part of that world;

aria triton; cheerleader. 20 years old and an environmental science major. daughter of ariel and eric. join students keeping the world clean.

[ariatriton]

text message ✉️ ally

Ally: um, no. we are not talking about me when there is OBVIOUSLY something bothering you? Like. what is up, Aria? Something. Because you aren't ever lost.

Ally: omg do you like Finn? Is it Finn? did he kiss you? Was it romantic?

ARIA: no we are ABSOLUTELY talking about you right now. you did WHAT?

ARIA: first of all, i'm definitely lost sometimes. i just have a really good fake it 'till you make it attitude.

ARIA: SECOND, why would you even think that??

[ariatriton]

text message ✉️ ally

Ally: um....are you sure about that, Aria? You've been acting a little weird since the Winter Ball. I saw you with Finn....he didn't do anything weird to you, right?

Ally: I danced with Silas. Things are fine. Maybe i'm finally going to get over him.

ARIA: i have NOT been acting weird. and no.

ARIA: i've just been... lost in thought this break.

ARIA: you did WHAT?

[ariatriton]

finngineering‌:

“If you ask Andie I look like an idiot every day of the week.” Maybe not the best way to start things off there, Finny, but hopefully she liked the fact that he was incredibly awkward. It had to be a redeeming quality to someone, right? Or maybe it wasn’t. That was fair too.

Sure they hadn’t talked about the possibility of dating and he wasn’t really up for bringing it into the air now that they were on a half date. Frozen yogurt had been to feel things out and so was this. He didn’t want to risk defining it as anything and ruining the chance of having a fun night with a girl he liked. Even if they were just going to be friends it was a nice moment to have. He would have gotten her flowers regardless.

Though he was starting to regret the eco-friendly recyclable kind. Maybe that had been a hair too much.

Finn nearly burst into flames when Aria took his arm, cautiously walking close beside him. He wasn’t the tallest guy around but he kept up with the long strides of her heels without too much trouble. They looked good. Duh. They all looked good. She looked good.

Which he had already said about a million times. Gods she was frying his brain. it was a miracle he could even form half sentences without tumbling over his own adoration.

“Andie and I watch a lot of garbage reality TV together. But this time of the year is figure skating season so I can be pretty busy. I haven’t touched the rink much this past year because of school work but I’m hoping to get back into it. I also do gymnastics though that’s because of Freya. I got into it because I thought it was really rad and then it transitioned well when I’m on the ice like, throwing people around and looking great in spandex.” He offered her a gentle smile. “What about you? Have you ever done any skating?”

“That’s a friendship bias if I’ve ever heard one,” Aria pointed out, knowing that, depending on the week, she’d probably say the same of one of her friends. And by one of her friends, she meant Fitz. Weren’t friendships great? Who needed romance when you had friendships?

Gods, she was spiraling. But at least her years of putting up a facade, plus her drama club experience, was keeping that from being at all obvious. Small blessings.

Continuing to listen as they essentially power walked to the ball, Aria nodded along to everything the male said, realizing the more he spoke that she really didn’t know too much about him. He had always just sort of been there, being supportive and tossing out ideas. Had she accidentally forgotten that he was a person with his own interests too? “I’m unfamiliar with garbage tv, but figure skating and gymnastics I know a little more about... mostly because I’ve tried to steal skaters and gymnasts for the cheer squad. Bendy people who enjoy throwing people or enjoy being thrown are kindred spirits,” she pointed out, ignoring the part about looking great in spandex because she simply could not afford to process that one in that current moment.

Shaking her head in response to his actual question, Aria offered a slight shrug before diving into an answer. “You would think, since Lena is one of my best friends and I’ve therefore been in suitable climates on occasion, but no. Last year at the charity ice skating event for Students Keeping the World Clean, I was on hot chocolate and cup cleanup duty. If I’m surrounded by water it’s not frozen. Plus, there’s that totally rational fear of falling and getting accidentally skated over by sharp blades and like... dying.”

[ariatriton]

text message ✉️ ally

Ally: I'm home :) what's up?

Ally: Are you okay? Do I need to come get you?

ARIA: no, no! i'm home too!!

ARIA: it's just... big castle. sometimes hard to tell.

ARIA: i'm totally fine.

ARIA: 100% good.

ARIA: just wanted to see how YOU are, really.

[ariatriton]

text message ✉️ lena

ARIA: I have a very important question for you.

ARIA: Would you please do me the honor of coming to Seaside before break ends so I can SEE MY BEST FRIEND?

[ariatriton]

text message ✉️ ally

ARIA: ...are you home?

ARIA: just wondering.

