hcmmersnstrings

[hcmmersnstrings]

he laughs, looking down at the floor, dimples appearing just a second before his smile softens. "It's stupid..." He trails off, looking at her before looking away again. "I wanted to be a painter. My mom was a really talented artist before... y'know... everything. But I wanted to be just like her." He admits with a shrug his childhood dreams are a far cry from what he became, though somehow parallel. His heart drops out of his chest and into his stomach when she actually agrees, clearing his throat and nodding. It takes a second for him to move, but he slowly stands and grabs his guitar, slinging it on his back. "Let's go." He nods towards the exit, still unsure what the plan is but it doesn't seem to matter anymore. When they're out on the street surrounded by the quiet of the alleyway he finally speaks again. "What about you? What did you want to be?"

logan watched him as he thought. she knew a little bit about his childhood and she knew he had to go through a lot but she thought all kids had dreams for their future. “what did you dream of?” she wondered.

of all of the things that could have come out of dakota’s mouth, she never would have predicted the question he asked. she knew being alone with him wasn’t a good idea but aside from catching hints of the song playing on stage, it had felt like the two of them were alone for a while now. logan knew she should say no but that wasn’t the word that came from her mouth. “sure.” she nodded.

[hcmmersnstrings]

dakota goes silent, looking towards the stage, the sound of the music drowning out for just a second as he tries to remember if he even had childhood dreams. "no." he answers, shaking his head before looking back to her. "wasn't even somethin' on my radar." he picks up on the doubt and wants to change the subject, wants to make it all seem less tense and less shitty than it actually is. but he isn't sure what to do. "wanna get outta here?" he doesn't know where they'll go or if it's even a good idea, but it's the only thing he can think of and to be honest? what he wouldn't give to be alone with her.

logan took a sip of her drink before looking back at him. “did you always know that this is what you wanted to do?" when you’re a kid everyone encourages you to dream big, reach for the stars and all that. they tell you that you can be whatever you want to be but they never tell you how hard it is to actually get there. “that’s what i’m hoping for.” she nodded, trying not to see as hopeless as she was actually feeling. “i suppose not.” she shrugged.

[hcmmersnstrings]

dakota nods and lets out a breath he'd been holding, chest relaxing a bit. "somethin' like that..." he trails off, remembering when he was some twenty something with no where to go and nothing to live for, much like the skinny bleach blonde behind the guitar now. sound cloud traded for spotify and his name blasted across social media for positive reasons, it felt like a fever dream. the solemn tone in her voice pulls him, eyebrow quirking up. there was a lot he could try to say to encourage her, to soothe the bitter sting of rejection, but none of that ever really lands does it? "you'll find somethin'. or somethin' will find you." he leaves out the it just might now be what you thought part. "until then, we're here. and it's not a bad place to be."

logan nodded as he spoke. she understood how he felt more than most people would. “i get it. i feel like as kids we have all these dreams but deep down we never actually think they’re going to come true. especially when those dreams have to do with the entertainment industry.” she was incredibly proud of how far he had come but she couldn’t help the little pang of jealousy she felt too. she couldn’t understand why nothing had happened for her after all these years. “you would think.”

[hcmmersnstrings]

"Mmm..." He hums, the idea of a warm drink to soothe his throat and finger tips sounding better than the idea of a cold beer— one that he shouldn't be drinking anyway. But that didn't matter. "That sounds good... I'll be right back." Dakota carefully and quietly gets up to mosey to the counter and order a drink, looking back to the stage as he waited, making his way back a few moments later, cupping the warm mug in his hands as he sat back down. "Good call. Thanks." He offers Finley a smile, blowing the steam off the top before taking a baby sip.

Finley looked over at the other as he settled down into the seat and he was glad to have some company. He hadn't been making that many friends around town really and he wanted to get out there more. As much as work kept him busy, it was getting lonely with not having anyone to do anything with. He smiled as the other spoke again and he brought his attention back to him. "They have this great citrus green tea that I have fallen in love with so I tend to always get that when I come in here."

