strawberrymcntos

[strawberrymcntos]

"that's alright. i have yet to find my own forever. the one i thought would be that one, well, i fucked things up and i don't think fixing things it really going to be a possibility, if i'm being honest with you." demetrius loved love but at this point, he didn't see it in his future any time soon. he chuckled and pushed himself toward the fridge before grabbing himself something to drink. "you've got a lot of good stuff in here. it's almost tempting."

"Hopefully, but considering I'm me, chances are there are gonna be plenty more red flags I ignore on my never ending quest for love and romance." It was almost pathetic, the way that Gio was so hopelessly romantic. He wanted the fairytale, he wanted the easy parts and to ignore the parts where things got hard. He wanted true and lasting love and to him, that meant perfection. "Cool, you can grab it yourself, if you want. Long as you don't go snacking out of my prep fridge, I don't mind you digging around in there."

[strawberrymcntos]

demetrius worked more times than not. at least, when it came to weekend days. that being said, he still made an effort to come home for some sunday lunches. unfortunately, he couldn't make it to this one so he was almost expecting his sister to drop by the shop. "i might have a couple but i don't know. they made be works in progress. you up for another matching one?" he asked, a small smile playing on his lips. "yeah, i'll give 'em a call when i get off. i'll drop by for dinner some time this week. you know how my work schedule is." he added and took the ice cream the other brought for him, his smile widening as he realized she'd brought his favorite. "i can't tell you the last time i had frozen yogurt. hemlock springs should open up a fro-yo place. we'd keep it in business, don't you think?"

It was costumery for Megumi to check on Demetrius whenever he didn't come home for Sunday lunches. She got it, though. People got busy, adults' lives were hard... she, herself had missed a couple of those, so she didn't think anything big had happened, however, she did stop by the ice cream shop and bought her baby brother something sweet to endure the rest of his day. "That depends... do you have any ideas for a new tattoo on me?" She replied as she placed the to-go paper bag on his desk and sat across from him. "Mom and dad sent their love." Megumi smiled, handing him the strawberry cup. "I, on the other hand, am here to give you my love." She said, before taking a bite from her own ice cream. "You know what I miss? Frozen yogurt. What ever happened to froyo shops, hm?" / @strawberrymcntos

[strawberrymcntos]

demetrius was certainly surprised over the fact that the two of them had managed to avoid each other after all this time in the same city but as small as it all felt to him, it was bigger than he realized. otherwise, he probably would have managed to run into the other before today. he pursed his lips at the other's response. he wasn't surprised that the other was short with him, especially after demetrius ended things. "right," he cleared his throat, "well, you look good too." alive, he meant but he knew he was alive. he'd heard from mutual friends and leaving him had been a mistake but he couldn't stand the thought of losing him for good. unfortunately, it was too late for all of that. he still managed to lose him. "i've been alright though. just, you know, busy working and all..."

in the ten ish years since his ex had left him, romeo had done a pretty good job of avoiding demetrius, which was no small feat in a small town. it was easy enough to cross a street or duck into a nearby storefront if he had enough warning, thought it was inevitable that they would cross paths at least a handful of times. romeo, of course, went with the no eye contact, pretend i didn't see you there approach, because ignorance was bliss. at least that's what he told himself.

romeo hadn't been paying attention when he entered the café, gaze focused on the contract he had just received even now, he could pick demetrius' voice out of a crowd, stopping dead in his tracks when he hears said voice ask how he's been, slowly looking up from his phone. not dead, he wants to say, clearing his throat softly before actually speaking, biting his tongue. "i've been fine." a pause. "you?" they ask, though it's mostly for politeness' sake.

[strawberrymcntos]

"that's what it sounds like." though, bailey actually loved her job and she didn't see it as much of an inconvenience. "that's true too. there's nothing wrong with taking a break every now and again. i know i haven't given myself much of a break here lately. what do you think about a day out soon? we should hit the water and enjoy the summer sun before it's over."

"so work's been keeping us both busy, then." romeo chuckles, shaking their head. "i mean, i guess that's better than being bored at work. i mean, i love what i do. sounds like you do too. but it's okay to take a break sometimes too. we all deserve some time off whether you're staying at home and chilling or going on some sort of adventure. the work/life balance is important."

[strawberrymcntos]

the woman lifted her shoulders up in a shrug, "just a little bit of insomnia is all." that wasn't out of character for bailey, especially when she knew she had a busy schedule the next day. her anticipation usually kept her up but she didn't want to let her friend know that. "so, let's see. what are we doing this time? something different?"

