savage.

scarlett pierce, 23 years old, former actress, current knicks city dancer, lanford native.

[theblogcold]

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TAYLOR STACKHOUSE;

         Personal boundaries when it came to strangers had become mostly zilch and nil ever since sometime around sixteen when it became an easy thrill to find a way to take away something she’d benefit from in some way. It didn’t quite translate into moments when she truly needed the mundane and typically left her feeling that awkward, semi- self conscious,i’m intruding and you’ll probably think I’m crazy’ kind of way—and this time was no different. Spotting another blonde on a street deemed the wrong side of the tracks at this point in this tiny town, maybe it was the age, the hair, not-so ready to rip another one into her face demeanor that she felt at least at ease to stop with a forceful tug (she soon regretted when  she saw the fabric in her hand) That was too much, you will definitely look like a loon. “H-hey, hi! Sorry, so sorry! I’m not actually trying to literally take the clothes off your back—I’m kinda lost, er, not lost but this things dead and my little arrow guy was telling me this way to Podium? I know, kinda early for a strip joint but—” laughing awkwardly, for whatever reason it was pertinent that it was known she wasn’t going in to ride the pole herself, “I’m not you know, I’m not a ‘dancer’” air quotes included, feeling instantly guilty in that moment for insinuating anything about strippers, “Not that flexible…” 

@scarlcttpierce

         Scarlett missed this part of town. It had been her first home, and part of her had probably thought she would end up staying there for the rest of her life— some people would say it was good she didn’t, and on most days, she was some people, but on this particular day, nostalgia was thick and she couldn’t help wonder what her life would’ve been like if her mom had never dragged her off to Los Angeles when she was a kid, and thrown her at the wolves. She passed a rundown building she remembered well, and thought maybe she would’ve been living in that one right now, or maybe the next one, or maybe she would have even made it to college and graduated, and could’ve lived in a small place in Westbrook? Maybe, maybe, maybe. When someone suddenly tugged at the jacket casually thrown over her shoulders, Scarlett turned around and saw a familiar face. She couldn’t remember from where she knew her, or even her name or what it started with, but she had definitely seen her before. “Well, we’re in North End, right? It’s hard to find someone right now who doesn’t think you would take the clothes off of someone’s back,” she said, humour dry, but the jest in her voice clear. “Yeah, this is the way to Podium, more or less. You’ve got another five, maybe seven minute walk this way.” She pointed down the street they were currently on before she turned back and scanned the blonde, lacking the subtlety of someone who wanted to do it without making the subject squirm. “I think you would do just fine as a stripper, and as for flexibility... that shit can be taught. Take it from an actual dancer,” she said and smirked, holding the blonde’s gaze for a couple of seconds before she gave in to curiosity. “Where do I know you from?”

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NOAH HALE;

Noah laughed, remembering their first meeting at the cafe when his phone was dying; a group of fans had come up to him. “One of the reasons.” He smiled. “I do act occasionally, too. I was on Broadway for a few years.”

         “Wow, Broadway? That’s impressive. Anything I might have seen?” She asked, but she figured every Broadway play was something someone might have seen, but for once she wasn’t itching to close down a conversation and head off— she was feeling good, and when she was feeling good, she liked talking to people, even getting to know them.

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JUDE NOLAN;

“Nope, she left ages ago. She’s suing the other guy in the band actually, it’s messy stuff.” He chuckled at her admittance to not keeping up with stuff. “Well it’s what I do for a living, so I try to keep abreast of the news.” Did you really just say abreast? Not minding his own awkward word choices, Jude just rattled on. “I mean I could see the charm of it, lower prices aside. Some of the streets and corners of this place are really picturesque, if you ignore the North End of course. I could see why families could go for that sort of thing. And broke people like me.” He leaned against the backrest of the seat in the booth opposite hers, USB stick clutched firmly in hand.

