[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/fmErwRQ.png[/img]  [img]https://i.imgur.com/dhdSqst.png[/img]  [img]https://i.imgur.com/nwwsSIS.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/zTmULOo.png[/img]
[color=c9c1cd][b]Location:[/b][/color] Bedrooms of the Radley Household
[color=darkmagenta][b]Martha’s Interactions:[/b][/color] SavyBaby [@melissahart], Mr. Grey (as the star in her painting) [@Syn]
[color=997fdb][b]Marshall’s Interactions:[/b][/color] Candyland [@Universorum] [@Bee] [@melissahart]
[sup][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CFuCYNx-1g][color=c9c1cd]Ambience[/color][/url][/sup][/center][hr][hr]

[indent]Contrary to her party-going peers, New Year’s Eve was a regular night for Martha Radley. The dark-haired young woman had chosen to ignore the many invitations to Damian O’Connor’s party, preferring to stay at home, enjoying the comfort of her bedroom. At a few minutes past nine, Martha was in the zone. She stood right in the middle of her room, staring intently at a freshly-painted canvas while holding a used paint tray in her left hand. Wet and dry paint alike covered most of the exposed areas of her body, evidencing the dedication she was putting on the painting. The movie [i]Queen Of The Damned[/i] was playing loudly in the background: the source of inspiration for her newest art piece. 

The painting was that of a male vampire embracing his female human lover from the back in front of a twilit background. The male was your stereotypical vampire: tall, muscular, pale, and with a spectacular pair of bloodstained fangs. He was shirtless, wearing nothing but a pair of beige trousers and looking down at his mortal lover with an aroused expression. The mortal woman in question wore a deep purple Victorian dress, neck exposed to the vampire and revealing two red puncture wounds. Long locks of dark hair cascaded down and reached right under her ample bosom, accentuated by the dress’ corset. The woman’s eyes were closed, mouth slightly open in what seemed to be a pleasured face. To an outsider looking in, there was nothing more to be said about a typical goth vampire painting. However, to the students in attendance at Beverly Hills High, the inspiration behind faces of said figures in the canvas were inspired by two very real people. One of these people was the artist behind the painting, preserving her currently youthful appearance in the canvas. The other was none other than Grayson Wells, whom the artist had harbored a crush on since her freshman days.

Was it pathetic? Yes. Damn awkward? Very much so. Yet, Martha Radley was certain that the only times she would ever get that close to Grayson Wells were in paintings, drawings, fan-fics, or the assorted wet dreams she had of him every other night.

As Queen Akasha made her bomb-tastic appearance onscreen, the young woman took hold of one of the paintbrushes in her apron. Then, she proceeded to daintily dip the brush in one of the dark gold concoctions on her tray, and began to give soft strokes on the canvas.

[hr]
On the second floor of the Radley residence, there was a boy. A frazzled, pouting, unprepared boy. Why, you might ask? Marshall had not a [i]single[/i] thing to wear. That was, of course, untrue — he simply had nothing that fit the bill for this evening’s soirée. His slim smartphone was incessantly buzzing on his nightstand beside a copy of his latest read, [i]Deal Maker[/i] by Lily Morton. The Candyland group chat was on fire tonight — Marsh had already received word that the unspoken dress code was black, in addition to multiple photos of his girls getting ready. 

The Candies all looked drop dead gorgeous, as usual, and he would be naught but a sore thumb standing beside them later. Especially because, no matter how high and low he looked, he could not find a single black item in his wardrobe. [color=997fdb][b][i]No. No. No. No. NO![/i][/b][/color] Marshall thought irritably to himself, punctuating each decision by carelessly tossing an article of clothing behind him. There was a growing pile of clothes strewn about his usually immaculate bedroom. 

Marshall emerged from his closet, shirtless, but dressed from the waist down, in a pair of slim fit dark wash jeans that made his dancer booty look extra perky. On his feet were a set of white leather shoes that were worth more than any pair of shoes had any right being. Frustrated with his failure to find anything suitable, Marshall dramatically collapsed onto his bed. He sent a selfie of his pathetic state to the group chat, captioning it: 

[quote][color=997fdb][b]i don’t WEAR black. send help.[/b][/color][/quote]

It was in that moment, staring at the elaborate lighting fixture hanging from the ceiling, that Marshall Radley had an epiphany. MARTHA! His emo-rebel-artist-darkling sister! How could he not realize that sooner? Marshall sent a follow-up text through the Candyland group chat. 

