#appletaliaopen

[valentinogram]

OPEN || People Watching

Romeo loved Times Square. Of the countless times he had visited the landmark he had never once been bored by it. The tourists bustling around in mobs, all wearing those overpriced 'I <3 NY' shirts and snapping pictures of skyscraper after skyscraper, the vendors hanging around the streets, offering the aforementioned tourists bus tours, churros, pretzels, clothing, ready to haggle, and the costumed actors handing out pamphlets about their shows. Everything was fascinating.

He often ventured into the square, note pad in hand, ready to nab a seat in the central bleachers, or on the small walls surrounding it, and take notes and sketch the people he saw (he didn't claim to be an artist - he was nothing compared to his brother!). Romeo adored people almost as much as he adored Times Square.

It was his day off, so he had wandered into the social hub of New York City, with his notepad, a bottle of water, his wallet, and some ball point pens at the ready. He managed to find a couple of empty seats in the bleachers and made himself comfortable by shrugging off his sweater, folding it up, and sitting on it. This meant he was ready to stay put for a couple of hours and daydream the day away.

Maybe he'd go to a club later and see if he could pick someone up. Maybe he'd go to a new restaurant and see what they had to offer as inspiration. See if there were any recipes he could modify.

Ah, he didn't know where the day would take him, but for now he was content.

[missmodeltobe]

[Open] Lunchtime Happenings

The camera flashed. The photographer called for a new pose. Then a new facial expression. Then a new outfit. New makeup. New hairstyle. New backdrop.

When she decided to become a model, Michelle hadn't known how demanding it would be. And this was just a session to build her portfolio! She guessed an actual job would be much more strenuous.

Then came her salvation: a break for lunch.

She hurried to change back into her own clothes--a soft, white cashmere top, skinny jeans, and a pair of black, heeled boots--and, grabbing her purse, chirped a quick goodbye to the photographer before hurrying out of the agency's building and onto the busy sidewalks of New York.

The only thought on Michelle's mind was food. She glanced at her watch; she had an hour and a half before she had to be back. She could work with that.

[matthewsinnersong]

[OPEN] A New Companion

Matthew sighed as he leaned back on his hands, fingers digging into the soft carpet of his apartment. He had been here for a few months, and yet...nothing from any record labels. Maybe he just wasn't suited for any of them? He did tend to jump around a bit when it came to his music. He just couldn't find that one genre that was his.

He sighed again. Maybe he should take a break and get some fresh air. Possibly even check out the local animal shelters and see if he took a liking to any of the cats and vice versa. In any case, some air would be good after being inside all day.

With that last thought in mind, Matthew hefted himself up from the floor and moved his laptop to the coffee table that sat beside him. The blond threw a hoodie on over his t-shirt and settled his headphones around his neck. The jack of said headphones connected to his phone, and he pressed play before sticking it in his front pocket. His wallet disappeared into another pocket, and he snatched up his keys on his way to the door.

He locked his door and took the lift down, and before he knew it he was on the bustling streets of New York City. He took a deep breath--the air was different from Canada, but at least it was fresh compared to his apartment--and he began strolling down the sidewalk, hands stuffed into the front pocket of his hoodie and lips silently mouthing along with the lyrics of the music on his phone.

[matthewsinnersong]

Caffeine [OPEN]

Matthew ran his hand through his hair before pulling it back and up into a ponytail--or as much of one as he could manage, that is. He ambled over to the sink and washed his hands thoroughly, in the process of drying them when Anna leaned her head into the door and called out, "Hurry up, Mattie! The morning rush is starting!"

"Coming, coming!" the blond answered as he threw the paper towel away and hurried out to the counter. The warmth of the front of the shop hit him, and he took a moment to deeply breathe in the smell of coffee. He smiled, his purple eyes sparkling, and took over for Anna at the cash register. It was better to have the more experienced barista making the drinks during huge rushes like this.

Matthew raised his eyes to his first customer of the day, and with a gentle smile asked, "Welcome! How may I help you?"