Shiloh had a long day at work, but nothing like a few shots of tequila to take the edge off. Looking around the bar she noticed a very drunk girl stumbling around in the corner, louder than anyone else there.Β βIβm having whatever sheβs having!β she said to the bartender over the loud music. Looking over at the person next to her,Β βAnd get them one tooβ she said pointing to her neighbor.
It had been a shit day and Charlie thought that she deserved a drink. She was trying to avoid going to bars during the week but on days like this getting drunk probably did more good than harm. She was intentionally not looking at her texts, even going as far as setting her phone on airplane so she didnβt hear any more bad news.Β Right when she was about to call the bartender to top off her drink, the girl sitting right next her spoke. Β βThanks, love,β Charlie said, as genuinely as she could manage. βIβll get the next round, yeah?β she proposed easily, even throwing a wink her way. Being gloom was one thing but not being cheeky would be a new low.
βHow cold do you reckon the water is?β Tyler questioned pointing at the lake. It was a hot and hazy summersβ day and the sunβs rays bounced off the water but heβd spent enough summers fooling around by the lake to know that appearances could be deceptive.Β βI bet I can last longer in there than you canβ
Charlie wasnβt really sold on L.A. yet. She missed the how honest and blunt people were back home and how unapologetic they were in New York. But there was something to be said about the weather in California.Β She was mildly startled by the guys voice. She looked up from her book onto the water.Β βPretty fucking cold, Iβd say,β she stated after a moment of deliberation. βThereβs absolutely no way youβd outlast me, though. I was raised on freezing cold water.β
βWell then go niche. Get a Schiele instead of a Klimt, or , I donβt knowβ¦Iβm not too well versed in lesser known artists,β he said with a chuckle.Β βBut at the same time, who the fuck cares what the gallery dwelling asshole thinks. If your skin yearns for Van Gogh to live on it, let it be Van Gogh. Cheesy, but true.β
When Charlie said skeleton smoking a cigarette, Jude laughed out loud.Β βNot sure if you said that because you saw mine, but ββ he turned to face her, pulling down the neck of his t-shirt, just enough so that the tattoo on his chest, right over his heart, was visible.Β βWe could be twins. Matchy-matchy.β
βIβve got a Schiele already, actually,β Charlie said proudly, lifting her sleeve to show off the tattoo on her shoulder.Β βI let a friend back home do it at the end of her apprenticeship so Iβm just glad it came out looking half decent.β SheΒ mentioned, thinking back at the last time sheβd been back in Manchester with a fond smile. She should really go back sometime soon.
The sight of Judeβs tattoo pulled a startled laugh out of her.Β βAs sick as yours is I was thinking more along the lines of this,β she trailed of pulling out her phone again to quickly look for the image. She held the phone up so Jude could see.Β βStill Van Gogh but less sunflower-y. So donβt start thinking Iβm on a quest to steal your tattoos. β
Eliβs eyes widened when the screen popped up right before his eyes, taking a couple seconds to focus the photo, which he had not been able to pinpoint exactly.Β βUhβ¦.β The question had landed, though. Sort of.Β βI mean, pretentious but hot? Likeβ in anΒ βiβd listen to you talk about van gogh after fuckingβ kind of way?β A little too explicit, but his opinions usually were and Eli was one to rarely keep things to himself.
