. far east

[jane ridley]

JANE RIDLEY Had her life been a cosmic sequence of checks and balances, Jane figured right now she was netting out positively. Rich, lush grass rolled underneath her dainty sandal'd feet, smartly lacking a heel or most of her expertly applied make-up as she clutched her date's elbow. No, tonight she'd gone for fresh and light, a gauzy tie-dye dress hugging all the right curves, conveying simple but expensive. Fitz had given her a once over and nod of approval heading out the door, and she'd felt the thrill of excitement through the tips of her Prada sunglasses. Because this was the party of the summer, and she'd somehow made her way through its hallowed doors. The McCarthy house was opulent but tasteful, the backyard even more so, taking in the breathtaking views and the seamless mingling of staff, guests and the lingering perfume of hydrangeas in season. "Drink" he asked quickly, nodding to the bar stationed on the edge of the lawn. Jane nodded eagerly, dark eyes scanning the expanse of lawn as she looked for Oscar, Olivia...not Freddie this evening, ever aware of the McCarthy siblings circling like sharks. Finally she spots a familiar blonde head, bow sweetly tied within her locks, and paces quickly to her side. “Your boyfriend throws a sick party, lady.”

[olivia hamilton]

LIV HAMITLON Olivia was already regretting the little red heels she'd paired with a white dress. Wanting to give the white a little pop of something but now wishing she was wearing some sandals instead. The McCarthy party was always the buzz in the summer time, an appearance was necessary for anyone that was somebody. She'd texted Tate that she would be coming with her father and step-mother and that she'd see him soon. As if she hadn't just seen him the night before. But she was smitten, it was the best words to describe her right now. The little Tik Tok drama from Gov Ball far from her mind as the summer continued on. She enters the McCarthy home and leaves her parents side rather quickly. Doing her first round of mingling and hellos. She greets Tate with a kiss on the cheek as he slips his arm around her waist, tugging her close to his side. The smell of his cologne making her smile. But she's not in his arms for long, as Caesar is pulling her out of her boyfriend's arm and greeting her with a similar kiss to her cheek and hug. She stays attached to his side for a little while, doing the dutiful girlfriend gig until she spies another person she has to speak with. Squeezing Tate's hand as spies Aisha and Cora next, excited to see the pair. Aisha looked stunning, just a small little bump barely even noticeable in what she was wearing. A few of her friends from Blair pull Olivia away from the girls to bring her to the bar. She's gifted with a glass of champagne to start and they're all catching up when her best friend comes into her view. "He sure does," she murmurs, giving her a hug and moving so she could join the circle. "These are a few of my friends from Blair - Jane, this is Scarlett, Penelope and Victoria." She turns from the group to speak just to Jane. "So happy you're here, you look so stunning. Where's Fitz?"

[tate mccarthy]

TATE McCARTHY Around about the time Aisha first got pregnant, Tate had assumed his place as the primary child. Though Aisha still had Caesar wrapped around her little finger, it was now Tate who helped move things along, who smoothed the gaps between different members of staff, even talking the event co-ordinators off the edge. It was an extension of his sudden commitment to working at the firm, an all around acceptance that he was being moulded into Caesar 2.0. The two had even started speaking in Latin to each other, a code that relied on language from thousands of years ago but one that they could each manipulate, Caesar having been the one to teach him in the first place.  Olivia arrives and it's at that moment that he realizes he can breathe. Finally easing in to the party, he kisses her hello, though she's soon slipping from his arms and into those of his father. Typical. Tate can't help but glance around, part of him concerned that he might have invited Rosie, though reassuring himself that even if he had (and God, Caesar would), Rosie wouldn't have accepted the invite. Soon Olivia disappears into the crowd and he's back to doing his dutiful rounds, shaking hands, kissing cheeks, waving away compliments. After a while he manages to excuse himself, approaching Liv and Jane. "Are you two having fun? I've barely had time to drink... down for shots?"

