Whatever It Takes

lucy: heeyyy so uhm i lost my footage

lucy: thank fuck it wasn't the one of our short film !!!

lucy: i'll drop by the deli for a bacon sandwich after i'm done crying uwu

leo: what?!?

leo: luce i'm so sorry.

leo: is anything recoverable??

murphy: no chips???? smh

murphy: ugh what other kinds do u have?

murphy: if i set u up with a fan... can i have the chips?

leo: you drive a hard bargain, but i guess i can sacrifice my chips for a night of passion ;)

murphy: i will venmo you ANY amount of money to have a turkey on rye with everything and a pickle spear on the side when i get out of practice

murphy: literally name ur price

murphy: OH and some of those rly good bbq chips?? u know the ones i mean?

leo: $50,000

leo: jk u know its always on the house for you, dude.

leo: the chips i can't do. see we're only down to one bag & i made my claim on them so...sorry.

everything had somewhat gone back to normal  ,   just how her relationships with some of her friends had changed since the party .   riley thankfully had stopped having nightmares and worked whatever was going on with nico .  her mind wanders to nico as she thinks of them .  how she knew how they felt and the confessions they made . now what were they suppose to do now ?  riley didn’t know and it was the first time she wasn’t in control . she was losing her mind .  trying to keep her mind cleared and not have a breakdown over her situation , she went for a walk .  grabbing her earphones in and her phone . riley knows listening to music and a walk helps her control freak tendcies at bay .  not wanting to let her demons out to the others .  don’t be ashamed .  it’s what she tells herself , but it feels unfair to her that she can’t be like everyone else and  feel free without the control . 

checking her phone to see if anybody needed her and then put on music .  she’s strolling her way around the block .  the world around her turning off as she listens to one of her favorite one direction song .  it’s the most sane she’s felt .  riley should’ve seen her surroundings more and what next wouldn’t have happened . WHAM !  her body flings to the ground and she whinces . jesus – was she that light of a person to fling ?  groaning at herself for not being heavier or strong .  her eyes finally settle in on who’s hovering over her .  she chokes on air . “ L-Leo ?! “ her eyes wander to see he’s shirtless and she blushes quickly looking back up .  they’re quite close and it makes her heartbeat faster . no - no - no .   “ you’re fine , leo . “ she’s nervous and it shows as she quickly tries to get up , forgetting leo was hovering which leads to her bonking her head against his . “ OW ! “ she yelps before falling back down and holding her head . “ nevermind – i seem to have just hurt myself . “ she giggles as she looks back at the male . “ sorry . “

his initial reaction was to help Riley up, so he held out his hand after he steadied himself on his feet. “here let me help-” was all he could get out before their heads hit each other, knocking him back on his feet & making him fall onto his ass. Leo sat up bringing his knees to his chest &, rubbing his forehead, let out a laugh as a small crowd began to gather at the scene. “wow, this is the most painful workout I think I’ve ever had!” he stood up & once more offered his hand to help his friend up. “no worries, Riley, really. it’s my fault for literally running into you. you sure you’re okay?”

he had been in his apartment for a few months now & was still discovering his neighborhood - though there wasn’t much left to explore as he practically grew up on this block - & had just recently figured out a path he liked to run. Leo tried to work out at least once a day (you don’t get abs like his just from eating deli sandwiches!) & at least tried to get a run in every morning. unfortunately, this morning delayed his run with an unexpected deli emergency; at least, that’s what his co-worker said over the phone at 6:00 am this morning. Leo crawled out of bed & made his way to the deli, cursing out loud as he did so for ruining his only morning off this week. 

his shift ended promptly at 2:30 pm & Leo seized this opportunity to go on a run. he changed into a tank top, mesh gym shorts, & running shoes when he got back to his apartment, & grabbed his ear buds on his way out the door. he navigated the block expertly & as someone who had been running this route for years, although it had only been a few weeks. about mid-way through his run, the heat had gotten to him, & he took his tank top off in an attempt to cool down. of course, he didn’t mind the looks from others, either, but as Leo turned the corner onto Bennington street, he was caught off guard by the thud of his body colliding with another. “oh, shit!” he said as he saw the woman hit the ground, Leo hovering just over her catching himself. “wait...Riley?” he asked as he registered the face of the person he ran into. “shit, Riley, are you okay? did i hurt you? i’m sorry...”

