strong and steady

𝐚𝐯𝐢 𝐦𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐧 thirty4. journalist. mountainside.

[avimohan]

𝐚𝐯𝐢 𝐦𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐧. 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫. 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭. 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞.

empty coffee cups, ink stained hands, disarming smiles, midnight writing, stacks of used notepads, vintage band tees, record collection, unpacked boxes, worn leather camera straps, newspaper clippings, candle warmers, postcards, sticky notes, zippo lighter, black and white movies, peppermints, how-to videos.

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋

name: avi mohan.

nicknames: av.

age: thirty4.

dob: december 12.

hometown: jersey city, new jersey.

time in windsor bay: one month.

neighborhood: mountainside.

occupation: journalist at the windsor bay daily.

𝐏𝐇𝐘𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋

height: 6 feet, 1 inch.

build: muscular / athletic.

hair color: dark brown.

eye color: dark brown.

notable injuries/scars: tbd.

𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒 ( tw: none. )

avi mohan was a bundle of curiosity from the very beginning. he was the kind of kid that figured out child locks while the adults struggled to do the same. he was always problem-solving beyond his age and seeking out entertainment that often led to him getting in trouble. he wasn't a bad kid, he just got bored easily. luckily, his parents understood that about him and helped give him creative outlets rather than labeling him a troublemaker.

by his teenage years, he found a passion for journalism. he liked the challenge of research and liked piecing it all together even more. his english teacher seemed to think he had a knack for it, and while he struggled with other courses, writing was never one of them.

he found direction in college. he wanted to lean into investigative journalism. it was a challenge, a career not made for everyone, and that made him want it even more.

after graduation, avi freelanced, accepting jobs with a hunger to uncover buried truths. he's worked some interesting jobs, some high risk, some not so much. he's done things he's not entirely proud of, but hasn't everyone? he worked his last job for nearly a year before pulling out and running to the other side of the country. it was more than he bargained for and even for a man who loved the thrill of the chase, he knew when to call it quits.

so, he packed up his bags and headed to the opposite end of the country. he didn''t pick windsor bay for any specific reason. he just so happened to stumble onto a job posting for a journalist. the safe kind, the kind that covered town events and did fluff pieces meant to entertain. he bought an old cabin in mountainside. it was cheap, but it needs more love than he probably knows how to give.

now, the only question is — can he stay out of trouble, or does trouble find him?

𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒

avi is left handed. he calls it a curse. don't get him started on how the world was made for right handed people. he'll go on for hours.

he loves building his own stories about people in his head. it's dumb, but his mind is always turning over with ideas and he has to find a place to put them.

he has an impressive record collection. it's one of the few things that he actually bothered to unpack when he moved into his place. there's nothing he loves more than putting on a record at midnight while drinking poorly brewed coffee and building his next story.

he can be a bit of an asshole sometimes. it's not entirely intentional. he's just not the type to shy away from uncomfortable situations.

𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐒

likes: the smell of freshly brewed coffee, controlled chaos, learning, people watching, vintage records.

dislikes: the quiet, commitment, right handed things.

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

neighbor(s). the next door neighbor would most certainly hear him burning the midnight oil with various records on rotation. he likes to keep the windows open, even when it's cold out, so the sound probably carries right into their space. an idea could be them coming over one late night when he's working on a piece, and we can go from there, or maybe they have a random run-in somewhere in town and strike up a conversation. can lead to friends, rivals, something in between.

proposition. your muse contacts him for a job. maybe they did their due diligence on him and found a couple of his old pieces. maybe it's to dig up dirt on someone, or maybe they need him to dive in headfirst to uncover something big. at first, he's not going to be up for it, but with the right persuasion and maybe money, he'd be willing to dive in.

mug shot cafe regular. this is avi's favorite place to work. unlike most people who prefer the quiet, he likes the controlled chaos. it helps him think. maybe they've seen him coming in for the past month, or maybe he's the one that's clocked them.

uno reverse. avi is the one that's used to being driven by curiosity, but this muse turns the tables. they're interested in getting to know him and he's hellbent on keeping them at a distance, somewhat fearful that maybe they're tied to the mess he left behind in washington dc.

[avimohan]

poshed and sloshed, coral coast. @holiday-diaz !

"you're just in time for a little chaos," he teased quietly, eyes shifting from the woman who'd just moved into the empty spot at the bar, to a scene that was unfolding just a few feet away. all he'd heard so far was something about an ex being off limits and how it wasn't cool that the other hadn't respected that rule. oh, and how the other dared to argue against it. "should we step in or let them hash it out?"

