Gramercy Plaza

Gramercy Plaza​

Set in the heart of the newly revitalized downtown, Gramercy Plaza is anchored by an 80 unit condominium that serves to provide patronage to the businesses that Gramercy Plaza offers. A jewel of urban renewal the condos offer a section of rent controlled, low income units with the goal of providing housing for some of the original neighborhood residents who decided to stay. From there prices go up, significantly up, and Gramercy attracts professionals, artists, the Boho set and a wide variety of other residents. A series of meeting and exhibition rooms at the back of the ground floor are available for community use and rental by groups outside of Gramercy.

Gramercy Plaza - You Deserve It

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Post Header


Please use this simple header with each post for sake of clarity.

Location:
Tag:

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Characters

Faith Noel - AnnaBeth
Sarah Barkleys - Sharub
Arthur Connington - Sigr
Chelsea Barrett / Cassie Gutierrez - megyn
Jasmine Calliwell - Whispered Secret
Bryn Galenus - BennyQ
Chloe Williams - Letrixia
Dylan Murphy - Blackthorne
Saoirse Quinn - Kosmik Khaos
Charlie Winchester & Lucy Martin - AndNich123

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Locations

Bistro 121 Bar & Restaurant in the Lobby of the Gramercy.
Mac the Bartender

The Split Bean Coffee House in the Lobby of the Gramercy.

Gramercy Creamery Cones in the plaza.

Location: The Gramercy Plaza Condominium Bar.
Tag: No one yet.

Irina's hands leaned on Michael's muscular chest in search for something to lean her feeble feverish form on, weakened by her own poisoned lipstick when she had bitten into her own lower lip. The plan had backfired, and how, as she couldn't expect that the ambassador she was supposed to kill was the same man that she met the night before. She was trained to leave her personal desires away, locked in a box, buried under the ice in the far and cold tundra of her homeland. But his sky blue eyes showed that he cared, his warm wide smile accepted her, his worried voice enveloped her body before even she started to collapse on the firmness of his arms. "Michael-" she pleaded, if she was going to die she wanted his name to be the last thing it grazed her lips. Through hazy eyes she watched him retrieve a small glass flask from his jacket, drinking the clear liquid without swallowing and leaning, closer and closer. It turned out that the last thing that would caress Irina's blood red lips, at least in her life as a loyal Russian spy, would be the tender lips of the American ambassador.

"Hrmmm-" Arthur groaned, retiring his hands from the laptop keyboard, drumming them restless on the table he was sitting at. He would normally avoid working in a public space, but since his daughter had gone away to college, being at his apartment felt painfully lonely, sometimes even resorting to let the television on just to have a human voice as background noise. Scratching his beard with one hand, picked up the coffee cup with the other, sighing. It seemed that the moment of most activity of that place would be during the nights, but at least there was enough noise to keep Arthur distracted from himself.

Perhaps he should go, after all he had shopping to do, although there was no hurry and he had the whole day ahead of him. Doubting if he should pick her steel gray jacket and monochrome camouflage scarf from the nearby chair, he ended up being lazy and deciding he could stay a little bit more. Shopping for one was going to be terribly boring after all. Wondering how he should continue the scene, if it was proper to have Irina naked on the ambassador's bed with the pretext of a doctor visit or not, Arthur just sat pensive, looking at his surroundings until an idea popped on his mind.

"Cassie Gutierrez "
Location: The Gramercy Plaza Condominium Bar.
Tag: Arthur Connington

Chelsea, who always had to remind herself to think of herself as 'Cassie', was one of the only servers who did not get cut after the breakfast rush died down. Most of the other servers had classes to go to, children to deal with, or just could not afford to stand around for the 2.50 waitress minimum wage in this city, plus almost no tips with very few customers. But for 'Cassie' it was perfect. She was not busy so she got the time to actually meet people, as well as observe them. Not to mention learn more of the job, though she had been working as a waitress for several months now. The assistant manager had once asked how she could afford to work all the crappy shifts, but everyone was thankful she could. Not that she didn't have some regulars, too; but none of them were here at the moment.

'Regulars', she smiled to herself thinking. People who were there to see her primarily, and not because they wanted her to buy them something or ask her opinion on some fashion issue or ask for a loan. They didn't just like her because of her last name and who her parents were. It felt sort of nice.

Noticing her one table looked ready for a refill, she approached, of course wearing her daytime uniform , which was not as elaborate or flashy as the night time one. He seemed to be working on something that was almost certainly not a spread sheet since all she ever saw was a spreadsheet every time she came up. She smirked and shook her head, it wasn't like she really wanted to see. Or, maybe she did now that she knew he didn't want her to see.

She bent slightly to put her face closer "Looks like maybe you are ready for some more coffee, you want a new cup or refill you? I am Cassie, I am going to be taking over your table, but don't feel rushed of course" She gave a broad smile and then went to either get a new cup or the pot to pour the refil, when she returned she provided it to him

"I will be around most of the morning unless my boss gets tired of me, so if you need anything just wave. I will try not to interrupt your work too much" Her eyes flashed with interest at what he might be doing, but she was too polite to ask it seemed. Had she known, she definitely would have been even more curious ,especially if Irina was naked.

Location: Out of Map's boundaries
Tag: The God of Travelers

She waved at her parents that, held in an almost heartwarming hug saluted their daughter that moved from the safety of the countryside to the damned perils that lies in the big city, something which they have spoken to almost with revered fear neither as the Priest preached during the mass, and, even to their judgement, neither the Devil himself would be so harmful and debauched as THE CITY. To Sarah, still, it was nothing but a different place, a different town, a different way to make her own life outside the garden-like village she grew into...

<<The city...>> murmured her while looking outside the big window of the train. Freshly accepted for a job, she decided to try going all in and try to get everything: Job, home, life, cigarettes.... or nothing... and return to the home nest to mom hen and ask for forgiviness for having succumbed to the temptations of the gray, loud, polluted and debauched city, thing that at the sole thought, made her shiver. It all seemed unreal for her "Am i really doing this?", she that have never left the placid village if not for few hours, now venturing all alone to that place that for all of her life has been told and taught to fear and avoid with any means... still, she have been told that no matter what, in the city, you will find. So, holding tightly to that voice, she tried to relax and enjoyed the scenery that ran outside the windowscreen, with soft hills becoming flatter and flatter, with ranches quickly subduing to vast factories and gray chimneys and, the more she approached the big city, concrete become replaced with glass that shone under the sun like polished crystal marbles and flocks of citizens crowded every inch of every meter of busy walkways. She felt like the usual, overstereotyped country-guy-who-sees-the-city-for-the-first-time, still, it was impossible for her to behave differently.

As the train stopped, she exited from the station barely following the universal signs of exit, until, like in a dream, the sun appeared again over her head. Her hairs shone of a reddish hue, seemingly more similar to uncovered copper-electric wires while with a pale hand she covered her glass-covered brown eyes, as she looked at the shadows of the tall buildings that sorrounded the square. Searching for her pockets, Sarah felt the crushing sound of a paper sheet, extracting it with a curiousity-filled pout, she remembered an address she saw while online; putting that little paper in her thig-pocket of her jeans, she lit a cigarette and took a few puffs before randomly choosing a direction to reach the address written on the paper: Jasmine Calliwell, Gramercy Plaza Apts.

Bryn Galenus
Location: The GCC.
Tag: Open.

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Every day the store opens at 10am sharp, though Bryn Galenus is usually in by 8am to prepare. The store remains open until 8pm when he closes it down, spending the remainder of the evening for himself. The store is open six days a week, even during holidays, with the store closed on sundays. It has two entrances, one leading into Gramercy Plaza itself, with another on the far end that opens out into the street.

