SOLAR WIND; (under co.)

@parheliion

the whine that leaves him as hands began to work out knots that most definitely weren't there at the beginning of the day is small, but it's audible. baby blue hues slip closed as his head tilts to the side to let max's fingers work their magic before he nods slightly. "yeah...your brother's handiwork. not mine. if...it wasn't obvious." what hurt was that gabe liked augustus. they had good rapport, and usually worked in synergy. hell, there were even times when his heart sung when she walked in a room. but right then? right there, at the ball? thinking too much about them made his chest burn. he was livid at them. but he wasn't about to voice that to maxim, even if he was blithely unaware of the situation that had led to max's own despair that had etched itself across his face. "...can we stay here for a while?" he asked, eyes finally opening again as his arms moved to loop around the other's neck. "unless you've got anywhere else you've got to be. i don't-- want to hold you up." chewing on his bottom lip, gabe knew that not only did he need a few moments of sanctuary, but could tell that max needed it too. even if he didn't want to admit it.

god, how could dante be so fucking callous? sure, it was part of his ‘image’, and ultimately gabriel would never know the true terror of the games, but there were people counting on dante to return. but hey, if your little pill is an option, why not go ahead and make it nightlock? another frustrated noise rises from the taller one, his fists balling before landing in a thump against the other’s chest. “no-- you don’t get to fucking do that. you don’t!” gabriel’s voice strained in his throat, coming out somewhat broken, the stifled sound of a sob breaking through. “poetic or not, show or fucking not, i-- i’m not the only person who’s going to lose their absolute mind if you don’t come back and you’re-- you’re acting like you’re not even going to TRY! god, you’re so fucking--” gritting his teeth, his fists land back against dante’s chest again, and again. gabriel wasn’t strong, that was true. but he was hurt. “was it augustus’ idea? or was it yours? tell me. look me in the god damn eyes when you’re saying it and tell me.”

Mercredi 13:38

it’s a swift reaction. gabe’s vision burns at the corners, red filling his gaze as his jaw clenches. bringing a hand up to strike across dante’s face in a hard slap, he hears a bejewelled diamonte dance across tiled flooring as his palm stings. for a few seconds, gabe’s heaving breaths fill the silence of the air and he feels his shoulders beginning to tremble. he was losing his composure. “you’re giving up. that’s what this is. you-- y-you can’t even hide it. you’re parading yourself around like cattle. and what’s worse is that not only did you and augustus do this, but that you didn’t even CONSULT ME!” he roared once again, his throat turning thick as he feels hot tears begin to roll down his cheeks. “what? want me to just fucking slip in a lil’ cyanide pill for you to chew on when the countdown’s going on?! or are you going to make an explosive exit and attempt to launch yourself from the launch pad onto a mine?”

maxim flinches at the hand on his shoulder. he isn't usually jumpy, he's usually welcoming any sort of contact, but this was different. truthfully -- he doesn't think the night could get much worse. he's played a large hand in doing it himself -- typical. he'd been fishing to feel something different and the scratches on his skin and the sick feeling in his stomach have certainly proved successful in that regard, shirt buttoned all the way up to hide the marks his brother left and all he wants for now is to be left alone -- seeing gabriel doesn't change that. but he relaxes when he sees just who's touching him, and knows gabe won't make him speak, and says nothing as gabe leads him away from everything that's been a little too much for him tonight. when they reach the gardens, he sighs, unable to keep still. "i'm fine, gabriel," he says hoarsely, almost too caught up in his own mess to recognize the puffiness and redness on gabe's face -- max turns on him in an instant, brows furrowed and a hesitant arm outstretched to thumb away some of the remnant smudge of makeup on his cheek. "what happened?"

they found themselves before a fountain, a soft light emanating from it before gabe turned to him and let his eyes scan over the crane. “no, you’re not.” he said, knowing that lie from a mile away. he was busy adjusting max’s shirt when he felt his blood run cold. don’t focus on me. you’re more important. “...argument with dante. it doesn’t matter.” even saying it made his voice turn thick, having to swallow a rock that was quickly forming in his throat. light fingers busied themselves as he chewed on his lip gently. “we don’t have to talk about it. but...if you want to, you know i’m always here to listen.”

"Gonna save your time and my sanity real quick." Auggie said, looking at Gabe and finishing off their drink. This whole party would have been eventful enough even if they hadn't noticed the daggers their fellow stylist had been staring at them with. Even now, it didn't take much processing power to figure out the reason, something Auggie was glad for because their head was, frankly, completely done for by now. The fight with Max, pulling Ambrose away to cry about it in a locked bathroom like they were still in high school...Atlas. All of it had drained them of any desire to defend their actions by now. "No, I wasn't thinking any of this through. Yes, my intention was totally to put everyone in jeopardy. I'm aware I'm a fucking idiot. I'm...shit, what did Max say..?" They trail off, tilting their head upward, trying to remember. "Oh, yeah, I just can't help myself." They've reached the point of the night where they hate being here, they hate the lights and the sounds and the way you can't even delude yourself into thinking this is anything but a cesspit of the worst fucking people you've ever met circling like vultures.

