god is our witness

introducing AMAL ALARCÓN, new york’s resident enigma & literary agent. she is never seen without a book in her hand, adores old hollywood films and is most definitely a mix of BEVERLY MARSH ( it ) & SUSANNA KAYSEN ( girl, interrupted ) !!

✧༺♥༻∞　i heard my name’s on the tip of your tongue, and i can be empty too if that’s what you want. ∞༺♥༻✧

trigger warning for mention of CHEATING & ANXIETY.

-

“Coffee’s good too!” Nate smiled widely. He liked both, yet, obviously, hot chocolate was a treat while coffee was just a daily thing. It was someting that kept him energetic, something that kept him going during the training sessions, during practice, and during work. There was so much that he had to do on a daily basis, that without coffee, he had no idea how he could do it. “Although, you could mix both and still do really, really well!” His smile brightened, once more. “It was me! I can’t believe I actually made myself do something like that.”

“You have a point there. I’ve never tried a mocha, I have to admit.” Chuckling, Amal placed her cup on the table beside her as she adjusted her gloves, somehow they weren’t quite warm enough, especially for a night with a chill that bit. “You were amazing! I hope you win. That’s really cool to... just go out and do stuff like that. I’m glad you did. Are you a professional?” Were professional ice skaters even allowed to compete? She didn’t know, but he was that good, she simply had to ask.

starter: open to all.

location: outside of aquavit, manhattan. 

@enycstarters·

          “Pretty sure the cab was mine.” 

Bigwigs in the industry usually had town cars waiting on them, lined up like black dominoes on the curb.  When dinner was over, a chauffeur would slip out from one of those sleek cabs, roll out the red-carpet treatment, and offer Wes a rum and coke as he ducked into the backseat, blind to the curious eyes pinned to his back.  Generally speaking, however, Wes preferred public transportation –– being able to absorb the city in the first-person.  He’d been known to take the metro to crisscross town, shuttled from downtown to Tribeca, and even took advantage of the yellow cabs zipping through the city every now and again.

But – generally speaking – he tried to avoid situations like this: seated in the cramped backseat of a taxi, speeding through a drizzly Manhattan night, with a complete stranger buckled in beside him.  Rain pelted at the roof while the A/C steamed up the windows and clipped Russian dripped from the mouth of their driver.  Fucking Christ.

“But fine, I’ll bite.  How far are you from Tribeca?  You’re crazy if you think I’m leaving Manhattan, though.”

“Are you sure? Because I’m pretty sure it was mine.”

Those particular words were mostly a retaliation. It was likely that she stole his cab without intention, usually in her own little world to notice those around her. She preferred to make light of the situation, though. It wasn’t a big deal. There was far worse that could be done than possibly stealing a cab from a stranger.

Luckily for her, the encounter didn’t end in a yelling match like that one time in the past when Amal had consumed too much champagne in too little time and decided to an argument for the most measly reason.

open event starter location: winterfest - Cafe Lalo Decadent Hot Chocolate and Coffee Station

“It’s been so long since I’ve had it!” And Nate sounded genuinely excited as he took a sip out of his cup. He was already freezing, having had just come out of the ice skating competition, and so far, he was really having fun. After all, so far, this had to be the best Christmas he’s had since he had moved to NYC eight years ago, and he was going to make it out. “Have you tried it already?” He turned to the person next to him, his enthusiam not going away. “I might be biased, but it’s worth every penny!”

Hot chocolate wasn’t Amal’s thing. She appreciated it, but found it to be far too sweet for her liking. Especially in drinks. In that case, she opted for a coffee instead, plus the caffeine was a bonus for her when it came to staying awake for the Winterfest. It’d been a gruelling day at work and after plenty of encouragement from her wife, she finally caved and went along. What was more romantic than the winter wonderland that was New York City?