The counter is small, beginning with a cashier station where one pays for their selection, before coming to a small glass panel where one can see the varieties of ice cream on display, with the far end of the counter being where one collects their product. Only ice cream is sold at the shop. Frozen yogurt or snacks must be purchased elsewhere, though outside food is allowed in the store if one cleans up after themselves.

It has two rows of tables, with four chairs around each, with small booths tucked against the right wall for couples or larger groups to squeeze in. Decorations hang on the wall and dangle from the ceiling. A single flat screen television is mounted on the wall, usually displaying the sports channel. During the high summer months, it’s usually muted to allow for cheerful radio music to broadcast throughout the store.

Most importantly, Gramercy Creamery Cones offers free WIFI.

The store offers a variety of up to two dozen different flavours, with several types of cones in which the product can be consumed in. If a customer very much enjoys the flavour, tubs can be purchased as well.

As for Bryn’s…other business, one must settle with him in advance in order to be considered a part of the select clientele with access to the hidden menu. Speaking openly of such business in the store will see one banned. The hidden menu consists of the following products; Aunt Mary, Mario’s Extra Life, and Miami Skiing.

Under the counter unseen by customers is an ice cream tub marked Fish N Chips. Because such an ice cream flavour would be so disgusting and disliked, it is hoped no one would ever look inside, because inside the tub is a gun, a .357 magnum, the serial code scratched out.

There was no dress code for employees of Gramercy Creamery Cones, given that usually only one to three people were working. In the present day, only one person managed the store, with a passion and zeal that was remarkable for someone his age. A plain long-sleeve white shirt adorned Bryn’s body, the sleeves rolled up however, atop dark jeans and high-top sneakers that easily cost as much as the rest of his outfit combined and doubled. Yet this casual appearance seemed to work wonders with the consumer base, as it was a locally run store for the local people, not some organization with a far off headquarters with their streamlined process and fake smiles.

Bryn’s smile was anything but fake. He joked with the children. Flattered the women. Listened to the old-timers. His prices were not inflated. You got exactly what you paid for at his store and even some extra on a good day, which was often. Some might say he was being excessive, his profit margins break-even barely rather than making any money. But they didn’t know the cash-business he ran on the side, grinning when a certain individual came and lowkey handed him a wad of cash, to which he presented what seemed like an entire tub of ice cream. The tubs certainly did not feel as heavy as they looked but those who carried them never told.

It was a necessary means to an end, he told himself. Like when the winter months rolled around, when no one was in the mood for ice cream, Bryn still had to make a living. But the summer months could be just as bad, when everyone was screaming for ice cream. It certainly explained the sign with bold letters, HELP WANTED, that was plastered out front. Yet even Bryn thought that could be a bad idea, given his side work. He needed to screen the right candidate for it.

A moment of rest came as the family purchased ice cream for their jittery children and left the store, leaving Bryn some reprieve for the first time that day as business came to a halt. He had a stack of receipts which he mused through idly, estimating his profit for the day, and refreshed some of the display tubs that were running low on product. Cookies N Cream, Birthday Cake, Coffee Toffee, Rocky Road, those were the sellers. Dinosaur Egg, a cotton candy mix with little nuts in them, was not doing so well. Lemon Buttermilk was a bad choice too for this year.

Bryn shrugged. What could one do? It was hard to guess the market but he always had those mainstay sellers to fall back on, vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate. Pulling up a chair behind the cashier station, he pulled out his phone and began to browse about, waiting for the next customer.

Location: Gramercy Plaza, Apt 202
Tag: Me, myself and I

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Sitting cross legged on the floor and leaning back against her sofa, Jasmine clicked open the email marked “Your future roommate”. She was starting to regret putting her regular email address on the ad she had put together to look for a roommate. Or maybe she just should have chosen where she posted the ad with a little more care.

Though reading through this particular email, maybe this guy would be a real possibility. He sounded serious and was also a student at Uni. After reading through his facts and why he was looking for a place to live, she double clicked the attached “me.jpg” file, thinking maybe she would recognize him and was presented with a huge dick pic. Blushing and rolling her eyes, she closed the file and deleted the mail, muttering to herself that the guy really didn’t have much to be that proud of.

She was getting tired of looking for someone to share the expenses of having an apartment apart from the dorms. She knew when she first found the place that it was too expensive for her, but she fell in love with the place at first glance. The huge windows and open area floor plan. With two bedrooms she was sure it would be easy to attract a roommate to share the costs...and it was easy to find a plethora of people willing to more in, it was much harder to convince herself she could trust said people.

Something was going to have to give soon though. She couldn’t afford the rent alone for much longer. She had two names on her list of possibles so far. An older woman who seemed extremely professional and organized. The woman had been polite and answered every question Jaz had asked perfectly, but the woman hadn’t smiled one single time. The prospect of sharing space with someone that dull and serious was a little daunting. Being quiet and boring herself, she had hoped for someone a little more colorful, or at least someone who had the ability to express more emotion than a teaspoon.

Her second candidate was an older man that worked close to Gramercy Plaza, and was looking for somewhere with a shorter transit every day. She had spoken with him over the phone and he seemed perfect, but there was something about him that had made her a little uneasy. When she had asked for references the man had protested, but she refused to be bullied into a decision. He had finally sent her a name and number in a text, and when Jasmine called the number and talked to the woman referred to, she was given a positive account...but the lady on the other end of the line seemed nervous and off. She hadn’t returned any of the man’s inquiries since. She trusted the uneasy feeling in her gut, and scratched him completely from her list of “maybe’s”.

That left the boring one, she thought to herself with a sigh. Well she would give it another week, if she didn’t find any new contenders, than she would just have to see if she could get a teaspoon to smile.

Shutting her laptop and leaning back, her brown hair fanning out under her head and draping over the pink fabric, she messages her temples with the tips of her fingers. Her phone was docked and music played quietly, the soothing happy sounds of electric swing. Her current obsession in music genre. Her feet jiggled in time with the tune, taking her mind off her worries for the moment. It wouldn’t be long before she needed to get back to work. She had a paper due and she had to prepare for the class she was aiding in. The money sucked, but it helped. She still needed to find a part time job. Preferably something that would let her get a little studying done from time to time.
Letting out a frustrated groan, Jasmine crawled to her feet and headed for the bathroom, lifting the curtain of ash brown hair and tying it into a loose knot she decided a hot soak in the tub would help her figure things out.

Turning up the volume on her phone on the way to the bathroom, she sang and danced awkwardly to her favorite song while running the water. She’d figure everything out later.

Location: Gramercy Plaza & sorroundings
Tag: None

Sarah slowly walked around the roads that still smelled of fresh concrete and fresh paint, screaming to whoever passes by how fresh, cool and new that re-upgraded place is. With her cigarette held tightly in her thin lips, the wannabe citywoman strolled around, smelling the freshly toasted coffee as it seemed the last trend among metropolitan cities, and, casting her eyes on a nicely-drawn map of the area, she spotted something that would be her target: "Gramercy Plaza Apartments". After few instants of memorizing the path, the thin girl walked quickly over the walkways, passing beneath nicely trimmed trees and skipping flocks of students and workers in suits and ties. Finally, the buildings on the sides of the road opened and like a curtain that moves aside, Gramercy Plaza appeared on the stage, with its shiny new building and new all, the square appeared worth of a postcard, the place that is usualy imagined of new-style cities, the ones that abandons the gray dullness of concrete and steel and favours a fresh, vibrant approach to life, the sort of place that makes you want to enjoy your life even in the darkest of days.

