grace with an e

grace with an e syd / 94’ / pst / fem “Be so full that even if they take & take & take & take, you can still be overflowing.” multi muse, multi ship, multi verse, multi fandom, semi selective

[gracwrites]

hello hello, my name is syd! (early 30s, pst, she/her) gracwrites is my writing blog, all other necessary plotting information will be found and communicated through my main gracrps which is where i’ll also be following you from! 

my guidelines / helpful info go as such: no smut, no harmful topics will be played (such as incest, inappropriate age gaps, etc), no ‘real life’ celeb plots (such as, playing as the actual fc and not a fictional character), i normally format my replies using medium sized gifs with small text, i am open to various verses and am semi selective. my activity varies

banned faceclaims: faces that do not want to be roleplayed / are highly problematic, deceased faces, and models / infulencers / celebrities that do not act.

helpful links: muses // wanted opposites // wanted plots

[gracwrites]

risswrites​:

-

Jessie knew better than to lie to Elenaor. Which is why he decided it was better to keep the incident with Bree a secret. However, from the expression on Bree’s face, this was the exact thing she wanted to happen. On the night in question, Bree had lured Jessie into her room with a drink and a shoulder (among other parts) to cry on when he felt the most vulnerable. Jessie had opened up to her about his feelings for Eleanor in which Bree took advantage, comforting him in Elearnor’s stead. In hindsight, maybe Jessie could have avoided the whole mistake, but it was too late now to contemplate what could have been if he just walked away.

All this time, Jessie had been respecting Eleanor’s wishes for space. The last thing he wanted to do was to give her the reason she needed to leave him. “Like I said, I’ve been feeling really shitty without you.” He said, wanting to clear the air, but not knowing how. “I don’t know what you’ve heard, but it was nothing and it meant nothing. I was so drunk I thought I was with you the whole night.”

Only to make matters worse, Bree walked over to Jessie, wrapping her arm around his. “I’m sorry Eleanor, don’t get mad at Jessie. We didn’t want you to find out this way.” Bree spoke, her tone sounded remoursful, but her expression was saying something else. “Shut up, Bree.” Jessie warned, shaking his arm to free himself from her grasp.

            Shitty without you... Not the most poetic of words. Still, it’s not like anyone in this school could come up with anything deeper— not even Eleanor. She then rolls her eyes at his next few words. “You were that drunk, huh?” she scoffs, eyes drifting until they caught Bree walking towards them. Her brows rise when she links arms with his, unable to fathom just how brazen she is admitting to being a side piece in front of the whole school. Well, in front of anyone important, anyway. A few had their phones already recording— typical— as others were knee deep in wanting to know what would happen next. “It simply amazes me how brave you are, Bree.” Eleanor starts, arms crossing. “I mean... I don’t think I’d have the balls to just... swoop in on someone else’s boyfriend and admit it to the whole damn school.” Her hand raises slightly, gesturing to the crowd surrounding them. “...I guess you can’t do it any other way,” Eleanor feigns a frown, sighing. “If I was a sober teenage boy, I wouldn’t sleep with you either.” A few gasps were heard among the crowd, Eleanor humored by Bree’s expression. She looks to Jessie soon after, neither hurt or angry. Was this her out? There was nothing more that Eleanor wanted than to want out. But was this the right place to do it? She pauses, however, recalling Jessie’s words a few moments ago. “I just want to know, Jess... in what fashion would you have ever mistaken this gremlin for me?” She crosses her arms again, brow raised. 

[gracwrites]

risswrites​:

-

Refocusing her eyes back to Lip’s, Juli tried her best to listen to the words he was saying. Which was surprisingly difficult to do with how overwhelmed she felt standing so close to a man she’d missed so dearly, but still feeling like she wasn’t close enough. She was so distracted that she barely noticed Lip stumbling with his words, but the subtlety of it was enough to relax her and put a smile on her face. Maybe Lip was as nervous with their reunion as she was. “Sure, I’d like that.” She finally responds, subconsciously biting her lip in response to him licking his. “Don’t forget your drink, it’s on the house.” the bartender reminded, pushing Juli out of her trans. “Ah, yes. Thank you.” She said as she reached for her glass before turning back to Lip. “Let’s go?” She said walking towards the exit before getting stopped by a stranger.

