[suzie--craine]

daedeimos​:

Coming to Wiseguise was more to indulge his friend and to have a cover if anyone asked. It wasn’t that he didn’t like the stand-up act, it was just difficult to pay close attention when he was preoccupied with watching the man’s hands at his side. Laughter rings out and he sips his martini while those familiar hands continue to sign in the hazy half lit room. A small smile quirks his lips and he shakes his head.

‘Be back. Bad habit time,’ he sign, watching the other man roll his eyes and nod. Archie leaves his drink on the pathetically small table and slips out without the comedian on stage catching wind. It’s brisk out tonight and almost soothing really given the headache of the past few days. Tapping his cigarette against the heel of his palm thoughtfully, he’s lighting the cigarette hanging between his lips and tipping his head back against the brick with a sigh.

It’s only when the door opens a bit, he spares a glance towards the person that’s decided to take a breather too. “I wouldn’t say it’s a dud, but those jokes - oof - they could land a bit better huh?”

Suzie had decided after seeing Ben the other day that maybe joining a dating app wasn’t too bad. She wasn’t looking for anything serious; just a few dates to keep her occupied so she wasn’t always locked in her art studio, painting for hours on end and letting the time roll by.

She hadn’t been on one in ages and that was by choice. She figured if she wasn’t looking for anyone then why bother but now that she was back in New York and she definitely wasn’t leaving anytime soon, a few dates here and there would keep her entertained.

When she felt the figure beside her emerge from the stuffy comedy club, she looked up to see if it was her date who had probably not noticed she was gone. Thankfully for her, it wasn’t. A tall, mountain of a man lit up a cigarette and she regarded him with a nod, her own cigarette lit between her lips as she inhaled, smiling at his words. “Yeah, it doesn’t really help with the distraction I need tonight so naturally, I’ve found the act of shaving off a few years to be much more enticing,” she smiled, taking the cigarette away from her lips as she exhaled away from the man.

“Suzie. You hiding from a failing blind date too or is that just me tonight?” She took another drag off her cigarette and then flicked some ash to her other side, away from the man.

[suzie--craine]

[suzie--craine]

benwalkermusic​:

–

Don’t do this, Ben wanted to say. Don’t tell me you keep tabs on me, like you care.

If Ben hadn’t known where to look, he might have believed that Suzie hadn’t aged a day. It wasn’t fair that the years refused to add up on her the way they’d added up on him. Wasn’t fair that looking at her was like time-traveling. Seven years.

He passed the gross wad of napkins from one hand to the other, then turned so he could throw it away – so he could have a moment to breathe. But then he looked back at her, and he saw the corners of her mouth turn up in a smile, like this wasn’t the worst thing that had ever happened to her, and he wanted to die.

“I’ve been good,” he finally said. If someone had asked him that mere minutes ago, he would have believed it. Now he wasn’t so sure. He didn’t want to lie to Suzie, even now, but what good would the truth do?

I’ve been looking for love in the bodies of strangers like some drunk teenager, Suzie. I let a man spit in my mouth because I thought I deserved it, Suzie. I wake up alone every single day because letting someone else move in would feel like cheating, Suzie.

“Why –” he swallowed. Why did you do that to me, Suzie? “– Um, what brings you back to New York?”

Suzie’s mind raced with all the things she wanted to say to him; how unbelievably stupid she once was, how she acted so brash and without even thinking, the fact that all she left was a fucking note. He was worth so much more than that. She wanted to apologize until the end of time because she knew that no apology could fix what she’d done to him. The moment she’d stepped foot in Paris all those years ago, she’d wanted to turn around and fly straight back to New York. She hadn’t, though. She felt like a coward every single day because of it. Keeping tabs on his music career was her way of staying connected to the boy she’d known so well. Hearing his sweet voice blasting through the speakers of her headphones was comforting and heartbreaking all at once. Now, what stood before her was a man who she’d lost seven years with. 

