tampered | (no subject)

(no subject)

When; Sunday, May 31st
Rating; PG-13+ ~~HEY THIS IS VICTROLA~~
Characters; ANYONE AND EVERYONE
Summary; The Grand Opening of Victrola --you don't wanna miss it ♥
Log;

She loved this word decadence. As Verlaine said, it all shimmers in purple and gold. It suggests a soul capable of the most intense of pleasures. It is bursts of fire and the sparkle of precious stones. It is in the rouge of courtesans, the games of the Circus, and it is in the consuming in flames of people exhausted by their capacity for sensation. It was wonderful, she thought, this whole business of excess.

Victrola was pregnant with moving bodies on the dance floor, amplified sounds of conversations, dulled music on the side stage and the pungent smell of something possibly illegal (the people who need to know already do whereas those who do not, well, they don't need to). Going around the room were trays of decadent canapes and drinks. But for the more daring, a simple whisper to the waiter would earn you a glass of absinthe.

A burlesque show played out on the main stage, dancers in thick make-up and glamorous lingerie. They were a nostalgic piece, but one of great entertainment value. Surely you agree. Stare all you want, gentlemen, but do not touch the girls.

Blair stood away from the crowd and the stage, standing in the shadows, as hidden as she could possibly be in her Cavalli ensemble and a Vera Wang. There were no charts in her hand, no pens, no nothing. Gone were the days when she would be so busy checking lists of food and drinks and guest lists and entertainment list and more lists and only more lists. She was done with that. This was her party too, after all, she was going to enjoy it more than any of you would. At least, right after one hang up is resolved. Still waiting for your Prince, little girl?

[ooc; and get the party in motion! Indicate on your subject line if your thread's closed to certain chars, and keep your eyes out for a special entertainment coming 'cause it definitely won't be on GG. You like me to stare? ♥]

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Arthur was not happy to be there. In fact, he wouldn't be here if it weren't for the fact that this was the earliest that Blair would let him see her. What the women were wearing wasn't the sort of thing he would ever imagine any woman ever wearing in public. The Prince's eyes were always locked straight ahead and never ventured below the collarbone of any woman there. He might have had to come for Blair, but he didn't have to enjoy it.

Dressed in his best suit and his sword on his hip, Arthur made his way through the club looking for Blair. As upset as he was at her, and he was upset, he still wanted to see her. He still missed her. Depending on what happened tonight, he would find out if he would be able to stop missing her or just have to get over her.

Blair spotted him almost immediately. She definitely did not need that waiter to come over and tell her that he was here. But it made it easier that way, made it more official. More behold-the-Prince-is-here sort of way and less oh-here-comes-trouble sort of way. After all, that was all it ever was to her anyway, the fact that he was a Prince. There never was anything more. Definitely not. She had to admit that she did not expect him to come at all.

Taking no time to steel herself, she made her way over to him. Like a band-aid, she thought, do it quick and check the damage then let it heal. It should not be this difficult.

"Arthur," she called from behind him. It might be easier to tap him on the shoulder instead of shouting over the noise, but she was scared of touching him. "Arthur."

When he heard her call his name his stomach twisted in knots and his heart lurched all at once. He froze in his stops and slowly turned around. Even though a small part of him wanted to, he couldn't fight the small smile the formed on his lips.

It was good to see her. She looked beautiful, if- dark. What he really tried to discern though was if she looked happy. Arthur couldn't tell.

"It's good to see you, Blair," he said, although he made no move to go to her. He had come all this way, to this place she knew he didn't want to be in, she could come the rest of the way. Besides, were they even together anymore? He really didn't know.

Eden isn't sure exactly where John went; and she's not terribly worried, except that they couldn't take guns in visibly, which made Eden need to cast her best smuggling spell to get them in. It would be easier to get John and Eden to kill each other than to get them to give up their guns.

She's dressed in a pair of leather pants and a silver tank top, and a wrist strap, all gotten by a one Chuck Bass, and she is next to the drinks, watching the entertainment on the stage.

Blair knew that look. The face that she had prepared for him, all cold and empty and heartless, fell apart. She hoped it did not show in the darkness. That space between them was too close for them to be strangers and still too far to be close enough to the truth. She could not cross it, so she clenched her teeth and did what she had planned to do in the first place. Plans, again, were what she hid behind.

"I asked you to come because I needed to be sure," she started. "I don't want vague answers. I don't need explanations. I don't need reasons." She took a deep breath, "I just want a yes or a no."

