#carnalstarter

[serialromeo]

This was the third night in a row that Nate found himself planted at the bar of the Empire, nursing a Scotch with trembling fingers. This was the third night that he planned on going up to Chuck’s room. The room, where he lived, and where he died. So far, he hadn’t made it past the restroom that was just south of the bar itself. Maybe he wouldn’t tonight, and maybe that would have to be okay. Somehow, facing the empty hotel room felt more final than watching the casket be lowered. It felt more like Nate needed to be absolutely smashed to even think about properly processing his emotions. He upended the liquor into his mouth before sliding the glass across the bar. He felt a body slide onto the stool next to him but kept his eyes firmly trained on the bartender pouring him another. “If you’re here to judge me for drinking alone on a Tuesday night, I’m not really in the mood.”

[evanderwoodsen]

- - starter .

Despite trying to keep it together, Chucks’ death had hit Eric a lot harder than he let on. It was strange to think that he was just gone. Forever. The man seemed like such a concept in New York, it was difficult for Eric to imagine a city without him.

Wrapping the soft scarf a little tighter around his neck, Eric dropped his hands into his coat pockets and walked out into the winter cold, drawing in a sharp breath as the wind hit his face. Even after 29 years, he still hated New York winters. Eric had wanted to visit Chuck’s grave ever since the funeral had ended, just as a way to say goodbye with nearly half of Manhattan there, but he kept detouring himself to postpone doing so. It seemed too final, almost. 

So, like the other three days, he instead wandered towards one of his favorite winter establishments and stopped in front of the store to look at the winter decoration. The sweet aroma of the hot chocolate coming from inside was enough to make him forget about the last few days’ events, at least for a little while.“God, is there anything better than the smell of that on a winter night?” he muttered under his breath.

[lclarhodes]

As unhappy as she was to be back, Lola had to admit there were certain perks that came with being back in Manhattan. Anonymity was one of the major ones. Yes, there were sneaky fans with their iPhones in pretty much every café she went too and, yes, there were a few paparazzi here and there, but nothing like Los Angeles. At least she thought it was a perk until the morning when a particularly insistent photographer decided he was following her every move. The blonde excelled at ignoring them, for the most part, but had enough in Centra Park when he decided he was pushing people out of the way to get to her. “Hey,” she shouted after he shoved aside a poor bystander. “Seriously, it’s one thing to stalk me, it’s another to assault random people in the park. Cut it out.”

[heiressmatriarch]

“Honestly, I’m not really interested in why you think you can’t do this,” Lily said offhandedly, thinking that she had people for this. She shouldn’t have to be the one telling the hotel manager how to do his job. Yet, here she was, at the reception desk of the Empire (now her property), arguing with someone who would soon be fired if they didn’t stop talking and get to it within the next seven to ten seconds.

“Rubbing a delicate finger on her temple, she waited (impatiently) as the manager typed vigorously into the computer and then looked up once more with a look that could only be described as pure fear. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Bass, but-” the employee said, which was very quickly interrupted by Lily with a stern “Rhodes,” before she sighed and raised a hand to stop him from talking. “Find a way, Richard.”