Punks and Drunks (River)

Everybody has somebody to look up to. Some look up to their close friends and family, some look up to the glamorous dolls they see on TV, and some… some are like River. River looks up to dolls who aren't afraid to express themselves no matter who’s watching or who might be judging from afar. 

 Over the years, River had eased himself into a complementary fashion. A little bit of punk, a little bit of street, but nothing too harsh. His daily cropped hoodie and loose pants were comfortable while still showing a little bit of edge in the purple and black striping. He felt good when he got dressed for the day and looked into the mirror. Sometimes, though, he wondered if there was something more… and today, he found it. 

 Wandering around at night after a tough loss at Angora’s, he noticed a small meeting adjourning and disbursing from a dimly lit alleyway. One look at the participant’s tall, split horns told all he needed to know. The Envy Support Group. Not a bad lot of folks, just misunderstood and perhaps a little neglected from their upbringing outside of the motherly demonic embrace of M. 

 The leader, Jackal, was waving bye with half-hearted grins at the leaving participants. She leaned against the cool bricks of the building and sighed to herself, pulling and lighting a cigarette from her Marlburrow pack. 

“That is… the coolest person I’ve ever seen.” River thought to himself. He was a bit hesitant of smoking, just based on the connotations, but the digs were undeniably wicked. The nonchalant tank top and flannel combo. The ripped jeans from thighs to shins. The spiked piercings in her black ears. 

River was both fascinated and inspired. He looked down at his own outfit, drab streetwear in comparison with not an ounce of spikes or rips, and frowned. “She’ll never talk to me in this state.” He huffed and decided it was time to get grungy. 

The next day, River made his way to the grungiest shop in the Burrowgatory. He chose everything in dark decadent black with hints of his usual lavender to match his hair. The shop worker quirked an eyebrow as River stared at the display wall of jewelry of all kinds, from belts to rings. The worker pointed out some items that would suit River from behind the register, and he thanked them several times before, during, and after checking out. The outfit was going to be just perfect!

River looked up the ESG schedule to decide the perfect time to come hanging around, and the next Friday was going to be perfect. After working a minor gig as a bass guitarist for a local singer, River was back at his home burrow and ready to get dressed. 

He pulled on the ripped skinny jeans, donned the Highway To Tail band tank, and pulled on a cozy faux leather jacket. All it was missing was his favorite fingerless gloves and the chunkiest pair of boots he owned. For added effect, River smudged on some kohl eyeliner and threw on some silvery weighted jewelry. The fit was complete.

“Hey. Hey. Hi there,” River practiced his introduction in thought, and winced as his voice caught in his throat from sheer nerves. This will have to do. River skulked out to the same alleyway, and right on time the meeting was adjourning and Jackal was saying her goodbyes to the small antlered crowd. As she lit her cigarette in the same usual pattern of behavior, River strode up and attempted to sound as cool as possible.

“Hey,” He said hoarsely, realizing he hadn't said a word aloud in hours. “Would you, uh, like to go get a drink sometime? I know this bar where they say at least half the patrons must be vampires.” He finished proudly. River raised a questioning brow and slowly looked him up and down. 

“Sure. Are you ready to go right now?” Jackal responded, lacking emotion in the response but the words meant River had passed her test. Jackal tilted her head in the direction of the town center and gave him a slow blink.

River shrugged and nodded, the perfect balance of masking his excitement but also giving an affirmative. Jackal smirked and laughed lightly as she turned to go towards the Burrowgatory town center.

“We better get a move on then… before sun-up. I’d hate to see half the bar evaporate or turn into bats before we got to dance with them.” River followed behind excitedly. He wanted to ask a million questions but decided that would be better held for when the alcohol allowed them both to loosen up a little. 

“Oh, and wear these,” River said, turning her body slightly to pass her spiked bracelets off to him, “I think they suit you.”