WILD MOUSE

Ralphie "Little Mouse" Middlemas 1940-1969 Still Kicking

[faerietothe-otherside]

The second the door opened, Rangi pushed past Ralph into the RV. It smelled the way it always did, from the last time she remembering being in it. "Use all the PTO you want," she said, dismissing that part with a wave of her hand. Her voice was scratchy, croaking. Like she was recovering from strep. It was close enough.

She stared him down for a moment. Felt her heart leaping into her throat at the thought. "You're not quitting," she said firmly, much like when a mother chastises a child. Oh, god, was she becoming her mother? She loosened her stance a bit. "And you're not leaving. You can't. Where would you go? It's not safe for people like us out there."

[rxmiddlemasx]

Grunting a bit, Ralphie spun around and began rifling through the drawers of his little kitchenette. He seemed to discover the pack of cigarettes for which he had been searching and hurriedly and clumsily popped onto in his mouth with a shaking hand. "You orghta use some, boss. I'd offer you one, but sounds like maybe he had a few too many." He rattled the container in her direction. "Where the fuck is my lighter." This brought a newly frantic search through the drawers.

"It's a free market. I can quit if I wanna quit, capiche?" he insisted petulantly, mostly arguing just to argue. Ralphie spun around to face her, then, and seemed to slump a little, removing the smoke from his lips to instead balance it behind his ear. "I dunno. Vegas. Lima. The road. Shit keeps happenin' here that...it ain't safe here. I killed someone, Rangi. Someone who didn't have it coming. And look, I know...I know my hands ain't exactly clean, but after the last time, I swore, I fuckin' swore I wouldn't let this goddamn hunger..." He swallowed hard. "I'm a monster. I gotta go someplace where I can't hurt no one." He sniffed. "I'm lying to your face. I gotta go where they can't catch me and punish me."

[cantfightmoonlight]

@lunarcovestarters

Option 1: Self Harm, Minor Injury Tw

"Allah Allah!" Kiraz practically flinched as the person greeted her. "Why is everyone in this town so fucking loud," She grumbled under her breath. Her spare hand had all the while been scratching away at her skin from where she had sat at a table at the Daily Drip. Only, she hadn't realized her claws had come out at the sudden shock until her nail had nicked her own skin. "Ah shit," She cussed, reaching to grab some spare napkins to press against the small cut she had just given herself. "Sorry. Just jumpy. There's a full moon tonight and all."

Option 2:

If there was one town she had wanted to stay as far away from as physically possible, it was the seaside town of Lunar Cove. Yet, here she was, the day of a full moon, shielding her eyes with the back of her hand as she followed after some bumbling tour guide as they rattled off all sorts of inaccuracies, like how before Shadow Lake dried up, it was rumored to be home to the Loch Ness Monster of all things. Wrong. 'Nessie being here' was just some silly prank the sirens started. Or how the 80s film, The Creature of Shadow Lake, which was filmed partially in town, was supposedly cursed, with all of the cast and crew suffering ailments of some kind after filming. The ailments did happen, but that had nothing to do with a witch's curse and everything to do with the director being a nepotist-loving asshole who trespassed on other residents' properties with her cast of family members to shoot particular scenes. But the part of the tour that did catch her attention was everything she hadn't known about, like the part about all of the previous Council leaders and their rather gruesome deaths. The tour walked them along many of the different murder locations before ending the historical walk in front of the steps of Town Hall, where one of the previous Fae Queens, Marjorie, had bit the dust. "Y'all have really accumulated quite the death count in this town, now haven't ya?" She let out a low whistle as she turned toward the nearest person walking along the Town Green. She wasn't all that surprised, given the chaos that had just gone down at the Masquerade Ball. But things certainly seemed different from what she had expected.

