price

quinn price . 20 years old . democrat . white house intern

[qprice]

perseusandrews‌:

Percy took a deep breath, tried to ground himself. Box breathing. Anything. He traced the shape on the inside of one of his palms, but his hands were shaking too much to create the lines, his fingertips jumping between the vertices of the non-existent shape. His breathing caught again, he felt his face feel hollow. The world around him slowed. Tunnel vision. All he could see was his palm and the square and why was it so difficult to connect the damn corners?

And then he heard Quinn’s voice. Shit, Percy thought to himself. Not knowing how this could have gone any worse, Percy looked up and caught Quinn’s eyes, his own wide, a deer in headlights. This was not what he needed right now. Or maybe it was exactly that. But Quinn’s concern didn’t stop his panic attack. “I- I-” Percy said, stumbling over his words. “No I-” he kept trying. “I can’t breathe,” Percy said. “I need- I need to get home.” 

He cast his eyes around the front of the venue, checking to see the people wandering past half to make sure he didn't see like ... Percy's dad or something. "Let's go over here..." He said, gently guiding Percy over to the side, out of the way of the main foot traffic of party goers looking for their cars. There were only a few people over here, who also seemed to be taking a break from the event inside.

Quinn did his best to keep in mind that whatever was happening with Percy right now, it probably wouldn't help if he was out in the street appearing to be overly familiar with him. So, he tried. He rested his hand on Percy's arm comfortingly (he hoped), looking at him in his wide eyes as he spoke a little at a loss for what to do. "You really think you can make it home if you can't breathe?” Even so, Quinn had reached into his pocket to pull out his phone, “I'll .... call my car?"

@sybilbuchanan

[qprice]

perseusandrews‌:

Percy looked over at Quinn, bemused. He wished he felt like Quinn did in spaces like these, but Percy was much more his mother’s son than his father’s. A quiet night in. A couple of friends. Casual dinners and home cooked meals were much more his cup of tea. People he knew, people that he could trust.

Percy shrugged when Quinn asked the question, pondering whether or not he should sit down and meet Quinn on the floor. “Sanford wanted me here,” Percy shrugged, “Considering he isn’t. Guess he thought making an intern his eyes and ears was better than Danvers, who seems to be enjoying the evening since he doesn’t need to be playing babysitter,” Percy chuckled, thinking to him and his wife by the bar from earlier. He definitely seemed more than happy to have only eyes for her for the night. “I guess I’m not doing such a great job right now, though, am I?” he said sarcastically. “What a tradition…” A melancholy smile reached his lips gently, the words said almost wistfully - like he wished it didn’t have to be. A beat. “I’m glad you’re here, too.

"It's a good tradition. It gives us something to do. Something fun to look forward to. Not that events like this are not fun." Quinn said, his hands resting on his knees as he looked over at Percy with a small smile. He had been to many parties in his time, and the best were when you had someone to get away with somewhere just to talk. Granted, he'd be doing more with Percy if he could be. But Quinn doubted that he would appreciate that. Seeing as they weren't exactly hidden and someone could walk around the corner at any minute.

He skimmed his hands over his pants, smoothing them out, and tilting his head to the side. "Has anyone ever told you, that you put way too much pressure on yourself? You can be here enjoying yourself and not playing babysitter, just like Danvers is. You should work on your work/life balance."

[qprice]

perseusandrews‌:

Percy really hadn’t expected the night to go as it did. An on and off mixture of instability and satiated calm, he had tried to stay away from alcohol for the majority of the night, but felt the stress catching up to him. He had been good at lying to save face, at least, he had felt like he had been. And partially, he had enjoyed the thrill that came from sneaking away to see Quinn, the belief that people fed him when he told them about him and Avery. For once in his life, for the first time ever, maybe, Percy felt like he had power. 

So why did he feel like shit? 

He could feel his hands start to shake, felt the night coming to an end, every piece of adrenaline he had that kept him going all night crashing down on his lungs. He politely excused himself from the table he and his friends and family were at (Avery included), and motioned that he was going to be waiting outside for them. He was calm, collected, composed until the cold air met his skin, his hands shaking, his breath catching. “Fuck… Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Percy mumbled under his breath, grabbing his fingers to keep them from vibrating noticeably like he knew they would be in a minute.

