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@crestfcllens
𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐜𝐧𝐬 : a dependent multimuse rp blog affiliated with maplebrookhq — penned and loved by 𝐚.
clarke whitlock : bio . threads . visage . pinterest . musings .
zayaan crowley : bio . threads . visage . pinterest . musings .
CLOSED STARTER — nari hwang ↻ clarke whitlock ( @crestfcllens ) › clarke's house
Nari plopped down on Clarke’s couch. She had ordered pizza and was ready to spend the rest of her evening chatting about anything and everything under the sun with one of her best friends. It had been a couple of weeks since the duo was able to sit down and properly chat, but after everything that had happened in her life the previous week, the blonde knew that she had to stop for a second and head over to Clarke’s for a much-needed catch-up. “ Alright. ” The blonde started, adjusting Hamlet-the-dog on her lap as she looked over at her friend. “ We both have news, from the look of it. Do you want to start or should I? ” Nari looked down at the overexcited dog, wiggling its tail at her. “ Do you think your dad got some good gossip to share, Hammy? Hm? I think he does. ” She teased, smooching the dog's head.
he’d been desperate to share the news with nari, clarke was just waiting for the right time. he knew his friend would be proud of him for putting himself out there, but he couldn’t help but feel bashful about being so caught up in elliott. what if he didn’t feel the same about clarke? as nari settled next to him, clarke pushed his glasses up on his nose and brought his blanket to his chest. a blush tickled clarke’s cheeks, he hadn’t quite expected her to pick up on the shift in his demeanor so quickly, but she had. and surely hamlet had noticed that clarke hadn’t been home quite as often and that he had a newfound goofy, dreamy look on his face at all times. “oh…is it th-that obvious?” his lashes fluttered on his cheeks as he tried to hide the sheepish smile that played on his lips. “i…i might’ve kissed someone,” clarke divulged, no longer able to keep his gushing smile and lovestruck eyes to himself. “nari…he’s perfect. his name is elliott and…” clarke trailed off before he could get ahead of himself. the way elliott had taken clarke’s black and white world and painted it with the most beautiful colors was magical. he took nari’s hand in his, giving it a squeeze, “i’m falling for him. and…i-i’m equal parts terrified and so happy.” a pause, his brows knitting together as he looked at nari. “you have news, too?”
location: nine lives cafe for: closed for @crestfcllens (iris)
Sliding into a seat across from Iris, Lorraine gave her coffee a quick stir before bringing the mug to her lips and taking a sip. "Mmmm..." She groaned, allowing her eyes to flutter closed for a brief moment before opening them once more. "Coffee, I swear it's my lifeforce." Laughing, she took another sip before turning to her croissant and taking a bite. "I'm so glad we were able to get together today. Things at the hospital have been nuts. I swear, I will never stop being both confused and simultaneously impressed by the ways people find to injure themselves." Giving her bite a final chew, she swallowed before continuing. "But, enough of that. Tell me what has been up with you!"
lorraine was always a breath of fresh air, the warmth of the sun after the chill of winter. and iris felt lucky to bask in her friend’s presence. she’d ordered herself a pecan iced coffee, sipping on it as if she hadn’t quenched her thirst in days. “it’s liquid gold, i swear,” she mused in agreement, giving her drink a shake, “an elixir.” her eyes lit up as she listened to lorraine. their jobs were so different, and iris couldn’t help but feel like what she did carried little importance. a laugh fell from her lips before taking the very last sip of her drink. “you’re so brave, lorraine,” she spoke earnestly, a warm smile pulling on her lips. “i swear, i’d faint if i worked in a hospital. how do you do it?” leaning back in her chair, amusement danced in iris’ eyes as she laughed, “the most exciting things in my life are my fantasy football team and the new sweater i bought yesterday. your stories are much more interesting.”
closed starter for @crestfcllens (iris) location: sweeney todd @ the birmingham
indy may have missed out on a lot of typical pop culture things growing up, but they had tried their best to make up for it over the years. sometimes they still felt like they were behind the curve a bit, but didn't everyone? everyone lived different lives and different experiences. dressed in a riff raff inspired outfit, indy's hanging around outside the theatre after the show has ended, waiting for the crowd to disperse a bit before heading home. taking a drag from their cigarette, they exhale over their shoulder, their gaze falling on iris when they turn back. "hey, neighbor. fancy seeing you here. you enjoy the show?" they ask, raising their voice a bit over the crowd so she can hear them.
she’d grown up on broadway. iris’ father had taken her to more shows than she could count and she’d stared wide-eyed in the crowd in awe of the magic that actors, directors, and set designers could conjure. so, iris loved supporting local theatre and had been thrilled when she’d heard that sweeney todd would be playing at the birmingham and was eager to catch a show.
iris exited the theatre with a smile on her ruby lips, utterly tickled by the show. her eyes lit up when they landed on indy, giving them an exited wave as she approached them. “oh, it was incredible, wasn’t it?” she mused, tossing her hair over her shoulder. iris shimmied her way next to indy, slipping out of her rather uncomfortable heels. “i wish i had a talented bone in my body,” she huffed dramatically, though a grin played on her face, “if i did, i’d love to be on that stage.” she tilted her head to the side, gazing up at indy, “what did you think of the show?”
where: Station 5
when: 18th October (Jack o'Lantern Lane)
open
Luke took a step back to admire this years Jack o'Lantern's and nodded his head some, giving those rookies their much wanted approval. "This one looks a little sad, but otherwise, great job. Let them in." He moved to turn to the doors opening to allow the locals to come into the station, there was enough room for this and room to make sure they got out quickly if the alarms went off.
