[[𓆩⟡𓆪 𓆩⟡𓆪 𓆩⟡]]
All white, ribbons and wings, she was dressed as an angel—or perhaps more like a dream, fleeting, bound to run away at any moment. Thalia glanced at herself in the mirror, turning slightly as the fabric swirled around her. Her sister’s voice echoed in her head, suggesting the old Cinderella costume from high school. It had fit like a glove, of course, because some things never change, no matter how much time passes. She had even brought it with her to Wyndham, tucked away with the other relics of home she couldn’t quite let go of.
It wasn’t just that it still fit—it was the symbolism. Her sister had probably meant it innocently enough, but Thalia knew better. Cinderella was a girl who ran, who left behind pieces of herself for someone else to find. If that wasn’t her, then who was it? Running was practically her signature move. And that’s why she couldn’t wear it tonight. A party like this wasn’t meant for someone to show up as their most honest, broken self. Tonight was about slipping into a new skin, playing a part. Being anyone but yourself.
Still, the angel costume felt ironic. She didn’t feel like anyone’s idea of pure or divine, but it was last-minute, and a friend of her’s had practically shoved it into her hands, insisting it would be perfect for the team’s celebration party. Thalia sighed, tugging on the last ribbon before sliding into her shoes. She hadn’t even planned on coming.
Renlin was hosting, and if it had just been that, maybe she could have skipped it entirely. But it wasn’t just his party—it was the victory celebration for he
r team’s big win. Inessa had been insistent, too, texting her relentlessly about how they had to go together, and the whole thing would seem off if she didn’t show. And then, there was Renlin. She’d promised him she’d meet up with him. It was hard to back out of that when his quiet expectation lingered over her like a weight. And unfortunately, they did have a lot to talk about, because they couldn’t end things as abruptly as they ended it earlier (in Thalia’s opinion they could, but he would probably make it a big deal, like he had made the texting thing.) Also, Desdemona was going to be there, and it would be good for her to forget Kiki but Thalia knew that it wouldn’t truly happen-Desdemona could not forget Kiki like that and Thalia worried for her intensified. After this, she decided, she would go and see if Mona was alright.
Her phone buzzed. Inessa again. She was already at the party, asking where she was. Thalia stuffed the phone into her small clutch and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her.
The walk to the party was a blur, her thoughts flickering between her hesitation and the strange excitement tugging at her chest. She wasn’t exactly ready to face Renlin. The last time they’d talked, things had been… complicated. They always were with him. But there was something unspoken between them that kept drawing her back, even if it felt like it would burn her alive if she got too close. Still, a promise was a promise.
As she neared the venue, she could hear the muffled bass of the music, the laughter, and the murmur of voices mixing together. The lights spilled out from the house, illuminating the garden path. Her stomach churned slightly—too many people. Too many faces. She could already see the crowd inside, the flashing costumes, the familiar faces of her teammates, Inessa probably already dancing in the middle of it all.
But Thalia was scanning for Renlin. She hadn’t come here for the party, not really. She hadn’t wanted to come at all. But he was here, somewhere, and she owed him this much.
Her breath caught when she saw him across the room, leaning casually against the wall, the familiar figure that always seemed so at ease in the middle of chaos
She took her time, her hands grabbing her pendant, toying with it as she looked around trying to scan the area for anything suspicious, something that would at least put a little sense to all her little conspiracy theories. Later, she told herself, a hand-her’s touching her forehead, flickering it and then she frowned–why had she done that? It was such a weird thing to do, to flicker your own forehead. Whatever, she muttered as she took deep breathes and before she knew it her feet had carried her to Renlin side.
She had wanted to maybe frighten him a little by going ‘boo’ from behind him but it seemed that as soon as she stepped close to him, he had turned to her, and she had smiled–at least she thinks she had, and went: “I told you I would come.” Then: “So…” She folded her hands together, “Nice party you got here,” And then her eyes flickered to his costume, they were matching–kind of, she couldn’t tell if he was supposed to be an angel or Eros.
mentioned: