gabrielxpierce

[gabrielxpierce]

OPEN STARTER. (0/1) | CEDAR GRILL & LOUNGE

It had been a quiet night, which was to be expected for a Thursday evening. Gabriel had been bending over a tablet, fixing up a new cocktail menu he wanted to pass by his boss for approval. Yet it felt like it was lacking more options. He needed more. "Might I interest you in a cocktail?" Gabriel asked as he approached the other at the bar, towel swung over his shoulder. "I have no idea how it'll turn out yet, you're kind of my guinea pig but at least it'll be free. If you don't like it, it's dealer's choice." He offered, itching to get his creativity running and expand further on their cocktail list. "I'll even name it after you, if you'd like."

[gabrielxpierce]

"Falling asleep to Love Island does sound like a top tier activity, not going to lie. We do love a brain rot show." Gabriel nudged her, having come to appreciate those kind of shows when he was mentally exhausted back when he barely had a memory to his collection. He was lucky he hadn't began to adapt to one of the contestants rather than form a life of his own. "Oh you bet. Any chance to spoil him, I will take." Gabriel nodded, undoubtedly grinning like an idiot when Arlo was the subject of conversation. "At this point I'm just trying to make sure the next idea is better than the previous one, and though I have a lot of space left in my cloud, I must admit I am running out of ideas. I might have to turn to full on bodypainting." @genovevaxmarrero

"It would be the best," she laughed softly, nodding her head along with the words. "You're not wrong," she stated in agreement, eyes scanning along the vendor tents. She stepped into pace alongside Gabriel. "Me? Have plans at night?" Genoveva's lips curled into a playful smile as she turned her head only slightly to look at Gabriel. "I have to get up far too early to be partaking in anything that you could label as plans. More than likely I'll be vegging out, falling asleep watching the latest episode of Love Island." Genoveva teased lightly, "What about you? Any dates coming up with that boyfriend of yours?" @gabrielxpierce

[gabrielxpierce]

"I don't like being lied to." Gabriel told her. She knew of his memory issues, it would fit in the category of 'life is too short' and he had basically skipped 30 years of it. "So why waste time with excuses when you can get straight to the point." At the mention of chivalry, Gabriel flashed her a smile, large enough to show pearly whites from behind his lips. As he observed, he realised he'd never seen her like this. Relaxed, almost. At ease and comfortable, a brighter smile compared to the mysterious looks she tended to give him before. The kind that made him question whether he should stay or run, for she was nothing but trouble either way. Though he felt, the good kind. He had instantly trusted her, after all. He let out a laugh at her phrasing, looking around at her colleagues and vampires seemed to fit. When she interrupted his investigating, he turned, placed the bag on her desk and followed her out. "Yes ma'am. Right behind you." @sashaxjones

It was a nervousness that had no place to sit underneath her skin and eat away at her bones. Like invisible eyes, studying her every expression and train of thought. Sasha's poker face was oftentimes immaculate, unless one knew to read her a little too well. The thought alone was unsettling and she shrugged it off with a firm roll of her shoulders, before hazel eyes were aimed back up at Gabriel. "I didn't take you for one to come up with excuses to disguise your intent." She paused. "I appreciate honesty, Mr. Pierce. Especially the brutal kind." Now, her lips contorted into the shape of a faint smile. "I also appreciate chivalry." Albeit incredibly rarely and apprehensively so. She observed him with a sharp gaze, leaned back against the wall and tilted her head. "Well, isn't that sweet of you." Her words bordered more on a statement, rather than a question, her smile widening and she wished for nothing more than for it to wane as quickly as it had come. "This place is filled with vampires. You can say it as it is." Pushing herself forward, her shoulder brushed his as she walked past him toward the exit, her answer to his offer clear. "Are you coming?" @gabrielxpierce

[gabrielxpierce]

THOMAS DOHERTY attends the Loewe Menswear Spring/Summer 2025 show as part of Paris Fashion Week

[gabrielxpierce]

