Interactions \ Noa. - Tumblr Posts

words hit her hard, so much so that despite her best attempt to hide it, her lower lip visibly trembles. noa has confidence in abundance and most of the time it’s genuine, unwavering, but one thing she doesn’t deal well with is rejection. it’s something she’s felt almost her entire life from her mother. it never seemed to matter how much effort she put into building a connection, it simply never came. it’s a feeling that fills her with the idea that maybe she is just too much to handle. has her wondering if perhaps despite helping others find love, her antics may just scare away any real possibility she has at finding it for herself. “ fine, ” she retorts, and for the first time in— well, ever, there is no dramatics. only defeat. sadness. a desire to get out of there before the waterworks begin, though already she can feel the sting in her eyes. “ if that’s what you want, emma, then consider your wish granted. i’ll leave you alone. for good. ” with a deep breath is drawn in she’s turning on her heels, tear dropping onto cheek the moment her face is out of view. “ have a nice life, ” is all she manages before she’s walking away, familiar pep in her step nowhere to be seen.

the  confusion  on  noa's  face  is  unsurprising;  hell,  even  emma  could  agree  that  her  words  don't  make  much  sense  at  this  point.  it's  true  that  she  finds  noa  annoying,  but  not  for  the  reasons  that  she  might  think.  in  fact  it  has  nothing  to  do  with  noa,  pretty  much  about  how  emma  feels  about  her,  and  yet  she  couldn't  bring  herself  to  admit  it  out  loud.  “  well,  yeah,  you're  still  annoying  but  you're  the  one  who  said  you  won't  dull  yourself  to  satisfy  me,  so  just  don’t.  ”  whatever  that  means,  right  ?  she  likes  noa  just  the  way  she  is,  which  is  also  part  of  the  problem,  but  there's  no  way  she'd  say  it  to  her  face  like  this.  “  maybe  i  just  don't  want  to  be  friends  with  you  anymore,  noa.  how  about  that  ?  ”  there's  a  hint  of  sadness  in  her  words  this  time,  although  she  makes  sure  to  not  let  it  overwhelm  her.  “  just  leave  me  the  fuck  alone,  ”  she  breathes,  “  please.  ”

“ oh, no, you don’t have a friendly face whatsoever. great bone structure, sure, but inviting ? not so much. luckily for you, i don’t intimate easily. but really, it wouldn’t hurt to smile more. or once— ever ! ” once again she’s talking quickly, animated, ignoring his first statement. eyes roll instantaneously as she adjusts her stance, exasperated sigh escaping perfectly painted lips. “ well, for starters, i haven’t seen you with anyone since charlotte, except for nova but she’s your roommate and if that was going to happen it likely would have by now. which is good for me because i also plan on getting her to sign up. but back to you. yes, you probably could get a date easily if you actually tried, but i’m just, like . . . way better at it. and honestly, men often can’t be trusted to make good decisions. that’s just fact. ”

"yeah, you're not exactly making me feel better as you boast about how much better you could stalk me..." he places the bottles in his bag. "you know, you're the only person i've ever met who seems to think i have a FRIENDLY FACE." he'd tried to let this girl down subtly what felt like a hundred different ways, and yet, she always found her way back to him. "and i ask you again... what makes you think that i can't get a date on my own?" probably the fact that he, well, you know... wouldn't. but he liked to think it was his own personal choice. his relationships had all been with dancers ( the exception being charlotte ) and they all ended poorly. apollo didn't see the point in making empty promises to others. he would provide what he could, and often times, it wasn't enough.

