𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔.

🍒 open to: anyone 21+ 🍒 muse: marisol rivera ( early-late 30s, art school dropout turned gallerist, she's giving hot weird girl energy ) 🍒 plot: your muse has visited the gallery she works at several times saying that they're interested in purchasing some pieces. marisol is catching on to the fact that they're not just there for the art. 🍒 please read guidelines before replying!

" what makes you say that? " playing coy, cleo arches a brow at the striking woman, dark eyes gleaming with the promise of a challenge. " perhaps i'm just waiting for something to speak to me. " or someone, she adds silently, reveling in the gallerist's full, undivided attention — it had only taken several visits. " i'm very particular, you see. hardly one to risk it all for the first pretty picture that catches my eye. "

" who said i'm here to play at all tonight? " greer tosses back with a sigh — a sharp contrast to the smirk that tugs at the corners of her lips. she's already begun her games, whether she'll admit it or not. " not the sort you're thinking about. more like the getting to be my own boss sort of benefits. " sure, she has people she answers to, but greer gatlin is a self-run empire. " there's nothing better than total freedom for my writing. i don't have an editor to please. i don't have anyone giving their two cents. i write what i want, when i want to. i'm sure you can't say the same. "

" because we don't know how to do anything else. " the plural slips through the cracks before he has the sense to edit it out, but he passes it off as intentional. the game was everything, and they'd both made playing their livelihoods. " finesse is a century-old institution. we're talking generations of readership, a veritable backlog of influence without which your blog wouldn't exist. " probably makes him sound like a corporate twat, but fuck it, he was proud of his work. if the temptation to fly solo came around now and then, it was just that — a temptation. " but sure, your way sounds great, too. "

" i don't see the issue with adding a few more to the pile. " it's how she lives her life, after all, wrapped in mystery with so much hidden away. she has a part to play as a dutiful wife, a trophy on her husband's arm, but she's so much more than meets the eye. always has been. in emmett, she's found someone who recognizes that. " there are worse ways to go, " the blonde teases with a shrug, " i think if you were gonna die at my hand, you'd probably thank me first. "

" hubris will be your downfall — that is, if ego doesn't get to you first. " even still, he doesn't bother pushing the issue, doesn't deny that a death at her hand, while morbid in a way that rattles even his sepia-toned sensibilities, certainly beat all other alternatives. " i guess i can think of worse eyes to gaze into as i shuffle off this mortal coil. " emmett allows, as if he wouldn't gaze into those eyes indefinitely if she let him. " not sure it's my time yet. there's still things i want to do — finish this drink, for instance. " he salutes her with his glass, then tips the remainder of his fruity cocktail down his throat. " i never know what you're supposed to do with the garnish. "

junipers eyebrows sprang up and a smile sprung to her face at the start of his sentence ... only for her to slump as trey got continued. she'd thought that she had him. " oh my god. have you always been so boring, wright? live a little. nothing is gonna hurt you. i'm there to protect you. " she pouted her lips - half because she was sulking and half because a thought had struck her. " if you don't wanna do that ... " she giggled before her next suggestion, " well, then, how about one of these swinger parties? see what that is all about? "

her hopeful expression crumples like a paper bag beneath his foot, and god damn, the sight is pathetic enough to change his mind. almost. " i've seen you handle a pair of safety shears. how exactly do you plan to protect us from vengeful spirits? can't exactly talk them to death, can you? " rolling his eyes at the giggly segue, he braces for what was certain to be an even nuttier alternative. " while 'swinging with seniors' has excellent reader appeal, i have to share a building with these people. " trey shakes his head furiously, as if trying to cast the alarming visuals from his mind. " so as much as my boss would ream me for passing on column-fodder — no, absolutely not. "

" well, you were certainly convincing, " ola replies with a laugh, " don't tell me . . . aspiring actress? this city is full of 'em. " and yet, somehow, this mystery woman doesn't give off that sort of vibe to her. she's been around her fair share of those, being in the industry herself, and she can spot them a mile away. " second best? now, i don't deserve the first? i'm willing to travel, " she teases, making quick work of readying herself now that there's the promise of breakfast on the table. " for a breakfast burrito? always. lead the way. "

