Wasn't it a little early in the evening to be pulling Queen out already?
Cristo didn't dislike Queen or "Bohemian Rhapsody", not at all. But it had always struck him as more of a finale song than something you just played in the middle of an event like this. From where he was loitering by the refreshment table, he could see some people singing along though, so he supposed it wasn't that big a deal as long as someone was enjoying themselves. He was also relieved that the playlist wasn't just going to be twenty Taylor Swift songs on a loop or something equally safe and silly like that. Not that he hated Taylor Swift either, but his preferences tended to fall outside of pop and love songs.
He hadn't even planned on going to the dance until Abby half-begged, half-bullied him into tagging along with her and Jasper (as if anything she ever did could genuinely be considered bullying). Crowds were absolutely not his thing, but he always had a good time with Abby and Jasper was nice, and nobody was forcing him to mingle. Maybe if someone asked, he'd go and dance for a few songs. For now, he was going to hang out in his corner with the UFO decals and sip his lemonade.
He wouldn't say he was bored, or anxious, but he wasn't particularly having fun yet. The gym was too dimly lit to afford a real view of the so-called dance floor, and there was little else to hold his attention so far without him hovering around Abby and Jasper.
Bohemian Purgatory
you're required to have the song stuck in your head to join
Bohemian Purgatory
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
((Alessio Rigano continued from My Freeze Ray))
Alessio wasn't the Alessio who went to school anymore. He was a man who was dressed in a suit. It didn't fit perfectly, but he now certainly looked better than he usually looked in school. But who did he make himself more viewable for?
Currently, he saw nobody. Walking through the dance floor he smiled to the people who noticed him and greeted them back when they did.
He arrived at the bar and stood in front of the refreshment table to get something to eat, in a place near Cristo. Al couldn't dance. He would accidently hit the feet or faces of other people. But he was glad he came nonetheless. Smiling at Cristo, he also greeted him with a smile.
"Hey."
Then, he took something out of the refreshment table to shove it into his mouth.
Alessio wasn't the Alessio who went to school anymore. He was a man who was dressed in a suit. It didn't fit perfectly, but he now certainly looked better than he usually looked in school. But who did he make himself more viewable for?
Currently, he saw nobody. Walking through the dance floor he smiled to the people who noticed him and greeted them back when they did.
He arrived at the bar and stood in front of the refreshment table to get something to eat, in a place near Cristo. Al couldn't dance. He would accidently hit the feet or faces of other people. But he was glad he came nonetheless. Smiling at Cristo, he also greeted him with a smile.
"Hey."
Then, he took something out of the refreshment table to shove it into his mouth.
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"Mama... just killed a man..."
Rene hummed along to the song as she checked out the refreshment table. The spread actually wasn't too bad, to her surprise. She thought that there would just be some little cocktail weenies, cookies, and the stereotypical punch bowl. All of those were there, of course, but there were also some tiny finger sandwiches, cheese cubes, and other assorted goodies, primarily desserts. Nothing five-star, but far better than what she had expected. Apparently the staff were really going all-out to try to make them feel like royalty tonight.
Well, except for the ugly-as-all-hell star-print tablecloth, but she supposed that she could let that slide.
Once she felt like she had a good take on her tiny plastic plate, Rene scanned the area. People were still trickling in through the doors, and little groups were already forming outside of the dance floor. The dance floor itself was more of an amorphous mass, with people moving in and out, dancing and singing all the while. Basically, they were acting like rowdy teenagers at a dance, which, seeing as that was what they were, was rather unsurprising.
Rene didn't really feel like dancing. Hell, she didn't really feel like sticking around for that long anyway. She was only there to see what was going on before heading to Junko's party. Even though she didn't really care much about the dance, she at least wanted to see what it was like.
Plus, at least they were playing Queen. Looks like someone on the planning committee had taste.
Rene looked out into the crowd and decided to strike up a conversation with the two guys nearest to her, so she'd at least have something to do for the next couple minutes.