[jane ridley]

JANE RIDLEY It's the first time Jane's officially met this group of girls, having heard stories from Liv about her days at Blair but now dutifully placing faces to names as they made polite introductions. Categorizing them all quickly for what they seemed to be - rich, sensible, but knowing deep down that everything was made to be scrutinized. She doesn't miss the once overs or the quick glances shared, sizing Jane up for what she could be: competition. Luckily she cared little for that, secure in her friendship with Liv and the beauty of her own features, looking gracefully over her slim shoulder just as Fitz deposited a glass of champagne in her palm. She reads the question before he asks it, hand pressed warmly to his chest. “Go hold court, I'm just fine over here,” she promises, watching him introduce himself to the group before he strode off again. “Coming and going, as one does,” Jane answers, a rare smile betraying her as she watched him go. Holding it further still at Tate's arrival, taking the easy conversation as it came with a knock to Liv's hip with her own. “I think that's the only proper way to solve that problem, right Liv?”

[olivia hamilton]

LIV HAMITLON It's been a while since she's seen the girls. Almost forgetting that most of them spent every summer out here in the Hamptons together. Olivia had made new friends, gravitating towards a different crowd, but these old ones still in her pocket for events like this and other similar ones. Olivia isn't immune to watching the girls observe Jane. Liv knew her friend though, the most confident of queens and she's polite with each of their introductions. Once they were away from this environment and them, the best friends would debrief. Jane's beau of the summer comes back with a drink in tow for her friend, the conversation halting. Olivia nudges her friends side and lifts her eyebrows as the silver fox struts away to mingle with others. "And there he's off, to let you do your own thing, we love it," she leans in to whisper to Jane, as the conversation picks back up around them. Olivia sips the crisp, cold champagne. Moments later her own man is in sight, Liv smiling more as he joins Jane at her side. "You know I don't have to be asked twice," she welcomes Jane's hip bumping her and laughs. The three of them leaving her former Blair crowd behind them as they head towards the bar on the lawn. "What are you feeling?" She asks Tate when they're almost bellied up to the make-shift bar. The champagne in her hand was almost finished, perfect timing to refill. "You're the one in need, babe. So pick our poison." She looks to Jane, seeing if she's in agreement. "Is Freddie here? I don't think I've even caught a glimpse of him?"

[aisha van buren]

AISHA & TATE Stood to one side with Cora, Aisha takes a sip of her mocktail, scrunching her nose up at its blandness. Of course it was delicious and handcrafted just for her by one of the best mixologists shipped in from the city, but for this she wants something with heft, a jolt of liquid courage. Eyeing Cora's drink enviously, she watches as Tate works the crowd, rolling her eyes. "Like if you ordered Caesar McCarthy from Temu." She watches as he navigates towards Olivia and her friends, one of said friends invisible to her, a blind spot like you might get in a migraine. It moves with her, Aisha's brain editing her out in real time, though admittedly she fosters less resentment after the events of the last few days. "Tate, Liv," she calls across to them, beckoning them with a hand. "Bring Cora one of those, she's bored stiff with me." "I saw him earlier, he's here somewhere," Tate says, avoiding eye contact as he glances over his shoulder. He knows Freddie has good cause to hide but it's not his place to spread his friend's business. "Got to be tequila, right?" Before long he's licking salt off Liv's hand, offering his to her, chasing the burn with a segment of lime. It's as he's biting down on this that he hears his name across the room, voice instantly recognisable. Turning with the lime firmly between his teeth, he turns away so she can't see him roll his eyes. "Sorry," he murmurs, picking up another shot for Cora and crossing the room to deliver it.

[jane ridley]

JANE & CORA Jane considers it all but a personal victory when it’s only her, Olivia and Tate who transitioned to the bar. Though not one to be particularly possessive it was rare moments like this, when her rooted friendship spoke louder than privileged ties, that she felt a true thrill course through her body. Heightened even more through chilled tequila, Jane shakes her hair out as she tugs the lime from her lips, offering a cheers as he went to deliver another shot. She subtly turns her back to his destination, eyes widening at Liv. “You going to go rescue him or should we make our own fun?” Cora also feels the familiar burn as she tips the shot back, offering Tate a thankful wink before dropping her eyes to her phone. Her heart is all but beating out of its chest, both at Nate’s impending arrival and the fact that she still hadn’t told Aisha they’d been talking again, let alone that they were tenuously back together. Of course she’d spilled to Sadie immediately - half so the seating chart for her upcoming nuptials could be updated - but also because of the relationship they too, shared. Knowing she’d be another lifeline in the havoc of these parties, Cora rolled her shoulders back and tipped the rest of her cocktail into her mouth, taking the liquor courage as it came. “Sooo I have to tell you guys something.”

