between the drinks and subtle things

[likesboys]

Tonight is one of the moments that Kurt's been eagerly waiting for ever since he started watching college flicks back in his middle school days. As much as he claims to turn his nose up at the idea of debauchery for its own sake, there's also something about it that intrigues him, a loosening of collars and letting down of hair between a group of people who are at that point in their lives, chaotic and wanting little more than to explore. This is what being young should be all about, and these are the last years that they have before adulthood slams down on all of them with its weighted responsibilities, and Kurt plans to soak up every last second of it: his first college party.

Truth be told, there have been a few other opportunities since the start of term in September, ones that slipped Kurt by in his flurry of auditions and general college-related panic. But Kurt thinks that there's something said for making a later entrance than most, and he can think of little time better than for a party specifically catered to his strengths — it's Halloween night, and the party organizers have requested that everyone comes in costume. On his part, Kurt may have spent a bit more time than necessary putting together a tailored and flattering replica of James Dean's iconic outfit from Rebel Without A Cause, but one look at how the jeans hug his hips so well, and Kurt files the thought away as time well spent.

But when he steps inside the suite, a large and open space shared by four seniors, and finds himself greeted only by a handful of people awkwardly lingering in the corners, Kurt immediately reconsiders.

Maybe this isn't the grand entrance he was hoping for.


[ Dated to Halloween evening (which probably explains the poor state of the party, because Wednesday night, smh). Create a ruckus, spike the punch, or take off early with another partygoer and leave the poor excuse for a party behind! If you'd like to thread with Kurt, just let me know somehow in your top-level (he's not getting one of his own). More info here. ]

Comments

[likeaplanet]

After the hell I've been through this month, maybe I shouldn't be in a partying mood, but what I really fucking want right now, is a little normality. The email I got last week has been sitting in my inbox, a reminder, and at the last minute, I decide to check it out.

I got my stitches out a few days back, and now the scar cutting from just below my eye socket, diagonal down across the corner of my mouth and to my chin, is still red but visibly healing. I have to be careful when I talk, with the greater risk of pulling open the wound across my lips, but it doesn't hurt much anymore, just feels like an odd tugging when I smile too wide.

It's a short ride on the train, and easy to find, but when I walk in through the door, I'm half convinced I have the wrong place. Catching sight of a few familiar faces, I realize we've all just been lured into a really fucking lame party. I snort out a laugh, pushing a clump of blonde hair from my eyes -- part of my french maid costume, that I picked out mostly because I knew Mike'd think it was funny -- and head in search of some alcohol. I came all the way here, I better at least get a fucking drink out of it before I head out in search of something better.

[TAG ME, DI]

[likesboys]

Something tells me that Neil McCormick has never had a problem standing out in a crowd. When he wants to, anyway. I've certainly received any amount of attention for my costume choices before — last year's stint as Snooki was, well, memorable to many, to say the least. But there's something especially debauched about his make-up and an insane amount of ease in his step that immediately makes him intimidating to just about everyone in the room.

My only saving grace is the fact that he's kind of a friend of mine.

Shuffling off in his general direction and hanging my hands in my pockets, I lower my voice to keep the visibly curious partygoers from overhearing. "I feel like I need to apologize for having invited you to this mess; this party is terrible," I mutter with a frown. "I was hoping that it would perk up a bit after everyone had a few drinks, but it's been this bad since the start of the hour and I'm halfway tempted to just leave."

[notfaking_it]

"You're a fucking sex bomb," Lily says with a grin as she tucks her arm through Neil's and leans against him. Somehow she's not surprised to find him here, although she thinks the two of them have a lot of work to do if they're going to turn this party into something memorable. She could just keep going, she knows, drag Neil along to another party somewhere in the city and they'd have a great time, but she feels like this could be a good party. With a little work.

[pointzerothree]

Between the costume and the scar cutting along his face, it's kind of impossible to miss Neil, especially when it's such a small group of people that have gathered. In spite of the latter, though, and the fact that they really aren't all that close or anything, Eduardo can't pretend it isn't a relief to see him, having heard from Olive both about his disappearance and return.

