I walk my days on a wire.

oh little bird don't fly so high; come down, pretty bird, & sing your lovesick lullaby. ☀︎ reed "red" starling 25 • unemployed aspiring artist 18+ RP Blog

[reedstarling]

@ Flowers on 5th [Morrell Point]  Closed Starter for @elliexabbott​

Straying from the confines of he boarding house, Reed stumbled upon a small flower shop. It was in an older building and stood out a bit. He’d seen it in passing before, but he’d never actually taken the time to look inside. Shame on him, though he had little use for them, he loved flowers. But then again, he always felt bad wandering around small stores, knowing he couldn’t afford to buy anything. What would he do with flowers? 

Fuck it. Reed slipped into the shop and began to peruse the selection of beautiful freshly cut flowers and arrangements. Coming upon a particularly pretty bunch of small yellow flowers, wandering fingers plucked a wilting flower from off its stem. It didn’t seem like the right move, however, and as Reed opened his sketchbook to a page of botanical drawings he’d done to place the flower down, he heard someone address him.

“Shit–sorry I,” What excuse did he really have for taking flowers in a damn flower shop? He couldn’t just unpick a flower. “It looked like it was already sorta dying?” He offered the sketchbook toward her, as if offering back a picked flower would mean less trouble. “I’m sorry, I can leave...”

[reedstarling]

@ the Museum [Clement Hill] Closed Starter for @frankiexalves​

Reed wandered a bit aimlessly through the museum, as he always did, still in awe of all the art on display. He’d seen it all what seemed like a hundred times already, but none of it got old. There was always something new to learn or a new artist exhibit worth swooning over. But he’d lost track of time and forgotten, for the moment, about the newly enforced curfew.

In looking at the artwork, the sub often daydreamed about the life of the artists and wondered what it felt like creating something so beautiful. Reed was sure each artist was different but, it seemed art just came naturally to them? It was both inspiring and disheartening. Each brush stroke looked so effortless yet so deliberate. 

Suddenly pulled from his thoughts, he glanced beside him and pulled out his headphones. "Hey, sorry I know you’re probably closing soon...”

[nathanieldelmore]

Nathaniel looked up at her as she picked up her briefcase, tucking her phone in her pocket. You know me. I don’t waste time on people I don’t think deserve it. His lips pressed into a thin line and he nodded as she went to set money down for on the bar for her drink and he tried, and failed, to shoo it away. The blonde woman in her perfectly tailored pencil skit and coat didn’t look back as she left him at the bar with his half-full glass liquor and Cosmo’s head in his lap. He’d hardly noticed anyone taking her seat until he leaned back in his chair with a hmph, wondering what he should do on a Saturday night, no longer having plans. He needed to clear his head. With a nod, he offered up a quiet, “Evening.” Not inclined to call it good just yet.

[reedstarling]

He’d had this suit for way too long. One of the buttons had to be sewn back on, it was a bit short in the sleeves and worn at in places, but it was all he had. Needless to say, he felt a bit...out of place at the bar he’d interviewed at. It was nice. A lot nicer than he could usually afford. The bartending position was a step up from other jobs he’d tried for.

Sitting beside someone wasn’t entirely ideal, but it was busy and a free drink was a free drink. Slipping onto one of the chairs, he eyed the guy next to him briefly. He was handsome to say the least. “Hey,” Reed nodded politely as he took up the seat next to the other man. “Good evening,” he corrected.

[reedstarling]

Text | Hana & Reed

Hana: No problem. We can use all the help we can get.

Hana: The biggest thing is showing up when we have protests. Its harder for them to ignore us when we show up in big numbers.

Hana: We also have a call list of people you can call and urge to vote in a way that doesn't hurt us anymore.

Reed: I can do calls but is there like, a script? I'm not all that eloquent...lol

Reed: Cool but, how do I know where to show up? You?

[wesleychoi]

Sunny sits at a bench at the park with a freshly opened set of pencils perched on his knees. Occasionally his fingers dart over each one, slide across the length of lacquered soft wood and slip away. It’s funny that this seems luxurious and not the expensive watch that is strapped to his wrist. 