[freddie beaumont]

FREDDIE & LIV Freddie was used to being the life of the party. Especially thriving in such events like this McCarthy party. However, this evening, he was anything but his usual self. He entered the party without his family, sticking to the outskirts and making the appropriate rounds. Mostly his best friend, Aisha and their family. He stole a kiss from Aisha when it was just the two of them in the hallway, considerably risky with everyone scattered throughout the family's glorious home. Freddie walks across the room when he sees his mother enter the home, going further into the crowd away from her son. Feeling like it was a safe moment to join, he moves from the shadows. Cora, Aisha and Tate's back were turned to him. He enters the conversation right as Cora mutters the words of a potential confession. His arm wraps around Tate's neck. "Think you can get me one of those shots, bud?"  She watches with a smirk on her glossed lips as Tate licks the salt off the back of her hand. Offering his own as she downs her own tequila shot. The two of them turn at the same time, hearing a familiar voice call both of their names. Tate mumbles an apology, squeezing Liv's hip before he dutifully followed his sisters command. Olivia exchanges her empty glass for a new one of the delicious champagne. After one more she'd need to change to something different, knowing how much these bubbly ones went to her head. She brings the cold drink to her lips as Jane challenges her. "Well, what did you have in mind, my dear?" Her eyes wander to the various people scattered throughout the room. Olivia sees her Dad and he drops a wink in her direction. She lifts her glass to him and her step-mother mirrored Olivia's actions.

[tate mccarthy]

AISHA & TATE Tate glances at his sister. Able to read her like a picture book, he's surprised to see none of the signs of agitation he had expected... boredom, sure, and maybe a tiny tension around her shoulders, but he suspects that's down to the disdain she feels for the overpriced juice she holds in her hand. He's about to ask her how she is when Cora pipes up, his cousin uncharacteristically teeming with a kind of anxious energy that he rarely saw in any of his family members. "Fuck, you're not pregnant, are you?" Aisha rounds on her immediately, eyes steely with the resolve of someone who does not want to wait another second for the impending news, clearly assuming it will be bad. "What is it?" Soon the prodigal son appears, his arm slipping around Tate's neck and making him grin. He avoids looking at Aisha, not sure he wants to see the subtle shift in her expression at Freddie's arrival, still unpacking and repacking their relationship in his mind, trying to find the best way to make it fit. "That can be arranged," he says, slapping his friend on the back as he disentangles himself, taking his excuse to go to the bar. Aisha glances towards Freddie before her eyes snap back to Cora, too distracted by the obscurity of her outburst to even give him the attention he deserved. "Come on, what?"

[cora wolfe]

CORA & JANE “God, no,” she promises, eyes flashing apologetically at Aisha for the quick defense. She’d done her best to be by her cousin’s side throughout her second pregnancy, and even with how sharp and scrutinizing her gaze was now Cora couldn’t help but admire her natural glow. And the way she subconsciously shifted a little closer to Freddie, something else to unpack later as she pulled her lip between her teeth. Best to rip the bandaid off in one go. “I invited Nate,” she starts, blue eyes darting back to the billowing doors guests were being led through. As if on cue he appears there, and her cautious expressions pulls suddenly into a smile. “And we’re also back together. Speaking of, gotta go!” She’s too nervous to wait for a response, feeling it fade to giddy excitement as she strode to meet him. Back near the bar, Jane contemplates her options. They could catch up with Fitz and play demure with the power players, they could hustle her friends, Jane could be polite to her parents. Every pathway opens before her in a way that cracks a contented smile on her face, a fleeting sense of belonging stoked deep inside. Even without the pedigree or the prestige she didn’t look a hair out of place, motioning for a couple more shots to keep the party going. “I think we could give your friends a run for their money,” Jane starts, eyeing their tight circle yet again. Somewhere in the midst she even manages to catch Oscar’s eye across the yard, shot held aloft in his direction before tipping it back. Another curiosity she’d collected out here, dark gaze burning before she, too, grabbed another glass of bubbly. “Or we could go play nice with your family. What’re you feeling?”