Option 3:

"Pst, did you get anything yet?" Len whispered to the rustling sound coming out of the alleyway trash bins. "They're total assholes, so there has to be some dirt on them," She kept her voice down as she spoke to Yoko, her raccoon familiar, that was currently rummaging through one of her least favorite client's trash bins in an attempt to find some dirt on them that she could spill on her latest podcast episode. But, at the sound of footsteps approaching, Lennon sidestepped in front of the trash in an attempt to hide what Yoko was up to from view. "Hey," She flashed the passerby an unassuming smile. "So, what brings you to the, uh, alleyway in the dead of night?" She asked, attempting to make casual conversation, just as a bang came from inside the trash can behind her.

[rxmiddlemasx]

Option 1

"They ain't. Most folks just got big ol' floppy ears." Bringing up his hands, Ralphie mimed as though he were an elephant, but he had non of his usual humor. An oversized hoodie, one he had perhaps stolen from someone, was pulled around his frame now, as though he were seeking someplace in which to hide. His hearing was, however, not the only superior sense with which he had been cursed. The new scent of blood seemed to send the vampire into a bit of a panic, and Ralphie brought up a hand to cover his nose. He flinched. "Sorry. Sorry. You...uh...high alert is all. Vampire jitters. Folks like the full moon around here, though. Mostly." He spun away, trying to maintain his composure while waiting for her to patch herself up. "You need some water or something?"

[darkest-andy]

A swift nod, agreeing to pretty much whatever terms he laid out. Not telling anyone about what he was giving her was the least she could do. Andy could respect the fact that he was giving her a grace that had once been offered to him in the same situation. Though the dark haired vampire did have to resist the urge to roll their eyes when he put a hand over his heart.

"I didn't say I only eat one thing." Andy countered, finger gesturing to the barbecue. "But I don't want any of that." Eyes flicked to the chair, giving another nod. "Sure." Declining the seat would have felt ungrateful. So slowly Andy lowered themselves, trying to relax at least a little. He was, after all, breaking at least one pretty strict rules for her.

[rxmiddlemasx]

Ralphie offered up a shrug of his shoulders. "Well, lots of vampires do. They just sorta....you know. Do vampire shit, ya dig it? Skulk around and walk by night and all that. I like the beach too much." He had, of course, not been able to walk around freely by day for several decades; as usual, much of his prattling was just bluster. His eyes flicked to the grill. "Who's eatin' that? It's burnt. Nobody's eatin' that." He sniffed, a smirk tugging a corner of his lip upward. "Careful. It can be a little rickety." He gestured at the chair before vanishing into the RV, the door giving a dull clank.

It did not take Ralph terribly long to tug open his little icebox, rifle around for a few moments, and then reappear with a fresh bag of blood. He offered it over without fanfare or showmanship, despite all the dangling up to that point. "You want a mixer or something? I got Tang and tomato juice."

[faerietothe-otherside]

with: @rxmiddlemasx where: Ralph's place

Rangi banged loudly on the door. She couldn't exactly yell or call out, her throat still sore and scratchy after the events of last weekend-- but she could be loud and annoying and she was determined enough to stand there on Ralph's front porch until he either answered the door or a neighbor called the cops on her. Whichever came first, it was really up in the air right now.

"Ralph!" She finally croaked, sounding more like a chain smoker than any version of herself. "Open the fucking door or I'm gonna kick it down!"

[rxmiddlemasx]

"It's made of metal, Rangi. Yer gonna break your shin." Ralphie had, in truth, been trying to ignore her, but the metallic door to the RV was making a horrible hollow clank that was burrowing its way into his brain. Superior hearing did things like that, he had learned; some part of him wondered if vampires did not sleep because they were cursed to be perpetually aware of every goddamn sound. And if nothing else, the banshee was persistent.

"I'm usin' PTO," he said petulantly, leaning in the vehicle's doorway. "Don't like it? Take it up with the union. Solidarity forever...solidarity forever..." He said this in a singsong voice, but the bit could not quite land. He had no humor.

Ralphie sighed. "I gotta leave, and I was...I don't think I got time for a resignation letter. So you can take this as one if you wanna, okay?" He bit his lip. "I'm glad you're alive. I'm sorry to...leave you like this."