" worse — influencer. " an obligatory nose scrunch at the term, like her online presence was something to be ashamed of. while zara had outgrown her own mental hangups several million followers ago, she hadn't yet shaken the habit of performing them for the sake of others. " still wanna hang out with me? " she prods, only half joking. this feels a lot like a coming-out moment, except the closet was made of glass and papered with blueapron brand deals. " pinky promise not to stick a camera in your face. first bites are sacred — even in my line of work. "

she didn't even want to think about what might happen if taylor and her other friends heard what had happened here. she knew that it wouldn't be worth it. it would not end well. that much she knew. maybe she shouldn't let her friends dictate what it was that she did. maybe this was needed so she could break free of all of that. " the rest of them aren't as stupid as i am. clearly. " that had to be what it came down to. she'd made a stupid decision, after all. " next time? " arabella quirked an eyebrow, " what makes you think that there will be a next time ? " though she hadn't left yet. she supposed that she wasn't exactly helping her case by still lingering. why was she lingering? why didn't she just leave?

" brains ain't got nothin' to do with it, sweetheart, " west counters, flashing a toothy grin. in a moment of horrifying clarity, he realizes he's trying to make her feel better. oh well — this version of bella's not nearly as fun to fuck with. " plenty of switched-on women have found themselves right where you're standing. " it dawns on him, thumb still grazing her bottom lip, that she still hasn't shoved him away. several openings to cut and run, yet here she stands, challenging his confidence with the quirk of a brow. " because you're still here. " his words are hushed but sure, a far cry from the typical top-volume swagger. " because you walked into my bar last night looking for something only i could give you, and now that you’ve got a taste for it — well, i wager nothin' else will suffice. "

emilia almost jumped when she heard her best friend's voice echo inside her bedroom. "shit, zara." emilia grabbed her t-shirt from the floor and slipped it on quickly. "i'm so sorry i lost track of time." her eyes traced down to the iced matchas in her hand. just as she was about to profusely apologize again, she realized zara had just complimented her. the blonde's cheeks burned as she reached over to turn off her camera. emilia wasn't shy, clearly, she posted herself for the world to see. but there was something about zara saying she looked amazing made her cheeks flush and her heart beat a tiny bit faster. "why thank you." she joked as she sat down on her bed. "but ouch, is this your way of saying you've never seen my content before? i'm insulted, as my best friend, you're supposed to be my hype woman." her tone was flirty as she grabbed one of the matchas from the brunette. "thank you for this, i needed this bad."

" you have nothing to apologize for. i should have knocked. i mean, really, who raised me? " slack-jawed, she watches as emilia leans forward to shut the camera off, giving her an unobstructed view her perfect ass. by the time she settles back on to the bed, zara has managed to regain some semblance of control over her features. she could do this. she could share a matcha with her half-dressed roommate. she was unflappable. she was evolved. she was — em leans forward again, grabbing one of the drinks from her tray — no better than a man. " i mean, i've seen some of it. your teasers on ig. " as she plops down on the bed, she feels her face grow hot, both from the way emilia is looking at her and the memory of what she did the last time one of those promo pics showed up on her feed. " but not, like, the good stuff. you know, behind the paywall. "

for @1ovebitez

" because we look hot together? " luca offers helpfully, all smiles as he steps on to the pavement beside her, blinking the setting sun from his eyes. the shoot — a fragrance ad where, for once, the focus wasn't entirely on his junk — had been a unanimous success, but the moment the cameras stopped rolling, jamie had gone frosty, practically storming off set. up until now, luca was prepared to write it off as exhaustion. after all, it had been a long day, and while he was bursting with energy, he knew it was hardly the norm. but then the last of the spots disappear from his sight, leaving him with an unobstructed view of jamie — and she looks pissed. " what are you talking about? of course we're friends. " a small furrow forms between his brows, but he's too confused to worry about the long-term implications of wrinkles. " did i do something wrong? i thought we were great today. but if i messed up ... forgot your good side or to listerine after lunch ... " he trails off, clearly concerned he'd been a bad partner. " shit, now you have to tell me. "

