girl, interrupted.

CHLOE BROOKS BARTENDER | SINGER ADDICT

[chlobrooks]

melodybertrand‌:

So … tonight isn’t technically a night of freedom. Charity is on the job, which means Melody is still at her beck and call, not that she’s complaining. Without her boss, Melody can’t imagine she would even be at this event, the least that she can do is help Charity out in turn. She’s on a bit of a pause, after fetching a drink for the older woman. Sometimes, the smallest things in life are the best, and sitting down and quietly sipping a glass of champagne, taking in the sight of the party, is one of them; “isn’t this amazing?” She asks the first person that sits next to her, “I’ve never been to anything like it.”

OPEN!

Currently, Chloe can be found at a small table, hoarding appetizers and on her fourth...probably fifth glass of Coke for the evening. Once upon a time ago, an open bar would’ve unleashed Chloe’s hellraiser but, instead, she’s sober as hell and bored out of her mind. Taking a bite out of the mini slider in hand, she arched a curious brow at the blonde. “Sure, if watered down drinks, tiny sized food and bad music is your thing.” Chloe remarked before grimacing, her pessimistic nature getting the best of her. “Sorry -- pay me no mind, glad someone is enjoying themselves tonight.”

[chlobrooks]

odetteturner‌:

This was an event – granted, different than the ones Odette usually attended. Usually, there was less drinking and more art. These events were gallery openings, fashion shows; this was the rough trade crowd, half of them here to just get a selfie with a celebrity and that’s it. Perhaps that’s what made it easier to work, stay focused. Downing the last of their drink, Odette smiled at their company. “Thanks for agreeing to talk to me – I’ll make it quick, I only have one question; out of curiosity, what are you hoping will be the overall effect of this event on Atlanta? More media attention? More funding of the arts? What do you want?”

This was not Chloe’s scene. Even in her wannabe fame whore days she’d rather be getting shitfaced in some dingy dive bar instead of kissing ass at some upscale event. Now that was suffering through the latter, she wished she could take a drink in order to handle all of the fakeness that emanated throughout the room. Shaking her head, she was fine being a wallflower and quirked an eyebrow at Odette’s question. “You’re at a party.” She reminded. “Take the night off, will ya? Plus, I doubt I count as a reliable source for a quote.”

[chlobrooks]

Shaking her head, Chloe watches as the curly haired blonde disappears into the crowd. While the who wasn’t obvious to the public eye, Chloe knew all too well. “You do realize she’s not coming back, right?” Chloe asked, looking to the right at her friend. “Remind me to lecture her later...” She added with a slight snicker. “In the meantime, guess you’re stuck with me for the remainder of the night. Unless you got a secret lover I’m not aware of and plan to ditch me as well.”

@leylaxosman

[chlobrooks]

CHLOE BROOKS

Avengers Endgame After Party

[chlobrooks]

logan-legend‌:

Logan, only sometimes, didn’t want to press Chloe. Didn’t want to bide the sentiment of being a shithead to her as he’d done before so many times. Biting his tongue wasn’t easy, but he did it. Take that, maturity.

Even as he peeled out of traffic, merging and keeping an eye on the road, he couldn’t say he wasn’t exhausted beyond means. Yes, he did tell her they’d go house hunting, something affordable, put them within a safe reach of one another. Perhaps she could curb the excessive drinking, and he could keep her from pulling her hair out in a tick of excessive addiction. That was, of course, if she fell far enough down the well.

He didn’t want to think about that. “Fuck no, this was your idea to go this early in the morning.” He murmured, as they came to a red light.

But as he looked over, a small, if barely, smile grazed his lips. “Sure can,” He murmured, exhaustion pouring through. He rubbed his eyes, feigning the need to wake up without the caffeine crack he too needed. ‘Member when I fuckin’ said lets go look at houses?” He turned left at the light, in the direction of the coffee shop mere minutes from where they were. “Don’t ever fuckin’ let me make a decision like that again.”

Pulling into the parking lot, he parked in the nearest spot, killing the engine. Stepping out of the truck, foots sharp against the ground. “Fuck me, I’m fuckin’ tired—“ he half shouted, as a woman gasped nearby. “What’s her fuckin’ problem?” He attuned his question to his sister-in-law.

Logically, Chloe wasn’t too sure how them as a duo, a team, whatever the fuck you wanted to call it worked. How the fuck were the supposed to help one another if they couldn’t help themselves? Six months sober, Chloe was hardly qualified to call out Logan for drowning his issues in booze. Hell, if she could, she would’ve joined him. Being shit faced often times was better than facing the cold, harsh reality that came along with life. 