“Oh em gee, Juli Nguyen!” The woman squeeled, extending her arms to give Juli a hug while spilling some wine on the floor. “Hi, uh.. Sorry, who are–.” Juli greeted back half confused and half apologetic for not recognizing the woman before her. “Don’t worry, it’ll wash off. Anyway! I didn’t think you’d come to our small town reunion, specially with all the news of your engagement to some hot shot Holywood hunk! Where’s your big giant ring everyone was talking about?” The woman glanced at Juli’s hands, searching for a ring. Juli opened her mouth to correct the rumor, only to be bulldosed by the other woman’s rambling. 

She glanced over to Lip, worry sinking in. She was planning to tell him about her soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend, but they’ve only exchanged a few sentences since they met. It would be incredibly weird to spring that up in a conversation, right? Specially if Lip didn’t ask… At least that’s what she told herself to feel less guilty for stringing along a man while she waited hoping for something impossible to happen.

“You’ve really turned your life around. Who would have thought you’d be successful after dropping out of college! My family felt soooo bad for you when your brother ran away or died or something.” The woman looked over at her partner and continued, “And there were rumors her parents divorced after that. I can only imagine how difficult her life was.” The woman continued to ramble, throwing jabs at Juli’s past. A past that Juli never truly overcame. Looking away in shame, she couldn’t do anything but glance down at her drink. Hoping the interaction would end… Maybe it would end faster if she threw her drink over the other. “But now that you’re in the Hollywood scene, my daughter wants to be an actress and–”

            Completely caught up in his own mission, Lip nearly misses the words coming from this other person’s mouth. Did she even go to our school? He squints, tilting his head slightly to the side as he observers her. Wait... math, maybe? Perplexed, he nearly misses the words ‘engagement’, distracted by the wine spill. It takes a second for the news to sink in as he finds himself almost dissociating from the situation. Engaged... of course she’d be engaged... The reality sinks in hard, as Lip can feel his stomach churn... readying itself for his own pity party later. However, he gets drawn back in as the conversation continues. 

Lip nearly looses his patience at the words coming from this other woman and her partner. He looks around, eyes within a few feet from their conversation getting drawn in by the second. Sure, it stung to know that Juli was engaged... but she didn’t have to stand there and relive the worst moments of her life— well, at least from what Lip knew. “You know what, I’m sorry to interrupt.” He wasn’t. “Juli and I actually have somewhere to be, so if you don’t mind...” Lip holds Juli from behind, guiding her out the back entrance as the others watch them leave... gossiping, no doubt. 

The sky was painted a navy blue, lit from the lights on the football field. It wasn’t cold, but not too warm either. It’s perfect... Lip chuckled to himself, shaking his head. Can he still do this? “I’m... um..” he clears his throat, guiding them towards the bleachers. “Want to sit?”

[gracwrites]

                      Backpack loosely hung on her shoulder, Noelle wanders into Drew’s room with caution. Her throat begins to dry, eyes peering up at the decor around her, spotting the window across the room. Although Noelle was normally quiet and kept to herself, she was truly at a loss for words as her eyes gazed upon the window still. Vaguely, she recalls the photo of her mother standing by this very window, the photo resting in a wooden frame upon her dresser back in her room. It was strange, feeling nostalgic about a moment that wasn’t yours. She wondered what her mother was like at Delta Sigma Theta... if she was truly as remarkable as people claim her to be. Noelle sighs, knowing a trait like that wasn’t hereditary... given the lack of biological relevance, especially. In any case, no matter how out of place Noelle felt at the sorority, her main priority was to try and feel closer to her adoptive mother. Since her passing, life hasn’t been the same, and as a suggestion by her therapist... joining the same sorority she was in didn’t seem like an awful idea. Especially, given the fact that a certain someone’s presence currently took up an ample amount of time and space of Noelle’s every waking thought. 

Leaving the window, the brunette ventures further into the room, eyes trailing over the photos of Drew and the girls (and family, she presumes) around her. She sighs, feeling her chest tighten as she walks backwards carefully, the back of her thighs touching a bed. She stumbles, turning back quickly as though she would be in trouble for even looking at it. However, Noelle couldn’t help but stare... imagining Drew sleeping here, doing her homework... or— Stop. The brunette sighs sharply, taking a seat at the edge of the bed in an effort to calm her nerves. Perhaps waiting in Drew’s room wasn’t such a good idea. The girl could barely look at her, let alone carry a conversation about anything other than the one class they shared together. Being paired up seemed like a dream, but after a few study sessions, Noelle realized this was nothing but a nightmare. Drew was confident, outgoing... and incredibly frightening to be around. Although the blonde wasn’t exactly intimidating, Noelle couldn’t help but feel like a hermit crab that refused to come out of its shell, believing she’d never even be on her radar if it wasn’t for their class or this sorority. 