"You better know it." Gabriel flashed him a smile as he tossed his shirt on the rest of his clothing before he dived into bed, an instant cuddle between the two something he'd gotten used to by now. There was something calming about Arlo's warmth and the sound of his heart when he'd rest his head nearby his chest. It often drummed him to sleep. "Just as lucky as I am." He hummed, reaching up to steal a quick kiss from his lips before he rested his head on Arlo's shoulder, gazing up ta him. "Dog crating. There's a balance between it being sad for the pup and it being necessary." As long as it was as a place for them to find rest and to be safe during vet appointments, Gabriel was fine with it. But not to lock them up during the day because they'd misbehaved or they couldn't be bothered. "It was fun, actually. I'm getting to know my colleagues, even called one drink the Very Berrity, after Verity. I'll introduce it to her at our next shift together." @arlocontreras

"Don't be." he shook his head as his eyes landed on his boyfriend. "I was barely asleep anyways." The truth, really. He felt like he'd barely been asleep for ten minutes whenever the other came in, but he didn't mind. At least now they could talk for a bit before the passed out together. The shirt landing on top of him made him laugh, though he picked it up and tossed it back, but not before watching him twirl. "Damn I'm lucky." he smiled, scooting over as Gabriel joined him, arms instinctively wrapping around the other in a means to pull him closer. Even now he smelled absolutely divine. "My day was okay, nothing too exciting." he shrugged. "There was the one dog I had to chase back into the office after their vet visit because someone refused to crate their dog, but, aside from that nothing too fancy." he admitted. "Yours?" he questioned before e leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss to Gabriel's lips. "I have to say, I'm much better now." @gabrielxpierce

[gabrielxpierce]

There was no reaction from Gabriel's side, who knew that if he was addressing someone he did not know, it was a toss-up between them actually being strangers or if there had been a past which would earn him a strange look. In the absence of the latter, he safely assumed they weren't acquainted. At least amnesia was easy to navigate that way. "Nobody is stopping us from charging into those fountains." He dared her, his playful side coming out to play a little. It wasn't like the temperatures were like in California, but it was the humidity that tended to get you. @veronica--bentley

As the days stretched on and Veronica made slightly more peace with the fact that she didn't see herself heading back to England within the month as initially planned, she was slowly reacquainting herself more and more with her former home. Fanning herself for a moment, the brunette went to take another sip of her drink before her attention was captured by an unfamiliar voice. Turning slightly, the younger Bentley made eye contact with one of the other patrons on the terrace. Scrutinizing slightly behind sunglasses, she gave a moment of thought to try and place him, but nothing was sticking. Hopefully it wasn't someone she'd known in her younger years because his face really didn't ring any bells. Hoping she wasn't about to face any social embarrassment, Veronica offer a polite nod of agreement and flashed a charming smile. "Indeed. Every so often I wish I still had that sort of reckless abandon. Not a care in the world about whose watching." She noted thoughtfully.

[gabrielxpierce]

"And I bet that will be the best jar of sunlight that I will have ever bought off of anyone." Gabriel nodded, as if his words were truth and he actually believed them. "Would've been easier if they had set assigned places, but what do I know." Looking around the market, he hummed in agreement with the offer made to him, holding out his hand so they could shake on it. "Well then, lets go." He spoke, leading the way in a casual stroll. "Got any plans for tonight?" @genovevaxmarrero

"Bribed you, huh?" She laughed softly with a shake of her head. "I've heard she could sell the sun if she put it in a jar, too." Genoveva's laughter pushed her lips into a bright smile. "I haven't seen her yet, today." She admitted to him, "Though that doesn't mean she's not around." Pausing as she scanned the nearby vendors, she turned her attention back to Gabriel. "You've got yourself a deal. Whomever finds her first doesn't have to buy lunch," she teased, gently nudging him with her elbow. @gabrielxpierce

[gabrielxpierce]

Gabriel studied her as she seemed to stare a hole in the bag he was holding and he was wondering if he had made the right choice. "Are you sure?" He asked, the syllables longer than a usual sentence. "If you don't like these at least I have an excuse to get you out of here and get you anything of your own choice." He offered, it being his mistake he didn't check in with her first. "Just decided I wanted to bless you with my presence and mine with yours. The most easy remedy would be for one to visit the other, so here I am." He mused, offering her a wink. "Besides, this place literally has no open windows and everyone needs some fresh air once in a while." @sashaxjones

