Zero

There was hesitation in her face as Zero went on about how he felt on the holiday, it wasn’t how she’d like to think but then again, she was more optimistic than most. “I think it’s more about the symbolism. Sure, everyone can start on any other day but it could be easier for some to start fresh with a new calendar and the looks of a whole year in front of them.” She waited a moment, hoping he’d say he was joking and give a small list like she’d expected but that moment never came. She let out a disappointed sigh, “Zero.. that’s kind of a bullshit answer.” She didn’t mean to be harsh but she knew with the right influence, he could do way more than just work at the hotel. It was worrying to hear someone with a lack of goals for themselves, especially for someone so young. “Come on, you’ve got nothing to look forward to? Not a single habit you want to break or anything you want to cross off the bucket list? It doesn’t even have to be anything big, y'know.”

Growing up with an older brother, there were many times where Zero would just wonder how it would be different to have an older sister. Someone that gave motherly ... love at times. Mavis was basically as close as he was going to get to ever having anything sisterly in his life. Sighing he looked around. “Yeah yeah..” There were a few things he wanted. More then just watching the insides of the hotel, no matter how much he actually enjoyed it. He was something he knew, and knew well. enough to provide, and his bubble felt safe and okay. Somedays, he’d think about releasing.  “I guess I need to stop taking so many drugs.” He let out casually before chewing on his cheek. “I’ve also always wanted to showcase some of my art work in a gallery. it’s just not.. something everyone would enjoy and want to look at. It’s sorta .. what people would see in their nightmares of sorts.” 

“Look… it’s kinda been a long night. What makes you think you need this drink right now? You can’t wait long enough for the bartender to make another?” But finally she moves her hand away, gaze narrowing. “You know what, forget it. You owe me.”

“You can’t live by your own words?” He asked back just as quickly. Zero spent enough time around a questionable group to know his tongue was rather quick when needed. “What makes you think I haven’t had a long night myself?” He asked tilting his head. Truthfully, he would have just handed it off. The others spunk and smart mouth though was rather entertaining and now it felt personal to stand his ground. “Oh no, I don’t owe you, your drink will be out in a few moments.” 

New year, same old drinking habits. Was there really a better way to bring it in? It was sure to help her racing mind that was her new constant as of late. Though it only took a hand on hers to jolt her out of the cycle she had been running through. With a look of slight irritation she turned to face the intruder, debating whether to grip the drink tighter or drag her hand away. “I’m pretty sure we’ve been here the same amount of time, I tend to take notice of the people around. Does the phrase ‘ladies first’ not exist in your world?”

Raising a brow he didn’t so much as move his hand away. “If you’re watching that much , then perhaps your drink will come next and you can just wait it out. Doesn’t seem like you’re in a rush for much of anything else going on.” Shrugging he looked back down at the drink. “Sure if I was holding the door open for you, but I’m not. I’m collecting my drink.” 

It was a nice surprise to see Zero at the party, not that he couldn’t enjoy himself but Mavis would’ve expected him to be out with friends. Nevertheless, she was happy to see him and waved to him before joining him in cheers. “Happy New Year!” She was in a giddy mood, the party was a mood booster and a way to just not think about anything relating to work or vampire life. “Tons! I always like these celebrations of life, it’s so pointless but fun. Like all just because a couple days pass, we get to all have drinks and dance and kiss and hug?” Her sense of time has warped over the century, a year moved much quicker to her than others. Still, her appreciation over the holiday was very much real. Maybe it was different since the whole cynical ‘one year closer to death’ outlook never really applied to her. “It’s really one of the greatest things humanity has decided to do.” Since it was a time to reflect and set goals, she thought it best to ask him about his ideas, “Do you have any big plans for the new year?”

Zero cringed a little bit.. everyone was always a lot more touchy feeling this time of year. And he couldn’t even begin to try and process how many people would be crying over new years kisses and who got them, and who gave them. It was a lot. Thankfully he knew the assignment of anything to enhance the mood and experience and popped and drank what he could for these moments. “Funny hoe one day and claiming a universal restart makes everyone go a bit crazy. It’s either things they need to do before the year is over or things to start, as if the next day isn’t just that... a day.” Shrugging he looked around at everyone, replying his own thoughts in his head for a moment. “Nah.. just surviving.” 

“I know your name is Zero! I just remember you most for being a grumpy Gus!” She was just teasing and she hoped he understood that. If not, she was happy to explain herself. “Oh really? Surprise!” She was feeling a bit self-conscious knowing he was there and saw her sing, but she was going to take the compliment and run to town with it. “Yeah, it’s my favorite thing to do! I preform here at least four days a week. I like to get the crowd going! What brings you here? I haven’t really seen you around before.”

