Characters: Alexander Van Rensselaer and OPEN Setting: Behind Lalaurie House Content: Mostly safe? Depending on who shows up. There's ILLEGAL THINGS GOING ON (i.e. - underage smoking). Summary: Alex wanted a smoke break.
Alex stood near the side of the building, roughly behind something he could easily hide behind if a faculty member walked by. He glanced around, making sure no adults were around, and then lit his cigarette, leaning against the wall. It had been a while since he'd had his nicotine fix and so he closed eyes and enjoyed it, hoping subconsciously that he wouldn't get caught.
It was a decent day. Or at least decent enough for Quinn to be out and about with her camera in hand as she really didn't have much else to do. She had meandered around for a little while, not really taking pictures of anything real fantastic. Mostly just other students.
Her wandering brought her around to the back of the Lalaurie dormitory, where she spotted yet another student. A few steps closer and she realized it was her little brother. "This isn't a very inconspicuous place to be doing that," she said with a smirk as she came closer.
Alex just smirked back at her, shrugging one shoulder nonchalantly. "I suppose I like to live on the edge," he replied before he took another drag.
After he exhaled, he pushed himself off the wall and stood up straight. It somewhat of a habit, and to show respect. "So kind of you to grace us with your presence. I feel honored." The smirk was still there to show he wasn't entirely being a smartass.
"And honored you should feel," Quinn replied smoothly and diverted her attention from him for a short moment. Just long enough to turn her camera off and put it back into the black bag that hung from her shoulder.
Once that was done she moved to stand beside her younger brother. "This is convenient. Seeing as you wanted to talk to me anyway, apparently. What's up?"
Alex took one last pull from his cigarette before tossing it on the ground and leaning against the wall again. He toed the butt with his shoe to make sure it went out completely.
"Nothing really, just wanted to spend some time with my big sister," he responded casually. "Didn't seem to have much time to do that over break." The question was there, however indifferent he seemed to be.
"Blame mom for that one." Quinn wasn't at all opposed to placing the blame on her parents for anything. Especially when it was their fault she felt the need to take off after Christmas.
She moved to stand next to her little brother, tossing an arm over his shoulders. It was one of Quinn's friendlier gestures. "So. What would you like to do, then?"
That shouldn't have surprised him, Alex thought. Their parents were definitely... Well, Alex certainly envied his sister's ability to leave whenever she wanted.
He acknowledged her statement with a nod, then quirked an eyebrow as she put an arm around his shoulders. He smirked a little at her. "That doesn't hurt your arm, does it? Stretching it so much..." He gave her a flat out grin then, shrugging a little. "I dunno. Did you have any plans?"
"Oh shush, Alex. That's what heels are for." Quinn used the arm over her brother to give him a little shake before she released him. She may be short, but she was surprisingly strong for her size.
Quinn shrugged. "Not really. Any ideas? I've got some stuff left over from the holidays," naturally meaning the alcohol she had been given, "There's movies. Going off campus for a while....
"They are not." Quinn wrinkled her nose a bit at that. Heels were never cheating.
Quinn thought about her brother's idea for a moment before a slow smile spread across her face. "Alright then, boyo," She nodded her head towards the edge of the building so they could head around front. "Let's go then. I just need to run up to my room."
"They definitely are. Not only do they give you height, but you can use them as weapons." Alex eyed her feet warily, smirking slightly.
He kept his face neutral as she thought it over, but he couldn't help the beam that quickly flashed when she smiled and agreed. "Cool." He nodded evenly, trying to play off the beam as he started walking toward the front of the building.
It didn't take long to walk around the building to access the front door. Alex had made that much rather convenient when he chose his smoking spot. "I'll meet you down here in five," she said as soon as they walked in the dormitory door.
She didn't bother paying much attention to see if Alex stopped by his own room, but she hurried on up to hers to grab her purse. Quinn quickly grabbed two water bottles, neither of which were filled with water, from her stash and threw them in her bag. With her car keys in hand, she went back downstairs to collect her brother from the common room.
