sounds of life

Good God, I'd love to, well, I had to.

Name: Stephanie  Stevie Adler Age & Birthday: 47, April 3rd 1975 Gender & Pronouns: cisfemale, she/her Hometown: Port Arthur, Texas Time in Bradford Springs: 10 years Occupation: Owner & Operator @ The Phoenix  alt music venue Positive traits: Creative, Confident, Supportive, Fun-loving Negative traits: Impulsive, Sharp-tongued, Impatient, Mysterious 

+ STEVIE THE PHOENIX

“God, Stevie, it was so embarrassing,” Farah sighs, shaking her head at her friend. The Phoenix isn’t opened yet but she’s sipping some club soda, having given up alcohol for the indefinite future after her night at Restricted Access. “Why did I call him? What if the kids found out? That’s setting a terrible example, isn’t it?” @stevie-adler​

-

Teddy sometimes lied, not to Stevie or her mom. Or the people that mattered, but if it meant getting out of a precarious situation then she had no qualms with lies. “Well, I definitely don’t think you’re an idiot.” she laughed, it was quite the opposite. Stevie was impressive and seemed like she didn’t need anybody, which Teddy admired. “I can’t message you on instagram because you won’t see it.” she laughed, taking the beer and joining Stevie at the bar. “Yeah I have your number just my phone is pretty busted.” she shrugged, grabbing it from her pocket and trying to turn it on to prove it. The fact it didn’t turn on did just that. “See. And I’m broke, so.” she shrugged, but that wasn’t exactly new. Minimum wage was going to be her life forever. “That’s not me asking for a raise, by the way. I barely work while I’m here.” she added, laughing.

where: stevie’s place

who: @stevie-adler​

“I’m just sayin’ I haven’t slept properly for three weeks.” Frankie explained while she adjusted to make herself more comfortable on Stevie’s bed. Shane was a cute kid but Frankie knew nothing about parenting and she was mediocre at best when it came to guidance. Shane was not far off from Tovi, Hazel, or Noah’s ages though so maybe she wouldn’t do too bad after all. “You basically adopted that O’Connor girl, right? How does that go?” A yawn interrupted her line of questioning for the woman. “I mean, what would you do if your dead wife’s daughter showed up at your door after you hadn’t talked in years?” Because Frankie hadn’t the first clue on how to address any of it other than to feed her and answer questions. “Oy vey, I just left her there. To her own devices. Twenty-one year olds are good on their own. Right?”

-

Angel laughs a little longer than necessary, slow and languid laughter filling the hallway she shares with Stevie. Sure, puntry is funny, but it’s not as funny as her hazed brain is making it seem. “Yeah, it’s fucking weird. Learn something new everyday,” She nods her heavy head, her arms moving to wrap around herself for grounding and stability. If she had any sort of self awareness at the moment, she might’ve been embarrassed. Instead, she thinks she’s killing it, playing it cool and acting so normal Stevie must have no idea how much effort it’s taking to focus in on her through spaced out and exaggerated blinks. But being high at The Phoenix isn’t some rarity, as if it’s some sacred, sworn off place where she took a vow to never partake in her little habit. It’s a place for music, of course she’s going to be high, but this is different. There’s no limit, no line she’s drawn to keep from crossing. Out of respect for Stevie and her establishment, Angel would only smoke a blunt out front or out in the alley, keeping the rest off the premises. She doesn’t care anymore, and right now, she’s not sure why she’s ever cared at all. “No, no, no. I’m like good, like really good. I’m good,” Her voice drags. “Why would I – I don’t need to stay on your couch. I’m good.” Shit. Is she saying ‘I’m good’ again?

-

“I…don’t actually want to answer that question.” Teddy said honestly, because it felt like a trap despite her knowing Stevie wasn’t like that. “Oh crap.” she then muttered when she was threatened with actual managing but then laughed as soon as Stevie’s not so stern words followed. “Noted, captain.” she grinned back and felt a wave of relief at the offer for alcohol. Sometimes she forgot that the phoenix wasn’t your typical working environment. “Can I get a bud?” she asked, moving towards the bar. “Also, I know you said absolutely no group chats but if you did have social media I could always drop a message about things.” she offered because usually she had an unpaid phone bill that prevented her from texting. “I could set it all up for you.”

-

“Wait, so you’re not mad?” Teddy paused once she heard Stevie’s response. She had psyched herself up for losing the job altogether after the review popped up, carefully illustrating the night she threw a drink over a customer. Teddy couldn’t even remember what happened leading up to it, but she definitely didn’t believe the customer’s version of events. “Isn’t there like…shouldn’t you be telling me to…not do that?” Teddy carefully tilted her head and her voice went slightly higher. “I mean for what it’s worth, he was 100% an asshole and really pissed me off for some reason. I think he kept asking when the band were playing and it was just an open mic night.” It sounded less serious now that she explained it.

Status: Closed @stevie-adler​​

Location: The Phoenix 

Angel just needs to make it back from the bathroom. Is that so hard?

