WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOU?

[comeundcne]

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐓 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔? activity  will  vary  on  a  week  to  week  basis.  all  characters  featured  on  this  blog  are  original  muses  created  by  this  mun.  with the exception of a few show based muses.

please  read  my  rules  and  if  you  have  any  questions  or  would  just like  to  plot,  please  reach  out! 𝐖𝐇𝐘 𝐈 𝐆𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐀 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓?

𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄. interested  in  writing  privately  to  focus  on  a  specific  plot  or  pairing?  reach  out!

find my rules and muse information on 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐝.

[comeundcne]

𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑. atticus is a twenty-nine year old bar owner. he took over for his father who recently passed. your muse is someone he hasn't seen in years. maybe they were close friends, maybe they dated. maybe they left town before he did, or maybe he's the one who left. open to all f/nb muses.

everything felt routine. from inventory checks to helping out behind the bar, every move was... mechanical. the bar was his father's pride and joy, the one thing the older man had never turned his back on. when he'd passed, and atticus got the call, he'd known exactly what it was that he needed to do. he'd broken the lease on his apartment and moved back to the town he'd said goodbye to years earlier.

the new bar owner patted an employee on the shoulder, someone he'd known for years and that his father had trusted enough to make a manager. it helped having someone around who'd spent so much time enjoying the place too. his lips parted to greet the newcomer at the bar, but he fell silent when he recognized the person staring back at him. "what can i get you?" the words finally came, delayed, but steadier than he felt.

[comeundcne]

𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐧 ( @thefvrious ) — 𝐚𝐥𝐞'𝐬 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 !

this wasn't the circumstance that he'd wanted to invite the other over to his place. after the day they'd spent together after sending his lonely texts, things had looked... better for the two of them. still, there was work to be done, problems to mend, places that he'd need to bend if they wanted things to work. "i mean, d," he breathed, reading over the email from their son's teacher. the kid had gotten himself into trouble, copping a crappy attitude to start, before walking out of the classroom in anger. "you think this is because of our dinner the other night?"

it must've been confusing, watching his parents come together like they'd never parted, only for the happy bubble of bliss to pop. the accountant leaned back in his chair and looked toward the other, worry written into the crease above his brows. "should we talk to him together? or is this something you handle?" between the two of them, dion was more equipped for such heavy topics. he was kind, patient, and by comparison, less likely to make things worse.

[pinksopaque]

truth be told , billie felt like they could be themselves with griffin - considering that he wouldn't judge them for whatever they talked about , even if most of it consisted their job , it felt like they found someone they could depend on &&. vice versa , in fact . sure , billie had considered themselves to be reclusive , introverted - at most , hating people , but in his presence ? it felt the exact opposite , like they could be around him &&. they'd feel better about themselves , their worries about their parents wanting them to be what they wanted billie to be , on who they wanted billie to date : all gone with griffin in their life . deep down , billie was grateful for him in their life , seeing how he made things easier - everything about their relationship , friendship [ . . . ] it wasn't something for billie to take for granted , in fact . plus , they knew of familial frustrations , that was another thing they could actually bond over , among other situations that placed a hold in their lives , but for now , billie was going to enjoy the moment for what it was , let their own set of trepidation settle down for the time being , at least , in his residence .

after their long hours of working &&. lying to get home , billie ached to see him , as if they haven't hung out previously , but this was different - in a sense , the actual thought of coming home to him after a long day of being in corporate america [ . . . ] it definitely placed feelings in their head , confusing ones , at least . ones that they couldn't entirely process at the moment , however , they weren't completely against the idea of doing anything that remotely included him .

his words filling the room as they're settling into their home , the mere metaphorical idea of this being their sight , all billie could do was laugh softly , eyes rolling playfully before even making a sarcastic remark . " sorry , " it slips out instantly as they've made a subtle home on their couch , feeling bad for making him wait so long after dealing with such nonsensical things that didn't make sense , at least , work wise : it didn't make sense . hues matching the blue sets in front of them , billie's hand rested on the side of their head , humming lightly in response to his words . " have a nice nap on my couch ? you know the bedroom's right over there . . " shrugging their shoulders , keeping themselves well contented as they're giving him another nod , their tongue clicking at the top of their mouth , listening to his words - their brows furrowing just slightly for a moment , contemplating on giving him a honest answer . " i mean , i think so . . . but you'd have to impress the higher ups over there , you know , i can only do so much in this . . . situation . i can set up an interview , but please promise me that you'll go , griffin . "

