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Traversing old haunts wasn't something he made a habit of, not when he could help it. But a friend had clued him into who would be performing tonight, the glint in their eyes telling Ethan that they knew exactly what it would mean to him. He'd scoffed at the thought of her showing her face after all this time, but the promise of it had pulled him into the club all the same. Call it self-inflicted sabotage to the feelings he'd tried so hard to erase, he didn't give a damn, because try as he might he'd never managed to mend the ache she'd left behind. Foolish, perhaps, especially given that they'd both known from the start it was never meant to be.

Watching her perform from a darkened corner of the room, the beer in his hand had grown stale, eyes transfixed as he let the music take him on it's own journey. The riffs of her guitar building and swelling, capturing the whole room in it's spell and evoking memories Ethan had done his best to erase. For all he knew he was crossing a line, his presence in the room unwelcome when it hadn't been her who'd invited him. Her silence a sign all on it's own. But he'd stayed anyways, even as the last of the rowdy fans had called it a night and her bandmates had payed their farewells. Slipping backstage was easy, tracing footsteps he'd once been oh so familiar with, although Ethan found that he wasn't prepared for the sight of her so close - no crowd of people obscuring him now.

He didn't miss the haze of smoke clinging to the room, the way it resurfaced old memories through scent alone. "I suppose it'd be hard to pretend it was. Word travels fast around here." Dark eyes fixed on her, wanting to pin her gaze on his just so he could see what was lurking behind them. But with her avoiding his gaze, he took the chance to truly take her in. Under the stage lights she'd looked just as she always had performing - larger than life and entirely in her element. Here, while still as radiant, were the slivers of loneliness on her features that had called to his own heart the night they'd first met. "Is that right?"

Maybe that should be a enough of a sign that he should leave things be, take this as a blessing and a chance to try to patch up the wounds that had been left with a final goodbye. But the temptation to unravel what little progress he'd made was stronger, even though he dodged the question of hers that hung in the air. Why he was here, he couldn't truly say, unwilling to confront the truth he'd find if he looked into that question too deeply. "Did you come back just for the gig? Or was there something else?"

Open: M [ mutuals and non-mutuals ]

Muse: Clare Archer, 27 y/o

Plot: One night stand that turned into two aching hearts craving something more, torn apart, then forced by fate to meet again

Scarlet haired woman tucked one of the three precious picks back into the pocket of the worn black jeans, being careful not to pick the pocket with the "decorative" hole on the left. The smell of sweat, smoke, stale alcohol and strong perfumes hit the nostrils in the back stage. Clare never got used to that smell, no matter how many years of playing in smaller clubs she had under the belt. The space was quiet, the screams and insane shouts of support had disappeared, and only the sound of glass clattering that the cleaning lady was probably sweeping from the floor could be heard echoing.

Her temporary band members have already gone to their homes, or to the couch of some one-time relationship to exorcise the devil of loneliness. Fiery redhead got used to being alone, or at least she tried to present it as her ultimate truth. Spirit broke a long time ago, distancing herself from every beating heart became a golden rule. Solitude was...practical, simple. Difficult, but without unwanted surprises that could pinch her and leave a new scar of disappointment. A scar that suddenly opened and burned again when a familiar voice was heard.

Redhead flinched, dropping the pick before it disappeared into her pocket. " What the fuck... " she couldn't swallow the swear word, nor mask the surprised expression on her face when she saw the man who entered the back stage. Hell...she hoped to get out of town before the past came knocking on her door. She couldn't endure smelling his cologne on every corner again, remember all the moments where they hid in dark corners and fleetingly stole kisses...things she tried to push deep into the sea of existence.