Almost dropping her cigarette from her lips, Sarah almost trotted across the square, bringing with her her heavy trolley that on several occasions almost cut off the legs of pedestrians unaware enough of her brisk passage. At the feets of the building, she felt smaller than she should be and, with an hint of excitement rising in her chest, she searched for the buzzer as she mumbled <<Mhh...Jasmine...Jasmine... Jasmine... ah, there she is. Jasmine Calliwell>> and, with a barely inted brush of her hairs, she pressed the buzzer, waiting for an answer...

Arthur Connington
Location: The Gramercy Plaza Condominium Bar.
Tag: "Cassie Gutierrez"

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"Good morning Cassie, I'm Arthur" he introduced himself, getting up from his seat and offering a hand to shake, even if it could be seen as odd. It didn't matter that it was a waitress and him a client, Arthur was old fashioned to a fault. "Feel free to interrupt, accounting can't get any more boring" he said with a wide smile. For someone that made a small fortune weaving fiction, Arthur was lousy at lying in person, and most of the time was honest to a fault, even if he had his own couple of secrets. His job was one, and the other rarely if ever even crossed his mind.

Sitting down again, his left thumb unconsciously scratched the base of his ring finger, a small vanishing mark in there. It had been his daughter's wish before heading to college, and Arthur, being the soft hearted man he was, indulged her, even if it pained him to do so. Now, his wedding band was with his dead wife's, together in a box on the bottom of a drawer, unseen yet painfully present. "Bring me a fresh cup, please, and any sweet treat that you may have around" he asked, not knowing the kind of stuff the bar offered, as he rarely frequented it before his daughter went to college. "Something small though, I can't afford too many sweets at my age" he added, patting his flat abdomen.

Cassie didn't look much older than his own daughter, if anything, but her cute smile made Arthur remember the words of his daughter. She hasn't just begged for him to finally remove his wedding band, but also to move forward, to be as happy as he deserved. He did know that something that seemed out of one of his books would be impossible, and that he would be better off with women his age, instead of looking like yet another desperate middle aged man. "I will definitely ask if I need something more than that something sweet and cup of coffee, is that fine?" he asked, managing a small smile.

Location: Gramercy's Plaza apartment 603
Tag: Some pathetic bastards online.

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Saoirse let out a disgusted groan at the pathetic bastard begging her to humiliate them and paying her for it. How could these guys get off on such a thing? She checked her PayPal account and saw that the transaction came through. $55 for telling some business man he had a small penis. "Seriously, why did I even listen to her. I mean yeah, it's free money but these guys are just....ugh." Her full lips curled into a unpleasant sneer. "Fuck 'em. Time for the next sucker."

She spent the next few minutes talking to some other guy, calling him a pathetic waste of a man, and charged him ten bucks for her to say it, which he paid through Amazon gift card, which was fine by Saoirse. She then told him to put on his wife's bra and panties, charged him another $10 as a bitch fee, then a $5 bra wearing tax, $20 to accept the picture of him proving he was wearing it, which she didn't even more than glance at when the message popped up, then made him thank her for allowing him to be a pathetic waste of a man. Which he did to the sound of $40 more into her Amazon account. "For fucking real? $85 just dropped to be humiliated by some random bitch online... Lizzy wasn't kidding, you can make some bank doing this."

Throwing out what little remorse she had for the guys she went into full bitch mode on them. Demanding the indulge her with praise, gifts, and money. She put up a wish list and a few pictures to prove to her little following that she was indeed a woman and watched as the cash rolled in to various online accounts. She ended her session with a selfie and a thank you to all her 'bitches' for their love and obedience to their mistress. Closing the browser Saoirse opened her media player and turned on a playlist letting the entrancing vocals of the female lead wash over her while the heavy guitars and drums backed her voice.

Getting out of the chair she danced about the room as she stripped from the outfit she put on to pose for her losers. Soon she was dancing naked in her bedroom singing along with the metal music on her computer. Walking to her closet she pulled out her bong and a bag of weed. "Shit. I'm almost out." She pouted at the small amount left in the bag. She was going to have to visit the Creamery sometime today to re-up. Taking the bong and bag to the kitchen she filled it with water, packed the bowl and took a monstrous hit. Exhaling a massive cloud of smoke Saoirse smiled as the buzz began to kick in.

Sitting the bong down she pranced, but would never admit to prancing in her life, to the fridge pulling the door open and grabbing a bottle of orange juice. Drinking half of it in one go she let out a loud "AAAAHHH!" of delight and kissed the bottle. "You're so good to me." She said to it with a giggle to herself. She spent the next few minutes finishing her morning bowl before deciding to get dressed.

Being high and off work for the morning and most of the afternoon she decided to indulge in one of her favorite hobbies and dressed up to go visit Bryn at his Creamery. Looking at herself in the mirror she smiled happily, blew herself a kiss and did a twirl. She was cute, felt sexy, high as a kite, and in a glorious mood from nearly $400 made by insulting spineless losers. It was a great start to the day.

Heading down stairs she went into GCC. "Oh Bryn sweetie!" She called out in her melodic voice as she walked in, her full hips swaying side to side as she crossed the floor to the counter. "How is my favorite ice cream slinger doing today?" She asked placing her elbows on the counter and bending at the waist to rest her chin in her cupped hands. Her posture left her skirt sitting high on her thighs, anyone walking in would have a great view of her bared legs while being teased with just a inch or so of skirt left covering her bum, while Bryn was given the chance to look down the front of her dress at her generous bust and the cleavage she presented him.

"I would like a double scoop of butter rum in a waffle cone and a pint of Aunt Mary please." She ordered with a smile and wink.

Location: Gramercy Plaza Atp. 202
Tag: The person buzzing me out of my bathtub

“Crap crap crap crap crap crap crap crap…” Jasmine did a running slide across the hardwood floors, her small bare feet skidding over the slick surface. Wet and dripping with a fluffy black bath towel wrapped around her slight body she raced through her living room. She had been so relaxed in the hot bubbly bath water. Water filling the tub as high as she could get it so she could float with her head resting on a folded towel, letting all the stress of her worries evaporate along with the steam in the gorgeous bathroom.

Thankfully she had just been soaking and her hair was up on top of her head. Yes it looked like a wild, out of control birds nest, but it was a dry one! If she had been washing her long hair, she would still be battling to get the mess wrapped up enough to exit the tub.

When the doorbell screeched it’s alarm she rushed out of the tub and ran for the buzzer. She was breathless by the time she made it to the intercom button, frantically thinking who the heck could be buzzing her. Maybe it was a salesman or some kids just causing trouble.

“Hello?” she leaned close to the little round grid, her hand firmly on the knotted terry cloth between her supple breasts. Water still dripping from her fair skin, wet footsteps showing evidence of her path from the bathroom. “Can I help you?”

Bryn Galenus
Location: The GCC.
Tag: Scumbags, Saoirse.

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"The fuck do I look like to you, Fubu the Bubu Johnson? Billy the small dick Willy?" Bryn snapped at the two shady looking youths in front of him, arms crossed, muscles bulging in his tight long sleeve shirt. "I told you, two hundred an O. I ain't going any lower. I gotta make money too ya know."

The two rough looking men, early twenties, were unmoved. "What kind of shit is that? You know motherfuckas is broke these days. One sixty man. You know the dude down the street at the laundromat charges one fifty."

Bryn snorted. "Well take your ass over there then and smoke his oregano mingled shit then. You get quality here and quality costs money." He rubbed two of his fingers together against his thumb to emphasize it.

"One seventy then." The other offered, causing Bryn to scoff and roll his eyes.

