What Is Your Biggest Fear, And What Would You Do If It Came True?

nate-jones​:

Whenever Nate was set on something, he was stuck until he would do it. And with his contract soon ending- just after the Sleeping Beauty run- he knew he had to find alternatives. He loved ballet, but Kal was right, even if his words had been said with absolute anger. What was he doing with his life? He had danced for years, it was only a matter of time before his body would start catching up with everything he was doing, and he needed alternatives. Either way, he wanted to improve. No matter what happened, he wanted to be the best at what he did, even if he knew he was very, very far away from it. But he could try, and he might as well start with extra lessons.

He had researched Leo Davis before making his way to NYU, hoping to find him somewhere. His success rate was amazing, he seemed absolutely perfect at what he did, and that was what Nate needed. Maybe, in some way, someone’s brilliance would rub off on him, making him at least a little bit better. However, there was one problem; he couldn’t afford the lessons. So, finishing up work, he made his way to the campus, counting on miraculously finding the class. And for once, luck was on his side; just as he was approaching one of the buildings, the man walked out, the sudden appearance throwing the dancer off his feet. He hadn’t even rehearsed the speech he was planning to give, and here the teacher was, so close!

Nate was standing there for a little too long, and by the time he snapped out of it, the man was already on his way somewhere else. That was perfect! He could try and follow him, catch up to him and stop him so they could have a conversation. That was totally normal, right? It seemed normal to Nate, especially in a city like this. So he walked, practicing the speech inside his head, murmuring the words every once in a while as he walked a good few meters away from the man, both trying to catch up to him and to make sure that he wouldn’t screw it up when he did.

All came crashing down when he realized the man was now standing still, so close to him, and Nate suddenly came to a complete stop, surprise overflowing him.

“Oh, hi! Sorry! I promise I wasn’t stalking you or doing anything shady, which probably sounds extremely shady right now, but still! I just- I know you’re a fantastic acting coach, and I was hoping I could somehow persuade you to teach me.” He always ranted when he was nervous, and yet, a small smile appeared on Nate’s face. “Sorry about that.”

-

People on the outside were constantly telling him what a success he was. Yet his mind always finished off their praises with the tag line: for an acting coach. He had the highest callback and booking rate, currently, in the university circle. He should have proud about that. All the dumb comments and directions he was giving to his students were working out for them. Casting directors were eating up the specific changes he was making to his students’ auditions. He should be so, so proud. But he wasn’t. Their successes added perfect fuel to the fire of his own failure. It proved to him that he was always meant to a teacher to the Prima Donna, and never the actual star himself. 

“Good for you.” Leo replied, a knee jerk reaction to being told by student that they got a call back. He was, however, glad that the student waited till class was over to tell him. But this also gave him the itch to walk home as soon as possible. “You know where to find me if you want more help. Now if you’ll excuse me, my wife’s waiting.” He huffed, slinging his messenger style bag over his shoulder and turning to leave the room. He flounced through the courtyard, not paying mind to anyone around him, as jealousy began to blind him. His jaw was flexing beneath his beard and his nostrils began to flare as he could feel the poignant flare of rage begin to rise within him. His hands were tightening around the brown leather and he continued his trek. 

With his emotions on high alert, he began to have a sense of paranoia. Was someone following him? He was not in the mood for whatever New York weirdness that was falling into his lap. Especially not in this mood. Not when he felt like he needed a drink or a punching bag. But if he turned around, he could possibly have the latter. Leo immediately stopped walking, and turned to meet whoever was matching his step pattern behind him. His eyes were dark as he met brown eyes kinder than his own will ever be. This took him back. His own surprise was being mirrored by the other’s face. Leo’s forehead pushed together as tried to hear the man through his own shock. “W-wha-what? Wait, kid, slow down.” Leo’s hand waved in the space between them, as he blinked to process all that he had said. 

“Well, you were right to start off with flattery.” He quipped, feeling his previous anger begin to be taken over by intrigue. The tension in his body language was visibly leaving. “You could have just called instead of following me.” He couldn’t help but scold the kid a little about that. “Now why do you believe I need some persuading to teach you...?” He questioned, because that really caught his attention. 

If you could hook-up with anyone, with no strings attached, who would it be?

"Oh, there's always going to be strings..."

Definitely Leo.