"Sounds good." Alex nodded to her as she headed up the stairs. He briefly considered heading to his own room for a moment, but then remembered that he usually kept his things on him. So instead he made himself comfortable in the common room.
When he heard someone coming back down the stairs, he stood up and put his hands in his pockets, walking over to meet his sister. "Finish powdering your nose or whatever it is you girls do when you disappear?"
Quinn snickered and nodded her head towards the door before heading to it. Obviously, she just expected Alex to follow along. "Maybe that's what some girls do when they disappear. I, on the other hand, grabbed the necessities for this outing." Her hand briefly lifted the purse in her hand in emphasis.
"So where is it off campus you want to go?" She asked once they were outside and headed towards the parking lot. Either way, Quinn figured she'd end up driving somewhere.
Alex fell into step with Quinn, sauntering along side her. He kept on his almost customary smirk. "Ah yes, the goods. Personally, I think that's a much better reason to disappear than powdering your nose."
He was silent for a moment, trying to think. "Hm... I dunno. Downtown or something? Pretty much just anywhere that's not here."
"Much better." Quinn confirmed with a smirk as she continued on. She could see her car as they neared the parking lot, and she found her car key in anticipation.
"Anywhere that's not here. That's easy," she said and pushed that magical button on the key that unlocked her car. Once, then twice to unlock both sides. "There might be a good horror movie or something playing. Then we can meander around downtown and find some place to eat."
"If only it were that easy back home." Alex opened the passenger door once Quinn had unlocked the car. "I like the sound of all those ideas. And of course we'll fit the stuff in there right?" He smirked a little across the top of the car before settling in.
As he buckled the seatbelt, he glanced at his sister. "So... what exactly did Mom do that made you take off without even saying goodbye?" He was a little nervous asking the question. He didn't want to make Quinn annoyed at him or anything...
Quinn slid into the driver seat with ease, having the car on and ready to go within a moment of closing the door. "Right." She smiled over at her brother as she fastened the seat belt.
The smile faltered when he brought up their mother. Quinn's eyes went to the rear of the car as she went to pull out of the parking lot to get them on their way. It was a good excuse to not have to look at him for the moment even though she knew that he'd bring it up eventually. "Mom was being a bitch again and she hit a sore spot."
Alex stared down at his hands in his lap. He shouldn't have said anything. Now things were going to be awkward and it was his fault. ...but he really couldn't help his curiosity.
He picked one arm up and leaned his elbow against the door, resting his chin in his hand and turning toward the window. He watched his sister in the reflection. "Isn't she always one? She just tries to hide it better with everyone else."
She gave a little shrug, keeping both hands relaxed on the wheel as they went. "Yes, she is. She hides it with everyone else and makes up for it with me." Quinn knew damn well why her mother took it out on her. It was just something Alex didn't need to know.
"How was the rest of the vacation? Did you get to enjoy any of it, or were mom and dad nagging you the whole time?"
Alex nodded, despite the fact that neither of them were looking at each other. "I see it a bit sometimes... but I don't think it's same way you get it. She mostly just tries to control every aspect of my life. It's like I can't even take a shit without her say so and okay."
He shrugged a shoulder, keeping his eyes focused on the window. "Same as usual. I managed to get away a few times, but Mom would just make things more difficult afterwards. Dad... so long as I don't get into too much trouble, he doesn't seem to care as much."
"What can you expect, Alex? You're mom's precious little boy. Plus," Quinn raised a finger as if she was pointing something out easier, "She's probably all paranoid that she'll fail with kid two."
Surprisingly, that didn't come out as bitter as she would have. Rather normal, for the most part. "At least you managed to get some time away. Better than nothing.” Quinn almost offered to take her with him the next time she took off, but kept that back once she realized that would cause many more problems. Her mother would probably end up calling the authorities and call her a kidnapper or something.
