Post by Aello on Jan 8, 2021 0:37:34 GMT -8
Aello stumbled as she tried to balance in the glittering plum pumps Cinder had gotten her. Her jaw was set, and stubborn to ignore the burning sensation that spiked along the arch of her foot. She caught the Bright One as they giggled, twirling each other as her chaperone braved the front steps of the rented house. She had new shoes too: yellow with black butterfly wings strapped around her tiny ankles. That brought a languid smile to her face; enjoying the tingling numbness that spread across her features.
When she had broached a party invite, her motley member had been surprisingly chill about it. They talked about alcohol pacing — that she had honestly never thought about — what to watch for, and how to keep your night from going sour. Sure, Cinder was supposed to stay sober — in theory — but the harpy was the one who joined in with the press of her friends as shots were chanted. God, was she popular.
Now they were actually talking. Again. It was rare, but occasionally the Fairest came down to walk with the rest of them. That idea hurt her, she shouldn't have said it- now her friend was crying and apologizing.
Laughter punctuated the flashing lights as they passed the joint, flowing with the dense crowd and thud of the music that bounced off their hearts. Cinder eventually stopped asked Aello about how she was doing and admitted she failed her midterm. There was a pause, before the devastation was cut with them linking arms with the passing tray of Fireball. She patted the shimmering waif with the selfie-halo eyes a little too hard on the back, causing the drink to spray from her mouth. She was red enough to notice in the low light, but her shoulders unhitched as the harpy diffused the offended stares. Back to the heart-to-heart, this time in the bathroom. As gloss was popped, Aello admitted her training and conversation with the Polychromatic, which got her a tight hug and another small crying session. The relief was palpable, followed by more apologies that she felt she had to do that by herself.
They would try again.
She had to hand it to Cinderella — even drunk and stumbling home with running makeup and rambling anecdotes, the girl was compelling. By the time they had shushed each other and crashed on the couch of the living room, she was ready for anything. Tanner was up, managing a rote smile as they bounced the details over their night. The Fairest started talking about her DND character and when he would be ready for the next game, as Aello popped a cap off root beer from the fridge.
Her eyes pooled, taking in space and time of the wild nights as the stars aligned and the madness of the moon flared in the pits of her vision — and she saw...
Nothing.
As far as Tanner's Clarity was concerned, he was perfectly healthy. Her teeth clenched the edge of the glass, frustration flaring beneath the comfort of the liquor as the Beast made positive noises but didn't commit to scheduling another session of paper and dice. Cinder's smile was forgiving and patience, but Aello was already disappearing up the stairs.
There had to be something to this drama. Why he was falling apart at the seams, and he wasn't letting them in any time soon. Fuck that, she wasn't letting the idiot throw his life away because he knew the two Fairests didn't have the balls to upset him repeatedly. She saw the manipulation. She saw her father, calling her mom a nag and crumbling into a heap when she accused him of cheating, only to disappear when she apologized and took another night shift. She saw the Snowskin bristling and playing the victim, only to warm up the second your ignored how he treated you, like you beat his precious code. Just never call them on their behaviour, and everything is fine.
The Beast fished through Tanner's room, the hollow curse of her new body keeping her light on her feet, as her eyes gathered the chaotic mess in the low light. Stereotypical for his age and situation; not normal if you knew him several months ago.
She found five orange bottles of Adderall meant for three different students. The sound of the toilet repeatedly flushing attracted Golden Boy first, asking if she as sick. When he saw what she was doing, her drunken smirk was met with an intense serpentine stare that could almost glow. The other two called from the living room, he looked to her, before awarding a curt nod of approval and they met the other half on the couch as the harpy triumphantly stacked the empty bottles on the table.
Tanner blinked.
Cinderella swallowed. The look of shock and disappointment in only herself was evident. Before she opened her mouth, the jackelope was out of his chair, putting on his jacket, before Golden Boy beat him to the door. The Fairest was told that the conversation wasn't happening, and he shook his head. Tanner offered a verbal warning, and Golden didn't budge. He was then unceremoniously shoved with surprising strength, which was met with the Hunterheart grabbing the prey animal's hands. Shouting ensued.
As Aello watched, Cinderella moving to deescalate and be the voice of reason, Golden Boy's own composure rapidly dissolving as he begged his friend to sit down with them. The harpy did what she always did — freeze.
The large headphones went over her ears, blasting out the present as she watched the reel in front of her. Cinderella tried to break them apart, slipping on her heels as she took Tanner with her, where his instincts caused him to vault backwards and toss the tiny student into the frame of the coffee table. In the ringing beat, she watched Tanner wrack his hands through his hair, panic bright on his face despite her waving him off, and then him and the Hunterheart were at it again.
