aletheapierce

[aletheapierce]

"lowkey? okay then..." she draws out the word with a smile, a bit surprised by his answer but maybe she shouldn't be. at the minimum she figured at least one party or place would be awaiting his arrival, but it was nice to think about escaping this shindig for something more their speed. wouldn't be the first time the two disappeared for a breather, a need for space and time to just be slow. "sure, as long as you're not gonna pull a g and murder me." they tease, but as soon as the words leave her mouth she regrets them. "i definitely took that terrible joke too far." she admits, eyes casted back toward the dance floor, watching others fill and briefly reflecting on how this was how she'd spent her whole life so far, embarrassed and missing everything by standing on the sidelines. "is is a secret place or that make-out point all the freshman go to?"

Cute, Monty thought with a smile, looking on freely while Alethea's gaze shifted to the ceiling, appearing to be working through a mental datebook. They were always cute, that hadn't changed any. "Well…" he started to answer, tone leading but ultimately trailing off, unexpectedly needing a moment to consider his options. Monty had a whole roster of parties waiting on him after the gala, the list racking up throughout the evening as he buzzed around and socialized enough to get the details -- not to mention the fucking arsenal of drugs he had stashed in his room, just waiting to be doled out. But, as he met Alethea's gaze again, he decided that he could delay responsibility for a while. "Lowkey, definitely lowkey," he answered, smile smoothing out nicely, not a hint of stress to be seen in his being. "You wanna go for a drive after all this?" Monty offered, hand lifting to swirl a finger around in the air, as if encapsulating the event they were currently standing off on the sidelines of. He tipped closer, tagging on in a whisper, "I know a spot."

[aletheapierce]

somehow, and alethea couldn't figure out how, she had been able to avoid the watchful eye of her parents. the proof of furthering their career (they didn't know the truth) and reassurance of connections in the hamptons (she hid in heni's house with a book), was enough to satisfy them. besides they had to fuss about jacob, his last summer before college. now a freshman somewhere wandering the halls of ogden. "where did you travel with your mom? not as terrible as being on house arrest in georgia." she'd been there too many times and gave a small chuckle, elbow finding the edge of the bar to rest against. "sneaking out huh? any hot summer flings i should hear about? please give me something exciting." they pause, considering reina's question but just shrug, "new york and the hamptons, nothing exciting. so now you go. it was so boring without you here...again." at least reina stayed for another semester, and alethea is thankful, not sure how they would manage without her again.

"Reina happily let Thea finish their drink before slightly quickening their pace to the bar so they could get another refreshment. "Well I traveled with my mother for half the summer while she was working and the other half was spent back at home. The parents weren't very comfortable letting me out of their sight after what happened at the end of the school year." She let out a disappointing sigh but then shook her head as tough to push away all the negative thoughts that threatened to invade her mind. "But that didn't stop me from having fun. I just had to brush up on my sneaking out skills." Reina laughed lightly. "But please tell me what you did over the summer before I dive into my stories." She patted Thea's arm before releasing it once they got to the bar.

[aletheapierce]

yet. what an attitude to have, maybe they should ask charlie for lessons. learn to let go and figure out the fun in it all. or simply just stop caring about it altogether. "no one good to fuck?" they parrot back, eyebrow raising in surprise as they take a drag, making sure to blow the smoke away from her. "i would say there's a couple people...but maybe a hot transfer for you? study abroad student? standing all by their lonesome on the corner of the dancefloor just waiting for you..." she tries to reason with a soft sing-songy drawl to her words, smiling over at her. "i'd considered it, just as long as i don't have to like...talk to them."

she arched an eyebrow as she handed them the cigarette before leaning over and lighting it for them. who said she didn't have etiquette? "nothing yet. the night's not over." there was still plenty of time to get into trouble. "there's just no one good to fuck here anymore. i cleared out my roster over the summer." the roster might not have known that - it would be hard to tell from the continued lascivious texts she sent all summer long. "i'm thinking of expanding my boundaries to the country club down the street. interested in a sugar daddy expedition?" not that charlie needed an old dude to buy things for them, she had a father, but it was more fun this way.

