LOST BOY.

dion. 28.

[polomikami]

Tino sighed to himself, looking down at someone's unattended belongings, a key to what looked to be a very fancy car sitting in plain view. "It's not even fun when it's this easy," he shook his head, but still swiped the keys anyway. "For safety purposes, y'know? There's a lot of alcohol around here..." he smirked when he realised he'd gained an observer, and dropped the keys into someone else's bag a few chairs down. As much as he liked to acquire items he wasn't a car thief, just a natural born pain in the ass.

[diondempsey]

Without saying a word, Nadia glanced his way as he picked up someone's haphazardly placed car keys. Grand theft auto never felt like Tino's speed so as unsurprised as she was that he set them back down, she smirked regardless. "I wasn't stopping you." She hesitated a second then reached inside the bag, curious as to what kind of car it was, and turned the keys over in her hand to get its make and model. "Maybe we just go take a look at it. Bring these back afterwards."

[queen-tinsley]

"You dick," Brooklyn screamed as she'd suddenly found herself doused with ice water. Everyone knew Memorial Day weekend was the unofficial kick off of the summer so that meant the family had come together for a nice day out on the Chadwell property. And what had been a nice moment of catching some rays had been interrupted by finding herself a part of a water balloon war against her cousins. "I am so getting you back." ( @adeline-chadwell @blythechadwell @bunnychadwell @keatonchadwell @diondempsey @think-pink-floyd @thestefmckibbon @caleb-j )

[diondempsey]

Though Nadia still, and probably always would, feel like an outsider when it came to the Chadwell part of her family, she'd stopped by their holiday weekend outing. "Don't look at me," she told Brooklyn with an innocent raise of her hands, though she smirked as lowered them. "You wanna team up and get the rest of them?"

[willow-balcoin]

"He already told me we're gonna arm wrestle at some point so either i'm gonna get my ass beat in front of everyone or I'm gonna tear the arm off an old man and then get my ass beat in front of everyone so..." he scoffed, gesturing to the bottle as if it were the sensible option. Truthfully he didn't have any idea how to handle all the fathers in the room, none of them like his in the slightest. Even if Polo had been to prison he still seemed like a better father than his own so he hadn't been able to pinpoint what the Mikami siblings' issue with him was. "Right, glasses..." he stepped back, figuring Nadia had a better idea of where to find them, and attempted to make a joke, "so, anyway, about your five year plan..."

[diondempsey]

"Oh yeah you gotta let him win," she told him, regardless of whether or not she thought Chan actually had a shot in that. She'd won in an arm wrestle against Polo before but she still wasn't fully convinced he'd gave it his all. That was a totally different situation though, and her dad was one of the few stoic characters in the room, barely interjecting at all compared to Polo, or Marlo or Ace. Nadia grabbed two glasses from the cabinet, the short kind meant for whiskey, and poured them each a glass. "Oh fuck off," she scoffed, smiling as she handed the cup off to him. "I'd rather hear about your five year plan, you got one?"

[polomikami]

"Nobody is above a mini dog and if they think they are, they're fuckin' posers." Tino was pretty chill in general but his little schemes did get him excitable so he had a spring in his step despite them being undercover. Not that it mattered to him whether they got thrown out or not, the point was that they'd made it in at all. "You like the pretty ones, huh?" he teased her, following suit in grabbing a plate as he perused their options. "Heard he showed up in a helicopter. So much for the climate crisis... Oh, shit, taco bar–" he set his hand on Nadia's head, kissing the side of it before dodging around her to get to the tacos.

[diondempsey]

Nadia hardly had enough pride to care if they got kicked out or not, so long as they had enough time to reap the rewards of making it inside first. "Just one of them," she teased back, tempted to reach up and tug at the back of his hair. "Yeah, think we could backstage pass our way on to that too?" His hand nearly caught her off guard until he kissed her head, and even then she managed to pinch at his side while he cut around her. She grabbed a sandwich and a couple other things that looked good, still no little hot dogs in sight. "How'd you get these anyway?," she held up the badge around her neck, though it was sometimes better not to ask when it came to him.