"Good morning, welcome to Station 5, enjoy the pumpkins."
zayaan loved the events maple brook put on, they made the town feel even more magical. it was something he’d missed while he was away. as the mayor, his father had truly made maple brook a community. so, zayaan was eager to involve himself in all of october’s festivities. his favorite season was winter with stringed lights hanging from trees and snow covering the ground, but fall was a close second. his brown eyes flickering from pumpkin to pumpkin as the doors of the fire station were opened. as he was greeted by the captain, zayaan grinned, “you’ve got a talented bunch, don’t ’ya? who knew firefighters could be so creative? we might have to start sending some of your men to art school, captain ashcroft.”
english may have been sugar's second language, but he would still consider himself fluent. however, the words coming through the small speaker on his phone sounded like an alien language all together, the words rattling around in his brain. "you can't be serious. a month? how am i supposed to complete an entire novel in a month?!" his voice was harsher than he meant it to, considering his novel was already about 75% complete. the reply that came was just as frustrating as the request being made of him, so he slammed his finger onto the big red 'end call' button just to make it stop. "maari tatoori ne chalay, benchod." he muttered to himself angrily, staring at the now-black phone screen as if it was going to bite him.
unfortunately, he soon realized he wasn't alone. he had stopped himself in the middle of the sidewalk, oblivious to the world, and didn't realize he was stopping traffic. and the person who'd ground to a halt on the sidewalk trying to get around him had clearly heard the not-nice things he was saying, although not in english. his cheeks turned a bright pink, automatically assuming he was going to be in trouble, as if he were still a child. "sorry. you shouldn't have had to hear that." he flashed them an awkward smile, hoping they wouldn't hold it against him. he cared a little too much about what other people thought of him.
the fall breeze tickled zayaan’s face as he walked down the street with a particular pep in his step. he felt truly happy, for the first time since moving back to maple brook. so happy, in fact, that he’d managed to pull himself out of bed before ten in the morning, which was quite the feat. zayaan had strolled into the nine lives cafe to pick up two iced coffees, one for himself and one for his father as he intended on surprising julian at work. he was humming to himself as he rounded a corner when he heard a voice that sounded rather frustrated. his brows furrowed.
he hadn’t realized how fast he was walking until he had to swerve around the man who, zayaan surmised, was the source of the frustrated exclamations moments prior. the iced coffee in his hands nearly dropped to the ground, but zayaan stabled them as he looked at the other with concern. “not to worry,” he shook his head, a lopsided smile on his face, “my lips are sealed.” he gave the other a gentle nudge, “is all okay?”
location: the bark & nicker for: closed for @crestfcllens (clarke)
With a shake of his head Chester pocketed his cell phone, moving towards the front of the clinic to greet Clarke and and Hamlet. While it was no secret that over the past year he'd managed to keep very much to himself, meeting and subsequently befriending Clarke had certainly been a high point in his social life. Not only was he a client, but he was a friend. Which, of course, meant that Chester took no issue with examining his dog Hamlet upon request. At the end of the day, Clarke was one of the best pet owners Chester had encountered, and he didn't mind setting the others' mind at ease.
"Come in you two, come in!" He greeted as he ushered the two back and into one of the exam rooms. "Good to see you Clarke- and you too, Hamlet!" Chester bent at the waist, rubbing a hand over the dog's head. "Alright, so, what's up? What's going on with our furry friend?"
clarke couldn’t have been more grateful for chester’s presence in his life. not only was he a dear friend who clarke cherished, but he was so gentle with his beloved dog, hamlet, who was clarke’s baby in nearly every sense of the word. he knew he probably popped into the bark & nicker far too often for the staff’s liking, but chester never seemed to mind. instead, he always welcomed clarke in with a warm smile. this time, clarke had been worried about hamlet’s sudden aversion to his favorite treats. it seemed to come out of nowhere, and surely that meant something was terribly, terribly wrong, right?
as soon as his spectacled gaze found chester, clarke nearly hopped from his chair with hamlet snug in his arms. the dog’s tail wagging faster as chester greeted them. once inside the exam room, clarke let hamlet down to his feet which scurried across the room for pats from chester, grinning ear to ear. clarke’s eyes looked upon hamlet lovingly, but when they rose to meet chester’s, they filled with concern. “t-tell me if i sound, uhm, crazy,” he began, a nervous chuckle falling from his lips. “but, hamlet won’t eat his favorite treats anymore. could…could that mean he’s sick?” clarke fidgeted with his fingers, expecting for chester to deliver him the most awful news.
