truth to power.

@ahclbrook

Cozied up to the bar, Lía lights up bright when she comes to the hazy conclusion that a bestie is right here. Nothing can stop her now from resting her drunken head on Ang’s shoulder, a quiet little hum of contentment filling the space. “I think I’ve run out of pickup lines for you. There’s only so many fun and exciting ways I can suggest you divorce the man, the myth, the legend.” She pouts. “It’s so sad.”

@ahclbrook​

“…Slow season?” Hans asks, settling against Angelina at the most influential end of the bar. “My buddies said you were looking for a financier.” Beat, as the bluest gaze finds a near perfect match. Whether the need is justified or not, is a moot point: all politicians crave the aide, whether the need is admitted to or not. Off the corner of their eye, a bartender prepares a drink. “Ice or no ice?”

“And if I am?” Angelina eyes him with a clever smile and a tilt of her head. She pauses, sliding her empty glass aside as the bartender remedies the issue, “Ice.” Cold like her, as the media would say, but she doesn’t make that easy joke, “Are you looking to open your checkbook?” She’s interested. That’s for sure. But she doesn’t want to play it too obvious. A little hard-to-get is her style, “Hypothetically, of course.” 

When: March 1, 2023 Where: Opening of the Palazzo Who: Open

Laetisha was not going to turn down the opportunity to party, especially with the opening of a new club. All she wanted was to have a good time and see if she could add more to her clientele. 

Plus, there was always the chance of giving Baptiste a hard time. 

Dressed to the nines, because it was a rule to always look smoking when going out, she bought herself a drink the second she stepped inside, chocolate hues glancing around the room to find her first victim for the night. 

Her head turns when a body moves beside her, a smile growing on her features, before she turns to face them. “What is your poison tonight?” Tisha was always curious about what others might drink. The alcohol they chose told a little story about them. 

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Angelina looked up, crossing her legs and holding up her glass of wine, “Pinot noir.” Not your typical club beverage, but the mayor was not your typical clubgoer, “Can’t say no to a classic.” She took a sip, regarding the other with an interest, “And what are you drinking tonight?” It didn’t hurt to make small talk, seem like a normal person for the evening. She could be charming enough- especially in a setting like this. 

status : closed for @ahclbrook​ when : around lunch time 12 pm  location : city hall 

It’s not all the time that Dorothy gets to venture outside of Centre Street . Usually one to call it a day with a bone dry cappuccino from Starbucks and a protein box , the Supreme Court Justice actually decided to look past the few blocks around the courts . After flagging down her driver and adjusting her coat , the woman had decided to take a ride to City Hall . Although not far , it was definitely not a trek she was willing to take in her Manolo Blahniks . “ Right here in fine . “ She announced to her driver as he pulled over right in front of the steps of City Hall . Stepping out of the car , she let him know that a message would be sent when she was ready to return back . 

Walking up the several steps to the front doors , the woman was about to greet one person before her eyes fell on the familiar face of Mayor Angelina Holbrook . A small yet friendly smile etched upon her features , Dot clicked her heels against the cement stairs towards the woman in question . “ Now , Angelina , please don’t tell me you’re too busy to join me for a light lunch ? My treat . “ 

. 

Angelina paused her journey down the stone stairs, a polite grin spreading over her angular features. Dorothy, a staple of local politics just like herself. It wasn’t everyday she was around City Hall, though, “Your Honor... what brings you down to my neck of the woods?” She teased, moving closer to the other woman and drawing her coat tighter around herself to ward off the cold, “I’d love to. I’m never too busy for my favorite judge. What are we talking today? Shop or personal life?” Though, for the mayor, those were practically the same these days, the line ever blurred- especially as she was poised to make an upward move, “You look incredible, by the way. As always. Should we walk? Be one with the people of our city?” The blonde joked. 

status: open  when: mid-morning , around 10:00am location: outside of the met , near the steps