[willow-balcoin]

Chan was used to dinner parties - his father had dragged him to plenty over the years - so he was certainly on his best behaviour when his mom had told he and Daphne they were all spending the evening at the Mikami's. Still, he hated feeling all eyes on him when conversation turned to everyone's life trajectories, so he faked his way through an answer before excusing himself to the kitchen under the guise of wanting seconds. Feeling a presence enter a little after him, he figured there was no point hiding the fact that he'd instead been sneaking a shot of what he assumed was Polo's good whiskey and tilted the bottle in silent offering. "Think we could still get away with topping it up with water?"

@jess-suvari @a-baldwin @diondempsey @smokingaceschw

[diondempsey]

Being at the Mikamis' for dinner definitely beat a lot of the alternatives, like a Chadwell dinner party for example. Still Nadia could only handle that many big personalities for so long before she needed a breather. "Think that'd be worse than just drinking it." She took the bottle from Chan, having slipped away not long after he'd excused himself, and took a sip. Short and sweet was how she usually played the how's life and what's next game, but she could only give the same answers so many times before there were follow-up questions. Like why she didn't go to college, and she was a smart girl, she still had time. "This isn't even the good stuff anyway. You want a glass?"

[polomikami]

Tino narrowed his eyes and sighed, sarcastic all the while, "I'll never understand women..." Honestly, he could understand why Sid had ditched them at that point. Most of the time they were chill, but when they got in their cutesy moments he probably would have been gagging in the corner if he were third wheeling too. They were pros at sneaking in places they shouldn't have been at that point in their lives, so he shouldn't have been surprised when the passes meant security barely even glanced at them as they slipped through the discreet staff entrance. It was like a whole other event back there, people scurrying back and forth on a mission. "Aw shit, I want one..." he said, coveting a walkie talkie he saw a woman using as she breezed past them. "Wanna check out the catering situation first?"

[diondempsey]

Aside from Sid becoming the occasional third wheel, the dynamics of their group hadn't changed that much, all things considered. More often than not it was Tino third wheeling the pair of them anyway, so it all balanced out really. They breezed passed security just by acting like they'd been there before, heads held high. There was a palpable sense of urgency backstage, the kind that suggested the people back there were saving lives or curing cancer and not well, putting on a music festival. "Yeah you think these people are too good for those mini hot dogs?" Regardless the lines for food outside were so long that she'd take whatever they could get. "Oh fuck the hot dogs," she said as they stumbled into craft services. There were several tables and what looked like a fully stocked bar, some of which included little notes about specific artist requests or allergies. "Per Prince Balcoin, thankyou," she read aloud as she grabbed a plate.

[polomikami]

"It's not for you? I'm so jealous... I gotta burn these shoes when I get home," he sighed, which turned into a half chuckle as Nadia touched his chest. It wasn't that he'd call their being together a weird feeling anymore, but considering they'd known each other since birth he figured he sometimes forgot that he wasn't still hiding how he felt. "Be cool? Done, obviously," he gestured between them both because outside of his own ego she was the coolest person on the planet in his eyes. "Blending in is gonna be hard for you though," his smirk was all cheese, thumb brushing across her cheek affectionately. "Anyone asks, we're... quality control. Can't be slipping when Kid Grantwood is on the bill, y'know."

[diondempsey]

"No, I don't really know how that could get on the walls, y'know. Given the mechanics." She smiled back at him, wondering if they had the same thought every time their fingers accidentally brushed. Something along the lines of, 'oh shit right, this doesn't need to be accident anymore.' "Obviously," she agreed, chuckling as he touched her cheek. "Mm, I think I'll manage." Grinning, she grabbed the other badge off him and strung it around her neck. "Nobody should ask, that's like the whole point of being cool and blending in." Nadia motioned for him to lead the way, "I do want to see Kid Grantwood though."

[polomikami]

"We're in," Tino held up a pair of staff passes, looking very accomplished with the little errand he'd been on. "Heard the food is actually edible backstage and there's a good chance there won't be piss running down the walls in the toilets."

[diondempsey]

"Ew, is that- That sounds like more of a mens room issue." Nadia grabbed one of the passes off him and hung it around his neck, hands brushing his chest a second before she flicked at the laminate. "So what's our plan then, be cool and blend in?"

