icarus flew too cloes to the sun

Cassie just chuckles, resisting the urge to shake her head. One day he'll believe her and she's prepared to wait for that day no matter how long it might take. If those around him didn't believe in him, he'd have more reason to slip. Cassie wouldn't allow herself to be that person — to not be a positive influence on everyone she meets, not just those closest to her. Besides, making a few mistakes is human — her expectations are better managed with the reminder nobody's perfect, herself included. "We're equally as clueless, equally as ready to be wowed by this underrated masterpiece." She laughs, silently grateful it's two dollar Tuesday so that even with a terrible watch, the money spent on snacks will still be well-spent, perhaps even more so if the movie truly is that bad. "I honestly can't even remember what it's called. Don't tell me; I want to be surprised. If I miss the title card, maybe I can try and guess it at the end."

Banks mimed that he zipped up his lips and threw the key away behind him, not sure that he could remember the title or even bother to enough to disappoint Cass. If she didn't want to know the title, then they were both going in blind as bats and hope for best with a two dollar movie. It was never packed, which made it more of an occasion for the two of them than he put into words as he appreciated the fact that they were packed into their seats with too many people around. He still had a problem with larger crowds, which he was working on slowly and trying not to let it affect him. "Maybe if we think it's about to be shown, I'll cover your eyes so you can't even get a hint until the very end," he joked as he tossed back a mint with a bit of a grin. "Plus it can't be any worse or better than last week's movie. That one took the cake in terms of being terrible and good all in the same breath."

LOCATION: lego building @ light year library STATUS: closed / banks @aetherfms

"A lego adult?" Banks couldn't remember the last time that he'd built anything with legos, if ever, but Major was always one up for trying something new. Part of Banks wondered if he was taking on some community service hours by always dragging Banks along with him. First it was the mending circle, now this as he glanced around at the all ages that seemed to be a lot younger than them. Not as many as before, when there were quite a few older than them as well as he leaned forward just a bit. "If it isn't a team build, then know your solo build is going to be a two person build 'cause there's no way you're leaving me alone to get bulldozed over by some tweens who want it all to themselves."

Aaron smiled sheepishly, a slight blush on his cheeks. He had been paid to sing for years… it’s not as though his voice was bad but it was embarrassing, constantly getting lost in his own thoughts. He didn’t want to bother anyone else around him; that was obviously not his intention. “Oh god…. lame. That’s so lame!” He was a man pushing fourty, but sometimes he felt embarrassed, like he was much younger. Like it mattered what people around him thought. “Well… the song was You Make Loving Fun, by Fleetwood Mac. Which, is an excellent song, if you ask me. The people should be lucky to have it on the playlist! Anyone comes for anything by this band, and they are just revealing their lack of taste.”

"Some people enjoy ruining other people's good time," he replied with a shrug, knowing that he didn't fit in either group most of the time. Banks tended to stick to himself unless he wasn't allowed to be alone by way of his roommate or the few people that bothered to put up with him. It was part of the reason why he was going to just subtle sabotage to ruin the time of those who were wildly over complaining. that way it wouldn't fall back on him later if Monroe ever found out as he shot a wiry grin at the other. "I'll take your word for it. I mostly just want to see them shit themselves when it comes on over the speakers after they've been whining about it." @aaronjacoblevy

fiona approaches banks, expecting a casual exchange of hellos, checking in to see what's up, and then going their separate ways. but this feels more confrontational than she anticipated. ouch. she thinks as he mentions being dropped - her willful blindness of the ripple effect leaving ethan would cause. a slight smile finds her lips, her eyes following the kebab he's gesturing wildly with. despite the awkwardness and the churning in her stomach, her tone remains casual. "well, a kebab is a pretty good reason to resurface, don't you think?" she asks, taking a bite of the veggie kebab for good measure. a quip is her usual way to deflect, and so far, it has a 93% success rate. "you look great though - how are things? i heard you've been working at the fire station."

