mxscn

“ everything causes cancer these days, right? might as well enjoy the time you have without a tumor in your body, and i just so happen to find smoking a good way to relax. golly, mister, please don’t tell my mom on me! if you want the truth, he’d say something condescendingly cryptic, and i’d be too busy praying the lung cancer takes me hard and fast to pay attention. “

‘avoid going to any and all doctors and you can enjoy that time ‘til the cancer surprisingly takes you and romy has to write in your obituary that you died unexpectedly in your sleep. i’d say sorry it’s not the pipe you usually smoke out of, but i think there’s a good reason we run different crowds. condescendingly cryptic and utterly useless-- don’t forget that key qualifier.’

bcllcs

          ‘   i’ve been told white things are good for me to put in my body. i choose to believe that.   ’

‘as long as you find one philosophy and stick to it. consistency is key in this VICIOUS la society, i’m almost proud of you.’

       “ i don’t think you could possibly understand what i mean. in seattle you can walk on through & just smell everything from the old homeless people who drink too much booze, to the drug addicts, the people who sell solemnly sell marijuana — can’t forget the people who just don’t fucking bath at all either. so by the time you get home you’re just fucking DRENCHED in this horrible smell. ”

‘you really sound like you’ve got yourself a PLETHORA of life-ending problems. perhaps try dr. phil? i’ve heard he does wonders.’

ohrcmy

eyes of cocktailed colors narrow just the slightest, but it’s especially evident that a striking shade of green has overwhelmed her hues—- the subtle betrayal to the smirk resting on her lips. ‘ and what am i meant to be jealous of? some poor parisian mess you used for your amusement? don’t embarrass either of us like that. ’ her nose wrinkles, arms folded across her chest expectantly. ‘ i just need a several strong drinks to tolerate this town, and for such a hefty accusation, it’s now on you to make it happen. ’

not once while his heart still beats will atlas ever admit this aloud, but there’s something a little deeper than satisfaction that colors his amusement as he regards the spitfire. ‘you talk like you KNOW you’d hate her. could fly her out for the two of you to meet,’ atlas offers offhandedly with a noncommittal roll of his shoulders. ‘the two of you already share one thing in common, what are the chances you can’t find one more? i’ll buy you a round in celebration of your impending friendship, how’s that sound?’

vanessarodriq

Well either way I end up finishing my ice cream and you get the choice of ending up high and dry or just dry.”

‘i’ll take option c for five hundred.’

‘ it’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta indulge my vices around here. ’ chesnut tousles curtain her peached cheeks as she advances closer for the light, fresh cigarette slotted between full lips. after a slow inhale of nicotine and exhale of plumed smoke, she gauges his silhouetted profile. ‘ if i look beyond your ass, i’m stuck between your jaw and abs, so your name might be a hopeless case. phoebe, ’ she extends a hand, azure hues flickering upwards, ‘—– with no distractions. ’

the mention of the shoot-- one he’d done shortly after finishing up a whirlwind of fashion week in london-- has a breathy scoff of a laugh passing through his lips, and his gaze drifts down the seedy alleyway before returning to the girl. ‘that’s a shame-- and here i thought every girl who accepted lights from strangers preferred personality.’ tucking his own cigarette back between his lips, he returns the handshake in a mockery of formality. a growing smirk darkens his expression as honey eyes pointedly move over her features. ‘that’s subjective, isn’t it?’

anvstcsia

not gonna lie, you lost me at ‘ surgeon ’ ‘cause i didn’t understand a single bit except for the fact that i’m actually about to head inside so i wont have to stand here in the SMOKE-FILLED air of la. what about you though ? what brings you here ??

‘the surgeon general would be exceedingly proud,’ atlas replies with a sly grin. at her question, he takes the cigarette between the knuckles of his pointer and middle fingers, dispelling the smoke in his lungs through pursed lips. ‘take a WILD guess. i’ll even be kind enough to give you three chances.’

