"That "easing" you mentioned."

"Exactly."

"... You know what, I think I'll try it. What the hell."

"One mug of hot apple cider, please."

A white mug with a red rose pattern on it appears on the bar next to Audrey.

Hannah raises her shot glass. "To trying new things."

Audrey picks up her cider and carefully clinks it against Hannah's glass. "Trying new things."

Hannah tosses back her shot.

Audrey takes a cautious sip of her cider.

It tastes... sweet, and apple-y, and there's a complex undertaste she can't quite place, with a little of an unfamiliar harshness beneath it all. 

It's not bad.

"How is it?"

"... Better than I expected." She takes a little bit deeper of a drink, then sets the mug back on the bar. "I'm not sure what to think, now."

"Keep sipping at it slowly while we talk, and I'll tell you if you start getting maudlin on me, alright?"

"... alright."

She cups the hot mug close to her and looks down into it.

"... Penny for your thoughts?"

"I wonder what I've missed out on by not being able to drink."

"You were always able to drink, Audrey. You just chose not to. That's different."

"Did I? Or was I just all wrapped up in my own fear?"

"I can't decide that for you, you know that. All I can do is help you to ask the question."

... Audrey nods, and takes another sip of her cider.

"How was your time with that girl you left with? Did you get her name?"

"It was good. Her name was Anna. It was a little..." She waggles her hand. "I feel like I get more than that out of sex with you and Lily, at this point. It was fun and all but the connection wasn't really there, for all that she was gorgeous and enthusiastic."

"Funny how your perspective can change so quickly, isn't it?"

"The Rose Bowers just keeps doing this to me. I swear it's laughing at me behind my back."

"Yeah, the Bowers is like that. Can I ask you a personal question?"