the  lockdown  was  depressing  as  hell  .  a  curfew  ?  imposed  on

           harlowe’s  glad  to  see  some  lightheartedness  at  this  party  .  from  the  moment  they  stepped  in  ,  it  seemed  like  everyone  was  walking  on  eggshells  and  using  this  party  as  a  distraction  from  the  latest  vigilante  news  .  just  like  how  the  masked  killer  called  out  the  group’s  mannerisms  .  “  glad  to  know  that  you’re  one  of  the  few  i  can  count  on  to  agree  that  an  old  fashioned  isn’t  pretentious  ,  ”  laughter  expels  past  the  musician’s  lips  .  “  a  spicy  margarita  ,  i  hope  ?  that  would  DEFINITELY  get  mr.  flavortown’s  approval  .  ”

when bash sees harlowe smile, he's pleased with himself. if he even made one person smile with his silly goofy costume, mission accomplished. that was his entire thought process when picking out a costume. not if he'd look hot but if he'd make people smile. he smiles back at them and replies, "it doesn't sound pretentious to me at all." he picks up his drink and adds, "i'm having a margarita. i think mr. flavortown would approve."

           “  in  my  defense  …  ”  harlowe  starts  ,  holding  their  hand  up  .  “  i  think  we  suck  at  deciding  .  and  would  you  really  want  me  showing  you  up  like  that  ?  picture  this  ––  me  as  maverick  .  you  as  goose  .  i  think  you’d  make  a  great  goose  ,  ”  they’ll  jest  ,  fondly  rolling  their  eyes  at  him  .  “  but  ugh  ,  the  satire  is  so  LOST  on  you  .  the  movie  is  a  feminist  masterpiece  and  a  lot  of  men  just  miss  the  point  .  maybe  i’ll  reference  it  in  my  next  music  video  .  it’d  be  pretty  iconic  of  me  .  ”

" yeah, harlowe, why didn't you wanna match me ? " matty whined, crossing his arms over his chest dramatically, a phony but patronizing pout on his lips. " i can't believe you chose to be a misogynist, a woman-murderer, a white man . . . over my twin. "

i hope everything reminds you of me. not as a blessing, as a curse.

KAYA SCODELARIO as SUSIE GLASS THE GENTLEMEN (2024) 1.06 All Eventualities

TAG  DROP  ––  nalini  kumar

「   ♡   」        interactions.     ↻     𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗄𝗎𝗆𝖺𝗋.

「   ♡   」        visage.     ↻     𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗄𝗎𝗆𝖺𝗋.

「   ♡   」        prose.     ↻     𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗄𝗎𝗆𝖺𝗋.

「   ♡   」        headcanons.     ↻     𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗄𝗎𝗆𝖺𝗋.

「   ♡   」        edits.     ↻     𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗄𝗎𝗆𝖺𝗋.

「   ♡   」        starters.     ↻     𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗄𝗎𝗆𝖺𝗋.

「   ♡   」        answered.     ↻     𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗄𝗎𝗆𝖺𝗋.

「   ♡   」        task.     ↻     𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗄𝗎𝗆𝖺𝗋.

「   ♡   」        ask meme.     ↻     𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗄𝗎𝗆𝖺𝗋.

           “  well  i  guess  you  can’t  say  that  there  aren’t  people  who  don’t  care  about  you  if  they’re  texting  you  ‘  stay  safe  ’  .  no  matter  how  fake  it  sounds  ,  ”  nalini  lightly  jests  ,  in  an  attempt  to  at  least  lighten  the  mood  .  is  she  scared  about  vigilante  striking  again  ?  yes  .  but  what  are  the  chances  that  she’s  high  up  on  the  killer’s  list  ?  that’s  something  nalini  doesn’t  want  to  take  a  gamble  on  .  but  she  supposes  that  she’s  not  that  high  up  on  his  list  .  call  it  a  coping  mechanism  .  “  i  wouldn’t  put  it  past  vigilante  to  start  bugging  our  homes  .  at  the  very  least  ,  he’s  hiding  in  someone’s  bushes  .  maybe  he  rotates  every  night  .  ”  it  comes  off  as  if  she’s  joking  but  again  …  coping  mechanism  !  “  i  think  i  might  bail  before  midnight  .  haven’t  decided  yet  .  what  about  you  ?  ”

𝑻𝑨𝑮𝑮𝑰𝑵𝑮   ﹕           open   .

               eyes   flick   to   her   phone   ,     another   sigh   slipping   past   lips   .     the   screen   barely   dims   before   she   stuffs   it   back   into   her   pocket   .               “         i   swear   ,     if   one   more   person   texts   me   to   ‘   stay   safe   ’    tonight   ,     i’m   gonna    throw   this   thing   at   whoever   looks   at   me   funny   next   .     i   mean   ,   come   on    —   they’re   acting   like   the   psycho   has   been   crouched   in   the   bushes   all   night   just   waiting   for   me   to   step   outside   .     sure   ,     okay   .          ”               shrugs   ,     like   it’s   all   a   joke   .     (   call   it   selective   ignorance   ,     but   noah   simply   doesn’t   expect   to   be   that   high   on   the   vigilante’s   hit   list   .     sure   ,     there’s   always   a   risk   ,     but   that’s   half   the   point   of   showing   up   ,     right   ?     prove   that   she’s   as   unfazed   as   she   looks   —   keep   up   appearances   )   .               “       guess   that’s   the   whole   plan   ,     have   us   all   living   in   panic   mode   ,     having   us   each   thinking   we’re   next   .     anyway   ,     you   sticking   around   to   tempt   fate   ,     or   bailing   before   midnight   like   one   of   the   smart   ones   ?       ”

