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[sub]Featuring [b][color=#4169E1]T[/color][color=#5269DC]h[/color][color=#6369D8]e[/color] [color=#8669D0]B[/color][color=#9769CC]o[/color][color=#A869C8]n[/color][color=#B969C4]f[/color][color=#CB69C0]a[/color][color=#DC69BC]m[/color][color=#ED69B8]i[/color][color=#FF69B3]l[/color][color=#F461A3]l[/color][color=#EA5A93]e[/color] [color=#D64B72]T[/color][color=#CC4462]r[/color][color=#C13D51]i[/color][color=#B73641]p[/color][color=#AD2E31]l[/color][color=#A32720]e[/color][color=#992010]t[/color][color=#8F1900]s[/color][/b][/sub]
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On regular days, Theo rarely got his hopes up. When it came to a lot of things and people, especially [i]certain[/i] people in his life, he knew it was dangerous to be optimistic. Why hold out for something or someone that was likely to disappoint you? Why care about promises made that would fall flat? It didn’t make sense and Theo liked to think of himself as a sensible young man. Contrary to his mother’s opinions of the artistry on his arms, everything he did made sense.

But giving his parents time to maybe show up at the last minute, knowing full well that they were going to flake on him and his siblings yet again? Now that’s what didn’t make sense, yet there they were. The Bonfamille triplets were all dressed up exactly how their parents expected them to: Theo was in a blue suit, Bas in black and grey (like the color neutral nerd that he was), and, as fully expected by the most feminine blonde he knew, Mads wore a pink dress that was decorated in floral patterns.

They had pulled out all the stops. They were at the Bonfamille Manor in Meadow View, far away from the campus where they all knew a party wasn’t far from getting started. The staff was literally waiting for the signal to get the short-term meal prep underway. They were literally waiting on the arrival of their often-disappointing parents (at least from Theo’s perspective). As time went on and one young man with red hair started to get restless, it was at the point where he had enough.

[color=royalblue]“Let’s just face it, they’re not coming.”[/color] Theo sat in the foyer opposite of Bas and Mads, a more-than-disappointed frown on his face.

Bastién’s slender fingers stopped moving over the ivory keys as his brother spoke. He paused before he turned to face his siblings letting out a strained sigh. [color=8f1900]“Damn it…”[/color] he muttered quietly, his face facing the floor. The middle Bonfamille triplet had spent the better part of his last week of summer vacation planning this get together. He had double and even triple checked with their father and mother to make sure that they were free. 

[color=8f1900]“You’re probably right Theo, they’re pro-”[/color] he was cut off by a buzzing coming from his jacket pocket. Bas fished out his phone unlocking it with a quick swipe of his thumb. His blue eyes moving quickly over the screen and his lips pursing as he read. [color=8f1900]“Aah…”[/color] he whispered.  

[color=8f1900]“[i]Bastién: me and your mother got held up at the concert hall. We will be here until late. Tell your brother and sister we will reschedule to a later date. Please let them know we are sorry,[/i]”[/color] he read in a monotone voice. 

Bas wished he could say he was surprised but as he pocketed his phone he couldn’t help but feel deeply disappointed. The dark-haired young man rubbed his eyes with his and let out a groan before he flicked his head up towards where the staff stood, waiting. 

[color=8f1900]“Edgar… you can clear up, they’re not coming.”[/color] Bastién said curtly to the elderly head of staff. 

[color=FF69B4]"Wait a second: 'clear up'?!"[/color] Madeleine cried out, leaping from the plush white armchair she'd been resting on and crossing her arms in front of her, glaring at her brother. [color=FF69B4]"What do you mean, 'clear up'? I haven't had anything to eat besides a salad and some almonds since lunchtime!"[/color]

Theodore made a habit of noticing when Edgar was annoyed and he seemed peeved more than usual. He probably thought he did enough to hide it but his body tensed up whenever he was extremely bothered. Theo had always known him to despise the triplets for some reason but Theo never cared to address it. As long as he never raised his voice to any of them, no problems would arise.

