𝔣𝔞𝔩𝔰𝔢 𝔤𝔬𝔡

It had been a busy night at the club, though Norah almost preferred it that way. She had just finished a set on stage and decided to take a quick breather before making some rounds, heading over to the bar. "If it isn't one of my favorite bartenders." Norah teases with a grin, leaning up against the counter. "Can I get a club soda with lime?"

“and if it isn’t one of my favorite dancers.” she replied back with a grin, which wasn’t a lie. though, brinley just tended to like all of the dancers, but norah was definitely up there in their top three anyways. “you got it, i had a feeling you’d be coming over wanting one.” they teased, turning away for just a moment before returning with the drink. “how’s the night been?” 

It’s a pretty quiet day at The Third Eye, though Vince doesn’t really mind. Gia is napping away in her Pack ‘n Play while he works on setting up a new display, putting out some new items that had just come in the day’s mail. He’s busy inspecting the shelf when he hears the bell on the door ring, turning to see whoever is walking in. “Welcome to The Third Eye, how can I help you today?”

between maia coming back into her life and bowie needing some inspiration for her next song with grave danger, she thought she’d try something new. and one thing she hadn’t done yet was go to the third eye, which was surprising because it’s right up her alley. but today was the perfect day for it. “hi!” she greeted with a smile, practically bouncing up on her feet when she entered. “i’m here for a reading.” 

"you have any big summer plans?" kai asks, offering ben a smile. summer vacations were always fun, though since his kids were grown, they didn't take as many trips as they used to. still, they tried to get the whole family together as often as they could, as busy as they all were. a weekend trip with diego sounded nice too, though they weren't sure if that was in the cards for them this summer. one could hope though. "i'm good. family's good. busy. you know how it is. being empty nesters is still an adjustment, to be honest."

“i volunteered myself for summer school again and that starts up soon. it’s usually a 50/50 shot if the kids want to be there, but i try to make it fun.” though, could that be considered a big summer plan? he and the kids weren’t doing a big vacation that year, so really that was his big thing this summer. “oh i can only imagine, i’m already feeling that with just fletcher out of the house at times. i dread the day my youngest is out of the house and becoming a real adult.” 

Stopping by Main Squeeze after a long afternoon at Swolemates had become a bit of a tradition for Esme. Moving out of line to wait for her smoothie, she spots a semi-familiar face also waiting for their drink, moving to wait over by the counter near them. "Hey coach, long time no see." Esme teases, smiling softly. "How've you been?"

a big part of being a teacher was having summers off, unless that teacher was ben. he always was the first to volunteer himself for summer school and they typically would start soccer a bit early too before the school year. but summer school ended a bit early today so he decided it was the perfect time for a smoothie. he turned his head when he heard a familiar voice, offering her a grin. “hey! i’ve been pretty good, staying busy. how about you?” 

A night at the brewery with an old friend seemed exactly like what the doctor ordered. And by doctor, they meant themself. Both Kai and Benjamin were kept pretty busy with their jobs, but if one thing was important to them, it was making time for the people that were important. Ordering a beer flight and a couple of baskets of fries, they wait for him to arrive, waving them over once they see the brunette walk through the door. “Hey! I ordered for us already, help yourself. It’s been too long, how have you been?”

but when kai suggested hanging out, ben was quick to agree. he was glad to see his friend mostly, but another part of ben was also ready for the distraction from his own thoughts. and to be around someone who wasn’t his own daughters or his students. he grinned when he got over to the table, taking a seat next to him. “oh that’s perfect, i’ve been good, kids just got out of school so that’s always a good time. how about you?” 

“it is, but i think she just hated most of the things i suggested. especially while she was pregnant. i’d never talk badly about the mother of any of my children but i do not envy whoever may have had to deal with her while pregnant again.” kora was good, for the most part but her being pregnant definitely added an extra amount of stress that none of them needed. but their daughter coming out of it was good, thats one thing he wouldn’t complain about, even if she wouldn’t let him name her frankie. “i did, i really did. i’m not sure what type f person i’d be today if i didn’t make the trip here. i think if you set roots down here, you’d be set for life.” 

gio said that he loved him and he wanted to believe him, if oliver was weaker he may have just believed him instantly. but then they remembered the days and weeks that followed their breakup and those emotions all came back at once. it was true that oliver still loved gio, because he didn’t think he could ever stop loving him. but without the drugs and adrenaline rushes, was their love ever real or were they holding on to something they both created in a drug induced stupor? “you didn’t know what to do? i was there for you gio! i was willing to marry you, when i was going to be asked for better or for worse i would have said yes in a heartbeat. but could you have done the same? things got worse and you ran! did you ever even love me or did you just love the idea you created of me when we were on four day bender?!” 

