rare

“If I cry, you will not see it. I’m not letting you feel terrible,” she decides. It’s impossible for Nur not to cry over this. It’s a sad thing and she’s naturally a crier. Nur can easily come up with any vibe she wants to go for, actually, but it’s like an on/off switch for her, there needs to be a reason for that. Of course, she grins at the compliment Esther gives her. “You do one, too. That way we will be… what’s the word? Twinning. Yes.” 

– “ALRIGHT, FAIR ENOUGH. I’LL TAKE ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS, THEN,” he adds with a grin, agreeing to the compromise ! you cannot say he’s not agreeable ! ( he actually is quite agreeable, he’s just annoying first. ) “ because, it was a good idea. people might think i’m cool and copy me. ” 

Wilder’s not expecting her to disagree and mean it, amused by her obvious tone. “I hear you. Especially to a formal event. It feels, like, fancier.” Wilder’s a hopeless romantic, you don’t have to tell him twice about anything date related. He’s also surprisingly shy when it comes to romance, so every time someone’s planned something nice for him, he never knows how to react. “Is there someone you had in mind? If they’re here tonight, you should say something.” He’s not going to ask who it is, if Esther does like someone specific, but he think she’s a catch and she’s pretty. “You think so?” He turns to try to look at them, but they’re on his back, so it’s hard. “Thanks!” Means a lot coming from Esther who is always dressed so nice. “You look nice at every event, and I don’t know a lot about fashion, but yeah.” Wilder absolutely obsessed with Esther in every awkward way possible, that’s his bestie! 

“honestly, knowing me, someone would have asked and i still would’ve said no.” mostly because esther can’t imagine who she’d want to ask her, it’s more the principle of the thing, and she’s fully aware of how ridiculous that is. “no, no, and i’m leaving anyway, so it’s for the best.” she’d rather meet someone in a place where she’ll be spending more time. “yes, they’re sweet.” the word might sound condescending inherently, but she means it genuinely. he makes things work that others might now. “thank you again.” she’s glowing from the compliments, they’re her favorite thing to receive. “have you seen my brother? he looks... like, if ricky is an adjective, that’s how he looks.”

“Can I see it sometime?” Too late, Esther, she asked anyway! Ria was going to be nosy when it was practically set up for her to ask. “Maybe you’re oversimplifying it.” No, Ria knew she was the one trying to make it more black and white… but quitting wasn’t in her nature, even if she was ten feet deep in the hole. “I never realized you came into it to try and change it. Spyhood is a paradox like that, it’s always growing but it’s pretty stuck in its ways.” Cheating and lying. The pillars of the field. The  blonde sipped her drink, she understood, and maybe in another state of mind she’d give more of her own two cents, but instead she sipped again. “Good for you.” Ria didn’t sign up for a lecture, and she didn’t really believe in the whole greater good anyways.

“Yay!” Martina squealed, bending down to kiss Esther’s cheek, before stopping herself. What if Esther had to spent the rest of the night with a lipstick print on her cheek? Es might have minded. Instead she pressed her cheek against Esther’s for an air-kiss, one hand cupping Esther’s cheek for a moment. Martina sat in the chair opposite of Esther, smoothing her skirt, tucking her left ankle behind the right, the way she was taught as a child. Esther’s validation cleansed Martina of any doubt that being thirsty for a lot of people is wrong. If Esther didn’t have a type, then surely Martina’s doing something right. Didn’t know what that might be, though. “Going back to Soren being your anti-type, I’m intrigued. I don’t have a type either, because I like options. I think.” She thought about this for a second. Did she have a type? The biggest similarity between PJ and Orion was that they didn’t feel the same way. Other than that, Martina thought they couldn’t be more different. Or perhaps she didn’t know them well enough to know they’re more alike than not. “Having a type’s too restricting, I feel like? Everyone’s a ten in their own way.” She always found what made someone beautiful if she stared at them hard enough. “But seriously, has no one caught your eye tonight? Like, other than your gorgeous date, but she wouldn’t mind if you checked someone else out.” Martina grinned, absently braiding a small lock of her hair that slipped over her shoulder. “Or even, like, do you have any celebrity crushes?” It was such a girlish question to have at this ritzy party, offset with the sophisticated atmosphere, but she liked having a frivolous conversation among grizzly goodbyes. It was the kind of chitchat that she had effortlessly with Aylin, like they’re reading questions from quizzes in a Tigerbeat magazine. Her smile wavered when Esther mentioned Spain. “Are you going back to Spain?” Winging it and saying Esther and Martina talked about it. “I’ve been looking for an excuse to book more flights.” A small smile, tinged with sadness, as Martina forgot why she asked Esther the question. She already missed Esther. “Yeah? Well, now I know I’m right.” Martina waved a hand. “Please, they’re Mamma’s connections. She has, like, a ton of uh-mazing stories, and she knows every celeb on the planet.” Or so Garnet headcannoned. “She’ll be here tomorrow for Mo’s graduation, if you wanna meet her!”

