FIGURANTE

hu xinyue—or just margot.

[terpsichorist]

JAEWON LEE

“You’re cute,” He randomly muses, “I’d get the double patty cheeseburger with a side of fries, and a soda.” He quickly orders their food and takes his seat with her in their table. “I know they said not to get political on the first date,” He jokes and then nods at the stage, “What’s your take on all of this?”

“erm, the omegas, do you mean?” margot’s brows knit in wonder, “i… haven’t been paying attention to them that much, to be honest. but they’re heroes, so i guess they’re okay?” she starts to feel inadequate—and maybe a bit dumb—for not having a more intellectual response, but: “i, well, i used to attend the xavier institute, so i was surrounded by a lot of future superheroes—i think i’ve actually shared a class with siren before—but, erm, my life’s always been about one thing, so…” margot cringes, a light pink tinging her cheeks, “…you must think i’m so ignorant.”

[terpsichorist]

JAEWON LEE

Usually when his family comes into the conversation, he avoids it, he obviously immediately changes the topic or he spares a few details to people. He knows that it has happened and he has to live with the truth, “She’s never really got the chance to dance for so long, my sister’s…” He chuckles and brushes off the heavy cloud that surrounds them. “Sorry, it’s too early to let you know about this. We just met now. But she’s passed away. I would really love to go to your show though, I’m sure she’d love for me to watch things she enjoys. I’ll do my best to spot you,” He smiles, “I have four eyes,” He taps his glasses. “I work in Ink Inc.” He gives her the address. “We open around 3PM usually,” 

margot’s face falls. “i’m so sorry for your loss, finn,” she says. “we don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to—i know how hard it can be to lose someone you love.” she pauses. “…if you ever do feel like talking about it, though… my door is always open,” she offers with a small smile. “i, erm… maybe could drop by your parlor one of these days? i don’t really get tattoos, but, could i watch you? it seems like a good trade if you’re going to watch me dance, yes?” chuckles margot.

[terpsichorist]

EZRA SHAW

         “oh, i’m counting on it. truly,” he says, face splitting in a needle-toothed grin. “’course, that won’t change much for you, will it? mum’s still lights out and you’re still more of a proper ghost than she is. ever get tired of wishing others wrong?”

“—and i should ask you the same, but i know better than to think you’ll ever get tired of being a plague. not when it’s who you are. i thought i’d found a home in the brotherhood, but all you want to do is hurt people to entertain yourselves. i’ll never understand it—how you can wake up every day and choose to hurt, and have none of it matter to you. you must be so unloved… if you even know what that means.”

[terpsichorist]

FINLEY WALSH​

“It is, but she can at least see that the toast part is done which means it’s safe enough to eat. And, it can. I like it better than regular oatmeal, it’s not as soggy or sad to look at.”

glancing at their menus, margot says brightly, “i’ll order both the french toast and the baked oatmeal, then. thank you for your tip—erm, what was it again?”

[terpsichorist]

VERA BERENSON​

who: @terpsichorist​​​ what: may learns more science terms so vera can keep being a traitor where: an ol’ makeshift lab

catching a subtle reflection of margot in metal, vera exhaled smoke and tapped the ash. “ you’re late. ” offhanded and an absolute nitpick ( tin, you can decide if margot is a minute late or an hour late, same reaction ! ), but if she was going to risk her standing, and if margot wanted to… you know, actually have a bar-on-the-floor quality life, time was of the essence ! turning to face her fully, she wasted no time in recounting what margot had relayed, in ensuring she recalled correctly: “ so you’re splitting into two, sometimes more, eh ? ”

“for the record, i left my apartment forty-five minutes ago. the subway’s just unreliable, as always.” and a general pain in the neck to ride, being the intangible woman she. margot doesn’t even mention how the abrupt halting of the train jolted her enough for her hand to pass through a pole and send herself flying against a hulking, beanied man holding a toolbox—and he did not look amused. nevertheless, she ambles over to take her usual (re: patient) seat in front of vera, “yes, into two—sometimes more. i just—” margot sighs, “—it feels like, the more mass i take up, the more unstable cells i have. not even my bodysuit can handle it sometimes. i get frustrated, or angry, or stressed—and it’s like i can suddenly see outlines of my body leave me. the ricochets are taking longer, too.”

[terpsichorist]

SELA MUSA

Sela only just manages to step back as the duel parts of the disc clatter to the dirty floor. She scowls, briefly– an instant reaction she doesn’t have time to control, in her shock– before clearing her throat and shaking her head. Her way of offering some small reassurance. “Not to worry. I believe you. They had one copy left of the film I came for, and it too was broken.” Sela clicks her tongue in annoyance. “The quality of this place really has gone downhill lately, hasn’t it? If it’s not broken discs, it’s the wrong film altogether. It’s like they’ve stopped actually checking the returns.”

“i’m terribly sorry if i startled you,” margot says sheepishly, “and—it’s weird, isn’t it? sad, too, because this is my favorite place to rent movies. i can’t find ballet documentaries anywhere else. and you know what’s worse,” she moves just slightly closer to speak quietly at the woman, “is that there’s this smaller video store three blocks away that’s becoming more popular. they’re probably doing a better job cataloging… or maybe it’s because they have an x-rated section.”

[terpsichorist]

TIMOTHÉE PICARD​

          Sometimes  he  regretted  the  decision  he  made  to  leave  France  for  America.   But  Moth  couldn’t  be  in  France  without  Denis.   The  thought  was  miserable.   France  was  a  different  life.   “New York  est  un  casse-tête,”   he  says  shrugging.   “Ce  n'est  pas  si  mal,   je  suppose.   Est-ce  que  tu  aimes  ça?”

