multiversallogs | OPEN :: A golden bird was singing

Who: Everyone!
What: St Kelley's evening
Where: The Apache and surrounding environs.
When: Veerdi evening.
Notes:
(1) The topic threads are just suggestions; if you've got somewhere else that your characters simply must be, make your own thread.
(2) All mementos will appear overnight in some part of your character's apartment.
(3) Dance!

St Kelley's is one of the more sedate occasions in Baedal, at least as holidays go. It passes more or less unnoticed by the majority of the population as many of them feel it doesn't concern them. It's not their holiday; it's for the others. Those with severed ties and broken hearts. The temple and church preach that it's a time for reflection or for glorifying the generosity of the gods. It's one of the few days on which no one looks askance at first generation Citizens mourning their missing loved ones publicly.

As night rolls around and floating lanterns are set to sea, the Apache in Mog Hill prepares to accept guests from the newer cohorts. It's something that happens every year, making it a practical tradition. The alcohol will be cheaper for first timers, and the music will be kept at a reasonable level.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"That is totally not what I meant and you know it," she points an accusatory finger at Kate, as if this the most horrible thing anyone has ever said to her. The serious expression doesn't last long before she laughs, "Though I have had people befriend me for worse things."

"Not for your nighttime fashion sense, I hope," Kate grins, grabbing Steph's finger and pushing it down. "But what for then? Bodyguard duty?"

"Nah, I didn't mind when the younger kids tried to make friends with me 'cause they knew I'd beat the shit out of any bullies," It happened enough times that Steph got a bit of a reputation for looking out for people.

And then she's quiet for a moment, chewing her lip as she tries to decide what to say, "People who knew about my dad, some of 'em tried to sidle up to me to try to get in with him. They stopped as soon as I told them how much I hated him."

She listens carefully, no longer making a joke of the conversation and it's right then and there that Kate realizes that even though they've lead very different lives and have different reasons for what they do, her and Steph are more alike than they first seemed.

It's a long moment before Kate speaks, looking down at her fingers still wrapped around Steph's. "Same here. Only it was because they knew he had money and connections. Most of the time, they didn't care about me or him as people. Just where his wallet could take them."

She taps her free fingers lightly on the back of Kate's knuckles. Not wanting her to let go; she appreciates the contact. At what Kate says, she smiles, but it's a sad one.

"That's what it was with daddy, too," there's obvious mocking in the word, "His connections just aren't the type most people want to associate with."

She forces down her own bitter feelings and her smile turns gentle, "I'm sorry they didn't care about you. Anyone who doesn't is an idiot." And that's. maybe a bit too much. But it's been a rough night and she does mean it, so who cares.

Unlike Steph, Kate clearly loves her father, regardless of how she hates his public persona. He cares for her too, willing to spend any amount of money to make sure she's okay and will remain okay. But no matter how much he throws around, she will never be what she was before, never again his little girl. She is now a woman who knows that the world isn't filled with nice people and rainbows.

"That's okay. I've learned how to care about myself in the event nobody else does." It's not her being pessimistic about the world; just realistic.

"I'm glad you do," she means that too, because a lot of kids who grow up with no one caring about them end up thinking that they don't deserve to be cared about, even by themselves.

She moves her hand in Kate's, so that they're actually holding hands rather than Kate awkwardly hanging onto one of Steph's fingers, "I want to go home." She's not entirely sure whether she means home home or if she just wants to head back to her place here to get away from th 'celebration'.

The shift in position gets Kate tensing up lightly in response. She doesn't exactly pull her hand away, but somewhere in the back of her mind, there's a tiny annoying voice that's asking her if she's just doing this platonically and because nobody will question two women holding hands or because she likes how it feels when she does hold hands with Steph.

But yet, in the end, her hand's still there and it actually relaxes. She'll answer those stupid questions later.

"Yeah, let's get out of here before all the couples show up and start making everybody throw things at them," she says with a laugh, assuming Steph means back to her apartment.

Steph loosens her hold, just in case Kate wants to pull away, but she's relieved when Kate relaxes. Personally, she's not over analyzing the situation right now; she's holding Kate's hand because she wants to, because she needs the contact.

"Now that's just mean, what did those couples ever do to you?" But she's standing and tugging Kate up as well. Their drinks are unfinished, but Steph doesn't care enough to want to finish them.

That's fine. Kate can over-analyze enough for the both of them. It's all she does.

"They showed up," Kate replies with a grin. Fine, fine, she's up on her feet and grabbing her coat before she forgets it. "They could have had made smoochy faces at each other in the privacy of their own homes." This she says making said face to prove her point.

Steph makes those smoochy faces right back. They make a ridiculous pair.

"You're just grumpy 'cause you're stuck with me," she lets go of Kate's hand so Kate can put her coat on if she wants to, but then Steph is totally going to link their arms together.

"You're right. You're exactly why I'm miserable tonight." Not anymore because she's out of the house and out of her own mind now, but who would let Steph know any differently? Not Kate.

Coat is on, so her arms are now free for the linking.

"Will the fact I have ice cream back at my apartment make it up to you?" She wasn't sure if Kate was actually planning to come home with her, so this is Steph's version of an invitation.

Arms successfully link, Steph is gonna start dragging Kate to the El Train station.

"Depends on the flavor. If it's like... Chunky Monkey, maybe. But no promises." Kate has nothing else to do; it's either hang out with a friend and ice cream or go back to an empty apartment and ice cream. One is clearly better than the other.

And far be it from Kate to argue about being dragged.

OPEN :: A golden bird was singing

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