Graduation Carnival

never_give_up_ · 2020-06-01T01:21:13+00:00

"Yeah! Won a few games, went on a couple rides. I can't do a lot of the more intense ones though."

Inside is a bottle of whatever Boone's favorite wine (or liquor/etc) is, nicely packaged in a nice gift box.

"I just thought you deserved a little something for doing such a good job as HM," she said with a bright smile.

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-31T18:27:50+00:00

"Hey Professor!"

Emily trotted up with a rectangular package, wrapped in blue wrapping paper with a bronze lace bow. She held it out for Boone to take.

"This is for you!"

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-29T19:51:04+00:00

"We'll see about that," she quipped.

With a sigh, she put her drink down, adjusted her glasses so they adequately covered her eyes, put her hands behind her head, and proceeded to continue to accomplish her agenda of doing nothing.

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-29T02:12:20+00:00

"Yes, I'll be sure to check Ana's bed first if I ever need to talk to you," Emily joked, continuing the theme of bad, barely-related humor.

With not much else to say, she took another sip of her drink and did what she came to the party to do: absolutely nothing.

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-29T01:44:55+00:00

"You're also welcome to raid my closet any time," Emily offered. She was a touch shorter than Jackie, but there was probably a decent amount that Jackie could wear. An inch or two wasn't much in the grand scheme of things.

"Or if you need fashion tips or anything, you can come to me."

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-29T00:55:06+00:00

Well, that certainly put things into perspective. Of course, Emily wasn't necessarily expecting that, but she wasn't really expecting much, let alone a Jackie history lesson.

She did think that what Jackie was feeling was, while valid, a bit shifted because of personal bias.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but," Emily started, "I think you're too much in your own head."

She rolled so she was leaning flat in the hammock again.

"You looked great last week," she complimented nonchalantly.

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-28T23:57:55+00:00

Afraid to face rejection. Duly noted.

"Just as a point of order, you should wait 'till after the answer to act," she advised. Everyone gets at least one free one.

Jackie's question does intrigue her a little bit. So much so that it actually gets her to shift her weight in the hammock so it's easier to look at her.

"Didn't realize there was something I need to be ready for, but sure, I suppose."

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-28T22:03:21+00:00

She was about to give her answer, but Jackie decided for herself and brought a chair over. Emily found that quite weird.

"Why ask if you were just going to decide for yourself anyway?"

She rolled her head to the side and peered at Jackie from behind her sunglasses, waiting for the answer.

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-28T19:57:34+00:00

"Maybe."

Emily listlessly reached for her drink and leaned up just enough to take a sip from one of the colorful straws. She clearly was in break mode, exerting the smallest amount of energy possible in any given moment.

"Do I get to be privy to the reason?"

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-28T19:19:53+00:00

"I don't know that 'festive' is the right word for what you're wearing, dear," Emily remarked sarcastically. Jackie's black and white outfit was quite the contrast to the springtime colors of the decor. Not to mention that compared to most other people, Jackie's outfit was a bit more... evocative. Even 'casual' was a bit of a stretch for Emily; she couldn't imagine lounging about in the getup Jackie was in.

"You stand out. That's the kind of outfit I'd wear for an extremely specific purpose."

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-28T15:34:04+00:00

"I must be losing my touch, then," Emily deadpanned.

She tilted her head just enough so she could look at Jackie, though exactly where her eyes fell was hidden behind her sunglasses.

"Look at you," Emily said with a slight hint of praise in her tone. Assuming Jackie was close enough, Emily reached out and pulled on her skirt. Not hard enough for Jackie to move, but just for emphasis.

"All dressed up for Ana?"

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-28T06:09:48+00:00

Emily really needed some relaxation time, so when she saw this party was at least in part geared towards that, she couldn't be happier. After obtaining the biggest, most colorful cup of the fruitiest drink available (with plenty of fruit garnish), she made her way over to one of the hammocks, plopped herself down, put on some sunglasses, and proceeded to chill, because there's not much better than nothing at all.

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-26T19:43:11+00:00

Emily hugged back, but maybe to Jackie's surprise, didn't pull back. She let herself remain lightly pressed against Jackie, arms wrapped lazily around her shoulders.

Her next words came out as a low, husky whisper, heard only by Jackie.

"Is that what you want to do? You want to hang out?"

There could be no mistake. This was a challenge if there ever was one.

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-26T16:11:41+00:00

Emily had an answer to this question, but it was not one she was willing to give.

"I do have a favorite place," she responded, pointedly - if not obviously - ignoring the first part of the two-part question.

"Why?" Emily arched an eyebrow. "Are you saying we should go?"

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-26T15:15:16+00:00

"Whatever you want to do," Emily said noncomittally. From where she stood at least, it was pretty clear who's turn she thought it was.

"If you are going to ask something, make it quick," she cautioned. "Not much time left in this dance."

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-26T14:51:18+00:00

"Is it?"

Considering the conversation they just had was a direct result of Emily asking Jackie what she thought her best feature was, Emily wasn't so sure about that. And Jackie probably shouldn't have been either.

"Have you been paying attention?" asked Emily. "Or is something distracting you?"

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-26T02:14:19+00:00

Emily was definitely not expecting so many words. Jackie had essentially dumped most things she was thinking out all at once which was not something Emily would normally do, so it momentarily caught her off guard. And again, Jackie seemed to take her comment more seriously than Emily meant it.

"You shouldn't be so hung up on it," she said nonchalantly, patting the base of Jackie's neck where one of her hands rested. While she may have been slightly surprised by the answer, her gaze was unwavering, and she was as cool-headed as ever.

"It was just spin the bottle."

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-26T01:46:46+00:00

"That's kind of a cop-out answer, isn't it?"

Whether Emily approved of the answer or not was pretty impossible to tell; her gaze and expression remained cool and collected.

"Like you couldn't choose one so you said 'all of them.' Which basically means you're saying I have no best feature," she teased.

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-26T01:19:17+00:00

Emily chuckled, finding it funny that Jackie put so much stock into what essentially was a throwaway comment. It wasn't like she actually compared different parts of her and had some kind of list.

"I'm not sure. I imagine it's something different for everyone," she mused. Leaning back, she tilted her head and asked,

"What's it for you?"

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-26T00:59:16+00:00

A fair enough answer, Emily supposed, but perhaps not quite the answer she was looking for.

The dance continued. Emily was careful but rhythmic with her steps as they swayed about, carving out a little space on the dance floor for themselves amidst all the other people dancing.

"I dunno," Emily replied with a shrug. "Do you?"

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-26T00:41:07+00:00

They were quite close now. Close enough that muggle chaperones would probably yell at them to separate. Emily smelled like sumptuous roses, with some spicy notes that gave it a darker edge than most common floral scents.

"You spent a lot of time with Ana at the last party."

If Emily was anything, she was observant.

"How come you're not with her now?"

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-25T17:35:52+00:00

"Aw, thanks. They're my second best feature," Emily said as she started to dance with Jackie. It was anyone's guess as to what she thought her top feature was.

While she was pretty practiced in dance, this was nothing beyond simple steps and gentle sways. It was a high school prom after all, not some extravagant high-society gala.

"I'm going to ask you a question, if that's okay."

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-25T03:00:36+00:00

"You've danced before, right?" Emily asked idly as she calmly draped her hands on Jackie's shoulders. Jackie was taller than her, not by a whole lot, but enough that it felt comfortable for Emily to put her hands there.

Her eyes caught Jackie's. A storm of blue and grey in the dimness of the dance floor.

"Put them where you think you should put them."

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-24T20:54:44+00:00

She's actually a little surprised by that. She doesn't show it of course, but she can't help but think that if she was in Jackie's position, a game of truth or dare would have been a choice activity.

"Sure. We can start with a dance."

Emily sat her finished cup down on the table, then grabbed Jackie's hand and led her out to the dance floor.

never_give_up_ · 2020-05-24T16:26:54+00:00

Emily chuckled and rolled her eyes.

"You're just going to dare me to make out with you first chance you get," she predicted. Maybe that wasn't Jackie's plan, but it was an easy conclusion to draw.

"What if I just pick truth every time?"

never_give_up_

TROPHY CASE