BLEEDING HEART

Status: Closed for @hayleyrhodes​

Hayley was hard to make proactive plans with, which meant that her living only two doors down from Summer in Maple Courts was intensely convenient. Out of all the fosters that Summer had lived with in her life, Hayley was the one she truly called sister. Sister of the heart, sister of the soul, even though they were so vastly different. “My little adrenaline juuuuunkie,” she called out in a singsong voice as she stood outside Hayley’s door. “Open sesame speed racer, I’ve got your favorite luuuuuunch. Gotta fuel all that mischief and chaos.”

open to everyone. location: seahorse cocktail bar. @moorbrookestarters​

as a bartender, many drunk people spill their secrets out with each drink. lydia was well aware of the bartender’s code and she kept to it. she would stand there either laughing, nodding her curls, or she would give the best advice that she could. either way though, she never told a single soul about anything she was told while behind the bar. the woman snapped back from from behind the bar with a water bottle in hand for herself. “hi there, welcome, what can i get for you tonight?” grinned lydia, pushing back her bangs from her face. “just say the drink and i got you,” she hummed out. 

~~

Summer had a hard time remembering the names of drinks she’d had and enjoyed in the past, so frequent was her desire to try something new. As she settled against the bar, leaning forward with her chin propped in her hands like a giddy youth excitedly waiting for an ice cream, she pondered the question. “Actually can you surprise me? I’m in the mood for something sweet but not fruity sweet if that makes sense.”

“I have to say, I didn’t have high hopes for this place. I guess that’s why they say you should never judge a book by its cover,” she chuckles. “However, I have always found it hard to believe that there are non-judgmental people out there. Perfectionism is a disease,” Presley adds on quickly, it wasn’t unlike her to ramble on like this. One thought lead into another, into another and so on. She barely even noticed it most days.

@moorbrookestarters​

~~

“Do you think it’s perfectionism that makes people judgmental?” Summer, for one, found a good ramble to be absolutely delightful. There were so many different variations and vibes that came along with them. This one was an example of filling the space, thinking thoughts out loud because life was a curiosity that needed constant examination and unpacking. Other people rambled in this way that was explosive, like they’d been holding so much feeling and thought in that all their words finally led a mutiny against their tongue and walked the plank defiantly into existence. “I always thought that perfectionism and judgement were kind of...two symptoms of the same disease. I think they both come from fear. Perfectionism is like...fear that you yourself won’t add up to whatever you’re measuring yourself against. And judgement comes from the fear that people and the world around you are not measuring up to your expectations of how existence should look.”

Open || Beachside Bonfire @moorbrookestarters​

Since his return home, James was doing his best to not only relearn the town but relearn the faces that looked so familiar to him but that he couldn’t quite place. It was such an odd thing, to be lost somewhere he had spent his entire life, but yet here he was, trying to remember the town he had once known like the back of his hand. He hadn’t exactly been out to do much, usually just staying close to the apartment, going to coffee shops, hanging out with the few friends that had reached out since his return home. And this, well, this was going to be his first big venture out alone. There was something so nerve wrecking but yet exciting about it as well. Curious to see who he might run into, who he might remember- 

With nothing really mind of what he was going to do at the bonfire, James walked along where the sand meet the water, bottle of water in one hand, his flip flops in the other. Slightly mesmerized by the soft crashing waves at his feet, James was barely paying any attention of where he was going- walking right into someone, “Crap-” He exclaimed, eyes snapping up to the person, his head tilting some as he tried and placed if he knew who they were or not. “I’m really sorry- I wasn’t paying attention. Are you alright?” 

~~

Summer wouldn’t allow herself or anyone else to call the way she felt about open water a *fear*. It wasn’t that she worried something bad would become of her if she stepped into the waves, let the salt water lift her up. It was more that she felt such a reverence for the ocean and the life within it that she was scared hopping in past her knees would disturb that beautiful ecosystem, and Summer didn’t like to disturb anyone. She was standing protectively over a patch of wet sand, constantly lapped at by the incoming and outgoing waves. A starfish had washed up and she was determined to keep it safe till it managed to get dragged back out to sea.