elliott's gaze feels glued to clarke, his eyes taking in every little nervous movement, wanting nothing more than to put them at ease. it's rare that he feels himself smile so brightly, it feels strange but he's fully aware that he couldn't bite it back if he tried. it's incredible to feel something so deeply, years of guarding his heart seemingly evaporating every moment he spends in the other's company. elliott can't remember a time somebody spoke of him so highly, if ever, it's enough to bring an unfamiliar flush to his cheeks. “ you're very special clarke. i don't think you quite understand how much so. ” he's never been good with his words, and it's been years since he's even had the opportunity to feel like this, never mind verbalise it. he just hopes he can help clarke to see himself through his eyes — so sweet and endlessly captivating. elliott can't quite believe that somebody hasn't already snatched clarke up, he's certainly the most beautiful man he's laid eyes on, but he's incredibly glad that everybody else's loss is his gain. he knows he's treading dangerous territory with how much he savours clarke's reactions to his little touches, knows he shouldn't let his mind wander too fervently but it's hard not to imagine the sighs he could elicit from the other if given the opportunity. he clears his throat softly, pushing those thoughts aside at the gentle gesture to his chest. he chuckles, a palm settling over clarke's against his shirt, “ well, thank goodness for that. ” he teases. it's increasingly tempting to lean back in and lose himself in clarke's lips again, but he's very aware that he wants to do things right, rather than give the impression that that's all he's after. he wants to delve beneath the surface and understand wholly what makes clarke, clarke. he removes his hand from clarke's against his shirt and instead offers it out for him to hold, “ shall we go for this walk ? ”
it was a miracle clarke hadn’t fainted yet with the way his heart beat to the rhythm of elliott’s name, the way heat rippled from his cheeks down to his neck and crept to his chest, and due to the reality which was that elliott whitaker was looking at him. that’d he’d chosen clarke ( for the day, but clarke couldn’t help but fantasize that it might be longer than just a few hours. his heart ached to take care of elliott’s, and clarke wanted to give elliott all of him. heart, soul, and body. the very thought equal parts terrified him and filled him with a hope he’d never experienced before. and, as he felt elliott’s eyes on him, clarke silently o begged the heavens that elliott couldn’t read his mind. though, he wouldn’t be surprised if elliott could, he was not of this world. he was angelic, a god amongst men. rubbing the back of his neck nervously, clarke sought out elliott’s warm eyes and bought a glimpse of that beautiful smile that stopped time. clarke was certain every tree, ever flower nearby held their breath watching the two of them. elliott’s words washed over him, bringing a giddy and dimpled smile to his lips. as much as he wanted to disagree with the compliment, he bit back his tongue, not wanting to ruin the perfect moment with the insecurities that still managed to flicker in his eyes. adjusting his glasses, clarke beamed, “th-thank you, elliott. you have no idea how much that means to me. clarke took a nervous breath before leaning over to press a lingering kiss to elliott’s cheek, whispering, “you’re…you’re very special, too.” pulling back, his cheeks were flushed red and he shook his head in disbelief, “you’re the most…the most amazing man.” perhaps he shouldn’t be so open with every thought that went through his mind, but there was simply no use keeping it to himself when he wanted elliott to know how wonderful he was. how perfect and beautiful he was. if elliott’s subtle touch could send clarke into a fever, he wondered what it would feel like to have elliott’s hands and lips claiming more of him. and the thought was so strong he had to remind himself to breathe. his fingers balled up in elliott’s shirt, a giggle falling from his lips, “i’m…i’m very glad you’re not just, uhm, a daydream i’ve created in my mind.” his head ducked to hide his bashful smile, still learning how to exist and be seen. and elliott’s hand over his anchored him to the moment, stilled his worries. he took elliott’s hand as if it were a lifeline that clarke was desperate to keep. he’d never been treated so softly, with such care and it had him questioning what he’d done to deserve this. “w-we should,” clarke nodded with a grin looping his fingers with elliott’s and rubbing the back of his warm, strong hand with his thumb. elliott made him feel special, chosen and the very concept made clarke weak in the knees. “can i…can i keep holding your hand?” his gaze flickered to their intertwined fingers, not brave enough to hear elliott’s response. he didn’t want to let go, didn’t want elliott to slip through his fingers. clarke desperately craved elliott’s touch, especially after that kiss.
his thoughts had slid sideways, as one tended to do while under the influence, mind suddenly full of extraterrestrial wonderings that'd never amount to anything substantial. but it felt serious in the here and now, ford's forehead wrinkling as he glared up at the big, open sky, contemplating his history of doubting the possibility of life beyond earth. he was about to say as much, too, pursed lips just beginning to part before zayaan pounced. his exacted revenge was swift and unexpected, jarring enough to knock the wind out of him as he was flipped onto his back, left splayed beneath his friend's body weight on the dewy grass. slowly, everything melted to molasses around them, and ford's mind began to stray in a very different direction... there was no time at all to catch up with the hands skimming along his ribs, a ticklish jolt zapping through him, making ford squirm. "dude!" he crowed, like he hadn't just done the same thing to zayaan seconds earlier, a choked-off giggle that he couldn't restrain spilling free in the next moment. he knew that he was already flushed from drinking, but the color deepened and spread, crawling beneath the collar of his shirt to warm his chest as they wrestled. only once zayaan collapsed into his fit of laughter did ford manage to snark back, "and here i thought you had a healthy ego, all this braggin' and shit." he exhaled a 'tch' of a breath through his teeth, grinning because he just couldn't help it as he looked over at the other. "you're no better than me." except that he really did think zayaan was, in many ways, and he was willing to argue it, too.
