WICKED

"The world is not fair, and often fools, cowards, liars, and the selfish hide in high places."

[andrewgrxy-blog]

“Not before I cracked their skulls against the bartop,” he responded whilst easing a sly grin upon his features, “but you act as if it would bother you if they did.” As drinks were being refilled Andrew took up the vacant seat beside Dale. There was a rush of amusement felt in response to the fellow man’s words. He cocked his head and allowed a smirk to tug at the corner of his mouth, “But you don’t really want that,” Andrew started, returning a lingering gaze to a man at the opposite end of the bar, “though I don’t do them either. So I guess I can do that man over there.” Leaning forward, he pressed his mouth close to Dale’s ear, “Your loss.”

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

Exerting all self-control he had stored in him, Dale fashioned his expression into a facade of indifference and turned his head towards Andrew, their faces a mere few inches apart from each other. “Believe me, I’m not bothered one bit,” he replied smoothly. “Although, I would urge you to at least finish your drink before bounding off.” As he spoke, he found his eyes drifting down from Andrew’s eyes to his lips, until he looked away altogether to gaze back at his own cup. He swirled the contents around, focusing on that instead of Andrew’s presence beside him. He avoided all thoughts about the activities he had engaged in with the fighter; after all, Dale functioned based on his own rules and values, and some pretty boy with an attitude was not going to be the exception to his policy on one-night stands.

[naomisnows]

Naomi nodded in agreement. “They reek of rich male entitlement.” She stole another glance at the pair. “Just wait: as the night goes on they’re going to get sloppier and sloppier until one of them says something that the other takes the wrong way.” Though Naomi would be long gone by then, the thought of the two patrons arguing like children amused her. “Naomi Snow. Pleasure, Dale.” She greeted with a smile. “Believe me, now that you’ve proven you understand bar and pub etiquette, you’re pretty much safe from any cliches. So, to answer your question, no. My appearance here is sort of a rarity, actually. Now that I’ve gotten older, I’ve tried to stray from bars and the like. Once you hit thirty, you run the risk of being known as that woman if you show up too often.” 

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

Dale let out a chuckle at that. “I give them half an hour at the absolute most until the bar fight will ensue.” He could easily picture it, the two men going at each other with fists bared and care thrown to the wind. With that thought in mind, it was clear that Dale would never be the kind to find the idiocy of grown men humorous, only pathetic. “Pleasure is all mine,” he insisted, then nodded at her words. “But I’ll be honest, you could have very easily fooled me with your age. You definitely look more like a twentysomething, so I’d say it’ll take a few more years to even get close to looking like·that woman.” He took a sip of his drink, his third of the night, before turning back to Naomi. “Have you been living in Park Avenue long?”

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

[hugh-dancy-archived]

[andrewgrxy-blog]

The Bulge was a frequently visited site for the Scotsman, as their Scotch Whisky reminded him much of home. The building’s entire orientation spoke lengths of a place he held dear, but experienced great animosity with when on the phone regarding home. Andrew had taken plenty of shots that afternoon– flirted his way into plenty of free drinks but casually denied further interests. A comment from a familiar voice had turned him around upon his barstool. “But they’re easy to get drinks from,” he mused with a wink in Dale’s direction, “perhaps you’ll buy me one.” Or two or three.

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

It was pathetic, he knew, to feel euphoric for a moment as he came face-to-face with Andrew again. Still, he couldn’t suppress a smirk as he heard the fighter’s comment from behind him. “I wouldn’t be so quick to do so,” he replied. “They’d probably order you a cheap beer and grope you tactlessly underneath the bar table.” A painful thing to imagine, and yet, the image of one of the men flirting shamelessly with Andrew flitted across his mind. The thought disgusted him in more ways than one. “Another refill for both of us, please,” he called to the bartender, who took their glasses promptly after to fulfill the request. Dale was left shamelessly staring Andrew up and down, fondly remembering bits and details from their last encounter. “I should point out, however, that you should talk up someone else if you’re looking for a bed of the night,” he said. “You’re hot, but I don’t do repeats.”