As Theo would also observe Edgar silently nod and walk away, whisking the staff away too, Theo huffed, standing up as he stopped in front of the fireplace. [color=royalblue]“I want to say I am surprised, but hey! At least they’re consistent at [i]something[/i], right?”[/color] He wanted to laugh and he did after the fact but that didn’t make the growing anger he had for his parents (specifically Adelaide) stop from expanding. [color=royalblue]“Is it really so hard for them to put aside [i]one[/i] day for [b]us[/b]?!”[/color]

[color=FF69B4]"After twenty-one years, I would think that you gentlemen would have gotten used to the absences and excuses,"[/color] Madéleine said nonchalantly with a small shrug. She knew her comments would appear rather cold for her naturally warm, gentle nature-- but years of disappointment would do that to you. [color=FF69B4]"It's been a long time since I've given much thought to or lost sleep over any of this. I suggest you follow my example."[/color]

[color=royalblue]“Well, excuse me for actually thinking they would put us over their careers. My bad!”[/color] Theodore scoffed, making no effort to mask his disappointment in his parents-- and hell! Theo might even go as far as to say he was disappointed in himself for getting his hopes up. [color=royalblue]“But never mind them! We have more important matters to discuss,”[/color] Theo led, leaning back, choosing to focus on greener pastures. [color=royalblue]“Such as deciding if we want to attend this year’s Great Bash.”[/color] Theodore remembered receiving that text that highlighted hints about how to find this party. 

[color=FF69B4]"Is there really anything to discuss? I thought it was a given that we would be attending. We always do,”[/color] Mads replied with another shrug. [color=FF69B4]“Although I'm not going anywhere without eating my dinner first,"[/color] she added with sass, bitterly glaring at where Edgar was removing the unused utensils from the table.

Bastién couldn’t do anything else but sigh and again rub his eyes in frustration at his siblings' bickering. Of course, they were both right their parents should at least honor their word and show up when they promised to be here. But then again them working overtime is what affords the triplets the life they are accustomed to. Bas let out one last sharp sigh before standing up from the piano stool.

[color=8f1900]“Of course we’re going! We are expected to at least make an appearance.”[/color] he said nonchalantly walking over to his brother putting his arm around Theo’s shoulder trying to calm him down. [color=8f1900]“Let’s just forget this fiasco and let out some steam in a game of beer pong or whatever!”[/color] He said giving his brother a reassuring shake [color=8f1900]“Huh? Right, Theodore?!”[/color] He laughed getting in his brother’s face trying to get him to cheer up. [color=8f1900]“And you’re right, Maddie!”[/color] He turned back to his pouting sister. [color=8f1900]“We should eat before we go. We don’t want a repeat of freshman year now do we?”[/color] He asked looking from his sister to his brother before letting go of Theo and walking into the dining room. [color=8f1900]“Edgar we’ll just have the main course for us three then”[/color] he ordered. Bas ignored the strained sigh coming from the elderly man as he sat down in his assigned seat.  

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After they ate and took some extra time to relax, the triplets left the Bonfamille Manor in town. With time on their side, they took their sweet time making their way through the city, avoiding the celebrations still going on if at all possible as they were on campus and in the forest where a ten-minute hike was in store. Usually, Madéleine was the one to complain but she seemed to be excited to make an appearance. She was probably more excited about getting there than Theo or even Bas was.

It didn’t occur to Theo why she was so excited but seeing a smile on her face [i]did[/i] make him happy. He wasn’t sure if Bastien was happy or not but at least, the siblings looked great. Of course, Madeleine was wearing her usual colors: that god-awful [url=https://i.imgur.com/9wsFBQ7.jpg]fluffy pink coat of hers with a white dress[/url], as if it wasn’t obvious she was the most stuck-up of the trio. As for the brothers, while Bas chose to wear a [url=https://i.imgur.com/AncjeVl.png]striped shirt of white and pink (again what was up with that), he also wore dark slacks[/url]. Similarly, Theo had similar hued pants but with the one noticeable difference of wearing a[url=https://i.imgur.com/jFNyzLB.jpg] rose-patterned shirt and red shoes[/url].

