Name: Baby LaBelle.
Nicknames: N/A.
Birthday: July 26, 1999.
Pronouns: He/him, flirting with the occasional they/them.
Gender/Sex: Male.
Sexuality: Closeted bisexual.
Occupation: Front man of the upcoming band Pookie, longtime bartender at Sharky's.
Neighborhood: Aurora Bay Drive.
P E R S O N A L I T Y —
+ Gentle, ambitious, easygoing. - Materialistic, self-involved, flaky.
Baby is the kind of person to make casual acquaintances/friends with anyone he makes conversation with. He likes people, and he likes talking, and he especially likes talking about what he does; he's also a good listener (even if sometimes he drifts off in thought) which means most people enjoy talking to him too. He's very focused on his own career, though, and often leaves behind people to continue his search for what he wants. Also the kind of man to say yes! absolutely! I will totally be at that [insert event here]! and then never show up or send you a "sorry I couldn't make it" text - unless you're an industry exec.
A R R I V A L — ( SUMMER 2002 )
Baby has known Aurora Bay as his home for his entire remembered life, but was technically transplanted to the town when he was two years old. His uncle and legal guardian had been living in Buffalo, NY and working in Toronto, ON but quickly realized his high-travel lifestyle wouldn't work with a Baby on his hands, so he packed up and moved to California with his partner, Dolly. Baby loves Aurora Bay, even with its suffocating smallness, though he can't deny he's excited for touring the rest of the country - and hopefully world - someday.
E X T R A B I T S —
– One of those guys who shamelessly paints his nails, and has since halfway through high school. No amount of teasing can get him to stop. He's usually sporting a neutral black, though it's very often chipped (purposefully).
– Still owns the first karaoke machine Dolly gifted him back when he was four. One of the speakers is busted, but he relies heavily on it when he's feeling uninspired - something about the nostalgia of the machine helps him dial in on his songwriting.
– Refuses to eat the crusts of anything that has a crust. Absolutely no sandwich or pizza crusts for Baby. His best friend, Lawrence, happily eats the remains.
– Absolutely TERRIFIED of bugs.
F R E Q U E N T S T O P S —
Aquatica - Baby's a huge fan of drifting around the aquarium, sometimes sober and sometimes stoned off a mild edible. It helps calm him and stirs his creativity - he's written some of his best lyrics after watching the jellyfish float.
Elegance Dance Studio - Although he took more lessons as a kid, sometimes Baby will do a six week intensive for whatever style they're offering in order to keep up his flexibility and instincts.
The Lighthouse - Another spot in town that Baby goes to think. Tends to be a solitary activity, though sometimes he and Lawrence head out together.
Melodies - Baby is in here once a week, minimum, sometimes twice if he decides to go on a weekend with a group, too. The bartenders know his name and he's friendly with most of the regulars.
Sharky's - Works here 3-5 nights a week, depending on what kind of shows Pookie is booking. Will flirt to get a bigger tip, every time.
C O N N E C T I O N S —
- would absolutely kill for bandmates tbh, even members of former bands he might've been in!
- an ex-girlfriend (maybe even two!) of 5-7 months. something on the bring of Serious, but she would've had a problem with how often his best friend Lawrence was around, and there would've been friction - enough to end the relationship over
- neighbors, school friends, or friends of his uncle moe & dolly - they throw a lot of lavish parties (them and everyone else in AB). he especially would know music industry participants!
B A C K G R O U N D —
- mother died in childbirth at seventeen, so his uncle moe - 25 at the time - took him in.
- uncle moe and his longtime partner, dolly, have never married due to her being trans, but baby's a proper son to dolly nevertheless.