"Yes, I did. Especially, if you didn't sleep well. Is everything okay?" Rowan asked. She took a seat and delicately began to rearrange her purse. Maybe her brother was right, maybe she did worry too much. Either way, Rowan waited to show Bailey the nail art she wanted to go for this week. Bailey was nothing if not efficient and she was a little early as is, so they could make time to chat.

[strawberrymcntos]

she laughed softly, "you don't have to wait until your place is big enough. at the end of the day, your home is home regardless of how big it is." bailey was sure that wasn't the only reason but she wasn't going to question it. instead, she just encouraged her to make her place her own. "oh, you met someone?" her face lit up at her friend's confession. "what's he like? tell me about him." she encouraged and handed the other a glass of wine.

"It is cute. You have great taste. One day, when I have a place bigger than a shoebox, I'll develop a personal style, too." It was always a joke with Duri, how small her living situation actually was, how married she was to her job when she lived right above it. She barely had the room for a bed and a dresser, let alone a whole personal style. Sighing, Duri sat up on her elbows a little, shrugged. "A guy I met. Cute, kinda stupid, charm oozing out of him like slime. I'm not looking for anything serious, but... I dunno, I keep thinking."

[strawberrymcntos]

bailey scoffed at the sight in front of her and she couldn't believe that someone actually did that to the other's entrance. "why do people think that this is okay?" she asked. if someone had done the same to the front of the salon she worked in, she'd be devastated. "do you want me to help you clean this up? i know i told you i was just going to help you carry some stuff inside but this is a lot for you to have to deal with before opening."

where: outside of les gentlemen with: open ( @hemlockstarters )

"Some things never change." Camila muttered, looking around the town. Sometimes she wondered why she came back, but yet here she was and she had opened her own club at that. Naturally pushing the buttons of towns people which was something that she loved to do. "Seriously?!" She questioned, looking at Les Gentlemen. Someone had wrote on the doors again. "Damn kids." She muttered to herself, hoping that it was kids and not actual adults.

[strawberrymcntos]

demetrius couldn't help but smile as the other went on about what he would deem a perfect steak and nodded his head, "alright then. i can't say that doesn't sound good. you might have to make me one of those. i'm kind of hungry after all of that." he joked, a chuckle spilling past his lips. "hey, it happens to all of us. we all ignore red flags but hopefully, you won't make that mistake again." he last thing he was going to do was judge him. he had his own share of exes. "alright, sure. i'll take something to drink."

"The only way to eat steak, medium, right in the middle, perfect temp, perfect color on the outside, juicy on the inside, little bit of brown butter and..." Gio lifted his fingers, kissed the tips in stereotypical fashion and made sure to make an audible kissing sound. "To be completely fair to my younger self, though, I was only 19 and was in total love, red flags be damned. I also wasn't the accomplished chef you see before you now. You thirsty? I have some bubbly in the fridge, happy to break it out and share. What are friends for, after all, if not to share."

[strawberrymcntos]

demetrius lifted his shoulders up in a shrug in response to the other's question, "i'm down either way but i guess it couldn't hurt to shoot some off. it's been a while since i've done anything for the 4th. you gonna come with me or what?" he asked, his eyes focused on the tv as yet another round of the video game started up.

starter — theo baksh

SETTING: Demetrius place ; evening AVAILABILITY: closed started to DEMETRIUS RHODES | ( @strawberrymcntos )

"So, we're doing fireworks for Independence Day, yes or no?" Theo asked as he turned to his ex-turned-close-friend's couch and then took another sip from the beer bottle Demetrius had handed him moments ago, before they started this Mortal Kombat round. "All work and no play makes Dee a dull boy, you know?"

[strawberrymcntos]

the last thing that the other would do was scold the girl, especially considering she were a mom and she knew how that could take a toll on a set of nails. even so, she couldn't help but smile at the other's words and her present, one she would call somewhat of a peace offering. "you didn't have to bring me that, you know?" she spoke up as she glanced over at her, "but i do appreciate it. i kind of needed that pick me up. i definitely didn't sleep the way i needed to last night in order to be functional for the entire day."

Starter for @strawberrymcntos (Bailey)

When: Present

Where: Nail salon !!!

