sarah paulson character - one shots

it's empowering(Alice Macray)

Info: You're a feminist so you and your friends go to Houston, Texas for the ERA convention. That's when you meet Phyllis Schlafly's 'friend', Alice. She is anti-ERA, or so you think.

Trigger warning: Spoilers(Mrs. America), Alcohol, Smoking, Mention of drugs, Closeted!!

I got off the bar stool I was sat on and began walking outside. My friends had went to a bar somewhere in Houston but I didn't want to leave the convention. I loved it here as there was loads of amazing and iconic women everywhere. I walked outside and was quite surprised at how warm it was for 12AM. I walked around until I got to some stairs where loads of women, all very obviously gay, were sitting and talking while music played in the background. That's when I spotted a woman. She wore a lilac dress and had a brown, leather bag next to her. She didn't fit in. I couldn't put my finger on it at first, then I saw her badge. She was anti-ERA. I felt queasy and really confused. What was she doing here? Why doesn't she, a woman, support women's rights? Why would she want to support Phyllis Schlafly? I squeezed my hands into fists before calming down. But I wasn't done here.

I approached the woman and could see more details now. She had mascara around and under her eyes like she had been crying. I felt bad for her for a split second because she looks like she has had a bad night but I instantly remembered who this woman supported. Then I just felt confused as she was laying with a plate of food on her chest as she pushed the food into her mouth with her finger. "Excuse me ma'am, but what are you doing?" She looked up at me and squinted before whispering back to me. "I discovered a better way to eat." Then she pointed as if asking me to watch what she was doing. I just stood there watching her in confusion as she shovelled the food into her mouth. "No, no. I meant like what are you doing- here?" I looked around and she followed my gaze but still seemed confused. "Well I got bored, and hungry. So I got food and then came here. Why are you asking like I've done something wrong?" I scratched the back of my head before talking. "Well this is like the lesbian part of the convention. And I can tell you're not a lesbian." Her eyes widened in a almost cartoon-like-way and she sat up fast. She tried to stand up fast but fell but I caught her in time. She just froze while looking at my hands which were around her forearm before she looked at my eyes. "T- thank you." I smiled at her, still with a puzzled look on my face and I let go of her arm. "I have to go-" She looked a bit spooked and I put a strand of hair behind my ear as she walked off towards the building.

***

I had sat with some women outside, drinking and talking about why we all think ERA is important. We all had valid and all basically the same reasons for caring about women's rights. We all cared deeply about abortion rights and how it's our decision and our bodies so we would get to choose. We also cared about equality too and considering we were all women and also lesbians, it only made sense to care about the well-being of women. I eventually decided to leave after I could feel a buzz from a few beers so I walked inside the, still busy, convention and to the elevator. I was thinking about going straight to my hotel room but something inside me was dying to go to the bar. Bad, I know, but one more drink couldn't hurt right? After I ordered a martini, I walked over to a free stool that was on the balcony, overlooking the entrance of the building. I didn't even notice the person, or should I say woman, next to me.

"Well hello stranger." I turned and saw the same woman from before. She had a devilish smirk on her face and she had her head resting on her fist. "Well technically you're not wrong since I don't even know your name." I pulled a cigarette out and lit it. I took a drag and blew the smoke out of my mouth before returning my gaze to the woman. "Alice, Alice Macray." I smiled and offered her a drag. She took the cigarette and took a drag. She coughed a lot though and seemed to be new to smoking. "I'm (y/n), (y/n) (y/l/n)." She passed the cigarette back to me and nodded her head. I didn't even notice until now but her pupils were dilated and it was obvious she was on something. "Not much of a smoker I see." She shook her head and I just chuckled before taking another puff. "So what brings you here Alice?" She sipped her drink and a waiter finally came over and handed me a martini. I flashed him a smile before looking back at Alice as she put her drink back down on the counter. "I'm here for my friend, Phyllis." I opened my eyes wide and choked on my drink as the realisation hit me. She meant Phyllis Schlafly, the founder of the conservative, anti-ERA group, the eagle forum. "She couldn't make it so I'm filling in for her-" I cut Alice off by unintentionally laughing. I instantly stopped when I saw her looking at me and pressed my lips together.

"What's so funny?" She seemed to be more serious now. "Nothing- it's just. Well, why do you support that woman?" I couldn't help what came out of my mouth but before I could take it back or run away and hide in a box, I got an answer I wasn't expecting. "You know, I've been asking myself that very same question for a while now." I looked at her with a shocked expression. "That's understandable, I would question my judgement if I supported someone like her." I had no idea where this sudden boost of confidence was coming from but I wasn't complaining. "I think it's just because I've known her for so long. She is like the sister I never had, and I swore to support her through anything, no matter what," Alice looked at her drink and seemed to be ashamed of herself. I placed my hand on her bicep and rubbed her arm to comfort her. She flinched at my movement but soon relaxed and looked back up at me with teary eyes. "But I don't know how much longer I can pretend that it doesn't bother me." I looked at her puzzled as a tear fell down her face. "Alice, what are you saying?" I moved my hand down and grabbed hers in which she placed her other hand on top off mine. "I- I think I like women." She whispered and now she was full blown crying. I was shocked. I didn't even know how to react. I stood up and helped her up as she looked at me confused. "C'mon, I'm taking you somewhere more private as I imagine you don't want to be seen crying and confessing you're a lesbian to a lesbian by Phyllis, right?" She frowned and nodded as she followed me my room.

I closed the door after Alice entered and sat on my bed. I sat next to her and held her hands. She didn't look at me though, her eyes were fixed on the floor as if she wasn't even here. "I'm sorry you have to deal with that, Alice." She looked up to me after being pulled out of her deep thoughts. "I don't know what to do, (y/n). I can't keep pretending." She began crying again so I shushed her and pulled her in for a hug. She wrapped her hands around my waist as she buried her face in the crook of my neck and sobbed quietly. I stroked her hair and shushed her. I didn't care anymore. Now that I knew the truth, I would support her. She was one of us. She just had to pretend. It made me feel sick. The idea of being closeted for all these years. Having to support someone who wants people like you to have no rights. I also noticed a wedding ring. And I knew she wasn't married to a woman, like she would have wanted to be. This poor woman. I couldn't even imagine how much she was hurting. I just sat there as she cried into my neck.

When she finished crying, she pulled away and looked into my eyes. I could see pain in hers. "Maybe I could help you?" I spoke while staring at the wall behind her. When I looked back at her, she had furrowed eyebrows and a questioning look. "You don't have to hide, Alice. Maybe you could do what you have always wanted." She gulped and looked at the floor as she thought. "What's it like?" I looked at her confused and she looked into my eyes again. Our hands were still connected on her lap. "What's what like?" I didn't know what she meant. "All of it. Being out of the closet. Having fun being who you are. Going to feminist conventions but as a feminist. Being able to work a normal job. Being happy." She whispered the last bit and I had tears in my eyes. This woman had never felt these things before? I would never be able to live like she was now. "𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜. You feel free. You feel happy. That's why I want to help you. I want you to be free." She smiled at me and nodded before whispering. "I want that too." I pulled her in for another hug and we stayed like that for a moment. I would do anything for this woman. She deserved happiness.

a/n - ok so i know this is lengthy but i like it and i hope u do too! have a good day/night as always and i love u guys <3