[ @sybilbuchanan​ // @qprice​ ]] 

As far as Quinn was concerned, the night had been a roaring success. Like usual. He'd met new people, made new friends, got his name out there. All in a nights work. But he was ready to head out, and do something more fun. Head off with his friends to some actual party, or some place he didn't have to be on his very best behavior. Even if he was the only one holding the standards of what his very best behavior entailed. It was really all pride that kept him for doing something like drinking. But that was not the point.

He grabbed his things from the coat room, and headed out the front doors into the warmer night air. It was not at all his fault that the first thing his eyes landed on was Percy, he was sure. But well, he understood his feelings, so ... decided he would just ignore him. Walk past like they were just two casual acquaintances and that was it. Except halfway to walking past him, he noticed the pallid look on his face and slowed down.

"Hey, are you okay?" Quinn asked, instead of walking past, he walked over to him with a concerned look. "You don't look too great... Did you eat something bad? Were you drinking?" No ... Quinn was not good at the medical stuff. That was why he’d studied law. 

[qprice]

gvcoleman‌:

Gabrielle wasn’t particularly bothered by his focus on his phone, particularly because it seemed to just be par for the course these days, and he looked right up when she spoke. The look of flustered surprise was more satisfying than stopping to chide him for anything would ever be. 

She gave a little wave of her hand, amused. “Well - I’m probably not supposed to encourage that kind of thing, but - petty’s fair. Can be fun, depending on what it is.” She leaned one arm on the table as he stumbled through an introduction - still honestly a bit in awe that she could get that reaction from people. “Well - that’s very sweet, Quinn. I knew I’d seen your face around here, but -” She shrugged slightly. “Working for the first lady, though - good for you. That’ll look real good on a resume, no doubt.” She smiled. “Let me guess. Harvard or Yale? You’re not old enough to drink the wine they’re serving, but no one’s going to stop you - am I right?” She smiled a bit wider. “…You lookin’ for someone?”

"That's what I'm hoping," Quinn nodded his head with a grin. "That and it also puts me in a position to meet people I otherwise would never have been able to--" he motioned towards her "-- which is always amazing. But you're right. Harvard, in fact." Not uncommon for these parts, but he certainly still felt pride about his school. No reason to pretend he didn't. He gave a small laugh and shook his head, "no one but myself. I've sort of already made a bit deal about not drinking in front of ... actual people who make laws until I turn 21. There's only a month left, so I can't really start now."

His grin turned into a bit more of a demure sort of smile, and Quinn gave a sigh. "Sort of? My friend is like a super huge fan of yours. But I'm sure he'll have no problem finding you on his own if he really wants to." Quinn looked at his phone, and then back up at Gabrielle. "Would you mind if I took a selfie of us for instagram?"

And that sparked something in his head. Well, if she wanted petty. "And, do you think I could ask your opinion on something?"

[qprice]

perseusandrews‌:

Percy tried to avoid staring as Quinn looked at his phone, trying not to make it too obvious, but keeping an eye on his action, watched him out of the corner of his eye tap his hand on the table before typing it seemed, Percy’s own phone buzzing moments later. He took a look at the message, saw Quinn’s red suit begin to move through the crowd. Percy followed where he went until he was out of his line of sight, waited a minute and began to weave his way through before he got caught by one of his dad’s colleagues. “Perseus!” he said, giving the boy a hard handshake, “Your father told me you’re seeing Hill’s daughter, right? Avery? Good for you,” he chuckled and Percy felt his body stiffening, but he smiled and lied through his teeth before politely excusing himself to “make a few more rounds” and “say hello” to an “old family friend”.

Percy trailed out the exit that he remembered seeing Quinn walk through, making a couple of twists and turns before he spotted Quinn’s standout maroon suit and walked up to him. “God, it can be suffocating in there,” he said casually, keeping a few feet of distance as he leaned up against the wall, just in case anyone were to spot them.