Did he know how easily his presence could be detected? Even before Sasha had turned to greet him, the ominous feeling from nights ago returned, even if the air of mystery had subsided ever since their identities had been revealed by her own volition. Her brows were raised expectantly as hazel eyes lowered onto the bags he held, pondering on the offer, weighed her options. For a moment, she was reminded of her father and she swallowed down the bitterness that came crawling across her tongue. "I'll take the burger. Thank you." It felt like the lesser betrayal. "And to what do I owe this honor, Mr. Pierce?" @gabrielxpierce

[gabrielxpierce]

"Gen, hi!" Gabriel greeted the other, being in a rather good mood today. He was slowly but surely learning to accept that his past was lost to him and that he had to live in the moment, which he was with his new beau. "Not today. No I was hoping to find that lovely lady on here today who makes her own marmelades. She bribed me into buying her orange marmelade a few weeks ago and she got me so hooked I've been craving it ever since I emptied the whole jar." He laughed. "Gotta stuck up on that." Gabriel snickered, before he nodded at her question. "Join me for the marmelade hunt and then I'm all free for lunch. You haven't seen her by any chance, right?" @genovevaxmarrero

starter for @gabrielxpierce

location: kismet harbor market

Kismet Harbor Market buzzed with conversation as Genoveva made her way over to the vendor she had been looking forward to going to all morning. She weaved in and out of people, managing to make it to the booth in what felt like record time. "Thank you," Genoveva said aloud to the vendor as she exchanged the last of her cash in her wallet for the last of her favorite bread. She had arrived, it seemed, just in time when she was in fact very late in the day for attending the market on a weekend. As she turned, she side stepped an incoming person. "Gabriel," she smiled warmly, her gaze immediately flickering to the person. "I hope you weren't coming in search of this," she lifted the bag she held in her hand, "I managed to snag the last of it for today." She gave him an apologetic smile. "It's been a while since I've run into you," she stated the obvious, "free for lunch?"

[gabrielxpierce]

"A beautiful sight, isn't it?" Gabriel said to the woman beside him, the both of them having individually enjoyed a beverage on the terrace. The sight of little children playing in the fountains, their screaming and laughter when one of them didn't make it and got soaked just bringing a smile to his face. Moments like these made him wonder if at some point in his life he had been ready to have children, if he had gotten close to having one at all. The sight before him did not bring back memories of pregnancy scares or the sort. Given the fact he had not yet been contacted for the fact he did not reach out to any children out there, made him certain he had none. "Good for them. Today is bloody hot." @veronica--bentley

[gabrielxpierce]

"Sorry for waking you." He apologised, despite already knowing that Arlo could be a fairly light sleeper. Sometimes he just had to turn in bed and the other would be wide awake. So he had accepted the fact that he was to sleep in the same position for the entire night as he started. Even if that meant a numb arm. At Arlo's mention of appreciating him in the light he even gave the other a teasing twirl as he took off his shirt. "You mean this?" He mused before throwing his shirt at the other and continuing to undress himself. "Nothing you need to get out of bed for." Gabriel told him, getting into the bed when he was stripped down, tugging the sheets waist high before he playfully wrapped his arm around the other, kissing him on the cheek. "How was your day?" @arlocontreras

Despite how much he'd tried to stay awake until Gabe made it over, sleepiness had consumed him some time ago. He wasn't one that slept well most nights; he'd be lucky to be asleep within the first few hours of laying down on a normal day, but, tonight had been different. It was likely due to chasing the dog around the vet's office today, or maybe it was the comfort of knowing he'd be joining in bed soon enough. Either way, sleep had come quite quickly for him this night. Gabriel had been quieter than Arlo had expected, yet, due to how lightly Arlo slept, hearing the other come in the door had been inevitable. Though a shake of his head to both say 'it's okay' and also that he hadn't been waiting up was all he could mutter for a moment. "Not anymore." he admitted once he felt he could sleep without the grogginess in his voice. "I had been, but, clearly sleep took over." he admitted, sitting up a little as he realized he'd in face fallen asleep with the light on still. "And it's okay." he spoke, wiping his face in an attempt to wake further. "I won't complain about getting to see you in the light." he smirked. "You need anything before you join me?" @gabrielxpierce

