(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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[abrams_vanessa]

She wasn't sure quite how it kept happening, she was pretty sure the UES managed to throw more parties here than they had back home. But she had to agree Eric's sixteenth was an event that required a party. She didn't know Eric that well but what she did know, she liked, so when Jenny had invited her along, she decided to wish Eric the best.

The clothes box was not cooperating with her. Since her arrival it had insisted on giving her nothing but tacky eighties outfits that she couldn't work with at all. She'd resorted to wearing the purple party dress she'd arrived to the island in, making a mental note to see if Jenny might help her out in making some more acceptable clothes. At least she knew she looked killer in this dress.

[learnwhatsreal]

"Vanessa!" Jenny called brightly after spotting her, making her way past a few people to where she stood and wrapping one arm around her in a sort of half-hug. While she couldn't deny that she still missed her brother, having Vanessa around definitely made this place feel a little more like home, though she wasn't about to admit to that. Some things just would have sounded too cheesy. "Hey, I'm so glad you could make it."

[abrams_vanessa]

"Hi!" Vanessa said in return, happy to see one face who seemed to actually want her presence. She hugged Jenny back. "Thanks for inviting me. I definitely need to get out of my hut more. And you need to introduce me to this boyfriend of yours I'm hearing about. I have to stand in for Dan in the approval role."

[learnwhatsreal]

"I... think you're more likely to give him a chance than Dan would be," Jenny admitted, wrinkling her nose a little. Vanessa, she was pretty sure she could trust to be open-minded about what she was doing, at least more than Dan. "He's around here somewhere. I'll have to bring you over."

[forhawkeye]

I debate coming to this party at all, even though my...enlightening conversation with Blair has done a lot in the way of getting rid of my more homicidal feelings towards Vanessa. In the end, it's the promise of honest-to-God pizza that convinces me to make an appearance.

Seeing no real need to dress up, I opt for a very simple black cotton dress paired with a little purple -- color-coordinated for you convenience as always thanks to the box -- crop jacket. It's not a look that'll stop traffic, but it's more than suitable for what's meant to be a pretty low-key gathering.

Whether or not it'll actually be low-key remains to be seen, of course. I only know for sure that I don't want to be the one ruining the night.

[abrams_vanessa]

Vanessa had headed over to the food table to pick up a slice of pizza. This was definitely not New York style pizza, but it looked pretty good. Hopefully it wasn't topped with wild boar, she thought idly.

She'd put her pizza on a plate and was reaching for a napkin when her hand brushed against someone else's who happened to be reaching for their own napkin at the same time. "Whoops," she said, pulling her hand back and putting a friendly smile on her face as she looked up to see the hand's owner.

And then her friendly smile promptly froze. Kate. Of course. Because life just did not suck enough.

[forhawkeye]

I have this sneaking suspicion that my smile looks about as forced as hers, but I'm trying to work around it. For a quick second I take a look around for Nate, but he must still be off on his 'bathroom' break. Awesome.

"It's fine," I say, trying to keep my voice away from terse. I don't manage too badly, all things considered, but it's not the friendliest I've ever sounded. "Hi."

[abrams_vanessa]

"Hi," she managed to reply, straightening up. Kate didn't look ready to maim her at any moment but she didn't look particularly friendly either. She found herself looking around for Nate, hoping he would show up and rescue them both from this awkward moment.

"How are you?" Vanessa offered. It was the dumbest thing she could think of to say but it was also the only thing she could think of to say.

[up_off_thefloor]

To be completely honest, Eric was kind of glad his sixteenth birthday had happened here, on the island. Back home there would have been a big party in some club or a rented out building, full of people who didn't really know or like him and a pile of expensive gifts that were less about who he was and more about what he was. A member of Manhattan's upper elite.

Here, there was pizza, friends, and a relaxed, fun atmosphere. It was much more his style, and Serena had done a great job putting it together, of course.

He got himself a glass of juice and wandered toward the food, grinning at the sight of pizza. No, it wasn't like home, but sometimes that wasn't a bad thing.

[up_off_thefloor]

Eric grinned and slipped his free hand into Roxas'. "Thanks. Hey, did you have pizza in your world?"

[renegade_reaper]

Knowin' who the party was for for once made it easy for Beat to be able to relax an' have a good time. Eric was an aight kid, an' he never hadda problem with him. That he was his girlfriend's brother made it all the more important to him to get along. He knew jus' from havin' a sister of his own how important he was to her.

Food in hand, he found a seat, not exactly goin' to mingle but thinkin' he at least looked approachable. It was a start.

[turnthebadinme]

Laying a hand on his shoulder, Serena bent to kiss him. "Thank you," she murmured, smiling a little. She'd been to a couple things in the last month or so, but this was the first party she'd thrown in her own right since they'd talked about that stuff. It wasn't the usual kind of party, but it still meant a lot to her that he'd come.

[renegade_reaper]

Beat put his pizza down when he realized Serena had come over. She'd been careful to say he didn't have to come. He wouldn't have missed it, even though he'd never admit t hat kinda stuff outloud.

"What, for eatin' the food? I know, I'm good at that, yo," he said, obviously shruggin' off bein' at the party as no big deal. He grinned up at her once she was standin' up straight. "Your brother's lookin' like he's havin' a good time."

[turnthebadinme]

Glancing across the room to where Eric was, Serena smiled. "Yeah, he really does," she said, softly fond. That was all she'd wanted from the night, and with that accomplished, it was easy to relax and not think anymore about whether things were going alright. Sometimes it seemed to her like being here had helped her finally start to be the big sister he deserved.

Drawing out the seat beside him, she brightened up a little, looking back to Beat, her smile turned teasing. "Is this seat taken?"

[1000_cranes]

In a clean white shirt, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, Charlie moved through the party with her tray in hand, and her best smile. She had her hair tied up in a ponytail. She turned sideways on, shimmying her way between two people.

"Can I ge tyou something to drink, sugar?" she asked.