i'll be your crying shoulder

jaenelle sterling, thirty-seven, lives for rock climbing and going skinny dipping. she's also a counselor for troubled youth after spending a good portion of her childhood raised by an alcoholic mother, but she doesn't like to talk about that. she lives in queens with her pet lab named archimedes - affectionately called archie. brightlightsbigcity rp blog.

[jaenellesterling-blog]

teegan-teecan:

Teegan smiled at the woman’s response, practically looking outright relieved that she hadn’t just given him the look and walked away like most people generally did whenever he spoke outside of work. “See, that’s why I always thought you were trustworthy. You completely understand the things that matter! Like, c’mon. Tigger? If he’s not a literal personification of ADHD and Kanga doesn’t have some kind of anxiety disorder then I’m quitting my job right now and moving back home into my parents basement to wallow in shame forever.” He rushed out, proving that this was clearly something he’d put thought into more times than this one. “Can you believe my ex-girlfriend actually called me crazy one time because I went on this same rant when she told me it used to be her favorite show? Like I was the one that started it.” He huffed, shaking his head. 

Amused by the relief painting his features, Jaenelle can relate to that feeling of not knowing whether some random thought she’d spoken aloud was either going to ostracize her or intrigue her audience. She was incredible curious, always had been and she spent a lot of time wondering about the nature and birth of things and ideas. She also spent a lot of time researching. “What about Pooh? What kind of disorder do you think he had? My bet is on co-dependency... he had an odd affinity for never wanting to be alone.” From what she can remember, anyway, because while she HAD spent a lot of time watching the cartoon growing up and it had been her favorite, it’s been some time since she’s actually seen an episode. Her shoulders roll forward in a mild shrug, fingers twitching against the table top. Jaenelle tries to contain her soft snort at his comment, a quiet shake tugging her head side to side. “I mean, it does sound a little crazy when you haven’t really given yourself the chance to think about it, but I also think that’s part of what makes it so obvious and true.” 

[jaenellesterling-blog]

indigo-addams:

Indigo fell into step behind the stranger, not minding helping out. “No worries babe,” she shook her head, stopping at her vehicle. Stepping up to the drivers seat, Indigo glanced at the woman, “is your alarm on?” She questioned, knowing that if she stuck the hanger in and wriggled it around until it came undone, the alarm might blare and it would be unpleasant. Either way, Indigo slid the hanger in between the crease of the window and the metal of the car door. With a fixated expression on her fae, Indigo slid the wire around until she heard the familiar flick, grabbing the door by the handle and wrangling it open. “Ta-da~”

Rubbing her hands together, Jaenelle hangs back when Indigo moves forward toward the driver’s side door. “Nope... I’m honestly not sure my car has an alarm?” Jaenelle furrows her brows, a slight question to her tone before the chuckle rolls off her tongue. “I’m almost sure it doesn’t, so you should be good,” the brunette adds a second later with a mild nod, watching with fascination as the woman sets about wiggling the hanger down into the side of the door. It’s like magic, when not a few minutes later there’s a click and the woman is managing to open Jaenelle’s door. “You are magic!” She squeals, dashing forward toward the open door to fish her keys off of the opposite seat. “What can I do to thank you? Name it, literally anything,” she turns back to the woman with a flurry of motions, actually reaching forward to hug her without thinking about it. 

[jaenellesterling-blog]

xavierbarlow:

Xavier laughed and shook his head. “I know, I know. That’s me being a dick, sorry.” It was so easy to forget how sweet and sensitive Jaenelle was – the people he usually hung out were quite the opposite. He didn’t mind that, didn’t mind anyone as long as they didn’t try to tell him what to do. Hell, he wouldn’t even care if they insulted him. Xavier knew he was on the highway to destruction, without any brakes. But he couldn’t bring himself to care too much. “Okay, good, I was worried for a second. If you wanted to be bad, you could just spend more time with me.” He grinned almost sheepishly. “Alright, not bad then, just irresponsible.” A laugh fell from his lips at his conclusion. “I mean, I guess it would make the most sense to try and pry the window open, but I’ve never tried to mess with a car before. Besides, it’s fucking freezing out here, so I’d suggest we call the AAA and wait somewhere that’s, you know, inside. Or maybe someone in there has tools in their car?” He suggested, gesturing in the direction of the nearest store.

Jaenelle tucks her arms closer to her chest as the wind kicks up around them, send a biting chill down her spine despite the many layers she currently has on. The only drawback she had about New York was the cold weather; she missed her balmy winter nights and would take them over the below freezing temperatures any day. “I think I’m a little past the point of being able to act out my rebellious tendencies, Xavier. I feel like I’d only just end up making a fool of myself even if that was something I was inclined to pursue,” she sighs. She’ll be hitting another milestone in three years; Jaenelle can’t believe she’s almost forty and all she has to show for it is a job she loves and-- Nope, she’s not going to think about that. Smiling at the man before her, she groans unappreciative at his suggestion. “D-do you think we could try? I literally cannot be late for this meeting, Xavier. It’s my last chance to get this kid to talk to me because I’m right there. He’s going to open up to me, I can feel it, but if I miss this, if I’m late... that’s it. I’m not going to have a second chance and I can’t loose Micha because I’m an idiot who can’t get her shit together!” She’s ranting, her face growing more flush by the second. “Shit. I mean--s- sorry. I’m just... Yeah, triple A might be the best bet,” she frowns, tugging her phone out of her pocket as disappointment clouds her visage. 