[avimohan]

java junction, downtown. @itsbrayden-rhodes !

with extra articles on his to-do list, there wasn't much time for him to do anything else other than write. it was all simple stuff — holiday themed quizzes, interviews with event organizers, and fluffer pieces meant to entertain. still, it was a lot to come back to and it didn't seem like there was enough coffee in the world to make it any easier. he'd grabbed his third, maybe fourth cup from the counter, turning with his destination in mind, but he bumped another, spilling a little bit of brew on the floor. "shit. i am so sorry. if it got on you, let me know if i can venmo you some money to get it cleaned." he was too tired to try and charm his way out of it, so humble empathy it was. "seriously, that's all me. are you okay?"

[avimohan]

belmont park, mountainside. @jj-hayes !

nice weather meant an excuse to get fresh air, and that meant pulling his usual workout buddy along to do the same. "hey, man. thanks for meeting me. sorry about going ghost for a little. something happened, had to go back home for a little." at the end of the day, everything worked out, but it made him realize how much better he needed to do with keeping in touch with his family, something that jj knew how to do well. "everything was okay, by the way. just family." het let out a low hum of air, his mouth curved upward as he looked toward the other. "how've you been?"

[avimohan]

avi's place, mountainside. @nainaxvyas !

"now, before you try it, just remember... i was left to my own devices and i can't be held completely responsible for the taste." he stood with his hand wrapped tightly around the wine glass, watching as to read any subtle cues that would tell him what she was thinking. "i'll show you the bottle after," he assured, a nervous smile on his mouth. he'd gone back home to visit his family, and during some downtime, he'd gone into new york and visited a store that held various expensive wines and whiskeys. "i picked it up when i went home. me and a cousin went into manhattan. figured i'd get the expert's opinion on my choice."

[nainaxvyas]

Naina hadn't expected Avi to want to go ahead on this little wine test of sorts but when he'd called, she'd agreed. After all, it was good for business to see if maybe she could really educate newbies on different types of wine. "Your confidence is still there, just try to focus on the basics," she told him with a shrug as she mused over the list herself. The choice was quite good tonight and she was eager to hear what he'd decide on.

She copied him and placed the menu down, her hands clasped in front of her as he asked her how this was going to work. "You're doing the picking, and then we'll see if you can successfully identify the notes." Naina was definitely eager to see his knowledge play out in real time and the wide smile on her face told him as much. "C'mon tell me...what are your thoughts so far?"

[avimohan]

he smiled kindly at the woman who'd offered him encouragement, her kind words going a lot way. "is it just me or does list keep getting longer?" his gaze flicked between the menu and the woman across from him, though he lingered on the latter a little longer than the list. a compliment had danced on his tongue, but it hadn't landed. not yet, at least.

"okay then." with that in mind, he chewed at inside of his cheek and welcomed the low buzz around them. when he landed on one that had a name he liked, he tapped at the menu and smiled a little wider. "about what? this place? it's nice." when he started to speak again, their waiter dropped back, and avi raised his menu to show the wine he'd picked the soldier cabernet sauvignon. "thanks." once the waiter was gone, his focus shifted back to naina. "have you ever been here before?"

[leylademirci]

Leyla glanced up from her mug, halfway through a sip, as he effortlessly slipped into the chair as if it were always reserved for him. She didn't flinch, just blinked, then let out a small breath through her nose, clearly entertained. "You can't just stalk my usual spots," she said calmly. "There's an etiquette. At least pretend to order something first." She put her mug down, her fingers still wrapped around it, as if she craved the warmth. Mornings suited her - calmer, less guarded. "Beat you here?" she scoffed. "I've been up long enough to regret two decisions and I'm still thinking about a third."

When he lowered his voice, her eyebrow raised a bit. She leaned in just enough to meet him, not hiding her interest but not giving too much away either. "Leads?" she repeated, thinking it over. Then, she admitted, "Nothing solid, just a few patterns that keep shifting. And one little detail that keeps pulling me back." She looked at him directly. "So, either I'm getting somewhere, or I'm about to go in a pointless loop." A moment passed, then, a bit playfully, "What about you? You look like you got stuck with a problem you didn't ask for, and decided coffee was cheaper than complaining."

