#cole01

[heyits-asher]

CLOSED STARTER for @colexwalters

"I need you to not say a word to Uly about me being here."

It's easy enough to get into his apartment without crossing his path. Asher works splits during the day, and the club has late hours, but the one thing Ash didn't account for is his roommate.

"So, uh..." Asher looks down to the elf in his right hand and the bag of supplies in his left. "I'm going to set this guy up, leave, and you won't snitch, right?"

[samucl-kane]

There's an appreciation to be had for Cole wanting to stick around. In his diligence more than anything, Sam wonders if it's all self-serving or if some of it is selfless in nature. He opts to not pry open that door, knowing that outside of his desire to treat this planet as best as he can, it is a project that keep him on track.

It gives him a purpose.

"Sure thing." If Cole's offering, then... "I have a community project in the works. Even if you're not into the entire idea, maybe you can offer a set of hands for the building set up of it. To keep busy." If he really needs the task. "Thanks, Cole. For the help and the conversation."

@colexwalters

"Six years, huh?" Cole murmured, a hint of respect coloring his tone. "That's a hell of an accomplishment." He couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration for Sam's perseverance, even if their paths diverged in significant ways.

As Sam mentioned calling it a day, Cole shook his head, a small smirk quirking his lips. "Nah, I'll stick around for a bit," he replied casually. "Besides, it's good to keep busy." He glanced around at the scattered debris on the beach, already mentally preparing to tackle the cleanup. He had nowhere to be, and the beach sounded better than his apartment.

"Plus, who knows? Maybe I'll get lucky and find some buried treasure or something," Cole added with a chuckle, a playful glint in his eye. "But next time, if you need a hand, you can call me on your nokia brick phone." @samucl-kane

[garmabxy-a]

🐉 cole. { @tsuchicsuchi​ }

Not a whole lot has changed since he’s last been here. Yeah, maybe a few things every now and again - but that was for Lloyd to explore at a later time. For now, he only had one thing on his mind, something that he had been thinking about for...admittedly quite a long time, but hadn’t gotten the chance to really indulge in due to his duties of being a responsible leader that his friends could look up to. 

With a smile on his lips, Lloyd places his hands on his hips, his eyes staring up at the sign of the sweets shop he stood in front of. When was the last time Lloyd went and got something nice for himself? He couldn’t even remember. Without wasting another moment, Lloyd pushes the doors of the sweets shop open and makes his way inside, eager to look at what’s ahead of him.

Yet- what he comes to find instead catches him off guard, and almost makes his heart skip a beat.

The dark hair and muscular build of the individual in front of him feels all too entirely familiar with him. The fact that of all places he could’ve found the other in being a candy shop feels like it just isn’t a coincidence, either. Their eyes meet, and Lloyd is sure he knows who he’s looking at. He just...didn’t ever expect to be finding anyone from his home here, of all places. Yet, he can’t be too sure. 

“...Cole?” 

[lcluna]

— location: their apartment — date and time: friday night — availability: closed | @colemitchcll​​

“Listen, there’s beer in the fridge. I got us some pizza and we can either watch a game or just play games with some healthy competition,” although hardly his usual choice of entertainment, there was also in the list the chance of getting high while playing video games, which for Dario only happened when he needed to relax, when days had been hard enough that alcohol wouldn’t be the main choice, however that option would be a plan B, kept in a metaphorical drawer. It was unlike Dario to stay at home for a friday night, but he wasn’t in the mood to go out that day, nor to end up in a stranger's bed, something about that week caused him to be extra needy and it’d often lead to bad choices. “How was your day? Hope me being at home didn’t get in the way of you having a date or meeting someone else here. Just say the word and I’ll grab a slice of pizza and stay in my bedroom for as long as it’s needed.”

[fadingobjectrp]

@152n​

“What made you fight for me?” Adryan asked while stepping off the stage, walking towards his owner for the night. “I’m worth so much more but I still beat every single one of my co-workers so don’t worry, I won’t complain about this for the rest of the night”. The company where Cole worked made an auction annually, where the best workers were offered for a night, their buyers could make them do whatever they wanted, it usually ends with they asking them to help them organize their bills or taxes. “Can you tell me your name again? I couldn’t hear it thanks to how mad everyone was of how much money you offered for me”.

[finn-brooks]

Finn’s grin splits his face, he almost can’t wait to warn them that he’s thrown someone new into the mix. “I kid about Lucky. He’s a good guy, I can share him with you.” It had just been a joke. Finn doesn’t have a possessive bone in his body. 

With how quickly his friend group grew after his set foot in California, he almost wants to share that same fortune. It’s cheesy, in a sense, but Finn’s never had any shame with it.

“You got it. I’m glad we crossed paths then tonight. You’ll find plenty of folks to befriend, especially living in the apartments.”

Every story of Finn’s starts there, with the names he previously listed, and more. 

Others were the diner and college, but Aurora Bay had a way about it in how friend circles flourished. Cole won’t have any issues, Finn would put his money on it.

@colexwalters

“Yeah, I get that. East Coast vibe sticks with you, huh?” Cole nodded along, his gaze shifting to the floor briefly as Finn mentioned his upbringing. He could relate in some ways, having roots in places he both cherished and wanted to escape.

