i&#x27;m in character

[ char → tori ]: some of us have classes still tomorrow [ char → tori ]: i can talk to you until i fall asleep

[ tori → char ]: yayyyy ok!!! [ tori → char ]: i had my water should i do more tequila or shots?

[ char → tori ]: i'm sure you'll find something. you always do. [ char → tori ]: i was finishing up an assignment, probably going to sleep soon tho

[ tori → char ]: that's true [ tori → char ]: no don't leeeeave me

[ char → tori ]: well that's good [ char → tori ]: are you sticking around there much longer?

[ tori → char ]: i dunno it's kinda late but i don't have a plan for tomorrow [ tori → char ]: what're you up to?

[ char → tori unsent ]: i mean it would if we were still together [ char → tori ]: lol yeah that makes it all better [ char → tori ]: i'm surprised you aren't at some swanky bar

[ tori → char ]: this one's on the bus line [ tori → char ]: i'm not drinking and driving i'm safe [ unsent ]: i can't afford anything else

[ char → tori ]: i know you mean that as a compliment, but it's still really weird to say [ char → tori ]: can't you drink next to someone else?

[ tori → char ]: ok fine is this better [ tori → char ]: i only have eyes for you [ tori → char ]: no its a small bar and she's got the good seat

[ char → tori ]: like that makes it any better [ char → tori ]: lucky them then [ char → tori ]: ah i see. so why are you still hanging around her?

[ tori → char ]: if it makes you feel better i stopped even thinking about him when i started falling for you [ tori → char ]: because i'm at a bar and i'm still drinking and there's whiskey

[ char → tori ]: says the girl that used to give him moony eyes [ char → tori ]: salary wise, yes [ char → tori ]: is she going to become your new bestie?

[ tori → char ]: that was before i knew i liked girls too bby [ tori → char ]: oooh ya gonna be someone's rich girlfriend? [ tori → char ]: no she's a total attention hog and that's my thing

[ char → tori ]: no one is lamer than julian, so rest assured, i have no plans to be anything like him [ char → tori ]: it's misery that'll be worth it later so it's fine [ char → tori ]: what do you mean she's pretending to be french? [ char → tori unsent ]: is she cute?

[ tori → char ]: thank god you're too pretty to become lame [ tori → char ]: will it? [ tori → char ]: oh like she's got on a beret and she's doing the accent and sprinkling in french words [ tori → char ]: she's not bad but i'm pretty sure shes' from like arizona or something

[ char → tori ]: i do plenty, don't worry. the last thing i need to do is be like my brother [ char → tori ]: besides i have plenty of time to be miserable and boring once i'm in med school [ char → tori ]: alone at a bar or did you go to the bar with people? [ char → tori ]: okay

[ tori → char ]: ew ew ew pls don't grow up to be a mini julian he's sooooo laaaaaaame [ tori → char ]: aw don't be miserable i can cheer you up [ tori → char ]: i went alone but there's lots of people i made a new friend her name is charmaine and she's pretending to be french

[ char → tori ]: i think you need some shots of water next then [ char → tori ]: it isn't. i just have to do actual studying at some point. [ char → tori ]: can't just party it up every night. are you by yourself or with people?? [ char → tori ]: ask me that again when you're not drunk 🙄

[ tori → char ]: omg yor so right your so responsible [ tori → char ]: you study so hard you gotta give that ucte brain a break! [ tori → char ]: i'm at a bar it's not really a party [ tori → char ]: i will ask you tomorrow morning if you don't think i'm serious but i so am

[ char → tori ]: i don't think say everything is fine while also calling it disgusting is very convincing [ char → tori ]: wtf is tequilisky? [ char → tori ]: i'm fine, not living it up like you apparently tho

[ tori → char ]: its a tequila shot inside a whiskey sour and i've had like 5 [ tori → char ]: aww babeee is school making you stay in all boring [ tori → char ]: i hate that for you come out here

[ char → tori ]: idk [ char → tori ]: figured i wouldn't be hearing from you [ char → tori ]: is everything okay?

[ tori → char ]: no calis disgusting [ tori → char ]: it's fine tho [ tori → char ]: i've invented a new drink called tequilisky [ tori → char ]: how're you doing babey?

[ char → tori ]: ??? [ char → tori ]: are you drunk texting me?

[ tori → char ]: um obviously [ tori → char ]: who else would it be?

tori→char || ~7 years ago

tori: hey babz tori: hows school going? tori: california is bo-ring tori: i missssss you

@dontcallmevicky

Charlotte rolled her eyes, unable to hide the smirk off of her face. It was probably in poor taste to be poking fun at the groom, but it was another old habit that was difficult to break. Even after all this time, the poor schmuck had yet to be able to change either of their opinions about him.