[rxmiddlemasx]

Closed starter for @georgianaortiz Location: Caffeine Crypt

With sunglasses balanced on his nose and a Dodgers baseball cap tugged down over his forehead, Ralphie seemed to perhaps be moving incognito. Tucking a hand into his pocket, he rocked back and forth on his heels for a moment before, with a steadying breath, he walked forward. The vampire cleared his throat.

"I owe you an apology. So I'm sorry. And I owe you...a thank you. For keepin' me from messin' shit up more than I already did," he murmured softly. "I'm, uh...I'm out of blood, and I don't wanna go around the bank right now, or..." At least here, there was no threat of gorging himself, and perhaps he could try to avoid Meena for another day or two. That was making the situation worse, he knew. "Can I order a coffee?"

[readbentweenthelines]

"Ah, but we did, so there's no going back. If we have exposed ourselves to the knowledge that we're ignorant, and we know that we can change that, shouldn't we?" Ben asked, raising an eyebrow. He thought Ralph was being a little overdramatic, but that was often just his flare for things. Ben didn't fault him for it. "Then we're in agreement, I see. Wonderful!"

Ben laughed. "And I think that's wonderful. I often prefer holding a hard copy, whether that's a book or a journal article, in my own hands when I'm using it as a reference. Thirteen books in each hand, though?" Ben raised an eyebrow. "You must have all been quite strong. That's nothing to slouch about. But I think I'm fair to students that put forth effort. I simply have my lines in the sand." He didn't think that Ralph would be a bad student. For all his bluster, he paid attention to a lot of things.

Case and point. "Ah, the Scopes Trials. I remember reading about those," he said. The actually cases, not any sort of movie about them. "Is that so? You're just a natural at looking busy, then, I take it?"

[rxmiddlemasx]

Ralphie pursed up his lips. "Ask the Miskatonic University Antarctica expedition team, fella. Look where it got them." He rolled his shoulders, but in truth, he did not think an Elder Thing would rattle him too badly. He'd spent large portions of the 70s in Reno. "Mhm. I certainly think you think that." And once again, any semblance of actual discussion was easily tucked away in favor of bluster.

"Me too. But that's just 'cause I don't really understand this newfangled technology shit, ya dig it? It all moves a little too quick for me. I ain't even sure movies should be in color. But sure. Why not? This generation's gone pretty soft. I used to walk to school. Fifteen miles." He grinned. "Don't we all? Except me. I'm from a time of do what you feel like when ya feel like doin' it. Summer of Love never really ended, did it?" He rolled his shoulders, mostly saying nothing of sense.

"I read about 'em too. Before my time before anyone gets any funny notions, capiche?" He pointed a finger, although he was never really self-conscious about his age or experience. "You used to be able to buy a house and two vacations a year on looking busy."

[sunriserecords]

The pink moon had rose high in the sky and with it brought the themes of the spring equinox full moon, renewal, rebirth and growth ⸻ which seemed fitting considering her recent death and reawakening with a fanged lease on the afterlife. Ivy had heard with the moon in full in the sky that dark magic would be accessible and having spent most of her formative years being human, she was deeply fascinated and eager to play with magic, dark or light, it mattered little to her and so she went to the clan headquarters, hoping to try her hand at shadow magic and hematomancy. Approaching Ralphie, she couldn't smother the smile of amusement at his giggling to himself. ❛ Diaries are used long after death for archeological purposes, to see how people from eras gone by use to live ⸻ I'm sure your diaries would contribute greatly to the historical landscape.  ❜

her tone was teasing and her words a poke at his old age. ❛ Do the tests ever end with you? I know how to spell fracture and patellar is something I could sound out, p-a-t-e-l-l-a-r. ❜

[rxmiddlemasx]

Ralphie snorted out a dismissive laugh. "Sounds lousy to me, pal. Every diary ever written is full of nuttin' but lies, ya feel me? Most folks can't be honest with one another; how the hell are they gonna be honest with themselves? So. If they really wanna, the historian Poindexter sorts can have at 'em, but they ain't gonna paint an accurate picture." He batted his eyelashes. "It don't matter anyway. The government makes shit up too. You think we really landed on the moon? Nah. That was all on a Hollywood soundstage." This came with something of a grumble, as though the topic, in and of itself, were particularly worthy of ire.