           “Wow, that fucking sucks,” she said and shrugged. She didn’t really care, not beyond that moment at least where she could easily imagine how much it must have sucked, but ask her in a week, and she wouldn’t have thought about it once since. “You try to keep abreast of the news? That’s got to be the word of the day,” she teased, a light jest in her voice. “Yeah... I guess it’s not a bad place to live. You can basically see it in ever newlywed couple’s eyes when they walk around Haverford, planning out the rest of their lives.” She shrugged. She had grown up far from Haverford, but she understood the appeal to families. “Families and broke people— Lanford welcomes you. Should be on the town sign.” 

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HOLLY BERNE;

Holly couldn’t help but laugh at the younger woman’s words — and she could certainly relate to it on one level. “Alright, if you’re sure…” she answered with a nod of her head. “Don’t worry, it would have taken me a while to get them sorted out anyway. Need to go for a bit of trail and error first before I actually start handing the samples out to people.”

         Scarlett felt bad. It was a jab in her chest, a contraction that lasted for only a second, but it was there. “But uh... tell me more about all these cupcakes, and the combos you have in mind?” She said, “don’t worry, I won’t try and steal your ideas or anything like that, I’m absolutely useless in a kitchen.”

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BEN SCOTT;

“I’d agree with that one,” Ben answered with a nod of his head, offering her a smile. There would be no chance of that, of course, he doubted. It would take a miracle for the man to actually be kicked from his position. “Yeah, let’s. Kind of getting tired of talking about it when literally nothing seems to be being done.” He shook his head. “Work’s good. I’m working on a new show, which fingers crossed will get past pilot.”

         It was on everyone’s lips, and even Scarlett had fallen pray to it— talking more about it than she actually truly did care, and that was stupid. Sometimes she just liked airing opinions, if only to let off some steam, but she would much rather here about Ben and whatever he was up to at the moment. “Really? Dude, that’s awesome. Are you allowed to say anything about it at all? I mean, anyone from the crew someone I would know?” She asked, knowing they had worked with the same people before.

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RAFE DELGADO;

+ Her hand finds his, and she’s able to stop reaching his brain from overwinding pass the point of rationality. Fortunately, through others’ help, he’d adapted so something as simple as a soft touch can calm his anger. Scarlett’s hand is one of them; though small in size, whether it’s holding his own hand or placed on his heaving chest, it can restore his heart rate to a more even tempo, reign in the vehement whirlwind of rage that spurs to consume him. He looks at her with a softer gaze, though remaining exasperated at Tammy and her ridiculous fucking concept. “It both matters,” he’s quick to correct, before groaning and shaking his head, “Some fuckin’ people man…” Letting go of her hand to let her know he’s collected himself as he moves to sit on the other side of the table. “Never fuckin’ learn, do they… Was that it, though? Do I need to have another word?” Rafe is as confrontational as they come; often even enjoying the butting of heads that comes from riling someone up, but this is different. Whatever the circumstances, if he feels the need to stand up for someone, he’d do it. “I’m good, but—” A soft sigh. “Ophelia… she got attacked or somethin’, which is a fuckin’ piss take. Need you to be careful round the Ends, a’ight?” A pause. “Fuck it, if you really need to go there, just call me.”

          He calms in a matter of seconds, and as a result so does Scarlett. She’s not usually easy to rile up, but out of the few people she still has in her life that she cares about, Rafe is one of the last people she wants under any kind of stress, especially not caused by her fucking mother. “Well, you know her,” she says when he asks if that was it. It never was just it, not with Tammy. “She’s got another script, another opportunity lined up or whatever, but in New York this time, because she thinks that would somehow ease me over to her side? I don’t know, but it’s fucking stupid, and I’ll bet you she fucked her way to the script, and that I’m probably expected to do the same for the part.” She rolls her eyes and shakes her head, omitting the bit about Tammy bringing up Scarlett’s younger siblings, and how mentioning them at the right time makes it chillingly clear that if Scarlett doesn’t come around soon, they’re next. “No, just leave her alone, I’m scared she’s gonna murder you in a fit of rage if you try to talk to her right now.” Half joking. Only half joking. “Wait... what? But I saw her at the thing at the lake? Didn’t they clear her name?” She pauses, realising it doesn’t matter if Ophelia’s name has been cleared, people would still remember her as one of the first names released. “Is she okay? Did you see her?” It was surreal. It felt like it were just yesterday that Scarlett had talked to her, casually bringing up Rafe to gauge her reaction— which had been cute, no doubt. And now this? “God, this fucking town. I’ll be fine though, I’m probably just gonna stay away. Less temptations in this part of town anyway.”

