JOKES ON U.

closed starter for @charlotteshep​

Ellis felt just a tiny bit stupid. Okay maybe more than a tiny bit. She had accidentally locked her keys in her car, for what was probably the third time since she was 16. And when she had called the man at AAA to come help her, he had given her a wait time of like 3 hours. A quick map search and she noticed she wasn’t terribly far from Amelia’s. She started walking and about 10 minutes later, she was standing in front of her aunt’s house. Knocking on the door, she leaned against the door jam for a minute, only standing up straight when she heard the footsteps walking toward the door, but still not looking up.

“So, I may have been a complete idiot and locked myself out of my car. The guys can’t come for like 3 hours, so do you wanna like, go grab some ice cream or something?” She finally looked up at her cousin and smiled. 

-

Charlotte had been avoiding everyone in her family like the plague since after Halloween, she’d come out of her room for Christmas but once she’d opened all her gifts and did the mandatory thank you’s she went straight back into her room. Thankfully, Mari and Scout were out of the house and Amelia was at work so that meant that the girl was home alone. Having just taken a shower and gotten ready, she was surprised to hear a knock on the door. After checking the key hook to make sure no one had forgotten their keys, she quickly opened it once in the clear that she hadn’t been ambushed. A laugh left her lips at the explanation before she nodded.

“Yeah, that’d be great. It’s not like I work today anyway, and I’m so sick of being cooped up in the house,” luckily she knew that Ellis probably wouldn’t mention to anyone they’d be together, so she wouldn’t get questions from anyone.”Let me grab my jacket and we can take my car, but I’m staying in charge of the keys. How do you always manage to do this?”

Mari stepped slowly into her sister’s room, closing the door quietly behind her. She wasn’t sure what she was doing. She didn’t want to invade too much into Charlotte’s space, so she leaned against the door, her hands wrung together nervously. “Are you scared?” she finally asked. “About mom, I mean.”

Her eyes snapped up toward her sister, the others frown deepening. She wasn’t trying to be a dick but what kind of question was that? “Obviously? She could die, why wouldn’t I be scared?”

Mariposa was having a hard time processing everything Amelia had told them. She’d had her suspicions based on all the reading she’d been done, but she didn’t want to believe it. Standing outside of her sister’s bedroom, she hesitated. She didn’t know how to really handle other people’s emotions, and she wasn’t sure that Charlotte could handle hers either, but she needed her. Finally knocking, she sighed a small sigh of relief when the door opened. “Can I come in?”

@charlotteshep​

Charlotte had been so good at hiding her feelings, although maybe it was because she barely left her room now-a-days. When she did, it was early for school and she was back home before anyone could talk to her. That was why when the knock at her door sounded, she jumped but she was quick to scramble up to get it, her face blank when she saw her sister. “I guess,” she whispered, moving back from the door and crawling onto her bed.

audrey couldn’t help but laugh when she brought up the costumes and amelia being a little fruity. “hey- i wasn’t going to say anything.” she chuckled and took a sip of her drink, before nodding her head. “i mean, i just feel bad for lexie. i hope she doesn’t hear people talking about mark and amelia. i mean, if you ask me I think their just friends.” the brunette took a bite of a cookie she was holding in her hand and then nodded her head. “sure, i guess. i would rather be at home with jamie but it’s good to get out.” 

-

“i don’t think it means anything, couples costumes don’t mean people are actually a couple, they’re just. . two costumes that go together,” charlotte muttered, another sip of her drink following. “two is a couple so like i don’t know,” a huff because she knew her words weren’t making much sense and it was annoying. “i felt that, this shirt is itchy and jamie is way cooler than this party. no offence to the hosts.” 

_

“Dangerous juice,” Sofia corrected herself. Scrunching her nose, “I’m not as far gone as I could be. Too many things going on lately, and all of my healthy coping mechanisms are getting dull.” The first step is admitting you have a problem, right?

Sofia started to take a drink, but stopped when the glass touched her lips. “Really? Por que?”

-

“This isn’t making me not want to drink it if that’s what you’re thinking, danger is my middle name,” the girl teased although she still stuck to her soda. “Have you tried one of those wreck rooms? You just smash everything in sight.” Suggestion was quiet, not wanting the other to build a habit. 

Rolling her eyes playfully at the question, the redhead curled her legs underneath her. “College is very difficult when your letters and numbers are all always getting fucked up, and none of the student advisors will help you out because you should and I quote ; know how to cope with your own dyslexia by now. It’s a waste of time.”

Watching as Charlotte took some of the punch, her eyes shot nervously around the room. As much as she wanted to ask Charlotte if it was sure, she wasn’t quite brave enough to say it out loud. Instead, she took a step to her left to try and block the cup from view. “Oh kids can be brutal. Last week one asked if I was rushing in the morning, and when I said no their response was ‘oh… so you meant to do that with your hair?’ and just walked off.” Not that there had been any offence to the words, one of her favourite parts of working or volunteering with kids, was getting to hear them say whatever was on their mind, with no malice behind it. “You make a very pretty Kim Possible if it helps? Or would you prefer badass Kim Possible? No wait… The obvious answer is a pretty, badass Kim Possible.” 