@le0davis

SCOOBY-DOO (2002) dir. Raja Gosnell

A Cinderella Story (2004) dir. Mark Rosman

closed starter: @averydawson​ where: the dive bar on the 9th

Leo was perched on a stool with his forearms relaxed upon the countertop. He looked at peace as he scanned the many bottles of liquor displayed on the high shelves behind the bar. It was impossible to look at him and know that he had woken up in a full sweat that morning. He had looked just as fresh and attractive as always, but on the inside, his stomach was twisting and churning. His mind kept reliving flashes of a nightmare that he prayed would never be his reality. The pang of seeing how hurt his wife’s eyes had looked in the dream, had made him point up high to a caramel colored tequila. “The añejo on the top left, chilled, please.” He said to the bartender who always paid him to mind here at the dive bar on the 9th. He took a breath and swiveled in the stool to get himself to relax as he waited for his drink. As he did so, he caught sight of a familiar face that was twisted up just enough to say, “Actually, you better make that two.” He said loudly for the bartender to hear as he kept his gaze on Avery. “What happened to you?” He questioned when she was close enough now to hear him.

I am not violent. I am not malicious. I am a result.

Death, The Book Thief (via literatureandfilms)

astral-silk​:

closed starter to @le0davis​ location: dive bar on 9th

There was a certain tension to the expression she held as she practically stormed into the bar, as if she might turn into torrential downpour at the slightest twitch out of deadpan. Sometimes life just felt so frustrating and impossible. Like she was constantly swimming upstream and wasn’t going anywhere. Some days it was easier to handle, to stay focused and keep that dream alive she’d held since she was a child. Other days it felt like this—chaos in her head. Like she wanted to scream in the streets; ask all of New York why she just wasn’t good enough. 

It’d started from the moment she’d woken up. Late to class because she was late to wake up and had to commute from the Bronx into Manhattan because she was too poor to live down by NYU. The perpetual underlining of every experience; an emphasis she could never escape. It made every bad day even worse. And then to top it off, by the time classes were over and she’d rushed to get to NASA, a taxi driver had splattered dirty snow water all over her. That not only earned her some extremely judgmental looks from all the astrophysicists, but also had her pulled into a meeting with her boss. The boss that she’d been sleeping with to even have her internship spot—not that it was that big of a deal outside of the quid pro quo. She was actually attracted to them, all things considered. But the least they could do was understand she hadn’t intended to show up covered in mud—she just didn’t have time to go home and change. After twenty minutes of being spoken down to, the rest of her shift continued in similar fashion. It was like she just couldn’t get it right. Nothing she did, all day long. The last straw was being yelled at by one of her coworkers for interrupting him, to give him the seltzer water he’d asked for. 

That’s what landed her here, cheeks flushed with anger but unable to express any of it. She was negative in her cashapp—how the hell did that even happen? But at least she had some quarters in her wallet. “What can I get you?” the bartender asked. “A shot,” she responded, painfully obvious she wasn’t much of a drinker. She really wasn’t supposed to drink—the doctors said it was bad to drink on steroids and her nephritis wouldn’t take kindly to it. She didn’t care. She was frustrated. “Um…” she paused. “Vod…ka?” it came out like a question, like she was unsure of herself that vodka was even a spirit. And then slid her handful of quarters the bartender’s way. “Will this be enough?” She couldn’t even feel the embarrassment of it anymore with how exhausted she was from the day.

-

Leo’s index finger and thumb appiled pressure to his throbbing temple. today was one of those days where he couldn’t escape from his wife’s attempt to communicate with him. though he couldn’t blame his wife for the silly game of twenty-one questions about his feelings. no, that blame belonged to his therapist. he rubbed his eyes now, with elbows propped on the bar. why on earth was it so important to know what he was thinking about? he’ll never understand nor did he want to. he felt like he was exisiting and trying his best. how was that not enough? he let out a groan and pulled his hands away from his face to find the bartender freshening up his drink.

after some proper nursing of whiskey on the rocks, leo was feeling a lot better. he was buzzed. completely radiating with false energy that was just his heart stressing under the poison of his vice. leo offen people watched when he was this phase. his spotlight now shone on the tall, raven haired woman who sat adjacent to him. he watched her in silence, pinching his cold glass in his dominant hand. he took a drink just as the bartender had spoken to her. he almost laughed; his mouth curving around the glass as he sipped his drink. it was the most amusing order he’s heard since someone ordering a slippery nipple. 

Leo couldn’t help but insert himself, eyeing the mix of dirty and shiny quarters in her palm. He let out a low whistle. “Looks like we know where all the missing coins went.” He said, referencing the national coin shortage. Him making a joke, really kept him from sympathizing with her at first. He had been there once before. He couldn’t even afford a bagel with a proper smear when his career was going down the drain. “That’s not enough if you want to numb up whatever you’re feeling.” His tone still coated in smugness. His brown eyes read her face some more as he leaned back in his seat. His gaze shifted to the bartender. “I’ll cover the rest. Give her a triple and a water.” The bartender looked over at her for confirmation, as the amount of quarters she had presented them was barely enough for one shot. 

tianaleiwilder​:

ANA HADN’T PLANNED TO LET HER CATFISHING SCHEME GO THIS LONG, IN FACT, SHE HADN’T PLANNED TO EVEN TALK TO THIS GUY FOR MORE THAN A COUPLE OF DAYS. But yet here she was, six months later and she was starting to fall. In love wasn’t really in her vocabulary, especially for this relationship - it was messy; Ana knew he was married - but yet she couldn’t help it. Her mind often raced thinking of him, and the conversations the two had was usually more conversation than Ana had on any given day. She knew it was the most meaningful anyways; talking to Leo had become part of her routine, and honestly also the best part of her day. 

