Lisa Goldheart
&
Lhoren Ashdale
Day 1
◈ Time: Evening
◈ Weather: Light Rain
◈Location: Main Ballroom
◈ Participants: Lisa Goldheart
@Frettzo, Lhoren Ashdale
@Silver Carrot
Lisas’s eyes, glazed over, half-lidded purely out of the sinking feeling in her gut and chest, suddenly brightened up. She blinked and rubbed her eyes before looking back at the guy in front of her. He was wearing a hand-me-down suit, probably his grandfather’s considering the length of the coat. What had caught her attention so suddenly though, was that he was no longer blabbering about six-packs or crushed watermelons, and had finally shut his mouth.
The pale, skinny, freckled guy smiled nervously at her, perhaps feeling a sudden wave of confidence at what to him no doubt looked like Lisa’s approval of his barely-rehearsed pick-up lines.
That smile vanished nearly as quickly as it appeared.
“Got it out of your system? Good.” Lisa said and pointed at his group of friends with her eyes.
“S-So… Wanna hang out with me sometime?”
Lisa raised an eyebrow and leaned as close as she could towards the guy’s face before he started to inch away.
“And do what?”The guy stuttered, face flushed, and he quickly began to nervously twiddle his thumbs, “... Homework?” He asked hopefully.
“No.” Lisa rolled her eyes, crossed her arms and leaned back.
“I don’t get it. You saw the other six guys get shot down. You can see I’m pissed off. I even told you to go away with my eyes. Why would you still approach me with a ridiculous pick-up line involving my thighs and a watermelon farmer’s nightmare? Go back to your boyfriends, don’t talk to me unless you got something real to say.”The guy practically shook in his badly-maintained leather shoes, ran his hands through his hair, and then quickly walked out of the ballroom. Lisa cringed and rubbed her temples. She’d snapped a bit, she realised, but could she really be blamed? Before she could finish her thought however, yet
another guy began to approach her.
Is this hell? She thought to herself, was she being punished for something she did in a past life? As the guy walked closer and closer, she realised with dread that this one hadn’t even had a shower in probably the last five days. Why did she have to go through this kinda crap? Everyone else seemed to be enjoying themselves, talking to friends and getting ready for a long night of partying, everyone but her, because her best friend had ditched her to go hook up with some random girl.
”Hey, Lisa! Been looking for you!” Lhoren cheerfully exclaimed, seemingly having come out from nowhere but now suddenly by Lisa’s side. While she was talking, she sent a secondary message telepathically.
”You look like you needed a save.”Lhoren had been mingling so far and had been heading for the catering table when she had read the thoughts of embarrassment and resentment from all the boys Lisa shot down, and her own weariness at having to deal with them. The moment she picked up there was another one who seemed convinced he was going to have better luck, Lhoren had decided to step in before she even knew which direction the boy was in.
Lhoren was currently wearing a
white ballgown and
violet butterfly mask, and had preemptively shot down several attempts at lame pick up lines herself before a single word had even managed to have been uttered. The moment she heard them think the line as they approached her, she transmitted her own…constructive feedback into their heads before they had finished their approach. Most of them had taken the chance to play it off and pretend that they weren’t trying to approach Lhoren at all.
”Hey, there’s something over here you’ve got to see!” Lhoren added, gesturing discreetly with a head tilt to the other end of the food table and away from the thirsty pack of boys. Lhoren’s face never betrayed a thing.
“Oh! I see it, c’mon let’s go!” Lisa grabbed a hold of Lhoren’s hand and guided her as far away from the crowd as she could, not even trying to hide the relief on her face. When the two had finally escaped from the second circle of hell, Lisa turned around and gave Lhoren a quick hug.
“Lhoren! Thank you so much, you have no idea how long I would’ve been standing there if not for you. You’re more reliable than some other people I know, for sure.”Lhoren paused, then returned the hug. It took her by surprise that she could feel Lisa’s muscles through her dress, and she let go before Lisa did. Lhoren had purely platonic feelings for Lisa now, after getting to know her the past year. However, Lisa in gym wear played no small part in Lhoren realising she wasn’t entirely straight, back before they knew each other properly.
Lisa took a deep breath and released all the tension in her body when she exhaled, then disengaged the hug and rested her hands on Lhoren’s shoulders.
“You really saved me there. I might’ve actually had to hide somewhere at the rate things were going. So, how have you been? Overheard anything interesting since we last talked? You look great in that gown and mask, by the way, are you trying to impress someone?””Why, thank you! But I can throw that back at you,” Lhoren replied, smirking as she opened her eyes which had a cheeky glint in them.
”I don’t think you were trying to get people to think you look pretty in your dress either. As for overhearing anything interesting, you know I have. But I don’t tell other people’s secrets. Ashdale policy.”“Fair enough about the secrets. And yeah, I only dress like this ‘cause my parents hate it when I wear trousers to formal events. Say, d’you want to go for some fresh air? Being stuck inside with all these mouldy, damp thoughts must be stifling.” Lisa offered, finally stepping back from Lhoren’s space and clasping her hands in front of her abdomen in what could only be a half-assed attempt at looking like a Lady.
“I know a nice place with a ledge, and if we bring something to eat we can probably skip all the small talk bound to happen in events such as these.”Lhoren paused, looking deep in thought as she considered it, before she smiled again and shook her head.
”Sorry, the night’s still young and I’m still in the mood to socialise. I might take you up on that offer later though, so look out for me!”Lisa chuckled,
“Of course! I’ll be outside for a while, but you can come to me if you need help with anything.” Lisa gave Lhoren a thumbs up and started to make her way towards a side exit before abruptly stopping, loading up a plate with several pieces of food, and continuing walking away while waving at Lhoren.
“Thank you again for the save, by the way. I owe you one for sure.”Lhoren waved back until Lisa was out of sight, then started to walk away before remembering why she had come to the food table in the first place, rolling her eyes at herself, and returning to fill up her own plate.