- briefly knew his grandparents but they didn't have a good relationship with moe. dolly's family is VERY accepting though so he grew up with all their wild southern parties. he's familiar with memphis as they go every christmas (and several other times throughout the year) to spend time with dolly's giant family
- has always been very invested in music. grew up in the care of his uncle, who was a huge music-head and produced a lot of indie albums in his career. he'd listen to new artists in the car taking baby to work, growing baby's well-rounded love of music - though he was always favorable to prog rock, pop, and alternative styles
- started as a sweet choir boy, quiet and kept to himself, but found his footing and his voice when he "got hot" in high school
- took some dance classes when young as well - his uncle let him try anything he wanted, which worked very much in his favor. he sampled a bit of everything, growing his overall movement skills, but he also took vocal classes and music production classes and even a pottery class, just because he had the means to.
- when he was 15, him and a few friends started Hot Stuff, but their drummer and bassist (brothers) moved away so after 2 years they disbanded
- baby and Lawrence (the guitarist) teamed up with a few different local musicians, band hopping over the years but never feeling content with the music they were making. that, and baby has always prioritized his job over whatever shitty band Lawrence pulled him into
- at 23, the brothers moved back to town and baby & his bestie reformed their old band hot stuff (ditching the losers they'd teamed up with before), this time under the name Pookie. this time, they took it seriously
- using his long-time position at the bar (and a LOT of fucking begging), baby booked pookie as the local opener for several acts that skyrocketed them into the music scene. their first ep was incredibly well-recieved, and they took their critics to heart. when they dropped their full record, it was a massive success - it earned them a record deal with a proper independent label: luminelle recordings
- just finished a mini tour opening for magdalena bay for 6 of their shows (nashville, fort worth, austin, phoenix, 2x LA), despite there being a bit of a genre difference. it was excellent for publicity and it garnered them a LOT of new female fans
- lowkey in love with lawrence butttt lawrence has had a girlfriend since they were 16 FRRRRR. so annoying. also baby has been informed he needs to keep his bisexuality on the down low so he appeals to more people :(
- still lives with his uncle in the sense he's got the whole guest house to himself. at one point he'd moved out with Lawrence but he realized he preferred having moe and dolly in close range, plus it's kind of a sweet deal. AND moe has a home recording studio
"Does this feel a bit like a prison visit to you?" Atlas says to the person he's now sat opposite after moving on from the table to his left when the allotted time had run out.
"Yes." Baby, already sick of the commitment he'd made to speed dating, hasn't been feeling very romantic either, hasn't bothered sleeping around since August - both of which were deciding factors in Jenko forcing him to sign up for this. Baby blinks across the table, happy enough to not be starting this conversation out with omg this is sooo awkward isn't it? like half the women had before. "So what are you in for? You feel like an armed robbery kind of guy."
open starter ( @aurorabaystarter )
-> sea foam, the stupid cupid bar crawl
"I think I lost my shoe." It's not on his foot, that much is certain. Alarming considering he's been walking bar to bar the whole night; this is by far the drunkest Baby's been in months and it's beginning to show in more than just the glaze of his eyes. "You haven't happened to see any free roaming penny loafers around here, have you?"
It was totally fine that Baby hadn't wanted to come out tonight. Totally, totally fine. It was also totally fine that his texts hadn't been as endless as of late, or that he'd leave band practices to hang out with some anonymous new friend that he conspicuously never mentioned the name of.
Lawrence was fine. Unbothered and breezy.
Until he and Brandon had been shuffled off into a distant corner at Sea Foam, and the bassist had given Lawrence's shoulder a nudge and quirked his chin out toward the bar. "Didn't Baby say he couldn't come out tonight?"
Baby and Cricket fucking Campbell, of all people.
Bothered. Decidedly un-breezy.
Lawrence had shrugged it off in the moment, even as he saw red. Brandon kindly didn't comment on the uncharacteristic dismissal, but Lawrence knew he'd be texting Jenko about this later.
He tried to stay engaged, humming and 'mhm'ing where it was appropriate as Brandon talked at him instead of with him. He kept himself angled so that he was always catching Baby in his periphery and excused himself as soon as he saw him head off to the bathroom. Brandon still didn't say a word.
He pushed his way into the bathroom and put on a plastic smile when a clearly inebriated Baby finally noticed him and pulled him into a hug.
"Yeah, I can see that," he said neutrally, letting go of Baby with an awkward pat on the back. The plastic smile returned, eyes dead. "What changed your mind?"