βGreat answer,β Charlie declared, with a small grin pulling at her lip, pulling the phone away from his face and into her pocket. She should probably been appalled at the strangers crude comment, or something, but not much could faze her anymore. Not after living in New York for 4 years.Β It was refreshing to meet someone who didnβt mince words, anyway.Β βHow pretentious, though?β She asked, turning to look at the guy. βLike would you think Iβm a snob with a superiority complex or a basic bitch who only knows the top three most famous painters?β
Mia had been amusing herself by looking at Charlie, silently waiting to see when sheβd look up from her screen long enough to realize that it was her. It took a surprising amount of time, not that she had much high ground on that matter. Usually sheΒ was the one glued to her phone, so she was in no position to give her friend shit for it. βI mean itβs cute but also kinda likeβ¦ I donβt know shit about art, but isnβt Van Gogh kinda like, your starter artist?β she tilted her head slightly as she looked at the screen. As much as her parents had dragged her around to galleries, not a whole lot of what sheβd seen had stuck, but she did know about a handful of the most famous painters at least.Β βMight make it less pretentious, though, than if it was some obscure shit. Not that Iβd ever judge you with my fucking band logo tattoo.β
She couldnβt help but smile when she realised Mia was who she had accosted with her existential crisis.Β βThatβs what Iβm worried about!β She half-laughed half-whined, closing her eyes and threw her head back for a second, trying to force the universe itself to make the decision for her.Β βI need to look like someone who knows her shit. Canβt give people a reason to think I only know surface level stuff.β The art world was full of old dickbags who thought it was their job to judge the newcomers, sheβd personally learnt that lesson years ago.Β βYouβre right, I might just get one of his shit sketches and if anyone tries to tell me itβs ugly, Iβll just tell them theyβre too stupid to get it.β Charlie said with a wink.Β She chuckled and wordlessly turned her arm so Mia could see the tattoo right above the inside of her elbow. βIf thereβs anyone not allowed to judge, itβs got to be me.β
βNot so much pretentious as cliched and overdone, Iβd wager,β Jude responded from next to her in line, the permanent ink enthusiast always ready to give advice on tattoos.Β βThen againβ fuck originality, get whatever the hell you want on your body. But also, know thereβs thousands of people out there with Van Gogh tattoos. If you let the idea steep a bit and make a design true to you, that only you would have, thatβs infinitely cooler, I think.βΒ
βI just donβt want some uppidity gallery dwelling arsehole thinking I donβt know anything past the famous painters, you know?β Charlie said with a slight frown. It wouldnβt be the first time she got judged for the things sheβd chosen to decorate her body with.Β βSo basically what youβre saying is that I should stop being an overthinking baby and get the skeleton smoking a cigarette, yeah?β She asked with a grin, turning to face Jude.
Charlie scrolled mindlessly through the Pinterest board of her favourite painting while waiting in line atΒ Intelligentsia Coffee. She was almost embarrassed at how much time she had been spending on an app designed for suburban moms, but she didnβt let herself dwell too much on that. She only looked up to place her order and pay the cashier. When she made her way onto the counter to wait for her coffee,Β she turned around to the person next to her and held her phone up so they could see the painting of the screen.Β βArt historian with a Van Gogh tattoo,β she stated simply, as if they had been in the middle of a casual conversation.Β βOddly endearing or mind-numbingly pretentious?β
[ CHARLIE HARRIES. 26. FEMALE. SHE/HER. ] is here! Theyβve lived in Silver Lake for [ 1 YEAR ] and are originally from [ MANCHESTER, ENGLAND ]. They are an [ ART HISTORIAN ] and in their downtime love [ READING HORROR NOVELS ] and [ SMOKING ]. They look a lot like [ KAYA SCODELARIO ] and live [ ON REDCLIFF ST ]
tw: illness, death, toxic relationship
full name: charlotte louise harries
birthday: february 7th
zodiac sign: aquarius
hometown: manchester, england
rich af parents
also young af when they first got pregnant (19 and 21)
so theyre super chill n open minded
twin brothers (3 years older)
they were raised to be humble and not flaunt wealth
dad got pancreatic cancer when she was 15
didnβt know how to deal with what was going on so she rebelled silently
her brothers had both started uni so they werenβt around to notice what charlie was up to
went to parties, did drugs, drank loads, had casual sex, etc
her dad dies right before she goes to nyu
she offers to stay and take her of her mum but she insists on her going and getting on with her life
only had one semi-serious relationship in england with a dude but they couldnβt make it work bc of distance
going through her first breakup plus her dad dying lead her to continue with her old habits
somehow manages to keep her grades above average even though the first 3 years go by in a blur of partying and faceless bodies
actually falls in love for the first time at the start of her last year with a girl called alex
she helps charlie get semi-clean and get into a more slow paced kinda life
charlieβs friends do not trust or like alex but sheβs too in love to notice any of the bright red flags
she comes to terms with the fact that she was gaslighted during the entire relationship (3 years) when alex breaks up with her out of the blue
even though she loved the job sheβd had in a high end gallery in ny she canβt stand being in the city anymore when everything reminds her of the relationship and makes her heart hurt more so she moves to la
sheβs still very messed up bc of this
like to the point where she doesnt ever really talk about it unless sheβs wasted
tried to get a job in a gallery but theyβre all shit lol so instead she starts working in a tour company which pays less but she enjoys more
when the opportunity presents itself she works in the tv/film industry doing historical accuracy checks
still looking for a βsteadierβ job, preferably in a museum
plot ideas/ wanted connections
friends from new york or manchester
drinking/clubbing buddies
friendly/ not so friendly neighbours
one of her brothers (!!!)