it was a reason, sure, because mostly it had been cass's idea to get out more and experience life once again rather than stay the shut in that he'd gotten so good at being after the past few years. something that resonated with seeing ethan again after his own stint. it didn't bode well for his own transgressions that never seemed to be that far behind him when his temper would continue to rise up whenever it deemed it. fiona didn't deserve it, but it was like a second nature as he took a steadying breath and lowered the damn kebab. "if you say so," he commented when it felt as if he might be able to get through the conversation without throwing it to the ground and walking away. it wasn't his problem or his shit to get stirred into, but it felt that way in some fashion as he pressed his lips together and couldn't even form a smile in response. "shit's less of a shitshow than the last time that we talked," he agreed with a nod. "got a steady job that should stay that way as long as you don't go starting any fires on purpose around here." it was attempt at a joke, but was sure that it fell flat as he glanced at the somewhat forgotten kebab. "how've you been?"

who: open | @starteroaks - capping at 4 when: early afternoon, today where: white rabbit bookstore

Banks shook his head, even though the armful of books were moments away from ending up on the floor between them if the other had taken one more wrong step. Or he hadn't stepped back fast enough himself. He was used to people not seeing him when they were engrossed in books, but this was the first time it was because someone was dancing. "Nah, and if you had.. it wouldn't be the worst thing that's happened to me when I'm working here," he commented with a shrug as he slid one book into place on a shelf to his right. "You'd be surprised by the shit that people do when they think people aren't watching them every second."

"i know, i know." ethan grins and falls onto banks' couch, taking in the apartment he shared with cassie. he won't ever say it, but he gets a sort of proud feeling in his chest seeing everything banks has accomplished since his release. "i mean, i'm not technically off the hook yet. i still need to do like 200 hours worth of community service and random piss test, but anyway-" he gestures dismissively, "enough about me. how have you been? save anyone lately?"

It was easy enough to say that he'd been there and done all that, including some court mandated anger management sessions with group therapy. All of which did nothing but manage to piss him off to no end when he'd finally gotten out and the guilt was pushing him over the edge. It wasn't until things started to change that it eased up, even if it was enough to pause and make note of choices before letting his temper take over completely. Like how much it would upset Cassie if he fucked up again. "They'd have to let me leave the station to do that." It was mostly a joke. "They do, but I don't think they necessarily trust me yet or think that I won't fuck it all up. They're probably right."

That sign had been up for far longer than Monroe could remember and he had half a mind to take it down and just work more hours himself. That option wasn't ideal because he already didn't leave enough time for his personal life, or lack there of one. He just was tired of seeing it hanging there with nobody interested in taking up the empty spot. "You'd be surprised, but it's all good, it's what I have you for." He said with a laugh as he looked to Banks. "I'm not gonna let you leave without being paid for the time you were here Banks, in food and money because I don't need Cass comin' after me for letting you leave without something to eat."

"You're paying me in food, 'cause I owe you a hell of a lot more than a few hours pay." Banks shook his head even as he made a face at the latest order that'd been sent in and started on it. It was like second nature, a shit job among many shit jobs that somehow made it to the top of the pile by the time that he left it behind. He wasn't going to take anything for granted again, if he had to shove the money back in Monroe's pockets before he left for the day. "Cass won't be the one mad at you, not when she's the one feeding the both of us most days. At least I can bring home a meal for once that isn't fast food or junk from the station."

location: white rabbit bookstore & café

"No, I don't need the seat."

STATUS: open starter! (@starteroaks)

"No such list exists and never will, I can tell you that." She replies, clicking her tongue. She'd muse that it's unlikely that she'd ever remember back that far, but that would imply she'd one day have to. Banks might not have that much faith in himself, but Cassie believes wholeheartedly that he could never disappoint her. Maybe it's naïve, but she'll hold onto it forever regardless. "Of course, that's what friends — and good roommates — do. We look out for each other." She adds with a soft smile, once again feeling her heart warm. "I find everything is better if you go in clueless and learn as you go. Everything is a pleasant surprise — or a terrible surprise I can find humour in." Again, maybe she's just a naïve optimist, but her friends likely wouldn't have her any other way.

