#( threads ) — marisol adler

[sugcrxspice]

( halloween party, the parlour, before 11:30 pm ) @othcrside, marisol

"Marisoool," Ava whined into her little sister's ear, trying to make herself heard over the blaring music while impatiently tugging on the sleeve of her flannel. "Where's the bathroom in this stupid place? I've had a ton of drinks, and I can't find it anywhere. Do you know where it is? 'Cause I'm starting to think it doesn't even exist. They built a mansion with no bathrooms just to drive people crazy." The Adlers were a colorful family, to say the least, an impression that Ava did little to assuage given her frequently intense demeanor. But despite the siblings' many differences (and all of the tragedy they'd faced over the years), she wouldn't trade any of them for the world. But instead of just telling her siblings how much she loved and appreciated them like a well-adjusted person, the hairdresser tended to express her love for her family by pestering them, making her presence known—whether they liked it or not. And despite her clearly impaired condition, tonight was no exception. "Will you help me find the bathroom, pretty pleeease? Or else I might have to pop a squat behind a bush and risk publicly humiliating you."

[daydreambelievcr]

Pastel pink platform boots idly grazing the ground beneath her, the circus performer took a small sip of her sugary cocktail, more engrossed in the paperback in her hands than the ambiance of the bar around her. Valerie wasn't exactly much of a drinker (at least not outside of social settings), but when she did occasionally indulge, she tended to prefer a fun and fruity novelty drink than any alcohols that used the word "smoky" as a descriptor. This solitary evening out was a rarity for the social butterfly, a momentary stop to kill time as she waited for her sister to be done with a shift at the House of Judgment. She'd been feeling better as of late, a lot less paranoid than she had been over the spring and summer, an improvement that could easily be attributed to the support of her siblings, not to mention the company of the occasional roommate she'd found in Seojun. In high spirits, she was looking forward to a fun evening out with her sister. At the sound of a nearby voice, Val turned her head and offered the stranger a sunny grin. "Oh, it's real neat in here," she agreed, setting down her book and giving the bar a more proper once-over. Luckily for Marisol, the former starlet never met a stranger in her life, immune to any lingering awkwardness coming from the other. "Are they really? I've never tried a cremia cone from here before, but I am a sucker for sweet things. Dontcha worry about coverin' for me, though. I've got some extra money on me," she assured the younger girl. "How funny, I'm waitin' for my sister! She doesn't work here, but she agreed to meet me here when she's off the clock," Valerie remarked, perking up in her seat. "I love your outfit, by the way. We're very 'pro-color' in my house."

the milk bar, october 7 ( @anchoragestarters ) CAP 0 / 4 !

"Could I get a cremia cone, please?" Marisol's syrupy sweet words dripped from a mouth that was offering an overcompensating smile to the server. She was anxiously awaiting for her older brother to retire from his nightly duties so she would have reliable carpool home—typically, during the warmer months, she took advantage of walking, and while she could have chosen the bus, she was endeavoring to spend more time with her siblings. It was something about the imminent holiday season that had summoned the bell ringers of her heart and made her all the more sentimental than she already was. Perhaps it was clingy, but she thought she could safely assume that any one of her siblings would rather her be a koala strapped to their spines than spiraling out in a manic frenzy. As she awaited her treat, she tapped her fingers on the counter absentmindedly and hummed a quiet tune under her breath before a silhouette in her peripheral caught her eye. "What a place, huh?" she spoke up, an awkwardness imbued in her mannerisms as she tried desperately to appear more mature than she felt. She was currently sitting in a dim-lit bar, drenched from the crown of her head to the bottoms of her feet in attractive colors and chunky sneakers that did not so easily integrate themselves into her current environment. "I've never really stuck around here before. I don't drink, but—those cremia cones are stupid good. Did you want one? I have a couple extra bucks from tips. Or are you having something else? I don't wanna fuck up your vibe. I'm just waiting for my brother."