art/film world friends or acquaintances
etc etc
βAm I crazy,β Jamie started, looking over at the girl dressed as a cheerleader? Disney character?Β βOr have we met before?β She'd caught a glimpse of her about an hour ago at Five by Night, give or take 5 shots ago, and couldnβt shake off the vague feeling of familiarity. Thatβs why she didnβt hesitate to approach her when she saw her in the roof.Β βI promise this isnβt a come on,β she continued, smiling mindlessly. βI just know Iβve seen you somewhere.β
Wordlessly she took the other girlβs hand, the free one that she wasnβt holding a drink in.Β βHeck yeah!β She moved to the tune, in a much better way than when sober (alcohol released all inhibitions after all, did it not), and yelled over the beat pumping out of the many speakers surrounding them on the dancefloor.Β βYouβre looking mighty fine tonight, Ginger Spice!βΒ
She felt a bit more grounded having someone to hold onto. Her head was still swimming but she felt herself get lost in the music, just letting her body move as it pleased. Jamie couldnβt help but be amused by the girlβs unabashed enthusiasm. She leaned forward, getting closer to hear what the other was saying. βHigh praise coming from the fifth element herself,β she shouted back, winking,Β not realizing it was probably too dark for the girl to even see it.
βThatβs why I need you to stay with me!β Jamie exclaimed, almost drunk enough to have it come out as a whine. Almost. She leaned back against the brick wall and opened the carton of cigarettes,Β pulling one one out for herself and offering another to Mia. She was glad they had decided to come outside, both floors at Los Globos had started filling up, making the air feel heavy and warm.Β βWithout another Spice Girl, Iβm just a slutty Union Jack.β She said, taking a long drag. She couldnβt help but laugh, breaking her tantrum faΓ§ade. βI doubt my ancestors would be proud.β
With the last weeks having been pretty stressful, Zoe was glad to have an evening all for herself. And as the babysitter had seemed to be very reliable and experienced, she didnβt need to worry about that and could enjoy a few drinks for once. Sipping at her cocktail, the brunette finally turned her head to the person sitting next to her at the bar and slowly shook her head with a grin.Β βI mean Iβm actually pretty happy with my costume even though thereβs probably dozens of Spice Girls over here but thereβs so many people who had such amazing ideas! Itβs really awesome!β
Jamie had been trying to get the bartenderβs attention for a couple minutes and she was starting to get antsy, looking around at the other people at the bar. βAs one of the dozens of Spice Girls, Iβll try not to take offense,β she said to the girl beside her with a wink. It was true that she had already encountered more than a couple other Ginger Spices since sheβd arrived, so there was really no way to argue.Β βYou look cute, though.Β My 12 year old self wouldβve fought you for those pants,β she smiled easily.Β βAre you supposed to be anyone in particular?β
Downing the rest of his drinks, Rigs already knew that heβd immediately need another one to be able to endure this music and all those people in their stupid costumes any longer. If it wasnβt for the drinks and admittedly some pretty hot women around here, he wouldnβt have come in the first place. Or he already would have left by now. Heading to the bar instead, he waved at the barkeeper and placed is order, when he noticed someone looking at him.Β βYou wanna tell me I should have worn one of those silly costumes like the rest of all those idiots in here, I have to tell you that unfortunately youβre not the first one and no, I still donβt care!β, he only stated in a dry voice, only turning his head in their direction when he finally had his drink in his hand.
Jamie tried to take a swing of her cocktail and frowned deeply when she realized it was already empty. She took a couple of minutes to get to the bar to get another drink, stopping a few times to dance with really anyone who looked in her general direction. She already had a pleasant buzz going on, so she was laughing unabashedly as she stepped out of the dance floor onto the bar. She steadied herself against the counter, placing the cocktail glass softly to the side. She smile dimmed as she listened to the man beside her.Β βNo one cares if you donβt care, mate.β Jamie flagged down the bartender. It wouldnβt be a theme party without some asshole thinking heβs above everyone else.Β βWhy come to a fucking costume party if youβre gonna shit on people for dressing up?βΒ
