the downside of traveling for business was that you couldn't enjoy fun events to their fullest. or maybe you could but risk consequences. so he was being measured, taking his time rather than doing what he usually did. he hated it. he stood by one of those bottle tossing booths, staring with an unamused look on his face before he turned to the person standing next to him. "how long do these things usually last before people start to leave?"
"however long someone wants to waste money on trying to win a stuffed animal. i mean, you can give up whenever, but where's the satisfaction in that?" he made enough money to waste on a few games. cassidy isn't much of a pitcher, so he usually avoiding the bottle tossing booths. but today he wanted to take his chances. "i think it's mostly people's ego that keep them going instead of giving up when they should."
Closed starter with Tyler and Atticus @cstlavietes // location: Corn hole toss
“What exactly is the point to corn hole? Like all you do is toss a beanbag into a hole. What’s the point? Are we trying to make them have sex or something?”
antonio watched the entire demonstration with the same expression he might have worn while listening to questionable testimony in court. by the time cassidy successfully snagged a duck on his first attempt, the corner of his mouth had lifted into a reluctant smile. "i see." he folded his arms across his chest and glanced toward the booth attendant as though reevaluating an earlier accusation. "so the game isn't rigged. i'm simply incompetent." the words were delivered with enough dry amusement to suggest he didn't entirely believe them. his gaze shifted to the dinosaur prize now in cassidy's possession. "well, congratulations. you've managed to disprove my theory in under thirty seconds." there was something almost unfair about how pleased the other man seemed with himself. antonio found it mildly irritating. and mildly entertaining. "although," he added, stepping forward to take the fishing rod for his own attempt, "if i fail immediately after that performance, i'm choosing to believe you bribed one of the ducks beforehand." his attention settled on the water as he lowered the magnet toward a passing duck. "for the record, i still maintain that any game involving this much luck is fundamentally suspicious." whether he was talking about the game or life in general was left intentionally unclear.
his smile sort of drops from his face, but it's still faintly there. he feels a tad - just a tad - bad for winning the game on the first try. he guesses it was beginners luck for him. maybe he gloated too much. it's just rare for him to win a prize and he wanted to show his excitement. "i mean if you say you are. i never said that and i certainly didn't mean to make you feel that way." he wasn't sure if the antonio was being serious or not. that's one thing he struggle with having a job that kept him on the phones. he lacks social cues. and doesn't really know how to read anyone in person. "oh thank you. that's hasn't happened to me before. i think i got whatever luck you were lacking." he holds the dinosaur close to his chest. his arms crossed to keep it from falling.
"this really isn't for me. i...i wanted to give it to the kids at the hospital." he couldn't pick up whether or not his enjoyment was bothering the other man. he almost didn't care. cassidy watches antonio take the fishing rod. he doesn't stop him from doing so. he shakes his head and shrugs his shoulders. "i guess if you fail, you may never know if its because you're not good at the game or if i had them rig it. although i don't have that kind of pull." cassidy snorts, shaking his head. "any game that makes you lose all the time until you pay enough money to actually win is suspicious. it's like gambling and hoping that you actually win money instead of losing it."
"Thanks, Cassidy." A practised smile, and a familiar pat on his nephew's shoulder. "Though, between you and me, I have a feeling they were waiting for me to stop talking and let them get to the food." Family has always been complicated, especially on his side. He makes the effort when circumstances demands it, attends the occasional birthday, sends flowers when appropriate, writes checks when necessary. "Settling in alright? Are your parents here?"
"No problem, uncle." He returns the smile, giving the older man a quick nod. "Well there were a few near me who made comments about when the speech will end or how long is this guy going to speak. So maybe your feeling is right." Cassidy immediately thinks he said the wrong thing. But he's already said it and can't take back his words. Things already felt awkward between them since he doesn't feel all too close to his uncle. Even the shoulder tap felt a bit off. But at least his uncle acknowledges him and helps him out when needed. He could ignore him completely, but doesn't. "Yes. For the most part. It's weird not working at night. Or at all." His shoulders shrug at the mention of his parents. "I'm not sure. I came on my own. They said that they'll be here, but I haven't seen them. Have you?"