“That’s good. I came back for work but also to settle in. I bought my first house, actually. All on my own.” She didn’t have to add that last bit in. She didn’t mean it as a dig, as if to say, I did this without you. She was proud of the fact that she’d bought a house on her own because that’s what she’d always wanted; a stable career and a life that she could build on her own. She just hadn’t expected to want that with Ben by her side years down the line. Back then, she thought she had to do it all on her own, that doing this with a man made her weaker somehow. In her youthful idealism, she’d missed the point and by the time she’d figured it out... it was too late. Ben was a casualty to her ridiculous stubbornness.

“You... I mean if you want,” she started, feeling like an idiot for even suggesting what she was about to say. “You could come over... and see? Is that weird? I don't know how to do this.” Her smile dropped slightly, an anxious expression on her face. She looked down, shaking her head. “I have so much to say but... I won’t lie, I’m a little ill prepared. C-come over. I’ll cook for you. We can talk or yell or,” she trailed off, a nervous chuckle. “Murder each other, whatever. Either way, I have weed,” she shrugged, scratching the back of her neck. “Or wine. Whatever works for you.”

[suzie--craine]

@benwalkermusic

[suzie--craine]

benwalkermusic​:

Ben was certain he had to look every bit the stereotype, sat in the corner of Dotty’s Corner with his guitar propped up against the wall, book in his hand. His show wasn’t for a couple hours, but he couldn’t be at home while the maintenance crew was sawing the universe in half one floor below his apartment. So he sat, legs crossed at the ankles, and read about the troubles of Elizabeth Bennet, an untouched latte in front of him. Every bit the cosplay of an agéd art student.

Suzie had been the one to introduce Ben to the manager at Dotty’s years ago. She had also tried for years to get Ben to read Pride & Prejudice. It was strange how thinking of these things didn’t hurt the way he expected. For a moment, he imagined texting Suzie to tell him about how Mister Collins could get fucked. There was a whole world where he could still tell her things about his day; a world where she wanted to hear them. This was not that world, but that wasn’t so bad anymore.

When someone swore, he looked up. All the hurt he thought he wasn’t carrying came down and crushed the air out of his chest. He shook his head, but the vision of Suzie persisted. That was her face framed in a fall of braids; her mouth crewed up in agony at the mess on her clothes. Her. Her.

As it turned out, years of thinking about what he would do if he could see her again had done nothing to prepare him. He wanted to leave. He wanted to cry. He wanted someone, anyone, to help her; to spare her from her misery. But no one moved. He swallowed his misery, put Lizzie Bennet down, and made his way over to her. He grabbed some napkins from the counter and knelt in front of Suzie to mop up the drink before his courage could leave him – before she could look at him and strike him down.

One night, he’d spent almost an hour cooking his bubbe chakchouka for Suzie’s birthday, only to spill the whole pan and burn part of his leg, somehow. She’d come running from across the apartment to make sure he was okay. “It’s just food,” she’d said, and then she kissed him and rubbed burn cream into his leg, and they got Chinese food instead – another bubbe tradition.

So instead of Why did you do it? and Did you think about me?, all he said was, “It’s just food.”

Suzie was not burned, of course. There were no wounds here to soothe; no part of her he was allowed to kiss better. He looked up at her just as she looked down at him, and he wondered if his heart would leap out of his chest and into her lap as he said, “Hi.”

As Suzie looked around her table to see if she’d had the foresight to grab napkins, it was then she heard that voice she knew all too well. She froze, hearing those familiar words and just like that, her heart broke. Guilt and shame washed over her because of course, it wasn’t an angry voice. It was soft and caring, just like it always was. She bit her lip, closing her eyes and then looking up as she opened them to gaze upon the face of the man she’d essentially spent her entire childhood with as well as part of her young adult life. 

She was absolutely frozen and soon, the entirety of the café and it’s patrons melted away and all that existed now, in this moment, was her and Ben. Her heart was pounding so hard against the inside of her chest that she was sure he heard it. She was stunned and with all her might she tried to hold back the inevitable tears that were bound to come. “H-hi,” was all she could say.

