brooklyn, we go hard

eliza bradshaw, bestselling author of the march hauntings series. brooklyn lady, supernatural enthusiast. i'm always game for a box, a beer and a flirt and i can never find my glasses. --- "catty eyelashes and your dracula cape, been flashing triple a passes at the cemetery gates, 'cause you're so dark, babe."

[flowerytale]

[ecbradshaw]

flowerytale​:

The piece of advice I’d give my younger self would be exactly the same advice I’d give to myself now, which is not to always feel like you have to be something or try and hide what you are or how you’re feeling. Just try and be what you are and be brave about that.

[ecbradshaw]

TEXT: ROSE

Rose: I hope not. You and I have a relationship that is NOT familial in any way, so I really hope not.

Eliza: I just shivered and NOT in a good way.

[ecbradshaw]

TEXT: ROSE

Rose: That's fair! That's all I can ask.

Rose: Hmm. Okay. Jefferson might be unhappy, but that's alright. We'll just have to wait up for you both.

Eliza: Are you my Mom right now?

[ecbradshaw]

TEXT: ROSE

Rose: YOU CAN'T GO OUT WITH A HOMOPHOBIC GAY

Rose: What are you going to wear?

Rose: Should Jefferosn and I be there? To see you off? We could take your photos like it's prom.

Eliza: I don't feel like he's homophobic, but I promise to terminate the date if he ends up being a homophobic gay.

Eliza: Oh fuck me.

Eliza: You can come over BEFORE to help me get dressed, please leave the hat man at home, doll.

[ecbradshaw]

TEXT: ROSE

Rose: Oh no is Jasper a homophobic gay

Rose: LOVE YOU!!!!

Eliza: Idk I'll ask him on our date

Eliza: LOVE YOU!!!!! Dumbass.

[ecbradshaw]

TEXT: ROSE

Rose: You're more than welcome to attend my wedding to Jefferson. I'll text him now and we'll keep you posted.

Rose: Oh no! Was he upset?

Rose: ELIZA. I'M TEASING.

Rose: It's not prostitution. Let him pay.

Eliza: DELIGHTED.

Eliza: I don't know if upset is the right word? He seemed, a little bothered by the implication?

Eliza: I swear to god, Rose!!

[ecbradshaw]

TEXT: ROSE

Rose: OF COURSE I have a crush on Jefferson Madigan. But this isn't about me, shush.

Rose: It's not a ridiculous assumption. He IS his Jasper, and she IS their Grace, but it's not quite what you think. Jefferson lost his wife, so he and Jasper are all the other has. But Jefferson is surprisingly heterosexual, actually? Like, potentially the only straight person I know? Possibly the strangest thing about him, actually.

Rose: No, I don't think I am :-)

Rose: Your business card? Does that mean that if you go out on a date with him it's a professional courtesy? Is this prostitution? Eliza Bradshaw, you saucy lady!

Eliza: Maybe Jasper and I will be attending YOUR wedding, hm?

Eliza: Oh, well I understand why Jasper bristled a little bit now when I asked. Well, suggested. I didn't do much asking. Detective Liza foiled again!

Eliza: Wait,

Eliza: NO.

Eliza: Oh god.

Eliza: Not if I pay for my own coffee, right??

[ecbradshaw]

TEXT: ROSE

Rose: But WHAT? Jefferson is gorgeous.

Rose: Not that I'm telling you to ditch Jasper for him, because no. But, you know.

Rose: Stop rolling your eyes, they'll get stuck.

Rose: YOU THOUGHT HE WAS MARRIED TO JAY? Oh my God, I love it. I love it! I love it.

Rose: If you weren't in the picture, I'd 100% think they should be married, but you ARE in the picture, and so you and Jasper are going to have beautiful beautiful babies, and Jefferson and I will attend your wedding and it will be wonderful.

Rose: No, I get that? Some people sort of inspire confidence, I suppose. Just by being sincere, easy company, I suppose? When are you going out? WHERE are you going?

Eliza: I'm absolutely not denying his gorgeousness!

Eliza: Rose, do YOU have a crush on one Jefferson Madigan?