[avimohan]

avi's tongue clicked easily against the roof of his mouth and he shook his head, "not stalking if i was already coming here before i knew you were." it was a place to work that wasn't quiet, because his mind never did well such a space. it was the chaos that helped him think. "oh, i already ordered." he flashed a wider grin in her direction, not having to turn back to see if his order had landed on the pick up spot yet. they'd call his name and he'd hear it. probably. "only two?" he huffed a quiet laugh and nipped at his bottom lip, amusement swirling behind his darkened gaze.

all teasing aside, he waited as patiently as his curious mind would allow and he forced himself to remain silent until she'd finished. "and what's that?" he had his own thing that he wanted to mention, but nothing seemed quite as urgent to him as what he now waited for. another laugh slipped through and he shrugged. "what can i say? i'm a dependable guy." the article was tedious at best, but what really laid on his mind were the posters he'd seen almost two weeks earlier. "have you ever looked at the missing persons posters around town?" it was a direct question, one that he hadn't eased either of them into. "only asking because it reminded me of..." he trailed off, not speaking it aloud.

[avimohan]

through the grapevine. @nainaxvyas !

"remember all that confidence i had? yeah, it pretty much left when i saw the wine list." he couldn't believe he'd actually reached out, but more than that, he couldn't believe she'd agreed to it. he smiled from across the table, the curve on his not translating the nerves that buzzed beneath his skin. it was one thing to test wines, but it was another when the wine was testing him.

he let the laminated menu rest against the table and his eyes landed on her. so, how's this test going to work? am i picking off the menu, or are you picking?" his smile remained, and so did the nervous energy that caused his pulse to tick a few beats quicker.

[avimohan]

mug shot cafe. @leylademirci !

another day, another trip down espresso lane before he dove in head first to the new assignment that had been dropped in his inbox the night before. it was a last minute request, because the original journalist assigned hadn't met the deadline and had no intention of doing so. double the work, same pay, it was the very reason he'd gone the route he had, but it was easy to remind himself why he'd made the change.

"well, well," he greeted, grin widening as he lowered himself into a seat that wasn't his to take. he wasn't planning on staying long, but he'd never pass up an opportunity to chat up someone who understood his curiosity and had ghosts of her own that she was chasing. "good morning. looks like you beat me here." he was mostly joking, but it called back to exchange where he'd been the one seated, offering up the one opposite him for her taking. he leaned in and his voice dropped. "any new leads?"

[romijuarez]

in her surprise and panic romi had missed the playful tone that had edged his words, the slightly off-beat way avi used humor to turn the temperature of the moment one way or another. but, his rhetorical question and self-answer settled some amusement onto the brunette's lips. "depends," she commented, dipping into his own evasive playbook, smirk shifting into place, "it's a case by case thing." if nothing else then perhaps this would veer the conversation in a different direction. there was a part of her that truly longed to share her writing with someone, to open up and talk about it, but the fear of vulnerability was stronger. no matter how good a blush looked on him.

the press, especially at the height of all the drama, had been crafty when it'd come to getting information and dirt out of the troubling, traumatic situation she'd been thrust into. it produced a more than vigilant romi when it came to anyone that worked in that field, because even at times when she'd least expected it, she'd felt the sting of betrayal. "i've heard that before," she retorted softly, not a snap. in fact the look in her eyes could've informed him that she'd been burned by his type before. "i've been... ridiculed and roasted by the public before and i just... don't wanna give 'em more ammo," the soccer star confessed with a shrug of nonchalance that was anything but. "people would probably pick apart and laugh at anything i've written. dissect and examine it for the plot." but romi gave a nod of acceptance to his statement because she did know that some journalists protected their sources. even if she wasn't in that ballpark it was hopeful that he wouldn't go around sharing.

as avi began apologizing her head started to shake. her way of telling him it wasn't necessary but she let him speak regardless. "speaking before thinking rarely works out for anyone," she teased, though romi truly figured most people spoke instinctually. someone that took their time and weighed their words before uttering them would likely be suspicious since it seemed unnatural and calculated. "i actually..." her lips quirked with the makings of a small but playful grin, "think i like that about you. so far at least." there was a brief look in her eyes that held the gratitude she wished to convey over avi agreeing to keep her secret. "you don't have to buy me anything," she chuckled quietly, "but i'm surprised none of those offers were dinner..."