This was the scene going on in the Creamery when Saorise arrived. The three men, alone in the store, immediately fell silent. In fact they all turned to admire the fine young female who came in. "Go and wait over there. I'll talk to you later." Bryn hissed at them, voice full of command. Thankfully they listened, shaking their heads and murmuring protest under their breath as they took a seat. Bryn then flashed a smile at one of his regulars, pulling on some plastic gloves and getting the ice cream scoop ready. He knew her well, Saorise, living on the same floor as her, further down in apartment 607. He could also see the look in her eyes. She's hungry. The two street dealers had their eyes right on her rear as she bent at the counter.

"Sunshine as always, darlin'. How's the work?" He inquired back, eyebrows raised as he shamelessly did glance at the bent sight before him. Hey, if she's offering the sight, he'll take the sight. Not for long though, pulling out the waffle cone, fetching two, and a half extra, scoops for her and setting it aside at the pick up counter next to the till. A pint was code for a quarter ounce, which ran at about sixty dollars extra. The till only came up $3.99. He raised a finger to indicate for her to wait before going in the back, opening up the freezer and pulling out the specially marked ice cream tubs. He returned, setting that on the counter as well. "Good stuff. Northern Lights. Straight outta Canada. Let me know how you like it." Bryn answered with a smile, speaking in a low tone.

"What's up?" He then asked, eyebrows wiggling as he nodded at her outfit. "You got a show today or just feel like prancing down the street?"

Location: Gramercy Plaza Atp. 202
Tag: Jasmine Calliwell

Sarah rolled the cigarette between her lips nervously, realizing in that moment just how thoughtless and reckless her actions were, as she was now ringing without warns nor emails nor a phone call to check if the apartment was still up for sharing or, for what she could knew, if said Jasmine was still alive; in that moment, time slowed down, setting a terrible and aguish-filled tempo, almost unreal as the people around the plaza kept walking, jogging and do generally pleasant activities while she was there, reeking of cigarette smoke, unruly copper hairs and the vague sensation that if nobody would answer the call she would probably have to spend a consistent sum of money in an hotel of sort. ...another call wouldn't hurt... *Bzzzz*

Her eyes almost transfixed the sleek steel surface of the buzzers "...come on... c'monc'monc'mon'com!" thought her, but just as she was about to sigh and turn her heels, the voice of a girl sounded from the device. <<Oh! h-hi! Uhm... uh... well... >> Sarah hated to speak without seeing the face with which she's speaking to, and the surprise of that answer made her unready to answer <<Ah... Hi, my name's Sarah Barkeley. I saw your ...uh... rommate advertisement online yesterday and... uh... well... yeah... i know that is... uhm... unpolite, i'd say, to just come here and buzz you but... uh... is.... hehe is that offer still... uh... up?>>

Location: Gramercy Plaza Atp. 202
Tag: Sarah Barkeley

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Oh wow! This was great!! Maybe this was the exact miracle she had been hoping for. Whoever was on the other side of the slightly mechanical sounding intercom couldn’t be worse than any of the other’s she had spoken to.

“Oh hi!! Sarah? Was it? Great great!! Umm..gimme a sec” Jaz went to run and get clothes on...then stopped abruptly, shaking her head over her own foolishness, she couldn’t leave the girl standing outside the apartment complex’s entrance. Turning back to the intercom system and awkwardly scrambling for the towel that almost feel to the floor, Jasmine hit the button once more.

“Let me buzz you right up Sarah...wait..you’re not a serial killer right? “ grinning at her own joke she hurried on. “Just kidding! Come on up..I’m just outta the tub, so if I don’t answer right away I’m still looking for clothes! I’m on the second floor...turn left when coming out of the elevator, than it the second last door on the left side.”

She pushed the lock release and held it for a few seconds, listening until she heard the door open. “See you in a few!” she said just before running down the hallway to her room to throw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

“Please please please let this be the right person…” she prayed to whichever entity was listening, she really had no preference. She wouldn’t be picky, as long as the girl could pay her half of the rent, didn’t creep her out and smiled at least once-.she would take her!

Location: Gramercy Plaza Apt. 202
Tag: Jasmine Calliwell

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The voice of Jasmine sounded like an heavenly message sent from Above as the thought that, if all goes well, she would not sleep over the chairs at the train station nor overpay for a room in a motel, with a wide smile she happily replied to the voice of the soon-to-be roommate <<Oh, of course! Sure! No hurry!>>, to wait in front of an intercom was nothing that mattered that much to her, but when she heard again the intercom to speak and invited her up, she felt a certain relief.

<<Uh, k-killer?>> that question surprised Sarah that, after a little second to think, giggled <<Nah, If i would be a killer, i wouldn't kill the one that gives me a place to stay.>> followed by an awkward, laugh-less silence. The kind of terrible, awkward silence that drives you to say something else or hope that nobody heard what you've just said, with her heart sinking in the first folder of shame, she heard again Jasmine to speak. *Whew* <<Ah, okay. Sure. Second floor. Left... elevator... last... second... yeah... some door...>>

Strolling inside the hall, she felt like a cheap tourist coming for the first time to a location usually outside of her pockets, everything seemed so different in that place... carpets... paintings on the wall... potted trees and flowers <<WOW>> was the only thing Sarah murmured now and then, while trough her thin lenses admired that place that, as far as she've got, would be her usual scenery while going or coming home...

The elevator quickly carried her and her trolley up to the second floor, as the doors dinged and slid on the sides, she repeated what the voice said <<...second floor. Ok. Uh... left... ...and... the seeeeeeeeeecond left... one... or>> despite her vocal reminder of her direction, in order to avoid any error, Sarah looked at each and every door, until the one she was looking for appeared in front of her.

Taking a deep breath and knowing how much the first impression counts, Sarah passed an hand trough her ruffed, coppery hairs, trying to appear less on a rush and adjusted her clothes and, placing her burnt-off cigarette in her empty candy-pocket finally pressed her slender finger over the button and then assuming the usual fake smile that people assumes in front of a door...

Location: Gramercy Condominium - the Past
Tagged: Memories

"You can't do this to me, Faith. Be reasonable."

"Please keep your voice down, Harold. Chloe just fell asleep and you know she needs her rest after going in for a treatment." Calm and quiet, any passion in her voice had long since been given over in the face of the other, stronger, more horrible emotions she faced an an hourly basis ever since her daughter became ill - and that's all she allowed herself to think. Chloe was just ill, sick, and would recover instead of living, if it could be called that, with terminal cancer.

"It was a mistake, I know. I'm sorry I was just, just lonely. You haven't wanted to be intimate with me since..." Harold Vaschon pushed his fingers through his hair, thick blonde hair that she used to love running her own fingers through.

Turning the blame onto her was something Faith might have accepted. Turning to another woman for sex was something she might have also forgiven, even after she caught him and that slut in her own bed. What Faith could not accept, would never accept, was that Harold had repeatedly lied about needing to work, to settle some big deal, and skipped appointment after appointment to fuck another woman instead of being there for his little girl when she needed him. Being there when she cried out and shook so hard and was so scared that not even Mommy was enough and she needed Daddy too. Harold, coward, despicable selfish coward, used the convenience of a lie about his career to abandon his daughter when she needed him the most.

"Mommy?" From the bedroom, once bright with toys and laughter and now filled with a child's hospital bed and a tang of sour vomit and disinfectant, Chloe's voice called out.

When Faith turned to go, Harold grabbed her by the arm. Faith stopped, not trying to pull away but simply giving him a cold look.

"Stop choosing her over me, over us," he said, voice angry.

