thecelestexzhao

[thecelestexzhao]

Celeste rolled her eyes at the idea of the attendant leaving when there was an issue, but of well. Not her circus, not her monkey. As long as it didn't affect her, then whatever. Just the same though, she dropped her own stuff for now, curiosity cranking up by the second as she took a (careful) step closer, watching the man as he managed to yank the cord moments later.

"Isn't it essentially the universal solution? Turn it off and turn it back on?" She asked raising a brow before she took another step closer, "Do you uh, need any help transferring your stuff to a non-possessed machine? Cause lord knows I wouldn't keep using that one if I were you."

"I just got back and found it this way, but I saw the attendant walk out as I came in, so I don't know when they'll be back."

The power plug might be his best bet, and it’s what he aims for next. Tip-toeing through the water so that he doesn’t slip, Benj can angle himself to lean over the washer and the thick black cord catches his attention. “You don’t think this will cause a problem, right?” Probably not more than the water spilling out. He reaches down to yank it, and thankfully, the whirring and splashing slow down.

“Oh hey, you had the big brain in this situation. Good suggestion.”

@thecelestexzhao

[thecelestexzhao]

With nothing and no one else waiting on her, Celeste nodded in agreement to tag along, raising an eyebrow when she heard the question, "I mean, there's more than just me." She replied with an amused laugh, "But yeah, that's me. And that also explains why you have a familiar face." Her hands had been in her pockets as she walked but she took one out, offering it over, "Celeste."

"By all means," Bradley began to lead the way towards wherever the hell the chili cheese fries were, her stomach grumbling. "So, aren't you that bartender at The Reef? And, yes, I do go there that much. I try to make it a habit of staying on all the bartenders' good sides in this town."

@thecelestexzhao

[thecelestexzhao]

Celeste's smile fell a bit at his comment, lips morphing into a bit of a scowl as she huffed at him. Tyler leaving....it sucked. It sucked opening herself up to someone else, only for them to have to leave. Again. At least this time she got an apology and a goodbye, even if it hurt just the same. "I'll just have to wait and see who takes the next vacant spot. Third time's the charm after all." She shot back, words laced with sarcasm, hoping it hid the sadness that still lingered just the same.

"No tits or euphemisms." She told him as she dropped her bag onto a nearby chair, taking a look around before finally settling back onto him. "You here for long? When's the new place opening?"

"Oh, hey, stranger," Aeris greets her, surprised to see Celeste here with Tyler currently not in the building - or town for that matter. "It's all walk-ins today, and since the hotel is off the beaten path from the pride events going on, we're slow. I think I can squeeze you in."

Aeris looks around and adds in a tease, "Hope you're not thinking about chasing off another one of my artists. Mack's taken, and I'm not sure Nina is the relationship type." He pulls the sheets out to look them over, mentally picking out the designs. "Tell me your hard 'no's when it comes to designs, and I'll give you my top three."

@thecelestexzhao

[thecelestexzhao]

Celeste couldn't help but blink in surprise at the sudden compliment, not at all expecting it. "Uh...thanks." She replied a bit awkwardly, tucking some hair behind her hear before deciding what the hell? Might as well go with it. "I think chili cheese fries also sound amazing. If that's an offer to tag along?"

"Well, you're gorgeous, so can't be too shocked a man would go so far as to try to win you over with a fucking cake pop of all things. How do you feel about chili cheese fries? Like I said, savory's on my mind. The cookie does look pretty appetizing, too."

[thecelestexzhao]

Celeste: ....seriously? Celeste: Again, the daisies won't hurt you. Celeste: [delayed] What's in it for me if I go?

cole: will u come with me?? cole: need a support person @thecelestexzhao

[thecelestexzhao]

"Reasonable individual aren't the words I'd equate with that man either, so you're spot on. Especially since, along with vodka, he sometimes had an affinity for absinthe." Celeste quite literally shuddered at the thought, momentarily thinking back to all the odd drink specials the man insisted they learn to make and try to hawk to bar patrons. She was glad her boss here now was as chill as he was.