[quote][color=997fdb][b]Nevermind! I have a plan. Also, I’m forcing Martha to come, so make room in that limo, bishes.[/b][/color][/quote] 

[hr]
[i]Thump, thump, thump, THUMP.[/i] For such a trim and lithe young man, Marshall sounded like a bull in a china closet as he clambered down the flight of stairs. With haste, he spun the corner in a flourish and then practically [i]ran[/i] down the hall towards Martha’s bedroom. 

[color=997fdb][b]“LETTIE! YOU GOTTA HELP ME!”[/b][/color] Was the only warning that Martha received before her younger brother burst through the door. Knocking? Who does that? Certainly not this boy! [color=997fdb][b]“It’s an [i]EMERGENCY![/i]”[/b][/color]

Unbeknownst to her brother’s dilemma, big sister Martha continued to work on her masterpiece. Humming along to “Change In The House of Flies” while Lestat fucked Akasha in the background, she continued to slowly cleaned up the edges of the male vampire’s luscious hair when…

[i]THUMP![/i]

The unexpected and loud sound of her bedroom door being savagely flung open caused Martha to jump in surprise. The wooden paintbrush she had held so delicately moments before fell to the floor with a clatter, gold paint splattering everywhere. She whipped her head around so fast it was a miracle her neck didn’t snap. 

[color=darkmagenta][b]“Jesus, Marshall! Do you ever knock?”[/b][/color] Martha asked, shaking her head as she bent down to pick up her tools of trade and wipe the paint off the floorboards with her hand. Her mother would not be too happy if the acrylic stains on the young woman’s bedroom floor continued to grow.

[color=997fdb][b]“Sorry, boo. It’s an emergency!”[/b][/color] Marshall explained quickly, his bare chest rising and falling in soft pants from his previous sprint down the steps. His brain had finally caught up to the situation that he had just burst in on. Was his sister painting vampire porn? Should that even surprise him? No, not really, but there was a certain familiarity to the faces. One was definitely hers, and the other… [color=997fdb][b]“Is that — ”[/b][/color]

Martha immediately raised a paint-stained hand, signaling her brother to hold back whatever it was he wanted to say. [color=darkmagenta][b]“Shut. Up. Don’t talk. Don’t say a word. Don’t even ask.”[/b][/color] she trailed off, her stony face now bright red. The fact that she’d been caught red-handed on one of her weird fetishes was enough to embarrass her, but for her beloved brother to instantly recognize who the person she’d been painting was? Wishing for the Earth to open up and swallow would not do this situation enough justice.

She quickly moved to stand in front of the canvas, arms crossed in front of her, blocking her brother’s judgmental eyes from it. At least he hadn’t noticed where one of the vampire’s hands was strategically placed on the mortal woman’s breast. Then it would have been [i]really[/i] awkward. [color=darkmagenta][b]“What do you want, anyway? What’s this about an emergency? Is everything okay?”[/b][/color]

Marshall, for once, actually kept quiet, as he was told. His blue eyes lingered on the painting for a few moments before flicking back and forth to his sister. There was a teasing smile on his lips, not malicious in any way, it was more like the wheels in his Candy brain were turning. Regardless, he had come down here with a goal, and this little revelation did nothing but encourage him in that respect. [color=997fdb][b]“Right… yes. Emergency!”[/b][/color]

[color=997fdb][b]“We’re going to a party tonight, and I absolutely need to raid your closet for it!”[/b][/color] Marsh said, immediately turning his tone back to the chipper, frantic cadence that it was a few moments ago. He flitted over to said closest and began looking through the literal [i]sea[/i] of black clothing that she had to spare. God bless his sister, this fallen angel, his actual [i]savior[/i].

[color=darkmagenta][b]“[i]We?[/i]”[/b][/color] Martha repeated, raising a haughty black eyebrow as she watched Marshall disappear inside her closet. 

[color=997fdb][b]“Yes, we.”[/b][/color] A disembodied voice called in response from the depths of somber clothing.

[color=darkmagenta][b]“You mean [i]you[/i] are going to a party tonight. I’m not going anywhere. The cards advised me to stay in tonight.”[/b][/color]  she told her brother, pointing to the tarot cards spread out in formation across her mahogany desk. [color=darkmagenta][b]“Five of Wands, The Hanged Man and The Hermit? Not a very good combo.”[/b][/color]

Marshall emerged with a prize clutched in his hands. A soft black cashmere tee, cut babydoll style. [color=997fdb][b]“No, I meant both of us. Maybe… maybe you’re reading into the cards [i]too[/i] much, yeah?”[/b][/color] He offered carefully, knowing how much she really believed in all of this witchy stuff. He did, of course, support her in it, but it did sometimes freak him out a little. Like, what if the [i]Ouija[/i] board stuff got their house haunted by a demon or something? Yikes. 

