[Tawny Vokes]

Tawny shared a birthday with her father. As a child, it had been awfully fitting for the pair — who seemed to do everything together — to wake up in the morning and plan just another day around one another. Beaming over the large breakfast they cooked together as tradition (with so much food it ended up being a buffet suited more for a household of twelve than their lonely two). Afternoons and evenings spent tackling adventures they strategically planned in the months leading up to — aquariums, zoos, window-shopping. Walks and picnics in the park. They were seemingly tireless, completely immune to exhaustion no matter how much they packed on their plates, until they returned home and fell asleep a quarter-ways through their traditional Birthday Movie. Her father would carry her to bed, tuck her in tight, and always remind her that she was the best birthday gift he'd ever received in life. Even when she'd gotten older and turned her back on their traditions in favor of rowdy friends and ill-advised parties, the night never passed without the words being spoken. Sometimes texted when Tawny stayed out beyond his bedtime.

When Tawny woke now, it was to dozens of texts from friends and acquaintances, screaming their well-wishes in all-caps and spams of emojis. From a select few, blatant threats about what they would do if she tried backing out of the birthday plans they'd orchestrated on her behalf. They kept her in the dark about what exactly the agenda was, but she could assume it involved a lot of alcohol. It took her half an hour to muster the energy to reply to them, sending back her thanks and promises, before her eyes lingered on a text unlike the others.

'keep me company again? i'm so f'ckin lonelyyyyyyy~'

From a woman she'd known for only a couple of months. A new friend who never cared to know her birthday or share her own. Someone she could spend the morning with without any fuss. Tawny sent back a thumbs-up emoji and pulled herself from her blankets. She'd celebrated her birthday with her family the night before and laid across the opposite side of the bed were the gifts Coop and Company had given her: a new cardigan, a new book, packs of ferret toys, and a picture frame crafted by small, clumsy hands. She wasted little time — not particularly keen to put a lot of effort into getting ready when she'd just have to get ready again before going out tonight. She simply donned the new cardigan over her nightshirt, pulled on some capris, twisted her hair in a disheveled knot, and slipped on her glasses, forgoing her contacts for the morning. She was out the door without even a glance at herself in the mirror, only pausing long enough to throw some promises over her shoulder to the ferrets — that she'd spend the afternoon with them before the night truly begun.

Her friend managed a small bakery only a couple of buildings away from her apartment complex. Keeping her company usually consisted of Tawny perching herself on the counter while the woman went about readying to open for the morning; preparing doughs, brewing coffee, and baking fresh batches of popular breakfast treats. They'd chat about anything and everything, mostly superficial things, and Tawny had the woman pigeonholed as one of the few people she could hang out with without the expectation of sharing anything real or heavy. They'd mostly gossip and laugh and then when it came close to opening, she'd be shooed away. It suited Tawny well enough.

Today was no different. When the 'Closed' sign was flipped to 'Open' and Tawny was consequently waved off, she stepped across the street to her favored coffee shop. Her usual barista looked more relaxed than usual so she brushed her fingers in an intentional touch against his on when her drink was passed to her. Smiled at him when she picked through the latest update in his memories and found that his beloved dog, who'd been sick for weeks, was finally getting better. He'd been so worried and heartbroken and Tawny had quietly — secretly — hurt for him, too, following the development with interest.

Today though, in addition to her typical coffee, she ordered a pair of cranberry pastries. She only intended to eat one but breakfast tradition made her hold up two fingers reflexively. Her father had loved cranberries. Perhaps she'd save the second one for after she stumbled home late tonight. Drunk Tawny would be so grateful. With her coffee and box of pastries, she settled in a corner of the coffee shop, watching the other patrons with interest; taking the quiet morning to steel herself for whatever fresh hell her hooligan friends had in store for her.

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OOC: I'm posting this a couple of days early, but it's Tawny's birthday this weekend! Maybe she can meet someone to invite out to ~P A R T Y~?? Or whatever else!!

[Deleted]

Ugh, the sun was bright today. Was it always that bright in the morning? Or were his eyes just hating him right now? Zane had to squint his eyes against the sun as he left his apartment in Downtown part of Los Eurosia. It had been a long night, a night of looking over research notes for his research paper, trying to narrow down what went where, what he was going to write about, how to organize it, the whole nine yards. Sleep had overcome his body before he had expected it, waking with a jolt that morning drooling on his notebook, laptop in sleep mode, and having scattered some things on the floor.

Now, he was leaving his house quickly readied for the day, just a plain white t-shirt, faded blue jeans, well-worn sneakers, and his worn leather jacket passed down in the family. He hadn't bothered with his hair, maybe a quick dry shave and brushing his teeth, threw on deodorant, and was hurrying out the door to be met with blinding morning light.

