#brooks 001.

[sidthorne]

"No judgement here," he exhaled a quick laugh from his nose. "I'm a high school drop out and have to look up lyrics all the time. Especially if people as about the old stuff." There were a few songs he would always be able to recite off the top of his head, just by how many times he sang them. "That's why we practice right?" Otherwise the band would forget the music, or they wouldn't be in sync and he'd forget the audio queues for parts of the song. It would all be a disaster. Besides, and he was sure the other man could relate, after you've written enough songs things could get jumbled. Especially when asked to remember a random line on the spot. Even more so when it came to Brooks, he had to assume, who had extremely lyric intensive songs.

His eyebrows twitched upwards when the other man said his name. Not that he was unaware that his name was known, it just gave him a quick surprise that the other man knew it. "That's me," he confirmed and shook the hand offered to him. "I know it a little too well. That part never gets easier either. I wish I could say it did." Maybe it did for some people, but in his experience with musicians - whether writing songs or music - it was always scary to release something you cared about. "Yeah? That would be fucking cool, man. I've really wanted to work with some different styles and talents. Your storytelling in your lyrics is top notch." He commended, hoping he didn't sound dumb by saying it. On stage and in the studio his confidence was through the roof but social interactions were touch and go. "Dial Drunk really hit home for me, in more ways than one."

"Oh so cool. But you gunna laugh at me if I tell you I also had to pull the lyrics up on google to make sure I wasn't spelling anything wrong?" In his defense, the girl was going straight to the booth at the fair to get it done. He wasn't going to make her have a tattoo that was both unreadable and spelled wrong. Brooks was so bad with names it was honestly kind of embarrassing. So one of the things his manager sat him down and made him down when he moved to Nashville was go over the names of some of the bigger players in the industry. The man holding the slushy beside him was one of those faces, but it took a few seconds for him to put the face to the name.

But the compliment raised some warmth in his cheeks. He's proud of his music and what he's done, but hearing others - especially others that were in the same line of work - say they enjoyed his music made Brooks feel like he was doing something right. "You're...Sid right? Crimson Crypt? Hey man," The shorter man held a hand out for a shake. "That means a lot. Always hard to put something out in the world that means so much to you, y'know? But honestly, I'd love to. Sounds like fun."

[labyrinthinesyndicatex]

CLOSED STARTER

LOCATION: fight night TIME: evening of the 19th FOR: @poisonvdhonvy

Her hand lifted the martini glass while her eyes tracked his path through the Silver Sands chaos. A smile tugged at her lips - watching him navigate through drunk tourists was prime entertainment. Nice suit - probably cost more than her monthly rent, but that was his style. Thomas had been her client twice before, both jobs involving some seriously questionable art authentication that paid well enough for her to upgrade her forgery equipment. "Evening, Jun-ho. Never took you for a boxing fan," she said, keeping her voice casual while sliding a glance at the people trailing him. Security detail, by the looks of them, though they were trying hard to blend in. Rich boy had gotten more careful since those cyber attacks started hitting the casinos. She debated whether to mention the rumors about his family's latest digital security breach - probably not the best small talk for fight night. "Got any money on Thompson? Word is he's the favorite."

[poisonvdhonvy]

closed starter : @labyrinthinesyndicatex !!

where : la rosa d'oro !!

She adjusts her phone on the table. "Been hoarding these gift cards from that insurance case last month. Figured we might as well use them before someone decides to audit the restaurant's books again." She's done the math already. Three high-end Italian meals would cover the paper trail nicely. The gift cards look legit enough. She should know. She did the background check on the forger herself. "Listen, I got us the corner booth for a reason. The acoustics in this spot make it impossible for anyone at the bar to eavesdrop. Plus we get first dibs on those ricotta donuts they only make twelve of each night." Those donuts are worth every cent of laundered money, though she'd never admit that to the Rossis. Getting Vera to take a break from her studio takes planning these days. Good thing Violeta's got practice at coordinating complicated operations. "You've got that 'I stayed up all night perfecting something' look. Want to tell me what masterpiece kept you busy this time?"

