Jayesh Acharya
thirty-three
Half Moon Bay local
Musician + Radio DJ
❛ The greatest glory in living
lies not in never falling,
but in rising every time we fall.. ❜
"I do, don't I?" Kaden replied smugly, which wasn't the alcohol talking but her own teasing personality. Typically she was humble, modest, though there were times when her playful confident side wanted to shine through. "I had fun." The words had tumbled with a hum under her breath, dazed smile pulling on her lips, hidden from Jay's eyesight. She found herself inhaling the scent of Jay's shirt--fresh laundry? She'd always liked his scent, had always found it comforting, managing to quicken her heartbeat ever so slightly. In a way, she'd grown to associate the scent with home, in an odd sort of way. It was solace. It was Jay.
"Unfortunately?" She questioned in disbelief, uncertain if she'd heard correctly, wanting for it to be the truth. "What about the condo and Miami, mm? You didn't want to jet off with her to the opposite side of the country?" A thought that hadn't actually crossed her mind, a somberness that followed with the realization. Alcohol in her system causing her to just be a touch more vulnerable than usual to how she felt about him.
And then Jay laughed, and it all fell away. Her own laugh following when he called her out, hands flying up and yelling, "Tada!" Hands fell to her side and before she had a chance to truly register what was happening, Kaden suddenly found herself in Jay's arms. Another laugh spilled, and her arms flung around his shoulders holding him close. This was how they were, this was their relationship. And it was something too precious for Kaden to lose, for her to ruin. "I'm not that drunk, I can walk!" Don't let me go. "Mary Jane--come on, girl! Time to go home. Uncle Jay's being a spoilsport." Pulling back, Kaden gazed up at Jay from where she was cradled, finding herself simply taking a moment to feel. Then, with nimble fingers, she removed his signature frames and put them on. "What do you think? Can I pull these off?"
The look of disbelief Jay cast upon Kaden should've been visible to her, even through his glasses. His classic, rose colored frames that he wore everywhere. No matter the season or time of day. They were a staple in Jay's style, and he rarely took them off. Yet alone let people wear them, even women he sought to impress. Though, when Kaden stole them from his face all he could do was roll his eyes. Mostly, because his hands were occupied holding her up. "Drunk ol' Dennys.." It was obvious he wasn't that annoyed as he laughed, a burly sound that shook his chest.
"Your momma's drunk Mary Jane..." He spoke to the dog like she was a person, or even following them towards the car for that matter. Jay was pretty sure the dog was rolling around in grass where he'd first found Kaden. One needy baby at a time, though. "..drunky...drunky.. drunk.." He cast his eyes down on Kaden as he repeated himself. His dark eyes searched for her emerald but couldn't see them behind the glasses. "...your eyes are pretty.." What might've been a sweet or tender moment was interrupted by Jay's attempt to put Kaden in the car. An act he mostly struggled with because the door, but when he was past that he got her into her seat without hitting her head. As he buckled her seatbelt he added, "Don't hide them." Then took his glasses back.
Wrangling the dog was easier than Kaden, and Jay was back in the driver's seat turning on a song in an instant. "Alright ladies... where are we going? Taco Bell.. In N Out.. The Diner?" Late night drinks meant late night eats in Jay's book.
who: closed | @acharyajayesh
when: over the weekend
where: Wags and Whiskers / We Woof You event
There was something about the energy of puppies she identified with, and she wasn't going to dig too deep into what it might be. Still, as she strolled around the event, waiting for the appointed time to see Jack's band and potentially gtfo, she found herself drawn to the adoption area specifically.
She needed another curious and creative creature to destroy her house like she needed another hole in the head.
Still.
And then she saw that one guy, the one who usually had some kind of a come-on for her that she wasn't really sure how she felt about. He was just off somehow. But he didn't seem particularly dangerous or anything and, at this point, he sort of already knew where she lived. So what the hell.
"Thinking of taking one home?" She asked as she sidled up to him, her bubble tea dwindling even further and she took a small sip.
"Hi Syd." Jayesh greeted his neighbor from the floor of a room they called Wags N Whiskers but felt more like tongues to the face and claws in his knees. Animals were cute, but even he knew better. He was barely taking care of himself most days. Admittedly, without his mom and his best friend, Kaden, he didn't think he'd even manage that.
