Altered Tundra

Palm Beach Royals: Senior Year

_{An @Altered Tundra, @HaleyTheRandom, & @verzehren Collaboration featuring Stella Lambert, Oliver Greyson, and Millie Jean Nicholson}

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Stella and Oliver both found themselves in an interesting position. Between how hesitant Stella was to admit her feelings to him and how Oliver was equally as uncertain in coming forward when they finally did it, they didn’t know what that meant. They both agreed they liked each other but there was still something about them -- at least from Stella’s side of things -- that gave her some doubt. This feeling of having someone who cared for who she was and not her body was a foreign feeling that she had a difficult time getting used to.

As they walked around, their hands connected and unintentionally drawing attention towards them, Stella could only do what she knew how to do in situations like these: put on a smile and pretend that the whispers didn’t make her anxiety spike up.

Just keep calm and smile forward She urged herself.

Stella’s pace slowed a bit. This happened when she felt anxious, but just as her legs were about to completely give up on her, she hadn’t realized that she had tugged Oliver into a collision. “I’m so sorry!” She immediately apologized. Only a moment later after the person she bumped into had turned around did Stella realize who it was. “Millie Jean!” Her usual screeching voice met Millie as Stella’s right arm left the comfort of Oliver and wrapped around Millie in a warm, if not tight, embrace.

It was too close for comfort, really, but how could Millie Jean tell her friend (that she had ghosted months prior) that their physical proximity was both unnerving as it was anxiety-inducing. Instead of waxing poetic about how she might spiral into a never-ending swirl of panic, Millie Jean just patted Stella’s back with a forced smile.

“Hi, Stella.” Millie Jean glanced awkwardly at the other person, whose name she couldn’t quite recall right now.

The excitement of seeing her again had gotten out of Stella’s control that she had squeezed just a little too tight. It might’ve been a second or two too long, but she eventually let go and saw the hint of a small smile on Millie’s face. At the very least, she was smiling, but damn it! She hadn’t seen her in a while. It didn’t go unnoticed by Stella. There might have been a lot happening in Stella’s life with Oliver, her family coming and going as they pleased, and her extracurriculars, Stella still made an effort to stay in touch with her friends even if a couple of them became too busy for one reason or another.

And this applied to Millie Jean too. Stella understood if there were things that she had to do, but Stella was always there for her if the girl ever needed her. “How have you been? I feel like we haven’t seen much of each other since the senior year began.” For a moment, Stella nearly forgot her manner. “Oh and this is Oliver. He’s my, well, uh.” She turned to Oliver. They hadn’t had much time to talk about what name they were going to put on their relationship. And the more she thought about it. “Oliver is my boyfriend!” She declared proudly, squeezing his hand. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense to call him what he was to her: her boyfriend.

Millie Jean’s eyebrow twitched and she suppressed the need to raise it - she wondered if Oliver had known that until just now because the word seemed to have been conjured abruptly. The girl crossed her arms across her chest, before uncrossing them upon realizing her stance was a tad bit defensive. Her therapist says she should avoid making physical gestures that provides a barrier between her and other people; Millie Jean told her therapist she could stuff it (except she didn’t, but she certainly thought it).

“Well,” Millie Jean stuttered, mind racing to think up a decent reply, “I’ve just been busy, I guess. Taking care of, er, the cats and the butterflies and fish and stuff. Um, and you? I mean, you are obviously doing very well, boyfriend and all. Hi, Oliver.” She waved slightly at Oliver, the gesture awkward and unnatural.

“Mmm..” Stella hummed, nodding, “yeah, I guess I am. School has been hectic, especially cheerleading. Chanel’s taken over captain duties and she’s been making sure we got our routines down perfectly. That and my family being their usual selves, I guess things have been all right.” Even though Stella wished things were less stressful when she glanced briefly to Oliver, she realized that things weren’t as bad as she thought. At least now she could lean on him if things became too difficult.

