Thread; Annalise - Blog Posts
annalisechambersx:
She sat there, waiting for the screaming to begin. It wouldn’t be the first time someone had embarrassed her in public because of a mistake she had made. It certainly wasn’t going to the last. It was fine. She just wouldn’t come back to this bar. She would find a new one that Leo didn’t come to and they would never have to cross paths again. It would be fine. Everything was always fine. Annie was really good at avoiding people.
But much to her surprise, it never came. Her brows furrowed in confusion. In fact, he seemed to…open up a bit more. She blinked a few times, trying to process everything. She shook her head, her curls shaking with it, “No, no. It’s not your fault. Really. I-It’s mine. I should have checked. It was really stupid of me not to. I’m sorry.” She swallowed a lump that grown in her throat before she stopped rubbing her hands nervously together. Devin hated it when she do that.
Annie shook her hands out and turned a bit more towards Leo, “You don’t?” She asked, “I only really like football.” Annie paused for a moment before she spoke again and giggled, “American football, I mean. Soccer is boring.” She had always thought that. But American football was pretty interesting, surprisingly. She just never really went out of her way to watch it. She was more drama TV show kind of gal.
“Can I get you another drink?” Annie asked suddenly, sitting up a bit, looking towards the bartender, “What is it that you’re drinking? Just whiskey?” She asked, looking at the glass. She wasn’t great at picking out drinks, to be quite honest, “I should have put two and two together.” She shook her head, still thinking about her mistake, “If you wanted a beer, you would have had one.” Yeah, that was stupid.
-
She had giggled and he took that as a win. Though it seemed to be this fear that kind of blanket over her, that he still couldn’t take off. He thought all things involving a ball and men were boring. Women’s sports, however... “Whiskey,” he answered, the amount in left in his cup lightening in amber as it began to water down further. He was about to finish it off, but he couldn’t let this conversation continue like this. He couldn’t stand to just watch someone with a sweet disposition and face tear herself down.
“Yes, I’ll take that whiskey but, only if you could stop doing that?” He asked, again so blunt, and never in a rightful place. “I’m not the nicest, but I’m being a lot nicer to you than you are being to yourself.” He said, making the observation out loud. A little cruel in the name of being honest, but he kept his voice even and gentle as he could. His eyes became a little wide as he said a little punchline to hopefully make his words not sound so serious, “Like, geez, Annie who hurt you?”
annalisechambersx:
Annie’s face lit up when the man agreed to eat some wings with her. She was honestly expecting him to tell her to fuck off, so that was a very pleasant surprise. And when he introduced himself as well, she smiled warmly and nodded her head, “Leo. Lovely name. I had a friend growing up whose name was Leo.” She paused, “Well, is Leo. He’s not dead.” She paused, “I don’t think so, at least… I’m sure he’s fine. We used to go roller skating around London together.” She giggled fondly at the memory as she sat down in the seat beside him.
Bar stools were always kind of fun. They rotated so she was able to spin a bit as she sat there beside Leo. Hearing his comment, she laughed and nodded again before she shrugged, “I…yes, I do.” Annie told him, “You’re not the first to tell me either.” It was those people who also told her she was overtly annoying, which hurt her feelings but she never told them that. They didn’t deserve that satisfaction, “I know I’m a lot…but I just like to smile and spread that around, you know?”
As the beer was set down in front of Leo, she thanked the bartender and turned her gaze towards him. Her brow furrowed as he spoke and immediately, she felt a wave of anxiety wash over her, “Oh…oh, no. I’m s-sorry. R-Really.” Immediately, she reached over and pulled the beer away from the man and turned around in her chair, hoping she could find someone else to give it to. Annie didn’t really drink beer either but she figured most people did and it was safe choice. Pulling herself from the stool, she approached another man and offered him the beer, saying it was ordered by a mistake. He accepted it and turned back to his friend with a shrug.
As she approached Leo once again, her hands rubbed together nervously and she gingerly sat down beside him. She wasn’t happily spinning this time. She was just still, looking at her hands, “I should have asked what you wanted. That is my fault. I’m sorry.” Annie’s gaze didn’t move from her hands. It just remained there as she waited to be screamed at by Leo like her ex-husband would do whenever she made a mistake like that. She was used to it by now.