[jaenellesterling-blog]

teegan-teecan:

“No one can convince me that everyone from Winnie the Pooh didn’t have different sorts of mental disorders. I’ll believe that the same day that I believe the bullshit claims that all of the things hovering around Los Angeles this year have been rocket launches. It’s all a lie.”

“Oh, no, I actually completely agree with you. Especially Eeyore... he was clinically depressed, at the very least. I think that’s part of the reason it was one of those cartoons I was completely enamored by growing up. I watched every single episode,” Jaenelle chuckles in agreement. She’d had to watch at the neighbor’s house, though, because she’d grown up without cable in her own apartment - since the money she made was put toward groceries and keeping a roof over her own head while her mother was... otherwise preoccupied.

[jaenellesterling-blog]

kellyxxanderson:

“That’s very true,” she said, nodding a little. She smiled a little, shaking her head. “They live in Oklahoma, but they’re coming here to visit. My mom’s coming for Christmas, and my dad is coming for New Years.”

“It can get a little aggressive, though. I’ve seen it happen and that’s when I kind of have to step away because I can’t believe people can be so rowdy!” She adds with a low laugh, combing slender fingers through her dark hair. “Oh! Are they... separated? Is that why they’re not coming together?” Jaenelle wants to bite her tongue the minute she poses the inquiry; it’s none of her business, but the curiosity swimming in her veins wouldn’t let her sit on it.

[jaenellesterling-blog]

henry-kaine:

“Pleasure to meet you, Jaenelle. Have you lived in New York long?”

“I’ve lived here going on fifteen years now! My hometown has nothing on the city that never sleeps and I absolutely love it here,” she answers with a beaming grin. “What about you? How long have you lived in New York, Henry?” 

[newgirldaily]

[jaenellesterling-blog]

[jaenellesterling-blog]

indigo-addams:

“Hold on,” Indigo shook her head for a moment, unlocking her trunk and setting her bags inside, before closing it and moving to the backseat doors. Inside was some dry cleaning she’d just picked up for her fiancee; she wouldn’t miss it, and Indigo pulled the wire hanger out. Unweaving the wire, Indigo stretched the wire before she looked at the woman, “lead the way,” she smiled.

Trepidation strikes through her as she watches the woman stow her bags. There’s nothing more she can do besides watch, but she takes note of the way the woman stretches the wire of the hanger. Jaenelle knows she’s going to keep a wire hanger in her car from now on... though if she locks her keys in the car, that would defeat the purpose of keeping said hanger inside the vehicle, wouldn’t it? Shaking her head, she offers the woman a friendly, appreciative smile, before she’s leading her in the direction of her car. “You’re a literal lifesaver, I can’t even begin to thank you,” she tells the woman during their short trek between one car and the next until they’re standing beside Jaenelle’s maroon colored car.

[jaenellesterling-blog]

blackmamba--nat:

After purchasing the means to restock her liquor cabinet, Natalia loaded the bottles into her backpack and slid her hands in her pockets as she started home. She didn’t mind walking in the snow, and it wasn’t far from her place to begin with. But when she felt a hand on her shoulder, she had half a mind to whip around defensively, but the woman in question certainly wasn’t a threat at all. Her eyes glanced around a bit, “I mean–…is someone gonna pop out and try and arrest me if I say yes?” she asked, her voice only tinted with amusement. “Because I was on a treadmill for like two hours today already and I really don’t feel like running anymore.”

“Oh, goodness, no!” Jaenelle is quick to defend, shaking her head animatedly while shoving her hands into the pockets of her coat. “No, no, nothing like-- it’s an awfully silly question, I know, but I locked my keys in my car and I’m not adept at breaking into, well, anything,” she admits with a flush coloring her cheeks, wanting to smack herself for being so stupid to begin with. Sure, it’s an honest mistake, but in her rush to make sure she had everything, she’d forgotten the one thing she needed to make it to her appointment on time. Her keys were vital, especially when she spent eighty percent of her day traveling from one point to another. 

[jaenellesterling-blog]

henry-kaine:

He nodded. “I can understand that sentiment. Everyone loves somebody.” He winked. “I’m Henry. A pleasure to meet you… what was your name, love?”

“I guess so! I try to avoid shopping as much as possible because of how insane some people can be, but, this time of year, it seems rather unavoidable.” Jaenelle beams at him, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I’m Jaenelle,” she offers, enjoying the accent on his tongue. 

[jaenellesterling-blog]

[jaenellesterling-blog]

[brightlightsbigcityrp]

Ho-ho-ho, a surprise Christmas task coming at you!