each catching their breath, the brief silence they lapsed into was pleasant, but not long for this world -- neither had ever been very good at shutting up around each other. it was zayaan's answering musing that had ford's blue eyes sliding back to his friend, admiring the profile of his face for a few beats. "that's... really corny, bro." the snort ford let out was almost theatrical -- performative, in its own right, a part of him struggling to combat zayaan's unyielding sincerity that was blinding, always, but even more so now, as they laid side-by-side in the quiet dark of night. if they managed to stay quiet for more than a minute, ford was almost certain he could've tricked himself into believing they were already in the vacuum of space. "don't tell me that's one of your chat-up lines," he teased with a needling elbow. "i'm flattered, honest, but if a chick had just said what i said to you to me" -- a confusing riddle of a sentence there, sloppy on his drunken tongue and heavy with heteronormativity, because it still did rule ford's life to an extent, even as he barreled on -- "i would take it as a golden opportunity. i'd say, 'well, there's an easy one to spot. it's just right up there. look!'" he wiggled impossibly closer, shoulders already sealed together and now overlapping some while he extended a hand and pointed for the sky. "it's right there. you see how that group of stars sorta... lines up." but there was no constellation. of course, not! because ford had just said he was clueless about astrology - wait, astronomy? - but it was a very nice excuse to be close. closer, head tilting and nudging their temples together, as if attempting to share a twin eyeline with zayaan while coaching him ('see? you'll see it!'), finger swishing in a graceful curve. somewhere along the way, ford stopped looking at stars that didn't exist. his gaze was on zayaan again, watching him as he watched the night sky. "and now," he began again, voice softer and quieter, "while you're distracted... it's so much easier for me to do this..." slowly, he used the leverage of an elbow to boost himself up, just enough so he could duck down and close the miniscule gap between them, sealing their lips together in a warm kiss. his hanging hand fell from the stars, touch featherlight along zayaan's jaw. there was that electric jolt again, making a part of ford feel as if he was being propelled by a personal dare, caution driven out as his fingers curled, attempting to draw the other nearer still.
it wasn’t often that zayaan faced existential crises, but staring into space while intoxicated had his mind thrumming with questions of his future. but, it didn’t last long. the sound of ford’s breathing next to him anchored zayaan to the present because as he watched the rise and fall of the other’s chest, he remembered he was on solid ground. that was, until zayaan hovered above his friend, thighs pinning ford to the ground as his fingers continued their mission of torturing through tickles. he would’ve felt guilty for the torture, but ford had started it and this was only revenge and not an excuse to touch ford, right? the laughter than left ford’s lips was nearly as intoxicating as the beer they’d shared and zayaan found himself growing dizzy from catching his own breath, trying to keep up with ford’s fit beneath him. only once he’d fallen back onto the ground, did zayaan recognize the ache in his chest for ford’s touch once more but he shoved the thought aside. with a fond roll of his eyes and a cheeky grin, zayaan huffed, “well, you know i learned it from you.” his knee gently bumped against ford’s as he poked his friend’s arm, “this huge ego of mine comes from hanging out with the likes of you.” it was all in jest. zayaan had always admired what a good person ford was, he’d seen the loyalty and compassion his friend tried to hide behind quips and charm. and he felt lucky for it. zayaan’s head fell back in laughter, hand falling to his stomach to ease the ache of too much joy and what a beautiful feeling it was. he looked at ford from the corner of his eye, a smirk pulling on his lips, “you’re rubbing off on me, aren’t you?” but, zayaan could only be so lucky to be like steady, easygoing, kind ford.
laughter still fluttered in zayaan’s chest, slipping from his lips in soft giggles like butterflies breaking free. his jaw fell open, feigning offense at ford’s words but a grin cracked through and betrayed him. “i’m nothing if not corny,” he hummed, “and you love it.” again, there was ford’s melodious, addictive laughed that seemed to weave through zayaan’s chest. and as that rare, fleeting silence settled between them zayaan couldn’t help but glance at ford, his gaze lingering as a lopsided smile curved onto his lips. and he wondered if ford knew how bright he shined. his brows furrowed as he tried to understand ford’s words, gaze flickering from ford’s lips to his eyes before a helpless, almost bashful, smile found its way onto his face and zayaan tried hiding it. his body buzzed when ford’s shoulder wiggled against his, that ache for ford’s touch easing. he was warm, and zayaan melted against him almost chasing the touch as ford continued on as if the touch had no affect over him. zayaan’s eyes followed ford’s finger, falling for the other’s performance. his eyes squinted as they searched for the constellation ford pointed out, a pout forming when he couldn’t find it. that pout was quickly and unexpectedly kissed off of his lips. zayaan’s heart had been struck by lightning bolts, the moment igniting him in ways he’d never experienced. it was as if ford’s lips danced with the constellations they’d been gazing at - warm, electric, and celestial. had zayaan dreamt of this moment before? a low groan slipped through his lips as he kissed ford slowly, greedily. one hand found purchase balled up in ford’s shirt, the beating of ford’s heart a reminder that this was real. zayaan’s other hand cradled ford’s neck, fingers finding their way into the hair at the nape of ford’s neck and tugging gently. the way his lips moved against ford’s was reverent, like zayaan was committing it to memory. nipping at ford’s lower lip, zayaan pulled away for a breath. “let me make you forget about that roster of yours,” his voice was low as a lazy smirk curved on his kiss-blushed lips, running a thumb across ford’s lower lip.
Elise flashes Clarke another smile before turning her head back to the cookies, impatiently trying to will fluff up. Clarke speaks again and Elise turns back, her own eyes slightly wide. "Intruding?" She asks. "Clarke, had I not wanted you, I would not have invited you."
Elise says it plainly, matter-of-factly. The truth was, she loved when there people around to speak to, especially those friends that she'd held near to her heart. Clarke may be shy and sometimes unassuming, but Elise found his presence comforting. Sometimes disarming. There was a genuine quality to him that Elise could not ignore, it set her nerves at ease.
Perhaps this was as much a grace to him as it was to her.
"How have I been," she muses to herself. Clarke mentions the books and Elise gives him her own knowing smile. It was so easy for her to become lost in a story and recount another author's work, rather than her own.
"Well, I've been alright, overall. Fighting InDesign at work and writing rather straight-forward pieces about the town. Upcoming events, school board decisions, those sorts of things. I've been trying to take it easier, actually, and not over commit myself. I did that for so many years, I'm trying to remind myself to slow down and enjoy some hobbies."