The watch he’ll sell later, but the pencils are the first thing he bought for himself in a long, long while. He picks one, and turns to the person next to him on the bench: “Can I draw you?”

[reedstarling]

Reed collapsed onto the bench with a soft huff. The weeks since the blackout had become somewhat of a blur. Reed had been uncharacteristically busy–freelancing art commissions, learning about the submissive rights movement and continuing the hunt for a job.

When he noticed someone speaking to him, Reed popped his earbud out and tilted his head. “Draw me?” Usually he was the one asking to draw people. “Uh–yeah,” Was he an interesting enough subject? He never really thought so. “You sure you wanna draw me though?” he chuckled lightly. 

[reedstarling]

Text | Hana & Reed

Hana: Hey! Is this Reed?

Hana: This is Hana Lee. I was given your number and told you might want to help out with some protests.

Reed: Hey, thanks.

Reed: Sorta new to this type of thing. What can I help with?

[nobunny88]

[reedstarling]

toy-amnuai-suwannarat​:

“Ooh really? I can’t wait to see it,” Toy said with a smile. He was a little nervous, having never been drawn by anyone before. But he’d seen that Reed was very skilled and so he was sure it was going to be a great portrait. “Have you always been good at drawing. Like since you were little?” 

☀︎

“I’ve always liked it,” he answered with a nod. “But I haven’t always been super good I don’t think.” Or at least no one had really told him he was. “I never really had much but I could always find pencil and paper, y’know?” Besides, art was a skill that constantly evolved and changed with time and it was something that couldn’t be taken away from him. After a few minutes of actual quiet concentration, Reed was finally done. “Here,” He quickly cleaned up a few of his lines before sliding the finished product over toward Toy. It was a rough sketch still, but since he’d taken more than five minutes, it had some nice detail. “Think it looks like you?” 

[reedstarling]

mali-song​:

Mali smiled, feeling a bit like she’d done something good. “You mind?” she said, not waiting for an answer before she slid into the seat opposite the other sub. She laughed at the question. “Nah. Somehow the old bat found out I’m a stripper. She thinks I’m responsible for the moral decay of the entire city. Possibly the world. I’m Mali, by the way. You come here often?” She laughed at herself. “That sounded like a horrible pick up line, sorry.”

☀︎

Though she took the seat near him before he could really answer, Reed shook his head to indicate he didn’t mind. She’d just given him money after all. “Ah,” the sub supposed that made sense given the librarian stereotype–older and prude. Reed didn’t think anything of her profession though. He’d done worse for money. “Then I really shouldn’t introduce myself,” he joked and chewed on his lip. It did sound exactly like a pickup line but with all things considered, he didn’t really take offense to it. “I actually do,” he said with a slight smile. “It’s kinda nice y’know? Air conditioned, quiet...” Not to mention it was a place he could hide out after curfew at. “But what about you? You come here a lot?”

[reedstarling]

minkeyjin​:

Key considered Reed’s words. There was no reason why they couldn’t hang out here for the night, find some place to hide out until the building was empty and locked up. No reason except he was pretty sure that was a crime and he couldn’t commit any crimes at the moment - not even jaywalking.

“Mmm,” Key mumbled in agreement. “The head librarian or whatever has a pretty big office. She keeps it locked so I doubt anyone can get it in after hours.” He wasn’t sure why he bothered to say it out loud - just for Reed’s benefit, he told himself. He couldn’t think of doing it himself, no matter how tempting it was.

☀︎

The more he thought about it, the more Reed realized he might be able to pull it off. He’d snuck into places before when he was homeless–usually though, he hid in bathrooms until closing and would wander out after everyone left. But someone’s office? That seemed a bit risky...but considering he didn’t want to face the heat again for a while, it might be well worth the risk (at least for him).

He didn’t say anything right away and instead thought about what he had on him that could get him past a locked door. He had a few things on hand like he always did, but Key didn’t have to know about that. “Where is it?” he finally asked, genuinely curious. Its location would likely determine whether or not he actually followed through.