“ Now I have no idea who is in charge of all of the hot dog stand coffee in New York , but i am APPALLED that they got rid of the iconic blue cup . Is that the proper word ? Iconic ? My son says it all the time so i honestly never know if i’m using it in the right context . “ The socialite threw her free hand in the air , fanning away the current conversation with a short shake of her head . “ Anyway , are you hungry ? That sweet man at the stand gave me an extra bagel . No cream cheese though , sue me . I’ve been having flare ups and the last thing I need is dairy getting added to the mix . “ Pilar held out the bread , dressed in a thin layer of wax paper . “ Go on , it’s not poison . Swear . “ 

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“Mmm, you’re asking the wrong person. I only know it in the context of my kids and the young people who reply to my social media posts.” My social media posts aka whatever her equally as young team thought would be smart to tweet or Instagram, “But I’ll bring up the cups the next time city council meets.” Angelina deadpanned with a slight smile. She waved the other woman off with a polite shake of her head, “Oh, no thank you. I’m cutting back on gluten. Which is, apparently, in everything. Maybe I should fire my nutritionist.” 

—

“It’s time to make a move,” Julian agrees, not missing a beat. Granted, he might just be focusing all on himself, come thought process. But if he isn’t getting any younger, if he’s growing too big for his seat, then certainly so is Angelina. 

Senate, however, he hadn’t seen coming. For a man so sharp in his predictions, Julian is somewhat surprised to have missed this. His own current position seemed like a logical next step — especially with him ready to move on to greater things, and needing a successor to take on the task. A secretariat, perhaps. But Senate. Then, the harder he thinks, the easier pieces fall into place…

Her husband. How had he missed that? Julian downs a large sip, to properly clean his palate. 

“I’ve heard the rumors,” he starts, “and I can confirm that they are true.” A brief pause, as he considers — pacing slowly around the room. “And I can also confirm there’s someone else interested in it. And he’s been… internally campaigning it for a while.” 

“…I think you could hit that bullseye.” True. “But you’d have to take out Rousseau first.” 

. 

“Glad to know I’m receiving the right information.” Angelina chuckles. She almost always was, to be fair. Otherwise, someone on her team would be out of a job- maybe even multiple someones. 

She takes a sip of her own drink, listening intently to what Julian has to say. Rousseau. It’s not shocking, but it frustrates her in a way that almost causes a visceral reaction. Almost. She clicks her tongue, tone neutral, “Abel? I can’t say I’m shocked.” Maybe this would be harder than she thought. He’s younger than her and, arguably, more likable. Now, their already delicate relationship would be even more tumultuous. Which she can handle, she just won’t like it, “He’s a formidable adversary. I’ll give him that.” 

@ahclbrook​ “One of these days, I’m going to win you over.” Officially, behind the public image. “And it won’t be by buttering you up.” It’s not in him, to play games. “I need my budget expanded.” Begin, the negotiations.

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Angelina raises her eyebrows, a soft laugh passing her lips, “We’re on the same team, Abel,” Most of the time, “I don’t know what there is to win over.” She lies like she breathes. She tilts her head to the side, lips pursing slightly, “Though, I am interested in hearing this proposal- even without the flattery.” 

—

Higher isn’t what he’d heard, but Julian isn’t always honest in what he’d heard. Alas, as politics go, it’s precisely what’s expected. A politician who doesn’t always aim to climb higher, doesn’t see the system as a game — and therefore cannot win. It takes moves, to do that.

“You’ve already put my mind at ease,” he says. “So they were right in partiality? In that you’re done here?” As, in a way, Julian also is. He’d taken the liberty of setting out two glasses, and choosing the Bourbon. He moves to serve them, “I’m all ears, Angelina. And generosity. Depending on where you’re aiming at…” His voice trails off, watching the liquid pour as he considers. “I might know how to hit bullseye.”

. 