[avimohan]

avi chewed at his bottom lip as he studied the woman he knew only through the words she shared while behind the open mic. he exhaled smoothly, but the sound barely registered as a laugh. it was quiet, but laced with amusement nonetheless. "a case by case thing," he echoed, his own words being used against him, but they sounded better coming from her. "well, in this case..." he trailed off, his voice dipping low, like he was sharing a secret meant only for her, "i would. you know, flirt back, if you were flirting with me." when he leaned back, he smiled down at her, the curve on his mouth etched with warmth and invitation.

his smile faded slightly, the retort plucking a chord of empathy somewhere deep in his chest. he understood what it was like to be at the center of someone else's cruel words, but he didn't push. if she wanted to share, he'd give her the room to do so, but he wouldn't try and pull it out of her. "people can be shallow." he swallowed down a lump of something he couldn't quite name and nodded slowly. how many articles of his had been picked apart? how many people had shared their opinions on topics they knew nothing about? "you know what i say? screw them. they don't deserve to know your story." he held her eyes, his own dark gaze heavy with understanding.

"trust me, i know," he chuckled, bottom lip catching between his teeth again as he ran another lazy hand through his hair. his brows lifted when she mentioned that she liked that about him, and the heat that had settled on his neck spread, blooming on his cheeks and threatening to betray the cool demeanor he was trying hard to maintain. "so far? that's a start." he matched her smile, a little too hopeful that it was something that didn't change. "crossed my mind, but i thought i'd try something you might actually say yes to." for all the confidence he carried so well, it was a look beneath the surface, a hint of vulnerability that he typically didn't offer up to anyone, let alone someone he barely knew.

[tylerfleury]

sat up a little straighter, tyler leaned forward a little with his own brow lifted and slightly twisted in a manner that likely conveyed 'bullshit'. but then as avi set out to prove himself his eyes narrowed. had he told the man he had a sister, likely the only family he'd ever really mention, or had avi put his nose into something he shouldn't have? the last thing he wanted was anyone poking at the beast that was his father right now. "ok, for the record, i don't just eat anything. and i've got a high metabolism so i've gotta eat all the time. basically i'm a seahorse in human form." then he scooted forward in his seat a little and leaned in enough to level their gazes. "how do you know about my sister?" it was likely he'd told the man and forgot. maybe it'd been when he was texting or dialing while impaired.

"sorry, my guy, i'm once in all lifetimes. just be grateful that you got to live this timeline, this dimension, and this existence with me." then it'd been his turn to reach out and squeeze avi's shoulder. he even offered a smile of sympathy. "i dunno, man. that beard kind of ages you. you're probably like mid to late thirties. your eyes are saying thirty-five-ish while your skin is saying thirty-eight, maybe thirty-nine." there was a bit of a shrug and a smirk showing itself and his amusement. "how right am i?"

there was something about the way that avi seemed to like to play with the fire that burned within tyler. he always seemed to meet his gaze and his whims and as a young man chasing cars he wasn't entirely sure what to do with that, but the hand on the other's man's knee gave his leg a good, comforting squeeze. perhaps it said more for encouragement than anything else. "a book series, huh? i dig it. what would it take for you to write poetry?" it wasn't likely that tyler would understand it but he knew there was something special and important about it. which made him crave it. "i like a lot of things, sunshine. especially those that write about it." he'd grabbed his cold brew and lifted it up as if to say 'cheers'.

"hmm ok but imagine a playlist of your most favorite songs and then hitting shuffle. that's a full set of straight wins, buddy." as he had avi pinned in his gaze his hand rubbed back and forth over the top of his blond buzzed head. "they say patience is a virtue and all that but i say life is short and a moment is too much to waste," he said rather profoundly yet only shrugged, not fully acknowledging the weight of his own statements. "what if i don't come for a week? you're just gonna be waiting there?" a chuckle quickly burst but he called avi closer. "come on, let's go now. you've got nothing better to do."

