TOUGH TO LOVE.

“that would imply the existence of rage in the first place,” margot says with a giggle. “no, like, actual snacks i can eat, but champagne to wash them down works for me!” that’s absolutely what she’s referring to. she won’t push the issue but if ria ever did actually push her, margot would probably get mad for the first time ever! “yeah? what’s he like?”

“ unlike  me.  "  hell  say  as  more  of  a  command  than  a  suggestion  ,  a  pointed  glare  towards  her  .  “  though  i  am  . ”  luc  will  say  just  because  he  is  rather  special .  when  ria  begins  to  suggests  what  he  should  do ,  his  gaze  turns  to  her  because  he  is  interested  to  hear  her  point  of  view ,  he  might  find  it  amusing  at  best  .  and  he  does .  "  so  you  need  somewhere  to  stay ,  is  that  it  ?  ”  luc  is  not  charitable  and  he  thinks  ria  would  simply  despise  being  stuck  in  canada  for  the  summer  with  his  family .  “  i’ll  only  allow  it  if  you  participate  in  the  annual  obstacle  course  this  july .  ”   because  he’s  pretty  sure  that  is  something  ria  would  hate  to  do .

“  i  can’t  say  i’m  really  concerned  about  proving  that  to  anyone,  but  i’ll  take  your  word  for  it,  ”  charlie  settles.  considering  he  couldn’t  even  properly  describe  the  color  turquoise,  he’s  probably  the  last  person  on  a  very  long  list  of  people  to  turn  to  for  outfit  advice.  “  i  think  that  sounds  kind  of  nice.  who  are  you  visiting  ?  ”  the  last  time  charlie  traveled  long  term,  he  never  went  in  with  a  plan.  he  just  went  where  the  day  took  him,  and  usually  found  friends  along  the  way  to  give  him  a  place  to  stay.  it  was  good  for  someone  who  prefers  a  bit  of  spontaneity.

“  de . . demure  ?  ”  cori  will  pick  up  quickly ,  almost  forgetting  ria  called  her  hot  at  all .  “  should  i  rip  this  slit  up  a  bit  higher  up  ?  ”  she  wonders ,  genuinely ,  hitching  her  leg  up  slightly  to  see  if  she  could  without  ruining  the  dress .  “  well ,  yeah ,  but  not  everyone’s  ME .  .   you’d  probably  look  so  good ,  too .  ”  she  only  says  probably  because ,  well ,  not  everyone  is  her .  “  you  look  amazing  in  red ,  though ,  but  you  know  that  ! ”

      “  𝚒  𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚎  𝚒𝚝’𝚜  the  very  least  i  can  do  ,  ”  she  giggles  ,  letting  ria  drag  over  over  towards  the  table  .  chantal  couldn’t  resist  and  picks  up  a  gold  macaron  off  one  of  the  platters  .  “  i  don’t  know  about  that  one  ,  ”  she  points  to  the  suspiciously  red  drink  .  it  looks  like  it’ll  stain  .  ”  dramatically  shudders  .  her  eyes  shift  to  another  drink  .  “  those  look  cute  .  ”

“ see this. ” he points to a tiny drop of alcohol on the bar, turns to her with a blank expression, eyes glazed over. “ could easily give more of a fuck about this than you. ”

– “IF SOMEONE ASKS ME FOR GUIDANCE, that kind of feels like their mistake, ” he laughs sheepishly. doesn’t bother to ask what the rhine is ! it’s better that way. still, he allows himself to be dragged around a little. “ i don’t know, i kind of want to remember all my goodbyes as best i can, i think i might…try and go sober for a bit, ” he admits softly. it’s what his medication suggests, anyway, about time he followed it. “ i think so. i…got the answers to a lot of questions i had, i think, but…don’t tell my grandfather, ” he laughs, because if he admits that this was the right decision, he’s going to get hit with a big fat ‘i told you so.’ 

“maybe, if i feel comfortable with it.” esther’s tone is overly polite now, she’s getting a bit tired of trying to explain to ria her reasons for leaving when it’s obvious the other doesn’t care to listen to an alternate pov, and it’s left a bit of a sour taste in her mouth. especially considering she has to keep revisiting her trauma to explain it. she bites back a retort at the fact that she might be oversimplifying it, not expecting ria to understand, she’s made it clear she won’t. “hmm. yes, it should be an interesting journey.” her eyes wander out over the dance floor, retreating behind a wall of civility. “i should probably find ricky soon.”

“definitely not mad now or pretty much ever,” margot says with an incredulous sort of laugh, because that just doesn’t sound like her. “true, but i’m definitely not.” she gets hungrier when she drinks anyway. “they could be!” at least she thinks so. “if you pushed me i wouldn’t talk to you for the rest of the night so your choice.” margot does actually mean that, she’ll only tolerate so much. “do we know that?”