Ralph grinned. "I ain't testing you. I was askin' because I don't know how to spell it. I got my medical certificate in a candy machine, and the bones are already dead by the time they get to me, capiche? Point is, if someone ends up with a patellar fracture, and someone else reads about it in my dairy, it's made up. All diaries are made up. You'll remember that on my behalf, won't you?"

[darkest-andy]

"I'm not great at following rules." Andy replied in reference to the clan. They'd heard a bit about it, mainly the restrictions they placed on those who hadn't joined. Didn't make it easy for those who didn't plan on staying long-term. Or were currently undecided like Andy themselves. "So I've heard." Not having the red card was a little frustrating, but the vampire usually preferred to get their blood from the source. Not illegal in town, as long as it was consenting. And Andy could certainly make that happen. But having an alternative wasn't a bad idea.

"I'm not interested in your...barbecue." Andy stopped themselves from saying 'meat', though that was true as well. "But I can have...manners." He said he wasn't going to make her beg, and Andy appreciated that. The dark haired vampire would cut their losses before resorting to that. It would be far easier to just leave town and feed on the first person they came across.

[rxmiddlemasx]

"Me neither, pal, so if anyone asks, I'm gonna deny it, capiche? I ain't exactly supposed to be handin' out blood all loosey-goosey-like. But I was once a wanderin' vampire in a new place. And folks reached out an open palm on my behalf. Sometimes a fella's gotta put shit back into the universe so that it comes back 'round to him again." He put a very noble hand on his chest as he waxed poetic, but as usual, he was blowing more hot air than his gas range. He hummed.

"I know food don't taste the same no more. Never does. But how can a person go for the rest of forever on only one thing, ya dig it? Variety is the spice of un-life." Ralph flashed a grin. "Your loss. But you wanna at least take a load off? I'll get a bag from the fridge. You gotta drink it here. Can be traced back to me, ya feel me? Gotta keep things clean."

[rxmiddlemasx]

Closed @sunriserecords Location: Vampire HQ

Sprawled out with his shoes up on the furniture, Ralphie was scribbling pointedly in a notebook, snickering to himself every so often as though whatever he were writing were utterly hilarious. When he heard the approach of footfalls, however, he snapped the book shut and wheeled around with a smirk. "Now, now, pal...I know yer in charge of keepin' records and all, but we can't be spying on one another's private diaries now, ya dig it?" He allowed his lips to fall into a grin and flashed his teeth. "Diaries are real important. Memories are full of shit that ain't happened and couldn't possibly have happened. Of course, so are most historical records." He hummed, beginning to thumb through his book again and making a show of being excessively secretive about it. "Do you know how to spell 'patellar fracture?'"

[readbentweenthelines]

"I would counter that there's always more to learn," Ben countered easily. "And knowledge can be replaced. Preconceived notions can be debunked. And, believe it or not, the brain can hold far more than you'd think, Ralph," Ben said with a smile. It was more than a little humorous, of course, that Ralph, who looked several years Ben's junior, was chatting about generations. Even with his antiquated way of talking, it could be easy to forget Ralph's age at times. "I punish students for using AI," he said, his tone casual. "It's the equivalent of plagiarism and an automatic failure if it's their final assignment. I'm quite strict about it as a policy." It was something students had once tried to test, not equating Professor anak Bandi with strictness, but that'd very quickly been ratified. "I'm afraid I'm not familiar. Inherit the Wind, you said? Perhaps you can jog my memory. What's it about?" He chuckled. "I'm not well-versed in that particular art form, I'm afraid. I suppose I need more practice."