"You're despicable. Get out. Get. Out," she repeated, each word a sentence of reproach and a hurt so deep it could never be forgiven. Harold let go and the door slammed.

"Mommy?"

"It's okay, Chloe. I'm here. Mommy's here."

---

Location: Gramercy Condominium - Lobby & The Split Bean
Tagged: Any

Standing in her daughter's room, just beside the hospital bed that she'd refused to have removed, Faith reached out to touch the stuffed bear that Chloe had picked out at F.A.O. Schwarz. "Mommy's here," she said to the bear, then caressed its head one more time before leaving, shutting the bedroom door quietly as if she was worried about waking someone sleeping inside. The wood was cool against her forehead as she leaned against it but no tears came to wash the blue in her eyes down her cheeks and replace them with sullen red tones. A deep breath, then another one, gathered enough resolve for her to stand up and walk away from the memories inside the room. Gave her enough resolve to shower, to dress, and even enough - today - to take the elevator from her penthouse down to the lobby.

"Ms. Noel," the security guard in his little desk by the elevators stood up. "It's, it's nice to see you, ma'am."

"Thank you, Charlie," she said and gave a smile that only came from her lips. "I thought I might get some coffee?" It was uncommon enough for her to be out of the penthouse since - it was uncommon enough that Faith felt like she was explaining, justifying her presence to the security guard instead of just exchanging pleasantries.

"Yes, ma'am. You need anything else, you let us know."

A hint of a smile was his answer and Faith went past him and was soon entering The Split Bean, the coffee shop of the Gramercy Condominiums. A chalk sign declared that today's light roast was New England, the beans toasted until just the first crack. It was very well done, she noted, the pastel chalked lettering and fanciful border showing real artistic talent. Probably some girl at the city university, full of life's promises and hope and boundlessly young and resilient. Not the sort of girl she'd been once, but at least she had wanted to be like those girls if not one of them. The girl her Chloe might have become one day, Faith living vicariously through her and the three of them, husband, wife, and daughter living a happy dream.

After she ordered her drink, the light roast, small, with whole milk instead of cream, Faith stood by the counter and waited for her name to be called after being written in Sharpie on the side then read off by the barista's voice. Around her people checked their phones, living dozens of simultaneous lives with their friends and family. Faith's phone was...somewhere. Probably in her nightstand. She hadn't used it in months so it was probably de- probably out of batteries. Just like her iPad, her laptop, her Fitbit. It was easier that way, like going by Noel instead of having to spell Vaschon to people.

Cassie Gutierrez
Location: The Gramercy Plaza Condominium Bar.
Tagged: Arthur Connington

Cassie giggled softly and protested "you look fine to me Arthur, but I will keep it small. Still, i always think it is important to take a shot and indulge yourself. We only have so many chances to make ourselves happy. " She smiled at him and then continued "So anyhow, enough of my blabbing. If you are not allergic to nuts I recommend the stickybun , the cinnamon and caramel today is just divine, but if you are allergic then I will bring you the cherry peach tart, they are both at peak season right now.

She went quickly to fetch him a new cup of coffee and the sweet treat. When she arrived and exchanged pleasantries once more she could almost swear he was flirting. Flirting was not something she was used to as Chelsea. She had little contact with people and most of them were very deferential of her station. '

Meanwhile as Cassie she of course got hit on, but most of it consisted of wolf-whistles, crude stares and even cruder come-ons. Of course the fact she shut down most guys her age before they got started might have something to do with that.

So when he asked if he could ask for more than a sweet or some coffee, she blushed slightly and bit her lip, brushing back a lock of her hair "Um yeah sure, whatever you would like" . She put one hand on his shoulder for a moment and smiled, and then went to check on her other tables. She made sure to look back to his table though , as she couldn't quite tell what he might be up to. More than likely just friendly, she decided , for now.

Location: Room 474/ The Split Bean
Tagged: Faith Noel

The clock began to hum out a tune, a familiar one. The station loved to play it. In fact, it had become her own personal theme song, often playing in her mind as she worked. Lucy stretched, her limbs reaching towards the headboard. A groan escaped her mouth, almost sounding inhuman. She sat up, her hair a mess of tangles. A shower would work wonders, taming her hair as well as the yawns she was unable to control. The warm water washed over her body, awakening every pore. The radio still blared to her from the bedroom through the open door. To turn it off would be easy. To lie back down and forget the day would be even easier. Easy wasn’t what she wanted anymore. Easy was what she had already had. It had been fun, but it wasn’t reality. This was reality, and the reality of it was the rent would come due. Pulling her clothes on, she hummed still with the new beat that now filled her space. It was small and sparsely decorated. Lucy didn’t have much in the way of money, but she didn’t need much. A small bed with comfortable bedding and food in the fridge. She had a small television, but when was there time to watch anything? Her two jobs kept her busy. She had a small coffee table by the chair she would sit in to watch television when given the chance. For some odd reason, she preferred it over a dining table. There wasn’t time for breakfast this morning though. Lucy had taken extra time in the shower, and breakfast would have to be the short cut she would take to make it to work on time. Pulling her hair up into a ponytail, she took note of the college brochures on the table. She would love to go, but finances would be a problem, and she didn’t want to ask her parents for more money. If she was going to go, she would do so on her own. Two jobs and college classes would certainly be a challenge, but she was ready to prove to the world she could do it. It would certainly make her parents happy. A smile spread across her lips before she hit the button, silencing the radio, and headed out towards the elevator. “Hold it,” she shouted, seeing the door close. A kind man held it for her. “Cutting it close this morning Lucy.” She laughed. “Yeah, I know. The shower was just too good.”

The doors would open on the lobby floor. She waved the man good-bye. He was a long time traveling companion almost every morning down to the lobby. Entrusted with the keys, she opened the door, and locked it behind herself. The morning would pass, with the aroma of coffee billowing out into the lobby. It seemed to wake the entire building. More and more people would begin to appear outside the door, ready to start their day. Right on time, Lucy opened the door, with the taste of croissant still in her mouth. “Good morning,” she would tell all the people coming inside. It was clear it was going to be another busy day. When she noticed the name she had written on the cup, Lucy paused and swallowed hard. It was her. Her. ‘Better not mess this one up.’ It wasn’t common for her to do so with any order, but Lucy knew this one was special. Carefully she prepared it and steadied her voice before calling out, “Faith!” Her eyes were already on her. This was a customer she didn’t have to search for.



Location: Alley 74
Tagged: Anyone

The sun rose slowly, prying at her closed eyes. “It’s not fair,” she mumbled, pulling at the tattered blanket she kept warm with. “Why don’t you go back down? Give us some more time,” she teased, squinting at the rising sun. Sitting up, she reached for the bottle of water sitting on the ground. “Another day Strings. You ready to earn something? One of us has to eat.” She chuckled softly before opening the bottle and taking a carefully measured sip. For all she knew, this bottle would have to last for a few days. Chances of that were slim, as the doorman would often let her sneak in to the bathroom he used. Standing up, she brushed her clothes off. They would have to do for another day. Washing clothes was difficult at best, and it required supplies and time. She wasn’t a savage after all. A small bottle of soap and a nearby water supply, that was free of charge of course, was it all took. The sun would do the rest to dry them by day. She would line them up on boxes behind the apartment building. Out of sight and out of trouble. That was her way of thinking. She grabbed her bag and thrust it over her shoulder before peeking around the corner. She saw him there, waving her towards the door. “Thanks,” she quickly said to him as she passed inside and disappeared inside his bathroom. Inside she filled her bottle first. That was the most important thing to her. Her ritual for getting ready for the day was simple. Water, toilet, and everything else. Simple enough. Charlie splashed some water on her face and arranged her hair with her fingers. Not perfect, but it would do. There were no job interviews today, not that it mattered. They loved her until they found out she had no home address. Something about that spoken people. Maybe they thought she would steal. Sure she had her time doing that, but that was in the past. A small squeeze of toothpaste on her finger, as it would have to last for a long time as well, and Charlie did the best she could. She heard the man speaking with a woman. He was very formal with her. ‘Must be important,’ she thought. Charlie knew her time was wearing thin. She didn’t want to do anything to get her friend in trouble. Another quick ,”thanks,” to him, and she disappeared outside.