Celeste nodded in response, giving him a bemused smile. "Less tax evasion-y, but yeah. Almost weekly there's at least one thing that tends to happen down at The Reef. Just last week someone's eyeball almost got impaled because he and his drunk buddy thought it'd be hilarious to try and shoot a beer can off his head with one of the dart board darts." She shuddered again, but this time it was just in annoyed disbelief that people survived this long into life without braincells. "Dunno if he thought he would be like Robin Hood shooting an arrow at an apple or something? But either way they both got banned for sheer stupidity." @kodiakjackson

Kodi's interest in her anecdote was piqued at the mention of tax evasion, something he had always regarded as something of a fool's errand. There was only so much evading he thought possible before the IRS came knocking.

"Sounds like he should count himself lucky that it was the tax man that came to find him not those scammed patrons. I can't recall ever meeting someone who favoured vodka as a drink of choice that struck as me as a reasonable individual."

The spirit certainly didn't agree with him any time he had indulged in it.

"Between six and ten, got it." It definitely sounded like the sweet spot he was looking for and the addition of a guarantee that there would be at least one person behind the bar that he could tolerate was motivation enough to follow through with going there. "I hope you'll have more tales like that but of the people here. I bet you've heard and seen all sorts behind that bar."

@thecelestexzhao

[thecelestexzhao]

closed - @aeris-flores

where - pride flash tattoos

Celeste hadn't gotten a new tattoo in a while, and when she'd heard about the shop closing (and its subsequent flash event happening at the hotel) she decided to go check it out-both to support the shop and to donate to a good cause.

"Have time for another walk-in?" She spoke up in lieu of greeting, giving Aeris an easy little smile, "I'll even let you give me some of your own choices to pick from on the flash sheets."

[thecelestexzhao]

Celeste wrinkled up her nose a bit, shaking her head, "Something about the idea of cake and frosting already being perfectly made and then getting squished into a ball doesn't really do it for me. Especially since sometimes they just have a crazy raw texture." She wrinkled up her nose, letting the girl take it. "Besides, I was here for this." She lifted up a cherry cheesecake cookie, her smile growing. "Anything else woulda paled in comparison."

Bradley fetched it out of the pretty brunette’s hand, grinning with mischief at the interaction she’d just witnessed. “What, cake pops don’t get you going? Eh, the guy might have done something to it, anyways, it’s just soooooo not worth it. It’s chocolate, too, and I’m more of a strawberry girl. And thirdly, I need savory, not sweet.”

[thecelestexzhao]

closed - @bradleycanter

where - food stalls

Celeste thought she’d seen it all in terms of lame attempts of flirting, but being offered a free cakepop was definitely a new one. She just gave the guy a (fake) polite smile and took it along with the cookie she’d bought for herself and she turned to the girl nearest her, holding it out and genuinely not caring if the guy heard her since she wasn't exactly on the market anyways. “You want this? It’s free–and I’m assuming tastes decent.”

[thecelestexzhao]

What is something others could do to gain their trust?

"Just generally don't be two-faced? Be accountable. If you say you're gonna do something, I expect follow-through, or at least to be told the truth if something can't be done? Don't dick me around."

[thecelestexzhao]

closed - @paxton-brady

where - a drink vendor

Working at a bar, Celeste had seen it all in terms of cocktails and speciality drinks that were asked for by young twenty-somethings who wanted the next big thing (she was ready to scream if she got asked to make another random spritz). But now here at the carnival, she hadn't been expecting much..which is why she was actually surprised when she saw one of the main cocktails was different fruity vodkas with cotton candy added into it.

"I didn't think cotton candy and strawberry vodka would ever be a thing I'd want to try. And yet.." She shook her head, watching in fascination as the cotton candy dissolved into the liquor. "You getting anything?"

[thecelestexzhao]

[thecelestexzhao]

"Trust me, I know all too well how it feels to grow up in a broken family, full of drama." Celeste didn't really talk about her past much with anyone, but she figured in a situation like this...it could be warranted. "I never knew my dad. He dipped on me and my mom when I was a baby, and she....I dunno, I at times felt like she blamed me for it. That I was the reason he left. So I'm telling you to just..keep your shit together. For your sake and your daughter's.....to not have her grow up feeling the way I did. Her mother leaving was her choice, and her fault. Not yours. and not Amalie's. And it's your job to make sure she knows that. So just do that..and you'll be doing enough. Trust me."

