[center][hr][img]https://i.imgur.com/YueL3TS.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/3lqAk2R.png[/img] [/center] [right]Interactions: Kari, Lupe [@Evil Ghost Note], Nora [@NoriWasHere] [code]Warehouse, the ‘bar’[/code][/right][hr] Vicky waved back almost as enthusiastically as Ella waved to her, stopping when Tuyen directed her towards someone else. Obviously they had somewhere else to be right now, but Ella would catch them later! [color=e77fbf]"I don’t make promises I can’t keep!"[/color] Ella grinned, waggling her finger playfully. She really didn’t- if there was anything Lupe needed from her, Ella was happy to do it! The same went for almost anyone, really. If people were in need, she’d help them! And for friends, she’d gladly do anything! She giggled at the back and forth between Kari and Lupe, glad that Kari had her back. Because she was right! Ella was capable! A couple of drinks wouldn’t be enough to destroy her. Plus, she wasn’t exactly worried about her reputation or anything like that. The first drink was already giving her a warm fuzzy feeling that she quite liked. [color=e77fbf]"Let them record it!"[/color] Ella declared, raising the cup to her lips and knocking it back. She didn’t actually drink the whole thing like that last one, instead just taking a big gulp. She wasn’t quite [i]that[/i] crazy. Plus, she wanted to savour this special pink drink Lupe had made at her request. [color=e77fbf]"I’ve got nothing to be embarrassed about- Whoa, it’s really good!"[/color] She took another sip, smiling brightly. She was absolutely going to moving up to the next level, whatever Lupe meant by that. Like in a video game? Not that Ella really played them, she just watched a few anime focused around them. But being a higher level was absolutely better. [color=e77fbf]"There’s no way something like this could take me out. It’d take, like, a comet to do that. An alcohol comet!"[/color] she laughed, before raising her cup to Lupe. [color=e77fbf]"I’m gonna be a [i]legendary[/i] magical girl, so I’m gonna drink this all and survive. I’ll also take on any speakers that play with you for you!"[/color] With Ella, it was a little hard to tell if she was being completely serious about fighting speakers on Lupe’s behalf or if it was a joke. She was, after all, often a bit of an idiot. But she was playing for once. [color=e77fbf]"Speaking of speakers, who’s in charge of the music? I- Nora too- have some requests! Great request- Oh!"[/color] In the middle of asking and looking around Ella got distracted by a familiar face that had made her way over to the drinks table. Small and unassuming, most people would’ve missed Tuyen quietly pouring two drinks. But not Ella! It helped that she’d looked over at the exact right time, of course. [color=e77fbf]"Tuyen! Hey!"[/color] [center][hr][img]https://i.imgur.com/39h0Tk1.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/OfpTxjr.png[/img] [/center] [right]Interactions: Vicky [@Atrophy], Kersten [@Rekkuza] [code]Warehouse[/code][/right][hr] Oh God, Vicky was drunker than Tuyen had realised. She helplessly watched as Vicky demanded drugs in the least subtle way possible, trying not to panic. Kersten had always seemed chill, and everyone knew to go to him for weed, but that didn’t mean they were alright with it being asked for like [i]that[/i]. Thankfully, Kersten proved herself to be chill even with something like this. [color=greenyellow][i]Is she okay?[/i][/color] Tuyen hesitated, before nodding in response to the mouthed question, making a subtle gesture towards the drinks table with her free hand to try to indicate that Vicky was just drunk. It wasn’t true, but she wouldn’t speak about something Vicky hadn’t brought up herself. She wouldn’t do that to anyone, considering the amount of secrets she kept about herself. And they’d even share weed for free– [i]Oh no[/i]. Alarm bells rang in Tuyen’s head when Kersten refused to give Vicky the drugs she’d so adamantly demanded. They even went as far as to pull her towards the stoner corner. Tuyen paused only for a moment in shock before catching Vicky’s panicked look back at her and hurrying to follow. She wasn’t going to blow up was she? No, she cared too much about her image. But she was drunk. What did Tuyen say to diffuse the situation? Kersten was right about her being too drunk to do something else… Not that Tuyen knew much about weed, but it just didn’t seem sensible to mix substances. She also knew it was basically impossible to tell Vicky no. She couldn’t. But even though she was nervous and expecting a full blow up, she managed a perfectly normal smile at Kersten, as if she didn’t need any reassurance. [color=32cd32]“Hey man, fuck you. Fuck you, man.”