BRUTALLY.

“Don’t take this the worst way but–” Nick started, “but ever since you walked in, even the jukebox is staring, wonderin’ what you want to hear.” The man’s mouth turned up into a lopsided grin, “and if I didn’t at least get your name well– somebody else would.” 

She rolled her eyes at the male, though had to admit that he was pretty smooth, if not mildly annoying in his boldness, but he had to give it to him--- he had balls. “You think I just give away my name for free?” she challenged. “Can I at least get a drink first?”

        Adam had given her a key months ago, after their drama from the year before had settled down and Mia was born. For a while she didn’t use it on the grounds it felt intrusive, but she had learned it was easier for both of them if she just did. His hands were always full with Mia and her patience didn’t exist, so once again she just let her in as if it was her house. Humming quietly as she threw her bag on the floor, the brunette appeared round the corner and into the kitchen, hearing a fuss coming from behind. Aside from that, it was almost silent in the home; no stirring from Mia or pacing from her dad, just calm quiet which made her smile. Maybe they had both got an early night, of which Adam deserved… He always looked tired, like all new parents, but she still wanted to help. Really, though, she was just there to steal chips and fall asleep on the couch— Turning around she let out a yawn and felt Poppy’s presence in the room next door, followed by an amusing threat. For a few seconds she lingered in the hallway trying not to laugh, then walked through the door to see a feral Poppy holding a brush. “What the hell are you doing?” Furrowed brows and pursed lips met with confusion in her tone, Sierra snapped her arm out and grabbed the hairbrush in one, swift motion. “Remind me to give you a lesson in self defence. You aren’t even holding it right—” She mumbled, kicking her shoes off and dangling the key in front of her face. “I have a key, calm down.” 

It was the voice that gave the figure’s identity away, and although it wasn’t the voice Poppy normally liked to hear, it provided a strange comfort. She quickly convinced herself that it was because she was only glad it wasn’t one of the thieves from the news, which was a rational thing to think. Not because she was actually glad to see that Sierra was terrorizing her house. Embarrassed, she barely had enough time to speak before the object was yanked out from her hand, causing her to retract her arm as she sank back against the couch. “Do you even need a key? I mean, with the right spell, you can probably teleport or something. Witch,” she hissed, still convinced that the name she’d given her was apt. “What are you even doing here, anyway? Don’t you have your own house?”

          “Sophie Daniels, in your service.” The brunette said with a little laugh, reaching out to help Poppy with the box - giving her the time to take a hold of her skirt (all of them had been in the same position at least once in their life). “Where do you need to take these? I can carry them - just lead the way.” Sophie assured her, more than happy to help along if that meant catching up with her old friend. It felt like forever since the last time she actually saw her, sure she saw Adam and Mia in a regular basis, but the youngest Sterling? She missed the girl. “I wish you had joined us yesterday… Mia had a blast pulling my hair.”

“Oh, god, thanks. You’re a lifesaver,” she said, allowing the other to take the box off her hands so she can adjust the hem of her skirt around her waist--- quite unsightly for a young woman in the middle of the street, but at this point, she just couldn’t give much of a damn. She managed a smile towards Sophie once she’d composed herself, perking up in her natural fashion. “I just need to take it down by the cafe.” She pointed at the direction of her establishment. “Not that far from here. Look, I’ll give you some of my home-brewed iced tea for your unwavering service,” she said, bumping her shoulder against the other girl’s before they started on their way.

She did feel bad she hadn’t been able to spend a lot of time with her friends lately, but managing her own cafe wasn’t as easy as other people made it seem, especially since she was starting out. So she was thankful for small moments like these, where she was afforded the opportunity to let bonding moments arise from coincidences. Turning to Sophie at her remark about her absence, she said, “Yeah, sorry about that. I had some trouble with the delivery guy at work, he didn’t bring everything, so I had to go to the city myself and fix that,” lips twisted to the side to show her being irked. “But we totally have to plan an outing, though. Just the three of us.”

