sleeaze

[sleeaze]

closed starter for benji hyun / @benj-hyun

" Are you fucking my mom? It's okay, you can be honest with me. If you are fucking her, though, do not tell Santi. " Goobie's face remains carefully straight as she accosts this poor man. " Ever. "

[sleeaze]

" Step one might be to stop buying so much during the year so you don't have so much to get rid of by the end. "

Easier said than done. If Goobie was faced with a wall of all the little beverages they buy throughout the year, it'd be like standing in front of a mountain. A flash of color in one of the boxes catches their eye and Goob bends down, scooping it up.

" You're getting rid of this? " They set their drink down in order to hold up the top with both hands, eyeing it. " But it's so hot. I don't think I've even seen you wear this. "

"It's actually very cleansing," Shiloh assures them as she puts her hands on her hips and looks over the boxes.

"I don't want to be one of those overconsumption people and it's not like I'm working with a lot of space," she adds, gesturing to her studio apartment.

@sleeaze

[sleeaze]

While there will always be outliers, in the years that Goobie's been going to shows, they can attest that some of the kindest people turn out for the punk and hardcore shows. Something about hating the system usually churns out some pretty kind human beings.

" Anything with a good beat. I like a lot of r&b and rap right now, and always electronic. Here. " Professional as ever, Goobie reaches into one of their many cargo pockets and pulls out a ( only slightly bent at the corner ) business card. It's all red with nothing but a QR code and the word GOOB printed in melting letters. " I post most of my sets on my website, but my original songs are there too. In case you ever want some electroclash for your show. "

"You know? A little cringe never did hurt anyone. Agreed. Okay, I'll keep that in mind for the next intro. Try to lean into it more. Just Tobias works for now though."

The smile on his features grew. "Now that warms my heart. It means a lot to me- that kind of music. Got me through some rough times for sure. I hope it's as kind to you as it's been to me. What's the preferred style of music right now? Or a usual?" @sleeaze

[sleeaze]

" The dog ear filter is the number one signal that a girl's a slut, " they say candidly. " You might've missed out on your true love with that one. "

They quirk a little smile at Aeris' frustration and take the phone dutifully. " People who go to any app for true love need to reevaluate their lives. " The bar is crowded for a Wednesday, and it's making Goobie grumpy that they have to share their normally chill Aeris hang-out with the rest of Aurora Bay as well. Perhaps it's influencing their cruelty on the Tinder profiles; perhaps Goobie's always this nonchalant. Hard to tell.

" Bad dye job. " Swipe. " Can't spell definitely. " Swipe. " Has four kids? Get off Tinder and go be a mother. " Swipe. " Oh, she's gorgeous. How come all the hot ones are straight? " Goob grimaces and then, with a petty edge, they swipe left. " If I can't have her you can't either. — Oh, she's hot too. And... looking for a new tattoo artist? " Goob slides the phone back to its owner. " She needs one. Patchwork like this is so out - you need to fix her. "

CLOSED STARTER for @sleeaze

"What about her?"

Aeris leans over to show Goob the next profile that has popped up on his phone screen. He sips his tequila and scrolls up the profile, and let's out a low 'ugh'.

"She used the dog ear filter." It's an instant swipe to the left without their approval (or lack thereof). "This one says 'no hookups'." He slides his phone back to Goob, mumbling, "Then go download Bumble or Hinge. Alright, do a speed run. Swipe for me."

[sleeaze]

talk about - aeris

" Once we got past the briefly awkward stage where he couldn't tell I was a raging dyke, everything was chill. Absolutely the most talented artist I know. I don't think anyone will have any sympathy when I say it's hard out here to be a player, but he gets it. He gets me, I get him, we both get bitches. Can't complain. Actually, I can; he blew me off the other night for a sleepover which would've been fine except I'd already bought the movie tickets. Messed. Up. "

[sleeaze]

😉

😉 …someone my muse has had sex with.

" I don't keep a list. Most recently? Ah... I think her name was Zehra? She was cool. I have plans with someone else tonight, though, so my answer will change. "

[sleeaze]

👌 …someone my muse has only met once, but will never forget.

" My mom had this guy over once when I was eleven and he made me some sweet fried plantains for breakfast. They're one of my favorite snacks now, so... thanks for fucking that guy I guess, Nomi. "

[sleeaze]

" And you do this... every year? " Goobie eyes the slew of boxes around the kitchen, hand automatically reaching to take the offered beverage. " This is like. A lot of shit, dude. "

starter for: open @aurorabaystarter location: shiloh's apartment

"Sorry, you've caught me in the middle of my annual New Year's clean out," Shiloh apologizes as she brings the other a drink from her fridge, stepping around boxes she intended to donate.

"But, hey, if you see anything in these that catches your eye you're free to have it."

[sleeaze]

" No shame on the DJ name, man. A little bit of cringe never hurt anyone. But if it makes you feel better, I'll stick to Tobias. Just Tobias. "

Goobie hums, waffling the question over in their mind. " Sort of. I'll listen to a little bit of everything. I'm in music too, so it'd be harmful to my craft if I shut anything out. I'm not particularly well-versed in punk, though. That's why I tuned in - I'm trying to expand my horizons. "

"You're stronger than I. Respect for that." A small nod of his head.

They didn't need to be a fan at all. If they were at least a little entertained or interested than Tobias would see it as a win. "Oh yeah? Appreciate it. And the candor with it. Tobias, just Tobias. I cringe a bit at the DJ part of it to this day. Sometimes people can tell cause I always drop my voice at that part. You into that kind of music? Punk and such? Or trying to get into it?" @sleeaze

[sleeaze]

" I think I'd kill myself if my only option in life romantically were to settle down with a man. Especially a man in Aurora Bay. "

"Trust me, if swearing off men altogether was an option I'd happily consider that direction. However, sadly, I am completely heterosexual I'm afraid. It would be nice to have both teams open."