Before he could answer a puppy jumped up and knocked Jay's signature, red sunglasses from his face, and he decided he'd had enough. With a huff, after he returned his glasses to his face, he stood and took a couple steps back to better see another resident of the harbor. "A boat doesn't feel like the right home for a pet, but you definitely should... I could come by for walks. With the dog. You too. If you want."
When the fuck were they actually getting paid for this unfortunately? The answer was rarely. "I'm not gonna lollygag." He promised, though really, he probably would be. He got distracted easily. "Are we playin' the usual or learnin' new stuff?" He was on a drum kick, honestly, happy to learn new shit. "I got a new fill I'm gonna be adding in to whatever song it fits with. So don't look back at me like I'm nuts when it happens."
There was no sense of urgency when it came to the band's success. At least, not for Jayesh. He lacked the focus to truly be dedicated to anything in life, but the trio had managed well throughout the years, and with the addition of Jackson Jay thought they were doing even better. "I think it's time for something new. Something good. Something really good. You know, like the stuff we play on The Bay." The Bay was the radio station Jay DJed at, and his only source of income since the band thing didn't really pay. "Tell me you got some ideas, J?"
Kaden: *immediately* i'm not just gonna show up at your place you goon.
Kaden: i mean MUSIC AND LYRICS but it's always good🍁
Kaden: if you're busy just lmk when you're free next
Ever the perfectionist, in the last 30 minutes Kaden was making sure her guitar was tuned, her vocals were warmed, and her nerves were jittery enough to become fuel to ignite the performance flame. Wig adorned, her signature, Scarlet Witch red for passion. Tonight was a gig she'd helped organize, unpaid, but if they failed (which she had every confidence they wouldn't), it would be all on her. She was trying to get them out there, to get them to be bigger, to let the world know their talent because she truly believed in them. The t-shirts she'd designed were displayed, the crowd was alive and ready to party. Her heart hammered in her chest fast as a rabbit's, and when Jay called for their mantra did she fish out their Fireball shots. An offer if anyone else wanted to partake.
"To not fucking up." She said, cracking open her Fireball and downing it in one swig. "Break a leg out there, Jackson. Give them hell!" @justinedwards @jackscndarby @acharyajayesh
He was used to performing, well as much as he could be as a recreational drummer. The band was, well, not as successful as he had hoped when they had formed in high school but that never discouraged him. They were good. They always sounded good. And performing was good publicity, nice work if you can get it, all that shit. He had been practicing his beats and fills on his legs, making sure he had the timing correct.
Being raised by musicians, he was used to mantras before going on stage. If only he actually used them himself. "If we do fuck up, it's not on the ones keepin' the rhythm." He added, happily taking a shot of Fireball before making a face. Liquid courage was definitely very real. "We're starting to feel complete."
There probably should have been a part of Jackson that worried he had no skills refined enough to pull off an actual show. But he had raw talent and charisma in spades, so the nerves that flitted around in his chest had nothing to do with anxiety. Anticipation, however...
His fingers gripped the neck of his bottle, feeding off the energy of the band and returning it tenfold. As he brought it to his lips, he swallowed it down, a little dripping over the sides of his mouth. Went down smooth, though.
He swiped the back of his hand over his mouth and then thrust the bottle into the air. "Fuck yeah, Martian Haze! Let's go kick some ass!"
Despite being on stage, Jay lit up a joint he had pre-rolled. A stiff drink wasn't enough for him. He lived his life cross faded, though he looked at marijuana more like medicine. The man didn't think right without it. It calmed his nerves and gave him a confidence liquid courage lacked. He was more creative and patient when he smoked, too.
"I ever tell you all about the first time I had fire ball...?" He most certainly had. At least, with Kaden and Justin. They'd heard all his stories. Whether they wanted to or not. They were Jay's closest friends, and he was sure Jack would join those ranks soon enough. "..I was fifteen..." He spoke between puffs of his joint until he was handed the fireball bottle, then he took a few swigs of that. "..staying the night at Zach Wright's house. You know, the guy whose family everyone thought committed arson at their donut shop for the insurance money..." Jay talked shit about the townspeople of HMB like an old woman, mostly because he heard all the good dirt from his mom and her bridge club friends. "..threw up ALL over his bathroom after. So.... here's to Martian Haze, and hoping I don't do that tonight....."