✧･ﾟ open starter !    

                   alex needed a break from spending time cooped up in her apartment and drawing the same five designs over and over, again. she needed a burst of inspiration, a spark or a muse that’ll bring life to her portfolio. and after contemplating over a lukewar, cup of cold brew, alex finally decided to visit white noise and find a new vinyl to listen to — hearing the same three paramore albums, as much as she loves them, didn’t bring anything new. 

                   paint-chipped fingernails danced over the edges of wrapped-up vinyls, flicking between covers and aimlessly humming to the song echoing throughout the store. “ i know when to go out, i know when to stay in. ” an easy sigh fell from alex’s lips, a grin tugging at the edges as she glanced towards the other standing adjacent from her. “ david bowie really had his shit together, huh. hey- did you find anything worth listening to yet ? ”

it was one of those extremely rare saturdays where Saul decided to give Leo  the day off, so he decided to spend it going through his record collection. his dad had bought him a record player for his 23rd birthday when he caught Leo going through his old record collection, & bought him a new vinyl every year for his last three birthdays. “you’re never too old to start new traditions,” he remembers Saul saying that first birthday. he’d been flicking through the sleeves he had & nothing he had currently felt right, so he decided to head to White Noise to get something new.  Leo had been sorting through the classic rock section & was trying to decide whether or not to buy the Eagles’ Hotel California record he held in his hand when a familiar voice spoke to him. “oh, most definitely. bowie’s one of the greats; there’s no doubt about that.” he held up the record. “maybe? what do you think? I remember my dad playing this every spring when the weather was warm enough to open the windows around the house.” 

Lucy rolled her eyes at Leo knowing full well he had a sweet side to him if you knew how to pry it out. “My eyes are just fine, Leo. Anyway, the idea was trying to capture quiet moments in the city that never slept and of course you’re gonna be in it with me.” She wasn’t taking a no from her muse and that’s why she was here trying to sweeten the deal. Who knows, he might be a recurring cast member in Lucy’s channel if this goes well. Rooftops, hidden alleys – okay, maybe not the seedy ones – parks only a few people about, niched restaurants. You get my vibe here? Two people – friends, lovers, I haven’t figured it out yet – just having a grand ole time.” She wasn’t entirely sure if she was making sense but she never left the deli not brimming of ideas and the day was still young. Maybe she can sneak in a tall glass of soda a little later - a guilty pleasure she only let loose with Leo in sight to keep an eye on her.

he placed his elbows on the counter, leaning against them as Lucy talked. “nah, i think you might need glasses, Lucy.” he winked as she continued on with the video concept & his ears perked up as she spoke. “yeah, that all sounds great. i know a few spots that we can check out, if you don’t have a list going already, that is.” images flashed through his mind of himself riding Polly down an empty side street in Manhattan, pulling to a stop in front of a hidden park he used to escape to when he needed to clear his head. “i’m in, but on one condition: i get to keep my shirt on. the last video of yours i was in, all the comments were about my abs instead of how amazing the video itself was. i’d hate to distract your audience from what’s sounding like one of your best videos yet.” 

apolline theater: our muses sneak in backstage for a sold-out show

it was a night he’d been looking forward to for weeks. he & Alex had both discovered a new underground indie band that was just starting out, but were quickly rising to fame. they announced on their official twitter page that they would be playing a last-minute show at the apolline theater for one night only during their tour & immediately, Leo texted Alex that they absolutely had to go, whatever it takes. he threw on his favorite leather jacket & made his way to pick up Alex. 

they had just crossed the street toward the theater & Leo could feel a sense of excitement in his stomach - something he rarely would admit he felt. maybe it was different because he was finally going to see one of his new favorite bands perform live, or maybe it was because Alex would be by his side the whole time, either way: Leo couldn’t wait to get his ticket. As they made their way toward the box office, Leo sensed that getting 2 tickets wouldn’t be as easy as he thought & sure enough, as they approached the ticket window, they were informed that the show was sold out. “wait, seriously? how the hell is that even possible they just went on sale today?!” he was frustrated & banged a fist on the glass. the man behind the window waved over one of the band’s security guards who then escorted the two out of the lobby & onto the street. “this is fucking ridiculous, man. there’s gotta be someway you can let us in.” the security guard shook his head and refused either of them to enter back in because of Leo’s outburst. turning back to his friend & seeing the disappointment on her face, Leo said “i’m sorry, Alex, i didn’t think tickets would go that fast.” he wasn’t going to let this stop them from seeing the show & thankfully, Leo had just the way to get them in backstage. as he was being led out, he had managed to grab the guard’s security badge from his waist & quickly shoved it into the pocket of his leather jacket. “but...maybe this will get us in?” he flashed a grin & the badge at Alex & the next thing he knew, the two of them were heading for the stage door, hand-in-hand. he swiped the badge & heard the familiar click as the door unlocked & ushered Alex in as he followed. they snuck around backstage until they were in view of the band from one of the wings, and Alex excitedly pulled Leo in for a hug as they started to play. he’d never admit it to her, but Leo felt sparks as he & Alex embraced & for the first time in his life, he felt his heart skip a beat & wondered if this was in fact what love was supposed to feel like.

