complexfemalecharacter | [steve

It's probably dumb, but Maeve is actually sort of nervous about the party. The last time she went out and got herself a pretty dress and went somewhere like this with a boy, he'd ended up just getting drunk and ignoring her, leaving her feeling like shit, and then her brother's stupid crap had ended up getting her kicked out of school.

She tries telling herself it's different this time. Steve isn't like Jackson, for one, even if she hasn't figured out what the hell she's doing with him yet. And there's no school to get kicked out of, no Sean to fuck things up for her. No Otis to be an idiot at her, no Ola to make her feel even more like garbage.

It's just a party, she's told herself. One that could be a lot of fun if she let it. So she'd gone to her favourite second hand shop and searched until she found the dress, somehow the perfect fit for her and the right price. She has silver shoes and a little silver shawl to go over it, and she's done her hair up, swept back on one side, curled and cascading over her shoulder on the other.

She's even wearing less makeup. Not no makeup, but the black liner isn't quite so heavy and she's taken off some of her jewelry.

All in all, she feels quite pretty. She also can't stop nervously bouncing her knee as she sits on the couch and waits for Steve to arrive.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Maeve." The comment surprises him, because he definitely doesn't think that about her, and he doesn't want her thinking that about herself, but then she grins up at him and he realizes that she's kidding. Yeah, in a weird kind of way, but still.

"To a fancy hotel, actually, so I'm hoping you'll do it for free," he volleys back once he's gathered his wits, laughing as he curls his arm around her waist and leans in to press a kiss under her ear, rubbing his mouth against her skin just to tickle her.

"But first," he says once he pulls back, handing Maeve his beer before picking up the other one. "We drink."

She makes a face at him before taking a sip of the drink and looking around again. "First we drink," she agrees and even though she's just made a face at him, she's still smiling under all that, her lips pressed together in a tight smile.

"I guess, technically, since you paid for the hotel room, it's not totally free," she teases, looking way more amused than she thinks she has any right to. Before he can take it too seriously, she turns back to him and puts her arm around his waist, pulling him up against her.

"I'm kidding," she promises. "I know you don't think of me like that. I wouldn't be here with you if I thought you did."

The hug surprises Steve a little, but he reacts quickly enough and sets his beer down on the bar so he can wrap both of his arms around her. People have treated Maeve badly, and not just the assholes that she went to school with. People who were supposed to care for her let her down, and she's still dealing with all of that.

Steve's parents let him down too, but he knows that it doesn't compare. They were always and not at all that present in his life, but Steve never had to worry about having a roof over his head. That financial stability allowed Steve to overlook a lot of the other stuff. Maeve was let down by pretty much everyone, he's gathering, and the last thing he wants to do is be another one of those people.

"I'm glad that you're here with me," he says as he kisses her forehead, giving her another squeeze before pulling back. "I like you. I wouldn't want to be here at this stupid party with anyone else."

That's-- probably more than he should have said, but he's having a harder time trying to be so casual with this. He picks up his beer and takes her hand, leading her away so they can take better stock of the party. There's a giant Christmas tree in the middle of the space, maybe a bigger one than Steve has ever seen, and he lets out a surprised laugh. "Wow."

"I'm prettier than anyone else you know," she answers with a grin and a shrug, as if that's the only reason Steve is here with her. "Except maybe Robin and Rue, but I don't think either of them are interested in your dick. Or any dick."

Maeve lets Steve the way, holding her beer in one hand, her heels clicking on the floor as they walk. It feels weird, being in heels, she doesn't normally wear anything like this, but she feels pretty, too.

"This is a lot," she says, looking up at the tree. "I don't think I've ever seen a Christmas tree this big."

[steve - december 18]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject