(Untitled)

[turnthebadinme]

It might not have been anything they would have done on the Upper East Side, but somehow, Serena felt like the little party they'd assembled was exactly perfect. Since they were celebrating Eric's sixteenth, she wouldn't have settled for anything less. The Winchester seemed like just the right place for a cozy, intimate gathering, small not for the

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[one__song]

For once, Roger arrived early.

It wasn't the apocalypse, nor was it any kind of statement it just kind of... happened. The outfit had been easy enough to put together, his hair did whatever the fuck it wanted to, anyway, and eyeliner was just easy.

Whatever, Eric was bound to appreciate it. And Serena and Neil had both asked so nicely. So there Roger was, guitar on his back and a water in hand.

[turnthebadinme]

Wandering over, Serena slung an arm over Roger's shoulder in a sideways hug, grinning.

"Hey," she said, "thank you again for coming and helping me out." Roger was more friend than entertainment anyway, which was just right for the mood of the evening, intended to be warm and casual.

[one__song]

Roger kissed her cheek as was his customary greeting, tailored only to Serena. Her boyfriend was running around there somewhere, and he had every intention of finally introducing himself after the set. He'd have the most confidence then, and maybe even apologize for not introducing himself sooner.

"It wasn't you, really," Roger said, flipping his hair with a feigned arrogance that sometimes wasn't feigned at all. "It was Neil. His hair is just so pretty. I was thinking about proposing to him..."

[turnthebadinme]

"Ah," Serena said, nodding in mock-comprehension, "yes, of course. You might have a little competition, but who could really resist?" Grinning, she reached up to tap the guitar pick she wore on a cord, chosen tonight in honor of Roger's playing. "I know I never could."

[one__song]

"You say things like that and I have to do this," Roger said, grabbing Serena around the waist, dipping her back, and kissing her cheek. It all happened pretty quickly, and she was back on her feet before too many people could notice he'd swept her off of them.

[turnthebadinme]

Serena laughed, hands moving to his arms for support automatically. "Roger!" she said, the pretended protest really just another form of encouragement. "And here I thought you didn't have a romantic bone in you."

[one__song]

"Oh, I got a romantic bone," Roger assured her, moving one wayward lock of blond hair back into place for her. He was grinning, laughing, being vulgar, all of the elements to make a happy Roger. Just add alcohol.

[turnthebadinme]

Serena wrinkled up her nose at him, a token pretense at disgust that looked more like amusement anyway. "Not a part of you I'd expect to go on display at my brother's sixteenth birthday," she said wryly.

[one__song]

"He'd like it, wouldn't he?" Roger fired back, raising a brow as he did the stakes in any conversation with Serena. One of the many, many reasons he loved that girl was that his wit - for what it was worth - could never get too rusty. She kept him conversationally keen, and the way she pretended to hate vulgar jokes? Yeah, that too.

"Sixteen is legal on the island, Serena. I have no problem jumping out of a cake if it makes your brother happy."

[turnthebadinme]

"Okay, gross," Serena said, waving her hands in surrender even as she laughed. "And I'm pretty sure his boyfriend wouldn't be too thrilled by that either."

For her own part, Serena was still pretty thrilled that Eric had a boyfriend at all. Roxas seemed like a good guy and he seemed to make Eric happy, and that was really all she asked.

[one__song]

Jesus Christ, did everyone have someone on that fucking island? Seriously, sometimes Roger thought he was the only one flying single, and that wasn't even accurate. He'd had Brian, and before that Prior and before that Mark... Roger had spent very little time on that island single, but now that his time was solo, once again, he felt... well, fucking single. And it weighed on him heavily.

"Yeah well," was Roger's shut-down response. He leaned against a table.

[turnthebadinme]

Even if she wasn't entirely sure just what, Serena instinctively felt she'd said something she shouldn't have. Taking a few steps to stand beside Roger, she slumped back, palms flat on the table to take her weight. She nudged him with her shoulder. "Well, my birthday's next month," she offered, teasing.