The sudden force of a body against hers has her awkwardly side stepping to avoid tumbling onto her ass. “I’m fine,” she answers automatically, a response that came out of her without much thought as to whether she was or wasn’t. “Be careful!” She suddenly remembered her mission and pointed down to the wet sand where the starfish was slowly wiggling its way toward the water. Every time foamy water pushed up against it the creature would still as if relieved, and then when the pull didn’t do its job the little wiggles would begin again. “This little guy is trying very very hard and I don’t want it stepped on.”

LOCATION ; SCHOOPS

“Does anyone else stress about the Royal babies or the fact that Kim K made a birthday post for her hair stylist before her own daughter, North? I didn’t realize how out of the loop I’ve gotten trying to make this wedding perfect. I need a drink. That’s what I need.” Cherry was more panicked than usual as she was a week away from a large wedding she had been planning and the bride would change something on her daily. @moorbrookestarters​

~~

“Mmm see and that is why I don’t follow along with socialites and royals and celebrities. I would absolutely stress out about all that stuff until I couldn’t function.” An eyebrow quirked at the mention of a wedding. “Yours or someone else’s? I feel like it’s a stress fest either way but gosh weddings always come together at the end and are so beautifully wholesome to watch.” 

“I think that’s the way to go. However, in saying that, if he keeps up his snoring like this, then I wouldn’t be opposed to maybe throwing a few pieces of popcorn in his direction just to make up for the lack of entertainment that the movie is providing.” It was something that her sister would’ve done, but Harlow couldn’t help herself.

~~

“Sounds like a plan, we leave him be unless his snoring gets too loud oooor you get so bored with the movie you need to shake things up.” Not that she’s quite ready to consider using her popcorn for anything other than eating, but when she gets to the less seasoned and buttered bottom bit that would make for perfect ammo. “My aim is pretty decent. I bet I could get a piece to hit his nose.”

“Nah, I’m a paramedic it’s fine.” He waved that off as if that made the action okay. At least he could properly help the old man. “Just on what the best flavor is. I say purple, because just about grape everything is bomb. She says orange, which is offensive, but we’re keeping a tally of what’s winning. A lot of people say red or green which is chill, but,” he shook his head. “Are you saying orange skittles are your favorite? You can get plenty weird in a theater. Most is like, illegal, but details.”

~~

“Well shit, I’m a nurse. I guess our powers combined we can tackle any cinema health emergencies that might arise.” Summer gives a playfully apologetic grin. “I guess I’m on team “your friend”, orange is definitely my favorite flavor. I only like grape flavors in popsicles.” It is assumable that he will be disappointed by this answer, wanting a tally for himself in this competition. An eyebrow quirked and she leaned in with interest. “Well now I have to ask...what’s the weirdest thing you’ve done in a theater? Since you seem to be an expert.”

“Sometimes I feel like I might be narcoleptic too but only in very specific situations. Like when I’m at work and nobody has been in the shop for an hour and I’ve straightened every book on the shelves multiple times.” Matty let out another soft laugh and pulled a face because he still couldn’t imagine the combination but he never minded trying things to find out if he did hate them. “I’m not really one for combining sweet things, mainly because I’m not inventive enough. I prefer experimenting in the kitchen rather than in the cinema.” Matty had a second straw in his drink and he tapped at it, motioning it towards Summer. “I got an extra large one and if I drink all that I’ll pee through most of this film.”