She shakes her head. "And how are the kids? The students?"
as much as he loved his apartment and the space he’d created for himself, clarke often found loneliness creeping in, and an ache for company that he couldn’t quite shake. getting lost in grading papers and reading books helped, but inevitably it couldn’t quiet the longing for more, for a life outside of the ‘safe’ walls he hid behind. breaking out of his shell was frightening, but if anyone could make it feel less daunting, it was elise. a soft laugh fell from his lips, realizing how ridiculous he had sounded, “i…i guess i’m still getting used to b-being invited out.” it was his own doing, of course. the habit from shying away from everything had begun when he was a child.
oftentimes it felt silly, being a grown man who was practically afraid of his own shadow. but, elise’s warmth willed clarke to trust. to take a chance and step towards the life he wanted, one with friends and loved ones experience the ups and the downs with.
with his elbows on the counter, clarke rested his chin in his hands and smiled as elise seemed to ponder his question. he knew how hard she worked and he always hoped she took time for herself. a smile lit up his face, “if it helps, i-i read every piece you write. you, uhm, have a way of making everything poetic. even the school board decisions.” and he knew a thing or two about how those meetings could go. “yes…yes, you should enjoy yourself,” clarke nodded emphatically, “wh-what hobbies have you been trying out?”
clarke let out a shaky exhale, laughing gently. “my students are doing well. i…i think i bore them a bit, but they seem happy which is all i could ask for. i see myself in some of them, y’know?” the wallflowers, the ones too afraid to raise their hands and answer questions. “it’s quite a strange feeling,” his gaze rose to meet elise’s as a soft smile curved onto his lips.
closed starter for : @vellichorz ( xio ) location : the hayrides and haunted house experience @ evergreen stables when : wednesday october 8th
long hair fell loose as iris weaved through the haunted house, her laughter carrying through the dark hallways despite the jolts and jumps that awaited her at every turn. the adrenaline was coursing through her veins, panting as she stumbled out of the front door and out onto the grass of evergreen stables. iris tugged at fake spider web strands that had tangled into her hair, having gotten caught up in them more times than she could count. she wasn’t paying attention when she nearly collided with another body, gasping louder than she had in the haunted house and her hand clasped over her mouth when she realized who it was. iris’ heart nearly stilled in her chest and a large part of her was drawn to run back into the haunted house. but, that’s what she always did, didn’t she? run, escape, and take the easy way out. xio deserved more than that. they didn’t know it, but they’d joined iris in many of her dreams since leaving new york. that was all iris had left of xio, dreams. or so she’d thought. xio was as breathtaking as ever and memories flickered through iris’ mind as guilt threatened to swallow her whole. “xio,” her voice was uncharacteristically shaky as she took a cautious step towards the other, “i…i never thought i’d see you again.” could iris just gloss over the fact that she’d left without warning or goodbye? could she pretend that part hadn’t happened?
when : october 4th
where : the final whistle
with : iris locke @crestfcllens
“are things always this loud around here?” she asks as the prettiest waitress of the town comes by her booth. of course, helena did not know the nhl games were starting out and all the commotion from around the bar was due to that — the only reason she came around the final whistle was to see its owner or its employee, the one that stands in front of her holding some snack helena hadn't tried but was assured as a great option while she waited for iris to get out of duty. “what did you call them? sopes? won't the bean taste odd with all of it?” she's sure ari would kill her for even suggesting this, which is why iris is getting the end of her “karen” wonderings.
“the only time it’s quiet here is two minutes before close,” iris explained with a grin (and oh how she loved the commotion) before waving a hand in the air, “or when golf is playing on the tv’s.” even still, iris managed to get the crowd chatting on those days. her expression quickly turned concerned, “is the noise bothering you?” gaze flickered from helena to the crowd gathered near the biggest tv in the final whistle. iris didn’t want to run helena out, she was thrilled the older woman had stopped by. helena was exactly the woman iris had needed as a child and a teenager (and to be fair, even now). she’d forgive the fates for not bringing helena into her life until recently so long as they promised never to separate them. the brunette placed the plate onto the table before crowding next to helena in the booth she’d been sitting in. taking a sope in her hand, she dipped it in the beans. “trust me, helena. they’re life changing,” iris mused before taking a rather unladylike bite. “ari’s gotten me addicted. try one!”
"Thanks, kid." Jules fought to hold back the tears that pricked at his eyes. It hadn't been the easiest raising Zayaan without Claudia, but he'd never really been alone. It had been Claudia's loss that had served to remind Jules of the village they'd created for themselves; he would be forever grateful for everyone who'd stepped up and helped him to raise his son into the man that he was all while keeping his wife's memory alive. "It helps that you're an easy guy to love." Jules couldn't imagine how difficult it had been for Zayaan to lose his mother at such a formative age, and while there had been the usual moments of teenage rebellion, he could hardly complain. All in all, Zayaan was perfect. "I know it's not always helpful to talk to your old man," he began. He wasn't being self-deprecating, just acknowledging that sometimes Jules's rose-tinted glasses approach to Zayaan was not as objective as he needed. "So, maybe it'll be helpful to talk to someone else. A therapist, maybe? Or an objective friend. But I still hold to my point that you're perfect and you'll find your new passion soon enough."