[aisha van buren]

AISHA & OSCAR Aisha's mouth hangs open, full lips in a perfect 'o'. Before she can reply Cora has disappeared, leaving in a cloud of expensive perfume. Dumbfounded, Aisha turns to Tate. "What the fuck just happened?" He shrugs, relieved to not have another hormonal woman to contend with. Finally she looks to Freddie and not wanting to be involved in whatever this is, Tate makes his excuses and retreats to the melee, back to shaking hands and kissing cheeks. Pumped up with adrenaline, Oscar is garnishing tiny amuse bouches with caviar, using the chef tweezers that made him feel like he was in an episode of the Bear. Finally done, he steps back and nods at the servers to take the trays, gangly teenagers he wants to watch like a hawk but knows he cannot. Breathing a sigh of relief at most of his work being done, at least for now, he undoes the top couple buttons of his chef whites, stepping outside to look at the crowds. It was strange to be back here, wearing uniform rather than an ill fitting tux borrowed from Tate. Unfortunately, he feels more at ease being the help than the invited, now able to be largely invisible to the crowds that had once unfavourably scrutinised him. Well, bar one. Eyes falling to Jane, a natural smile spreads across his face and he tilts his head towards the kitchen, inviting her to come in.

[freddie beaumont]

FREDDIE & LIV Tate returns with a shot for Freddie. He's appreciative towards his best friend always, but extra grateful in this moment. The tequila thrown back as quickly as it's placed in his hand. Earning a little laughter from Tate. The alcohol is warm in his throat, and then soon Cora's saying her confession. He only hears the words Nate and back together. Quickly running off to Nate who appears to be looking around for her. "Interesting." Is all Freddie can say as Aisha continues to look confused. Tate pats his best friend on the back before he's off to continue his schmoozing. It's then that Freddie's mother begins to come into view. Her eyes finally lock on Freddie who's still beside Aisha. He swears that her sharp features soften with just a glance at the woman she's coming to adore. "Oh god. I'm really not in the mood for my mother. She's been questioning me non-stop about why I dropped Aria off, assuming the worst of me." He looks back behind his shoulder, his mother taking steps in their direction. "I'll come find you in a little bit." The two had agreed to keep that little secret reunion, a secret for a bit. Liv watches Freddie join Tate, Aisha and Cora. She'd been wondering when he'd making his appearance. "Look who's finally joined," she peers back at Jane as she continues to drink the champagne. Tate is back at the bar, grabbing a shot and he winks Olivia's way. Her grin turning wider at the simplest little drop of his eyelid. Olivia notices her friends keeping glancing at Jane. It's what makes her decision so easy. "Let's give them a run for their money. I think they're a little jealous of you, Janie." The glass she's been nursing for a little bit is suddenly empty and she halts her friend before she makes any decisions. "Vodka always makes me a little more spicy. Should I switch it up?"

[jane ridley]

