[Mardi Gras] Laissez les bons temps rouler!

[broken_brushes]

The island had done it again. Whether it was pure chance or benevolence none of them would ever know, but somehow, someway, the place had seen fit to give them all booze again

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[lucked]

This is the first time that Claire's ever gone to Mardi Gras festivities. Even though Texas isn't too far from Louisiana compared to the rest of the world, Claire's never really thought the whole drunken partying thing to be right for her. Actually, right now, she still has her doubts, but it's the smell of the food and the knowledge that at island parties, she can always back out early if needed, that have her dipping into the crowd anyway, wearing a beautiful green dress that makes the color of her hair pop. She's going for the whole daisy theme, a golden blossom of some sort woven into her hair and heels that give her just a few inches' worth of lift, so that she isn't the tiniest thing around, just for the night

[provincialbelle]

Belle had her hands busy in her skirt and was approaching the party when she saw the young woman. She had to hesitate because she was just a bit worried at her lurking in such a lovely thing. "Miss?" Belle approached. "Are you okay? Your dress is going to get dirty and it's such a beautiful thing."

[lucked]

"Ah!" Claire exclaimed, nearly tripping on her too-high heels and grabbing onto the trunk a little more tightly as she turned around, stumbling until she found her balance. Immediately after, she laughed, clear and brightly, because it really did serve her right for trying to look the part of someone much more elegant than Claire felt she ever was. Better to just be peppy and herself. (She wondered if, perhaps at some point later in the party, she'd just have to take off those blasted shoes.)

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry, that was... a near save, I guess," Claire giggled anyway, brushing off any remaining bark on her skirt and looking up with a wide smile. "And hey, Belle! I'm totally fine, minor crisis averted, just feeling weirdly shy about heading into the party. And thanks for the compliment on the dress, although, as always, I think you look a million times better. Like, really. Wow."

[provincialbelle]

Belle's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh my gosh, Claire, I didn't even recognize you," she said, shocked. "You look so beautiful," she said, now getting a good look at her. She was wearing flats, mostly because she had learned that no matter how high her shoes were, she was never as tall as Jacob. "Are you going into the party?"

[velation]

From the rumors Faye heard circulating around the island, parties were a regular part of the Tabula Rasa life. It wasn't something that she minded, herself, more than willing to spend time looking for the appropriate dress or smudging on the shadow around her eyes, anything to make her shine, anything to lure in the fools who were all too fun to crush under her boot. If the theme was Mardi Gras, then Faye decided there was absolutely no reason to hold back, picking out a gold number that highlighted the length of her legs, and indeed covered up more of herself than she usually chose to. That didn't matter. This was all about the packaging, after all.

With a couple extra bangles jangling on her ankle than usual, Faye lounged by the refreshment table, first intent on getting the food while it was hot, before she'd probably walk about, trying to meet new people. The cocktail glass she held close by was untouched, though Faye couldn't quite say whether or not she'd end up dipping into it with time.

For now, though, she'd just watch.

[dualites]

"Enjoying the night?" Although he recognized a fair number of faces in the crowd, he'd only spoken to most of them only once. Faye didn't fall into that particular category, one of only a couple of people - besides Lily and Nina - who were exceptions.

"You look lovely," he added, suddenly glad that he hadn't yet gotten drunk. A little buzzed, perhaps, but nothing too obvious, and, fortunately, not yet enough that it was impossible for him to keep his eyes from straying.

[velation]

Immediately, she decided to take a sip of her drink after all. In a way, although so subtly that no one other than Faye herself was likely to notice, it was almost a gesture of trust, knowing that no matter how many drinks she had in front of this man, that she was in the company of a friend, perhaps, as loose as the term was right then. As soon as the sweet flavor burned down her throat, she smiled, perhaps with something a little darker in the back of her eye. She could relax around this one.

"It's been dull, as far as nights go, but it does seem promising," Faye offered, pulling a couple of steps closer to him, enjoying the way the light reflected of her dress lingered on his shirt. "I'm liking what I see, myself."

[dualites]

"I'm glad."

It was a habit of his, at least in close proximity, to lean. (In crowds, it was better to have people leaning towards you.) Sometimes it manifested in a slight tip of his chin; other times, the curve of his shoulders and, in suit, his whole frame. Part of it was simply to better hear what the other person was saying, or to not have to speak louder than he wished, when the extenuating circumstances merited such a thing. The other part was simply the indication of interest. He was involved, not detached. (It also, more often than not, served to pull the other person in.) At any rate, it certainly applied here; no more than a slight pressure on his toes, but a lean nevertheless (and a quick once-over, but that was secondary).

"What's your poison?"

[honestlyrubbish]

What most people didn't know about Hermione was the fact that she liked a bit of revelry now and again. The majority of students at Hogwarts had gotten to see a bit of that at the Yule Ball three years ago, but most discounted it as a fluke when Hermione emerged the following day, hair still a wavy, bushy mess, no hint of rogue on her cheeks, like it was all perhaps some kind of experimentation that would never happen again. In truth, the idea of dressing up for a party pleased Hermione as much as most other girls, carefully going through selections of dresses and trying to find one for the occasion that was just right. Tonight, she'd settled on a relatively simple dress, a dim gold in color that suited the theme, but nothing too ostentatious. Pretty, without standing out. That always seemed to be the best choice

[polly_okeefe]

"Not going in to the party?" I asked, giving Hermione a smile. On normal circumstances, I might have taken her approach -- even sat down on the bench first.

