"But good on him for having the balls to shoot his shot." No matter how little of his confidence he'd left with, she could still give props where it was due. Hopefully he'd gather himself enough to try his luck with someone that was more suited for him. "I should have pointed him in the direction of the croweaters. They'll be busy tonight but I feel like one of them would have taken pity on him enough to help him lose his v-card." A chuckle followed, peering towards the group of women and then back at Rafi.
"It's been going good. Money still confirmed that I have the hottest ass in the room. I told him I'd break his hand if he touched it— so all is well in the world."
She handed a last beer off before she walked around the bar to join Rafi. "What about you? Are you here with anyone?"
"He probably should have shot his shot at some girl at a preppy bar, drinking her weight in cosmos, not," he paused, shooting her a shit eating grin as he gave her a once over, as if how far from a prissy, lightweight she was was self explanatory.
A chuckle escaped him as he shook his head. "Good to know Money hasn't gone blind in his old age." he shot Isabel a wink. Sure, he gave her shit most of the time, and yeah, she was Diego's kid, but that didn't mean he didn't have eyes.
He watched as she walked around the bar, turning his body to face her as she did and leaning his elbow against the bar. At her question, his gaze unintentionally flicked over towards earlier mentioned croweaters before meeting her gaze head on. “As for me—nah. Just me tonight. Figured I’d see what kind of trouble I could find.” A beat, then with a teasing tilt of his head, “Looks like I already did.”
What the hell was she still doing here? She had her drink, devoured half a plate of food hours ago, conversed with the group of unlikely friends that she somehow had still managed to keep. It was arguably her time to go and yet, something kept her rooted in place like she was enjoying the people watching way too much. And no, God no, it wasn't Rafael. Not if you outright asked her and gave Amarie the opportunity to deny, deny, deny. Nothing she would ever admit to. His presence was just all too domineering and overwhelming that the brunette had to try her damned best to act oh so indifferent to him.
Especially when she considered the fact that if he didn't outright cut her out of his life without a single word she probably would have been right there beside him, attached at the hip, who knows what else.
Or, even better, neither one of them would have been there. Maybe not even stuck in the same old Charming.
She avoided him, alright. It wasn't like he made an effort until that very moment anyway━ but whatever she did was with purpose and used to create distance between the once upon a time pair.
Her saving grace in the form of a beautiful blonde croweater ditched her side in favor of someone twice her age and left her ripe for the picking. Rafael approached, using that moment of weakness and Amarie had no windows she could jump out of. His presence alone had her sucking in a deep breath. It wasn't like she had much of him at all over the last four years and the months he was back? Amarie didn't give him the time of day. His space was occupied anyway.
Rafael all but got rid of personal space just to grab a drink and Amarie pulled in a breath, shuffling herself to recreate the gap that he just got rid of. "Why wouldn't you?" Amarie breathed in reply before censoring herself. Yes, she knew why. She wasn't this club's biggest cheerleader. A lot happened in a short span of four years, though. "I could say the same for you." Her lips came together. Smooth and tight. "And you look thrilled."
He noted the distance she was quick to recreate between them, and god, if he didn't wish he could close it again. The two used to be inseparable, practically joined at the hip. And while part of him wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and get the hell out of Charming, the more logical part of him, the part who knew he'd blown his chances of ever getting to do that, just wished he could at least get their friendship back.
He forced a cheeky smile, affecting a light demeanor despite how shitty he felt. "Oh, that's right. I forgot you were one of the OG members of the Sons of Anarchy fan club." Quirking a brow, he shot her a look that said they both knew damn well this wasn't her usual scene. But as she turned the question back to him, his smirk faltered.
So did his gaze. He couldn't look her in the eyes and lie to her. Never could. "Still adjusting to being back. That's all." With a sigh, he ran a hand down his face, unable to stop the brief display of frustration. It was just too hard to put on any sort of facade with Amarie. Even if they were still estranged, her presence was far too disarming.