Even drunk, Baby's aware that there's a tightness to the air around them - a forced sheen on Lawrence's face, in his tone. Whatever alcohol-heightened joy that his best friend's presence called forth immediately dissipated. Popped like a balloon, left the rubber pieces floating to the ground. Baby swallows. Puts on his own plastic smile.
"Boot and rallied," he lies, a non-committal shrug adding to the lackluster performance. "Wasn't feeling good so I pulled trigger a few times until I was clear."
He's not good at this. Even as the words spill out, Baby's minutely aware that Lawrence is clocking the lie. In what world would Baby stick his fingers down his throat? A throat laceration risk? Sure. Right.
"Ughhhhhh. Lawrence, I can't do this. I'm trying to lie and I'm not even doing it right." Baby's hands settle on Lawrence's shoulders - not just because he can't help but touch him, but because he's trying to keep him there. Lawrence isn't running yet but he might. "I'm here with Cricket, okay? The woman, not the stupid British sport."
Luce preened at his words, grinning brightly at him as she hummed, "As you should." She told him as she playfully tossed her long blonde hair over one shoulder. "Ripping it on the dance floor is certainly one way of putting it, but okay, okay. I'll spare you and your jealousy the details." She laughed as she spoke, the smile still on her lips as she lead him through the store to get the outfit picked out that she had in mind for him.
"Mmm, both? Because you would look hot in the fit, and I'll absolutely admit to wanting to see it in person, Baby boy." The grin had morphed into a teasing little smirk, one that grew as she made a show of looking him up and down and checking him out. "Yeah. Definitely hot."
She let him go off into the changing room then, organizing a nearby display as she waited until he came out a few minutes later in the outfit she'd picked out--and all teasing aside, he did look good. She let out a playful wolf whistle, nodding as she took in the sight, "I'll say it again, hot." She came up behind him to dust off his shoulders, meeting his eyes in the mirror's reflection as she adjusted the jacket on him slightly. "You better remember that it's thanks to me when you have the whole crowd ogling you."
"So hot you have to say it twice? Luce, baby," he says, returning the pet names as he turns around to meet her gaze properly. "Are you flirting with me?"
He can only hope. Baby's eyes shine with playfulness; under all of the attention and the soft touches, he's practically glowing.
"Trust me - I'll be thinking of you. Actually, if you aren't busy this weekend, we're playing at Sharky's. No better way to keep my mind on you than having you front and center. What do you say? I'll give you the full rockstar treatment - backstage tour, green room snacks..." Baby cocks his eyebrow. "And if you're up for it, maybe you and I could rip it up on the dance floor. Together this time - and don't expect me to share."
🌙 Sleepycore: Give an account of a dream or nightmare muse had.
"I was up on this super, super tall stage. Like, so tall that the audience was below me and all looked like teeny tiny little dots, and they were all chanting at me to stage dive. Like over and over, they're all just yelling jump! jump! jump! And I look behind me and Lawrence is yelling jump, and Brandon is yelling jump, and Jenko is yelling jump, and then backstage every person I've ever slept with is yelling jump. Like they're all just screaming at me to jump. And so, like, I did... And I woke up. I was drenched in sweat. So weird."
💘 Lovecore: What would muse's ideal date location be?
"Do I have to pick? Any time I take someone on a date I'm the one who has to choose where we go. At least when Lawrence and I hang out he always picks the location. I like not thinking sometimes - at least when it comes to picking a restaurant."
closed starter for carina ferren ( @carinaferren )
-> fired up
"And then, I was like, I'm not even staring at you, I just like, happened to notice you flirting with every woman in Aurora Bay, and then he got even more mad and told me to go wipe tables. And then I never saw him again. I straight up think he moved." Baby takes a mouthful of pizza like a pro, his cheeks puffed up with the chewing. Thank god for vegan cheese - he's been slacking in the whole no lactose before a performance thing, but he wasn't going to say no to an afternoon out with Carina. "And yeah, that's pretty much everything that's happening with me right now. Nothing, uh. Nothing going on, really."