“I’m actually having a coffee.” The woman chuckled as she glanced at the person by her side, offering them a small smile. “It smells really good. The whipped cream on top really adds a little extra something, but sadly it’s not really my thing.” Shrugging, she gave them another once over. “Hey, weren’t you up there ice skating earlier?”

[text]: They are gonna stay together and get married and have 2 children before he wakes up and realizes that there is more to life than anal.

[text]: I finished masturbating now I'm eating french toast crunch. What is life, and what are friends.

[text]: Yeah, I'm just gonna try to repress that and remember him for his big dick and perfect jawline.

[text]: That's why my New Years resolution was no more blondes. They're all bad news.

[text]: [_______] disappeared two hours ago with a stripper named "delicious." Haven't seen him since.

[text]: I need you to ship me a penis cookie care package.

[text]: NO. FUCK YOU. I HOPE SOMEONE REPLACES YOUR LUBE WITH HOT SAUCE.

[text]: why is "bang the student affairs grad assistant" the third highest thing on your semester goals list

[text]: You tried crawling through the apartment window instead of going through the wide open door next to it

[text]: It was the highest I'd ever been. I felt like a blob. A blob eating a burrito.

[text]: fuck you I'm eating salad I can't be drunk.

[text]: You came in last night, ate an entire avocado in silence, and then told me I should never accept rides from strangers. Not sure I even want to know what happened to you last night!

[text]: Just so you know.. If you ever cheat on me, i will cut your dick and fingers off and post them as my cover photo on Facebook. Love you.

[text]: My vagina is officially offended.

[text]: With a butt like mine I'll never have to pay for Netflix again.

[text]: No more chicken and waffles served by drag queens at 2 AM. :(

[text]: For what it's worth, I didn't think that hitting you with a crowbar as hard as I did would break your arm like that. You should drink more milk.

[text]: After you passed out we took your car to the campus and stole a 150lb plaque that's now in your trunk. Happy birthday!

[text]: Let's never forget the time I met you while you were running down the street naked and in handcuffs.

[text]: If you don't fuck me hard, rough, and senseless the minute we're alone in your room, I'm returning you to the boyfriend store

[text]: You fell asleep standing up against the shower wall

[text]: In other news: I massively over-caffeinated this morning. Everything is vibrating and I can SEE THROUGH TIME

[text]: What is more embarrassing, shitting yourself in Mexico or having sex in a forest preserve with a 19 yr old? This is crucial research.

[text]: The only way he could ever pleasure me is if he lit himself on fire and let me watch

[text]: I just saw a guy in a hazmat suit riding a tractor.

who: @chiaracava

“That’s a pretty great snowball... beautiful, even... but can it be a match for the best snowball?” Amal questioned with a grin, hands working on forming the holy grail of snowballs, the ice stinging against her hands, but she didn’t mind it so much. She was one of the few people who actually enjoyed winter, specifically in New York. To her, it was magical.

“Ah-ha!” The brunette cheered, her smile only widening even more as she held up her creation. “If we’re having a snowball competition, I think I’m winning. Don’t you agree?”

OPEN STARTER

Location: some store

Christmas shopping was Bel’s least favorite activity. Last year, she had given everyone a Gift Card, the year before that, she had given them socks, the year before that one, sweaters, and now… she had no idea. 

Bel sighed as she walked into her fourth store of the day. 

After a few minutes of walking around, picking stuff and putting it inside her basket, she found a collection of cute snowballs placed far back on the shelf. Bel reached out for one of them and looked at it, maybe this was a good idea.

She was about to grab her basket from the floor one more time when the snowball slipped from her hand and crashed down with a loud sound.

Bel froze for a second before quickly looking around to make sure no one was watching. She felt her face blush, “I… will pay for that” she said, before kneeling down to start picking pieces of snowball.

──

While Amal didn’t enjoy shopping, she adored Christmas, so, the holiday season usually cancelled out her shopping hatred. Coming up with gift ideas was mostly fun, and more often than not, she spoiled her children rotten. More so than she probably should. They were adults after all, and she did have a tendency to go overboard at times.

