#orhq.starter

[lawunabiding]

outside aroma mocha

there was frost on the ground and a chill in the air, but it didn't phase maeve in the slightest. as long as it was above freezing, it was warm enough to be outside. ( it helped that aroma mocha had heaters placed among their outdoor seating. )

maeve was seated at a table with lincoln at her feet and ruth in her lap, both wearing one of their many coats to stay warm in the cold weather. she absentmindedly pet ruth, her fingers toying with the fabric of the sweater, as she read through a new case file with furrowed brows. always working, even outside of the office, even on a weekend.

" oh, you can sit if you want. they're friendly. " maeve's gaze flicked up without really seeing the person, then immediately turned her attention back to the the file.

[gvnshy]

OPEN: everyone LOCATION: last call

❝This is my go away face,❞ Sawyer said sourly as someone sat next to her. Maybe coming to a bar when being in such a mood was not the best idea but then again, she wanted to drink and not do it entirely alone. As long as no one offered her sympathy or asked her any sort of questions. ❝If you insist on being there, you could at least pay the next round.❞

[dan-hart]

Location: Mad Axe 

Open.

The blade of the axe hit the red center of the bullseye. Unable to hide his expression, he reached forward for his towel. Days to himself were few and far between, with the last eleven years dedicated to the idea of being available at a moment’s notice. Free time felt like a free fall. Calloused hands gripped the handle of the axe and he tossed again. 

And again. 

He stopped only to order a beer, watching as the room began to fill up. Suddenly aware of himself and the space he was taking, he quietly settled his game and relocated to the bar. The weekend crowd was lively, shifting the energy he had settled into. The thought to leave started to come up, but the bartender placed a beer in front of him nodding in the direction of the good Samaritan. 

“I am of the firm belief that people don’t do things out of the goodness of their heart.” He took a sip. “So, you got my attention.” 

[itallbyrnesdown]

Location: The Den

Open to Everyone

Declan sat in the cigar room at The Den, lazily blowing smoke rings into the air. Things had gotten chaotic since the Walker patriarch's unfortunate car accident. And while it was entirely unsurprising that the Walkers had decided Declan was somehow the culprit, it was surprising that retaliation had come so clumsily. Honestly, Declan expected something more from Cooper Walker, it was disappointing.

Here in the present, Declan was beginning to plot. An assault at Lady Luck, an attack in his very own stronghold, could not go unanswered. And while the temptation to deliver immediate eye-for-an-eye retribution was strong, Declan knew better. He would wait. He would sit, and smoke, and play the long game.

Declan's contemplation was interrupted when he felt the plush seat next to him dip with the weight of another person. Keeping his eyes on the smoke trailing from his cigar, Declan spoke.

"I wasn't expecting company tonight. I wonder what brings you too my booth"

[hunterjamess]

Location: Last Call

Open

It felt odd to be on the other side of the bar. In a rare turn of events, she had the night off and decided to make the most of it. Finding a worn out stool, she wedged herself into the corner and leaned over the counter to pour a beer. “Sorry,” she said unapologetically to her colleague, bringing the glass to her lips.

The last time she’d been drinking at a bar was nearly a year ago on a quiet Tuesday night. It didn’t quite fill the void of fun she had been looking for. Although, the appeal of drinking lost itself on all the nights she watched people make mistakes.

As she drank, she watched familiar faces fill the space. Every so often waving at regulars or those that she was friendly with. The longer she sat, the more she realized that she hadn’t really been living these last few years. She knew these people through their complaints or stories or moments in passing. Somehow she was just existing, riding on the tailcoats of everyone else’s stories as she went through the motions of working, breathing, eating, sleeping, working repeating.

Tonight she wanted to have fun and feel what it felt to be without responsibilities. So she did, starting with the person seated beside her. “What are you drinking? The beer is flat tonight and I need a better alternative.”

[lawunabiding]

LOCATION the mad axe

maeve, with whatever physical might was stored in her slender frame, hurled a weathered axe toward the center of the target. she let out a sound that was borderline primal, all the stress from the preceding months finally boiling over. at least the mad axe offered a socially acceptable place for her to throw sharp objects. the projectile landed a few inches left of the target and she went to grab the next when a spectator caught her eye. " do you have something to say? " she asked bitingly. everyone had something to say lately and it was her job to listen - she was so, so tired of listening. the axe left her grip and buried itself into the edge of the target.

[dan-hart]

Location: General Store

Open

He couldn't believe that it had already been a week since the death. Time felt like it was moving away from a linear plane. He had moved through work, adjusting to the subtle changes and grief from both family and workers.

He had been trying to lay low, keep out of people's way, be available when needed. There was an energy to the town that felt unsteady. It made him feel like there was something on the horizon that wasn't fully mapped out. Or maybe that was just him predetermining events again.

The last week had been spent with Walkers. Listening to stories, watching tense postures and the impending anger that was one wrong sentence away from breaking the surface.

A night away was all he needed. He took to the streets. Walking all the way into town. Window shopping around the main center, until he reached the general store. At the end of the first aisle he saw a familiar face.

"That any good?" He said nodding to the product in their hand. "It seems to sell out pretty quick."

[ofnuminous]

at outside some bar. open to everyone.

"It’s like some of us are chasing after our nightmares the way other people chase dreams." Some insight, rare, from Catalina. The woman was looking at the sky, the stars, feeling overwhelmed by life and strangely, comforted by how small and insignificant she truly was. In the end, she was only one, barely one. Catalina was not looking at whoever was next, didn't even know if they had just stood there or sought her out. "I think I need another drink," she finally said with a laugh.