One of the only things Rowan Burke inherited from her mother was a love for a fresh set of nails. It didn't matter if money was tight -- Rowan always found a way to get her nails filled in. As of late, it was the one little thing that she did solely for herself; Bailey was also her first friend in Hemlock Springs and probably one of the few people that kept Rowan from talking in nursery rhymes. She felt a wave of peace settle over her at the smell of acetone. "A present," Rowan said when Bailey looked up from her station. She shook the cup holder so the ice in the coffee clinked together. "The last set held up surprisingly well -- my dishwasher broke and the landlord's not rushing to fix it so I've been breaking some of the nail care rules, forgive me?"

[strawberrymcntos]

bailey shook her head at the other, "it's not boring if it's something you want to talk about, you know?" even so, she wasn't sure he'd continue on with the conversation when it came to his job. "i've been pretty busy myself, especially when it comes to work but i can't complain. i have a ton of amazing clients, so no use in complaining, you know?" she smiled and leaned forward to take a sip of her milkshake. "so, yes. i'm doing great. i just wish i had more down time sometimes."

"oh, i was just rambling on about work. totally boring stuff." romeo laughs, shaking his head. popping a fry into his mouth, he chews slowly, savoring the taste. nothing could beat a good french fry in their opinion. "it's been too long. i've been busy, but good. how about you? you doing alright?"

[strawberrymcntos]

bailey laughed softly at the other's words, "why would i switch things up when i'm happy with the way things look? i mean, look how cute my place is." if there was one thing she was proud of, it was her home and she wasn't the type to move things around anyways. after she grabbed them both a glass, along with a bottle of wine, she joined the other on the couch, at the end and allow duri's feet to lay across her lap. "overthinking? what's on your mind?" she asked as she leaned forward just slightly to place everything on the living room table.

"I wouldn't know where everything is if you switched it up every once in a while, you know." Duri was teasing, as she slipped out of her sweater and her shoes and left them both by the door, padding into the room a bit like a skittish cat before letting herself fall backwards on the couch. "Thanks, by the way, I needed the break from overthinking."

[strawberrymcntos]

closed starter for @halfwcytohell ft. bailey & romeo

"-wait, hold that thought. our order is ready. i'll go get it." once their number was called, she wasted no time getting up and heading toward the counter to grab the sandwiches the two of them had ordered. she came back and place the other's in front of him before sitting back down, "now what were you saying? you have to catch me up. it's been a while since we've been able to do this." she added before popping one of her fries into her mouth.

[strawberrymcntos]

closed starter for @folliesofmiceandmen ft. bailey & duri

it wasn't exactly out of the ordinary for duri to show up unannounced and if she were being honest, well, she didn't always hate that. it was almost as if the other knew when she was craving some sort of company. so, when she opened her front door after hearing her doorbell, she couldn't help but nod the other in. "come on. i'll get us a bottle of wine." she spoke and eventually closed the door behind her. "make yourself at home. you already know where everything is anyways."

[strawberrymcntos]

closed starter for @halfwcytohell ft. demetrius & romeo

if there was one thing about demetrius, it was that he was a bit of a coffee addict and there was no way he wasn't going to stop in before his shift at permanent record. he had just grabbed his coffee and turned on his heels when he came face to face with someone he hadn't seen in a long time and for good reason too. guilt immediately coated his features as his eyes met romeo's and he cleared his throat. should he pretend he wasn't there or play nice? he assumed playing nice was probably best. "hey," he started, "how have you been?"

[strawberrymcntos]

closed starter for @embrcssemoi ft. demetrius & megumi

demetrius was having a slow sunday, which despite it being a weekend day, it wasn't all that surprising. so, he was working on making a couple of flash sheets when he heard the front door chime, indicating that someone had come in. a grin immediately took over his face as his eyes landed on his sister, "don't tell me you're ready for new ink already." he teased the girl.

[strawberrymcntos]

demetrius allowed the other to go on, an amused smile stretched across his face. "well done steak? i think you definitely should have taken that as a red flag. i mean, it's the same as eating rubber as far as i'm concerned." he didn't like his steak rare either. there was something about doing that, that bothered him. "so, i guess the big question here is, how do you eat your steak? i'm not a well done kind of guy myself but i'm curious as to what your preference is."

where: evergreen club with: open ( @hemlockstarters )

"I'm just saying, if someone orders a steak well done, I happen to think they're an absolute nutter butter, and I'm going to stand by that argument until the day that I die." Gio was laughing as he spoke, the faint hint. of an unnatural accent that he'd picked up lilting just under his voice. He was in the middle of kitchen prep, relaxed as music played softly over the radio behind him, and he liked having company while he worked, so long as they didn't get in the way. "My first wife liked well done steak, I probably should have taken that as a sign. You don't eat steak well done, do you? I'd hate to throw you out of my kitchen."