Post-Election Party

[broken_brushes]

The latest round of Island Council elections were finished, and I once again had the job of posting the results to the Compound bulletin board:
Tabula Rasa Island Council - Term 12

General RepresentativesShari Cooper

Comments

[itwas_perfect]

Her presence there had very little to do with the elections. She'd listened to the speeches, she'd cast her vote, but beyond that, after nearly a year on the island, that feeling of being apart from daily life on the island, that feeling of being separate still remained.

She wore a slip of a dress, the smallest size she could find, though it still hung from her like a drape. In her hand was a glass of wine, and she scanned the crowd for familiar faces, always catching glimpses of him-- of Thomas, even though she knew he wasn't there.

[notfaking_it]

"Hey," Lily said breathlessly as she appeared at Nina's side with a drink of her own. The dress she was wearing was black shot through with dark blue and she was drinking something a little harder than wine, already well on her way to being drunk. The parties weren't the only chance she had to feel like this, but they were the best opportunity the island offered and they hadn't lost their appeal.

"Nice dress," she said, grinning. "I need this chance to dress up every once in awhile."

[itwas_perfect]

"I know, it's nice," Nina agreed, her smile brightening when Lily appeared. "I think there's still sand in my hair, though."

It was pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck, but it didn't seem to matter how often she showered. There was sand in her hair, under her nails, anywhere it could hide.

[notfaking_it]

"The joys of living in paradise," Lily answered with a grin, glad to see Nina smiling. Her own hair was down, falling in waves over her shoulders and she knew she needed to get it cut, but for now, still with less than a year on the island under her belt, it was still easy to pretend it really was an extended vacation.

"So, who'd you vote for?" she asked, looking around to the winners.

[angriestman]

Raylan always has mixed feelings on parties like these. On one hand, he's not exactly a social butterfly but, on the other, there's no reason to lock himself away. And, on this occasion, he owes Steve congratulations besides. He finds himself a corner to stand in. He knows exactly how long that vantage point'll last before Rachel or Danny get ahold of him.

Still...

[formerfratboy]

If there was one thing Nick appreciated about the island, it was the inhabitants' constant enthusiasm for social gatherings and parties. Even though he was far from a party animal, it was nice to see how people always gathered together to celebrate. The parties were always nice times to seek out familiar faces, too, and so Nick paused whenever he passed Raylan standing quietly at the wall.

"Everything going alright?" Nick asked conversationally. "Heck of a party, as usual, looks like."

[angriestman]

"Looks like," echoes Raylan, giving Nick a little smile and a tip of his hat. "Got a friend who made it into the council this time, so we're celebrating."

[formerfratboy]

"Congratulations to your friend, then," Nick said with a grin. "Who's your friend? Always nice to make those sorts of connections."

Though the population of the island was always in flux, it was still like a small town in many ways, and it was nice to be able to connect the dots between people. It could come in handy some day.

[1struleiscardio]

I' trying to live less by the rules then before but the fact remains: parties make me nervous. It's not exactly an end of the world, Zombieland sort of thing - parties always made me feel kind of nervous and invisible. I'm better than I was before; the island makes me better, but, still, when I bump someone with my shoulder, I get this sick feeling in my belly.

"Sorry!"

So much for surviving.

[hastrustissues]

"Don't sweat it, dude," Wichita murmurs, trying to balance two drinks and a plate of food in both hands. She knows it's probably a reflex leading him to apologize for running into her, but after a cursory survey, she doesn't manage to spill anything, so as far as she's concerned, there's no sorry needed.

"Just - take one of these off my hands, will you?" she asks, using her arm to cradle one plastic cup in against her side.

[1struleiscardio]

"It's really...kind of weird when you call me dude," I say, and we've had this conversation before, but I'm not sure that she's listening to me. I pull a face and reach out to take the cup from her.

It's a little bit ridiculous that, when my fingers graze the curve of her breast through her t-shirt, I totally blush.

More than a little.
I'm totally ridiculous.

[hastrustissues]

"Okay, you know I'd never actually be able to call you 'babe', right?" Wichita counters, raising an eyebrow at him. His unintentional boob graze draws a grin from her, wicked and unapologetic as she shifts her food and drink, nodding to the cup in his hand.

"That one's for you, by the way. And next time, be sure to get a good squeeze if you're going in," she adds, chuckling quietly before leaning in to give him a quick kiss.

[provincialbelle]

Belle's lethargy hadn't really shaken itself away, but it had abated enough -- or maybe she was in denial about how bad it still was -- that she was at the party and determined to have a good time. The only trouble was, she was yawning. She yawned over the food, she yawned while watching the way the lights danced in the light breeze, and she yawned every time she took a drink.

Eventually, she found her way to a chair and was leaning her elbows on it, half-slumped over in a terribly unladylike pose, especially for the dress she wore, but she could hardly find the energy to do anything else.

[teenagerenegade]

She's his friend, one of his best friends, and he totally adores her, but he's still a boy just shy of twenty, so, yes, he does glance at her cleavage as he drops down on his knees at the side of her chair, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

"How're you doing?"

[provincialbelle]

Belle straightened up with Charlie's kiss, wrapping an arm around his shoulders -- both to hug him and to allow herself a modicum more of support that her own body refused to give her. "I've been so much better," she admitted wearily. Idly, she scratched at her neck before letting the hair fall back down. She shifted sideways to give him some room to sit. "How are you? Is Ed here yet?"

[teenagerenegade]

He squishes himself into the chair with her, arms wrapped around her to keep her lose. There's a crease of concern between his eyebrows. He smooths one hand over her dark hair.

"He's around here somewhere," he murmurs. "I'll grab him for a dance later."

[makemaps]

It's starting to feel like big parties are a weekly occurrence, Magic-Island side. Which, you know, I'm not complaining. I'm totally not complaining. I'm a teenager; I love an opportunity to get shit-faced. Still, I can't help feeling a bit like I did on 3 North at first. I sort of feel like...if I don't settle here then it isn't really real.

Because I'm an idiot.

There's a spot on the steps and I head for it, drink in hand.

"Is that seat free?"

[prettywithawill]

Valkyrie wondered if she should even come to this thing considering that she didn't vote, but she felt in the mood to mingle, so here she was. Mingling. Which currently meant sitting off to the side just people watching.

When a boy her age asked if the seat was free, she nodded.

"It is, you're welcome to it."

[makemaps]

"Thanks."

I drop down onto the step next to her, digging my heels into the grass and looking around. I turn my head and watch her for a second.

"That's a really cool accent."

[prettywithawill]

"Thanks, I'm from Ireland," she said, as if the accent didn't make it obvious. Of course, he could always be from one of those worlds where they didn't have an Ireland, or an Earth at all.

"Ah, that's on the planet Earth, in case you didn't already know or something."