[gabrielxpierce]

"Hope it's okay, I brought you lunch." Gabriel told the blonde, having collected a bag of food from the grill for his own break and figured he might as well. He'd discovered in an earlier conversation of theirs that she'd been working at the police station, which didn't surprise him. It somehow made sense she was in such a position. "Dealer's choice: cheese burger or a chicken wrap?" @sashaxjones

[gabrielxpierce]

"I didn't mean to wake you." Gabriel whispered, having just arrived at Arlo's apartment from his work. Working behind a bar as a mixologist meant late hours, but he was loving every moment of it. Seeing as he didn't want to wake up his uncles or his little cousin, he'd asked Arlo ahead of time if it was all right he crashed at his place. Looking for a place of his own had been a tedious process. Apparently he'd made a little too much noise, for when he crawled into bed he was met with those shining eyes he grew to adore so much. "You weren't waiting up for me, were you?" He asked, a gesture that he would find surprisingly comforting, despite the guilt that it would mean the other had less sleep than possible. @arlocontreras

[gabrielxpierce]

thomas doherty photographed by blair getz mezibov for man about town, 2021

[gabrielxpierce]

"I suppose the structure of having been in the marines does help with a lot of the leadership aspect." Granted he had no idea if Donovan had a leadership position back then, but the discipline would be more than enough to help function as management now. "Then I am sure it will last for many years more. You're doing a great job for sure from what I've seen over the last few times I've been here." He said, then nodded, pointing towards the employees only sign on the door. "I'll go and get ready for my shift. I'm sure I can find my way around the place. Meet the crew, check the inventory of the bar so I know what I'm working with." @donnymorgan

END.

Donny nodded with a smile, "He's great to work with and knows his stuff. I am sure you two can work some sort of drink and food pairing menu out sometime." Something Donny himself wasn't very good at. " I think you both will be great," he smiled. he did mean it; he had a good feeling and trust about Gabriel. "I was in the Marines so long that's all I really know what to do, but I did learn a lot from my own teams over the years, so I do know how to lead and take care of people," he smiled at Gabriel. He knew he was never the toughest one, but he knew how to keep his teams in charge and keep them safe. "It's been like.. almost five years" and the place kept going and was doing well so he had a good feeling he had been doing a good job. @gabrielxpierce.

[gabrielxpierce]

"Greatest invention ever, honestly." Gabriel mused, wondering if they had those things back decades ago, but it was no longer a trend for it only to resurface a couple of years ago. He would have to ask his uncle next time he saw him, and hope he wasn't offended by being asked a question about the seventies or eighties. "All I am saying is, if mine does and yours doesn't, I am never going to let you live through this." @elianxbrowne

END.

"Just dried flowers, I think," he chuckled softly as he spoke. "Though I wouldn't put it past her to just shove whatever in there and call it art." He joked, "But I do plan on waterproofing it even if she will probably just put the dried, fake type flowers in there. They will probably be easier to maintain over time." He looked at the vase, "Though it does have to survive the kiln first," he grimaced, "so if it doesn't then I'm shit outta luck." @gabrielxpierce

[gabrielxpierce]

"At least then I won't lose them. "As long as he put them in the bowl, that was. But he would be fine in that area, undoubtedly. Unless he once more got the memories knocked out of him. "Yeah, yeah. All in all I'm the most luckiest guy alive." Gabriel snickered, looking over at the vase the other was wearing. "Hope you'll get it waterproof then. Or will she put those fake flowers in? Dry flowers? What're they called?" @elianxbrowne

Eli laughed as he attempted a dodge of the flicked clay. "Almost," he chuckled more softly now as he wiped the clay from his arm. "A bowl for your keys is a good idea." He told Gabriel with a bright smile. "C'mon, I mean it's functional and not too small that you'll risk ruining the clay again." He joked with the other, "If I wasn't making a vase for my fiancé's shop, I would totally switch gears but I might not be allowed back if I promise and don't deliver." @gabrielxpierce