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]

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.

[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.

[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.

[likeaplanet]

"I met him, you know," I say, reaching out to tug the lapel of his leather jacket, "Jim Stark or whatever. I think he had a thing for my best friend."

Or maybe she had a thing for him. Whatever.

"We could get outta here. Gather up your boyfriend and go. I know he's around here somewhere," I say, scanning the small, awkwardly mingling crowd.

[likeaplanet]

"'Course I am," I tease, reaching out to flip a strand of hair off her shoulder, "The two of us are way too fuckin' hot for this party."

Looking around, I don't even bother to hide my disgusted wince. "This might be the lamest fuckin' one I've ever been to, including the kiddie parties I've thrown over the years."

[notfaking_it]

At the sound of his voice, Lily turns, an amused grin curving the corners of her mouth. It sounds like he's had a few drinks, but she's beginning to think that's exactly what this party needs, and besides, there's nothing at all wrong with hearing a few sweet compliments. Even if he's far too young and far too into boys for her, it's nice all the same.

"I have a feeling you're way too much fun for this party, too," she says, wandering over to where he's standing, her broom resting against her hip. "So what do you say we get me a drink and make these people have a good time?"

[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."

[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."

[thewarbler]

Ever since that one night a couple years ago, Blaine's been a little jumpy about people sneaking up on him from behind and it's only gotten worse since his arrival here in Darrow, where everything is a little bit tipped on its side and uncertain. So he can't really help the way he startles a little when a pair of hands rest on his shoulders and a quiet, strangely familiar voice whispers in his ear.

Turning swiftly, Blaine's eyes go wide, his brief moment of panic immediately morphing into shocked amusement. "Neil?!"

[likesboys]

I stare for a second, because... well, how could I not? The idea that Jim Stark is real in some reality doesn't come as a complete surprise thanks to what I've seen here, but it's still a bit much to wrap my head around. I don't want to know what happens if Tom Riddle ever makes his way on over here. Or Dumbledore, for that matter.

"I... am not sure how to respond to that," I let him know quick, even if it probably makes me seem as young as I am. I glance around, spotting Blaine holding his own by another wall of the room, letting out a small sigh. I'd so hoped this was going to be fun for the both of us, but instead, it's a huge disappointment. "And yeah, Blaine's over there. I keep on wondering if this party will hit critical mass and suddenly become fun or something, but obviously I don't have much experience with these things. The only party that I've been to which tried really hard to be fun only managed to get to that level of chaos by applying a fair amount of booze."

[notfaking_it]

"I thought college parties were supposed to be fun," Lily agrees, looking out at the small gathering of people with a frown. She's been to much better parties on the island, out of control and wild and dark. She misses those a little, even if the last one didn't go quite so well. "Full of rowdy, masculine frat boys who are loud and drunk and all talk. They're always fun."

She definitely misses those.

[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.

[likeaplanet]

There's a split-second where I feel almost bad for startling him, then he's gawking at me, all wide-eyed and maybe about to laugh, and I just arch a brow, shift my weight and say, "What?"

I shift my hips a little, my skirt of ruffled vinyl rustling. "You think it's too much?"

[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."

[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."

[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.

[notfaking_it]

"No problem," Lily answers, turning with a smile to look at the woman who's nudged her, her gaze sweeping down briefly before she looks back to her face. "Your dress is gorgeous," she says. "Refreshing."

It's certainly not quite the same as most of the costumes at the party, which is enough for Lily. She likes something with a little more mystery.

[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."

[likesboys]

"I think getting you a drink is a fantastic idea, because like... I mean, you only got here, so you wouldn't know, but everyone who's had a drink so far seems totally intent on just using them to lull themselves to sleep. Which is not the point of booze at a party," Kurt points out, nodding briefly in the direction of someone who does appear to be nodding off in a dark corner.

"So!" Kurt concludes, clapping his hands briefly together. "Here, let's get you... what's your drink, rum and Coke? Gin and tonic? Something that doesn't require really high quality alcohol to taste decently, and then maybe the two of us can dance. Although I don't want to make my boyfriend too jealous. I mean, he knows I'm not into girls that way, so it shouldn't be a problem, but I still don't want to make him too jealous."

[whenyouearnit]

“Thank you. I was delighted when I found it,” Rebekah pauses a moment longer than necessary, appreciating the compliment for what it was. She has manners, and as much as she generally finds humans a bore, she knows the games to play and wonders if this one might have some powers. “Yours is very nice. I see that you choose to not flaunt all of your secrets.”

[singmetosleep]

"Lily," she greets, truly beaming now. She admires the other woman more than she can really say. Lily's confident and beautiful in ways Baby wishes she could be.

"Thank you. I... kind of relate to the story more than I should," she says of her costume. "Hey, so what do we do at a party like this?"

[notfaking_it]

"He's always free to join us," Lily points out, leaning over the drinks with a smile, delighted by his enthusiasm. He seems sweet and his costume is fantastic, even if he does seem quite a bit younger than she is. She's never had a problem with that before, though, and she's certainly not going to find an issue with it now.

"Let's just go with a rum and coke. Simple, easy, and it really can't taste bad even if you try," she says, reaching out to mix a drink. "I'm Lily, by the way. I love your costume. Very flattering." It fits him and it he's got exactly the right look going for it.