“trust me, I get it. I’ve got one of my own. they always find a way to worry us, huh ? ” though charlie didn’t ever stray too far, both dog and owner dependant on one another. at the name given, ace smiles and nods slowly, before it finally sinks in where he’s heard it before. “chip ? potato chip ? huh…” he does his best to hide the way his eyes widen. It hadn’t been too long ago that gio was telling ace the name of his dog, who was under the care of his ex. ace was now pretty sure this was said ex. to say he felt awkward would be a massive understatement, and he can’t decide if he should mention the other or not. he chooses not. “cool name. how’d you come up with that ? ” he asks, just to double check he’s not mistaken. It could, after all, simply be a weird coincidence.

“without fail, it seems. sometimes i wonder if she does it on purpose, like she’s got this big diabolical plan against me. but then i remember she’s just a sweet dog who has no ulterior motives... i think.” he chuckled a bit, shaking their head. “not the most common name, i know but my uh.... ex, yeah my ex he and i found her one night at the gas station. she was going to town on a family size bag of potato chips and came over to us with the bag still on her head. ever since then, she’s been with us and then men when we broke up.” the more he thought about first getting chip made him realize that she may have already had a family and he and gio stole her. but it was a little too late for that one, so it was fine. 

“my own fault for going to amazon, i obviously should have been a good pet owner and gotten it at the pet store.” was their quality better? oliver wasn’t sure, but it was possible they could have something better. something that chip wouldn’t slide right out of, not right away at least. they were sure that she’d find her way out of it eventually but they wanted to at least make it a challenge. “i mean, fair enough. if someone were to make me mad and do the same thing, i’m not sure if i could stay mad at them.” he paused, thinking about it. “well maybe not licking, but like... kissing you know?” 

"i wasn't much of a cook either until i had mouths to feed. you learn as you go. but if there's anything you want for dinner or anything, please let me know. i'm happy to make whatever. within reason, of course. i'm no michelin star chef!" the brunette laughs, shaking her head. norah's laughter quickly dies at the mention of giovanni, brow furrowing slightly. "are you alright? do i need to go speak with him?"

“could have fooled me! i’ve give you like... at least a four star rating. i don’t think you’ve made a bad dish yet.” if she had oliver would never tell her that though. he chewed on his lower lip a bit anxiously, quickly shaking his head. “no, definitely not. i appreciate that but... no. i’m okay, i think? i don’t know, i just wasn’t expecting to see him. and it was like those feelings just all came back to me all at once. the good and bad ones.” 

A familiar face slid her booth "What's up? Wanna fry?" She offered before stuffing a few in her mouth

they spotted a familiar face and made a beeline for that table, grinning at the immediate offer. “fuck yeah i do.” they said, reaching out to grab a fry and take a bite. “oh you know, went a little too hard last night. how about you?” 

head tilted to the side, dov inspects the painting in front of him, lips pursed in thought. "i don't get it." he says after a few moments, gesturing towards the piece of artwork. "what do you think it means?"

“i think it means someone had too much time on their hands, personally.” brinley mused, head tilting to either side as they observed the painting in front of them. they certainly weren’t an art person by any means and they definitely weren’t interested in what was happening in front of them. “but i guess that’s like... the whole point of some of these right? up for interpretation?” 

they were finally picking up the pieces that gio had left shattered back in their apartment in chicago. oliver wasn’t ready to reopen those wounds, not now and maybe not ever. they were glad that the other was in a good place, but was it good enough to risk months of work that oliver had put in for his road to getting clean? “did you ever love me, giovanni? or did you just love what i represented at that time? someone who loves their fiance doesn’t leave them like that. i was so in love with you, i love you so much and you just..” he trailed off, shaking his head as he quickly blinked his eyes to ward off any tears that threatened to fall. “you just left, like our years together meant nothing to you.” 

when oliver realized that the other was deaf, his eyes went wide as he felt a bit guilty. like maybe they should have been more considerate but before he could think properly, he was quick to go “oh shit, sorry man!” out loud before quickly getting his phone out to mirror what owen was doing. they then proceeded to type out oh shit, sorry man!!! and gave him an apologetic smile. he read what the other was typing and nodded along, going back to typing on his phone as well. i swear chip is always out to get me too, just because she’s in a new city means she’s a new dog or something. i’m oliver, she’s chip. short for potato chip. 

how chip managed to slip out of her collar, oliver will never know. she was sneaky like that, much like the night that he and gio found her. maybe she was acting out, being in a new town wasn’t easy. either that or she was just an asshole at times, which was also a very acceptable answer too. and they couldn’t really fault the dog for that either. she did have to go through quite a few adjustments moving from their old place in chicago to one in denver that had more people in it. though, she did get a lot more attention at the house and they knew she ate it up. once oliver caught up to chip, they handed over the collar. “you’re a saint, truly. saved my ass, that’s for sure. i owe you one.”