[onebigerror]

@girlshunttoo

another damned tourist? they’d gotten rid of most of them thirty years ago but occasionally there is a straggler that needs chasing off. like this one. and brooke knows it all falls on her to get rid of her and as quickly as possible. some of the others would be more inclined to kill the trespasser. brooke chooses not to make herself known - at least not yet - as she follows along behind the living visitor snapping pictures as they wander along the main path.

keeping an eye out for other vengeful spirits she finally reveals herself behind the human as she starts to enter one of the cabins. “you don’t want to go in there.” she walks around in front of them to intercept their entry. that was the cabin they tortured ramirez in and the other ghosts would surely get angry if someone interrupted that. probably even angry enough to kill the intruder “you really should leave. this place is filled with nothing but death.” the ghost does not want to see another living soul fall victim to redwood and it’s eternal entrapment. “let me walk you out.”

[mastermicd]

@lovethcrn : ❝ i'm just mad as hell 'cause i loved this place. ❞

"listen up, p. sawyer ––" a nickname reserved for only brooke to use, that the brunette did so with precision, one that called on their memories from growing up, reminded them of their collective history in the space of one name. and she wasn't about to let her friend go down without a fight, if she could help it. "you can't let one thing ruin your whole perception of this town." sure, it might be more than one thing, but brooke was quick to focus on the now, on the one instance that had pushed her blonde bestie to the very edge that she was now teetering on the side of. "you can be mad, we all get mad. but that doesn't mean you have to be mad at everything. and besides, we can get that rage out –– didn't one of those rage rooms open up just outside of town? wanna go and smash up some old appliances?" she always did try to reach for the silver linings if she could.

[willowswriting]

for @superscd continued from here

Of course he had people here. She knew that he had people here because she had once been one of those people or had it been so simple for him to forget that? "You know damn well people come to The Plough specifically for the show." She spoke looking at him. It was the hub of all the towns local gossip and she was honestly surprised that this would be his first stop while in town. He had to have known that someone would go running their mouth. There had been a moment there, a small glimmer that perhaps he had showed up here with a hope that word would get back to her. Despite the fact that the locals would love a good show Harper had never been someone who enjoyed being the center of attention, not unless she was showing off horses and that was only because they were the ones people were truly looking at. She crossed her arms over her chest looking at the male "Fine we don't have to do this here." she spoke "but we're doing this." She spoke, letting him know that she wasn't planning on just walking away and leaving him in peace.

[xaviermattthews]

closed for: @finn-brooks

where: tidal wave music shop

Lingering near the S section of the vinyls, flicks passed Sublime and is pleased to find Flood by Submergence nestled between them and Suede, taking it upon himself to assume that the singular copy meant it was selling well in the uptick of promo for Tsunami.

He wanders to the next section, perusing then for new records to listen to rather than his band, when the attendant catches his eye. He looks familiar to him not because he knows him but because he knows of him, and it spurs him to strike up a conversation.

"Hey. Finn, right?"

[loveofcharacters]

continued from here. @huntrcssqueen

Brooke's attention turned to the brunette as he laughed, "What?" she asked. "So it's like fight club?" she asked rhetorically, with an added scoff. "Maybe for you?" She asked shaking her head, "Lingerie is not typically for men." As he out stretched his hand for her to take, she chewed her lip a second before thinking of the amount that would be in her bank after this was done. She sighed and accepted his hand, "I don't understand this task at all."

[lorelailewis]

— FINN BROOKS ; all-night diner

"These need more salt." Lorelai reached for one of the salt packets, tearing it open and sprinkling the salt over his french fries before shaking the basket for a more even salt distribution. It's become a sort of late night tradition of theirs of sorts, when Lorelai spends the night in one of Gideon's booths with her text books and a coffee pot to keep her fuelled and Finn decides to join her with a basket of french fries just so that she'll fill her stomach with something other than coffee.

She plucks one of the fries from the basket to taste, nodding her head with satisfaction before reaching for another and dipping it into some ketchup.