[hcmmersnstrings]

Olivia fights a silent battle in her head, originally coming in for a snack but now faced with the option of indulgence. She sighs at his question and shakes her head. "I did just come in for an apple empanada, but now..." She trails off, clicking her tongue. "I might have to get a little tres leches as well. They have them in minis." It's more of reasoning to herself than to him, but just in case he also needed to reason with that little devil on his shoulder.

As she began to list the options, Aidan's expression softened and became thoughtful. Making a decision today was going to be difficult, it seemed, the options almost endless. He doubted that it would help much if he could see them well either, only adding to his confusion in what to get. "Something fruity definitely sounds like it's going to fit the bill today," he commented lightly, a smile crossing his features. "What're you planning to get?"

[hcmmersnstrings]

"Thanks, bud." He smiles, letting the nerves work themselves out as he takes a sip from his glass, swishing the water around his mouth as he checks his own phone, texting back Teddy and his friend Malena before sliding back into his pocket. It takes a moment after he finishes off what was left in the glass before the scent of the tea from Finley's cup makes itself known. Eyebrow raised, he purses his lips, staring at the empty glass before his head lolls over to Finley. "What'cha drinkin'?"

Finley had found The Warehouse shortly after arriving to New York and he was glad that he did because he enjoyed the ambiance of the small shop where musicians were coming in and playing, they were having their weekly trivia night, or even sometimes they had stand up comedy which was cute. He was sitting on the stool and listening to the music while sipping from his tea. He liked coffee, but he was definitely in the mood for tea on this cold evening. The performer then finished and Finley turned around in his seat as he was looking at his phone and the next thing he knew, he was hearing the same voice that was singing. "Oh yeah, sure! Go right ahead. I don't think anybody is sitting here."

[hcmmersnstrings]

the nickname has him stammering, swallowing down his pride as he rubs at the back of his neck and mumbles out some excuse. "it's more that it seems unreal, y'know? like... twenty year old me would've never seen this as a possibility." he explains, expression relaxing at the admission as he looks at her finally. dakota clears his throat and nods as the conversation continues on, eyes going to the spotlight briefly as the new artist starts up. "i'm sure it will too. the scales have to tip eventually, right?"

both of them had been avoiding making eye contact with each other but when she heard him snort at the idea of making a real studio album, she immediately turned to face him. “why do you act like an album is such a crazy impossible thing for you to do? i can’t speak to your bandmates but you’re good at what you do, dax. you deserve it.” she told him. “i’ve been okay. still working on getting a leading role but it’ll come i’m sure.” she wasn’t sure she believed that anymore but you know what they say, fake it ‘til you make it.

[hcmmersnstrings]

He isn't sure what to do right now, tongue running over sharp canines behind his lips as he thinks, taking her in, nodding at her question. "Only one of 'em. The others are from when I was solo." He explains, thankful when one of the servers drops off his drink, using it as a distraction so he doesn't have to look at her.

It's not like there was even anything wrong. Brooke was just... Not for him for multiple reasons and it was a goddamn shame it affected his and Logan's friendship. "We haven't really made anything new, not with all the promo and tryin' to make, like... A real album." He snorts at the idea and shrugs finally glancing at her. "How've you been?

He likes to stay and cheer on the new hopefuls, especially if it's their first time, but now his thoughts are taken from being a supportive elder musician to the fact Logan of all people is before him. He adjusts his hat and clears his throat, looking between her and the stage, looking for an out, before conceding and taking the seat he'd asked for.

Dig your own grave or whatever it is they say.

"Did you uh," Yet, despite everything, her opinion is ranked highly on his list. "Did you like the set?" There's a sense of nerves to his tone and whether it's waiting for the answer, or the fact it's the first time they're sitting together since the summer he isn't sure. It's probably both if he's being honest with himself.

[hcmmersnstrings]

A long ways from working the standard nine to five, pencil skirts and ringing phones replaced with sequins and night life, she finds joy in her slow days now. It took a year to get used to rehearsal schedules and the rigorous routine of classes and costuming and running something over and over and over again, but now? It's second nature, and she enjoys her off days and the time between shows to relax. A soft smile as she sips her iced mocha, absently scratching underneath the chin of the siamese in her lap.

