Elizbeth Baizen

"Yeah, things have been pretty wild since Lexa was born. And by wild I mean terrifying and sleepless, and totally awesome," he added with a grin. Somewhere in the back of his head, he heard Jake's totally drunken but delighted voice saying 'isn't that what happens when you become a father'. But he ignored it. "Aw, well, that's just one more reason to do it. How are your mom and dad, anyway? I passed by Lucas earlier too with Nilay. I'm glad everyone's having fun. No drama allowed, forsure. Even if that might be naive to say."

"I bet a baby sounds like a lot. But I am glad that you are enjoying yourself." Effy still couldn't believe that Jesse had gotten married and was now helping to raise Alex and Logan's baby. It almost sounded like someone had made a Mad Lib of the Upper East Side. "I agree, gotta keep them a little happy. They are doing well, running the business, keeping things going until they decide whose job it will be next. Yeah, they are hanging out, I guess. A little probably, Gossip Girl won't let that happen."

"I might as well go sit in the corner and call it a night with that attitude, Lizzy. No offense," she added, obvi meaning full offense. Perfect Lizzy never took the bait, though. Latife rolled her eyes at her little dig. "True, that is one of our major differences. Sweet and sour. Oh my, think of the scandal! You don't you could use a little? Does that mean you have a type?"

"None taken, you might end up making better decisions if you are stuck in the corner." Effy definitely meant to offend Latife a bit. There was messy, and then there was Latife's mess. "Fiery and mild?" She wore a sickly-sweet smile. "I don't think that is my thing. I have a lot to do, and being in scandals is not an option. Doesn't everyone?"

Georgina let out a loud laugh at Elizabeth's comment about being underage. Her face slowly fell though as she realised she was being serious serious. "Shit, sorry. I thought you were joking. I guess that's going to be one hell of a 21st birthday you have, forsure something to look forward to. Right, totally. A classy 'hi' will probably knock Jesse off his feet at this point."

Effy had to pretend not to drink, even though everyone else did. It still wasn't something her parents would approve of. "It's fine, I am sure that I am the only one here who wouldn't be joking. It will be memorable, I am sure. I might have the most unique way of talking to him tonight, and the most subtle."

Lucas rolled his eyes so hard at Effy it was a wonder they returned to orbit at all. "I'm well aware, Elizabeth." When Carter surrendered his chance at the crown to The Baizen Project it was quite obvious that Effy would be next in line. Little had ever been said about it, but it seemed to Lucas that if his sister wanted it when the time came, she would have it, and that thought alone was something he'd had to compartmentalise for his own sanity, and their family.

Effy didn't need to look at her brother to know he was rolling his eyes, she knew Lucas almost as well as she knew herself. "I am glad you do." She knew both of them had a lot to lose if their parents ever caught on to what they got up to. It's part of why she liked that they both knew, having someone in on the secret.

"I knew I could count on a proper 'welcome back' from our pride and joy," Robbie teased. "Thank you, Lizzy. I'm happy to be back even if trouble always follows. How is my favourite cousin?"

"Does trouble always follow you, or do you find it?" Effy laughed shaking her head. She admired how Robbie could stir up trouble and get away with it. "I am doing well, working and finishing up my semester."

"I'm so glad to hear that! I feel like we haven't caught up in forever. My fault, really. We should have coffee or something, you can tell me all about how you're taking over the world. Or the family business, at least. Juliette doesn't pull her punches, it's go big or go home." Jesse chuckled at her question, knowing all too well how good Juliette was at getting her way. It was all part of her charm. "You can't. I'm sure it'll be a night to remember, though. In my experience, Juliette always has an awesome plan and executes it perfectly."

"It's okay, you have been busy, I am sure. We should, my mom and dad would love it if I actually hung out with someone my own age that isn't Lucas or one of our interns. I can see that it's a cool party. Everyone seems to enjoy it." Effy sometimes wished she could be more like everyone else, have fun without having to hide it. But she saw how that had worked out for Carter. "I am sure it will be, hopefully for good reasons only."

Caisson Andrews is sure standing close to Elizabeth Baizen, huh?

"Always." If Caisson Andrews ever turned his attention from Elizabeth Baizen, it would be because he was dead. She was too intriguing and he was far too inquisitive for his own good. He wasn't sure he could ever let this go without seeing that side of her again. "I'm sure Gossip Girl has better secrets to out beyond underage drinking." Actually, he knew she did. Caisson hadn't been on the Gossip Girl servers since the takedown, but he had been on them. There wasn't a secret from before that day that he hadn't stored in his own personal hard drive, and he had just been sitting on that information this whole time.

"Try not to get too bored." Effy knew that Caisson would keep watching her. Since that day in the Vandervort’s wine cellar, he had been an annoying thorn in her side. She had to make sure she was keeping herself contained when he was nearby. "With this group, I can guarantee there is much worse hiding." Secrets and lies were nothing new with this group, but there was always one waiting to be dropped with Gossip Girl back.

