#thephantvm

[flytrcps]

with: @thephantvm where: outside the chuck e. cheese when: late evening, new year's eve

Why would a fucking kids' pizza place stay open on New Year's Eve, until past nine-o-clock? The fireworks hadn't bombarded them yet, but they were in a hurry to leave and go home, and in an even bigger hurry for Iris to show up the second the key turned in the lock. They didn't really have plans — at first, their only idea of celebrating was going back to their girlfriend's for New Year's Eve, and then, upon noticing how lonesome and dour that Iris had seemed lately, they had tentatively floated the suggestion of a small potluck... nothing major, just them, and whatever introverted friends they had to their name that wouldn't mind coming to a sober New Year's Eve with good food and... tolerable people. ( Let's face it, most of their friends wouldn't show, but they hoped Briar would and that their sisters would make an effort, too; if nothing else, Avgi had already decided upon surprising Iris with it when they got to the door of Samantha's suite. ) Cursing underneath their breath when the key got stuck, they started when they turned around to find Iris there, as soft and swift as the night, letting out a seething, "Oh my fucking God, don't fucking do that after what happened to me a couple months ago..." Which was precisely why Ivy hadn't been walking home alone, until they could find a better gig to keep the rent paid at their shitty hole in the wall. Adjusting their clutch, they smiled wearily. "Let's... go, I'm staying at Sam's tonight, so... we should head for Manor Suites instead. I think it'll be impossible to hail a cab tonight and I can't fucking afford it anyway."

[flytrcps]

@thephantvm on march 25th, 1996 at the riviera casino and hotel, after the discovery

You ever really not know what the fuck is going on? There were times in Aourora's life that they wished sordidly that that was the case, to be one of those painfully oblivious saps in the world like their youngest triplet, Annaki, and jump from one face to another without any answers given or gained. They had been skulking in a dark corner, prior to the red and blue flashing lights that rolled up to the sidewalk outside the opulent double doors and a couple of them rushed forth like the tide sweeping in. A glass of sparkling juice poured out subtly into the succulent that was perched regally into the corner they had tucked themselves into, they took a couple of shuffling steps forward ineloquently — that ineluctable lure that everyone felt when there was a phenomenon unfolding before their eyes, before minding their own and crossing their arms over their chest, fidgeting in their spot with a tint of discomfort. It was when gasps of horror erupted that the knife turning in their chest became stingingly painful — were it an average injury, or perhaps a bloke suffering from a heart attack, then the reaction surely wouldn't be as universally petrified. Alas, they couldn't see above the heads that towered over their five-foot-six height, disdaining for heels and opting for something to comfortably walk in around the casino. Starting to back away in the case that they felt the need to give the building a slip, a frown was poignant across their features, transmuting when the brunette elbowed and shouldered through the crowd and sauntered up to them. A sigh they hadn't realized they had been holding dissipated from their body, exorcising the tension that had been brewing unconsciously, aside the remnants that were riddled in concern that they couldn't find their partner — again. "Do you know what's going on? Everyone's making me nervous. I think it was a bad idea for me to come in the first place, honestly."