“ don’t go giving me any big ideas celeste, i don’t have time to move. i only just perfected my closet which means i need to stay put for at least six months. ” though wouldn’t it be nice to have all the close friends within the same complex ? perhaps a one day. “ no, ” she’s quick to insist. understands where the other is coming from but she has such big expectations of how love is supposed to be it’s often difficult look past. “ i mean, don’t get me wrong, i love a good project, but . . . well i know he’s not my soulmate, because if he was i would find it endearing instead of absolutely horrifying, you know ? it’s less about the sandal-sock combo and more about how it made me feel. ” logic, apparently. most likely why she’s no closer to settling down. “ but enough about me, what about you ? fill me in on everything. i need to know all about the happenings in celeste james’ life. ”

"if we were neighbors it would make our lives so much easier," she mused, cozying into the couch and throwing a fuzzy blanket over her lap. "then, we could just alternate days and i would be able to just show up at your door when you don't text me back." because that was totally normal and made sense ( to celeste ). immersing herself in noa's story, she began picking at the snacks, nodding here and there as she listened. "i see the problem," the disgust was written all over her face. socks and sandals were practically a death sentence to celeste, let alone on a man. "but i mean, so what he's a little bit of a fixer upper ? aren't the best one's ?"

" don't they have patches for that ? " noa questions, again trying not to sound judgmental. everyone has an addiction, hers just so happens to be shopping. it's a habit she deems to be pretty healthy, but her credit card bills may beg to differ. " yes, intensive. i'm very thourough. by the time we’re done i’ll know what you need more than you do. ” smile reappears when he agrees to sign up, hand extending forward. “ give me your phone, i’ll put in my business number and we can arrange for you to come into the office when you’re free.”

"yeah, i know," leon chuckles softly as he nods his head. "i've been smoking since i was sixteen though. so, it's really hard to quit." he doesn't tell her that he's tried a few times, but he always relapses and goes back to smoking even more. he's trying to cut his intake, but it's too damn difficult. he wishes he never started smoking in the first place. "intensive, huh?" his curiosity sparks up. he's been interviewed before, sure, but mostly about his music. this seems more... personal. and it sounds like a risk worth taking. it could be fun. he'll probably regret it when he's seventy if he doesn't do it now. "okay. i'm in."

“ oh, please, ” noa laughs, eyes threatening to roll though there may be a slight tinge to her cheeks. still, she waves off the idea with a perfectly manicured hand. “ don’t flatter yourself. inflated egos are so not it. ” shifts on her feet, intrigued as to what he may ask her to promise— what he does she isn’t expecting. lips part, doe eyes wide for a number of seconds. oh. “ a dance ? with me ? you and me ?” she looks baffled, but it’s only because for the first time— well, ever, she’s not entirely sure what to say. but it comes to her quickly. “ i don’t think you understand how busy i’m going to be. i mean, i’ve been organising this for weeks. i have a whole system. charts, compatibility scores, body language analysis. the average song is around 3-4 minutes, do you have any idea how many things i could miss in that amount of time ? some people don’t realize how important one single stolen glance can be— that’s why they need me.” a simple sorry, no can do would have sufficed, but in typical noa fashion she’s over-complicating it. the brunette stops, hands slowing as she lowers them and takes a breath, offering a smile now in return. “ i can find you someone less preoccupied to dance with, does that work ? ”

leaned against the counter , a lazy smirk playing on his lips as he took in her bright , animated presence . the flyers she handed him were bold and colorful , but they couldn't outshine the energy she exuded . " a mixer , huh ? " his voice drawled out , teasing as always . " and here i thought you were just lookin’ for an excuse to see me . " he took the flyers , holding them up as if inspecting them closely . " i’ll put ‘em up for ya but don’t think i’m lettin’ you off that easy. you're gonna have'ta promise me somethin’ . " he paused , eyes gleaming with mischief . " save me a dance at your little ‘ get-together ’ . seems only fair , don’t ya think ? " he flashed her a grin , knowing full well he’d enjoy watching her reaction , teasing her just enough to keep things playful .

" okay, " singular word is dragged out, contemplation before her next words. noa has never had a one night stand in her entire life, and it's not that she thinks there's anything wring with them— there most definitely isn't. but growing up watching her parents be madly in love had made her very particular. " well, did he ask to see you again ? because if not i would probably be questioning his motives. "

"Well the amount of bouncers I've met who have actually done their jobs and kicked out handsy and rude guys is astounding. Mostly I have to go and tell them and hope they actually do something, but this one actually helped out instead of letting the guys do whatever the hell they wanted. And he's really hot. Like could be a Marvel superhero hot," she further explained, putting her lipstick back into her purse. "And he was sweet enough to offer to walk me to my car in case the guy stuck around, which isn't exactly in his job description."

