karma

Honestly, Felix couldn't be sure. People often talked about their dogs and cats like they were actual children. He didn't like to assume. "When I was a kid, I was into dinosaurs. My parents took us to this museum once, and they had a giant animatronic T-Rex. I thought it was the coolest thing ever," he chuckled a little. "Course, me and my siblings probably got into a fight about something dumb and got yelled at, but still. It was fun while it lasted." He had a few good memories like that, but most of his experiences with his family were the opposite.

"He's been through the dinosaur phase and he'll probably pick that one up again. I hope so, because that whole museum thing-- that sounds cool for even me," she shrugs. Sky tried to be the best parent that she could be, despite not having a huge house or a white picket fence. Unfortunately, being just a bartender wasn't exactly going to get them a mansion. She has help, of course, but that didn't mean that it still wasn't hard. Being a parent was one of the hardest things she's ever had to do anyway. "Being a parent can kick your ass pretty hard," she admits. "But I have help. His dad's around and my parents help but me and Diego's dad aren't together so I have him most of the time," she explains. And it's probably better that way, considering Wes' drinking and her need to control everything. She takes a sip of her soda, trying to choke down any unwanted words from spilling out. "Best kid I could've asked for."

[ closed starter ] who: @skyperez when: sunday night where: the tin roof

The night had started off with a bang-- there had been a call off on the bar staff, leaving them down a person. And with the band on the stage, it meant it would be a good night for tips but maybe a bad night for her sanity. Thankfully, her favorite bar back was keeping her sane and stocked which was all she could ask for. Her break couldn't have come soon enough. Sky headed outside and called Diego before he went to bed. The conversation doesn't last long because keeping a four year old's attention was practically impossible. As she's hanging up, she sees the other woman approach, her smile changing to a smirk as she does. "I prefer Queen of the World but Miss Bartender works too," she replies back, sliding her phone into her back pocket as she does. Giving Blair a quick roll of her eyes, she sighs. "Well, we're down a bartender so it's been good for tips but bad for having any sort of peace in there. Well, not that we have a lot of peace in a music bar in downtown Nashville but everything was starting to blend together," she explains. "Are you having a good night? But only asking to ensure the quality of our guests' experience, of course," she adds sarcastically.

"It's not that people dont want to pinch these sweet cheeks," Hayes said, shuddering as he echoed the phrase Sky used. He knew he was attractive, he wasn't going to pretend to be humble about it. "It's that there's someone in particular that I want to...don't make me say it again, Sky." Laughing a little bit, Hayes shifted so he was standing next to her. "Since I'm stealing your electric, makes sense I should probably just help right?" He said, grabbing some of the paper bracelets as the next person in line approached. "Honestly...the kid cars looked sick as fuck, don't blame him. But if you're lookin' for somethin to do later, I'm at one of the stages. We could make a party of it."

Sky raises an eyebrow in his direction as she entertains herself. She's not going to blame Hayes. She tended to be more into one person at a time rather than exhausting herself chasing after more than one. "I'm not going to make you say it again. I heard you," she shrugs, sending a side-eyed look his way. "You should help and I'll keep my questions to myself," she adds, sliding some of the wristbands over to him to start handing them out. "You put on the wristbands, I'll check the IDs, how about that?" Sky is thankful that Diego's starting to get to the age where activities like this are something that he might remember. That's also why she's pushing to ensure that Wes is around for these moments. Maybe Diego wouldn't know about a day when Wes wasn't there as a baby, but now, he'll start to see it. "Only if you can get me some sound protection for the kid. I'm not looking to head to the ER tonight for a busted eardrum, even if Wes'll be here. And all these dumbass parents are clearly not thinking that far ahead."

Felix could be pretty good at charming his way out of situations. He'd relied on his soft blue eyes and sweet smile to help him on several occasions in the past, before his luck had finally run out and he'd been arrested. Something told him Sky was tougher to win over than most. She'd grown up in this area. She'd been around bullshitters probably her whole life, but he was trying, and he hoped that counted for something.