“Well at least Robin’s taste hasn’t changed,” she commented as they stepped into their shared room. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, but definitely more than enough to make the stay comfortable. At least it was enough space so that they wouldn’t be on top of each other when they did retire to the room for the evening.

Wheeling in her suitcase further into the room, she set it against the wall as she watched Victoria try to make space for her. “Oh, it’s fine,” she chuckled. “As long as I can hang my dress, it should be okay. I don’t mind living out of my suitcase, so you know, take the space you need.” It didn’t bother her, especially having had lived with the woman once before to some extent.

Taking out a few of her essential toiletries from her bag, she rifled through her suitcase for things she’d need. “Oh, you know,” she started off saying and shrugging. “Busy. This is probably the first break I’ve taken since I started my residency, but it’s been good. I, uh, got matched with a hospital close to where my mom is, so I’ve been able to see her more often.”

“What about you?”

Despite Charlotte’s protest, by the time Victoria finished, she’d managed to fit all of her things in exactly half the allotted space for them. “Don’t be silly,” she answered, making a neat stack of her numerous cosmetics. A girl must be prepared for every possible look she might want, after all. “I only sprawled out because I thought I could. If I’d known you were coming...” If she’d known Charlotte was coming, she would have done a fair few things differently, actually. Though, not that many. Her confidence was still higher than it probably warranted. “Well, if I’d known you were coming, I definitely would’ve unpacked differently.”

Victoria hated, among other things, living out of a suitcase. She felt she should make herself at home in every room she entered. And she did. Usually, whether or not other people liked it. Victoria was pretty sure Charlotte liked it, or at least found it endearing. Or, at least-at least used to find it endearing. It occurred to Victoria she hadn’t spent much time with her former-friend-turned-ex since she’d turned into an ex.

Still, some things never changed. Like Charlotte’s work ethic. “That’s good. I’m sure you were hoping for something close by.” Charlotte had one of those families that was actually close. Victoria got along fine with her parents, but they weren’t close, and she had no siblings. Though she’d preferred no siblings to an annoying older brother like Charlotte had had growing up. “Though I have to admit, I’m not shocked to hear you’re not taking breaks. That’s so you.”

The question about herself brought a flush of awkwardness to Victoria. That was rare, except when people wanted to know what she was up to. “Busy,” she echoed. “Auditioning and rehearsal-ing and, uh...” She paused, weighing how much she wanted to share before deciding fuck it. If she couldn’t tell her workaholic ex who she probably wouldn’t see again after this weekend, who could she tell? “I was asked to help consult on a show. Costuming. They could tell I have an amazing eye, obviously.” And, she was hoping, this would be something she could leverage into actual roles. But that part she’d keep to herself.

#thread: charlotte

In a lot of ways it was easy enough to fall into some of their old habits. Regardless of them being exes, they had been friends prior. We’re friends, she internally reminded herself as she was steered towards the stairs. So she could at least laugh when Victoria uttered out a joke. “And take away from the bride’s wedding?” she scoffed jokingly. “Though I guess it would be like Robin to want to be able to come back from her honeymoon and get all the hot gossip from one of us.”

Mostly she figured Robin just wanted everyone to be happy and in love the way she was with Bland-Boy #6 (though as to why, Charlotte would never be able to explain). She’d try really, really hard not to hold this against the bride if this backfired in both of their faces.

It’s only for the wedding, what could go wrong? she asked herself sarcastically. But the answer was very clear when Victoria insisted on still having her close as they headed upstairs. Damnit, did the woman have to look like that right now?

“No, it’s fine. At least I already know you don’t snore, and my morning routine hasn’t changed much, so this is probably… Easier.” It was certainly something, but Charlotte wasn’t sure ‘easier’ was the right word to fix onto this situation. “I mean, unless you don’t want to room with me,” she backtracked just in case. “I haven’t unpacket yet, so it won’t piss me off just yet to switch rooms.”

Victoria shrugged. To be fair, it was absolutely in her nature to want the spotlight on her. She couldn’t help it; she was a star. Or, meant to be a star. A star in the making. Charlotte probably knew the science word for that. Charlotte had always been a nerd, in the cute rom-com sort of way. And gossip was a powerful motivator--it was what she and Robin had in common, most of all--but Victoria had another idea. “Maybe she wants to live vicariously through us, since her husband’s a big nothing.” She whispered these words, even though Robin wasn’t in front of them, just to be safe. Even Victoria knew it was a bad look to trash-talk the bride.