[annisa--adler]

Nisa had yet to see one of their sisters and for a few minutes now, they'd been anxiously sitting at their table, looking around and hoping to catch either Ava or Marisol's eye and flag them over. But so far, no such luck. Either the girls were running late or Nisa had simply gotten here too early. However, their attention quickly shifted to the redhead when she frantically whispered to them. Oddly enough, being able to be helpful made Nisa feel a lot less restless and they couldn't help but smile a bit at the question. Don't get them wrong, Annisa Adler was no seamstress--however, having done ballet for almost their entire life, one learned pretty quickly how to use a needle and thread, especially because costume emergencies were pretty common. Hell, nowadays, Nisa simply just kept safety pins on their person whenever their ballet students had dance recitals, just in case. Jumping up out of their seat, they nodded and said "Sure! What's the issue?" They quickly climbed up the steps and went behind the curtain in tow of the redhead. Oddly enough, meeting new people was usually quite nerve-wracking for the dark-haired dancer but right now, they felt very in their own element.

( sweet cheeks cabaret, evening, may 1st ) @anchoragestarters

After the last year spent in Anchorage, Freya was starting to feel like a bona fide local in the Alaskan town. Even through the oddities and macabre things occurring in her orbit, the dancer felt a sense of normalcy among the lifelong residents and their gallows humor. Sweet Cheeks in particular felt like a home away from her familiar basement apartment, even during a special event that had little to do with what she did there most nights—trading in the sequins and feathers of her performance wear for a new role: aspiring seamstress extraordinaire. But though the redhead prided herself on being cool under pressure, especially after years of ballet training had given her nerves of steel, it seemed that her usual resolve was quickly put to the test when thrust into unfamiliar waters. And with the clock counting down until the next round of models was due onstage, pieces of her costumes still in incomplete tatters, she was getting desperate.

Peaking her head out from behind the backstage curtain, Freya gestured to the first person that crossed her path near the edge of the stage. "Pst! Hey! Do you have a second?" she asked, shifting anxiously from foot to foot. "I'm having a bit of a tailoring emergency, and I don't know what to do. You think you could help me out? Or... you know, talk me down?" she remarked with a nervous laugh, glancing back at her designs.

[sugcrxspice]

In Ava's humble opinion, a nation state ruled by the infinite wisdom of the Adler sisters sounded like a goddamned utopia (no matter how dystopian that might have seemed to anyone else in town outside of their happy, drunken bubble—their own brothers no doubt included among the more skeptical masses). "Ugh, it would be a dream, Sollie. Think about how we could raise up Cy's girls in a community like that. We'd make sure that they turn out to be weird, little badasses, just like their favorite aunts," she mused dreamily. Ava and Marisol were tasked with babysitting their nieces so often, they would no doubt have a hand in shaping the futures of Cyrek's legion of bright daughters, and the fairy considered it a privilege to give them what she desperately wished she'd had growing up: guardians that they could confide in other than their dutiful parents, people that would give them the space to try new things and fuck up, not to mention the wisdom and advice to get through it all in one piece. "You know I aspire to be more like London Tipton every day," the blonde played along, a delirious giggle bubbling out of her mouth like champagne. "We can make a giant closet for our most prized possessions. It would be like the holy land of our little community." Though their heads were collectively in the clouds, Ava was grateful that her sister was able to keep them on track. It was true that together, they were a barrel of laughs, both mischievous and fun-loving creatures, but the same applied for when things went wrong, equally capable of causing a commotion. "It's hard to believe that we're, like... adult adults now, isn't it? When do you think that feeling fully sinks in?" she wondered wistfully, resting her cheek against her sister's arm. Maybe when you don't have to call people to get you out of any minor inconvenience. But she easily brushed off that idle thought before it had time to fully take root in her mind.