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DEVYN MURPHY;

Devyn couldn’t help but wonder how women were so easy prey to men. How someone could like another like this and then let themselves be played with until it all exploded in a public setting. “Hopefully they’re both gonna learn a lesson.” Devyn said with a sigh as she folded her arms and eyed the bartender when he walked over. He was cute, but not really her type. “So, what about you? Single? Or are you in some kind of relationship?” She asked, curiously.

          “Hopefully, but probably not all that likely,” Scarlett said, her cynicism showing— like it usually did when it came to ‘romantic’ relationships between people. It was all pretty much a joke to her, and she doubted there would ever come a day where it wasn’t. “Me? No relationship, not ever. I like being single. What about you?”

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ISABELLA LUNA;

Isabella nodded her head as she listened to the girl. “No, no,” she smiled with a nod, kind of feeling guilty that she’d made her job feel like it wasn’t hard or anything. After all, cheerleading on any level wasn’t anything that she could achieve even if she put her mind to it. Never had she been flexible or in much shape. “They’re both different jobs, but difficult in their own right.”

        “Well yeah, but you literally save lives for a living. I just...” She paused, looking for the right ending to that sentence, without knowing what it was. What was she doing exactly? “I’m just entertainment in between quarters,” she said and shrugged. It didn’t bother her— she loved her job, but she wasn’t under the false impression that it was important in any way, certainly not compared to what the brunette did.

[amazingyoungwomen]

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GRAYSON VOLANA;

     “SO.” not the best way to open a conversation, but gray knew what he wanted. standing at the bar of the pub, gray had a sly smirk on his face. “i know what you’re thinking. god, i wish i had a drink right about now. and you know what? you’re right, you deserve that. that’s why you should buy me one too, for suggesting such a great idea. you can thank me later.” propping himself onto the barstool, elbows leaned onto the surface of the bar as his attention remained on the other. “jack n’ coke, if you please.” 

        She was probably being obvious. She felt like she had been found out at least, but only until it became pretty clear all the guy wanted was for her to pay for his drink, or whatever. She could. She had the money for it, but if she started buying other people drinks, she wouldn’t stop there— she would fall herself, and then this whole sobriety thing would be another joke, again. “I do deserve that, but I’m not going to get one, and I’m definitely not going to get you one either. Pay for your own drinks,” she scoffed, not in the mood.

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NICK HAMMOND;

“Don’t take this the worst way but–” Nick started, “but ever since you walked in, even the jukebox is staring, wonderin’ what you want to hear.” The man’s mouth turned up into a lopsided grin, “and if I didn’t at least get your name well– somebody else would.” 

       “Cute,” Scarlett said. It sounded less sarcastic than it could have, and that in itself was pretty impressively achieved by the guy. “Tell me more about the jukebox first,” she said coyly. “Where’s he from? What’s his favourite music to play? Does he wonder a lot about what people want to hear?”

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JON GILLUM;

“Hey, uh…” he said to the other person, speaking before he would turn to look at them. “Do you want this?” He gestured with the napkin in his hand. “It’s… well, it’s the waitress’ number, and- well, don’t get me wrong, she’s beautiful, but… I’d rather not get romantically involved with the people who bring my food in case things go south, and I quite like going here.”

          “No,” Scarlett said, bluntly at first because she had no idea what was going on— but from the looks of it, a man was offering her a used napkin. Or maybe not used, but a napkin. Once he elaborated further however, she relaxed a bit and sighed, frustrated with herself, embarrassed. “Just toss it out when you get home. Or, if you’re a good guy, tell her you’re not interested— at least then she won’t have to wonder why you’re not calling.”

