#newbellevouxstarter

where: Outside Cucina Paradiso (downtown)

It had become a bit of a habit for Jamie to light up a cigarette outside the restaurant a few minutes before opening. Taking a step back from the mis en plas in the kitchen that's mostly finished by then and relax before the bustling of dinner patrons come through the door. With an arm thrown across their middle, they smoked their stick calmly, eyes closed and head resting against the outside wall of the place they spend more time at than their own home, not paying much attention to anything around them.

"Why is it that we live in a literal swamp, but yet hot yoga feels way more hot and swampy than outside?" Sydney asked the person next to her as they came up from yet another chair pose. Her therapist had been pushing for her to get out more, to try and become one of the living again since she was stuck in the past and the grief of Jesse. It felt stupid, just trying to do this when she wanted nothing more than to go home and curl up on her couch once more. "I might just lay down soon, I'm so out of shape." Maybe jumping into a hot yoga class hadn't been the best idea. Even if it was open for beginners.

Where: Jolly Street Diner

When: July 2024

Ellie had been spending the late evening cooped up inside police station doing paperwork well after her shift ended. In desperate need of a meal before heading home, she stopped by the diner. She was craving some typical diner food and after pulling into a spot, she took a moment before heading inside. Sending her fiance a quick text not to wait up for her, she then exited her car and ascended the steps inside. Sliding into a booth, she ordered a burger, and waited. It wasn't crowded but there were still some patrons eating, the lights bright and the ambience nice. "Shit, um excuse me," she said turning to the booth behind her, "do you happen to have any ketchup? Mine seems to have run out." She asked after grabbing the bottle to put on her plate which had just arrived.

Soon they arrived at the park and the kids hurried off to the playground Alexi took a seat on a bench thankfully had shade. It was summer for sure, so it was pretty hot out each day and even stuck around at night. "Oh it's warm" he used his hand to fan himself and pulled out water from the bag he had. That had water for his kids, and whatever else was needed. He went to sit his water bottle on the seat by him but missed so it fell on the ground and rolled away "Shoot!" he said as he stood up. @newbellevouxstarters

It had been too long since she left her apartment. Or so Whitney had decided that morning when she woke up on a regular Friday. Once again she had skipped school and simply lain in bed, wondering what the point of it all was. One by one, those she loved the most seemed to be taken from her. It left her feeling paralyzed with fear and riddled with helplessness. Wasn't it just a matter of time before her brother would be taken too? Another one of her friends? Her mother? Though the last one she sometimes, in darker moods, found herself wishing had been the one to go before her father. Which was an awful thing to think, but then again the woman did not seem to understand her daughter at all. Finally she had dragged herself out of bed, put on clothes to match the weather and taken one of her favorite books and a blanket with her to the park. Under a large willow tree, she had decided to read for as long as she could. So when a shadow came across the pages of her book, she glanced up with poorly veiled annoyance. "Can I help you?" she asked without really seeing the person. All she wanted was quiet and solitude. Maybe going out among people had been a stupid choice..

"I have to say, I'm not really one that prefers savory croissants, but this one that I got at La Petite French Bakery is divine." he spoke, words exaggerated as he took another bite, the cheese pull from the middle making him groan. "They're having a sale today since it's National Croissant Day so I wanted to go give it a try and this is some sort of double cheese and herb one, and I got the sausage one and I have to say, if they have these all the time I'll be making this a weekly purchase because my mouth hasn't stopped watering since I took that first bite." @newbellevouxstarters

"I don't know about you, but one of my favorite things about this town is the delicious food and the talent that the chefs, bakers, etc. put into it." Emerson started, utensil lifted to mouth as he took a bite of the cake in front of him. "I didn't realize today was national chocolate cake day, but I went to Blissful Bites for a brownie and came out with -" a pause as he counted the larger bag in front of him having taken out the slice he picked out for his fiance' and son already. "About 3 more slices of cake in here than I actually need so please do me a favor and take one of these off my hands." @newbellevouxstarters