“I think so. I’m not as young and... idealistic as I used to be. It’s time to make a move.” Angelina watches him pour, tilting her head to the side, “I thought I might make you guess, but I’ll end your suspense instead.” She teases, thanking him and taking her glass, “The senate. I’m sure you’ve heard about the rumors about a seat potentially opening up soon...” The mayor shrugs, “Do you think I can hit that bullseye?” She knows she can. With the right team and endorsements, at least. 

@ahclbrook​​

“The busiest woman in New York city,” Julian underlines Angelina’s image once again. Second only, to perhaps his own wife. “I can’t believe we’re finally sitting down to talk. And it’s overdue, as I’m sure you agree.” A mindfulness to her own precious time, at the same time a controlled poke at the dismissal of a potential future President. Down onto his seat, Julian settles. “Bad tongues are whispering this is your final year in politics. I don’t believe them, so I have to ask from the source.” 

. 

“Most definitely. The busiest woman in the city and the busiest man in the whole state- that’s two very hard schedules to pencil into.” She chuckles softly, a small grin tugging at her lips. She crosses her legs and leans back slightly in her seat, portraying an air of comfortability, of casualness. Angelina raises her eyebrows at his comment, a shake of her head following, “Though some may wish that to be the case... no. I just have my aim set higher as you do.” She tells him. A Senate run doesn’t seem out of the question, her husband may have failed three times, but she’s not her husband. Her aspirations could yield results. They have to. 

where: outside of the elite halloween party

when: 1:30 am

who: open 

Having had perhaps a few sips more of champagne than she intended, Olivia rifled clumsily through her stupidly tiny handbag looking for her lighter. It seemed so cliche to have taken up smoking since moving to New York but she couldn’t help it, she loved the romance of the smoke break. The delicate maneuver of being allowed to leave whatever situation she was in to go outside for a few moments to breathe in the sweet sticky tobacco taste was almost as intoxicating as the telltale head rush that would be endowed upon her. 

Eagerly she peered upwards towards the exit of the party just in time to ask her least favourite question, “Hey, do you have a light?”

. 

Angelina was outside, of course, taking a call. Maybe the mayor of New York City shouldn’t have been taking calls whilst slightly inebriated and balancing a lit cigarette in her hand cradling her phone, but alas, Halloween brought out a different side of people on occasion. The called ended promptly, the blonde frustrated by whatever her staffer had to say, and she glanced over at Olivia as she spoke. She slipped a hand into her clutch and produced a lighter, holding it out to the other woman as she took a drag of her own cigarette, “Here. You can keep that one, I have another in here somewhere.” 

Location: Dark Elite With: @ahclbrook​

“Oh my God,” stood beside Angelina, Lía is a bit of a different self. She’s a few drinks in, and her stance says it all. Glass up, to shield her lips from view just a little. Head turned, not to whisper but to allow for a lower volume than her usual exuberance. It’s the sort of thing practiced on the campaign trail years ago between the two women. “Look at that one,” she tilts her head just slightly in the direction of one Michael Myers. “I swear I can hear him breathing from here.” Beat; a little smile. “Judy is in danger.”

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 DARK ELITE HALLOWEEN PARTY --> ANGELINA HOLBROOK AS SANDY FROM GREASE 

—

Catherine frowned. “Well now you’re just living to complicate things,” she complained, her soft southern accent reproachful as she considered that new bit of information. “I can’t break into the boot with the mayor standing next to me, no matter how much I feel like being a kind old granny.” So, instead she reached her hand out to Angelina. “What if I could find us trouble that you could get into? One stop at a costume shop - a black wig and a change of clothes, some clever make-up and we can go to an underground drag show, see them prance and play. If we do your makeup right – well, you could be the top drag king.” Catherine enjoyed a good night of drag, but then back in her time if she was going to get into a gentleman’s club without having to sit on a man’s lap - she was going to crossdress. “We could infiltrate a country club in disguise - really see what people think of you.” 

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