Eliza: WELL, I don't think it was a ridiculous assumption! It's always 'Our Grace!' and 'My Jasper!'. Plus, Jefferson wears a wedding ring.

Eliza: Oh, I think you're getting ahead of your sweet self, Rose.

Eliza: I DON'T KNOW. I gave him my business card, like an asshole. I guess he'll call?

[ecbradshaw]

TEXT: ROSE

Rose: NO IT'S NOT WEIRD I'M JUST EXCITED

Rose: It's like our own little mystery. All those little pieces that we didn't know were there lead you into Jasper's arms

Rose: I'M SORRY. I DON'T THINK OF HIM AS CUTE. I mean, objectively, he IS cute. But also, if you stand Jasper next to Jefferson I /also/ have eyes. And, well, Jaybird!

Rose: Yes, that's her!

Rose: OH... Well, funnily enough, I was with Ariadne and Henry? In my defence I didn't know you were coming to pick me up from class. And in my DOUBLE defence, my not being there lead to your very own romcom moment, so really, you're welcome?

Rose: Why was it awkward? What happened? Tell me everything! Also, congratulations on the eyes. Please tell me you liked his personality too?

Eliza: I mean, yes, he’s very cute. And I’d like to borrow many of his leather jackets, but you know.

Eliza: I’m rolling my eyes at you right now.

Eliza: OF COURSE I DID. We had a chat about books, there was a not at all embarrassing misunderstanding where I assumed he was married to your friend. We had an awkward laugh about it, he complimented me.

Eliza: He was really cute, Rose? I felt cuter just being around him. Does that make any sense?

[ecbradshaw]

TEXT: ROSE

Rose: STOP! STOP!! YOU HAVE TO GO ON THE DATE.

Rose: THE DATE WITH JASPER.

Rose: THE DATE THAT YOU, ELIZA, HAVE WITH JASPER. MY PROFESSOR. JEFFERSON'S BEST FRIEND.

Rose: Besides, Henry will be fine. I think maybe Ari has a thing for him?

Rose: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Rose: Omg tell me everything. How did this even happen? How do you even KNOW Jasper?

Eliza: It’s not weird, is it? That he’s your friend’s friend?

Eliza: YOU NEGLECTED TO TELL ME HOW CUTE HE IS, ROSE.

Eliza: The angry blonde girl?

Eliza: I CAME TO PICK YOU UP FROM CLASS AND YOU WEREN’T THERE.

Eliza: We flirted, it was awkward, he asked me out? I said yes, because I am a human being with eyes.

[ecbradshaw]

TEXT: ROSE

Rose: No!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rose: DON'T YOU DARE!!!!

Rose: Henry will be fine. He's lovely. You're friends. It's fine. He'll still be cute after your date.

Rose: Wait, let me scroll up, I spammed away your other text

Rose: OH MY GOD

Rose: JASPER!!!!

Rose: NO WAY!!!!

Eliza: Maybe if I’m just upfront about it? I didn’t even mean for it to be a date, but now it’s a DATE date.

Eliza: I still like Henry a lot.

Eliza: YES WAY!!!!!!

[ecbradshaw]

TEXT: ROSE

Rose: Right... which teacher? how? when? why? what?

Rose: What about HENRY?

Rose: (Of course, I love you and I support you, but DETAILS!!!)

Eliza: I KNOW. I feel weirdly guilty, do you think I should cancel? Oh, I’m already thinking about cancelling.

Eliza: Jasper?

[ecbradshaw]

TEXT: ROSE

Rose: you're going on a what with my what

Eliza: A date... with your teacher?

[ecbradshaw]

TEXT: ROSE

Rose: TELL ME EVERYTHING?

Eliza: Don't be alarmed but I think I’m going on a date with one of your teachers?

[ecbradshaw]

TEXT: ROSE

Rose: Eliza, what did you do?

Rose: Is this a good something or a bad something?

Eliza: A good something?