mon’s deli: your muse sees mine eating a sandwich and crying

it was closing time at the deli & only a few of the regulars & staff were hanging around. Leo was tasked with cleaning the grill after whipping up some sandwiches for the closing crew, which included himself & Riley. “extra mayo, if i remember correctly?” he said while spreading mayo on the underside of a brioche roll for Riley’s sandwich. he piled the ingredients together, serving it to her with a smile as he tended to the grill. Leo didn’t mind the closing shift; in fact he preferred it to the early-morning opening shift & over time, he & his dad had an understanding where Leo would work mostly closings during the week & opening shifts on the weekends, allowing him some time to actually enjoy the day. “how’s that sandwich, Riles? the best you’ve ever had, right?” he asked through the window, his attention on finishing up the grill cleaning, when he heard what sounded like sniffling coming from the counter. he turned his head & saw that they were coming from Riley. “uh-oh, this can’t be good” he thought to himself as he made his way through the door. he & Riley had a sibling-like relationship, though he’d be lying if he said he didn’t feel some attraction towards her. they had been working pretty closely together ever since she started working at the deli & he took an immediate interest in her. he pushed his feelings aside, however, as he didn’t want to ruin what was becoming a great friendship. he nodded goodbye to the last of the closing crew & sat in the open seat at the counter next to Riley, who was visibly crying now. he placed a hand on her back and asked “what’s wrong? did someone say something to you?” he couldn’t really make out what she said between sobs, and before he knew it, he head was on his shoulder & he pulled her in for a hug. as he rubbed her back, Leo said: “it’s gonna be okay, whatever it is. i’m here for you, ok? don’t forget that.” he was suddenly overcome by the smell of her shampoo, “is that...coconut?” he thought as she continued to let it all out. “i hope this isn’t because i made you a shitty sandwich...” she sat up with a laugh at his comment & Leo looked at her. even through the tears & redness of her face from crying, she still looked beautiful. “just tell me if i need to kick somebody’s ass or not.” another laugh. Leo pulled her in for a hug & kissed the top of her head. “ you can tell me anything, y’know. i’ll always be here for you, Riley, don’t forget that.”

mon’s deli: your muse sees mine eating a sandwich and crying

he was in the thick of a busy shift. it was the lunch rush on a weekday, which of course meant everyone flocked to the deli during their lunch period. “emilio, enough with fucking the bell, already!” he shouted at the guy working the counter. he was blasting through tickets at lightning-fast speed, when a familiar face caught his eye through the kitchen to counter window. “Frankie” he thought as he looked at her & noticed how red her face was. he finished up with his current order & told his co-worker to take over for him. after washing his hands, Leo made his way to the booth where Frankie sat & slumped down into the seat across from her. “what’s up, Franks? The Old Man finally beat you at poker?” the smile that appeared out the side of his mouth quickly disappeared as tears began to fall from her face. “woah...Frankie? is everything okay? I warned you to never get the tuna salad sandwich.” patrons of the diner started to look their way as he tried to calm Frankie down. he wasn’t too affectionate with his friends & was shit at trying to calm people down when they were upset. “F-frankie what do you need? do you need a new sandwich? more fries? a hug?” he hoped she wouldn’t pick the last option, but she didn’t give him a clear answer. Leo awkwardly made his way out of the booth & to Frankie’s side. he looked around before reaching out one of his long arms & gently placing it on her opposite shoulder. “uh...there, there? it’ll be okay, just...calm down...” Leo was so uncomfortable that he felt his cheeks start to burn as he blushed; he hated how everyone was staring at this interaction & prayed Frankie would stop crying soon. as fate would have it, at that exact moment Frankie broke out into a fit of laughter & Leo realized this had all been an elaborate prank to embarrass him. “oh, you’ve gotta be fuckin’ kidding me!” his arm shot back to his side & he shook his head as he began to laugh along with his friend. “you’re such a jerk, you know that?” he shook his head & started walking back to the kitchen before turning back to Frankie & saying: “you’re bringing the beers tomorrow night because of this & you’re getting me my own 6 pack. I can’t wait to wipe the floor with you at poker!” 

