had never happened, she hated how serious he looked, how sober she felt, wretched, wretched!

William:
He should have known he didn't stand a chance, not against his uncle. Should have known she was after him, and not himself. He thought he'd feel better after letting it out.
He'd been wrong.
Will put his paws on her shoulders and gently pushed her back, face turned away slightly.
"I'm sorry Anna. I shouldn't have said anything. I'll... see you later," he said lowly and stepped back, away from her.

Annakail:
He didn't mean it...he didn't...but deep down she knew he had meant it, he really cared about her...THAT way. Why? She had confided in him about her feelings, and she had been so sure that Will enjoyed his flirtations and conquests...

Why? She frowned as she felt him push her back and she leaned against the counter. "Will..." She shook her head softly at al a loss, there were no words to make this moment easier on him. She held back a soft gasp as she felt a wave of hopelessness, of sadness.

William:
Will forced a smile. It was nothing compared to his normal ones.
"No, don't worry about it. I was just playing." The vampire turned towards the door and started heading towards it, towards the night. He felt hurt, broken, bitter, but he'd be damned if he let her see. He was damned anyways. He'd set out to never fall for another and yet here he was, rejected. It sucked. He needed to get out of there, to go feed or something. Surely that would make him feel better.

Annakail:
Of course he was playing, of course...
Yet her chest heaved as she drew short breaths her eyes following him out.
Of course...not...he wasn't playing...she knew Will well enough to know that.

Slowly she slumped down against the counter and pulled her hood up again over her hair obscuring her face. The flower loosened from her hair and pressed against her cheek as she pulled the hood closer. She sniffled and frowned, no no crying just wouldn't do...she fumbled in her pouch and pulled out her flask. she would need more though, more then this to find sleep, sleep to release her, heal her.