closed starter for: @tianaleiwilder location: at the dive bar on the 9th
Leo’s legs were stretched before him on the bar stool beside him. Shins dangling off of the cushions though he made no effort to take up more real estate. The dive bar wasn’t too busy on this late weekday night. He liked it this way. It was kind of like having the place to himself. the hum of conversation, throwback music, and the sounds of a game of pool were completely comforting to Leo. He had his usual in front of him. A whiskey sour, so chilled that the glass was sweating.
He ignored it for the time being for his phone in his hands, which rested on his lap. He bit his lip, wondering what he should say as he looked at the text messages between him and Ana. He had been the last one to say something which was evident by the multiple blue bubbles. But she hadn’t said a thing to him for three hours. His leg started to shake as he tried to figure out a way to say something but not seem so eager as he had felt. He had to play it cool but he was feeling the opposite as he looked at the time stamp of her last message. But then the grey dots popped up on the left side of the screen and Leo could feel himself shift to being excited. He quickly grabbed his drink and took a sip with his eyes still on the phone.
xav: because youre an idiot
xav: but youre my fav idiot
xav: id be surprised if she didnt leave you
xav: but if you DO love your wife, no
xav: you dont deserve her, but thats not my place
xav: my ex husband just texted me a sext that was supposed to go to rylan fucking pratt
leo: I'm sure she'll leave me too
leo: I just can't tell her, not yet
leo: wait, Nate knows how to sext?
leo: he doesn't look like the type
i be like “idc” and then stare at the wall for hours with alternative sad music playing in the background thinking about how i ruin every good thing that comes my way
Nate: no! I promise, no!
Nate: just wanted to say that you're a fantastic teacher!
Nate: and I'm fine just
Nate: okay this is awkward
Nate: sorry!
Leo: Haha, I'm just kidding. Will me using one of these make you relax? 😎
Leo: I appreciate that. I know my teachings are practice based rather than theory or discussion.
Leo: But you went with it, and I'll continue to teach you still regardless if you could pay or not.
Leo: You have IT, kid. You're everything their looking for, you just have to stay focused.
nate-jones:
In a way, Nate expected to be punched, shoved, or have soemthing else done to him. It was New York, where people were always on a high alert, and being defensive was no surprise. After all, this was on him; he was a complete stranger following someone home, it was almost as if he was begging for something to happen. To his surprise, however, the man actually seemed worried, and at his request, he nodded along, taking a deep breath- and a step back, to give the other the privacy he had been depraved of.
“Oh yeah. I probably should have called you, right?” Funnily enough, the idea of calling the man never even came to Nate’s mind. It would have been so much smarter to do that, but then again, would he have gotten anything out of it? Would he had just ended the call once he had heard that Nate had no money to pay for the classes? “Sorry about that. I just assumed it’s easier this way, you know? But now that I really think about it, this is creepy. I mean, I kind of wanted to approach you after class, rather than follow you, but-” But he was ranting once more, and, smiling sheepishly, Nate shut up, instead taking another deep breath as he held onto his backpack.
“I’m sorry.” He repeated once more, knowing that he had to start all over again, and, most likely, be really, really quick about it. How long could he keep the man waiting like that before the other lost his patience? Not that Nate expected it from him, but he simply understood; he understood how frustrating it must have been to have a complete stranger follow you like that. “I know you’re an absolutely fantastic acting coach, and I’ve been trying to branch myself out. I’m a dancer- I’m a ballet dancer at NYCB- and I know how limited that sounds, but I’ve done a lot when it comes to different styles of dancing, and just choreography in general. I also know how to fight. But I really, really want to learn how to act, or even get some tips on how to do it, how to start.” By no means was he anywhere close to being good at that. And right now, he was struggling to even attempt to sell himself. “The thing is, I only have enough money for what’s probably one lesson, at best. But I’m willing to do whatever you need- if you need anything!“ He probably had plenty of contacts everywhere, but it didn’t hurt to try. Probably.
-
“Yeah you should have called me,” leo couldn’t help but repeat the kid’s words like he was making a joke. it would have saved leo the surprise. he hated surprises unless he was the one to cause them. he listened to the kid’s explanation and apology once more. though leo waved off the apology, he wanted him to get to the point. leo’s eyes squinted and his brows moved up and down as he took the guy’s verbal resume that was tumbling onto to leo’s ears. he blinked when the boy was finished and lips pursed wondering how he could even respond to all of that.
“A ballet dancer?” Leo sized him up, not hiding it in his eyes that he was surprised. “Look, kid, charity work is probably good and all, but I don’t have time for it.” He said, a reflex reaction to being asked to do something for free. Though Leo had been on the other side many of times. He still wasn’t completely sure if he should help the boy out. Leo continued to look at him, still evaluating everything he had learned from other’s ranting. But if he had the dedication to be a ballet dancer in New York and be able to make it into the NYCB... Leo could practically taste the potential. and passion was easy to see in the kid’s kind eyes. Plus having someone owing you a favor in the city was always a good thing to possess.
“Tell you what, kid, you pay for the first lesson, and I’ll decide if you even have the chops to continue trying to act. If you do, then I’m sure we could figure out something out.” He said and with an open palm patted the kid on the back once. “Just do not ever follow me, again.” He glared down his nose as a warning, but in the same instance took out his wallet. Leo plucked a business card from one of the slits and offered it to the boy. “These are my contacts, use them.” He said, amused with himself. “Now do you have a name, sport?”
leo: pour one out for me, buddy, cause I'm so dead