"Really?" Quinn said, looking over at Percy, before glancing down to the floor, making sure it was relitively clean, and sliding down the wall to take a seat. "I kind of feel like I'm in my element here. Or at least an element." He preferred just working and getting shit done. But Quinn had no problems with networking. Especially when things like that really did help. At least it helped someone like him, who was still pretty brand new to Washington DC. It was necessary for him.

On the other hand people already knew someone like Percy. He looked up at him for a moment from his place on the ground. "Why did you come? Couldn't you have made an excuse that you were making a statement or something? It looks like a lot of that party couldn't make it tonight." There was a small pause, before Quinn continued, with a little bit of a smile. "Not that I'm not glad you're here. I feel like this is a bit of a tradition now."

[qprice]

perseusandrews‌:

Percy smiled gently when he saw Quinn laugh, felt their eyes meet, giving a small wave hello. It was moments like this when he realized just what kind of a hole he had dug himself into. It wasn’t like he could just… go over there and talk to Quinn in the way he wanted to. Maybe if he wasn’t so interested in Quinn, this whole thing would be different.  Maybe if he didn’t know Quinn at all he’d be able to convince himself to find some hope in the fact that Avery was saving his ass from being outed… but this whole facade had very quickly turned into the biggest mess of his life.

He felt his phone vibrate on the table, looked down and picked it up.

OUTGOING TEXT TO: QUINN

    i mean.. same?

    feeling like i’ve hit my max for shaking hands and saying “nice to meet you” lmao

    i’m okay though i guess

    … 

    i could be better tbh

Quinn tapped his fingers along his table, going over in his mind every person he'd met, after reading Percy's text. He hadn't personally hit his own max. He likely could do this sort of thing all night. Especially if there were important people out there he hadn't met yet. And there definitely those.

However -- and there was a however -- while he didn't hate this part of the job. Future job? Well, while he was maybe one of the only people on the planet who actually liked Networking, he'd rather be doing other, much more interesting, things.

[ quinn  »  percy ]  let's go somewhere else then

He didn't wait for a response. Quinn got up from his table, and exited the main room to find somewhere secluded and out of the way. Assuming Percy would follow a few minutes later.

[qprice]

gvcoleman‌:

@qprice

Gabrielle was not as young as she had once been, and that felt extremely obvious when she found herself in situations like these, encountering interns and students. They all looked so small, and it was hard to avoid the thought that - well, she was old enough to be their mother. When did I become that person? However, it also lent her a sort of urge to look after those young people, and doubly-so for the ones she pegged in some way as standing out. It took one to know one, didn’t it? And something about the young man in front of her with hair as red as his suit tugged at her attention somehow. She couldn’t quite read his face, but he almost looked lonely. 

She took a seat at the table he occupied, albeit a few chairs away so as not to be entirely too presumptive. “You enjoyin’ the party?” She asked, simple enough for a conversation starter. “It’s none of my business, but you look you’ve got something on your mind.”

"Yes, it's great," Quinn said automatically to the question, as he looked at his phone. That was rude. So, he quickly raised his head and actually saw who he was speaking to, trying his best not to look cartoonishly surprised that the Gabrielle Coleman was sitting down at his table and talking to him. Quinn looked around the room very quickly for Cristian, unfortunately didn't see him, then turned back to Gabrielle with a smile.

What had she said? Oh, right. "Uh, no-- No. I mean yes. I do have a few things on my mind, actually. Nothing really that important. It's all rather petty if I'm being honest. Probably not really all that interesting." Quinn put his phone away, shaking his head. "I'm Quinn Price. I'm an intern at the White House, I work a lot with the First Lady. It's such an honor to meet you, I can't even ..." Quinn took a breath and stopped his urge to be some sort of embarrassing fanboy. "It's an honor to meet you."

[qprice]

perseusandrews‌:

As much as Percy didn’t want to admit it, he felt like a stick figure tonight. Smiling, waving, introducing people to Avery, Avery introducing him to people… The whole thing was smothering him. He looked over at Avery, watching her float between a couple of guests, watched the rest of the guests at the dinner move through with ease. He needed a breather. Took a seat at his table for a moment to catch his breath, to grab a glass of champagne. 