“I got off of work at three in the morning’, there’s no way in hell this was my idea.” Chloe scoffed with a roll of her eyes. Not that she ever slept much or well nowadays. Was it insomnia that plagued her or decades worth of bad habits making her a night owl? Chloe wasn’t sure but functioning on barely little rest had become the norm. But, unlike Logan, she handled it better than her former brother-in-law. 

The faint smile that graced his lips was met with a wide one of her own. Promises of her sugar making her as excited as a child would be receiving the same response. Sad to say sugar and caffeine were what she craved the most to function but it could be worse. “Noted but then you’re not allowed to get all snippy with me when I don’t listen to you.” She countered before hopping out of the truck. 

“Don’t worry, I’ll wash his mouth out with soap when I get home.” Chloe jokingly stated to the gawking woman. Shades are pushed back over her eyes, playfully shoving Logan in response to his outburst. “Jesus Christ, you’ve been around people for all of two seconds and you’re already offending them.” Shaking her head, she leads the way into the donut shop. On a mission, she’s walking with a adamant stride. “Two coffees.” Immediately leave her mouth before she’s bending over, looking at the selection of donuts. “I’ll take a glazed, that chocolate one with sprinkles over there...” She begins to rattle off, pointing each time she called out a pastry. “A buttermilk bar, maple bar annnnnd throw in a couple donut holes.” Her head then lifted, turning in Logan’s direction, unphased by the large order. “What’cha want?”

[hunterschafer]

[chlobrooks]

danicabeauregard‌:

She laughed gently, shaking her head at the other girl. No one ever needed to apologize for startling her, she had the startle reflex of a very tense mouse. Everything made her jump, especially as the night went on. “It’s fine,” she assured her friend, waving off the apology and giving her a smile instead. “It’s just been such a crazy night. My brain feels like it’s spinning around and around - “ She waved her hand in a circle as if to emphasize the very obvious point she was making. How out of it was she?

She needed to focus; late night dinner, girl bonding, keeping Chloe also clearheaded and on the right track. Danica didn’t have to do this, she wanted to. Ever since she was young, she wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. And she was finally brave enough to slowly start letting people into her life as well. Even if it was a little chaotic. “Oooh – that sounds so nice. I just have been craving like … a really good sandwich? Or like a good mushroom burger,” she agreed, her own mouth watering at the idea. And if Chloe was offering to pay…

“You’re too good of a saleswoman. I’m sold, let’s go get that burger.”

Because unlike Chloe, Danica had a real job. Not to say that boozing up a bunch of drunks wasn’t a taxing gig in itself for a junkie, but working at a hospital was a whole different level of intense Chloe wasn’t aware of. “Crazy in a good or bad way?” She asked, hoping for the worst but assuming the best. “Hoping in a good way but, if it’s not, then you need this night more than I thought.”

Which would make Chloe feel a little better about impeding on the other woman’s life. Yes, they were friends but her personal batter spurred on a majority of her decisions nowadays. She didn’t like to be alone after spilling her soul to a room full of junkies, reminded of the delicious high that she’s been dying herself lately. Couldn’t go home to face Logan who was probably drunk off of his ass by now. And she was off the clock for the night which meant no subtle distractions from Jac. Which left good, sweet Danica coming to the rescue with her positivity and caring nature. 

“What sane person would turn down free food and greasy diner food?” Chloe stated with a grin, turning on the heel of her foot and heading down the hallway towards the door. “Especially after a long day, it’s like...healing for the soul.”

[chlobrooks]

natalia-venturi‌:

Natalia was feeling the music in the courtyard; whoever this girl was, she had talent. It surprised her what could be lurking beneath the depths of Atlanta - and she didn’t just mean the gritty secrets, like all of the mob dealings. This woman was a breath of fresh air, and she held the attention of every onlooker with what appeared to be little effort. 

“Not that bad,” Natalia retorted playfully and extended a bottle to the singer. “You were great out there! It’s just so damn hot, and that’s just when you’re sitting or milling about. It must be worse when you’re putting on a show like that. I’m a nurse - it’s my job to keep lookout. Anyone else would say you’re as cool as a cucumber, she assured with a shake of her head.

The blonde cast a warm smile, her eyes flitting toward the guitar before back up at the woman again. “Does your band have a name? I really like your style. It’s different from a lot of the stuff I’ve heard around here.”