-
Leo had stifilled his laughter as she rambled on about another Leo. He mentally tilted his hat to the other man who was still alive, sharing his name. “I believe you.” He said, again holding his laughter in his chest when he heard that he wasn’t the only one who could tell how cheerful she was. She was like the golden sun herself in human form. He was sure if he squinted enough, she had sun rays.
Leo’s interest was peaked again by how immediately remorseful she was. She kept doing that to him. Dragging him back before he could get out. And he couldn’t help, but like that. Although, the longer he watched her, he could see that his bratty nature wasn’t taken lightly as he quietly intended. Once again, he was too abrasive. His humor too dry. He couldn’t think of anything else that would cause that reaction. He was rude, that’s all he at least knew about himself. he worried about previously about snuffing out her light, and it had materialized right in front of him, because of him.
His lips had parted to protest her getting up to give the beer to some lucky bastard. She didn’t have to jump to such lengths. Leo was close with the bartender, and he could have done something. He continously watched Annie, closely now as she came back to their barstools. He took in her careful approach back in her seat next to him. His brown eyes not missing a thing as he leaned onto his arms on the countertop. It wasn’t lost on him that the sunny doe-eyed woman beside him had closed up. He didn’t know what it was or how he shifted from wanting the conversation to end-- to wanting to keep it going. It was now a game to make her laugh. “You didn’t have to do all that. Or apologize. I mean, please, buy me as many drinks as you want.” He playfully pleaded, his eyes widening at the notion. “But not beer, I’ve never been a fan, and I’m certainly at the age where I could grow a beer belly.” He explained, turning in his barstool even more towards her. His body language completely open toward her as he made his self effacing joke. “If anything it’s my fault for not being a stereotypical male.” Again, he was joking but this time making him sound better than most men cause he believed it so. how poignant. “I don’t even like sports much either.”
annalisechambersx:
Special Delivery For: @le0davis
A ball was something Annalise had only dreamed of as a little girl. She and her sister would always play princesses when they were children and it was always so much fun. And now, Annie was practically living it. Sure, she wasn't dressed nearly as fancy or nice as some of the other girls were but she still thought she looked nice and presentable. And while she was a social butterfly and absolutely loved talking to people, she was still quite nervous for some reason. Maybe it was the animinity. Maybe it was she was afraid of making a fool of herself. Who knows? Wandering through the ball, her eyes shifted around to see if she could recognize anyone and her head tilted, thinking she saw a familiar framed man. With her signature smile, Annalise made her way over in her pastel yellow dress and matching mask, "Well, don't you look quite handsome in that suit!" It was nice to see Leo clean up, "It's really nice to see you again!"
-
A masquerade ball interested the theatre kid in Leo. How could it not? It was a high end costume party and was often the setting for major chaos in literaature. Two things he adored. But the cause for the party made him frown beneath his black and gold leather mask. His eyes fixated on the opulence of the place. For a charity event, it all seemed pretty rich. He looked on, and wondered if he could pull off having actual fun in such a grand place.
His brown eyes turned towards the brightness of yellow tulle coming towards him. He recognized her sunny disposition and radiant smile behind that small mask immediately. Her presence and voice lifted the frowning corners of his mouth up. “Annie, you look like the sun,” he replied, as he tried not to let her compliment go to his head. Though he was instantly smug and moved to straighten up his velvet sleeve. “It’s nice to see you too. Though unfortunately for us, it doesn’t look like they serve wings.” He said with a smirk in his tone, referencing the night they met. “Were you dragged here to support this as well?” He said shooting a glance at the big, can’t miss it, poster presented on the easel. It looked like their invitations.
annalisechambersx:
Annie knew she could be a lot. that was just…who she was. She liked to speak to people and just mingle with society. It was fun. Plus, you never knew when you would make a great new friend just by meeting someone randomly in a bar. Sure, this in front of her seemed a little put off by the sudden appearance of her (which she understood), but she was going to try her best to make a friend tonight.
She smiled softly as the other spoke, nodding her head, “Most bar food is pretty subpar, you know? But there’s just something about this place. I don’t know what it is.” She giggled and shrugged, “Would you want some of the wings?” She asked, her eyes lighting up a bit, “I could never eat a full batch by myself.” She paused and waved her hand, “They’re on me, I promise. I don’t want a penny.”
Leaning over the bar, Annalise tapped the top a few times and soon enough, the bartender was wandering over and he was ordering an order of mild wings and a beer for the gentleman as well. Holding her drink tightly, she turned back towards him with a smile, “I’m Annalise, by the way. But you can call me Annie if you like. It’s a bit quicker.” She giggled, “I hope I’m not…interrupting you or anything. Or if you were waiting for a friend or something. Oh, I’m sorry I am!”
