in lex’s defense, it had been three hours since they got here and they were fairly certain that they hadn’t had a single drink yet. though there was certainly one in their hand now, how odd. “and i was like, oh my god, it doesn’t count if it’s just one beer. besides who wants to be sober on st patty’s day?” they loudly finished their story, swinging around to look for support from the person standing next to the pair and failing to notice as the person they had been speaking disappeared into the crowd. “am i right or what?”
rosamund normally didn’t have the patience for events where everyone was drunk, obnoxious, and overbearing. all of which summed up the entirety of saint patrick’s day as a whole, along with new year’s and any sports event, at least in her experience. but, she found herself at least a little surprised by the stalls of baked goods and other homemade crafts. there were children dashing about, high on sugar and the promise of more, and adults perusing all sorts of knitted and wooden wares.
the sight didn’t much improve her bad mood, however, and she retrieved one of the few vices she found comfort in. with a cigarette between two of her fingers, she searched through her purse for her lighter and sat down on a bench. only to find her purse devoid of that very thing. with a huff, her brows drew together and she begrudgingly turned to the bench’s other occupant.
“do you have a light?” she lifted her hand and smiled tightly, “seems i’ve misplaced mine.”
lex was most certainly not sulking on the bench after being caught with a beer in hand by their sponsor, and even they were you’d never be able to prove it. what they were doing, was chainsmoking through their last pack of cigarettes. without turning their head, they held out their lighter --- a rusted refillable one made of steel that was smudged with ash and grime. “this is my back-up, losing lighters sucks,” they said, after letting out a puff of smoke. “might switch back to matches, they’re a lot cheaper.”
“ i’ve got to agree with you there, all of the green together does make everything really bright.“ vera didn’t know if it was intentional or not, but it didn’t really bother her that much.“ i recommend everything and anything from the dessert table. they outdid themselves this year. there’s really nothing that isn’t good. but i really liked the cupcakes.“
“it wouldn’t be bad if it had accent colours mixed in or hell, even some dark green to tone down the brightness.” focusing on complaining about this was working fairly well to distract them from the other concerns they had. “they have a whole table for desserts? must have missed that, mind showing me the way? you could always use it as an excuse to get some more for yourself.”
“ too festive or not festive enough ? “ whilst katie had opted for some green overalls, she had used some green chalk for the ends of her hair. it’s about as festive as it was going to get. she had at least tried.“ i just hope the chalk washes out, or i’m going to be so disappointed.“
“just festive enough, i think. doing better than i am,” he answered, looking down at his own subtly green sweater which in his opinion could certainly be more festive. “i’ve heard good things about the chalk, in terms of lack of stickiness compared to the spray anyways. my wife always said that a vinegar rinse helped remove staining from temporary color, if it doesn’t wash out. here’s to hoping it does, though.”
usually, he’s not around hillston for this. he used to spend his summer’s in hillston, would live there on and off depending on where his job lead him. sometimes he’d chase a story all the way down to florida, and then all the way back to washington. usually, he was there for the parade, but lately he’d been setting down roots. people had began to question him in the media, and he knew it would be better for his image to simply law low for a while. well, as low as you could get in a town like hillston. nevertheless, he’s not one to turn down a party of any kind, and so it’s no surprise to find him at the pop up bar, a glass of guinness in hand. “i forgot how disgusting this shit is. every year i drink it, and every year i remember why i only drink it once a year.”
there had been plenty of people who had listed the reasons that attending a st patrick’s day festival was a bad idea. and yet, here lex was, slamming back a second guiness at the pop up bar without a car in the world. looking at the other, she tilted her head in thought for a second before replying, “well, that’s because you’re drinking it too slow. you need to throw it back fast enough that you don’t taste anything but feel the slight beer sting.”