[avimohan]

it was a nasty habit, the way he couldn't help but dig into the people he spent quality time with. he'd done it with the other male without knowing what he'd find, but what he find hadn't changed a thing. he read the other's look as a challenge with a hint of a doubt. it was subtle, playful even, but it was there. avi's brows lifted, mirroring the way tyler's had moments earlier. the corner of his mouth lifted too, weighted with the kind of amusement that only the other could pull out of him. "a seahorse? where did you learn that one?"

his smile remained when tyler leaned forward, the question causing his head to lull to the side ever so slightly, like he knew a secret and wasn't keen on sharing. after a few beats of silence, he shrugged lazily. "i'm a journalist. i'm good at finding things." he let it sit for a moment, and then he exhaled quietly, his shoulders dipping forward, his guard slipping too. "don't worry. i didn't look that far. i've dealt with a lot of people and i just like to know how i'm getting close to." an apology sat on the tip of his tongue, but he didn't offer it.

the journalist chuckled and his head fell back, the sound of his laughter spilling into the air with a hint of dramatic effect weaved into it. "oh, i know i'm lucky." in a way, he wasn't joking about that sentiment. it was rare that avi forged friendships that weren't beneficial towards his line of work, but with tyler, it'd been genuine from the very start. even if the younger male had a crappy sense of age recognition. "you might be the biggest asshole i know," he exhaled, though he couldn't deny the grin that slowly pulled at the corners of his mouth. "you're wrong, by the way."

avi drew in a shallow breath and shrugged. poetry wasn't his strong suit, but he loved writing and loved a challenge. "you want me to write you poetry?" he looked towards the other, a single brow lifted. maybe he'd try, just to surprise tyler the way the man had surprised him. "gotcha. poetry about sunshine. noted." avi followed suit and lifted his cup, tipping it toward the one extended towards him until they met with a gentle knock.

"it's not the same," he playfully argued, head shaking slowly. if anyone was going to talk him into going against his own ways, it was the mirror of a man that he saw so much of himself in. avi rolled his eyes at the counter, but that same boyish curve was on his mouth. then again, it always was when tyler was near. "alright, fine. we can go now. you wanna just catch a ride with me?"

[jj-hayes]

"Trust me. You won't be." JJ was certain about that, at least. Everyone in this town loved to compliment him for everything he did, whether it be his professional accomplishments or his relationship with his family. But he always found that to be unnecessary. A man in his forties did not need his good behaviour to be reinforced by external validation. He did not do it for the compliments. He just existed. Perhaps not a lot of people ever understood that. "Yeah, I know. I'm very lucky to have my family. I'm very lucky to have Mia." Again, these were words that almost everyone in Windsor Bay had told him, as if he didn't already know it. "I think that's always been important to us, you know? Our grandparents always wanted to make sure that we understood the value of family, so I definitely hope that we can pass it on to her as well."

JJ let out a laugh before shaking his head. "Feel free, pal. I'm not even kidding." Even if Avi was joking, he wanted him to know that he was actually being serious. "You can order every single thing on the menu in one sitting, and I won't even have a problem with that." That was the thing about living in a small town. Everything was affordable, especially with a decent amount of generational wealth and a career that came with a six-figure salary. "I'm a specialist, practicing in a small town. People from all over the Pacific Northwest come to Elite Wellness just for me. I bring in a lot of money for the place, so they pay me very well." It was something that he was certainly proud of. Most people might have questioned why he had chosen to remain in Windsor Bay despite being offered opportunities in big city hospitals. But he chose to stay here to help build the neonatology department here, making his own legacy in the very place where his whole family had already made theirs.

Taking a seat at the booth, JJ browsed through the menu before shrugging. "I always get the same thing when I come here, because it's been one of my safe foods since I was a kid. Grilled cheese on sourdough and a tomato soup." It was something he had ordered here since he was a young boy, something that had remained unchanged over the years, something that he had remembered to be a confirmation of his neurodivergence when he had first received his ADHD diagnosis. "It's one of my favourites."

[avimohan]

"do you ever get tired of hearing it?" genuine or not, he wondered if the kind words added an unspoken pressure to the doctor's shoulders. avi studied the other for a few beats before he forced his gaze elsewhere and his thoughts too. he didn't want to pry with jj, didn't want to dig through his mind for all his deepest thoughts. he was curious, sure, but his curiosity wasn't anyone else's to fill, but his to tame. "it's a good thing. means she knows she has people in her corner."

it felt like a challenge, and as much as he wanted to take it, he knew better. "your pockets are either insanely deep, or you're underestimating how much i can eat," he teased, though he figured it wasn't the latter of the options given. perk of being a specialist in healthcare, he assumed. "sounds like you deserve every dime and then some." he made a mental note for a future piece, one that would highlight the good work done by the man who gave his all in every aspect of his life. "did you always know you wanted to be a doctor?"

avi studied the menu like there would be a test after. he exhaled a quiet chuckle when jj mentioned his favorite go-to meal and his eyes landed on the option beneath the laminate. "soup sounds good right now." he'd tried too many menu options to count, but tomato soup hadn't landed in front of him yet. "alright then. if that's your go-to, i'll give it a try too."