"Those days better be far behind us," Ava couldn't resist playful scolding her younger sister, lightly knocking her hip against Marisol's in return. "The only kind of self-destruction I want to see from any of us anymore is the fun kind," she jested with a wag of her perfectly plucked brows, a sincere grin gracing cherry red lips at the gentle touch of their foreheads together. It might have seemed odd to other, more well-adjusted families, but the hairdresser was grateful that she and her siblings were able to cope with everything they'd endured in such a light-hearted manner. Still, even despite their shared penchant for dark humor, there was nothing that the eldest Adler daughter wanted more than for her family to be deliriously, truly happy. Was it a tall order? Living somewhere as dark and shrouded in mystery as Anchorage, it could be. But that didn't stop her from idealistically wishing for it, even despite the odds stacked against them. "Eh, I may not have gotten the musical gifts in this family, but I've got plenty of others," she remarked with an airy sigh, her spirits soaring from the depths that they had plunged to just earlier that same evening. "Okay, I'm loving this confident energy on you. I should be your wingwoman when we're drunk more often. The ladies won't be able to resist," the cosmetologist sing-songed, a hand flying over her mouth to stifle a giggle as if it was a secret she had to conceal.

"You're so right. We could basically start our own community, cool kids only," Cult or not, Marisol entertained the idea wistfully in her mind's eye as they circumnavigated the mansion; a conglomerate of well-dressed, open-minded folk that they could bestow all their knowledge upon. It was an absolute dream — a fever dream to everyone except for the sisters, of course, but a dream nonetheless. A stupid grin flashed on the young witch's face at the mention of a tour of her gallery of shoes. "What a brilliant idea. And we've got to build you a wardrobe worthy of your style. I'm thinking like London Tipton — you know, having a built-in mall in your closet," she mused, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she tried not to distract herself too much to where she found them both lost. That would certainly result in catastrophe, and an extremely embarrassed Ava, which she knew they both could agree wouldn't bode well for either their reputations. "I mean, I still kind of feel 16 most days, but technically we are adults," she said pointedly. "We could totally become, like, retail investors. When they strike gold, they strike the whole fuckin' mine." One might falsely presume that all the two cared about at their cores was material wealth, which couldn't have been further from the truth; still, when you've lived most of your life sacrificing little luxuries for basic survival needs, you tend to fantasize about what would become of you if you weren't given the short end of the stick. Still, Marisol thought, it could be shorter. Much shorter. If you don't include what would've been Cyrek's clear disdain for their borderline villainous plans to gather up the youths and convert them to the Faith of Adler.

Eternally grateful that Marisol could still exercise her specific brand of dark humor on her dearest companion (though there really shouldn't have ever been any doubt), she released bubbly laughter that spilled from her lips as she knocked her hip against Ava's in return. "Yeah, yeah. I won't, trust me. Those days are far behind us, Avie, you're the only drama queen in the family from here on out," she assured her sister, pivoting her head for good measure and pressing their foreheads together in a silent promise. "Well, plenty of people can't even shout melodically. I'd say you're one of the lucky ones." Every Adler, in their own right, was a menace to society and had earned themselves a badge proudly displaying to others that they should proceed with caution lest they wish to be caught up in the spider's web of chaos they spun in tandem with one another. And she couldn't have been happier to be allowed a place in that intricate web. "I think that's all it'll take for us to bag some chicks, for sure. I'll totally study up on it once we ditch this popsicle stand. And I mean — what better time to do it than Halloween? The energy is literally perfect."

[sugcrxspice]

"Oh my God, you're so right. Under Adler rule, we'd get the kids on our side when they're still young and impressionable. Teach them all about witchcraft, how to create their own wicked styles, and to take care of each other the way we do," Ava ruminated thoughtfully, very much ignoring the fact that it sounded like she and her sister were debating starting a cult. But the girls couldn't be bothered with reality at the moment, content to drift through the halls of the mansion in a giddy haze, clinging to each other for dear life. It wasn't all that different to the way they'd weathered storms growing up alongside each other, the way they dealt with life when things got heavy even to this day: stubbornly stuck together. "Oh! We should give tours of your closet and make everyone in town see the splendor that is your collection of Chucks," the fairy giggled, far too enthusiastic about the fictitious vision of the future that she and Marisol were cooking up (Lord knows if she would even remember most of it tomorrow after the haze had finally cleared). "Oh yeah... we're old enough to do adult things like investing now, aren't we? I should really look into that," Ava mused, uncertain if she found the idea intriguing or terrifying, having that kind of responsibility over the rest of her life. Their eldest brother would certainly have a lot to say about their plans for a utopia, especially given the fact that his little sisters had a tendency to dream so big, they forgot to keep their feet on the ground.