The young woman scowled at Marshall. [color=darkmagenta][b]“Not really. The cards have never failed me up to this very day. Hell, even my horoscope is saying that I should ‘beware of confrontations with people you might know’ —”[/b][/color] she said those last words with air quotes. [color=darkmagenta][b]“So, I’m not taking any chances. Yes, The Hanged Man [i]does[/i] say I’ll gain wisdom and a unique perspective if I do some self-sacrifice, but I’d rather not risk it.”[/b][/color]

Her brother nodded in understanding and pulled the shirt he was holding over his head before spinning around to model it. [color=997fdb][b]“Does this make me look cute? Would you dick me in this outfit — you know, if you weren’t my sister… and if you were, uh, not a female?”[/b][/color]
 
Martha took a moment to study her brother, carefully looking him over. The style of the cashmere blouse fit him well. Her full lips were put together in a pout: the sign of her being deep in thought. After a full five seconds, her mouth broke into a wide grin. [color=darkmagenta][b]“You look [i]fabulous[/i], MarMar,”[/b][/color] she said sweetly, moving away from her place in front of the canvas to give him a hug and kiss on the cheek. [color=darkmagenta][b]“You’re going to [i]slay[/i] at that party. Better send me lots of snaps.”[/b][/color]

[color=997fdb][b][i]“Send you lots of snaps…”[/i][/b][/color] Marshall mumbled and shook his head like that statement would [i]absolutely[/i] not be coming true. He wouldn’t be sending snaps, because she would be going to the damned party. The Radley stubbornness trait was matched only by a fellow Radley. Marsh turned to observe himself in a mirror. In his own style preferences, this would be best paired with a colorful scarf — something happy, and much less gothic. 

[color=997fdb][b]“Hmm, it needs something. If I’m gonna wear black, I need to look badass. Dangerous, Lettie. You got something like that? Oh! Like a leather jacket! Yeah!”[/b][/color]

Martha quickly nodded, pointing her brother in the direction of her closet again. [color=darkmagenta][b]“I’ve got a couple of those, alright. They’re at the very back.”[/b][/color]

Without and further instruction, Marshall hurried back into the closet with a wide smile plastered on his face. Martha was the best! What would he have done without his sister coming in clutch? [color=997fdb][b]“What are you gonna wear, babes? You should probs wash some of that paint off.”[/b][/color] The disembodied voice called from the closet again, this time paired with the rustling of metal hangers.

Martha scoffed, walking over to the edge of the bed and taking a seat while she waited for Marshall to show her his next pick. [color=darkmagenta][b]“I’m not wearing anything. I’ve already [i]told[/i] you, I am not going to the stupid party.”[/b][/color] she declared, reaching for her phone as she waited got her brother to come out and model his selected leather jacket of choice.

The moment the device came in contact with her hand, it vibrated, letting the young woman know she had pending notifications. When she pressed the lock button with a black-manicured thumb, the screen lit up, alerting her of unread messages from Savannah and Isaac. Martha narrowed her eyes at her phone, intrigued by the first five words of Savybaby’s last text message. She decided to read that one first, and when she did, she let out a loud gasp, nearly dropping her phone in shock.

[quote][color=crimson][b]“Honey, you better get here real fast, some girl’s taking your man.”[/b][/color][/quote] 

Martha closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, trying to will her body to calm down. Instead, this only got her angrier, as the face of her possible opponent for the love and attention of [i]her man[/i] filled her thoughts. She shook her head, opened her eyes and typed up a quick response to Sav. She needed to make sure about this.

[quote][color=darkmagenta][b]What are you on about SavSav?
Plz don’t tell me what I think it is...[/b][/color][/quote]

The Radley girl waited for Sav’s response with bated breath. Thankfully, it wasn’t long until her best friend delivered the blow to her: 

[quote][color=crimson][b]Pippa’s all over Mr. Grey so come quick. If you wanna kiss him at midnight you srsly better hurry[/b][/color][/quote]

[color=darkmagenta][b]“Fucking hell!”[/b][/color] Martha muttered, slamming her phone on the bed next to her. There it was, the Five of Wands: [i]rivalry, challenges and obstacles.[/i] 

And Marshall still thought the cards were fake.

Positively seething with jealousy now, Martha grabbed her phone and furiously typed a strand of text messages back to her best friend, her long, black nails making tiny clicking noises as they rushed across the touchscreen keyboard.