"Hey, man," he says, chin lifting in a nod of greeting before he gestures towards Neil's costume with the hand holding a bottle. "That's one hell of a getup."

[notfaking_it]

For the most part, Lily's been moving from party to party, stopping by at a bar to see some girls from the company, pausing at a house party thrown by a guy she'd met a few weeks back whose name she can't quite remember. When she passes by the poster for a college party, she immediately turns in that direction, heels tapping on the sidewalk, her broom hooked under one arm.

The witch costume she's thrown together is sexy -- a tight fitting black dress, black boots and a hat -- but not quite as revealing as the ones she'd seen in the store, which is what she likes. This one has a little mystery.

The party isn't quite what she's expecting. Everyone looks sort of awkward and Lily turns, looking around, an eyebrow raised. This isn't what she remembers of college parties.

[likesboys]

Some part of Kurt thinks that it might be the couple of drinks he has under his belt that make him a bit bolder than he'd otherwise be, or perhaps it's the meek, probably nerdy looks of practically every partygoer around him that compels him to speak. Either way, when he spots the gorgeous Mila Kunis — although she probably isn't actual Mila Kunis, Kurt reminds himself — stepping onto the scene, Kurt can't refrain from speaking.

"Yes, if you were tugged here by the flyers, you're in the right place," he says, loudly enough for everyone to hear. "Yes, you're also probably way too much fun for the people in the room. But you shouldn't let that stop you, because you look gorgeous."

He punctuates the thought with a resolute nod before taking another sip of his overly candied cosmo.

[whenyouearnit]

A witch, how cute. Rebekah couldn't help but be curious if she was actually a witch, it wouldn't be the first time she'd seen that ruse. It didn't take much to wander through the crowd, ending up next to the girl seemingly by accident.

"My apologies," she's nudged the other girl slightly, "narrow hallways."

[thewarbler]

Blaine's costume had been Kurt's idea, inspired, apparently, by a remark made at some point in Blaine's future back in Lima, something he has no recollection of. Still, there's something about a cowboy hat, bell bottom jeans (designed by one Kurt Hummel), truly amazing boots, and a fake mustache that Blaine finds wholly appealing.

A patch of fake chest hair peaking out of his low-cut red button-up rounds out the ensemble.

Despite the amazing costume, he's a little anxious about the party. He still doesn't know very many people here outside of class and the small crew at the music shop. And something tells him a college party will be way different from anything he experienced back at Dalton.

Turns out he's right. Though maybe not in the way he'd expected.

"Huh," he says to nobody in particular as he tucks his thumbs into the waistband of his jeans. "Is this the right place?"

[likeaplanet]

"So says your boyfriend," I say, stepping up behind him, my hands resting on his shoulders and my mouth tipped in near his ear, tilted just out of the way of the brim of his hat. He's already kinda short, but with the heels I'm wearing, I practically tower over him.

"Nice costume," I say, reaching 'round to poke at the hair on his chest, "Too bad this is fake."

[likesboys]

"It's horrible. I'm a complete failure for having brought people here at all," Kurt says at once, somewhat furious with himself as he glowers at the room, making his way over to his boyfriend and slinging an arm around him. The only thing that keeps Kurt from being altogether livid is the way Blaine looks in his costume, still enough to draw a small laugh from Kurt's lips before he leans in, pressing a quick peck to Blaine's cheek. "But to be fair, how was I supposed to know that all the cool kids would actually want to study tonight and got their costumes on last weekend? I mean, c'mon guys, a little more adventure. Mid-week partying should have its own appeal."

Pursing his lips, he sneaks another kiss by dropping his lips on Blaine's shoulder briefly.

"Do you think we should tough it out, or just take off? I think Neil might have some place he wants us to go... but if you'd rather have some drinks first, they are admittedly free here."

[losttheright]

"Yeah, pretty sure it's supposed to be," Molly says, the skirt of her own costume swishing around her knees as she walks over to Blaine, corners of her mouth lifting in a smile. Especially if this doesn't start picking up soon, there's no way she's going to be sticking around for long, but for the time being, she means to make the most of it. At least there's some good company. "I think it could use a little work, though, how about you?"