After several hours perusing the stores in the city, she found herself coming to the end of her list… at last. What she needed now was coffee, and a bite to eat. Preferably a pastry, she’d been craving those lately.

The sound of shattering glass pulled her out of her daze, the agent’s mouth immediately forming an ‘o’ shape at the sight in front of her. “Oh. Shit. Hey, I don’t think anyone else saw that…” She tried to reassure, moving over to the younger woman by her side. “We can put the pieces at the back of the shelf maybe?” Although, she wasn’t one to disobey authority or lie, but it was an accident, and there were plenty of snowballs to spare. “What do you think?”

Location:  Outside 66th Street–Lincoln Center station. Who: Anyone Time: 7pm

“Jag svär att det här stället kommer att döda mig en dag!” (I swear this place will kill me one day!) Carlotta muttered under her breath as she stalked up the steps of the metro at the 66th Street–Lincoln Center station, The cold air hit her face in way that would probably make most wince but had her sucking in a deep thankful breath before she plucked a packet of cigarettes out of her coat pocket. With hands shaking from the self induced stress she sparked up her lighter so the fresh air could be replaced by a lungful of pale purple smoke instead. Her eyes fluttering closed as she savoured the taste, it was always the best drag, and lord knows she needed it. Today at practice she’d had to watch and mark the prima solo dance from the show which basically meant she had to spend the whole day watching Greer dancing the steps she herself should be doing. It was infuriating. The things the young woman had sacrificed to be the best and yet she still couldn’t seem to make that final step into first place. Second was the first to lose, her teachers voice rang loudly in her ears, never shutting up.

Feeling someone come up behind her she took a step to one side to allow them to pass, only they went the same way, colliding with her back. Neither party at fault, but it still caused an annoyed grunt from the delicate girl’s lips. Blowing smoke out slowly she turned to face them and spoke without taking the time to look at who it was. “If you walked slower you wouldn’t hit people.” Carlotta snapped.

@enycstarters

Her several decades in the city had rubbed off on Amal. Technically now she’d be considered a true New Yorker, which meant everyday she strut the streets with purpose, almost to the point of being aggressive about it. It was never done in an intentionally rude manner, but there’d been times where she’d been called out for it. Today she did not want to get into an argument, as she had been there done that and she wasn’t the most confrontational person in the world. God dammit she just wanted to make her meeting on time.

Without having the other commuters in her mind, the brunette found herself clashing with a stranger, mostly due to the fact she had her eyes glued to her phone only to then see the screen light up with a message notifying her that the meeting had been cancelled. Just her fucking luck!

“Fuck, I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.” She sighed, tucking the device neatly into her coat pocket. “You have a point. I have no need to be rushing anymore anyway.” Shrugging, she looked at the younger woman, offering her an apologetic smile. “Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

Location: Zara, Hudson Yards “Crap…” Lennon held a monogrammed sweater in her hand, peering at the M that definitely looked more like a flattened scribble than anything resembling a letter. Maeve, her sister, wouldn’t want to be “~aeve” would she? Curse her sister for specifically asking for this one sweater. Literally, Lennon had one job and it was already screwed up. “Hey, excuse me? Did you grab one of the ones with an M and do you want to trade?” Holiday spirit, right? The nearby stranger had to feel bad… hopefully.

open @enycstarters

Shopping wasn’t on Amal’s list of favorite activities. Sure, it was fun sometimes, especially when you knew what you were looking for, but the holidays were a different ball game entirely. She’d spent the last half an hour aimlessly wandering through Zara, looking almost as if she were a lost puppy. It wasn’t until she spotted a monogrammed sweater with an M that she began to get an idea for a gift, although, she wasn’t completely sold on the item just yet.