Ah, fuck. She puts one foot out in front of the other. Okay, I got this. Veering a little too far to the right, Angel drifts into the wall and lightly bounces off it, getting somewhat back on track. Shit. She walks with her hand outstretched for good measure, creating a little buffer for herself. What she needs is a second to reset herself, for her legs to remember how to carry her forward. Then, when she gets back to everyone, she’ll be able to blend in just fine. She just needs to – Is that Stevie? She squints and tries in vain to get her vision into some sort of focus. Oh, goddamnit. It’s like getting caught red-handed by your mom, and well, Stevie is the closest Angel’s ever gotten to having a mom who actually gives a damn about her. “Hey,” Angel tries playing it cool, as if she hadn’t just been doing lines in a stall. The coke is blending quite nicely with the shots she’d been doing at the bar. She looks at Stevie, but not really. Her eyes never quite adjust the way they’re supposed to. “That band tonight. They’re uh – they’re like really good,” Her voice carries no inflection, leaving her the same low monotone it always finds when she’s too high to pretend she isn’t.

location: lockwood springs high school

starter for: @stevie-adler​

Dusty had surprised himself, and possibly everybody else by arriving at the school before the doors were locked. He even found a little room for himself, first come first served basis. A rule that Dusty loved, because he was fast. Somehow. The eldest Anderson was snoring loudly, and drooling from the corner of his mouth across a set up “comfortable” area. Something he fought a kid for by pulling the blankets away and showing the child a middle finger for being a loser. His nap was interrupted by the door opening and he leaned up when he saw the familiar face of Stevie. “Normally, the idea of you waking me up is a nice one but I don’t feel like being in a very sharing mood, Miss Adler. Because I know you charged me double the other week for shitty whiskey, and don’t deny it. I didn’t even do anything.”

@stevie-adler​ at: somewhere in the high school

-

“Been a while since I’ve sneaked to have damn cigarette at school.” Del’s nostalgic comment was not posed with any fondness, their tone was entirely flat as they stared up at the air vent blankly watching the smoke rise. Stevie’s presence helped the embarrassment subside but there was something sickly and vulnerable about being on the brink of a blackout in front of the whole town. It was like there was a flashing neon sign above Del’s head, pointing right at them that read “ALCOHOLIC.” They were self aware enough that it was a problem, and being self aware was part of the problem too. “Where did you fit? Nerd? Band geek?” Del’s glimmer of mischievousness returned as they looked at Stevie with a smirk, but it didn’t keep. “I was a loner. I liked it.”

​

.

                         “Well I would certainly go nowhere with you, too.” Frankie laughed. “Except less public nowhere for obvious reasons,” she added with a wink and chuckled again. Immediately she pulled Stevie closer when their arms were linked. The woman was more to her than friendship or casual romance, Frankie felt safe with Stevie. Something that wasn’t the case with a lot of people. “It’s just another year at this point, right?” She shrugged then put on a grin. “Bring it on, universe!” Frankie listened to the woes of wearing all leather and suddenly was reminded why she doesn’t do it in any sort of capacity. Beyond her moral code. Imagine the vegan wearing leather, an oxymoron for the ages. “Let’s get this bottle down and get out of here then. Both Del and I know you would look better without it on anyways.” She cackled and started looking for their aforementioned friend. Frankie knew they all had a better time together and would ring in the new year right.

“You don’t have to worry, Stevie. I didn’t tell either of them I was coming.” DJ laughs as he nears the bar, hopping up onto the stool and tapping the wood top softly. It didn’t matter that Danny and Dusty weren’t kept in the loop, the brothers were like magnets in some ways. DJ knew they would probably end up at The Phoenix all the same, as much as he’d hate to admit it. “I can’t exactly promise and I don’t wanna lie.” he says, bargaining himself out of a free shot which is an oversight on his part. “Can’t I have it anyways just for being the better one out of us three?” he charms with a smile, which is one trait he was thankful he carries. For whatever reason, an Anderson smirk erases all previous debts. Or, so he hopes.

.

The redhead turned hearing Stevie’s voice. “Here I am.” Beyond being an actual goddess, the other woman had pulled her through the darkest period of her life. Del was good for drinks and a good time, but they weren’t someone who wanted to listen or knew how to handle other people’s emotions. They didn’t know how to handle their own. But, Stevie was patient and offered kindness and most of all understanding when nothing in the world made sense. It was something Frank would spend a lifetime trying to return to her. “Not sure how you can stand there and call me hot when you exist, but I’ll take it.” She let out a low whistle and grinned at the invitation. “Lead the way gorgeous, I’d follow you anywhere.” A small chuckle and a wink followed her words. “Seriously though, that dress is hot. Why is this the first time I’ve seen it?”

;

“I do and I know my ABCs.” Blaze grinned, tapping a finger on the side of his head for his proud brain-working moment. “I was going to say you should wear one more often but absolutely not if you hate them. We all love your jeans and tee combo just as much.” he laughed at her and then waved a finger at her pun. “Now come on, I can’t keep up with that sort of wit.” he teased and then nodded proudly at the mention of Lucky. Blaze pointed out his son, who was very hard to miss. “I’m having a blast, and that sure is. Lucky himself. You know this boy even tried being my wingman tonight? I don’t know how I’ve managed to secure a date before knowing him. The women love him.”

-

Del thought that holding their breath as Stevie got closer would render them invisible. No such luck and not even blending into the darkness of the shadows could save them from Stevie’s watchful eye. “Oh? Darn, I forgot to turn my fill the room with hatred emitter off.” they shrugged a shoulder, to one of their longest standing friends. Besides Frankie, Blaze and Wilde, of course. Stevie just so happened to fit right in, and weirdly didn’t help Del’s “I hate people” rants. “I’m not sulking, this is my face. Thanks but no thanks. I did shots with that ginger terror and despite how calm and collected I look, I’m fighting the urge to projectile vomit like The Exorcist right now.” it was true, Del could handle their alcohol but it only went so far. “Do I even need to mention it?” they pointed a frail finger at Stevie’s dress. “Why?”