#southbound.start

[dravcnlea-blog]

Juliet took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes, for once not caring that she was smudging her mascara. It had been a long day and she still had one more client to go. She still had a couple more minutes before the scheduled appointment so she leaned back in her office chair and closed her eyes. Juliet’s last session had involved a client whose story broke her heart, she wished she could wrap her arms around them and promise them that everything was going to be okay. But that didn’t solve anything. they had to work through the problem themselves and Juliet was just there to support them on their journey. She grabbed her planner off her desk and flicked through the pages scribbling in the new appointments she had. At the sound of her office door opening, Juliet continued writing assuming it was her client “Please take a seat, I’ll be with you in a second.”

[ofcyrxs]

A month was how long it had been since Cyrus and their friends first turned into the town that was Boot Hill. They’d remember the sun setting behind them, the orange hues that saturated the desert. Night time wasn’t far behind- purple reflecting in the cola cans that ratted at their feet. They wouldn’t feel bad stopping in for the night- drawn to the town. Beckoned.

Now they’d sit amidst a cluttered cafe, tables full of people who’d all seem too busy in their own lives to notice anything else. Cyrus, he’d be sketching it. Glancing up constantly, admiring the way the towns folk seemed so porcelain. Like they were placed there, just for him. Outside of this cafe, they wouldn’t exist. They’d disintegrate to dust and drift to the mountains. They weren’t keeping track of time, how long their pot of coffee sat in front of them, nor how many times they clicked away at their mechanic pencil. But they’d look up to find someone lost- no not lost, just searching. With all the tables full, and the waitress dancing through the crowd Cyrus would call out. A quiet voice, yet it would manage to carry through the bustle.

“You’re welcome to join me.”

[jasminsummers]

The sky spilled a brilliant blood orange as the sun set over Boot Hill. Jasmin had missed the warm Arizona air, and how it failed to dwindle, even as it grew dark out. She almost felt a sweat gather on her brow, though the brunette could not be sure if it was from the unusual heat or her present activities. On the counter before her sat her laptop, images of the infamous Arizona Ripper, Miguel Santos plastered over the screen. Jasmin had generally avoided the case, pictures of the murderer specifically, but her latest work assignment had lead her here, and forced her to focus on the part of her life she had so desperately tried to forget. Everyone who owned a television or a computer knew she was the daughter of Rosemarie Summers and heir to her mother’s fashion empire---- but no one knew she was also the daughter of The Ripper himself. A great discomfort suddenly fell upon the writer, feeling Santos’ picture stare at her through the screen--- she slammed the laptop shut, accidentally taking out her coffee with it. “Shit.” Was all she could murmurer, head falling into hands in utter despair. 

[southboundhqarchive]

Because tumblr tags are still broken, at least on my end, here’s a list of every open starter I’ve found or remembered being posted, no matter note count or post date! If yours is missing or you’d like yours taken off, let me know!

Abigail Scott

Andrew Knox

Dorian Young

Eloise James

Eloise James

Finola MacClean

Joey Ryan

Kimberly Feng

Lana Richards (eating disorder tw)

Lennox Holm

Lola Montgomery

Mallory Goode

Margie Dominguez

Mateo Alvarez

Nate Godfrey

Neve Channing

Noah Bennett

Rose Crain

Sonny MacClean

Truman Wake

[fengoria]

it wasn’t worth hitting the boot hill lanes until the babysitters club hit their curfews and went on home, but after a few beers and a long walk from yote’s on main street and down bucking horse she wouldn’t have cared if the place had been crawling in rugrats anyway. far from her apartments on the outskirts, kim wasn’t ready to go home just yet and that street fighter arcade game had been calling her fuckin’ name since some idiot with the initials DMK had knocked her out of first place. 

quarters were sparse, since she hadn’t planned on hitting the arcade or doing laundry, but she had a fair few in her leather jacket just in case--though the supply was running low. last play and she was on the last battle with sagat--who looked like a muscle bound idiot in muay thai fight shorts--when he killed her. scavenging in her pockets, she almost knocked over her drink. “fuck, fuck ...” the breathy and distracted words punctuated the countdown as she came up fifty cents short of claiming her title. 

turning her head, she caught a glimpse of another boot hill lanes patron. “hey!” she called, looking anxiously to the countdown as it descended in sadistic mockery. “yeah, you--starry eyes.” she snapped to catch their attention. “you have a quarter or change for a uhh--” digging through her pocket, the cigarette fell from her ear and hit the ground before she brandished a wrinkled five dollar bill. “change for a five? i’m hanging on to life here, hero. you wanna fuckin’ help a girl out?”

[eloisejjames-blog]

Weak hands gripped the steering wheel, a constant disruptive tremor threatening her posture as her nerves took over inch by inch, second by second. When people said Boot Hill was in the middle of nowhere, they weren’t wrong. With the next town over a few hours drive, Eloise felt the exhaustion get the better of her. A quick glance at her watch confirmed her lack of punctuality, but still the brunette held onto the steering wheel, beyond terrified to get out of the car. The truth was hospitals had always held negative denotations for Eloise; her mother’s death, the endless broken arms and stitches she had endured as a child. But this visit, a visit so secret and frightening the waitress had booked an appointment in the next town over---- this visit was by far the most heart racing, anxiety inducing appointment of her life.

It was dark by the time Eloise returned to Boot Hill, the day fading behind her with all hopes that this journey would be easy. Streetlamps illuminated the street as best they could, though the complex was still truly in clandestine. The night atmosphere hit Eloise like the cold hands of death, though she did not flinch. The last few hours had forced the brunette to take a dramatic change. It was something she was completely aware of, the tiny plus sign that stared back up at her all those weeks ago had warned her of its impending arrival---- but seeing the sonogram had rendered her speechless, for never had she thought herself capable of so much love. 

Footsteps in the night forced her from her daze, and almost instantaneously Eloise wrapped her jacket around her frame, crossing her arms over her stomach. “You-- frightened me.” She murmured to the approaching figure, still somewhat hypnotised by the recent events.

[godfreynate-blog]

It had been a long day at Chuy’s, Nate trying his hand at fixing a car that seemed to be impossible. It didn’t help that it was so hot outside. He was surprised the tires hadn’t melted yet. Nonetheless, Nate was too stubborn to give up - a trait he had gotten from his asshole of a father. He wanted to say he got it from his mother but he hadn’t known her to figure that one out. Nate persevered despite the challenges that the weather as well as the stubborn car before him brought. He stopped once he heard someone walking in his direction, turning around to see who it was. A flirtatious grin broke out on his face once he saw who it was standing before him. “Well, hello there. What can I do for you today?”

[hcartbrecker-blog]

working at the schoolhouse cafe did have its perks. it was a cute and quaint little cafe that lola enjoyed working in. it was fun and the tips were an added bonus. but it did occasionally have its slow days, like today was. lola was the only inside, most of the other waitresses either on lunch break or on their way for their shift. lola had decided to sweep up the floor, hurrying before any new customers came in. as she did so, she heard the song playing over the little radio. lola smiled as she swayed her hips, allowing herself to get carried away as she used the broom in her hands as a makeshift microphone. she had been so caught up in dancing that she hadn’t noticed a new customer walking into the cafe. it was only when she twirled around that she paused and saw them standing there, her cheeks tainted red due to embarrassment. she threw the broom over to the side, a sheepish grin breaking out on her face, as she stood there for a moment. “uh, hey! didn’t see you standing there! welcome to the schoolhouse cafe, what can i get you?”