Today had been a bit of a slower one. While she’d spent the majority of her day at work, there was no way she was going to tell Leo that. Not when her life was so uneventful, at least in her eyes. Most nights were spent either at the bar, a club, or watching Netflix and eating tubs of ice cream - murder mysteries were her favorite - and sometimes she would simply relax in a bathtub and listen to the playlist that was on constant playlist. The very one she was listening to now; the very one she created with Leo in mind. 

With her phone in her hand, earbuds blasting music even though she lived alone, she lifted her phone, allowing herself to pull up the message to Leo, a sure start to a good night. Dearest Leonardo, she sent, the message making her laugh as she pressed send, immediately typing another message. I’ll send you five kisses if you guess what song I’m listening to right now.

-

Leo set his drink back down once he saw and heard her message having sent. He sat up straighter taking in her words. He had waited impatiently for her today. Leo smiled seeing his full first name spelled out. He heard her voice saying it in such a teasing manner. He bit his lip as he looked off the screen to think of what song they had in common. His eyes moved around the bar, the empty space around him was evident but in his mind he was with her. Everywhere by Michelle Branch, he sent back, and watched to see if he was right. Because god, what he would do for five actual kisses from this woman that completely captivated him with words alone. Well, her photos did help, but it was mostly her mind he was attracted to. Did I get it right? He double texted, making sure he’d keep her attention now that he had it. The song began to play in the back of his mind, and the lyrics resonated with him like the first time it was brought up. 

New Girl (2011-2018)

renfarber​:

She hadn’t realized how nervous she’d been until she saw him smile. This apartment was her, all over, just the essence of who she was splashed all over the walls. It was her, and it was Max, and so it mattered to Ren if Leo liked it. If he liked them. She didn’t know how to feel about that mattering to her, so… she just pushed it down with all the other feelings she had right now. They could come back out after some whiskey untangled them.

She dragged a chair over to the counter so she could reach the top shelf of the cabinet. She wasn’t entirely sure why she kept the liquor up here - it wasn’t as though Max could get into it at seven months old - but it was always good to make things like that hard to reach. For emergencies only. And this definitely counted. On her way down, Leo handed her one of Max’s toys, and she smirked. “Thank you.”

“Max is with my mom,” she said, getting ice out of the freezer. “I should text her, actually. She should probably keep him overnight.” Her eyes flicked up to him, knowing how he’d take that. She held up a finger. “Because we’re drinking. And we need to talk without a crying baby. You stay two feet away from me,” she smirked. She shouldn’t be joking about this, not when he had a wife, not when he had a baby with her best friend… it just… came so easily. 

She poured two drinks and passed one over, sitting at the table and sending a quick text to her mom. Seconds later, her phone beeped, and she rolled her eyes, texting again and then turning off her phone. 

“Mom says hi,” she smirked. Gloria had always loved Leo. Even now, after Ren had cried on her shoulder about the mess they were in. It was disloyal, honestly. But Ren supposed it was only fair, since she didn’t hate Leo either. She sighed, pulling her braids over one shoulder, and looking at Leo. “So… how’d you meet your wife?”

-

Leo’s brows immediately quirked up at Ren’s words, taking them just as suggestively as she assumed he would. He couldn’t help but break into a small laughter at the finger she had held up. He held his hands up and sat at the table at the furthest one from where she was currently. “Two feet it is.” He agreed though he did find it funny how she needed the physical distance from him. Like he had a pull. Though he felt the same way about her lips. 

He watched as she poured the drinks. His eyes admiring the caramel hue a bit too closely. It had been a minute since he was able to indulge. It was getting a lot harder to sneak away. His hand couldn’t help but tap on the counter till the drink was passed over to him. From there he had taken a well measured first sip while she was distracted with her phone.

“Tell Gloria, I said hey,” he smiled that shit eating grin that was just a permanent reaction to when his ego was stroked. Though that grin had immediately left his lips at the mention of his wife. His forehead wrinkled as he pulled his brows together, he laughed once before replying, “You don’t wanna talk about that.” He said openly refusing to answer. “We have other things to talk about.” He said quite solemnly as he brought his drink to his lips.