"Yeah, and don't you ever try that shit again. Let me stay the drama queen in this family, or I'll put you in the hospital myself next time," Ava chastised the younger Adler, giving Marisol a playful smack in the arm. As dark as the subject matter was, the blonde had never shied away from gallows humor in the past as a way to cope with all of the things that she and her siblings endured over the years (a personality trait she often forgot to censor in mixed company, to hilariously unfortunate results). "Hey, you're way better than me. I sound like I'm melodically shouting any time I even try to sing," she insisted, giving Sol's arm a squeeze. Though the pair didn't always make the best first impression on strangers, their individual defenses presenting as an air of arrogance or self-importance, Ava knew her sister well enough to know that they were just that: defenses. After all, they were cut from the same cloth. "Oh, fuck yes—let's do it! And I'm surprised it's taken you this long to suggest a blood pact in the first place, Little Miss Witchy. You know a little blood and some scars have never bothered me. If anything, they'll make us look hot and mysterious."

Marisol could've keeled over in a fit of laughter if she hadn't undertaken the responsibility of keeping her beloved sister afloat until she could urinate in peace — after which they'd likely ditch the scene altogether, moving on to bigger and better things like acquiring a greasy burger and fries to absorb the alcohol in their guts. "I think everyone would benefit from Adler supremacy, honestly. We would shower everyone in peace, prosperity, love and books on witchcraft to radicalize the youth," she said affirmingly. It was a fairly accurate depiction of the hypothetical world wherein she and Ava reigned sovereign. Although the idea of introducing her own spiritual beliefs unto the, again, hypothetical masses would've welcomed more chaos than peace, but she wasn't ruminating on the hypothetical! mechanics too much then. "I want each pair to be illuminated by LED lights so everyone has to behold their glory," she grinned widely at the mere mental illustration. "Everyone would be in such a better mood if they could have all the healing crystals they needed and the best dos in town, don't you think? We might be onto something here. We should invest in crypto or whatever those Wall Street dudes are up to." She could only imagine Cyrek's opinion on this matter would be; knowing damn well he had seen them both through their lowest of lows and would be a much less biased source on whether to confirm or deny their competency.

"Last time I tried to take your place, I wound up in the hospital," she joked, though she never truly knew if they would stick the landing with her family — much more accustomed to keeping some of the cruder things she could say away from more sensitive ears. Not that Ava was a thing to be shielded, but, well, most people didn't need any reminders that their loved ones had suffered. Still, the alcohol lowered her inhibitions enough to where she couldn't tell the difference in her audience. Bashfulness enveloped her features and she let out a dismissive laugh. "God, it isn't even that good. Buuuuut I'm always down for karaoke, so, I could put these pipes to good use," As self-absorbed as she could present thanks to her persevering mental illness, she was a humble being at heart. She'd learned to be that way at her core a long time ago; considering she had venomous tendencies as a young teenager as a result of being shuttled between families regularly. "I'm surprised we haven't done a blood pact or anything yet. Think we should? The scars would look cool, we can show them off to the dudes and dudettes."

