[color=E3E3E3][center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/181212/1c1ef4e8bb3100a63a34b342e38c15b3.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/LSTjWrO.jpg[/img] [img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/181212/81b5c00c58d644dd1257e75556fd2cac.png[/img] [indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][hr][hr][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][sub][i]an [@Ejected] & [@eclecticwitch] collaboration[/i][/sub] [sub][i]Featuring [color=#E0633C]Beatrice Endive[/color] and [color=#851309]Kavan Varma[/color][/i][/sub] [indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][hr][hr][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/center] [indent][indent][indent]It was a couple of days after the school assembly that Kavan took the dreaded trip to the nearest Men’s Warehouse in order pick out a suit; as expected, his sister decided to tag along in order to make sure that he didn’t walk out with something unsuitable for the homecoming dance. It took them a little over an hour to complete Kavan's [url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/sites/default/files/styles/image-w-1050-h-1050-scale/public/mtv_uk/galleries/large/2016/02/09/avan7.jpg?itok=9vReoqOI]ensemble[/url], and another for the boy to convince his sister to forgo taking him to get a haircut. "Whatever," the girl had said to her brother after listening to his protests, "but only if you promise me that you won't wear any eyeliner. I refuse to let you leave our house looking like Jack Sparrow." As the young man sat in the driveway of his date's home, taking one last glance into his rear view mirror and running his fingers through his freshly combed hair, he had to admit that his sister did a pretty bang-up job. The suit was simple, the only pop of color being his bright red handkerchief. Soon, he took his keys out of the ignition and tossed them into his jacket pocket before getting out of the car and strolling up to Beatrice's front door. He had just finished rapping his knuckles against the door when it was suddenly pulled open. The door was opened by none other than Papa Elliot. He wasn’t much taller than Kavan, perhaps an inch or two. He was wearing his best, stern dad face and looked the young man up and down. There was a long silence as he studied the boy; Kavan, who was usually cool and collected at all times, couldn't help but feel slightly on edge as the older man looked him over. After a few more moments of awkward judging he finally stepped back and allowed the young man in. Kavan let out a deep breath that he hadn't even realized he'd been holding as he entered the large home. [color=#851309][b]"You must be one of Bea's dads,"[/b][/color] Kavan said after clearing his throat, trying his best to break the awkward silence, [color=#851309]"It's nice to meet you; you all have a lovely home."[/color] As Kavan spoke, his eyes began to roam, taking in everything he could see from his place in the foyer. Elliot simply made a harrumphing sort of sound and kept his eyes on the stairs. The entrance showed a grand living room with multiple couches and an enormous television. There was a fire place, plush blue curtains, and wooden floors with a few throw rugs near the furniture. To the left there was a archway that lead to a sparkling kitchen. From here another man appeared. He was tall, lanky and quite handsome per his husband’s boasting. He wore a warm and welcoming smile compared to Papa Elliot’s cold glare. It was his warm welcome that ultimately eased Kavan's nerves. “Hello, welcome! You must be Kavan. Bea hasn’t told us much about you I’m afraid. It is a pleasure to meet you and thank you for taking our little lady to homecoming. I’m Roland, though you can just call me Ro.” He strode forth and offered a hand to shake. Kavan, without hesitation, grabbed the man's hand and gave it a firm shake. “It’s not like she had a choice,” Elliot grumbled. “And all this business with just boys and girls... I should threaten to pull my donations to the school.” He mumbled this last part and crossed his arms over his chest. Obviously he was annoyed not only by a complete stranger taking his only daughter to a dance but also the fact that there were only heteronormal choices. “You know the school is a bit old fashioned. How about a much more patient approach. Besides, it would hold much more water if the parents were involved. And other groups. Stop your bothering. We’ll make sure nothing like this happens again.” Despite the warmth of his appearance, there came a dangerous cast over his expression that implied he planned to drag the school through the mud. “Anyway, our little bumble bee should be right down. Can I get you something to drink?” Ro led the way to one of the decadent couches. He chatted idly while Elliot chose to stand by the staircase and await his treasured daughter. [color=#851309][b]"I'm alright, thank you,"[/b][/color] Kavan responded politely as he took a seat on the sofa, [color=#851309][b]"And I do agree with you two, if I may add... about the school's blatant heteronormativity. It's such a shame..."[/b][/color] As Kavan spoke, he couldn't help but think back on the day that the whole "pairing" idea was first announced when one other than Archer Diedrikson had been one of the very few people who'd voiced their complaints about there only being hetero pairings. A smile tugged at Kavan's lips as he continued to speak, [color=#851309][b]"But I am happy that I was paired with your daughter, all things considered. She's a pretty cool girl."