𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐁𝐎𝐃𝐘 𝐄𝐋𝐒𝐄 .

before he could pull his laptop out, a familiar voice met his ears. shit. he should’ve known better than to expect a continuation of their avoidance when they were mere feet from each other, but dammit if he wasn’t hopeful. the guilt over his actions that led to the hasty, unceremonious dumping he’d laid upon her ate away at him, through his two years in guyana and subsequent years at yates. he’d thought of himself as a decent person for most of his life, but a decent person wouldn’t sleep with their girlfriend’s brother. that night had been his lowest point even before the infidelity, but there was still no excuse. maybe this was the universe’s way of forcing him to make up with her, or come clean, or something other than pretend she didn’t exist. that was the coward’s way out. steeling himself, he turned in his seat and gave her a tight smile ⁠— he ignored the way his heart kicked up a beat; call it ‘old habits die hard’ or whatever. “hi,” he drawled, an eyebrow raised as if to ask if they were done.

Millie shrugged a shoulder, a simply admission that Leo’s entry had been mostly habit. Yes, generally attractive but, oh, were there so many better options. Titanic, as a movie, had seemed like a transition from childhood to adulthood. One of the first movies their parents had allowed beyond the sheltered cartoons. Sex disguised as culture. “Yes, please my brain might melt if we start comparing Wahlberg to Affleck. Dance with me.” Not a request. A command. Raising her pinkie finger, Millie squinted across at Ximena. “Promise me. Starting now we’re on our bullshit.”

With a mischievous sparkle in her eye, Ximena gladly obliged to Millie’s demand by wrapping her pinkie around her counterpart’s. She brought their hands up to her red-stained lips and quickly planted a kiss to her own closed fist emphasizing her commitment to the suggested pledge. “One hundred percent on our bullshit, I promise. Now let’s go,” Ximena’s tone urgent and full of excitement as she twisted her hand to interlock her fingers with Millie’s before leading her towards the dance floor. The sultry sounds of Amy Winehouse consuming the girl as she moved her hips rhythmically, her hand raised above both of the girl’s heads in order to twirl her partner. 

gen-ed courses seemed to be the bane of everyone else’s existences, but king found himself actually looking forward to them. call it the wariness over his major or whatever, but there was something nice about expanding his horizons outside of the social work curriculum classes he had to take, and getting to hang out with people from other departments. the downside? when the last seat in his econ class was right in front of his ex. sitting anywhere but the back row in and of itself was a problem with the whole 6’5” thing ⁠— even with the tiered lecture hall seating ⁠— but knowing that he’d either be worried about blocking ximena’s view or actually blocking her view and having to interact with her about it was the cherry on top of an already uncomfortable situation. but unless he was planning on standing in the back for the whole semester, he needed to get over himself and deal. he sighed, then mumbled an apology to everyone he passed as he shuffled towards the middle seat. once settled into his seat, he hunched forward to make himself as short as possible, his head still towering over everyone else in his row. | @ximcnadlc​

“if you wanted to  ‘king of the world!’  this shit, you could’ve just said so.”  orpheus laughed as he approached.  he leaned against the railing, thankful for the sea breeze cooling down his sweaty skin.  he was never one to half-ass anything, especially partying.  “damn.  that would’ve been a great fundraiser.  pay $2 for a titanic pic.”  was it dumb?  maybe, since moulin rouge and titanic had nothing to do with each other, but hey.  tell that to the other three kids he saw doing titanic poses around the ship.  “even recreate the guy hitting the propeller for the real macabre kids.”

ellie carried a warm smile and eyes that became lit with a sense of familiarity, looking back at the girl. “i had a moment just like that at winthrop a couple months ago. i was just, you know, lacking the whole boat-and-water thing. swap that out for rooftop railing and the streets and it’s basically the same, though.” soft laughter met her lips and it occurred to her that it felt like it’d occurred much, much longer ago. ellie rolled her shoulders back, wishing she had pockets to stuff her hands in, but her sparkling nude ensemble was sorely lacking. “anyway, don’t mind me. just needed some separation from all of the people. care to join me?” at that she reached a hand out towards her, having taken note of the slur in her voice and not wanting to just leave her now.