" how do you have that kind of self control ? " she asks, genuinely perplexed. " if i see a piece i like, it feels practically criminal to leave it on the rack. i would lose sleep thinking about it getting into the wrong hands. some people buy for the brand but don't know the fashion, you know ? nothing is more tragic than a poorly styled item. " there's a slight physical recoil at the thought, melodramatic as always. it's simply her nature. " no, totally, i get the fear of maxing out. but, if you think about it, what's the point in there being a limit if you never reach it ? " let's out a breath and nods eagerly, smile growing. truly no happier place to be than surrounded by beautiful clothing. " show me, i'm ready to be inspired. "

" i'm sorry. how could i possibly stand here and be asking you such a silly question! " she laughed jokingly in response to noa's statement back towards her. " listen, i get it. fall is the season and let me just say... i've seen so many of the pieces now and they are such good ones. i almost bought majority of them myself. but if i did i was worried that my card would've been maxed out or something. " shopping and fashion was her life at this point. " i can show you some of the new things! i think you are going to just love them! i know for a fact that i do at least. you'd consider that a failure? i usually always say at least 5. or however many i just can't see myself putting back on the rack. i can't be trusted with my cards.. debit or credit. it's not good... oops. "

noa shrugs her shoulders slightly, knowing smile still fixed in place, " something like that. but i do care, that's why i'm here. to ensure you don't end up lonely and miserable. " eyes narrow a moment later, trying to gauge his reaction as best she could, though he was more difficult to read than most. " okay, well, i'm still going to ask her because i don't take any mans word when it comes to other women. i mean, she's gorgeous, and i have a lot of highly successful people on my books. one of them could be her perfect match for all you know. " hands come onto her hips, slightly look of irritation now. she's come across many people hesitant to try out matchmaking, but he was by far the most challenging person to convince. " qualified ? it's called having a gift. i get results. you're just like— like the grinch of love, or something. but even he grew his heart in the end. and mark my words, fairbanks. you will too. "

apollo nods as she speaks, happy to know he doesn't actually give off friendly vibes. something only a troubled person could be happy about. "oh, so you know i don't want to talk about it, you just don't seem to care?" this actually isn't the first time someone has told him to smile. it was his teachers favorite thing to remind him. you're a handsome kid, but you'd be much more approachable if you smiled. he'd do what he was told, and it'd be believable, but it was always forced. "okay, well, i'm going to turn you down for nova. no way she'd be into that shit." he brushes off if that was going to happen it likely would have by now and ignores the feeling in his stomach at the idea of nova going on dates set up by noa braunstein. "way better at it? and what makes you so qualified?" although, he couldn't say she was completely wrong. he did make the wrong choice and FREQUENTLY.

" i mean, think of it this way, i get more excited to see you than most because i know when we do get together, we get to spill every little life detail that's happened in between. " gossip, basically. no matter how she tries to spin it, noa braunstein is obsessed with a good story. the brunette nods, casually sipping her wine— much needed after a long week. " i know what you mean. but the problem with guys like that is, once you fix them up they suddenly think they can do better. like, hello ? no one likes an ego trip. they act like they're all that and completely forget you were the one who upgraded them in the first place. and by the time they realize you were the best thing to ever happen to them, it's too late. the damage is done. besides, true love is accepting someone for who they are, flaws and all. unfortunately for him, socks with sandals ? not a flaw i can look past. " noa sees the smirk forming and instantly gives celeste her full attention before she even speaks. when she finally does, noa squeals with excitement, practically leaping forward to grab her friend's arm " what do you mean it's no big deal ? it's so a big deal. tell me everything. "