[/b][/color] Elliot seemed to appreciate this sentiment as his cool gaze turned to one of warmth, though no where near Roland’s open welcoming. At long last Bea descended the stairs; Kavan stood and approached the bottom of the staircase as she did so. She was the picture of a pin-up. Her curls were smoothed and fluffed around her face with a portion of it rolled back from her face with a flower pin holding it in place. Her make-up consisted of bright red lipstick and a smokey eye but the eyeliner was not just winged. Curling, floral embellishments of different colored liquid eyeliner sprouted from the winds. Her [url=http://s3.weddbook.com/t4/2/4/7/2477829/black-rockabilly-dress.jpg]dress[/url] was black with white polka dots. The bell of the skirt shape gave her the appearance of more curve than Bea naturally had. She wore a simple pearl necklace, gauze black shawl, and a larger than normal black and white polkadot handbag. Her legs were encased in fishnet stockings and black heels completed the ensemble. She looked ready for a photoshoot. [color=#851309][b]"You look beautiful,"[/b][/color] Kavan said with a grin once she'd reached the bottom. Bea reacted with a roll of her eyes, as it truly hadn’t been her idea at all. However, it was at least a nice thing to say so she didn’t stick her tongue out at him. “You look like a true pin-up girl! Let's get some pictures~” Papa Ro was prepared, pulling his smartphone from his pocket and gesturing for Kavan to join her on the stairs. Bea held a cool and non-interested appearance that echoed Elliot’s grumpy one. Per Ro's instruction, Kavan joined Bea on the stairs; he gingerly wrapped his arm around her waist, placed his free hand in his pocket, and smiled his usual, crooked smile for the camera. She stiffened as the arm came about her waist and started to shrink away but she caught the glee on her father’s face and so relented. Her body relaxed and she leaned more into Kavan, her hands daintily folded in front of her. She still glowered until Elliot came up behind the cameraman to smile and used his hands to help relay the intention. With a sigh, Bea allowed herself a small, shy smile which helped to lighten her features. Perhaps she looked even a bit pretty instead of withdrawn. SNAP SNAP SNAP - Ro moved around, getting them into different positions and ending with them facing each other. Kavan’s arms were wrapped around her waist and her hands rested on his chest. She was blushing now from nose tip to ear tips. Finally it seemed he had finished and the two were ushered with speed out of the door. A limo was waiting for them and the driver held the door open. “No alcohol, but plenty of other things to drink,” he said kindly. Bea climbed into the back seat and smoothed out the polkadots and black crinolines while Kavan came to sit beside her. The doors closed, music came on through the speakers, and the limo took off. From her little purse Bea took out a flask and opened it. Taking a couple of gulps she then offered it to Kavan. [color=#E0633C][b]“Want some? It’s a bit strong.”[/b][/color] Her impassive face had calmed down from the blush, giving her a mildly peeved appearance. After eyeing the flask and Bea’s expression for a brief moment, Kavan shrugged his shoulders and took her up on her offer; Kavan had never been much of a drinker, but he figured that he would make an exception for homecoming. Besides, if Bea could down the liquor in a couple of gulps like it was water, surely he could do the same. Right? Wrong. Kavan had managed to only take one quick swig from the container before erupting in a fit of coughing, his face screwed up in a look of disgust. He handed the flask back to Bea without hesitation as he wiped his mouth with the palm of his hand. [color=#851309][b]“Jesus Christ, Bea,”[/b][/color] Kavan said as he searched around the limousine for a bottle of water, [color=#851309][b]“I think ‘strong’ was a bit of an understatement.”[/b][/color] A giggle escaped her as Kavan nearly choked on the alcohol. She had a hand to her lips as her eyes sparkled with bemusement and her lips widened enough to show a hint of her white teeth. She corked up the flask and put it back in her purse before wading through all her crinoline to open one of the side fridges and pulled out a bottle of orange juice. [color=#E0633C][b]“Something sweet soothes the throat best,”[/b][/color] she said and offered him the drink. Kavan took the drink with a thankful nod. She settled back into her seat. [color=#E0633C][b]“I’m glad you’re not as scary as I thought you would be. You are always just so… loud.”[/b][/color] She sighed and watched the boy with benign interest. [color=#851309][b]“You thought that [i]I[/i] was scary?”[/b][/color] Kavan said with a chuckle as he twisted the cap back on his bottle of orange juice, [color=#851309][b]“See, I could understand if you felt that way about Marisol after she busted up our class president's car with a baseball bat. Or maybe even that new chick who made Johnny-boy step out of his character on the first day of school. But [i]me[/i]?"[/b][/color] As the young man spoke, he took a quick glance out of the window; it only felt like they'd been in the limousine for a few moments, but they were already a little ways away from the country club. [color=#851309][b]"I don't think I'd call myself loud, either. Maybe just... expressive."[/b][/color] She looked down at her hands and fiddled with the edge of her dress. [color=#E0633C][b]“Looking at you is… loud,”[/b][/color] her brows knit as she tried to find the best way to explain. [color=#E0633C][b]“There just a lot and it hurts my head sometimes. Your face and hair are always so… much. Maybe too pretty?”[/b][/color] If she wasn’t careful she would pick apart the hem of her skirt. [color=#E0633C][b]“Like looking at the sun… or something.”[/b][/color][/indent][/indent][/indent] [/color]