Simmering

[dakotabarlowe]

Headcannon: Google

You will notice Dakota pull out her phone a lot if you ask her for options or opinions on something. She gets lost in a whirlwind of anxiety that tells her anything she might have offered up on her own will be inadequate. So she will search instead and finds it slightly soothing to disengage from the conversation for a moment and read answers that let her create a scripted prepared response.

[dakotabarlowe]

charlieodell​:

@luxorstarters​

It was pretty late at night when Charlie got the craving for something to snack on. She had threw on her coat and left her dorm room pretty fast. She stopped when she saw another person in the common area “You wanna go get snacks?” She didn’t really feel like walking to her favorite convenience store alone in the middle of the night. “It’s like a ten minute walk.”

There wasn’t much that could get Dakota out of the zone when she was snuggled up under a blanket reading. But snacks...snacks were the siren song that had her immediately marking her spot. “Yes please, I’ve got a craving for those weird roasted chicken flavored chips they’ve got.”

[dakotabarlowe]

celesticlbeauty​:

.

     Celeste groaned quietly, shutting her laptop before leaning her elbows on the table she sat at, her fingertips rubbing small circles into her temple as she drew in a deep breath. “I’m taking this as as good a sign as any that I definitely need a study break” she announced, suddenly aware of the other person sitting nearby as she looked up, eyes meeting the other. Celeste had been slowly making friends around here, but it was nothing compared to the size of her circle back home. “Know any good ways to blow off steam around here? I do keep getting lost, though, so hopefully something that’s also easy to find?”

@luxorstarters​

~~

Technically speaking this had been meant to be a larger study group. But no one else had showed up, and it had turned into a duo venture at the table. Dakota’s own eyes were starting to ache from all the screen time and she let out a grateful sigh at the sound of Celeste’s laptop shutting. But then her anxiety soared because she hated being asked to offer options to people. What if she picked something they thought was lame? And then the stress would empty her head of all possible answers anyway. Which was why she had a tendency to pull out her phone and quite literally google an answer to give. “Oh god...I...I don’t know, everyone likes different things. There’s clubs you can go to dance it out...I think there’s like places where you can throw axes at targets. There’s also a little park not too far off campus and I kinda like to go and throw rocks at the water, or turn on some fast paced music to lose myself in.”

[explosingcelebs]

[dakotabarlowe]

libbycarey​:

@luxorstarters​

Late at night, ​barely anyone was roaming the school corridors - or at least, that was what Libby assumed when she left her room, bored out of her mind and in need of entertainment. Which she had found in the unlikely place of a large poster advertising an upcoming sports fixture, which she was currently improving by scrawling peg the patriarchy over it. Feeling someone’s eyes on her, she chose not to look behind, just methodically continuing to write: “if you don’t have anything to add to this, I suggest you just move the fuck on.” 

~~

“I don’t know....I think art deserves to be viewed and appreciated,” Dakota answered, tone soft and shy and her hands behind her back. Oh she didn’t have the bawls to write on a poster like that, but she could sure as hell admire the people that did. She could read the books written by people who used language to battle and call out the fucked up pieces of the world. “You’ve got a lot of space left, I wanna see the finished product.”

[dakotabarlowe]

skypagex​:

@luxorstarters​

location: library​

“I wouldn’t,” Sky said slowly, “go to that section if I were you,” he gestured vaguely in the direction of the bookshelf behind the table where he was sat. “Someone’s fucking right behind the wildlife books. You can kind of hear them if you really listen for it…..” He paused for a moment, before shrugging, good deed of the day done and with no desire to hold a prolonged conversation about it. “Your call.”

~~

“They’re...oh....oh gross.” It wasn’t that Dakota doubted him, her brain just took a moment to process and in fact her silence only made it clear that they could be ever so slightly heard. “Of all the sections why the wildlife. Why would you decide that’s the ideal environment to get down and dirty.” She groaned and ran a hand through her hair. “I guess I’m going to have to wait them out because that is exactly the section I need.”

[dakotabarlowe]

rubymensah​:

“Yikes,” Ruby made a face at the thought. “Honestly, what gives guys the audacity?” She was normally more the type to demand both sides of the story, to a fault if she was being honest, but these cases were an exception and she was more than tired of hearing tales of other women being pestered by men. “If we leave together, he probably won’t bother. That type of guy always ends up being intimidated the second he’s not the only one. It’s just a big power trip for them, honestly.”