"So, you going to finally tell me how you've been the last couple years?" He tried to play it off, like he was teasing her, like her answer didn't have the power to make or break him. But he didn't do very well.
𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 — the clubhouse, main room, saturday evening
𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐒 — closed for @ambcrskies
“⸻don’t look now,” Sami subtly gestured with the roped stick of cherry licorice in her hand, “but I think you’ve just earned me another enemy.” The blonde in question had been spearing her with sharp glances from across the room for going on five minutes solid. Honestly. Five, soon to be six. She was counting. “I’m not even sure she’s blinking.”
It was uncomfortable, annoying, and, yeah, a little bit creepy.
Unwilling to find out who might’ve ultimately won their silent battle of ‘who will stop staring at who first’, Sami finally swiveled, long legs loosely parting around Rafi’s hips on the leather couch.
Did he sleep with her or something? No, don’t ask that.
Did he want to? No. Don’t ask that, either.
"Maybe you should go say hi." Wait. The fuck?
Not where she saw her next words going, actually. Not even close.
A chuckle clipped short in Sami's throat—tight, reedy, and totally fine. "I just mean, I'll be cool by myself if you'd rather... you know." Indulge other company for the evening. Like the stupidly gorgeous, resting bitch-that's-my-next-meal face blonde. "Just because I'm having a shit time tonight doesn't mean you have to be, too. I won't be upset." Mostly. "If you wanna go say hi."
Rafi followed the tilt of Sami’s licorice baton, caught sight of the blonde, then leaned back into the couch with a low laugh that rumbled in his chest. “That one?” His eyes flicked back to Sami, sharp and amused. “She can stare holes in me all she wants, doesn’t mean I owe her a damn thing.”
He shifted, forearm draping across the back of the couch behind her shoulders, casual in appearance but there was definitely a underlying message he was trying to get across to any onlookers. “And for the record, I’m not goin’ anywhere. If she’s pissed ‘cause you’re sittin’ here with me, that’s her problem to choke on, not yours.”
His gaze lingered a beat too long, something warmer than the usual easy smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Besides, Sami, you think I’d trade your company for somebody who looks like they’re tryin’ to hex me from across the room?” He snorted, shaking his head. “Nah. I’m right where I wanna be.”
Shifting just enough that his knee brushed her leg, he leaned in, focusing his attention on Sami, on her bad night. "So, what's making tonight so shit?"
"I did my civic duty just now, Rafi. I would have left that kid traumatized and shattered if I gave him a shot. He was way over his head and didn't realize it." Her hands landed on the bar as she tilted forward, gaze trailed in the distance where the young kid had scurried off to. "It was my good deed of the day. Now, what'dya want to drink?" She reached for her own beer and took a swig, gaze finally on him.
Nodding his head, he quickly acknowledged the accuracy of her words. "Fair point." A chuckle escaped his lips as he watched her for a minute. "You would have chewed him up and spit him back out before he even knew what was happenin'." That was part of what he appreciated most about Isabel. She could go from being the 'mother hen' of the club one second, to tearing a guy's ego to shreds the next. She was a dichotomy and it was always fun to see which side of her he'd get next.
He turned to the bar and let out a low sigh. Yeah… it was time for a drink. No question. Grabbing the bottle of Jack, he poured a shot straight into his red solo cup, knocked it back hard, then chased the burn with a swig of Budweiser. He exhaled through his nose, a rough, satisfied sound. “That’s more like it.”
Beer still in hand, he turned back to her, the whiskey already taking the edge off. “So,” he said, voice a little looser now, “how’s your night goin’?”
closed starter: tripp monroe / @cfstrife
location: block party
Rafi hadn't really felt like partying. It had been a long ass week, with a few metaphorical fires that needed putting out at the shop and a new round of chemo for his mother. It was beginning to feel like he was carried the weight of the world on his shoulders and he wasn't sure how much longer he could make do.
