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[indent][indent][indent][sub][b]An [@Altered Tundra], [@Dirty Pretty Lies], [@Spooner], & [@Ejected] Collaboration Post 
[i]featuring[/i] [color=darkorange]Sonny Drake[/color], [color=851309]Kavan Varma[/color], [color=brown]Marisol Castillo[/color], and [color=35996B]Archer Diedrikson[/color][/b][/sub][/indent][/indent][/indent]
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[color=darkgray][indent][indent]They were left alone. Not only were they left alone, but with Marisol going off to calm down after her intense confrontation with Salem, which Sonny still wished he was able to hear and was even more surprised to see that she didn’t kick him anywhere, both Sonny and Kavan sat there in their little corner of the Salvador house doing absolutely nothing. He didn’t know if Kavan was waiting for him to say something or for Archer to return. Either way, it was awkward and something definitely to be done about it.

But nothing did. God, Sonny usually could handle small talk but aside from their respective gayness (even though Sonny’s still in the closet to the public) and their gravitation towards each other as of late, there wasn’t a lot of common ground between the two. Pharaoh and woman did not make for a dynamic duo meme to name. 

Sonny had turned to face Kavan, giving the man a small smile that was more awkward than if he had pulled out one of his silicon breasts again. The only thing worth noting was April’s announcement that she was currently with child and people talking about how Kavi got shoved into a pool. Sonny was more disappointed in himself that he didn’t have [i]anything[/i] to talk about with Kavan. Did they really have so little in common that he couldn’t think of [i]something[/i] to talk to him about?

[color=darkorange]“So, uh, this is fun.”[/color] Sonny awkwardly said. It was the first thing said that didn’t feel like a completely idiotic thing playing out in Sonny’s mind. [color=darkorange]“I mean, I guess--”[/color] Before he could get that out, Sonny heard some people speed past him.

[b][i]“This way, bro! That one fairy dressed as a fairy is about to get creamed by Brad!”[/i][/b]

Seeing the group of excited students brag about some fairy, it didn’t take long for Sonny to figure out who they were talking about. [color=darkorange]“I think that fairy they mentioned is our fairy.”[/color] Already he was getting pissed off and instinctually took Kavan by the hand. It was one thing for Sonny to jokingly call archer a fairy. He knew it came from a place of like and respect, but for others to use it so casually set something ablaze inside Sonny.

Hearing someone other than Sonny refer to his boyfriend as a "fairy" had also lit a fire inside of Kavan; his fingers tightened around the other boy's hand as he watched the group of students rush towards the back of the house. This anger, however, was almost instantly replaced by an intense feeling of worry as what that last student had said finally sunk in. [color=851309]"Oh my god,"[/color] Kavan suddenly said to Sonny, [color=851309]"We have to go!"[/color] 

And without uttering another word, Kavan rushed off in the same direction as the rest of the party-goers, practically dragging Sonny behind him. He didn't stop until the horrifying sight of Archer being punched in the face by none other than Brad Leone stopped him dead in his tracks.

Sonny knew that Kavan wasn’t much of a fighter and neither was Archer, so that made him even angrier. The more he watched the more it seemed like Sonny couldn’t just do that. He and Archer had their problems and maybe even had a genuine beef with each other at one point, but just like Archer has been coming to terms that Sonny isn’t a bad guy, he also was coming to terms that Archer wasn’t a great person. Sonny would even go as far as to say he was starting to think of Archer as a friend. He always has but now it’s got respect on its name.

One of his hands balled up into a fist while the other gripped his Prada bag. [color=darkorange]“Jesus Bradley,”[/color] Sonny said, stepping forward. [color=darkorange]“You got a lot of pent up rage, beating up a gay boy. There must be a reason for this. Like maybe you’re struggling with something that you’re not ready to admit to yourself and that’s why you’re taking it out on my boy here.”[/color] He taunted him, shooting a wink Archer’s way. [color=darkorange]“Wouldn’t you agree, Archie?”[/color]

Groaning, Archer took the opportunity to crawl away from under his attacker as he was distracted by what Sonny was saying. Spitting blood on the grass he looked up at the crowd. [color=35996B]“I’m busy trying to not die to agree on whatever you said Sonny.”[/color]  he panted. [color=35996B]"But listen Brad. Are you done? Have you exerted enough testosterone to attract a mate?"[/color]  Archer said gesturing towards the crowd that had formed with one hand and gingerly touching the bleeding cut on his left eyebrow. Judging by the rage that spread across Brad's face he either didn't like Archer's comment or he just didn't understand it, so he went in for another punch.

But what Brad Leone wasn’t expecting was to feel a hot, sharp, stabbing pain in the left side of his ribcage as a blunt, heavy object made contact with his body.

With a loud grunt, Brad’s heavy body fell from Archer. The large lacrosse player rolled around clutching his side. An almost animalistic growl escaped him as he whipped around to see who had hit him. He rose slowly, steam almost emanating from his body, to come face to face with none other than Marisol Castillo. 