[naomisnows]

Now in her thirties, Naomi no longer viewed alcohol as desirably as she used to. Thus, one hour after she had arrived at The Bulge, she was still painfully sober— a far cry from her college days. In no mood to go home, however, she decided to trade her table for the counter in the hopes of having a peaceful night. Unfortunately, she was seated for less than a minute before the undeniable sound of rowdy drunks filled the room. Though such behavior could be expected from college aged frats, these men were clearly more than a few years past that age and irritation crawled through her body. “You and I share similar feelings.” Naomi agreed when the young man beside her voiced her own thoughts. “You’d think we were in some college bar and they were ten years younger. It’s a shame maturity doesn’t reach all of us.”

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

He hadn’t noticed the blonde sitting next to him until she replied to his comment, causing him to turn his head in her direction. He raked his brain for a title to put with the face, and yet, the woman was nameless to him, a rare occurrence for the man who knew everything about everyone. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they get kicked out sooner than later,” he said as he pasted another glare in their direction. “They practically have ‘I start bar fights’ written on their foreheads.” It was a truth, one that made Dale’s stomach turn in disgust. These men were the type that would end up victim to Dale’s antics, and for good reason - the world could always make do without another disruptive drunk. “Dale Cosgrave, by the way,” he told her, offering a grin. “I’d ask if you come here often, but I wouldn’t want you to think I’m a gross cliche.”

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

He wasn’t the kind of guy to go to bars. Dale looked down on alcohol as petty, a shortcut for those who couldn’t manage through their day on their own, but The Bulge was an inviting sight after the day he had. He sipped at his drink, some daily special with too much liquor he hadn’t bothered to remember the name of, and glared at the end of the bar table, where two men were exchanging a conversation as loudly and obnoxiously as they could. “Of all the drunks, the ‘Noisy and Ostentatious Drunk’ is by far my least favorite,” he commented. “And here I was hoping I’d finish encountering them after I graduated from high school parties.” He took another sip of his drink and rolled his eyes.

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

txt msg | wintergrave

Connor: Interns don't exactly have the same skill set as you do when it comes to a computer. I just need a person who can fix things when I tell them to, and not question the way in which it happens. I can phrase it as 'working with me' if that bruises your ego less.

Dale: Just tell me when to start.

[loganxcook]

There were a lot of things Logan Cook hated in this life: fruit in cakes, people who were rude to cashier or waiters, adverts, waiting for sequels of films, ignorance, being pitied, leukaemia. But at that moment in time, Logan hated nothing more than to be made to feel stupid or irrelevant for trying to be polite. He tugged on his lip to keep his temper in check, biting back a comment about how he knew damn well a pool could be shared. Shrging slightly he turned away from the guy. “In that case, I’m sorry for bothering you.” The acid in his voice was more tangeable than he’d like, though maybe to only those who knew him. Still, it was enough for him to feel like something more polite should be said. “Enjoy whatever you’re reading.”

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

From the venom hinted in his voice, Dale quickly became aware that his reply had sparked irritation. He didn’t exactly mind, of course, but the fact that he didn’t know this guy marked him as too much of a wildcard to not be diffused. After all, the last thing he wanted to deal with was the swimmer recognizing him and letting it slip that Dale Cosgrave was an asshole. “No bothering involved, don’t worry. I was just immersed in this book - it’s way more interesting than I would have thought it to be, actually.” He looked up from his reading then, only to find that he wasn’t as much of a stranger as Dale had previously pinned him as. Holding Amari as close to him as he did, the socialite made sure to keep tabs on everyone his friend held close, and Logan Cook just happened to be one of them.

[harlowrenier]

“Well, not to objectify you or anything but you live in Park Avenue,” Harlow told him as she did her best to avoid running into anyone else— an action easier said than done. Now that everyone was eager to get home, all semblance of manners seemed to disappear. “So, to most people you might as well be. Regardless, the most you’ll have to spend there is probably just that of the screen which isn’t all that much.” Giving a laugh, she shook her head. “Surprisingly, for all my fucking up, I’ve only broken a screen once and that was my Mac. Besides, I wouldn’t call your screen shattered, okay? They’re scratches. Leave the dramatics to the magazines and soap operas.”  