[comeundcne]

griff didn't let himself overthink the bullshit in his life. he wasn't like his family. he didn't operate on the same successful system they did, and he didn't try to either. he was lucky to keep an entry level job for more than a month, while his siblings had all gone out and made names for themselves. the expectation was mutual, and yet, he'd all but told his parents to buzz off and accept him for the fuck up that he was. some days they seem to understand it, others they shamed him for it, blaming his lack of drive rather than acknowledging the chemical imbalance that he'd yet to correct.

billy wasn't like them. not once had they ever judged him during his lows, just like they never expected anything of him during his highs. simply put, they accepted him as he was. nothing more, nothing less. just like he accepted them. they were without a doubt his best friend, the person he called to when shit got tough and the tunnel got dark and the light was nowhere to be found. they were the person he called on good days too.

"i'm just fuckin' with you, b. it's all good." unlike his own failure to function, he knew that billy had a real job to attend to, real responsibility and shit that he'd yet to wrap his mind around. while he laid around on their couch, they were busy checking off boxes and making sure shit was in order for their boss. "yeah, but the couch is way more comfy," he teased, deep blues shifting from the bedroom door and over to them, a wide grin on his mouth.

the upward curve stayed there as they spoke. "if you set it up for me, i'll show. i wouldn't fuck that up," he assured, because in true griffin fashion, he always found a way to fuck something up. "i'll show, i'll even wear a fuckin' polo or whatever nice shirt people wear to interviews," he added, hoping to lighten the moment a bit. "i swear, b."

[ofbookshelves]

rae: an arrogant asshole? rae: the scum of the earth? rae: an accurate depiction of the big bad wolf? rae: lacking any sort of brain function that a brain eating amoeba would starve? rae: an idiot?

[comeundcne]

𝐖𝐎𝐋𝐅𝐄: close.

𝐖𝐎𝐋𝐅𝐄: closer.

𝐖𝐎𝐋𝐅𝐄: keep going.

𝐖𝐎𝐋𝐅𝐄: damn. got me to the edge just to end with idiot?

[thefvrious]

“the number of women who have told me how amazing i am, that i’m incomparable.” she suggested casually, shrugging her shoulders. “why, you wanna find out?” her grin was full and vulpine as she regarded jules beside her, the playfulness igniting something inside of her. she wanted to consume julianny whole, if that was on the table. “you think i can’t listen, baby? you wound me.” she said pressing a palm to her chest as if offended, smiling all the while.

elicia leaned into the other woman with that grin still on full display. “you’ll be great, what do you mean, jules?” she asked. she wanted to turn this night on its head, make it a 180. julianny deserved to end it on the best note, whatever that meant.

with the casual confidence of someone who belonged there, elicia let her arm fall over julianny’s shoulders. the other woman getting closer was a clue that elicia was headed in the right direction, and that delighted her thoroughly. she could feel the heat pooling in her, expanding throughout her limbs – a combination of desire and the high, the alcohol in her veins. “you’re a good girl, and i like that about you. my little sweetie.” she tweaked the other woman’s jaw, taking note of the way jules’s eyes remained glued to her lips. she ran her tongue over them and drew closer still, there was hardly a breath of space between them. “i like talking to you, too, but maybe there’s something even better we could be doing?”

[comeundcne]

jules pressed her thighs together tightly and smiled, like she wasn't shying away from the other's forward question. "if you're so good... i wouldn't have to tell you how to do anything," she challenged with a raised brow and half-cocked smirk. her boyfriend didn't make her nervous like elicia did. he didn't excite her nearly as much as the other woman did either. sex felt more like a chore, or like it was the only steady ground they could both stand on without fighting. it wasn't supposed to be like that. she knew it, and everyone around her knew it too.

the woman didn't shy away when the other leaned closer. if anything, she leaned an inch closer too. "thanks." the gratitude was barely above a whisper, but she meant it more than anything.

she hadn't shown up to find comfort outside of her boyfriend's touch. she'd needed a safe place to land and elicia had always been that. yet, as the woman's arm draped over her shoulders, jules leaned into her more, certain that there was nowhere else she'd rather be. "i'm not all good," she quietly and innocently argued. maybe she wasn't a troublemaker, but she wasn't the definition of perfect either.

the woman's gaze shifted from the brunette's mouth and to her eyes for a beat. she knew the implication of the question, and she knew she should've made a joke and pulled back to lighten the air that grew hot and heavy between them. instead, her eyes fluttered back to the other's mouth, the way her bottom lip glistened from where her tongue had trailed over it. carefully, jules leaned forward, her lips brushing softly against the others, like she needed reassure that she hadn't gotten it wrong.