-

Since they were both college freshman, Charlotte knew she was taking a chance by drinking in front of Lou but at the same time the drink simply looked like fruit punch. “Your hair always looks so pretty,” the red head complimented, her head shaking at the savage kid. Kids were horrible but Charlotte was sure they both had been just as funny when they were that young as well. Her cheeks seemed to warm at the blondes words and she simply took another sip of her drink. Compliments from other girls didn’t come that often and she was surprised. “Either works,” the girl giggled before she grinned at Lou. “You’re like the prettiest Sarah Sanderson ever,” she hummed. “Hocus Pocus kicks ass. Although Halloween Town is a close second.”

closed event starter for @charlotteshep​

“i love your costume.. kim possible right?” audrey asked and then nodded her head. “that used to be my favorite show growing up. thankfully, i get to watch it sometimes since i’ve gotten jamie hooked on all the older disney shows.” audrey smiled as she smoothed out her dress, while holding a beer in her other hand. “are you having a good time?”

“thanks, sure is!” charlotte responded, a bright smile on her face as she listened to her friend talk about jamie. she loved that kid a lot, and she’d had a cup of special punch a little bit ago which had been her first drink ever. “it’s pretty good, except everyone keeps asking me if my mom and mark are banging because they’re burt and ernie but truly, i think amelia’s sorta fruity,” okay miss overshare. “are YOU having fun?”

“Are you allowed to question people’s parenting, without actually being one yourself?” It was a seemingly random question, but she’d made a beeline for the first person she recognised after explaining an aspect of her costume for the eighth time so far. “Because I’ve had to tell eight different people that it’s supposed to be a mop and not a broom. Sarah rides a mop when their brooms get stolen, it’s pretty obvious. Least I thought it was, now I’m wondering what films people had their kids watch on Halloween if they don’t know every little detail of Hocus Pocus. And if you didn’t let your kids watch that movie…. Then you must have hated them, right?” 

-

“Halloween is up to interpretation, I guess,” the red head offered as she took the last sip of her soda. “But, it’s a fucking mop.” Agreement was quick and this time, the girl decided to fill a cup with boozy punch. Was she a little too young, but Sofia said it tasted like juice so what would be so awful about it? Taking a sip she almost giggled at Lou’s words, although for someone who didn’t drink, she found herself choking on the taste of alcohol, “People are so uncultured, when I was working the other day some little girl asked me what I was being for Halloween, and when I said Kim Possible she asked me what that was. I didn’t only feel old as fuck, but also offended, what is wrong with people?”

_

“Um,” Sofia hummed, glancing down at her glass, “I honestly can’t remember. It had some stupid Halloween-themed name, but it tastes like juice, so I don’t really care much.” Processing the second bit of Charlotte’s questioning, Sofia’s brow furrowed, “I’m not that far gone yet. This is only my second since getting here.” Not her second of the day, that was for sure. 

Eyes narrowed slightly, “you’re telling me you have not one single woe?”

-

“Damn, maybe I should start drinking at this rate if the booze tastes like juice,” Charlotte hummed, her soda suddenly very uninteresting. She wasn’t quite sure why she was here, her work was having a slightly more interesting party but oh well - she wanted to what her mom had dressed up as, if anything. “I don’t even get one tiny hint? You seem drunk enough to me.” Drunk enough to anyone, actually.

Furrowing her brow, the red-head gave a hum, “I’m considering dropping out of college, I guess that’s a woe.”

“I used to love hospital parties when I was little. I remember one time, I was like six, and some hot drunk lady was giving me some really great life advice before one of my parents dragged me away from her,” Sofia giggled, leaning back in her chair. “And now, here we are, I’m the hot drunk lady ― the circle of life is beautiful, isn’t it? But now I feel suuuper obligated to give life advice. However, definitely not the person to be doing that,” she scrunched her nose before taking a little sip of her drink. She really wasn’t in any place for advice-giving, especially since she was getting as far from sober as she could to try to forget the fact that her baby was due this week. A+ problem-solving. 

Blinking out of her thoughts, she flashed the other a bright smile, “I can always try though, I’ll give you some Magic 8 Ball energy here. Tell me your woes.”

-

Charlotte had just wanted a soda, one small soda and just after grabbing it when she was about to step away from the table, Sofia started talking. The older female was clearly pretty wasted, but Charlotte took a seat anyway, someone had to entertain her. “How rude of them,” she tutted in return, eyes crinkling to show the other that she was just joking. Popping the tab on her drink she wished suddenly that it was booze. “Super beautiful,” she agreed, eyes finally glancing up to her companion.  “What are you drinking? Do you maybe want some water or something?” The last thing she wanted was for the raven haired female to hurl, especially near her. She did not do throw up and not when her Kim Possible costume had taken so long to prefect.

