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The venue of supposed righteous self endowed worship was not the last place Iris expected to find herself tonight— nonetheless, there she stood, a little frazzled.
And by righteous self endowed worship, she meant to playfully tease Viri. Because every one at this club was wearing the most bold, yet dorky outfits she’s ever laid eyes on.
All the more, Iris found herself being in a line with several other women and men. All of which wore very different, colorful, and spunky ensembles to fit in.
Iris tried to contemplate the fashion choices. Because she was absolutely enraptured in the making of clothes, from the sewn fabric to the texture of what clung rightfully to the skin…
It called out to her, so of course it came to a shock to her that she couldn’t directly read the theme.
The theme was fluorescent.
Which was readable since it was written down on an invite flyer she found in his room while snooping for her phone he playfully hid.
But everyone was different genres of colorful, different genres of vivid artificial shades.
She looked down at herself nervously. Iris had put together an old dress she thrifted by sewing in some bedazzled beads into patterns, adding lace into hemline and sleeves, and of course— the scrunch socks and bright neon jade heels she brought.
A few added touches were pearls necklaces and bright red eyeshadow. She briefly recalls the moment before leaving the conversation she had with Mango.
-
“Dear, are you sure about the socks and heels? I mean— that was fashionable when I was your age.” He teases, looking up and down at the dress she wore as she stood in front of a mirror.
Iris shook her head, with an amused smile. “No, it’s perfect! And plus, I need to test my dance skills in heels. Y’know?” She reasoned, and Mango only bellowed in laughter.
Shaking his head affectionately, Mango patted her shoulder. “Alright then. Be careful, don’t do drugs— and especially none from Viri.” Iris couldn’t tell if he was joking or not.
“I’m 19, Mango! The idea of even taking drugs from him is like?- Taking candy from a baby, probably! It’s, like, too easy!” She joked, and he rolled his eyes even at the idea. All in good fun.
-
Iris was rushed back from her thoughts when a bouncer was in front of her, she looked up and quickly flashed an awkward smile at the impatient stick.
“Uh- oh- so, I’m like? Friends with Viri? Let me find the text he sent me with the invite…” She mumbled. The guy didn’t seem to follow her track, and began moving to allow her to take her leave.
When, of course, the agitating voice boomed from the crowd. The man himself. The DJ that frequented this club, work style.
“IRIS!” He shouted, and unintentionally her eyes lit up, going to move over to him.
The bouncer quickly intercepted however, and soon she was being pushed back. “Strict policy-“
“Chill, dude. This is Iris— best friend of dork-nation.” Viri, finally in front of the two, was now the intercepter.
She smiled warmly at him, snickering at the nickname. “Dude, could you not put me on blast at the club of all places?” Iris joked, and soon enough was being let in while Viri wrapped an arm around her waist.
The two walked into the scene. A fray of people, all with laughter amidst loud music played over speakers before the show actually began.
“Jeez, I can’t believe this place is where you were basically born.” She suggests, giving a timid look around. She's been outside of clubs before. This was a new experience entirely.
Viri shook his head, a toothy grin on his face. Iris could see his crooked teeth and slight overbite in full display. She kind of loved it.
And soon enough, Viri sat both of them down in a back room finally. The throbbing music quieted down back here in a much darker space. “No yeah! My career is kept entirely afloat thanks to this awesome barn of party central disasters.” He quipped.
“Well, you better show me how darn good at this you are!” Iris punched his shoulder lightly.
His outfit consisted of a neon blue and green windbreaker crop-top and a bunch of jewelry.
Alongside, of course, his traditional fishnet gloves and shirt. Actually, Iris wouldn’t be surprised if it was full body.
He caught her staring quite quickly though, “Aw, like the goods?” He gave a sly look, leaning his face at her.
Dismissively shaking her head, and somewhat embarrassed, she explains. “No! It’s just… is that glow in the dark?” She points out his windbreaker.
He snorts, “Well duh! That’s part of the florescent life-style, girl!” Before she could get any further acquisition in, a guy came into the room and explained that Viri would be performing soon.
And quickly, he was shuffling out of the room. Smearing some blue lipstick on and adding a fake Monroe birthmark to his face. Right before he bursted out of there, he looked at her, “Make sure to save me some of those dance moves, Iris!” Viri exclaimed.
Iris couldn’t tell whether or not to swoon or hurl. She got up from the backstage area and watched as he entered the DJ booth, mixers everywhere alongside consoles.
