#hehehe hahaha im a genius :) shes fucking lying shes met them once and the wife in passing

[nancyrelocated]

THE NIGHT'S GETTING TOO LATE AND THE CIGARETTE IN HER HAND FEELS COLD. still, she holds onto it like it'll escape, lips tight against the filter as her fingers struggle with the lighter she carries. the balcony's a good place for solace when the party indoors has become too loud ( THE BUNGALOW WAS STUFFED WITH BODIES, SARDINES IN A CAN. ) and sweaty, the conversations turning stale the more words were produced. behind the french doors, the chaos inside is a pleasant muffle, and the detective begins to pretend the whistling wind is her counterpart. the party's too full of unfamiliar faces, too dense in who pretends to recognize the person across from them. she has no time for that.

FINALLY, SHE GIVES UP WITH THE LIGHTER, a final clicking ringing the air and punctuating the swift opening and closing of the balcony doors. the party muffles again. she lets a breath through her nose and removes the cigarette from her mouth, leans against the railing. from behind her, her visitor [ @singerblade ] speaks: ❝ is there room on that balcony for two ?  ❞

there's a second of pause. her throat clears, a glance thrown backwards as if she were casting it away. ❝ yeah. i mean, it depends on if you've got a working light or not. mine's out, i'm afraid.  ❞ the woman shuffles against the railing, pretends to make room for him. his footsteps confirm his movement, and she still keeps her gaze away from theirs.

a beat. another drawn breath,

❝ SO: ARE YOU FRIENDS WITH THE HOSTS ? ah, hell -- Miriam, and her wife ( ... ) Candice. sweet couple, don't you think ?  ❞