[loresalazar]

it seemed right that the battle for the last pastry would come down to the two of them. they'd both been in the café the longest. laptops, ipads, notes around them. clearly using the space as their office for the day. lore had noticed him some time ago in one of the many breaks and stretching out of her spine that she'd taken in the hours that'd ticked by with too much espresso consumption.

at the raise of his hands and suggestion of a duel her own lifted and stood ground, ready for engagement. "you can't say might while taking a fighting stance," the brunette laughed under her breath. "for someone that spends as much time typing away at their computer i'd hope you'd know better about contradictions," lore teased.

"mmm," sounded in her throat, soft yet somewhat rasped, "now there's a load of confidence. i'm surprised your hands aren't shaking." hers either for that matter when considering how much caffeine pumped through her veins. eyes that were nearing the burning stage narrowed slightly as a corner of her mouth hitched in smirk, "ready?" her fist rose and fell against her own palm with the count. "one, two, three..."

[avimohan]

excitement thrummed beneath his veins at the silent acceptance of the challenge he had teasingly put forth. it was the kind of break he needed from the article that had taken up so much space in his head. "you've been keeping an eye on me?" it was a taunt, one brewed from his bottomless need of pulling reactions from everyone around him. "and for the record, i was just putting the offer out there."

avi nipped at his bottom lip as he smiled down at the other, pleased that she'd taken up his challenge, even if the end result didn't matter. he'd give up the pastry, but part of the fun was the battle. "maybe it's reverse psychology." a quiet laugh filled the air between them, but so did the charge of the challenge.

"as ready as i'll ever be," he assured, his gaze steady with hers as he nodded slowly, following along to the count down. as she reached three, avi raised a hand and shook his head, his boyish grin wide and full. "wait, wait," he pleaded, like he'd rethought the whole thing and now knew better. "what if we just... called it a tie from the start and we split it? that way no one loses. i'd feel bad about eating the whole thing anyway," he added, eyes still glued to hers in hopes of catching her reaction.

[avimohan]

"happy to entertain." he smiled softly and bowed his head, like it was an honor to be sharing a space with the wine connoisseur and all her kindness. he'd stopped in grab a few bottles of wine so that the mini wine rack he'd found in a free pile didn't go to waste, but he'd found more than that waiting beneath that welcoming chime at the front door.

the journalist kept his gaze steady with hers, even if a part of him wanted to dip to watch the curve of her mouth as she laughed. "right? i gave it my all, but she wasn't taking the bait." when the woman pushed a bottle toward him, avi reached out with one hand, his fingers curling around the neck of the bottle. he wasn't going to ask to try this one, he'd just take it. call it trust.

"pleasure is definitely all mine. seriously, you've been more than accommodating and i appreciate all your help." he held up the bottle slightly and bowed his head again. "i'll take this one and two more of your choosing. maybe keep it under a hundred a bottle," he added, partly teasing but also serious. he had a deep savings after years of chasing big stories, but he had to make it last. "okay then. i won't break your trust. i'll call."

avi lifted the glass to his mouth and drained the last sip with a boyish grin. he could feel the heat settled on his cheeks, could feel the deep color that had bloomed there too. "thanks for the tastings, by the way. i'd like to think i've learned something today, but i guess we'll see soon."

[nainaxvyas]

Entertain wasn’t exactly the word she’d give what Avi was doing with her but it was more charm and sweet, yet she couldn’t help smile she aimed at him. He was honestly a refreshing change from some of her clientele and she hoped it would remain that way. “Terrible, she must get her eyes checked..or maybe her hearing,” she mused with a grin as she pushed the bottle gently towards him. It was interesting to see him just take it as if he trusted her opinions blindly but then—maybe he did now that she hadn’t steered him wrong yet. 

“Of course, that’s what I’m here for,” she gestured around the shop once more before hearing his words and chuckling softly. “Damn and here I was tempted to pick the special reserve bottles we keep in the back,” Naina was visibly just teasing and began walking around to find a few bottles she felt would match for him. “Okay try these two and let me know.” At the mention of him not breaking her trust, she nodded again, letting him know that she expected the same. 