He looked up from his glass to see Quinn across the room, a couple tables over. He wasn’t hard to spot in his burgundy suit - standing out in the crowd of traditional black tie wear. God… Percy thought to himself, he looked good, too. They were far enough apart that they couldn’t talk, but close enough to make eye contact. He sighed, looked back at Avery, still busy with someone in the distance, and pulled out his phone, shooting a quick text over to him, sighing as he placed his phone on the table.

OUTGOING TEXT TO: QUINN 

     you okay? 

[ @qprice ]

A new event, another opportunity for networking. Quinn was sure there were people who hated that sort of thing. There were always people who didn't like something. But honestly, Quinn liked it. It was a good time to meet new people, or debate if this senator was good enough that they were important enough for him to know. Not to be petty about it, just realistic. Either way, it was a good time as far as Quinn was concerned -- at least at this point in his career -- two events in.

However, The Correspondants Dinner felt different than the Fourth of July party had. Maybe because it wasn't a party. There were no cute drinks, or fun activities for children (and himself). This was professional, and that was fine. Quinn was a professional person. That was not the problem. The problem was Percy and his Not girlfriend Avery. They were a walking homophobic display and -- no. Nope. No, that wasn't true. Quinn was perfectly fine with all of this, as fine as Percy appeared to be.

He glanced down at his phone when he felt it vibrate and laughed, glancing over towards Percy from across the room.

[ quinn  »  percy ]   I'm good [ quinn  »  percy ]   meeting new people making new friends [ quinn  »  percy ]   how are YOU doing?

[qprice]

QUINN PRICE  |   White House Correspondents’ Dinner

he’s not a boring straight guy so ofc he can’t just wear a black suit or something traditional like that come on ....

[qprice]

perseusandrews‌:

Percy nodded. “Yeah, I know who Cristian is. Alvarez, right? Our families know each other… we’re not really friends or anything but we’re on a friendly basis with them,” he said, flipping through the photos of the three of them. He could feel the flippant attitude in his tone surfacing a little more with the drink in his system. Usually, he was good at masking stuff like that, but today… well… maybe he was just a little more on edge about everything.

Percy sighed, felt his jaw fall into his hands for a moment as he ran his hands over his mouth and took a sharp breath. “I don’t really care that you have feelings for Cristian, or that you’re so close with all of them. I’m not your… boyfriend…” he sighed. He wasn’t, it was true. “Unless something happens and we make that decision together, you’re free to do whatever you want…. But I… Fuck…” he sighed. At least they didn’t already know about Avery and him, or at least, not in the way Quinn knew. “You can’t tell them about me and Avery not really being a thing, you have to promise me that,” Percy could feel his voice cracking a little, feeling like he was begging. He was. If anyone actually found out and really wanted to hurt him, all they had to do was send a message to his dad. “That has to stay between the three-” four, he thought to himself, sure Hans would figure it out, too, “-of us. Me, you and Avery… I think you’re going to need to give me that bottle of rum.”

Quinn moved closer to Percy, putting his hand on his cheek and looking at him in the eyes. "I won't tell them. Trust me." He didn’t have to tell them everything. He could totally do that. Besides the way he felt about Percy and Avery, it might as well be a real relationship as far as anyone else was concerned. -- Not that Quinn was going to say that out loud. Nope. He was totally fine. Percy could do whatever he wanted with his life, and Quinn was absolutely fine with it.

He was trying to be, anyway.

He handed the rum back over to Percy, and watched him for a moment, staying silent as his mind churned over in his head. "Percy?” He said slowly, “I think I like you more than I thought I did." Well, that didn't take all that long for him to figure out from the start of their conversation, until now, did it? They hadn't even taken all their clothes off yet.

[qprice]

perseusandrews‌:

Percy could feel his eyes narrow a little as he watched Quinn unbutton his shirt only to reveal an undershirt underneath. “Damn,” Percy cursed to himself, although audible enough for both parties to hear. “I’ve never done either - smoked or done ecstasy, that is… I did take an edible once by accident… That was…. a time,” he laughed gently.

