it was so easy to love the male sitting before her. his personality, the way one felt automatically at ease around him, his charisma. however, not having that love returned was something that indi found herself trying to adapt to. she was not the kind of woman to lay her heart on the line especially since she knew she had never been the only person he had been seeing physically. she had had her heart broken once before and had just mended the pieces back together. she knew she would not survive him breaking her heart. that had been why indi had ended the situationship between them before she got too far over her head. " and where is this person tonight ? " her words were one of reluctance as the english born woman truly did not wish to hear about his love woes. " pinot noir. i have always been a fan of a red and i definitely deserve it after today. "

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑫𝑨𝑵𝑪𝑬𝑹   didn’t   respond   right   away.   he   just   blinked,   once,   then   let   out   a   quiet   exhale   —   not   quite   a   sigh,   more   like   a   laugh   that   got   stuck   halfway.   where   is   this   person   tonight ?   he   wanted   to   say   right   in front of me,   but   she   was   already   reaching   for   a   sip   of   her   water,   and   the   timing   suddenly   just   didn't   feel   right.  " bold   of   you   to   assume   i’m   brave   enough   to   tell   her, "   he   muttered,   trying   to   keep   it   light,   but   his   fingers   were   still   tapping   under   the   table.   clearing   his   throat,   eyes   lightened,   " knew   you   had   good   taste. "   he   offered   the   smallest   grin   as   he   set   the   menu   aside,   carefully   placing   it   just   so   —   as   if   neatness   could   anchor   him,   feeling   a   bit   like   he   could   fly   just   sitting   with   indira   tonight.   he   flagged   down   the   server   with   an   easy   gesture,   ordered   the   pinot,   and   leaned   back   in   his   seat   as   if   his   heart   wasn’t   thudding   annoyingly   in   his   ribs.   glancing   at   her   once   more   before   the   wine   arrived,   lips   quirking upwards.   " you certainly do.  and  lucky   for   you,   i   moonlight   as   a   deeply   affordable   therapist-slash-sommelier.   perhaps emotionally   underqualified,   but   excellent   with   a   pour. "  a wink, he  poured   two   glasses   of   wine,   deliberately   putting   more   in   her   glass   than   his   own.   then, a   short   pause,   not   being   able   to   mask   his   genuine   concern   for   her,   " something   happen   today, in? " 

𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲   𝘁𝗵𝗲   𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗽𝗶𝗱   𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗺   𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸   ,   but   could   she   truly   blame   it   ?   no   .   she'd   thrown   the   thing   towards   the   wall   .   of   course   it   wasn't   going   to   wake   her   anymore   .   she   couldn't   even   snooze   the   thing   ,   it   was   well   and   truly   dead   and   what   did   she   do   ?   she   didn't   get   up   ⸻   she   simply   tugged   the   thick   comforter   over   her   head   .   forty   minutes   later   ,   she   was   pulling   on   frankies   old   telluride   police   branded   sweatshirt   ,   well   worn   and   her   favourite   as   she   climbed   into   the   vehicle   .   "   yeah   ,   yeah   ,   yeah   !   "   muttered   as   she   rubs   at   eyes   .   "   can   we   go   get   breakfast   first   ,   chief   won't   mind   ,   yeah   ?   "   she   questions   ,   as   if   she   didn't   ask   the   same   thing   every   single   morning   . 

𝑯𝑶𝑵𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑳𝒀,   he   should’ve   expected   it   by   now.   she   pulled   this   seemingly   every   other   morning.   and   he   wanted   to   say   no.   really,   he   did.   but   instead   he   just   stared   ahead   for   a   beat,   then   sighed   as if   the   universe   had   wronged   him.  " we’re   going   to   be   late, "   he   muttered   completely   unconvincingly,   already   adjusting   the   route   in   his   head.   but   then   he   glanced   over   —   sweatshirt   sleeves   covering   her   hands,   eyes   half-shut   —   and   cleared   his   throat   like   that   might   stop   the   smile   threatening   to   surface.   " ... fine.   but   you’re   paying,   and   we’re   not   doing   the   thing   where   you   pretend   to   forget   your   wallet   and   then   make   me   buy   you   two   muffins   again. "   a   pause,   softer,   like   it   slipped   out,   " also,   that   sweatshirt’s   been   missing   for   about six   months.   i   almost   filed   a   report. "

“  no  ,  i  said  no  !  quinn  you're  not  getting  another  fucking  cent  from  me  okay  ,  we're  divorced  that  means  we're  done  ,  ”  his  head  was  ringing  ,  eyes  stinging  with  anger  .  she  chose  to  divorce  him  and  has  the  nerve  .  “  stop  calling  me  ,  bye  ,  ”  he  closed  the  phone  ,  putting  it  back  in  it's  holster  .  “  apparently  it's  time  to  change  my  number  .  ”

