May 4

[notfaking_it]

When their roles are posted, Lily smiles knowingly at Nina across the small crowd of mostly disappointed dancers, then crosses over to her and tells her they're going to have a party to celebrate. She tells Nina to invite whoever she wants, says she'll host it, it'll happen this weekend, then she disappears to make plans. She leaves Nina without time to protest on purpose.

On the night of the party, she has drinks and food set out in her kitchen. She's invited most of the people she knows and even a few she doesn't -- dancers, mostly, because she doesn't want to leave them out -- and there's already music playing even before anyone has arrived. The intention is to be casual, relaxed, but there are pills in Lily's pocket, for anyone who knows her well enough to ask, for anyone she thinks might need to relax a little.

Nina's doing better now, but Lily has no problem helping her come out of her shell if it comes to that. And she has no problem helping anyone else either.

Comments

[notfaking_it]

She's moving through the party, a drink in hand, greeting people she knows, introducing herself to those she doesn't. So far she's only had the one drink, mostly so she can still be sober for anyone who might be looking for her or be the hostess as required, but it's still early and she has the rest of the night to look forward to.

"Hey," she says, passing close by someone. "Are you having a good time?"

[badtotheclone]

I'm very, very deeply contemplating my drink when I hear Lily say something.

"Huh? I mean, uh, yeah, I am."

I'm having a terrible time, but it's not Lily's fault. I like Lily. I would probably like most of these people here if I got to know them. But talking to strangers is weird and annoying so I'm just standing in the corner, drinking my beer.

[notfaking_it]

"You are, huh?" she asks, looking amused. That Kaine has come at all surprises her a little, but she's beginning to think maybe Cass convinced him that it was a good idea. Lily considers him a friend now, but she isn't sure if that's enough of a reason for him to come to a party. "So how come you're standing in a corner and look like you kind of want to disappear into your drink?"

[onewhoisall]

She skulked, sliding between groups of people before she moved across the room. Quiet as a mouse. Her clothes barely made a noise as she walked. She had enjoyed the ballet, she'd watched them all carefully and studied every movement until she could repeat phrases herself. She loved it, she loved every moment of it. Now all she had to do was find her errant... partner, boyfriend, him. Flamingo Boy.

[badtotheclone]

I finally come out of the corner to move beside Cass. She's having fun, I think, so I try and put on a happy face. Or, at least not a grumpy face.

"Enjoying the party?" I asked. I hope she is, otherwise we're here for nothing, really, if at least one of us isn't really having a good time.

[onewhoisall]

"No, I am as miserable as your face." Cass replied simply. Her tone devoid of humour before she let the smile and warmth tug at her lips. Cass knew he was putting on the happy face, trying for her so she decided to reward him. After all she had already stolen one of his jackets tonight. "I enjoyed the dancing more but this is... expected. She's your friend."

She hooked her fingers through the loop in his trousers, tugging him close to her.

[itwas_perfect]

When they'd read the posting, Nina had smiled along with Lily, she'd given her congratulations, she'd agreed to the party, but deep in her gut, she'd felt a tug of worry. Of disbelief. Not because she'd been given what was, undeniably, the lesser role of the two -- the female lead would always be considered the headliner, when it came to ballet -- but because she'd been given the masculine role. The prince.

She'd never been accused of exuding masculine energy in her life.

The director had explained how the adaptation would work, how the dance would change to accommodate two women, but that didn't change the fact that she'd be expected to portray a kind of strength that had never been asked of her.

And there was something else, something nagging at the back of her mind. Something she couldn't put a name to, but it left her jittery and scattered, the world around her closing in, suffocating so much of the progress she'd made over the last years.

In the apartment, Nina grabbed a drink. She hadn't eaten all day, but she couldn't stomach the idea of food. Smiling and accepting a few congratulations, she weaved through the apartment, pointedly refusing to seek out Lily's familiar shape in the small crowd.

[notfaking_it]

Lily was moving through the crowd as well, greeting people, stopping to speak with them now and then, but she was looking for Nina. She had a drink in one hand and when she finally spotted Nina, she moved in that direction, slipping up beside her, a smile curving her lips.

