crimson & clover

Benitez laughed a hearty laugh - he loved pushing his friend's buttons but Adeline's were especially entertaining. "You know I don't walk around living my existence to give you something to work with but I guess I could throw you a bone. So last week a couple of dudes corner me asking me all of these crazy questions and you know me so I'm giving them everything but a straight answer and we're going back and forth then boom…long story short, I got in a knife fight and came out on top, so yeah I killed a few guys and technically I'm a wanted man, but wild horses couldn't keep me away from taking my friend. Derogatory to get some food. And you know what, just so we're on the same page, can you remind me of your point again?" If I had access to generational wealth I'd take a cushy job for sure. Call me nepo baby of the century, I don't give a fuck if it means I don't have to think about bills."

She perked up as Benitez agreed to give her something, hanging onto every word and fully believing him up until the very end, and she laughed, nodding as she decided to play along. "So it sounds like this is a last meal then, right. And we should probably go all out, on me. My point...." Ade pursed her lips while she considered what that was, or how to best articulate it at least. "Well I never said I wasn't stubborn, first off. I don't know, my family has so many rules, and I don't mean a curfew or anything like that, it's all implied. They support me so long as I don't bring too much attention to myself, but then it's like just my existence demands attention."

"You're out of my league? Come one, we both know that when you saw me in group for the first time you and Callista both were practically fighting over who could want me more but pretend they didn't." That probably wasn't true, but truth wasn't needed when it came to trash talking in his experience, "Draggin' a wagon tbh. I got you, I can keep myself entertained." While she was gone, Benitez strolled around, playing a game of chicken with the sales person where he looked as suspicious as possible, but didn't actually do anything wrong. "Nah, I think I would have gave your friend there a heart attack if I had." He motioned towards the guy near front pretend to fold sweaters. "New with me? I don't know, but it's the start of summer I'm bound to get into something soon. How are you liking the workforce? Better yet how's your family dealing with one of their own working a regular job? Anybody stroke out yet?"

She shot him a look, brows raised in a way that said get real. "I wouldn't fight Callista for the last city bag on sale at Saks, I'm definitely not fighting her for a man. Derogatory." When she came back Ade glanced to the store associate nervously re-folding sweaters and chuckled, making a point of waving goodbye to him as they left. "Yes new with you. Give me something, anything, to work with here. Oh it's fine. They're fine. They think I'm stubborn and will quit as soon as I think I've proved my point, then go work for my cousin at our family's publishing group or something."

"Thank you. Definitely learned my lesson the hard way," Bridget twisted her lip in a comical little grimace, alluding to her time spent away from her sisters and trying to find herself without their help. "Let's just say I've been through some phases." That her favourite of the looks in the window had been done by Adeline felt like a win, if only to help her feel better about the dilemma she was having with her current attempt. "Mm, Tinsley, right? My sister has been working with her a little. No complaints though, Marina is tough and has a way of getting through peoples' shells. Right? As long is it's not the worst is all I try to hope for..." Pausing momentarily, she considered the mannequin before answering, "I think that one has the most personality. It's visually interesting in a way that isn't just, like, catalogue, you know? Someone actually fun would wear that look, not someone cosplaying it if that makes sense. Also green is my favourite colour so... "

"Oh been there. I think you're supposed to be a little embarrassed by what you wore a few years ago though right, that's just natural order." Her sister certainly didn't hesitate to voice her opinion on Ade's style, good and bad, past and present. Very Bushwick was almost always derogatory. She nodded, "That's her. I mean she'd have to be if she's working with Tinsley, like, she might be the toughest person alive," she joked, exaggerating and of course all of it came from a place of love, then introduced herself, "Adeline." As Bridget looked back at the mannequin she did the same, nodding along to her reasoning, smile spreading across her face. "That makes perfect sense. It's lived in, not literally of course, but like somebody could live in it. Can I pull something green for you? You don't have to buy it, or anything obviously, but just for fun. If you have time."

"Oh yeah? Some of the shit I sell makes people see things, would I also be classified as a visual merchandiser? That bag is ugly though, it ain't much of a secret." Benitez did two sassy snaps being his usual goofball self. "You think you co-workers wanna fuck me, call the cops on me, or both?" He asked while he fussed with Adeline in the same manner in which she fussed with the mannequin, "Well I'd endure too much for you any day and if you ever try and make me dress up I'll go full spongebob and rip every pair of pants you give me."

"I don't see why not." She snorted out a laugh at his snaps, gaze inconspicuously flicking to her co-workers as Benitez messed with her necklaces. "Both, and probably wondering if we're fucking too, even though I'm way out of your league," she joked, brushing his hand off her when his fussing started to get annoying. "Oh excuse me I didn't realize we were hauling a wagon back there. Give me like two minutes, okay." Whether he wanted to wait in the store or outside was up to him, but Adeline ran to the back to collect her things and clock out, a co-worker almost immediately asking who her friend was. "You didn't break anything did you," she teased as she found Benitez again on her way out, and looped her arm through his. "I'm starving. Anyway what's new with you, anything?"