~

“If anyone ever figures out the answer to that question, I’d love to hear it,” she murmured with a shrug of her shoulder. “Educated guess is all the centuries of coddling and privilege they’ve received.” That’s exactly it, exactly where Dakota’s head was at and what she was pegging the male as. “Is that okay...I don’t want to interrupt if you’d been playing on staying a while, or if you have somewhere to go...I...I don’t want to be a bother.” She eyes the girl again, definitely familiar, she’s not always the best with faces but people she find particularly stunning always tended to linger. “I think we both go to Luxor, yeah? I swear I’ve seen you around campus.”

[dakotabarlowe]

gabriela-bernal​:

Helpful wasn’t a word you would use to describe Gabby. But her hatred for creepy old men would always triumph her selfishness. “Careful,” she said, tone sharp, gesturing her silk blouse. Gabby looked at the guy over her shoulder, grimacing momentarily before turning to Dakota. “Ew,” she said, putting her Dior bag on the table, then took a seat across from the other brunette. “Old men are the worst. Literally the worst.”

“Oh...I’m sorry,” she whispered, shying away from the sharp edged initial response like it could have slit through her. This girl didn’t necessarily give off ‘got great joy from helping others’ vibes, but you took what you could get in desperate situations. And she didn’t walk away. Sometimes you had to look past people’s delivery to the root of what they were giving you. Dakota was being given safety back...and that...that was priceless. “They are,” she agreed, with a nod of her head. “The really old creepy ones are my least favorite because people will tell you ‘oh they grew up in a different time, they don’t know any better’ and I think that’s a load of bullshit.”

[dakotabarlowe]

dawnsher​:

“Hah, fair.” She remained twisted around in her seat long enough to get the description of the guy, neck craning and eyes bouncing from head to head until she was pretty sure that she’d stared at everyone for at least a few solid seconds each. “It’s so shitty that people are like that,” she said with a sigh, head shaking at the whole of the café before sitting properly to look at the brunette again. “I bet he’d even hang around and harass women who’re busy in the middle of their work shift. We all know the type.” She wasn’t eager to admit it to any of her Luxor classmates now, but Dawn had a storied history of retail work. Her eyebrows lifted slightly and she smiled while offering, “I can walk back to campus with you, if you want. I don’t mind waiting until you’re finished here, either.” As if to prove it, she set her carefully napkin-wrapped pastry on the table between them. “Have I seen you in study hall before?” Dawn guessed, trying to place her face.

~

“It is but...well, my grandma used to say that if there weren’t shitty people in the world we’d lose all appreciate for good people.” Sometimes on a good day she agreed with the sentiment, and other days she wasn’t so sure. People who were kind and warm and made you feel safe filled a need in you that existed with or without the negative people of the world, didn’t they? “Oh he absolutely is that type. Reminds me of my waitressing days.” Dakota had been slowly relaxing the more they talked, but when the pastry was settled on the table and it was clear the girl was staying, the last bits of tension finally left her shoulders and she could take a long awaited peaceful sip of her coffee. “Mmhhmm, I think so. You look really familiar. My name’s Dakota.”

[dakotabarlowe]

parkmin--seo​:

“No, it’s okay,” she was quick to assure the other, already feeling bad for making the other feel guilty for startling her because it hadn’t been her intention. “I’m just… jumpy, I guess.” That was an understatement, but it wasn’t shocking, given the year that she’d had last year. And honestly, even the year before, all starting with prom two years ago. “Oh, definitely. My appa was also an FBI agent so I’m not entirely defeneless, I just have never used anything he taught me,” she admitted with a laugh, one that was maybe a little louder than intended, but mostly that had been on purpose, to deter the guy they were trying to chase away. “Guys like him are definitely cowards. Anyone who preys on a young girl because she’s alone and a so-called easy target is a coward and a piece of crap.” A scowl fell over her features, before she quicky relaxed them, because she was still trying to make the conversation look natural and not like she’d just randomly decided to join Dakota. Noticing the brunette fiddling with her hands, Minnie carefully places one of her own on top of hers, attempting to offer her some more comfort. “You don’t have to do that, but maybe we should order some food anyway, so that he doesn’t get suspicious. And I promise you aren’t keeping me from anything. I was just going to drink my coffee alone so at least I don’t have to do that now.” 