Fingers massaging her temples, she inhales slowly. Calm down... Noelle pleads, eyes squinting as she tries her best to focus on her breathing. It’s just another study session. It’s just another study session. It’s just another— Hearing the door swing open, the brunette jumps, eyes fixed on Drew standing in the doorway. “—S-shit, y-you scared me...” Realizing her outburst, Noelle clears her throat, straightening her shirt, standing up straight. “I-I mean... Sorry, I didn’t mean to sit on your bed or anything. I was just—” @corvlinewrites​

[gracwrites]

                   Eyes fixed on a passed out Stephen, Ester observes him closely. With her elbows rested upon her knees, she can’t help but take in the sight of him— both surprised and unsurprised with how much has changed in the past few centuries. Certainly, his modern attire and appearance was a shock. When he had first answered the door, Ester had taken no time to absorb her reality before shooting him in the leg with a wooden bullet, rendering him unconscious. Now, she had all the time in the world to soak in her life’s mission coming to its most beautiful end, however... it was almost too much to take in— too good to be true, even. And so, the brunette gets to her feet, heeled boots clicking along the floor as she fetches a good ‘ole fashion rope from her suitcase. With her lips pressed together, she comes to a squat and ties him to the chair she placed him in, eyes fixed on his resting features. 

It was strange, to finally be in front of him after all these years. Ester had dreamed of this moment for a very long time, and although she was sure she had nothing but hatred for the man sitting before her, she couldn’t deny she was feeling more than just that. Stephen Lica had ruined her life, whilst simultaneously enriching her entire being. Although Ester had accepted her new life years ago, she couldn’t let go of the man that turned her... leaving her to figure out immortality and life... all on her own. They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and as much as the vampire would love to be the bigger person, nothing in life drove her more than finding Stephen just to put him out of his misery. Revenge fueled Ester, not peace.

Taking a seat on the coffee table across from him, the brunette begins playing with the dagger in her left hand, half of her attention spent mentally going through the different devices she had brought just to torture him. (Because killing him... just wasn’t going to be as fun.) Checking her wristwatch, Ester notes he’d be waking soon... as she practiced such an act many times on various vampires before. While the vampire wouldn’t exactly call herself a killer, per se, she knew she couldn’t run into Stephens home without a plan. After finding and confirming his location, Ester watched him for months, planning this moment by the minute, with much practice. After all, doesn’t practice makes perfect? Tilting her head to the side, she notes him beginning to wake, sitting up straight as she greets him with a devious smile. “Good afternoon, Stephen,” she greets calmly, crossing her legs. @saltinewrites​

[gracwrites]

risswrites​:

If Juli hadn’t been wearing make-up, the very real blush that warmed her face would have been more noticable. Such a simple sentence, I’m glad I did, had caused a smile to appear on her face and for her heart to quicken its pace. For a moment, it felt that she was alone with him and not a single day has passed since they last saw each other. A comfortable silence fell between them and Juli couldn’t help but to try and memorize his features in fear that he would vanish again. “I’m glad you did too.” She said, finally taking note of how close they were standing to one another. The moment between them felt nostlagic. It was a similar moment from years ago, at Rose and Jack’s wedding. “So, how have you been?” She asked, but not bothering to increase the distance between them. “We have a few years of catching up to do.”

In an attempt to calm her heart, Juli glanced away from Lip momentarily, accidentally making eye contact with a bartender who seemed to have been watching them. At being caught for staring, the bartender smiled back at her, pointing at the drinks that were displayed on the shelf. “I think he wants us to have a drink.” Juli commented, feeling a wave of amusement. “I’ll take a glass of wine,” she requests from the bartender before turning her attention back to Lip. “Did you want anything to drink?” She asked Lip, her eyes wandering down to his lips. It was strange, after all these years, the feelings that she thought she had forgotten easily made its way back to the surface.