Knowing he’d done many things he regretted, Percy moved to take off his t-shirt, one of the few remaining clothing items he still had on, before he stopped as Quinn sighed. “I… yeah,” he said, sliding his shirt back over his shoulder, his chest rising and falling, anticipating what was coming next. At least there was a bit of alcohol in his system to ease the blow when Quinn told him to leave. That also meant he’d be calling a cab. “What do you want to talk about?” he said, eyes meeting Quinn’s only due to the liquid confidence coursing through his veins.

Quinn considered for a moment how to begin describing the stupid melodrama that was his life, giving a small hum. "Okay, I have this friend. His name is Cristian, I think I've talked about him before, I must have." He leaned forward pulling his phone off the coffee table, and flipping open his gallery of 'friends' which was really just him, Cristian, and Lola with some random other people sprinkled in, handing it over to Percy. "He's my best friend, and I think that's putting it lightly. I didn't have anybody in my life for a really long time, my parents don't care about me, I had no friends. Then I went to college, and I met Cristian, and I had him in my life. Or maybe he had me is more of a fitting description. I would do anything for him. I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for him."

Quinn gave a sigh and shook his head, and gave a long pause. Maybe he was just saying this because he was getting a little tipsy and he tended to get emotional when that happened. "I have feelings for him." Not that it was a secret, but he wasn't sure he'd ever actually admitted that out loud before. "And I'm not saying that to be like 'sorry I already have feelings for someone'. Because it's a moot point. He has a girlfriend. Her name is Lola, she's also one of my closest friends. And even if he didn't I don't think that'd matter. Honestly, I'm kind of realizing what an asshole I can be to Lola, now that I think about it. I think that's probably the thing I regret. Because she knows how I feel, she'd have to be a fucking moron to not, and her and Cristian have a ... open relationship. But there is a difference between sleeping with someone and making it seem like you're actually trying to steal someones boyfriend from them. Which I wouldn't ever really do, I just like making her mad, because she's the same way to me. But she has more of a reason to be like that, I feel like I'm just being shitty. I should probably stop." Would he though, or was that just the booze talking? Time would tell.

He leaned his head back against the couch, taking a drink from the bottle of rum, and looked at Percy for a moment, "I don't mean to ramble on like this. I just wanted to bring it up, so you were aware of them and know that we're all pretty involved in each others lives. Really involved. I ... told them about you also. Way before I knew you were in the closet. Like an hour after I met you, and about our date as well. I'm really sorry. I didn't know how things were for you." Another pause, well if he was being honest about all of this. "Also about Avery. But not that your relationship is fake. I think I may have come across like it was actually pretty real. Because I'm really jealous, if I'm being honest. I just needed their opinions of her specifically."

[qprice]

perseusandrews‌:

Percy smiled over at Quinn, their banter feeling easygoing again, lighthearted. Maybe it helped that they were both aiming to get each other’s clothes onto the floor, but Percy didn’t care that much. He raised his hands defeated. “Fine,” Percy conceded. “Sounds fair to me.”

Percy thought about it for a moment. “Just because I had sex with someone who happened to be a TA in the privacy of their office…” he said, flustered before taking a larger, more accurately portioned gulp of drink still in his hands. “You’re right, I’ve never skipped class. Never saw the point of doing it, I guess. I was one of like… five kids at school on the day of prom,” he chuckled. “Never have I ever… smoked weed,” he shrugged.

"Well, at least we're both nerds," Quinn said with a cheeky sort of grin on his face. "I've never missed any school at all in fact. Perfect attendance from every say since I was in Kindergarten. I think I have an award for that as well somewhere ..."

He laughed, his hands moving up to start unbuttoning his shirt. "I have smoked weed. I'm not a fan. It's not really my thing, but I tried it. I'm more of an ecstasy guy, I guess." He pulled his shirt off, though fortunately (or unfortunately depending on who you were in this scenario) was in fact wearing an undershirt that particular day. "Never have I ever done something I regret..." A small pause, "no, wait. That's a lie. I have done something I regret, that I didn't realize until just now. Actually," Quinn let out a sigh, "There is something we should talk about. I know we've decided at the moment this isn't exactly serious between us, yet. But if it’s on my mind."