(Seems like Baby's making a habit of lying to everyone.)
"Your turn. And don't say nothing, because you've been awfully quiet about your life lately. No more secrets - tell me everything."
"I didn't say God would, I said I felt like it would happen," he mutters. Not many people would understand how he felt walking into a place like this. "Well, I'm not exactly doing a great job at it," Henry shrugs. "There's at least six other reasons I'm not getting into heaven anyways."
Henry didn't understand the salting the floor thing or like... what it had to do with keeping demons away. Demons weren't real anyways. They were made up by the church to scare someone into doing what they were told to do. Henry narrows his eyes. "I don't talk to witches and why is she automatically a woman?"
He stares at the stone for a moment, then nods. "Can't you just like... I don't know, order it online or do you have to sense it's aura or something?" he asks.
"Only six? That's pretty clean, Henry. You're practically a saint."
Baby pinches the bridge of his nose. He's starting to get overwhelmed. Though he prides himself on being able to get through most of life's obstacles with a cool head, the frustration of not being able to find this stupid crystal mixed with the overwhelming smell of incense is beginning to get under his skin. Still, Henry has a point.
"I don't know, because a lot of witches are women? I thought a big part of witchcraft was, like, hating men."
Baby pauses in his search and stares at Henry, his eyebrow creeping up. "You seem pretty confident about that. You know everything about the universe now?" He looks over his shoulder at the person behind the counter, then flicks his attention back to Henry. "If you're so certain tarot isn't real, why don't we get your cards read?"
"Sometimes, sure. I'm not immune to a big screen and eating popcorn as a meal, but it isn't, like, my first choice. Most of the movies I watch are background noise, or I stop halfway through because my friend put it on and then I got bored and distracted him, too."
"Should I be that petty? -Oh my god, I could totally be that petty!" The woman bit her lip as she had an intyernal debate on how to handle the situation. Young Celine would definitely go on next and do her big one. But she was trying to dial it down a bit, act more grown. After all, married Celine was supposed to be grown and have herself together.
"I have a couple of good backups I can do, as well. I could go full Kelly Clarkson with 'Since U been Gone or put on a show with Selena."
closed starter for lawrence savea ( @lawrencesavea )
-> sea foam
Baby and Cricket are like, totally a modern day completely platinic Romeo and Juliet. Seriously. Their friendship? Life changing. Mind altering. It's also totally and completely not allowed. Her best friend being Ziggy and Baby's best friend being Lawrence means there is no world in which all of them can play big happy family. Which means, of course, since Baby struggles to deny himself of any pleasure, that instead of simply not being friends, they have to keep any and all hangouts completely on the severe down low.
So, yeah. Baby is lying to Lawrence again.
That makes it all the more uncomfortable when Baby dashes off to the bathroom only to zip up, wash hands, fix hair, and then catch a familiar reflection in the mirror. Baby's happy to see his best friend literally any time, and right now, he's had more than a few drinks, so he's thrilled.
"Lawrence! Dude! You're here!" Baby's pulling Lawrence in for a hug before he can fully think through how gross that is - hugging in a bathroom - but when he pulls away he's smiling just as big and bright as before. That is until he realizes that he told Lawrence he wasn't feeling like going out tonight. "I... I changed my mind about drinks. Obviously."
Brisbane: What are some hobbies you want to take up before you die? Now, name one thing you wish you knew how to do 5 years ago.
"I need to learn how to rock climb. It freaks me out because one fall could end me, but, like, I think that's why I'm drawn to it. Also it's getting boring just doing gym workouts, and I think climbing mountains is a pretty impressive way to stay in shape. And... Me from five years ago really needs to learn cyber security. Please, Baby from five years ago, I'm begging for you to stop uploading your selfies to the cloud, please."
Four - How does your muse react to learning things are being hidden from them by those closest to them?