[ecbradshaw]

TEXT: ROSE

Eliza: ROSIE I DID SOMETHING

[ecbradshaw]

muchadoaboutjasper :

All things considered, Jasper was fairly certain he’d gotten off a lot lighter than he deserved. He’d offered up no real explanation for his hostility, instead hoping that Eliza’s good nature would be enough for her to deduce that he wasn’t a complete an utter wanker, and somehow he’d lucked out enormously. Pathetic was it seemed, he was adamant he’d at the very least make it worth her while.

“Y'know what, you’re so right? I’ll get it enlarged immediately, make it my absolute priority,” he insisted, nodding eagerly, the corners of his lips turning up into a cheeky smile. Glancing over his shoulder at the stack of marking on his desk, he shrugged, “Fuck it, ay? Who needs to go sifting through that pile of rubbish when I’ve got a sign in dire need of fixing. Can’t let every pretty girl who wanders in get the wrong impression!”

He laughed, ducking his head again his cheeks burned even brighter. He couldn’t help but wonder if he was coming down with something – Jasper Woolf rarely blushed, certainly not in the presence of strangers, and yet he was burning hotter by the second.

“Sorry, that  was– You are. Gorgeous, I mean– pretty,” he stuttered, stumbling over his words, letting out a shrill giggle in the process. Christ, Ariadne was right. He’d gone so long without so much as flirting with someone – Jefferson not included – that he’d reverted into his fourteen year old self. Pathetic.

He offered up a tender smile, lifting a hand to rub anxiously at the beck of his neck. Eliza was clearly way out of his league – if her brash nature and casual wit was anything to go by – but he couldn’t help but be endeared by her, and even wondered if maybe there was something worth salvaging between the two of them; despite their rocky start.

“Listen, uh– I know this is right bold of me, especially after being such a clown back then,” he started, giving his forehead a playful tap, gently chastising himself for his mishap moments before. “But… well, can I make it up to you? I dunno, take you for coffee, or… something?”

His hands shook ever so slightly – it was such a simple, harmless question, but the efforts managed to take a great deal out of him. Awkwardly, he fumbled for something to do, and nervously fidgeted with the frames of his glasses, before carefully pushing them up his nose.

“Sorry, I… I haven’t been on a date in four years, I’m a little out of practice here.” 

Eliza’s previous anxiety had ebbed somewhat as the man laughed and joked with her, a particularly unattractive trill of loud, piercing laughter spilling forth as Jasper continued with his little joke. Eliza was the kind of person who couldn’t conceal when she found things a little too funny, and tended to be sent over the edge easily, too. Her laughter was the kind that overtook her whole face in contortions of pure joy, and she was often found giggling long after everyone else had moved on from the joke. She chuckled to herself, her fingers coming up to conceal her face lest Jasper catch sight of her in the middle of one of her dorky laughs. She was so caught up in doing so she nearly missed the compliment he bestowed upon her.

Oh, so they were flirting.

“You think m’gorgeous.” she stated, her turn to interrupt the man now. She had since dropped her hands from her face, leaving her cheeks tinged a bright red, an aftereffect of the laughter shared between them. Eliza looked down at herself, whilst she didn’t lack confidence, and thought herself rather pretty, she didn’t think she was particularly putting her best foot forward. An oversized grey t-shirt tucked into a maxi skirt, not to mention the layers she’d heaped on before she’d stepped out of the door that morning, none of which alluded to the figure underneath. Eliza gently combed her fingers through the ends of her hair, half thrown up in a bun, half down, brushing her shoulders. And he thought she was gorgeous? Eliza pressed her lips together to hold back a smile.

She was endeared, sue her. He was handsome, and despite their false start, he actually seemed to be a pretty sweet guy. In lieu of answering him, Eliza tugged the strap of her bag from where it rested on her shoulder, and immediately began rummaging inside. After a few seconds of batting aside tubes of lipsticks, bits of paper and, a parking ticket (oops!), Eliza reemerged, holding a glossy bit of card between two fingers.

“Please don’t think m’the world’s biggest asshole for givin’ you my number on a business card.” she pleaded, taking a step closer to the man. Very gently, she leaned over the desk and pressed it into his open palm, surprised to find the poor guy actually shaking a little. Eliza’s heart swelled a little. Holy crap, he was the cutest.

“I’d really like t’go on that date.”