“Another day, another dollar. Eh Strings?” Her violin wasn’t just her source of money. It was her friend, at least the only one that was constantly there. As she lifted him to her chin, she gave a warm smile to the people hurrying about. “Goooooood morning everybody! How about a little wake up music please,” she said, remembering her hat to collect her day’s wages in. Fishing it from the bag, she placed it on the pavement. “And don’t forget to tip the lady. I greatly appreciate it. My stomach appreciate it, and String here, well he don’t need nothing but me to play him like a violin.” There were a few laughs from the passing people. “Any requests?” One man shouted something about a tune with an Irish flare. She nodded. “Ah yes. The Irish. I think I may have a wee ditty for you lad.” The violin raised once more, and music filled the air.

Location: The Gramercy Plaza Condominium Bar.
Tag: Anybody

After a long day of shooting videos on her home Chloe decided to just go down to the bar and get some drinks, who knew perhaps she could meet someone there. Getting herself all dressed up with a short skirt and a shirt she put on black shoes and after a bit of makeup she was ready to hit the bar. She had no idea who would be there but one thing was for certain, she was going to meet someone today, either a girlfriend or a boyfriend it was still to be determined. She had no idea what to do or what to look for, being new in this building meant having to get to know all peple which was a drag.

Finally after dressing up she went down to the bar and took a set on a barstool before pointing to the bartender, "A beer please... Heiniken". She nodded and looked around the place, the music was loud and people were just about her age which was good. Once her drink was brought up she took a sip of it and smiled nodding at the bartender. Paying for the drink she began humming to the beat of whatever music was playing.

Location: Gramercy Plaza Atp. 202
Tag: Sarah Barkeley

---

Jasmine heard the doorbell just as she was hopping on one leg, trying to pull her sock on. Her face tinted red from running around frantically the last few minutes, she peeked a last time in the mirror to make sure she didn’t look a complete idiot, and then speed walked to the door, yelling out to make sure her visitor didn’t disappear before she got there.

“Comiiiing!”

Curious, Jasmine went to her toes and put one eye to the peephole. Her hands resting against the solid door, she took a second to get a glimpse of, hopefully, her coming flatmate. Thought the image of her was distorted from the tiny round window, Sarah looked very pretty. Tall and slim, her reddish brown hair suited her skin tone perfectly, leading Jaz to believe it was her natural color. Her glasses gave the woman an easy going feel and Jasmine felt her hopes raise already.

With a jerk, she twisted the deadbolt and opened up the door looking up and sticking her hand out to greet Sarah right away.

“Hi Sarah! I’m Jasmine, or Jaz works to…” she laughed a little and stepped back to let the woman enter. Sarah was a little taller than Jasmine it seemed, but of a slimmer build and Jaz was amazed how easily she was dragging the huge trolley behind her.

“Come in come in!” smiling and guiding her inside “You can just leave that at the door for now if you want. I was just gonna see what I can find in the fridge to drink if you want to have a quick look around?”

Walking with Sarah into the living room, Jasmine did a fast little point and inform, looking a little like some airline stewardess.

“So...this is the living room, I’ve got most of the basics, but there’s room for a desk and some other chairs or whatever you might like to add. I fell in love with the high ceilings and openness of it the first time I walked in. The area is so big, I guess you are suppose to put a dining table in somewhere, but there is a small breakfast nook in the kitchen I put a little table at instead, but if you wanted a dining area we can always set something up. As you can see, the kitchen is open, just the half wall separating it from the rest of the room. All the appliances are included with the rental which I thought was great, if something breaks down you call maintenance and they come fix it right away.”

Pointing down across the room, she nodded towards the closed door. “The bathroom is over there, huge tub, separate shower and tons of cabinet space! Just a heads up, I ran from the tub to the door when you arrived, and it’s a little messy, not dirty mind..but totally messy,” blushing a little she quickly moved on. “There is a little add on room off the side of the bathroom with a washer and drier...back the way we came, down the hall are the two bedrooms. I took the one farthest back...it was the biggest one but the second room isn’t that much smaller.”

Taking a breath, Jas smiled and covered her mouth with her hand as if trying to stop the barrage of words from spilling out. “Ok...and already I’m talking your ear off. I’m gonna find us some soda’s and let you walk around at your own pace..then maybe we can sit and ask each other any questions we might have.”

Arthur Connington
Location: The Gramercy Plaza Condominium Bar.
Tag: "Cassie Gutierrez"

---

"No, I'm not allergic" Arthur managed to mumble, Cassie's wisp of a giggle distracting him from the question. Once she was gone he had to call himself a fool for thinking that she would flirt with an old man, she was just being gentle and working her best, nothing else. While she was gone, his writer mind couldn't stay still even if he wanted to, imagination running wild against his desires.

"Mister Connington!" what should have been a yell, was barely a whisper. The slap he surely deserved just a caress against his prickly beard. The aroma of the cinnamon ticked their noses, raising from the broken bag on the floor. Arthur had pinned Cassie against the shelves of the pantry, hugging her from behind, but the young woman had squirmed and turned around in his arms. "I told you to call me Arthur so many times..." he hushed, his rough lips so close from her own, and yet they felt miles away, a chasm that she should not bridge. "I can't, Mister Connington..." Cassie's voice trembled, an odd and enticing sight. "Just once" he said, a tender hint under the surprisingly forceful approach, his hands firmly resting on her hips. "Even just once would be once too many..." her hands pushed the man away, but they didn't retreat from his chest, feeling his agitated heartbeat and-

"Ah, yeah, thanks" Arthur mumbled, not as suave as he would have liked. Cassie, the real Cassie getting back to his table broke the sultry and corny fiction he was running on his mind, feeling embarrassed just for thinking so, even if he had trouble preventing it. His ability to milk any situation to weave those sorts of stories was precisely what had made him a successful writer, even if he wasn't an award-winning one. His books usually could be found in the lists of bestsellers and those Internet tops about guilty pleasures, but never among the ones favored by critics. Cheap thrills, they called them, but Arthur didn't torture himself. At least they admitted they were thrilling.

Looking at Cassie, Arthur thought that he noticed a small blush and a couple of gestures he had an easy time identifying as he had written them so many times, in so many different forms. Was it something he said? Had he been ogling at her? Trying to discern what was going on, he just kept himself silent, seeing Cassie get away and a flashy looking young woman getting into the bar to order a beer, although his mind was occupied with Cassie. Arthur was convinced that something he did or said had made her uncomfortable, something that mortified him. How could he think of that girl in such a way? She could be his daughter. Shaking his head, he occupied himself with more coffee and that admittedly wonderful stickybun, although the cinnamon only served to rekindle his own fictionalized encounter.

Should he apologize even if he didn't know what he did? Should he just pay the check and get away? Arthur sighed, his hands on the laptop keyboard while he pondered what was the proper thing to do.