He needed to get deeper into the club, needed to gain their trust back so he could be involved in the more lucrative dealings with the cartel. So, he showed up for the block party, putting on a brave face, despite the desire to lock himself away in his room for the night and not see a single person.
On his way to grab a burger, he came to a halt as a brawl erupted directly in front of him. Shaking his head, he noticed a familiar face watching from the sidelines and made his way over. "Watching instead of joining in? I'm impressed, hermano," Rafi said, his voice laced with the teasing tone he clearly meant, nodding toward the scuffle they were both watching. Truthfully, Tripp had impressed him in a lot of ways lately. Rafi knew he’d never be able to fully express how grateful he was that his club brother had stepped up to watch over the shop while he was away.
closed starter: amarie perez / @outlawoverture
location: the block party
As Rafi began to trudge through the parking lot of the clubhouse, heading out to begrudgingly join the festivities, the sight of Amarie had nearly taken his breath away and stopped him in his tracks. It always did. Always had. But seeing her here tonight felt like suddenly gravity had shifted and now he was orbiting her.
He kept an eye on her throughout the night, his gaze finding her in the sea of people every once in a while. It was like no matter what he did, he was always keenly aware of her, couldn't escape her. And finally, when he just couldn't stay away any longer, he approached her.
"Amarie." he greeted quietly but loud enough to still be heard over the raucous music thumping around them. Her name came out just as much question as greeting, as if he couldn't tell if she'd even bother to acknowledge his presence. She had been standing by the drinks table, talking with a friend, but in that moment, he had eyes only for her. As he leaned around her to grab a beer, her scent drifted up to meet him. It was soft, haunting, and impossibly familiar, serving as a reminder of how deeply woven into his life she had once been, an ache he hadn’t realized was still there.
"Didn't expect to see you here." Again, it wasn't so much a statement as a question. But he couldn't let an opportunity like this, to finally talk to her, to be in her presence for more than a split second, slip through his fingers.
closed starter: isabel reyes / @wildheartcd
location: block party
Rafi watched her for a minute, keeping an eye on things as she clearly met with a customer before he approached. He noticed the second the kid started to get mouthy, and watched with a smirk as Isabel shut him down just as quick. When the kid slunk off, Rafi closed the distance, walking up behind her, he leaned over her shoulder. "Aw come on now, Iz, you didn't wanna at least let the kid think he had a shot?"
closed starter: dean hesse / @outlawoverture
location: block party, but inside the club house
Rafael had been tasked with grabbing another bag of ice from the kitchen. And truthfully, he was grateful for the excuse to step away from the party for a bit. Since coming back to Charming, since coming back to the Sons, it had felt like Rafi was putting on a show for everybody, swallowing back his concerns over the direction the club was going in, what they were all getting themselves into. It was a lot to juggle, and the reprieve, even if just for a moment, was needed.
But that reprieve ended far too quickly as Rafi heard footsteps approaching the kitchen. Glancing up, he spotted Dean making his way through the clubhouse. Rafi felt the familiar pang in his chest at the sight of his old best friend, his brother in nearly every sense of the word. "Surprised you're not out there winning a drinking contest."
( carlos miranda, 40, cis-male, he/him ) isn’t that RAFAEL MORALES? heard you’re working as an OWNER OF MORALES AUTO BODY/TAIL GUNNER FOR SOA and have been here in charming for HIS WHOLE LIFE UP UNTIL SEVERAL YEARS AGO & HE JUST RETURNED 10 MONTHS AGO. you somehow remind me of GREASE STAINED JEANS, WALKING AWAY TO TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AGONIZING OVER HOW TO PROTECT THOSE HE LOVES, and i also heard you are AGAINST the crime in town. hope you’re keeping yourself safe!