“  Kinda hard to think this was an innocent coincidence.. ” melodic tone joked half-heartedly, no matter that she was far from the mood for humor. Looking at a blank spot behind him, Clare was instantly reminded how still she could not keep a decent eye contact with the male. Fuck....some things never change.. some weaknesses never fade. “ Look, don’t know why you are here but, I am in town just for the gig, so you don’t have to worry about seeing me around for much longer.   “

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✧ — ⋆ closed starter for @gctawaygirl inspo linked in source

it wasn't that she didn't date, she did - or at least had tried. but with a chaotic schedule and an impatience for dealing with other people's bullshit, isabella had found that the dating pool had gotten significantly slimmer than it had seemed to be at first. it grated on her, how convinced her friends were that she needed someone else in her life, as if she required someone else to make her happy. so when the suggestion of faking it had come up, it had seemed like a perfect solution. what she hadn't expected was the effort they'd both started putting in, so much more than was truly necessary to convince their friends that what they shared was real. it was enough for her to doubt her own feelings, ones that had become harder to decipher each time she looked at them and found her heart swelling with affection. "you didn't have to do all this, you know." she wondered if her endearment was transparent on her features even now, her eyes bright as she took in the spread of her favorite foods and drinks. so welcome after a long day of work, but also serving to heighten her confusion about what it was they were becoming. "i'd have been fine with just take-out. but this is truly perfect. thank you."

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✧ — ⋆ closed starter for @gctawaygirl inspo linked in source

the escapist within him had wanted to retreat, dive into his words and find comfort within creating a better world amongst the empty pages, one that didn't end in a senseless tragedy. but he'd made a promise, first on an elementary school playground with intwined pinkies, then once again in high school, teenage rebellion making a blood oath sound like a necessity, and finally in his best man's toast on seth's wedding day, although that one had been to two people instead of one. a promise to take care of each other, and their loved ones, no matter where life took them. noah had never pictured himself ending up here though, burying his best friend before he'd fully had a chance to live, and the grief running through him threatened to consume. but while he'd lost a man who was practically a brother, he knew they'd lost a partner, someone they'd promised to share a life with. so it made sense that the home he'd stepped into seemed almost lifeless now, despite only missing one of it's inhabitants. that was one thing he didn't know how to fix, but if he could ease the sorrow just a minuscule fraction, noah would be content that he was at least helping in what little way he could. "what else do you need? i'm here to help - even if it's something as simple as cooking dinner."

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✧ — ⋆ closed starter for @svftlove inspo linked in source

no strings attached, that's what they'd agreed upon when they'd first tumbled into bed together. something to ensure that their friendship would always be the priority and that no one's heart would be broken with the expectation of more when things inevitably came to an end. which one of them had suggested it, atlas couldn't remember, but it seemed like the exact kind of half-baked plan he'd come up with. the kind that would unravel before it accomplished what they'd been intending with the rule. because the more time passed, the clearer it became that friendship with the occasional benefit wasn't all he wanted, the craving for more lodged deeper in him than he'd thought possible. which was why the notification of a dating app, as clear as day on her phone, sent shockwaves of irritation though him. "who's that?" although he tried to mask the possessiveness that creeped into his voice, atlas was certain that his displeasure showed on his face. "i thought you were done with assholes who pose with their prize fish and post shitty gym selfies." granted, he'd had one of those on his profile too, back before things had started between them. although the headache of filtering through messages and swiping had been one of the reasons he'd proposed they use each other instead.

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✧ — ⋆ closed starter for @svftlove inspo linked in source

jealousy wasn't a foreign concept to inez, but it had never been as potent as it was now. the feeling swelling in her chest and seeming to attack her heart with little pinpricks of betrayal. maybe she'd be able pivot it into something creative, a flurry of harsh brushstrokes and contradicting colors. but for the moment it felt like something ugly was clawing it's way out of her. while she'd never loved her college roommate, probably wouldn't even have been friends with her were it not for a random assignment from the university, inez had never felt hatred towards her. she'd even looked forward to reconnecting with lisa, but it had all turned sour at the mention that her best friend had asked her out. a bitter feeling of inadequacy had settled within her at the very idea, made stronger because she couldn't quite fathom what they saw in her. the two of them had been friends for far longer, for as long as inez could remember, and maybe that was the issue. "i didn't think she'd be your type..." the words seemed to come unprompted, unable to be held back after an evening of watching them cozy up to one another until lisa had finally left.