Location: Gramercy Plaza Atp. 202
Tag: Jaz

---

Sarah waited outside of the door looking around, barely hearing sounds coming from the apartment, until the light sound of footsteps appeared behind the door; getting it like if she was already being seen, she smiled again at the door before hearing the doorknob to twist, allowing the door to open. Sarah smiled at the girl inside of the apartment "looks friendly. Student-ish. I can bet it" in the few seconds that decides the first impressions, Sarah was satisfied by the look of Jasmine, as it was not the look of someone dangerous or that would cause troubles, and the way in which she had immediately presented her hand for a greet and welcomed her inside, She knew that Jaz was okay. <<Ah... hi! Nice to met you, Jasmine. Uh... Jaz. Sounds good. I'm Sarah. Barkley. Sorry again for the... surprise? hehe but y'know... i...don't know... either>> welcoming speeches have never been a thing, and she usually needed quite a lot of time before melting and have a proper talk even with her colleagues or, in that case, flat-mate, but before loosing herself in a maze of words, listened to Jaz and stepped inside.

<<Woooow...>> like a children that sees a marvel, Sarah looked around with dropped jaw at the furniture, it was so different from the cozy and stereotyped country homes, but here it all seemed so new, so modern so... practical. <<Uh, sure! Lead the way...uhm... Jaz...>>

Letting go of the trolley's handle, Sarah followed Jaz trough rooms and the corridor, humming and nodding at her words, or sometimes make little comments at how delightful or lovely it all was, as she looked at the furnitures and the various rooms with light heart as in her mind, it was already labelled as "SOLD", despite the strange feeling of being an intruder in someone else's home... but the thought that she too could share those marvels and so near the city-centre and, most importantly, her workplace, made her look at the apartment like an endless serie of add-ons, as, for what she was used to, a sofa where to slump at night and a bathroom would be enough to call her "interested"...

Once the Tour finished, Sarah cannot but clap her hands in excitement and giggled <<Yes yes! I definitely loooooove this place! Oh, and i could use something fresh indeed... oh, y'know... i had not a break since... uhm... yersterday night? >> she giggled as she also realized that <<And... uhm... coming to... the rent... more or less... how much will it be? I mean... now that i've seen it all, its position, the furnitures... i want want want to stay here! Teehee>>

BennyQ said:

Bryn Galenus
Location: The GCC.
Tag: Scumbags, Saoirse.

---

"The fuck do I look like to you, Fubu the Bubu Johnson? Billy the small dick Willy?" Bryn snapped at the two shady looking youths in front of him, arms crossed, muscles bulging in his tight long sleeve shirt. "I told you, two hundred an O. I ain't going any lower. I gotta make money too ya know."

The two rough looking men, early twenties, were unmoved. "What kind of shit is that? You know motherfuckas is broke these days. One sixty man. You know the dude down the street at the laundromat charges one fifty."

Bryn snorted. "Well take your ass over there then and smoke his oregano mingled shit then. You get quality here and quality costs money." He rubbed two of his fingers together against his thumb to emphasize it.

"One seventy then." The other offered, causing Bryn to scoff and roll his eyes.

This was the scene going on in the Creamery when Saorise arrived. The three men, alone in the store, immediately fell silent. In fact they all turned to admire the fine young female who came in. "Go and wait over there. I'll talk to you later." Bryn hissed at them, voice full of command. Thankfully they listened, shaking their heads and murmuring protest under their breath as they took a seat. Bryn then flashed a smile at one of his regulars, pulling on some plastic gloves and getting the ice cream scoop ready. He knew her well, Saorise, living on the same floor as her, further down in apartment 607. He could also see the look in her eyes. She's hungry. The two street dealers had their eyes right on her rear as she bent at the counter.

"Sunshine as always, darlin'. How's the work?" He inquired back, eyebrows raised as he shamelessly did glance at the bent sight before him. Hey, if she's offering the sight, he'll take the sight. Not for long though, pulling out the waffle cone, fetching two, and a half extra, scoops for her and setting it aside at the pick up counter next to the till. A pint was code for a quarter ounce, which ran at about sixty dollars extra. The till only came up $3.99. He raised a finger to indicate for her to wait before going in the back, opening up the freezer and pulling out the specially marked ice cream tubs. He returned, setting that on the counter as well. "Good stuff. Northern Lights. Straight outta Canada. Let me know how you like it." Bryn answered with a smile, speaking in a low tone.

"What's up?" He then asked, eyebrows wiggling as he nodded at her outfit. "You got a show today or just feel like prancing down the street?"

Click to expand...

Location: Gramercy Creamery Cones
Tag: Bryn and some douche bags

---

"Of course I am I'm as high as the morning sun and cute as fuck!" She responded with a playful wink. "The restaurant is going well, I got a shift later today, haven't done a photo shoot in a couple weeks, but I still have some of the cash from the last one saved up. I'm probably going to go looking for another shoot here soon." Grinning as she caught him looking at her chest she purposefully drew her arms in together squeezing her chest and making her girls pop out a little more. "Since your such a nice guy and all." She teased.

When he stepped away to make her order she stood up and watched him prepare her cone. "I also started a new thing today. Financial Dominatrix. I get to tell a bunch of rich guys they are losers with little dicks and to give me their money and they do. I made like four hundred bucks today. Most of it was through Amazon gift cards but a nice chunk was to my PayPal account. I feel like I shouldn't be so happy with this but hey, it gets their rocks off and I get to be an uber-bitch and get paid for it." Saoirse smiled at the extra half scoop he gave her. Today was sweet day in more than one way for her. Now if only she could find a cute girl to flirt with and life would be perfect, well perfect until work ruined it.

She smiled and nodded at his silent signal to wait and when he returned with the product she took it and the cone happily. Lasciviously licking the ice cream she let out a purposefully sultry moan. "God Bryn, your cream is always the best." She said in a breathy, lusty tone. She had used the glass of the counter shield to keep an eye on the shady guys still in the store and knew they had been staring at her, and she could see now that she was riling them up. Lowering her voice she thanked Bryn. "Thanks for the hookup sweetie, I'll let you know how it is."

Saoirse grinned and did a little twirl for Bryn to show off her outfit. "Nope, no show, I just felt like dressing up today, and I do NOT prance. I may occasionally frolic but I never ever prance." Her face was a mask of seriousness that was poorly hiding the grin she was trying to suppress. "Bryn, I see you have your now hiring sign up, when are you going to get a cute girl in here for me to flirt with and gobble up?" She asked loudly enough for they guys behind her to hear. "You know how I like them so do disappoint me when you hire someone." She winked to Bryn and caught the reflection of the two guys straightening up in attention to her words.

"Well, I gotta go." She told Bryn reaching between her breasts and pulling out a fold of cash. $70 in total. "Keep the change, put it in your tip jar." Blowing him a kiss she spun around on her toes and started to leave the Creamery happily licking her butter rum ice cream. Stopping near the two guys her bright expression suddenly fell away into a thunderhead of a glare. "Keep fucking with him and I will find out where you live, break in, cut of your genitals and offer them as a tribute to some obscure pagan fertility Goddess." She threatened her previously, nearly bubbly voice now an icy threatening thing. Just as quickly as her face darkened into the threatening facade it brightened again with a 1000 watt smile. "Have a good day and remember to play nice."

Leaving the Creamery with her cone and chronic Saoirse walked to the Split Bean. As she crossed the lobby from the Creamery to the cafe she paused at a huge vase filled with flowers. Picking a single light purple daisy from the fixture she smile and carried it with her into the cafe. Walking to the counter she smiled to the girl behind and placed an order for a medium chai latte with whole milk. Walking away from the counter she wandered about enjoying her ice cream, the container of Aunt Mary tucked in the crook of her arm as she spun the flower around between her fingers. As she weaved through the tables she spotted a lovely woman who she had seen only a handful of times in the last months. Walking over to her table she stood beside Faith and smiled warmly. "Smile, you're beautiful." She said sitting the flower down on the table in front of the woman, giving her another warm, friendly smile. "Not sure if you remember me or not, I'm Saoirse, I live in 603. If you ever need any company just come by." She offered before leaving the woman alone not wanting to crowd her.

