on print presence

+++ ezra farouk +++ editor in chief at the advocate

[ezrafarouk-blog]

After a long day at work, the last thing Ezra needed was to find out that there was no food in the house. At the same time, he wasn’t in the mood to order food, due to an article he had read that morning about the lack of hygiene standards in most restaurants around his neighbourhood. The only option left was for him to go to the grocery shop nearby and get some instant noodles or something of the like.

Entering the grocery shop, Ezra was immediately blinded by the extremely bright, fluorescent lights. Music was being played on the stereo, tuned in to some popular radio station. As he frantically searched for the noodle aisle, he came across a woman who was... dancing? He stopped and stared for a second in confusion until he recognised the woman. Gwendolyn? She seemed too focused on her dancing to notice him as he approached her. “I thought you were kidding when you said you danced while grocery shopping.”

@gwendolynpeters

[ezrafarouk-blog]

sofiaillescas:

        Arms folding in front of her chest, Sofia raised her brows as the other almost stumbled into her. “You know, you really shouldn’t say that in front of the rich people murderer,” she pointed out with raised brows, head tilting to the side. “That mouth of yours is a little too loose around a place like this.”

“Did you just confess to the murder? Did I just solve a criminal investigation?” Ezra inquired with a forced serious expression on his face. “A loose mouth is needed in my field of work. Besides, I don't believe anyone's after my blood at the moment.”

[ezrafarouk-blog]

evedevane:

   Had it been any other Devane, Ezra probably would have been met with a diatribe of unhealed wounds and the pouring of salt into injuries, but he didn’t. Primarily because it was Evelyn, and she was more intent on action rather than lashing out due to, in her opinion, dry humored references. Stepping out in front of the man before he could continue his advance, she crosses her arms across her chest, simultaneously flashing her phone’s light onto his face. “You have the worst timing,” she comments, gesturing for him to share.

Ezra flinched at the sudden light pointed at his face, instinctively protecting his eyes with his hand. “How come? My timing is usually stupendous,” he asked while offering the woman his stolen breadsticks. He still hadn’t been able to see her face, blinded by the flashlight.

[ezrafarouk-blog]

Well, the lights were out and the sun was down, meaning that, for Ezra, the party was over. He still managed to grab some unattended snacks on his way to the front door, before running into someone who was unknowingly blocking his path. “I wouldn’t stand around for much longer. I hear the rich people murderer is responsible for the blackout -- maybe he’ll strike again tonight.”

[simone-lewis-deactivated2020081]

Corri had been trying to find her way back to the party, her cellphone the only light she really had. She was already over the event and now with the power outage, she was even more irritated. She was clambering through the dark when she heard the sound of wooden floors creaking. She had walked a little more towards the end of the hallway. “Hello?” She said. “Hello?” She groaned. “You got five seconds to pop out or else, I will go crazy on you with a candlestick holder,”

[ezrafarouk-blog]

Ezra’s phone had run out of battery by the time the blackout hit. By instinct, he followed a distant light source which, after closer inspection and accompanied by a threat of violence, was coming from someone with a cellphone. “Whoa, no need for physical aggression. My phone is dead,” he added. “I think we’ve met before... haven’t we?”

[althaeatalbot-blog]

Althaea was too far gone at this point. Her alcohol intake for the night probably wasn’t a good amount at all. Especially since she had been drinking straight vodka. Somehow she had ended up sitting on some steps inside of Wyndemere. To be honest, she had no idea where she was. She was just sitting on some steps. Her phone was in her hand, Spotify playing some random playlist that she soon realized were a bunch of Drake songs. Then she heard someone slowly approaching her. Maybe they didn’t know she was there, but she still started talking anyway. “Dude, if you’re looking for a drink…So am I. Where the fuck are the drinks? The lights going out does not take away from the fact that you can quickly be poured a drink. I think we should get some fucking drinks. This is supposed to be a damn party, right?” She tried to get up, but ended up sitting right back down. “Actually, let’s stay here for a second.”

[ezrafarouk-blog]

Ezra was glad he had decided to stay sober that night the moment the lights went out. He had been standing somewhere away from the crowd, in range of the deafening dance music coming from one of the many ballrooms. As the music was cut off along with the lights, he could only hear a faint complaining of the guests. And... rap music? Decided to find the source of the sound, Ezra walked calmly until he came across someone sitting down at the end of some stairs. “Maybe that’s enough drinks for now. Besides, there should be a huge line at the bar right now, ‘cause the music’s gone and everyone is bored.” He recognised her, but couldn’t remember her name. He sat down next to her. “Are you doing some exploring, too? I wonder how these rich people don’t get lost in their own homes.”