[sugcrxspice]

"We should lead a revolution, me and you. Make 'em share the wealth with the rest of us lowly common folk," the fairy offered, an overly confident drunken idea if there ever was one. Luckily, she was in good company with her little sister at her side, the two of them easily playing off of each other's energy. "Honestly, money is wasted on people with generational wealth. We'd be much more fun and generous overlords to the masses," Ava agreed with a haughty sniff, the mesh wings at her back perking up as she straightened. A fond smile playing across painted lips, she nodded reverently as Marisol listed off the items on her theoretical wishlist. As much as she teased the youngest Adler about wanting to give her a She's All That-style makeover, there was nothing she'd change about her sister. "Oh, you could get every Converse color and style that your heart desires if we were super rich. And a cute, fancy display for them is a must. We'd have those obnoxiously big closets that celebrities have," she chuckled (as if it wasn't her secret fantasy to have a closet the size of her current apartment). "Of course, it wouldn't be a Sollie haul without some crystals. Those will need a display too. See? You're already such a gracious overlord. I would give everyone at the salon a pay raise too." Ava wasn't exactly a savant with money herself (as evidenced by the black Tory Burch handbag that she'd nearly maxed out one of her credit cards to acquire), so maybe her lack of funds was a blessing in disguise—at least for the time being.

"Well, someone in this family has the carry the burden of being the life of the party. In our family, it seems that duty falls to me," the cosmetologist lamented dramatically. As much as they teased each other, there were few people in town that Ava trusted as much as her siblings, which applied tenfold to her sister. Where she frequently regarded Cyrek with playful annoyance and Damiar with curious amusement, she and Marisol were cut from the same cloth, to the point where she frequently forgot that they weren't always sisters. An expression of drunken wonder overtaking her features at the sound of Marisol's sweet singing voice, her mouth dropped open. "Ohmygoooood, your voice is so pretty. I don't know how I could ever forget that. If I weren't tone deaf, I'd take you to karaoke nights all the time so you can show off. But you're right, that song is perfect for us. You're my ride or die forever. You'd never let me piss my pants at a party." Inclined to blame all of the alcohol coursing through her system for her over-sentimentality, her admissions were genuine nonetheless. Throughout the chaos of the last few months, her personal life in absolute tatters, the only saving grace in Ava's life was the unfailing company of her siblings.

"I honestly don't think I'll ever understand them. Eat 'em all, I say," Marisol hummed in agreement. The lavish nature in which some chose to conduct their lives was none of the young Adler's business, she knew very well, but that didn't prohibit her from passing a bit of judgment anyway. "See, that's why people like you and I should have all this money instead. Our priorities are straight." A grin was woven onto her lips as she heard Ava's very reasonable desires if she were ever met with such fortune. "Me? Jeez. You know I'm not huge into fashion — I mean, I would probably buy an extensive collection of custom Converse, actually, so scratch that — I'd definitely buy the Raven House and give everyone a pay raise. Probably splurge on one of those crystal packages they sell online," she listed off. In truth, no one would ever entrust Marisol with such a huge sum of money. She was hardly trusted with her own allowance until she turned eighteen, and even then a keen eye was kept on her, rightfully so: she was an expert at spending any kind of currency that was afforded her. It took three months of economics night classes for her to fully comprehend the importance of a savings account that remained untouched. "Duh. That's what I love most about you, you've always got the spotlight so none of us have to share." she continued teasing. She truly wouldn't have her sister any other way — they complimented one another splendidly and, as a result, could rely upon each other for anything. Not so much could be said for many families in Anchorage, hell, in the world. "How's that song go? Ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no river low enough, ain't no valley wide enough, to keep me from gettin' to you," she sang out, uncaring of the side glances she was given by those they passed by. If anything, it works in my favor for people to think I'm adorable and tiny—that way, they won't know what hit 'em. Snorting, the raven-haired nodded along. "Oh, for sure. Honestly, if we weren't sisters I'd be terrified of you," she hummed, directing the fairy in the opposite direction as they continued their hunt for an available bathroom. "Piss yourself, probably. And of course I'll feel bad about it. How couldn't I? No one gets me like you do."