[aletheapierce]

of course jesse wasn't going to let it slide. the facade of their relationship - though alethea didn't dislike jesse by any means. it was more like she didn't know him. everything had been surface level, and up until this point that had been the easiest to maintain. who wanted a stranger that they were hardly connected to probing around in their life? she doubted jesse did, and they certainly didn't want that. yes they did.

but also alethea didn't just get drugs from him, but they enjoyed doing them with him. it easy, no judgment, a bit of fun to spruce up the night. "i mean i just don't get drugs from you, it was fun to do them with you too." they shrug with a small smile, hoping it comes across as the lazy joke they intend. "funny how i thought this year could be different, but it feels the exact same."

Jesse didn't try to keep the dull amusement off his face. He'd always known what this relationship was. He'd done it in high school, had access to scripts right out of his father's wife's desk drawer. Kids had come to him in droves, had needed him, had celebrated him and the access he gave them. Their attention had been a rush then and Thea had given him a little taste of that again.

But their awkward, fumbling questions rankled. He hated having to confront the idea that no one ever wanted him for him. They wanted what he had to offer. A fucking circus monkey in a tutu getting paid quarters for kisses. It was the sum total of Jesse Hart.

He bared his teeth in what might have been a smile. "We don't have to do the small talk thing. I'm sure there are plenty of other plugs around here that'll let you buzz around for a hit of something."

[aletheapierce]

My Natasha 🥰

[aletheapierce]

how will i know that it's time to let it go or should i just pass it on to the next generation give them my baggage and my playstation? [[ xx ]]

// eulogy for nobody -- debbii dawson // wolves -- jensen mcrae // i'm your man -- mitski // i'd rather be a ghost -- semler // the moon will sing -- the crane wives // raining in june -- olive klug // my mind (now) -- paris palmoa // half truths -- joseph // leaving early -- galloway // for you -- delaney bailey // the moon i'm in/jsyk -- the maine // the attic -- rachel mcintyre smith // crowded places -- banks // clear my head -- galloway // dead girl walking -- jensen mcrae // nine -- sleeping at last // easy -- hinds // lemons -- brye // vagabond -- misterwives // what's so funny -- wednesday // an evening i will not forget -- dermot kennedy // older -- lizzy mcalpine //

[aletheapierce]

she raises an eyebrow at his gleeful laugh, she thought her statement was cute but not funny like that. oh well, she shrugs, chuckling alongside him. "oh i don't?" she smirks, arms now crossing over her chest as she leans over, arm bumping his easily. "sounds like a plan to me, and i'll let you know right now, i'll probably last longer on the field than you." they tease, knowing that was nothing but a lie. alethea would chicken out so fast, but it was fun to think about, being carefree enough to streak across a field with everyone's eyes on you and the threat of consequence running behind you. "hmmm..." they consider his question, glancing up at the ceiling as if they were going through a long schedule ahead of him. "looks like i've got nothing goin' on. you? fun after party or something more...lowkey?"

Sudden and unexpected laughter fell from Monty's lips, the force of his grin coming as a surprise even to him, feeling as if he had an inside joke with himself just then -- being accused of having a cute little butt was certainly preferable over a cute little dick (thanks, Ash!). "We don't have to go streaking for you to find out," he countered, head shaking slowly with the tease. Monty contained his dwindling chuckle, pausing to wet his lips before promising, "Alright, next sporting event on campus, it's you and me, and we're streaking. We have to put it to the test, for science, of course, and time how long we can get away with serpentine… serpenteen -- serpentine-ing?" Abruptly questioning if that was a functional verb at all, he snorted and waved a hand, dismissing the entire subject. He nudged Alethea instead, eyebrows slowly lifting as he asked, "In the meantime, though… what're you doing after this?"