[quote][color=darkmagenta][b]Fuckin’ shit… I’m the only Ana to his Grey
Give me a sec, I’ll have MarMar give me a glow up
I’m gonna rock his world. just you wait. 
#MarthaColletteWells2k43[/b][/color][/quote]

After pressing send on that last message, Martha quickly stood up from her spot in the bed. She was going to stop this madness before it grew any further, and if there was a word to describe a Radley, it was [i]determination[/i].

[color=darkmagenta][b]“MarMar, I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to this party. [i]Glow me the fuck up[/i].”[/b][/color] she declared, stretching to her full 5’8” Radley height, jaw and fists clenched in anger and [i]determination[/i].

Right on cue, Marshall stepped out of the closet, looking absolutely devastating in a [url=https://i.imgur.com/ZCRXqjE.jpg]bad boy[/url] kind of way, very much unlike his usual style. On his finger hung a ravishing looking dress that he could not ever [i]once[/i] remember seeing his sister wear. [color=997fdb][b]“Fantastic! I knew I would convince you. Look, I’ve even found your outfit. Girlll, how have I never seen you wear this? Seems like the perfect thing for you to catch a vampire boyfriend with.”[/b][/color] Marsh tossed the garment towards her and his face once again wore that mischievous Candyboy grin.

Big sister caught the garment before it could fall, but as she held it up for inspection, she cringed hard. A [i]tight, sparkly dress[/i]? No freaking way. The young woman was quick to intervene. [color=darkmagenta][b]“Actually, babe, I think I’m just going to raid Margie’s closet. I’m sure she has a ton of clothes she never uses.”[/b][/color] she told her brother, thinking of the world of possibilities that hid in the eldest Radley sister, Marjorie’s, closet. [color=darkmagenta][b]“Give me one second.”[/b][/color]

She rushed off away from her room and into her sister’s, then dove straight into Margie’s closet. There was a very particular outfit she recalled seeing her sister in a few years before, worn for a similar party. Legend was that the outfit was lucky, because it had brought her sister the opportunity of sleeping with the one guy she’d wanted all along, but who had never paid her much attention before. God knew Margie was the bombshell of the family, who very much didn’t need some stupid clothing items to snag any man. But if she said it was lucky, then it was lucky, and Martha would need a lot of luck going into this party.

Less than five minutes later, Martha stepped into her room wearing the lucky [url=https://i.imgur.com/njPvJ0z.png]outfit[/url]: a black Slayer graphic T-shirt, paired with a light blue, white and black plaid skirt, mid-calf boots, and a leather jacket. [color=darkmagenta][b]“What do you think?”[/b][/color] she asked her brother, giving a twirl. Her plaid skirt and [i]Chanel[/i] handbag swirled along with her before coming to a full stop.

[color=997fdb][b]“Ugh, to die for! Honestly, you pull off the chic punk look so much better than me. It’s fine, though, you’re right. We are [i]both[/i] gonna slay tonight.”[/b][/color] Marshall took a few steps closer to her to inspect fully. She still hadn’t got the paint off of her face. He licked his thumb and rubbed at her cheek in a rather maternal manner, removing the smudges. Martha cringed and grimaced as he did this. [color=997fdb][b]“There, better!”[/b][/color]

Stepping back, he decided she needed one more adjustment before they would be perfectly ready to head out. Ophelia was currently blasting his phone to get outside before Hailey ordered a missile launch on the Radley residence. Marsh roughly fluffed his sister’s thick curls of hair, giving it a purposely messy look. [color=997fdb][b]“There, now you have sex hair. I read in [i]Cosmo[/i] that straight dudes like it when your girls’ hair is a little wild looking. Listen, we gotta head out. Our ride is here. It’s a… really nice ride, so prepare yourself. It’ll be fun!”[/b][/color]

[color=darkmagenta][b]“I think I’m going to need more than just fake sex hair to make anything happen tonight,”[/b][/color] Martha lamented, stuffing her handbag with the basics: mauvey-rose lipstick, liquid eyeliner, highlighter (for that bomb-ass glow), a compact mirror, Altoids, her keys, and a miniature version tarot card pack. Before she could place her phone in the bag, Martha typed out a quick few responses to Savannah.

[quote][color=darkmagenta][b]SHUT UP!!! I’m coming I’m coming
Better call out a Hail Mary so I don’t stab a bitch 
#jesustakethefuckingwheel[/b][/color][/quote]

Now satisfied, Martha dropped her cellphone into the handbag and turned to her brother with a wide, wicked grin. [color=darkmagenta][b]“Ready to go, MarMar. Let's get on with this shit. Jesus take the fucking wheel.”[/b][/color][/indent]