Zero could only sigh. No matter how cold shoulder he was towards the other they clearly failed to read body language. It beat coming across someone with their head up their ass though. Could always be worse... he reminded himself before nodding. “Right, well not everyone runs around like they have red bull pumping through them like an IV.” He stated calmly without much bite to his voice this time around. “Well, you’re good at it. So I can see why you’d want to keep doing it and bathing in the praise of it.” He shrugged a bit. “I just had some work to do , met up with someone and decided to have a drink.” 

“Deal. Or, we can just ditch the two of them and stick with each other,” she suggested, giving him a small smile. Dani felt a good energy from him, though she wasn’t sure if that was just her intuition or being able to actually read other peoples’ energy.·“No, like, the _edible _was organic. Dude, I don’t know, Max goes for the good shit. Our parents are kind of well off, he can afford it.” She understood not wanting to babysit, and Dani was not the kind of girl who needed looking after, anyway.·“Whatever you’ve got, I’m sure I can handle. Weird? Definitely not me. Maybe in personality, but we’re all a little weird, don’t you think?”

Zero rocked on his feet for a moment hearing her words. It wasn’t like she was annoying, his eyes weren’t rolling down the street, and she seemed ... like maybe she’d understand him a bit. “Deal.” Was all he got out. Raising a brow he made a mental note to get to know this brother of hers. “I’m guessing as an older brother, the offer to share doesn’t extend to you, huh?” Letting it roll around in his head he let out a slow nod. “Alright, come on. We’re not doing it in front of a Christmas shop, in broad daylight.” Zero let out a small laugh. “Reasons normal people scare me.. they can’t be human without a little weird.” 

“My brother hates holidays, especially Halloween,” Dani countered with a shrug. It had been truly devastating as a kid to know that Max had no desire to dress up with her and go trick-or-treating, but things had gotten even worse now that things had happened with the Sandersons. “Well, yeah, I’ve gotten the secondhand shit from him, but I’ve snuck an edible, too,” she lied through her teeth, giving him a grin. “The gummy ones, I think they were like Sour Patch, but, y’know, laced. Pretty good, actually. Organic and shit.”

“We can switch. Mine goes too over the top with a lot of shit. Sometimes it’s pretty nice though.” Zero shrugged. He couldn’t get the best read on if the other even cared or wanted to go all out with holiday things, but he wasn’t that deep to figure it all out. Just a small tease of a comment was what he had in him. Raising a brow as she talked he shook his head. “Organic and shit. So you’ve never done an edible? They do have ones that are candy driven if you’re curious I know a place that’s not too far from here. I’m not baby sitting so if you get weird or something you’re on you’re own kid.” 

There was a point in time when Dani would agree, that Halloween deserved all of the hype that it was given. Now, though, she was all too ready for the holiday to be over every time it came around. “I get that. Which one are you from?” she asked, looking back from the lights at him. Max would absolutely kill her if she came home high, but there were worse things she could do. “Maybe. My brother’s kind of a pothead.” That was an exaggeration, but she knew it’d help her case, at least a little.

Zero shrugged his shoulders. “My brother is pretty big on holidays. I used to be all about it, but I don’t know guess I grew out of the magic of it all.” Or the fact that he just let the darkness get closer and closer to him each day. Joyful things like decorating for Christmas didn’t seem .. as warming as they once did. But what did he know, it was all confusing and new each day. Part of why he was always high. Raising a brow he looked towards her. “You’ve ever done it or not. The second hand high isn’t all that compared to doing so yourself. I’d start with an edible or a seltzer if I were you.”  

Jack has always loved holidays. All of them. He thinks all of the human traditions are so fun and mostly pointless but in a joyous sort of way. Winter holidays were some of his favorites because of the lights and the snow. And when Zero asks if they’re doing anything, his eyes light up. “If you would want to, yes, we absolutely can!” Jack says excitedly, not only enthused to have Zero wanting to be around him, but wanting to participate in these activities with him. “You know I usually decorate, and maybe do something with Sally, but if you want to do a family thing… Oh, it’d be just like when we were children, wouldn’t it, Zero?” he talks fast, thinking faster, trying to come up with the idea for the perfect celebration. “I have to be honest, I wouldn’t think you’d want to. And maybe you don’t, but the fact that you asked it… well, I’m just excited that we could do something together! It’s been… too long.”

.

Zero regretted questioning the holidays all together the moment his bothers excitement ran through his spine with a discomfort. Had he only kept his mouth shut, perhaps Jack wouldn’t be spilling out ideas and nearly jumping in circles with joy. Though, the part of him he wouldn’t shine light on.. liked it too. Zero liked the feeling of family, or belonging somewhere. Jack really carried the whole keeping family close on his shoulders. That was all thoughts he could come back too when he was chasing his next high and alone. “I was just asking if you had anything planned yet..” He grumbled a little before shrugging his shoulders. “I mean yeah.. I don’t remember much of when we were children and such, but sure. I can help decorate or whatever. Sally should come over too.” Zero always liked the other. Nodding a bit he found a small string loose at the end of his sweater, keeping his eyes there as it snaked around his fingers. “I’m trying..”  