"Tell me you invited some people," she said, tipping her head closer to Nina's to be heard over the conversation and the music playing. She was excited for their roles, excited more for Nina than she was for herself. She'd danced Sleeping Beauty before, but to play the Prince would be a challenge, an experience not a lot of dancers were given.

[itwas_perfect]

"Um, I might've mentioned it to Eduardo?" she said, sounding unsure of herself. She'd never thrown a party, in her life. For the gala to announce her debut as the Swan Queen, she'd come on her own. Without even her mother. It wasn't until she'd arrived that she realized the other dancers in the company seemed to have invited dates.

"I... still don't know that many people, I guess."

[wipeawaythedebt]

This isn't, in any shape, way or form, his kind of shindig, but Lily, one of the first people he'd met here, had a demanding kind of way about her. That, and he couldn't figure out a way to respond to the message she'd sent him on his phone to give an excuse. He at least pretends to be a gentleman most of the time, at least with women, so leaving one of those messages just didn't seem... proper.

So now, he's here, standing in the back with a drink in his hand. He doesn't know the music, only barely recognizes most of the food, and he doesn't know a damn person other than the hostess. Why did he think this is a good idea again?

[notfaking_it]

Lily has invited plenty of people to the party with the expectation that many of them won't come. She knows that not everyone's schedule will work or that some people just prefer not to attend certain parties and she's fine with that. But of all the people she invited, she's most surprised to see Booker.

"To be honest, I wasn't sure you'd figure out my message," she says when she arrives at his elbow, a drink in her hand. She's teasing, but only partly. "I'm glad you were able to come."

[wipeawaythedebt]

"Saw the message, couldn't figure out how to respond to it." The technology of this place is impressive but a pain in the ass. Still, maybe tonight won't be a total loss. Isn't his crowd, but the alcohol's free.

"Besides, I try not to disappoint pretty ladies. I hear congratulations are in order?"

[itwas_perfect]

While still sober, she hadn't taken Lily's suggestion to go and talk to him very seriously. Now, less than sober, she slipped her way through the crowd, with a focused confidence that only seemed to come at times like these.

"Hi, I'm Nina. Lily's friend," she said, one small hand resting on his arm.

[wipeawaythedebt]

"Well, then, hello Nina Lily's Friend. I'm Booker." He feels warm, the alcohol's finally kicking in, which is good. Maybe not too good, he'll ahve to watch how much he drinks tonight in case Elizabeth's still up when he gets back. Or maybe she'll be down at her place.

Doesn't like the fact that she's all alone down there, but he hasn't figured out a way to get her to move in with him without her throwing another book at him.

[molokovcocktail]

Molokov didn't believe in heaven, not really, but if he did - attending a party where he was surrounded by beautiful dancers would certainly be an acceptable one and he couldn't help but smile as he surveyed the crowd. This was a lovely gathering and he was delighted to have been invited.

He wasn't sure he approved of the change to the casting but he had to admit that it was a novel twist. People would surely come to see how it would be done, if nothing else. What Nina would make of the role, he didn't know but he was looking forward to her presentation.

In the meantime, he sipped at his glass and took in the scene. No work tonight, this was all strictly for pleasure.

[fatherslove]

Delta still wasn't entirely sure what to do at parties, and now and then he would still get flashes of that awful New Year's, though more and more it receded and didn't make itself felt. But there was still that lingering awkwardness, that feeling of being physically too big for the space he was in.

But Lily had invited him and even if he hadn't wanted to say yes - and he had wanted to say yes - it would have seemed rude to refuse. So he was there, and he actually had a drink in his hand, and even if he felt awkward he was determined to not let it get in the way of a good time.

[notfaking_it]

When she had invited him, she was sure he would come, even if he wasn't interested. It was presumptuous, maybe, but she'd still been sure, and there he was, a drink in hand. Smiling, Lily crossed the room to where he stood, laying her hand on his arm and then rising up on her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. She'd greeted others the same way, she was affectionate with her friends, but seeing Delta was different, even if she wasn't entirely ready to acknowledge that.