Sky smirks and shakes her head. God only knows how much she definitely did not need a dog or a cat-- even if her son has been begging for literally any sort of pet. She could maybe see a goldfish working but nothing that would require more of her time. She was already busy keeping Diego alive. "Kid. He's obsessed with trucks and I swear he eats like he's a teenager sometimes. So yeah, money funnel," she assures Felix. Sky pulls out her phone and holds it up for the screen background of her and Diego together, smiling. The pair look a lot alike in that picture and with both of their tongues out and eyes crossed, it always brings a smile to her face. "He keeps me on my toes. Kind of like you do-- or you used to, I guess."

"That's good and surprising considering the heat," Lottie wiped away some of the sweat that was starting to bead at her hair line. It reminded her that she needed to put a bandana band on sooner rather than later to stay cool. "Usually anger stirs quicker when they all get hot, maybe we're cooling them off." She laughed. The area did have a lot of shady drinks and the blended ice drinks that always seemed to be a hit at these places. "Good, I'm glad you guys are going to get some family time in. It's important, I still remember when we would all come to the street fair." They never had much money to buy anything but that was because there were way too many of them. It didn't matter though, they always had a good time. "I hope I see you guys out and about. How old is he now? Taller than you yet?"

Sky shrugs -- the heat usually did make a big difference in people's moods, but it hadn't gone too sour so far. Maybe it was the drinks flowing into the streets and the atmosphere that was keeping people in line. So far. "My dazzling personality and bright sunshine-y demeanor always gets them," she replies sarcastically. Admittedly, Sky wasn't mean per se but she also wouldn't let people walk all over her. It made for a good bartender in the end and that's what Lottie would care about for. "For sure, I can introduce you to him and he'll introduce you to his trucks. He's four so he's working on it. His dad's tall so I'm sure he'll pass by me. Just be ready, his high fives are competitions to see if he can chop your hand off before you blink," she laughs to herself. "I used to come to this thing every year with my parents and my brothers. Stop by my parents' restaurant, they're doing a whole thing today. I'll tell them to give you all the guac you can eat."

starter for: @skyperez location: street fair

Sky turns over her shoulder to find Colton behind her. She gives him a small smile and her signature eye roll. "Of course it does or I wouldn't be standing here in line, would I?" she reminds him before turning back to the line and taking her next step forward. "Are you offering so you can cut the line or is it because you actually are looking to bask in my amazing conversation skills?" she teases. "Because either way I'm taking that offer and you know it."

A disappointed sigh passed Chloe’s lips as Sky spoke, glancing over her shoulder at the camera men who were thankfully looking like they may give up on getting a shot of her. Hopefully. “Yes,” she answers plainly, the look of annoyance clear. “It’s been worse since the single came out. Which, I mean — Is good, in a messed up way? Because people want to know what I’m doing, I guess. It’s hard not to feel like I’m a zoo animal, though.” Chloe points out with a wrinkle of her nose, grateful for the shift in conversation. For the most part, it was easy to get away from them -- At the fair? Not so much. “That’s brutal,” she points out the obvious, scrunching her nose. She adored Sky’s son, but knew he’d inherited his mother’s attitude — Chloe had a feeling if he didn’t want to do something, his stubbornness was front and center. “Now you do have a break. Or, at least, a moment to breathe and do something for yourself.” She had a feeling Sky would need a second cup. Or a shot of Baileys. "How is Wes with him?" Chloe doesn't make a habit of getting into Sky's business, knowing just how messy family can be. But, she couldn't deny her curiosity. 

"They can get their pictures after we've had a lot more coffee and put on cute little rainbow tattoos on," she comments, rolling her eyes. Sky would certainly never be used to it. The woman was independent to a fault and having people in her face all the time sounds like her worst nightmare. But that's why Chloe is enjoying the life and Sky is doing whatever she's doing these days. "And make some money," she points out, thankful that she'll be able to get a few extra bucks here and there. At some point, she's going to need to move to a bigger apartment and get a better car-- so any little bit helps. "Wes is great with Diego. I just wish--" she pauses, thinking about her wish carefully for a moment. "I just wish things were different." Of course, she's referring to the fact that Wes has issues with drinking and he's not looking to change it. "Obsessing is the name of the game. You want something you're proud of, I get it," she grins. "I'll be one of your adoring fans awaiting the drop at the stroke of midnight."