"Hey. Pretty exiting event, huh?"
Her words were laced with sarcasm, naturally.
Rene hummed along to the song as she checked out the refreshment table. The spread actually wasn't too bad, to her surprise. She thought that there would just be some little cocktail weenies, cookies, and the stereotypical punch bowl. All of those were there, of course, but there were also some tiny finger sandwiches, cheese cubes, and other assorted goodies, primarily desserts. Nothing five-star, but far better than what she had expected. Apparently the staff were really going all-out to try to make them feel like royalty tonight.
Well, except for the ugly-as-all-hell star-print tablecloth, but she supposed that she could let that slide.
Once she felt like she had a good take on her tiny plastic plate, Rene scanned the area. People were still trickling in through the doors, and little groups were already forming outside of the dance floor. The dance floor itself was more of an amorphous mass, with people moving in and out, dancing and singing all the while. Basically, they were acting like rowdy teenagers at a dance, which, seeing as that was what they were, was rather unsurprising.
Rene didn't really feel like dancing. Hell, she didn't really feel like sticking around for that long anyway. She was only there to see what was going on before heading to Junko's party. Even though she didn't really care much about the dance, she at least wanted to see what it was like.
Plus, at least they were playing Queen. Looks like someone on the planning committee had taste.
Rene looked out into the crowd and decided to strike up a conversation with the two guys nearest to her, so she'd at least have something to do for the next couple minutes.
"Hey. Pretty exiting event, huh?"
Her words were laced with sarcasm, naturally.
"...Hey, Alessio." Cristóbal wasn't sure what other response he was supposed to have given, since Alessio immediately started stuffing his face as soon as he greeted him. He was smiling, but didn't seem particularly happy. Cristo had to wonder if his date situation or lack thereof had turned out badly before the dance.
His little corner was quickly getting more crowded, as a senior girl strolled up to them soon after. She didn't seem too enthusiastic about the dance either, judging by her tone. Cristo couldn't claim at all that he had been super excited to go, but at least he was trying to enjoy himself while he was here. Why would you show up to an event that you had no investment in at all? He was here with friends, after all, even if he didn't have a date.
"It's not bad," he said, taking another sip of lemonade. "I'm not so sure about the theme, though..."
His little corner was quickly getting more crowded, as a senior girl strolled up to them soon after. She didn't seem too enthusiastic about the dance either, judging by her tone. Cristo couldn't claim at all that he had been super excited to go, but at least he was trying to enjoy himself while he was here. Why would you show up to an event that you had no investment in at all? He was here with friends, after all, even if he didn't have a date.
"It's not bad," he said, taking another sip of lemonade. "I'm not so sure about the theme, though..."
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
Alessio nodded when Rene stated that this was exciting. It wasn't, but he could pretend it was. So he nodded with a smile and a 'hm', not noticing the sarcasm.
Eating stuff was addictive. He continued eating some more snacks. Maybe he should stop. Okay, last one.
No more food he wanted to grab. He should engage with Cristo and Rene. Do something for the evening. This was an opportunity to speak, chat to people instead of just being lonely at the dance and being bored. It was funny, how there were center and corner people on this party. Cristo was a corner person, Al was one. But Rene? Rene wasn't one, but still was in the corner, nonetheless. So that doesn't have to mean anything.
Vanessa. She was a center one. She'd be in the center of the room.
And Cristo was talking about the theme. What does Alessio have to say about the theme? Space. Nothing. He had nothing to say, really.
Alessio then changed from looking at the other two corner people to looking to the center of the gym. He could see people, recognise some. But not the person he wanted to see.
Eating stuff was addictive. He continued eating some more snacks. Maybe he should stop. Okay, last one.
No more food he wanted to grab. He should engage with Cristo and Rene. Do something for the evening. This was an opportunity to speak, chat to people instead of just being lonely at the dance and being bored. It was funny, how there were center and corner people on this party. Cristo was a corner person, Al was one. But Rene? Rene wasn't one, but still was in the corner, nonetheless. So that doesn't have to mean anything.