~~

Summer let out a chuckle. “That’s not narcolepsy my friend, that’s just boredom, I get that way on a slow day at work too and I’m a nurse, we’ve got a lot more options of stuff to do and chances for adrenaline rushes.” She popped more popcorn and mint chocolate into her mouth. “Although put me near books and I’m too busy sneak reading chapters to fall asleep.” When the second straw is pointed out and the cup is offered, she considers for a second. Evaluating him as 0 risk, after all he’d been drinking from the cup, she took it and took a sip. “Mmm we can’t have that. And this works out because I always get a small and finish it halfway through and then feel parched the rest of the movie.”

“i’ve seen it before… once? when i was in college, i took a class and it was one of the movies we had to watch. it was as boring as shadow of a doubt. at least this one has some action,” zehra smiles, knowing that she has some pretty hot takes about old hollywood movies. mostly that they were boring, usually - and that she could appreciate them only to a point. “yeah, he could’ve picked a commercial one with a chair that hadn’t been cleaned in months - look on the bright side!” 

~~

Summer playfully clutched at her chest. “Right in my heart, just stab me why don’t you. I love that movie.” Too many times she’s had people explain why the classics felt too slow, too boring, not enough action or cinematic special effects. Now a days the movie did all the work for you, left nothing to the imagination. “You know what it is about old movies for me? Those moments when there’s no talking and there’s the soft crackling of the film. It soothes me the way people can be soothed by the sound of rain. It’s quiet but not empty.” 

Ryan looked down towards the sleeping man. “If I shot a skittle down there would it be rude? Hey, what’s your favorite skittle flavor, for science. I got a bet going on with my friend.” He popped a couple green skittles in his mouth, having already picked out all the yellow and orange ones. “Could let him sleep. Could have some fun and do weird shit in here, even with an audience,” he motioned to the sleeper, “and no one would know.”

~~

“The moral answer is yes, it would be rude. But....it also...would be highly entertaining. Just don’t get it in his mouth, the last thing I want to do today is the Heimlich because he chokes on the skittle.” She’s intrigued by the mention of a bet. “What kind of bet? Trying to poll what the ultimate favorite flavor is? My answer is...complicated. Yellow is my favorite color but I don’t like the taste of yellow as much as orange.” An eyebrow quirked. “How weird can you get in a movie theatre?”

“nom de dieu de merde,” henry cursed under his breath and let out a breath at summer’s news but she was right – he couldn’t get mad at her. he wouldn’t even, as grumpy as he was, take his frustration out on the innocent people. “if this asshole thinks he can take my slots just to make his wife’s boobs bigger again, he is going to be very disappointed,” he grumbled and looked at summer, giving her a small smile. “thank you for telling me, though. this hospital is really ran by a group of donkeys, isn’t it.”

~~

She’d made the mistake of taking french in high school, which she now regretted considering there were other languages more commonly spoken by her patients that she wished she could communicate to them with. She’s pretty sure merde is murder and that makes her slightly nervous for a moment until he gives her a smile. “I think you’re the only one here who stands up to him when he decides to play musical schedule,” she notes, returning the smile. “Mmm you get so use to it, especially in nursing. What am I gonna do, ya know, I have to find ways to just do my best around their egos and stubbornness and call it a day.”

The chairs were comfortable but it did amuse Matty the idea that somebody would come here just to have a nap on them rather than actually watch the movie they’d paid to see. “The chairs definitely ARE comfortable but I feel like he could have saved his money and bought a chair to keep at home instead.” He did actually laugh then at the ridiculousness of it all, finally relaxing a tiny bit as he tried to ease his awkward self into the conversation. He hated how he made most situations awkward so he was grateful when she broke the ice to offer him some mints. “Do mints and popcorn go well together?” he asked as he accepted them with a thanks, popping onto into his mouth. “With all the fizzy drink I’ve had, my stomach might start bubbling.”

