𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐄𝐍

❝ you're mean to me unprovoked, i like to give you reasons so it doesn't feel like unfounded hatred. ❞ he did not need to comment on the fact that annoying the youngest had been his main source of entertainment ever since she learned to speak. ❝ no, little adderall, i brushed my hair as a kid as you're supposed to so it doesn't get knotted up. that's probably why your waves have no pattern. ❞ now he was just throwing words he'd heard said before together and hoping they made sense.

❝ it's not hatred, it's judgement. don't go getting it twisted, bernie, ❞ she scolds. the look of disgust would be comical if it weren't for the fact that she's minutes away from getting out her needs to mark where she needs to take the jacket win, which she will use for nefarious purposes if necessary. ❝ do you really want to say things like that to me right now ? do you know how annoying a little prick can be ? ❞ purposefully holds up the needle, allowing it to glint in the slither of sunlight peaking through the clouds.

NIAMH MCCORMACK via tiktok

❝ did it cross your mind that you'd have to do these sort of favours to all of us when you chose your career path ? ❞ although he assumed he didn't show up asking brooke to make him clothes half as often as their mother or barrett. still, there bernard was, standing still so she could measure him while his two dogs watched from the sofa. ❝ when do the needles come in ? i need to brace myself, your pricking is intentional. ❞

❝ where do you think i got the idea from ? do you know how embarrassing it is to live with brothers who have no fashion sense ? it's like you want me to be mean to you, ❞ huffs as the wraps the tape around her hand, setting it down on the table and tapping in measurements on her ipad. she likes to complain about her brothers, but moments like this are precious to her. even with bernard, who is the most annoying of the lot. ❝ i'll only prick you if you don't stay still, otherwise you would never learn your lesson. did mum never tap you on the head with the brush when you were a kid and would complain about knots in your hair ? ❞

" it will come later. let me be shocked and appalled for a moment. they are much stronger emotions. " a very faint hint of a smile played on his lips. a quirky comment ! brooke alderidge always stood out at an event, if not for her looks, then for the lightness of her habitus. " and have them admit they made a mistake ? they'd prefer to be trapped in a cage with a hungry lion. "

❝ okay, you can have your moment, but i don't believe it for a second, orson. ❞ she points a finger at him and grins. she's just glad that the night had some form of entertainment rather than the drab clapping and false congratulations. after all, there's only so many award ceremonies someone can attend before they become boring. ❝ yeah, i guess you're right. i just can't believe they expect people to say that it was fair, but i suppose that's the whole point. ❞

            “ mmh, ” a soured expression with lips pursed replaced the satirized disposition barron readily held at the expense of their brother's spotlighted behavior. instead, his agreement came with a cough and a push of the chilled glass of orange juice, bitter to the tongue, over to the eldest. “ that's disgusting. try it. ” a nonchalant demand before he too relayed eye contact to barrett, once more placed on the witness stand of the alderidge siblings. “ his attempt at chatting her up. ”　...　　( @barrettalderidge )

"The slander and debased assumptions have sullied this wonderful brekkie," his hand fanned over the spread with a soft cresting grin. The various hues of gray and brown tones had soured his stomach. "I simple enjoy a good game of cat and mouse. She seems a woman who thinks very highly of her station and no one would ever dare forget her. I never forget a face or their significance to the business. Your dearest CCO deserves a little fun and games. Brookie, you should have seen the way these two attempt to torpedo my evening." @brvvkc @brncrd @barrcn

❝ i do, little adderall. i do. ❞ he responded to the youngest of the bunch with a teasing smile. who in hell gets drunk at a media event ? his eyes analysed the glass of orange juice barron rejected, wondering for a second whether he should try it or not. in the end, he did. and then regretted it. ❝ the issue is that you were a little too believable when pretending to not know her and now people think you're incompetent. ❞ at flirting, yes he was. ❝ addy, as the only woman in this unfortunate set, would you care to tell your brother the whole being rude as a way of flirting tactic does not work. ❞ // @brvvkc

❝ you talk far too much sometimes, ❞ she bristles immediately at his teasing, not caring how mean she sounds. she's hungover, tired, and well overdue a nap or two. or three. ❝ oh, barrett. ❞ she allows her disappointment to leak into her voice. ❝ do you not know a thing about women ? ❞ she shakes her head at him, tapping manicured nails against the table. ❝ there is this whole thing called wooing, i can tell you all about it. pretending not to know a woman who you clearly do know is an insult. do you need lessons in being a bachelor ? ❞ / @barrcn

❝ i beg your most absolute pardon. barron ? barron alderidge ? no, he's not. ❞ how outraged that made the firstborn feel. ❝ what was the favour you wanted to ask again ? i bet barron can't do it for you, that favourite brother of yours. ❞