Yea, he was an absolute mess that morning.

Turning his wrist over, Zane gave his watch a quick glance, finding his plans would just have to be shifted around and hurrying would do nothing to salvage all that day. A frustrated sigh left him as he made his way into town, grumbling softly to himself. Well, least he didn't need to be with the Sector today or had classes, so it opened him to catching up with what he could. Or really, he probably should have been taking the day off in general. He had been doing this for a week straight, sleep becoming harder and harder to ignore as well as how worn his body felt. Some days he wished he had his young brother's seemingly boundless energy, energy not related to his gift he had. "Wonder if these is a Gift for that, endless energy to not sleep and get all your shit done." He remarked to himself, making his way towards the little cafe that seemed a popular stop especially for young adults his age.

A long yawn left the man as he entered the cafe, trying to get his scattered thoughts back in order as he made his way towards the counter. Geez did he need sleep...Blinking the grogginess from his eyes, Zane greeted the barista in usual fashion, offering a warm tired smile and greeting, getting some coffee and a couple breakfast sandwiches. Might as well make the most of being behind schedule and try to enjoy himself right?

Before long, the young man got his order, stretching a bit while waiting and slowly starting to become aware of his surroundings. As usual, the cafe seemed busy and full of people, chatting, half asleep like himself, or just enjoying their morning. Typical morning it seemed. "Thanks man." Zane turned his attention to the barista as he brought the coffee and sandwiches, thanking the man before he moved towards a corner of the cafe, oblivious to the faces within as he tried to wake himself up and taking a long drink of the hot beverage, wincing slightly as it scalded his tongue. Oh well....

[Tawny Vokes]

As Tawny watched the patrons around her with idle interest, listening to their conversations and noting the many little intricacies about them, she regretted not having grabbed that new book waiting for her on her duvet. She longed to run her fingers along its spine, smell its crisp, new pages, and crack it open to see what it was about. Cooper said the girls had picked it out for her and the book jacket made it sound very cheesy and romantic. Perhaps a little juvenile for her to read but her nieces hadn't let her down before.

She tipped her head to gaze out the cafe's large windows, watching the morning crowd sift through the streets. Some moved with obvious intent, their eyes downcast and their stride quick. Others with more pep in their step, occasionally even a literal skip. Some ambled along in pairs, seemingly aimless as their gaze drew across the various storefronts, pointing and beaming at their displays. As she watched them, Tawny picked absently at one of her pastries, discovering she didn't quite have the appetite for it. Perhaps because it wasn't saturated with funfetti and food dye; couldn't compare to the famed breakfast buffets of her birthdays past.

Just as she was beginning to think it was time to go home — to gather her box of treats and finish her coffee in her living room, where she could laze about and watch the ferrets play with the new toys they've been gifted — her eye pulled to a figure approaching her chosen corner of the café. She had noted him when he first walked in, stepping through the door with a sleepy yawn, looking as quickly-put together as she did. Blinking sleep from his eyes. Moving in such a way that she imagined stiff muscles and lingering drowsiness; limbs not yet shaken awake. He'd seemed vaguely familiar, but it was only now, as her gaze poked more appraisingly across his face, that she realized she'd seen him before. He worked in her building. Doing what she could only guess. What was his name? Zach? Zeke? No, that wasn't quite right.

Her eye flitted from her quick study to assess the filled chairs around her, occupied by people chatting over their coffee, teenagers giggling over their phones, and lone individuals working over their laptops with buds in their ears. There was hardly anywhere to sit without rubbing elbows with someone. Choosing a seat would be a gamble; a game of deciding who would be most receptive. Her gaze skipped back to her colleague and, after deciding he wasn't approaching someone he knew, she prodded a foot against the chair opposite her, pushing it a bit from the table invitingly. She flashed him a quick grin. "Hey, you can sit here if you want. I'm not waiting for anyone." Though she wouldn't be at all surprised if someone she knew burst through the café doors at any moment, hunting her down in her familiar haunts to keep an eye on her. To insure she didn't try to worm herself out of their evening battle plans.

"I think I know you." She would have to orchestrate a way to glimpse his memories and find that name that eluded her. Perhaps she could pretend to brush some imaginary crumbs from the tabletop, incidentally swiping a pinky against his forearm. Offer her hand in a shake? She supposed she could just ask him or give him time to supply it himself. No need to be hasty and intrusive — though she was curious why he appeared so tired and that curiosity made her fingers prickle with the want to take a nosy peek. "You work in that big federal building on George Washington Blvd, right? Shadowed Mr. Fletcher in that Reeves project a couple of weeks ago?"

@zanefowler