[ariatriton]

finngineering‌:

To say that Aria looked divine would be the understatement of the century. Finn swallowed hard when he saw the gentle flow of her dress, the way that it wrapped around her and fit perfectly with the color of her hair. He took a deep breath and tired to calm his frantically beating heart. It didn’t work well but he felt like he was floating on cloud nine. Finally. Finally this would be the night that he could tell Aria that he had liked her ever since the moment he saw her. Love at first sight had been a terrible predicament he’d have to thank his mom for one day.

“You didn’t have to get me anything,” Finn laughed, nervously rocking back on his heels. “That’s not really how this works, you know. At least, not as far as I know. I mean women can buy men flowers. I like flowers. I’m just saying I’m the one who invited you so it makes sense I get you flowers to say thanks for not turning me down and making me look like an idiot.”

Before he could talk anymore, he heard the little voice of Andie in his brain yelling at him to shut the fuck up. With another deep breath he offered her his arm. “Shall we? You look amazing. Did I already say that? I mean even if I did it’s the truth. You always look amazing.”

That’s not really how this works. It was seemingly the only part of what the male had just said that she zeroed in on, a million questions coming to her mind as a result. Most of them were variations on the same theme, though, so Aria was quickly able to determine what really bothered her about such a statement.

How this works. How what works? Going with someone to a dance? Because she’d done that before with a select number of others. The more Finn spoke, the more Aria began to truly dissect what he was saying, for perhaps the first time more focused on him than that evening’s basic mission.

“Well, considering how you are not an idiot,” Aria began, speaking objectively. Finn was smart. Academically, at least, from what she had gathered from casual observation during Students Keeping the World Clean Meetings. She hadn’t like... purposefully been on the lookout for that information. “I doubt me turning you down would’ve made you seem like one. But thank you oh so much for that reassurance. Really.”

Eyes only narrowing for a split-second as she did that real-listening thing once again, suddenly a few more pieces clicked into place. “Oh. Thank you. You look nice too,” she murmured as she tried to force her newfound clarity back where she had found it. Because if she was reading the room correctly (not a guarantee), she seemed to be on a legitimate date.

Which was just... what? What was going on? Had the fro-yo been a date too??

Taking Finn’s arm, Aria made sure to walk as quickly as her high heeled feet and sweeping dress would allow. Luckily the Triton apartment wasn’t too far from the location of the ball, so transportation wasn’t required. But if, in that moment, she had been capable of teleportation, she would’ve done it in a heartbeat. Instead, she was just left to make the most awkward of small talk as she attempted to sort through everything her brain was shouting at her.

“So. Finn. Beyond charades and sticking up for the environment with yours truly... what do you like to do?”

[ariatriton]

finngineering‌:

Finn honestly wasn’t sure what the stance on this entire ball was between im and Aria, but all he wanted was the chance to woo her. He’d had a pep talk or a thousand with both Baron and Andie, but still he felt ill equipped to figure out how to navigate this confusing situation. He knew one thing without question: he liked Aria Triton. A lot. She was beautiful and smart and extraordinarily clever. Sometimes it was nearly suffocating to watch her walk into a room and shine so bright, take charge, and smile.

He straightened his bowtie again and took a deep breath. He could do this. Right? This wasn’t like facing down some kraken it was taking the girl you liked on a maybe friend date but hopefully not by the end of it except maybe she thinks you’re only doing this to make sure people are using biodegradable straws kind of date?

And then, he knocked, holding out a small, carefully arranged thing of flowers when she opened the door. “They’re fake. That way they don’t wilt and end up in the trash. I mean, I know you probably composite, but I figured some eco-friendly forever flowers might be nice to have around the house. They’re made with 100% recycled plastic from bottles.”

@ariatriton​

Aria was actually looking forward to that year’s ball. With how well the recent protests against the school’s sapling removal plan had gone, it seemed like she and the rest of Students Keeping the World Clean were finally being taken seriously. And it was a cause for celebration. A celebration that would of course include carefully monitoring the recycling at the ball and correcting mistakes, but a celebration nonetheless.

That she was attending with someone that was not one of her best friends was a bit of a surprise, but she hadn’t questioned things too much when Finn Bjorman had asked, figuring that it was a friendly gesture from someone in the huge family that had been nothing but lovely to her from essentially the moment of her birth.

Red dress flowing behind her as she moved to answer the door, that Finn was on the other side was no surprise. No, that honor belonged to the flowers that were immediately offered up. Even if they weren’t real flowers... the gesture still very clearly stood. He was really taking the ‘going to the ball together’ thing seriously, wasn’t he?

“Oh,” Aria murmured, very much aware that her surprise was evident. Along with the stunning realization that he was the first person outside of her immediate family to get her flowers, it was a truly new mix of emotions for her to be accosted with so early in the evening. Gingerly taking the flowers, Aria offered up a quick “thanks” before signaling to him that he should wait there while she placed (aka tossed) the flowers inside.