"i'm pretty sure time is relative, or whatever it is they say," she would've said anything to get noa to agree with her, even if she wasn't entirely sure what she was talking about. of course, celeste didn't actually expect her to move, she just had a penchant for being right. "i can't argue with a girl's closet though, so as painful as it is to say, you have me beat on this one." her hand covered her heart, face dropping into a pout as she tucked her legs under her. she was making valid points, which only solidified celeste's theory that there must be something wrong with her. where noa was disgusted, she would've been endeared, planning the project in lengthy detail and attempting to execute it promptly. "no i get it, i really do, i guess i just think there's something hot about a man that needs you, y'know ? but i'm acutely aware that i need help, so maybe don't take my advice on this one ?" a grape popped into her mouth as she thought of everything that had happened to her this week, smirk growing and scooting herself closer. "well, i did meet a guy and get his number. but it's no big deal, i swear !"

" honestly, ronen, i don't really care what it is as long as i'm well dressed, " she begins, soft shrug of shoulders. " i have the closet of dreams, and that makes me so happy i could actually cry. " and she has before, with zero shame. " sure, i'm in one piece, but that doesn't take away from the fact that someone got into my space like that. it's like someone jumping on stage while you're doing your thing, you know ? i'd be furious on your behalf. " he continues and she scoffs, would throw something at him if the item currently in her hands wasn't so valuable to her. " people with real taste, something you so clearly lack. sometimes i wonder how we're even twins. " the mention of their father strikes a small nerve, but she holds it back. their parents weren't always a fun conversation topic. always felt best to avoid it where possible. " just because i like buying clothes and spending money doesn't mean i don't live in the real world. last time i checked, i wasn't in a simulation. " as the topic turns to his closet, her mind begins to swim. already she's envisioning his fall looks, though she's certain he won't wear them as she plans. still, it won't stop her from buying the items regardless. " well, sounds to me like you're in need of a clear out. it's good to mix things up every now and again, the same old gets boring fast. " as she folds the sweater away and places it back in the bag like it's her most prized possession, she glances across at him with a curious stare. " so, do you have any life updates for me ? any girls on the scene i should know about ? because you haven't been on a date in a while. it's almost the holidays, which means it's the perfect time to get out there. "

"you may call it prevention therapy, i'll call it economy building." his sister had always been a big spender-- she'd never needed an excuse. however, he shouldn't judge too harshly. he could be a pretty big spender himself. he told himself it was different, though. a grand romantic gesture versus a new pair of shoes... just didn't seem even in his eyes. "well, you're standing here in front of me... in one piece. talking about spending money. you seem pretty normal to me, so... not too sure what i should be worried about? unless someone has trained a robot to be EXACTLY like you... that'd be kinda sick, actually." although, if anyone had enough knowledge on noa to program a robot, it would be ronen. "and who said you looked cute? just so i can recommend them a good eye doctor. and hey, the real world is different. not everyone is going to make it as easy for you as dad did."

ronen can't help but laugh as she holds up the sweater, making it clear she had been the victorious one. "you didn't want sympathy, but you wanted me to be concerned... all that for you to have the sweater on your person? no way anyone could've programmed a robot this good. also, i think i've got enough clothes. like, i'm pretty sure my closet might burst."

“ i hear hypnotherapy works wonders. or meditation. anything has to be worth a try. ” noa takes the phone from leon, manicured fingers typing quickly. so used to being on her own device she thinks she could navigate one with her eyes closed. “ cute, ” she responds, slight roll of her eyes before she types in her name, cupid in brackets after. with a bright smile she hands the phone back and takes a breath. “ okay, well, i’ve got to run. places to be, lives to change. but you’ll be hearing from me soon. i suggest you answer when i call because i’m impossible to ghost. toodles, ” she adds, gives a small wave before she’s walking off.

