wanderlust;

location: washington park arboretum status: closed for @joeyreynolds​

“Hey! I see you around here a lot. Should I be suspicious?” He said it with a smile, a friendly expression on his face, but truth be told the only reason he was approaching her at all was because he was, in fact, suspicious. First the microphone in his apartment (he refused to believe it was just a rock), now this familiar face who seemed to frequent the botanical gardens as often as he did? It couldn’t be coincidence, could it (It totally could)? “Just another nature-lover, or some kinda secret spy here to take someone out?” He raised an eyebrow as he looked her up and down, though she didn’t seem like too much of a threat, he would assume. Or maybe that was exactly what made her threatening, the fact that he might underestimate her.

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“This is one of my favorite places to visit,” she divulged upon seeing the familiar face. It was one of the only childhood memories she preferred to revisit. Joey hadn’t even bothered bringing her phone or her iPad, she had a sketchbook splayed open across her lap. A pencil perched behind her ear, a half-sketched picture of an orchid on the page. “The blooms are really pretty this year.”

Location: Click Bait.

Interacting with: Anyone. (0/5)

@seattlehqs-starters​

        It was Friday night and Farah wanted to be at home with nothing to do. She had a relaxing evening last week, so she decided to change things up this week. After changing into a cute outfit, the counselor walked her cute heels toward Click Bait. Arriving at the destination, she was placed at the bar and awaited the bartender’s attention. Unfortunately, she started to get unwanted attention from a creep beside her. They didn’t back down once she told them no, so she began to find some help.

“Oh my god, I didn’t know you were going to be here tonight,” Farah exclaimed happily to the person who stood out to her the most. Before they had time to react, the counselor mouthed help and did her best to motion toward the creep who was staring her down. “How’ve you been?”

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It wasn’t often that Joey let herself go to any form of bar, but somehow, she ended up at Click Bait. She stared at the neon lights, listened to the clang of billiard balls slam together. It didn’t feel like ten years ago that she wore the uniform T-shirt. The font had changed and a fit of nostalgia almost had her buying a similar one. 

Her attention was broken from the display of T-shirts when someone approached her. 

Joey immediately recognized Gus and her hand went to the other woman’s arm. “I know! I didn’t think I’d be able to get away from work, but I’m so glad I was able to come meet you after all,” she commented. “I’ve been good, I’ve just been swamped with work, how about you?”

Oh, so she didn’t realize she was talking to a garbage human. She thought that maybe his opinion mattered. Maybe his opinion would be a good one. Maybe it was his own self-sabotage as usual, but he offered her a toothy grin and shrugged his shoulders. “Well shit, the drugs here are pretty excellent. I’ve heard Seattle’s got some of the best.” Not that he had much to gage that on; he’d never been anywhere else. “I guess the greenhouses. Arboretums. We’ve got some pretty fuckin’ awesome ones around here,” he said after a moment, his grin diminishing and his shoulders shrugging once more. “Some of them even have, like, rare plants and shit.”

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Growing up with that atmosphere hadn’t been easy, but what was easy was breezing past it as if she’d simply misheard him. “That’s what the news tells me. Unfortunately, that can’t go on the blog,” she deadpanned. As much as she would have loved to add that special tidbit for shock factor, she couldn’t. 

What could go in was the bit about the greenhouses. “The botanical gardens have gotten better in the past few years as well,” she agreed. “I appreciate your help in all this. Can I buy you a coffee for your trouble?”

“I live here,” Ale replied quickly, an eyebrow rising. It was a fair question though, they got lots of tourists. “I’ve lived here since I was just a kid, so I like to think I know the area pretty well.” If that was even what she was looking for. Maybe she did actually need a tourist’s thoughts for some reason.

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“What’s something you’ve enjoyed doing so far?” she inquired. Her own experiences far differed and she couldn’t exactly write an article based on that. After all, she didn’t do much in Seattle growing up. Finances had been goddamned tight. However, now wasn’t the time to ruminate on that particularly bitter thought. “Or something you’d recommend someone to do?”