[sleeaze]

" You better tell all your old man buddies to get off their dating apps because eventually it won't matter if you deem them disposable enough or not. She will find them. " Goobie arches their brow, although the rest of their face stays flat. " And she will eat them alive. If they're on Hinge it may already be too late. She's updated her profile pictures like, three times today. She means business. I don't even know who's taking those photos of her, man. "

"That's what I was worried about," Santiago admits, the cause of his concern not the any belt mentions but rather the length of time that had elapsed since Nomi had last had a boyfriend. He could vividly recall the devastation she had made sure he had known about when he had to break the news of his divorce to his family, the source being the connections that deprived her of rather than empathy for the way his life was falling apart.

He drums his fingertips against the bar top as he tries to find a mutually beneficial solution to their conundrum, none coming to mind.

"I don't have any friends that I deem disposable enough to set her up with. And trust me, she's asked."

@sleeaze

[sleeaze]

Goobie tries to hide their grin for modesty's sake, but they don't do a very good job of it. They offer a napkin (wrinkled and cold from being wrapped around their matcha for so long but it'll do) for the stranger's sauced-covered finger. " It's fine. The hot new style is wearing your lunch on your face. It'll be all over Vogue in the next few months, trust. "

Olie gave a simple shrug. "I think anyone with any decency would be honest about it." At least she hoped so. It wasn't the worst thing in the world, having something stuck in your teeth all day. Embarrassing, sure, but at least they didn't seem too bothered by the interruption and fixed the issue accordingly.

"Oh, really?" Olie's brows crinkled as she swiped at her chin with a finger. Sure enough, there was some leftover maple-bacon honey mustard she'd made to go with her chicken and waffle sandwich she ate for lunch. "Fuck, how-" She quickly swiped away at her chin with the back of her hand, a huffy sigh escaping her lips. "Well, that's... I definitely had that the past thirty minutes, at least. Thanks."

[sleeaze]

" Mine was a soda. Two bucks. I'm not worried about taking the L on this spilled drink; no smoke signals necessary. "

Their eyes follow the man's gesture and then slide back to him slowly, not amused by the joke and not pressured by invisible social rules to force a reaction. They're more interested in the meat of the conversation than the fluff. " I won't lie to you, I don't listen often, but the few times I have, you haven't bored me. Actually, I think what you do is really cool. Makes sense why a radio man is at a concert. " They squint, trying to remember the name they heard broadcasted over the late night radio show. " What's your name again? DJ Tyrus? T... Something with a T, right? "

"Maybe? You know, maybe it should. I'm here often enough, if I catch wind of him again, I'll alert him of the owed circumstances. Give you a call- send up some smoke flares. Bring you in for the owed drink," Tobias did agree with them, but didn't quite have that level of sharpness to his thought in it. He respected they did though.

Eyebrows lifted slightly, "Voice? Yeah, that's me, right there on that radio," He gestured to a vague corner where a stereo could be seen (distinctly not a radio). "Hope I don't, you know, bore you." @sleeaze

[sleeaze]

" What do I care if you get the belt from her? No seré yo quien reciba los latigazos. " Goobie gives Santiago a devious arch of their brows - one that matches the devious curl to their lips. Confidence only falters when Santiago's straight face doesn't, and Goobie quickly loses the attitude with a heavy sigh. " She's been pissing me offffff, tío, I'm sick of her. You know, this is the longest she's been without a boyfriend since I was... born, probably? "

They take a sip from the straw they've been chewing on. It's so mangled that Goobie's not even sure if the club soda is making its way to her mouth. " I used to dream of her being single for more than a month. Now I'm like, go get your fucking man, ma, I'm drowning. "

closed for: @sleeaze

where: four leaf

"Did you call your mom back?" Santiago asks, assuming from their relaxed posture hanging around his bar that the answer to that was a resounding no, "Because if you haven't that puts me at real high risk of her showing up here and giving me an earful."

[sleeaze]

LIZETH SELENE 2023, for Tiffany

[sleeaze]

" It should be that big freak buying us both new drinks but he probably didn't even feel us bouncing off of his massive shoulders. "

In any other situation, Goobie would help clean up and then dip as fast as possible, more interested in what was happening on stage (or, depending on the night, the girl at their side) than whatever a stranger could have provided conversation wise. This guy, though... something about him is ringing a bell in the back of their head.

" You're that dude, huh? That guy from the radio. " Goobie makes a face as they lift their wad of wet napkins, which they toss into a nearby trashcan. " I recognize your voice. "

"Shit. That sucks for me then, huh?" Tobias isn't hurt by the response in the least. Instead, he's easing into the skid of the moment and just accepting the BS that seemed to come with this place. At least it was consistent enough after all.

A hand through dark hair, mostly to get the rest of the spilled drink out, but also to push the growing lock from his sight. "Oh, no no. Not at all. It's all good. We're comrades in the moment, not your fault at all or any sort of implication otherwise. If anything it should be me since I've got the shit luck." @sleeaze

[sleeaze]

" Hypothetically I think you should start skipping men entirely. " Goob shrugs. " But I'm not the best person to ask. "

open starter: @aurorabaystarter location: utp

"Okay, hypothetically, if someone was going to consider looking into dating aps in this day and age...Hypothetically, which one should they be looking at slash least likely to meet a man that will make them the subject of a Netflix documentary?"