"Everyone is entitled to their secrets. Like, you can't have a surprise party without hiding it from the birthday person, right? So I don't mind. Actually... Okay, maybe it's a little annoying when Lawrence keeps stuff from me, but that also never happens. He tells me everything, pretty much. I assume. I mean, I don't think he'd lie to me about anything important. I don't lie to him about anything. Not really. So like, I guess I'm super cool with secrets, I'd say."
Jack - How does your muse view their friends, both old and new?
"I love my friends, dude. I love everyone I meet, pretty much instantly. My buddies, though... I can't pretend I don't love a lot of the attention that I get from Pookie, but I'd do it in my backyard for 3 people if it meant making music with Lawrence forever, or hanging out with EJ after the show, or whatever. That's Olive Garden, right? When you're here, you're family."
"I don't know. I kind of feel like God will strike me down for setting foot in here," he admitted. Henry wasn't religious as much anymore, but that fear was ingrained in him.
"No, like... it's a bundle of leaves you burn." Henry had no idea if it worked or whatever, but some people believed it. "Why would you salt the floor? What does that do?" This was way more involved than he thought.
"Sure, that makes sense. Like stripped or dotted or... show me the picture."
"God's not going to strike you down for browsing, Henry. If anything, you're doing a charitable act. Like, helping me help Dolly, that's basically a ticket into heaven."
A bundle of leaves? Now Baby's even more confused. This metaphysical stuff is way more involved than he can get his mind around, especially with herbs. "No, not the whole floor... Like, in a circle maybe? Or the windowsills? It's for demons. Or spirits? Dude, I have no idea. Next time you meet a witch, ask her if she seasons her carpets."
Baby flips his screen around so Henry can see, too, then eyes the table of rocks. He doesn't see anything similar.
Lawrence made a gagging noise and nudged a socked foot against Baby's. "Don't remind me. Like, good for her, I guess, but I saw them on the dance floor and I was surprised that neither of their hips broke from all that grinding. If you can even call it that."
A full-bodied shiver shook him before he tossed a gummy in an arc in Baby's general direction without looking.
"Ah, see? So a lot of them clearly can't read, either. Can't say I'm surprised."
Lawrence could've spotted the sparkly 'ELTON' on Baby's back from space. He still had stars behind his eyelids for hours after he'd left Sharky's from how much he'd looked back at the bar and been met with the glimmers coming off of the moving, human-sized disco ball that was his best friend.
If I was gay. Lawrence hummed neutrally.
They'd gone over this before, and more than once. Baby insisting he's straight, Lawrence hedging and hedging until they reached the same dead end they always did. He was always left with a nagging itch at the back of his brain — what was Baby not telling and why was he not telling him? — but he never let himself linger on it for long lest he drive himself crazy with it.
"You weren't even a little tempted? Like, not even a tiny bit?"
With years of friendship behind them (and years more on the burner), Baby and Lawrence have mastered the art of dancing through conversations. They're professionals at juggling both the serious and the trivial, at weaving through different stories without losing a detail or forgetting to circle back - even if its ten minutes after the topic was brought up. They can do it in silence, too: Baby always knows when to tilt the popcorn bucket towards Lawrence, and Lawrence always knows when to stop by unannounced with smoothies and a documentary about a musician they've seen ten times already.
From middle school to now, in Baby's guest house or on stage, there's been an ease, even with the heavy shit. Yet when Lawrence asks if Baby was tempted, even a tiny bit, everything in the air comes straight down, like Baby'd forgotten how to juggle at all.
The smile he wears, faded from a laugh at the imagery Lawrence painted about Elliot, freezes - wavers - resumes. Baby looks at Lawrence and knows lying isn't going to work, so he settles for a version of the truth.
"Okay, maybe. A little," Baby says, feeling heat spreading over the tips of his ears. He smiles like he's cocky about it, but he can't make the eye-contact that would really sell it. He's desperate for a distraction, so Baby reaches over to the bag resting in Lawrence's lap and grabs a few clusters. "Not because... I mean, attention is attention, right? I'm curious in a... In a totally neutral, completely third party way. Like, I could never have gone on a date with him because I'd be leading him on, but I was curious about, you know. What it would be like."