-
The dive bar on the ninth was arguably Leo’s current favorite place in the city. So she wasn’t wrong about there being an essence to it. But he kept see-sawing in his mind if wanted to keep up with this conversation. It wasn’t her at all. Her sunny disposition and energy is what he should be striving towards. He was just far too stubborn to. He’d put a damper to her night, if this interaction continued. He didn’t deem himself as a particularly nice person unless it was useful to him. Add alcohol to that equation, and you got a more than chaotic Leo. But the light in her eyes, and her continuous graciousness kept him responding. “I could have some wings.” He said, accepting the free food. He might as well eat something so he could drink even more without getting sick. Good plan.
He stayed quiet as he watched her place in her order. When she ordered a beer, specifically for him, he couldn’t help but cringe. Even though it was a completely nice gesture. Leo detested beer like it’s whole existence offended him. Carbonated, fermented hops and yeast juice? That beer? Fuck, no. He wasn’t planning on pretending he was a fan of it either. “I’m Leo, and no, I’m alone.” He informed her and then he tilted his head at her. “Annie, did you know you’re so overtly happy?” He questioned with a lifted brow.
The sound of a glass mug being placed in front of him, took his attention. It was the beer, ice cold, with fragrant foam head. He swallowed and pushed it towards her space on the bar top as he held his breath. “I can’t drink that. It’s gonna taste like beer and I hate that.” He said, not hiding his dismay one bit.
annalisechambersx:
Annie really felt like she was living her best life in New York. Sure, she missed home and she missed her family, but New York just felt like the place for her. She loved her job, she loved her friends, she loved the day life and she really loved the night life. There was just something about walking around New York at night and seeing all the lights mixed with the hustle and bustle. It was exactly what she wanted.
A couple nights a week, after work, she would head out to a bar, just wanting to unwind a little and maybe meet some new people. She had no fear when it came to speaking to people. Which, really, was a dangerous thing considering she could very well get hurt doing that…but it hadn’t happened yet. So she was feeling confident it wouldn’t. Probably. When Annie approached the bar, the barmaid smiled warmly at her and got to work on her favorite drink, the Cosmopolitan. After a minute or so, she was passed the drink and a straw, and she was moving through the bar, her chocolate hues dancing around.
She just hung around for a bit, sipping idly on her drink when she spotted a man that appeared to be alone. That was sad. Annie didn’t like seeing that. She didn’t mind being alone. She believed that she was meant to be. But that wasn’t the case for everyone else. With her signature smile on her face, she crossed the room and the approached the man, her curls bouncing as she did so, “Have you ever had their wings here?” She asked, a little randomly, “I’m not much for chicken wings. But there’s something about them here.” She giggled quietly and shrugged, “Actually most of their food is pretty good now that I think about it…”
-
Fucking-tourist-implant, a sputter of thoughts left his head as he passed by some dude in a spankin new I Heart NY t-shirt. He didn’t know why that had bothered him too much on this particular evening. But as he got older, he grew to see just how crowded this edge of the east coast was. Yeah, that’s what it was, the city was becoming too saturated. his mood wasn’t sour because his mouth was dry, he told himself. he always downplayed how much he needed his vice even lying to himself. but he couldn’t lie that the world became a bit nicer when he sat in that stool with the cold sweat of his drink at his fingertips.
it sipped slowly now, savoring how the taste had rose the hairs on neck and gave him the feeling of goosebumps. he was at his usual bar, truly in his own element tonight. he liked the people watching, the food for a bar was decent, and the bartender was great company when available. he was fine just as he was, just another typical night.
“Uh—erm,” leo cleared his throat of his initial surprise. people didn’t usually approach him because he was always scowling. he could have sworn he had the same look he always did. but now he was surprised, meeting brown eyes far warmer than his own could ever be. he paused, wondering if he should even reply to this stranger’s sudden presence. he could easily let out a big gruff and walk off. but this was his spot. his brow quirked when she spoke about the other food items as if she had them. he, of course, had sampled the whole menu once.
“Order what you want.” He shrugged then pinched his glass in his dominant hand. his gaze on the stranger was still cautious. his expression was not friendly nor rude. “But yeah, the food’s pretty good.”