Joining the party with his siblings, Theo chuckled to himself at the choice of locations. [color=royalblue]“Lakeside, huh?”[/color] He murmured, turning his head to both Mads and Bas. [color=royalblue]“Last year, it was held at the abandoned warehouse in town.”[/color] Theo found humor in how the hosts of the bash always seem to pick the most isolated place. [color=royalblue]“It’s almost like we’re about to be in a slash horror flick.”[/color] He laughed but on some level, that could be a very real possibility.

Madéleine's blue eyes widened as her excitement was replaced with a hint of fear. [color=FF69B4]"Do you [i]want[/i] me to be terrified all night?!"[/color] she asked her brother, taking hold of his arm and nervously looking around. [color=FF69B4]"Because if you keep saying things like that, I will stick to you like glue for the rest of the night so you can protect me from Freddy, or Jason, or that Scream guy chasing people around with a knife."[/color]

[color=royalblue]“Oh, relax! I’m sure Ghostface is too busy being bled dry by Fun World as they prepare to do another season of the godawful television adaptation of Scream.”[/color] Theo turned to Bas for a quick minute. [color=royalblue]“Back me up here, bro. Please tell our scaredy-cat of a sister that we’re not gonna be carved like a pig carcass by some slasher horror icon!”[/color] 

While Mads shot Theo a disgusted look at his detailed description, Bastién let out a breathy laugh as he carefully navigated the freshly made path, making sure that he didn’t get his shoes dirty. [color=8f1900]“Maddie, I don’t think Vermont is a good fit for the next slasher backdrop if you know what I mean, and besides that, I don-”[/color] Bas’ voice trailed off as the bright lights of ‘The Great Bash’ blinded him. The party planner had outdone themselves this year. The music was pumping out of huge speakers and the crowd was moving to the said music as if they were in some sort of a trance. Alcohol and various recreational drugs would do that to you. 

The middle triplet turned to his siblings with a wide grin [color=8f1900]“And who has the time to worry about weirdos in masks when you’re in Wonderland!”[/color] he laughed spreading his arms walking back towards the huge party.  

[color=royalblue]“See? Now, will you stop worrying about psycho killers and just go with us to enjoy the party? It’s no fun if only two of the Bonfamille triplets have fun!”[/color] Theo tugged at his sister’s arm to guide her to his and Bas’ way of thinking.

[color=FF69B4]"I'm not so sure about this anymore … This isn't exactly my scene…"[/color] Madéleine grumbled like she did every year, nervously looking around the large crowd. [color=FF69B4]"I like balls, and galas, and glam events. This is… [i]different[/i]."[/color]

[color=8f1900]“Oh Maddie… why not both? Come now we’ll keep you safe. Theo will fight off the ruffians won’t you?”[/color] The dark-haired man said softly as he swiftly and dancelike stepped behind her sister ushering her toward the party. [color=8f1900]“We can probably find you a makeshift throne here somewhere.”[/color] He mused beaming down at his sister trying to calm her nerves as he always did. This earned him a shy little giggle from the blonde, who nodded, let go of Theo's arm and grabbed onto Bastien's for dear life now.

[color=royalblue]“I’ll tell you what: you help her with the throne and I’ll get us some drinks. At this rate, we’re gonna have to start the alcohol consumption a lot earlier than anticipated,”[/color] Theo mused, smiling at both of his siblings.

[color=8f1900]“Deal”[/color] Bas stated offhandedly as he and Mads continued toward the crowd, while Theo went off to fetch them a drink or two. [/indent][/indent][/color]