[ezrafarouk-blog]

althaeatalbot:

“You got rejected from X Factor with those moves and you think they’re unfair? I give them props for actually being able to sit through the whole thing without cringing. Unless they actually did cringe. I’m insulting your best efforts because they don’t exactly seem like a ‘best effort’.”

“I am utterly touched by your opinion. I will definitely change myself for the better.” Ezra took a sip of his drink. "And since we are making ourselves better, you could perhaps make an effort to become less unpleasant."

[ezrafarouk-blog]

annaliseayers:

The laughter that bubbled in Annalise’s throat wasn’t easily contained — the New Orleans native did her best, but an easy grin still curved her lips as she regarded the other. “Something tells me,” she started, taking a long pull from her glass before finishing. “That you aren’t a club person?” She asked, words dripping in playful sarcasm. “Alors, à bon entendeur, salut. Word to the wise, sunshine. The drink part is key.” She offered with chuckle, tilting back the rest of her glass.

“Are you referring to my skillful dance moves or to my choice of drink?” Ezra lifted his colourful cocktail as he said this, which made its decorative orange slice fall off. He looked at the fallen fruit, disappointed. “I understand close to zero French, but I’ll assume what you just said was a compliment.”

[ezrafarouk-blog]

jpramirez:

“I’m pretty positive I do, so don’t get philosophical on me, ‘cause I’m not in the mood for that.“

“Ooh, rough day at the office, buddy? Or are you just generally not in the mood?”

[ezrafarouk-blog]

althaeatalbot:

“Watching you fail miserably at dancing. Is that how you normally dance? You talking to yourself isn’t even the weirdest part of this whole situation.”

“Since I’ve been unfairly rejected from The X Factor, I’m protesting by performing my best moves here. In the meantime, here you are insulting my best efforts. I feel like that’s quite rude.”

[ezrafarouk-blog]

theiaisaac:

“—-I don’t know if you’re being serious or not, but honestly, I’m down.”

“To the bar! This round is on me.” Ezra ordered some tequilla. "I'm usually an appletini guy, but I'm trying to impress the bartender tonight."

[ezrafarouk-blog]

chandnilaghari:

“Oh, I know that you are, but believe me, darling, these are not the sort of people you want to be going home with tonight.”

“Well, darling, who are the people I’m going to go home with tonight, then? I’d love to know.”

[ezrafarouk-blog]

gwendolynpeters:

“Well, I guess that’s normally what happens in clubs? I always found it quite odd to find someone in this type of a setting, but I’m pretty sure my views on love are pretty old fashioned. Grocery store dancing on the other hand needs to be the newest trend. I find it to be a lot of fun, but I like to dance and it makes me happy so I won’t be opposed to dancing just about anywhere. You plan on joining me one day? It’ll be entertaining.” 

“Is it? As ludicrous as it sounds, I don’t go clubbing that often.” Ezra attempted to recreate one of his signature dance moves, demonstrating his lack of skill. “Also, did I hear it wrong or did you just ask me to go grocery shopping with you?”

[ezrafarouk-blog]

stellasharpes:

“Oh, thank god. Not that I’m saying anything against you or anything. Just, yeah, not my thing. And no, never. Is that weird?”

"I don't think that not having done a specific sexual act can be considered weird, so I wouldn't worry about it. And look," Ezra pointed at the people in question, who were finally being escorted out by security. "Who's the real winner now?"

[ezrafarouk-blog]

chandnilaghari:

“If that’s your strategy, then I promise you that you won’t have very much luck tonight. But please, do keep trying - the awkward puppy look suits you, and you’re very entertaining.”

“I’m glad to know my moves are entertaining someone other than myself. But I beg to differ, I seem to be catching the attention of many potential dates.”

[ezrafarouk-blog]

jpramirez:

“Oh, buddy…you don’t go out much, do you?“

“Does anyone really really go out much? Now that’s a philosophical question.”

[ezrafarouk-blog]

althaeatalbot:

“What the fuck are you doing?”

“Talking to myself and dancing, the fuck are you doing?”