The last few years, her musical dreams were dialed back significantly. Big stages, record deals and songs playing on the radio not only seemed unrealistic and unattainable but unhealthy for the progress she’s made over the last six months. The glitz and glamour she once craved and sought for were replaced with the humble joy that came from performing for a crowd no matter how small and being able to create again. It was art in its purest form and it was what she’d been missing after all these years.

“Thank you.” Chloe stated, for both the compliment and the bottle of water. Taking it from the blondes grasp, she didn’t hesitate to take a sip. It was obnoxiously hot and she didn’t realize how thirsty she was until the water hit her tongue. “Glad you enjoyed it and were keeping an eye out. I tend to be more focused on the music then I am myself, so unknowingly dying of dehydration was a possibility if you weren’t around.”

A faint chuckle escaped her lips, sliding the bottle of water into the bag that hung loosely from her shoulders. “Nah, I’d hardly call us a band. Just a couple of guys from the bar I work with that I nagged long enough to come down with me for the day.” She explained. “Chloe, by the way. Trying to save Atlanta’s music culture one street performance at a time. What’s you name? I’m more than happy to call you my guardian angel but I’m trying to be formal here.”

[glamoroussource]

[chlobrooks]

logan-legend‌:

He was tired.

Couldn’t a man be that, and still drag his ass outta bed from passing out in it at—was it three in the morning? He’d lost track, honestly. “Sure, if wakin’ me up at the crack ass of fuckin’ dawn means bonding, I guess—“ Chloe was important, and she was there. His natural stance to be close to his wife’s sister was clear from the get-go—an unspoken understanding.

It didn’t mean that Logan’s silence on his wife’s passing was a subject he wanted to discuss any fuckin’ time soon.

But she was right. Even in his exhausted state, he faintly remembered ushering the words ‘We should find a place to live’ so that the hovel of a shitty apartment didn’t hang over his head. He had the money, the means to situate himself comfortably—twenty years in service of the military would do that for you. But getting off his ass, doing so was another situation.

Leaning his head back against the seat, Logan expelled a long sigh. “I know, I know—I’m jus’ tired.” And that was the truth, even though his exhaustion spun from the obvious hangover. “That’s cute ‘n all, Chlo’, but so long as I got two feet and a fuckin’ heartbeat, you ain’t drivin’ my truck.”

Their mutual exhaustion was a cause for immediate bonding. It tied them together back then and even more so now when it seemed like the years of bullshit they’ve been through finally caught up to them. Chloe doesn’t ask questions and neither does Logan, which makes this whole relationship work in a fucked up sort of way.

Logan didn’t want to talk about his dead ex-wife (her sister) and what he went through in the military. And Chloe didn’t feel like talking about the various failures of her life mostly attributed to her deadly addiction and how fucking miserable being sober was. 

It was fucked up but it worked and she liked it this way.

“This was all your idea, not mine.” Chloe reminded, picking at the frayed strands of her cut up and torn denim jeans. “Sorry.” She then meekly offered after a beat, feeling the crankiness ooze off of him more than usual on this hot, Atlanta morning. 

The moment was short lived, lips curling into a faint smile. “First of all, I’m a good driver.” So good her license was suspended way back when but not the point. “I crashed your car once and it barely left a dent.” With a scoff, she folded her arms across her chest. “Just drive -- and can we make a stop at that donut shop before we get going? I’m in desperate need of sugar and caffeine.” Her newest vices -- not as deadly but could be hazardous to her health in different ways if consumed in large quantities.

[felicytsmoak]

[chlobrooks]

danicabeauregard‌:

It had been a long, long overnight shift – she felt like she was leaving battle, a changed woman from when she’d entered the hospital. It was the week of overnights that did her in, on top of picking up some shifts at the clinic during the day. Grueling, tiring, most of the time thankless – but it was her calling to help. And she did so without much complaint; especially now that she’d have a paycheck that would officially pay off one of her credit cards. Pinching the envelope between her fingers, Danica smiled and softly thanked the front desk. Now she was slightly more debt free, and she had two days off. Two official days off, to spend with Emily and Everett and catching up on sleep – 

The other woman’s voice somewhat startled Danica, who spun around with panic in her eyes – were they calling her back in? Did she have to cover another shift? The comfort was immediate as Chloe came into view, and Danica put her hand to her heart in relief as she caught her breath. “Hey, Chlo,” she chuckled sheepishly, shrugging her back back into place on her shoulder. She could definitely go for a bite to eat; Emily was at her friend’s house, and Everett was at work so she had some free time, especially for a sweetheart like Chloe. “Yeah – I’m actually off the clock now if you wanted to head out. We could go to Majestic Diner?” One of the lower priced, but nicer options in Atlanta, especially if they wanted a nice, quiet place they could just relax.

