A little liquor on my lips

He [[says]], "Oh, baby, beggin' you to save me. Well, [[lately]] I like 'em crazy. Oh, [[and baby]], you could devastate me.[[Little lady]], come and fade me."

[vanamelie-blog]

When she’d started talking, Clara had been willing to take her seriously, actually preparing herself to listen. The truth was, sometimes she wasn’t as in touch with her members as she would’ve liked, so feedback from them was always appreciated even if sometimes they made irrational requests since they didn’t know what things were actually possible or reasonable to try and change. However, her next words made her burst into laughter, quickly trying to cover it up with a cough as she saw Amelie was actually being serious. “Oh, please, there’s at least a billion things you could’ve pointed out and that’s what you start with?” Clara said, raising her eyebrows at her as she studied her, still slightly hoping it’d be some weird sort of prank. “I’m not gonna tell a bunch of girls in their twenties who they’re allowed to bring home, and honestly, I feel much more at ease knowing they are under my roof than having them crash at some frat, at least here I know they’re safe,” she ranted on, hoping she could still make a convincing argument despite having laughed at her two seconds ago. “Also, it would be very unfair to anyone with a girlfriend, don’t you think? Something about it would just not work.” 

Amelie sighed dramatically at her statement, she knew this would be a slightly pointless endeavor. “People have partners, I understand that but sometimes this house feels like a revolving door of company.” She snapped before quickly regathering herself. “While I’m also aware that people do not care about their reputation, it is something that I very much have to consider,” she said softly, gripping the folder tightly. “I was also thinking of perhaps having a rule of cleaning out the fridge every week, I swear something is creating it’s own ecosystem in there.” She said, recoiling her nose slightly at the memory of opening the fridge and seeing the moldy food. “We’re considered quite a classy house and I cannot help but feel that reputation is slowly diminishing. My parents didn’t pick this sorority for no reason at all.”

[vanamelie-blog]

“Helps me make sure I don’t fall under the temptation of taking any more than I should during the day,” he lied easily, rather proud of himself for how fast he’d come up with that one. “You ask a lot of questions, are you sure you’re not campus police? I can show you the papers, if you’d like, but honestly I’m starting to think you’re just a little nosey,” he said, arching his eyebrows at her. This whole conversation was making him severely anxious, and though his usual self would’ve found an easier, kinder way to get out of it, lately he’d been slightly more irritable than ever, and as it was such a new emotion, he wasn’t sure how to handle it. 

Amelie stared intensely at Levi for a moment, not quite believing his words but deciding not to question him any further on the matter. “I’m not campus police, campus police couldn’t afford this coat.” She said bluntly, indicating to the coat she was wearing with a casual shrug as she glanced around, making sure no one could overhear their conversation. “I don’t need to see your papers, I’m just merely suggesting that you be a little more careful, next time it may be campus police.” She said, her facial expression barely changing as she watched the clear annoyance on his face.

[cuipid]

[vanamelie-blog]

Strolling along in her overpriced work out outfit, she had been searching for something within the depths of her bag, whilst walking and trying best to not bump into anything or anyone. Having not realised she pulled out her house key when she yanked out her cheap earphones, Nina continued on her journey back to the house. It wasn’t long until she heard a voice, stopping in her tracks to glance back at the familiar woman, “oh shit, thanks.” Gratefully smiling at Amelie. Sighing as the brunette looked over the girls outfit, “gloves? Really Amelie?” 

Amelie smiled as she recognized Nina, have quite a good rapport with the female. She stared down at the matching baby pink gloves and sighed. “It was rather chilly when I left this morning.” She explained carefully, knowing she no doubt looked ridiculous compared to the usual gym clothes or barely there dresses she saw most the females wearing. “One must always look presentable, you never know when your photo might be taken.” She said softly, smiling at Nina, the only one on campus who actually knew what her real title was.

[browningsource]

[vanamelie-blog]

The nice thing about having the tiny room she’d picked rather than the so called presidential one was that she could be sitting outside having a smoke and still very clearly hear if anyone came to her door. It was perfect for presidential duties, and the second she heard Amelie’s voice calling her name, Clara put out her cigarette, climbing back in through her window. It was better, she didn’t feel living in a cloud of smoke would be healthy for anyone, and this way she could just close the window and the only thing smelling of tobacco was her. “Hey, Amelie,” she said, opening the door and stepping back for her to come inside. The sight of the folder she was carrying made her shiver, already aware this was probably gonna be a stressful conversation. “Make yourself at home,” she gestured towards her desk chair, sitting cross legged on her bed. “Can I help you with anything?” 