“Oh, yeah, no it’s totally fine with me.” Victoria couldn’t exactly say she’d hoped for this. The idea that Charlotte might come hadn’t even occurred to her. Not in a weird I don’t want to see my ex way, but she knew Charlotte. She knew the woman was, like, laser focused when she wanted to be. She knew what it felt like to be on the receiving end of that focus...and also what it felt like to be somewhere outside the receiving end. She’d assumed Robin was outside that but, hey, maybe not.

Anyway, the point was that this was good. Better than being stuck with some random friend of Robin’s that she didn’t know. Victoria had always enjoyed Charlotte’s company. Enjoyed a little too much, if she was being honest. She wasn’t going to be honest though. She was playing a role. The role of Perfect Bridesmaid, un-distractable. Mostly. She bumped open the door to her room--their room, and finally forced herself away from Charlotte. “Here you are. Home sweet home for the next few days. Here, let me just...” Since she hadn’t realized there’d be two of them, she’d taken up the whole closet and the bathroom and everything. So she went through the room, nudging her stuff to take up half the space so Charlotte could have some room to unpack. “So how have things, like, been?” she asked while she worked.

#thread: charlotte

dontcallmevicky:

Obviously, everyone knows you’re not supposed to look better than a bride at her wedding. Usually, that includes the whole time leading up to the party. Even Victoria knew that. Still, she couldn’t help but freshen up a little after her travels. There was a difference, after all, between trying not to outshine the bride and completely letting yourself go. Victoria just needed to be on the right side of that line.

So. Hair, restyled. Makeup, reapplied, with some extra brightener under her eyes because her trip had started super early this morning. And there, now she looked good but not perfect. She was just about done with her ritual when she heard the door. Ooh! She’d been so busy with auditions, she’d barely paid attention to who the other bridesmaids were. Curious, she made her way to the stairs before the voices drifting up stopped her in her tracks.

Charlotte.

Christ. Okay. No, that was fine. It wasn’t going to be weird. They’d broken up ages ago. And besides, they were here to pretend to like Robin’s future husband. Victoria did her power stance, feeling all that yes-queen-girlboss-power rise up before she made her way down the stairs. Charlotte caught her eye right away, giving her that intense stare that was exactly the same as Victoria remembered. She smiled, marching right up to the girl and wrapping her arms around her. See? This was fine.

“Yeah, well, space in my schedule opened up.” A polite way of saying she didn’t get the new CW show spot. Not that she wanted to mention it. “I didn’t think you were coming. Aren’t you, like, running a hospital now or something?” Victoria really hadn’t paid much attention to what any of her high school friends had been up to since she’d moved. Too busy trying to make it in Hollywood. Other than occasionally insta-stalking, she really had no idea. But she knew Charlotte, so big hot-shot doctor was a guarantee at this point. She certainly looked the part–clean-cut, but well-dressed. In great shape, if a little tired around the eyes. Hot. Not that hot-shot doctors had to be hot, but Charlotte always had been.

She dropped the hug, but kept one arm around her as she cheated out to face Robin instead. “You really did bring us all back, huh? It’s going to be awesome.” Except for the fact that she thought Robin could to better, but she’d already promised her Reiki practitioner that she’d keep the sarcastic remarks to herself. “I can take Charlotte up to our room if you’re still finishing up with bride stuff.” She’d wondered, when she’d arrived, why she had the two beds in her room. This made perfect sense, though. Obviously, she and Charlotte would be put together. That was so like Robin.

A small chuckle left her lips, trying to force herself into seeing this as a normal conversation between old friends rather than exes. At least she’d always been good at compartmentalizing. “Not quite yet, but you know, it’s in the works.” And while she definitely didn’t mind running a hospital at some point, right now she was perfectly content with making sure she was the most impressive resident in her city’s hospital.

She glanced at the arm still draped around her but didn’t say anything. They were friends, right? Friends could do that. So she refused to think too much into it either. Just as Charlotte was about to ask why Victoria would need to take her up to her room, she realized her ex hadn’t said her room but our room. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Robin and was of course met with an amused grin. While she wouldn’t do anything about this now, this was Robin’s wedding weekend, she’d definitely remember this for later. Hell, Robin probably did this specifically because she knew Charlotte wouldn’t try to spoil the wedding festivities.

“Yes, would you?” Robin gushed, clearly pleased with herself. “I need to go over some last minutes plans and I have a little thing with the future in-laws to do. I told the rest of the girls to be ready by 5, so we can all head to dinner together.” Making her quick escape Robin waved her goodbyes and told them to have fun before leaving the exes standing together.

This was fine. Totally fine. Hopefully saying it over and over again in her head would make it true. “So we’re roomies?” she asked rhetorically. Grabbing her suitcase, she waited for Victoria to lead the way to their room. “I guess Robin hadn’t figured out how to be subtle about things after all these years then, huh?” That or has become a little demented at what she thought was an amusing joke.