#lorelai 001.

[simonemalee]

where: jade kitchen who: @lorelaixtseng & simone laurent

“Lorelai, I swear to God, if my new assistant doesn't get her shit together by the end of the week, I’m going to set myself on fire.” Simone swept into Jade Kitchen like she owned the place and made a beeline towards her friend, her oversized sunglasses still on, designer tote slung over one arm, like a tornado dressed in Gucci "First, she messed up my matcha latte and added two pumps of regular vanilla instead of sugar-free vanilla -- I could literally feel my blood sugar going through the roof. Then, she posted an Insta story of me with a filter that made me look like I had texture. And then, she scheduled my nail appointment for Tuesday instead of Thursday. Tuesday, Lorelai, when mars is supposed to be in retrograde. Can you believe her?" Simone shuddered, removing her sunglasses with an ultra-dramatic flair. "Please tell me you have Charles working the bar tonight. I need a dirty vodka martini, like, yesterday."

[saldelacruz]

where: jade kitchen who: @lorelaixtseng & salvador de la cruz

"Lorelai, Lorelai, Lorelai," Salvador tutted lightly as he approached the restaurateur, gaze dragging along the elegant decor. He had to give it to the Network; their facilities were spotless, curated to perfection whether it came to the menu or the decor, and Jade Kitchen was no exception. "Your hostess just informed me that there's a six month wait for a table." Brows arched, and he leaned an arm against the counter, shoulders pulling in a casual shrug. "You'll tell her that she can make an exception, won't you. My son's turning fifteen and all he wants for his birthday are your chef's pork dumplings." Head cocked to the side, that dangerous smile of his curling at the edges. "You know how boys are. Stubborn."

[andyacostas]

closed: @lorelailewis

location: ocean crest

"—oh. Hi," Andy said when the door swung open to reveal Lorelai. She was expecting Cricket; they were already running late to a community garden meeting, but Andy had turned her room over trying to find a missing sock.

Her limited interactions with Lorelai usually left Andy feeling off-kilter — she got the feeling that she'd done something to annoy her, but for the life of her she couldn't figure out what. "Sorry, I'm here for Cricket. We've got a garden thing and she said she'll be ready in a few."

[astridlius]

closed @lorelailewis

location: ocean crest

Humming nonsensically to a horrid dubstep remix of a song she'd never heard, Astrid finished putting her hair up, adjusted her earbuds, and made sure her phone was on her, her own pre-run version of the phone-wallet-keys ritual her dad had always subscribed to before leaving the house.

She opened her front door and leaned down to make sure that her spare key was still tucked neatly under the doormat. When she straightened up, she registered a body in front of the apartment across the hall. She startled a bit, worried for a second that it was Cricket — Astrid usually peeked through her peephole to make sure her kind-of-ex and across the hall neighbor was nowhere in sight, but had overlooked that step today — but she relaxed when she quickly noted blonde hair instead of brunette.

Oh. A small smile replaced her momentary deer-in-headlights expression and she pulled out an earbud to greet the familiar face, one that she (tragically) hadn't seen much of since she started actively avoiding Cricket. "Lorelai. Hi." The other earbud joined its partner in her hand. "You headed out?"