“basically,” ximena agreed, matching the girl’s warmth by reciprocating her smile with a wide and toothy grin of her own. “about the same amount of danger was involved, so that’s all the matters.” and quite dangerous it was considering the state she was in. the stares she had felt before from the students who passed her didn’t bother ximena up until now as she stepped off the railing and became aware of them. wanting to runaway now more than ever she happily accepts the girl’s hand and nods obligingly. “yeah. i think i could benefit being away from some of these people right now,” ximena replies, nearly stumbling over herself as she followed ellie.

The boy continued to type away on this computer as he heard the loud music and shouting from outside the house. Hearing the other enter into the living room Charles barely looked up at them, “The party is outside” he informed them. He was too busy finishing up his paper to party with the others, he only stopped for a moment when people came in looking to buy from him. 

“I’m well aware,” Ximena muttered at him, situating herself on the couch perpendicular to him with a sketchbook and pencil case in hand. Although she’d usually find herself enjoying the hectic atmosphere Calloway parties provided, the brunette had decided she couldn’t start the semester off that way. Instead, she planned to take advantage of a relatively still figure like her ex to draw and practice her skill. “Now you won’t mind if I just sit here and sketch, will you?” she asks out of courtesy despite having already made herself comfortable. 

“Totally. Nothing more luxurious than a New Hampshire coastal breeze,” Jade smirked, saluting the girl with two manicured fingers. “You better be careful though, Yates definitely isn’t liable for any freak accidents. Otherwise I hope you’re a good swimmer.” Ironically, Jade had managed to make herself comfortable on the railing right next to Ximena, perched on it like a bird as she swung her legs back and forth while nursing a Corona beer in her hand. It was a funny, modern addition to her corset and fluffy tulle and white pearls. She took one necklace off and put it on the other girl. “I feel like half of the societies haven’t even seen Moulin Rouge. Like, nice sequin bustier and fishnets, I guess. But we need theatrics.”

“You have a point. Highly doubt anyone’s going to ruin their costume coming after me anyway,” her gaze focused on Jade as she happily accepted one of the necklaces adorned on the girl’s neck. “Ha! You’d think with how many of them are drugged up right now they’d bring more chaos to this shindig. Maybe me falling overboard is exactly what this party needs,” Ximena teased while leaning over the railing to be parallel to the dark waters below them, the necklace recently gifted to her swaying softly in the breeze. However, her fear was made apparent by her white knuckles and the grip she had on the railing, afraid of falling despite the sentiments she expressed prior. So instead of pushing her luck, Ximena stepped down from the railing and leaned against it instead. “Alright, well enough of that. Why don’t you show me the kind of theatrics you had in mind?”

Bruise already blooming on his cheek, Felix was reminded more and more of why Kincaid parties were never a good idea as he stood with his arms leaning over the balcony. Some enraged, adderall-fueled guy had cornered him on the deck because he thought Felix was flirting with his girlfriend. Maybe the wisest response to “You know what I’m going to do to you, you shit?” wasn’t “I dunno. Kiss me?” The night had barely begun and already it had started with a swift right hook to the face. “Fuck… Anybody got a lighter, he called out, whipping his head around before catching sight of someone, flashing them a grin. “Hey… I’m doing my best Steve Harrington post getting the shit kicked out of him look. How is it?” He asked, cigarette dangling out of his mouth, rubbing at his eye before wincing again. “Sorry if you saw any of that.” 

It had been quite a while since Ximena last witnessed some kind of beat down at a Kincaid party and it’s just her luck that this time she had been standing right beside it. As the crowd quickly disburses around her, she’s left standing behind the all too familiar face of Felix Lesser. Despite him handling the situation fairly well, she couldn’t help but wince at the reddened skin on his face. “It’s pretty good. I can’t lie and say you’re not taking that hit like a champ,” she mumbles out as she clumsily fishes out a lighter from the clutch she carried in hand. Her hand rising to flick the wheel rapidly, a flame sparking the cigarette hanging between his lips. “No need. You provided some much-needed entertainment for the night. If anything, I should apologize for enjoying it,” a playful smile now replacing the grimace she had before.

henny ran over to ximena without question as soon as he saw her climbing the bars. he loved her like a sister and looked out for her more than her own brother ever would. even during his most rebellious of years he’d always make time for ximena and millie. while he was down for just about anything, henny never wanted the possibility that anything bad might happen to his girls. he stood up straight and extended a hand out to her, “i think we better get you down from there and find you some carpe diem elsewhere.” henny tried to sound commanding and almost fatherly, mimicking the tone that his dad took with him when he decided that we wanted to give parenting a try. such grown up sensibilities fit him like clown shoe.  

