open;

[schild]

Who: Network folks who are in Locke for Xmas
Where: A community center (let's say it's the same one from the first aid thing)
When: Backdated to December 23
What: Christmas/Holiday Party!
Warnings: Shenanigans? Kissing?

[ Ah yes, come one, come all! As per the plotting, let's just say Ryan put out a message that went something like this:

Hey everyone! I was wondering how many of us are stuck here in Locke for the holidays. I'm used to parties and celebrating with friends, so I figured, why not do that anyway! It'll be a Network-only thing, so don't be shy. And if you wanna help, just let me know!

And thus your character finds themselves here, a part of christmas cheer and echoes, surrounded by free food and tinsel and even Mistletoe... The Christmas party! And by Christmas I mean Santa and reindeer and all that lame stuff. ]

[ Feel free to start your own top-level comments I mean seriously, if you need an excuse for dumb shenanigans this is it. ]

Comments

[shortspoken]

[ Claire is naturally getting the requisite shifty You're new and I don't know you glare from Ellie. Which would probably be a lot more effective if she wasn't wearing the obligatory nosebro ugly-christmas-sweater getup.

The glare quickly turns into a look of surprise, though, because DANG YO THAT'S A LOT OF FOOD WOWOW. It's at this point that Ellie realises she's probably doing that whole staring-and-not-blinking thing that seems to creep people out so much. Better say something. ]

I hope that's non-alcoholic.

[ Nodding at the punch. Because gosh appointing herself as the party's official fun killer is much easier than actually being sociable, geez ]

[wasandwillbe]

[ it'd be a lot more intimidating if claire had even noticed ellie's oh-so-intimidating stare. as it is, she's too busy eyeing her food with a look somewhere between "worshipful" and "ravenous." it's as she puts a minature sandwich in her mouth - the whole thing - that ellie finally speaks up, and claire's eyes finally dart over to her.

she holds up a finger in apology - the universal symbol for one moment, there is an entire fucking minisandwich in my mouth - chews, swallows and finally sheepishly speaks up. ]

Of course. I'm not old enough to legally drink yet, so...

[ it doesn't even occur to her that that's the entire reason ellie's suspicious in the first place. blame an old-fashioned upbringing. ]

[shortspoken]

Mmhmm.

[ Being bad at people is hard. Was that mocking? It wasn't, right? But you never know. Not with teenagers. Hissss.

We all take this moment to remind ourselves that Ellie is twenty-five. Not fifty. ]

It's nice to see someone so intent on following the rules.

[ There. Neutral response, yet with implied threat to anyone not following the rules. Perfect. FUCK YOU, SOCIAL NICETIES. ]

[wasandwillbe]

[ she's reaching for another small sandwich (tuna this time!) when the full meaning of annie's words finally dawns on her. when claire looks up this time, she doesn't look quite so apologetic. and - oh hey, she doesn't seem to be smiling quite as much anymore. ]

If you don't believe me, taste it yourself.

[ and then, without breaking eye contact, she puts the second sandwich into her mouth. this hungry train ain't gonna stop for you, ellie. ]

[shortspoken]

Alright.

[ Yes, she's actually going to do it. She takes the cup, sips from it thoughtfully, then holds it out to hand it back.

Without breaking eye contact, either. ]

Okay. You're clean.

[ No apologies tho ]

did you have her do that entirely because you had a drinking icon

[wasandwillbe]

What reason would I have had to lie-

[ okay, that's a stupid question and it dawns on her as she asks it. she cuts herself off, frowning a bit more before taking her drink back and sipping. hope she's not sick, or has the herpes, or anything. claire's not going to be the first to back down from this staring contest, though. ]

If I wanted to drink, I wouldn't just try to take it in public. I'm sure nobody else here would do something that stupid.

[ she'd drink at home, with her legal guardian. you know, the legal way.

what do you mean that wasn't at all clear in context ]

you 8n't got nothing on me and you can't prove shit!!!!!!!!

[shortspoken]

[ Ellie opens her mouth to take a bite of her own sandwich and just. Freezes.

What.

Hwat.
Whatahwwha.

whatahh?
HwtahAHahhtathewh.

What. ]

Nobody else here...

[ WHHAAAAHHHHWHAHAAATTTTTTT ]

...would be that stupid.

[ CHOMP. ]

You haven't met many people from the club, have you? [ Chew chew chew. HAHAHA YOU POOR SWEET NEWBIE. BLESS U. ]