     ALTHOUGH NOT THE BIGGEST FAN OF KIDS, gray sometimes found himself smiling when a cute baby was nearby. the question, however, took him slightly off guard seeing as he was only half paying attention. “huh?” he asked, mid chew of his burger on the park bench. quickly realising that the woman was talking to him, he did the polite thing (finally) and swallowed what he was eating. “– oh! uh, i think cotton candy’s pretty much just pure sugar and e-numbers so, if you want them to burn out their energy on a swing park then i say go for it. live for now, think about diabetes later.”

“Uh, well...” She turned back towards Mia, her small, chubby fingers curling around themselves to try and grab at what she was holding. “I don’t think she knows how to walk yet, and I’m afraid that if I push her on the swing, she’ll end up like that vine of the kid that they made a Wii Bowling so...” The sugar melting onto her fingers, she then licked it off, grinning at her niece who probably still didn’t realize she wasn’t allowing her to have any. “Besides, I think the responsible adult thing to do is to not let a baby have sugar. Right? Back me up on this.”

Margot sighed softly, letting out a deep breath after running around to get here as fast as possible while still knowing she was running late. It was hard work to be this scatterbrained sometimes, but at least Poppy was always understanding. “Okay good, I’m glad. But you also know how bad I can get with punctuality,” she said, her smile sheepish though they both knew Margot stood by her never-ending tardiness. She sat down and looked over at Poppy’s nails, marvelling more or less. “Ooh I love the colour. Perfect for spring. Did you get the same one on your toes?” She asked, pretty sure she wasn’t about to strip down to let her have a look. That seemed like a lot of work in this kind of weather. “Uh, just work really. I’m trying to put together a new documentary, but real, actual work is cutting into it… which I guess is fair enough, but still. And then there’s the whole thing with the robberies. I’m still shocked honestly, I can’t believe it happened.”

“Duh,” she said, a little playful roll of her eyes directed at the other before letting out a small laugh. “I’m nothing if not consistent.” Something she was actually quite proud of. The consistency provided some comfort in her life, some familiarity in a routine or a habit or a set of preferences that would stand out should her life get a bit tangled up in its own strings. And it was the people, too. Friends like Margot or even some strangers she never knew the name of but constantly saw at the market or as regulars at her cafe. From that to the predictable way of painting her nails, these were things she found soothed her soul aching in midst of uncertainty.

She nodded, slowly, at some words that caught her attention every now and again. She was always so fascinated to hear what people were up to, and so to get even a little tidbit of what Margot busied herself with these days was something of a commodity to her. “Ooh!” The sound came out resembling a squeak that might have prompted any nearby patrons to look. “What’s the documentary about?” Briefly distracted by a passing waiter, she asked for a menu before looking to Margot so she could continue. “And yeah, about the robberies--- it’s all so devastating. And people are getting named and stuff, which I don’t think is fair at all, but then, in some ways, we never really know, you know? Still, to even see your friends’ names on that list knowing they’re good people, but also wanting justice... it’s all a big mess.” She sighed before flipping the first page of the menu open. A thought pulling her back into the same stream, she added--- “They didn’t take anything important from you, did they?” 

“—I’m fine. Someone would have called you if i’d ended up on the news or the hospital, i’m sure. They just stole my stuff, they didn’t actually hurt me.”  Kaia spoke into the phone, sighing at the renewed chatter on the other end. “No, I can’t come home because that place isn’t my home anymore. Lanford is. And you don’t exactly get a say in that so just–fine. Yeah, loud and clear.” She heard the beep indicating the end of her call, and let her head fall to thud against the table top with a groan. One day back and already tired of it.  “I swear that woman has watched too much Criminal Minds in her spare time for her own good. Next it’s gonna be a text about the ‘unsub’ as if she even knows what that means.”

She usually stayed to close the shop and do inventory on most days, especially when the co-owner wasn’t around to do it for her. Having had already closed the shop to new customers, there were a few who were still sitting among themselves, enjoying the last sips of their beverages or now-stale biscuits or an unappetizing version of their garden salads before they would inevitably head home.