" forgive me, i didn't realize it required so much brainpower to wolf down a kale salad! must be a you thing. " already she regrets hanging up the phone. she's more equipped to handle flighty bridezillas than mouthy underlings, but that doesn't mean she can't rise to the occasion — especially when said occasion was a good old-fashioned bitch-off. " i do mind, actually. " the words are sweet, too sweet, like curdled buttercream. " you see, some of us don't get to clock out. some of us have to bust their asses twenty-four hours a day without so much as time for a lärabar between phone calls. " make no mistake, she wouldn't trade this life for the world, but fuck if she wasn't hangry all the time. " now if you don't mind, i have a bride getting married here this weekend and she wants the pillows in the honeymoon suite extra fluffy. run along! "

it was true. vaughn would rather die than move back in with her parents, especially in the midst of the divorce that should've happened long before she was born. she forced out a bit of a laugh and nodded. "yeah. i mean, like, maybe it's fine now." she had been so adamant about not getting thrown into her family's bullshit, but trying to avoid her own 'drama' was a form of that. get it together. "maybe you could get a dog? dogs love leftovers." she was doing her best to pretend like she was fine, that everything was fine.

" 'maybe it's fine now'? " her voice drops an octave, doing a tony-worthy impression of vaughn's annoyingly indifferent tone. " who are you and what have you done with my roommate? " though the question is light-hearted, her heart sinks beneath the teasing facade. they'd had a good thing going, the two of them, and while a better woman might let her walk out that door with her head held high, priya was stubborn. " i'm allergic to dogs. " she discards the suggestion with the wave of a hand — despite the fact that vaughn would have personally seen her fawn over several canine pedestrians this week alone. " besides, a dog can't make me laugh. not like you do. "

" you realize this makes you sound like even more of a fan, right? " stella replies, blunt as ever. maybe if she were less jaded, she'd find violeta's rambling sort of endearing. unfortunately for the other skater, that's not the case. " you find me fascinating. " god, something about that makes her stomach turn. " look, i'm just a person. one who has a right to privacy. you'll do well to remember that about yourself. you don't have to answer any questions you don't want to. just like i don't have to listen to you list off reasons why you have a poster of me mid triple-axle on your bedroom wall. " her words drip with sarcasm. " look, i'm not sure if you just want to fawn over me or if you're looking for some kind of magic advice, but you're barking up the wrong tree. i'm not the person you idolize. not anymore. "

" you say fan like it's a bad thing. " an attempt at a joke that, like every other word to exit her mouth in the last ten minutes, falls hopelessly flat. she wishes she could hit the reset button on this conversation — or better yet, that she could snap her fingers and be back in her cardboard bed in the olympic village, this whole night nothing more than a melatonin-induced bad dream. " i'm not looking for anything. i just wanted to get to know you. without all the noise. " she lifts a hand, indicating the neon sign hanging above the bar. five interlocking rings — this noise was her life. she'd been silly to think she had anything else to offer. " i'm a great skater. i know you're not supposed to say that, but i am. it's just ... the problem with being great, is that i never had the time or space for anything else. especially talking to people. " a laugh at her own expense, then her eyes go somber. " but that's no excuse. i'm really, truly sorry for invading your privacy. "

" it is a pretty memorable face — and body. " following her questing fingers, luca watches with rapt attention as she strokes the length of his abdomen, bare save for the black bow tie secured around his collar. heat prickles at the nape of his neck, and the tray wobbles ever so slightly in his hands, threatening to scatter his bacon-wrapped dates to the wind. he's not the type to shy away from touch, but he is technically on the clock. better keep everything above board. " you really think i'd be here, talking to models with my shirt off if i had a girlfriend? " actually, yeah, that does sound like him, but it is kind of his job. " billabong! i remember now. your billboard is, like, right outside my apartment. "