solaadisa

[solaadisa]

"Right! And she was a really good hugger too, so that's another win for me."

There was no world in which Sola didn't go all out for this, even if it meant having to pay full price for the dress she was currently wearing. Birthdays deserved to be celebrated with no holds barred.

She rubbed her hands together and took in the selection, even though there was barely any real consideration before she said, "Jello, hell yeah. Bottoms up, baby."

@ambivalenceshefelt

"Oh I love that!" Nikki grinned. Not that she expected it to come to this but oh well, she loved passionate people.

Birthday girl was impressed. "Wow, now that's a vibe we love in this house." winking she added "Good for humanity and cost effective." Nikki should really learn to be a little more thrifty too, now that she thought about it.

"Yes!" She exclaimed dragging the 's' and looked around for the closest booze. "Okay, regular or jello?" || @solaadisa

[solaadisa]

Sola tipped her bright pink cap at him with a smile before his next statement had the smile dropping from her lips completely. "Wait, are you serious? British people don't like Halloween? Dude, do you guys like anything fun? Like, I get 'stiff upper lip' and all that, but come on."

@romanphoenix

——- ❝  Thank you. you don't look too bad yourself. ❞ roman added with a slight grin on his lips. flexing his fingers some inside of the gloves he wore as he couldn't easily twirl any of his rings when he was gloved. ❝  well — halloween isn't really the big deal back in london as it is around here. ❞

[solaadisa]

AYO EDEBIRI

Before the academy gala by Morgan Maher (October 2024)

[solaadisa]

Okay, that was a scary smile, but so far things were still civil. They could do civil.

At least they'd already set a high bar for themselves in terms of drama with their fight in the Oasis parking lot, and Sola would do anything in her power to keep them from meeting that bar. If that meant gritting her teeth and refusing to dignify some of Robin's errant digs with a response, even if Sola's own instincts were screaming at her to do otherwise, then so be it.

What was harder for her to deal with, though, was silence. She'd happily take awkward small talk than awkward nothingness, even with Robin, who willingly starting a conversation with felt the same to Sola as willingly sticking her hand into a bear trap.

"Um. Yeah. Sure."

She started to walk down the beach, twirling the trash spear as the unease fully set in. The lighthouse seemed impossibly, tauntingly far away.

It didn't take long before the silence unnerved her a point where it was unbearable. She opened her mouth once, then her jaw clicked shut, and then it opened again. "I think I...want to say sorry. About how last time went." Was she sorry? Or did she just need to have something to say? She couldn't tell. "I shouldn't have yelled like that." That, at least, was true.

@robinsantos

Robin had only half been listening to the group co-ordinator as they assigned pairs and sections of the beach for trash clearing, instead regaling Atticus with the events of her weekend following a Aurora Bay Drive snob whose wife suspected her of embezzlement. Her attention and gaze only drift when she hears her name, expecting to hear Atticus's after, but the name that's spoken makes her blood boil.

If like was a cartoon then Robin suspected steam would be blowing out of her ears right now.

Atticus whispers something in her ear about Robin and unflattering orange jump suits before dispersing with the rest of the group and his assigned partner, leaving Robin and Sola standing on the beach, a ruined friendship scattered like litter between them.

"I think we can clear up the beach without the awkward small talk," Robin insists, tapping her trash picker against her leg and flashing a smile as sharp as razors at Sola. She was going to kill Atticus for making her sign up for volunteering. "You take the rocks and I'll take the lighthouse," With any luck Sola would do them both a favour and slip and drown. @solaadisa

[solaadisa]

closed: @warnerstjames

location: warner's place

"Okay, so...where the fuck do I put my hands?"

Both of them were currently hovering hesitantly over Warner's mouse and keyboard as she sat in his gaming chair. Sola's customized Fortnite character was currently doing the HOT TO GO! dance idly, over and over, as she stalled.

She hadn't grown up with video games outside of the beat up old DS she'd been gifted by a friend, and when she'd asked Warner to show her the ropes, she hadn't taken that inexperience into account.

"Like, what are my main buttons? How do I move? How do I shoot? Why are we doing this, again?"

[solaadisa]

"I will personally chase out anyone who isn't on theme, and I'm so for real right now," Sola intoned seriously, narrowing her eyes to scan the room for any immediate suspects.

She took a half step back to strike a few poses — arms held out vertically, hand under chin, topped off with a spin that sent the bottom of her yellow dress billowing out. "Thank you, thank you. Believe it or not, I got this at a garage sale a couple weeks ago. The mom said her daughter just went to college and she was super emo about it, so I got a huge discount because I let her vent and gave her a hug at the end."

"Wait. Birthday shots! Birthday shots immediately."

@ambivalenceshefelt

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she said excitedly. Nikki was happy, a nervous wreck as per usual but a happy one. "I was so worried people weren't going to show up or ignore the theme but" she shrieked "it turned out so great."

"Girl!" Nikki laughed. "If you were a guy I'd be all over you right now, you make me feel like a total goddess!" she said. Reaching over to touch Sola's dress, Nikki grinned. "Oh my..your dress is so gorgeous, I love the details" || @solaadisa

[solaadisa]

[solaadisa]

closed: @robinsantos

location: the beach

"Alright, we've got Robin and...Sola! You guys will take the east side, over by the lighthouse. Thanks again for doing this, everyone."

Sola pasted on a smile as the rest of the volunteers started to disperse to their assigned parts of the beach, even as she was suppressing the urge to drop her garbage bag and trash spear and run straight into the ocean.

As the others drifted away, her eyes found Robin's and the smile faltered but didn't entirely drop away. They could be civil, right?

"Hey," she greeted awkwardly as she approached. "You wanna head out?" To the furthest corner of the beach. Alone. With absolutely zero buffer between them. Awesome.

[solaadisa]

Sense and Sensibility: Does your muse tend to be a more practical or a more fanciful person? Why? Has this trait ever landed them in trouble, or saved them from it?

"I'm whimsical as hell, dude. Life's more fun with some whimsy. Like, why would I ever choose to be practical and, sorry, boring when I could just choose to be fun instead?"

[solaadisa]

"For you, my cutest alcohol intolerant friend," Sola confirmed with a nod as she let Mav go.

He was probably her only alcohol intolerant friend, if the crowd currently populating the rooftop and getting a little drunker by the minute was anything to go off of.

She felt a tiny spark of satisfaction when he listed her as one of the pros of being there and didn't actually immediately stamp it down. She couldn't really tell if the vibe she sometimes got from her talks with Mav was actually a vibe or if they were just good at talking to each other, but she was going to take the little compliment and not overthink it.

"Of course you were invited, but are you saying you wouldn't have crashed? You should crash more parties, it's fun. I'm up here, like, every other weekend in the summer just vibing and pretending to know a dude named Kyle. Everyone knows a Kyle."

She waved a hand to dismiss his concern. "Nah, I've got no idea who that is. I just picked a person to start talking to and," a shrug, "started talking to 'em."

@maverick-liu

"Sola!"

Mav calls back, both of his hands cupped around his mouth to try and amplify the sound, her name drawn out into a loud cheer. "A coke for little old me?" He laughs, leaning into her embrace. "Of course I made it!"

"I heard party and rooftop, and the best part is, I only have to take an elevator to go home end of night. And I was invited. That plays a part." It's a great turnout, and it makes sense. Ravi is a fun guy. He deserves this sort of celebration. "And also the added benefit of you being here."

That goes without saying, if his more frequent stops at Jolyani had anything to prove. Aside from the freedom of unemployment and scarce PA jobs in light of the current economy, seeking out Sola's banter had always been an easy decision since Valentine's day.

"Do you have to get back to your conversation? Don't let me keep you and all."

@solaadisa

[solaadisa]

"Hold up," Sola said, fixing Cricket's reflection with a disbelieving stare from her perch on the toilet. She had questions — many — but the only one that managed to break through the noise was, "What?"