           despite  now  running  in  the  same  circles  ,  it  never  ceases  to  amuse  harlowe  just  how  much  of  a  fan  ace  is  of  their  music  .  don’t  get  them  wrong  !  it’s  nice  and  they’re  grateful  .  but  they’re  going  with  the  assumption  that  it’ll  take  a  bit  more  time  for  him  to  adjust  so  they’re  sure  the  giddiness  will  pass  eventually  .  “  it’s  like  the  cinderella  effect  or  something  .  but  i  gotta  say  ,  i’m  a  little  disappointed  .  thought  they’d  hold  out  for  another  hour  ,  y’know  ?  feels  like  1AM  kinda  behavior  .  ”  eyes  will  playfully  roll  at  his  comment  .  “  who  me  ?  and  take  that  honor  away  from  you  ?  ”  they’ll  jest  .  “  i’m  just  saying  that  the  rando  probably  will  have  done  something  to  deserve  it  .  what  do  you  take  me  for  ?  just  because  i’m  a  rockstar  doesn’t  mean  i’m  completely  uncivilized  .  ”  and  perhaps  that’s  why  they  took  to  him  so  quickly  .  nothing  forms  a  bond  quicker  than  knocking  a  jerk  flat  out  .  “  but  i  am  thinking  of  getting  outta  here  soon  .  maybe  grab  a  bite  at  in-n-out  or  something  .  could  go  for  a  burger  honestly  .  you  in  ?  ”

               shifts   his   weight   ,     hand   shooting   out   instinctively   to   land   firm   but   gentle   on   harlowe’s   shoulder   ,     steadying   them   before   they   get   shoved   deeper   into   the   crowd   .          “       nah   ,     i’m   good   .     drink’s   safe   .       ”          and   shakes   his   head   with   a   slight   grin   ,     playing   it   cool   —   even   if   inside   ,     he’s   a   little   giddy   .     (   i   mean   ,     it’s   not   every   day   your   favorite   musician   turns   around   and   checks   on   you   ,     you   know   ?   )   .          “       but   you   might   be   right   about   leaving   early   .     midnight   hit   ,     and   they   all   turned   into   animals   ,     swear   to   god   .     i   mean   ,     could   stick   around   ,     but   i   dunno   …     wouldn’t   wanna   risk   you   takin’   someone   down   tonight   .     can’t   have   you   going   viral   twice   for   knockin’    out   some   rando   ,     can   we   ?          ”          lips   pull   into   a   teasing   grin   .     (   they’re   kind   of   alike   in   that   way   —   both   the   type   to   throw   fists   at   the   right   kind   of   jerk   who   deserves   it   .     and   by   the   looks   of   tonight’s   crowd   ,     it   might   just   come   to   that   if   they   hang   around   any   longer   )   .

I simply do not vibe with my father

           a  small  grin  surfaces  as  she  shakes  her  head  .  “  unfortunately  not  !  just  maybe  one  or  two  dying  to  catch  a  glimpse  as  they  hang  out  in  front  of  my  store  .  ”  nalini  will  playfully  wink  .  hands  move  up  to  place  over  her  chest  at  val’s  admission  .  for  there’s  truly  nothing  more  satisfying  than  to  see  someone’s  reaction  to  her  compliments  .  “  well  you  shouldn’t  have  said  that  val  ,  now  i’ll  have  to  make  it  my  mission  to  throw  out  a  compliment  every  time  i  see  you  .  and  that’s  a  promise  !  ”  laughter  expels  past  the  designer’s  lips  .  what  ?  she  can’t  help  it  .  “  oh  life  …  ”  she  starts  ,  blowing  out  a  breath  of  air  .  “  i  mean  nothing  new  .  all  i  do  is  work  .  attend  the  obligatory  social  gatherings  .  honestly  val  ,  my  life  is  boring  .  it  just  revolves  around  fashion  week  and  the  met  gala  .  and  what  about  you  ?  the  musician  life  has  got  to  be  FAR  more  interesting  .  ”

         her lips turn upwards involuntarily , without a second thought . and god , how she loved anybody who wasn't a man ! ' oh , come on , i don't believe that . surely you've got the longest line of suitors waiting for their chance to even catch a glimpse . ' a small suck of her teeth , disbelief , came out . val's head will tilt to the side slightly , eyes lighting up - the quickest way to her heart is through her looks ! ' you know , i would never lie to you , so yes i've been told quite a few similar things , but just between you and i ... i like it much better coming from you . ' reign it back in , girl ! ' now tell me ... how's life been treating you these days ? '

           they  barely  get  a  chance  to  glance  up  from  their  sketchpad  before  the  other  is  seated  across  from  them  .  “  that’s  the  paparazzi  for  you  ,  ”  nalini  comments  with  a  light  chuckle  .  “  i’d  like  to  think  i’m  a  little  too  boring  for  them  but  who  knows  ?  ”  they’ll  admit  .  but  then  again  ,  nalini  is  nothing  if  not  strategic  about  how  they  position  themselves  in  the  public  .  “  i  heard  there’s  a  trick  where  if  you  wear  the  same  clothes  everyday  ––  or  at  least  the  same  outerwear  ,  they  can’t  profit  off  any  of  the  photos  they  take  .  ”

·   open   starter   ,   assume   connections   ! ·   located   at   the   sweet   beverly   cafe   .

                 “   is   anyone   else   sitting   here   ?   ”   doesn't   wait   for   an   answer   as   she   extends   the   chair   ,   adjusting   herself   comfortably   while   setting   her   matcha   latte   upon   the   table   .   “   you're   a   breath   of   fresh   air   —   the   paparazzi   outside   were   about   to   drive   me   nuts   .   ”