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antoine had always been charismatic. so easy to fall for that she hadn't even considered the potential heartbreak that might come along with it, even if it was a self-inflicted wound. she'd known of his passion, the drive he'd held even back when they were younger - and had jumped anyways, the free-fall exhilarating. in some regards, it felt like nothing had changed, his quip pulling an involuntary smile to her lips as easily as his words always had. "maybe so, but to be fair - i wasn't entirely sure i wasn't making you up just now." what felt like an eternity had passed since they'd seen each other last, the person she'd been then unrecognizable to her now, and aylin was certain that he'd changed just as much. the fast cars, the fast life, the glory; all so different from the place they'd grown up in and where she'd stayed. she wondered if she should be offended by the description of their town being 'cookie-cutter', when to aylin it was simply home. streets she knew by heart and neighbors who exchanged favors and gossip alike, the place that had raised her and that had become so impossible to leave when she'd discovered she was expecting. she couldn't leave, and knowing just how much racing meant to antoine, aylin didn't want to put him in a position where he'd feel obligated to stay. "i'm sure you'll help her find the most perfect place. but you must've been all over the world by now, i'm surprised you thought of here. surely there are far more beautiful places to see out there." the words came as if she didn't already know, as if she hadn't followed his journey step by step, collecting little newspaper clippings and posters, heart racing with fear whenever race-days came along and swelling with pride as he'd carved his name into ferrari history. she'd justified it as being a collection of mementos for her daughter, a scrapbook of memories that she'd have to look over once she got older and started questioning things about her father. even though, truly, alyin knew it'd been for herself too. his sentence went unfinished, and she had to wonder what he was holding back. "i never thought i'd see the day when you were tongue-tied. do i look that different?"

people often lamented there were some things that never changed. some things stayed the same forever , unmoving and steadfast. that was always a hard pill to swallow for a formula one driver. for them , nothing stayed the same. and nothing could. everyday was different , the world moving at a pace that was uniquely made for motorsport. not even the fixed aspects of the sport were the same from year to year let alone day to day. there weren’t constants in a driver's life. but , with antoine returning to the town he’d practically grown up in for the first time since he’d left , he realized that maybe some things did stay the same. the house he’d spent his formative years in , the streets he’d walked and ran down , all the same. the people . . . well , he hadn’t been convinced the people had fully stayed the same ( albeit getting a little older ) until he saw her. ❝ a while might be an understatement , don’t you think ? ❞ it had felt like lifetimes to him. he saw her hesitance , noted the lack of a smile or any trace of happiness on her features. but that didn’t stop the easy smile that found its way onto his own. ❝ um , my cousin’s getting married actually. she wanted to do it somewhere cookie cutter , somewhere that reminded her of a storybook and i suggested here. i’m doing some venue scouting. ❞ a half - truth. his cousin was truly getting married , but there was more that had brought him back. ❝ i can’t believe i’m seeing you right now , honestly. how are you ? you look . . . ❞ good. like a reminder of the day he left and a reminder of the time they’d spent together all wrapped into one. the feeling was entirely bittersweet.

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he'd been warned about marmee from the start, although back when he'd first started seeing katarina the warnings had entailed sharp claws and a fearsome temperament. the first time she'd curled up in his lap, lucas had hardly dared move, certain she'd recognize her mistake and he'd end up with a scratch down his forehead. but instead he'd been allowed to stay, and he wasn't sure whom he'd ended up more enamored with, katarina or her cat. "is that right.... clearly i'm not doing my job right if you're managing to save such important tasks for after." his grin matched her banter, knowing - or at least hoping, that it wasn't a question that the sex was electric. he doubted either of them would have kept asking to see each other if it wasn't. but there was something else undeniably there, enough so that it was truly becoming a problem, the appeal of his apartment dimming the more time that he spent around katarina. "what can i say, lady marmalade clearly has exquisite taste. or maybe she's playing the long con on us both and i'll become her first murder victim. you could start a podcast if that happens; f1 and true crime, you'd have a certified hit on your hands." although at the moment, the fluffy ginger was nothing but a complete sweetheart, her purrs hard to resist as he gave marmee a few extra scritches around her ears. "can't you tell, i too have a whole list of critically important plans, all far more essential than pleasing marmee." he teased, mirroring the words that were clearly just as much a lie as the first time they'd been uttered. "if you've got nothing else planned, maybe i could treat you to dinner? i don't know about you - but the most i'd be doing if i went home is ordering some doordash."

