dancing with your ghost

LINA ELODIE ZHANG LENOIR. FASHION DESIGN & MANAGEMENT PROFESSOR AT CORNELL.

“Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul.” — Oscar Wilde

GOOGLE DOC  ╱  ABOUT TAG

it's a busy night at daddy's, lina having made her entrance over an hour ago, and she's already feeling the effects of the many shots she's consumed throughout the night, body swaying with the music blaring over the speakers, basking in the ambience. she isn't sure what exactly she's looking for until her eyes land on saint, her body lighting up just from the sight of him, deciding that company is absolutely what she's seeking this evening. the man in question is one of the many reasons she keeps coming back to daddy's time and time again, feeling an inescapable pull to the establishment. she makes her way slowly over to him, sidling up next to him with a crooked smile. "well, well, well. mr. daddy himself, what a pleasure," she greets, cocking a brow as she gives him a slow once over.

location: alley cat cafe open to anyone ( @ithacastarters​ )

faye had always been curious to step foot into the alley cat cafe and she could safely say that in the past five years that she had lived in ithaca, she had not stepped foot into it once. one would say that it was unsanitary keeping cats where baked goods and coffee sat, but in reality she knew that as soon as she saw one that caught her eye she would bring them home and she had no room or patience to deal with a feline. the line was longer than she had expected and she watched as people stood behind her waiting for their turn to order when she looked at the person behind her. “so how do you expect that they keep the cats away from the stuff we order? because i swear to god if i get cat hair in my coffee, i might vomit. what do you think?”

***

it's lina's first time at the cafe, always having been a lover of cats and missing some furry feline presence in her life since moving to new york, having left her previous pets back in france in the care of friends when she left the country. she figures she might as well kill two birds with one stone and get her feline fix along with her caffeine fix in the same sitting, but it's unexpected that she's already being approached before she's even made her order. her head tilts at the girl's question, body shifting as she lets out a considering hum, contemplating. "you know, i don't know if i've ever thought about it," she ruminates, "i mean, they have to pass health inspections, right? surely they wouldn't allow the cats near the places where the food and drinks are prepared. i've never personally had any issues, but we can always check the reviews. people are usually brutal on yelp." she gives a smirk then, holding up her phone with a waggle of her eyebrows.

Location: Sahni's Sweets / open starter @ithacastarters

Savannah was in the midst of working an afternoon shift at the bakery and it had been a bit slow. The brunette had spent the last two hours doing a variety of things, cleaning up the front display case, brainstorming some new potential seasonal menu items, and even was filling up her shopping carts with things she didn't need. Brown orbs were glued to her phone screen, manicured nails tapping away as she was torn between which mini skirt to buy. In her own little world, she hadn't even realized that someone was standing in front of her.

"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry! What can I help you with today?" her southern drawl slipping through her sentence.

***

the girl behind the counter has lina giving her an endeared smile once she finally notices her, the accent she hears something rare and foreign to her ears, leaving her intrigued and wanting to hear more of it. she's only been to this bakery once before, which is surprising given that she has a massive sweet tooth, but typically she likes to have things delivered, or simply have her TA bring her whatever it is that she's craving at the moment. but today, she decided to venture off on her own and treat herself, deciding that she deserves it now that the semester is coming to an end.

"no worries, love. my sweet tooth is kicking in hard today, so i'm definitely in need of something sweet asap," she informs her with a smile. "do you have any recommendations? a best seller, or maybe a personal favorite?" after a quick glance to the menu board behind her, she snaps and continues, "oh and coffee! your best latte as well, definitely."

Settling into her spot behind a new bar was the easy part. She’d moved around, jumped from job to job for what felt like a lifetime now. She’d smile through every unwarranted advance made her way and she’d play into the tipsy teasing offered by the patrons she’d come to know with time. “I’m serious, you have to try it. It was a favorite for everyone back at the bar I used to work at. It sounds… absolutely insane, but I promise you won’t regret it and if you do, then it’s on the house.” Was she overly confident in the handcrafted cocktail that had once been a fan favorite? Maybe, but she was feeling adventurous for the night and she hoped the person on the side of the bar was feeling the same. “So, are you going to give me a chance or do I have to try and persuade another customer tonight? If you want, I’ll even tell you everything that’s in it. That way, you can tap out fairly if it’s not for you.”

OPEN STARTER: loco cantina.

lina eyes the offered drink skeptically, a brow raised as she considers the concoction, but at this point she's probably willing to try anything as long as it furthers her buzz and keeps her from thinking too hard. there's something entertaining about the girl behind the bar, something that keeps her sitting there and inviting more of her company, rather than escaping to mingle with the rest of the patrons, as she's typically wont to do on nights like these. "i guess i'll trust you this once... besides, i won't say no to free drinks," she informs her sagely, nodding as if she's made up her mind. "but maybe tell me what's in it first, before i dive in... i'll drink it either way, for the record! promise. i've committed."