She recalled how messy his room was, and how this didn’t look much different.
Once onto the dance floor, she was lucky to have been so close by because the sea of sticks seemed to multiply. Many bright flashing colors, fog machines, and thumping remixes chimed through the floor.
That same throbbing sensation took over her body through verbose vibration after vibration, and Iris was loving it. She bounced her head up and down and occasionally was mimicking others moves set just to get a good look.
Iris occasionally just watched through sweaty bangs at Viri. He was so experimental, so relaxed yet vibrant when he was in the flow of his music.
His hands moved quickly but his body moved quicker somehow. He made sure to have fun alongside everyone else.
But as the night carried on, Iris occasionally talked and chatted up strangers, by the time an intermission was over; she was being scooped from behind.
Iris froze and quickly realized the handsy individual, “Heeeeey lady! Man, it’s hot. Do you wanna grab some water with me?” He semi whispered in her ear. Iris couldn’t stop the warmth in her face.
Nodding, the two exited to a nearby bar. “You are doing great, Viri! Like- seriously, I had no clue you looked so much cooler when performing.” Iris gushed while taking a sip of water.
“Yeah?” Is all Viri said, his hand holding his face up with an almost too adoring smile. His slick bull-shittery was getting on her nerves.
“Not what I meant!!! I just- meant- the colors? Like… the lighting! Yeah.” She corrected, looking away with a smile trying to be bit back.
“Well, I’m glad you think so. Honestly I was kind of nervous inviting you but, this has been a blast watching you dance all night. You’re really cute when you talk to people.” He explains slowly, tracing the rim of his cup.
She looked at him with a deeper shade of purple. “Really?” She questioned, feeling an edge of tension. Not necessarily bad though. “I- um.. could take you up on that offer from earlier.” Iris itched the back of her neck.
Viri lit up for a second, but was quick to shy away with a wide smile. “Y’know, I don’t really remember what exactly I had- um, offered earlier? Maybe you could…” He began tracing his hand over to hers. “Repeat yourself?”
The two embraced each other’s fingers. And soon, Iris, huffing— gave a look. “Just dance with me, you nerd.” Viri was quick to lift himself onto his feet and rushed over to pull her onto the dance floor.
The music that played over the speakers guided them for who knows how long. It eventually slowed and the two found themselves somehow slow dancing at the club when most had left.
Maybe it was coincidence, or maybe this was all a long term set up made up by Viri. But as Iris found herself leaning her head into him, they swayed back and forth to a synth-y slow pop song.
“This song sucks! Haha.” Viri joked, and Iris eyed him playfully.
She rested her chin up against his chest. “I thought you made the playlists that play?” She asked.
Viri shook his head unevenly, “It’s- like, totally a randomized mix of me and some other DJ’s that host here too.” She explained.
Iris hummed, “Yeah? So you don’t like that we’re dancing to it?” She chuckled tiredly.
With a nervous smirk, he shook his head. “Y’know I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He whispered.
She couldn’t help but whisper back, “Slow dancing to a shitty 2010s pop romance song, huh? That's your idea of romance?” Her loving gaze never faltered.
Neither did his. “If it’s with you, Iris. I think anyone could tell you,” He raised his voice slightly, an octave higher for her to hear clearly, “We belong together, babe.”
The flashing corresponding colors of blues and pinks, all saturated beyond belief shadowed a mist of opaque beauty.
And in the center of it, lies two stupid teenagers slow dancing.
Iris knew with her stubborn nature, and Viri’s avoidant habits… the two wouldn’t take tonight as enough initiative to maybe seal the deal.
Metaphorically speaking, finally smash faces. Totally.
But when they did eventually, it would be nights like this Iris would look back onto most fondly.
Later that night, Viri and her walked out to where Lemmy was parked. She spared the two an unfalteringly predictable gaze. “You two stayed much later than expected. No less, in a fall rainstorm is running soon.”
They both nervously smiled and ducked into the car, exhausted. Lemmy cleared her throat, “Seatbelts please, I’m not trying to lose both of you in one night to these wet roads.”
The rest of the drive went by slowly. Slowly, leaning on another. Slowly, almost dancing a fickle line of love. Leaning on one another.
Anyone could tell her, for most certainty, they belonged together. His words would echo in her brain the rest of the night. Haunting a dream or two, passed out on his shoulder.