introduction
Name: Rafael 'Rafi' Morales
Age/Birthday: 40. August 15, 1985
Gender/Pronouns: Cis-male. He/him
Birthplace/Length of Time in Town: Charming, CA. His whole life except for when he moved away 4 years ago. He's been back 10 months
Profession: Owner of Morales Auto Body/Tail Gunner for samcro
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
Relationship Status: Single
Religion: Non-practicing Catholic
Faceclaim: Carlos Miranda
tldr
TW: death, mention of murder, imprisonment, cancer
born and raised in charming, ca by his mother and older brother because rafi's father passed away shortly after rafi was born
the three of them became a team, rafi and carlos picking up as much slack around the house as they could while their mom tried to keep the family business, morales auto body, afloat
when rafi was 16 years old, his brother was killed. rafi was devastated. carlos was his best friend, his closest confidant, and his biggest role model. with carlos gone, rafi was a mess, with seemingly no one to turn to. enter samcro
rafi found a home, found a family with the club his brother used to be apart of. especially with diego reyes, one of the founders of the club. the tail gunner took rafi under his wing as he prospected for the club. over the years, rafael devoted himself to the club, and worked his way up to the position of vice president
but as the club started to take a new direction, rafi found his 'family' was beginning to go down a path he couldn't follow. his discontent simmered for several years, but seven years ago, before he had the chance to act on it, cops raided the clubhouse and found weapons connected to a murder stashed there. without a second thought, rafi took the blame, claiming the murder weapon was his, no one else in the club knew about them. rafi was arrested
eventually, the cops realized the guns weren't actually his nor had he used them. but there wasn't enough evidence to go for anyone else in the club. rafi was found guilty of obstructing justice with a sentence of 2 years
when he got out, rafi took the opportunity of having done time for the club, to leave. he left charming, left the club, left everything behind
for 5 years, rafi travelled around the southwest, never staying in one place too long. but a year ago, rafi got the call that he never wanted to receive. his mother had been diagnosed with stage 3 esophageal cancer. of course, they immediately rushed to treatment, but that treatment was expensive. rafi couldn't afford to cover the costs of treatment just working occasional mechanic jobs.
with no other options, rafi returned to charming, rejoined the club, unbeknownst to everyone, with the hopes of making money through their less than reputable business. he’d left the club to hold onto what little soul he had left, but desperation has a way of grinding down convictions. When his mother got sick, those morals suddenly felt like a luxury he couldn’t afford
personality
( + ) virtuous, protective, principled, devoted,
( - ) stubborn, can be dogmatic, rigid, once he gets a plan of action in his head, it's hard to convince him to stray from it
seems like he always has too much on his mind to pay attention to the small details, but can actually be quite thoughtful
cares incredibly deeply for people the people he trusts
is always thinking of ways to protect or take care of those around him, a natural leader
wanted connections
connections from his time away from charming; when rafi left town, he didn't really have a plan. he kind of bopped around the southwest on his bike. he'd find mechanic jobs wherever he was, but he didn't really settle anywhere for long.
childhood bestie/crush; this will be a wc submitted to the main eventually! but this person and rafi grew up together, they were practically joined at the hip. there were times rafi knew his feelings for her were more than just friendly, but he didn't want to risk losing the friendship. she might have had feelings too, COMPLETELY utp! but they remained friends, even into adulthood, until rafi left town. when he did, he cut all ties to his life back in charming, except for his mother, and that meant this person too.
the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else, right?; since bringing sami back to charming with him, rafi has done his best to not read into things with her. every once in a while, when he notices himself getting a little too comfortable with their dynamic, he tries to force himself to disregard even the opportunity to explore his feelings by sleeping with someone else. there can be feelings on your character's side, maybe even on rafi's side too, up to discuss, or it can truly just be a scratch the itch sort of thing. but I think either way, this is someone rafi could actually see potential with, if he can just get out of his own way.
tangentwithtanner
yousharknotpass
titsay
germansingergirl
blakekathryn
pixelskylines
prguitarman
