[center][hr][hr][h1][b][color=00a99d]ATLAS STERLING[/color][/b][/h1]
[img]https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2014-11/7/11/enhanced/webdr08/anigif_enhanced-2180-1415378287-52.gif[/img]
[hr][b]Location:[/b] grimm high school
[b]Interacting With:[/b] pretty much everyone - mostly [@Lady Amalthea] cynthia[/center][hr]Atlas didn't bother trying to hide the fact that he was rolling his eyes at Ada's response - always the snarkier, more clever one out of the two of them. Not that he was just being self-deprecating... she truly was more well-read and intellectually able than him, and it was the worst. Atlas was able to maintain a four-point-oh average throughout school simply because he either copied off of her or sucked up to his teachers (and, hey, some of them didn't mind basic favours). He did smile at her, though, upon mention of his so-called [i]broad[/i] shoulders. God knows he'd lost some of the muscle he caught during high school. The newcomer, on the other hand, seemed to have no words at the moment, and in an attempt to urge them from her, Atlas fastened his gaze on her. Nothing still. Maybe she was just normally intriguing - that'd make things a tad more difficult.

He pretended to spit at the mention of Marc, glaring coldly at Adelaide, such to say [i]why are you[/i] trying [i]to piss me off[/i], before the stranger's name was finally spoken. He straightened up and, while he felt it appropriate to kiss her hand or some other pleasantry, it seemed like a strange gesture when your company was practically mute. So, Atlas settled with verbal greetings alone, despite his physical charm being his point of strength. [color=00a99d][b]"Jess Grimaldi,"[/b][/color] he pronounced pleasantly, repeating after Ada like some sort of ventriloquist doll. His eyes flitted over Jess's figure purposefully, making his intentions rather obvious, and he finally registered how Ada had chosen to introduce him. [color=00a99d][b]"How [i]juvenile.[/i] Really, I thought she wouldn't be so aggressive this time around. Sorry about your cousin, Jess."[/b][/color] He was raising an eyebrow at Ada threateningly, but mostly to amuse his newfound company - in fact, he was used to his back-and-forth and it took all of him not to respond with laughter. 

Distant footsteps caught his attention, but he held off on turning around until words were spoken. And they were. [i]Fuck.[/i] Atlas froze up, feeling his heartrate pitch abruptly before he took a sharp breath in to soothe it; this was none other than that fucking gangster from high school. Really, you'd think someone so diminutive in size would partake in more productive pastimes, like, dunno, actually [i]studying,[/i] but Jae was not that sort of person. In fact, he was just the opposite of his appearance, always hitting on young women and usually returning with good results. Atlas didn't know how that was possible. He wasn't polite or even likeable - hell, he'd beaten the shit out of Atlas back in 2006. Atlas could prove it - there was still a faint scar over his chest from where one of Jae's [i]pals[/i] got a bit too excited. He thanked God he wasn't wearing a V-neck today and turned ever so slowly, catching a glimpse of the pale-haired man just in time to catch the growing smirk on his face. Go figure. [color=00a99d][b]"Pleasure,"[/b][/color] he said hesitantly, his lip rising slightly in a scowl. [i]Yonks. What-the-fuck-ever.[/i] He decided to disregard the statement, seeing as it made no sense. 

Another figure emerged and Atlas was not so prepared to see her. After hearing Riley at that iconic promenade, he'd taken a liking to her music, and even followed her after high school to hear more of it (not to her knowledge, hopefully; he liked to think he was secretive about it). He forced a nervous smile her way but wasn't lucky enough to catch a reciprocated expression. It seemed she was being generous to everyone but him today... not that he was all that surprised. Sometimes, when Riley released a more hateful song, he suspected it could have been about him and his behaviour during those pivotal four years. And maybe she dressed so darkly today just to look vengeful in his presence. Of course, more selfish thoughts from yours truly. He ignored the fact that she hugged/regarded everyone but him, and chose to answer her inquiry anyway. [color=00a99d][b]"Lovely,"[/b][/color] he said absently, voice quieter than usual out of basically hurt pride, and let his chin rise slightly, expectantly, as the door opened once again.

At this, he wondered if anyone who actually liked him would come along to the reunion. Valencia was possibly the worst to tread through those doors. He faintly remembered asking her out and subsequently being rejected outright - multiple times. It's not his fault he couldn't distinguish sexualities, but shit, those were all huge strikes to his ego. Atlas frowned at her openly, feeling the fire already burning in his eyes. Really, there were a myriad of people who thought he was at least [i]okay[/i] in high school, and even more who liked him because he was good enough at hiding his horrific personality from them, but everyone in the room so far had at least seen some little aspect of said persona. Except for the stranger, he thought, but even from her he got that cold shoulder and no kind words. To others, Atlas had given a rather short greeting or some miniscule response, but he had nothing to say to Val. Instead, like some butthurt schoolboy on the playground, he stared at her coldly and ignored her remark. Good thing he had no personal social media.