"Well, if it ever does. Just let me know so I have a head's up." Banks struggled with the concept that he wouldn't be able to live up to the expectations of others, because he ultimately let them down. Cassie would learn that firsthand if he wasn't careful, which meant making sure that he didn't fuck things up before he had a chance to at least somewhat pay her back for everything. If it weren't for moments like this, it was taking a chance on him being a decent roommate that wouldn't get evicted immediately. "At least we're both going in blind, so it's not like either of us have a leg up on the other." Though some Tuesdays had them pitted against each other with how they were enjoying the movie which only it worth the two bucks they each splurged on the night. "Though I think we're both about to be disappointed based off the title of the movie." It was something about killer birds or so I thought it might be like that.

who: fiona moore & banks rainier (@aetherfms) when: march 28, something on a stick day where: town square, downtown

"you look familiar. have we met?" he gestured between the two with an obnoxious kebab that had been purchased moments earlier when he'd made the mistake of catching the eye of someone he hadn't seen in a year, maybe less or more. someone that had become a staple in his life through his connection to someone else and then it just was gone the next moment. he didn't question it, at least not verbally when there was plenty already on his plate with parole and meetings, therapy and getting his life back on track. it didn't concern him when someone was done even pretending they wanted to be a part of it even if it was only because of association.

"that's a little dramatic, don't you think?" their head tilted with the question, a smirk playing at their lips. "besides, tik tok will become your best friend and before you know it you'll be up doom scrolling at four am like the rest of us." stuffing two fries into their mouth, they thought for only a split second before asking what they'd really been wondering. "what have you been up to all this time anyways? how long has it been since you got out?"

banks shook his head before he leaned back into the couch with his arms crossed. "somehow i don't see that happening. i barely remember the damn thing, let alone remembering to charge it." if it weren't for work or a few people in his life that needed to get ahold of him, banks probably wouldn't have his phone ever. much less scroll on it. though he didn't know what doom scrolling was and didn't want a lesson that either as he set his face into a faint grin that wavered slightly. "nearly two years. and it doesn't feel that way somedays." or most days. "i made it through the fire academy, got myself a real job and spend most of the time doing the same grunt work i did when i was locked up. just this time i got a different uniform."

Options. Maybe she — they — needed options. Better to have more than piss off whoever they had waiting for them; Amara’s expression turned thoughtful, her brows furrowed in that familiar way that told people that this was a serious situation. In actuality, anybody who knew Willie Washington knew that he could give two damns about what type of chicken she brought home, as long as it was from Stella’s — that man would be satisfied. “Okay, genius idea — why don’t we just get one of their family packs? It’ll give us options and that way, we cross off the sandwiches and the fried pieces,” voicing her solution with certainty, flashing him a proud look, “And then they get what they want, plus… extra. Potentially might have some leftovers, but honestly — my pops would love to have a leftover chicken sandwich for breakfast… which he probably shouldn’t. And it works out better in pricing.”

That might be what he needed to get too, for at least Cassie and himself so that he could get in and out of there with ease. Then he wouldn't have to overthink anything or worry that she wouldn't like what he picked out for the two of them, which meant that he just needed to get to the front of the line to order. "That sounds like the best way to go about this, rather than pick and choose and for the best." He shrugged, because he knew the man in question they were talking about which left him wondering if even the family meal was going to seal the deal. "It sounds like you've got this all worked out in your head. Just do me a favor and don't order the last one or else you're gonna leave me high and dry." He was joking, mostly.

The competitive streak had caused one too many fights growing up around here; Willa enjoyed winning — and there was this sense of accomplishment that came with it, even if it was for something as silly as arcade basketball. Blame it on her tiger mom of a mother — it was any wonder she didn’t crack under the pressure, growing up. Well, let’s be honest — she probably did. How else would somebody explain her being a college dropout? Or was it college burnout? An amused, albeit defiant look appeared on her face, gaze lifting to the flashing scoreboard, “I wouldn’t say you were that successful, now would you?”

Banks shrugged with a hint of a grin at the other's score compared to his own, he hadn't been the competitive of the kids in the foster homes when so many of the others were. "It's one game, there's plenty others around here to show how successful I can be," he joked in return, even though the scores had been close they could have been closer too. It meant more games or walking away before she shoed him up throughout the entire arcade. He shook his head. "They were nice on paper. They were nice to adults. But ask anyone that was run through there?" Banks didn't have to elaborate because it was another one of those homes that stuck even after they'd moved to the next one. "It's kind of why I don't give a shit about Mario or at least don't care about it. All I think about is their room devoted to it and shit."