way down we go

finnegan parker. thirty3. law student/bartender. briar ridge native.

[finneganparker]

keep about your wits, man, keep about your wits. know yourself & who you came in with

basics

FULL NAME: Finnegan Parker

NICKNAME: Finn

BIRTHDAY: November 12th

AGE: 33

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: heterosexual

POSITIVE TRAITS: loyal, passionate, strategic

NEGATIVE TRAITS: obsessive, closed off, stubborn

LENGTH OF TIME IN BRIARRIDGE: all his life until 18, then 12 years overseas in the military and spent another two studying abroad before coming back less than a year ago

RELIGION: Christian

appearance

HEIGHT: 6'0"; athletic build

HAIR: depends on the cut but it's between a light brown and a dark blonde

TATTOOS/SCARS: a tattoo on his right arm from his last tour overseas. too many scars to count between the bullet wounds, cuts, and other marks from his time in the military

family

MOTHER:

FATHER: Randy

SIBLING(S): younger sister Holly, two older brothers Wes and TBD

CHILDREN: n/a

PETS: border collie named Addie (ESA certified)

style

rugged military influence with a relaxed, easygoing vibe. practical worn-in clothes like leather jackets, books, and simple tees. vintage wallet. cowboy hat. dog tags underneath the collar of his shirts. hearing aid in his left ear but it's sometimes forgotten. very earthy tones and nostalgic cues in his clothes.

living situation

lives in an apartment in DOWNTOWN; he has too much saved/invested that he bought an apartment downtown when he first came back into town after a spell back home at the ranch. it's paid off and comes with an extra bedroom.

work

works as a bartender at the golden hour

currently studying law ; aiming to take the bar within the next year

biography

TRIGGER WARNING: military

Finnegan Parker is the youngest boy of four siblings, born and raised in Briar Ridge. Growing up, he was closest to his younger sister, feeling a strong protective instinct toward her. After her accident, he carried the guilt, believing he could have prevented it if only he had heard her calls for help. While he always looked up to his older brothers and tried to follow in their footsteps, it was his sister who shaped his sense of responsibility.

Born deaf in both ears, Finnegan underwent multiple surgeries as a child, regaining some hearing in his left ear but remaining completely deaf in his right. He’s learned to rely on lip reading and often chooses not to wear his hearing aids, preferring to navigate the world without drawing attention to his deafness. Though he knows American Sign Language, he uses it only when necessary.

As a child, Finnegan was a junior roping champion, but after high school, he stopped competing, saving his prize money and graduating with decent grades. His path then led him to the ROTC program, and after high school, he enlisted in the Army. He served two overseas tours, later extending his service for another four years, which created tension with his family due to his physical and emotional distance. He returned home less than a year ago, bearing both physical scars and the weight of PTSD from his time in service.

Now back in Briar Ridge, Finnegan is focused on studying for the bar exam, hoping to become a lawyer. To support himself and take a break from studying, he works as a bartender at night. His emotional support dog, a comforting presence, accompanies him wherever he goes, even to his shifts at the bar.

Easygoing on the surface, Finnegan still carries the weight of his past, especially his sister’s accident. But with a deep determination to heal, he’s focused on building a future beyond his military experience, hoping to find peace and a new path forward.

wanted connections

best friend

close friends ; childhood or high school friends

neighbor in apartments on the same floor or building

drinking buddies; even though he doesn't drink that much

co-workers; someone who works at the bar

study partner

found family

ex-friends

past relationships

pen pal / online friend

the one that's always there when the other is about to fall apart

confidants about things they can't talk about with others

skinny love / crush

any other connections !!

[sahrademir]

There was a second when she thought she had him, his eyes betraying his stoic expression for the briefest of moments before whatever wall he had built up snapped back into place. She had to bite down on her lower lip to prevent a smile from forming, knowing that if she smiled she'd laugh, and that laughter would flow into an unstoppable force and inevitably lose her their bet. And while Finn may not have been one to back down, neither was she. And she was determined to win this.

"Oh, am I?" Her eyes sparkled with amusement while her expression gave nothing away except a small twitch at the corner of her lips. "Because you don't scare me, Finnegan Parker." To prove her point, she took a step towards him, head tilting further back to look up at him while her eyes never strayed from his. "Me? I'm living for it."