Any other weekend and Mils would have been the one climbing the bars, tempting fate and the current of the sea. Throw in some faith towards her balance— or willingness to risk it all. So it shouldn’t have come to any surprise that she’d approached the railing, and Ximena, with the slow shake of her head. “As if I could judge. Catch me having pulled that business alllllll last summer, just… hmmm, sub Leo sometimes out for Riz Ahmed or Jennifer Connelly or, oh, definitely Henry Goulding like ouch.”

“Y’know what? I’ll allow those choices. I’ve never been much of a Leo fan if I’m being honest,” she reveals as her eyebrows furrow together at the thought of the leading man. “And since I’m confessing already, I didn’t care for the movie either. I only ever watched it for one reason and that reason rhymes with late rinslet.” A smirk on her lips as the actress’ iconic topless scene came to mind, leading Ximena to reminisce one of the first moments she had begun to question her sexuality. The thought warms her face as her cheeks turn red, the color barely noticeable under the tint of makeup she had already been wearing. Talking about some meaningless and impossible same-sex celebrity crush was a rare occurrence for Xime, yet her intoxicated state didn’t care to keep her confession a secret. “As fun as that was, uh-- what’ve you been up to? Maybe there’s something I can do that might not make me look as stupid as I did just now.”

Daria stands back a few feet from the girl, the thin stem of a wine glass held in between two manicured fingers. It’s the most put together she’s looked in a long time, but she almost appreciates the admiration she gets more when she’s like this – playing a character, versus the attention she gets in her usual attire of baggy jeans and baby tees, which she is far less prepared to handle. If they weren’t surrounded by other people, Daria may have been the Jack to Ximena’s rose; before she even considers it though Mena gets a fright at the sound of Darias own footsteps. She lets out a huff of laughter, “Oh?” she responds, eyebrows raised as she brings her glass to her lips. She comes to stand next to the other Brunette, hand brushing her hip as she moves forward. “seize the moment then” she replies, still drinking, wanting to be drunker, “what does jack say again, I’m the king of the world? –  you need to recreate that scene I think”

Grey had managed to pull himself away from the crowd. Currently propped against the ship’s railing, his one hand relaxing on the cool metal and the other pinching the stem of a champagne flute. All the while as he watched the sea of beading and feathers and red on red, the wind tousled his hair. “Nearly forgotten what it’s like,” he said, softly, making conversation with the person nearby. Yates. Strange what a year did. “It’s like I’ve forgotten how to get going.” @yatesstarters​

“I’m sure you’ll pick it back up soon enough. Plus, what better night to get out there again than tonight?” She offers with a kind smile, her eyes sparkling in excitement at what she expected to be an outrageously entertaining evening. Knowing the reputation Kincaid students had to uphold, it’d be impossible for either one of the pair to have boredom fill their agenda. “Anyway, you’ve got a drink in hand, so that’s a start. Maybe you should take it a step further and go join the people you’re watching and dance,” she adds, Ximena now facing him as she leans against the metal bars to rest on her forearm, a matching glass in her other hand. “Unless, you’ve forgotten how to do that also? Because if that’s the case, I can’t help you any further.”

Sparkler in hand that she had been gifted by a tiny freshman girl rolling on acid, Neve was busy spinning around on the deck of the Calypso, pupils bloated. Stumbling after one too many spins, the sparkler dancing in swirls and zig-zags as the jazz band on the deck carried on, Neve went flying into somebody, stumbling in her heels, letting out a cackling laugh like someone had just cracked a joke. “Whoa, sorry! She’s going down, she’s yelling timber,” she rambled out, looking at the person’s face like they were an apparition. “Hey, you’re like, totally real,” she exclaimed, poking a single finger in their cheek. “Apologies. I’m on molly. I had assumed you were a vision. Like Hamlet seeing his father’s ghost,” she said, straightening herself, glitter on her skin dancing under the moonlight. “Hey, I hear the band is taking requests! Wanna come with me to make one? I want to see if I can get them to play some ABBA. Something to really dance to.”

𝖝𝖎𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖆 𝖉𝖊 𝖑𝖆 𝖈𝖗𝖚𝖟 ― moulin rouge aesthetic