As he sopped up the mess of her drink, she took some napkins from him and sopped up the liquid that had soaked into her clothing as well, smiling politely and taking a deep breath. “Fancy seeing you here,” she bit her lip, looking back up at him, the most guilt ridden expression on her face. She wanted to tell him everything, pour her heart out, apologize profusely. She knew she’d hurt him all those years ago. 

Suzie looked him over a bit, admiring the signs of aging that had developed on the boy she loved; more facial hair, wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, shorter hair, less skinny and more filled out. He’d, of course, only grown more handsome and was still so sweet. She half expected him to be angry and dismissive with her when and if they crossed paths. She knew how small the city could be and she knew it was only a matter of time. 

“How, um... how have you been? Congrats on all the music stuff. I’ve been trying to keep up.”

[suzie--craine]

beckettcarter​:

Beck feels a wave of relief wash over him when she pulls out a lighter– he didn’t have to complete the obstacle course of a dark living room with legos scattered about the floor like a live minefield. “Thanks a ton.” he graciously takes it, lights his smoke, and inhales deep. it tastes awful, but most bad habits do.

he perks up a bit to hear that she just moved in. “Oh yeah?” he asks, handing the light back to her as the toxic fog filters through his nostrils and lips simultaneously. maybe the late night smoking sessions wouldn’t be so boring; she seemed to be a bit of a night owl if tonight was any indication, and he never turned down company. “Well, I’m Beck, and I owe you one for tonight so, if you need anything, just come knock on the door. Staying here by yourself or…?”

Suzie inhaled and then blew a cloud of smoke into the night air before nodding. “Nice to meet you Beck.” She smiled softly as she inhaled once more and then spoke, letting the smoke escape between words. 

“Yeah, it’s just me. I finally saved up enough to buy my first house so I’m still getting everything situated. It’s been a long road but it finally lead me back home. I’m originally from here but I’ve been living in Paris for the last 7 years. Have you lived on this block long?”

[suzie--craine]

Location: Any Coffee Shop Open Starter

The way in which Suzie was capable of procrastinating was seriously genius at this point in her life. The fact that she’d managed to get as far in her career as she had with the amount of procrastination she took part in truly surprised her and her agent but here she was, doing just that in a coffee shop when she should be putting the finishing touches on some new pieces that would be displaying at the art show she would be holding in just 5 weeks. Her phone buzzed for the 4th time now, her agents name sprawled across the screen. She watched it buzz and buzz until finally, it went to voicemail. 

She went back to sketching in her sketchbook, drawing any passerby who decided to walk in front of her that day. It helped her when she was experiencing art block as bad as she was. That and doing other creative things. 

As she looked up to find a new subject to sketch, she moved forward in her chair and just like that, elbowed her iced oat milk latte on the floor. She sighed, shaking her head and grabbing napkins to try and sop it up. “Goddammit.” Unfortunately for her, most of it ended up on her lap, the cold icy liquid soaking through her pants.

[suzie--craine]

beckettcarter​:

smoking was a nasty habit picked up during his time in the service, and one that he didn’t like that he had. he particularly loathed the addiction to nicotine times like these; when the late night craving for a smoke hit and he found himself shuffling out into the cold in his sweats. Beck never smoked inside; not only did it make the furniture and drapery reek, but it wasn’t his kids’ habit; he kept his cigarettes far away from the two munchkins.

leaning against the wall of his apartment building, his hands were frozen as he fumbles in the pockets for his smokes, ocean eyes flickering about the sidewalk. he liked to people watch, he couldn’t help it. especially at night, when everyone seemed ten times more interesting.

it was only after he’d gotten the stick clenched between his lips, that he realized his fingers were grabbing at air where his lighter should’ve been. dammit, he must’ve left it inside. he sighs, glances back at his building, where he would have to climb the steps, creep inside without waking the kiddos, retrieve the lighter, sneak back out without waking them, come all the way back outside…

the very thought exhausted him.

instead, he waits until a friendly face on the sidewalk seems approachable, and clears his throat, “Sorry, got a light? I think I left mine inside.”

As she made her way up the steps of her brownstone, she heard the  man next door call out to her for a lighter. She paused, biting her lip as she searched her purse. “Yeah, here,” she walked over and handed it to him.

