Mary blamed the alcohol for starting everything. She knew they were all responsible for their actions, but without the booze they never would have gone a fraction as far as they did. Mary also knew too well that liquor loosens lips, turns off your filter for saying stupid stuff, and lowers your inhibitions. Drinking with good friends sure helps that filter go away too. She just wasn't sure yet if it was a good thing or a bad thing.
Every Saturday night, Mary and her husband Mark got together with their neighbors Karen and Roger. It usually involved having dinner and conversation with the couples while their kids played basketball or video games if the weather was bad. Around 9 or 10PM, the kids were sent to their rooms to watch a movie and the adults watched 'their shows' that got turned into drinking games.
During bathroom breaks, plus the multiple breaks for shots and refills, the chatting got sillier and raunchier, and two hours of TV shows usually took around three hours to watch. Tonight was different though, they had three shows to watch, and they got a late start on the first show. Because of that, it was already past 1AM and they were really feeling their drinks and they still had one show to go.
Roger waved his hand at Mary who had the remote. "Hey, hold up a sec. Look at the rating on this one. It's TV-MA, but it only lists violence and nudity. We take a drink for boobs and dicks, but there's no 'strong sexual content' listed so that means no shots. I think we should start the show off with one, then a few through the rest of the show. What do you all think?"
Mary and Karen said 'Yup' at the same time, and Mark got up saying "I'll get the bottle then."
A minute later he came out with two bottles.
"Sorry guys, we killed the bottle of Fireball, so all we have is one of vodka and one of tequila. Who wants what?"
Roger grabbed the vodka. "Like there was even a question for me. You know me well enough to not ask."
Karen looked at Mary with a sad face. "Ewww, can I choose neither?"
"Nope," Mary replied, "thems the rules. Hey Mark, give us both tequila, ok?"
He nodded to his wife as he poured two shots of each drink, then handed them out. They clinked their glasses, and while Karen said "cheers" with the others, her heart wasn't in it. Roger gave his wife an amused look.
"Come on babe, we all wanna see your face. You drink first."
With a sigh, she mumbled "Fine. You're an ass, by the way."
"If I'm lucky, after a few of these shots maybe I'll get to have your ass finally."
"Shut up, you KNOW that ain't happening, that is exit only. You've always wanted it, but you will never get that from me. Now quit talking so I can drink."
After a short hesitation, she took a deep breath, plugged her nose, and downed the strong drink. Her whole body shuddered and her look of disgust made everyone laugh.
"Ugh, that is some nasty stuff straight up!"
Roger turned to Mark and whispered loudly "That's exactly how she looks when I make her swallow."
She smacked him on the arm. "Use your filter Roger! No one wants to hear that!"
Mary looked at her best friend and patted her hand sympathetically. "If his filter is that turned off already, it's gonna be a long night. Sorry girly."
Mark was laughing at all this, but interrupted them. "Come on guys, our turn for the shot."
The other three tossed back their drinks, and trying to out-do Karen, Mary made a show of a looking satisfied. Her eyes were closed as she leaned her head back, and through a huge smile said "Mmm, ya, that's some good stuff right there."
Mark knew she preferred to swallow, so he was going to copy Roger's comment, but Roger was faster on the draw.
"Why Mary, that's almost exactly how I pictured your 'O' face."
Karen smacked his arm again and gave him a dirty look, but it didn't faze Mary, she was expecting something from him. She did have a hint of a smile though.
"I don't know if I should be bothered or not that you already had a mental image of me like that."
"Uhhh," Roger stumbled, "well everyone has one, so..."
"So you HAVE pictured it in your mind then?" Mary interrupted with a smirk.
"Roger, just stop already before you get any deeper in trouble," Karen warned, "we don't need to know what else is in that dirty mind of yours."
"Hold on now," he said defensively, "Mark's got the dirty mind, not me, my filter is just more broken than his."
"Wait a minute," Mark exclaimed, "don't be dragging me into this."
Mary laughed at her husband. "He is right you know. Even though you keep a tight reign on your filter, I know better than anyone here some of the crazy things you come up with. Speaking of which, you should really relax your filter sometimes. Like now."
"Ok, fine" he said in mock exasperation, "but you can't get too mad at me if you get shocked at what comes out. It's all gonna be your fault Mary."
"Too much talking is going on," Karen interrupted, "I thought we were watching a show."
They all agreed, and gave up the chat as Mary pressed play and the show resumed. Over the next half hour, there were only a couple of times that the content of the show made them drink. Roger grabbed the remote to pause it and got up heading for the kitchen.
"Enough of this," he said over his shoulder, "we need a shot, this show is killin me here."
Everyone got the same drink as last time, but now they all took their shots together.
Roger was watching the women again, and he laughed quietly. "Babe, you have got to get better at swallowing. And Mary, you didn't get your 'O' face this time, did we do something wrong?"
Proving that his filter was indeed muted, Mark piped in with "So now it's a 'we' thing Roger? I didn't think Mary was into group stuff. She does a lot of fun stuff, but she doesn't share very well."
Mary turned to her husband and gave him an appraising look. "Well babe, maybe the answer will change if the question is asked differently. You never really know."
Roger turned to Karen and said "See, she likes taking it up the ass, so it can't be all that bad. Hey Mary, you should talk Karen into expanding her horizons. Maybe you two..."
"Well now we all know what else is in Roger's mind," Mark interrupted, "not only was my wife's 'O' face in there, but so is her ass. And now apparently he wants to see you two ladies getting it on."
"MARK!" cried both Karen and Mary at the same time. Even Roger's mouth had fallen open in surprise.
"What?" he asked, "you wanted me to ease off on the filter, so I did. Don't act all shocked, I'm sure the same thoughts were in your heads, but you just couldn't bring yourself to say it out loud."
He looked around at the other three but they said nothing, so he continued "Well this is awkward, maybe I should shut up and put that filter back on. I guess if you weren't thinking it before you are now!"
He laughed as he imagined them all getting a mental picture because of him. Even though his words were harsh, he wasn't mad, he was just giving Mary some play attitude.
"Mark, really?" Mary sighed, "What the hell are we going to do with you? Some things just can't be unheard you know."
Roger chimed back in by clearing his throat. "You know Mark, that was kinda epic. I think that deserves another shot. No arguing, just suck up the liquid, then open your throats and let it slide down to your stomachs."
He was trying to get a reaction from the girls, but they just gave him a funny look.
Karen was the only one who made a funny face from the drink, but Roger ignored it, and Mark couldn't leave well enough alone. "What's the matter babe, you didn't get your 'O' again? Did you need someone's help?"
She glared at him, but Mark knew her well enough to recognize the hint of her smile she was hiding. "Maybe later if you behave."
Karen stood up and staggered as she tried to catch her balance.
"Holy crap! Maybe I should get up more often and not after like three shots. I was gonna just go to the bathroom, but maybe I should hit the kitchen as well for some snacks and water."
Mary said "I agree" as she got up as well and headed for the kitchen. Once their backs were to the guys, Roger motioned to Mark for him to follow, and they both headed for the kitchen. Mark stood next to his wife and looked at Roger, noticing the worried look on his face.
"You OK Roger?"
"I'm just drunk. Guys, I hope I didn't cross the line with those comments about you Mary. I was just being an ass and trying to get a rise out of Karen."
"No dude, you're good." Mark said, and Mary nodded her head in agreement.