[reedstarling]

toy-amnuai-suwannarat​:

Toy smiled. “Ooh, so the world is your oyster! You have a lot of options laid out before you right now,” he said. Toy missed that feeling, like his life could go anywhere. But he was projecting his optimism. He knew it might not be how Reed was feeling in that moment. “When you go to school, will you study art or something else?” 

☀︎

Reed had never really though about his situation that way before. The options that he did have seemed fairly limited all things considered. He’d always been rather pessimistic about it in fact–being uneducated and directionless without a single penny to his name. But, perhaps it was time to try and change his mindset. Maybe that would help him move on. Nonetheless, he didn’t answer and instead simply smiled a bit and nodded. “I’m almost done,” he added, chewing on his lip, “Just finishing up some quick little details here...”

[reedstarling]

💬 Seo & Reed

Reed: I'll keep that in mind.

Reed: Actually, mind if I swing by the restaurant first?

Seo: No, you know I don't care.

Seo: I have water and canned soup still left.

Reed: [Read 2:45pm]

[hoechloin]

[reedstarling]

toy-amnuai-suwannarat​:

“It is a lot of work,” Toy agreed. He was almost always on call, ready to jump if the Mayor sent word that he needed assistance. “I’ve coordinated a few dinners and a some events at Mayor Matthews’ apartment. Nothing too interesting. Mostly opportunities for him to network and thank his supporters. It can be fun putting things like that together though.” He smiled at Reed. “What about you? Are you a student?” 

☀︎

Him? A student? Finding the thought amusing in the moment, Reed chuckled to himself. “Oh, no,” he shook his head and paused from his drawing looking up at Toy. “But, maybe eventually?” It was not so secretly a desire of his to finish school at some point and maybe even go to art school. “But for now I’m sorta...between jobs?” 

[reedstarling]

mari-rose​:

She was fascinated, and tired. She was browsing the stacks of books behind him and was just easily distracted. His voice startled her though, pausing as the rosey blush snuck up on her cheeks. “Oh! uh…I’m sorry. That’s…really cool, how you do that.” She paused, “I didn’t mean to upset you though, I was just appreciating.” 

☀︎

Noticing how timid the girl seemed, and taking notice of the tattoo on her inner wrist, Reed relaxed a bit and shrugged. It was sweet of her to say even though she didn’t have to. “It’s alright, I’m not upset,” he replied with a quiet sigh. “I guess I’m sorta just... used to people staring at me for the wrong reasons. You can sit if you want?” Whoever she was, she looked a bit tired. 

[reedstarling]

mali-song​:

The clipped question pulled a chuckle from Mali. “You drop this?” Mali held out the twenty dollar bill she’d just scooped up from the floor. She occasionally liked to hide in the library before a shift especially these days when she was avoiding Seo and the restaurant. “Even if you didn’t, just take it. I don’t feel like talking to the old hag at the desk. She doesn’t like me.”

☀︎

Reed quickly eyed the money in the woman’s hand, but stayed quiet. She didn’t want it? It wasn’t his, but he considered taking it–his palms almost itched with the temptation. He rarely had any cash on him and if he did, it was definitely in denominations smaller than a twenty. He could stretch that out for a couple of meals. Or maybe for once actually get a decent drink someplace. So, slowly Reed took the money. After a moment, he chuckled. “What’s your beef with the librarian? Overdue books?”

[reedstarling]

quincixx​:

Quinci smiled at the other and patted himself down until he managed to produce a business card for the shelter. “It’d be really great for us as well.” More people would be bound to take an interest if a cute flyer caught their eye. Then he dug around for a bit until he found a pen. “Nice to meet you Reed, I’m Quinci.” Quickly, he flipped the card over and wrote down his name and personal number. “You’re free to draw any type of animal or you could come by the shelter and look at the animals for inspiration.” 

☀︎

Noticing the business card the other offered, Reed took it between his fingers and flicked it into his palm to get a good look at it. He glanced back up and his smile widened slightly. “I’d love to visit the shelter,” he replied softly, actually a bit excited at the prospect. “That’s a good idea actually. When’s a good time to stop by?” Would he sound too eager suggesting now?