“Nah I’ve been here roughly six years on and off. Seattle was my vacation spot when I worked full time. Now I live here full time and I love it.” Mari gave a little more information than was required. It’s usually how interviews went. She tried to keep it short and to the point. 

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“What’s your favorite part of living here so far?” she inquired. Quick questions, quick answers. The sooner they were both done, the sooner they could be on their way. Joey wasn’t altogether sure the other woman was comfortable around her.

Tied tight, tip teasing Push, pull, pressure, pleasing Beads of sweat drip down your neck Breathing deep, gaining speed ‘Bout to peak, trembling, trembling, trembling

Maybe in another life Maybe in another life

One of them had controlled their first meeting in six years. He wasn’t sure who, but it had been different than this surprise. And the differences had made all the difference. This was a little painful and, if he was in the business of hating his little sister for pulling meddlesome shit, he would do it for this.

Joey’s stated question made him sigh. That was about all he had the energy for anyway. He wasn’t even surprised if he was honest.

“Guilt trip from Alaina? Maybe some of the details were different, but the basics are probably the same.” He bit his lip and looked over his shoulder, but didn’t find the brat anywhere. “You take the night out with her if she didn’t high-tail it off this boat already. I’ll find something else to do.”

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It still felt like a punch to the chest to see him after all this time. Josie could still remember that giddiness from so long ago, but much like her body didn’t remember pain, she didn’t remember the feeling itself. She simply remembered that she couldn’t wait until he got home from work. She remembered that she lit up when he was around. 

How could someone who had been on so many pages of her life feel like a stranger before her now? 

“We have to figure out how to be around each other eventually, right?” she pointed out. At the very least, keeping it civil for his family, considering they were his family and not hers.

Going to the event with Alaina was supposed to be fun, but instead, she was faced with seeing Gabe again. Now that they were alone, it was almost completely obvious as to why they were at the same place at the same time. This was why, apparently, she was supposed to be there.

“I get the feeling you’re here for the same reason as me?” she commented. 

Mari had just taken a large sip of her hazelnut coffee. She nodded at the woman while praying she didn’t accidentally drown herself. “I like interviews.” She smiled. “What do you want to know?” If anything it was a boost to her ego that someone on the street wanted to know her opinion about… something… Even if she just happened to be at the right place and right time… It had nothing to do with what little ‘status’ Mari might have.“ 

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“Are you a local or are you just visiting?” Joey inquired. It felt like a broken record at this point, considering how many interviews she had done in the past several hours. At some point, she’d go home and soak in her bathtub, drink a glass of sparkling cider, and pray her article was well-received. 

There wasn’t much that Ale wouldn’t stop for on any given day. He was easily distracted, and liked to forget that he ever had anywhere to be (but honestly, did he have anywhere to be?). So it was almost exciting when someone stopped him for a change, instead of it being the other way around. “Ask away!” Ale said cheerfully, turning to fully face the stranger with a grin.

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“My first question is, do you live here in Seattle or are you just visiting?” Joey inquired. Answers had varied and whatever wasn’t harassment or a simple brush-off was normally a response of the Space Needle or something else so incredibly touristy that she would get laughed out of her meetings. 

“Oof, that’s rough buddy. Jet lag is the worst.” Tabby commiserated with her. She paused for a moment to think about all that she’d done in Seattle. “Probably either the Pop Culture Museum, or when I went on the Beneath the Streets tour with some coworkers. I love learning stuff about a new city and getting a spooky tour at the same time was really fun too. Any other suggestions?”

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“You get over it pretty quick if you sleep a lot,” she commented. The roughest part was the first few days when she needed to adjust to the time zone. “Have you been to the Farmer’s Market tour? They have some great items and I always recommend it if you’re new to town and need to furnish.”