"Cats are good companions! They do get territorial though." She notes absently before taking a long sip and looking at the orange feline on Omari's lap. "He does seem to like you though... Who knows, maybe you'll have your own furry friend." She smiles, a little shoulder shimmy as she attempt to play devils advocate.

closed starter for @godsofchaos and @bctweenthelines and @hcmmersnstrings and also open for @nycshqstarts

where: lowell cat cafe

this a group starter, not a group thread.

the glorious thing about working nights is that you could enjoy the daytime, that is, after getting the proper amount of sleep, of course. omari found that he enjoyed the city in the afternoons, somewhere between one or two o'clock, the members of corporate america are already back in their offices after their lunch breaks, and the lines aren't too long if you go to the places that aren't tourist attractions. he's not exactly a local, but he's been here for five years, and in that time he's learned a thing or two, like, that during the day, lowell's has some of the best pastries and a matcha latte that is really something special, but tourists don't usually stop in to hang out with cats, so he finds that it's quieter, a better place to relax before the hustle and bustle of his job. there' s an orange cat climbing into his lap and purring, and omari lets out a laugh "okay, do they train these cats to do this just so we'll adopt them? because I live with two cats now who barely acknowledge me, but with this little guy," he steps, and scratches behind the cat's ear. "I think I'm being sold on having my own," a smile "what do you think?"

[hcmmersnstrings]

"Naw, no worries at all." He drawls out with a smile, graciously taking the seat. "This is a little crowded in here, sometimes you just gotta scope out your space." He continues on, taking a sip from his own glass, slowly nodding at first.

A compliment off stage is hard to swallow, the adrenaline of performing, the blinding lights no longer swaying his opinion of his own ego, off stage he's a different person. At the end of the day, a performer is a performer. "Oh, uh, yeah!" He finally sputters out and laughs, rubbing at his nose with a smile. "Thanks, I've, uh, I've been at this for awhile." He looks to the stage when the music starts again, lowering his voice so they aren't pulling attention away. "I'm glad you enjoyed the set, though. Means a lot."

After having a brutal day on set, along with having to handle last minute wedding emergencies, ending the day with a beer was Anora’s go-to when she needed to let off some steam. There was something about sipping her beverage and getting lost amongst the bustling atmosphere that was so incredibly soothing to the blonde as she people watched and enjoyed the live music.

Lost in her thoughts as usual, it wasn’t until she heard the sound of someone speaking to her that she broke out of her daze. “Oh!” It took her a few moments to register what was asked before she nodded her head, moving her purse off the vacant seat by her side. “Of course. Sorry, I didn’t mean to hog the seat like that.” Laughing softly, her gaze flickered up to meet his. “Hey, you’re the guy who was just performing! Great set, by the way. Your voice is fantastic — you make it all seem so effortless up there.”

[hcmmersnstrings]

Get out, meet people, don't do the apps. All advice she'd heard both since her divorce was official and since moving to the city. A polite smile, shallow conversation, and one too many sugary virgin margaritas later, Olivia has found only this to be true; dating is fucking stupid. Most of these men lacked the backbone she was used to or if they were strong in their spine they lacked the soft hands needed in this world. Or, as a lot of her troupe would say, they were fuckboys.

Thankfully, she was not alone in this endeavor. Vita was one of the many that wordsmithed Olivia into just about anything; including this current fiasco. She leans over, snorts, and rolls her eyes before finally looking at the blonde. "Girl, if something sticks for you, and not me, you owe me a couple drinks." Mostly teasing, but this had been quite an experience. "Can we food once we're done? All this lying is making me hungry."

closed starter for @hcmmersnstrings, @bctweenthelines, @mattxmoretti and @lapagliaalice @tcddyw

where: speed dating at wine about it.

this a group starter, not a group thread.

this is embarrassing, she thinks, even though she is strict with the adage to not care what people think of her. but speed dating she feels, for someone like her, is a new low. there are certain things expected of her, certain places for her to be seen, and not seen, and she imagines this is on the not list, and yet, it seems thrilling, to do something like this. the apps, as most know, are garbage, even in a city like new york, and she feels like the clubs are constantly filled with people she's already hooked up with, dated, or her people her friends have hooked up with or dated, and that's too close to home. "okay," she says to the person next to her, who she dragged along as a victim to one of her many daily shenanigans, "we do maybe 2 rounds of this, and if nothing sticks, we get a drink, and if something does stick, I get someone's number and then we get a drink, deal?" she waits a beat "and an iou as well, for your troubles."