The grin on his face was cute and Naina was tempted to tell him as much before hearing his words of gratitude. “You’re welcome and hopefully you did. I can’t wait to be the judge of my teachings as well,” she said to him before ringing him up and bagging the bottles up for him. Throwing in a couple coupons, “for next time…when you’re ready to taste the reserve wines,” she grinned before bidding him on his way. 

FIN.

[ashwin-singhania]

"Yeah, I understand that. Trying new food is an experience too but I'm just worried that I'm going to get something from someone who doesn't properly cook and prepare the food." Ashwin shrugged. "If I'm not going to pick the steakhouse then Lotus Leaf Cuisine because Japanese food is very good too." He mentioned. "Do you have anything around that you would consider your favorite?" He asked, always open to suggestions as to what other individuals liked for their meals.

[avimohan]

"you have to turn off that chef brain," he teased, lifting a finger to his temper and tapping a few times to back the joke. "you'll miss out on good stuff like that." avi, on the other hand, was quite adventurous in more ways than not. the more a place looked like a hole-in-the-wall, the more he wanted to drop in and try it. "i haven't been there either, but now it's on the list." when the question came back around, his smile widened. he'd found comfort in a place just past the city limits sign, a place that he wondered if the other had ever ventured into or not. "the hungry cow. if you've never been there, you have to. it's nothing fancy, but that's what makes it so good."

[samuelfalk]

      something  from  his  past  clawed  at  sam's  chest.  each  beat  of  his  heart  finding  understanding  in  the  journalist's  words  rather  than  judgment  or  dismissal.  much  of  the  criticism  he'd  received  in  the  past  had  something  to  do  the  darkness  that  clung  to  him.  sam  had  been  too  aware  of  all  the  dangers  surrounding,  he'd  seen  the  monsters  that  lurked  in  the  shadows,  hunted  them,  and  had  run  out  of  places  to  store  all  the  images  and  information  that'd  come  with  their  carnage.  the  now  emergency  doctor  had  become  the  embodiment  of  that  famed  nietzsche  quote,  and  he  couldn't  stop  seeing  the  horrors  around  them.

"i've  been  too  close  to  it."  sam  finally  said  after  a  few  moments  lost  in  thought,  definitely  wondering  if  he  were  revealing  a  side  of  himself  that  he'd  been  sure  needed  to  stay  buried.  "trust  me,  too  much  of  it,  is  a  bad  thing."  pale  blue  turned  to  the  posters.  "i  just  can't  turn  it  off  now.  when  i  see  something  that  triggers  the  instincts  i've  buried..."  there  was  no  expectation  that  avi  would  follow  this  train  of  thought  but  he  had  a  sense  that  the  journalist  likely  googled  people  and  maybe  he'd  done  that  with  him  and  seen  his  record.  "i  think  people  know,  they  just,  for  sanity's  sake,  can't  acknowledge  or  hold  onto  all  of  it."

as  sam  listened  he  was  completely  baffled  by  what  he  was  hearing  from  avi.  it  sounded  like  a  nightmare  to  him,  and  clearly  was  a  shared  feeling  by  the  man  in  front  of  him  that  took  the  art  and  science  of  investigation  seriously.  "integrity  is  just  completely  out  the  window  now  too  huh?"  with  a  shake  of  his  head,  sam's  hands  went  to  his  hips.  he  wasn't  digesting  this  well.  "it's  all  about  clicks  now.  traffic.  views.  engagement."  he  wanted  to  tell  avi  that  he  might  be  better  off  going  independent  but  he  understood  how  that  could  be  fearful  for  someone  accustomed  to  being  attached  to  something  foundational  and  with  roots.  "no  one  really  cares  what  the  actual  stories  say  unless  it's  something  that  affects  them."

the  confirmation,  spoken  like  an  oath  hit  the  heart  of  the  investigator  long  buried  inside  of  him.  sam  was  a  truth  seeker,  and  it  seemed  avi  was  kindred  in  that.  "if  it  gets  too  heavy  though..."  the  pause  came  with  the  weight  of  sam's  gaze.  "i  mean,  don't  make  the  same  mistakes  that  i  did.  don't  let  it  burrow  inside  of  you  and  hallow  you  out."  of  course  it  all  depended  on  what  the  journalist  investigated  and  sam  hoped  it  wasn't  anywhere  along  the  lines  of  what  he  used  to.