[rxmiddlemasx]

"And yet, that big Tree of Knowledge was the one juicy peach we weren't a'posed to sink our teeths into." He punctuated this remark by biting into another hunk of pastry, although he had lowered his fangs now for greater dramatic effect. They were largely getting in the way. "I hear ya, though, fella. Whole lotta evil in this world born outta ignorance." He shrugged his shoulders dismissively, deciding it dangerous to remain profound for too long.

"Back in my day, we had to look shit up in the encyclopedia. Little fellas in bowties used to sell 'em door to door. You had to hold thirteen in each hand to keep your balance when you were walkin' up the steps." He grinned. "You sound tough, teach. But, hey, I didn't go to college. Don't know nothin' about it." He had had some medical training, of course, but he was not necessarily counting certifications.

"You know it. The Darwin trial. You'd probably like it. Thirst for knowledge you got and all, pal," Ralph hummed. "Most men need a little practice. Not me, though."

[darkest-andy]

Andy couldn't disagree with that. God knew her own reasons for killing were often trivial at best, an excuse to act on a whim, an impulse. There was not a shred of guilt attached to that on Andy's part. The world was overpopulated; no one would miss a few bastard men.

A roll of dark eyes when he called her 'Andy, vampire'. "I don't usually have need for negotiation." They shot back, glancing towards the loud gathering briefly, before Andy's focus was pulled back to him. He had a way of talking that was rather irritating to the ears, yet he mentioned having things a wandering vampire could want, and maybe that got their attention. "You have all those...available?" Having them and having them to give were two different things. Not that Andy was having too much trouble sweet talking people into offering her a vein. But it wouldn't hurt to have other options available.

[rxmiddlemasx]

Ralphie laughed at that, features falling into an easy smile. He clicked his tongue and gave a roll of his shoulders. "Come now. Sure ya do. Otherwise, you'd be livin' out in the middle of nowhere. But here, there's sidewalks and street lamps, ya dig it? Everythin' we do is just another barter." For a moment, he brought up a hand to pat himself down, searching for a coin to flip for dramatic effect. But he found himself penny-less, not necessarily an unusual state, and clapped his hands together instead.

"I have them. In Lunar Cove, a fella needs a special card to check into the blood bank, ya feel me? It's like a video rental store. Remember those?" This seemed to be a way to gauge how old she was. "You can join the clan if you wanna, but even that's a negotiation. Comes with rules. And processing time. You can ask someone to let ya have a nibble. But there's a limited number of necks to go around, and most folks already got someone to nuzzle theirs. But I'm here right now havin' a little barbecue with an open bar. 'Cause I'm a swell host. I ain't gonna make you beg or nothing. But we can all have table manners, can't we?"

[waywardesouls]

“You live here?” The skepticism was less than thinly veiled, Cassandra raising a brow as the corner of her mouth mirrors it in a smirk. She was not oblivious to the suspiciously sanguineous liquid in his own glass, but vampires were obviously to be found in a vampire-owned country club, so that fact didn’t faze her. “Right...Well, not to worry, I've had my share of overzealous festivities so I know to keep both eyes wide open. But thanks for the concern.” She recognized the vampire from other events in town, though she couldn't place a name. “I'm Cassandra. You are?”

[rxmiddlemasx]

"More or less, sure." Flashing a wide grin, Ralphie rocked a bit on his heels, but one of the benefits of being a vampire and not a Fae was, of course, the ability to lie as much as one wanted. He clicked his tongue and took a sip from his glass. "But have ya had yer share of tryin' to run a sanitary chocolate fountain with lots of grubby little hands all around?" Not that he particularly minded either way; germs could not genuinely hurt him. And even if they could, he had let stranger things cross his lips than a few questionable dipped strawberries. "I'm Ralphie. Bo-Balphie-Banana-Fanna-Fo...Etcetera. And you?"