[honestlyrubbish]

I had probably been seated there, reading from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn for half an hour or so before someone greeted me and pulled me out of my reverie. The sun, by that time, had begun to set a little, just at that point where it cast all of my surroundings in gold, a beautiful sight to behold. For the chance to see that much, I was more than glad for the interruption, smiling as I looked up, and only happier to see a familiar face.

"Oh hello, Polly," I greeted, slipping a bookmark to save my place, before sliding over on the bench. "I... was planning on going in once more people had arrived, I suppose. Or maybe I'm a bit worried to see what state I might find either of my best friends in, if I step inside. Something tells me it's that kind of party."

[polly_okeefe]

"You can come in with me if you want some company," I said. "I've been to a few parties, and you get a range of company. I often stood with a few friends and drank mango juice. I'm here with Zell today, though. They have hotdogs and pancakes."

[cibosity]

Mardi Gras or no Mardi Gras, Sawyer didn't usually mind a party. If it wasn't his sort of thing, the island was chill enough that they'd let him cut out, no harm, no foul. But if there was good food, decent music, and a lotta cool, crisp beers, why the hell not? That was how Sawyer felt that day, already a few glasses into the night, just lingering and watching people dance around each other in circles, watching them slowly drink themselves under the table, and perfectly content to collect all of the stories he needed for potential teasing or blackmail later on

[burnwithus]

"Why are you doing that?" her feet shuffle in loosely-laced boots, a far cry from the dainty heels sported by the majority of the girls here. Katniss moves forward, arms crossed against her chest as she watches him. "You'll ruin the taste," if there's one thing she has to be grateful for, it's that at least this time he isn't seeing her vulnerable in some way like he normally is. Even if she is wearing a dress (and that almost counted in itself).

[cibosity]

"Clearly, you ain't ever had beer-braised pork, or beer-roasted pork, or ever learned all the amazin' things that beer does for meat, like tenderizing it," Sawyer calls out loudly, with absolutely not intention of his good deed going completely unnoticed. There isn't even a reason for people to yell at him for what he's doing, because it's true that alcohol makes meat softer, juicier, all the things that people should be wanting from their pigs on this island. Even if most, right now, are preoccupied with all the fancy-schmancy processed crap coming in. He turns around after the bottle of beer is gone, then immediately does a double-take, whistling.

"Hoo boy, someone took the Catnip to town and made her a girl," he nods appraisingly. "I like it."

[burnwithus]

She scowls at him and probably ruins the effect of whatever miracle Sookie had managed to perform, getting her in this dress and letting her hair down for once. His words are offensive to her if only because they imply that she isn't a girl the rest of the time, although Katniss isn't quite sure why they make her flare up so. It isn't like she's cared about any of this, before.

"I am a girl, if you haven't noticed," Katniss huffs, stepping closer to the him (and the spit) and silently admitting that the meat does smell good now. "And don't get used to it. I hate dresses."

[curiously_cora]

Coraline had smiled when the box had offered her the dress earlier that morning. It was pretty- a bright coral colour that went so well with her bright blue wellies and it was well, it was very short. Even shorter when you considered Coraline had quite long legs for a thirteen nearly fourteen year old.

But that was sort of the point. Coraline was nearly fourteen years old, she wanted to be noticed and she most definitely wanted boys to notice her. People kept telling her she was pretty but it would be nice for a boy to tell her that for a change and not Bill or Sawyer or someone old and gross.

Eyeing up the alcohol Coraline hovered around trying to look innocent as she took a pretty lime green drink.

[worldisburning]

So the clothes are familiar, and he feels right in them; Katniss is still furious with him but the bottle of beer in his hand is reason enough to be cheerful, even if Helena didn't look quite as good as she does. When he sees Coraline, there's that familiar stab of recognition. He wonders if he's ever going to stop seeing Primrose Everdeen everywhere.

"Hey," he says, smiling and raising his bottle in a toast. "Pretty dress."

[curiously_cora]

Coraline sipped at the green fizzy drink, glancing at someone's rather nice bum and blushing furiously before they turned and she realised who it was. Coraline ducked her head down, hiding beneath her hair as he complimented her. At least he hadn't seen her staring at him. That was just embarassing.

"Hi Gale," Coraline said hiding the glass behind her back and walking backwards until she felt a table behind her. Pushing the glass up onto the table Coraline casually stepped back away and tried not to look too guilty. "Thanks the clothes box gave it to me. I like yours too, I mean the outfit not a dress. Are all your clothes those sorts of colours?"

[worldisburning]

He's been around kids eough to notice her putting down the glass like she doesn't want him tos ee but Gale misses his brothers and sister enough that he's willing to play along. He pretends he didn't see. He looks down at himself and nods.

"I guess so. We don't really have a lot of colour in the Seam. It's why we name all of our girls after flowers and things."