"tried 'em. don't work," leon shrugs and then chuckles at the thought of her knowing him better than he does. is it really possible? the blond is very prone to oversharing. he loves it. telling stories is so fun, it also sometimes makes him make sense of things in another light. "cool, thank you." the man takes out his phone, there aren't any new messages or mails or any sort of notifications. it's a little disappointing. nonetheless, he opens the keypad and hands it over. "just type non-smoking cupid and i'll know it's you," leon teases.

noa glances at the phone screen, tries to read what it says but she’s too focused on listening. struggles to fully relate because she hasn’t ever indulged in casual sex. she’s only ever been intimate with past partners. “ okay, but there’s nothing wrong with being a bouncer. it’s an honest living. i mean, don’t get me wrong, definitely not what i envision for my future partner, but at the end of the day the rich ceo could be a total asshole and the bouncer, or . . . whatever, could be the one who pays attention, you know ? but i also think if he was meant for you, you’d know. can’t force the spark. as long as everyone is honest, no one gets hurt. ”

"Of course he did. It's me. He's practically begging for my attention. Hasn't stopped texting me," she admitted, holding up her phone as yet another text came in. "But I haven't decided if he's worth my time yet. I mean, the sex was great and he's hot and all, but I don't see myself with a bouncer. He might be fun for a few more rounds, but I don't want to make him too attached to me."

the comment causes her grin to widen, a true sense of warmth. " well, at this rate it seems like my soulmate might not come until my next lifetime, so if that's the case marrying my platonic one seems like the only suitable option. " besides, she really wouldn't mind spending the rest of her life with poppy by her side— plans to do so anyway, with or without marriage. " right ? so soft, i need it. which colour would you want ? they have black, oyster— which is really more of a subtle pink, very chic— navy, caramel or ivory, though i'll be honest the ivory is very much giving bride-to-be vibes. probably not the best choice for avid red wine drinkers. " noa sits on her knees on the bed, opens up the lid of the skincare tub, gently scoops some of the mask onto the brush. when poppy's words sink in, her eyes gloss over, lip slightly pouted. " poppy, " her voice is soft, emotion clear. " it's eight in the morning, why are you trying to make me cry ? " teases, begins to put the mask onto the others skin. " i'm thankful for you too. sometimes i think knowing i'm coming back here to you is the only thing that stops me from having, like, fifty breakdowns per day. let's promise, right here and now, to never, ever, let anything come between us, okay ? also, don't be alarmed if your face tingles a little. it happened to me when i first used it too. but the next day ? glow like you've never seen before. totally worth it. "

poppy watched noa spring into action, soft smile on her lips. "i'd marry you if you'd let me." she teased, sitting up a little straighter as noa gathered all of the necessities. "no i was literally looking at those during my usual nightly doomscroll.. they look so fucking comfy." the redhead hums softly as she takes a sip of her coffee, grabbing the headband from the other as she comes back over. its their usual routine and she absolutely loves it. she doesn't know how she did without noa. the two meshed so quickly right away and it really made poppy feel like she actually had a sister. slipping the headband on, she grinned brightly at the other. "hey, im thankful for you. know that ?? and not just for your amazing skincare assistance.. im thankful i've got the most amazing best friend ever."

noa opens her mouth to respond, then quickly stops herself. there's a slight air of confusion that surrounds the brunette who usually has a much easier time brushing people off. typically by this point someone would give up— one long-winded explanation was usually all it took. yet he's still asking, looking at her like he finds the whole thing amusing. she can't help but to find his teasing grin a little disarming. " you think my plans are perfect ? " is the first question to come, and it's totally not the point of the conversation, yet the words alone help lower the guard she has up. even if it wasn't meant that way. " fine, " she breathes out, corrects her posture as she flips long curls behind her shoulder, an attempt to distract from the fact she's slightly flustered. noa braunstein doesn't do flustered. " one dance. but you better not have two left feet because if you scuff my shoes, i won't be happy about it. they're jimmy choo's. " because of course, just like everything else, she already has her outfit planned to the last accessory. it's then she realizes her gaze has softened, smile warm. as if to conceal it, she's straight back into work-mode. " and if you make me miss anything important— anything at all— don’t blame me when your desirability score plummets and no one else wants to dance with you again. like ever. "