she found herself absentmindedly smiling at the way her cat was curled up in his lap. when they had started hooking up , the goal was not for her to find a co - parent for her cat ; a feisty , fiercely independent , orange british longhair named lady marmalade. it was easier keeping sex separate from everything else , but she knew that she was in trouble when not only did her cat like him -- but she liked knowing that her cat liked him. ❝ well , i did have tons of critically important things to do the moment you left . . . ❞ a joke and an obvious lie , her legs felt like jello and she had no plans to move once he'd left. ❝ but i guess you can stay for a little bit 'cause i would never ask you to do such a cruel thing and abandon miss marmee. who clearly likes you more than she does me -- despite the fact that i , you know , feed her and clothe her and house her. ❞ the brunette conceded , words teasing. katarina wondered if maybe her cat was mirroring her. oh god. ❝ sorry if she's keeping you from anything though , i can wrangle her off of you when you're ready to go. ❞

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there was a part of tessa that knew she could be persuaded to stay - the temptation of a cozy night in without the worries about not measuring up to her date's standards or a dry conversation that only led to disappointment very enticing. then, there was that part of herself tessa wanted to deny, because it wasn't just the comfort of lula's company that was appealing, but the warmth that spread through her whenever lula complimented her. a frightening feeling given how deeply she'd come to cherish their friendship and how badly she didn't want to mess up something so treasured. "c'mon, you were the one who told me i'd never find the one if i didn't put myself out there! am i not supposed to follow that advice?" hopeless romantic that she was, tessa knew that she'd never quite give up searching for that elusive someone. but it was more fun to go on dates knowing that she had a wing-woman cheering her on irregardless of how many bad dates she went on. "if it ends up being a nightmare i'll definitely use you as my excuse to bail. be prepared to fake an emergency if i send you an sos text."

lula didn’t know how this had happened. she knew that getting involved with anyone that she shared an apartment building with would be a bad idea but truthfully she found the best way to make friends was from flirting. people were either endeared by her efforts or actually interested; the latter of which could be course-corrected later on. flirting with her directly next door neighbour though? maybe a little too close to home. however, she’d seemingly won tessa around in the friendship bracket. which was enough for her, really. despite her chasing she could accept what they’d come to be. “too much? no!” she insisted, shaking her head. she moved a little forward on the couch to perch at the edge in an attempt to get a little closer. “you sure you don’t want to ditch the date and spend the evening with me instead?” teasing, mostly, in her usual fashion. “you look great, tess. i’m sure you’ll fit right in.”

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It was refreshing to have someone be honest about how they were feeling, the cloying niceties that often felt put-on something she was glad to be rid of. "How does that saying go... misery loves company. Might be some truth to it after all." While leaving was also an option, it felt like the coward's way out, and Arizona knew she'd return to an empty room and feel miserable in her loneliness. At least here, with a stranger, she might not feel as alone. "Nice to meet you too, Elio. It seems as if your parents were a bit more creative than mine. They were on the road when I came early, driving through Arizona. Didn't even have a name prepared, so it was between that and Sedona." She hoped that her rambling would help ease the discomfort of talking to someone you barely knew at a party, rather than chase him away or make him uncomfortable. "And that's alright, turns out they weren't that good of friends to begin with. Probably better to figure that out now. How about you? Why are you all alone and in a bad mood?"