[comeundcne]

𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫. apologies for going quiet! i'm going to be doing replies, but i'm also going to be re-formatting my muse page, as i've added/edited muses since i made it. also, if we ever write and you're curious about more background on my muses, please don't hesitate to reach out and ask!

[loredrops]

open: anyone plot: winnie doesn't open up easily, but over the last few months your muse has become her safe place at work. obviously very the pitt vibes. muse: winnie brixton , trauma surgeon. an over worked — workaholic perfectionist.

"i lost a patient today .... and i know its unrealistic of me to believe that it would never happen, but it bothers me that somehow i was less than perfect."

[comeundcne]

charlie turned the unopened bottle in her hand, her ocean blues fixed on the floor. "if it didn't bother you, i'd be the one worried." she spoke confidently, because in her line of her work, she understood the importance of reassurance. "was that your first loss?"

[loredrops]

he knows that tone. too even. too calm. it's the sound of someone making peace with something he hasn't yet agreed to let happen. jethro’s jaw locks so hard his molars hurt. for a second, the flashlight beam wavers against her skin, skittering over the bruised swell and the angry halo of red around the wound. his throat feels raw, as if he has been shouting, even though the room is quiet enough that he can hear the chimes outside counting the wind. “okay,” not agreement. a placeholder. he wets his lips, tastes copper and dust. “if it wasn’t metal…” the sentence frays. he forces himself to finish it, each word thick. “then tell me what it was.” he doesn't touch her face. the urge to cup her jaw, to physically turn her toward him, is sharp enough that he feels it in his fingers. but the line is clear in his mind. he will not drag honesty out of her. not after everything. not when so much has already been taken without permission. “i can’t treat a mystery.” he knows it is not a mystery at all; the angle of the tear and the angry, blooming red around it are a language his body remembers even if his mind keeps flinching away. but he needs to hear her say it, to turn the thing he already recognizes into words between them, something they can face together instead of something that lives only in the dark corners of his thoughts. “whatever happened out there… i’m the one who has to fight it off you. i need to know what i’m fighting.”

[comeundcne]

it would've been easier if he'd said it himself. if he'd put together the pieces of the broken puzzle and settled on the only conclusion that made sense. her dark orbs fell to the ground between them, and she willed it to open up and swallow her whole. at least she wouldn't have to face the harsh truth would shatter what stability they'd found. "it's exactly what you think it is." she spoke quietly. not out of defeat, but out of raw acceptance. this wasn't something he could treat. "you can't treat this, jay."

jules forced her gaze upward, her jaw tightly set. this was her fault. she'd gone and made a reckless mistake and the cost was... everything. "stop." she reached out, wincing as a jolt of pain shot through her ribs, but she kept on, her palm falling flat against his chest. she could feel his heart, every beat strong and a reminder of what they'd once had together and all that they'd never get. "i got bit." she pressed her palm tighter into his chest, like it was supposed to comfort him and steady her.

[thefvrious]

hilary nudged her in the ribs at the doubled down comment arlo made – call me anything you want. neva just bit down on her bottom lip, eyes sparkling as she considered him. he was handsome in a way that she knew everyone noticed him. she felt like he’d have been out of her league even ten years ago, he cheeks flushing slightly at the thought. but he’s here – entertaining her, looking at her like that, and neva can’t helpp but want to jump in with both feet.

she nods at him. “if you need a breather, chances are, i will, too. just say the word, captain.” she said, not knowing this was also something people called him, just falling into it like on accident, her smile lopsided and just for him. she nursed her drink slowly as he ushered margaritas from the bar to their table, all with enthusiastic thank yous and batted lashes from her friends. any one of them, they know, would be lucky to be on arlo’s radar. but they aren’t. it’s just her. and she feels a thrill sneaking up that she hasn’t felt in ages – something she might just want to chase.