                       We have a few years of catching up to do... Lip grinned in response, dropping his gaze for a moment as he rubs the back of his neck. Although he knew he’d certainly hear it from a few of his close friends —like Riley and Matt, who gave him an ear full yesterday— it was hard to deny how embarrassed he felt hearing it come from Juli. The girl before him wouldn’t harm a fly, but just as he did all those years ago, it deeply shamed him whenever he disappointed her... and there was no doubt in his mind that after all these years, that he hadn’t. “We do... we... definitely do,” he replies softly, his mind clouded with a confession and the opportunity to share it. Feeling a bit restless, Lip clears his throat, thankful Juli decided to speak again as he wasn’t sure what else he could say. All he could think about was telling her the truth, regardless of the consequences. “—Oh, I...” he looks down at the glass he was given before Juli had showed up, grinning softly. “I’m okay. I’m afraid if I drink anymore, I wouldn’t be able to...” he draws out, nearly letting his confession slip. “—hold my own.” Nice save, Lip tells himself, sighing deeply. As the bartender fixes Juli her drink, he looks around for a moment, noting this might be the only shot he had now that they were alone (sans bartender). “Jules, I wanted to ask if... um, you’d like to take a stroll or something to the football field with me?” Feeling his chest tense, Lip clears his throat again, moving his gaze around the room as he gestures with his hand, gaze falling back onto her. “It’s a little loud in here and I’d like to... you know, catch up.” He licks his lips, tilting his head to the side with an unsure grin. “Properly, I mean.”

[gracwrites]

risswrites​:

Though their relationship started off as a ploy to achieve the ultimate royal status on campus, Jessie didn’t care much for the labels. He had everything he’s ever wanted, fake admiration from his peers was more of an annoyance than a benefit. One thing he’d never told Eleanor before is that he would have had agreed to anything she had wanted in order to have the privilege to be close to her. But in this moment, the way she looked at her triggered feelings in him that he didn’t knew still existed. “Then what is it? I tried to do some cute shit you usually like and you act all stand offish. You’ve been like this all month. I can’t do shit to be there for you if you keep pushing me away.”

“Look, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called you that. I’ve just missed you and I never see you anymore.” Jessie apologized genuinely feeling some remorse for his actions, extending his hand out to reach for hers. In his anger, he hadn’t realized how many people were now gathered, watching them. Though he didn’t care much of his reputation, he was determined not to ruin Eleanor’s. Trying his best to control the volume of his voice to a whisper, he leans in closer to Eleanor. “You’re the most important person in my life. Seeing you pull away from me has had me feeling shitty in many ways. Have you really been busy or have you just been avoiding me?”

                   The brunette sighs, folding her arms at Jessie’s words. Although Eleanor was, in fact, being stand offish... she couldn’t find the courage to confirm nor deny her actions out loud. The reason was beyond her comprehension, and as much as she seemed intimidating, Eleanor just wasn’t into confrontation as much as their peers believed. That being said, she couldn’t find herself answering him straight away, going quiet as she tries to find the best response. However, his next few whispers triggered a humorless laugh, her eyes rolling as she shifts her weight from one side to the other. “That’s rich, Jess,” she chuckles softly, the corners of her lips lifting in what seems like genuine amusement. Sure, in retrospect, part of what he said genuinely amused her. For example, him feeling shitty. Still, Eleanor couldn’t imagine Jess feeling such a way with his tongue down Bree’s throat last month. “I can’t imagine you missing me knowing how busy you’ve been.” Her words were vague, but Eleanor didn’t want to hide behind a bush. She folded her arms, nodding to Bree standing in the kitchen, watching them along with everyone else.  

[gracwrites]

                          The staircase was old, creek-y, and painted an awful green-grey color that can be seen under the florescent beams of Ace’s flashlight. Eyes fixed on the wear and tear of his surroundings, he wonders if a zombie apocalypse hadn’t hit, could he stand living in such a gaudy apartment? Then again, the retro themed one he stayed in a few days ago certainly left an impression on him... nearly having Ace second guess if sleeping outside was a viable option. It was easy to think about these sort of things during a zombie apocalypse. At first, it was hard. For the first few months, all he thought about were the decaying ‘dead’ chasing after him and the cries of people being eaten alive. He couldn’t sleep for the first week, unable to rest peacefully until the third month in... the beginning of the apocalypse still remaining a vivid memory. 

It’s been a wild ride, to say the least. For the most part, Ace had been riding solo. He had managed to cling onto a group or two within the past few months, but they wounded up being either way too dramatic to remain in or just overall too reckless. Although it was lonely and Ace would argue he was on the verge of insanity... it seems as though whether there was an apocalypse or not, he was meant to be alone. It was okay, though. Ace decided a few weeks ago he’d try this whole ‘optimism’ thing. Sure, being chased by the undead and getting jumped for the few guns he had could warrant an awful attitude, but it wasn’t getting him anywhere. Not having to share food or worry about leaving anyone behind was easier— it had to be.