bent over a balcony, watching distant fireworks, he took a swig of the bottle that he'd stolen from a barman who had been apprehensive to give to him. he hadn't even heard augustus approach. lips wrapped around the neck of the bottle slowly, draining amber liquid that sparked a fire in his throat on the way down. "clearly." he spoke coldly, not even looking in his fellow stylist's direction. he didn't want to be angry any more, he didn't want to even be at the fucking party any more, but of course, appearances must be made. gabe's gaze remains forward, head tilting as he watches the explosions in the sky change shape, one of a perfectly preened rose with the distant sound of an 'ooooh' from the crowd below. "you helped him give up. that's the one thing that escaped your mind, isn't it? a twelve was enough. you didn't need to seal his death warrant. but you did." his gaze still remained on the display before them, features being lit up by hues of blues, pinks and violets. "i just wish you'd actually thought it through."

pluto was doing what they did best, weaving in and out of polite conversation as best as possible.it was everywhere at the ball, and although he’d never voice in the slightest, there was a dull headache starting to form at the front of his brow. some people were absolutely exhausting. he had no time for falseness, but it was something rife within the city that navigating through it was almost second nature. “emerald,” he chimed with a grin as she approached. emerald worried him-- mostly because he wasn’t sure where she stood. being the escort of the most sought after district did paint somewhat of a target on his back, however, he wasn’t exactly sure if that’s what she was gunning for (when he didn’t even want one in the first place). “day’s been going well. i’d dare say that the night’s going rather well too, wouldn’t you? you look absolutely ravishing.” the grin that pulled at his face was genuine, although his eyes scanned her to get a read of her. trying to discern her intentions.

the side hug is accepted and a grin is plastered over aubrey's face, their fangs glinting in the low light. "missed me, i'm sure." they tack on with a grin, looking to whoever was standing in front of them with sudden indignance. "do you mind? family matters. shoo." is said, a hand gesture to scurry the social climber along before attention is placed squarely back onto their relative. were they surprised that a fucking doolittle was cozying up with a peacekeeper? of course not, they always had bad taste. it ran in the family. "you'd think that they would've learned from the first time around. and knowing her taste, he probably looked as rough as a brick. what's next? markian having some kind of sordid affair with an avox?"

her hand slips into his and she lets him lead her towards the floor, her opposite hand moving to settle on his shoulder. the smile on june’s face is a warm one- no mask for capitolites, this is genuine- when she looks up at dami, “just in time —— i don’t know if i could’ve handled one more moment trapped in that inane conversation.” the hand in his trails a light touch, fingers tracing down the line of his, her middle finger tapping against his palm— once, twice, a third time — before letting her slip back into place, asking in a soft voice between the two of them, “how are you holding up, dear one?”

one, two, three. the small taps in his palm had his shoulders visibly easing, a light twinkling behind his eye as he locked his gaze with his mentor tribute. it was a way to help ground him in reality, something to help him stay focused and not get lost inside the cacophony of his mind. a small action, but enough. his hand slipped from her waist as they moved on the dancefloor slowly to her free palm, just for a moment. one, two, three. silent, but translated: i’m okay. “as okay as i can be. i had a stylist from last year quizzing me on fabrics. something about wanting to know exactly how some of the compositions are made since they just work with them and don’t know about the construction. it...was a little mind numbing. how about you? keeping together?”

in all honesty, dami needed to speak to someone who wasn't some capitolite that boasted about their newest find when it came to the wonders of 'one's finest jewels.' leaning closeby against a wall, dami let out a small laugh as artemis spoke. "their alcohol's pretty good, yeah." he says calmly, taking a swig of whatever the waiting staff had poured into the glass. whatever it was, it was getting him buzzed and that's what mattered. right? "i think it's their accent. there's just something about the accent that seems so...." vague hand gestures. "you know?"

the  undercover  aspect  of  it  all  didn’t  mean  larissa  was  just  putting  on  a  show  as  a  medic  .  she  was  there  to  tend  to  those  who  needed  it  ,  psychology  and  the  analysis  of  a  person’s  behavior  being  two  specialties  grounded  into  her  head  while  she  was  in  thirteen  .  people  were  practically  open  books  to  her  ,  especially  when  it  came  to  victors  and  others  she  was  supposed  to  be  looking  after  .  larissa  spotted  him  from  across  the  way  ,  eyes  barely  needing  to  follow  dami’s  gaze  to  know  that  they  were  boring  into  nothing  .  she  excused  herself  from  her  current  company  ,  soon  crossing  the  room  and  ending  up  at  dami’s  side  .  a  quick  glance  towards  the  rest  of  the  room  to  ensure  nobody  else  was  looking  his  way  ,  larissa  could  only  clear  her  throat  quietly  to  try  and  grab  his  attention  .  “  you  know  what  would  help  you  figure  it  out  better  ?  some  air  .  ”   the  femme  nodded  once  ,  flashing  a  smile  to  mirror  his  -  to  outsiders  ,  it  appeared  to  be  a  completely  normal  conversation  .  “   come  on  ,  there’s  a  door  over  there  .  ”   gesture  made  towards  the  nearest  exit  was  made  ,  shoulders  rolling  a  bit  as  she  tried  to  get  him  away  from  whatever  pulled  him  into  a  trance  in  the  first  place  .

once he was in the empty hallway, the sound of festivities almost a million miles away, dami let a shaky breath leave him slowly. “sorry, was just a bit loud in there, heh. didn’t mean to pull you away from all the fun.”