Having already used up his ticket for a drink, Charlie had bought himself a second to loosen himself up. In the last five years he'd developed something akin to social anxiety, even if it was really just his paranoia that people could possibly see the evil deed on him. Maybe the drink was because he'd also seen Devi and Emilia, and on a holiday such as this that felt like bad karma coming up for revenge.
"Who'd you steal that from?" It looked like there was some candy or chocolate in Jay's hand and given their relationship and history, Charlie couldn't resist a little razzing. "You want a drink?" The follow-up came with his approach, meeting his little brother half way as curiosity got the better of him. "I didn't think this would be your thing —"
After spending a hayride through the tunnel of love with his ex girlfriend Jay didn't really know what to do with himself. His emotions were all over the place, and he sought solace in the food buffet. Everything was disgustingly romantic, reminding him even more of his relationship troubles.
While he begrudgingly munched on a heart shaped cookie, Jay was joined by an old friend. A big brother, just not biologically speaking. "It was free with my ticket." He spoke with his mouth full like the man child he was. "Yeah... yeah I'll take a drink. Wash down this dry ass cookie.." The cookie was actually delicious, Jay was just resentful of it's symbolism. "Puppies...parties... I can get down with it."
"Too bad I can barely take care of myself or else I'd be all over that one." He admitted, "Fuck the mail man. He always brings me those fuckin' bills." He just wanted to live free of well, everything. "You're fully vetted too? Don't have any bad shit in your past?"
A nod of agreement tousled dark curls that hung like a curtain around Jay's face. He could barely take care of himself. Most days, his friends or his mom bailed him out of whatever shit he'd managed to find his way into. Shit he wasn't about to admit to someone he didn't know. "What?! No... no way... nope. Never committed any crimes or anything like that."
"i'm pretty sure you could fit a dog on your boat, maybe a small one." ivy grinned leaning forward. she and jay weren't exactly best friends but they ran in the same circles and he'd been around kaden enough when ivy was that she was comfortably familiar with his presence. "hi jay! it's good to see you." her eyes flicked over the dog, giving her a tender scratch behind the ears. "shouldn't you be warming up with the band? or do i just have no idea how preparing for a performance is?"
The houseboat was a sizable living quarters, but it wasn't so much the size that worried Jay. Rather, the lack of grass. He didn't know a lot about dogs, but he knew they needed grass. People said yards were good too, and the boat dock didn't seem like an adequate substitute. There was also the issue of sheer responsibility. Something he lacked the most basic skills at. "Hey, Vy." The greeting came muffled against the head of a dog. "Nah, we'll be alright." Martian Haze didn't do a lot of practicing, per se. Jay liked to imagine they performed best with a little improv. "You coming to watch the show?"
Electric. That was the word Kaden would use to describe the gig. A feeling that had been a rush, a feeling that had crescendo’d but still hadn’t fallen yet. Kaden didn’t want the night to end, not when she had so much energy.
“See! I told you!” She’d knelt down to scoop the golden retriever puppy into her arms, holding her up against her face. “Mary Jane! C’mon, Jay, it’s the best name…you’re just jealous. Besides, Mary JAYne? It’s already got JAY in it.” Unfiltered, Kaden would’ve otherwise blushed at what she’d let slip. As though naming a dog after her friend was going to be taken more intimately than she’d realized. Setting down the pup to let her scamper around with the puppies that still lingered with their new owners, Kaden moved to drop her head onto his shoulder and was quiet a moment.
“Did you have fun?” It was asked with just a touch of genuine concern, ready to be match the mood Jay set, referring to both the event entirely and the gig itself.
“Did you find Sharon?” And she sat back up with an annoyed eye roll. Which would probably be taken as a normal natural reaction or unnoticed all together. It sank, slightly, her high from the night, threatened to become a low. She was surprised he was even with her at all right now, which caused her to look back at him.
“Why are you here, anyway, Jay? Shouldn’t you be basking in the Martian Haze fan base and attention?” Did she truly think so lowly of him? Her lips pressed together, managing a playful sort of smile rather than the jealousy that wanted to let itself out in that moment. Not tonight, a silent plea, a strong-willed wish to let them continue as they were, how she always wanted them to stay.
