location: the limelight terrace
time: 01:22
with: @arthavemeyer
Cool air breezed over her skin and the brunette sighed in relief to be free of the hot, sweat drenched air that barely circulated through the club. Slim fingers slid under perfectly styled locks to try and detach them from their new home clinging to the back of her neck. For just a moment she allows herself to twist it up and holding it loosely before taking a few deep breaths in and out. Feeling her body temperature drop, Sophie released her tresses when the crawling sensation over her skin overtook the need to cool down. If she were being honest with herself ( which she so rarely was ) she was kidding herself to think that the need she was feeling now was ever outweighed by anything else and it was a foolish exercise that she had engaged in attempting to put off the inevitable - especially when she welcomed it so. She had felt her smile dimming, her enthusiasm fading and dancing growing languid to make her a far cry from what she was expected to be.
So few excuses had been given as she had made for the terrace, a simple elusive smile before she’d slipped away from the group. Heartbeat sped up as fingers shook slightly in their attempt to open her bag to retrieve the ‘dose’ she knew she had tucked safely away in there. After what seems like an age it’s free to toss into her mouth, head tilting back as eyes closed for her to enjoy the real relief that came with knowing she would soon be back on the top of her game.
It was only once she had collected herself and snapped her carefully selected clutch that she realised she was no longer alone, silently cursing the time she had taken to take in the cold night air instead of focusing on what she knew to be the most important thing. All it showed her was that she was right to be strict with herself and indulgence only brought her into dangerous territory. Brown eyes shifted to her new companion, instantly recognising him as one of the last people she would have wished to witness her break in her claimed abstention from drugs. As always though there was some sort of stubborn refusal to drop her mask and slight smile hovers on her lips as she turned to face none other than Arthur Havemeyer. Smooth steps are taken somewhat closer, heels clicking as she did putting some confidence in her steps. Silky tones fall from her lips with just the right tinge of wryness and the hint of something bittersweet given what they were all gathered for. “Some night, isn’t it?”
It soon become unbearable, the sultry atmosphere of the inside of the club, packed with “mourners” to the brim, an accentuated smell of marijuana as the hours ticked and it became more acceptable to lose complete perspective over why they were there. All night, since he arrived, Arthur had only seen a few familiar faces -- there weren’t many of them still in the city, others simply didn’t want to think about it anymore, deliciously feeding every tabloid’s expectation with a ‘no show’ status on the entrance list -- but when he did see “the gang” together, he searched everybody’s faces for the same features of twelve years ago. Now, he wasn’t sure if it was better to see everyone again, together in a reminiscent way, or to spend the night with complete strangers who were either too young to remember or too old to care.
He tried to blend in with the crowd but there was always someone new to greet, fake smiles plastered on their faces, waving hands and offering drinks (and cigarettes, and everything else), eager to give their two-scents of the tragedy of this anniversary to Arthur Havemeyer. He could see it in their eyes, how much they didn’t care about Joel; not that he did either but, that was a secret he wouldn’t dare say aloud. He wasn’t here for Joel, anyway. For any of the Buchanons, really. He was here because he was supposed to, and he never did fail in his duties, no matter how unpleasant they were.
After the pleasantries of strangers and the hungry looks thrown his way, he needed a break. The sign said ‘closed, for VIP only’ -- he smiled at that, looking around to make sure no one noticed him slipping away from the party into a quieter location. He just needed a second alone. The music still pulsed beneath his feet, muffled now to a more reasonably volume, and he found himself alone with his thoughts, blending with the shadows just in case someone decided to follow him there, or had the same urges to flee as he did.
Lost in his thoughts, he was startled by the sound of the door opening and elegant heels clicking on the concrete. He held his breath, retreating further into the shadows, not ready to interact with people again just yet. He couldn’t exactly distinguish who it was, not right away, the woman was far away but seemed just in need of silence as he was. Arthur stayed hidden, awkwardly trying not to stare, even if she couldn’t see him. When she moved, he finally recognized her. Sophie. He bit his lip, wondering if he should come out of the shadows and say something -- it would be awkward not to. Just when he was about to, one step forward, he quickly receded. She seemed to be engaged in something, hands fumbling, struggling to get it. When she was done, he finally emerged, clearing his throat to make his presence known. “I’m sorry, I thought everyone else was engaged with the party downstairs” he paused for a second, searching for her eyes.
Arthur breathed in deeply, softly, blending in a scoff. “Tell me about it,” he shrugged and turned to look at the view in front of them, not wanting to look at her directly. “Not the first place I would pick to mourn my dead brother but then again, Hugo is known for his peculiar choices.” He hesitated for a second in the choice of words, settling for something far less offensive than he was actually thinking. He looked at her from the corner of his eye, contemplating her demeanour and posture. “Are you okay?” even if everything indicated that it was -- perfectly curated clothes, shoulders back, broad smile on her coloured lips -- something about Sophie always made him want to ask. Especially after witnessing something he was sure he shouldn’t have.