Wiping the unoccupied tables to become more productive while she waited for the rest to fleet out, she couldn’t help but overhear a young woman on the phone at the table behind the one she was currently tending to. She hadn’t realized how she’d been so obvious in eavesdropping until the other spoke, presumably directed at her, allowing her to turn towards the source of the voice. “Parents, am I right?” There was an awkward smile perched just above her chin, which was quickly wrinkled at the purse of her lips in thought before she continued, “I- I mean... it’s probably also a possessive lover or--- well, I actually don’t know, heh.”

(( @poppysterling )) 

          “Poppy! Over here!” Sophie shouted from across the street, the cold wind really starting to get on her nerves - but she was blaming herself for not doing a better job with her hair. Fixing the  warm beanie her head, the brunette waved quickly waved her free hand towards the direction of her friend. “Pop-tart! Laughing lightly, she just gave up and crossed the street as soon as no car came by, “Are you trying to ignore me missy?”

She was in the middle of trying to keep her skirt down as a strong gust of wind blew past the street she was on, all the while carrying a box of the new menus she recently had made for her cafe. The voice shouting for her attention didn’t help, though once she recognized who it was, she was determined to get to her side of the road. However, as she waited until no cars were zooming by, and for the wind to travel into a farther direction, Sophie had made it to her before she could. “Hey, Soph,” she said, struggling to smooth down the pleats of her clothes. “I wasn’t ignoring you, I promise. I was just distracted by wishing I had an extra limb or something.”

Dropping her things onto the floor, she made a beeline for the kitchen to grab something to drink, opting for the pulp-less orange juice, specifically requested by her for when Adam last went grocery shopping. Taking a few pieces of popcorn left on the counter, perhaps from Adam and MIa’s move night, she then treads back to the living room where she moved to sit on the couch, feet propped up on the table, and head tilted up as it leaned against the back of the couch. She’s fallen asleep or a good five to ten minutes, not even having realized it until she was stirred awake by sound coming from the door, as if someone was trying to get in.

She knew Adam was home and was probably long passed out by now, and she wasn’t aware that anyone else was staying with them, hence her sudden alertness. Given the recent news, she couldn’t be too sure of things anymore. Unmoving and a little bit in paralyzed shock, she waited for the door to open, but was already at a stance ready to jump should the intruder be one of the robbers from the news. With a soft click! the door was then ajar until it moved to open itself completely, a silhouetted figure appearing by the doorway.

“I have pepper spray. I’m warning you,” Poppy found herself speaking, her voice trembling as she gripped the edge of the couch, the other scrambling for something on the couch to get a random object to try and threaten the person with, though only came up with a hair brush. “Take a step back!” --- @sierra-moore

“Summed it up, Pops, summed it up,” came Ade’s casual response as he immediately reached for a handful of the closest napkins. It wasn’t going to touch the mess, but it was a start at the very least, and would help the fact his clothes were now soaking wet. “Don’t even know how I manage it sometimes.”

“You’re a goddamn mess Bailey,” she said, with a shake of her head and a few clicks of her tongue on the roof of her mouth. “One of these days, we’re gonna be forced to put you in a bubble. Like that one Jake Gyllenhaal movie.” She was joking, though she knew that she shouldn’t have been one to speak--- if she knew anyone who should definitely be placed in a bubble, it was herself. 

- ̗̀ @poppysterling  ̖́-

Margot was running a bit late as usual, but she was sort of hoping Poppy might have seen it coming. Punctuality wasn’t Margot’s strong suit after all, and most people who knew her just a little bit, knew that as well. When she made it to the cafe however, she quickly spotted Poppy who was shrugging out of her jacket — hopefully that was a sign that she had only just gotten there too. “Hey Poppy!” She hastily walked up to her with a smile, tucking her into a warm hug before working on her own jacket, quickly unzipping it and hanging it over the back of her destined chair. “Sorry I’m late, I lost track of time. How’re you?”