“Sorry...” Was quickly muttered once she got closer to Danica, realizing she startled the other with her abrupt call out. An apologetic glance was shot in the direction of woman behind the front desk who looked at her a little oddly but Chloe didn’t pay it any mind, attention back on Danica. Not really one to believe in luck, she was thankful for her good timing because the last thing she wanted to do post a meeting was be alone. 

Food and friend was a good enough way to spend the remainder of the night. “Just what I was hoping to hear.” Chloe grinned with a nod of her head. “I’m always in the mood for a greasy burger and a milkshake.” If she wasn’t hungry before, the mere thought of what she listed was enough to make her stomach grumble. “My treat?” She offered, the tips at the bar had been good lately. 

[chlobrooks]

chaoticscul‌:

The warm hum of intoxication began to flutter in his chest like a goddamn kaleidoscope of butterflies. Jac licked his lips as he finished off what was left of his Bourbon - he was already pretty damn close to being soused as a fucking sow as it stood; an extra shot of whiskey probably wouldn’t do him any favors. “Get a few more drinks in me, darlin’, and you might just make off with my wallet and my fuckin’ heart,” he joked, pushing his empty glass forward for a refill.

The rational side of his brain, or whatever the hell was left of it, knew that he needed to tread a mighty goddamn fine line in light of present (jonesing) company. Not that he usually gave much of fuck where the strives and struggles of others were concerned, but Brooks was a different fucking story. For starters, he actually liked her - which was a hell of a lot more than he could say for about ninety-nine percent of the remaining population. Jac lit himself another cigarette and reclined back in his chair, watching Chloe with a crooked grin. “Don’t thank me; thank that tank top, babe. It’s doin’ you a helluva lot of favors right now,” he teased, taking a pull from his smoke. He knew a lot of it was projection, and maybe being in her presence was just feeding into that fucking savior complex that liked to rear it’s annoying head around addicts, but goddamn if she didn’t remind him of his mother: singing, sassiness, substance abuse, and the like.

Though he’d never let Chloe know it, he would go to the ends of the fucking earth and then some just to ensure that she never relapsed again. He wasn’t about to let that shit go down on his watch.

Jac matched her smirk, eyes flickering down to her full (and quite-fucking-frankly, luscious) lips. “Well, I could always sing you a song of my own, darlin’,” he said, raising his eyebrows at her suggestively. “Though, I ain’t really one for crowds when it comes to croonin’,” he told her, despite his utter lack of shame on any other given day. “more of a back alleyway kind of guy, myself - y'know, for the acoustics and shit.”

“Oh honey...” Chloe cooed in a melodic hum, raising up and reaching for the bottle that she kept nearby in preparation for his refill. “I don’t need alcohol to make you do either of those things.” A playful wink was shot in his direction, broken by her laughter as she unscrewed the top and gave him another generous pouring. 

For the most part, she didn’t have to fake it around Jac. Which was nice. There was no need to tiptoe on eggshells or constantly feel suffocated under the pressure to have her shit together. His semi-drunken company over the months had been a welcome addition to her life that made Chloe feel like a semblance of the person she used to be before the booze, drugs and failure took over her life. Setting the bottle down, she was tempted to pour herself a glass but, while booze wasn’t really her biggest vice, it was still soon for Chloe to be flirting with a substance that could easily trigger her addictive personality. 

Instead, opting to close the bottle but still keep it nearby for round three. “I know you have nothin’ to do with how fine I look tonight -- every night, actually.” She cheekily responded. “But you’re the only one who seemed to notice, so thank you, I swear this place is filled with blind fucks.” Dragging an ashtray a bit closer to Jac, she moved a few steps to grab the container filled with recently washed dishes to begin drying them and loading them onto the nearby shelf.

Pulling the rag that was hanging loosely from the back pocket of her jeans, she suddenly burst into laughter at Jac’s offer. Her reaction causing a few brows to raise which Chloe waved off with a flick of her wrist. “As temptin’ as that offer is, Jac. I’ve heard too many stories about women being lured into alleyways by handsome men only to wake up in a motel bathtub filled with ice and find out their organs were harvested.” She dramatically replied, setting the dry glass down with a humorous expression on her face. “So thanks, but no thanks.”