~~

She shares in his laughter. “Maybe he’s narcoleptic. Didn’t mean to fall asleep, wasn’t in the game plan, but it just hit him and he was out like a light.” At the question, Summer smiled. “Well obviously I think they do, but I respect your right to give it a try and hate it. But I think there’s something really comforting about the combo of sweet and salty, and then for me adding the pop of mint just...makes my taste buds happy.”  Fizzy drink and bubbling stomachs, she lets out a sharp giggle that would have been concerningly loud if there had been other people in the theater. “I’m pretty sure that’s mentos, like breath mints. I don’t know if the fizzy thing works with junior mints. Now I wanna grab a bottle of soda and run an experiment.”

╚════════ 《 ✧ 》 ═══════╝

If Hank hadn’t spent the last ten years learning that it’s not that others are “too much” but rather he’s too quiet, too introverted, he’d be overwhelmed by her entire speech. But he knows it’s him. She’s saying so much, none of which is necessary but Hank nods and does his best to be sympathetic and understanding. There was clearly nothing malicious meant here and accidents do happen. Stepping backward into his home, Hank tosses the blanket over the back of the couch and then carefully balances his mug on it. The dirty lounge pants and well-worn sweatshirt aren’t exactly a look he wants to show off but they’re slightly better than a blanket cape. Keeping his left leg straight and balancing on the door frame, Hank squats down to grab the package. “No one looks to see if their name is on the label before opening. There’s just an assumption the postal workers did that for them. Myself included. So, are you Summer then?” 

“Growth in diversity?” Hank’s interest in this conversation grows. “I’ve found that in the older kids books. It’s led to a few uncomfortable conversations and reminders of, uh, my fate but I could use some more for the ones not reading middle grade. It’s exhausting trying to stock that library though. My goal next year is to start learning how to write grants though I am afraid it means i’ll have to talk to the school board. Either way, that’s next year. And…” Hank froze, closing his eyes tight. None of that was anything she’d asked for. He needed to stop talking. Huffing as he deflated, silently apologizing to her. 

“If you’re sure, I’ll make sure they make it into classrooms. Teachers are always looking for books. Kids are…so rough on them.” Hank found himself wishing he’d kept the comfort of the blanket but tried not to suffocate in the awkward atmosphere he’d made. 

~~

“Yes...Summer, that’s me.” She’s trying to quell her urge to nervous ramble like she’s a book character sharing an internal monologue. Summer, you talk to people like you’re reading them a book, there’s no room for them to talk back to you, people used to say to her. She was trying to work on it, but it got hard when she was nervous. But there’s something familiar in his body language, something that says he’s socially awkward and nervous too, they just happen to wear it differently. His feels more like a held breath and hers is akin to hyperventilation. She decides she likes him, and wants to actively try not to talk herself into the territory of annoying nuisance. 

She watches him deflate but she wants to encourage his words, finds them easy to follow, words she agrees with. This little bubble inside of her is filled with the words, me too me too me too. “I can give you some really really great recommendations for picture books with diverse content. Beginning readers is still a little...slow to get on board, but I can probably find you a few recommendations there too.” She gives a small nod, her hands nervously disappearing into the pockets of her dress. “Yeah I...am working on not letting myself be affected by what other people think my fate is, but some days I’m better at it than others. I hope your grant writing goes well though, if anyone deserves a grant it’s someone who wants to use it to fill a library with representation for any and every child that might walk in there. It’s important what you do. Those kids are really lucky to have you.”

“Oh god you’re telling me,” she answered with a laugh. “I grew up in foster care and we had like...five books to share if we were lucky. I remember the first time I held a book in my hand that wasn’t half falling off the spine it was like...magic.”

–

“Summer’s a nice name.” Rook said almost a little too quickly, before taking a moment to think about it. “Any chance you’d have given me a different one if it was Autumn or Winter?” He asked, in just about as teasing a tone as he could possible muster. He was already taking a few practice swings, careful to stand back to make sure he didn’t hit the total stranger who’d agreed to help him.. again. “I’m Rook.” He announced, realizing how incredibly rude it had been of him to not start with that once she introduced herself. “But you can call me Nivens McTwisp.” He teased, showing off the small amount of Alice in Wonderland he truly recalled. “If it’s any consolation it’s one of the new summer cans so it’s green and the drink inside is purple so it’ll be like a wild color display.” He added as he watched her run back to set up the camera.