Vanessa. She was a center one. She'd be in the center of the room.
And Cristo was talking about the theme. What does Alessio have to say about the theme? Space. Nothing. He had nothing to say, really.
Alessio then changed from looking at the other two corner people to looking to the center of the gym. He could see people, recognise some. But not the person he wanted to see.
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"Yeah, I hear that." Rene responded to Cristóbal, cradling a cube of colby jack in her fingertips. "It's like they went to Party City and grabbed the first things they saw on clearance. Haven't seen decorations like this since I was in third grade." She popped th cheese into her mouth, taking a moment to savor it before swallowing.
Yeah, they definitely spent a good slice of the budget on the food.
"So yeah, what are you guys up to?" She inquired. "Hanging around the refreshment table for easy access?" She reached over to the table and grabbed an olive from a platter to provide an example. "Wouldn't blame you. This stuff's not half bad."
Yeah, they definitely spent a good slice of the budget on the food.
"So yeah, what are you guys up to?" She inquired. "Hanging around the refreshment table for easy access?" She reached over to the table and grabbed an olive from a platter to provide an example. "Wouldn't blame you. This stuff's not half bad."
Cristo relaxed a bit when it became clear that Rene wasn't insistent on being too negative. He never knew how to react to people who just wanted to complain. "The snacks are pretty good, yeah." He plucked a cheese cube off of the plate to punctuate his point. Al was still lost in metaphorical space to go along with the dance's theme, it seemed. Definitely looking like a bad pre-dance encounter there.
"Were you, um... what about you?" He fumbled a question in Rene's direction. "I mean, besides enjoying the snacks and decor."
...Should he say something to Al? The faraway look in his eyes was sort of worrying.
"Were you, um... what about you?" He fumbled a question in Rene's direction. "I mean, besides enjoying the snacks and decor."
...Should he say something to Al? The faraway look in his eyes was sort of worrying.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
"And if thou gaze long into a crowd, the crowd will also gaze into thee." - Alriech Nietzschano
There was a blonde girl waving at...him? He looked around if there was anybody else she could have waved at for a reason. There did not seem to be. Why him? Al did not know, but he waved back nonetheless. This was weird. Maybe he should stop gazing at the dance floor.
Maybe he should stop looking for her. He did not see her face. Maybe she comes later. Maybe she is here and he will randomly encounter her during this evening. These kind of things always happen when you don't expect it.
Turning back to the refreshment table, he took another snack. He should talk to Rene and Cristo, so he looked at their mouths to get the context of what they were talking about. He put his hands into his pockets. No more eating.
The last thing he heard from the conversation was something about snacks and decoration. Snacks. He could say something about that.
"Ah yeah, the snacks are tasty."
There was a blonde girl waving at...him? He looked around if there was anybody else she could have waved at for a reason. There did not seem to be. Why him? Al did not know, but he waved back nonetheless. This was weird. Maybe he should stop gazing at the dance floor.
Maybe he should stop looking for her. He did not see her face. Maybe she comes later. Maybe she is here and he will randomly encounter her during this evening. These kind of things always happen when you don't expect it.
Turning back to the refreshment table, he took another snack. He should talk to Rene and Cristo, so he looked at their mouths to get the context of what they were talking about. He put his hands into his pockets. No more eating.
The last thing he heard from the conversation was something about snacks and decoration. Snacks. He could say something about that.
"Ah yeah, the snacks are tasty."
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"Who, me?" Rene asked as she rolled the olive between her fingers. "I'm just here to see what the dance looks like. I'm not really planning on sticking around." She dropped the olive onto her plate in order to have her hand free for gesturing. "Yeah, Junko's throwing a party tonight, so that's where I'm headed. I just thought that I might as well see what the school had set up before I went over there. Y'know, just to make sure they were spending my parents' tax dollars responsibly."
Rene picked up one of her finger sandwiches to examine it. Looked like turkey. Smelled like turkey. Probably was turkey. Still, there was only one way to find out for sure.