"You should have got some chicken tenders to go with these." @finnbrooks

[poppywrights]

@linhciinder — leonard & brooke.

não era que leonard não gostasse de festas. na realidade, gostava, e muito. se perguntassem para a sua ex-esposa, era consideravelmente provável que recebessem uma resposta atravessada sobre como fora mais em ocasiões como aquela para tentar conversar com alguns músicos específicos - e extravasar os estresses acumulados no decorrer da organização do novo contrato da the guess -, que onde queria que ele estivesse junto consigo, como em datas importantes. mesmo com todo o seu jeito, francamente, ele não negava que laurie estava em sua razão de se incomodar com as suas ausências, porque, bem, fora a perfeita definição de um marido de merda em muitos momentos de seu casamento. suas prioridades se confundiam muitas vezes, e não estava em um momento de sua vida em que se sentia pronto para abrir mão dos planos que tinha para o seu futuro. de toda forma, devaneios não importavam naquela ocasião específica: o único ponto relevante era que o schultz estava abandonando o ônibus de turnê de uma das bandas que haviam chegado na semana anterior no festival antes mesmo da festa começar de verdade. tudo porque teriam uma apresentação no outro dia, e não conseguiria se manter concentrado no ensaio pela manhã se não mantivesse a sobriedade naquela noite. não que não soubesse a pouca diferença que faria num contexto maior, pois, mesmo que anthony estivesse caído de sono em sua cama, carrie havia ido ao ônibus também, e só deus sabia onde mark estava. suspirou, parando do lado de fora e tateando os bolsos de sua jaqueta atrás de seu maço de cigarros. quando olhou para o lado, notou que havia uma mulher do lado de fora também. “chegando ou indo embora?” questionou, em uma forma de puxar assunto. “no primeiro caso, diria pra aproveitar antes que o burton chegue." jay burton, baterista da red strokes, uma das piores presenças que qualquer festa que se preze poderia ter. para melhorar, sempre vinha com um grupo de tietes atrás. "eu te conheço de algum lugar?”

[manybcdthings]

location: outside the bar (after the fight)

starter for: hunter and dominic @gloriouswhispers

The abysmal fight left Hunter with a bitter taste in his mouth. Not one of the Cross brothers could say they came out on top, but at least none of the vampires could either. But, as far as Cross fights went, that one was a shit show. Hunter could already feel his wounds healing, that sting he was trained to lean into instead of away from as he hobbled from the bar while his brothers made their way home. As soon as his gaze met with another vampire, there was an exhausted scoff from him. Finding amusement, yet again in the worst situations. "Little damn late to be back up, toothy." he snarled, before waving his hand at the destruction of the bar. "No drinks either, last call was about two broken noses ago."

[spellbcok]

@covertstrings sent: ♫ brooke maddox & gale weathers ↪ light me up, the pretty reckless

"i've got it on my mind to change my ways, but i don't think i can be anything other than me."

[labyrinthinesyndicatex]

CLOSED STARTER

LOCATION: lucky crumb TIME: wednesday afternoon FOR: @ofemeralds

Between mountains of pastries and walls of baked dreams, someone from Vera's past life decided to materialize at Lucky Crumb. One second she was hunting for her morning coffee, the next she was mentally back in Chicago, stealing paper from museum archives like the world's nerdiest cat burglar. "Hold up … is that who I think it is?" she said, pushing through the bakery door with a grin spreading across her face. The bells chimed overhead as she made her way to his table, coffee in hand. "You used to bring me those terrible gas station coffees while I worked on your papers. Four sugars, black as night … worst thing I've ever tasted." Coffee in hand, Vera claimed her spot at the table. "Tell me something … do you still have that passport I made you? The one where I almost messed up the watermark?" She took a sip of her actually decent coffee, wondering what kind of twists and turns had brought him to her new turf. "What finally convinced you to make the move?"