❝ yes, barron. he would never ignore me like you do. ❞ she enjoys seeing just how furrowed her brother's brows look, he almost looks exactly like their father when he does that. ❝ i don't know, i think he could. now i'm not too sure if you're up to the task since ignoring your little sister seems to bring you so much joy. ❞

〝 if there had been, i'm sure you would have loved the photo op, 〞she teases, nose scrunched in what was supposed to be a chastisement of brooke's propensity for gossip but was dampened by the affection in her eyes. back when she'd met the alderidge family for the first time, the other had barely been a teenager. 〝 are people actually invested in who wins at these awards? if the bulletin had won, people would be talking about them, just as they are now that they've lost. it all comes out to the same result. i'd much rather hear about whether or not you found any of the attendees to your taste. 〞if dai-yu sounded like an old aunt, then it completely flew over her head.

❝ what can i say, if there's someone who will have all the receipts then it's going to be me ! ❞ she laughs, leaning forward so she can rest her chin on clasped fingers. it's why these media events are so fun to her. she gets to watch while everyone else flounders, and then talk about it in the days that follow. she has a great life, really. ❝ you're right, at least this time there was some drama out of it. god, can you imagine if the bulletin won ? it would have been forgotten about in a week's time ! ❞ waves a hand, shaking her hair behind her shoulders though there's a slightly disgusted expression taking over features at daiyu's words. ❝ you are joking. most of them were old and crusty... no offense. it's not an easy life being the youngest. ❞

"  –––––  obvious  ,  wouldn't  it  be?  "  she  drawled  ,  a  hint  of  amusement  flickering  in  her  eyes  .  "    yet  ,    sidelong  glances  were  positively  deafening  in  their  vulgarity  i  bet  .  here  I  was,  under  the  delusion  that  I  might  have  escaped  the  whole  sordid  affair  .  you  must  enlighten  me  ,  it  seems  I  have  lots    of  catching  up  to  do  .  "

❝ a little bit. but with all the outrage of the night, it really would just be the cherry on the top. ❞ and with a flute of champagne in hand, brooke would have been set with her evening entertainment. ❝ i thought i didn't see you there. lawrence fairchild won the lifetime achievement award. i'm surprised you haven't seen it all over the news ! ❞

" the most ridiculous part of this is that even i think simon lee was 'snubbed'. " part of him was incredibly satisfied by the turn of events but he couldn't rid himself of feeling like something foul had happened. "

❝ and here i thought you would be celebrating, ❞ words are followed by a short laugh. honestly, it doesn't really affect brooke in the slightest. she is merely a bystander enjoying watching all the drama unfold. ❝ do you think they should do a re-vote ? that'd for sure throw a spanner in the works. ❞

“be the change you want to see in the world,” santiago says with a tight-lipped smile. at last he’s in the safe zone for sarcasm. he sincerely doubts any of the audience sans him and a fly on the wall will be able to hark back to the night in the near future without aid of a hangover cure and a series of searches that drives app-h's web traffic up by ten thousand per cent. encouraging anyone to do anything following the generous orchestra of champagne flutes is a dangerous game, but so is plugging his phone into his white-hot power bank, and he’s fiddling with the wire nonetheless. “for all you know, mr fairchild could’ve had the drinks contaminated. he is a man of great influence, after all.”

❝ don't be so boring ! everything was so drearily expected, i don't know why everyone's acting so surprised. but the outrage ! the horror ! ❞ ignorance is bliss, and for brooke, she's quite happy with being ignorant as long as her trust fund is kept topped up and her trips away from the rain are paid for. ❝ if that were the case, i would be sleeping with the worms right now. as would about everyone else. then again, that many people spat out their drinks that i feel really sorry for the clean-up crew. ❞ not her forte, and absolutely not her problem. the perks of privilege, she supposes.

❝ of course, where is she ? ❞ bernard even faked searching for the imaginary sister in the crowd.

❝ over here ? hello ? ❞ even goes ahead and clicks her fingers in front of him, because ignoring her just won't do. ❝ you're so annoying when you do that. this is why barron's my favourite. ❞

❝ good morning, family ! ❞ the oldest mentions upon his arrival at their usual breakfast spot, patting both of his brothers on the back and placing a short kiss on top of addy's head before sitting in his usual chair and pouring himself a cup of tea. ❝ how was everyone's night ? besides barrel embarrassing himself in front of nevaeh halston, that is. ❞

❝ jesus christ, bernie, do you have to be so bloody loud in the morning ? ❞ pounding head is certainly not appreciative, but the iced coffee sat in front of her is far more inviting as she pulls it towards her. sips from it as if it's a source of oxygen, gaze passing from brother to brother. ❝ yeah, i would still like to know what that's about. ❞ // @barrcn or @barrettalderidge