She was aware of Margot’s penchant for being late, though their lunch date wasn’t anything urgent, and so her friend’s tardiness wasn’t an issue. In fact, she used this knowledge to her advantage, deciding to get a mani-pedi before she would go to their agreed meeting place. She was only just about to take her seat when her attention had been called by the familiar voice of Margot Knight in its usual chipper tone that she used to greet her with. “Oh, hey!” she said, immediately warming up to the quick embrace before giving her friend air kisses on each cheek. “It’s totally fine, don’t worry about it,” she said, dismissing her apology with a limp wave of her hand. “I just got here, really.” She grinned, pulling up a chair before sitting down and smoothing the wrinkles off her skirt. “I got a mani-pedi,” she said, showing off her pastel purple nails. “So there’s that. What have you been up to?”

Rose’s surprise and confusion changed to an expression of gratitude, standing up a bit straighter in her seat as though someone noticing her enough to give her something for free made her more prideful. “That’s really sweet,” they said, looking down at the cookie again, then back up at them. “I hate being this guy. But I’m vegan…I…can’t eat anything with eggs or dairy.” They smiled sheepishly, feeling guilty for requiring anything out of a free thing they had not expected. 

“Oh.” The corners of her lips falling into disappointment, though not at their being vegan, but rather, at her own failure to have recognized that pattern over their past few visits to her cafe. “I guess I’ll just have this for myself, then,” she said, lifting the plate towards her, then placed it on the tray. “How ‘bout some tea, then? You drink tea, don’t you?” She wasn’t very sure why she was insisting on getting them something, but she felt the urge to strike up a conversation and offering something free was the best way she knew how without coming off as too intruding.

Huffing a laugh at the eye roll, Aliyah busied herself with stroking her fingers through her friends hair, her book lying forgotten on her lap. Listening to Poppy explain her love of Bob Dylan was an often occurrence but the admittance of her shortcomings was not. They had only been friends for a short while and in that time they hadn’t really talked much about themselves. Therefore, Poppy didn’t know that Aliyah had enough bad experiences to last a lifetime. But how could she explain that in ways that she would understand? A deep sigh made her shoulders sink and she sat back against the headboard, contemplating the answer. Aliyah was the type to never talk unless she knew exactly what she was going to say and it never failed to make some people antsy as her thoughts could go on for a long time before she answered a question, leaving them in an unknown silence that could get awkward quickly. Aliyah liked to think her answers were worth the wait but that was really for others to decide. Her hand sat idle in the woman’s hair as she thought before it resumed its movement of slipping through the silky strands. “I’ve had plenty of bad experiences, plenty of people have hurt me both physically and emotionally, I’ve been homeless and scared for my life… But I don’t write songs about it.” Aliyah finished, a wry smile curling at her lips and marring her features. “I think if that’s how you cope with things - no matter how big or small - then that’s better than shooting up in an alleyway or hitting your significant other like I’ve seen many people do countless times. And even if you think your life is simple - it’s not and you shouldn’t compare yours to others, even your role models. Because no ones life is simple and you’re still alive so its not over yet. I hope nothing happens to you to make you feel as badly as I have before but I can’t change fate. Things happen for a reason.” Licking her dry lips, she stared off into the comforter set before sighing in frustration at her frazzled thoughts.

“Taylor Swift writes songs about her ex boyfriends,” the acrobat reminded the girl laying her head near her legs, glancing down in amusement for the first time since the conversation began. “I know that she’s not a great role model for creative expression but her shit sells. I know that you want to be the kind of artist that does profound, moving things, but if you’re affecting even one person with what you do - no matter how big or small…. That’s where your power lies. It’s not about the performance itself but rather what it inspires in other people. And there are a million sad songs in this world that people enjoy and, yes, most of the time that’s what people relate to most. But you have to remember that we do need lightness, goodness, and purity. So, no, I’ve never felt like that myself because my world is very dark, sometimes scary, and toxic. Rather, I’d like to bask in the sunshine for as long as the world lets me.”

She suddenly felt aware of her own words, feeling as if she’d said too much, which often led to saying something that might’ve been inappropriate, and it wouldn’t have been the first time she’d have offended someone by her inability to filter through what should be said and what should be kept in her head. Aliyah’s prolonged silence, as well as the way the soothing strokes of her fingers against her hair had ceased, did not help the anxiety she was feeling, and she was already preparing a gush of apologies to offer before her friend finally spoke.