For a moment, he turned his attention back to the pickled veggies. If they continued to sell at this rate, he and Zayaan would be able to head home soon. He'd been in the middle of stacking the final remaining jars when he coughed out a laugh at Zayaan's words. "Hey! I never thought politics was for me when grandma was doing it and look at me now." Not that he'd ever want his son to do something simply because he felt obligated. If politics turned out to be Zayaan's passion, then Julien would support him as he would with any other endeavor. "Well..." Jules shrugged. He employed quite a few staffers and they were all relatively good people. "If she works for me, then I'd hope that you'd respect her enough not to damage her political aspirations. And that you'd both keep the professional and personal separate." Other than that, he couldn't really anticipate having any objections. "As for crushes, there's not really any solid to report yet."
zayaan noticed them, the tears threatening to fall from his father’s eyes and it made his throat grow tight as he fought off his own tears. the two had never shied away from their emotions and zayaan was eternally grateful that in julian, he found the bravest and strongest man he’d ever known who wasn’t afraid to cry and who never chastised zayaan for his tears. he knew not every man was lucky enough to have a father who encouraged their son to express their emotions, but julian did and it’d helped zayaan tremendously. especially after they lost claudia, who lit up their lives. and after the injury, too. julian had let zayaan sob, he’d welcomed the wave of emotions zayaan was swept up in, and he was zayaan’s anchor through it all. julian had always been his anchor. “i’m not sure everyone would agree with you on that, dad,” he chuckled, bringing a hand up to wipe a stray tear from julian’s cheek. zayaan had a relentless desire to be liked by everyone, something he’d never said aloud but was always creeping in the back of his mind. he feared not being universally liked. he tried modeling himself after his dad who was a gentle, steady force, and a wonderful man loved by all. but zayaan often fell short of that with his boisterous ways. his father was a great listener, but zayaan never wanted to worry julian with any fears or insecurities. the thought of seeing a therapist hadn’t crossed his mind until julian mentioned it and a smile curved onto zayaan’s lips, “i think it’s time for me to see a therapist. thanks, dad.” it’d be scary at first, no doubt, but he knew it’d be beneficial. and maybe, just maybe a therapist could lead him towards a new passion in life. zay lovingly poked his dad’s cheek, a beaming grin on his own lips, “if i’m perfect, i got it from you, old man.”
the sun was hanging lower in the sky and zayaan couldn’t be more proud of all the pickled veggies julian had sold. he loved that his dad had a hobby outside of being the mayor, something else that brought him joy. he laughed along with julian and clapped his hand on his father’s back, “dad, i fear if maple brook were in my hands, it’d be a mess.” zayaan’s cheeks were painted a bright pink at the mere thought of nari. he quickly nodded, a bashful expression on his features, “i promise i’d be respectful. i…i want the world for her already, dad.” he took a beat and a deep breath, “it’s nari…do you think i’m deserving of her?” as the conversation switched to julian’s love life, he smirked, “nothing solid? does that mean you’ve at least been going on dates?”
If Nari had her way, chances were, they wouldn’t be standing there making eyes at each other while trying to enjoy this party. They would be halfway across town, on their way to either one of their houses and tearing each other’s clothes apart. But, Zayaan had asked the blonde to be his plus one to this party and the only way she would have said no, would be if Julien didn’t approve of their blossoming relationship. Maple Brook’s elite only proved to her that people with money were the same everywhere in the world. From the lavish parties her so-called parents used to throw, to the snobbish artistic elite of both New York and Los Angeles, not to mention, the sophisticated parties she used to go during the time she worked as an escort, only showed that people, when given money, liked to show off. Nari too, when given the chance, loved to show off–maybe not in a materialist way, although she really did love money and the small hints of happiness money would bring. Nothing, however, could quite feel the same as being dragged by Zayaan. His boyish grin reminded her of simpler times and for the first time in a long time, she wished it was easy to give her heart away to someone, because Zayaan seemed like would take good care of it.
The delicate way he touched her, the way his gaze moved up to catch hers, always asking for permission, always testing out the waters with her… it made Nari ten times more comfortable to have gone there with him. But then, he would whisper things in her ear and make her whole skin catch fire just by ghosting his fingertips along her body and she no longer knew right from wrong. “ Stop…” The blonde practically groaned under his touch. It wasn’t like it had been a while since she’d gotten off, but things were a hundred times different with Zayaan. It was like everything he said and did,turned her on. Especially since he’d do it with such a faux air of innocence to him. He was trouble. A goddamn problem she was not looking forward to solving or fixing. The way he easily ran his tongue along his bottom lip, sent shivers down her spine. If she couldn’t be any more attracted to the younger man, he had to pull out the big guns. “ I mean… that is tempting. ” The blonde smirked as she pressed her hand against his chest, trying so hopelessly to keep an amount of safe distance between them. This little spot Zayaan had her cornered against was a little more private, but there were still people who could see them. “ Just to be clear, I’m not saying no.” The young assistant stated, nodding once as she looked into his eyes. “ God, there’s nothing else I want more right now than go somewhere private with you, but… ”
Her arms moved around his neck. Zayaan had a compelling way of having her abide by his every wish, she reckoned, otherwise, why else would she be holding onto him like that, especially somewhere people could easily see them? “ But we just got here. “ And he was the mayor's son. Nari knew how these functions worked, as she'd gone to many of them growing up. It was all about seeing people and being seen. “ And I thought you wanted this to be our second date?” Even though they weren't exactly paying for anything, that was the impression she got from their flirty texts. That this evening was their second date. A much more public one, but one nonetheless. “If we leave, we're not coming back.” Again, she stated. As much as her body practically ached for his touch, for his lips one hers, for his hands one her skin, Nari wasn't reckless. A little PDA here and there was fine, but she didn't think it would be right to eat his face in front of everyone. And, well… in order to do what she really wanted to do with him, they needed privacy. " If we leave, we'll go to whoever's apartment is closest... ” Nari leaned in, taking in his breath and the scent of his cologne that seemed to drive her completely insane. " And I'm not letting you leave for the rest of the night. Is that what you want? ”
having nari by his side made zayaan feel like the luckiest man in the world. no championship trophy, no accolades on the soccer field, no game-winning kick could compare to the thrill that coursed through his veins when she so much as smiled at him. he’d hoped their second date would be more romantic, more personal, and more catered to nari’s interests. but, he knew he had to show his face at the yacht party and he couldn’t bear to be away from nari, so it was the perfect excuse to see her again. and he hoped that inviting her to be his date, nari would know what his intentions were : zayaan had feelings for nari and wanted to properly court her, like he’d seen in bridgerton (but without having to be followed by chaperones.) it did feel a bit like bridgerton, looking around at the crowd hiding behind masks of wealth, using their names as leverage, and an abundance of jewels hanging from their necks. but that world didn’t exist when he was in nari’s presence, all he saw was the woman who held his heart in her hands, even though she was unaware of it.