[singmetosleep]

Babydoll stumbles into things not unlike Alice into the rabbit hole, the very same she's dressed as tonight. She's been to parties before, even costume parties; her mother had been found of very boring masquerades. This, however, is a party that already features Neil in a dress and really, it's nicer than anything she's been to before.

Not because of the location or the decor or the lack of state legislators (thank God), but because it feels possible to her. She feels like she could really be here.

She smiles, feeling her skirt flounce as she approaches one of the other party-goers. "Hi, you look good tonight."

[notfaking_it]

Lily turns at the sound of a familiar voice, grinning at the sight of Babydoll is that gorgeous colour of blue. The party still needs to be brought to life a little bit, but now that there are more people here, it's beginning to seem possible. "Well, thank you," she says, still smiling as she takes a step back to look at the whole of Babydoll's costume.

"You look incredible. It suits you," she says.

[unburden]

While never having before been the type to get wrapped up in Halloween, Rukia finds herself getting involved this time, possibly against better judgment. She has nothing against the idea of Ichigo making friends, which is why she's here in the first place, not wanting to dissuade him from getting to know those around him. But something about Halloween seems to linger strangely on this city, and the more she learns about the more, the more Rukia suspects that the Hollows may come out to play tonight.

It offers a pretty decent reason to stay by Ichigo's side. Just in case.

There's an additional unforeseen perk that rears its head on the day of, Rukia having found a White Rabbit costume with soft ears and a waistcoat. When a familiar face shows up in front of her wearing a familiar blue dress, Rukia finds it impossible not to smile.

"You look beautiful, yourself. Alice in Wonderland, yes?"

[adifferentlife]

"Thank you," she's felt very out of place, her red riding hood costume much more reserved and demure than anything she's seen here. "As do you. I'm sorry, I don't know who you're supposed to be?"

[whenyouearnit]

As parties went, this one wasn't much. Rebekah wandered about looking at the girls in their various slutty costumes and wondering why it was that women in this day thought so little of their own bodies. Her own dress was similar to one she'd worn in the twenties, her hair in waves around her face.

"Do they not understand allure?" Rebekah says to herself, swirling a cheap drink around in a plastic cup. "Putting it all out there so cheaply."

[littlemissvixen]

"Nope," says Summer, not knowing the girl who's spoken but not thinking twice about answering the question anyway. She has a drink of her own in hand, a beer she's only just starting to feel the effects of, not nearly enough by a long shot. Part of her is tempted to try to turn this party around herself, well aware that she'd be able to. Mostly, though, she thinks she should go find somewhere she can get a real drink. "They really don't. At all."

For her part, she's gone authentic rather than trashy, dressed in 60's attire Olive helped her assemble from the vintage store. As far as she's concerned, it's definitely the better option. Though well aware that she might be a touch hypocritical in her judgments, right now, she really doesn't want to be worrying about that, or anything at all, for that matter.

[adifferentlife]

Ever since her return from that other Darrow, Sybil has been nervous. She's not wanted to go out by herself, but not wanted to be alone either. It's hard to relive those few days when she closes her eyes, and so tries her best not to, studying and working as much as she can.

It was one of her teachers who suggested she go out, pointing to the Halloween party posters. Determined to not let fear take over her life, she's there, her costume a long red velvet cloak over a simple dress, a basket in her arms. She feels as out of place as she looks, most of the other girls wearing much less.

"This wasn't a good idea," she mumbles, turning to go. Unfortunately her basket catches someone and she jumps, hoping she's not spilled a drink or worse, hurt them.

[floozyfacade]

Given that I don't actually go to college yet, it's probably kind of weird for me to be here. I'm choosing to see it as, like, pre-orientation, a chance to see what my future college experience might be like.

Well, apart from the dorms. I don't need that much of the college experience.

Anyway, I'm not about to miss a Halloween party or a chance to hang out with a new friend. Or to dress up. It took a while for me to figure out what to be — and to rope Eduardo into being — which is kind of surprising, because it was kind of only a matter of time before I wound up dressing as Andie Walsh.

