[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019cb167-a9e2-77e8-a0a3-555f04118e32.webp[/img][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019c691d-d580-726b-b8c2-c4d4d9b6d5ce.webp[/img][right][code]Current day
Interactions: N/A[/code][/right][hr][/center]

Cornell was a sleepy place. For all the unease, for all the [i]waiting,[/i] there was a yawn that began lifetimes ago.

A black Mercury Cougar rolled down empty streets. There was scarcely another car on the road at this hour, no one seeing the old thing turn off the main road and down the winding paths of the town. The interior was cast in shadow, not a sound from the radio or the signs of any life from Tommy's empty passenger seat. He turned this way and that, one arm propped against the door and the other on the wheel. The street lights were sparse, some of them were out and no one was bothering to fix them. Most people were out cold by now, the parents and older folks were indoors and all surely asleep. Meanwhile, half of a generation was up and at 'em at this godforsaken hour. 

It wasn’t like there was shit else to do, anyway.

Tommy picked up some speed.

He was surprised anyone had even invited him. Most people didn’t really hang out with a guy like him, let alone bring him along for late-night activities such as a party. But it seemed like everyone was going, and [i]miraculously,[/i] he was included. Tommy might not have even known there was a party going on otherwise. He had nothing better to do, and maybe it’d be fun. Maybe he’d have some laughs before he drove home. His mother and father weren’t that overbearing, they weren’t likely to begrudge a kid his age for going to a party anyway. As long as he didn’t get home drunk or beaten to shit, which he wouldn’t.

After long minutes down a dark road, Tommy turned off at a fork and pulled up to a warehouse. It was easy to spot from a distance, with the lights of the few other cars being driven here and the people. He parked near the door, and it was dark enough that no one saw him lean back against his seat. Once the engine kicked off, he felt the vibration of the music coming from inside. Tommy wondered if, maybe, just maybe, this was a fluke. Maybe he [i]wasn’t[/i] invited and someone had just dialed the wrong number. Maybe that text message had to be responded to before he deleted the contact he wasn’t familiar with. Maybe someone had dug up an old case and was here to-

Nah.

He sighed, and popped the glovebox open. From there, he grabbed his switchblade. He bought it off some senior last year, and there was surely a lot of alcohol in that warehouse right now. Tommy stuffed it into his jacket and swung his legs out of the car. 

Inside, the music was [i]loud.[/i] It almost felt hard to breathe for a second. It shook the floor and filled his stomach with the sensation of being grabbed by a vice. Fuck, that was a lot. He didn’t expect that, and he didn’t expect this many people. There were drinks being slung around, people making out like flesh was the last edible thing in town, and… Oh, someone was dancing on chairs. Sure, why not? It dawned on Tommy that he had no idea who the fuck any of these people were. He recognized the occasional face here and there, but most of them were total strangers. Shit, he imagined bonfires and drugs, not half the alcohol in town and more noise than a den of foxes in heat. Tommy was [i]way[/i] out of his league in here.

[color=A79500]”Well…”[/color]

He sighed, and watched people bump into each other. So many of these kids were drunk off their asses.

[color=A79500]”…Shit.”[/color] He stuffed his hands into his pockets, and just strode forward into the mess.