dark eyes flickered up from where he’d been shamelessly admiring the way she looked in that dress, catching hers again as a blush bloomed across his cheeks. zayaan’s eyes always asked, always gave nari an escape if she wanted one. but everything in the thick air between them was temptation. and, god, did he love toeing the line with her, seeing just how unraveled he could make her. the hitching of her breath, the way her eyes grew half-lidded after each touch had his heart racing. his lips had found the apple of her cheek, running a slow kiss against her skin when he heard her say ‘stop’. zayaan’s heart stopped for a moment, pulling away just slightly but keeping his hand on her waist, rubbing soft circles in her skin. each touch was as if he were writing poetry on her skin and he intended for the prose to be reverent. “you make it so hard to behave,” his voice was breathless, low, and needy. it was evident he was coming undone. fingers moved to her neck, like he was trying to fix her necklace but instead they danced along her collarbone. “do you want me to stop?” he questioned with sincerity. but, when her hand met his chest and her lips curved into that smirk, zayaan knew the answer. he was certain she could feel how fast his heart beat beneath her hand. how his heart beat only for her. zayaan inched closer to her as he hung onto each word she spoke, the tension between them was palpable.
as nari’s arms snaked around his neck, zayaan instinctively placed each of his hands on either side of her waist and pulled her body flush against his. with yet another slow lick of his lower lip (was it cruel to do so when he knew the needy response he’d get from nari?), his eyes searched nari’s. could she tell he was losing all control? that he was putty in her hands? the rest of the world disappeared when he looked into her eyes and zayaan forgot where they were for a moment until she reminded him. he nudged his nose against hers briefly, a grin curving onto his lips, ready to respond until he noticed a shift. zayaan’s chest pounded and excitement pooled in the pit of his stomach as her words washed over him. intimacy terrified him, but he was ready to give his heart and his body to nari. maybe it was naive, but he knew he could trust her. and if he did end up getting hurt, at least he’d loved. zayaan shivered as she leaned in, and a smirk pulled on the corners of his lips. his thumb rested on her lower lip as he leaned in to whisper against her lips, “take me. every wish is my command, nari hwang.”
where: just outside the final whistle when: mid september who: armando & iris (@crestfcllens)
Armando usually gave the Final Whistle a wide berth. He had a lot of love for Ari, truly — but the two of them had been dancing around their mutual grief for so long, the cowboy had found it best to avoid the man until he was ready to talk. Besides, he was trying to be better about his intakes. A few beers now and again were fine and good, but he was trying not to trade his vices more than he already had. But, sitting at home alone kind of…well… sucked. So he had chanced a shot at catching some sort of game, though he was pretty sure no one he cared about was playing. But as he was nearing the entrance, the fear of bumping into the owner sat heavy in his stomach, so relief washed over him when he caught Iris exiting. “Well, hey now Miss Locke.” He greeted, slipping his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Been a minute since I've seen ya 'round.”
Making conversation with Iris was easy — they had a lot in common, and well, he found himself being almost doting on the young woman. There was always an inkling that told him she seemed to be on the run from something, and he could relate to that in some aspects — after all, it had been the reason he ended up in maple brook. He supposed it made them something of kindred spirits to one another, hiding from the hard in the steady, easy flow of a small quaint town. “Were ya headin' out?” He threw a thumb behind him in the direction he came. “I could walk ya home, if ya like?”
her shift had gone by quick, almost too quick, because iris found herself dreading going home to an empty apartment. she much preferred being in the company of others and hearing the cheers and chants that echoed through the final whistle while football games played on the television was music to her ears. but she knew well enough to know that ari would shoo her out once her shift ended so she could get some rest though, if it were up to her she’d be the first to arrive and the last to leave the final whistle every night. the place had become a safe haven, a home, for iris. she tossed her bag over her shoulder and waved to ari before heading out into the crisp fall air, the wind tickling her cheeks and tangling through her long hair. her eyes danced with excitement when she heard armando’s voice and she quickly turned to face him. “armando!” his name rolled off her tongue like honey and a bright smile lit up her face. “it’s been too long, my dear. how have you been?” iris glanced up at him with genuine curiosity.
