#boroughs.starter

[amanda-henderson]

Amanda found her way into a little cafe, hoping to find a good spot to sit and write and drink a cup of coffee. As she placed her order, she looked around and realized there were no tables. She pressed her lips together, taking her drink and making her way over to the table.

"Do you mind if I sit with you?" she asked softly, flashing the other patron a little grin.

( @bhqextras )

[itshoneys]

status: open starter @bhqextras

honey: okay, serious question honey: on a scale of one to ten, how many drinks would you need to sleep with me?

[lovemetopieces]

New York Aquarium | Open @bhqextras

It was her off day and she decided to hit up the aquarium. It wasn't her first time there. She tried to at least visit once a year since moving to New York. Eleanor was in the sharks exhibit, looking up at the majestic creatures when she bumped into someone. "Oh, excuse me. I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to run into you. I just got caught up in the moment, I guess."

[dansfm]

for: @bhqextras, open location: café of your choice

"hey, so, uh," daniel offered a sincere but unsure smile to the person seated at the next table, fidgeting with a button of his shirt. "i'm pretty sure i've been stood up and i bought, like, ten pastries that i'll never eat." it was very unlike him to even attempt to put himself out there like this, but his new year's resolution had been that very thing and the present was as good a time as any. "-- so, if you're down you can take whatever you like... and if you maybe want some company, my day just became painfully free." he just hoped he didn't look too desperate as he pushed the box of goodies towards the edge of the table.

[clandcstinemeetings]

where: club 51, manhattan. who: open to all, @bhqextras

she'd come straight from the office –– large leather bag dumped at her feet was the biggest tell, form fitting blazer and slicked back hair following closely behind. she'd been immaculately dressed and in the office for seven that morning, ready and waiting to support with whatever fashion drama was thrown at her boss that day. and as much as teagan loved her job, loved the opportunities it gave her, she enjoyed her down time all the more. "is this mine?" she asked, not waiting for an answer before the glass was brought to her lips, draining the liquid from it without much hesitation. an art, she'd argue, that she'd learned to perfect from years of doing the very same. "if you'd had the day i'd had, you'd need this too." teagan confirmed, finger patting at the edge of her lips to ensure not a drop had been spilled. "what was it you were saying?" question came quickly, though she didn't pause for a response as she flagged down the bar staff to ensure another beverage wasn't far behind.

[somethingexquisite]

♥ at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, open @bhqextras

Despite the plethora of people who milled about, it was easy to pretend like they didn't exist as she made her way though the various collections. She'd always had an appreciation for both art and history, and this was a place where both of these things came together. She often found herself back here when she had a break, because she could get lost in each gallery for hours. Standing in the Robert Lehman wing, she noticed someone next to her focused on the same piece she was looking at, with almost the same look of wonder and interest on their face as she had. "Fascinating, isn't it?" Katie mused, standing with her hands held together behind her back. She glanced over at them for a moment and offered a small smile. "I couldn't ever manage to create anything like this even if I tried."

[tctteredwings]

for: @bhqextras

jay: i ordered way too much pizza 🍕🍕🍕 jay: also, i'm lonely! jay: is that enough to get you 'round here?

[withbitterness]

who: open (@bhqextras)

where: early afternoon in time square, near the Rockefeller ice skating rink

Hanging out around the tourist trap of the ice skating rink wasn't something Sherri ever did. Her only reasoning now was because she was early for her concert rehearsal at a venue nearby, and the weather called for a hot drink. Which is how she found herself adjacent (not at!) the skating rink, purchasing a cup of hot chocolate from a booming vendor. Cupping her drink for warmth, her eyes couldn't help but travel to the merry skaters enjoying the unexpected flurry. As her sight caught on a couple locked in an embrace, her mouth moved on it's own, speaking in what might be a skeptical tone to the person nearest her. "Well, isn't that cinematic."

[williamsmaddie]

open starter. @bhqextras where: higher grounds.

"you should go for the salty caramel oat latte, you won't regret it." maddie shot after a few seconds of staring at the indecisive customer next to her. "sorry." she offered a smile. "you've been staring at the menu for like five minutes."