Another step ate most of the distance between them, her hand finding his as she took the now empty shot glass from him, hovering in his personal space for another short moment before backing away and finally breaking their prolonged eye contact. "Another?" She questioned with a raised brow as she glanced over her shoulder at him, not waiting for an answer as she poured two more shots, foregoing the salt rims and shaking with ice this time. "Let's see how you do without all the bells and whistles that make it easier."

[finneganparker]

Finn couldn’t help but feel the challenge rise in the air between them as she stepped closer, the space between them shrinking as the tension spiked. He watched her carefully, every movement deliberate, every glance a challenge in itself. Her confidence wasn’t something he could easily ignore, especially not when it looked like she was determined to make him crack.

She was definitely trying to rattle him. But Finn wasn’t about to let her win that easily.

"Living for it, huh?" he echoed, his voice a low murmur, matching her proximity step for step. “Well, I guess you’re not quite as good at hiding it as you think.” His eyes flicked to the shot glasses in her hands, then back to her, unwavering. “But you’re right, I don’t scare easy. If anything, I think you’re the one who should be worried.”

When she turned to pour the shots without the salt or the ice, Finn raised an eyebrow, impressed. So she was upping the ante. He met her gaze, leaning back slightly, and nodded. “Alright, you’re on.” He leaned forward just slightly, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “I hope you can handle it.”

He accepted the fresh shot she poured for him, this time with no fanfare—no salt, no lime, just the tequila and the heat that came with it. He shot her a wink, as if to signal the challenge was truly on. And with that, he downed the shot, his eyes never leaving hers.

[selinymaz]

Selin placed her hand upon Finn's shoulder and squeezed in greeting. The space was tight so she wasn't going to get him to get up for a hug. "You surprised I'm back?" She asked with a tilt of her head. There was no real surprise he hadn't known that she was in town after her conversation with Wes about him not going out of his way to let people— but she'd gotten over that.

"It's been long overdue." The departure from Briar Ridge was good for her, there was no doubt about that, but the longer she spent back in her hometown— she realized just how much she'd missed it. "A free drink? This is a change of pace for us, or more you because you can buy me a drink now." It wasn't like she'd ever gone out with Finn but it was nice to sit down with him and catch up, especially since he left so long ago. "I'm happy to see you back safe and sound." He'd been gone before she left so she was just happy to see him in one piece.

[finneganparker]

Finn chuckled softly, his eyes softening as he glanced at Selin, feeling a sense of nostalgia creeping in. “Yeah, I guess I wasn’t expecting it. Briar Ridge doesn’t exactly have a revolving door when it comes to old faces coming back around.” He glanced briefly at the patrons around the bar, his fingers still busy with the drink he was preparing. "Or at least it didn't seem to be like that."

He finished up the drink, sliding it across the counter to a waiting customer before returning his attention to Selin, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Yeah, there's more than one that's bound to come your way. I think the last time we were in this position, I couldn't even get a fake ID to get a drink. Not being a Parker and all.” There was something to be said about being from a small town that only felt smaller since coming back.

He leaned against the counter, his voice lower now, carrying a touch of sincerity. “I appreciate you being happy to see me back. I know it’s been a minute... but yeah, being back has been... well, a bit of a shock, to be honest. But it’s good. Good to be home. And you?” He raised an eyebrow, his gaze softening as he genuinely asked. “How’ve you been? What brought you back?” @selinymaz

[catalina-g]

"To Chapman's we go," she smiled softly at him before she turned in her seat to look back at her sister, who was still avoiding eye contact. "We can talk about everything later," she kept the same smile on her face, knowing something must have pushed her to her limits....and the topic of discussion more than likely being their parents. "I'm not mad Ema." she finished speaking before turning back and looking towards the roads that would lead them where they needed to go.

Her hand, as he drove, slid over to touch him on his thigh, moving in circular motions as a way to soothe her own nerves over the situation. Finn knew her, more than most people did, but this was huge to her, the willingness to drop everything to help her only pushing those feelings she had for him higher and higher to the surface.

Once they got to Chapman's, Catalina unbuckled and slid out of the seat, dropping to the pavement before Emalina followed. They both rounded the truck to meet him. Cat's hand finds his yet again before speaking. "So, what're we thinking tonight? Italian? Greek? Good ole down south BBQ?"