Ada was, as usual, playing the middleman, welcoming everyone no matter who they were. It seemed like she was on good terms with everyone - no surprise there. He'd been ignoring the faint muttering that could be heard if one listened closely enough (just thank his observational skills for that), but when a scream erupted suddenly, he whipped round to find the source. Good lord, had the years taken everything from her. Her skin, once youthful and glowing, was now dead and tired, like it was taking everything to stay on her nearly skeletal figure. Her hair, once pollen-gold and seemingly taken straight from rays of sunshine, was now a weak colour that hung in limp strands over her shoulders. Cynthia McMillan. They were never truly close, honestly, maybe artificially if anything; oftentimes, Atlas would seek her out purely to suck up to her, try and get into her high social status. Didn't always work, and now he didn't like her at all, as opposed to the slight distaste he had at the mention of her name back in the early 2000's. 

Now, though, she simply grossed him out, and that entrance did her nothing good. Of course, Ada didn't seem as bothered by it as Atlas, who shuddered at such a loud noise, and she was even offering some warmth to that fucked up girl. His ableist, stigmatized thoughts were never spoken, but if one looked at his face they could easily find a flexing jaw from tightly clenched teeth and even more burning eyes. Surprisingly, Riley joined the two of them with jut as much generosity, and he resisted the urge to spit on them then and there. He felt almost jealous of Hye, who arrived just in time to miss that ugly, showstopping entrance Cynthia had made. [color=00a99d][b]"Hi-Hye,"[/b][/color] he muttered, and would normally find amusement in his own wordplay if not for the situation at hand. [color=00a99d][b]"We've got a guest."[/b][/color] He smiled cynically, acting like Hye was some sort of old friend, like he'd forgotten the hell he'd put her through back in the day. He hadn't.

Ashley's arrival was almost as ugly as Cynthia's, but just in the next league over. He plastered on an artificial smile that must have looked genuine to those that didn't know him very well. Watching her take Hye into an embrace, he faintly recalled hearing about her new line of work simply because of how radiant she appeared naturally. It was no surprise. His gaze drifted to another figure behind her and his smile flinched, threatening to leave him, when he noticed none other than Kai. Short hair now. Good for him. It took all of his willpower not to make a snide comment about that fact, but he was still set on making good second impressions - or first, he thought, in the case of Ada's so-called cousin. [color=00a99d][b]"Just in time, Ash, Kai,"[/b][/color] he spoke, starting in a sweet tone for his ex-girlfriend, and descending into a half-growl for his ex-victim. It was a little scary to think of Kai that way now, though, considering that fucking stoner currently outweighed him by over fifty pounds and was taller by a whole head. In fact, despite his nasty tone of voice, Atlas stepped back as discreetly as he could as if to avoid getting punched outright. Self-obsessed as ever, he took no notice of either of them after his greeting; just sent another half-assed compliment Ash's way. [color=00a99d][b]"You look [i]radiant.[/i]"[/b][/color] Christ, he thought. [i]You sound like one of those bitchy teen cheerleaders.[/i]

He turned back just in time to hear Cynthia apparently arguing with herself. [i]Idiot.[/i] For someone suffering from his own disorder, Atlas had no sympathy for the mentally ill - take that as typical spoiled male behaviour. He wanted to cut in and agree with whatever voice in her head told her that no one cared, but Ada was quicker to comfort her. It sounded like apologies were being passed around, and frankly, he turned away so he didn't have to witness it. Surely they'd just expect him to join the pity party. He followed Adelaide's figure as she moved across the room, whipping out her cell, and tried to decipher exactly what was going on, but no Sterling ever was that perceptive. She disappeared outside quickly enough, though. Out of sight, out of mind, he decided; Atlas moved towards Cynthia, scrutinizing her more deeply with each step forward. His eyes flicked over her wrists, trying to find some sign of those old handcuffs (or, he bet, cuts by her own accord), but to no avail. He let out a short, sardonic laugh, then crouched to meet her level. [color=00a99d][b]"Hey killer, how's Shady Pines?"[/b][/color] Of course, everyone knew she wasn't actually the perpetrator, and that she'd been released from Pines some time back, but he seemed to want to take advantage of her confused thoughts. 
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