We wanted to think of a nice little Christmas task for everyone to do, and we both adored the one from last year. So we’re bringing it back! The following questions are all Christmas related ask meme questions for everyone to send around to each other! Since it’s a different type of task, we’d like to keep it mostly to today and tomorrow. So we highly encourage everybody for the next twenty-four hours to send these around to everyone who reblogs this post!

Have fun, and tag all your answers with #blbctask004.

1. What is your earliest Christmas memory?

2. Does your family have any Christmas traditions?

3. What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

4. Did you grow up believing in Santa or did your parents not tell you about him?

5. Do you still believe in Santa?

6. At what age did you stop writing letters to the North Pole?

7. Can you name all the reindeer without Googling them?

8. What’s your favorite Christmas movie (either actual Christmas movie or a movie set at Christmas time)?

9. What would you leave out as a snack for Santa as a kid?

10. Name your top five favorite “traditional” (i.e. Hark, the Herald Angels Sing, O Holy Night, First Noel, O Come O Come Emmanuel, etc.) Christmas songs.

11. Name your top five “contemporary” (i.e. White Christmas, Silver Bells, etc.) Christmas songs.

12. How soon after Thanksgiving do you start wishing people a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays?

13. Is your Christmas tree stylish and contemporary, or more traditional with sentimental/home made ornaments?

14. Do you decorate the outside of your house and your lawn for Christmas?

15. Have you or your family ever entered one of those obnoxious house decorating competitions?

16. What is your most cherished Christmas memory?

17. Did you ever go get your picture taken with the mall Santa and yank his beard down?

18. When did you stop going to visit Santa at the mall?

19. Do you feel guilty if you walk by the sidewalk Santa’s for Salvation Army and don’t drop at least a little change into the bucket?

20. What is the best part about Christmas in your opinion?

22. What are some of the things you can remember asking Santa for (either in letters or when you’d get your picture taken with him?)

23. What is your favorite Christmas season drink/treat/goodies?

24. What are some of the things you’d ask Santa for this year for Christmas if you could?

25. If you could be anywhere in the world on Christmas, where would you be?

[mytrouble-mind-deactivated20211]

[jaenellesterling-blog]

delilahmatthews:

Christmas shopping in New York City was always a nightmare, and Delilah didn’t want to spend any longer in the mall than necessary. She sucked in a surprised breath when a finger touched her shoulder. Her guard was clearly up as she spun around, as if she were expecting danger. She relaxed when she noticed it was a woman. “Um….” Her guard went back up at the question. “W-why? Sh- should I be getting one of those security guards…?”

Jerking back, not at all surprised by the reaction she’s on the receiving end of because most people had a hard time trusting anyone in their world these days, Jaenelle holds her hands up, palms facing forward, in peace offering to the woman. “Security guards! Why didn’t I think of that... there’s got to be a number for them,” Jaenelle starts to mumble while thumbing through her phone, finding the number for mall security easily enough. She’s hitting dial and pressing the phone to her ear a second later, offering a small smile to the girl in front of her. “I’m sorry if I startled you, I was just-- caught up in my own head for a minute when I realized what a mistake I made. I don’t-- Hi! Hello, my name is Jaenelle Sterling and I’m locked out of my car on parking deck C. Yes, I’m the owner of the car. Yes, I just need-- okay, thank you, I won’t go anywhere. Thank you!” Jaenelle hangs up the phone, breathing through a heavy sigh. “Again, I’m sorry if I scared you.” She tells the girl after listening to her own heartbeat for a moment. 

[jaenellesterling-blog]

marynaehall:

Mary looked over at her friend and shook her head with a bright smile. “You don’t need to thank me. I love hanging out with you. I honestly don’t have a ton of friends here in the city and getting a chance to hang out with you always makes me so happy.” She said simply as she tucked her hair behind her eat. She knew that it was just something Jaenelle did, over thanking, but she wanted her to know that she was just as grateful to spend time with her. “Of course, and I would never let you settle for any less than you deserve. But having some fun would is nice too.” She laughed a little as they walked with one another. “I mean I do try, and now I feel a sense of obligation to have this work out seamlessly so I’m here for you girlie.” 

She’s always going to appreciate it whenever anyone wants to spend time with her, especially those she finds herself particularly endeared to. Mary has become one of the few people Jaenelle has built a true friendship with, though it’s not for her own lack of being social. She knows how to talk to people, can come off a little awkward at times, maybe, but Jaenelle gives everyone the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. It’s a personal flaw of hers, one that’s caused her to be in unfortunate situations a time or two, but she’s learned from them and pushed forward. “You know I’m available for you to hang out with whenever you need it, Mary. Literally, any time,” she tells the woman beside her, smiling widely as they continue their trek. “I don’t know how seamless any of this is going to be, but I trust you.” Jaenelle admits a moment later, fingering the ends of her hair, tugging on the strands as if to keep herself grounded in the moment rather than thinking so far ahead she’ll end up talking herself out of their shenanigans completely.