JANE RIDLEY “And there he goes - looks like he's running from something,” Jane laughs, watching Freddie join the group only to swiftly make an exit. She does clock his subtle shift toward Aisha though, warming at the thought that they may be on a better path. Though she'd enjoyed her time with Freddie immensely she knew his feelings had always lain elsewhere, and to see some actual progress was almost (but never) as good as how he could make her feel in bed. Jane takes the moment to silently celebrate for him, brows drifting up in sharp amusement as Liv teased a hard liquor switch. “You know I'm alway here for a martini with a twist.” “And please, they have nothing to be jealous of,” she continues, waiting for the bartenders expertly shaking the mixtures. “All I am is fun, hot, and free.” She winks for the dramatics, thanking the staff politely when their drinks are handed off and making a point to add a large bill to the tip jar. A little stuck between worlds, Jane quickly shifts into the society persona she'd expertly crafted and did as she promised. Engaged them with stories and intriguing conversations, encouraged additional rounds, and even let Scarlett lead in a spirited, slightly raunchy toast that had her genuinely laughing. It's on that note that she excuses herself, pinching Liv's shoulder in encouragement she'd be back soon before making a wide, winding path to the kitchen. “Pray tell, what's your secret?” Jane purrs, Oscar coming into view in the now deserted kitchen. She quickly helps herself onto a counter, pulling a seemingly abandoned bowl of cream cheese frosting into her lap before driftng a swipe to her lips. It's sweet, yet tart, eyes widening in delight. “No really, what's the secret?”

[oscar rutherford]

AISHA & OSCAR "Your poor mother just wants to see you happy," Aisha says, though she knows that isn't entirely true. His happiness had to be a very specific brand of happiness. Still, she's happy to be seen with him, knowing the sight of her with her tiny bump and the man responsible for it was a rare one these days, and one that would set tongues wagging. Let them wag. Still, she wasn't about to confirm the whispers with any outward sign of affection, her eyes locking on Freddie's for a moment before she nods, the handsome man disappearing into the crowd. "Bea, come here, try this mocktail. It's so bland, you'll die." Music drifts in through the open French doors, the kitchen that had been so chaotic mere minutes before thrown into stillness. Oscar rolls the sleeves of his whites up, about to start trying to tackle the mountain of washing up, when the most beautiful woman he's ever seen steps into the space, taking his hint from earlier. He grins at Jane, glad he'd prioritised cleaning the island as she pulls herself up onto it. "You look nice," he says, leaning back against a counter opposite her, his smile widening as she dips into buttercream frosting. "The secret is buying everything in bulk from Costco and lying about it," he jokes, offering her a wink. "No one here would ever know the difference." He lets his eyes roam over her, picking up an opened bottle of champagne and taking a swig. "You look the part."

[olivia hamilton]

SCARLETT; The drinks were flowing, just as they always did at the McCarthy party. The highlight of her summer. She had one glass of champagne upon arrival, but quickly switched to her summer beverage choice - a tequila soda.  It annoys her so much, on the way the attention is always put on Olivia. It's been this way since their Blair days. While Penelope and Victoria were excited to catch up, she necessarily wouldn't say the same. No matter what she was doing, someone was always watching the outgoing blonde, or wanting to speak with her. But Scarlett is the first one to see her come out onto the lawn from the house, without her boyfriend and she plasters a fake smile on her face as she waves to Olivia, beckoning her to join. Scarlett digs for the lip gloss in her Chanel bag and tosses her brown hair over her shoulder. Penelope squeals as she hugs onto Olivia, they've always been the closest. A mysterious brown haired girl joins the group, Liv introducing her to all of them. Scarlett watches with curious, nosy eyes as they step away from the group and mingle with Olivia's boyfriend - the gorgeous Tate McCarthy. As always, the tequila goes down quickly as the summer heat kisses her already decently tanned skin. She suggests a toast to the evening when Olivia makes her way back to their group with her best friend Jane. Victoria graciously went to retrieve a few more shots so that everyone could. The words are slipping out of her mouth when it's her turn to toast. Thanks to the many beverages consumed, it takes a turn but is met with many laughs. The group disperses once more. Penelope is speaking about something but Scarlett isn't comprehending anything. For she cannot take her eyes off of Tate. Who was only a few feet away, across the lawn speaking to another guest of the party. The guest leaves and he's alone, sipping his drink. A dangerous idea pops into her head as she glances around for Olivia. She's not in sight and so it seems the like perfect opportunity. "Tate. Hi. It's been a long time." She greets him with a hug and a kiss on his cheek, just as everyone greeted each other. "I'm a little bit sad you didn't stay and chat with us very long." Her lips turn out in a pout.