"Thanks, gotta use that degree somewhere, right?" Art laughed, tucking his hands into his pockets as she took a picture. "We've gotten really creative and a lot of people in town have pitched in resources and talent... We have a good start, I think." She looked so familiar. It was odd to him. "Tickets are on sale. I'd love to put out something free but it's gotta wait until we're established more, ya know? I've been working on a real theater so it'd be helping pay for that."

“That’s impressive,” Gabi said, setting down the flyer but taking a picture of it on her phone. “I’m surprised you have the resources to do both. But I suppose with determination and creativity it’s not impossible.” She tapped the flyer for the ballet. “I may go see this one. Are the tickets on sale? Or is this a free production?”

Art winced a little then held a finger over his mouth to shush. "I know, it's messy and I don't know what to do about it." He shielded his face some as a couple people walked by them and sighed. This was definitely not the type of press Edgar was going to want for this play. "His name is Christian, I haven't told Edgar yet, and Ciara had to hand me clothes after I was left just butt naked." He let out a breath. "It's been a fucking ride and I wanna get off."

Scarlette watched him pace as she listened, her expression going from curiosity, to confusion, to concern, and finally to indignant outrage. "I'm sorry, he did what?!" she exclaimed, slapping her hand over her mouth when she realised it had come out a little louder than intended. Clearing her throat, she smiled apologetically at the few people who had turned to look in their direction before lowering her voice. "Okay, wait. Who the fuck is this guy? Does your best friend know about it? Does Ciara know about it?"

"I'm a seamstress. Have to show off my skills or I lose business, ya know?" Lilith chuckled, shaking her head. "Otherwise, I might've done the same." She nodded along, a smile still on her face as she nodded to the floor. "Alright, lead the way. I gotta see this."

"I feel like a lot of people went that route; I just dug up something out of my closet." Lance chuckled. "I've never been too cool for anything - in fact, I'm not cool enough for most things. But yeah, having someone else willing to do the funky chicken would definitely make me feel better."

"As do we all. Anyone who says they do not have issues are the ones that need it the most." Dorothy nodded, amused as she smiled back at him. From just the biggest one he named, she could understand the work that could be done. "However, ex fiancé... There's a story here I'd love to dig into." However, she wouldn't dig too deeply yet. "Did you come here in search of them?"

"Only the ones I was hoping to sweet talk into taking me on." He smiled at her. "I am very grateful though, I have a whole... list of issues I know I need to work on, the biggest one is me trying to get over my ex fiancé."

She knew. At least some of it, at the very least. Even if she was joking, it was still something that followed the lighthearted bits like a plague. Beverly set a hand gently on her arm and gave it a little squeeze of reassurance. "You absolutely have and I am so happy for you." She was so happy to see her happier.

"He's very-- different than anyone I normally date. Maybe that's why it's all going well." He'd already seen her a sad drunken mess. That was something. "I'm afraid that something is going to change and go wrong... Is that weird?" It was all she knew. So many times in her relationships did someone appear one way when they were really the exact opposite. "Oh! Um," she coughed, laughing a little from the slight embarrassment. "He's helped with a few of those now. I'm definitely not stopping anytime soon... Might make up a few more, to be honest."

Yvette let out a soft chuckle and shrugged. "Well, after everything I went through, I think I've earned a win," she replied lightheartedly, even as she felt her chest tighten slightly at the reminder. And it was always there, that dull ache that reminded her of everything that she'd lost, but it had gotten a lot easier to live with than it used to be.

She couldn't help the amused grin that spread on her lips when Bev covered her face with her hands. "Hey, welcome to the club," she replied, nudging her friend playfully. "Seriously though, Bev. I'm happy for you. You deserve to be with someone kind and thoughtful." She paused. "I hope you're still gonna keep up with your bucket list. Given the, uhm... Contribution he already made, I'm sure he'd be up for helping more."

"Nah, I think I'll take my chances at night. I think that'll go well," Beverly teased. "You can just come save me somehow, right?" She was honestly still in a daze that he had called her sweetheart again that her brain took a moment to load the second part. "...Did you just say tits out?" She laughed, giving him a shove. "I admire your courage to go tits out at a town ball, Eli. Maybe someday I can follow your lead."

