welcome to the tea party

“Yuck.” Willow gagged, rolling her eyes in the process for good measure. Men were disgusting, especially when they seemed to think they had some kind of monopoly over women and their bodies. “It’s offensive and pathetic, is what it is. When Hook and I started hanging out, so many of his skeezy pirates thought I was just someone to hit on or grab. I made sure to set the record straight real soon after that.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. He does seem the type to keep sketchy company, current company only slightly a part of that. Guys are gross. They see a girl and think that she’s there for the m to try and fuck. The worst thing for them is, if they weren’t acting that way, maybe I would be down. However, really not interested in a guy who wants to act as if he’s entitled to it, ya know?”

“depending on how much you take it could last hours but i don’t think that would be a good way to do it,” he admitted softly as he began to answer her questions. “think of it as like molly, acid, lsd and shrooms all in one go but when the trip is done you have the best sleep of your life and wake up nice and easy.” the only reason Rory knew was because he tried it himself. staring at the sky had been incredible. “all memory intact. nothing missing and from my experience, there was no fall out with my body or any of the functions.” obviously his experience could be completely different from someone else’s. “colors were more vibrant. i ended up naked cause the grass felt way better than my clothes.”

“All of that sounds wonderful!” Harper practically squealed in delight as she reached out to grab the boy’s hand in her own. “I want to try it Rory, please! You know I enjoy anything that makes people want to take off their clothes and have a good trip.” There had been many things that she had tried and many that she enjoyed, but none as great as when she got something from the blonde. “We can take it together and lay in the grass. It will be fun, come on.”

“Yeah,” he offered a little nod of his head. He couldn’t imagine the amount of laundry. Someone would have to do if they changed their clothes in the middle of the day all the time. “Oh well. His name is actually Elijah, but he goes by Fitz since our last name is Fitzherbert. My name is Elliot.” 

“Okay no offense to your brother since I’m sure you like him or whatever, but that’s kind of stupid.” She had heard plenty of weird names throughout her life - the joys of living in a world where everything was what it wasn’t - but that was something else. “Glad to know that you go by an actual name and not just a chopped off version of your last name. I’m Harper.”

“I just like to be optimistic.” He shifted a little uncomfortably as she looked him over. Elliot wasn’t the best with overt attention. “I don’t think I have any classes with you.” he sighed softly. He should really be used to people confusing him with his brother. Though they really looked less like each other now that Elliot’s hair was long. “you’re probably thinking about my brother, Fitz. We’re twins..” 

“A twin? Huh, well I suppose that would make more sense than you randomly deciding that you were going to switch outfits in the middle of the day. Not that I would blame you if that was something you wanted to do, but still.” The girl shrugged then, not really finding it in herself to care what other people wanted to do most of the time. “Also your brother’s name is Fitz? What does that make yours then?”

“He’s not my boyfriend, I’m dating someone else. He’s my oldest friend. But don’t worry, my panties are just fine. It’s just always so interesting when people seem to judge people they don’t know.” Growing more and more frustrated by the second, Liv’s frown only grew the longer she listened to the girl speak. “Oh. I get it. You’re one of those people who thinks it’s cool to hate on sororities because you have no idea what being in one is actually like.”

“The future queen of Auradon isn’t shacking up with her beloved to be? Wow White, I knew you could be a bit unconventional and frustrating, but a slut? That’s a new one.” Harper laughed then, amusement showing all across her face. Messing with people had to be one of the best past times, but even more so when it was Olivia. There was little Harper wouldn’t do to see those frown lines mar the girl’s normally bland face. “That’s cute, but no. Not everyone hates you because they want to be you. I can see how your ego would let you think that, but no.” 

“Have you met Mitch? He’s not boring,” Olivia started, quick to defend her oldest friend whlile conveniently skating around diving into that aspect of the conversation more. “My world isn’t small. But noted. I’ve made the mental note to not offer you help anymore. If that was your goal here, mission accomplished.”

“Oh, sorry. Didn’t mean to insult your boyfriend. Don’t get your panties in a twist, White. You’re not the savior of Auradon and you don’t need to go around trying to help every little injured birdie. See, that’s the deal with you sorority princesses; you think the world needs you to care and to be compassionate. What is it all of you live with, compassion, virtue, honesty? How is that going for you? The rest of us here actually try and have fun.”

“You think preventing harassment is just some fun little mandatory psa thing for me?” Olivia asked, more than a little offended by even the idea that such a thing could pop into someone’s mind. “There’s nothing wrong with helping people. And trust me, people listen to me. Bland or not, they have to.”

“Why? Because you and prince boring are going to be the next king and queen of Auradon? That’s cute that you think so highly of all of that, honey, but your world is kinda small. I like the kinda bitchy queen attitude though. A bit of a turn on. Too bad the rest of you dulls it out.” With a shrug, Harper turned away from the girl then. “Sorry sweetheart, but you’re just not that important.”

