Friend of a friend of a friend of a dealer of mine.

Ducky put relatively no thought into the clothes he wore to parties... Because if all went right, they would come off as soon as possible.

Not that he was a sex fiend. There were plenty of nights he passed out before he got to hook up with anyone. But he had this habit of stripping when he got drunk. The tank was always the first to go, because he always got sweaty and his muscles looked nice. The pants came off as a joke or out of a genuine desire to feel free. Most nights, Ducky ended up running around in long duck socks and boxers. And hey... real friends accepted him for who he was.

He had only invited Nora because he had been invited by Cain's dealer, so it was probably going to be a party much to intense for the likes of Christian, Tris, and (Merlin, that would be weird) Finn. Nora however was definitely the coolest of the group and would be most into a party like that. There were always times where he felt like he just wanted to run off with her anywhere. They both seemed to get bogged down by the ins and outs of school so quickly. And she always managed to help strike a good balance of making sure Ducky didn't kill himself and yet still had a raging good time.

Needless to say, he was excited.

They had snuck out the gates and hurried down the lane, and through the tired little village, before hanging a right. He could see the lights flickering in the house at the end of the lane, and he turned, grinning at Nora.

"If things get too crazy for you, let me know," he teased. "I'll put you to bed."

She would never admit it, but being invited to parties still made her feel special. Of course she and Ducky did almost everything together. It had been that way since Day 1 - 'Ducky and Nora' - that was just how things were. But even in the firm resolution that yes, she had a best friend, there was still something special about being specifically pulled from the group to go to a party. Just the two of them. Like the old days. (But with more drinking.) 

Nora was already feeling a tingling excitement about the night. Sneaking out of the castle did that to her, even if the gates were left unlocked and very little sneaking actually occurred. The pair had made it through the sleepy village and from a distance Nora could tell which home was their destination. It practically glowed with light and sound against the backdrop of the town. 

Ducky spoke and Nora released a snorting laugh. 

"Oh f*ck off, you know I'll be the one carrying you out." 

She added a gentle shove to his shoulder for good measure, flashing a wide grin. Nora supposed a similar gesture might knock him off his feet later. They always had fun. 

Nora's laugh was potentially the most familiar thing in Ducky Baker's tumultuous life. He couldn't count on his father and brother to be in the same place every time. He couldn't count on Bev to be safe and happy. He couldn't guarantee what sort of fresh punishment he would suffer when he returned to his mother's kingdom, with his half-siblings as enforcers of his mother's wrath and resentment. He couldn't count on his grades, or school, or people. But he could always count on Nora to laugh, because she always did. Not because he needed to her. But because she got him.

It was pretty cool to count on someone.

She smacked him and he smirked cheesily at her. "What? Me! Never. I'm a champion." He laughed too, before suddenly shushing her as they reached the door, despite the fact that she had not been saying anything. He put his hand on the door and suddenly threw it up.

"PARTY'S ARRIVED!"

Nora bounced along behind Ducky up the path and obediently skittered to a halt as he put up his hand. After so many years together she could normally anticipate his moves and when he shushed her she only grinned wider. 

No matter how many times she saw it, Nora always loved a good entrance. 

The door swung open and Ducky's holler was echoed by someone inside. The Gryffindor pair stepped in to the busy room and as the door swung closed behind them they became enveloped in the sound and smell of a party already in full swing. 

Nora was not hardcore. If her life had passed along without Ducky Baker falling into her path like a force of nature she would have likely turned out much gentler, shyer, more likely to be stepped on. But from the first day they met, her best friend had lifted her up and pushed her in every sense. Ducky had molded Nora into someone cooler, more laid back, more adventurous - someone likable. Because Ducky was likable. 

Nora glanced over at him now. From the second he entered a space his energy was undeniable. It was hard not to stare, not to laugh, not to get swept up in whatever emotion he was selling to the crowds. While the charisma was always present, this was his true element. He was practically bouncing now and Nora couldn't help but want to bounce with him. Ducky never failed to sweep her into his current, an experience she found much more intoxicating than any of the substances in the room. 

But a substance never hurt. "Drinks?" she asked him, her own eyes already scanning the room for refreshment. 

Now, Ducky Baker had consumed too many substances in his short, exciting life to have avoided building up a high tolerance for alcohol and drugs. However, the worst thing at a party was to be the sober friend surrounded by a bunch of teenaged drunkards. No, there was a very specific level of intoxication for premium party fun. One had to be the drunkest one that had not yet reached the constant-hurling phase. It was a delicate balance that Ducky was constantly in pursuit of.

This was difficult to obtain when one was so used to partying. So Ducky had to improvise a little. He relied on the placebo effect of a party. He practically felt drunk just walking into a party. The excitement of his peers, the reverence of those who knew how much life he could inject into his company, the sights and smells of freedom elevating him to new levels. So even if he wasn’t physically feeling the symptoms, he felt great.

The cool kids were calling it ‘white girl wasted’.

Nora asked if he wanted something to drink while a small swarm of acquaintances swirled around him, all seeking a hug or a high five. He nodded at Nora, beaming at her – she seemed to be one of the few that knew that the attention he received was never taken for granted. Despite how used he was to being enjoyed by most people he met, the effect of popularity never wore off. He never got used to it because he had never expected it.

She disappeared briefly to get their drinks and some Spice was put into his hands, a bottle of pills thrown his way. Ducky grinned and pocketed the pill bottle, but took a hit of the Spice. Best to get started now.