"I'll think of you with every shot, Lizzy. Oh, she's around here somewhere...," she said trying with all her might not to smirk. If Ni wanted to play out the 'best friend's brother' plot, she wouldn't spoil the surprise for said best friend. "You can't miss her, she looks like me. Whatever keeps your motor running, babe. You and Jesse aren't planning on rekindling your playground romance, are you?"

"Try to make choices only I would, even drunk." Effy wanted a cover, and what better cover than hanging out with Nilay. No one would be looking too closely at them. "Yeah, I recall. She's just pleasant. Not sure how my parents would feel about me seeing a married man. Plus, we are not each other's types."

"Effy," Lucas started, "you could be Mary herself, but the press wouldn't care." You could be a saint of the UES and still get dragged through the mud by the elite, much less the media. "But I trust you."

Effy knew how easy it could be to fall from grace. She had seen Carter do it. And many others had fallen down the same path. That wouldn't be her, no matter what she had to do. "Thank you, I do have much more experience at this game."

Caisson's smirk stretched into a grin as she played dumb. They both knew that she knew exactly what kind of wine that was, but whatever persona he had met in that wine cellar was staying buried behind the pristine Elizabeth Baizen. In all honesty, he wasn't sure which version of her was real–sometimes even convincing himself that their time during the blackout was a fever dream–but that mystery was what had him hooked. "Of course... Can't wait to see what you get up to in two months."

Elizabeth didn't enjoy that Caisson saw right through her. The persona as the darling of the Upper East Side had been curated for years. She had messed up by letting him in even a little bit, someone she knew that couldn't be trusted. But it had been fun, felt nice to just let a little control go. "I am sure you will be watching."

Nilay shrugged one shoulder and returned the glass of wine to a passing tray, holding on to her own. "Alright. Let me know if you change your mind and I'll flag down another tray." It was very rarely that she had ever seen Elizabeth drink, but this was definitely one of the wilder party's she had attended and she was a little concerned about her friend's comfort. "Are you doing okay? You don't usually make an appearance at these things."

"I won't, but thank you for the offer." Elizabeth wasn't drinking, at least not that anyone here would see. She had a few ideas on how to have fun tonight, drinking wasn't needed. She knew she had to pretend not to be enjoying it all. "I'm good, mostly fascinated by how badly these girls want Jesse. It's not my scene, but I got invited by the host herself, and it would have been rude not to show up."

Lucas had never intended to be here. He'd been contented to make appearances at the art gallery and calling it there, but people weren't playing by his rules tonight, and that could so easily include his darling sister. He knew he'd have to keep an eye on her, not for her sake, really - but for his. He knew Effy's act as well as she knew his. They were both incredible at their craft. "Please," he responded as he handed her a flute. "It's just apple cider, but it looks the part. The water... well, rumours have been started from less." He glanced over the crowd, surveying for trouble and opportunity, as always, "you'll be careful, won't you?"

Effy had come to this party to mix things up, even if she couldn't enjoy it like everyone else was, so far. She had her ways of making fun. She looked around the party, allowing Lucas to hand her the flute. She took a sip. "Maybe in the hands of someone else, Elizabeth Baizen would never drink." She looked across the party, Jake in one of the hot tubs, Jesse Walker being hit on by another girl, Sapphire and Juliette doing shots. All the attendees were having their fun. "Me? What would I be doing? I would be worried about myself, especially with those two around." She pointed at Caisson, then at Sapphire. "Gossip Girl mentioned you twice with them."

"You gotta stay hydrated," Jesse grinned in response. Admittedly, he had been a little apprehensive about coming to Juliette's party but he totally didn't have to be. It had been so nice, it felt like everyone here wanted to catch up with him. Plus, with his mom watching baby Lexa, even Alex got to have a fun night out. Everything was awesome, you know?

Elizabeth smiled at Jesse. She could tell that he was having a good time. It was written all over his face, she thought he deserved it. Jesse had been through enough lately, and if a couple of the more friendly members of the Upper East Side wanted to mend his heart. Why not let them?

Here's the thing... Not everyone had welcomed Georgina with open arms when she decided to be a better person. That was to be expected, of course. And she'd gotten pretty good at handling rejection, at getting back up and trying again. Elizabeth Baizen was one hurdle she couldn't quite get over though. She hadn't liked Gigi when she'd had her disastrous fling with Luke. She didn't like her now. So, Georgina grinned and bared it, and tried again.

Elizabeth didn't trust Georgina, no matter how differently she acted. She had seen the way Georgina had acted for years, destroying lives and reputations. All of which would be fine had she not involved Elizabeth's brother. Lucas could do what he wanted, but she didn't like it when he got pulled into drama that could blow back onto her.