8/24/2026
(Gracie)
11:28 Tone posted 116 St. on his story a few minutes ago which I feel like was him giving me his ETA. I’m sitting in the station where the L line comes from both directions. A guy just tried to hit on me and I told him I needed to do some work, so that’s why I’m writing now. This feels like being a kid and waiting at an agreed location cause I got lost. I hope I don’t look lost though.
11:43 We found each other in the L and are now waiting for the Brooklyn bound train. I gave him a banana from my pocket. I hope it wasn’t warm. My hands are sweaty.
(Tone)
11:45 4 Impromptus playing. We started off with this one last time I think. I was a little late today. I got scared that we wouldn’t find each other but we did.
(Gracie)
11:48 it weirdly feels like there’s more suspense now. Even though we’re more comfortable with each other I feel more tension in other ways maybe? I don’t feel like I’m explaining this well. Maybe its cause I’m hungover. Maybe its cause I had coffee. Maybe its just a general antsy-ness. I’ll figure out the rest of this thought later.
(Tone)
11:51 maybe its because the train is more crowded but we are much closer now than we were at the end of the exercise last time. It already feels different. There’s like. This warm buzz feeling that radiates from Gracie. I like it. I think she was worried that this time would be less meaningful than the first but I hope and hypothesize that it is actually more meaningful.
11:55 She put on mo’ liquor. She really likes this song but me too. Gracie doesn’t know this but it makes me think of my roommates from college. They’d love it if I mixed this song haha. I miss them.
(Gracie)
11:57 yesterday I was talking for a while about things that overstimulate me and one was when there’s too many physical parts to juggle. Every time I start journaling Tone holds my phone for me. We talk a lot about space economy in NY.
11:58 Maybe part of it is that I know what this is now and I’m trying to say something different and unique now but its too fried and too transparent and too performative. It feels like there was an oxymoron in there somewhere.
11:59 A lot of the way I talk is through half-baked ideas. yesterday Tone described it like I’m giving offerings of ideas. I liked that. I like that I can speak in a speculative imaginative way and he wonders along with me instead of judging me or trying to explain it for me. This feels harder this time.
(Tone)
12:01 I like some of these indie folk bands Gracie is showing me. I see she queued up Elliot Smith next. Its nice. I don’t feel myself making an effort to feel in sync, we just sorta are. It does feel like we picked up right where we left off. I forgot the name of the song Gracie just showed me but I really liked it.
(Gracie)
12:08 There was suddenly a beautiful cemetery and it feels like a good time to pay respects to the dead, plus I have to pee (but that’s less important) so we got off.
12:15 now that we’re here it doesn’t feel right. Its beautiful but it feels weird that I took him here as if it was planned. Its too sacred and we’re too silly. Its too long and wide and we’re too short and jumbled. A sign outside said no loitering and I wonder if this counts.
(Tone)
12:17 we went to the cemetery near the train station. It reminds me of that stretch of the purple line where you see the gravestones from the train. Gracie and I held hands. I like doing that. Its like a new ability unlocked. This cemetery is so quiet
(Gracie)
12:21 when we hold hands and walk this is the rhythm:
12:25 Stopped to say hi to the grey cat w the red collar. I didn’t pet her but she ran her side along my arm like petting herself, which cats tend to do. I had to spray my whole arm w hand sanitizer so I don’t get a rash. I must seem like a real germaphobe.
(Tone)
12:31 Back on the L at wilson station. I think we will transfer to the A. I have no thoughts my head is empty. I’m having a great time. I was worried today would feel like work or a task that would take it out of me, but I’m really loving this flavor of date. Its so peaceful. Also Gracie is very pretty.
12:35
(Gracie)
12:43 switches lines, waiting to go back to the city. Tone seems to have an agenda. He’s not exactly stressed but there’s something. I don’t really have to pee anymore. I think I was just antsy. A guy is trying to console his almost-puking dog.
12:47 Theres 2 things Tone keeps doing. giving me thumbs up, horizontal or down, either as a mental check in or asking if I like the song. I’m not sure. And some triangle shape w his hands. Going home maybe?
(Tone)
12:49 I’m scared to show Gracie my true unfiltered music taste cuz what if she hates it? Right now its like all the indie folk stuff that I have. We did get on the A but I want to transfer again. I just don’t know where Gracie needs to be at 2. This also now feels like an exercise in remembering things as well. We can’t really share new information so we have to work with what we built up together. you are going to have such a hard time deciphering my handwriting Gracie I’m so sorry!
(Gracie)
12:55 I guess I’m thinking about a lot of things. That cemetery made me think I wanna go hang out at the cemetery at home where Grandma and Grandpa are more. I’m thinking about how comfortable it is to ride the subway with someone you trust your silence with. I’m thinking how quick it was that we connected and felt really comfortable together. I wonder how this feels compared to the last one for him.
1:10 I wonder if it seems strange to people to see a couple in the middle of a Monday. I think that’s probably how we’d be perceived now.
(Tone)
1:13 mannnn. I should not have gone to bed at like 4 am but I can never say no to a late night FaceTime. I wonder what Gracie thinks of all of this. Three day weekend together is kinda a big deal. I hope she’s having as good of a time as I am.
(Gracie)
1:19 it feels like we’re supposed to be doing work but we’re not. Like we’re mutually distracting each other from the mission. we could never be spies together.
1:21 I locked eyes w the lady across us and she was smiling at us. This is my favorite part of talking to someone. Other people’s perception of our compatibility. It says so much about how they feels about us as individuals. I think couples feel more normalized to perceive than single riders.
1:23 also people love to see an interracial couple lol.
1:26 Tone found a station for a bathroom. He’s also been holding my bag on his lap for 10 minutes.
(Tone)
1:32 Gracie put on that new Steve Lacy. Shoutout to ? She’s in the bathroom right now. I think if we were to talk now it wouldn’t feel weird but I like not talking. Gracie nods a lot less now, but it feels like its just easier to communicate now.
(Gracie)
1:39 There was a moment when we passed by a reflective elevator door and saw ourselves holding hands. I’m not sure what felt surprising but somehow it did. Today reminded me of