Smoking was a vice of hers. That and smoking weed. Each year she promised herself that she’d at least quit the cigarettes but every year that normally lasted all of 5 weeks until she was at the corner store at 1 AM in a cold sweat, buying a new pack.

“Might as well if we’re neighbors. I’m Suzie. Just moved in next door.” She outstretched a hand to shake his and then pulled a cigarette out from her own purse and lit it, figuring this was a sound way to bond with a new neighbor.

[suzie--craine]

outoflineinc​:

location: out of line inc, mid-day

         Samual’s packing up. The initial workshop went pretty well, he thought. He’s got some time before the shop opens to make sure that he’s all picked up and that anybody that has additional questions about tattooing has a little one on one time. Learning in a group can be difficult. And tall they did this time was start learning about the gun and art appreciation.            Sam pushes one of the tables back to where it belongs before he notices that someone hung back. He shot them a warm, amicable smile. “Hey, man! Thanks for comin’.” He’d probably be charging a little more when they break the inks and such out. But this time it was quick. And Samual’s pretty sure that he’s ignited the love in at least a few young people.          “What’s up?” 

Suzie had decided to sit in on a tattooing workshop that was being held at a nearby tattoo shop. She was having a major art block issue and usually, to combat this, she tried focusing on other creative things that she wasn’t familiar with. It was a way to take her mind off painting to then help her get her mojo back, so to speak. Because of this, she’d learned pole dancing, crochet, glass blowing, welding, ballet, and even some cooking.

Tattooing was her new hobby and she’d learn everything she could about it just so she could say she did. Once the workshop was over, she stayed back to speak with the owner and the guy who ran the workshop. One, because he was handsome and two, because she wanted to ask more questions. She waited until he was finished talking with what looked to be an old friend of his.

Once the man left, she flagged the older man down and smiled. “Hey! Sorry to bother you but I just wanted to let you know, that was a great workshop. I wanted to know if you were interested in taking on an apprentice? Tattooing isn’t my career but I’m curious. I’m a painter by trade but I try and delve into all art forms. I’m Suzie, by the way. Sam, was it?”

[suzie--craine]

admeto​:

Lazy Sundays used to be something she looked forward to before Stella and Eric were in her life. She would lounge about in scarcely anything at all and spend the day napping or reading. It was lovely really. But now she had a fuller life, a reason to roll out of bed early even on the weekend. Because for every day their schedules didn’t align meant there were more moments to fit their lives together piece by piece.

Today was one of the rare days where it felt as though she were back by herself. Alone. Back to lazy Sundays and dead silence and trying to find ways to kill the time.

It was wildly reckless and probably stupid but Betrice was nothing if not an addict. Today it happened to be the dull rush of adrenaline setting up a hammock in the middle of the park. Because it was better than the alternative of going back to an empty apartment and feeling the aching itching feeling of concern crawl up. With the sun hanging high above filtering through the trees, Betrice might even say the moment was perfect. She might if only it weren’t for the person standing close enough she could spot them in the corner of her half-closed eyes. Sighing, Betrice tilts her head to give them a slow once over.

“Something I can help you with?”

Suzie had elected to spend her day at the park, laid out on a blanket, reading her book. She was stumped by a new piece she was working on for her upcoming art show in Tribeca which was her first show in New York after 7 years of living overseas. The rest of her pieces had come naturally except this one. As most of her pieces started, she really didn't know which direction she was taking until she was finished but she guessed that being back in New York had something to do with her art block, what with all the history she had there.

She’d finally decided to go grab lunch and began packing everything up. Once she was ready, her mind wandered with different food options and if she should just go home and cook. As Suzie was walked away from her spot, she searched in her purse for her keys but noticed something else; she’d forgotten her book back by where she’d been lounging. 

“Shit,” she muttered, sighing and contemplating momentarily if she really needed that book. It was a good book and she hadn’t finished it yet so, much to her annoyance, she trudged back only to find a woman having set up her hammock right over her book.

She sighed and finally, answered the blonde. “Yeah... I was here earlier and forgot my book? Its right there against the tree under your hammock.”