"Hi," she said, smiling at him. "I'm glad you came."

[fatherslove]

He wasn't surprised at the kiss, not this time, and enjoyed it simply for what it was, smiling. "Thank you for inviting me." He looked around the room, mostly full of faces he didn't know, but that was all right too. "I don't go to many parties. I'm glad I came, too."

Even though the primary reason why was standing right in front of him.

[itwas_perfect]

After a brief refusal, Nina had taken the pill Lily had pressed into her palm, swallowing it with the last of her champagne. That had only been a few minutes ago, and she had maybe a half hour before it really hit, but she forced herself not to spend those thirty minutes hiding, however much she might've wanted to.

It was crowded in Lily's little apartment, and she'd collided with a broad shoulder in her attempt to squeeze through a narrow space between him and a bookcase.

"Sorry, I'm sorry," she said, smiling sheepishly. "Hi."

[fatherslove]

People bumping into him only made him feel larger, more awkward, and he was also looking faintly sheepish as he turned and returned her smile. "It's all right. There isn't a lot of room." Then he remembered her talking to Lily before, and she was familiar in some other way, though he didn't know who she was. And should probably fix that.

"I'm Delta," he added. "Hello."

[hiptobesquare]

There aren't artfully arranged hors d'oeuvres on silver serving platters, crystal punch bowls with matching goblets and champagne flutes. There aren't place cards, and I can bet with full confidence that the hostess hasn't prepared a script for appropriate party topics to bring up during lulls in the conversation. This isn't one of Evelyn's parties, like the dozens of parties the wealthy young Manhattan socialites throw in their lavish uptown apartments.

It's... casual. The whole place has a bohemian feel. It's fitting, for a girl like Lily, and I'm horrified, from the moment I step through the door, that I might've overdressed in my charcoal Hugo Boss.

But I crack open the bottle of J&B I brought, as a gift that I'll most likely consume in its entirety, and by the time I've had a drink and had time for the Valium I took earlier to kick in, I'm feeling better about the night already.

[notfaking_it]

It's already a little later in the evening when Lily sees Patrick, slipping between two other dancers on her way back to the kitchen for another drink. Her cheeks are flushed, the apartment is warm despite the open windows, and she's a little drunk, though she's only given out one pill tonight, only to Nina. Somewhere, she hopes she's making good use of it, talking to someone, mingling at least a little.

"Hi," she says to Patrick, lifting her glass and gesturing toward the kitchen. "Do you need a refill? I'm heading that way."

[hiptobesquare]

"Lily, hi. I'm good," I say, showing her my recently refilled glass. As usual, she looks sexy, in that sly, knowing sort of way she has. The apartment is packed with young women with lithe, athletic bodies, but she manages to stand out among them.

"I like the apartment. It's very... you."

[wishesandsmoke]

It isn't a party Eden could miss. She's never met Nina, though she's seen her before, and she's decidedly curious. But more than that, she has to be here to celebrate Lily's getting such a good role. Her own attempts to get on the stage and act have been met with very little success, but she can't even bring herself to be a little jealous. Even if they weren't in such different categories, the fact would remain that Lily has a talent for dance that she doesn't possess for acting, and she's thrilled for her.

There are a few familiar faces, she notes as she enters the room, and she's grateful for that. She can get along fine in a room full of strangers, but sometimes this is just more fun.

[notfaking_it]

"Hi," Lily says when she appears behind Eden, her own drink long since abandoned, but two new drinks held in her hands. "I wasn't sure what you might want, so I have some kind of fruit punch or lemonade." Both are alcohol free, which she hopes she doesn't have to say and she holds them out toward Eden, giving her the option to choose either.

Anyone else, she thinks, she might be trying to sabotage this. She might try to get her drunk or convince her that one drink wouldn't be the end of the world. It's cruel and she knows it, but she wouldn't do that to Eden. She's more important than that.