“I... didn’t get you anything,” she greeted him once she was back at the door, closing it and locking it behind her. It wasn’t prom. She didn’t need to provide a boutonniere for him. Yet, she felt suddenly quite unprepared for the evening.

[ariatriton]

TEXT MESSAGE ✉ The Big AT

Finn: hey, ugh, Aria. I had a question for you

Finn: I was just wondering if you were going to the ball? I'll probably end up going. winter and stuff is my thing haha. Just wondering wbu

Aria: Oh.

Aria: Not quite sure yet. My sister wants me to but I would need to find a super last minute dress.

Aria: But at least one of us should definitely be in attendance to make sure our sustainability efforts are not in vain.

[ariatriton]

TEXT MESSAGE ✉ Sister Fish🧜🏻‍♀️

Ally: I don't want to go alone. What if i run into Silas? :(((( That would be horrible. at a ball by myself and oops there's my ex boyfriend

Ally: you should come too!

Aria: If you run into Silas, he should have the common decency to leave you alone.

Aria: Don't live life in fear of running into your ex. You should go! It's fun and it's nice to see everyone get dressed up every now and again.

Aria: If it makes you go, I will attend.

[ariatriton]

TEXT MESSAGE ✉ Sister Fish🧜🏻‍♀️

Ally: Nope, not ever. My one true big sis.

Ally: Are you going to the ball before we head back home? I want to go but...idk....

Aria: I do love to make an appearance, but I actually did not have the foresight to pick out a dress so I'm not sure yet.

Aria: You should go.

[ariatriton]

TEXT MESSAGE ✉ Sister Fish🧜🏻‍♀️

Ally: I'll go buy some chains for you so we can do bike crafts after.

Ally: You're lucky you're my favorite big sister ever, you know that?

Aria: Perf.

Aria: I better be, since I'm the only one you have. The Greek variety does NOT count here.

[ariatriton]

TEXT MESSAGE ✉ Sister Fish🧜🏻‍♀️

Ally: Aria we come from a family of SAILORS, of course I know someone with chains. If not don't we have time to have dad ship some over? it's not that far

Aria: Yes, but LOCALLY? There is definitely no time to fetch chains all the way from Seaside. Also chains for boats might be a little too much for our purposes.

Aria: Perhaps we purchase some chain that could later be cut up and distributed to be bike chains nearby and then do a craft project to encourage people to ride bikes!

[ariatriton]

Text Message✉️ The Big AT

Finn: tight. exciting. I'm excited to chill with you:)

Finn: should i pick u up? wait haha no we're gonna be at the thing.

Finn: forget that dumb thing i jut said

Aria: Yes, it will be fun to celebrate with the pride of a job well done and some saplings well saved.

Aria: Not acknowledging it in the first place.

[ariatriton]

texts - silas & aria

SILAS: Or what?

ARIA: Are you serious?

ARIA: Just stay away!

ARIA: Let her pursue a friendship when and IF she's EVER ready for it!!

[ariatriton]

( TEXT ↠ ARIA 🌷 )

aleena: listen, darwin might've been on one, but if some idiots decide to climb the trees because they think they're the tarzan of auradon and then fall off, that's just natural selection at its finest.

aleena: i love you. what should the name of our second child be? i've decided already our first will be named jerry seinfeld, that way every rally we throw, we can say that it'll be featuring jerry seinfeld. technically, we wouldn't be lying.

aleena: only way to find out is to ask. i can try to work my magic on her, and this time, i /don't/ mean freezing her to her spot and forcing her to watch a powerpoint presentation i created. i can try to talk to her, see where she stands.

aleena: that's my finny, always happy to help the cause. it'll go well because you're running the show - with the help of emerald. there isn't anything you set your mind to that you can't do.

aria: you're not wrong.

aria: jerry seinfeld andersen-triton? triton-andersen (which sounds better, i think)? we have to agree on the hyphenation of last names before we can even possibly begin to think of a name for the second child.

aria: do so with my full blessing and support and knowledge that you'll remember freezing people to the ground doesn't necessarily make them want to listen to you more.

aria: of course there's not. between everyone involved, unless fgm really wants to be a pain, it has to be a success. and then we'll all be on our merry ways into the still mildly fresher air and i'll top the night off with some vegan froyo with your cousin.

[ariatriton]

texts - silas & aria

SILAS: If you did then maybe you would see that she isn't as against seeing me as you seem to be for her seeing me.

SILAS: Also I'm not creeping around every corner.

ARIA: Then maybe we were led to believe different things. But in any case, I'm not going to stop insisting that you stay away.

ARIA: Mmmm, but I think you are.

ARIA: We can agree to disagree all you want, but the moral of the story is stay away from my sister.