hilary shakes her head, holds up her hands – it’s his choice, of course, and neva angles toward him at the same time he’s angling toward her, and she feels like she’s in some kind of romcom. she smiles, blushes, tucks her hair back, resting her chin on her palm as her elbow supports the weight on the table. “you’re welcome to do what you want.” she said. “we’re just happy to have you.” she knew she could speak for all of them on this one.

neva laughed, something glittering, shrugging her shoulders about it. “hey, i didn’t choose th pace, but if i had to venture a guess as to why we came here…” she began, trailing off as she scanned the crowd primarily composed of men of varying ages and backgrounds. “i could figure it out pretty quickly.” she rolled her eyes toward ashley, as if this explained everything. “though, I’m not sorry we wound up here. the night’s already looking… interesting.” she punctuated it with the sunniest smile then was stunned – slack-jawed, speechless – when he said he was just stopping in then saw her. as if she were the most precious gem.

she closed her mouth and looked over when he was called out to, watching the interaction with interest. “oh… sounds like you come here a lot, too.” she said, bringing her straw to her lips for another gulp of that liquid courage. “i’m glad you stopped in tonight.” she turned enough so that she gently brushed against him.

[comeundcne]

he couldn't help himself as his gaze dropped to her mouth again, tracing the curve of her lopsided grin like he wanted to remember it long after the evening had ended. arlo didn't care if her friends noticed, didn't care if she did either. a part of him wanted her to see the diligent effort he was putting forth, the untamed desire behind his brown orbs. it was all for her anyway.

"and if i said... the word right now?" he lifted his gaze to catch hers, the curve on his mouth slightly arched upward. he heard the intake of breaths around him, like they were surprised that he'd been bold enough to counter, or maybe it was excitement. if he looked around, maybe he'd know which, but not even his burning curiosity was enough to pull him away from her.

he tipped his chin upward, his smile still painfully wide as he looked down at her, taking in every detail he could before the world opened up around them again. he started to teasingly question her statement, but he let it slide. he watched as she tucked stray locks behind her ear, admired the way she dropped her chin onto her hand, like it was the most casual thing in the world. "happy to be here."

sully followed her gaze around the bar and nodded to himself. he wondered if she'd been hoping to meet someone, or if it was all her friends doing. truth was, he didn't care. not when it was him occupying by her time, sharing space like two people who knew one another. "i'd have to agree. it's looking better than i could have expected it to." he heard a quiet ooo sound from somewhere else at the table, like again, they were impressed or surprised by how things were going between the two.

the attention he'd given toward the regular was respectful, but there was no delay in it shifting back to her. "what can i say? i like it here." bragging wasn't his thing, but he left out the detail that he owned the place, that he spent more time there than his own home because he didn't know what to do with himself.

his heart kicked up beneath his ribs when he felt her brush against him. the margarita in his hand was cold, but every other part of him felt hot. "me too." he hid beneath the rim of his sugar rim for a beat, pulling back the strong pour before lowering it back to the table. "you wanna step outside? i could use some fresh air." he pulled his bottom lip between his teeth, hopeful that she'd agree.

[thefvrious]

“dad of the year?” dion echoed back, laughing at the thought of it. sure, he was a dedicated dad, didn’t do anything without thinking of isandro first, but that didn’t mean he was the best or even anywhere near it. “i’m like that penguin in bojack horseman. world’s third best dad.” he said, snorting at the thought of it before removing the dish from the oven, setting it on the stove top to cool. the steam rolled off of it and the redolence filled the air. the warmth of the evening settled over dion, and, turned against the stove top to look at alejandro, he was flooded with all the affection he still felt for the man.

well, that was complicated.

“but you’re still gonna help him with the math though, right?” dion asked, like it was of utmost importance. he wasn’t math-minded like his former husband and their son. sure, he’d gotten by, but it was like he remembered the shit long enough to take the exam then, poof, it was gone. “food and numbers, that can be your bit. i’ll cover the rest.” he teased with an easy grin and a wink. the truth of it was, though, that they each contributed their own things to isandro. he was a culmination of the two of them, their love, the way they had raised him, and he was blossoming into his own, too. it was a wonder to witness. dion just wished they could witness it at the same rate; that ale’s time with isandro wasn’t lessened because of work and the divorce. he swallowed hard, the sound of it a loud gush in his ears, and averted his gaze. he was having dangerous thoughts, and all after one meal prepared together? he needed to get his shit together.

dion’s heart melted when he looked out and saw their boy grinning at him the way he was. he had to be happy to see his parents together like this, getting along, doing shit together. it made espiridion’s stomach twist, and he turned away, bracing himself against the stove top while inhaling the steam from the shepherd’s pie. he just needed a moment.

alejandro’s movements around the kitchen brought dion back, and he looked over as the man moved about it with the ease of someone who still lived there. dion wet his lips, watching the way the cork came out of the bottle with no fuss. “you were always better at that than i am.” he commented, small little smile on his lips. he moved to retrieve the cork, put it in a jar with the others. force of habit.