a grin takes hold of his lips , leaning back a bit as he watches noa go through her detailed explanation . his eyes gleam with amusement , arms crossing over his chest as he lets her words wash over him . he doesn’t interrupt — just lets her ramble , the corners of his lips quirking up the more she talks . when she finally stops , offering that polite smile , he chuckles softly , shaking his head . " you really think i’m gonna let you off that easy ? " his drawl is smooth , teasing as he raised an eyebrow , the corners of his lips curling into a teasing grin . “ sure , you’ve got charts and compatibility scores , and i get it , the whole world’s gonna be on your shoulders that night . but, imagine this — just one dance , no spreadsheets , no body language analysis . just you and me , lost in a moment that doesn’t fit into your perfect plan . what do you say ? ” dax’s gaze softened , a sincere look peeking through his playful exterior . “ i promise , it’ll be quick . i’ll even let you pick the song , so it’s not like we’re taking too much time out of your busy schedule . what do you say , noa ? give it a shot — just this once ? ”

" well, every career is successful if you're successful in it. maybe he has other plans and it's a means of saving, or maybe one day he'll own his own security business. there's room for growth in everything. like, i've seen people with zero fashion sense completely transform overnight, so if that's possible anything is. " shoulder shrug, it was fair enough of the other to not want to settle down right now. everyone is on their own path, wants different things. " or who knows, maybe he'll be someone else's knight in shining armour tonight. "

"No but it's not exactly a successful career. What sort of growth potential is there? And of course I'd do more thorough evaluations for a life partner before I pick them forever. But it's not like I'm even thinking of that right now. I'm way too young to be an old married woman," she declared with a wrinkle of her nose. The very idea of being married right now sounded horrible. "Maybe he'll get a call back, but I'll give it some time so he doesn't think he's too special."

noa shakes her head, heart sinking. it's silly, she knows it. it's just a bit of clothing, but it means something to her. " oh no, you don't understand, this is a custom-made piece. it's a one of a kind. completely irreplicable. " the brunette pauses, takes a deep breath to regain some composure. it's been a stressful day and this is just the icing on the cake. hands move animatedly as she begins to explain. " my cat, coco . . . she got into my closet. decided to take a nibble. and here's the thing— i can't even be mad at her, because she clearly has impeccable taste just like her mother. "

open to — anyone ( @palmviewstarters ), located in : seaglass heights, farmer's market !

" ah, you should've brought this to me way earlier. " alina holds up the garment, twisting it this way and that under the sunlight before handing it back to its rightful owner. " honestly, you might just be better off buying something new. how'd that hole even happen ? "

noa: omg finally !!! noa: honestly, lottie, what took you so long ? noa: i'm on it. i'll pick out all my best clients just for you 💞

imessage: matchmaker matchmaker

lottie: noa ? lottie: what would you say if i asked you to set me up ?? lottie: as a hypothetical of course @dreamerfms

noa’s eyes light up with excitement as she listens to alyssa, a girl after her own heart. thinks anyone she can talk endlessly to about clothes are the greatest people on earth. " five times in one week ? someone is living dangerously. i love it, " the brunette exclaims, before continuing, " but i totally get it. sometimes you just have to be in the store, touch the fabric, soak up the energy. shopping isn’t just a transaction, it's an experience. you’ve got to connect with the clothes, feel their potential, " she nods her head, eyes rolling in complete agreement. " ugh, and yes ! i mean, sure, if you want to buy the trend then buy the trend, but at the very least style it in a way that elevates you enough to stand out from the masses. fashion was meant to set us apart. some people forget that. " with a bright smile, she links her arm through alyssa's, eager to quite literally shop until she drops. " and while we shop, you can fill me in. how's life ? and more importantly, is there anyone special in it ? "

" are you really asking me how i have that kind of self control? because truthfully speaking here? i genuinely have no idea myself. it's hard and not easy, let me just say that much. " it's hard for alyssa to even pull herself away from a just a couple of her favorite stores. mainly because of the fact that if it was up to her, she'd be taking everything right off of the racks at once. " or just don't entirely know how to style the things that they end up getting? or it's all solely just for the trends of everything. " maxing out credit cards was truly a nightmare for her and she hoped every time she went out shopping that it didn't do that. or at the very least decline. another nightmare of hers. " i hope i never reach mine. i went to this one store like 5 times in the last week and i thought i was going to end up reaching it. keep in mind that i didn't even get that many things at one time. " alyssa smiled and clapped her hands together excitedly while she started to lead the way, this was always her favorite part. " yay! come with me and i will show you just how inspired you'll get! "