But in her mind she already knew the answer, and that was what made it so hard. It felt like standing on a railroad track with a train heading your way at full speed, but it still came too slow. You know how it would happen, but it just won't happen already. Her stomach felt sick. "Do you love me?"

This was fun, her kind of fun, the sort that would not have been out of place in the Districts and that made Mara happy.

She slid off the dance floor, grabbed a drink off a passing waiter, and moved to a darkened corner to catch her breath. That Blair girl hadn't been wrong, there certainly were plenty of diversions to be had and the atmosphere of abandon was unique compared to the "above" ground establishments.

And there was nothing wrong with having fun, despite Thomas' recent disapproval.

Edited 2009-05-31 07:03 (UTC)

The question caught him off guard. Out of all the things she could have said, could have asked, he wouldn't have dreamed it would be that. And he never could have lied to her, not even if he wanted to. Maybe Blair knew that.

"No," he said, staring her straight in the eye. He would have explained that didn't mean he didn't care for her deeply. That didn't mean that he might not love her some day. But she had said she didn't want any of that.

"Now you answer me a question," he said, taking several quick steps until he was right in front of her, almost no room between him. "Yes or no. Do you want to be with me? Because right now, that is the only question that matters."

Yes, Blair knew that. It was so like her to ask questions she already knew the answers to. But she did not know it would still hurt. If this were just a game and she was playing to win, why did it feel like every turn is a loss?

Either way, she nodded in reply to his answer, mustering up the strength not to cry. Later, she told herself, she could wail and scream and cry her eyes out, but later.

As to his question, she had a thousand replies aside from yes or no. But he did not want that either. Perhaps this was a mistake, this reducing of things to multiple choices. Relationships should not be so simplified. "No," she said, barely above a whisper. "I don't want to now." She told herself this was good for him, really it was.

Arthur wasn't sure if her answer hurt him more or less than he expected. Part of him knew that this relationship probably wasn't the sort of relationship that would last forever, that he was enjoying his freedom away from his duty and enjoying the freedom of choice. But that didn't mean he didn't care about Blair or for her. It didn't mean that he didn't want to be with her.

"Then I suppose that's all that needs to be said," Arthur told her, his eyes never leaving hers. He didn't even bother to hide the anger or all the hurt in his eyes. He could see the pain in hers too, but she had brought it on herself. This was her doing, her choice.

"I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening," he added, although he didn't move, didn't break eye contact. As a last act of, well, just being a royal prat, he didn't walk away. He was going to make her do that.

Blair thought it was cruel of him. That for all she did to bring this upon them, she deserved a consolation just as much as he did. She thought he would be kinder, but he probably thought the same of her. Maybe it was only now that they could see each other, flaws and all. It was a little too late. But then she thought, it was just on time.

She took a deep breath, and chose her most venomous words, laced with the sweetest smile. "Stay. There's one thing I'm sure you'll enjoy."

Her conscience told her that this was not supposed to be about spite, but he was the one who turned it into that, didn't he? He brought this on himself. "Bye," she muttered, with something resembling a sad smile. With that, she walked away.

The thing she had to keep telling herself was that she was here for Blair.

She'd heard the descriptions of Victrola--decadent, extravagant, uninhibited--and gotten the feeling that such an affair might not be quite what she was used to, of course, but this was a party of Blair's and prior experience dictated that any event that Blair put together was bound to be lovely and elegant and refined. She remembered the carpet of roses, the garden party--surely even despite her misgivings about the (http://www.style.com/slideshows/fashionshows/2009PF/ZPOSEN/RUNWAY/00170m.jpg) attire (http://whatshaute.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/christian-louboutin-very-noeud-slingbacks.jpg) Blair had chosen for her and the descriptions she'd heard of the occasion, it'd be all right. Wouldn't it?

But now that she was here, Rosella found herself feeling unsettled and uncomfortable, which was a dramatic change for her. She had a strong sense of feeling out of place, and where normally her eyes would've been bright with wonder, this time they were wide with astonishment and uncertainty. She'd thought a few times about leaving, but she was worried about Blair, too--she hadn't seemed herself lately, and Rosella's concern for her friend won out over her own lack of confidence. So instead she kept to the side, away from the dance floor, and tried not to look toward the stage.

It's for Blair's sake, she thought uncomfortably, absently chewing her lip. It's for Blair.

Serena is nervous. There haven't been many occasions for the feeling throughout her life but lately she's seen herself thrust into more and more awkward situations. This night is no different. In fact, this night might be the climax. This is where her nerves reach their peak, where there's too much room for the unexpected. It used to be different. She used to feel at home in these situations, used to search out and crave the unpredictable and the spontaneous. She has since learned control but the fear of a downward spiral doesn't fade. If ever there were a setting for it, this would be it.