"What you didn't want to watch two kids tongue each other down?" she asks, raising her eyebrows for a second in faux-shock. Sky had seen a lot of things today-- young love, annoying siblings, and a clown that looked like it was from a horror movie. Events like today brought out interesting parts of the city, thankfully, it made things at least a little entertaining. "I'm on for a little bit longer but it's not so bad when you have entertainment like this," she smirks, peeking at the two lovebirds again. "Later I'm hoping I can get on some rides with my kid and have a margarita or something," she grins. "There's always plenty of stuff to do at this thing. If you go down a little bit someone said that a company sponsored like a map thing so you can figure out what is where. Might help you find something fun."

"Sky," Hayes said, hanging his head in mock shame for just a moment before he stepped around her to where he knew a free outlet was. "I would love to tell you it's because my messages have been blowing up. Unfortunately it's because I'm an idiot and fell asleep before I could plug it in last night." Once the wristband was around his wrist, Hayes took a second to rearrange the other bracelets on his wrist so the paper one was visible for later. "Honestly you're good I doubt those two even know where they are...might wanna watch them though. Next step is wandering hands..." The blonde said, eyebrows waggling to accent the words. There were kids around, after all. Sitting down on an empty spot of the table they were standing behind, Hayes crossed his arms. "Thank you though, you're saving my life right now. You and Diego doin anything fun tonight? I saw them setting up the carnival it looks wild."

Sky snickers, wondering if his misfortune is the same as hers. Considering it's event celebrating Pride, you'd think she'd have someone hot to make out with-- but instead, her plans consist of giving out wristbands and then heading to hangout with her ex-boyfriend and their son. Talk about winning. Not to say those things couldn't be fun but they certainly weren't having the men or women lining up in either case. "Aw, no one wants to pinch those sweet cheeks?" she teases, giving the man a smile before adding a wristband to another person's wrist. She rolls her eyes at the teenagers, trying not to be too much of an old lady but it's hard when people do shit like that. "He's with his dad until later and they are going to meet up with me after my shift to do some family things together. He's going to freak out when he sees the kid cars."

Gia groans at Sky's words, hands running through her hair. "I know." While Gia would consider herself to be on good terms with everyone she worked at Tin Roof with, she considers Sky to actually be one of her friends. "I don't know how it happened. I swear they brainwashed me for a second or something." She watches as Sky searches for replacements, frowning when the box falls apart and pins scatter into the ground. "What is happening right now?" She dramatizes, bending down to start picking them up. "Like... Did someone curse us or something?" She sighs, blindly setting the dirtied pins up on the counter, figuring she'll clean them all when they're picked up. "At least the stickers are still in tact — knock on wood."

"Hypnotized by the local kids and tourists," she shakes her head as she scoops up the pins. Sky lets out an exaggerated sigh of frustration as she does it. "We're falling apart. As if I needed a curse. -- considering you had a Best Selling album, I'm definitely the one with the curse. I'm just spreading the wealth around," Sky chuckles. Since Gia and Sky didn't work together anymore, it was nice when they had these moments-- just like old times. "Knock on all that damn wood," she points at her friend, just as she gets jabbed by one of the pins that wasn't secured. "Dammit. Cursed. -- Wait, does this mean my funnel cake will be burnt later? Or poisoned?"

"Ha-ha," he answered sarcastically. He already got into his issues with his parents at the counselling and in rehab. He wasn't about to do it with a bartender. That was so cliche. "I'll see you later." He excused himself, slipping out for a cigarette and mingling a little until Sky finished her shift. When she came over, of course it wasn't without her signature sarcastic comment. "I told you, I'm a changed man," he teased, shrugging. "Rehab actually helped. Who would've thought."

