ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴏɴ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ

Adriano couldn't imagine a worse place to be. The longer he spent perusing the aisles of the library, scanning dusty shelves with squinting eyes and mounting frustration, the more he added to the list of places he'd rather be. Staking out a hit on top of a building. Disassembling and cleaning every single piece of vintage artillery he owned. Sharpening his knives, checking on his ammo reserve, ordering new tools and torturing someone. Hell, maybe even sitting on the torture chair himself would be less difficult than finding what he was looking for. He was too busy cursing in Italian, a string of mumbled words about this not being on his contract, when he felt someone else's presence in the aisle beside him. He didn't bother looking up until she spoke, a soft but clipped tone that offered help but suggested wariness. He turned to face a short brunette pushing a cart of books, and a smile pulled at the corner of his lips at the picture, so very cliche of the place. ''If it helps me get out of here faster, then yes, please,'' he quipped, walking slowly towards her. ''I'm looking for public records? Perhaps some birth register or a recent census.''

josie waits until he’s finished talking before she moves again, sliding the last book back into place and letting her hand linger there for a second longer than it needs to. public records. at least that’s real. she doesn’t comment on his obvious annoyance or the way he seems to fill the aisle just by standing in it. instead, she shifts the cart around and glances toward the end of the row, already thinking through where that stuff is kept.

“those aren’t kept out here,” she says, voice level as she turns the cart around and starts back the way she came. “birth registers and census records are archived. different floor.” she doesn’t rush, but she doesn’t slow down for him either, setting a pace that assumes he’ll follow if he actually wants what he asked for. the quiet settles back in around them as they move, the sound of the cart wheels soft against the floor.

leo loved having multiple cups of coffee a day. unfortunately for leo, his coffee machine is a piece of shit and decided that that day was the day it inevitably met its doom. cursing under his breath, he found himself walking towards the local cafe, cursing even more when he realized it was packed.

for such a small town, it felt like everybody and their mothers were at this cafe and spotting a familiar figure, he smirked to himself as he made himself comfortable in the seat across from her, one of the only available ones in the entire cafe.

"what's up, princess?" leo asked with a smirk before he took a long gulp from his drink, already internally cursing at the thought of spending more because he's going to need another one soon.

"didn't think i'd actually see you out in the daylight and away from the prison that is that library. you don't seriously enjoy being there, do you?" he asked, shaking his head immediately. "nah, actually, you would. where there's no fucking fun, you'd be there, for sure."

josie had claimed her table out of necessity more than comfort, tucked into the corner with a mug that had already gone lukewarm while she pretended to read. the charming cup was louder than she liked it today, all overlapping conversations and clinking dishes, and she’d been considering leaving when the chair across from her shifted.

she looks up, unsurprised in a way that probably says more than she means it to.

“you know i hate when you call me that,” she says, flat but not sharp, eyes flicking briefly to his cup before settling back on his face. “and for the record, i enjoy the library. it’s quiet. people leave me alone. you wouldn’t last five minutes.” there’s a beat, then a small huff of a laugh she doesn’t quite commit to. “i do go outside sometimes," she gestures around the cafe. "this counts.”

she closes the book, fingers resting on the cover instead of opening it again. the teasing doesn’t bother her as much as it used to. what does is how easy it still sounds between them, like nothing ever went wrong.

status: open ! (0/5) @charmingstart

aurora had gotten a call from her grandma saying that her old man had thrown out his back and wasn't feeling the greatest. it was mid afternoon at this point and she insisted on heading over to the family business to hold down the fort until closing. thankfully, it was midweek and pretty slow at the pizzeria. while in the midst of almost completing the closing shifts duties, she heared the bell to the front door ring. "we close in like twenty, just letting you know. if you're looking for a fresh pizza or breadsticks, you're shit outta luck," she called from the back.

josie had only meant to stop in quickly, more out of habit than hunger. conti’s had always been one of those places her family defaulted to without discussion, and even after years of not coming as often, her feet still carried her there without much thought. she pushes the door open just as the bell rings, wallet already in hand, only to pause when the familiar voice calls out from the back.