Small Town Celebrities party log for Sept17-Oct6

[dirtyredneck]

The Redbright students clearly aren't getting enough homework if they have the time to start following their favorite members of supernatural society around for the chance at getting The Perfect Shot of them looking hot. It starts slow and small, for the first week, anyway. Just a random person pulling out their phone and taking a quick shot. Can't even be sure it was you they were photographing. By the five days in, though, they've started making a game of it. Groups of two and three going out together. Following people for a while. Having the audacity to wave when they're looked at. Some even invite their target to take a picture with them and their friends. (If you say yes to that, please do flex a little.)

Ratings on the website change on a day to day basis and currently both Redbright Professors and the Hillingdon Clan lists are the current most popular due to the territory change over and general familiarity with the groups.

Hans Estergaard had been reigning supreme as #1 in Hillingdon since he had the audacity to challenge Sylvia for her seat on the council. An unprecedented length of time! (It's like the students enjoy the idea of someone standing up to Sylvia, the person ultimately in charge of telling them what to do. Go figure.)

Most factions are getting more attention from these folks, though. They really have a lot of time on their hands.

[[ooc: post around like it's a party log. If you want an npc bothering you and want me to play them, put NPC request in the subject line.]]

Comments

[knightscode]

It... wasn't an answer he was expecting. His eyebrows loft slightly, and as she says the problem is your face he has peculiar, unexpected flashbacks to Faolan growling the same thing at him.

I'm not trying to patronise you, Faolan, please -- just... help me understand why you're upset.

Your face. The way you looked at her. At both of them. All of them, I don't know.

The startling similarity makes him momentarily unsure if she's... trying to flirt with him, or simply terribly candid.

"... Well," he says, trying to recover himself. "I suppose I should take that as... a compliment?"

It's a question, because he's honestly not entirely sure if it's meant as one. Is it?

[goodgraces]

Guinevere is somewhat taken aback by his reaction.

“Yes, absolutely!” She frowns. “I didn’t express myself well before, did I?”

Clearly, this awkward moment is the universe’s way of reminding Gwen to take more care when speaking her thoughts. With that in mind, she lets out a long breath, the action releasing a bunch nervous energy.

“Let me try that again: What I meant was that you don’t have a menacing look to you. And I think that’s a good thing.”

She loves her father and appreciates his efforts to maintain law and order. However, he and the wolves that serve under him often come across as rather intense, which in turn can create distance between them and those they’ve sworn to protect.

“You have kind eyes and a friendly manner. In my opinion, that makes you the sort of approachable public figure this community needs.”

[knightscode]

His face scrunches up a little, both in slight rejection of the flattery and in mild confusion at the awkwardness of the situation.

"Well, I'll accept the compliment if it means I'm approachable. I was joking, though. I don't know why I'd want to be frightening."

It seems an unpleasant way to get people to follow the rules, even if he understands it can be effective. He'd still rather try the tactic of 'be nice' first when given the chance. No matter how laughable that is to people like Raymond Harris.

[goodgraces]

Why does he keep scrunching up his face like that? It’s actually rather cute to watch, but is she really making so little sense to him that--

Oh, he was joking before. Right. Okay. It seems a better question would be why she’s struggling so hard to have a simple conversation with him. Is she that out of practice with talking to people outside of work? (For a certain subset of people: yes, yes she is.)

Thankfully, no Redbright students--who seem to be everywhere en masse lately--are here to document this awkward moment with their phones.

In reply to his question, she shrugs. “I don’t know. It can be useful.”

There are definitely times when being pleasant would not get the job done.

“Then again…” She muses a little, “You have a lovely face. Terrifying is probably not the best strategy you could use.”

[knightscode]

Lancelot looks bemused a moment, still not entirely sure how to react, before settling on:

"I'm not so sure I've ever had so many compliments on my face in a single day."

Which, well, is a sort of awkward situation. Should he compliment her in turn? Maybe he should.

"You have a nice face yourself, by the way."

That sounded odd. He starts to laugh, as much at the ridiculousness of the situation as anything.

[goodgraces]

Having her words* paraphrased back at her like that makes them hit home. It is not a proud moment when they do.

“Oh, god, did I really say that?”

Guinevere covers her (apparently nice) face while laughing and cringing at the same time.

Yes, she’s been a mess. Later, she’ll mentally hit herself upside the head while recalling their conversation. But right now, she’s too far down this hole to properly salvage the situation.

“Um, thank you? And I’m so sorry. It’s been a long, long day. Clearly my brain needs a break.”

Her mobile buzzes. It’s another text from Mrs. Taylor.

“…And yet it seems I still have work to do.”

The sooner she can get over to the Taylors and soothe their nerves, the better it will be for everyone.

“I really ought to go.” She turns to leave before realizing her rudeness. “I’m sorry. Again. It was nice to meet you…” What was his name? Oh, right. “Lancelot. Hopefully, next time I’ll have my head together.”


*[Actually, they’re Tennyson’s words. Shhh, don’t tell him that I borrowed them.]

[knightscode]

"It's no trouble," he assures her, but he looks a little bemused all the same. "If you have any questions about your student, you can always ask for me."

He shrugs slightly, pushes his hands into his pockets and takes a half-step back.

"Good luck."

[goodgraces]

“Thank you. That’s a kind offer. I’ll keep it in mind.”

Her gratitude is genuine. It would be wonderful to have a guardian to whom she could turn if she needed advice. (And hopefully the cringe inducing memories of this conversation will be easier to swallow knowing that something good came of it.)

After a final polite smile, she hurries down the steps and off to speak with a paranoid mum about her juvenile delinquent son.