“ it’s more and more impressive every year, i don’t know how they do it.“ vera has to admit, as she glances around at her surroundings. not in the slightest disappointed that she wouldn’t be able to partake in any drinking this year. admittedly ? she’s glad to sit this one out and enjoy everything else she can instead.“ what do you think ? you tried the food yet ? it’s got to be the best part this year, easily.“
“it is impressive, but i just wish it was a little less green. it’s making my eyes hurt,” they complained, mostly bitter because they knew that with their parents around they weren’t going to get to partake in the drinking competition. “haven’t tried the food, though with that sales pitch maybe i will. do you have any favourites?”
all day, lex’s hands had been shaking --- she had never thought that she would miss going to work, but at least there she could get away with sneaking off for a smoke. a few days off quickly turned into hell, until she decided to just lie and say that she wanted to go out for a quick walk when she knew that her family was too busy to hover over her outside of the house. thank god, she thought, struggling to get the cartridge open and not paying attention to where she was going.
and boom, she ran directly into someone! the lighter went flying and managed to slot into the storm drain and was gone forever. “i am so sorry, i should have been paying attention. you alright?” glancing back at the storm drain, she looked back at the other and asked, “you don’t happen to have a lighter, do you?”
truthfully, this had to be the most demanding job on the planet. being so perky and friendly all the time… not only was it tiring, it was annoying. she annoyed herself. however, as with all high-paying jobs, it came with it’s fair share of perks. a live-in housemaid, as many spa days as she wanted, and, her favorite, a ton of retail therapy. however, just because she was relaxing didn’t mean she could break character, and when she saw a familiar face across the store, she perked up and waved at them. after all, mrs. calloway never passed up the chance to chat someone up. “hello! you’ve come at just the right time; i’m having a tiny dilemma.” she held up the two dresses she was looking at, “which do you like better, the pink or the green?”
retail therapy wasn’t a thing that lex frequently indulged in --- supporting capitalism? no thanks. but there was certainly something to be said about finding the most discounted items and turning them into an absolute banger of the look , which is why she was at the store. “oh have i? interesting. they both look awful, if you want my honest opinion. if you’re going for the dolores umbridge look, go for the pink.” her nose wrinkled slightly as she glanced in between the two options.
“ i just spent the last hour explaining to someone that they didn’t have a virus, but malware instead and too much space taken up which is why everything is slowed.“ nessa shakes her head softly, knowing those words could sound foreign to anyone who didn’t get them. “ let’s say it didn’t go well, so that’s how my day has been so far, how about yours ? “
“customers are the worst, like no you don’t know everything or i wouldn’t have a job.” lex didn’t necessarily understand what the specific words meant, but she could feel the vibes. “well mine’s been better, but tomorrow is ‘fill up whatever you want with slushie day’ so that’s going to be hell on earth. like i don’t know how many assholes with kiddie pools i can deal with. you know what i mean?”
╰ ♡ MUSE 38, TATI GABRIELLE, DEMIGIRL ┊ have you seen ALEXANDRA "LEX" SIMMONS around hillston? the 24 year old is said to be a GAS STATION CASHIER. the neighbours would say that they’re DISORGANIZED and SNARKY, but they’re actually DETERMINED and CARING. SHE often reminds people of worn out combat boots, parties stretching through the night into the morning & bitter coffee laden with sugar and creamer. watch out, though. you wouldn’t believe that SHE MET HER BIRTH MOTHER AND HAS BEEN SENDING HER MONEY.
stats. pinterest. google doc.
full name: alexandra katherine simmons
nicknames: lex, lexi, alex
age: twenty-four
gender identity: demi-girl
pronouns: she/they
birthday: march 17 @ 9:19am
sun sign: pisces
moon sign: pisces
ascendant sign: aries
trivia.
is toying with the idea of going back to school --- not because she really wants to, but because she knows it’s what her parents want for her. and for all that she isn’t willing to give up her bad habits for them, she would destroy herself to make them proud.
discovered that she identifies as non-binary while at a pride party turned bender, it was something that she immediately accepted but it wasn’t something that she’s never felt the need to declare on a widescale basis. most people outside of her family don’t know and that’s the way that she wants it.
works at a 7-11 on the edge of town, can usually be found either standing behind the counter with a slurpee in hand or behind the store taking one of her way too frequent smoke breaks.
attends AA meetings and has a sponsor despite her lack of resolution to remain sober, using their support to keep from slipping too far off the path while still completely cheating --- has no qualms about gathering chips that she hasn’t earned because as she sees it this is still an improvement.
backstory.
