#e:openmic26

OHNOITSCLEO JUST POSTED !

“ah, hades,” she’s lucky to get a nod in greeting, “you just missed persephone; I think he just finished weeping, if you wanted to swoop in and take him back to your lair in the underworld.” he’s perceptive enough to be able to tell something is off about her, but doesn’t care enough to think about it any further than that. “i’d actually really appreciate a quiet night tonight, if you’d like to do hephaestus a favour.”

it's the second time tonight she all but runs. this time to the stage, instead of away, feet carrying her to the area she'd occupied not that long ago. it's easy to spot him, it always is, and despite the urgency pumping through her veins, she has the decency to wait until he's clear, no one else in his vicinity. wordlessly, her arms wrap around his neck, eyes closed as her chin rests against his shoulder. it's the first time they're seeing each other after either of their sets. fistful of his shirt in each of her hands, she exhales. ofeliya had pieced her heart back together in the aftermath, but there's a different kind of peace being in the arms of someone who understands the ache. "proud of you."

10pm really should be her cue to go home, but daphne can't bring herself to dip this early. it makes her feel like a lightweight, like she's letting the two of them control her night. but with vada on stage a and jennie across the way, she's got to find somewhere else to be, an excuse to give the latter for why she just couldn't make it, sorry! when she inevitably finds out her dear friend wasn't there to see her play. then, she spots him. the perfect excuse. "jase! wow, it's so good to see you," as if it hasn't been mere hours since they saw each other at work— "are you having a good night? can I interest you in a drink? at the bar? over there? like, right now?"

"beaaaaaaa!" she has to be the last person on earth to find her, but at least she's likely to be the loudest as she barrels through a handful of people ( sorry or whatever to that lady with the clipboard... ) to get to her best friend, arms thrown around her in a fast hug. "you were sooooo cool! I took sooo many photos of you up there. you looked so hot, I couldn't not, right? duh." she'd already uploaded one to her story, her bandmates cropped out without a second thought. "sooo... how does it feel? being the best performer here?"

it's coming to the end of the night and it's written all over every inch of him how long it's been. hence why he leans against the bar, the last performance of the night going on in the somewhat near distance. it's the only stage still open and he seems to be the only one who wants the night to end, so the crowd is thick — another reason he lingers out of the way, glass of water in his hand. he's driving home, after all. he doesn't know it yet, but he'll probably be doing a tour of drop offs like usual, too. "must be tough being the closer." he hums, turning to the person also hanging back. "everyone seems to be enjoying it, though. you didn't wanna be over there, too?"

"your eyes don't deceive you," luke laughs, hand gently patting riley's shoulder, "I am out of the house." he's not loving the crowd, but he's spent almost the entire night at nesrin's side, so he's definitely not complaining. she's slipped away, but he doesn't mind that either, not after seeing the excitement on her face at seeing friends and spotting one of his own at the bar. "any of your friends performing tonight?"

"oh, no, I don't—" work here. anyone could be forgiven for thinking so, though, after watching her spend the last five minutes gathering cups and returning them to the bar. she hates the clutter, has nightmares of one, abandoned, falling and splashing everywhere. a slip, trip and sticky hazard all in one. now she's the hazard, because her hands are already full but another cup is being balanced on the pile. "I don't work here, I'm just trying to be helpful."