starter: elena & choose your fighter! [ @astravorestine ]
setting: by the addicted to the bean tent
Elena was actually really particular about how she took her coffee. Five years living in the US and she still hadn’t gotten used to the macchiato they served here, which was how she ended up with one extra coffee in hands. ❝ You wouldn’t be interested in some free coffee, by any chance, would you? ❞ The brunette said while offering the other the to-go cup. ❝ I can tell you I mean well and you can decide whether or not you’ll accept coffee from a stranger. ❞
"you know what? i normally don't accept free food from strangers, but free coffee is an exception. especially when i'm half asleep and trying to enjoy a festival." he was going to pay for his own coffee, but to his surprise he was given a free one. "you kind of saved me money now. i feel like i should get you something in return." it was that guilty conscience of his that makes him feel like he owes her a favor. it was one he developed after getting used to not being the only child after he was adopted. "is there anything you'd like from the festival that i can get for you?"
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." - to kill a mockingbird
(hudson williams, cis male, he/his/him) Someone said they saw [ATTICUS COLE] around Rift Valley the night of Miles Logan’s murder. People are wondering if they had something to do with it. The [26] year old claims to [see black SUV leaving the area] at the time of the murder. They are said to be [LOYAL], which can play to their innocence until you consider they are also [NAIVE]. But who knows if they are telling the truth? Rumor has it, they [ARE] a witness in the investigation. Regardless, the [RIFT RIDER] who happens to be the [1st YEAR PROSPECT] is a suspect, but so is everyone else.
| basic stats; |
name: atticus cole
nickname: atti
age: twenty six
birthday: february 28th
birthplace: seattle washington
current location: rift valley
gender & pronouns: cis male, he/him/his
sexual orientation: pansexual
affiliation & position: rift riders, first year prospect
family: soph, zahir, nico, jason, rhys, romi
| biography; |
Atticus, named after Atticus Finch from his parents favorite book, was born in Seattle Washington. He was his parent’s only child. His dad worked as a construction worker and his mom was an RN. Together they made enough money to keep their little family comfortable. Atticus had a happy childhood. Sometimes he would want a sibling, but his parents never had another child. They didn’t think their schedules and income was compatible for more kids. And Atticus was alright with that. He was their only child and despite how hard they worked, he got all of their attention. One would call him spoiled, but he didn’t really care. He wasn’t much of a sharer anyways. The little family was pretty content in Seattle.
But then his grandma in Rift Valley got sick. His parents having been from the area before moving to Seattle after his mom got pregnant. They didn’t want to raise Atticus in such a violent and gang infested area. Neither of his parents were involved in the gangs. They were just aware of how dangerous they were. And well they didn’t want their son caught up in it. They had promised to never return. With his dad’s mom sick, they had no other choice. And together they went back to Rift Valley.
His mom stopped working full time as an RN to take care of her mom. His dad decided to continue working in construction. They moved into his grandma’s home that also housed his uncle. It was a tight and crowded home, but it was home. There was more action going on than Atticus was used to. He was still a bit spoiled, but he felt like he was less forgotten about due to his mom being busy with his grandma and his dad working odd hours just to stay away. For once in his life he felt like he hardly saw his parents and that they were starting to forget he was still their kid. He had to share his parents, especially his mom, with others. Atticus just being an eight year old kid didn’t like that. But there was nothing he could do. Life went like that for a bit. Busy parents, an uncle who didn’t help much, and his grandma who was close to the end. It was a lonely life for Atticus when no one paid attention to him. And that attention he wanted from is parents was generated by him acting out and doing things that he shouldn’t. It wasn’t good attention. It was bad. He had their attention, then as soon as he got it back, it was gone in a flash.
It was almost two years after they moved back to Rift Valley when his grandma passed away. He was ten now. Having gotten used to taking care of when his parents were too busy to care. Sure they fed him, bought him clothes, but neither had time to pay attention to their son. His mom had started working part time for extra income after his dad got injured on the job and qualified for disability insurance. Even his uncle had gotten a job to help out or at least get himself more money since he couldn’t live off of his mom; her social security was limited that he tended to take for himself.
This all happened before her death. But after her death, Atticus had hoped things would change and go back to how they were before they moved back to Rift Valley. Maybe even go back to Seattle. But they never did. His mom focused on work too much and ended up taking on long shifts after another. His dad lost his disability insurance and found himself a job paid him good but not enough. Somehow they managed to find a way to at least feed Atticus and get him off to school. Until there was no one left.
One day when he got home from school, there wasn't an adult in sight. His parents and uncle were all gone. There was no note left or even food for him to reheat himself.