“it was a gift, from a patient.” he answered when alejandro said he didn’t recognize the bottle. “never tried it, but it was free.” he said with a shrug, “and i think she has good taste?” it was worth the try, of course. he stood still, arms folded across his chest, as alejandro set the glasses on the table and interacted with their son.

isandro bridged the gap between himself and alejandro, wrapping his arms around the man’s middle before squeezing him tightly. something shifted in dion. the boy looked up at alejandro and bellowed, “you’re welcome!” before rushing off to dion, squeezing him just the same. dion returned the embrace then turned to the stove top, using pot holders to carry the dish and set it on the center of the table, another pot holder under it so it wouldn’t burn the wood.

“everybody ready?” he asked, standing behind his seat with his hand on the chair.

[comeundcne]

"i said what i said." a faint smile remained as he looked over at the other man who was forged from the kind of patience and understanding that couldn't be learned. ale tried, but dion made fatherhood look... effortless. "this isn't me trying to make it a competition, but come on," he exhaled, smile still curved upward and deeply set, "you were better from the jump." parenthood was something they'd dove into together, a journey and a life they'd navigated as a unit, even after the separation had left alejandro living beneath another roof. it wasn't easy, but their son would never know a day without the both of them in his corner, regardless of where he and the other man stood with one another.

alejandro met the other's gaze and nodded. "no way in hell i'm letting you teach that kid math," he teased, hoping to lighten the pressure that filled his chest. "i'll handle food too. it's the least i can do if you're taking the rest." ideally, it would always be a team effort, no matter the topic. he'd pick up the slack, just like he knew dion would do the same for him. they were a team, a unit, even if they weren't under the same roof.

the investment banker stood in a kitchen that still felt more like home than the one in his apartment and breathed in the space and the smell of food and dion's cologne. what if he had a few glasses too many? would he uber, or use the guest room a floor above and stay a little longer? he looked back at their son who was beaming at the both of them, happy and excited. was this wrong? were they setting their son up for another round of disappoint? because what if he only had one glass and after every dish was cleaned or loaded into the dishwasher, he left again, leaving all the happiness in the kitchen.

ale busied himself and when dion spoke again, he cleared his throat and forced another grin to his mouth. all that mattered was the now and the way their son looked at the both of them. "practice makes perfect." and boy, had he practiced plenty over the years. he eyed the bottle and nodded when dion mentioned it was gift. "well, i've heard free always tastes the best," he joked, knowing good and well that it was lame.

the man released a low groan when their son gave him a tight squeeze. "careful with your old man," he teased, ruffling their son's hair before he pulled back and delivered a happy hug to the other man just the same. he lingered in the moment, but forced himself out of it just as quickly. "i'm starving," he assured, smile wide as he looked toward his place at the table, the same place he'd sat at for years. "need a hand or should i take a seat?"

[loredrops]

“sorry won’t fix sepsis.” the words rasp out harsher than intended, so he gentles the next line, letting the bandage drop to his thigh. “i’m not angry you’re hurt, jules. i’m angry you thought you had to handle it alone.” he unclips the field kit from his belt. habit muscle remembers the weight before his thoughts catch up. gauze pads, irrigation syringe, antibiotics that took weeks to scavenge. not a hospital, but enough. knees creak as he sinks onto the dusty floorboards, level with the welt. he looks up—searching, not commanding. “it's going to sting a little." if she nods, he’ll work. if she flinches, he’ll wait. choice matters; war taught him that dignity is the first casualty unless someone fights for it. in the quiet he hears the porch wind chimes, a domestic lie tinkling through the night. what happened out there?” he'd heard stories from other people. everyone's journey was different. it was just a reminded that he still didn't know the truth about hers. “the edges are ragged— something toothed or jagged metal?” he flicks a glance to her face, searching for lies, or maybe simply regret. “i need to know if we’re dealing with infection or… something else.”