@enycstarters ( open )

location: clement restaurant | manhattan

time: 7am

     sleep didn’t come easy; a phenomena jasmine had experienced for the last few years and the previous night granted her no mercy. aggressive flashes of the past haunted the woman’s consciousness until she feared closing her eyes for an extended period of time. usually on her restless nights, jasmine often occupied her time binging random youtube videos until it was time to unearth herself from her home and insert herself among the outside world. now the woman found herself sitting in the corner booth of the hotel restaurant in the early hours of the day, somberly watching the bustling activity of the city just outside the window. save for a few others and the staff, she seemed to be one of the very few out and about in the hotel and in that moment, jasmine allowed her mind to wander as she reminisced on less gloomy memories until she was interrupted by someone being seated at an empty table nearby. the woman spoke up as she kept her attention on the outside cityscape. 

“…odd, i usually have the place to myself this early; looking for your worm, early bird?”

On her day off Amal wanted to immerse herself into the city. She’d been living in New York for decades, but it was a rarity that she actually had the time to explore -- this was something she blamed on her job, as well as her incessant need to work. Her wife always told her that she was in the process of working herself into the ground, but in typical Alarcón style, the agent brushed it off.

With a need for coffee, the brunette found herself in Clement Restaurant, a place she often frequented, although, not usually at this hour. She’d come to know some of the staff there, and developed some sort of rapport with them. Honestly, she liked it.

“Oh, well, maybe you’ve met your match, then.” She grinned, turning to the stranger near her. “This is actually the first time I’ve been here this early. It seemed empty enough, so I figured I’d give it a try. Is the coffee here any good?”

.

With a newfound obsession steering him, Ricardo found himself at a perpetual state of annoyance at everyone ( with the exception of his son, sometimes ) who dared interrupt it. Locked away in his study after yet another fruitless trip to further investigate the victim, Rico puts together the few bits of information he had found upon one of the many boards hanging on the walls of the room, and thinks he is just about to connect something when the sound of the door knocking takes him out of it. Maybe he was on the brink of something, maybe he was just needing an external factor to blame. Either way, he inhales sharply, checks the time, and goes to the door upon knowing Miguel was at school and couldn’t take this for him. 

“Just a second."  The writer calls out irritably, rushing to the door and opening it in that very same manner. Seeing the person on the other side doesn’t improve his demeanour in the least. If anything, it makes it worse. "Oh, great, the lecture’s gonna be in person."  He whines, eyes rolling as he steps aside and gestures for her to come in despite his attitude. "If you would please make it quick. I was in the middle of something.”

If the irritable tone of the writer was any indication, but Amal felt her presence at the doorstep of her friend to be somewhat unwelcome. Still, she wanted him to know she was there for him. The fact she was annoyed the other night didn’t mean she hadn’t been on her mind. “I’m not going to lecture you, Rico.” She began, holding up the tray of coffees. “I come in peace. With coffees and snacks.” 

After offering him her signature smile, she stepped inside the home, her heart swelling every single time she laid sight on a photo of Miguel. He was growing up so fast, and she was so proud of him everyday. It was a shame she couldn’t see him this particular visit, but she knew they’d make up for it.

There were other regulars, of course. Other people who frequented this establishment as much as she, but she never struck up the specific courage to interact. Which, was slightly odd however, because Emmie was almost excessively friendly, in her outgoing nature. But she never wanted to ruin the early morning ritual that was enjoying one’s juice.

This morning though, something shifted. She spoke, and was listened to. One of the other regulars listened, and asked to sit, and Emmie beamed. “Oh my gosh, of course! Thank you, first off, for answering me. I’ve asked other people and they looked at me like I was a lunatic. And of course you can sit! Bother me all you’d like.” She grinned, popping out her chilled hand to shake. “Emerald Webb.”

Amal instantly took to the gregarious nature of the stranger, who immediately began treating her like an old friend. The brunette usually gravitated to people like that -- she wished she could be one of them yet as an introvert through and through, she wasn’t always able to muster up the courage to do so. "Other people can just be assholes. I’ve been here for decades but the rudeness of some New Yorkers can catch me off guard sometimes."