Bridget wasn't paying much mind to the world around her, lost in her head as she wandered through the store. While she'd heard what the clerk had said she hadn't assumed she was speaking directly to her until she asked if she needed help, to which she answered with a small shrug, "I don't know much about anyone's style but my own so... depends who you're trying to sell it to, I guess." As for what she needed help with, she glanced around, "This isn't really in my budget to be honest, but I have a few sisters so it's an eternal game of looking for birthday gift inspiration. Did you style the other mannequins in the window? I liked the one in the green outfit."

"I think you have good style," she told her, honestly. As for Adeline she'd often been described as too much herself, so she supposed that checked out. She glanced back at the window display, jogging her memory on what was currently in there, and grinned. "I did. My sister's a nightmare to shop for, and I guess a nightmare in general, but I've sort of mastered it. So long as my gift's better than our brother;'s. What do you like about that outfit?"

"I thought I had shitty people skills, going straight to a dark history lesson is exactly what I'd do in a place like this so in a way hell yeah, but on the other, girl that is no way to make a sale. Assuming you are a sales person right? I don't know what one does here." Benitez strolled up, confident he'd never been in this store just as he was confident he wasn't making up how the other employees were watching him a little too closely, but he didn't care, he was there for Adeline, "Yeah, you can take lunch because I'm starving and I bet you are too. Also...there's nothing in this place that isn't 'too much'."

"I think my official title is 'visual merchandiser' but yeah basically. And that's where you're wrong, people love to feel like they're in on something." Secrets instantly made people closer, even if that secret was something as mundane as 'that bag's kind of ugly, isn't it, I don't know why it's up front, we just got this other one in..' She finished straightening out the mannequin, ignoring all the extra eyes on her and Benitez. "I am, aaand I'm off soon, this was me killing time. And yet.. you're still here. If you'd come like twenty minutes ago I would've made you play dress up."

Adeline's capacity to forgive and not resent was much greater than Stefan's. There was a time where if his father turned a new leaf and wanted to be the dad he'd always needed instead of the monster who hated him for existing, Stefan would have accepted him with open arms. But after striving to be loved, then if not loved respected and still getting rejected at every turn in the most cruel ways possible all Stefan wanted to do was beat his father, prove that he could do what he did but better, not just in business but in family and general humanity. He wanted his father to witness his son's dominance and that resentment fueled Stefan - Succession didn't have shit on the McKibbons. "Sweet is crazy, but hey I'll take it, I've been called a lot worse." Stef snorted, "Sneakers? Do I look like some kind of teenage hybe beast? Please. I have a watch collection I'm very proud of, suits as well. I'm actually pretty into fashion, I believe looking good is timeless as are certain pieces of clothing. All that being said, I have a pretty good collection of sneakers, I just don't collect them, I wear them. So what kind are you into, difference in preference aside. Let me guess...you're a fan of New Balance, am I right?"

"Or like baseball cards, I don't what straight guys collect," she chuckled. "Watches though, that's better. And makes sense, you're very well-dressed, for what its worth. I meant music preferences, I'm not some sneaker head either. New Balance really? Is that how I present?"

"In your defense you didn't exactly catch us at the perfect time either so don't think that any awkwardness initially was all on you. But I'm told that's what family does, and it's the kind of family we're just going to have to create ourselves." And it was true, Adeline showed back up when Stef was being pushed out of a company that was all but his birth right and while they were both dealing with the consequences of Tinsley's actions in high school and Stef's decision to stick beside her regardless if he agreed that she had been completely wrong in her doings and coverup. "Well I'm sure this is going to sound pathetic but I really do enjoy my work. Now more than ever since my friend Diego showed me the value of philanthropy. Beyond that though, I like to travel and enjoy collecting certain things. Truth be told I never explored arts or music or anything like that."

Stefan didn't need her to tell him that her family operate like that, otherwise they wouldn't have paid her to go away. Oddly enough she didn't resent them for it, not as much as she could anyway, as getting out of Rosewood did allow her more room to come into her own. What him and Tinsley did for her though, that was the kind of family she wanted, and it came as a comfort knowing her and her siblings could potentially break the cycle. She shook her head, "It's not pathetic. It's good to like what you do, and that you're committing yourself to a cause, that's very sweet." Her tone was teasing a bit but she meant every word of it. "Collecting things, like what? Don't tell me you're a sneaker guy. I can recommend you some stuff, if you want. I doubt we have the same tastes but I can try."

"Sorry I'm not trying to give you the 3rd degree just curious I guess. And blunt, that part I could never really help. And I misspoke, I meant that you aren't, which I observed wasn't exactly the case when you first arrived on our doorstep." He shrugged, connecting with people sans drugs and alcohol always being a challenge for Stef who maybe had never made a good first impression outside of a boardroom in his life. "Is you jumping off of a building something people thought you would do before or something? I was just wanting to know what motivates you. Makes shit interesting for you, otherwise you're just walking through life bored and shit."