[color=brown]“All these damn years and you [i]still[/i] haven’t learned you don’t fuck with Archer?!”[/color] Mari cried out, looking very much like a deranged Wednesday Addams with her red face and murderous glare. [color=brown]“Did you forget when my brother kicked your ass two years ago for it? You need me to fuck you up too?”[/color] she threatened, tapping the tip of the bat against the ground and taking up the stance of a batter in the home plate. [color=brown]"Come at me, bitch!"[/color]

When Marco and Soleil Castillo had settled out of court with Victoire Bailey’s father to keep Marisol out of jail nearly three months previously, it had been on the condition that she keep her nose clean and stay out of trouble. The arrangement for Mari to basically ‘pay off her debt’ by working for Kai Parata’s surf shop was, of course, with the intent that their daughter understands that her actions had consequences. And finally, the two-week stint at the mental preserve was meant to teach the volatile young woman better, healthier ways of dealing with her anger issues.

But how could anyone expect Marisol to remain calm when life threw back-to-back curveballs like these her way? After the breakup with Sal, the green-eyed girl had done an excellent job at keeping herself in check when all she wanted was to break his nose the same way he’d done to Sonny. Hell, even her words had been dialed down into something less vicious than what she wanted to say. She had planned to go straight home, have a good cry to get things out of her system, then dilute her feelings with a little weed. But nooooo, Brad Leone had to play tough guy with Archer again. And what was a volatile girl to do when her best friend was getting beat up by a bully other than to spring to action? She’d take the assault charges over watching Archie get snuffed anytime.

It was around this time that Kavan took the opportunity to grab Archer by the arms and help lift him back up on his feet. [color=851309]"God, this guy needs some serious anger management classes,"[/color] Kavan muttered as he placed himself between Archer and the events that were unfolding on the lawn; while he wasn't much of a fighter, he figured that he'd rather throw a few punches and risk ending up like Archer than watch his friends face some rage-filled meathead on their own.

Archer was quiet as he stood behind Kavan. He stood looking at his feet letting the situation sink in. It had been a long time since he was in the center of this kind of [i]scandal[/i], and here he was again dragging his friends into his shit. Worst of all he was dragging Kavan into all of this. Archie grabbed Kavan’s arm to signify not to get involved. If his boyfriend got hurt because of him, Archer would never forgive himself. Before them getting together Kavan would’ve never have had to face something like this. He would just go through his senior year in peace. He looked into the dark eyes of his partner bloody lip trembling, words escaping him. [color=35996B]“Kav…”[/color]  he whispered, not knowing what more to say.

Kavan simply shook his head and took hold of Archer’s hand, giving it a comforting squeeze after he did so. He then returned his attention to Brad, who didn’t look too happy about being struck by Marisol’s bat. While part of him was wondering if Mari always brought along the aluminum object just in case of instances like this one, the other was beginning to grow anxious as he watched the large Lacrosse player approach her with a clenched fist. 

And that’s when Sonny had aptly intervened. The blonde wig flowed with the motions of his body. A sound of tapping flats on the stonework ground following the muted noise of his arm over the height of his body, blocking the punch that Brad had irresponsibly directed at Marisol. As he held the lacrosse player there, seeing the way he gritted his teeth, Sonny with his cherry lipstick-covered lips curving into a smile, stood in front of everyone and shook his head at the unlucky jock.

[color=darkorange]“So, let me get this straight,”[/color] he began, doing a quick headcount. [color=darkorange]“You not only try and maim Archer but after feeling the wrath of Marisol, you try and attack her, too?”[/color] He sighed. [color=darkorange]“I knew you were homophobic, but Jesus, Bradley! How will you come back when people find out you’re a misogynistic asshole too?”[/color] As he repeatedly shook his head, Sonny brought his free arm, the one that was carrying the loaded Prada bag and swung with every bit of strength he could muster, slamming it into the same part of his abdomen that Marisol’s trusty bat had hit. 

Brad yelled out in pain and staggered back briefly before a new spout of rage burst forward. The large man lunged forward and charged Sonny with the intent of tackling him to the ground. 

Marisol didn't even think twice before she dropped the bat, lunged forward and tackled Brad. His body hit the floor first, hers falling on top of him and shielding her from any real damage. Before she had time to react, Mari wrapped her arm around his neck in a chokehold of sorts, pressing her forearm against the boy's neck. 

[color=brown]"Last warning, Leone. You mess around with Archer again in any way and I find out? I won't play nice. You know I don't give a fuck about going to jail."[/color]

[color=darkorange]“What a sight,”[/color] Sonny remarked, basking in the glory of the sight in front of him. [color=darkorange]“This won’t go well for his street cred. Getting knocked around by a dude in a dress and a girl. And all because he picked the wrong fight with the wrong person.”[/color] Sonny turned his head, shooting Archer a wink. [color=darkorange]“This, boys and girls of the audience, is what happens when you’re homophobic trash. You get beat up and embarrassed!”[/color] Sonny spoke loudly and quite charismatically at that, laughing at poor defenseless Brad.

Archer just looked on without moving a muscle. Instead of relishing in the revenge that was going on right in front of him, all he wanted was to go home. [color=35996B]"Mari… just. Let's just leave. I think he gets it."[/color]  He said shakily still grabbing Kavan's arm.

[color=brown]“Your wish is my command,”[/color] Mari said sweetly, giving Brad’s neck one last squeeze before releasing him and standing back up. She pretended to straighten out her black dress and hair and turned to Sonny, Kavan, and Archer with a grin on her face as if she hadn’t just released all the pent-up anger of being broken up with on Brad Leone. [color=brown]“So! Now that the trash’s been taken out… Where to next?”[/color]
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