[chlobrooks]

The flicker of the fluorescent lighting was headache inducing, the coffee tasted like mud and the donuts were as hard as a rock. That was Narcotics Anonymous meetings in a nutshell -- a not so friendly reminder that you’ve hit rock bottom hard enough to end up here on a weekday night. There were worse places she could’ve went -- like the shady basement at the local YMCA -- and she wouldn’t dare step foot in a church -- she’s prayed to God too many times without giving anything in return -- so the lower level of the local hospital seemed like the most convenient and safest option out of what was available. 

Grabbing her bag after the meeting was over, she gave a few meager nods and muttered thank you’s to those in passing who congratulated her on six months. It was a feat, sure, but Chloe knew better than to revel in a good thing when she had a history of stumbling back into bad habits quickly. Making her way to the exit, she jogged up the steps to get to the main floor and came to a pause before pivoting in the other direction. “Danica?!” She shouted, almost too loudly, before heading down the hallway towards the woman she’d grown familiar with these last couple months. “I was gonna grab a bite to eat if you gotta break or are off anytime soon?”

@danicabeauregard

[chlobrooks]

chaoticscul‌:

“You just ain’t playin’ for the right crowd, darlin’,” he told her, disregarding the lukewarm response to her performance with a wave of his hand. Fuck that. Taste might have been subjective, but raw, unbridled talent sure as fuck wasn’t (and he sure as hell didn’t expect a bunch of hipsters and geezers to understand that shit). “Pretty sure Gomer and his gaggle of Geezers at table three forgot to bring their hearing aides, anyway, so I wouldn’t take it personal.” Jac took a swig of whiskey to wet his palette - nothing really hit the spot like a glass of JD on a Sunday; or a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday for that matter. 

“Shit,” Jac chuckled roughly, shaking his head, “don’t know why they call that place the Landin’ Strip when every broad in that joint has a bush the size of a goddamn eagle’s nest.” Not that he expected, or even wanted, a woman to be as bald as the goddamn eagle itself, but Christ al-fucking-mighty, was that shit like a damn jungle to navigate through. He grinned crookedly at Chloe. “Well, it ain’t like you’re entirely lackin’ in that department, babe,” he said, eyes dipping down briefly to make his point. “Granted, they ain’t a pair of double D’s— but they ain’t exactly A cups either.” If he had to guess, he would place them somewhere between a late B to a very modest C. Not bad if he said so himself - and he certainly fucking did.

Jac raised his eyebrows at her; that past tense shit was what perked his ears up all the way up. “Was?” She’d certainly been teasing him with the possibility all week; he only hoped that she wasn’t teasing him again (though it sure as hell wouldn’t be out of character for her). Jac leaned forward on his elbows, a playful gleam shining in his baby blues. “So what’s it gonna take to get you up on that stage again, Brooks?” He licked his lips, smirking. “Cause I’ll damn well carry you up there if I have to.” When it came to Zeppelin, he didn’t fucking mess around.

For a brief second, Chloe allowed her gaze to linger along the scattered patrons around the bar. This was hardly what she’d call her type of crowd. For a place as supposedly cultured as Atlanta, Chloe was having a hard time believing it. “Tell me ‘bout it.” She muttered with a faint chuckle but Chloe knew what she signed up for when she took the gig. “I’m just happy to be singin’ again, don’t really care who’s listening...or not listenin’.” Shrugging her shoulders, she doesn’t seem phased by the current situation she’s in. Was it a waste of her talent? Possibly...maybe, depended on who you asked but, for now at least, it was enough. “Plus, your overpraise and hefty tips more than make up for it.”

The smile on her face grows wider before she bursts into laughter. Hand moving to cover her mouth, trying not to draw too much attention to herself. From across the street, the tacky neon lights of the club shine through one of the windows -- a reminder or, maybe, a temptation of the so-called fantasy and debauchery that takes place mere feet away. “Thank you? I think?” Dark hues shift downward, her usual uniform -- a tank top and a pair of ripped jeans -- was far more clothing than what her neighbors next door are wearing but Chloe wasn’t modest enough to not know she didn’t have something to work with. “But you wantin’ to spend time in this shit hole instead of over there has me wonderin’ how much you’ve had to drink.” 

The repetition of a single word from her previous statement has Chloe biting down on her lower lip to stifle her laughter, nodding her head in response. No matter how this night went, she planned on singing the song but she was more than happy to make him think otherwise. It was more fun this way. “Somethin’ tells me you’re a...creative man...” She trailed off, releasing her lower lip in order for a smirk to slowly form as she teasingly leaned in a bit closer. “My next break is in twenty, I’m sure you’ll think of something that could persuade me to do so.” 

[jason-todds]

[chylrrleigh]