[aletheapierce]

a hand rose to skim across her collar bones, as if she could will the splotchy pink skin away. it was always so embarrassing how easily her body gave herself away, revealing things they wanted to box up and stow away. "well, like you said, you're not like most people. so i don't believe for a moment you'd follow the mournful trend of all-black just because everyone else is." alethea noted back, bottom lip pouting as if to emphasize her thought. they hadn't truly considered what everyone else would be wearing either - black was always just easy and hard to mess up. plus it matched more with how they felt anyway. she steps to lean against one of the high top tables, forearm resting comfortably as one foot crossed over the other. "hmm? no." she half scoffs, half laughs. "you're not the only one who thinks that." they comment softly, laughing at the harsh statement. instead she diverts her gaze and shrugs. "nowhere else to be on a saturday night, senior year. last homecoming ever kinda thing." they shrug. "what about you then? i can't imagine it's overwhelming school spirit that brought you out here tonight."

For all the confidence Alethea seemed to have suddenly gained, it was apparent that most of it was a front. With a single compliment, that familiar blush was creeping back onto their skin just as easily as it always had — not that Nova was complaining, it was a sight that they relished in. "Indeed it does. I'm afraid I missed a very important part of the back-to-school e-mail. — In fact, I'm surprised they haven't kicked me out yet." It was fitting, he supposed; returning that year did feel a bit doom and gloom and the wardrobe choices that evening seemed to be a reflection of that. "Mm, considering me to be anything like most people would be your first mistake, baby." The last thing Nova cared about was arriving stag that evening, not concerned with what, who they had or hadn't showed up with, said about them in the eyes of others. "Did you come with a date seems a much more important question. Because if so, they're foolish for leaving you to your own devices." Foolish for leaving them unattended when it meant Nova could so easily take their hand and lead them away for the rest of the evening — an especially tempting thought given her next words, her understated discomfort. "Then why torment yourself with being here?"

[aletheapierce]

they shrugged, "i mean new york is old." they try to joke lightly, giving a soft grin. but she felt like such a shell there, though it was nice to be able to pass through the streets without the care that anyone was noticing her. that no one did, and not because they were ignoring her. she was there to do her thing and they theirs. but for this past summer...that's where it all ended. "exactly, and i thought it was overwhelming to be talking about...everything all the time and seeing at every corner." she pauses and looks around, "but not mentioning it all? feels odd. feels wrong." she can feel the absence even greater - greer's especially but it's now accompanied by penny's, and ida's, and sam's. was ogden cursed?

her smile is real as she meets carmen's eye. the two having known each other for years, forced in proximity at whatever annual event their parents dragged them to. where they would sit next to each other at dinner and have polite conversation, both heavy under the eyes of their parents, both muted in their presence. "i would love to." she nods, meaning it. maybe they could have a real friendship, something genuine, something outside the realm of everything else. "thankfully out of our parents earshot too."

"Old is not a term I think many would relate to New York." Congested, bustling, chaotic; sure. But boring? Old? Though, it was also possible that Carmen had no real idea. Her trips there had always been brief, a few weeks at most, never enough time to explore all that the city had to offer, let alone tire of it. "It feels like...like nothing happened?" Even with the commons still standing, surrounded by warnings for construction, it was like they had all just kept their heads down and looked the other way — like if they didn't talk about it, it didn't exist. "I swear Greer's name was being used all around campus last year but now..." Greer, Penny, Ida, Sam; it was like no one dared to mention any of them aloud, the fear that doing so would set off a curse intended to ruin them all. "I don't want to say it's worse but it feels...I don't know. Foreboding?" A word that somehow didn't feel strong enough in light of all that they had faced.

"Thank you." The words are soft, quieter than anything else she'd offered thus far, more genuine. There'd always seemed to be an unspoken bond between them, a silent understanding that neither of them spoke on. But for once, be it something in Alethea or her own loneliness, she can't help but want to reach out, to close that gap and find connection. "We should...get lunch or something someday. I feel like we don't see each other enough." Outside of the weighty gaze of their parents that was.