Elijah laughed. "You're free to come see me in my tower, provided it's still daylight of course because I work a lot of nights." He told her. "Well, thank you sweetheart. I wasn't sure about the shirt but I thought fuck it, tits out."

Beverly's nose scrunched up before a laugh fell out of her. "Look at you! See, this is how you get a man that works as a journalist." She shook her head. "They didn't overlap. I worked with cheerleading in high school, chorus in church, and theatre and dance with a little private company... It was better funded than my high school sadly. Otherwise, I probably would've ended up there too." All were funded well by her parents and other parents like hers. It was all very-- pure. But at least her director still liked to push the limits every now and again.

"I mean, do you have to do anything at all to be worthy of attention?" Beverly asked softly. "Maybe just being you is enough to deserve praise. Not a lot of people can just effortlessly do right by others or be themselves. You do that. It may seem like nothing but it may mean everything to someone like Sam." She shrugged. "As much as I push myself away from my beliefs, one thing always remains: the people you're meant to be with will always find you."

"Theater and cheerleading? Now I know you have to be lying," Lonnie teased. "One of those groups are the hot popular people and the other are the nerdy kids who were always way too sexual about everything. They really overlapped in your school?" The concept was shocking, but kind of nice. He hesitated before continuing. "Kind of like I don't deserve it, yeah. I don't know. Sam is great, and there's no way we'd date in the outside world. I mean, we wouldn't have met out there either, so that's a moot point. I guess I've just never really felt like I should be the one getting any kind of... praise? I know I deserve love. Everyone else, so long as they're a good person. But I don't feel like I deserve his attention. I haven't done anything worthy of it."

"Seriously? What'd you parents have you doing?" Winnie asked, raising a brow at the other. "Was it like a military school thing? Cause man, my parents only tried it once and it was a no go from me." Honestly, if she had gone, it might've made her even more dangerous to the public. "Ooh, I like you already. We're friends now. I'm manifesting it into existence." She gave the other girl a smile and offered her hand. "Let's get a drink, you can give me the scoop. Who should I be watching out for around here?"

"Carefully," Jovi laughed again. "I was never a big star gazer, honestly; my whole life was pretty strictly regimented, so I was always tucked into bed before the even had a chance to peak out cuz I was up so early." She'd let her routine slip since being in Huntsville, but she was still a pretty early riser. "Oh please!" She exclaimed, shaking her head. "Next to each other, we're a threat. Anyone brave enough to approach us while we're in this proximity? We should give them an award."

"Better. I really will sweep you off you feet if I have to," Donovan threatened with a smile. "Less of a vacation more of a what's my purpose now... I just kinda lost all sense of who I was when I got out of the Navy. Guess my purpose was whatever this place is." At least for now. He gave her a little bit of a knowing smile and laughed. "You said it not me... Can't wait to see this guy. He must be one hell of a person to have you care this much. Where'd you guys meet?"

“I hope so too,” Steph smiled a bit and nodded. “Damn, yeah me either. I just got here a couple weeks ago and I’m already exhausted. Sorry to hear your vacation got cut short though, that’s shit luck. I uh…heard through coworkers that my ex had gone missing around here. I knew he wasn’t in a good place so I came to try and find him and make sure he was ok,” she sighed. “Not coming off very smart, am I?” she joked.

"Disrepectful? You see me as disrespectful?" Dorian asked, smirking. "Lola, I'm flattered. Thank you." Though, his eyes were much more focused on her face now that the initial shock wore off. It was strange that her face seemed a lot more appealing to him now, but he tried not to think about that. "Ah, but you're thinking it," he said, and moved in a little closer. "You think I look nice and I'm never letting that go ever." Stepping back away, he put his hands in his pockets. "You gonna let me dance with you or should we fight all night? I'd love both, trust me, but ladies choice or whatever, right?"

lola couldn't help but roll her eyes at dorian but she still held a smile on her face. she expected the stares and really it gave her confidence. "at least the eyes match the attitude." she teased. her smile was more soft at the tease because after their conversation she knew why he acted that way, it wasn't going to stop her from still messing with him though. hearing him call her beautiful though? that threw her off, making her cheeks warm as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "thank you, i'd say you look nice but i'm afraid it'll give you an ego." that one.. she wasn't sure why she said that but she was thrown off for a moment.

Benjamin couldn't help but give him a look and then laughed. "Damn, all those matches and one little bump hurt. I'm flattered." He raised a brow, standing still as the other as him to wait. Honestly, he should've known by the time a flower was sticking up right in the middle of the top of his head. "Should call you my fairy godmother at this point. Thanks baby," he said with a wink and continued walking. "I'm not moving it now! It's staying right where it's at and that's your fault if I look stupid now."

"ouch man." malcolm joked and rubbed his arm to sell the affect that the 'bump' hurt. he fully looked his best friend over, landing on the flower crown before grinning and holding up a finger basically telling him to wait right there and disappeared. when he came back he held up a flower he found in a bush and stuck it right on the top of bens hair sticking up. "there, now you're avant garde whatever it's called, completes the look." malcolm couldn't help it now and finally started laughing.

“N-No, I don’t blame you for wanting to protect it with your life… Honestly, when my sister died and the reality sunk in— I really thought I would just be alone forever... Or that I should be." It was all so different now. The person she was before her little sister died... It was like she died with her. Lilith found her eyes and nodded. She understood everything that she was saying. How Quinn had helped her— it was just all so similar. A small smile began on her lips as Jane took her hand. "I think we could be too..." She said, squeezing her hand. "I'd like that."

"I was scared, but only at first. I always knew that Quinn would be safe out there... She's Quinn... But I didn't know if I deserved it like she did." She swallowed, considering the memory for a moment with a brighter smile. "But then the sun fully set and the stars were so bright and beautiful... The monsters they— they didn't even see me. It was like I was barely even there."

"A lot of us don't have family or had our families taken from us in many ways so the one that Quinn and Raziel are building is precious. I hope you understand I'd protect it with my life. Quinn has helped me remember what it's like to see wonder in the world and to feel truly human rather than a caged animal. I'll take care of you too. We could be quite close, the three of us." Jane reached out and took Lilith's hand.

"How did it feel when you stepped outside and let the sun set? I remember how it was for me."

"He just showed up? In your classroom?" The audacity. Then again, he had just appeared in front of the school himself... But at least he hadn't known that Edgar was even in town when they saw each other again. “Eds, this— This isn’t your problem to solve. I can handle this. I’m a big boy… He’s just an asshole.” And he was just— Art. It was fine. All of it had to be.

A small breath of laughter came from his nose. “Creatures from Hell…” He shook his head. “You were my first love too. Actually, I really wasn’t sure what I loved before that point. Straight camp really had the opposite effect, huh?”

The frown returned back on his face as Art ran a hand over his face. “What can I do about it, ya know?" It bothered him deeply. He just felt too embarrassed to do anything about it. Especially now that Edgar knew. "Should be good gossip for the play, huh?"

He only held on tighter as Art berated himself again. "I'm glad you told me Archie, really. He'd...already confronted me at work the other day. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but now I know that was all a lie and he hasn't changed at all."

Edgar's brow furrowed at the the other's question. "Why wouldn't I? You were the first person I could be myself around after my parents. And first kisses are a pretty big deal, even if they were next to those Nightmare Creatures from Hell." Horses. He meant horses.

The frown increased on his lips as Art tried to assure him he was fine. "You bloody well aren't. I can tell this really bothers you Archie and what he did is unforgivable."

"I know. I don't blame you." When they were sat, Noah glanced over with a sad smile then pulled the pig out of his bag, passing it over to James. "In hindsight, I feel really stupid." Looking at the little pig now, it was plenty obvious what exactly it was made out of.

"I'll let you collect 'em. Just bring them by my place when you have them all and I'll see what I can do." Maybe all the tinkering he'd done over the years was finally going to be worth something. "I know you wouldn't... Glad you're still willing when you thought I was a son of a bitch two seconds ago."

He let out a long exhale as he patted the hand on his arm. "I'll eventually be able to laugh 'bout all this. Just. Too fresh." As they sat James had to bite back a groan. Not having a cane for so long was really starting to take its toll.

James gave Noah a small smile. "Eh, worth a try. At this point I don' think it matters if it gets more fucked." He ran a hand along his face, needing a moment to compose himself. "After I find all these fuckin' pigs, I planned on talkin' to Clara. Just...wanted you to know I haven' forgotten."

Noah smiled, raising a brow. "Yeah, course I do. You look good." He finished his drink then, turning it upside down on the bartop while the other spoke further. "Maybe. I don't know. I just don't see scars like that. All just part of your story. Bodies are meant to be made of stories. You made yours interesting." It could be that Noah was too trusting. He saw the best in people and even as many times as he'd been betrayed, he found no reason not to continue to see the best in people. Maybe in some way-- that made him crazy. "Born ready." And again, another laugh just fell right off his lips. "Let's see how much how much these admirers of yours can take before I'm through with you, huh?" And with that, he offered his hand again then began to lead them out to the floor.

”You do?” His smile twitched again, and he felt a warmth come to his cheeks, a warmth that didn’t feel brought on by the alcohol. He shrugged, “I dunno. I find all this-“ he motioned to his face and the left side of his body, despite it being covered by his shirt, “-tends to scare people. Intimidate them. Or turn them off. Not great.” Jae-Sung never cared about them, but he was also the person sending him on the missions that resulted in the damage. Mercy hadn’t cared much either the one time they had hooked up. Maybe it was just the crazies that didn’t care for ‘battle wounds’ as Noah called them. Maybe he was crazy too? Noah Kaspbrak. Lynx offered another charming smile as their hands shook. “I’m ready if you are,” he nodded confidently, “as long as you’ve had enough of a breather, and topped up on enough liquor, I’m all yours.”

"They're still not stupid and I would've cared then. I was just fucking oblivious." She was younger than him, more vulnerable, and even if he was much more fiery now, he still wouldn't have let anything wrong go on. "I know and that's fine..." They didn't need to be close. It was probably best that if things did get better they remained acquaintances. He didn't want certain things just said aloud. Even by accident. "Josie is my friend, but you're my girlfriend. You're at the top of my list. Always."

Oh, it was getting worse. Not just a simple I love you anymore, there were more feelings there. Genuine, deep, feelings... He knew he had to say something back. He had to actually speak. Say words. Every single word she was saying meant so much to him-- so why was it so hard to just move his stupid mouth? "I--" All he could think of was Abby's face. Then Josie's. Even his family-- Naomi-- "I-- um…" If he said what he now knew this feeling was then she could leave just like them. She may not even know why... Maybe it was just a curse he was stuck in. Maybe that’s why his sister could be dead. Maybe that’s why awful things had happened to her. Oh God, she really could be dead. What if Amber died too? What if it was his fault? The pressure was building, and tunnel vision started to settle in as his thoughts spiraled. Noah’s fingers started to tingle and go numb. "I think... I think I need some fresh air? I might--" Dizziness started to overwhelm him as he reached out to hold the wall and try to smile... However, that was when the black of his tunnel vision suddenly closed in, and down he went, falling right down to the floor. Out cold.

"Noah you were graduating, I shouldn't expect you to worry about a freshmen and my stupid problems" She shook her head and just listened to him. Had a good head on his shoulders she was beginning to learn. "I just do my best to stay clear of her..." She was certain based on what Jessie had told her was that Josie might apologize to her. There was nothing she could say to make things right between them. They could have been so close and helped each other graduate but Josie made it a competition.

"Noah, I'm in love with you and I have been since I could remember...." She said now just looking at him. "y-you don't have to say it back, I just want you to know..." She squeezed his hand. "I'm not going anywhere. Whatever Dreams you have I want to be apart of them....there's very little you can do to scare me off...."

NATIONAL CLERGY APPRECIATION DAY - October 8, 2023 Favorite Paul "priesting" moments from every episode of Midnight Mass