"Cricket, Lorelai, Darcy, Kayla... Got it." Cole made a mental note, the names unfamiliar but the descriptions painting vivid pictures in his mind. "I'm up for meeting anyone, really. Thanks for the heads up about Darcy, though. I'll make sure not to spook her." ....or not.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of Cole's lips as he considered Finn's suggestion about Lucky. "Guess Lucky's off the table then, huh? No worries, man. I'm not here to step on anyone's toes." He shrugged a hint of understanding in his voice. "Just looking to make some connections, you know?" Good, bad, and everything in between. @finn-brooks

[samucl-kane]

“I can respect that. Honestly?” Sam leans toward Cole, amused. “I’m not all that into Christmas either.” It’s more the sense of community he enjoys, and the lights are beautiful. As for the holiday itself? Sam doesn’t have any fond memories of it for it to be worth a second thought. 

He will put plain lights along his balcony, and he’ll burn cinnamon scented candles and put a wreath on his door, but outside of that, he doesn’t have much to be excited about. 

“That’s fine,” he snickers, following after Cole. “I can appreciate a cynic.” He is every bit of one himself at times, though he thinks he does well to hide it. “Can the hot chocolate be peppermint flavored? Just to make up for your lack of Christmas spirit?”

@colexwalters

He glanced over at the flowers, taking in their vibrant colors. “Yeah, I can see that,” Cole replied, his voice softening a little. “She knows what she’s doing.” He rubbed the back of his neck, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Sam’s sincerity was something Cole respected, and it made him pause, just for a moment. “Not a Grinch. I’m just not big on all the Christmas hoopla. But, hey, I’ll buy you a hot chocolate if it’ll keep the peace. I’m not above bribery.”

He stepped closer, his eyes catching the glow of the tree lights. They were a little too bright for his taste, but they seemed to make Sam happy. And, for whatever reason, he didn’t mind indulging Sam just this once. Besides, it wasn’t like he had anywhere else to be. "Let's go find one," he added, his tone easygoing. "But I’m not making any promises about getting into the Christmas spirit. You might just get a hot chocolate and a sarcastic remark, but that’s the best I’ve got." @samucl-kane

[heyits-asher]

“I don’t ever have much cash, but I can do good with a favor. Within reason.” Depending on what the favor entails, of course, and from what bits Asher knows, he thinks Cole might come up with something he might have to turn down. Ash hates living to disappoint, though…

He holds the elf up and shrugs, taking this as permission to enter. “The elf, duh. I can plead innocent. That’s what this is. But I might need your help just to move him around the apartment.” He just hopes even if just the one time Uly finds him that he can be mildly entertained. He doubts Uly’s old man ever pulled the Elf on a Shelf out during the holidays.

(Ash won’t really ask, either.)

“I want it to surprise him.”

@colexwalters

Cole raised an eyebrow, leaning casually against the doorframe with his arms crossed. "Depends," he said, his tone dry but amused. "You planning on paying me in cash, favors, or a really good explanation for why you’re sneaking in here like some kind of rogue Santa Claus?"

His eyes flicked to the elf in Asher’s hand, then the bag. "And, uh, not to poke holes in your master plan, but what exactly happens if Uly does find this little setup? You gonna leave a note saying it was the Tooth Fairy?" @heyits-asher

[drakonmother]

Greetings from the Fade

☠{ "Now this is rather peculiar."

Eyeing the young blonde from afar, the witch quickly clamored to confront him. Rarely had she the chance to speak with a resident hailing from the Fade. 

"You there," she called, dismissing frustrated eyes and annoyed whispered as she charged through the crowd of pedestrians, "I see that a spirit has somehow wandered into this infernal place. Be you a demon or otherwise?"

[samucl-kane]

“Thanks.” Sam smiles, even if it’s half-hearted, and scoops a couple of cracked red solo cups into his bag. “Just coming up on six years.” He regards Cole with a warmness at the thought of it, and he does hope there isn’t any bad taste in his mouth for the subtle tension. They’re in different spots, and their paths are very different. Sam can recognize that.

“I’m probably going to call it a day, soon. Don’t feel obligated to stick around, there will be plenty of trash to clean up when tourist season rolls around.” 

@colexwalters

Cole couldn't help but feel slightly envious, but only because the other male had clearly somehow managed to sort his life out. It was something Cole knew he simply was not capable of. Maybe before prison, but things had changed now. What Cole did, wasn't a mistake. He had no regrets.

This was the point where Cole actually got off his ass, beginning to help the other sift for foreign objects in the sand. "That's good," Cole responded sincerely, his eyes meeting his. "I'm glad you've turned it around, it's not easy to do that shit. You've been out for a while then?" @samucl-kane

[finn-brooks]

“No. I’m from the East Coast. Technically, Arkansas, but I grew up on the East Coast in Salem, so I consider myself a tried and true Masshole, I came out here for college.” Photography could’ve been studied anywhere in New York or New Jersey, even Philadelphia, but Finn’s reasoning isn’t something he’d share with Cole. Dumping on him about mommy issues would also make for a poor birthday.

“You should go talk to Cricket or Lorelai, they’re at the apartments. Both very different personalities, but great friends. Darcy is a nervous little thing, so you’d have to meet her with me. She’s skittish, like a rabbit. She has a heart of gold, though…”

Who else, who else… the lightbulb goes off. “My friend Kayla is a lot of fun. There is never a dull moment in conversation, and I’d offer up Lucky, but he’s spoken for.”

@colexwalters

"Oh, so you're not from around here?" Cole was quick to ask out of pure curiosity. He wondered how anyone could want to stick around somewhere so small willingly. But then again, not everyone was like him with commitment issues left right, and center. It must have been nice. "Nah, all I need is a beer." Cole would happily stir up his own trouble if need be - didn't really matter who he was around. Although his idea of trouble these days really didn't go that far anymore, just a few insulting words to the wrong people. "But I'd still like to chat with people, I need more friends." Or more people to annoy. @finn-brooks