Baby you're a firework [4th of July Gathering]

[jeongbro]

From Candlewood, Henry could hear the party going on northeast of town, the thud of distance bass and the pop of fireworks and the shrill of cars put to the test. And how shit was that?

He texted Blue, first. A soft, subtle inquiry, a joke of an invitation, but a broad one. One for all of them. He remembered Ronan's arm in that cast, and him saying it was from Kavinsky, and Henry had no duty to them, but it would be good to keep all of them away from the mess that was going on at that party outside of town. None of them had to come, of course. They were all their own people, adults--and a ghost who was as good as one, in Henry's eyes--and they were each allowed their own decisions.

So Henry texted Any plans for the 4th Wendybird? And then he followed it up, even before she could answer, I think my place could use some Virginian charms.

He had no decorations. Fourth of July over the past two years had become a thing tainted by Joseph Kavinsky. But he could, easily, go down a couple blocks and buy more two-liter bottles of Pipsy and lemon-lime soda than he could possibly need, and some liquor and mixers, and chips and dip. If he didn't use it all up, he'd bring it to Panoptes. And that seemed like a good enough way to ignore that Joseph Kavinsky was trying to blow himself up, to him.


[Running as a gathering]

Comments

[thedreamthief]

She tips her head up to glare at him, brows furrowed and eyes dark. Ronan grins a little despite himself, comfortable in this dynamic, this constant push and pull between them.

"I don't," he agrees because it's the truth.

He gives her foot a light kick then, almost playful, toe to toe. He isn't about to tell Blue he likes her if only because this conversation is fucking awkward enough. He does squint at her though, a smile still curving his lips. "So you're really surprised I don't like Cheng?"

[formicine]

Ronan grins at her frustrated look, and she wrinkles her nose at him; it eases something in her chest.

She kicks him back, feeling a little warmer; if he'd confessed liking her it might have been too much, but this, this is okay. Blue puts her hands in her pockets and makes a rueful face back at him. "No," she says plainly. "Not really. I don't think you've given him much of a chance, though."

[thedreamthief]

"You know, I was perfectly fucking civil to him at the grocery store the other week until--"

He cuts himself off. The reason isn't really important and he's sounding petulant enough even to his own ears. Something tells him whatever his reasons are, they won't fly with Blue anyway. She's already convinced Cheng's worth knowing, worth pulling into their group and she's as fucking stubborn as Adam most days.

"I'm giving him the same chance I gave you," he points out instead, still frowning as he turns to grab a chip out of the bowl and crunching into it. "He's not fucking special just because you and Noah decided the sun shines out his ass."

[formicine]

Until what? Blue makes a little huh? face at him, brows drawing together. He is getting to whiny, though, whatever the reason, and he's here, which makes her think that whatever offense Henry committed, it puts him one up on Kavinsky.

"I haven't decided anything about his ass," she says. "Pass me that. And anyway, Noah loves people." She looks over and can't repress a fond smile at where Noah's gesturing and talking a mile a minute at Henry, sitting on the couch. "You know it's true."

[thedreamthief]

Ronan's eyes narrow at the demand, but he reaches over to grab the whole bowl off the table with one hand, holding it out to her as he chews.

"Noah loves fucking everyone," he agrees, an edge to his tone that could be fond or irritated or jealous or anywhere in between. "He's not the greatest judge of character and, let's face it -- that's probably what got him fucking killed." He doesn't say it loud enough for Noah to hear, true as it might be.