the british female was taken aback by the question. "i beg your pardon...." she trailed off with an eyebrow raised. "i'm not a damsel in distress. but if that's your way of using a pick-up line then it needs some work buddy." she didn't understand some people in the slightest, especially the male counterparts of the world. perhaps with the way she looked, people took it as theodora didn't have any strength to her. contrary to belief she did and maybe that's why comments such as the one she just received threw her for a loop. she commented with a half smile, "if i could have wagon full of books like matilda i would."

Leo had been in the store for a while, getting lost among the aisles, trying to find something new that would captivate his attention for a day or two. Admittedly, he was starting to get the travel bug again, the desire to get out and explore, to do something more with his life —- not that what he did with the cafe was a bad thing or unrewarding in the slightest. He couldn't help but feel there was a little more out there for him, though, a feeling that came over him and every now and again, ever since his years spent in South Africa. So, for now, he was trying to find an escape ( or an answer ) in the pages of a book. When he felt someone's hand on his shoulder, however, and then their voice, he turned his head quickly, an amused smile crossing his features. "Are you okay with all of those?"

theodora: i guess i'm a different person perhaps. i don't try to judge and if i do, it's usually not so harshly. you don't know how someone is feeling when things happen. pizza seems to be a big debate at times.

theodora: it seems so stressful. then again being a marketing manager isn't that easy depending on the day.

jay: you say that, but it's happened before. too many times to count. nothing to do with pizza though. jay: more than you would ever realize.

"no worries," she stated with a smile. "i just didn't want you to back up and find me in your way." that was thing that theodora disliked about crowded areas — people not being aware of their surroundings and possibly causing injury to someone. "i found a couple of things. i'm unsure of one title but new author and genre for me. how about you? did you find anything good?" not that she expected to bond over books and instantly became best friends with the girl but you did wind up getting recommendations at times; something she loved when conversing with people in a bookstore.

Alejandra often frequented book stores even though she worked in a library. She loved the concept of borrowing books but there were some books that she'd just like to own a copy. She was in the aisle, putting a book into her basket when someone placed their hand on her shoulder. She turned to look at her when she spoke up. "Oh, sorry," she said, moving out of the way. She noticed the small stack of books in her hands and asked, "Find anything good?"

she had been on her first drink still, nursing it not to get too carried away and now she was getting another one based on the gentleman next to her. the urge to reject the offer was rooted deep down inside of her ready to burst from her lips. alas theodora said the opposite. "another boulevardier, please." whenever she had this particular drink she felt fancy in a sense for how ridiculous as that may have sounded. the bourbon based drink was less bitter tasting than the sibling drink of the negroni and that was something she appreciated.

Open @bhqextras

Where: The Corner Pub

TW: Alcohol, drinking

Pauly had a long day at the shop, but a couple days off to recuperate, and so he found himself at The Corner Pub. He wasn't one to shy away from a bar, now that he had enough money in his pocket to afford a few drinks, so he kept the gimlets coming until he was nice and fuzzy.

"Alright, alright, Nancy," he laughed softly, leaning across the bar some to look at the bartender with a grin. "Two more-- one for me, and one for my friend here." Everyone was a friend when there was enough drinks, right?

"no i'm a fragment of your imagination," she said with a laugh before continuing on a smile apparent on her face. "of course it's me silly!" theodora hadn't seen her brother in quite sometime and while she wasn't shocked this was where she ran into him due to his equal love for books; she also hadn't been prepared for it either. after austin moved out of london with good reason, she had been living without her partner in crime. it got lonely despite each having phones that they could regularly send messages to. it also complicated things in a way that she was never wanting to deal with when it came to others in their family. "i didn't expect to run into you so soon into my journey of living here."

——- Pretty much all his life since he could read, austin was lost in books. all kinds but always found himself most drawn to a good romance novel. probably due to that part of him that craved what he lost with his ex boyfriend back in london. only his sister knew of most of his struggles before his exile, so in new york, he left like a stranger, making a new name for himself after losing the british royal crown a few years ago. having a bit of time today, this was exactly where he wanted to be. looking at books, finding something he could enjoy and getting lost in that over music or any possible prep for his radio show. that was til a familiar voice hit his ears and he turned on his heel, over moving when asked and his blueish green eyes widened at the sight. ❝  oh my god, please tell me it's really you, sis and my eyes are playing tricks on me. ❞  he gently placed his hands on her shoulders, looking over her face.

theodora: some people like pineapple on their pizza, for whatever hellish reason. i would never call you a heathen unless i had a real reason to.

theodora: based on the medical drama shows i've watched i know that they don't depict that scene correctly at all. i'm sure you want to run away some days.

jay: there's no pineapple. what kind of heathen do you take me for? it's meat feast. jay: er nurse. they'd have me living there if they could.

"i don't really skate either though it looks to be a lot of fun. we might get bruised up along the way from falling but we'll have something to laugh about." she said as if falling on their asses made the prospect of skating any better. hold her hand, hold the siding until they got into rhythm with being upright on something that you moved on using your legs. "i'll hold you hand until you tell me to let go or if we completely hate this experience, we can go get a bite to eat somewhere."

Roller City | Open @bhqextras

"No, no. I don't really skate," she said when she was tugged over to the counter to pick up skates. Karmen had only really come here for the ambiance of it all. Plus she loved the idea of skating but never actually learned how to skate. When her friend asked her her size in shoes, she gave it to them anyway and took her pair of skates when they were offered. "You're going to have to hold my hand the entire time we're out there."

open starter @bhqextras

where: cover to cover

books new or used were something that theodora loved. she loved the way the pages felt between her fingertips, the way the pages smelt — the way it was her travel companion whenever she had to wait somewhere. on this day the young woman found herself at cover to cover browsing the many books on offer hoping to find the particular book she had been on the hunt for. it was an older one so she was skeptical of finding it but her pale blue eyes had already found other titles that looked interesting already in her arms for purchase. someone else had been in the aisle she was in and theodora had needed to get past. she gently placed her hand on the person's shoulder to signify that she was there saying softly, "'scuse me. i'm just going to sneak past you here."

theodora: what toppings? and don't dare say something like pineapple — i don't know how people can eat pineapple on pizza.

theodora: oh. well then that's quite understandable. what do you for work?

jay: today it is. jay: apparently, but not so much when they've worked a double shift.

getting up and singing karaoke wasn't on the cards for theodora's evening; as she had wanted to sit back and watch everyone else sing instead. mainly because her singing voice wasn't the most pleasant sound to listen to. the british female sighed in defeat, downing the rest of the drink that had been in front of her before saying, "can we do one where we have to rap?" if she was going to make a fool of herself she wanted to do it where the tempo was fast.

Songbirds and Sangrias | Open @bhqextras

"Oh, come on," she said as she stood up from the table. "We've got to sing karaoke. We're at a karaoke bar. It's the whole point of coming." Abigail moved from the table over to the sign up sheet and said to her friend, "I'm signing us up. What song do you want to sing?"

theodora had been overwhelmed with choice, the muttering under her breath that wasn't as quiet as she thought in public was evident. a soft chuckled escaped her lips before a smile graced her face as she looked towards the other. "well," she started her british accent apparent unsure of how much she wanted to admit to getting overwhelmed with food and drink options. "everything looks so appealing and if it was up to me i'd order them all. alas with self restraint and all that i won't. i will fully take your suggestion before i hold up the line when it's my turn to order."

open starter. @bhqextras where: higher grounds.

"you should go for the salty caramel oat latte, you won't regret it." maddie shot after a few seconds of staring at the indecisive customer next to her. "sorry." she offered a smile. "you've been staring at the menu for like five minutes."

theodora: how does one order too much pizza? that's a thing?

theodora: don't all of the cool and hip people go out?

for: @bhqextras

jay: i ordered way too much pizza 🍕🍕🍕 jay: also, i'm lonely! jay: is that enough to get you 'round here?

[ sophie turner, ciswoman, she/her ] — whoa! THEODORA FOX just stole my cab! not cool, but maybe they needed it more. they have lived in the city for SIX MONTHS, working as a/an MARKETING MANAGER. that can’t be easy, especially at only 26 YEARS OLD. some people say they can be a little bit STANDOFFISH and VAIN, but i know them to be ENCOURAGING and QUICK THINKING. whatever. i guess i’ll catch the next cab. hope they like the ride back to BROOKLYN! — (h, 25+, pst, she/her, none)