“An FBI agent....wow that’s....that’s cool. Kinda scary too, to have a parent work a dangerous job like that. I mean my mom is an accountant and...there’s not a lot of stress in her walking out the door in the morning. But when I was growing up one of my best friends, her Dad was a firefighter and that was a lot. It’s a lot when you’re so proud that they’re doing something important and helpful, but also worried cause it has dangers.” Dakota already had a tendency to nervously ramble without cause, but the situation itself, and then Minnie’s hand on top of hers, caused her to stammer at warp speed. She finally caught herself with a breath, giving Minnie a smile. “I think some food sounds great. They have some scones and pastries on their menu that look incredible. Maybe we can split a couple and do a taste test? See what the best is.”

[dakotabarlowe]

reellykenzie​:

She flashed a smile at Dakota, apologizing for freaking her out a little. “It’s the scary dog technique. It’s like scary dog privilege, but with a bit more bite. Literally,” she explained with a laugh. crossing her arms on the table. “As in, I will literally bite him if he tries to come over here. And it will hurt,” she promised, flashing her eyes over at the guy again before returning to Dakota. “Are you enjoying France aside from this though?”

~

“Scary dog privilege, I love the way you say the most random shit but it makes the most sense when you really think about it.” Dakota laughed and made a face, shaking her head. “Ew no, he’s probably teeming with germs, you don’t want that shit in your mouth.” And just like that it’s safe to move forward. That’s what she likes about Kenzie, the way change and fresh starts and pressing onward just radiates from her like ocean waves. “I love France, I really really do. I think my mom thought I’d be scared to leave the States but I’ve actually been dreaming of coming here my whole life. I like being able to stay long enough to take my time and see past the tourist traps and find the hole in the wall places, the little local shops.”

[dakotabarlowe]

romeoalvara​:

romeo understood completely, he had plenty of girl friends back home who’d gone through similar situations with creepy men who thought they owned the world and could do whatever they pleased. this wasn’t his first time having to play… well, whatever role he was playing at that moment. once he realized the other guy had turned away and romeo was sure this girl was safe, he carefully slipped his arm back away from dakota, moving over in his seat to give her some comfort room. “it’s really no trouble,” he protested, shaking his head. “guys like that are sickening. he must not be able to read social cues, otherwise he would have seen how uncomfortable his presence made you.” it didn’t take a rocket scientist to see that dakota didn’t want anything to do with that man. “i was actually going to take my coffee to-go but i can sit with you if you want, to make sure that guy doesn’t come back around.” he offered, not minding using her as company for himself either.

~

If it gave off the vibes that it was a simple matter of not reading social cues, Dakota would understand. Goodness knows she missed cues sometimes too. At least he’d turned away, just as she expected, the mere presence of someone who appeared to have her interests at heart was enough to deter. “Oh it’s not about missing cues. Guys like that...they like knowing they’re making you uncomfortable. It’s not accidental it’s...predatory.” With a soft hum, she took a moment to consider the options. She didn’t want to burden him, or interrupt his plans for the day, and that part of her brain clung to taking her coffee to-go as well. But she couldn’t drink hot beverages and walk, her stomach would get upset, and if she waited till she got back to her dorm it would have lost that fresh just mixed taste she loved. “If you wouldn’t mind sitting with me, I’d really like that,” she answered, trying not to let herself sound pathetically apologetic. “I won’t take too long I just...I hate feeling like someone’s made me flee a place I was enjoying.”

[dakotabarlowe]

ofjupiters​:

When walking in they didn’t expect to be whispered at, seeing as they weren’t there to meet anyone and when Dakota brought up unwanted attention, that’s when they stepped closer to the table. “Which one is he? If he’s bothering you, I can let him know he better think twice about it,” she looked over at her shoulder to try and spot him but when she saw how uncomfortable the girl looked, Jupiter thought twice about it before pulling the chair across from Dakota out, “sit here so you don’t have to face at him. I’ll sit in your seat.”

~

She was grateful for help and company for her nerves at the barest most minimal level. There was something extra about the chair being pulled out, it felt above and beyond to consider that sitting with her back might make her feel safer. Dakota had to swallow a lump of emotion before she could lift herself to move to the other seat. “Thank you, I asked someone before you and they told me to fuck off so this is...I seriously appreciate it.” A nervous grip on her coffee cup loosens just a little. “If I’m keeping you from anything important we can leave in a couple of minutes, I just...didn’t want to leave alone, you know?”

[dakotabarlowe]

ellixxirr​:

Immediately snatching her arm away from a girl sitting at a booth, Elli glared furiously at her, though her expression softened as the girl explained her situation. She took a seat across from Dakota, though she couldn’t help but steal a glance at the guy she was talking about. “Ew, what the fuck. He’s not even a hot old guy to think he has a chance,” she criticized, letting out a laugh as she turned back around to Dakota. “Did you, like, want me to cuss him out for you?” Elli questioned casually, leaning back in the booth.