Elio was tired. Tired of this party, tired of the somewhat friends that had invited him, tired of his job that kept him too late today. Just tired. He was standing by a railing, watching the people mingle and dance while he nursed a drink. Weirdly he wasn't sad or anxious, just bored. There were so many better things he could do tonight, so why was he still here? Maybe because he was an idiot, who when told his ex might show up, panted like a dog at the idea. He broke up with her and yet the loneliness consumed him. As the night wore on, he talked to a few people, most of them put off by his melancholy. But then... "Oh sure, go ahead. Though I probably won't be good company. I'm in a bad mood honestly." He said, giving a rueful smile that he didn't feel. "I'm Elio, like the sun. Nice to meet you. Sorry your friends ditched you."

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Shock crossed her features at the admission of how badly the last planner had messed up, along with a tinge of relief that no matter what might happen tomorrow, at least it wouldn't be that. "I can promise you there are vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices, along with ones that are nut-free. So no more dietary mishaps." She'd witnessed all facets of Selene's personality during their interactions, had admired the way she commanded a room and made certain that her hotel was run properly. But it filled her with pride to see that the compliment was meant wholeheartedly. "Ivy is fine, Ms Brockman, it's been a pleasure working with you and I'll make sure that you have the itinerary," While she normally wouldn't cross the lines between professionalism and something more, Ivy knew that she'd regret not doing something, so what was the harm with inviting the other woman to share a few nibbles to eat and perhaps a drink. "Since it seems like I can't tempt you into relaxing during the event itself, do you want to try some of the appetizers and drinks I selected for the event? I had our caterer do a run through of the dishes, just to make sure it was all up to standard, and there are a few left over." Moving through the ballroom towards the bar, she gestured towards the small tray of hors d'oeuvres. "I can't promise that my drinks are as good as the professionals will be, but I did spend some time behind a bar before I started event planning."

"I must say, I'm very pleased with your work. Our last planner was terrible, they screwed up with the caterers and we didn't have any vegetarian meals. Which granted, we didn't have many people who chose that meal, but to not have the option was unacceptable." Selene said, glancing around the room, searching for problems as was her wont. There were none that she could see. Then she turned back to Ivy and tried to soften her face. She knew she could be intimidating to others. But she was feeling more feminine today and therefore, softer. "You seem to have everything in hand. It looks great in here. Thank you so much Ms. Darling. We at the Brockman truly appreciate all the hard work you've put in. Just make sure to send me the day's itinerary. You might suggest that I relax, but a manager's job is never done." Still, Ivy hadn't given her any reason to doubt. So perhaps Selene could ease up a smidge, and enjoy a drink. The hotel had been hosting the annual hospitality conference for years and she'd so rarely had time to enjoy the more interesting parts of it. "Is there anything else you needed from me? A last minute signature or final choice?" A date, if her intuition was correct.

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✧ — ⋆ closed starter for @burninglovefm inspo linked in source

if it mattered that the lie had started with honorable intentions, adem couldn't be sure. all he'd known at the time was the panic that had gripped him when he'd first picked up the call from the hospital and had refused to let up even as he'd arrived. why his number was still saved in her emergency contacts, he couldn't explain, they were long over, any hope of reconciling lost despite his hopes to the contrary. but the nurses had assumed they were still together, and he hadn't told them otherwise as they'd led him to her room. truly, it was a lie born out of desperation, knowing that they'd probably turn him straight around and he'd be left without any indication of how she was if he confessed. they'd know soon enough anyways, but at least then he could leave knowing she was going to be alright. it sunk in how deeply his feelings still ran when adem saw her in the hospital bed, body bruised, looking so lifeless that he barely dared move from her side despite knowing she wouldn't want him around. but until there was someone else there, a friendly face amongst the hospital gloom, he didn't feel right leaving her to wake up alone. so he took the spot in the chair beside her bed, keeping a quiet vigil, his hand not quite daring to reach out to touch hers given the distance that had come between them.

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well 🧍‍♀️ as a reminder this blog is NOT a safe space for trump supporters but it IS a safe place for women, queers, trans ppl, people of color, undocumented people, and any marginalized group.