This night, however, is not about inner turmoil. This night, like Victrola and like everything else in her world, is about what's on the outside. And on the outside, Serena van der Woodsen is in her natural habitat. Perfectly camouflaged in a pair of leather pants (http://www.polyvore.com/fendi_leather_slim-leg_pants_net-a-porter.com/thing?id=7863443), McQueen heels (http://www.zappos.com/product/7577228/color/212400), and a sequined top (http://www.ardenb.com/catalog/product.jsp?categoryId=136&subCategoryId=583&productId=20387) accented with Chanel (http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/Jewelry/Chanel/Chanel-Long-Glass-Pearl-Necklace/13651/17#), Serena struts through the club with an artificial confidence.

Arthur winced as she turned and left. For some reason, he couldn't let it end like that, he couldn't let it end that badly or on a note like that. A few quick steps and he caught up to her, grabbing her by the arm and turning her around.

"I may not love you, but I do care about you," he told her. "And I think I could have fallen in love with you, given time. I still care about you, Blair. I hope that you find someone that loves you and makes you happy. And I'm not staying, without you there's nothing here for me. Goodbye."

With that, Arthur turned around and walked off. He wasn't sure if that was the right thing or not, but he hoped that made it easier for Blair, if he was the one that walked away.

That just made it worse; all the could-have-beens. She could have loved him if they didn't end here. She could have been happy with him. It could have been her happily ever after. But there he went now, leaving her behind again. Was there something in her that made it so easy for people to just turn around and leave her?

It seemed like that was all people ever did around her, no matter what she did. Blair supposed he wanted to be kind. He tried to at least. But that just made it worse.

Her stomach felt like it just disappeared. She felt literally empty. She needed Serena, she thought. Then she thought, she needed to be alone. Taking a deep breath to keep herself from crying, she steeled herself before turning around and leaving too.

Blair practically stomped over to her best friend, grabbing the other girl by the arm. "S," she said, a note of urgency in that one syllable. "Now." Before he was out of the club, she thought, before she lost the opportunity to exact her revenge.

Without waiting for her response, Blair went ahead to drag her through the crowd and towards the stage. She did not want Serena to see the distress on her face, even if it would be hard to see in the dim lighting. She did not want to mourn, did not want to think about mourning. This party was about excess, about intense pleasures, regrets did not exist in this space. She repeated the sentence like a mantra.

Stepping into the spotlights on the stage, she felt like she was in a daze. The burlesque dancers stopped their performance, not knowing what to do with having members of the audience walk on stage. If they were men trying to touch the girls then there were the bouncers to call on, but these were two girls who simply thought of a better entertainment for the crowd. The brunette stopped abruptly when she reached the middle of the stage, bumping into the blonde, giggling.

The music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBmgLuTGVis) hit the bridge: "I've come to stare, I've come to stare, you like me to stare? I am a voyeur.

Blair turned around to face the taller girl, placing both arms on Serena's shoulders. They both understood what they were about to do. The two girls smiled, their heads drawing nearer and nearer to each other, as if in slow motion. Blair smirked before their lips met in a kiss, thinking that this was so much better than stripping.

The conversation in the room might have slowly died, but the music played on and the two girls kept on kissing.

As for Nate, he'd been there the entire time, mingling a little, but wondering how the evening would go. His attempt to meet Blair before this happened had failed, and he worried, considering finding her and approaching her to see if he could help, if he could be there—after all, this all stood out with an essence of familiarity, yet with a twist thrown in. This part had the potential to be new. Of course, new wasn't always a good thing.

When the two girls he knew rather well stepped onto the stage, though, Nate rose up from his position to watch. Would it be smart to come between them? Like he told Serena, it could be worse, but this assumption was largely held up by the hormones that come with being a teenage boy. The other, sometimes dominant (and given his behavior at times, sometimes not) part of him realized that it could spell out trouble.

Still, though, he stood, somewhat awkwardly, watching the pair on the stage. He gripped his drink a little tighter and even took a few steps toward the stage, but surely not enough to count. Appealing the image may have been, the aforementioned other half was winning out.

Nate wanted nothing more for this to end, to be over, even if he was just arrived and just privy to all this. If it ended quickly, it could be like an off button waiting to be pushed. Things could get better. That wouldn't be so bad, would it?