[onebigerror]

@araneorum continued from here

appearances sure were deceiving. to look at jackie and how well she interacted with the others, she never would have suspected her to feel out of place. of course, she'd understand. it was such a huge relatable feeling to her. brooke felt out of place everywhere she went. she was socially awkward and very shy. all that came from years of being under the thumb of a man that wouldn't let her talk to anyone. the whole time she was with joey she wasn't allowed to have a single friend - not even another girl. he was too jealous and controlling for that. she was her own person now. had been for the past year but she was still trying to get used to that. there were still days that brooke was afraid joey was just around the corner waiting to punish her for everything she did.

being around animals or even just talking about them set brooke at ease and gave her a glow that she didn't have any other time. "i do love them!" she grinned as she reminisced on some good memories - of course even those were interlaced with the bad. it's sad how tragedy and trauma did that - it even gripped onto happiness. seeped right in just to remind you that you couldn't escape it. "i grew up on a farm. my dad rented us a little house on the land of someone's ranch." she continued to work on folding the sandwiches into baggies for the kid's lunches the next day. "i started helping out in the stables with the horses. sometimes for a little extra pocket money and other times for free when my dad had trouble paying the rent." towards the end of her years living with him, that had happened more times than she could count. her job became almost entirely volunteer. it wasn't something brooke minded because it was the only time she was truly at peace. "when i was taking care of the animals i was happy. they didn't judge me or talk mean to me. they just loved me and they were good to me because i was to them." when she realized that she was getting in too deep she quickly blushed. "yes, i really love animals. i'm hoping i can get one when i get back to l.a." she dreaded that. "you know after i look for a new place to live." there was no way she could go back to that apartment. not after what happened.

the eagerness wasn't lost on her and brooke certainly didn't judge her for it. she loved seeing someone genuinely want to hang out with her and be happy to do it. even in school, no one wanted to be around her. she was that poor girl who wore the same clothes more than once a week. the one that stuttered and stammered all over the place and sucked at sports. no one wanted her on their teams when they had to pick. she’d just been nothing but a social outcast wherever she went. "okay!" her own enthusiasm and energy matched jackie's so neither of them had to feel out of place. "we could go for a walk or sit on the dock, or..." blushing deeply she stopped herself. "we'll figure that out tonight." it was exciting to think that she had a friend to do that figuring out with. it was something that she'd never in all her life had. and that wasn't even an exaggeration.

[mastermicd]

@defygrav1ty : ❝ you’re better than this. ❞

frown etched into brooke's forehead as she listened to peyton's attempt at talking her down from the metaphorical ledge that she'd found herself teetering on the edge of. "am i?" she asked, as fingers typed furiously into the computer in front of her, a women fuelled by the tabloid that seemed to have tried to drag her brand through the mud. with lies she might add, which was what had her so angry in the first place.

"what would you do if it were you? would you go down without a fight?" granted, there was more tact to it than that. if she'd been in her office, millie would have talked her down and let someone else handle it. but in the safety of the apartment she and peyton shared, she could be a little more knee-jerk. she paused, sitting back in her seat slightly as gaze turned to the blonde, "i worked so hard, for some nobody to spout lies that have over a hundred thousand views so far. i have to do something."

[labyrinthinesyndicatex]

Vera couldn’t hold back the grin. Just imagining the two of them in trench coats, trying to look serious, was already cracking her up. “Okay … but we need sunglasses and mustaches,” she said, her voice dripping with mock seriousness. “You know, to really sell it. Mrs. Chen wouldn’t even know it was us.” She felt lighter just saying it out loud, letting the silliness push out everything else for a moment. “Oh … and I’ve got our codenames ready. Operation Breakfast Brigade. You’re Agent Maple … I’m Agent Waffle. Together, we’re unstoppable.” She grabbed her bag, trying not to laugh at how over-the-top her words sounded. It was dumb, but in a way that made her feel like herself again. “Alright then … until next mission, Agent Maple. Stay alert.” She watched Ishika leave, still thinking about the syrup mafia they’d invented. By the time Vera stepped outside, she was smiling like she hadn’t in days.

It wasn't often that Ishika had conversations quite as ridiculous as this one but it was nice. Essentially unassuming which felt necessary from time to time. Ishika chuckled, finishing her drink with a grin. "Well, if anyone’s going to crack the case, it’s us. I’m sure Mrs. Chen will be more than happy to assist with her ‘street smarts.’” She tapped her glass gently, raising it in the mock toast. “To justice, breakfast standards, and putting an end to syrup crimes once and for all. May our undercover operations always involve more pancakes than peril.” She smirked and stood, unfortunately needing to head to work once more. "Alright, Detective Vera, I’ll leave you to your investigation. Just let me know when we go undercover. I’ll be ready with the perfect stakeout oufits for us both."