Before. [ Helly is, despite everything, actually having a good time. Every gathering she attends is a wonder to her, because it's hosting more people than she's ever seen in her life, and she's taking it all in with a sense of almost childlike wonder. The movement, the noise – it's overwhelming, it's oppressive, it's almost brilliant. With a cup of hot cocoa, Helly lingers on the edge of the crowd, content to just watch, to take it all in. Even if most of it is bullshit, just a bunch of empty husks with bland, even-toothed smiles, it's still a sight. Now and then, she throws a grin at someone – maybe you remember her from knocking on your door with a bunch of questions, or maybe you just make the kind of eye contact that feels more honest and real than any of the townspeople can offer. ]
After. [ Helly gasps into awareness with the same raw shock that she'd felt when she woke up on the floor of the elevator, only to find Mark staring at her with an expression of awkward concern and uncomfortable paternalism. She becomes suddenly aware that she'd fallen, right into the snow, and the seat of her skirt is soaked through with snow, and she knows she should get up and pull herself together sooner rather than later, but the shock of it all keeps her grounded right where she is. She's barely aware of the cold.
She'd spilled her drink too, cocoa melting the snow around her and splattered over the hem of her skirt, and she glares at the stain miserably as if she can will it away just with a look. Miss Ruby, you have to get up! You have to get up, Miss Ruby! But she doesn't want to get up. ]
Later. [ She does get up eventually. She tries to enjoy the party, as late night becomes almost morning, but it's not long before she calls it quits. She needs to go home – and it's awful to think that that place has become home to her, but it's the only place that makes sense – and she needs to change her clothes, and she needs to think. She's not alone in her journey, though; she's barely made it away from the crowd when she spots someone she recognises from a house call, and hurries to catch up. ]
Interesting party, huh?
002.Dolls.
[ Shit. Shit shit shit. Shit. Shit!
Helly, crouched behind a kitchen counter in a store display, can't breathe. She feels sick, woozy, her vision swimming with a mixture of panic and the urge to just curl into a ball and put her arms over her face and shut her eyes and let it all just happen. She's made of stronger stuff than that – maybe, hopefully – but that doesn't mean the urge isn't there. She's alone, and that's bad for two reasons: one, there's nobody to help her, and two, Arthur. He'd expressed quickly enough that he had to rely on her, and even though she's not the only person in this town who can help him, it's tearing her up inside a little to think that they're separated, that he might actually be alone.
Lips pressed to a flat line, she squeezes her eyes shut for a long moment, and then tenses up as if she's about to make a move. Her plan is to get out of this store first, into a more open space – potentially extremely stupid, but it'll be easier to look for Arthur that way. Maybe she can call out to him. ]
003.Snow.
[ Helly's never been ice skating before, but honestly, it sounds kind of amazing. She grabs the pair of skates in the garage with the enthusiasm of someone about to go to their local store and slam down a winning lottery ticket on the countertop. The thought that this might actually be difficult does not even enter her mind until she's sitting on the edge of the lake and tying the laces of the skates, and she feels one of them slip out from under her. Well, she's certainly not going to succeed if she never tries, so —
Laces tied, Helly stands up, slides forward a few yards, wobbles awkwardly, and immediately falls flat on her back, knocking the wind clean out of her. ]
004.Wildcard.
[ plotting post. i'm open to wildcarding another aspect of the snow prompt, or if you want to squeeze in something somewhere else that's not covered by my starters, lmk (crowders) or just throw something else at me! you're more than welcome to handwave that helly has met your character already via my open post, even if you haven't tagged in – just let me know what energy your character would have had and/or what would have been discussed. i'm also happy to switch to prose if you prefer. ]
helly r. (lester) — severance
After. [ Helly gasps into awareness with the same raw shock that she'd felt when she woke up on the floor of the elevator, only to find Mark staring at her with an expression of awkward concern and uncomfortable paternalism. She becomes suddenly aware that she'd fallen, right into the snow, and the seat of her skirt is soaked through with snow, and she knows she should get up and pull herself together sooner rather than later, but the shock of it all keeps her grounded right where she is. She's barely aware of the cold.
She'd spilled her drink too, cocoa melting the snow around her and splattered over the hem of her skirt, and she glares at the stain miserably as if she can will it away just with a look. Miss Ruby, you have to get up! You have to get up, Miss Ruby! But she doesn't want to get up. ]
Later. [ She does get up eventually. She tries to enjoy the party, as late night becomes almost morning, but it's not long before she calls it quits. She needs to go home – and it's awful to think that that place has become home to her, but it's the only place that makes sense – and she needs to change her clothes, and she needs to think. She's not alone in her journey, though; she's barely made it away from the crowd when she spots someone she recognises from a house call, and hurries to catch up. ]
Interesting party, huh?
002.Dolls.
Helly, crouched behind a kitchen counter in a store display, can't breathe. She feels sick, woozy, her vision swimming with a mixture of panic and the urge to just curl into a ball and put her arms over her face and shut her eyes and let it all just happen. She's made of stronger stuff than that – maybe, hopefully – but that doesn't mean the urge isn't there. She's alone, and that's bad for two reasons: one, there's nobody to help her, and two, Arthur. He'd expressed quickly enough that he had to rely on her, and even though she's not the only person in this town who can help him, it's tearing her up inside a little to think that they're separated, that he might actually be alone.
Lips pressed to a flat line, she squeezes her eyes shut for a long moment, and then tenses up as if she's about to make a move. Her plan is to get out of this store first, into a more open space – potentially extremely stupid, but it'll be easier to look for Arthur that way. Maybe she can call out to him. ]
003.Snow.
Laces tied, Helly stands up, slides forward a few yards, wobbles awkwardly, and immediately falls flat on her back, knocking the wind clean out of her. ]
004.Wildcard.