Aello tucked her knees from the safety of her perch, tracking the movement without comment as the alcohol and weed rode her away from the chaos.
When she had broached a party invite, her motley member had been surprisingly chill about it. They talked about alcohol pacing — that she had honestly never thought about — what to watch for, and how to keep your night from going sour. Sure, Cinder was supposed to stay sober — in theory — but the harpy was the one who joined in with the press of her friends as shots were chanted. God, was she popular.
Now they were actually talking. Again. It was rare, but occasionally the Fairest came down to walk with the rest of them. That idea hurt her, she shouldn't have said it- now her friend was crying and apologizing.
Laughter punctuated the flashing lights as they passed the joint, flowing with the dense crowd and thud of the music that bounced off their hearts. Cinder eventually stopped asked Aello about how she was doing and admitted she failed her midterm. There was a pause, before the devastation was cut with them linking arms with the passing tray of Fireball. She patted the shimmering waif with the selfie-halo eyes a little too hard on the back, causing the drink to spray from her mouth. She was red enough to notice in the low light, but her shoulders unhitched as the harpy diffused the offended stares. Back to the heart-to-heart, this time in the bathroom. As gloss was popped, Aello admitted her training and conversation with the Polychromatic, which got her a tight hug and another small crying session. The relief was palpable, followed by more apologies that she felt she had to do that by herself.
They would try again.
She had to hand it to Cinderella — even drunk and stumbling home with running makeup and rambling anecdotes, the girl was compelling. By the time they had shushed each other and crashed on the couch of the living room, she was ready for anything. Tanner was up, managing a rote smile as they bounced the details over their night. The Fairest started talking about her DND character and when he would be ready for the next game, as Aello popped a cap off root beer from the fridge.
Her eyes pooled, taking in space and time of the wild nights as the stars aligned and the madness of the moon flared in the pits of her vision — and she saw...
Nothing.
As far as Tanner's Clarity was concerned, he was perfectly healthy. Her teeth clenched the edge of the glass, frustration flaring beneath the comfort of the liquor as the Beast made positive noises but didn't commit to scheduling another session of paper and dice. Cinder's smile was forgiving and patience, but Aello was already disappearing up the stairs.
There had to be something to this drama. Why he was falling apart at the seams, and he wasn't letting them in any time soon. Fuck that, she wasn't letting the idiot throw his life away because he knew the two Fairests didn't have the balls to upset him repeatedly. She saw the manipulation. She saw her father, calling her mom a nag and crumbling into a heap when she accused him of cheating, only to disappear when she apologized and took another night shift. She saw the Snowskin bristling and playing the victim, only to warm up the second your ignored how he treated you, like you beat his precious code. Just never call them on their behaviour, and everything is fine.
The Beast fished through Tanner's room, the hollow curse of her new body keeping her light on her feet, as her eyes gathered the chaotic mess in the low light. Stereotypical for his age and situation; not normal if you knew him several months ago.
She found five orange bottles of Adderall meant for three different students. The sound of the toilet repeatedly flushing attracted Golden Boy first, asking if she as sick. When he saw what she was doing, her drunken smirk was met with an intense serpentine stare that could almost glow. The other two called from the living room, he looked to her, before awarding a curt nod of approval and they met the other half on the couch as the harpy triumphantly stacked the empty bottles on the table.
Tanner blinked.
Cinderella swallowed. The look of shock and disappointment in only herself was evident. Before she opened her mouth, the jackelope was out of his chair, putting on his jacket, before Golden Boy beat him to the door. The Fairest was told that the conversation wasn't happening, and he shook his head. Tanner offered a verbal warning, and Golden didn't budge. He was then unceremoniously shoved with surprising strength, which was met with the Hunterheart grabbing the prey animal's hands. Shouting ensued.
As Aello watched, Cinderella moving to deescalate and be the voice of reason, Golden Boy's own composure rapidly dissolving as he begged his friend to sit down with them. The harpy did what she always did — freeze.
The large headphones went over her ears, blasting out the present as she watched the reel in front of her. Cinderella tried to break them apart, slipping on her heels as she took Tanner with her, where his instincts caused him to vault backwards and toss the tiny student into the frame of the coffee table. In the ringing beat, she watched Tanner wrack his hands through his hair, panic bright on his face despite her waving him off, and then him and the Hunterheart were at it again.
Aello tucked her knees from the safety of her perch, tracking the movement without comment as the alcohol and weed rode her away from the chaos.
Guess you figured my two times two,
Always equates to one,
Dreamers are selfish,
When it all comes down to it.
I hope one of you come back to remind me of who I was,
When I go disappearing,
Into that good night