[ernieernieboi]

"YouTube is a fucking hellscape, don't worry about figurin' that shit out," Ernie said. He's had the most trouble on YouTube in his time online, namely for accidentally exposing himself on camera (five times at this point). "But, I'm sure they have rice pudding recipes on there. I'm gonna make you one. If I'm good enough, I might even open up a business." His smirk switched to a frown when Ralph brought up the people who tried to have them killed. "Oh, I'm gonna get even," he said. "Did you have anything in mind? I know we can't kill them because we'll be grounded, or whatever, but what the hell was that even about?"

[rxmiddlemasx]

Ralph grunted, perhaps a noise of frustration. "I can't keep up with 'em, hotshot. There's YouTube. And then there's the Twitcher. And the clock one. At least here in the ol' LC, everyone's stuck usin' the Link, ya dig it?" He sighed, cocking his head to one side and managing a smile along with his bellyaching. "We got forever, baby. How many folks get to say they got all eternity to do whatever they want, however they wanna do it? Doin' business. Doin' no good deeds. Doin' each other." He grinned, despite Ernie's frown. "Old-fashioned still works pretty good. They all got kneecaps, don't they? I got some ideas. Not here, though. Walls got ears. Pillow talk for later, capiche?" He hummed. "Who the fuck knows? We got matchin' scars now. Ain't exactly matchin' tattoos, but it'll do."

[moonglowmagic]

“Oh I see.” Giving a slight laugh when he mentioned that he wasn’t ever doing the calendar ever again. “What vampire movie?” The last one she had even heard about that was mainstream was Twilight. She had no idea about an Irish vampire. “He is rather attractive.” Not answering his question fully since she was a fae and couldn’t lie. While she thought Ernie was attractive physically his actions, especially against the fae were a massive turn off. “Yep, trying to at least. Not sure I’m doing any great at the mingling?” She said with a laugh. Hesitating for a moment, before she put out her hand and she took a couple of the gumdrops. “Be nice, Ralph. The last thing we need is an interspecies incident.”

[rxmiddlemasx]

Ralphie hummed. "Sinners. It was swell. Made me sorta sad, though. We vampires' souls get stuck in our bodies, so we can't move on to the next place. Good thing I got no soul." He flashed a grin, nestling deeper into the seat so that the Ferris wheel basket rocked a bit beneath them. "And he's only got eyes for me. Count my lucky stars," he hummed, batting his eyelashes. "Gettin' on this ride with a taken vampire probably ain't a step in the right direction, nah. Then again, you remember the kissin' booth a few years ago? Got nothin' outta that neither. Maybe everyone in Lunar Cove is square." Ralphie sniffed. "Certain other species shoulda thought about that before they voted me and Ernie into the killin' booth. I see certain heads, they're gettin' pelted. You can look in the other direction if ya wanna."

[darkest-andy]

This town was supposed to be peaceful, but Andy was learning that reputation wasn't as true once you scratched below the surface. His mention of unfriendly werewolves didn't exactly sit well with the vampire. Especially not with supernaturals just existing out in the open. How unrestrained would they be when not restricted to the shadows? Andy's head shook. That wasn't really her problem to deal with. There was a whole government or something set up for that. She was just passing through. Or so she told herself.

An eyebrow raised when he pointed the spatula in their direction, Andy's lips pursing into a tight line. "I guess so." So far, she hadn't taken to being as open as everyone else seemed to be. At least not yet.

"I don't kill for no reason." Though sometimes that reason could be dubious at best. Here, however, there seemed to be rules against such things. And Andy didn't plan on getting kicked out until she found her sire. Nose turned up when the hand was offered, the vampire's staying firmly crossed. "Andy. ----Vampire." That felt unnatural.

[rxmiddlemasx]

Ralphie sniffed, nostrils flaring. "Me neither, pal. But nobody kills for no reason. Sometimes the reasons are stupid, sure. Or pointless. Or downright foolish. But there's always a reason. Nobody lives in a vacuum, ya dig it? Except maybe carpet beetles." Pursing up his lips, Ralphie pressed his spatula down once more, making the grill sizzle.