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🌺 send this to ten muns you think are wonderful 🌺

all the love forever and always for you and our ships !! they will have my heart until the end of time !! 🥹 💖

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✧ — ⋆ taylor ♡ george for @gracland

interruptions had become common place within his days, taylor barging in with a phrase she wanted to review or a melody to record, needing to get her thoughts to paper and out of the confines of her mind. while others might've been annoyed at it, george found that her ideas always brought a rejuvenated sense of inspiration into his own work. but there was a spring in her step and a liveliness that hadn't even accompanied some of her most brilliant lyrics. "what's this?" he glanced at the paper taylor had passed his way expecting a fresh set of lyrical masterpieces, but as his eyes skimmed over the sentences as the reason for the bright smile and excitement on her features became evident. "you're going on tour?" from where they'd first met, in that tiny little bar in nashville, to now, her getting a record deal and opening for other artists - performing on a stage that was completely her own had always been the dream. to see it coming into actuality and know that he'd been a small part of her journey to accomplish all that she had left a broad grin on his features as he pulled her into a tight hug, "that's incredible, you're going to crush it, absolutely mesmerize those crowds. i'm so fucking proud of you."

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✧ — ⋆ closed starter for @sunliights inspo linked in source

it had been a stroke of pure luck moving into her new apartment, and while tessa had expected her favorite parts to be the open floor-plan or airy windows that flooded the rooms with light, she was surprised to find that it wasn't any of the material things that had captured her heart. instead it was her assortment of neighbors; from the kind elderly gentleman who always held the door open for her when she was carrying in groceries, to the baker on the second floor who sometimes brought by leftover cookies. but out of all of all of them, it was the person who lived next door with whom she'd grown the closest, finding in them a friend and confidant, who'd boosted her self-esteem and let her feel completely free to be herself. "what do you think? it's not too much, is it?" giving a small twirl to show off the dress she was trying on, she glanced at them for approval. "i know it's only a dinner date - but it's at a nicer restaurant and i don't want to look completely out of my element."

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✧ — ⋆ closed starter for @celestialmuses inspo linked in source

there were times when the world filled her with wonder - so often when she was traveling there was that feeling of falling in love for the first time. the sights and sounds and smells of an unfamiliar place sparking so much exuberant excitement through her that arizona could barely contain it. but it was when she returned home that the loneliness crept in, the knowledge creeping in that the people she met on her travels were truly only strangers with a few shared experiences and the people leaving excited comments on her videos only living life vicariously through her adventures. while she knew she was lucky, that she could post a highlight reel of this party and thousands of people would dream of being in her shoes, she doubted they would envy her now. hedging her way through the mass of people, all of whom seemed to be mingling with true friends and partners, she turned towards the one other person also standing on the sidelines, looking almost as miserable as she felt. "you mind if i keep you company? i only know a few people here and they seem to have run off." her brow furrowed slightly as she took another glimpse at the party around them before holding out a hand, "i'm arizona, like the state."

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✧ — ⋆ closed starter for @celestialmuses

be strong, be poised, be meticulous - the mantra, albeit with a few changes through the years, was central to ivy. ever since she'd founded her company she'd been working towards the opportunity to host an event at a place as prestigious as the brockman, and now that she had it, the future she'd been carving for herself was even closer within reach. complete one successful event there and ivy knew that doors would slide open that had always been locked before. she'd prepared for all kinds of worst-case scenarios, missing flowers, caterers messing up a dish, unruly guests - a checklist of emergencies and back-up plans all at the ready. but what ivy hadn't prepared for was the force that was selene. the other woman so confident and self-assured that it left her stomach filled with a flurry of nervous butterflies, as if she'd been transported back to a teenage version of herself longing for approval from a crush. there was one part of her mantra that she'd fallen short of these past couple weeks, be professional, although she hoped that all her methodical planning would aid in making sure the event ran smoothly all the same. "i think we're all set for tomorrow," glancing down at her phone, she ticked off the last checkbox on her to-do list before forcing her gaze upwards once more. "i've made sure to iron out all the last minute changes with our vendors - so if everything goes according to plan, you should be able to sit back and enjoy a drink while letting me handle the rest. we'll have some specialty cocktails on the menu that are quite delicious."