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BRANDON CAVALLO;

“Jesus–” Brandon started off with a saddened sigh, the initial puff of smoke clouding around him as he spoke, “Do you hear this shit?” The radio was blasting in his shop, and he could hear the faint mumbling of news from the very front during his well-needed smoke break. “I guess I’m just still baffled by all this news stuff. I get that they want to track down whoever started this mess, but I hardly think that blaming everyone and their mother in North End is really going to do any of this justice– Don’t you think?”

         Scarlett was hiding out in her old neighbourhood, nursing a hangover and trying to avoid her mother and the crushing guilt from once again having to reset her ‘x amount of days sober’ counter on her phone. The Slick Hare had easily become one of her favourite places to hang out, and she often mentioned it to whatever friend she thought needed a haircut or maybe a trim of their beard. “It’s bullshit,” she said and scoffed, her head shaking. “All this is doing, is openly starting a war between neighbourhoods, and between North End and the police department. It’s laughable. They need to retire Chief Swan.”

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HOLLY BERNE;

“How do you feel about white chocolate and pistachio cupcakes? Or cookies?” For several moments Holly had been staring out into space, but then she’d had a thought, one she’d felt the need to ask about immediately. Since returning to Lanford following a couple of weeks back home, she’d found nothing much had changed in regards to what had happened on Valentine’s, so instead of dwelling on it, she’d thrown herself back into work for her book. “I’m a fan, I just don’t know how others feel about it. I’l trade you free samples for your opinion, you know, if you’re into that and don’t have a nut allergy anyway…”

        “Like just looking at one will pop the button on my jeans?” Scarlett said in jest, a clear joke, though she couldn’t say she would jump in head first if someone offered her all the white chocolate and pistachio cupcakes in the world right now. Her mom would scold her from this day and until the end of time if she had more than a bite of a cupcake like that— it made her want to eat five of them, just thinking about it. “I better not,” she said. But not because of her mom. Because of her job. All the dancers were on strict diets because they sure as hell would be called out on slacking behind if they suddenly did, and Scarlett was still stuck proving her worth. “Maybe some other time.”

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NOAH HALE;

Noah finished the last song of his set and thanked the crowd. His skin glistened under the lights with a thin sheen of sweat and he ran his fingers through his shaggy hair. Making his way back stage, Noah made sure his guitar was locked up in the makeshift dressing room in the bar before heading out to meet with the fans. There were the usual excited fangirls and older fans who just wanted to talk to them about how much they liked the music. Noah’s eye kept going over to someone who stood out of the way to the side. Weaving through the crowd, he approached them. “Enjoy the show?”

       Scarlett couldn’t remember why she said yes to going in the first place, but a few drinks in and she was happy that she did. Not only was the band a lot better than she expected, but the overall mood and vibe was good too, and by the end of the set, she wasn’t sure where time had gone. Maybe it was the bump of coke she’d done somewhere halfway through, or something else entirely— but she was in a good mood, that was for sure, and when the lead singer came up to her afterwards, someone she realised she recognised from Lanford, she grinned. “I did. Surprisingly enough,” she replied, candid but with jest. “So, this is why you’ve got girls following you around in Lanford, huh?”

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INDI WILLIAMS;

“You like it,” Indiana says with a laugh. She tries to act like she wouldn’t miss anyone, and solitary confinement would be ok. But being away from people she cared about killed her, it’s like she needed people around because there was a weird fear of being alone. But she shrugged it off, “I’ll just mess with the guards,” but they wanted to stay far away from jail, from prison, from any sort of confinement. “Ah, ok well,” she says with a shrug, “What more can I expect out of life? It’s probably what I deserve in the end.”

        “No comment,” she said and chuckled, but there were few things Indi did that Scarlett didn’t like, and they both knew it. Oddly enough, no matter what happened, how long they went without talking or seeing each other, Scarlett would always have her back. Nothing could change it. “Yeah, you probably will. You’ll probably also Shawshank Redemption your way out of there, let’s be real.” She shrugged, but the grin on her lips was firm. “Shut up. A lot of people deserve to be cheated on, but you’re not one of them.”