[smokingaceschw]

"In that case, I'm happy to avoid it." Sid shrugged, "And I just made it obvious that I think it's bullshit." Sid was relieved to be outside in the fresh air, something she wasn't aware of until the cold hit her face, though it was obvious it was also something that would get old fast. "So there's this blonde girl, Steph in there, she invited me to this after party. You guys want to go? I get it if you want to split too, I'll just meet you guys back at our place."

[diondempsey]

Nadia put her hood up once they were outside, arms crossing over her chest. "Yeah, I mean, as long you're sure it was an open invite, and not just for you." Her brows shot up as she looked at Sid, corner of her mouth tugging into a smile. "Cool with me though. Hopefully they're the kinda art freaks that know how to party, and not just, do more of this," she nodded back to the gallery."

[smokingaceschw]

"Nah, I don't care if anybody's talking shit about me, they're art people. The elitism is expected but not unwelcome when it turns out to not be true. "Oh guy things, sounds like something I would want to crash if I knew that was what was up. It's all good though, because we're doing girl things now." Sid rolled her eyes, "So you are and I'll allow it as long as you keep me company outside while we hit a blunt a few times."

[diondempsey]

"I meant your dad had that look in his eye like he was trying to get serious any moment, you know the one. Rather he had that talk with Tino than me. I just said that's not what's happening, but yes, let's go outside." She grabbed Sid to pull her away from her post, linking their arms as they started towards the door.

[smokingaceschw]

"Nope, I'm good either way, just curious what I look like from the outside looking in you know? I mean I'm far from the only artist in the show but I still feel like I'm kind of on display, can't help but be curious about how I'm being perceived." She smiled at Nadia and put her head on her best friend's shoulder. "Did you see Tino sneak off to smoke with my dad? Surprised you didn't go with them." Suddenly, as if realization just hit her, Sid brought her head up and narrowed her eyes at Nadia, "You two aren't taking shifts keeping an eye on me, are you?"

[diondempsey]

"You want me to keep an ear to the ground, see if anyone's talkin' shit?" She bumped her hips against Sid, nuzzling up to her a second when she put her head on her shoulder. "I think they kinda had a guys thing going on, I wasn't getting in the way of that." Her eyes widened at the accusation, scoffing. "Oh my god, no, I mean- not exactly. Your dad thought it'd be nice if I kept you company, but c'mon, I was gonna do that anyway."

[smokingaceschw]

"Shit did he? Yeah if I have to do homework to do this then I'm out." She joked, wearing her lack of 'art knowledge' on her sleeve. She wasn't unwilling to learn new things, she was just way more into learning by talking to people, "Oh yeah? Scoped it out huh? Well fuck it, when we leave, the pizza's on me." She took in a deep breath looking around for a moment and then at Nadia, "I was hoping this one would be more of a party vibe like that one show I went to but this is alright too. What do you think? Do I stick out like a sore thumb or what?"

[diondempsey]

"No homework, who cares what a bunch of dead folks thought about art anyway." Nadia took a lot of art classes in high school, and even college, and enjoyed it, but she didn't think she'd ever consider herself an artist- not the kind that tried to get into galleries anyway. She needed a creative outlet, and liked working with her hands, and fixing up old bikes and cars checked both those boxes. "I don't know, do you want to fit in here?," she proposed with a raise of her brow. "You're not out of place, if that's what you mean."

[smokingaceschw]

Sid wasn't really nervous, never one to be intimidated by circles other than her own, but she was in a new pond so how well she was doing was up for debate probably, but in any case she was just talking about her shit, which is what she was told to do so no one could come at her. Still, she was grateful that Nadia was there, though there was no way Sid was gonna let her live it down considering she was the friend in question who called her a pussy so this was all sort of her fault to begin with. She beamed, relishing in taking a little longer just to mess with Nadia, but her friend found her opening and took it, to Sid's delight, "Well probably not since he was a weirdo fuck painter and I've never seen early Picasso in my life." Sid took hold of Nadia's fist and playfully made her knock her own jaw with it, "You bored yet? Technically no one ever said how long I had to be here, and I don't actually expect anybody to buy my shit so we can leave if you're over it."

[diondempsey]

When she pushed Sid to submit her artwork, it wasn't that she didn't think she'd get picked- the work was good, there was no doubt about that. She didn't, however, picture her actually standing her, willingly rubbing elbows with artists and the even weirder collectors. "Yeah but he fucked with some mixed media too." Nadia grabbed Sid's wrist after she'd already knocked herself in the jaw, playfully pushing her hand away. "Oh you take as long as you need, don't worry about me. There is a pizza place around the corner though, whenever you're ready. Already scoped it out."