One of the perks that Amelie had indulged in with her status was allowing to have her own room in the sorority house, she wasn’t sure how much her parents had exactly donated and what power they had pulled but she had never shared a room before and didn’t exactly intend to start now, especially in College. She stepped into the room and looked around, wondering why Clara hadn’t chosen the allocated Presidential room. “I’ve spent the past few weeks compiling some notes.” She said softly, pointing to the pastel blue folder. “Of ways that we can improve the sorority and make it a better future sorority.” She said, flipping the folder open. “The biggest one being the allowance of males staying over, do you honestly think people will respect us as a house if we practically leave the screen door open for a plethora of males?” She rambled, shaking her head sadly. “I feel there should be some drastic changes made in that department.”

[vanamelie-blog]

Taking a mental note of her helpful tip, Levi clutched his chest, gasping out as if he’d been mortally offended. “Am I hearing correctly, you take me, me, for a drug dealer?” he shook his head, settling his bag on his shoulders properly now that he’d made sure everything was zipped up securely. “That sounds very cute and proper, but you know, I know I seem super organized and in complete control over my life, but to tell you the truth things have been a little messy these days,” he said with a melodramatic sigh. He wasn’t entirely sure why he was still holding this conversation when it would have been safer to walk away, but now that he’d started talking he couldn’t stop. “Guess I’ve forgotten to label all of my belongings and so on, but thanks for bringing it to my attention, I’ll put it on my to do list for next week.” 

Amelie let out a small sound at his accusation. “I said no such thing.” She told him honestly. “I’m just saying that carrying around a ziplock bag of pills makes you appear to be one.” She pointed out. Watching him with a keen eye, studying his nervousness over their conversation and his clear discomfort of her perhaps knowing something private about him, Amelie had always been good at reading people, both a gift and a curse her parents had always said. “I guess you have,” she said with a small shrug. “Though why take them out of the prescription bottle in the first place?” She questioned.

[vanamelie-blog]

“You don’t? I mean that’s fair enough, it’s all a matter of opinion really.” He smiled and rubbed his face. “That is also true.” He chuckled. “Don’t ask me why I carry the rock around, it hasn’t bought me any luck yet, quite the opposite apparently.” 

Amelie smiled kindly at him as she stared at the rock in his hands. “I suppose it’s more important in regards to the person who gave it to you.” She said quietly. Her parents had never really given her any form of good luck, just a future full of heavy responsibility.

[browningsource]

[vanamelie-blog]

“Shit. I’m a bit poor to be honest, had to trick a forty year old man into buying my last beer last night. What happens when you’ve got six kids in your family. Bless Bea’s heart - uh, I mean. My adoptive mother - Bless her heart but school principal barely covers it. We had gruel for Christmas dinner,” keeping the pout on his face for a few seconds, Teddy eventually snickered, waggling his eyebrows at the smaller girl, “Ha. Kidding. We had turkey, duh.” Biting into his piece of licorice, becoming a bit more anxious with the topic, Teddy merely shrugged, nose wrinkling slightly, “Like. Yeah, you’re not wrong, but. Dunno, I don’t like reminding my mom about him. My real mom, I mean. C’mon, keep up!” he blurted, gesturing wildly to add a comedic tone to an otherwise sensitive topic. “It is?” Teddy asked dully when she went on about her major, the idea a bit boring to him but he’d never truly been into politics, “What’s so important about it? You don’t… find it kinda boring?” 

