expensive liquor & cigarettes

The Chef wasn’t used to trying out a new dish and cooking it at home for someone. Generally she’d experiment…hundreds of times before anything went in to anyone’s mouth let alone on her menu. But the seafood at the market had looked so damn fresh. She couldn’t pass it up, and she was afraid it wouldn’t keep. She liked everything at Bluebird fresh. As in, day of. Not frozen, not cold not sitting around in vacuum packed containers. Which had led her to sitting across from a friend. Or, more than a friend. Still trying to create connections in Maple Creek even after living there for a few years the workaholic had time for little rest, let alone an evening of fun. But, this was fun for her, trying out a new dish. “Does it need salt? Pepper? More lemon? Less?” Salt, fat, acid, heat equaled umami. “What about the plating? Too much? Not enough?” She would forever tinker with a dish. Even her best sellers. But in her home sharing dinner with anyone was rare. Awaiting an answer Cleo’s brows furrowed, hardly realizing she was holding her breath. “I mean I think it’s good - could use work,” it didn’t. That was her downfall, the constant second guessing - the need for approval, searching for some praise to hold onto that she never got in her youth. “Oh God do not make me wait like this,” pouring herself another glass of Vincent Gaurdry Sancerre and taking a gulp quickly from the wine glass.

ryan was sat in his seat. bemused. how do i keep getting myself into these odd ass situations. he thought as he took a sip from the wine glass he was toying with. “it’s nice -- it’s got good..... flavours?” he smiled, an expression that may have appeared awry on his features. the food was good -- Michelin star, of course. But, hell - what did he know about the creation of his courses; he just knew how to enjoy them. 

“ you seem to know what you’re doing, so i’ll trust your expertise in the flavour department - but, I would definitely order this and eat it again, if that is any consolation? ” his shoulders wore a small shrug as he spoke, not knowing what else to offer the other. “ chapeau, you’ve done it again. ” 

Chris was never quiet about how he advocated for change, but even he was a little shocked as he left the town meeting, the air still warm in the summer months. It was odd to think the campground would be gone, although who was to say they weren’t going to turn it into a nature reserve? “I don’t think i’m going to object to it…” he stated, making his way out of the meeting with the crowd. “Although i know plenty who would argue…” He clicked his tongue as he rambled.

 “You want to go get a drink with the group of us?” He nodded at a few other locals. “We make a habit of trying to get together after these things. Community spirit and all that.” 

@maplecstarters​

ryan walked out of the that he had only attended out of some sordid obligation he was feeling to his new small town community. alex had told him that he needed to try harder to fit in - that really wasn’t always his style. 

As he walked out of the meeting, he saw the other man muttering and complaining about the content that had been discussed. damn, people really care about this, huh. he thought to himself. the town was growing on him, but it looked like he still had a far way to go to become this level of groupie. 

“sure -- I’d love to grab a drink. it’d be nice to get to know people” ryan replied, not being able to shake the feeling that alex would be very proud of him. “is everyone going to be talking about the campground though?” his tone was sarcastic and passive aggressive in equal measure.  “I’m ryan, by the way.”

…

alex   could   feel   the   guilt   clawing   up   his   throat   ,   but   the   writer   pushed   it   down   .   it   was   not   the   time   or   day   for   that   .   instead   he   took   ryan’s   hand   in   his   own   ,   enjoying   the   warm   feeling   that   trailed   up   his   arms   the   moment   his   skin   touched   ryan’s   .   an   absented   minded   smile   came   to   alex’s   lips   as   he   looked   up   to   his   boyfriend   ,   his   blonde   hair   blowing   in   the   wind   .   

and   then   alex   couldn’t   help   but   give   a   nervous   laugh   .   “   have   i   not   told   you   ?   ”   alex   asked   ,   truly   confused   as   he   was   almost   sure   he   has   told   ryan   this   before   .   ryan   helped   just   by   being   there   ,   being   his   muse   .   maybe   it   was   dreams   were   alex   told   the   other   ,   or   glitchy   patches   of   drunken   nights   ?   but   alex   kept   his   feet   moving   towards   the   carnival   ,   excited   to   see   what   was   in   store   ,   even   if   people   would   be   around   .

Ryan carried on at his steady pace, excited about the night that laid ahead of the pair. “ told me what, you tell me lots of things - you’ll have to be more specific “ a wry look strewn across his face. Alex genuinely felt like an extension of himself at this point, he knew the other so well in some respects, but there were always facets of Alex’s personality that Ryan had trouble reading; he always thought that Alex liked it this way though. 

“ Is it some dark mysterious secret? or is it like that time you planned a whole ass holiday and ‘forgot’ to tell me, even though you swore that you did, until the day before?

@ofmurray​ / rylex 01

the carnival

it   wasn’t   often   ryan   was   able   to   coax   alex   away   from   his   computer   .   maybe   it   was   the   puppy   dog   eyes   or   the   break   in   his   voice   saying   they   didn’t   do   anything   anymore   together   (   which   alex   had   to   agree   with   ,   since   the   passing   and   kicking   himself   in   the   ass   for   not   getting   his   books   out   after   for   his   dad   to   read   he   had   been   glued   to   his   computer   )   .   so   alex   sighed   and   agreed   to   the   outing   .   the   two   walked   between   aisles   ,   and   truly   with   being   inside   for   so   long   alex   was   a   little   overwhelmed   ,   even   with   ryan   by   his   side   .   “   i   forgot   what’s   it   like   being   out   .   .   .   next   to   .   .   .   people   .   ”   he   had   to   wrinkle   his   nose   at   the   word   .  

ryan usually took hours to get ready, but this time he had been well and truly bested by alex. they were supposed to have left for the carnival 45 minutes ago and alex was still glued to his chair. ryan had pleaded innocently for what felt like an age before they were finally out and on their way. 

ryan held out his hand towards alex, hoping that he would intertwine his fingers with his own as he so often did. “ that’s because you’re glued to that computer of yours... I might have to chuck it in the tub. ” the jovial tone in his voice would hopefully keep him out of trouble. “ how are you doing with work? can i help? ” ryan’s head toward the other as they kept pacing towards the carnival.