This was not the sort of place that Kirk normally frequented. He preferred slightly seedier places, beer instead of champagne. Casual clothes instead of the suit he was wearing, but it seemed like this place was kind of a big deal and he wanted to see what it was all about.

Kirk could understand why it was a big deal, decadence and no inhibitions sounded wonderful, although Kirk knew better. Occasional indulgence was okay, but continued lack or restraint and no direction just led to misery. Kirk new that all to well.

So when he spotted someone that looked like they were entirely uncomfortable, he gravitated towards her. Of course, it didn't hurt that it was a very gorgeous young woman. Too young to be legal, probably, but a pretty face to go along with conversation was always nice.

"Curiosity, or duty?" Kirk asked the young woman as he stepped up next to, his gaze on the crowd.

As Arthur made to leave the club, he didn't know if he was more angry or hurt over what had happened with Blair. What upset him most was that she couldn't even give him a reason, just that she didn't want to be with him. She should have just said that from the beginning instead of making him go through all these ridiculous games.

He was so conflicted over it all that he didn't even pay attention to where he was going until he bumped into someone. He quickly reached out to catch them before they fell.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was- Rosella? What on earth are you doing here?"

Rosella was so caught up in staring, she hardly even noticed the figure that approached her until he was already beside her. Of course, it didn't help matters that there was so much movement in the place already, so different from the usual bustle she was used to at formal affairs; she'd been gawking all night, her attention flickering from sight to sight at a rapid pace.

So it startled her a little, when he called her attention to himself, but other than a quick glance to the side that betrayed her uncertainty, she managed to keep herself relatively composed.

"Er...I beg your pardon?" she answered after a moment, trying to get a better look at her new companion, despite the fact that the darkened atmosphere of the room made it rather difficult.

It was a very good thing that Arthur caught her when he did, because even with all the practicing she'd done over the past two days, Rosella was still very unsteady on her heels, and the bump would've been enough to knock her over completely. Still wobbling, she instinctively grabbed his arm to steady herself, and then blinked as she realized just who it was she was looking at.

"Arthur!" she said, surprised--though, on second thought, she realized she shouldn't have been. This was Blair's party, after all, so of course Arthur would be here. Still, she couldn't help but wonder if he felt as much out of his element as she did out of hers. "I, er, I think I'm here for the same reason you are, actually..." she continued. "For Blair."

"Are you here out of curiosity or out of duty?" Kirk said, rephrasing the question. "Because I can tell this isn't the sort of place you visit because you enjoy the atmosphere."

With that, he smiled at turned to her. Even if she didn't really want to talk to him, he'd tried to lead with an interesting enough question that he could talk to her for a while, because Kirk did want to know the answer to that question.

"Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise," he added, introducing himself.

Caspian didn't arrive alone but at this time he is on his own, perhaps so as not to frighten Susan's potential acquaintances with his burning stare even though he's an amateur at it compared to Peter Pevensie, or maybe his presence was cramping her style. Either way for now he is alone in the loud club that turns out to be not what he imagined. It isn't bad, honestly, just...different. Many people seem to be enjoying themselves in any case, as a guest he should try to do the same. A drink or a familiar face might help and what do you know, when he approaches the bar area he finds both. The latter comes as somewhat of a surprise.

".....Eden?"

He asks not because he's stunned. He asks not because he's appalled. He asks because he is fairly certain, even under this lighting, that she has color on her eyes and lips.

"I was here for Blair," Arthur said, glancing over his shoulder at the direction he had just come from, although Blair wasn't there anymore. That didn't surprise him, she didn't strike him as the type of person to linger. He turned back to Rosella, although there was no hiding the anger or pain in his expression.

"But I'm leaving now," he said. "And you should too. I know this isn't someplace you want to be."

Eden looks over. So she had put on a little make up; not much, just enough to keep Chuck from giving her the eye and making her up himself. But there was a little blush, a little lipstick and eyeshadow. She turns to look at Caspian who looks as though he's seen a ghost. She feels like downing another drink, but she doesn't. Instead she turns and tilts her head a little.

"Yeah, hullo," she says. She doesn't even sound displeased. Just a little bored, but she has a smile, because seeing Caspian is always nice.

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(no subject)

ATTN BLAIR!

DDD:

<333

Open;

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Open season

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Open~

it's good to live expensive; OPEN

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♠ THE TASTE OF HER CHERRY CHAPSTICK; open for gawking

♠ THE TASTE OF HER CHERRY CHAPSTICK; open for gawking

Re: Open~

Re: Open~

Open~

Open~

Re: Open~

Open; potatoes + churros

Re: Open~

Open; potatoes + churros