“—Shit,” Ace groaned, his palm suddenly aching after he had gripped onto the edge of a cabinet, attempting to pry it open. Bringing it to view, he sighs at the culprit: a medium sized cut. Noting the liquor store on the bottom floor, Ace decided to temporarily abandon looting the apartment above in hopes to find some bandages. They couldn’t all be gone, right? Making his way back down the stairs, Ace treads quietly, but pauses at the sound of the door opening from across the room. His heart begins to race, holding his palm to his chest as he attempts to look for the intruder from the darkness of the staircase... —Well, the other intruder. @saltinewrites​

[gracwrites]

risswrites​:

Years passed, but Mystic still felt the same. Every building Juli walked by triggered one memory after the other– some pleasant, but most reminded her of the loneliness she felt while living in Mystic all those years ago. When she arrived at the front of the school, she couldn’t help but stand completely still. For a moment she contemplated if it was a good idea to attend the festivities or to turn around and fly back home. If she was being honest with herself, there was only one reason she flew back to Connecticut and it was to see an old friend, Phillip Wolff. A treasured friend that had made her heart skip beats and comforted her through the darkest time in her life. To this day, Juli couldn’t pin point the exact reason or moment the two grew apart. But when they did, a good friend of hers, Layla, was able to help her put the pieces back together again. After Lip had told her of his plans to travel the country with his brother, Juli moved out of their apartment to live with Layla. Then after she got accepted to a vetenary school in LA, she packed her bags and her best friend.

After a few moments of awkwardly standing outside the door, Juli shoved the thoughts of doubt and regret out of her mind. She took a deep breath, put on a fake smile, and entered the doors of Mystic High. She made her way through the corridors gracefully and to her surprise, was greeted by many. Some were familiar and others were complete strangers. “I guess this is the perks of being friends with a famous screenplay writer,” she thought to herself begrudgingly as she continued to return fake smiles and greetings.

While she forced herself to make small talks with those around her, she couldn’t help but subtly look around the room for him. And when her eyes finally met his, she felt her heart drop to her stomach. The moments that happened after become a blur and before she knew it, she was standing in front of him. Buried memories and feelings rushed through her, but luckily, she was able to keep a calm composure. With a smile, she uttered a name she hadn’t for years. “Phillip Wolff. Didn’t think you’d come.” She said, lying about her knowledge of the night’s guest list.

                     “Wanna make a bet?” Looking up, Lip raised a brow curiously at the bartender speaking to him. “Bet?” he reiterates. The bartender grinned, resting their palms on the countertop, nodding to the entrance doors. “Bet whoever you’re waiting for will never show.” Lip couldn’t help but grin, a chuckle escaping him as he realized the questionable ‘bet’ was more so them teasing more than anything else. “Am I really that obvious?” He supposed so, the bartender nodding with a grin, refilling Lip’s drink. “A bit.” He chuckled again, reaching for his wallet until the bartender raised their hand, stopping him. “On the house. Hope they show,” he waves off cooly, tending to another patron approaching them soon after. 

Fingers tapping the glass gently, Lip sighs deeply, his nerves getting the best of him. If you asked Lip why he was getting so worked up over seeing an old friend, he wouldn’t have the faintest idea. However, the years did more than just age Lip. He knew better now and was more self aware than he’s ever been. He supposed, one way or another, he had these deep-seeded feelings for Juli that couldn’t be explained. He was protective, possessive... and enamored to the point that it nearly frightened him. It was depressing to admit, but it took Lip at least 6 years and 7 months to realize what he had truly lost. He remembers when that clarity came to him. Funny enough, it was during a kayaking tour in California— unable to stop himself from telling Warren how much Juli would’ve ‘loved to see this’ as they rowed through an underwater cave of sorts. 

Lip couldn’t help but wonder if tonight was supposed to mean something. Should he tell her? What if she’s dating someone? What if she’s married? It pained Lip to no end not knowing what Juli had been up to the past ten years. Since he went ‘off the grid’ and (sadly) forgotten his facebook password, he hasn’t exactly had the pleasure of snooping. He supposed tonight would be that night, given she shows up. Even if nothing would come out of it, Lip needed Juli to know... for his own peace of mind, and that maybe he can move on if he did. 