LOCATION: ANYWHERE

He’d felt their eyes on him for awhile now. At first, he’d decided to ignore it, go about his business. Be the bigger person. Take the high road. Choose his battles and all that. But Bucky loved battles, and with every second that ticked by, he could feel himself growing angrier and angrier that they wouldn’t just speak up. “You wanna keep staring?” He asked as he turned to confront whoever found his back to be so interesting. “I can give you something to look at.”

Zero kept his expression blank when the other turned with a fury and attitude he was all too familiar with. With a long sip of his smoothie he shook his head. “I might keep staring, might not.. kinda just waiting for your head to explode or something.” Shrugging he let his fingers trace some condensation down the side of his cup. “I’d prefer if you didn’t. I don’t think there is much you could display that would be interesting or new.” 

closed starter @zerooo-xx​ location: the poison apple

Poppy had just finished her set and she was pumped. She really loved being able to get on stage and do her job every night. She knew the songs the customers liked and she loved to throw a few pop surprises in there every now and then and tonight the crowd was just getting so into it; though she was sure that her magic had  a big part to do with that too. Still, the moment she got in with the crowd she ordered herself a fruity little drink and decided she was going to go dancing when she was done. As she sipped a familiar face entered her radar and she grinned at him. “Hey! I know you!” she said with a giggle. “It’s grumpy Gus! How are you doing? Did you see my set?”

The scene wasn’t Zero’s favorite, but he had a job to do tonight. It just helped that he had a few drinks in him to keep mellow in it all. Bouncing his leg as he waited for the other to show up he nearly jumped out of his seat hearing a joyful voice. Of all times, this wasn’t the best for miss sunshine herself to start. Pinching his nose he gave a small wave. “Yep. Hi. It’s Zero...” Reaching for his drink he threw it all back with a small wince. “I’m fine. Yeah.. great job. I didn’t realize you performed here... but yeah, it was good.”

“Dude, I don’t know. I mean, we go all out for Halloween, but Christmas? It’s just something people decorate for in their homes, not like this.” Max had always said something about Halloween being for capitalism, but it seemed like this was even worse. The lights were bright in her eyes, and there were way too many people around. “You think so? I mean, yeah, if you have shit to spare. Maybe we could space out and enjoy them together.”

Zero nodded slowly. “Interesting. I mean at least you got the best holiday and go all out for that. Holidays are odd when you think about them...’ He started as he thought about it. “I mean we all as a city celebrate but like... not everyone outside of that goes are hard.” Shrugging he moved along. Perking his head up a bit he nodded. “I might. Have you ever done it before?” He asked not wanting to be baby sitting when he was riding a night flight to no brain cell lane. 

New Salem wasn’t really huge on any other holiday besides Halloween. Dani had heard from people at school, though, that around Amity Park and Echo Creek, people took Christmas pretty seriously. It wasn’t a holiday she particularly cared about, but she figured that seeing the lights around town was cool, just to do once. She must’ve gotten lost in thought or in taking it all in, because she’d hardly heard the stranger say something beside her. “Huh?” she asked, looking up at him as she pulled her headphones around her neck. “No, um, not high. Are you? I’m just … spaced out, is all. I’ve never come to see the lights before.”

Zero rose a brow looking towards her. “Live under a rock or something? Every city goes above and beyond and then another extra mile for these sort of things or whatever. They’re hard to miss when it’s one of the biggest holidays started too early and shoved down your throat.” With a small smile he nodded. “Most certainly high. Lets me enjoy something with the overrated holiday. You should try it out, better then just spacing out and looking at them.” 

[open starter]

The old treehouse behind the house probably wasn’t safe anymore. That’s exactly why it was Wendy’s favorite place to hide. No one else would brave the deteriorating ladder to sit in some spider infested room. Wendy lay on their back, feet resting on the wall, eyes closed. It was quiet. They didn’t get much of that. A rustling noise interrupted their thoughts. They opened their eyes and slowly reached for their camera, hoping it was some animal they could snap a photo of. Their dad would love that. When they hear the sound of a person grunting, Wendy sighs. Dang, no chance of catching any animals today. Poking their head out of the window of the treehouse, Wendy squints down at the person below them. “Hey, this is private property. Don’t make me come down there with my big scary axe.”

In his defense the tree house didn’t look like anyone had bothered with it in years. His apartment was far, and he left his skateboard at home today. No one would really know he was crashing from a high and taking a snooze. At least that’s what zero was telling himself till he heard a voice. Looking up at them he made a face. “I doubt you have an axe up there, and if you did you may be doing me a favor. Didn’t think anyone was up there, or at least would bother going up there. Looks like it’s the first time this place as seen a human in ages.”