[aletheapierce]

oh, this was new. maybe she should have known, having heard things. but then again alethea was awful at keeping up with people when they weren't in her direct vicinity. which seemed obvious for how long it had taken her to notice her best friend was missing. "oh, is it..." they trailed off, hoping it came off as curious and chill. not surprise of judgement. it probably was for the best, for him, possibly for them. "well, good for you." they straighten up, smiling in jesse's direction. "and if you want, i'll still vote for you anyway." she beams, a bit more cheesily now. "so, uh good summer? good start to the semester?" all questions pouring out so they don't admit they were just looking for jesse for one reason. she'd already been called out recently by another for her using of others tendencies, and maybe she could prove that they weren't really there.

Jesse's smile turned roguish, tilted and boyish as he watched Thea. This was all its own kind of dance, all a performance for anyone who might be watching. He was smiling, he was mingling. He was fine.

His smile threatened to fall at the obvious expectation that hung unspoken in the air between them. The reason why they were bothering with this at all. He clicked his tongue, feigning disappointment, even as his hand slipped into his pocket, fist tightening around a little baggy. "Unfortunately, my bribes are a little more green than white these days."

[aletheapierce]

they snort, arms crossing over their chest as they shook their head at ollie's little charade. "it's quite the plan, gonna crown you king and g your opposite? maybe you'll even have to dance with them, nice little slow dance on the middle of the dance floor. what a moment. maybe you could get them to spill all of their secrets?" she kept the bit going on perhaps a bit too long, but it was nice to think about. g revealing themselves, giving them all the answers they had been searching for. greer coming back safe and sound. felt like a dream in a stupid tv show, and she couldn't even wrap her mind around it, the consequences that would appear if homecoming ended up this way. "i don't expect it'll be a quiet event though..." even if their plan didn't unfold, alethea knew better than to expect normalcy here.

Ollie frowned a little bit. The desire for Greer to appear again, to finally know she was okay was something that came and went. Or the desire was always there, but remembering it was there came and went. It felt like so long since they'd seen her last, and what was being done about it? Nothing. And he knew it was nothing because they were blaming someone who had nothing to do with any of it. Wasting their fucking time when Greer could be who knew where. It burned something in Ollie's chest when he thought about it, but like most things it was easy for him to compartmentalize until it wasn't. Right now, it was. "Oh, no," Ollie said, waving his hand, "no, no, no. G has to go up on stage themselves and get their crown." He tapped his temple. "It's a fool proof plan to get them to expose themselves. They don't say I'm a genius for nothing."

[aletheapierce]

they didn't consider themselves a particularly dishonest person - they knew worse. but then again, honest wasn't the word they would use to describe themselves either. still, the hit wounded alethea, bringing another step backwards. per usual she was creating space, digging trenches between her and the people she wanted to care about. "i am being honest." her eyebrows crinkled, a slight plea to their voice, anything to at least spark something from cara that wasn't annoyance and disregard. "it wasn't...it wasn't all about greer you know." not entirely at least. was greer's shadow so large that neither of them would be able to escape? "you won't believe though...will you?" the question slipped out, defeat already admitted. cara had that at least, holding these invisible wins over their head.

The roll of her eyes was one that Cara had long since perfected, over the top in its exaggerated drama, a scoff often accompanying it, as it did in that moment. "Please," she said, a low laugh following the words. She took a step back, her arms crossing over her chest as she looked away from them, her jaw clenched as she bit back retort after retort. "Honesty never has been your strong suit, has it?" Cara finally said, glancing back towards Alethea - like she had any room to talk in regards to being truthful.

[aletheapierce]

Objects found lying around my house

[aletheapierce]

right, sam arrested. though alethea knew this had to be a set-up, there was no way she set a fire, no way she was g. and yet...that's what everyone was believing, even fellow students. they didn't know heath very well, but if they were honest they wouldn't trust his judgment very much to begin with. "you know that for sure?" she raised an eyebrow at him, arms crossed over her chest, leaned back against the cool metal wall of the elevator as it slowly ticked its way up. "i guess we'll...see about it." they added. "people have been wrong about g and everything so far it seems." so why trust them all now? "you look like you're struggling a bit there." she adds, unsure why, and then does nothing to help.