[hcmmersnstrings]

He likes to stay and cheer on the new hopefuls, especially if it's their first time, but now his thoughts are taken from being a supportive elder musician to the fact Logan of all people is before him. He adjusts his hat and clears his throat, looking between her and the stage, looking for an out, before conceding and taking the seat he'd asked for.

Dig your own grave or whatever it is they say.

"Did you uh," Yet, despite everything, her opinion is ranked highly on his list. "Did you like the set?" There's a sense of nerves to his tone and whether it's waiting for the answer, or the fact it's the first time they're sitting together since the summer he isn't sure. It's probably both if he's being honest with himself.

for: open! @nycshqstarts location: The Warehouse (a local coffee/beer stop), open mic night!

"What?" A laugh as he tunes his guitar, taking the moments to interact with the crowd. "Honey, I got an acoustic guitar in my hand, I dunno what on God's green earth makes you think War Crimes is happening." He banters with a smile, strumming a bit before continuing on with the set.

From being a strung out kid with bleached hair to a mostly sober thirty-something, music had always been the way he connected with others. Whether it's the strum of a guitar to crafting words that others related to, maybe he'd never been good at talking, but he'd always been good at singing. And this remains true as he sings to a small crowd in some coffee shop in Manhattan on a rainy night. Some know his past work from his old SoundCloud, some know him from his current band, either way hearing the choir of off key voices softly joining him warms his heart. The set ends and he thanks the crowd before heading off and packing away his things, looking to the small stage as the next artist starts up.

"Mind if I sit here?" He asks, nodding to an empty stool in the back.

[hcmmersnstrings]

This isn't the normal venue, but the pay was good, and the patrons were lovely and she had a few tickets for a couple free drinks. Not that Olivia had ever really been a drinker, after all, alcohol is the devil's drink. At least, that's what she was taught. But he night went on after her set and she basked in the attention that came her way before getting dressed and ready to head out for the rest of the evening, her half drank Shirley Temple delicately hanging in the balance as her and her dance bag try to push through the crowd before the bright pink tips and spills.

She laughs and waves off the apology, though she was bummed about the new stain that would form on her jacket. "It's okay. It's so crowded in here!" She soothes, taking him in, dark brown eyes falling on the clock before shrugging. "Well, I won't say no to a new drink and some company." She agrees, letting him lead the way. "Why was it a long day?"

closed starter for @hcmmersnstrings, @tctteredwings and @bctweenthelines but also open for @nycshqstarts

where: crimson and clover

this a group starter, not a group thread.

alex is tired. they had spent most of the day in court, and there is no amount of espresso and workouts and sleep that could have prepared them for the whirlwind of a day it was. if the had any sort of self-preservational skills they would just go home, climb into the back seat of the car from the service they'd hired, change from a three-piece suit into something much more comfortable, remove contacts throw on their glasses, and settle in. But, alex has always been a masochist. they don't mean for it to happen, but it's more crowded than they've expected for a weekday, and one wrong movement, just slightly off, and someone's drink is spilling "oh, deary me," is the first thing out of his mouth before addressing the victim "my apologies, it's been a long day, let me buy you a new drink?"

[hcmmersnstrings]

for: open! @nycshqstarts location: The Warehouse (a local coffee/beer stop), open mic night!

"What?" A laugh as he tunes his guitar, taking the moments to interact with the crowd. "Honey, I got an acoustic guitar in my hand, I dunno what on God's green earth makes you think War Crimes is happening." He banters with a smile, strumming a bit before continuing on with the set.

From being a strung out kid with bleached hair to a mostly sober thirty-something, music had always been the way he connected with others. Whether it's the strum of a guitar to crafting words that others related to, maybe he'd never been good at talking, but he'd always been good at singing. And this remains true as he sings to a small crowd in some coffee shop in Manhattan on a rainy night. Some know his past work from his old SoundCloud, some know him from his current band, either way hearing the choir of off key voices softly joining him warms his heart. The set ends and he thanks the crowd before heading off and packing away his things, looking to the small stage as the next artist starts up.