Location: Gramercy Condominium - The Split Bean
Tagged: Lucy Martin, Saoirse Quinn - mentioned in passing

The sound of her name registered but Faith didn't immediately turn to look at Lucy. It wasn't that she didn't know she needed to acknowledge that her order was ready it was that it was almost too much, too exhausting to even want the coffee any longer. Always thin, Faith had become even thinner through the ordeal and just couldn't muster the energy to eat a lot of the time. It wasn't until she got shaky and light headed that she was able to force herself to make something and then actually eat it. Faith didn't want the coffee but she knew she needed it, well the milk in it anyway, and the caffeine would probably help too. She just couldn't be bothered to want it now that she'd spent what little will she had to actually order it.

Finally though she turned, the moment long past awkward and into weird. "Thank you. Thank you - Lucy," she said after reading the name tag the girl wore. It was an old-fashioned name for a girl and it made her think of the little comic about Snoopy, and the Linus and Lucy song that was so fun and catchy. Had Lucy heard it before? Or been teased about it? Probably, Faith decided, given how pretty Lucy was. Absolutely flawless skin and blue eyes that were startlingly big and striking, she'd have been the target of any boy that she rejected and more girls envious of her beauty. Had her mom been there for her, listened to her and protected her?

Once she'd have paid with her phone or a credit card but now Faith held the remnants of a $20 bill in her hand, the change from buying the coffee. Some days the purse was just too heavy, too full of the memories of Chloe and everything she used to carry in there for her, that Faith usually had Charlie come up and gave him her debit card and PIN and asked him to bring her cash back from the lobby ATM. Bills rustled and change rattled when Faith put it in the tip jar on the counter in front of Lucy and then took the coffee with the same hand. "You used whole milk, right?" she asked then nodded. "Lucy? Call your mom and tell her you love her." Faith didn't wait for a response, just turned and took a seat at a tiny table nearby.

It wasn't much later, the coffee still steaming through the oval cutout in the heavy white plastic lid, that the quirky, free-spirited girl, Saoirse - another old fashioned name but in a different way, came by and gave Faith a command, a compliment, a flower, and an invitation so fast they seemed to blur together. With the same speed that all of those had been delivered she was gone again leaving Faith with the memory of her scent and the purple petaled daisy on the table next to her coffee.

Faith wasn't stupid and she wasn't oblivious to the pitying stares, the diffident manners of people who knew what had happened to Chloe, and to her. Neither was she ungrateful to them for their sympathies and attempt to let Faith know it was okay to be among them, among people who were happy and vibrant and living their lives instead of living their pain. She didn't even feel resentment towards them but it was as if she'd forgotten how to be one of them, wearing her grief like thick muffling wool over her eyes and ears and packed around her heart so that nothing could be felt and nothing could be expressed. Not feeling anything but the wearying always present depression, and that's what it was she knew, was comfortable and safe. Even if she hadn't divorced Harold before Chloe died their marriage would have vanished anyway after her passing.

The daisy stem felt fuzzy and clung to her fingertips when she reached out and stroked it. If she left it on the table it would wilt in hours and be gone before the end of the day, either swept into the trash or knocked onto the floor by someone's bag or hand as they used the table. Right now though, in the moment, it was pretty and Faith felt a little glimmer of it pass through her fingers into her body.

Saoirse got her wish. Faith smiled, just a little bit, but she smiled.

When Lucy turned back around after helping a customer the purple daisy was in her tip jar, Faith's untouched coffee was on the table, and Faith was gone.

Bryn Galenus
Location: The GCC.
Tag: Saoirse, Scumbags.

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Bryn might have cringed at Saoirse’s open admission, had there been others in the store. But it was empty and it only drew a chuckle and a shake of his head from him. He was jealous, as he never got high before work. Evening was when he relaxed. “People and their fetishes eh? You always were a sadistic fuck. How do you always land these awesome, easy ass jobs? No, don’t answer. I don’t wanna know, heh.” He answered to her new job, jest in his tone and eyes. Hands on the counter, the flirtatious remarks was not lost on him. “Lot of girls say the same.” He slyly replied, though he knew Saoirse had…other inclinations. Still, she was a fun woman to be around. As neighbours, it was quite beneficial. No one to complain when the entire floor reeked of dope.

And of course the competition in who could make a girl moan the loudest.

“Sure, Saoirse. No prancing. Only frolicking in your Little Red Riding Hood dress.” Bryn grinned openly, before shrugging to the Help Wanted comment. “I need a break. You know summer time be rough on business, especially on the weekends. Just a Thursday to Sunday shift. And hey, I get first dibs on any cute girl in my store, you know this. Out there is fair game though.” He answered with a wink. “Have yourself a good one and try not to cause any trouble…” Bryn began to say, though she went and did just that when she turned to his customers. Fortunately, they didn’t take the lovely girl’s threats seriously and simply watched her with the same admiring eyes, from her chest to her rear as she skipped off.

“And what’s her name?” They demanded when they returned to the counter, all smirks and curiosity.

“Ms. None-Of-Your-Damn-Business.” Bryn answered with an equal grin.

“Oh sure, hog it all for yourself. She really into girls?” They asked more quietly, almost disappointed by that fact.

“Look, we doing business or clipping your cunt hairs? Two hundred an O, you know this.” Bryn said and a few minutes later, he was four hundred and sixty dollars the richer, minus costs for getting new ice cream tubs. Sitting back down in his chair behind the booth, he turned up the volume on the current presentation on Sportsnet and began to count his profits out with a cheerful hum. It was only the calm before the storm, when afternoon hit, the sun rose, and people rushing for a delicious snack to cool off from the heat.

"Cassie Gutierrez"
Location: The GPC (Gramercy Plaza Condominium) : Bistro 121 (Formerly known as "Bar")
Tag: Arthur Connington

Cassie thought maybe her customer Arthur was a little shy. Of course, the guy would have technically been old enough to have been her father, but she had already decided that every convention that her parents had taught her in regards to dating was to be considered null and void. She made a point to smile at him and hold it long enough for him to see, and to stop back at his table a few times.

She watched as the bartender got a beer for one of the younger crowd . The bartender explained to Cassie that the taps on that side, you had to pull them wide open, but watch the flow because wide open they filled a glass very quickly. But if you didn't go wide open, the taps on that side produced way too much foamy head.

Mac the bartender explained "It's a new place and the lines haven't been broken in yet, there is likely a place where it is not flat or straight, a kink in the line. " Cassie liked Mac because he treated everything as if it was important. Even just pouring a beer.

Just before she was to get off shift, Cassie made a point to sit down in the chair next to him "So the crowd is beginning to pick up so that means my shift is ending. But I hope you see you again, Arthur" she gave a nice smile and touched his arm " I am in here most days and some nights . And I live in the building"

Her mind panicked at that. She had not yet worked out exactly where the hell Cassie lived. Right now she had been living in Cassie's old servant room on the level below the upper floor Penthouse 2. But her servants were going to have questions pretty soon about her comings and goings, her strange mode of dress and her staying in the servants quarters so much, but she also didn't want to lead anyone directly to Penthouse 2 that her family lived in. She needed to rent another flat or at least make pretend.

Or, maybe she just needed to move in with someone else.. She looked over at Arthur, considering the possibility of that with a sly smirk.