Mary Jane. The Jay in Jane. He could hardly argue. It was like, the second best choice in his mind. "You always have good ideas." Good ideas, solutions to all his problems. He didn't know where he'd be without her, honestly. From his personal life to his professional. He wasn't so sure Martian Haze would even be a thing without Kaden. She was in instrumental part of the song writing process. Something about his recent encounter with his ex, India, left him musey to write some things down. By the look of Kaden, now, drunk and playing with Mary Jane, he didn't think tonight would be a song writing night.
"Yeah, yeah... okay. Mary Jane it is.."
A head of blonde hair, fragrant with flowers, fell on his shoulder. A perfect fit once his arm snaked around Kaden's waist, assuring she stayed up. This close he could smell the booze on her breathe. Stronger than even that on his, and he silently wondered when she'd drank so much. Maybe a little bit of the why, too. "Yeah, I had fun. Did you have fun?"
The sweet moment found itself interrupted by the reminder of Sharon. Someone not even a dozen of The Sharon Specials could make Jay forget. "Unfortunately.." He grumbled, oblivious to Kaden's jealousy as he contemplated the Sharon situation.
Before Jay could explain he'd come back for her, Kaden started in about the band and their fan base. It made him laugh. A sound that rumbled in his chest, and echoed in his words. "Now I know you're fucked up." The sum total of Martian Haze's fan base started and ended with their mom's and their mom's friends. "Come on!" Without any real warning, Jay scooped Kaden up, bridal style and started carrying her towards the range rover. "You too, Mary Jane!"
one minute max is about to go stop by a pet stall and the next a drunk idiot collides into him and his frame collides with a male standing near by. its the fact the idiot is too drunk to even process coherent words that stops the ceo from reprimanding him. he watches for a moment as the younger male stumbles away mumbling an apology but he can't be sure. he turns to the other figure he collided into, and its when he realizes he's dropped the other's plate. "sorry about that, drunk idiot, and it's only two pm." he shakes his head, "what were you having? I can't get you another?" offering the younger male a polite smile.
When someone toppled into him, Jay didn't even realize. As his balance went he assumed he'd had one too many of The Sharon Special from the bar. A cocktail of his mom's friend's making that he was pretty sure was just straight liquor and a splash of Sprite. 'sorry about that drunk idiot' Was he talking about him? It took Jay a minute to steady himself, and make heads or tails of the situation. "Hey man, no worries." The older man looked familiar. Another local to Half Moon Bay, but Jay couldn't name him off the top of his head. "The Sharon special, but I don't know if I need another. Gotta make some noise on a stage later." Which made Jay instantly change his mind. "Actually, yeah. I'll take another. The bartender will know." He said about the unusual drink request.
Since she had been dumped by Jay, the Maine native had done her best to avoid the man at all costs. Mostly because it all still hurt. To have given a year of your life to someone else and for them to treat it so fleetingly, that had really pained India. They had been good and happy, so she had thought, and after she'd brought up the idea of moving in together suddenly their relationship didn't work anymore. It left her feeling unsure of herself, of all the time and pieces of herself she'd given to someone else.
So far the event had been fun. It had been relatively easy to stay away from where Martian Haze were playing, and she mingled with many people that she'd either seen at The Vine or around town. The main reason she had come to We Woof You was for the charity aspect, it had always been important for India to give back when she could. If others hadn't looked out for her then she'd be nowhere. In wanting a break from it all, though, the hayride sounded nice and she was interested in the final result of the student's project. What she hadn't expected was Jay smooshing himself in beside her.
Slightly horrified, the winemaker swallowed hard, and turned her chin toward him. "Oh, no... what are you doing?"
There were a lot of things left unsaid between them. The weight of which hung in the air around them as the wagon began to roll towards the tunnel of love. People onboard made polite, quiet conversation, so he was glad when India's question was less than inflammatory. No need for a screaming match on the hayride. He'd never hear the end of it from his mom, how he'd ruined the SPCA's charity event if they made a scene.
"Well, it's a charity event so... being charitable.." He leaned in a little more with every word he spoke. It was easy to fall back into the gravity of someone whose hills and valleys he'd memorized with his fingers and tongue. "...and a party...so...partying..?" It came out like a question even though it wasn't. Something about the tension and awkwardness between them causing Jay to stumble over his words. "You — nice —good look, fuck. You look nice — good, you seem good. Are you good?"