Millie Jean witnessed the brief flicker of Stella’s eyes and felt almost like an intruder. Strange, considering she was in the middle of a party surrounded by multiple people in a house that was not her own, and she might actually be an intruder if Kavi didn’t have permission from his parents. The feelings she had been pushing down hit her all at once, and maybe so did the alcohol.

“Fuck,” Millie Jean said, her voice strangled by acidic spit on the back of her tongue, “I think I have to go. Sorry.”

Without another word, Millie Jean sped down the hallway, away from Stella and Oliver.

“I hope she’ll be okay,” Stella said, concerned. Her gaze lingered on Millie Jean until she went out of view and she turned to face Oliver. “I think I’m getting a little weary. You wanna get out of here? I did tell dad I wouldn’t be out too late. I know he likes you and all, but I don’t want to take advantage of his kindness, you know?”

Oliver had stood by Stella's side patiently as he often did, paying little attention to the conversation until Stella mentioned making an exit. ”No worries. Parties aren’t really my favorite thing and there’s a lot of drunkness going on. Let’s just make sure we get you home safe.”

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Current Mood in One Gif

Palm Beach Royals: Senior Year

_{An @Altered Tundra, @Dirty Pretty Lies, @Spooner, & @Ejected Collaboration Post
featuring Sonny Drake, Kavan Varma, Marisol Castillo, and Archer Diedrikson}

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 anything to talk about with Kavan. Did they really have so little in common that he couldn’t think of something to talk to him about?

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

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

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. “I think that fairy they mentioned is our fairy.” 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. "Oh my god," Kavan suddenly said to Sonny, "We have to go!"

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. “Jesus Bradley,” Sonny said, stepping forward. “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.” He taunted him, shooting a wink Archer’s way. “Wouldn’t you agree, Archie?”

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. “I’m busy trying to not die to agree on whatever you said Sonny.” he panted. "But listen Brad. Are you done? Have you exerted enough testosterone to attract a mate?" 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.

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

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. "God, this guy needs some serious anger management classes," 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 scandal, 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. “Kav…” 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.

“So, let me get this straight,” he began, doing a quick headcount. “You not only try and maim Archer but after feeling the wrath of Marisol, you try and attack her, too?” He sighed. “I knew you were homophobic, but Jesus, Bradley! How will you come back when people find out you’re a misogynistic asshole too?” 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.

"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."

“What a sight,” Sonny remarked, basking in the glory of the sight in front of him. “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.” Sonny turned his head, shooting Archer a wink. “This, boys and girls of the audience, is what happens when you’re homophobic trash. You get beat up and embarrassed!” 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. "Mari… just. Let's just leave. I think he gets it." He said shakily still grabbing Kavan's arm.

“Your wish is my command,” 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. “So! Now that the trash’s been taken out… Where to next?”

Which setting would you like to see more of in Roleplays?

For me personally, I would love to see more over the top sol roleplays akin to daytime soap operas. While I love the high school/young adult stories I'm apart of, these would be so much fun and even more so if everyone embraced the genre-crossovers of said settings. Just let one exist that's a hub for zany adventures with mad scientists and the like. I would be on that in a heartbeat!

Word association Game!

Labor

Word association Game!

Coffee

Shuffle your music player and post the first 10 songs

_{We Found Love (Rihanna Cover) — Forever the Sickest Kids — Punk Goes ...Pop Volume V
Riot — Three Days Grace — One-X
Holocene — Bob Iver — Bon Iver, Bon Iver
Salvation Code — Scandroid — Scandroid (Deluxe Edition)
A Lesson Never Learned (Celldweller Remix) — Asking Alexandria (feat. Celldweller) — Stepped Up and Scratched
Those Who Stay Together, Stay Together — Chiodos — Illuminaudio
The Dark Secret — Rhapsody of Fire (feat. Sir Christopher Lee) — Symphony of Enchanted Lands II: The Dark Secret
Tears of Blood — Ron Pope — Atlanta: The Deluxe Edition
7 Years — Lukas Graham — Lukas Graham
Break the Clouds (Acoustic) — Eyeshine — Like Yesterday}

Word association Game!

Assault

Word association Game!

Annoying

Men vs. Women Race to 1000: Version 2.0

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