                          “ that’s ‘cause i’m not a person, ” she retorts as if it’s an instinctive reply. she doesn’t even have to think about it. “ i’m an ANGEL. ” slender fingers pluck the lighter from his own, free hand dipping into the pocket of her baggy jacket to grab a worn-out pack of cigarettes. she slips one out, placing it between dark painted lips before sparking it up with the lighter the other had provided her. “ it’s a killer. usually i’m on the other side of it, though, ” she mutters the words, tossing his lighter back towards him.

a heady golden gaze watches the lie fall as readily from her lips as her hand dips into her pocket to retrieve a pack of cigarettes, and there’s no need for him to point out her sins. eyes like that say she’s much more than aware. ‘isn’t everyone in la?’ atlas asks, lifting a hand to snap the tossed lighter from the air with a wink. ‘are you? isn’t that a bit dangerous-- the persuader being so easily persuaded? going to get you burned at your own game one of these days.’

duhsilvuh

          “ PLEASE. i could never go to catholic school, so sorry if you had a little sexist fantasy going on. and books don’t really influence me. facts do. and i’m not really talking temperature, more like an amount of bodies. ” she paused, realizing that didn’t make all that much sense. “ well, i’m staying out here. ”

at the sharpness underlying the girl’s tone, atlas slowly raises a single dark brow, regarding her from the corner of his eye. ‘didn’t know making assumptions was a hobby,’ he mumbles offhandedly around the filter, taking a deep, indulgent drag before letting the smoke drift lazily through parted lips. ‘suit yourself, eve. premature death’s much more satisfying in twos, anyway.’

       “ considering that i’ve lived in SEATTLE for a few years - this is fresh air to me. smoke all you want, bud, i got my own shit. although i appreciate the offer. ”

‘nothing sounds more smothering than constant rain and being around people who are either seasonally depressed or moved to the pacific northwest thinking they were going to revolutionize the world,’ atlas agrees with a shrug. ‘the only difference is that california has sun and considerably lower morals.’

‘ oh, i was plenty monstrous before you came along, but i will give you credit for provoking some particularly awful qualities that even i didn’t know about. the night’s still young, though, plenty of discovering to be done. you know me, atlas, always a beacon of warmth. ’ romy’s expression sours just the slightest before it’s quickly masked with a challenging smirk that tucks itself around a sly, ‘ that’s bullshit. ’

‘i always knew you had potential for even more awful things, don’t say i’ve ever doubted you. false optimism looks good on you, but there’s nothing better than the way you used to look at me during our fights. NOTHING looks better than seeing that hatred in your eyes. but then again...’ atlas trails off, regarding the girl with a growing smirk to match the tilt of his head. ‘jealously might give it a run for its money.’

mxscn

“ can’t be doin’ too bad for himself if everyone in the nation listens to him, right? imagine being able to incite full blown panic with a badly worded news release. could use a light, actually. ”

‘not sure if smoking causes cancer is badly worded as much as it’s too truthful that no one can bring themselves to give a shit. you, smoke? no way. what would your brother say?’

phocbe

‘ well, it’s a tough choice now, isn’t it? smog or tobacco? ’ phoebe drags a hand through wild tresses, cheeks pinked from the thrumming club she’d just shoved her way out of. ‘ light, please. name, too, since i only seem to know you from the giant boxer-brief advert downtown—- nice, by the way. ’

‘both very appetizing, i know, choose wisely, now.’ the seedy alleyway is illuminated by nothing more than the passing moonlight and the burning ash hanging from his lips, but it’s enough to observe features that are somehow but soft and sharp at the same time. ‘you want me to give you lung cancer before you even get my name? not sure if i’d consider that wise.’ the zippo is tilted her way, lid already up. ‘atlas. squint past my ass on that billboard and you’ll see it in the fine print. you?’

duhsilvuh

“ i’ve never even HEARD of a surgeon general, which shows how much the american educational system is failing us. ” the girl shrugged, leaning up against the wall behind her. “ you can do what you want with your body, i’m just out here to get some air. it’s too hot inside. ”

‘don’t seem like you’re dropping five packs a day, either, so maybe that health class did you some good,’ he remarks, pausing to give the girl a once over. ‘...then again, you seem like the type to let a few words in some book whip you into shape-- maybe catholic school. this near eighty degree weather must be EXACTLY what you’re looking for.’

                            “ but everyone’s always going on about that, aren’t they ?? ” she cocks a brow, plump lips pressing together momentarily. “ well–i was planning on the latter but now that you mention it, i’ll take a LIGHT too. ”

‘not you,’ atlas comments, brow quirking pointedly as if she’s just sworn in a church. the lighter spins between his fingers as he twists his wrist, offering the item to his company with a knowing twist of his lips. ‘damn peer pressure.’

bcllcs :

                ‘   he should have a chat with my dentist. apparently, if i’m not careful, they will start falling out. he’s acting like i’m doing meth or something.   ’

‘just coke, yeah? nothing TOO reckless.’