[/color] Tuyen winced, her smile briefly wavering. Then it turned apologetic, her wide eyes turning to Kersten like a deer in the headlights. Everything she said was harsh, but she was drunk. She was just upset. Though she knew… She knew that Vicky mostly looked at people for their use. It was why she made sure [i]she[/i] was useful to her. [color=9777bd]”She’s had weed before, I’m the one that hasn’t-”[/color] Tuyen explained as if that would smooth over Vicky’s reaction, only to be interrupted by her name being screeched from the beanbag that had practically eaten her drunk friend. Immediately she snapped to attention. Her phone… Did Tuyen have her phone? She patted down her jean pockets, finding only her own and Vicky’s lipgloss. It must still be in the jacket left in the bathroom… But she could get that easily. Tuyen wasn’t entirely sure what Vicky expected by holding out her hand, because Tuyen couldn’t just materialise a drink like that. She wasn’t sure she should get her a drink at all, but she couldn’t say no. She’d just make it very weak. [color=9777bd]”I’ll be right back with your phone and your drink! It’s still in your- the jacket.”[/color] Tuyen reached out, taking Vicky’s hand for a brief moment and giving it a comforting squeeze. She quickly pulled back before her friend got upset at her for not magically materialising a phone and drink. Then she stepped closer to Kersten. Close enough that she could talk to them without Vicky overhearing, and didn’t need to shout to be heard over the music. [color=9777bd]”Please look after her for me.”[/color] She whispered to Kersten, looking up at her with wide eyes. She knew Vicky was being difficult at the moment and it was a lot to ask of someone else, but she couldn’t just leave her friend like this… But if she didn’t Vicky would just get more upset. [color=9777bd]”I’d really appreciate it– I’ll only be a minute, I know where her phone is. I’m really sorry. She’s drunk… I’ll be right back.”[/color] Without waiting for an answer she spun around and dashed off. Weaving between the people was easier when she had a goal in mind, and was overly panicked about what would happen while she was gone. She didn’t want Vicky to get upset at her for taking too long. She hadn’t last time, but her patience was clearly running out with [i]everything[/i]. Thankfully the discarded letterman jacket was right where it had been dumped, and no one had bothered checking the pockets to steal Vicky’s phone. Tuyen slid it into her pocket and headed for the second demand: a drink. This was a bit more difficult. There were so many people crowded around the drinks table, and the loud chattering made her whole body tense up. She tried her best to forcefully relax as she managed to squeeze in. No one was looking at her. They didn’t even care that she was there. Nobody would notice her… They wouldn’t want to talk to her, and they wouldn’t question why she was even here. It was fine. Her hand shook slightly as she poured more vodka into one of the cups, ending up an almost fifty-fifty split. But she was still painfully sober and needed something to loosen up if they weren’t getting weed. In the other, she put just a splash of alcohol. Hopefully Vicky wouldn’t notice. [color=e77fbf]"Tuyen! Hey!"[/color] Oh no, please leave her alone. Maybe if she looked really engrossed in these drinks she could pretend she didn’t hear Ella and slip away. Except she’d poured both of the drinks. Taking a deep breath, Tuyen turned around and kept her gaze glued to the floor right in front of her feet. Just enough to avoid bumping into people, enough to avoid catching- [color=e77fbf]"[i]Tuyennnn![/i] Come join us!"[/color] A strong arm wrapped around Tuyen’s shoulders as she tried to slip past, pulling her right into the group. [center][hr][img]https://i.imgur.com/39h0Tk1.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/OfpTxjr.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/YueL3TS.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/3lqAk2R.png[/img] [/center] [right]Interactions: Kari, Lupe [@Evil Ghost Note], Nora [@NoriWasHere] [code]Warehouse, the ‘bar’[/code][/right][hr] [color=e77fbf]"I was hoping to talk to you- It’s been [i]ages[/i], we barely had any practice this summer! I’ve been practicing myself, obviously, but it’s not the same without the team- Oh!"[/color] Ella shouted, letting go of Tuyen’s shoulders as she gestured to her for the rest of ehr friends. [color=e77fbf]"Do you know everyone? Do you guys know Tuyen? She’s one of my fellow Cornballs! Well obviously you [i]know[/i] her, everyone knows everyone, but I mean, have you met and talked?!"[/color] It was the name for the school's softball team, the Cornell Cornballs. Obviously they didn’t have anywhere near the popularity of the football team, the Steelheads- like literally every other sport in the school. People only ever watched and cared about the football matches… But the Cornballs were pretty good at what they did! Sure, Ella had a higher chance of getting a sports scholarship with her great long distance running than she did softball, but that didn’t mean she was a slouch when it came to softball! Plus, team spirit was great! They even had inside jokes, like all the times Vicky jokingly threatened to hit Ella with her bat! [color=9777bd]”I’m just a substitute.”