At that moment, the gym doors opened to a few people making their way inside. Lip looks up helplessly, spotting Juli immediately as she’s greeted by a few people. —Wow, he breathed in, eyes fixed on her figure from head to toe. Beautiful. Juli enters gracefully, her very aura bringing shame to people like him that didn’t do more like him and his semi formal wear. He wasn’t too embarrassed that he was staring at her for this long, because when her eyes finally meet his, Lip decides it was worth it. A small smile appears on his lips, his name coming from her mouth melting his heart. “Neither did I,” he replies, hands nervously playing with his credit card in his hand. “But now that you’re here, I’m glad I did.”

[gracwrites]

risswrites​:

Wherever Jessie went, he always became the life of the party despite how rude or obnoxious he may be. It was the perks and consequences of being born in wealth and politics. You can get away with anything since things are easy to cover up and no one really seems to care what you do, only how much money you have. It might not seem like it, but his temper and sense of privilege has gotten a lot better since meeting Eleanor. Sure he still had many, many flaws, but with Eleanor by his side, he had been trying to be a better version of himself for her. Even if he doesn’t truly understand what that means.

With the party at its peak, he wondered why Eleanor was nowhere to be found. In fact, he actually hadn’t seen her all day. Making his way through different corners of Amy’s house, he searched for his Queen, only to find her in the living room making her way towards a box of pizza. In an attempt to pleasantly surprise her, Jessie wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her cheek. “Found you.” he said teasingly, before dropping his arms at the unwelcomed reaction he received. “What?” he asked, watching as she crossed her arms and sighed. “Why do you have your bitch face on?”

                   Eleanor pulled back, her ‘bitch face’ emphasized for the world to see. With narrow eyes, she gives Jessie a once over, scoffing. “—Yeah, because that’s how you greet your girlfriend in the twenty first century.” The word ‘girlfriend’ rolled off her tongue unfamiliarly, as Eleanor wasn’t exactly giving much attention to her relationship the past month. Sure, maybe it was due to her deflating interest for the 'popular’ crowd, but finding out Jessie cheated on her was just the icing on the cake. Since then, the brunette started to distance herself subtly. Going home alone, going shopping alone... and in a strange way, found her independence through avoidance. It was a bittersweet pill to swallow, but it was just what she needed to fully agree to her father about switching schools. 

Knowing she was going to leave all of this behind... the ‘queen bee’ status, the royal treatment... and accepting it, Eleanor no longer felt the need to hold onto people like Amy or Jessie anymore. She wanted something different— something real. “I’m just not into the party,” Eleanor deflects, eyes suddenly noting a few people watching them from across the room. Although they weren’t exactly making a scene, Jessie and Eleanor as a couple held the attention of many— even if they were simply chatting in the middle of a crowded party. Despite the nagging feeling of wanting to out him for being a cheater, Eleanor just wasn’t in the mood for being on everyone’s Snapchat tonight. 

[gracwrites]

                      Parties. —G*d... how Eleanor came to despise them. Walking around the backyard, brows knitted, she tries her best to keep her facial expressions rested but how could anyone when a group of morons were jumping into the pool with their clothes on? The brunette groans, shaking her head at the drenched Gucci floating in the pool. A waste, she sighs, proceeding to evade chaos as much as possible. Moving her way through a sea of people, Eleanor wonders if it’d be too lame of her to hide in the bathroom for the rest of the evening. It was hard option to pass, being that she really didn’t want to be here. Showing up to Amy’s birthday party was a formality, at best. Sure, she was one of her ‘closest friends’, but if Amy or a dog was hanging off a cliff... Eleanor would not hesitate reaching for the much lighter option. In any case, she figured showing up would save her an earful at school the next day. Guilt tripping was Amy’s favorite past time, and even Eleanor wouldn’t wish her worst enemy at the hands of a shameless whiner. 