[comeundcne]

jules forced an exhale from her chest, the sound roughened by exhaustion and pain. she wasn't sure what was more favorable, but she knew what fate awaited her on the other side of either. "okay." dark hues settled on something in the distance, a focal point that wasn't him. how could she look at him? tell him the truth? the muscle in her jaw tensed as he examined the wound. she kept her eyes trained in the distance, even when she felt him looking at her, gaze assessing and pleading all the same. "it wasn't metal." even as emotion tightened in her chest, her voice remained steady, dulled by the reality of the future she no longer had.

[thefvrious]

she felt her cheeks flush when his gaze dropped to her mouth. she couldn’t help the way she smiled at this, the flush on her cheeks. she dipped her head a little, brushing her hair out of her face. “alright, sully it is, then. unless i come up with something more appropriate to call you?” she suggested, arching an eyebrow at him. she could play along for a night. what harm could it cause?

“i see that. we appreciate you, sully.” she said, noting the way he looked at her, followed her gaze, seemed to be there for her and her alone. it made a swarm of nervous butterflies erupt in her stomach, but she swallowed it down, maintained her composure as the other girls chimed in. he wouldn’t be imposing at all. “you might get overwhelmed.” she warned, brows rising as she cast a glance at ashley then one of the other girls, rebecca, who looked a little too excited about the prospect of him joining them.

neva watched him as he went to the bar, chiming in with a little private conversation with hilary before he started bringing the drinks back, setting the first one in front of her. her cheeks were still pink, and the color deepened a little when he did this. “thank you…” she said, and was about to offer to help when hilary stopped her. she sat and waited, shifting over on her seat when he came to stand near her.

“pull up a chair!” hilary insisted and neva flushed again, scooting her chair over in case he decided to sit for the duration of the drink.

“nothing special. we’re just having a girls’ night.” neva said, answering his question, her body angled toward him as she brought her glass closer. she noticed his sugar rim and smiled. “i like that.” she continued, pointing. “blasphemy, maybe, but it’s tasty that way.” she smiled again, wide and unfiltered. “what’s going on with you tonight?”

[comeundcne]

arlo felt something heavy press in on him, felt the heat licking up the back of his neck and springing to life at the tips of his ears. "like i said... call me whatever you want. i'll answer." he held her gaze, even as he felt the eyes of the table bouncing between the two of them. for a beat, no one else existed outside of the small bubble of space they shared. not the bar, not the packed patrons, and certainly not her friends who'd been a mix of amused and excited from what he'd clocked.

"it's nothing," he brushed off gently, smile stretched wide. he followed her gaze to the other women before ultimately landing back on hers. "you know... i think i'll be alright. and if i'm not, maybe that means you'll step away with me for a little," he half-teased, half-suggested. he'd spent years under the pressure of fans and haters alike. he knew what it was like to be overwhelmed, to have all eyes on him and questions too. he'd spent most of his career beneath it, always proving himself or maintaining the credit he'd worked hard to get. and still, something about her table of friends made him nervous.

the retired goaltender settled into the space near the blonde, offering a smile in between the delivering of rounds until it was only his drink in hand. "i'm okay," he assured, "i prefer standing. unless that wasn't a question," he teased, shooting a table to the woman who'd told him to pull up a seat before his focus shifted back to neva.

he matched the angle of her frame, turning himself slightly more toward her. "a girls night out and you choose this place?" he chuckled to himself, amused, but too pleased that they'd landed there of all places around the city. "sugar rim is the only way to go. what can i say? i like to go against grain." he heard an overdone laugh from the other side of the table, ashley, he thought, but it didn't pull him from the conversation. "not much. i was just stopping in and then i saw you."

he parted his mouth to continue on, but a distant call of his name momentarily pulled him from the point. "captain sully! good to see you, big guy. miss seeing you out there," the man called out. arlo tipped his chin in acknowledgement and grinned wide. "thanks. miss it too," he called back, waving off the regular before turning back to neva. "sorry about that. he comes here a lot."

[thefvrious]

he was the type of man that people turned around to look at, neva clocked it the minute he sauntered over to their table. he oozed charm and confidence, and his smile was bright enough to light up the whole room. he probably knocked women (and men) breathless everywhere he went. why the hell was he talking to her? there had to be a decade, or close to it, between them. she was suddenly conscious of the lines on her face, the way her hair parted off center, the rasp of her laugh that shied away from any melodic femininity.