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

The thought of him shattering any of his computers, especially his Mac, was enough to unnerve him. With only a small USB hidden in his apartment with the mere necessities of his desktop on it, he shuddered to think of how much damage control he would have to go through in order to restore things if something ever happened to that specific piece of technology. It was a small blessing that his phone had been the one to suffer the fall instead of the laptop tucked away in his satchel. “It’s shattered in my heart, which is practically an equivalent,” he protested. “Although, I feel I should point out that you definitely don’t strike me as the typical stereotype for the kind of person who would fuck up too much, running into me aside.”

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

txt msg | wintergrave

Connor: I want you working for me.

Dale: Don't you have hopeful twenty-something political majors to do that for you? I'm not exactly the guy you want sorting your mail.

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

morning glow || dale & andrew

[andrewgrxy-blog]

“No,” the response rolled easily off his tongue, “I don’t think I will.” He was much too comfortable to obey such an order; or any given order for that matter. His eyes trailed Dale as he wandered away from the bed. It wasn’t a sorry sight to wake up to, but it was one he shouldn’t have stayed to find. Andrew would be damned a second time before he made a habit out of it.

“Sounds fecking posh,” the Scottsman muttered, “and a bit daft for someone of your taste.” As Dale came back to join him his head tilted against the headboard in order to face him. The man wasn’t making his ‘get out’ point very convincing. He swung a leg over Dale’s waist and settled; all the while a sarcastic grin played across his features. “You did plenty of charity work a mere few hours ago.” Andrew leant forward to ghost his mouth along the expanse of Dale’s throat, yet the only thing that met flesh was his breath. His lips halted upon the reach of the young man’s mouth,“Ask me nicely.” He smirked through the phrase, shifting his hips ever so slightly upon the other man’s lap. “Ask me to stay and have coffee with you.” 

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

“I wouldn’t exactly consider you a charity case,” he said, a grin playing on half of his lip. “In fact, I’m certain I benefited from it far too much for it to be really giving back.” The smirk turned to something else entirely when Andrew practically placed himself on his lap. Anything he might have said was interrupted by the sudden presence of a breath ghosting his neck, leaving him with nothing to do but close his eyes and tug on Andrew’s curls. His mouth against his skin was another sin in itself, a whole new category of natural disaster. It was terrifying, truly, how the socialite could almost lose his rationality when Andrew did exactly the right thing at the right time.

As his lips ended up hovered right above Dale’s, his eyes blinked open to fix him with an amused gaze. Of all the negotiators he had encountered, Andrew certainly wasn’t half bad. “Please,” he said,  “do me the honor of staying for coffee, I want nothing more.” He closed the gap between them and kissed him, teeth biting lip as he did so. He stopped before he could do too much more, well aware that a second round was not something that could fit in his schedule. “It’d be especially kind of you to get off at this point,” he pointed out. “It’s a bit hard to brew anything from here, as much as I am enjoying the view.”

[harlowrenier]

“If you’re sure.” Harlow sighed. She still felt a twinge of guilt for the state of his phone (despite the lack for great damage) and that particular feeling never went away easily for her— which is why she stepped back to lead the way. Though all she really wanted was to go home, she figured it was the least she could do. “Follow me.” She replied, turning on her heel. “It’s not a huge store.” Harlow told him. “But they probably do some of the best repairs I’ve ever seen and all for less than what Apple would charge you— not that I figure that to be an issue for you but you know, why pay more when you can pay less?”

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

He followed her easily, matching the steps of her heels almost exactly. The streets of New York were a maze of people going both in his direction and the opposite, but Harlow managed to offer an appearance and demeanor that stood out from the rest of the crowd. “Sure, I get that,” he agreed. “I’ll save a few bucks whenever I can. The tabloids love to forget that I’m really not made of money.” Though he might as well have been, considering that the world’s banks were all accessible from his computer if he was ever truly in need. “Do you shatter screens often, or was this place a small gem you managed to find?”

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

morning glow || dale & andrew

[andrewgrxy-blog]

There was light filtering in from the window, sun raised just above a skyscraper in order to shine a heavy glow in his eyes. He tempted to rollover and ignore its deliverance, but there was a limb taking up residence around his waist. What the-? It took a moment for the fighter to recollect such a night, and even more so the morning in which he’d apparently stayed over to wake to. all of his one night stand don’ts were rolled into one giant mistake.