“My woes?” Make the woman feel better, Charlotte. Make something up but the more she thought? Nothing. “Can’t say I have any woes. Kinda wish I was brave enough to drink but that’s beside the point. You could tell me your woes if you wanted. You must have some considering it isn’t that late and you’re gonna need someone to drive you home by ten pm”

_

“Two out of three isn’t horrible,” Amelia teased, lifting her shoulders in a quick shrug. “Mhm, and I’m really not sure what you and your brother can’t comprehend about the fact that the simplest of cooking and baking tasks don’t hold my attention, focus, nor interest long enough for me to properly execute any sort of successful outcome. Cooking is annoying, it’s way too much work for food I’ll eat in about five seconds. Baking? Baking’s ridiculous. Why does how much butter is softened or melted completely alter what the end result is?” An annoyed expression on her face was taken over by a smile, and she shook her head. “The perks of being an ancient being are supposed to be that I don’t have anything going on, that I’m just existing on the floating rock,” she sighed. Sure, that was exactly it. No borderline home-wrecking, no tumor. Nothing to worry about, just floating on the big space rock.

-

“I personally just think you’re lazy,” Charlotte teased right back. “I mean, most things don’t take long unless you’re making a fifty course meal.” The girl could barely cook herself but she did like baking. Did Amelia like anything? Sometimes the girl wondered but she didn’t mind that her mom wasn’t into cooking, when she was younger that meant a ton of takeout and to her friends and herself? That was cool as hell. “Fine, you can just stand in the kitchen and I’ll make them!” Giving the other a grin, Charlotte headed to the fridge and pulled out the pack of cookies, preheating the oven after. Once a pan was out, she hummed at her moms words, although that was a lot more boring than she wanted it to be. Separating the cookies, the young woman huffed. “Come on, I’m making you a snack and eventually building you a nightstand, bro. Not even a single good secret for me?”

“Yeah, but if I’m alone on the couch the spider could come after me and attack me there. At least in here, I can jump aside and push you into its path.” His logic was sound, at least in his mind. “You don’t know that. Haven’t you ever watched the movie Arachnophobia? Those spiders eat people.” At least the monster spider did. “I’ll show you where it is, but I’m staying in the hall.”

“Wow, you would do that to your own sister? Your . . adopted blood? That’s really fucked, dude.” Of course she was teasing, spiders were gross but she wasn’t scared of them. “No - why would I watch that? It sounds boring and awful,” she pointed out, her eyes rolling before she climbed up off the bed. “Okay, loser - come on then.”

“That sounds doable. The food court has that really good fresh cut fry place that I like to indulge on every so often,” she said. She liked to avoid anything fatty, greasy, or relatively unhealthy, but she could splurge with her sister just this once. Mari shrugged. “I don’t know! We’re.. we’re kind of opposite, at least it seems that way. So I just assume that if I don’t like it, you probably might,” she explained.

-

“See, we do agree on some things, those fries are bomb,” Charlotte grinned, although unlike her sister the other didn’t care much about what she ate and when as long as she ate something. “I don’t like drinking or drugs, my birth parents were addicted to that shit, I would never. Plus mom is, too.” Shrugging, she glanced out into the hallway. “Are you ready to go? I can drive.”

_

“I’m pretty sure just about anyone else would read the instructions better than the two of us,” Amelia huffed, brushing her hair from her face with her fingers. Watching the tool Charlotte dropped hit the floor, she winced just slightly, though her attention was entirely elsewhere the second she mentioned cookies. “Baking isn’t exactly an area of expertise for me either,” she huffed, “so this one’s all you.”

-

“Look, its not our fault we only have two brain cells combined when it comes to building things, we cannot be smart, good looking and masters at construction, we’d be way too much for anyone to handle,” her eyes didn’t even fall to the tool, the thought of food making her stomach grumble, not that cookies were truly food. “Dude, you set the oven to 350, put the already separated cookies on the sheet and wait ten minutes for them to be done. . you have hands, you can help, I believe in you.” A teasing smirk sent the others way and she began to walk from the room, “plus, you can tell me about all your spicy drama lately - it’ll be like hanging out with my friends but lame considering old people do nothing of interest.” Or so she thought.

“I’m pretty sure I just saw a giant spider crawling on the wall in my room, so I’m going to be spending the rest of the day in here with you. Or at least until mom gets home and gets rid of it for me.” Ever since he was little and had seen a daddy long legs crawling up his arm and near his face, Scout had always been terrified of the arachnids. “Unless you wanna go get rid of it for me, of course,” he added with a smile to his sister. // @charlotteshep​

-

What if Charlotte had been on the phone or just gotten out of the shower? Luckily she hadn’t, she was only scrolling through tiktok but what was the point of not knocking? “Dude, the couch is free. You know, five steps down the hall, big and fluffy?” Not that she didn’t want to spend time with her brother, but damn. “That’s so whimpy,” always out spoken, much like Amelia. “It won’t eat you, you know?” And yet, she was moving over on her bed with a sigh. “If I have to get it, you’re coming with me.”