apolline theater: our muses sneak in backstage for a sold-out show

“...fuck” he said as the two approached the front of the apolline. it’s glass doors were adorned with multiple signs facing out to the street that were advertising one of the pairs favorite group’s improv shows & across them, a thick, red, diagonal line with two words in bold: SOLD OUT. “Shit, Lucy, I’m sorry; I thought for sure we’d be able to grab tickets.” the improv group had a big cult following & were notorious for performing in pop-up spaces throughout the city. only true fans of the group would be able to figure out where each show would be, & Leo was hoping, then, that he & Lucy would be two of the lucky few. seeing disappointment on her face, Leo’s mind raced to think of a way to cheer her up when his eyes landed on the alleyway next to the theater. “don’t worry, i’ll get you in. i’ve got an idea. come with me.” before she could answer, he grabbed he hand and lead her into the alley. they were in front of the stage door leading to the back of the theater. “just, relax, Luce, no one’s gonna see.” he looked around for the next part of his plan & found a crowbar across from the door. “stagehand must have dropped this during load-in.” he picked it up & went to the door. checking to make sure the coast was clear, he put one end of the crowbar between the door & the door frame, and began to push on the other end. soon enough, he heard the click of the lock and swung the door open, tossing the crowbar behind him, & ushering Lucy inside. “that was easier than i thought. usually they’re a lot tougher than that...” the two navigated their way through the backstage area & sneaked into the back row unnoticed. “told you i’d get you in, didn’t i? now i can cross ‘commit a misdemeanor crime by breaking into a theater for an improv show’ off my bucket list.” he flashed a smile & a wink at Lucy as they settled into their seats while the lights went down & the show began. 

alleo: would you ever date someone from your childhood?

answered!

murphy: what’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done?

“oh man, i’m gonna get so much shit for this but...okay about two years ago i was dating this girl, Maya. she was a dancer & was trying the whole broadway thing - anyway: we had been going out for about six months at this point & i was falling pretty hard for her so i decided to do something really special for our anniversary. i took her down to a marina in Brooklyn where i set up this really nice dinner on a boat (one of the regulars at mon’s lent it to me for the night) complete with string lights, candles, rose petals; basically anything remotely romantic. we were looking out on the skyline of the city & it was just really a perfect moment. it took a lot for me to work up the courage to do all that & that’s where i said ‘i love you’ to her for the first time & she said it back. 

two weeks later she signed a contract for a national tour & broke up with me. i’m over it now, but it really stung with how close this all was.” 

blue: what’s your muse’s favorite meal?

alleo: would you ever date someone from your childhood?

"yes. depends on who it is. i met a lot of people when i was growing up & i’m pretty sure those people i knew as kids are completely different from how i remember them now that we’re adults. it’d have to be someone really special for me to date them & someone i’ve known forever. ( @jvhnnygloom )

red robin: who would you take shopping with you at whole foods?

“oh, definitely riley. she can help me plan some meals that aren’t just sandwiches or take-out. and then cook for me in my apartment ( @rilys )

mooks: how affectionate are you in a relationship?

taster: do you believe that someone out there is made for you?

“no. i do believe that there are certain people out there that you’re meant to find maybe when you’re 13 & that you’re meant to meet them for a reason, but they’re not necessarily made for you. does that make sense?” 

frucy: from a scale of one to frankie & murphy, how much of a simp are you?

“what the fuck is a simp? like, simple? uh...i’m gonna go ahead & say zero, i guess?” 

luward: would you get back together with an ex?

“that depends on why we broke up. there are only two of my exes that i wouldn’t ever in a million years get back together with, but a few that i would have to consider before starting things up again. cheating is my number one deal-breaker in a relationship & something i can’t just forget about.” 

mooks: how affectionate are you in a relationship?