"So what's your story?" Rene asked Cristo back before engaging in the taste test. "Anything in particular bring you here tonight?"
Rene picked up one of her finger sandwiches to examine it. Looked like turkey. Smelled like turkey. Probably was turkey. Still, there was only one way to find out for sure.
"So what's your story?" Rene asked Cristo back before engaging in the taste test. "Anything in particular bring you here tonight?"
"Well, I-" Cristóbal cut himself off when sudden movement on the dance floor caught his eye. It looked like someone had fallen down, and he made a brief move away from the snack table as if to go lend a hand before the guy stood back up. Oh. Well. He seemed okay? Irene was over there, dancing around and clinging to the guy now, so it seemed she'd found a fitting date.
Hopefully they wouldn't hurt themselves, each other, or anybody around them. The possibility wasn't at all out of the question with Irene.
"Sorry," He sent one last glance at the scene on the dance floor before turning back to Rene. "I'm here with friends, but they went to dance."
Cristo glanced over at Alessio. He'd chimed back in but still seemed out of it. He could try to include Al in the conversation more, but maybe he just didn't really want to be bothered. It was difficult to gauge his mood with the dim lighting and Al mostly stuffing his face instead of talking. If Cristo's guess was right and Al had had a swing and miss with a date before the dance, he wasn't sure he wanted to dredge that up.
Hopefully they wouldn't hurt themselves, each other, or anybody around them. The possibility wasn't at all out of the question with Irene.
"Sorry," He sent one last glance at the scene on the dance floor before turning back to Rene. "I'm here with friends, but they went to dance."
Cristo glanced over at Alessio. He'd chimed back in but still seemed out of it. He could try to include Al in the conversation more, but maybe he just didn't really want to be bothered. It was difficult to gauge his mood with the dim lighting and Al mostly stuffing his face instead of talking. If Cristo's guess was right and Al had had a swing and miss with a date before the dance, he wasn't sure he wanted to dredge that up.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
From what Alessio could get from the conversation was that Rene came to the dance just to go away soon again. Yeah, he maybe should do that as well. Play games at home, maybe. Instead of just being here, unsure when to go. He had plenty of time he could waste here.
Alessio looked away from Rene and Cristo towards the dance floor again as something caught his eye.
Wait, that was Vanessa, wasn't it? Al thought he saw her in the crowd. It was her beautiful hair, her-
No, that wasn't her.
He looked back at Cristo and Rene. Something about friends.
Alessio looked away from Rene and Cristo towards the dance floor again as something caught his eye.
Wait, that was Vanessa, wasn't it? Al thought he saw her in the crowd. It was her beautiful hair, her-
No, that wasn't her.
He looked back at Cristo and Rene. Something about friends.
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Actually, maybe he should say something.
"Are, uh... are you doing alright, Alessio? You seem distracted." Distracted was a good way to put it, safer than "upset" or "bothered". It gave Al enough of an opportunity to dodge the real underlying question, if he really didn't want to talk about it.
Cristo speared another cheese cube with a toothpick while he waited for a reply. Not bad, really. He supposed more of the budget had gone to the DJ and the food than the decorations.
"Are, uh... are you doing alright, Alessio? You seem distracted." Distracted was a good way to put it, safer than "upset" or "bothered". It gave Al enough of an opportunity to dodge the real underlying question, if he really didn't want to talk about it.
Cristo speared another cheese cube with a toothpick while he waited for a reply. Not bad, really. He supposed more of the budget had gone to the DJ and the food than the decorations.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
"Huh? Yeah," he nodded. "I am alright, I am totally fine." Get a grip, Al. Stop staring in the crowd, awaiting her, look at Cristo instead. No need for eye contact, but at least concentrate.
Uh yeah, what to say? It was hard to not think about her.