" 𝑨𝑳𝑹𝑰𝑰𝑰𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻, "   romy   said,  a teasy tone of encouragement,  not   looking   at   him   just yet,   just   swirling   the   ice   in   her   glass   with   one   red - painted   nail,   " so we’re   having   that   kind   of   night ? "   her   tone   wasn’t   judgmental, more   amused   than   anything,   like   someone   who’d   lived   through   her   own   public   meltdowns   and   had   the   paparazzi footage   to   prove   it.   finally,   her   gaze   slid   towards   him,   curious   but   not   prying.   " divorce   drama   before   ten ?   you’re   setting   the   bar   high. "   humming as she took   a   sip,   then   adding   casually,   " want   me   to   pretend   i   didn’t   hear   that ?  or   do   you   want   someone   to   talk   shit   with ?   i'll   tell   you   right   now   i've   got   some   very   strong   opinions   on   the   music   in   this   place. and i'll also hazard a guess that you've got some strong opinions on that ex of yours. "

status: open ( 0 / 5 ) setting: telluride dog park

𝑫𝑰𝑫 they have a dog ?? no. did they actively search for someone who needed a dog - walker so they could go to the dog park and watch all the dogs ? absolutely. iced coffee teetering dangerously on the armrest, logan sat perched on a bench while henry, the bulldog they brought with them, furiously sniffed a patch of grass nearby. the interaction before them had them holding back a laugh, and they couldn't help but grin. " your dog's name is spaghetti ?? " their tone full of wonder, akin to a crazed fan meeting their favorite celebrity. a laugh from deep in their chest; " that's bloody amazing. pasta fans unite, right ?? "

𝘁𝗵𝗲   𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲   𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹   𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲   𝘁𝗵𝗲   door   chimes   ,   five   more   minutes   he   told   himself   ,   five   more   minutes   of   no   customers   and   he'd   close   up   early   for   the   weekend   ,   and   of   course   ,   like   always   someone   walked   through   the   doors   .   "   if   you're   looking   for   mirrors   ,   they're   in   the   very   back   ,   furniture   towards   the   front   .   "   tone   soft   ,   easily   heard   through   the   quietness   ,   "   anything   else   though   ,   just   ask   .   "

𝑨 𝑺𝑰𝑮𝑯, taking in the dusty smell, " the art of providing the most mind - blowing night of ... some beautiful stranger's life has unfortunately, " he stood with hands on his hips, looking at the floor, almost ashamed, almost proud, " resulted in a broken nightstand. so i'm searching for something preferably not horrendous ... maybe mahogany, or i could do cedar at the very least. — modern pieces are always so ... " he gestured, flopping his hand around with a face of disdain, " flimsy. i need something with emotional weight. character, but also class. i'd also probably kill for a drawer that doesn’t stick, and overall just something that won’t end up betraying me during moments of pure physical animalism. do you, " his hand lifted vaguely, gesturing towards the shelves, brown eyes skimming, " stock that kind of thing ? "

“   𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆   𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱   𝗮𝘁   𝗺𝗲   𝗮𝗻𝗱   i   think   blacked   out   .   it’s   fine   .   i’m   fine   .   ”

𝑳𝑰𝑷𝑺   curved   slowly upwards at her friend's dramatics,   as if   she   already   knew   the   rest   of   the   story.   " mm, "   she   hummed,   setting   her   drink   down   with   the   kind   of   theatrical   delicacy   that only a performer could have.   " sounds   like   you   might   owe   that   person   a   conversation,   then. "   playfully musing; a  gentle   nudge   that   came   with   experience   and   a   few   too   many   almosts and could've beens.   romy   tilted   her   head,   red locks draping over her shoulder as her eyes   flicked   toward   the   other   end   of   the   bar, lips pursed .   " you should go   talk   to   them, "  adding   with   a   small smirk,   " before   you   black   out   again   and   i   have   to   drag   you   over to them   myself. you know that's not above me, "   a   charming   dare   tucked   inside   her  grin.

“   𝗶   𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗲   𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿   𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗲   𝗮𝗻𝗱   i’m   never   giving   it   back   .   ”

" 𝑾𝑯𝑶𝑨𝑨𝑨, "   east   mused,   pausing   in   the   doorway   with   a   plate   of   way - too - syrupy pancakes   and   no   shoes or shirt,   brown locks   still   a bit   messy   from   sleep and other activities.   there was aphrodite, tangled in his sheets wearing only his faded yellow smiley face hoodie, " that's okay, you can have it. you   look   like ...   a   dream   i   had   once,   except   prettier. "   he   wandered   in   slowly, seemingly in his typical state of spaced out, as if the two hadn't just had one of the wildest nights he'd had in awhile.   " i   brought   you   breakfast.   and   i   think   a   flower ?   berlioz might've taken it somewhere though because i don't have it anymore. "   he   glanced   down   at   the   toast   like   it   might   explain   something, perching himself on the side of the bed, tattooed knees tucked up towards equally inked chest.