“that’s me!” she said with a light laugh when he repeated her name, then his own. she nodded her head, painfully, brutally aware of ashley vying for his attention. ashley was a real friendly type, perhaps neva should leave this up to her? “nice to meet you, arlo, or are you inviting me to call you sully?” she asked, tilting her head curiously, that smile still firmly planted on her glossy lips, as he shook her hand.

neva let her hand linger in his large palm for a moment longer than necessary, her blue eyes affixed to his before she let go, sank back into her seat. she cast a glance at hilary who was grinning like a loon, who looked to be even more excited about all this than neva was, the bubbles of it filling her up. she glanced at ashley, he wasn’t looking at ashley, then looked back at him.

“awfully generous.” she said, counting the heads at the table. six, all together. she leaned up in her seat, trying to get sight of the board, see what was on special, before ashley was thrusting herself into the situation.

“margaritas!” the other blonde exclaimed, and the other girls at the table seemed to like this option. neva shrugged her shoulders.

“the people have spoken, sully.” she said, offering him a crooked smile. she would’ve let it go, too, if it weren’t for hilary stepping in, leaning over slightly just to get arlo’s attention.

“care to join us, for the drink?” she asked, smiling at him in a friendly way, like she was going to try to make this happen, too, because no one wanted neva to get laid more than hilary did.

neva looked at arlo then back at hilary, “he’s probably busy.” she said, but she secretly wanted him to stay, too, wanted to see what would happen.

[comeundcne]

something beneath his ribs kicked up when his nickname rolled effortlessly off her tongue. his friends called him that and it always made him smile. coming from her? it made him nervous, unsteady on his own two feet. he knew what it was like between the crease with thousands of people watching, and somehow, standing before her and her friends rocked him more than any visiting crowd ever had. "sure. call me whatever you want," he countered, voice steadier and far more confident than he felt as he traced the curve of her smile with his eyes. it wasn't subtle, but it wasn't supposed to be either.

when her touch finally evaded him, he dropped his hand, the warmth of her skin still hot on his palm. "i'm a generous person." he didn't take inventory of the table or the way any of them looked at him. instead, he watched the blonde looking back at him and followed her eyes toward the chalkboard of specials.

a chuckle clawed from deep within his chest at the chirps of agreement. "i guess they have. margaritas it is." he only shifted when another voice asked him to join. he considered it for a beat, and then nodded. "sure. if i'm not imposing." before he could even finish, the whole table was reassuring him that he wasn't. "then i guess it's settled. give me a second."

arlo kept his eyes fixed on neva's for a few beats longer before he disappeared toward the bar. he ordered seven margaritas total, six for the table, and one for him. unlike the others, he preferred a sugar ring over salt, a crime against margaritas according to his friendly bartender, but he didn't care.

two drinks at a time, he carried them over, sitting one in front of neva first before serving her friends. the final drink was his own, and he hovered near where she sat, unsure of where he was supposed to settle into the group. "alright, ladies. what are we celebrating tonight?"

[loredrops]

@comeundcne asked: you told me it was a scratch , this is not a fucking scratch! ( jethro + jules )

his pulse jumps the moment he spots the livid crescent below her ribs. “you told me it was a scratch. this is not a fucking scratch." his fingers hover, but don’t dare land over the swollen skin, as if touch alone might wake something sleeping inside him. "i need the truth jules." what if the truth is simply that she’s too afraid to let him see her fall apart? he forces himself to remember the softness she once coaxed from him on nights when apocalypse was an abstract rumor—remembers that love without honesty is just another dead language. so he stands there, flashlight trembling, and prays the demand doesn’t sound like an ultimatum; prays she hears the plea beneath the command.

[comeundcne]

just a scratch sounded better than the reality of the wound she'd earned outside of their shared walls of safety. she'd done everything right, and still, she'd failed. "don't." she pulled in a sharp exhale and her lungs squeezed tight in rebellion. she shouldn't have gone out. she wasn't ready. she wasn't prepared for what awaited her out there. being in his arms had ruined her, had washed away every memory of the terrors that surrounded them. all she'd wanted was to be helpful, to prove herself worthy. "it's bad," she confessed, voice threatening to break as her gaze slowly crawled up the length of him and settled on ocean orbs. "i'm sorry."