Perhaps, distract with a song, with music. Not the song that was currently played on Sadie Hawkins, but one song in his head. A song that reminded him of Sadie Hawkins. Alessio did not hum. Al did not sing. But he had the lyrics in his head. Come as you are. As you were. As I want you to be.
Who was he kidding? He had the guitar in his head, not the lyrics. Much more comfortable than this playlist. The music in Sadie Hawkins was so loud, so happy, so...it did not fit his mood. Al liked every genre, but he really did not feel this current song. He did not feel the vibe of the music. Al did not feel Sadie Hawkins.
In his head, his internal playlist could reflect his mood. And if he felt like Nirvana fits, then he would feel like it.
Anyways, look interested to Cristo. Concentrate. Cristo. Rene. Focus on what Cristone has to say. Eh, Cristo.
Uh yeah, what to say? It was hard to not think about her.
Perhaps, distract with a song, with music. Not the song that was currently played on Sadie Hawkins, but one song in his head. A song that reminded him of Sadie Hawkins. Alessio did not hum. Al did not sing. But he had the lyrics in his head. Come as you are. As you were. As I want you to be.
Who was he kidding? He had the guitar in his head, not the lyrics. Much more comfortable than this playlist. The music in Sadie Hawkins was so loud, so happy, so...it did not fit his mood. Al liked every genre, but he really did not feel this current song. He did not feel the vibe of the music. Al did not feel Sadie Hawkins.
In his head, his internal playlist could reflect his mood. And if he felt like Nirvana fits, then he would feel like it.
Anyways, look interested to Cristo. Concentrate. Cristo. Rene. Focus on what Cristone has to say. Eh, Cristo.
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Rene nodded. "Yeah, friends. Maybe I should've thought of that, huh?" She said, placing her now-empty tray of snacks on the nearby table. "Maybe that would've made things more interesting. Y'know, not that this isn't interesting or anything."
Rene looked out at the dance floor. There were people dancing, talking, and generally having a great time, or at the very least putting on a pretty good show about pretending to have a great time. Maybe she could have tried to make a night out of the dance. Maybe gotten some friends together and just hung out in the gym all night, snacking and shooting the breeze.
... Nah, she still wasn't feeling it.
Having gotten her fill of the surroundings, Rene felt that it might be time to move on to other things. If the time on her phone was right, then she still had a decent chance to make Junko's party before everyone left. She figured that she might as well give her current conversation partner a heads up before she just walked out. She elbowed Cristo lightly in the arm to get his attention.
"Hey, I'm about to head out. You wanna bet I can sneak a finger sandwich out the door?"
Rene looked out at the dance floor. There were people dancing, talking, and generally having a great time, or at the very least putting on a pretty good show about pretending to have a great time. Maybe she could have tried to make a night out of the dance. Maybe gotten some friends together and just hung out in the gym all night, snacking and shooting the breeze.
... Nah, she still wasn't feeling it.
Having gotten her fill of the surroundings, Rene felt that it might be time to move on to other things. If the time on her phone was right, then she still had a decent chance to make Junko's party before everyone left. She figured that she might as well give her current conversation partner a heads up before she just walked out. She elbowed Cristo lightly in the arm to get his attention.
"Hey, I'm about to head out. You wanna bet I can sneak a finger sandwich out the door?"
Cristo turned his attention back to Rene when she nudged him. "Hm... I don't think they'd stop you from taking a sandwich, at least. What would they do, make you put it back after you've already been carrying it around?"
It wasn't out of the question, he supposed. He didn't always understand the logic behind the various school policies and decisions made by the teachers. Still, surely it was much better to just let someone escape with an already-manhandled sandwich than put it back in with the others with whatever germs it might now be carrying.
"Are the sandwiches good, by the way? I haven't tried one yet."
It wasn't out of the question, he supposed. He didn't always understand the logic behind the various school policies and decisions made by the teachers. Still, surely it was much better to just let someone escape with an already-manhandled sandwich than put it back in with the others with whatever germs it might now be carrying.
"Are the sandwiches good, by the way? I haven't tried one yet."
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."