He gave her a defeated smile, truth be told, Theo didn't know how or what to feel about the whole ordeal. He still felt like he was being dramatic only for trusting her in the first place. "Thanks,' he replied with a heavy sigh, leaning back into his chair. "Yeah, you're right I really did think that I was doing the best for both of us. I think, you know, growing up in a broken family full of drama, I just wanted different for Amalie." He shrugged. "She's...devastated. At least the first time, you know, she didn't know any different." @thecelestexzhao

[thecelestexzhao]

"Maybe we can monitor the music? Ban some outright? Cause I don't know about you, but I'm not about to listen to some backwoods honky tonk all night either." She wrinkled her nose up, practically shuddering at the thought. But just the same, the thought of modernizing the place a bit was a good one.

"Yeah, they definitely have them that look like the classic machine, but it's mainly just the speaker. And the app still takes money, so it's not like we'll be losing out? Maybe we can even lean into it, do themed nights, then you'll really get Pink Pony Club three times in a row during like girly pop nights."

Kaede’s expression cracked into a smile as he glanced over to Celeste again. He really had made things sound more dire than they really were. The whole environment Kaede wanted to give everyone here was stress free but his opening words probably could do the opposite. For someone who used to write for a living he certainly didn’t know how to talk.

“ Yeah it’s not my best” Kaede acknowledges, before turning back to give her a small smile. He liked Chappell Roan but he had a weird feeling he knew how it was gonna go with her on the jukebox. “ Are we ready to hear Pink Pony Club three times a night? Cause we know that’s gonna happen. ”

“ do you think there’s machines that still have that look but can work through the app? Maybe get the best of both worlds?” Kaede noted as he continued to do a bit of mental inventory on what he needed to grab for the bar @thecelestexzhao

[thecelestexzhao]

"Pretty sure anyone who's lactose intolerant would agree with you there." Celeste told her teasingly before just rolling her eyes at giving away her Reese's weakness. "Snickers too, for good measure." She added as she took another sip of her beer.

Celeste listened then as Layla spoke of Kaede's daughter, her smile staying on her face and softening as she nodded. "Sounds like you're doing it as respectfully as you can." She agreed softly. "And hey, if she likes you, and her dad likes you....I'd say focus on that? And not the awful what-if's. Because after all, what if it all works out?" She offered, nudging Layla's leg gently under the table with her own before once again rolling her eyes, "We haven't fucked around, for the record. It's...it feels like more than that. So..we'll see?"

"I'm light... slightly lactose intolerant. But you'll have to pry the cheese out of my cold, dead hands." There were certain things worth a stomach ache in this life. "I think I have a bag of Reece's in my purse. Good to know I have bribe material now. You know, just in case."

"I adore her, and she wants me around. But I still have to be careful not to get too comfortable, I don't want to accidentally push a boundary. She's only just lost her mum, you know?" Layla wanted to be whatever the little girl wanted her to be, but there was always going to be a metaphorical line Layla wasn't willing to cross. "I want to fantasise about the future, but I don't want to get hung up or disappointed if they don't pan out. And even that makes me feel really guilty, I shouldn't be putting my needs first here."

Sitting across from her friend, Layla smiles encouragingly, finally happy to squeeze some details out of the woman. "I mean, does it have to be something? You can fuck around and have a good time if that's what feels right."

— @thecelestexzhao

[thecelestexzhao]

H. Where is their favourite place to be?

"I don't know if I have a favorite? But I'm kinda partial to heading up to Ocean Crest's roof at night. The pool tends to be empty so I like to just dip my legs in while having a smoke and staring off at the sky and whatnot. It's pretty relaxing."

[thecelestexzhao]

👥 + Layla

"At least once a month after closing up the bar, Layla and I will walk down to the pizza place and split a pie between us along with a pitcher of beer and just destress--and talk shit about any particularly stupid patrons we'd had recently. Pretty sure she's the closest thing to a best friend I've ever had." @ponderosus