"I don't think she failed with kid one." Alex glanced over at her and then smirked. "At least not too bad. She's got some redeeming qualities."
He shrugged a shoulder, looking out the window again. "I guess. I just always had to make sure I didn't smell like smoke or stumble too much when I came home. Or just make sure I got back before she noticed I was gone." He knew it wasn't possible, but he kind of wished she would take him with her when she left.
Quinn rolled her eyes at her brother as well as she could while only being able to glance at him. Still, there was a small smile there.
"Maybe," Quinn said the word with quite a bit of stress, not looking over at him as she turned into the small parking lot of a downtown theater, "I can get them to give the okay to let you stay with Uncle Noah for spring break. No promises, though." At least she could make the plea to her uncle and he would be the one to suggest it. It would work a lot better if Quinn asked.
The prospect of spending time with his uncle was less than desirable to Alex, but he supposed since it would include spending time with his sister as well it wouldn't be so bad. However, he tried to keep any excitement from showing.
"Yeah," he began with as much nonchalance as he could muster, "that could be cool I guess." His brain immediately went to work thinking about how he could possibly convince his parents to agree to it. "I could probably also try and work on Mom about it, mention how it would be a 'positive and enriching experience' or some equally stupid thing that she just loves to hear."
"That would probably help," Quinn agreed as she cut the power to the engine and sat back in her seat without taking the keys from the ignition just yet. "I'll talk to Noah next time I stop home."
She stole a quick glance around them, and seeing nobody, she reached into the back seat to grab her purse. Quinn opened it up and pulled out two water bottles, each filled with what looked mostly like iced tea but was, in fact, rum. One of them was passed to Alex. "Here's yours. Drink up, Alex."
"I think it's kinda funny how in denial she can be about everything." Alex stretched out his legs in the foot well, and leaning back a little more. "When were you planning to go?"
He glanced around when she did, as a reflex, and accepted the bottle from her. "Will do." He smirked a bit at her, twisting the cap off and taking a swig, fighting back the slight automatic face at the burn.
Quinn stretched her legs out as much as she could as she twisted the bottle cap off and shrugged. "I'll probably do that this weekend. Put the bug in his ear about that."
She put the bottle to her lips and took a long swig of it, letting out a breath as the rum burned her through on the way down. But it was a good burn. "I also have to sweet talk him into letting me throw a Mardi Gras party."
Alex nodded a bit at that. "So maybe I'll mention something to Mom around then, too. So that when Uncle Noah brings it up, she won't think it came out of nowhere."
He grinned at that. "That'd be awesome. I hope he does." He was, of course, assuming he'd be able to go.
"Good idea. Mom is far too paranoid about you, so no surprises is a better way to go." She gave a little nod of approval and took another few swigs of the rum before she tightly closed the bottle and went to replace it in her purse.
"He'd better," Quinn added as she pulled her sunglasses out and set them on her face. The rum was already beginning to take effect and she just smiled at her brother. "Have a little more quick, if you want, before we head in. Then I'll throw it in my purse to enjoy during the movie."
Alex couldn't help rolling his eyes. "I seriously wish she'd get off my back sometimes. I don't even know why she is the way she is, but it's fucking annoying." He took a couple of angry swigs of the rum.
He watched as she put her sunglasses on, then smiled slightly back at her, almost a little goofily. "Alright." He took another pull from the bottle before capping it and handing it over.
"Well, Alex. Just be glad that although you have an annoying mother, you have a sister that is much more fun to be around." The goofy smile she saw made her grin a little more as she took the bottle from him and checked the cap to make sure it was tight before she put it in her bag. The last thing she needed was everything in her purse to be soaked in rum.
That was just a waste of rum.
"Off we go, then," Quinn announced once the purse was zipped up. She carefully climbed out of her car and waited for her brother after shutting the door.
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