Protectiveness flared momentarily in Sola's chest, and she stood to join Cricket at the sink, still looking at her incredulously. Sola had never so much as raised a hand at another person out of malice, but she thought that if she had to fight anyone in the world, Mavis Campbell would probably be pretty high on her list.

"Okay," she said, holding out her hands and trying to temper her judgment for a moment and play the voice of reason. It was an unfamiliar vibe for her — she and Cricket were much better at spiraling out together, as a unit — but it was her best friend's birthday, and Sola would be damned if she didn't do what she could to help keep things as fun and light as possible. "Okay, so she's here. Right now. And you're feeling mixed about it, which is so valid," she recapped, just trying to get all of the facts straight. "Have you talked to her yet?"

"You don't owe anyone an explanation, you know. Never, but especially not tonight. Like, just say the word and I'll play bodyguard for the rest of the night and tell anyone who even tries to ask to fuck right off."

@cricketcampbell

for: @solaadisa

where: cricket's bathroom, nov 15th

"So, funny story," Cricket pauses to press her freshly touched up lips together. "My sister's here."

She doesn't risk a glance at Sola's reflection, instead busying herself in checking that no stray lipstick had gotten on her teeth.

"I mean, like, I invited her, so it's not like I'm blindsided," again, "or anything. But...I don't know. I didn't want her here, and then maybe I kinda did, so I sent the invite and then it was just too late to take it back, so now she's here and I still don't know if, like, I actually want her to be, and I don't know if that's because I don't or I just don't want to have to explain to everyone who meets her and didn't know I had a sister that I did--that I do. Have a sister. And she's here. Tonight. Did I mention that she's here, like, right now?"

[solaadisa]

Sola was all-too eager to shriek right back at Nikki, grabbing her hands and jumping in place excitedly as she looked over the scene on the rooftop. "Oh my god, of course. You know I'd never miss this. Happy birthday, queen!"

She let go of Nikki's hands only to surge forward for a hug. "You and Cricket look, like, so fucking good. Like, it's unbelievable. I'm actually being blinded by beauty right now, but I will happily give up my sense of sight if it means I got to look at you two for a couple minutes."

@ambivalenceshefelt

Cricket & Nikki's birthday party @ Ocean Crest Rooftop || Open to all

Nikki let out an excited shrill, hands reaching out to take hold of the other's hands. "Oh my God, thank you so much for coming!" she offered with a grin, honestly excited. "I know this is..different, but it's going to be absolutely amazing" she gushed. How many people would throw a prom themed birthday party in the middle of November? Well, two..tada, and welcome to their party!!

[solaadisa]

@cricketcampbell

[solaadisa]

"Ohhh, you know what, I see it now. Well, you look fresh, man," Sola said, giving him an approving thumbs up. "Wait, you don't dress up every year? Dude, you've been missing out. Are you not much of a Halloween guy?"

@romanphoenix

——- ❝  It's just a plague doctor but more of a suit then the robes. figured it'd be a nice thing to try. ❞ roman explained simply, as he adjusted the suit jacket on his outfit. ❝  i'm glad you like it though. it's kinda my first time really doing something for the holiday. ❞

[solaadisa]

"Oh, dude, don't even make my brain go there right now. I think I'll spin out."

It wasn't that Sola never got hit with the odd spell of existential dread or milder 'holy shit the universe is so big and I'm so small,' but she did generally try to keep her feet on the ground and focus on her tiny corner of said universe. Under the influence of this particular cookie — maybe she'd misjudged exactly how much she should put in them — she feared she was liable to go down a rabbit hole if she didn't resist it.

She only looked over at Gilly when she was already on the ground, and a giggle left her lips as she grabbed her friend's hand and laid down next to her, to the grumbling of some passerby.

"Do you think they have feelings?" she asked as she watched a school go by. "You think they're happy in there, or do they want out?"