The color isn't quite right. It's still pink, but there's a hint of peach to it, a compromise Olive had to make to get a fabric she actually liked for this, and the lace isn't exactly the right pattern or anything, but it looks close enough and that's all she can ask. Recreating Andie's classic prom dress from Pretty in Pink was an interesting ordeal, but well worth the final results, Olive figures, and it's just a blessing that Blane's final outfit was a white tuxedo. She's pretty sure that, no matter how compliant Eduardo may be with her Halloween wishes, there's no way she could have gotten him to dress in one of Duckie's super-Eighties outfits.

She's pinned her hair up in a bob to make up for its length and she wanders the party, looking for familiar faces under the night's disguises.

[vocalfuel]

I'm really not sure what I'm doing here.

Technically speaking, I know that's not true. I'm here because Kurt invited me, and I didn't really have the heart to say no, when he's been one of the few people I'd consider a friend around this place. Still, I've never really enjoyed myself at parties as it is, though I've managed to get carried away at one or two thrown by the Capitol, and this one is even stranger. Even in having had it explained to me, I don't really get the whole Halloween thing, and a lot less so in practice than I did in theory.

The whole thing seems about as awkward as I feel, hanging back by a corner with a cup of water in my hands. I haven't bothered dressing up, wearing just a loose-fitting green shirt and a pair of jeans, and it's pretty clear I'm the odd one out for it. I don't really care. At least I don't look as ridiculous as some of these people do, outfits that would actually be pretty hilarious if I didn't feel like there were something I'm missing.

[likesboys]

I don't know whether or not Katniss has been waiting for a long time when I finally get around to noticing her, but there's one thing that doesn't surprise me at all: the fact that she's lingering as far by the corner as she can in the party. On one hand, I get it. I was never really a natural partygoer either back in the day, content to sit somewhere I wouldn't have to involve myself in or engage with all of the ridiculousness. But there's something that I find freeing now about being able to kick back and be a bit ridiculous.

I kind of wish Katniss would feel the same way.

Subtlety's pointless when the crowd's so thin, so I don't bother trying to hide myself as I approach Katniss with a slight, friendly duck of my head in greeting. "You know, normally I'd say that being a wallflower is both flattering and alluring, but at a party like this, I think we need as much help livening it up as we can," I say quietly, mostly a joke.

[losttheright]

It's not going to be funny to anyone but her. Then again, it's not really funny at all, more like disturbingly appropriate, but Molly doesn't really care. There's no one here who would know any relevance at all in her dressing like Marilyn Monroe, which means there's really no harm in it, and it's not significant enough to prove distracting. What it is is comfortable, and sexy, and a hell of a lot less trashy than she's seen other people dress. Besides, it's a common enough costume that she doubts she'll have to answer any questions about how she thought of it, so really, it's a win all around, the closest she could ever come to making light of her past.

Once she gets to the party, she's not sure it even matters. She's seen some lame parties before, but especially considering that it's Halloween, this one really seems like it could use some work. She already wasn't planning on spending her entire evening here, but now, she's torn between leaving early and trying to liven it up herself. For the moment, at least, she opts for the latter, heading over in the direction of the stereo and nearly walking into someone as she does. "Oh, God," she says, "sorry, sorry." One corner of her mouth hitches up in a wry smile. "Guess I don't even have the excuse of it being crowded in here, do I?"

[beautyof_form]

In her basket, she had her keys, her phone, and a fully loaded 9mm handgun.

Months ago, she'd bought a book of fairy tales, intrigued first by the author's name on the cover. Grimm.

Mr. Grimm.

Little Red Riding Hood was one of her favorites, and when she'd found a costume on the rack earlier that week, she knew she had to have it. Too old for trick or treating, she'd followed the directions on the flier she'd been given, and now stood inside the doorway of a room full of strangers. It wasn't quite what she'd imagined, but it was her very first Halloween, and she planned to make the most of it.

[vocalfuel]

When I see Hanna walk in, her costume not enough to keep her from being immediately recognizable, I relax a little, already heading in her direction. I hadn't been expecting to see her here, having come solely at Kurt's behest, but it helps a little that she's here now. Even if she went to the trouble of dressing up when there's no way I would have, I have a feeling that she's about as in place here as I am, which is to say, not.