[eloisehuang]

who: @bhqextras

"not gonna lie, when you asked me to go shopping i didn't think much of it." eloise starts, tilting her head to the side. she had been waiting for the other to finally come out of the dressing room to take a look only to be surprised. her eyes trailing down the other's outfit before looking up again. "you look hot in that, so hot. whoever you're trying to impress, it's gonna work."

[beatriz-rivera]

Bake My Day | Open

Beatriz had been in Queens on a business trip that finished earlier than she had anticipated, so she was looking for something to pass the time. She had a sweet tooth like none other, so that's how she ended up at the bakery. She bit her lip and headed inside. She was a bit overwhelmed by all the choices, so she turned to the person behind her.

"Have you ever been here?" she asked her. "I have no idea what to get..." She chuckled softly, tucking her hair back behind her ear, toying with the ends of it, a nervous habit she'd picked up.

( @bhqextras )

[delaneymatthews]

(@bhqextras)

The time was 7:03pm, Joe's tavern was very quiet. The band for this evening were still setting up. Delaney wasn't sure what she expected on a Tuesday night, in-fact she wasn't really sure why she'd chosen the tavern to go on a first date. Perhaps she should have gone to Queens night market, at least it would've been busier. She checked her phone, nothing. He was late. It wasn't a great start. Delaney decided to order a drink, taking a seat at the bar. "Jack and diet Coke please," The bartender nodded and began making her drink. She wouldn't usually order before meeting her dates, however she had a feeling this was going to be a long night..

[lovemetopieces]

Songbirds and Sangrias | Open @bhqextras

"Oh, come on," she said as she stood up from the table. "We've got to sing karaoke. We're at a karaoke bar. It's the whole point of coming." Abigail moved from the table over to the sign up sheet and said to her friend, "I'm signing us up. What song do you want to sing?"

[visionspiral]

@bhqextras Open starter - seating at a public park

Bijan set the plate of Baghlava on the rustic stone table and slowly took a seat. Propping his walking cane up against the table, careful that it wouldn't fall. "Did you get the coffee?" he asked, slightly distracted as he rubbed his hands together. "They really should create more public places with some kind of heating," he commented, smiling at the other. "Feel free to take some Baghlava, it's an original recipe from Tabriz, slightly like the Turkish version."

[unbreakablcs]

" it appears as though i've been stood up. " the pianist declared with a sigh, " and this place is packed. if you're looking for a free seat, you're welcome to join me. honestly, i'd appreciate the company before i start to spiral. " jude said with a chuckle at an attempt to lighten the mood. dating at his age felt IMPOSSIBLE most days. despite the fact that they were in one of the queerest cities in the world, attempting to find a significant other felt like trying to find a needle in the hay stack. " do you like wings? i ordered some. crispy brussel sprouts as well if you're a vegetarian. how are you at dating? " cheeks immediately tinted pink, quickly backtracking, " not- not that i'm asking YOU on a date. just. thought. well. i'm pretty shit at it so maybe you could help me out? "

@bhqextras

[poetrysings]

location: Central park

status: Open starter ( @bhqextras )

Skilled hands trace lines with charcoal on an old sketchbook, nose scrunched up deep with concentration, tongue trapped by white pearls as Violet observes in silence as a few mallards float around the great Harlem Meer and she hums in delight when the sunbeams touch every visible part of her skin, the warmth provided inviting enough to thank the gods for the upcoming spring. The artist takes a small piece of sliced grape the actress herself cut that morning and tosses it to the water, watching the wild duck chase after it and come closer to where she currently is sitting. She pays special attention to its beak before turning her attention back to the sketch and tries to replicate every hard line onto paper, not imagining a better way to spend a day off from the grand streets of Broadway.

Her attention is quickly grasped by someone's presence standing somewhere near her; right between the sun-rays her soul so desperately seeks and her, making the brunette look up from her sketchbook as she smiles widely. "Do you wanna give me a hand? I'm just about done but I have a few details left and I need that duck to be close and happy. Mind feeding it these grapes—" she points at the fruit carefully packed on a plastic container "While I finish? I'll pay you fairly. Fair warning, I did saw a lady get chased earlier today by some of these fiends, but that was her own wrong doing for being rude to them and coming too close to their home."