[avimohan]

there was something weaved into his genetic build that made him too curious for his own good. he wondered if it the same strand was shared by the other man, someone that avi felt a kinship with. not too many people understood his desire to dig, to learn more about a situation that at surface level, might not have meant anything. there wasn't always a story wanting at the bottom for him, but sometimes there was.

the journalist cleared his throat and nodded, every word feeling more like a friendly warning than not. "what if you're not supposed to turn it off?" his mind wandered to a curious place, a place where questions were already brewing. what had the other male done in his lifetime? what stories could he tell and how much weight did he still carry with him? "not everyone gets it, you know? they don't ask the right questions or any questions at all. they everything at face value and the answers... they just sit there."

he blew out a breath and ran a steadying hand through his dark hair. he didn't want to turn this into an off the record interview, but the questions kept piling up on the tip of his tongue, desperate to be voiced. the buzz around them helped, reminded him that they weren't alone, that some questions weren't meant to be asked with unwanted company lingering. "anything for a click," he scoffed, annoyance stirred by more than the online talk. he nodded slowly, frustrated that it was something he understood too well. "crazy how that works, right? that people only seem to care when it gets close. then it matters."

avi met the other's gaze again and this time he didn't shy away from the weight of the warning. "that's why i came here," he admitted, something that he'd kept to himself and danced around when others asked, "because it was getting bad. i was in d.c. and i was getting to close to something big, but it..." he trailed off, figuring that if anyone could fill in the blank, it was the blue eyed mystery of a man that had understood him more in a few minutes than most people had his entire life. "i wasn't looking for anything like this." he nodded towards the poster and then returned his gaze back to the other. "but i can't turn away from it either. this won't let me," he joked, a finger tapping at his temple in hopes of bringing a lighter air to the exchange.

[jj-hayes]

JJ responded to the other's words with a mere shrug, shaking his head. "You know, you're not the first person to say that to me, and I doubt you'd be the last," he admitted with a laugh, shaking his head. Truth be told, compliments like the one that Avi had just given him had become the norm for him at this point. His journey with fatherhood has apparently turned him into the town's saint, an image that he still struggles to come to terms with. "I'm definitely one of the lucky ones. I know that. Being born into the Hayes family, you quickly learn that luck had something to do with it. I hear a lot about how other families are. Some of my closest friends have even told me that their families are nothing like mine. I'm grateful to have had the kind of upbringing I got, and that's what I've always hoped to give my daughter."

Before he knew it, they had arrived at their destination. "Not a chance, pal. I'm paying," JJ insisted, shaking his head as he walked through the door. "You do realize that I'm a specialized doctor with over a decade of experience, right? And I definitely have the salary to go along with that." Not to mention that he had completed all of his schooling with virtually no debt. "I am more than happy to pay for your meal. In fact, I can pay for everyone who walks into this place today, and it wouldn't have even made a dent in my wallet. But I'm going to exercise my restraint and only offer to pay for you." One thing about JJ is that he was always honest about his privilege. He knew that being born a Hayes, along with what he now did for a living, meant that his finances were never going to be a concern for him. He lived comfortably and tried to give back as much as he could, especially during the holiday season.

[avimohan]

"i better not be the last." he handed out compliments like candy, but he hadn't given jj one for appeasement. he'd meant it, because avi saw firsthand how much care the man put into his work and into his family life, and it made the journalist feel like maybe he was lacking in both departments. he had his work, sure, but he wasn't keeping up with phone calls and texts, let alone making time for visits. if the doctor could handle it all, then so could he. "you're a lucky man, hayes. i think it's a good thing, you know? you get to pass that onto your daughter and she'll understand the value of family. it's a big thing." it was more than continuing a legacy. it had meaning to it and he heard that meaning in the way the other man spoke and the smile he wore.

avi scoffed playfully and rolled his eyes. "can't say i didn't try." the journalist shifted to meet jj's gaze, his brows lifted. "oh yeah? big wallet, huh? guess that means i'm going all in." he was joking, mostly, but that was the perk of the restaurant too. nothing on the menu was all that expensive and it was all cooked like it came directly from his own kitchen. when jj continued, he grinned. "doctor money really is good money, huh? i think i picked the wrong career to follow." he hadn't, because he knew that nothing else would satisfy his hunger for curiosity, but that was the thing about jobs. if anyone could do it, then everyone would.

when they were seated in a booth, avi squeezed into one side and watched as jj did the same, their lamented menus face up on either side of the table. "any idea what you're getting? i like to ask the waitress for the specials. they don't always put them on the menu."