𝐏𝐔𝐑𝐄 / 𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐘 .ᐟ

shiva had been quietly observing the other person while she was in line for her morning coffee, if one could still consider it to be morning. she had worked at the electric lights until late last night, and a fresh cup of americano would just do it for her. once she's gotten her drink, she stood there for a couple minutes longer, waiting for the other to get their drink, and as she has predicted, they struggled walking up the door. "here you go." she says, out of nowhere, as if she just swooped by their side, opening to coffee shop's door for them. "you need a hand carrying those?"

in dire need of a caffeine hit, julianna juggled a stack of folders in both arms, she rather pathetically made several attempts to push open the door only to be met with failure. it wasn’t until the kind offer of a total stranger that she was saved from continued embarrassment. “oh, yes please! could you?” the older brunette replied graciously, a hint of blush threatening to creep upon her cheeks. “do you mind holding these ones while i grab the rest?” without giving the other much of an option, she held the smaller pile out towards them. “you’re a godsend. thank you so much… until you came over i was honestly on the verge of a mini meltdown.”

" hey. " cameron would say over the front counter. he was busy going through some of his appointments for the day. but the shop was nearing closing and he was just about to leave for the day. " we're just about to close.. so i can't give you a tattoo or anything right now. you're welcome to come back, though.. tomorrow or something. i've got two appointments open. " he'd say from memory since he had already knew what his schedule was looking like for the rest of the week.

“no, that’s fine. i’m not wanting to get a tattoo right now, i just came to inquire about covering up a small tattoo on my ribcage and to see what you think can be done.” tatyana explained matter-of-factly, a hint of exasperation in her voice. never again would she agree to getting matching tattoos with a now jilted ex-lover on a drunken night out. not to mention, it was her first and only tattoo… never having had interest in adorning her body in ink before that night — the thorned rose forever a reminder of a time in her life that she’d rather erase. “i’d like to get it turned into something different… if that’s even possible? i’m open to any ideas.”

turning back to her partner, julianna looked at him adoringly before her line of sight drifted back down to her half-finished creation. “i promise not to sneak a peek!” the grin returned to her features then. “well… i will try to the best of my ability not to look.” a pause. “but you’re not allowed to peek either, mister!” her statement was soon echoed by ruby adding a loud and bossy ‘no peeking!’ with a waggle of her little index finger.

richie leans against the brick wall beside the club, cigarette balanced between their fingers as they watch the other's increasingly unsuccessful attempts to make it past the door. after a moment, they let out a quiet laugh, take one last drag, and jerk their head toward the entrance. “come on - ” they call, flicking ash onto the pavement. “you're making this look way harder than it needs to be.” they unclip the velvet queue rope that skims the other's side, holding it open for them to step out of line. "told you - if you want to come, you let me know.. i'll take care of you." the blonde promises, muttering to security to let them skip in future. "what're you drinking? on me."

⋆.°    ᝰ.ᐟ     maxine flips open the picnic basket and sets down various containers filled with different types of picnic foods  ––  a charcuterie board,  pasta salad,  pastries from sunshine bakery to name a few.  “  so i think i may have gone a little overboard.  but better to have your options,  right  ?  ”  she chuckles.  “  and last but not least,  ”  she pulls out a bottle of wine.  “  i hope you’re okay with pinot grigio.  i’m more partial to a good sauvignon blanc but i went with a safer choice.  ”

“pinot grigio is more than fine! when it comes to white wine, i’ll drink all of the above. reds are what i’m very particular about.” shrugging, her tone was laced with amusement. “you’ve truly out-done yourself. i think this may be the fanciest picnic i’ve ever been to!”

“  do  you  mind?  ”  she  pushes  her  sunglasses  down  the  bridge  of  her  nose,  staring  down  the  other  with  a  withering  gaze.  christine  did  not  come  to  the  beach  party  to  mingle.  no,  she  was  here  to  relax  on  her  own,  and  that  was  that.  “  you're  blocking  my  sun.  ”

unable to stifle the sarcastic laugh that escaped her, tatyana turned her head to lay sight on the rather entitled woman seated to her left. “watch your tone.” she spat back with mild amusement, her tone laced with venom and annoyance. “i’m sure you can find another position around here to get your sun. not to mention i was here before you.” spoken like the ice queen she was, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the height of ridiculousness on display before her. “you’re lucky i’m in a good mood, otherwise i wouldn’t be nearly as nice as i am right now.”

LUCY LIU W Magazine's Best Performances Issue 2026 bts

“  OH  MY  GOD  !  ”  marlowe  exclaims  rather  loudly,  picking  up  a  stray  cat  that  has  wandered  into  her  guitar  case.  the  feline  doesn't  fight  the  sudden  grab,  soft  purrs  vibrate  out  of  its  chest  as  marlo  wraps  its  soft,  furry  body  into  a  gentle  embrace.  “  i  feel  like  i  totally  know  this  cat from somewhere.  “  big  doe  eyes  gaze  insentively upon  the  feline's  face  for  a  moment,  a  beat,  and  another,  then  she  audibly  gasps.  ”  oh  !  this  is  my  mother  !  "  lips  pull  into  a  wide  smile,  eyes  shift  expectantly  at  the  other  person.

a lover of creatures of all kinds, mila couldn’t help the soft smile that crept upon her face as she watched the affectionate feline settle so comfortably in the arms of her friend, as if they were made for them. “i actually think i saw them wandering around the neighbourhood a couple days ago. if this is the cat i’m thinking of, i actually tried to catch it but some dumbass guy on a skateboard scared her off.” she replied, letting out an exasperated sigh as she recalled the incident. “i think they’ve chosen you! you got any room for a fur baby at your place?”

“  you're  up  early,  ”  spencer  observes  with  a  huff,  taking  a  swig  from  his  water  bottle  as  he  stops  by  a  familiar  face  during  his  morning  jog.  spencer  wasn't  a  morning  person  by  any  means,  but  this  was  the  only  time  he  could  get  some  exercise  in  before  his  shifts  at  the  hospital.  he  glances  at  his  apple  watch,  then  looks  up  at  the  other  again  with  an  exhausted  smile.  “  what's  got  you  awake  at this  time  of  day?  ”

her gaze lifted from her phone screen to the other, giving them a tight-lipped, polite smile. “i wake up at 4 o’clock every morning… i like getting out before the sun’s up. it’s peaceful.” she explained with a nonchalant shrug before giving him once over with a raised brow. “how about you? i’m surprised i haven’t seen you out here before.”

it was a tiring day and evelyn decided to take a seat at the bar. luckily, she was off tomorrow so she figured she'd stop by. she wrapped her hands around the glass and turned her head toward the other when she noticed someone had decided to sit down beside of her. " long day for you too ? " she'd ask, bringing her cup up to her lips. " all i know is.. i'm just glad that i won't have to set my alarms too early for tomorrow. "

still in somewhat of a daze, it took the blonde a few moments to register that the stranger by her side had spoken to her. “huh? …oh!” a pause, followed by a slight chuckle. “i guess you could say that. i got roped into helping a friend move apartments, and of course she had to get the one on the 15th floor with a fucking broken elevator.” she replied, her tone laced with playful annoyance. “no alarm? how decadent! have you got any plans for your day off?”