[joenateuser]

PAUL ANTHONY KELLY 'Love Story' Cast Picks Who's Most Likely To Know Kennedy Trivia via Variety

[thefvrious]

dion was too busy tending to the food to notice his ex-husband take pause. if he had, he might’ve eased the man’s mind, not wanting anything to lay unspoken between them and festering – he knew what that could blister into. he wanted nothing but the best for them today, which was why he had brushed off the comment in the first place. best not to dwell on things that didn’t matter. best to focus on the good, on the fact that they were getting along so well and things felt so right.

he did notice when ale stood a little taller, smiling to himself. isandro was like a buoy for them, keeping their heads above water – not that they leaned on him like that, he just existed as a beacon for them. well, at least for dion. and he loved to see his family together. it did something for his soul, like stitching the patchwork back together again. “you’re a really good dad, you know that?” it went without saying, but sometimes it was nice to hear, dion knew. “he’s going to have such a refined palate by the end of it.” he teased, but he liked to hear that the boy was adventurous, that he had a good time with his father when absent from dion.

“can’t wait!” dion quipped, watching the food bubble in the oven now as he leaned on the counter. it was almost ready, and then they’d all be sitting around the family table, eating together like they hadn’t in… how long had it been? he turned his head and watched the interaction, watched as ale moved into the space by the stairs and called out for isandro. he held his breath and bit down on his bottom lip. once upon a time, this had been normal. dion’s heart ached at the thought of getting used to something similar. a new normal.

dion was all grins as isandro entered the area and bopped around, getting to work. he ruffled the boy’s hair, much to isandro’s chagrin, and stepped back as he set the table like he used to – three spaces, one for each of them complete with plate, cutlery, napkin, and glass. he made eye contact with alejandro briefly, and smiled at him with affection oozing out of him.

“you wanna get everyone a drink? i’m having wine, it’s sitting in the cupboard in the dark.” he gestured with his chin. “dunno what isandro’s having, and there’s plenty of options for you. this’ll be done in about 2 minutes.” he said, watching as isandro reemerged in the kitchen, a half-smile he inherited from his father pulling up just one corner of his mouth. dion wrapped the boy in a hug, isandro tolerated it until dion kissed his head, then he squirmed away complaining about how hungry he was.

[comeundcne]

above all else, all ale wanted in life was to be someone that their son could always turn to. it had pained him the first night he'd slept under a different roof, the first time he'd gotten to share his new space with their child. he'd felt out of place, like a home without dion wasn't even a home, but he'd persisted, had kept his chin up and head held high. it was all for show, and in the kitchen, as he watched the other man cooking like they were still a family, ale felt a bit more of his resolve crumbling away.

"says dad of the year," he countered, bottom lip pulled between his teeth. their son wasn't shy about how much he enjoyed being raised by the two of them, but every time it was alejandro's weekend, most of the time was spent with stories about dion and how good of a father he was. it was endearing, though not surprising. "i think so. if i can teach him anything, might as well be something i know well... and that isn't math." though, truth be told, isandro had taken after him in that sense. he liked math and numbers, and oddly enough, that meant something to the banker.

everything unfolded like it was supposed to. isandro set the table without argument, shooting the both of them a smile that stretched from ear to ear. it'd been too long since they'd eaten dinner as a family, but that was part of separation and ale was quick to remind himself of such. even if all he wanted was to let it be their normal for one night.

at the grounding request, ale nodded, a small smile sitting on his mouth. he should've agreed to nothing more than water, but wine sounded... comforting. "i'll have wine too." he told himself there was no use in pouring from different bottles. his preference had always been whiskey, but wine paired better with dinner, and he'd stop after a glass or two. whiskey, on the other hand, was more of a challenge.

alejandro shifted around the kitchen to collect two glasses. he studied them for a beat before he went for the wine, pulling the bottle out with care. he hummed to himself as he pulled open the drawer where a corkscrew sat, and with practiced ease, he pulled the cork and sat it aside. he wondered, briefly, if dion still collected them in his absence, or if he chose to discard them now that ale was no longer around.

"this is new," he pointed out, the label one he didn't recognize. he poured dion's glass heavier than his own, because only one of them had a drive left to do. with each glass full in it's own way, he grabbed a water glass from the cabinet and filled it with the filtered water from the refrigerator door. "have you had it before?" he tossed the question over his shoulder as he carried the water glass to the set table before making another round to put each glass at it's respective setting. "isandro," he called, waiting until their son met his gaze. "thank you for setting the table. it looks good."