“I am leaving the tears for when you officially leave. I do not want to ruin my make up!” She feels the sadness rising, but she laughs it off in an attempt to keep the ambiance light and fun. “My fiercest face? Do I have a fierce face?” Her brows furrow slightly as if thinking, before she attempts one, something she sees model doing on Instagram. “Like that?”

“Ugh, his loss.” Martina knew that the confidence and sophistication that Esther carried herself with could be intimidating. However, it was those same characteristics that Martina found herself wanting to impress Esther. “Oh, Es, that’s totally devastating.” She frowned, reaching for Esther’s hands. “I would have asked you if — I just came with Trinity and we…really needed it after everything, like the thing with PJ and…everything.” Meaning the Orion things that Martina confided in her about. “You’re a gem and, like, I’m sorry, but some people do not have the taste to appreciate you. So…if it’s not too late, as my first choice, will you be my date tonight?” Her face became her puppy dog face with pouted lips and gleaming eyes, she hadn’t done that in a while. And she’ll admit quietly it felt a little silly, too young for who she was now. Her expression smoothed as Esther leaned in, not even daring to breathe, brightening at the approving nod. “See? We aren’t so opposite after all. And I mean, really, Esther, what’s the worst thing you’d say you’ve done? Accidentally forgot to tip the waiter? I do that sometimes,” she admitted. Esther was more saintly in Martina’s eyes, she couldn’t imagine her hiding any scary sins. “Right? That’s what I say all the time, things become cliché because people love them! I’m, like, reclaiming cliché. Starting now.” Both hands cradle Martina’s face as she listened, giving Esther’s dress another glance. “It’s worth the love. I’ll have Mamma tell Tony that this piece is a success.”

“then we can find you something else. no worries, they have something for everyone, i’m sure we can find something you’ll like!” skylar responds, feeling confident. they have everything in there anyway, so it wouldn’t be a problem. “we will. i promise. and you have my number, so you can call me anytime. i’ll be a third year as well, so i can get out and everything… just in case you want to meet up.” the blonde smiles, before shrugging her shoulder. “i dunno. maybe. if he doesn’t forget.”

“Your last party here should be full of events you haven’t had yet. That way when you leave, you’ll have so many memories,” she decides with a nod. “Of course!” She gives her a smile and helps her inside. “I would never. We can’t ruin the dress and the hair,” she teases back and moves to sit next to her. “What should we do first? Just a regular picture with smiles?”

Martina pressed a hand to her heart, warding off a swoon. “Totes hypothetical, did you come here with someone? Any threat elim majors I should know about? I am absolutely trying to steal their date and I wanna know who I’m up against.” As if Martina would ever fight anyone. Fighting for Esther did resonate on some level, though, like it’s something she’d do in another universe. “Oh, that reminds me! I’m wearing Pat McGrath tonight! Earth Angel gloss. Are you wearing Miss Patty now?” She hoped they’re all matchy-matchy, though their outfits are on different sides of heaven. “Oh my god, soooo true! White’s cliché, but when a John Galliano dress calls, I have to answer. I wish more people were more creative with their color choices.” She leaned in a little, hoping no one heard her say something critical. “Who are you wearing?”

“Do you have a full portfolio ready to go?” Maybe she was nosy enough to want to see it for herself. “No, I didn’t say that.” It was obvious after this year that half the school didn’t have the stomach for it. “I’m surprised you don’t want to stick it out. After the year we had, a Gallagher diploma is a badge of honor.”

“  i  understand .  ”  luc  does  not .  “  rizo .  he’s  usually  my  date  to  these  things ,  and  it’s  his  last  one ,  so . .  anyone  other  than  me  would’ve  be  a  downgrade  for  him .   ”   and  he  refuses  to  bid  farewell  to  rizo  like  that . 

– “THAT’S NOT FAIR, I SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO UPSTAGE YOU SOMETIMES…you’re always outdoing me, ” ricky points out, though it’s light and teasing – he’s always making an impression, sure, but he absolutely thinks esther is the coolest sister. “ well, i guess i can’t dispute nature. i don’t know what to do now. at least i’m the only cowboy. ” 

“…and the drinks, don’t forget the drinks.” skylar responds, letting out a laugh. “i’m going to miss you, you know.” 

“It’s a school with classes, that’s normal school.” Technically a trade school, but she wasn’t in the  right mind to get into the classifications of institutions. “You’re going to get a degree, still school.” The blonde smiled softly, a real one, “Someone will.” Esther was talented. Ria didn’t often meet people who she truly saw something in, so she’d let the other know.

“You could always make your own date,” he said to her, flashing his game before her. “I never have a date for these things so I just bring my game with me.”