Liam loved animals and had been thinking of getting a pet but he wondered if he really had the time. With his hours could he really take care of a pet but coming home to a big empty home most times was terrible. Maybe he could invest in a dog sitter or something. The thought for a moment before bending down and smiled petting the dog. “She is amazing and so cute,” he spoke with a bring smile on his face. “It’s always hard to stop myself from adopting because I know I might not have the time due to my hours and all the animals are amazing and so cute.”
When the topic of hours came up Jay knew he and the dark haired stranger lived very different lives. Liam was talking about his work schedule. Something Jay didn't really have. A gig at the local radio station was easy enough. Sometimes, he'd just set up a playlist and peace out for the night. No one ever knew, rather no one cared if they knew. "Cute but a lot of responsibility, you know? The feeding, the walking. It's kind of like a kid.." A thought that put a little fear in Jay's eyes.
The cotton mouth was in full affect, and the water Jay had fished out of his backseat wasn't doing it. "I need a slushie.." He said aloud but mostly as a mental note to himself to to peel out of the parking lot the second they finished their blunt to hit up the slushie shack. The frozen treats were great with an alcoholic topper, but it was too early in the day for that. Wasn't it?
At first, Jay just sort of shrugged at Kaden's question. Was it what he wanted? Maybe. The boat part was. His parents had money, but his father never gave him any, and his mom bailed him out of too much shit to afford a boat on top of it. There were definitely perks to an arrangement with Sharon, and it wasn't like he was seriously dating anyone, anyway. After India he'd sworn off serious relationships. He didn't want to fuck up and ruin anyone else. Jay carried enough guilt for the shit way he'd treated his ex and didn't want to add anymore when he knew he couldn't be better for anyone else.
As Kaden continued to make her points, her motivations completely unbeknownst to Jay, his mind flip flopped back and forth. "I mean... I want the boat... and she has a condo in Malibu... and she'd never keep me from the band, no... no! She loves the band, man. She's the one who bought all those t-shirts last fall at the fun fest. She even said my face should be on the fro- oh. Oh... no, no... you're right. She definitely would... okay, okay. No shacking up with Sharon, but... speaking of shacks... we should get slushies. This cotton mouth-sa bitch."
I need a slushie. The words elicited a gasp to expel from Kaden's lips, as though Jay had solved some brilliant math problem they'd been spending years working on. "Me too! That sounds soo good right now..." Especially sitting in the backseat of a car with music playing and the bass making her seat a massage chair, Kaden wished the slushie was already in her hands. Too lazy to get up, too selfish to want to leave her bubble with Jay.
A bubble she'd maybe prefer to pop considering he was talking about an older woman and she hated the sour taste in her mouth every time he brought up someone he was seeing or hooking up with. Jealousy. There'd been many songs written about it. Kaden had feelings that wanted to bleed onto paper, ones that she couldn't say, masked beneath a melody and played off as nothing more than inspiration, a genius fluke. Even now, she lamented her confinement--how the small space of the car resembled how insignificant she felt in the moments her feelings became aware, how her sobriety slipped beneath and gave away willingly to the lull of inebriation. The comfort of numbness and embracing the aloof atmosphere where she could feel herself here with him. How in the backseat of his car she felt alive.
As Jay rattled off his reasons, Kaden found herself considering them too, head bobbing along slowly in agreement. But she didn't necessarily want to sacrifice Jay for a life of luxury she easily had whenever she visited her parents. But if it made him happy? A sacrifice he would willingly volunteer for. "Hey, you never know...could be a good thing, could be a bad thing. You never know until it happens. Lot of what if's but ultimately it's up to you, Jay." There was a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders that followed, as though she didn't care one way or the other when deep down she really did. But that lid went back on, tightened, smile she wore now gracing her lips as she tugged on the car door. "Let's get those slushies!"
Since moving out of his parent's house, Jay lived on a houseboat in the harbor. He loved his little home on water, but it didn't make owning a pet so easy. Still, he found himself at the adoption event, tempted by the sweet faces of shelter dogs. "This lovely lady's name is Darling. She's a three year old rottie-pit mix who loves to cuddle and eat treats. She doesn't like cats or the mail man. She's fully vetted and heart warm negative. " Jayesh let out a soft chuckle. "Me too, Darling, me too."