She’d always thought of Aliyah as a profound person, or at least, seemed like someone who thought a lot about the world. It was the impression she gave her whenever she said things in the way she said things, and these were thoughts that often had Poppy hanging on to her every word. She was wise beyond her years, and although it was unfortunate that the reason for this was because of terrible happenings that, although vague to her at the moment, saddened her to know that she had to go through, she was grateful for the knowledge that she’d imparted to her, a certain wisdom only acquired through experiences. 

Doe-eyed and inspired by her words, she looked up at Aliyah before lifting a hand to rest over her knee and give it a gentle squeeze. “I’ll write a song about you, then. One day.” She then dropped her hand over the mattress before shifting in her position, dragging herself further up the bed so her head was bent resting against the headboard, only cushioned by her pillow. “You know, when I stop sucking at it.” With a slight movement, she allowed her head to rest on Aliyah’s side, snuggling it there.

SIERRA: I had my own shit going on. And my ex ex would never let me say anything because I had to let him be happy or some shit.

SIERRA: You don't have to go to your own place... Go to a bar... Go find some friends. Stop harassing me 🤷✋

SIERRA: Literally, how did your mom and dad produce Adam and you? I swear you're some sewer child they took in out of pity.

SIERRA: Exactly. I'm preventing my sex life from lacking by getting him an approved girlfriend. Approved being the optimum word here, of course.

SIERRA: Ok you realise that is my life??? It's the best.

POPPY: lol why 'had' to???

POPPY: i do too have friends !!!! but anyway harassing you is fun coz you get so grumpy

POPPY: joke's on you coz look how far this sewer child has come :) :) :) i'm inspiring

ADAM: :-))))))))) good

ADAM: of course not! only an idiot would do that.... a really high idiot?

ADAM: you're both equally uncivilized

ADAM: do not talk to me about your sex life!!!!!!! though it does calm me a bit to know you won't be sleeping with anyone tonight bc what are the odds that chris hemsworth is at this fucking thing?

POPPY: oh god. YOU DID NOT

POPPY: ew don't align her with me

POPPY: uhhh you'd know when i'm talking to you about my sex life which i would never do bc that's weird af and also it's nonexistent at the moment.

Maybe one day in the not so distant future Ade would find himself asleep at this time of night, not sat keeping the people who actually wanted to sleep awake. He was on his third cup of coffee, knowing it wasn’t going to help in the slightest, when it occurred to him the bag he had with him was wrapped around one of the chairs that belonged to the table next to his and was probably going to end up trampled on at any moment as several people filed through the doors. Leaning forwards with the intention of disentangling it, his arm brushed his drink, and next thing he knew, the coffee coffee had toppled from the table, all over him, the floor, his bag… — anything within close proximity really. “Fuck…” he muttered. “Could this night get any better?”

“Well,” she said, followed by a quiet sigh as she watched his drink spill over himself, staining his pants as well as a good portion of his shirt with a golden brown that she was sure would be difficult to scrub off. “That was painful to watch.”

“How sweet,” Temple coos, loving the fact that her friend was now in Lanford, even though their paths have been crossing for a few years now. The last time she saw them, it was right after Temple got the cast on her leg taken off, and she booked it right back to LA, needing the time away from Lanford to recuperate without being reminded daily what happened. They talked about it one night, but Temple was vague because remembering being stuck in fire was something she went through enough through her dreams that talking about it wasn’t fun. “Oh yeah, I break plenty of hearts and usually they’re my own,” she says with a laugh. “I thought I was your favorite because I made sure you got tables that had good tippers,” Temple teases, “But I guess onesies and booze works.”

She was already familiar with Temple’s brand of self-deprecation, having been witness to a few jokes made at their own expense every now and then, that the offhand remark alluding to their love life could only be responded to with a matching laughter subdued in quiet wariness to not come off as mocking them. She’d rather not be practicing hypocrisy, especially since she was, in fact, single on Valentine’s Day. “Well, I wanted to say that, but I didn’t want to come off like I was using you or anything,” she said. “Well, I am, but only when it concerns me raiding your fridge or drinking all your tequila.”