don't slow down now.

open: @harcourtstart​ // the observatory // midway through the party

tw: alcohol 

she felt warm, and maybe almost content, in a way, as she dropped her empty glass on a table, adjusting her violet baudelaire costume as she was walking through the room. it felt off putting, to be a little intoxicated and at a party after all this time. maybe she should leave? the loudness and the crowd of mostly strangers, the ornate decorations, it felt like too much, and she wasn’t sure how to feel about it. edi paused, eyes fixated on the exit as she debating her options.

this wasn’t her ideal situation, but she had come here, had made it this far into the night and she had promised herself she’d stay at least another hour still. so she set her sights at the bar, another drink at least helping pass the time. she walked with purpose, eyes locked on the bar as she moved, paying little attention to her surroundings. halfway to her destination, she bumped into someone, frustration coating her voice as she quietly snapped, “watch your step,” at them. “it’s too crowded here,” she muttered under her breath.

.

as the night went on, it felt like the room was getting warmer and warmer. that might also have something to do with the amount of alcohol she had had; beatrice wasn’t a complete mess yet, but she was comfortably tipsy by now. her angel wings were beginning to feel heavy and unpleasant, but she wasn’t really sure where to stash them to keep something from happening to them. she would just have to deal with it. water would definitely help with the temperature situation, though. 

making her way back towards the bar, beatrice offered a smile or a wave to most people she passed by, making a mental note of who she should go back and talk to once she had something to drink. her eyes weren’t watching directly in front of her, so she didn’t have time to step back and avoid edi running into her. yikes. “are you okay?” she asked, ignoring the frustration in the other’s voice. 

Where: inside the observatory by the drinks table/bar. When: ~an hour into festivities. Who: open @harcourtstart​

Gaia strode to the bar and helped herself to a drink, pouring a generous helping of whisky into a crystal tumbler. She remembered vague references to Holmes’ preferred beverages, whisky being one of the few. She might as well embody the part she was playing. The bar pressed into the small of her back as she leaned against it, watching the other partygoers with detached interest, observations fluttering into her mind like pigeons coming home to roost without much effort on her part. She noted an argument brewing, unseen doe eyes, and the beginnings of deep intoxication. 

She felt rather than saw another person come to occupy the space at her side and glanced sidelong at them. “Find any ghouls in corners yet?” she asked. “Halloween balls are always more entertaining when monsters drop by.”

.

the festivities were in full swing, and beatrice was having a lovely time. the music was great, and she’d had a good time catching up with everyone. sometimes, with differing schedules and interests, it could be hard to find time to see everyone in the society frequently, which made events like this so perfect. tipping her head back, she laughed at something one of her friends said, savoring the magic of the moment. 

noticing how parched she was becoming, bea excused herself to go pour a drink from the bar. she spotted gaia already lingering near it, and offered the other a small smile while she helped herself to a rum and coke. “i wish,” she sighed wistfully, glancing around the party. “i saw a ghost once during my freshman year, and every halloween since i’ve tried to find her again.” she knew that wasn’t exactly what gaia had in mind, but beatrice couldn’t find it in herself to care. “i like to imagine that she was a scorned lover who died from a broken heart after her true love left her for someone else. i didn’t get the chance to ask her before she disappeared, though.” 

in truth, it was likely just the shadow of her freshman year roommate returning to their room very late, but that was entirely unromantic. besides, harcourt was absolutely haunted. anyone could feel the presence of it’s history lingering in the hallowed halls. “what about you? are you enjoying the party?”

where: at the bottom of the observatory outside.

when: right on time of the event starting

who: open to all @harcourtstart

Daniel had never celebrate halloween, never had been one to spend his money on a costume he would wear once in his lifetime. Such was the reason for his depressing garb. An overused black t-shirt and black corduroy jacket made his attire. How he had come into acquaintance with such dark fabric was beyond his comprehension, but still it suited the occasion.

The stranger. He was a stranger in many people’s eyes, just as much as he was strange. Perhaps he really should have come as the clown, McDonalds must have created a children’s book by now.

He stands at the bottom of the observatory, right on time for the event to start and silently berates himself for coming so early. Why hadn’t he learned? His hands idly wring the invitation until it becomes nothing more than a poor man’s attempt to create origami. Uneasiness makes a home on his face as he battles with the idea of going in. He wished someone would make the decision for him.

.

ever since she had joined the society two years ago, bea had looked forward to the annual halloween ball. it was by far the most magical time of the year. in fact, it was bea’s third favorite holiday, behind valentine’s day and christmas, both of which were her favorites just based on the warm, fuzzy feelings they provided. but the halloween ball was an opportunity to see the rest of the society in a relaxed setting, something she loved. some of them could be so serious some times. 

straightening her angel wings, bea giddily walked towards the observatory, not really caring that she was early. being fashionably late was quite romantic, but she was far too excited for that today. just as she arrived at the building, though, she spotted daniel outside. he seemed a bit nervous, maybe? beatrice noticed his hands twisting the invitation, and the expression on his face. 

“danny?” she asked, touching his arm gently. “are you okay?” beatrice knew daniel well at this point - they were best friends, after all. likely, he was scared to go in, and while beatrice would never force him to go, she knew from time to time that he needed a little nudge to participate in things. “want to go inside?” 

bea anderson-yamada as juliet capulet 

introducing the lover . . . beatrice anderson-yamada

handwritten letters, reciting poetry in front of the class, the japanese art of kintsugi.