" you should just be beautiful, perfect you. the right person is out there, and i would literally die and come back from the dead before i let you settle. but yes, maybe we let men better themselves because they want to be better, not because we want them to be. " a waste of time and energy, as she's come to witness over the years. she gives her friend a look that says just trust me, and maybe it is silly to base something off a choice of footwear, but she full of intuition— or so she likes to think. it could just be an excuse, because maybe the matchmaker herself isn't so sure what she wants when it comes to love. " okay, solo dates, love that for you. " she's quiet, with difficulty, stops herself from butting in and just takes it in, basks in her friends experience. her heart swells at the thought, glint of happiness for the other reflected in her eyes. even if it was an encounter that didn't lead to forever, what a magical encounter to have. " wow, " noa breathes out once celeste finishes, but being reserved last all of two seconds before she's beaming. " that literally sounds like a scene out of a ron-com, you know, back when rom-coms were actually good. but oh my god, letty, that sounds . . . epic. definitely not delusional ! sometimes the universe has to take matters into it's own hands, put two people exactly where they're supposed to be. are you seeing him again ? "

"i think that might be the nicest thing you've ever said to me," a fake tear is wiped away, hand over heart. the more noa explained her reasoning, the more celeste began to realize where she'd gone wrong. she couldn't count on one hand the amount of men she'd replicated the exact scenario with, much to her own regret. "okay, okay, i see your point," she laughs, hands thrown up in surrender. "what i'm getting from this is that i should stop trying to be caulk-over-it celeste." she had a tendency of giving her relationships the landlord special, and socks and sandals could easily be painted over. "i just think it's kind of hilarious how you came to that conclusion from socks and sandals alone, but that's why you're the match maker and not me !" with another sip of her wine, celeste can't help but share the excitement. she scoots an inch closer, clapping her hands together as she prepares herself for the tell all. "well, i went out and none of the girls wanted to come with, so i went by myself, obviously. i ended up trying out the cheesiest pick up line i could think of, and it actually worked ? and then we danced for a little, talked some more, and he walked me home. the part that's actually wild to me is that we got to my building and found out we're neighbors ? is that some kind of a sign or am i just delusional ?"

noa scoffs lightly, her hand flicking through the air as if ushering the thought away. sure, he'd make a great addition in that sense, but deep down she truly believes most people deserve and are capable of love, and so she simply cannot help herself. " hmm, so what are you implying here, that my only desire is to make money and that i don't actually care about my clients ? because that's pretty much an insult to my entire existence. i've been setting people up since i was like, eleven. " insult is long forgotten when she earns a laugh, even if she isn't sure it comes from amusement. but his words sadden her, just a little. " that's because unlike the tin man, you already have one. even if you try to hide it. i mean, i'm assuming you're named after apollo, the greek god of light ? do you happen to know what his one weakness was ? " she asks, taking a step closer with a proud smile. " one word, four letters. l-o-v-e. " and sure, history would have it that most of his affairs ended in disaster, but she's, like, totally sure it'll be different for him.

"something tells me i'm JUST A NUMBER to you... like, you don't want me, you want another success story... and if that's what you're after, i'm definitely the worst person for the job." he hopes warning her that he's a lost cause will get her to finally take the hint. it's just about all he can do without explicitly telling her to piss off, which he knows is a bad move. one, he'd never speak to a woman that way. never has, and never will. two, palmview seemed to be working out for him. the last thing he needed was an enemy. especially one that was this well connected. "okay, well don't say i didn't try to save you some time." there's a slight irritation when noa refers to him as just any man, but he chooses to ignore it. it's easier for him to stay silent on the topic of nova. "the grinch of love?" a laugh escapes his lips as he looks at the other. it was just the last thing he was expecting her to say. "well, braunstein, good luck with that. unlike THE TIN MAN, i'm not actively searching for a heart."