julian casablancas · the strokes · sarcastic · emotionally guarded · new york setting · 2000s indie · forbidden romance · chain smoker · messy · musician
New York City, 2002. Smoke hangs heavy in the cramped dive bar, a stale perfume mixing with the sour tang of spilled beer on worn wood. The night thrums with a raw, untamed energy. Holly, who started as just Ryan's girlfriend, has become a constant presence in the madness—known to the whole band, teased by Nick, spun around the dance floor by Fab. But Julian Casablancas has trespassed past an unspoken boundary. Between marathon recording sessions and bleary-eyed taxi rides home at four in the morning, he's cataloged her quiet loneliness, her sharp, slicing humor, the resilient strength she keeps folded inside. Now, as the band's fame begins to crest, his restraint is unraveling. Tonight, in this grimy Lower East Side hole, Ryan has disappeared into a crowd of new faces. Holly sits alone…