Amelie nodded her head in somewhat sympathy, though she couldn’t relate, she had wanted for nothing growing up and it was still very much the same but her parents had made her visit the less fortunate parts of their country as she got older. “I visited a lot of orphanages and such when I was back home,” she confessed quietly, smiling sadly at him. “My parents always made sure I was readily involved with charity events and helping them have a more comfortable life.” She explained, not really giving much else away on the topic. She stared at him walking ahead of her and picked up her pace slightly, not breaking her poised and practiced rhythm, keeping her hands steadily at her side as she caught up to him. “That’s true but you could always give her another reason to like the name.” She pointed out, smiling at him once more, not really knowing what else to say on the topic. Admittedly, she did find social politics somewhat boring but her parents insisted that she learn more about the political side that comes with ruling a country. “It isn’t so bad,” she said softly. “I find economics far more boring but there all essential too, a Prin-” she cut off mid sentence, almost faltering but smiling brightly at him. “With what my future holds, it’s essential I have a broad knowledge of these things, as well as knowing numerous languages, I can already speak Dutch, English, German, French and Italian and some basic Latin and some Spanish though it’s honestly quite rusty.”

[vanamelie-blog]

Biting his lip in thought as he pondered over her point, Teddy merely shrugged, following after her as he followed her towards her sorority. “Uh, maybe. I was named after my dad and frankly? He can rot. Not to… y’know jump into my trauma whatever on the first date. And they say romance is dead,” he mumbled under his breath, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly as he glanced around them to avoid eye contact. “Huh? Oh!” Easy grin reappearing on his face at her question, there was almost immediately a skip in his step again, reaching for another piece of licorice and swinging it around like it was a lasso, “Theater Arts. I was in a toothpaste commercial once,” he boasted proudly, hands linked behind his back as they continued to stroll along, “and I’m just kinda waiting for my big break, to be honest. Feels like I’m gonna be waiting forever, but… whatever, what about you?”

Amelie nodded as she listened intently to what he was talking about before laughing gently. “A date? With no flowers or anything? I feel slightly cheapened right now.” She said, offering him a small playful smile, perhaps the most casual most people at Lockwood had ever seen her. “Being named after your father isn’t such a bad thing, I was named after my Great-Great Grandmother and she wasn’t that lovely, actually she caused quite a lot of grief. It gives you a chance to change the varnish on the name, make it something entirely your own, a whole new polish.” She said gently, watching as he played with the licorice, figuring he always needed to keep his hands busy or himself distracted but saying nothing about the observation. “I’m sure it’ll happen eventually, good things come to those who wait.” She added before glancing around. “Political science, it just seemed like the most natural course for me to pursue with my future endeavors, it’s important I understand that aspect of the world.”

[vanamelie-blog]

@kellen_ford: there should be a divorce pose like there's a proposal pose

@amelievl: I believe people call it meal for one.

[vanamelie-blog]

Raising his eyebrows momentarily, Levi quickly switched to the most innocent look he could manage, smiling at her as nicely as humanly possible. She didn’t sound all that nice, if anything, she sounded a little threatening and he didn’t do well with that. “It’s a little rude to ask that sort of thing, you know,” he said, trying to keep his tone even. “Hope you don’t make a habit of going around asking people what sort of mental illness they have, because honestly, you could hurt a lot of feelings,” his smile fell through somewhere along that sentence, his acting skills coming in handy for once. “It’s just Adderall, don’t think anyone around here doesn’t know at least one or two kids in science-y majors with some level of ADHD – it helps you focus, you know.” 

Amelie merely stared at him, her expression barely changing at his words. She could easily see through the facade that he was placing but honestly couldn’t muster the energy to fight back with him. “I know what it is.” She said quickly and coolly. She was well versed in popular prescription drugs, having seen many of the children in her home country fall prey to them. “I wasn’t asking what sort of mental illness you have,” she pointed out, arching an eyebrow at him and pursing her lips slightly. “I was merely stating that it didn’t look like it was for you. Most people carry their own prescriptions in it’s case with their name on it, however if you were going to.. I don’t know, sell it at street value to someone, that baggy is much more sensible.”

[vanamelie-blog]

Blinking in shock when the other suddenly took on an even more formal approach to their conversation, Teddy couldn’t help but grin in amusement at the whole ordeal. Bowing the second she was done with her curtsy, he couldn’t help but blush slightly at her compliment, standing up tall and shoot her a friendly grin, “Hm. Well… thank you. I guess it’s more, uh. Grown up, but… doesn’t really suit me at all. I mean, you’re unbiased - look at me. I’m a Teddy through and through, yeah?” he was rambling now, suddenly feeling the need to have the other validate him - it was probably because she did come off as so regal, whereas he was nothing but a goof, it felt nice to have someone of such confidence compliment him. “Anyway. Gross. Let’s… move on from the STI talk. You on Greek Row? I’ll walk you.” 

