Midnight Rain

"You good?" Carlos asked Esme as she returned from the bonfire, he'd only just arrived to see her throwing a couple of things in. He hadn't brought anything to throw into the fire however, he always showed up to these things because he wanted to observe and make sure everyone was safe. He didn't even really agree with the whole thing in the first place. "Here," he said, handing her his beer, then turned to the bar to get himself another one.

Cal knew that was true, but at the same time, he didn't care. "Yeah, but that's the thing. I know that everyone has the same thing. Or at some point feel the same way. That doesn't help me. Like sorry to say that and it might make me sound selfish, but honestly, it doesn't help me to know that other people feel the same way. How do I help myself?" Cal knew they were barely doing better than a lot of people.

He didn't feel like he was ahead at all or where he needs to be. Right now, all Cal wants is to go back to New York and get back to work. "I don't know about that. I think I'm not where I want to be, but I don't know how to get where I want to be."

"Welcome to adulthood, we all don't know what the fuck we are doing. Hell I don't even know if I want to become a vet but I love animals and I put the years in to schooling...but is it something I really want to do? I don't know...maybe I want to become some sexy pole dancer--actually no I don't because I cannot dance in high high heels...anyways off track, I think since we're still so young and we're always constructed into this society of the older generation of what we're supposed to do...it doesn't fit us anymore. Does that make sense?"

“ no not at all. Sera is a smart little girl don’t get me wrong but she’s also pretty naive and innocent too. I don’t want her to lose a lot of that when she doesn’t have to. I don’t even think she understands what a ghost even is “ he admitted. sully held back on a lot of that stuff just because he never wanted his sister to process their family tragedy at too young of an age. “ that’s honestly a good point “

“ no one shares the remote now. I think they would get along with my sisters immediately so it might be just like having another sibling. So I mean, I don’t really watch any tv now. It's mostly my baby sister and Bluey. so I hope she's a Bluey fan " @esmemaxwcll

"But the idea of a ghost haunting my home seems a little skeptical....like they can watch me change clothes or worse, finish a whole tub of ice cream with judgement. I cannot handle judgement when I finish a whole tub of ice cream...like please don't judge me while I'm having a breakdown watching some stupid show." Esme said with a dramatic wiping of her eye and laughed. "But really, the idea of a ghost chilling around and turning shit on is a bit terrifying."

As she spoke, Priya toed off her shoes and then headed to the living room so she could put the bags down, pulling out various containers of Chinese take-out and spreading them out across the table, practically a feast even if they were just two people. "I think diving right in sounds like a good way to go, especially since you already got the glasses." She told her with a grin as she sat down. "And nothing heart-shaped but I do have cookies and cupcakes, and I can doordash some ice cream if you want, so..."

“A B, huh?” He placed a hand over his heart, feigning deep offense. “Mildly impressed? Damn, Esme, you’re tough.” He leaned against the counter, eyes gleaming with amusement. “Here I was thinking I’d get at least a B-plus for the effort. Guess I’ll have to work harder to earn those precious A’s you’re hoarding.”

His gaze flicked to the bagel, then back to her, clearly accepting the challenge. “Alright, I respect the honesty. No sugarcoating—it’s good, but not great. I can work with that.” He tapped a finger against the counter. “But now you’ve put yourself in a situation, because see… now I have to prove you wrong. Next time? You’re not walking away with anything less than an A-minus. Maybe even an A if I’m feeling generous.” Carlos leaned in slightly, mirroring her energy. “So, you better be ready, because now I’m personally invested in blowing your expectations out of the water.” He grabbed a rag and casually wiped down the counter, throwing her a wink. “Game on, Esme.” @esmemaxwcll

A lopsided smile begins to spread across his lips as his eyes meet hers. “You sure?” he asks, raising an eyebrow. “It’s a nice dress, after all, and the color really complements your eyes.”

Vince chuckles, running a hand through his hair as he nods. “Yeah, alright. I can do that. But what kind of champagne were you thinking? I'm personally leaning towards Dom Perignon? You know, since this is technically a retirement party now.”

"Oh, I'm sure," she said with a soft laugh, her gaze flicking down to the dress, the fabric swirling with a playful elegance as she smoothed it out. "But I think I might look better out of it anyway," she added with a wink, the words casual but laced with a confidence that would’ve made anyone else second guess their assumptions.

She chuckled again at the mention of the champagne, her tone warm, but there was an edge of sarcasm creeping in as she replied. "Dom Perignon, huh? A bit too fancy for a retirement party, don't you think? Unless you’re planning on retiring early." She tilted her head, as if appraising him with a smile. "But I suppose we should treat this like the grand event it is. I’ll go with that."

"My brother would do it first. And far more violently and he wouldn't be caught. And if if he was caught, he'd survive prison. Which is more than what I can say for you. I appreciate the sentiment, but let's keep your pretty little conscience clean."

Scottie laughs in appreciation, raising her glass in turn at the toast to herself and taking a hearty drink.

"I mean, the benefits of getting divorced are really the only reason to get married. Besides the 'love' thing, but you have better odds at being struck by lightening while you're being hit by a train."