"Mind if I sit here?" He asks, nodding to an empty stool in the back.

[hcmmersnstrings]

His grin breaks into a smile as she laughs, relaxing a bit into the interaction. Maybe that was his problem, his taste of chaos had been different, confined, even. It wasn't the hustle and bustle of the city he'd yet to get used to and maybe that would be his undoing. For now, his expression changes to surprise but a gregarious laugh leads him, reaching up to adjust the brim of his hat. "Animal shit? You a vet or somethin'?" He asks, curiosity piqued and his undying need for human interaction trumping any idea that he shouldn't be holding up a stranger from their day.

Elle's expression said it all really, her eyebrows lifting in amusement, a gentle smirk dancing across her features as he spoke. "I'm pretty sure that's impossible around these parts," she teased softly with a laugh. Since moving from Long Island and into the city, she'd had to force herself to get used to it, but then she supposed she was used to chaos. "Eh, don't worry about me, I'm usually covered in animal shit, so a bit of coffee won't kill." Horrible but sadly true... and probably an odd thing to say to a stranger, but that's what she did.

[hcmmersnstrings]

"Of course." If there was one thing she did bring with her from home, it was compassion. That same fire had yet to leave her, the one that drove her to extend parts of herself for the benefit of others. This was a small ask, one that she was happy to perform, after all— she'd done more for less. She giggles along with him, a little hop as she moves forward in line. "I absolutely know what you mean." She lets out a sigh, pulling down the corners of her lips. Baked goods would be the death of her. "They have some good stuff here, though. Conchas, flan, tres leches, and a few fruit empanadas..." She trails off, now wondering how she could possibly choose between all the sweets.

"Okay... thank you," Aidan answered with a simple nod of his head. When it came to things like menus, it was always a little awkward, especially so when there was a line and he couldn't get the attention of one of the staff. He didn't like to bother other people if he could help it, but sometimes he really didn't have much of a choice. "What kind of desserts?" he added with a laugh. "I do have a usual, but sometimes it's tempting, you know?" He tilted his head for a moment, tuning in to a nearby conversation —- it sounded very much like the beginning of an argument, just what everyone in the bakery wanted.

[hcmmersnstrings]

If there's one thing Dakota is; it's perceptive. Eyebrow raised as he watches some dude standing on the outskirts of the bar, hands in his pockets, eyeballing their interaction. He looks to the girl that joined him, taking a sip from his glass and nodding. "Of course, no problem." He mumbles, swiveling around to appear more engaged in conversation, hide their faces from that fuckin' weirdo. "Thanks... I do my absolute best." The appreciation of the praise is earnest, but his voice is shot and the hoarsness comes across as harshness. He clears his throat to try and ease his tone, taking the moments he has she's ordering to recenter himself.

But fuck if that dude isn't hovering.

"That guy botherin' you?" He finally asks, nodding to the man behind them, a honey sweet drawl replacing the previous gravel in his voice, if nothing else to let her know; she's safe with him.

───she had enjoyed the music in the company of her friends, who decided to ditch once the stage was empty, and she was about to follow them, too, even though she felt she needed a little bit more liquid courage in her system for her big meeting tomorrow. the place was still buzzing, so she debated, picking up her purse —and the table was immediately claimed by another group of friends; which, she concluded answered her dilemma, so she headed to the door when a man cut her off proposing a drink. being a little shy, in general, Blossom doesn’t have the backbone to answer him in the manner she just had in her head, and she turned around instead, looking for a way to avoid him as he trailed after her; when the rough looking man offered her the empty seat at the bar, she saw her opening. “I am sorry, they are waiting for me…” she said to the other with a forced smile, keeping her voice a little low because she didn’t want to embarrass herself to the guy at the bar —who she recognized as the singer in one band, the guitarist in the other.

“thank you,” she smiled a little as she slid on the stool, glanced behind her to see if the guy had bought it, and left her alone. she breathed a sigh of relief; hoped she didn’t appear as flustered as she felt ( she hated getting caught in such situations on her own ). “you were very good on stage,” she said after a moment, only to not seem awkward; but looking at the gruff man made her even more nervous and she averted her gaze as she flagged down the bartender to order herself a drink.