"No no, it's fine. I wasn't trying to get defensive. I like blunt." It reminded her of Benitez, who never minced his words either, and he was one of her favorite people. She shook her head, "I just meant you and Tins caught me at a bad time, obviously, and I'm super grateful for that. Just don't think I made a great first impression is all. I like to draw," she said though he probably gathered that already from all the hours she spent hunched over a sketchbook in their apartment. "And paint, whether that's on canvas or people, like with makeup. What about you? Or is it all just work and my sister?," she teased.

Stefan nodded and chuckled, Adeline's disposition a funny one, "So in other words you can take it or leave it pretty much. Funny enough I can't really get a clear picture of you in either scenario so guess we'll just see how it goes. What do you care about then? I mean I don't know you all that well but I have eyes and doesn't really seem like you have to stay in survival mode anymore so what's doing it for you in life, making it worthwhile and shit?"

"Pretty much. I think it could go either way for me too, so we'll see. Oh wow, okay." Adeline laughed though she didn't mind being put on the spot as much as she thought she might. It was still a loaded question. "I'm not in survival mode... that's very observant," she teased, then shrugged, "I have people I care about. Tins, Keaton, my friends. I'm into art and music and movies. I was never gonna jump off a building or anything, let's get that clear."

"Yeah she is - and I have to admit sometimes work really does give me tunnel vision but I can't drop the ball right. Whose says you can't have it all." He grinned, "What about you, do you plan on getting married some day - house and kids and all of that." He was pretty sure she was single but you didn't always have to have the right person to know what you wanted. Hell, it was the opposite of Stef - he desired none of that until he'd gotten together with Tinsley and fell in love with her.

"I mean, maybe." There was a time when she would've shut the thought down completely, just as she rejected every other traditional expectation placed on her. Now she figured she could do those things on her own terms if she wanted to, have a family of her own some day. "I think that depends who I'm with, and what we decide is important. 'Cause that's a two person decision you know, but I'm not opposed to it."

Stef couldn't have been more oblivious to whatever indiscretion Tinsley had made behind his back. Infidelity on either of their parts was the farthest thing from his mind for better or worse, "You may be right about that. Anyway I think I'll just talk to her about it whenever she gets home, rip the band-aid off you know. I was thinking about cooking dinner for her tonight too though and I don't want it to seem like I'm doing it just to butter her up or something. It's just because you know?"

"Could you bring it up before dinner," Ade suggested with a shrug. "Or if it's really just because, you could tell her that. Make it clear there's no correlation there. My sister is a lot of things but she's also a romantic."

"No no not scary, intimidating. I am not one of those weak willed people who see a name and fear strikes my heart. I forgot about Keaton though, yeah you're above him, so you've got that going for you." The delay in response and almost apprehensive tone she took confused Stef for a moment then it dawned on him that the motion sounded suspect, "Maybe yeah but it's purely because I want to be closer to work so on those really late nights I can lay my head down like that if need be." He snapped his fingers, "i don't want her to make any assumptions, she's been known to jump to rash conclusions, I don't have to tell you that, right? The condo will still be ours technically I just imagine I'd use it a lot more than she would. And if I find that I'm not utilizing it as much I'll rent it out as an AirBnb or something, just another stream of passive income. How's that for a pitch? Because if she's still not feeling it I'll remind her it just means more closet space or storage for her accessories and clothes and that'll do it."

"Well yeah I wouldn't think so, my family loves you. Oh thanks," she chuckled. Funny enough it wasn't Stefan she immediately wondered about but her sister, curious if the time she caught her red-handed in a bathroom stall was just a one-off or if it'd been more. Maybe they had some kind of arrangement though, she didn't know. "No, that all makes sense. I might even lead with the closet space, I think that's way bigger a priority for her than passive income."

"You strike no fear in my heart. As far as Chadwells go, you fall pretty low on the intimidation scale. " He shrugged, "It's still hot as fuck outside, but whatever I'm not the one flirting with tipping the Casper scale." Stefan loved his brother more than anyone else in his small family but even he didn't think he could stand living with him for an extended period of time, helping him run his bar and meeting up a few times a week was enough. "Say no more, I get it. I didn't mind having you but space is good. I'm actually looking into buying a condo right now. Tinsley doesn't know yet but I'm glad you agree with the sentiment in case she isn't keen on the idea initially."

She hummed in thought a second, "I'll take least scary Chadwell." Well, second to Keaton maybe, who didn't have a single intimidating bone in his body. Per his revelation Ade weighed her choice in words carefully, not wanting to draw any conclusions about their relationship. "And you think she'll be offended by that?" He seemed to be anticipating that at least, and they both knew her sister. "As long as you tell her and it's not something you do behind her back I think she'll understand. Or at least come around on it."