[qprice]

perseusandrews‌:

“Well I’m going to lose if I don’t start small,” he said, gesturing to his outfit, getting competitive, the soccer player in him coming out. Percy scoffed playfully at Quinn’s banter. “Hey, if staying with Sanford keeps me out of the White House, that’s just peachy,” he said, his nose crinkling a little as he smirked. It rolled off his lips a little too eagerly, the bubbliness of the alcohol combined with his laughter masking its integrity and subtlety, but he brushed it aside. It wasn’t like Quinn wasn’t already partially privy to Percy’s lack of enthusiasm about politics specifically.

“I don’t know, I don’t think I’m that good,” he said, reaching for the bottle again as he tossed his shoes off simultaneously. “Never have I ever…” he mused as he took another sip. “Never have I ever joined the swim team,” he said, his lips pursed gently as Quinn made the next move.

Quinn leaned his head back and laughed at Percy's next question. "Okay. Okay. Listen. I think we're both gaming the system a little bit too much here." He did start pulling off his socks as he spoke, however. "Let's make a rule that we can only ask questions we don't already know the answer to. That seems fair, right? Accessories don't count as clothes, and you can only ask something you don't already know."

They were playing for fun, not to win. Right? Well ... alright. Maybe they were playing for both reasons. Quinn straightened up on the couch, taking the bottle in hand, and tilted his head as he thought. "Hm. Let me think. Never have I ever skipped class? You kind of don't seem the type, but then again you already admitted to having sex in a TA office so clearly you had a secret wild streak somewhere ..."

[qprice]

perseusandrews‌:

Percy took the offered alcohol, taking a sip of the burning liquid as he listened to Quinn’s question. “Yeah, okay, I get it,” he said, looking down at his clothing to take off an item, slightly using it to avoid Quinn’s eye contact. Percy realized very quickly he was in for a losing game when he looked at the sheer lack of clothing he had to take off. It was summer in D.C., after all, and he had taken off a large number of his layers earlier in the day when he was unpacking his apartment. He opted for his watch first, getting it out of the way. “Does this country?” Percy asked, sliding the watch onto the table.

“Okay, okay. So next question, I ask, yeah?” He knew the strategy, knew what kind of game Quinn was about to play if that was his first question. So he followed up with one just as easy for Quinn to say he had. “Never have I ever… had an internship at the White House,” he said as he swiped the bottle from its resting spot and took a small drink, the liquid calming his nerves the same way it had earlier. God this better not become a habit, he thought to himself.

"Oh, that's how we're going to play it. I see..." Quinn said, watching Percy take off his watch, with amusement. He shook his head in faux disappointment, with a small sigh. "Here I am trying to get you out of your clothes and this is what I have to deal with. But fine. We can both play that game," he said, kicking off his shoes. 

And because what game was complete without trash talk between two opposing sides -- "And you never will have a real internship at the White House, if you stick with Sanford."

Quinn took the bottle, and thought over his option for a moment. "Never have I ever been that good with computers and technology," he said, taking a drink from the bottle, watching Percy over the top of it with an expectant, and teasing look. 

[qprice]

🍻 “ do you regret letting me close ?” - percy

"First of all I don't believe in regret. I think it's pointless." Not to fully display his rich attractive white boy energy or anything. In all honesty, Quinn simply has never done anything regret worthy. That he's realized, anyway. Then he paused, because there has to be a second part of that answer. "I don't know if I have let you close."

[qprice]

🍻 “ who are you, really ?”

“Oh,” Quinn laughs at the question. Light and bright and shakes his head. Trying and failing to come up with any sort of substantial answer. "No one."

[qprice]

“ have you ever cheated, or been cheated on ?”

"Noo! Nope. I've never had a serious enough relationship with someone to consider anyone cheating on me, or me cheating on anyone. I don't think I would either. It doesn't FEEL like something I would do. You know what I mean? I have enough relationship drama without having to cheat on someone, or be cheated on."