@esmemaxwcll

Her lips quirked up as she took a slow sip of her drink, then set it down with deliberate care. "But hey, I get it," she added, her voice taking on a more serious note, though her smile never wavered. "The whole ‘love’ thing can be a real gamble. But I’m not sure the divorce benefits are enough to outweigh the chaos of it all. Just think of the mess, the drama... and the paperwork," she said, her tone dry with just a hint of amusement. "Not to mention, who would I trust to handle all of that? You? Or your brother?" She winked, raising her glass in a mock toast. "I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that one."

where - esme's place

Armed with a bag of takeout food and two bottles of wine, Priya made her way up to her friend's door, smiling as it was opened, "I come armed with dinner and drinks and ready to ignore the fact that Valentine's day is just weeks away so this town will inevitably look like Cupid puked all over in a matter of days."

She raised an eyebrow, taking in the bags of takeout and the bottles of wine with appreciation. “We’re definitely going to need these for survival. I swear, the second February hits, it’s like every store in town suddenly turns into a Hallmark store on overdrive. It’s a whole lot of red and pink, and I’m not sure I’m emotionally equipped to handle it this year.”

Esme stepped toward the kitchen, grabbing a couple of glasses for the wine, clearly ready to dive straight into the evening. “Alright, so what’s the plan? Should we start with pretending this holiday doesn’t exist, or just dive straight into wine and snacks? I’m good with either, as long as we avoid any heart-shaped anything.” She gave Priya a teasing side-eye. “Though, if you somehow have a heart-shaped dessert in there, I might have to rethink our entire friendship.”

He slid a mug toward her, arching a brow. “Now, as for your bagel standards—good. Keeps people honest. But fair warning, I don’t believe in half-measures. If this is a taste test, I expect a full critique. No holding back.”

Carlos leaned against the counter, mirroring her stance. “So, go on. Take your first sip. Let’s see if I live up to the pressure.”

Esme placed the mug down gently, then grabbed the bagel, taking a deliberate bite, the crunch filling the space between them for a moment. She chewed thoughtfully, her eyes never leaving his as she processed the taste. “Alright, alright. I see you’re not messing around. The bagel’s solid too. A little crisp on the outside, but warm and soft in the middle. Nice balance. But”—she paused, teasing him—“don’t think I’m letting you off the hook just yet. There’s always room for improvement.” She leaned forward, her voice turning playful as she tapped the edge of the mug. “But for now, Carlos? Consider me mildly impressed. If I had to grade this, I’d say you’re—what? A solid B with room to grow? Don’t let it go to your head, though. I don’t hand out A’s easily.” Esme leaned back, her grin widening, giving him a challenge. “Your move, my coffee connoisseur.”

Cal couldn't help the grin on his face. "Thankfully, my high school was less of a formal thing and more of a tutor thing. Other people in my "class" were other actors who were on Broadway. I mean it was a real education or whatever, but now I see all them living the dream that I want or like they graduated from Juliard. Kinda sucks when I'm back here unemployed."

Life was a lot to take in these days. "I guess I'm not in a rush either, but I do like knowing that I'm not the only one who has no idea what the hell I'm doing."

Esme gave a soft shrug, her voice taking on a more honest tone as she looked at him. “But the thing is, everyone has those moments. Even the ones who seem like they’ve got it all figured out? They’re just better at pretending they don’t have doubts. Honestly, if you’re still breathing and still trying, I’d say you’re doing a hell of a lot better than a lot of people.”

She paused for a moment, a small smile tugging at her lips. “So no, you’re definitely not the only one feeling like they have no idea what they’re doing. But that’s also kind of the point, right? If we all had it figured out, life would be way less interesting.” Esme leaned forward a little, her voice softening. “You’re not behind, Cal. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. And when you get back to that thing you’re meant to do, it’ll be worth the wait. Trust me.”

He raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Though, if it melts before judging, doesn’t that make it performance art? You could spin it as a commentary on impermanence. People love that kind of thing. Get some existential quotes in there and boom—you’re not just an artist, you’re a philosopher.” Jethro tapped his chin thoughtfully. “But honestly, I think you’re onto something with the ‘Minimalism’ idea. Why overcomplicate things? A single block of cheese, maybe slightly tilted for artistic effect, and a title like ‘Erosion of Monoliths.’ Sell it for millions, retire to a vineyard, and live off cheese platters and wine.”

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “Or, and hear me out—what if we combined the ideas? A cheese dragon guarding the minimalist cheese block. You get the audacity and the artistry. Judging panel wouldn’t know what hit them.” @esmemaxwcll

Esme’s gaze softened slightly, her smile turning more reflective. “But honestly, I like the ‘minimalist monolith’ angle. It’s clever—straightforward, impactful. Not everything has to melt under the heat of complexity. Maybe I'll make the cheese just a little too perfect, so that when they look at it, they’re not sure if it’s real or art. Mystery sells.” She tapped her chin, her tone growing slightly more serious. “You know, it’s crazy—there’s something oddly profound about a cheese block. Something... timeless. Maybe that’s the real art—just finding the beauty in simplicity.” She looked at Jethro, a playful glint still dancing in her eyes. “But hey, if we’re going with the dragon, maybe we should add a hidden camera. See how long it takes for people to realize they’re staring at a melting sculpture of cheese. That could be the real commentary—on how people are conditioned to see ‘art’ only when it’s supposed to be art.”

someone my muse has dated.

"Oh, yeah! Okay, so back in high school, Esme and I got together for a little bit. Not for super long. I don't know, we didn't really click, for obvious reasons, but she caught onto it faster than me. I was still unsure of myself back then. Anyway, we are still good friend today, so that's what matters. I really appreciate and adore her for it."