Amelie smiled at him, watching as he stumbled over himself, a habit she was used to people picking up while around her whether it be the people who worked in her home, the people her parents ruled over or perhaps people in general, she still wasn’t too sure as to why regarding that last factor. “Who knows, maybe you don’t think it suits you because everyone else has told you otherwise.” She pointed out. He did seem like he had the potential to be a proper gentleman, perhaps with a few lessons and being around the right people. She nodded confidently at his question. “Theta house.” She told him simply as she began walking towards Greek row, expecting him to follow her. “What do you study Theodore?” She asked, genuinely curious to know more about him.

[vanamelie-blog]

Amelie held the baby blue folder carefully to her chest as she made her way towards Clara’s room. The past few weeks she had been compiling a list of ways she felt the sorority could be improved and handled differently to previous sisters and she finally felt ready to show her current President said list. She smoothed out her Yves Saint Laurent dress before knocking gently on the door. “Clara?” She asked in a firm voice. “I was hoping we could have a moment to chat?” @claravlee

[vanamelie-blog]

Fingers tapping incessantly against his phone as he switched songs, searching through his bag for his glasses with his other hand, Levi was on his way out of class, heading to the library. He had an assignment to finish and the sooner he did it, the faster he could go back to the house and sit under a cold shower or something, anything that might help with how strangely jittery he was feeling. Between songs, he heard someone calling out for him, stopping dead on his tracks and turning around. His eyes went wide open as he spotted a tablet on the ground, next to her obviously expensive shoes. “Fuck,” he muttered under his breath, rushing down to grab it and shooting her an anxious smile. “Thanks, I – prescription meds,” he said, shaking the tablet slightly. At least they weren’t in any sort of suspicious packaging, given that they really were the pharmacy kind, just. Not his. “Can’t have them falling in the wrong hands, I’m glad you didn’t step on them, would’ve cost me a fortune to get more,” he ranted on, making sure to zip up his bag properly once he’d safely tucked them inside 

Amelie watched as the male returned and picked up the small pill from beside her shoe and she stared at him with a questionable look on her face, she had seen illicit drugs handed around plenty of times between teenagers at benefits and charity auctions, in the abandoned and immaculately presented bedrooms or the imported marble bathrooms, she herself had never partaken except for the occasional puff of a joint, much preferring the taste of alcohol as opposed to the influence of drugs. “What exactly was that?” She asked curiously, staring at him intensely, it did look like some form of prescription but she wasn’t too sure if it was for him. “You may be a little more careful, next time it might be campus security or someone who has a habit of telling on people.” She warned, stepping away from him slightly. “Don’t want to get expelled over some silly little tablet.”

[vanamelie-blog]

Teddy wasn’t actually sure how to converse with the brunette, she was far more proper than most of the people at Lockwood. Glancing around like a personified version of the Mr. Krabs meme, he finally settled his gaze back on her and give her a confused smile, accompanied by furrowed brows and everything, “Okay. Shalom, Amelie van…” coughing out a random grunt after forgetting the meat of her last time, Teddy shoved the piece of licorice in hand into his mouth, holding the now free hand out towards the smaller girl, “Teddy Lawrence. Not as… regal, I guess. Not even my birth name. Crazy, right? If you wanted my birth name you could call me Theodore Holland but that sounds almost threatening, I think,” he rambled on, shrugging casually after, “Anyway, if you’re gonna get any STI I’d suggest syphilis to be honest, easiest to get rid of and takes the shortest amount of time.”

Amelie smiled at him, not at all shocked that he couldn’t pronounce her last name, it was an ancient name from her home country but not known in many other places. She smiled at him finally introducing himself, she did a small curtsy. “Pleasure to meet you, Theodore.” She said, having grown up calling people by their full names as opposed to nicknames handed out during their youth. “I don’t think it sounds threatening, I think it’s a nice name.” She said with a small smile. “You should use it more often.” She added before her eyes widened once more at the mention of an STI. “I’d rather not contract any, thank you.” She said, the stiffness returning back to her words.