She flinches at the glare, her heart speeding up in her chest. Dakota hated bothering people, feared the moments when someone looked at her like she was a bother, an inconvenience. Even after the girl’s face softened and she sat down, her heart stayed racing, taking its sweet time to recover as she nervously fussed with a paper napkin. “Guys like that don’t think about how they’re seen. They’ve got egos that create a whole fantasy picture for them.” Nervously she shook her head. She’d never understand how people could talk so casually about getting into verbal or physical altercations. “N-no, no, I don’t want to make a scene. I think if you just...um...sit here for a while, he’ll give up and leave.”

[dakotabarlowe]

Headcannon: Relationships

Dakota is very self aware and vocal about her pansexuality. She’s attracted romantically to people, any people, that make her feel safe and seen. She’s still on a journey to identify and feel comfortable with the fact that she is also demisexual and the youthful hookup culture in college has made her feel very discombobulated and overwhelmed. Sometimes she feels left behind, extra anxiety paralyzing her at the start of potential romances where she worries that she’s wasting that person’s time if she can’t provide them with sexual intimacy right off the bat. For this reason she has a tendency not to seek out up front romantic relationships. Slow burns, friends to lovers, has always felt better to her. Her ex used to joke that Dakota needed to be woo’d without knowing she was being woo’d, and it’s quite true. To fill up her heart in the meantime, she tends to romanticize her friendships. She is devoted to her friends, soft and emotional, and love bombing the hell out of the people she cares about.

[dakotabarlowe]

literallyliam​:

☕️

Liam hadn’t always been quite so fighty. No, at one point he’d have avoided conflict like the plague just to keep his name out of people’s mouths. It didn’t bode well in high school to be a drug dealer and constantly sticking your neck into situations that didn’t concern you. Unfortunately much like everything else in his life, this changed when she happened.  Afterwards he found the impulse was so much stronger and he could never tell if it was because her chaos recognized his chaos so strongly, or if that was just the kind of person the drugs turned him into. Either way, he found himself having to keep himself in check to keep from bum rushing the man this girl was clearly bothered by. His eyes darted from the man back to the girl as she asked him not to and he paused. It’d been a long time since he’d seen someone as bothered as she seemed to be which caused his face to soften. “Coward vibes?” He asked, trying hard not to chuckle at the inclination before glancing back one more time. “I completely agree. Definitely a lonely creep. How do you have someone like that so well pegged?” 

~

The question makes her chuckle, lets a soft bubble of amusement push its way past the knot of anxiety that had been wrapping around her. “Because I’m a feminine presenting human and this whole scenario....it can be a daily experience. So you get good at making calls. Whose an annoyance, whose a potential serious danger, whose going to back off if you’re not alone.” The world was full of wolves and lambs, and the longer Dakota was alive the more she became convinced that the wolves outweighed the lambs completely. “Besides...this coffee shop is really nice, and fist fights tend to cause a lot of collateral damage on the furniture. Easier and less complicated to just sit here for fifteen minutes till he loses interest.” She’s not the best at introductions, but technically the most awkward starting part of this interaction is already done. Dakota gives a small smile and offers her hand. “I’m Dakota.”

[dakotabarlowe]

gwanxnari​:

“As someone who loves mythology in general, 10/10 would recommend that you check out some of the other gods and goddesses. I mean, all of those are total bad asses, but the ones that aren’t talked about much don’t get the credit they deserve,” she mused, only cutting herself off because she knew it was a topic she could ramble about all day, if given the chance. “It’s pretty sexy as is so I’ll probably leave it alone, honestly. I’d be shocked, but also impressed, if someone else showed up as Eris. I’d also be annoyed because then I’d have to change, but I doubt it’s something I have to worry about.” 

~

“Yeah? Do you have any favorite bookish recommendations?”  She can’t help the way her voice softens with excitement. She’d been a child that would read anything she could get her hands on. Road signs during car rides, the backs of cereal boxes. When she was old enough to have a library card she’d struggle her way out with six books at a time, wishing she could have gotten more. And then she’d be back in a week to do it all again. “I love books and I need to expand my mythology collection.”  This girl...she...well...she gave off the kind of vibe that said she could make an oversized lumpy sweater dress look hot. There was a confidence that both intimidated and intrigued Dakota. “I’m sure that won’t happen. Your costume will be the solo showstopper.”