[ tw alcoholism / drug use / violent crime ]
born to parents who had recently lost their jobs, alexandra was six months old when she was pulled into the system after her father was busted for armed robbery. it took another five years for her mother to agree to an adoption, the young child watching repeatedly as her mother struggled to keep custody of her. the day that she met the simmons family was far from picturesque, the six year old lashing out at the people that she believed were responsible for taking her away from the only person that she knew with certainty had loved her.
happily ever after seemed to come after a year, though their parents made the decision to keep lex in therapy, just in case. slowly but surely, she adjusted to her siblings and to the constant moving that the family did and she found happiness in the chaos. maybe that’s where it all started to go wrong, but nobody saw it yet.
she was fifteen when she smoked for the first time, a blunt raised to her lips by a boy that she barely knew but was certain that she loved. everything seemed to crumble from there, in hindsight at least ---- the truth is more complex than that. the truth is, that while alexandra continued to seek out the party scene at every new school, and continued to fall into all of the wrong crowds, it was the stress of college that broke the metaphorical camel’s back.
college seemed like a dream come true --- finally somewhere that she could grow roots and study what she loved ( music ) and with legendary parties to top it all off. lex found herself growing oddly optimistic, powering through her courses with the help of caffeine and other substances. and then the end of the third year arrived, bringing with it the stress of exams and the allure of four months of parties and the ever present knowledge that she was going to graduate next year. and she slipped, descending further into the blooming addiction and subsequently disappearing.
her family caught up with her two weeks after her senior year would have started, nearly five months after they filed a missing persons report. she smelled of sweat and cigarettes and booze; there was glitter engrained in her hair and skin, sparkling across what appeared to be bloodstains. and yet, even at this new, all-too-visible rock bottom she was smiling. the next day she disappeared into the night again, beginning a cycle of hurt and defiance that would continue for eighteen months.
lex didn’t choose rehab and she doesn’t believe that it chose her --- rather a judge declared that as this was a first offence, she should attend a 90-day inpatient treatment and get clean. she did, though even now she refuses to admit that she has a problem, struggles to put in the work that keeping entirely clean requires --- instead she hides it away from her family, sneaking hits and sips and smokes and pretending that they don’t know what’s going on.
connections.
platonic.
don’t want no one to come rescue me. [ open to all genders ]
mentor / sponsor. open to multiple interpretations of this but; they are bonded by the fact that they serve as an inspiration for lex --- they’re someone outside of the family that she feels comfortable turning to for guidance and in truth, they probably know more about what is going on in her life then half of her family at any given time. they encourage her to be better and even though she doesn’t always listen in the way that they hope, it is leading her in the right direction. as for what they get out of the relationship, that’s up for discussion.
am i kidding myself blaming somebody else. [ open to all genders, multiple slots ]
awkward friends. lex surrounds herself with tall walls, to stop her from being vulnerable --- and anyone who tries to get to know her on a deeper level is at serious risk of snark. she will and has doubtlessly lashed out at people, before awkwardly acknowledging that it wasn’t fair for her to do so ( if she addresses it at all and that’s a 50/50 chance ). friendships can only survive so much, especially when they aren’t that strong in the first place, so they’re almost certainly awkward around each other.
champagne thoughts running through my head. [ open to all genders, multiple slots ]
party friends / bad influences. you would think that someone who’s trying to get quasi-sober would be avoiding the party scene and yet, lex can’t help but fall into bad habits. making new friends has never been easy, but it’s a lot easier when everyone is having a drink ( or more ); even if the harsh reality is they likely never talk outside of the parties they see each other at. sharing hangovers and hangover tips has always been easier for lex than sharing secrets.
inimical.
you’re not forgiven for what you did. [ open to all genders ]
frenemies. somehow lex did this person wrong, and yet because of mutual friends there’s a silent agreement of civility. that doesn’t stop them from exchanging jabs and glares when nobody is watching however, lex slipping into both roles equally well. they’re frequently annoyed with the other for seemingly no reason but whenever anyone asks, they just wave it away with a smile.
you left me scored - i drew the five of swords. [ open to all genders, multiple slots ]
unaware enemies. at some point lex perceived them ( or people that look like them ) as having been rude --- or maybe your character ( or their doppleganger ) threw a fit because the station was out of something, but it’s stuck with lex beyond what it should have. she’ll acknowledge them but they receive harsher treatment from her than others, she’s abrupt and rude and obviously careless. there’s a lack of respect that doesn’t line up with the reality of the incident.