[/color] Tuyen said quietly, smiling to cover up her discomfort as her gaze flickered from Nora to Kari to Lupe. [color=e77fbf]"Still a part of the team! Well, everyone, this is Tuyen! Tuyen, this is Nora, my [i]bestest[/i] friend, and Kari, another super duper close friend."[/color] Ella gestured to them both. [color=e77fbf]"They’re in my year, but then here’s Lupe, who’s the [i]coolest[/i]. You’re in the same year!"[/color] [color=9777bd]”We have some classes together. Hi.”[/color] Tuyen said with a smile, while trying to figure out how to get away. She knew everyone here, but they’d never really talked. Maybe in passing, but people tended not to talk to Tuyen. There wasn’t anything interesting about her, after all. It would just be awkward if she stayed. Not to mention how pissed off Vicky would be. Not just because Tuyen was away for too long [i]again[/i], but that part of the reason was talking to [i]Lupe[/i]. Vicky didn’t like Lupe. Tuyen had sat through one or two rants about her, though she didn’t really think Lupe was as bad as Vicky made her out to be. She seemed quite nice, just maybe so friendly it rubbed Vicky the wrong way, especially when she got attention. [color=e77fbf]"It’s been so long, how was your summer? Oh, you gotta try one of Lupe’s drinks! They’re [i]amazing[/i]. If I finish this one I’m gonna end up the most legendary magical girl there is, and we’ll clear all the other teams this year!"[/color] Ella continued, only getting more oblivious as the alcohol started to take effect. She was still sipping away at the pink drink of death, thoroughly enjoying it. [color=9777bd]”I’ve already got my own drink, but thank you.”[/color] Tuyen said, looking at Lupe almost apologetically. Then she looked down at the two drinks in her hands. That gave her an excuse to get away without seeming rude, didn’t it? [color=9777bd]”I have Vicky’s too, I should get back to her with it.”[/color] [color=e77fbf]"She can wait a couple of minutes! Or maybe I can come with you? I gotta say hello to her too- But I don’t want to leave my friends yet! I gotta prove I can finish this!"[/color] Ella declared, completely deflecting Tuyen’s attempted escape without realising it. [color=e77fbf]"This is really good, Lupe! I didn’t realise Everclear could be so tasty!"[/color] Tuyen smiled, taking a sip of her heavy on the vodka and coke in an attempt to cover the way her eyes darted from side to side. Soon Ella would forget she was there and she’d slip away. None of these four really wanted her around, after all. Hopefully Vicky wouldn’t be too upset… She’d just apologise as much as she had to. It would be fine. It [i]was[/i] fine. Everything was fine. [center][hr][img]https://i.imgur.com/0lI10t2.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/pJ79u1l.png[/img] [/center] [right]Interactions: Camille [@Rekkuza] [code]Warehouse[/code][/right][hr] Lexi’s eyes rolled up to the ceiling, lips pursing around her cigarette. This time she didn’t bother turning her head as she blew out the smoke right onto Camille’s face. Fuck, he really was a loser. She’d held some hope. Standoffish loners could be her type, and they were the most likely to not be complete fucking losers. Especially the ones that caused trouble. She could’ve overlooked the whole not being used to loads of people thing. He could’ve been a quick fling, even a part of her group of misfits if he wasn’t such a fucking [i]bore[/i]. He liked books! It was the first answer! Fucking books! Lexi read, obviously. She wasn’t some illiterate freak, and it helped with song writing. But she read [i]interesting[/i] books. Horror, or ones full of grisly murder. The only classics were the likes of H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe. None of this Beckett bullshit. Those were the kind of books they were made to read in school. Why would she ever read a theatre piece anyway? She didn’t even like watching that stuff in the theatre. [color=b13a3a]”The only good time to talk about [i]tragi-comédies[/i],”[/color] Lexi sneered, imitating his accent with the last word while purposefully butchering it, [color=b13a3a]”is in a room filled with sad, lifeless losers.”[/color] Her gaze on him never wavered, though it was much sharper now. The predator had decided how to play with her prey. She’d found something she could dig into. [color=b13a3a]”That’s the last French thing you have? [i]Books[/i]? You don’t even have any friends in your sad little village you can call? So you’re just as dull to people who don’t need to listen to that horrendous accent? That’s so fucking sad.”[/color] Lexi scoffed, shaking her head. [color=b13a3a]”No wonder no one here wants to talk to you! You probably think it’s your English, or the problems I heard you cause- but no. You’re just not worth talking to.”[/color]