As she took a seat next to the blonde, she offered her a smile as she introduced herself. “Emerald Webb... that sounds like a movie star name, I love it.” She observed, her lips curving into a wide, bright grin as she shook her new friend’s hand, happy to finally place a name to the familiar face she saw every now and then. “I’m Amal. Amal Alarcón. It’s nice to meet you... how long have you been in New York for?”

who: @murdrhewrote

Amal hadn’t seen Rico since the Halloween party disaster, and despite her annoyance to find out about the publicity stunt, he was a dear friend and client, it was natural that she was concerned about him. The murder being a copycat to the deaths in the writer’s own books was wildly alarming, and she needed him to know she was there for him. She always would be -- he was one of the closest friends she had, they have been by each other’s sides for the highs and lows of their career.

With coffees and food in tow, she knocked sharply on the door of the familiar Brooklyn abode. Due to the frustrated texts she’d sent him a week earlier, she hoped her presence wasn’t going to be rejected. Their friendship had been a long one -- through thick and thin, surely a business disagreement wouldn’t be the be all or end all.

Open: Morning, OM Juice Bar 

There was little in the world that brought Emerald Webb as much pleasure as her daily dose of “Super Green”. Was it particularly appealing? No. Did it taste good? Absolutely not. But did it make her feel like she was doing something toxically positive to her body? Yes. And so it went. 

Every single morning, before arriving into work, one could find Emmie, outside of OM Juice Bar, downing said drink. Sometimes she’d be listening to a podcast about horoscopes, sometimes blasting ABBA so loud that you could hear it through her air pods. But today, she was savoring the taste of health. 

She arrived extra early today, so she had time to kill. And what a perfect morning, as the sun shone down, and she caught the eyes of someone heading towards her. She grinned, before throwing a hand up to her lips, sheepishly. Her accent tumbling out, she giggled. “Have I got any of the leafy bits stuck in my teeth?”

@enycstarters·

There was nothing quite like a fresh juice to start your morning off on a positive note. Most people opted for coffee first thing, but Amal liked to indulge in her favorite, ‘Madison Green Garden’ -- the perfect mix of greens and fruit to leave her feeling refreshed. She’d become such a regular at the establishment that they knew her name and order from memory, which left her feeling rather chuffed.

Braving the New York chill as she stepped outside, her hand already partially freezing from the ice cold cup, she caught sight of a young blonde. “Oh, no. There’s nothing in your teeth. I’ve been there, though. I have this juice so often that there’s been times I’ve been at meetings to discover I had kale in my teeth the whole time.” She responded with a slight chuckle as she approached the bench seat. “Mind if I sit? I promise I won’t bother you.”

open starter: @enycstarters· location: times square

claire had been walking around times square, looking for the restaurant one of her friends had told her to meet them at, and she’d be lying if she had said she wasn’t lost. she had pretty much grown up here her entire life and yet, she was still prone to getting lost easily due to how huge the place was. as soon as she was about to reach the destination she had on her phone, she manages to accidentally bump straight into someone and causes them to fall over. “oh shit, i’m so sorry!” she apologizes, feeling bad for knocking them down. “are you okay?”

The streams of people weaving their way through the ever bustling Times Square was no match for Amal as she power-walked towards her usual lunch destination -- a convenient walk from her office, plus she liked watching people as she ate. She’d always found it rather comforting in an odd way... there was nothing quite like concocting ideas of the lives of strangers to momentarily distract yourself. In fact, it’d become a game.

Eyes glued to her phone screen instead of where she was going, immediately causing a clash between bodies, leading for the brunette to stumble in her Manolo’s and meeting the concrete in a thud. “Fucking hell.” She cried out, although not in pain, but rather... embarrassment. It took her a few moments to allow herself time to compose herself before regaining her balance. “No, no, it’s fine, cariña. I wasn’t watching where I was going.” It was bound to happen sometime if she didn’t look up from that damn device for once. “Thank you for checking, though. Many people in this city wouldn’t do the same.”