“ç’est vraiment le cas parfois,” margot softly laughs, “—erm, j’ai vécu ici plus longtemps que dans ma ville natale, mais...” she clicks her tongue, “...rien ne pourra jamais battre la simplicité de la vie en avignon. la vie y est lente, et j’aime ça.” she tilts her head to the side, a gesture of curiosity, “vous vivez ici depuis longtemps?”

[terpsichorist]

JAEWON LEE

He loops his arm around the gigantic stuffed elephant, “I think they have a booth here,” His eyes scans the area and when he spots the Burger place she’s talking about, he nods at it and motions for her to follow him. 

margot spends a minute hiding behind the laminated menu, scanning over the fading rows of printed meal sets before she pulls it down to reveal a triumphant smile. “so, do you like anything you see? i always get their cheeseburgers and make them add caramelized onions to it—their nacho fries, too, and a white chocolate milkshake. très américain, but in the best way, i think.”

[terpsichorist]

JAEWON LEE

Finn shakes his head and smiles, “I wasn’t really a fan to begin with, it was my sister. There just wasn’t a reason for me to watch it without her.” He blinks and brushes off his melancholic thoughts. “Would you invite me to one of your shows?”

margot nods thoughtfully, offering him a warm smile, “i understand… does your sister not dance anymore?” she asks, sliding his teacup across the counter to him. it’s probably too sensitive of a question—his crestfallen expression says as much—so she responds cheerfully, taking advantage of the moment to break some ice. “of course! you might have to try quite hard to see me, though… but what about for me? can i visit you at your—where do you work, exactly, finn?” asked margot, beaming.

[terpsichorist]

EZRA SHAW

         “or what? gonna disappear on me?” it had worked out for her the last time they had met, but… those had been different circumstances. they’re not fighting, here. “always were good at scurrying away, weren’t you?”

margot can’t help but be repulsed by his cruelty. how can he live with himself? “you know, one day, you’re going to get what’s coming to you,” she says haughtily, her whisper betraying the anger in her voice. “les gens aussi lubriques que vous ne vivent pas longtemps.”

[terpsichorist]

FINLEY WALSH

“It’s unfortunate,” Finley says with a click of her tongue. She had been counting on an Omelette. “But, anything with potatoes are safe. Or the baked oatmeal. I’m also a fan of the blueberry french toast, but I have a little bit of a sweet tooth.”

margot’s brows knit in confusion as she leans closer to the other woman and says, “…but isn’t french toast made with eggs, too? —and, oatmeal can be baked?”

[terpsichorist]

SAWYER SULLIVAN

Ah, shit. Taking Margot as an option feels like a cop out, but Sawyer just knows his thick, drawling accent is going to butcher Xinyue. Talk about a rock and a hard place. “Nice to meet ya,” he opts for instead, committing to neither option.

And, ah, double shit. She’s never smoked pot before. He’d kind of figured from her relaxed attitude that she’d tried it before. His mouth quirks up at the oregano comment. “Kinda looks like it, too. Start slow, ‘kay? You can always smoke more, can’t smoke less once you’ve done it. You ever smoked just a regular cigarette before?” She’s holding the joint like it’s totally alien to her, so he’s sort of doubting it.

“c’est un plaisir de vous rencontrer, aussi,” smiles margot, though her face sours a bit when their attention is back on the lit joint. she scrunches her nose, “no, i’ve never smoked a cigarette, either…” margot says it almost shyly, unsure why she’s embarrassed to admit it to a stranger. “but the principle of it is simple, no? inhale and exhale, right? in through the lungs and out through the nose?” she may be a novice, but she certainly knows a thing or two about it—from what she’s seen on tv and in movies. and those anti-smoking commercials, too! poor joe chemo!

[terpsichorist]

BLOCKBUSTER, 6:07 PM ⇢ @c23starters​

margot opens the dvd case, and a broken disc falls out to land on the floor with an audible thud. panic rises in her as she gathers the pieces off the floor, swiftly getting back up and hoping that no one saw, but—"i swear, i didn't break it," she says quickly, "it was already like this when i opened it. i just wanted to make sure i was renting batman & robin."

[flowerytale]

Susan Sontag, from As Consciousness Is Harnessed to Flesh: Journals and Notebooks 1964-1980

[terpsichorist]

JAEWON LEE

“Stop being so stubborn,” He softly reaches out for her hands clasping on the giant stuff elephant. “Let me carry it for you, I promise I’ll give it back.” He smiles teasingly at her. “Anyway, how about burgers, my treat, alright?”

margot hums, “hm… alright, but if you don’t give back chouchou—” she doesn’t finish the sentence; instead, she just gives him a pointed-yet-playful look as if to say that he’ll be sorry if her words aren’t followed through on. she ends up smiling, though, at the thought of food. “i love burgers,” she exclaims, clasping her hands together, “i know this good burger place on 28th; they have these spicy, cheesy fries with taco beef… so good.”

[terpsichorist]

JAEWON LEE

“Long time ago,” He falls silent again as he fondly remembers his younger sister wanting to be a ballerina, “Too long ago,” He sadly smiles. “It was like years ago.”

seeing finn’s face fall, margot softens her expression—though she isn’t sure whether she should ask about it or not. instead, she lifts the kettle from the stove and takes two mugs out of her cupboard. her favorite tea—the kind you have to make by pouring hot water over bagged loose leaves—is grabbed from the elegant ceramic jar on one shelf. she sets them down on the counter and slowly asks, “…not a ballet fan now, then?”

[yxionoy]

[terpsichorist]

@toxicfvmes​ !