A snort came, then, but Ralph seemed more bemused than offended to be snubbed. He tucked his hands into his pocket. "Well, you're sorta lousy at negotiating, Andy, vampire. Don't know if yer in the place to be turnin' your nose at an offered hand. And ain't that a bite? Folks ain't exactly reachin' out their arms to scoop ya into 'em by the sounds of it, and yet, here's ol' Ralphie with all the things a wanderin' vampire could want. A shine with the bigwig bloodsucker crowd. A way to walk in the sun. More blood than he knows what to do with. Can't just feed willy-nilly 'round here, you know." He shrugged his shoulder.

"But you suit yerself, Andy, vampire. You wanna look a gift horse in the mouth, you can just call me Mr. Ed. I dig it. You don't know me. I don't know you. Times are tough. But I'm a real congenial type."

[readbentweenthelines]

"Well, you're really missing out, Ralph. There's a lot that can still be learned from teen movies from the early aughts, even if one is past the age of retirement," Ben joked. "Perhaps you'd get to see some boarding school boys get beaten up. You wouldn't know, though, because you haven't seen the movie." He took a sip from his tea and hummed. "I mean, this is an upper level literature course, so most people are there because they do, in some way, enjoy Shakespeare, or at least literature. I assure you, no one gets an English degree because they think it's going to make them money; they do it because of a love of learning, and I think that is a testament of the insatiable desire to learn." He leaned forward, grinning. "I'm afraid you'll have to remind me. Who is Bertram Cates? But I don't like being behind. If I'm all caught up, then I can relax, right?"

[rxmiddlemasx]

Rolling his eyes, Ralphie let out a brief snort. "And what if I said I learned everythin' I gotta know already, huh? Only so much a person can fit in his head, capiche? I think we orghta be more careful about messin' with our natural state of knowin' nothing about nothing anyhow." He clicked his tongue before popping a bit of pastry into his mouth. "That's the problem with your generation, kiddo. Always wanna watch other people doin' shit instead of doin' it yourselves." A smirk came. "Look, I ain't one to knock good literature. I'm the local authority on Kerouac, and between you and me, he's as bad as Shakespeare sometimes on the 'what the fuck are you even talkin' about, fella' train. All that said, don't they all just have the computers spit out their essays now?" Ralphie shrugged his shoulders. "Inherit the Wind. I like that movie. Was a play too, weren't it? You tell me, Professor," he hummed, wiggling his eyebrows. "No. You get all caught up, someone notices, and then they make you do other things, ya dig it? The artform is to look busy. Not be busy."

[waywardesouls]

@lunarcovestarters

OPTION A : Cookie & Cupcake Decorating at Doce

“Y'know,” Stevie begins, holding a knife lathered with frosting as she assesses the cookie she's been decorating. “I'm glad they're providing the cookies, because baking is not my forte. What d'you think? Is the broken heart cookie with blood red icing a little too on the nose?”

OPTION B : Love Sucks

Cassandra had never been one to miss a good party, and she was more than happy to celebrate Meena's birthday, especially in lieu of a holiday like Valentine's. Following the dress code with her own flare for the dramatic, she wore a black lace cocktail dress, and had just taken a glass of champagne from a passing waiter when she caught sight of someone standing near. “Be honest—are you here for the endless champagne, or the chocolate fountain?”

[rxmiddlemasx]

"I live here. This is my house." Ralphie did not actually think love sucked, not did he actually live at the country club. But he was there a lot, messing with the hot tubs or enjoying the offerings. And Meena was family; her birthday was worth the biggest and best celebration they could conjure. He flashed a grin, swirling around his own glass, containing a cocktail that looked suspiciously red and suspiciously thick. Ralph hummed. "Look, I ain't been sick in a long time, nor can I fault anyone a little hedonism. But I've been to a lot of Golden Corrals across this great nation, and I've seen what folks do when they get a little too zealous, ya dig it? Don't eat nothin' you ain't seen come out yerself."