The music gets louder as Eleanor makes her way back inside, her mouth beginning to salivate as she remembers a pile of newly delivered pizza boxes sitting in the living room. With her eyes on the prize, she makes her way towards them until she’s stopped by a tall figure, nearly bumping into them. “Watch where you’re—” she pauses, eyes finding the very loafers she bought for him just last year. Eleanor rolls her eyes, crossing her arms as she releases a sharp sigh. “Guess you found me.” The brunette shrugs in half hearted defeat, despite knowing very well Jessie would’ve found her even if she did decide to hide in the bathroom. @risswrites​

[gracwrites]

                         Elbows resting upon the granite countertop, Lip nurses his drink, unable to keep himself from grinning as he begins to feel that liquid courage seeping in. A deep sigh leaves him as he looks up, baby blue eyes scanning his surroundings. Mystic High... he sighs softly, fond memories beginning to flash before his eyes, nostalgia pulling at his heart strings. Although reunions were surely a thing a town like Mystic thrived in, Lip never thought he’d see himself actually returning— at least, not for the last decade or so. He always believed he would be the last person out, convinced he couldn’t make it anywhere else. After all, that’s what most people believed, right? He was just that guy who worked at Pennys... with the Lazarus brother and cold hearted mother. In any case, Lip didn’t want to think about that. Warren was doing well for himself now and as the years went by, he was no longer desperate to win his mother’s affections. He was in a good place. 

The music, although incredibly loud, was nothing more than white noise to Lip. He was preoccupied, glancing at the doors, waiting for a certain someone to walk in. He could feel his palms begin to sweat, the anticipation of seeing Juliane Nguyen after all these years being the main reason why he came tonight. He wondered briefly if she would be mad at him for not trying as hard to keep in touch. They promised each other to do so, but... life happened, he supposed. With all his traveling and focus spent on rekindling his relationship with his brother, Lip realized he was slowly losing touch with his friends back home. He wondered, at the time, if that’s what it meant to ‘growing apart’... it was just a hard thing to accept when it came to a friend like Juli. Friend... he sighs again, eyes lifting to the bartender as he beckons them for another glass. This was going to be one hell of a night. @risswrites​

[gracwrites]

liilyjames‌:

@gracrps​

O’Hare was a constant, never-ending hellhole as far as Brian was concerned. It was a fact as true and obvious as the color of his eyes. Each time he had hauled ass to the airport—either for work or for personal reasons—something always went wrong: lost luggage, expired passport, too-big bottle of something buried deep in the confines of his carry-on. It would in turn require some nasty TSA agent to pull him aside and dig through his underwear to throw away his expensive fair trade shampoo. It didn’t help that the WiFi was awful; everything was astronomically upcharged; there were never enough plugs to charge his laptop; and there was always at least one screaming baby in his vicinity. Airports sucked. Fact of life.

This time it was an issue exacerbated by the fact that he had been running late, paired with the reality that he was dreading the conference that awaited him in New York. Some days Brian really liked his job. It kept him on his toes, which could be exciting, but sometimes it was stressful as all hell, which explained why some days Brian really, really hated his job. He felt that hatred particularly keenly as he rushed toward his gate, obviously placed on the entire other side of the airport in a turn of events that might have been funny if they were not occurring to him. He stopped short when he arrived, surprised by the fact that he hadn’t arrived in the middle of boarding but instead discovered everyone sitting dejectedly on various, uncomfortable seats or crowded around the information desk. He knew those signs. These were Delay Signs. He pulled out his phone from jacket pocket, quickly pulling up his email, and—there it was. Two hours. Shit.

With every chair at his gate taken, he settled for finding residence up against the nearest wall where a few people already took refuge, dropping his bags by his feet then sliding down onto the floor after them. There was no outlet and he knew the battery on his laptop was dangerously low, so there went getting any work done, but at least he had a book. Small blessings, he supposed, if he were the type to actually identify things as blessings. He pulled out his worn copy of On The Road—a guilty pleasure read from his college days—then plugged in a single earbud to keep his right ear free to listen to any announcements and settled in for the ass-numbing wait.

             If it wasn’t for Pen’s one hell of a weekend with the rest of the Rhynes clan, she would’ve thrown an absolute fit the second she got her ‘two-hour delay’ email. It was college football season and Peter, the youngest, was gassing himself up as the new quarterback for USC. Naturally, the entire family had to attend-- they were all USC alumni, after all. The weekend did Penelope some good. Living in New York was a culture shock for the California native, and despite adapting well, she couldn’t help but be homesick every so often. Still, she wasn’t the type to wear her heart on her sleeve. She hated admitting any kind of vulnerability, which is why you would never even see her giving her brothers a two-armed hug, even after only seeing each other a few times a year. Penelope liked it this way-- she preferred it. 