[sugcrxspice]

Lucky for them both, Ava's desire to drown her heartache in as much alcohol as she could stomach was doing wonders to keep her mind off of her impossibly full bladder, blissfully letting her sister lead her around the mansion like a stray dog that had latched onto a friendly stranger. "Rich people are so weird, Sollie. Spending their money on giant houses with no bathrooms," she mused, eyelids starting to droop as her train of thought wandered hopelessly off the rails. "If I were rich enough to own a place like this, I would spend it on fun stuff. Tropical vacations to cool, remote places, buying as much gorgeous and vintage designer clothes as my heart desires. And, of course, buying ridiculously expensive gifts for all my favorite people. You're at the top of that list, duh. What would you do if you had this kind of money to blow?" the fairy wondered, gesturing broadly to the lavish mansion and festivities raging around them. Letting out a maniacal giggle at Marisol's jest, she nodded in agreement. "Of course, how could I ever forget? Besides, we both know I'm the attention hog in this family." Most people would've at least feigned a more demure attitude over that fact, but not Ava Adler. Still, as much as she adored commanding a room, parties like this were only fun with her family and friends in tow. Her loopy grin widening at the reminder that her sister would always be at her side, in a moment of rare sincerity, she remarked softly, "As much as I like to kid around, I know you'll always be there for me. There's no obstacle too big for us to tackle if we're facing it together. I think we've already proved as much." Her eyes growing more alert at the admission, she let out a peel of laughter when Marisol called her a kick ass munchkin. "Hey, stature aside, I can kick anyone's ass, especially if they try and mess with you. If anything, it works in my favor for people to think I'm adorable and tiny—that way, they won't know what hit 'em." An unbecoming and bratty whine escaping her lips at the sight of the line for the bathroom, Ava allowed herself to be lead away again. "Honestly, what would I do without you?" she insisted with a pout. "And as long as you feel bad about it, I can forgive such a betrayal."

Marisol spent much of her young life as a touch-averse, moody adolescent, and she was more than happy to rejoice in the comfort of her family's affection. Even the small gestures like Ava's cheek rested against her shoulder was enough to make her feel wanted and worthy in the vast and unrelenting world they lived in, despite spending most of that time in a small town on the coast of Alaska — but one could argue it was isolating as any other place on earth, which it most certainly could be. What mattered was surrounding yourself with people that you knew would stick around, and that's precisely what the Adlers were. In spite of their differences and quarrels, they were a tight-knit bunch that only grew closer when tragedy struck. "I honestly wouldn't put it past them." she chuckled in response as her eyes flitted around so she could spot any doors that would make way toward a bathroom, a bit fearful that her sister might grow too impatient having to amble around with a full bladder. "Of course not. Who do you mistake me for? My antipsychotics strictly prohibit me from committing such grand acts of attention grabbing," she denied at once. Endlessly amused by the theatrical sniffling, she knocked her hips against the other's playfully in return. "I know it couldn't. You know I've got your back." She melted a little whenever her arm was given a reassuring squeeze and she placed a hand atop Ava's instinctively. "Oh, I never doubted it for a second. You're a kick ass munchkin. I couldn't imagine a better knight in shining armor." At last, they stumbled across a line to one of the bathrooms, and Marisol couldn't contain a groan. "The hunt continues. And I wouldn't sell you up the river. At least, not without feeling bad first."

[sugcrxspice]

Huddled close to Marisol as they wound their way through the massive house, careful to keep her mesh, wiry wings from accidentally jabbing her sister in the side or tangling in her hair, Ava leaned down to softly press a cheek against her shoulder, loose bleached tresses falling into her line of sight. Though the hairdresser had the unfortunate tendency of getting too caught up in her own business sometimes to notice the other things going on in her orbit, momentary blinders strapped to her face that stopped her from seeing anything beyond her own heartache, she would always make time for her family, no matter what she was going through. Letting them flounder on their own wasn't an option. She'd made that mistake once, and she'd never make it again. "Eww, you really think someone pissed in one of those plants?" she balked, barely repressing an amused giggle as she scrunched her nose up at the idea. "People are gross. Sollie, promise me you'll never drop trou to relieve yourself in a plant, of all places." Nevermind the fact that the fairy had threatened to do exactly that behind a bush just a few minutes ago. "Bless you for looking out for me. My reputation couldn't take a hit like that," she sniffed dramatically. Her features abruptly softening, tone becoming more sincere to match the shift in her demeanor, Ava gently squeezed her sister's arm. "You know I'll always be your sworn protector, right? No matter what. I don't care that I'm barely five feet tall, either. I'm scrappy, I can fight with the best of them." And she meant it. For better or worse, the Adlers were a tightly bonded bunch, a fact that she wouldn't take for granted ever again. "Hey, you can trust me! I just can't believe you would sell your most precious sister up the river just for a babysitting gig," she scoffed, but her tone was still light and playful.