“Uh… no. I don’t know that feeling, actually,” Olivia pointed out, truly unable to understand. Alas, that wasn’t the most important part of their current conversation anyway, so the girl did her best to move on, tilting her head as she took in her current companion’s response to her suggestion. She had thought it was a good idea, but apparently… “Tea party sisters?”

“Your whole little band of volunteering do-gooder sorority girls. I’m not really interested in being part of the next public service announcement so, I’m good. Besides, pretty sure no one is going to listen to anything that’s said by you. No offense, White, but you’re kind of bland.”

“There’s a good maddening?” Olivia asked, that part of the girl’s statement catching her off guard when she’d been so prepared to address the catcalling part. “I agree, though. That’s truly unfortunate. Did you get a good look at who was doing it? Because if you could tell me who it is, I’d be happy to address it.”

“Well, yeah. You know that sick feeling where you’re coming off something or get this really good buzz going and everything is really lit but also doesn’t totally make sense?” If there was anything Harper wasn’t, it was a narc. It also wasn’t as if she actually knew the guy, but even so, she wasn’t about to report to anyone - especially Olivia White. “No thanks sweetheart. I think I can take care of myself without you and your little tea party sisters getting into it.”

Elliot looked around for a moment before realizing the girl was talking to him. “Uh… I mean I don’t know how it feels to be catcalled.” he paused for a moment as he shifted in his place. “But I agree, its a horrible way to get someone’s attention. People should be more respectful,” he added with a little nod of his head. He internally sorted through every encounter with a woman he could remember having. Making sure he wasn’t like the guys she was describing. He didn’t think he was. But he could never be sure what someone else's view of his actions could have been. 

“Well aren’t you a cute lil ball of positivity. Most guys are dumbasses so I really shouldn’t be so surprised that it happens, even around here.” Harper shrugged slightly then before giving Elliot a better look over. “You look very familiar, but weren’t you wearing a totally different outfit earlier today? Yeah I’m like almost certain that we have a class together.”

Rory wasn’t really surprised by what she said. in a lot of ways they were similar. the most important being that they both found ways to escape. different ways but they seemed to always meet up on the road. “you know,” he started softly as he began to walk towards his campus housing that he pretty much had to himself. it helped to be a little strange. “i have been working on something. definitely in the experimental stage. i tired it on myself and it was,” when his words stopped he physically stopped for a moment. “it was amazing and could be fun.” Rory finally concluded with a smile as he started walking again.

Hearing that he had been working on something shouldn’t have filled her with the amount of delight that it did and yet Harper still wanted to start jumping up and down. “Rory Liddell you are my hero. Alright then, let’s have it. Tell me all about this new creation of yours. How long does it last? Have you noticed any weird side effects? Oh, tell me how the trip feels. We have to do it. I’ve been itching for something new and you are the best there is at this stuff.”

chuckling softly he shook he reach up to shake his long hair out of the bun he had put it in. “we both know that you don’t make plans with the moon. the moon makes plans with you,” he countered before taking a quick hit of the oney in his hand. the smell of the strain was different from the others. it made him think of riddles and prophecy. soothed his soul after a long day in the strangest way. “but what were you thinking?”

“I was thinking something of a tea party?” Of course, for Harper a tea party meant a collection of various party drugs where it could range from ecstasy and adderall to nothing more than a mixed drink. “Guests choice of the flavors. Unless, of course, you’re too committed to the moon to make plans with little ole me. I’m just bored. Everything around here is boring. The people are boring, the scenery is boring. Even my studies have gotten boring, but I suppose that’s what happens when you go ahead of the professor and read on your own.”

people really liked getting gifts. the whole little holiday was supposed to be about being thankful and gifts seemed to be the way many wanted to show family and friends that they cared for. the flower orders he had taken wouldn’t end up being picked up until everyone actually left but there it was anyway. flower bundle upon flower bundle. sometimes Rory wondered how they would feel if they knew what he flowers were really thinking about. unlike what a lot of people thought they weren’t all soft-spoken. some of them could put people to shame. finally closing up the shop for Giselle let him breathe a sigh of relief. busy busy. catching sight of someone come close to the shop. “sorry. closed for the night,” he started gently as he brought his one up, easily confused for a rolled cigarette in the dark.  “gonna have to come tomorrow my pal.”

“Good thing I didn’t come for the flowers then, isn’t it my pal.” Harper rolled her eyes slightly then. She never could understand why people loved them so much. They died after a while and they couldn’t really do anything for you. “I’m actually here to see my favorite agricultural participant. Came to see if you were free tonight or if you already had plans to get high and dance under the moon or whatever you do when you’ve escaped this place.”