"Hanna, hey," I say, smiling a little. "I didn't know you were going to be here."

[unbridle]

It's been a long time since Ichigo's been chaotic and wanting to explore, if he ever was. If he ever was, that part of himself probably died on the night his mother did. Ever since, he's been defensive and wanting answers.

Even now, surrounded by a bunch of students he barely knows, only some of them in classes that he barely speaks up in, he has to fight the urge to pretend like this is how he wants it. A nameless, self-possessing, mean-faced stranger that nobody should bother.

Sometimes, these days, he even manages to smile back. Sometimes, it's even honest.

He was trying to keep it up here, at least, until a giggling sorority pledge had informed him that he should have worn a wig with his costume. Vampires don't have red hair.

Now, he's standing by the small refreshments table, resting his forehead against the cool wall of the multi-purpose room, hiding beneath his black cape and trying to drink a little cup of cranberry juice calling itself punch while trying not to smudge the fake blood at the corners of his mouth. And wishing he'd invited Rukia. As a date.

But he'd felt their relationship, what it was, was a little too young for a packed college party full of people neither of them really knew. Rukia would have liked it, but Rukia also would have been playing a part. He didn't want her to have to spend the whole evening with him lying.

What do you do?

Where did you meet?

Seriously, it's not their business.

[likesboys]

He spots Ichigo at one point in the party, his shoulders squared and something, as usual, wound up in him. The guy seems so rarely happy, and in spite of how well Kurt knows not to take it personally, he can't help but maintain a distance long enough for someone else to pull at his attention, for the drinks to call to him from the side, and there he goes, the moment forgotten and connection missed.

By the time he spots Ichigo for the second time, Kurt has a couple of drinks in him, just enough to make everything warm, but not enough to throw caution completely to the wind.

The smile he wears might be a little wide, though. That is, up until he realizes that Ichigo isn't fitting with the theme at all.

"Did you dress up?" he asks once he draws in close, arms crossed over his chest as he glances with a slightly suspicious look.

[littlemissvixen]

This is really not the party Summer expected. Tame by Newport's standards to say the least, it certainly doesn't fall in line with what she's been told she should anticipate from college parties, this being her first. Under any other circumstances, it probably wouldn't be quite so disappointing. As it is, though, she was really looking to have a good time tonight. It's a month that she's been here now, a month since Seth Cohen ripped her heart out of her chest and stomped on it mercilessly, and with every day that passes, she feels farther from home than ever. If there's any good reason to go out and get plastered, she thinks she has one.

This doesn't seem to lend itself well to that at all, though. Dressed in vintage 60's attire that Olive helped her pick out from the little shop where she works, she heads right for a cooler, making a face as she pulls out a beer that looks like it was probably the cheapest thing in the store. Oh well, she thinks, popping it open and taking a long sip. She has to start somewhere.

[pointzerothree]

It's really just for Olive's sake that Eduardo is here, and that he's gone to the trouble of dressing up. Halloween isn't really his thing, and he doesn't think it's possible for anyone else to love John Hughes movies as much as she does, but at least going as the Blaine to her Andie doesn't require a hell of a lot from him, just a simple, if dated, white tux. Given some of the other options he's sure she considered, it could have been a lot worse, costume-wise.

The party is a different story. Quiet, the room sparsely filled, it's surprisingly reminiscent of a lot of the parties he attended back at Harvard, and almost amusing for it. Granted, that seems like all the more reason to not prolong their stay, but it's hardly enough to keep him from having a drink, beer in hand as he glances around to see where his girlfriend's gone to.

[floozyfacade]

As it turns out, Olive hasn't wandered very far. Or, rather, she's managed to wander right back, turning up at his side with a drink in hand. "What do we think the odds are this contains something I don't want to know about and shouldn't ingest?" she asks. There are people she doesn't know here and an open punch bowl seems like an invitation for trouble. On the other hand, she's really not feeling in the mood for beer right now. Either way, she probably shouldn't be having too much of anything with alcohol in it on a school night.