i'm the problem, it's me

🌮 stop by a food truck - max & ivy ( @ivypatil )

"I was trying to see if they had any sushi here but honestly Greek food sounds incredible," Ivy admitted, always happy to discuss food. "Chicken and rice is always a good idea," she then nodded adamantly. "Where'd you see that food truck again?"

"It's a sad fact that it happens to be true." Everleigh admitted with a little sigh when Ivy pointed out that there would always be people like that about. "Drinking isn't so much of an issue for me. That's not to say I go out all the time and drink myself stupid but I would like to believe I can hold my own so we should take turns on this."

"Either way works for me so just let me know," she replied, happy to take on the brunt of the game if Everleigh didn't want to drink much that evening. "As corny as it is, at the end of the day it's just about us having fun. Well winning will be a giant plus too."

"Oooh! You've got to love a good pair of boots." Isabelle agreed almost immediately. Shoes were definitely something she found herself drawn to like a magpie to something shiny. "I mean, can't they both fall under the same category?" Isabelle pointed out warmly.

"Right? Who doesn't?" Ivy nodded with a grin. "I guess they can," she smiled back lightly at the other's kind attempt. "It all depends on what you're looking for. That usually helps in these sorts of situations."

"I don't really view it as that. More of a necessity actually." Cecilia answered with a little smile on her face. "But I am cozy with it which is the best feeling quite honestly. I would be so happy sat in a log cabin, on a sofa, blanket draped over my lap with the fire licking at wood whilst I read a book."

"That sounds like a fantastic vibe. While it's one much more preferred for the autumn or winter, it's a desirable vibe nonetheless," Ivy commented when she spoke about being cozied up in a log cabin. "Does your family have a log cabin or is this just a fantasy you have?" she then asked with a chuckle.

"You really think so?" Maddie asked hopefully. "It was supposed to be pink. A nice sort of rose gold, you know? Something that really suits me. Except now I look like a smurf."

"Is 'smurf' really so bad? Plenty of people dye their hair blue," she insisted with a shrug. "Rose gold and pink vibes would've been gorgeous though... can't deny that," Ivy had to admit. "Do you think you'll go to a professional to fix it?"

"No, I hadn't planned on closing my eyes." Lulu answered with a laugh at that question. "Should I be?" She added playfully a moment later. "But you're right, last year took a different turn to what I anticipated, but I wasn't sure you'd appreciate me trying to take you home so soon." Though she could admit she'd gotten carried away. Thankfully it didn't appear like Ivy was upset with her over it.

"Hey," she frowned briefly before laughing. "Well it's flattering that I've somehow still remained on your radar after all that time," Ivy shrugged smugly in response. "Didn't think you were the type of woman to go for the 'long game' type of play."

"That would be because I was making fun of you a little bit for it." Jaiyash responded with a gentle chuckle. "I think there is no point in challenging yourself if it's actually going to have the opposite effect in the end. People get disillusioned when they pick something that is too hard for them to actually accomplish." He explained with a little shrug of his shoulders.

"Well I have to eventually pick something," she sighed, clearly feeling pretty defeated with all of this. "The search has felt eternal, Jai. I don't know how much longer I have to do this until I just take up shop under a bridge and see what'll kill me quicker, starvation or the elements,"' Ivy groaned dramatically. "I just... I just wish I knew what I was meant to do– does that make sense?"

An unladylike snort left Gwen. "That's a terrible excuse and you know it. Why would I not make time for you if I can make time for other friends?" Gwen pointed out. "Don't make me want to push you into a bush." She warned the woman lightly.

"I'm just saying. You've got some pretty cool friends– you're a celebrity after all," she raised her hands up in defense when Gwen had threatened to push her. "Sue me for being a little intimidated."

"Yes, it's blue, I know that it's blue, so you don't have to tell me. No, it wasn't on purpose, and yes, I am trying to figure out how to fix it."

"Are you really? I was going to say that I think it looks rather cool," Ivy shrugged with a smile when Maddie assured her that she was planning on fixing it. "What color were you actually going for?"

"I find it harder because I am always very drawn to what I feel like at that point, so when it hits autumn, all I ever want are cosy leggings and warm jumpers." Isabelle responded with a smile. "But maybe I need to come out shopping with you to be inspired to do it properly.

"I really do get that. Especially when there's some cute designs in the windows or fashionable boots in the magazines– it's hard not to want to buy them for yourself," she related to easily. "I wouldn't necessarily say it's the 'proper' way, it's just what's most convenient for me financially and all that," Ivy explained with a soft laugh at the way she had put it.

"Well, you definitely can't tell, it looks great." Erin reassured. "I got them at a second-hand shop, can you believe it? Brand new and everything!"

"Thank you for saying that!" Ivy exhaled as though in relief. "Seriously? Those always have the best finds. But brand new? Now that's quite the score! You don't run into that every day," she commented with enthusiasm. "If you remember the name of the place, I'd love the recommendation!"

🕛 - our muses run into each other after midnight ( @ivypatil )

"You're always worth seeing so why wouldn't I?" Lulu complimented. "Like one of the Seven Wonders." She added a moment later. "And after last year... well can you blame me for making the effort?" Because she'd not hidden just how attractive she'd found her on last New Years. "There's only one condition? I'm sad that it won't take me longer."

"The Seven Wonders?" Ivy could definitely feel her body temperature rising at that. "What, do you plan on closing your eyes when we're dancing?" she snorted softly, admittedly losing her footing with her words a little in surprise as the other easily demonstrated her forward demeanor. "You can take as long as you'd like," she replied. "Although if I recall last year correctly, you went off with somebody else..." she couldn't resist adding playfully.

"Are there many other sexy Santa kink songs?" Maddie asked, though she definitely did not want to know if there were. "Santa Baby is a good song though, that definitely goes on the approved playlist. The Eartha Kitt version though. I don't fuck with Michael Bublé."

"What, does 'Santa pally' not do it for you?" she snorted in reply when Maddie had said she was not a Michael Bublé fan. "But I'm the same. Her version is the only one that exists as far as I'm concerned. As for other songs of that genre... I'll be honest I've never done a deep dive but this conversation is making me undeniably curious about it now."