" don't you think this thing is a lil boring? " they ask looking bored with drink in hand. it all just felt so static. everyone just partying it up, something scottie could never get into. before he can even respond to the first question, another pops up earnestly. " so here's a question: do you think someone's gonna get chopped tonight? the spooky letters say he will or do you think he's bluffin'? " call her morbid or crazy but that topic of discussion seemed far more interesting than listening to what new shoes some college girls bought over the weekend.
Cassidy lets out a heavy sigh, before turning to look at her. His shoulders shrug, knowing all too damn well that his senses are on high levels. “It’s kind of boring. All I’ve really been doing is eating a bunch of food and getting fatter.” He had been thinking about the killer on the loose and whether or not any one of them were safe. The letter they got said one wasn’t going to make it. He couldn’t help thinking he doesn’t want to be that person and how would he escape if something did go wrong. “I…I don’t think the killer is bluffing. I think there’s a good chance someone could be a victim tonight. I have been trying to plan my escape route if needed. But not much space for wheelchairs if people start running.” He was actually wondering when someone would bring up the threat they all got.
"ohhh, that looks good!" pam looked over at the other, eyes focused on the food rather than the who. she had somehow lost track of lola, but figured she'd grab them both a snack on her way to finding her. "where did you find that?"
"it's very tasty. i think i tried too many funnel cakes. i got a strawberry one and now one with nutella." maybe he shouldn't be eating too much. he might gain a few extra pounds, which was something he didn't want. "i found it at the funnel cake stand. it's free. can't really beat that! and it makes it taste better."
"d-do you reckon they'd let us do our own face paint if we ask nicely?" rosa was caught in that brilliant, always-too-short moment where the booze had kicked in enough for her to forget how much the world scared her. this was what was left, a disarming kind of enthusiasm that spilled from her smile, this sparkle in her eyes. she had been eyeing up the face paint booth, hadn't been able to help herself, especially because one of the nearby signs promised it was glow in the dark face paint. "i can -- i can do yours. i'd be, like, so good at it, i promise."
"yea, i do! 'cause the ones doing the face paint are probably exhausted. who wouldn't want a break, right?" he always enjoyed the little things in life like face painting. it gave him a sense of realness that took him away from his job. doing fun things helped balanced the pressure and stress being a dispatcher gave him. it healed his anxiety. and if he had to steal face paint just to get normalcy, he will. cassidy's smile reaches across his features. "you can! i do believe you'll be good at it. but i can't make any guarantees i'll be any good. but i do draw a killer flower."
“Of course,” Adrian replies, easily. “But it might be easier if you let me help you in instead, right?” He stepped in front of the wheel chair, leaning in a bit into Cassidy’s space. “Is that alright with you?”
"Wonderful!" Cassidy starts to move himself towards one of the photo booths, but stops as soon as Addrian leans into him. "Um...yea that's right. It is easier." He bites down on his bottom lip, nibbling gently. "Yes, it's fine with me. You can help." He adjusts himself in his chair and gently moves his legs apart. "I've been working on standing and taking steps with my physical therapist. If you just place your arms under my armpits, I can stand. And..and we'll go from there." It may not be easy choice, but it'll get them there; slowly.
antonio found himself standing beside someone at one of the festival game booths, watching participant after participant fail miserably at winning a stuffed animal. after another missed attempt, he glanced sideways. "i'm beginning to think the game is rigged." his expression remained perfectly serious despite the obvious joke. he reached into his pocket and handed over enough money for a round before nodding toward the game. "go ahead. prove me wrong."
“how is a magnetic ducking game rigged? you just hold out the stick and try to land it over a duck. how hard is that?" he asks the other man, coming up to hopefully take a turn. he saw animal that he wants to win and donate to the children's ward at the hospital. "you're just not trying hard enough, dude." cassidy sees the other pay the attendant. he picks up the stick himself and reaches it out towards a duck. "see? one's swimming by. all you gotta of do is landed it above one," he makes the motion to send the stick gently down above a duck. "and you hope for the best." maybe he has advantage since he's closer to the top of the booth. he only thinks this as he gets a duck on the first try. "see it's not that hard!" he laughs, looking at the guy after picking a dinosaur as his prize.
dededos
areudirty
vaporwave
turnnoffyourmind
titsay
jacobvanloon