armando was a ray of warmth in iris’ life. a life that had been filled with family who had ice running through their veins, a life where no one exchanged heartfelt words or smiles, a life where money reigned higher than love. but maple brook was different and iris loved the life she’d chosen in the small town, even though she was still trying to find where she fit. and armando was one of the reasons she knew she’d find her place, his warmth and care made iris feel like she mattered. she felt an unexplainable tie to her friend and she’d hold onto it for dear life. linking her arm with his, iris nodded, “ari wants me to have a life outside of work.” she rolled her eyes playfully and sighed over-dramatically. “i’d love some company. perhaps you can help me think of something to do other than curl up in bed with my dog?” a giggle fell from her lips as she pulled him closer.
oh, helena is used to making promises she can't keep, so she smiles and gives the man an enthusiastic nod. "i did get spoiled of most of it but i feel like i can trust you, clarke. so i need to exchange a promise for a promise — will it be worth it or should i just chat gpt it?" how did she live before the internet was a thing, she'd never know. her attention is laser focused on clarke, however, as the topic of award shows is one of her favorites, after all. "if your students know who is at the red carpet, she must be good." she interjects before he can even finish, though her smile grows as he realizes. "oh, that pink dress was like a dream! i was partial to these cute looks myself," after playing strong, stoic, sarcastic women during decades, she had always wanted to stand out from her roles and be her own person, so she didn't always go for the scandal looks she so adored. "did you have any more faves?"
“ch-chatgpt, helena?” a gasp left his lips, though a grin lit up his face. “oh, now you sound like my students. do i need to give you the same, uhm, lecture i give them?” he chided her playfully, giving his friend a gentle nudge. “i pinky promise it’s worth finishing,” clarke held his pinky out for her as his grin grew even wider, “and i-i take pinky promises very seriously.” helena always had a way of making clarke feel at ease, she’d broken down the walls he often hid behind and he felt as if he could breathe by her side. “unfortunately, they weren’t quite as enthralled in my lesson today as they were the emmy’s looks,” he shrugged and sighed softly, defeatedly, “i…i can’t blame them, though. i guess studying the impact of the plague isn’t quite as, uhm, exciting.” his eyes twinkled with amusement at helena’s excitement. “you know…i think you’d pull off that pink dress gorgeously,” a cheeky smile as he adjusted his glasses, “maybe for an event…or a date?” briefly, clarke thought about what kind of suit he’d wear on a date and a certain pair of warm brown eyes flickered through his mind and a warm blush painted his cheeks. he was grateful for helena’s next question. “i-i thought selena gomez looked beautiful, too. doesn’t she always?” a smile as he remembered the dress, “red is lovely on her.”
her laugh came low, like gravel caught in the throat of an engine, and it lingered just long enough to blur the line between amusement and warning. “your baby, huh?” she echoed, tossing the rag onto the counter before bracing her palms on either side of the service desk. grease still smudged her fingers, streaked across her forearm in lines like war paint, but tally didn’t bother to hide it. she leaned in just enough that the scent of oil and faint trace of leather clung to the air between them. “good news is — brakes are something i can fix. bad news is — if you’ve been driving around with them screaming like a banshee, i’m not sure your baby deserves that much faith.” one brow arched, sharp and deliberate. she studied iris for a beat, head tilting, eyes narrowing in a way that said she wasn’t just taking stock of the car, but the woman who brought it in. most people flinched under that gaze, shifted on their feet or reached for their wallet like it might save them. iris didn’t. instead, she leaned, chin propped in her hands, looking at tally like she was something worth figuring out. that caught her attention more than any busted brake ever could. “what else might you be leaving with?” tally repeated, the corner of her mouth tugging into that half-smile again. she straightened, reaching for the work order sheet, the pen twirling effortlessly between her fingers. “depends. some people walk out lighter in the wallet, heavier in the ego. some just get their keys back and thank me later when their car actually listens to them. and then…” her voice dipped, soft but edged, “…there are the few who figure out that what i’m offering has nothing to do with engines or brake pads.” she slid the form across the counter toward iris, pen balanced neatly on top. “tell me, princess—” the nickname rolled off her tongue with just enough tease to make it unclear if it was meant as mockery or compliment—“which kind of customer are you planning to be today?”
oh, if only tally knew that iris didn’t just flirt with danger, she hit the gas and chased after it as if she were behind the wheel of a stolen porsche speeding down an empty road at midnight. no headlights, no fears. she lived for a challenge, and for the first time in ages she was being met with one. it sparked a particular kind of excitement in her. “my baby,” she repeated through a hum, pressing her ruby lips together. eyes raked over tally, taking note of the grease stains that painted her like art. she was stunning, unlike anyone iris had ever seen. as the other moved closer, iris did too and the scent of her perfume and temptation mingling with the scent of grease, creating something intoxicating. addictive. a giggle fell from her lips, her eyes lighting up as they found tally’s. “i promise i haven’t been driving it around like that.” a twirl of her hair around a manicured finger as her tone lowered, “after all, she’s my baby.” tally was a puzzle iris knew she’d have fun figuring out, the kind where fingers danced over every edge and curve to find the perfect fit. the difficult ones, the puzzles where cracking the code felt like a treat and it made the result was all the sweeter. a coy grin danced on iris’ lips, looking at tally from underneath her fluttering lashes as she weighed every word that fell into the shared space between them. as the piece of paper made its way to her, iris picked up the pen but didn’t sign anything. no, she began to slowly trace her lips with the top of the pen as her eyes locked with tally’s like it was a dare. “i’m interested in learning more about this other package you offer,” iris mused, “could you divulge the details?” the nickname brought a smirk to her face and she bit down on her lower lip as she pressed the pen to paper, “princess? is that how i should sign?” her voice lowered, cheeks turning the slightest shade of pink, “for the record, i’d like to be the third type of customer.”