[smokingaceschw]

"It almost feels dumb, working a gig literally surrounded by artists one day and never really considering there's a reason you like being there, numb nuts and it ain't for the love of administration work. I don't know, I always just thought of art as like one thing, painting shit, drawing shit you know? That's what artists do but all it took was one hell of a break up and a co-worker takin' me to an art thing that wasn't richies walkin' with their hands behind their backs, nodding and suckin' each other's farts. Honestly didn't even know what I was doing was art for real, more like fuckin' adult arts and crafts, I don't know. Truth be told I only submitted anything because my best friends told me I'd be a pussy if I didn't. Next thing I know, my submissions are accepted and I'm standing next to my shit tellin' people like you about it my work." Even explaining it, Sid had no idea how she'd landed herself in an art show, but she was just seeing where it could go, she didn't consider herself an actual artist or anything, hell she hadn't even heard of mixed media until she was talking to the same friend that took her to the art exhibit that sparked her interest and that friend let her know it was a legitimate form of art. "Anyway, this is my shit. I'm 'sposed to stand here and answer any questions you have and I've been standin' here for 2 hours already so the more interesting the better because I'm getting antsy."

[diondempsey]

Nadia hung back while Sid talked to some people about her art, giving her a thumbs-up as she was still in her best friend's line of sight. Just when she thought she was done talking though she kept unpacking more of her lore and so she signaled for her to wrap it up. "Yeah, I have a question," she said once the opening presented itself, the pair of strangers moving on to the next exhibit. "I'm getting a little early Picassco here, is that intentional?" She held out her first like an imaginary microphone.

[polomikami]

"If you're tryin' to Spider-Man me I think I have to be upside down..." he raised an eyebrow at her as the mask came off, confident in a way that might have been overcompensating a touch. For two people who had been friends since day one, and for him who had been pretty awful at hiding his crush on her for half of that time, it still felt surreal to be in the position they were in. Then she just pat him on the cheek and he poked her in the side as retaliation. Not that he wouldn't accept her affection in whatever way she gave it, but sometimes it felt like she'd forgotten their relationship had levelled up. "Sid and pizza... sick," Tino grinned, none the wiser to Nadia's reasoning. As far as he was concerned Sid was their best friend, they were never going to exclude her. "If you two start spooning without me I'm calling the whole thing off though."

[diondempsey]

"Yeah? Think you can hang from that doorframe?" She nodded behind them, and before he could so much as consider accepting her challenge, she tugged on his hand, popping up on her toes to kiss the side of his face. "Sick." With a nod, she grinned back at him and interlocked their fingers while she started leading them away from the party. "I mean, our couch is only so big." Once they were outside, she took out her phone to check Sid's location. "Hm she's still here, what if she's having fun without us, or.. met someone?" She raised a hopeful brow at Tino, toeing the line between not excluding their best friend and not relegating her to third wheel either. "I'll just... let her know we're leaving. I'm good to drive too, unless you want to," she said, as her bike somewhere was out front. "Might just need to see you walk in a straight line first."

[polomikami]

"Yeah well I'm just being a good boyfriend and making sure none of these unworthy spectators... spectate me." He waved his hands in a wild gesture around his whole person, "For your eyes only. It's called romance, Nads, get with it."

[diondempsey]

"Oh oh, my mistake," she chuckled, moving closer to him so she could remove the ridiculous mask from his face. "May I? No one else is looking." Fingers brushing his skin, she pulled it off then gave his cheek a pat afterwards. "Much better. You uh, ready to get out of here? Maybe find Sid and order a pizza to our place?" Not that she wouldn't be okay hanging out just the two of them- they did that all the time, obviously, and yet sometimes she found herself using their friend's presence like a safety net. Even though they were out in the open, boyfriend-girlfriend, whatever, being together still made her nervous, in the same inexplicable silly way a crush could.

[diondempsey]

"You're really committing to the bit huh?" If Nadia hadn't said something earlier, maybe Tino would've shed a layer of his costume by now. Instead he remained stubborn as usual, refusing to compromise even if he could hardly see. @polomaikhami