Which is why, in a place where no one knew her, she was able to smile as blissfully as she felt. It was a damn good weekend, and without the restrictions of her brother’s teasing her with ‘see, we knew you loved us!’, she was able to fully digest it. Coffee in one hand and bagel in the other, she sat happily against the wall, people watching. It wasn’t really her thing, but without any power to charge her laptop, she felt like she didn’t have much of a choice. Also, mostly, because she was low-key judgemental and wanted to use the new sunglasses the eldest bought for her on Friday. 

Mouth full and smirking with a bit of cream cheese stuck on the corner of her lip, her eyes drew to the man that sat across from her. Her head rested against the pillar, noting that he was just as angry as everyone else. For a second, she wondered if it was too mean that she was secretly enjoying this. There was something so high and mighty when it came to being at peace when the majority clearly was not. However, her grin fell the second he pulled out a worn out copy of On The Road, quickly earning him a roll of the eyes. She scoffed, loudly. “Wow.”

[gracwrites]

liilyjames‌:

@gracrps

In his defense, Wyatt had put up the ad for his old, wobbly coffee table on Craigslist when he was drunk, but considering the sheer number of dumb shit he did while he was drunk, that excuse was getting flimsier and flimsier. Or at least it was according to the people in his life. Something about learning from his past mistakes—blah blah blah. He usually zoned out in the middle of the resulting lectures. So what, he once visited some buds attending college in Boston and went mildly viral on Twitter when some girl got video of him dancing on a bartop? He even got a mention in BuzzFeed and weren’t all those suits always bitching about the lack of new fans and viewership? He totally scored them some interest. And maybe there was also that time he got into a fight outside a club in Calgary of all places, but people did wild, dumb things when they were drunk. Good luck to his coach and his mom and that hot PR chick when it came to teaching Drunk Wyatt what was and wasn’t a big no-no.

He was actually sort of surprised he even got a reply. Reading it back, his post was riddled with typos and exclamation marks and some questionably framed photos of the coffee table itself. He included his number—big no-no number one—and the offer to help carry it out to the buyer’s car once they arrived at his apartment—big no-no number two. But there was no going back now. He accepted the guy’s Venmo payment, gave him his address, and was waiting with the table pushed up against the wall by his front door. Wyatt was told to expect him at four o’clock and it was one minute past when he heard the buzz from the doorman on the ground floor. The voice over the intercom told him, dubious as all hell, that a Jordan Abernathy was here, and sent him up once Wyatt confirmed that he wasn’t being stalked by a crazed fan.

Opening the door once he heard the knock, Wyatt greeted the Jordan guy with a grin. “Hey man, I hope he didn’t give you too much trouble down there. Dude’s waaay paranoid, it’s nuts,” he said, forgoing the mention of the fact that he forgot to warn Rick that someone was coming by to see him. Wyatt opened the door wider to let Jordan in, then knocked the toe of his sock-clad foot against the coffee table. “Here she is. A little banged up, but — You can probably paint it, right? I mean, if you’re buying shit off Craigslist, I’m assuming you’re, like, used to having to fix up some way wankier-looking stuff.”

                He could hear his friends now: ‘You can’t be serious’ ‘Again, dude?!’ ‘One day you’ll find termites in your apartment and it’ll all be your fault!’ And sure, maybe in a very small way, he agreed with them... just, not today. Jordan didn’t like to call himself a ‘penny pincher’. It wasn’t why he was on his way to some dude’s house on Craiglist for an old coffee table, there was just something off-putting about him getting something new. When his old one broke after lifting his legs on top of it, he considered just fixing it-- but after spotting a ‘not so bad’ looking one that was similar to his own on Craigslist, he figured, why the hell not? It would be like his own never broke, and he wouldn’t have to go through an anxiety-filled trip to Ikea to replace it. 

Upon arrival, Jordan’s brows lifted at the complex before him. It was nice, despite being a huge contrast to the coffee table itself. He shrugged it off, however. The seller was a guy, what was he expecting? When he entered the building, the doorman gave him a suspicious look, refusing to let Jordan out of his sight as he rang up Wyatt. Jordan couldn’t help but return with a look himself. However, before he let his thoughts run amuck, Jordan was able to get in, despite the shady hostility. 

“Not too much trouble,” he returns, shrugging. “I was starting to think it was a race thing but I let it go,” he joked, though, acknowledging very quickly how awkward the air would get once he closed his mouth. Quickly, he cleared his throat, entering the apartment to get a better look. He observed it carefully, a grin lifting the corner of his mouth as his hand hovered over some bite marks on the ledge. “Assuming a paint job can cover up some bite marks?” he looks up, teasing him with a playful grin.