When she returned he knew he wanted to be as ready as possible. Missing his first shot was only going to add to just how uncoordinated he’d already proved himself to be. “I’m ready for you.” He said again as he watched her line up and prepare to throw the apple, eyes glancing down to observed the way he was standing and making sure to dig his heals into the ground. Rook wanted to make sure at the very least that his stance was decent as he gripped the sword. As she counted down, he did the same in his head and as soon as the apple was released, he let out a breath that he’d managed to suck in and swung the weapon with all of his might. It was far from the perfect swing. Far from cutting the apple clean in half, but it did manage to connect. He watched as two separate halves fell apart at his feet and he had to make sure to catch himself so that he didn’t totally fall over from his movements. “Holy shit… IT WORKED!” 

~~~

She let out a giggle at the question. “But Autumn and Winter are equally lovely names and also disappointingly not Alice. I should think I’d have treated them the same as Summer if they were mine instead.” She tilts her head as he gives him her name, wants to ask if his parents were very fond of chess, but thinks that might be a bit too forward. Besides, she is then thoroughly and delightedly distracted by the Nivens McTwisp comment. “Tim Burton made a dream come true for me when he gave the White Rabbit a name. It always upset me quite a bit as a child.” She takes a step back while he practice swings, is throughly intrigued as he describes the liquid contents of his can. “Oh yes, well then it seems like you are set up for aesthetic glory, Mr. Mctwisp.”

Click, goes the camera. Click. The apple is soaring through the air, the swing is a bit heavy handed and unsure but ultimately it gets the job done. They’re not perfect halves that fall to his feet, but they are halves and she’s sure the captured moment of impact is going to look cool as hell with the sunset painted sky behind him. “YOU DID IT!” she commended, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet and clapping with mesmerized pride. “In the first try, holy crap, look at you McTwisping it up!!! You weren’t late at all, you were perfectly on time!”

Harlow loved to go to the cinema to see movies, so the moment she got a chance to go, she took it. It was small, which she liked, and there were only a couple of other people there, which she also liked. Getting used to a small town after spending her whole life living in big cities was a change that she was quickly growing to love. Her eyes were glued to the screen until she heard a voice from beside her. “I think we just let him sleep. He must need it. I’m sure he’ll wake up when it ends.”

~~~

Letting him be is definitely the kindest option, and Summer likes to go for the kindest option when she can. But a selfish desire flutters for a moment to be able to enjoy her movie without snoring loud enough to wake the dead. Her teeth bite into her lower lip as she wars with herself for a moment before finally settling back in her seat. “If he doesn’t wake up at the end I guess we tell one of the workers and make them be the one to wake him up.”

time flies when… you know nobody in a new town and you’re crossing your little stubby fingers that you remain sober. evie had been desperately trying this time around.. trying to hold down a job, trying to watch her tongue, trying to experience life with a fresh pair of (un-dilated) eyes. that meant that she had to stay busy. busy was good. busy in places she usually didn’t frolic was even better. although she swore she had stepped into a place where 3d glasses would be passed out and dinosaurs would be spooking her on screen.. the snoring man was a close runner up oddly. “wait, you’re telling me that bag of bones isn’t the opening act?”

Truth be told she hadn’t really been expecting the brunette to answer. From the second they’d seated she’d been giving off a vibe like this was not really the kind of movie she was going to enjoy. She lets out a snort of laughter that is so loud and temporarily disrupts the man’s slumber. His snore gets loud and then dissipates as he shifts in the seat and Summer claps a hand over her mouth. “You know you’re at a movie theater not a music concert, right? This sort of thing doesn’t usually come with an opening act.”