The youngest Adler was more than relieved she hadn't partaken too heavily in any substances yet that evening, though the possibility was certainly still on the table if she could secure Ava a safe space to reside. Otherwise, she would stick by her side and save the festivities for another place, another time. It wouldn't have made that much of a difference to Marisol — she'd do anything for her family, and the vibes were a little too off-kilter for her to truly entertain the concept of being inebriated beyond reason anyway. "Probably the potted plants, if we're being honest," she jested, though it wouldn't surprise her if that were the case. Humans were impatient creatures, she knew that much. "Or the expensive rugs. But I'm going to try and preserve your dignity the best I can." A chuckle parted her lips when her sister assured her that she wouldn't surrender her to the clutches of chaos, glad that the feeling was mutual between them. She really couldn't have been more fortunate in life to have a family as supportive and close-knit as all the Adlers were, for better or for worse. "Good to know I've got you as my sworn protector, Avie," she couldn't resist a grin pulling at the corner of her mouth. Her cognac eyes drifted down whenever Ava whispered and she seemed thoroughly bemused by her. "And risk my one guaranteed babysitting gig? I thought I could trust you." she mused with an echoing laugh.

[sugcrxspice]

After a night of traipsing all through the mansion, jumping on and off of the makeshift dancefloor whenever the mood struck her, Ava was starting to regret her decision not to opt for a more comfortable costume. But nooo, she just had to choose something flashy, desperate for even a modicum of validation from anyone that would offer it, even if she didn't end up winning the costume contest at the end of the night. Once again, the need to be complimented trumped her desire for more sensible attire: the story of her life. "Well then, let's put our heads together and figure out where they're hiding it. People are using the bathroom somewhere in this labyrinth, we just have to figure out where," she reasoned, a goofy grin overtaking her features when Marisol threw her arm around her shoulders, leaning into her slight frame as they stumbled ahead with no real direction—the blind leading the blind. Ava was accustomed to her little sister standing a few inches over her short frame, so with the added height provided by her heels, she appreciated being at eye-level with them for a change, gently knocking her head against Marisol's. "Deal. As far as I'm concerned, we're a two-headed monster for the foreseeable future. There's no way I'm letting you get carried off by these crowds either," she agreed, wrapping a protective arm around her waist. Though she didn't always trust her own instincts, famously terrible at predicting the outcomes of her own actions, Ava would gladly put her faith in her sister's hands. "And make sure to tell Cy that I'm your favorite sibling the next time we see him too," she added in a stage whisper, a smug smile tugging at her lips.

Marisol was relieved that she didn't construct an extravagant costume, unlike some people that were much braver than she. Even the sight of them waddling around in their intricately designed dresses and tight suits made her lightheaded. It didn't help that Ava's voice echoed loudly in her ear, but she was well accustomed to that, at the very least. "Do you really think I know? I can barely navigate which side to walk on the pavement, let alone this madhouse," she said, adjusting her overalls that she had accidentally ordered a size too big — it had sagged awkwardly in a few places, much to her chagrin. Maybe she should have put more thought into her costume, after all. Chuckling at her sister's lighthearted warning, she tossed an arm around her shoulders and began guiding her ahead blindly. "Of course. Just keep a hold of my hand, alright? I'm not losing you to this crowd, you're my favorite sibling." Considering the track record of events held in Anchorage and Marisol's unspoken sixth sense when it concerned imminent tragedy, she had absolutely no faith that this night wouldn't end in some sort of disaster. Even if was just Ava being unable to wait until they found a bathroom.