[aletheapierce]

"no bribe? so what's the point of trying to solicit my vote parker? i'm not free." she laughs, arms crossed over her chest, eyebrow raised as if to challenge, to bring her in. not that alethea actually cared who won the court, it was fun to see people care though. they wish they cared enough, or had the courage to. "it's going alright, i suppose." they nod, it hadn't been eventful, so far. but she had learned not to underestimate an ogden event, for good and for bad. "what about you? feeling primed and ready to take the crown?"

"oh, for sure, now we're good," parker laughed, following them in taking a couple steps away. never mind the fact that the ballet box was, you know, definitely still much closer than that. she was merely glad alethea had decided to play along, the blonde's success rate for the night falling at about fifty-fifty. while some had been receptive to her attempts at keeping things light, others were impenetrable walls. understandably so, but damn, did the guy next to her at the bar really have to roll his eyes at her?

"even so," parker added, arms crossing over her torso, "i won't bore you with some speech. or bribe. though, i can't say the same for everyone else." she looked out over the crowd, hoping to spot someone else who was running, but couldn't spot any so quickly and looked back at alethea. "how's your night turning out, thea?"

[aletheapierce]

alethea nods, considering his suggestion. it'd still be humiliating, probably shocking for everyone, and relatively hilarious. "i think that could be managed. you probably got a cute little butt don't you." they tease, brushing their hair over their shoulder and giving a shrug. "you yea, we should've done that, why didn't you text me? the classic run across the field streak." they shoot back, smiling softly at him. "how far do you think you could make it on the field before security tackled you?" now that would be a real sight. "but if we don't make a mess of homecoming, someone certainly will." and always better for someone else than them right?

Monty continued to shake his head, humming out a very doubtful 'uh-huh' while Alethea made their argument for him streaking across the stage rather than them. "How about we split the difference," he offered, smile staying put as he played into the hypothetical and teased, "You can go topless, I'll go bottomless, and we'll both streak across the stage while half-naked. Everyone wins." Or maybe everyone loses, depending on the reception of their classmates. Not to mention the fact that Dean Zuko was probably in no mood to let shenanigans slide this early in the year, but when had the consequences ever held Monty back from doing something dumb just for the sake of having fun? "You know, this probably all would've been way more on brand if we organized it for the football game," he pointed out, facing scrunching in faux disappointment. "You shoulda texted me hours ago."

[aletheapierce]

right, sam arrested. though alethea knew this had to be a set-up, there was no way she set a fire, no way she was g. and yet...that's what everyone was believing, even fellow students. they didn't know heath very well, but if they were honest they wouldn't trust his judgment very much to begin with. "you know that for sure?" she raised an eyebrow at him, arms crossed over her chest, leaned back against the cool metal wall of the elevator as it slowly ticked its way up. "i guess we'll...see about it." they added. "people have been wrong about g and everything so far it seems." so why trust them all now? "you look like you're struggling a bit there." she adds, unsure why, and then does nothing to help.

Sam, right. That was her name. Heath shrugged again, a little clunkier in the motion, taking the time to adjust his grip on the box he now severely regretted lugging up to the top floor. "Sure, why not? She was arrested, so…" Soooo, she definitely, totally, absolutely had to be guilty, right? That wasn't at all how the justice system worked, and Heath was well aware, but he would've preferred it to be that way, at least for a little peace of mind. "Maybe she didn't cause all the, uh -- texts and stuff." Belatedly, he stopped himself from mentioning G, a little cagey about uttering their name aloud to anyone, uncertain of who had been personally harassed or was blissfully on the outside of it. "But she did start the fire. She's guilty of that," he decided with firm conviction.