"It's almost like it's their job or something," she snorts. Sky taps her manicured nails on her chin as if she's pondering. She's not exactly looking to bait the poor guy with alcohol but she could use something to drink. Running her hand through her hair, she smiles over. "A Dr. Pepper, if that doesn't break the bank. And I'll leave the girls a tip for you. Look at that-- compromising," she assures him. "We all have rent to pay, I get it. I've got a money funnel at home too. His name is Diego. He's four."

The brunette watched her walk up to the door and then come back immediately afterwards. "Wait a damn second, why isn't he it?" She wasn't going to let it go off that easily because she wasn't someone who chose the right type of people to have a one night hook up with and if he wasn't horrible then one night wouldn't be that bad. "I don't think I would say I ever swooned over him." It made her feel like she was in high school swooning over a guy from a distance. All she wanted was to get laid. "Tell me what happened. I want to know. Did he think you were a hooker?"

Sky has to start laughing at the scene that she saw before her. "Girl, you don't want any part of what was happening in there. He had a camera set up and I don't even want to know who he thought I was-- answering like that. Maybe you can find him on OnlyFans or something." Quirking her head to the side, she stares in space, imagining it before smirking. "I need another drink if you're going over there."

who: @skyperez

Sky has already worked a shift today, keeping people coming and going with wristbands into the events. After her shift ends and she finds Diego and Wes, she can enjoy her time rather than deal with kids trying to sneak in for a drink or drama between the acts. Swinging her son as high as she can, she smiles, loving to hear the laugh from her son and see the smile on his face. She can't help but laugh too. Looking over at Wes with a smile, she shrugs. "I'm going to miss it, my shoulders won't but I will. I hate that he's getting so big. I miss my little tiny baby," she whines. "He's going to get tall and he's not going to want to hang out with mom and dad anymore? What the Hell do we do then, Wes?" It's a fair bit off but she still thinks about it. She still thinks about what Wes and she will be when Diego is old enough to understand the reasons his parents aren't together.

who: @skyperez

Sky gives Lottie a smile as she loops another wristband. Honestly, she was getting better and better at this as the day went on. It was kind of like bartending, even if she wasn't coated in wet marks and a little sticky from the mixers. "Seems like everything's going fine... No one's yelled about anything which is a change from the bar," she shrugs. Sky loves the energetic feeling of being behind the bar-- she doesn't even mind the occasion bar fight or the occasion angry drunk, it keeps things different. "Aw, thank you. He'll love them," Sky smiles. "Yeah, we're going to have some family time. He and his dad are going to meet me after I finish up here so we can enjoy it all together."

closed: @skyperez setting: tin roof pride table

"You let yourself already get swindled? Alright, softie," she smiles to her friend. Thankfully before Gia went and blew up seemingly overnight, Sky had been a bartender with her. So far, she still remembered the little people, which Sky was thankful for. Bending down, she finds a box hidden under one of the tables before bringing it up on top-- although not before the box ripping and dumping half of them on the ground. "Jesus fucking Christ," she sighs, closing her eyes. "Well, maybe a few of the kids can have pieces of dirt and rocks instead," she snorts at the situation.

"Isn't that funny?" he shrugged. "You don't get into as many fights or throw beer bottles at people when you're not high off your tits and pissed at your parents. Although I can't promise anything on that last part." His relationship with his parents (technically, dad and step-mom) was complicated. He had never really felt like part of the family, always like some kind of extra, an unwanted burden, so it had almost been an act of revenge and rebellion to make himself as difficult as possible.

"Oh, mommy and daddy issues? I would've never guessed," she says sarcastically. Sky didn't exactly need an explanation but she still feels bad about the situation that he was in. If it was her son, she would've done everything and anything to help. And while Sky's been dealing with her son's father and his alcohol problem long enough to know that it's not something that happens overnight-- even if you want it to so damn bad.