@thegillyxliang

Gillian was all too happy to chow down on the cookie Sola had supplied for her, always enjoying an edible over anything else. So now as they stood in the middle of the tanked hallway, Gilly had to resist the urge to just lay on the floor as she looked up with her friend, lips parted in awe at the shark that swam overhead.

"For real. Especially when you think about the fact that humans have only discovered like 10% of the ocean? So who knows what else is down there. You can't convince me that something like Atlantis doesn't exist..."

As she said it she glanced over to see a little girl doing just what she'd been wanting to do and Gillian bit her lip, hesitating for a second before moving. "Fuck it." She moved over to the side at least so she wouldn't be right in the middle before she laid down and just held her hand out blindly to Sola as she looked up at the other fish that swam around. "This is way better."

[solaadisa]

Sola's mouth snapped shut at the instruction but her heart sank. Maybe she should've just insisted that she didn't know who it was and didn't want to go through the trouble of tracking them down, but the thought of piling another lie onto the debacle this had turned into formed a knot in the pit of her stomach.

Not the sigh.

"Not, like, recently," she said quickly in her defense, but it was undercut by the guilt in her voice. "Graduation night. And look, okay, they were broken up then, I swear to god. Ravi and I were celebrating and drunk and...they got back together after, so I don't know, I thought that it was just a...blip, I guess. And then they broke up again. And now she hates me."

Sola looked up at Gideon with a look bordering on desperate. "Please don't think I'm a bad person because of this."

@greengideon

"Hold up --"

It was an order given with a single finger raised -- Gideon departing from his place behind the counter to pace down to the coffee machine -- taking the pot and pouring contents into his mug to make sure the taste was fresh -- before he moved back down to his place in front of Sola.

"You're not getting away from that topic that easily. What do you mean you were involved in her and Ravi breaking up?"

He sighs, on the breach of potential disappointment.

"Did you guys sleep together?"

@solaadisa

[solaadisa]

Sola let all of the pent up excitement, held back through the entirety of what might've been their most important dinner service to date, out at Ravi's affirmation. She let out what was a completely undignified squeal (hopefully quiet enough that the sound didn't travel out to all of the A-listers milling about) and launched forward to wrap his arms around his middle, her cheek burying into his chest as she rocked them back and forth in the hug.

"No, I literally locked my phone in the glove compartment to stop myself. Imagine being the reason this thing leaks to TMZ. I think that I might have to go into hiding," she said, with a grimace and shudder at the thought as she released him.

Her mind reeled momentarily with the thought of the doors this could open for them, but she quashed it quickly. She was, beyond the fangirling and adrenaline, honored to be there. All they had to do was let the food speak for itself, and the rest would fall into place.

It was just that — she'd always felt, right from the start, that she and Ravi were doing something big here. They just needed that push, that kickstart, and everything else would work out.

"Hey—" she said, swatting at his chest and pointing a finger up at him. "No Cricket strays tonight." Or ever, ideally, but she'd take what she could get. "We're all here, we're thriving. It's good."

She looked around at the mess they'd made of the kitchen as a new song kicked up over the speakers outside — something slower this time — and sighed. "God, where do we even start?"

@ravirussell

"I'm trying to be so cool about it but I feel like I'm not being cool at all," Ravi confesses, feeling immediately unburdened as he let his shoulders sag some and his face look more like his actual face and not the customer service version smiler that felt like he was trying on someone else's disposition.

"I have the most intense urge to take so many pictures. I'm not going to, but the thought is definitely there."

It's not every day he found himself serving food to people who crossed his X feed by algorithm alone. Plus, it was beautiful, even at two in the morning.

"You seen the queue, I think we killed it. Plus it got longer after people tried other peoples eats. One tag from just a couple of the Instas of some of these folks and tomorrow could look totally different for us."

He tries not to get too excited, but it was hard not to on the heels of rave verbal reviews that were also promised to be written ones.

"Sounds like that nightmare you call bestie did a good job too. So y'know, anything's possible."

@solaadisa