The body pressed against him retreated and took the heat with them. Up, the voice ordered soon after, up. His bones ached. His flesh was riddled in specks the color of lightning strikes. Andrew groaned as he pushed himself up against the headboard. There was a sheet haphazardly tangling up his legs and sat low on his hips.

He ignored the fellow man’s wishes. Not one part of him wanted to make the effort to move. There was a soreness like no other, that he couldn’t pinpoint as it resonated within every fiber of his being. “What time is it?” His hands attempted to untangle messed curls. “What charity event are you off to bullshit today?”

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

He was quick to roll his eyes as he was met with Andrew’s comments. Leave it to Dale to manage to sleep with the most stubborn man in the city. “Time to get your ass out of bed,” he replied. That said, he took his own advice and shifted to the bed’s side. He found last night’s boxers on the ground a few inches away, and pulled them on before lifting himself up from the sheets and covers. His limbs protested the action, sore and tired after a night of little rest.

The wooden floor felt cold beneath his feet as he found his balance. The noise from his window, opened just a crack, filtered in softly - birds chirping, distant conversations, and the dulled sound of what was usually a bustling city. Dale stood like that for a moment, savoring his moment of peace before he had to face the rest of the day. “And if you must know,” he called over his shoulder to Andrew, addressing his previous question, “I’m heading to one of those fundraising brunches for the homeless in need. Or, starving children. Orphaned dogs, maybe?” A yawn interrupted his words, followed by an accompanying stretch of his arms. “The point is that it’s very charitable and holier-than-thou.” He walked back to the bed and crawled over the linens to take a place sitting beside Andrew. “Now, I can either make you a cup of coffee before you go and be very civilized, or I can carry you bridal-style out of my apartment and leave you to fend for yourself out in the cold and harsh wild.” He leaned forward on one knuckle, raising two eyebrows in prompting.

[celestexpresley-blog]

She smiled at the assumption of being in trouble. Until she realized it was kind of a truth. “Well, we both ran as far up as we could go.” she pointed around, realizing they sure ran pretty far up. “That’s me. I sure am everywhere, huh?” his comment made her smile, encountering fans was always a pleasure even though she still wasn’t used to the whole thing. “That’s very kind, thank you. — Do I get to know your name? Or at least what kind of trouble’s brought you here? That could be interesting.”

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

At the mention of their height, Dale was prompted to look down. From where they stood, the city streets were condensed to only grey and black pavement colors, spotted with the occasional orange or red from the leaves that had managed to remain. It was no sight for the faint of heart. “You’re popular, yes,” he replied. “Plus, I’ve heard your name circulate at a lot of events as of recent. You’re really quite the natural success.” Something Dale admired her for, no doubt. In this age of Hollywood stars, finding someone who didn’t sleep or bribe their way to the top was a rarity. “Dale Cosgrave, by the way,” he offered. “I’m just dropping by for a bit to savor the view before heading to a gala.” He nodded with a grin, attempting to give off an air of excitement at the fact. After all, as far as New York was concerned, he lived and breathed to attend event after event,

[harlowrenier]

“Sorry.” She repeated, glancing at Dale’s phone. “From where I am it doesn’t look bad but if the scratch bothers you, I know a place that can fix it and I’ll pay for it if you’d like?” Had the roles been reversed, Harlow wouldn’t have thought anything of her phone but recognizing some people were more attached to their electronic devices than she was, she figured offering was the best she could do. “I mean, I don’t know if you’re one of those people who flips their shit when it comes to their phone so yeah. Offer’s on the table if you want it.”

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

He continued to glance at the phone in his hand, inspecting the damage and weighing Harlow’s offer in his mind. Dale was far from phone-obsessed, but he figured a new screen wasn’t a bad idea. With a glance to his watch, he figured he had time to spare. “No need to pay for it,” he replied. There had been a time when offering to pay for something would have Dale jumping on it, but that was then. Money was the least of Dale’s problems in present. “Just show me where the place is and I’ll consider us even.” He offered her a brief smile before nodding, a signal for her to lead the way.

[mrdalecosgrave-blog]

txt msg | wintergrave

Connor: Truthfully, I find you fascinating. In you, I see a storm coming, a new world. I'm impatient to see it happen.

Dale: You still haven't managed to ask for something.