[finneganparker]

Finn leaned his head back against the headrest, his hand instinctively reaching for Catalina's as she found it. There was something grounding about her touch, like a quiet promise that everything would be okay despite the tension that still lingered in the air. He could feel her need for reassurance, for stability, and he was more than willing to offer it.

"Anything sounds good," he replied with a soft grin, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "But BBQ does sound like a solid choice for tonight. Can't go wrong with that." His eyes flicked over to Emalina, who hadn't spoken much to him in the entire ride over. "Besides," Finn added, "It's the kind of meal you can just dig into and not worry about anything else. And we can all use that right now, right?"

His tone was light, but there was a hint of care behind it. He could feel the unspoken weight of everything they were all dealing with, but for now, he would focus on getting them through the moment and onto something that could give them a bit of peace, even if just for a while. "We could always grab something for dessert too, if you're feeling up to it."

[faekocak]

𝙲𝙻𝙾𝚂𝙴𝙳 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁𝚃𝙴𝚁   :    fahriye ﹠   finnigan parker @ BIRDSONG PARK.

" oh. you aren't aykiz," fahriye chirps in surprise, her voice a little higher pitched than usual. her eyes, wide with a momentary flash of hope, now remained fixed on the dog before her. the dog, in turn, stared back with an equal measure of curiosity, its head tilted slightly to the side. for a fleeting moment, fahriye's heart had leaped. this dog looked almost exactly like her own beloved aykiz, a near perfect doppelganger. but a closer inspection revealed subtle differences. the markings were slightly off, a lighter patch here, a darker spot there. the eyes, though the same sharp and inquisitive eyes, held a different spark. and the dog's build, while similar, was just a touch more angular than aykiz's familiar, slender frame.

" do you know where my aykiz is? " she asks the unknown dog. it was a ridiculous question, she knew, but desperation had a way of making one do silly things. maybe, just maybe, they had ended up crossing paths, and this canine stranger held the key to reuniting her with her furry companion. in response, the dog, oblivious to the nuances of human speech, placed a soft, tentative paw on her knee. a gesture of comfort, perhaps simply an invitation for affection, or maybe, the dog simply wanted to play. fahriye, though still touched by the gesture, extended her hand, palm down, allowing the dog to sniff. " you're very adorable, " she murmured, stroking the soft fur on the dog's head between the ears. " a very good girl ... or boy. but you aren't my aykiz. "

[finneganparker]

Finn hadn't been too concerned when Addie took off, knowing that she'd find her way back to him while he cleared away the last of the notifications off his phone. The light blinking had alerted him to missed messages and calls, all of which were better served to be ignored for the moment and could be answered later when he made it back to his apartment. At least out here it felt calmer, somewhere that he could take a breather without anyone looking at him with questions to answers that he didn't have since coming back home again.

But it seemed that as he caught up to what he thought was his dog, it was another dog altogether. Addie wasn't sitting before him, but almost an identical twin to his own dog as he shot it a smile. "You look an awful lot like my Addie, but I think you must belong to someone else." The dog in question reminded him a lot of his own, but he could tell after taking a closer look how there were a few differences between the two of them. "You haven't happened to have seen her, have you?"

Almost as if listening to him and without a doubt, the other dog took off in a direction that was just out of sight of his original walking path while Finn followed behind just a few paces.

[vanna-huang]

Vanna flashed a playful grin, her eyes rolling dramatically at Finn's question. A warm flush crept to her cheeks as she chuckled softly and nudged him, a wave of embarrassment washing over her. "Him—ugh, I know… I can't even remember if I was with many guys back then," she mused, her gaze lifting thoughtfully as she attempted a mental inventory of her salacious years overseas. There might've been a few that slipped through the cracks of her memory. "I'm definitely a bit rusty…"  Her eyes wandered, and she giggled to herself, momentarily captivated by the shimmering water. "He’s got me all nervous. Honestly, I have no clue how men think. It’s probably why I never bothered with them in the first place, you know?"

Waiting for a ghost... Vanna contemplated his words, a sudden realization washing over her: perhaps she was the ghost, not the one who waited. Finn might feel the same, but there was something deep inside her that didn’t want him to perceive himself that way. With a playful nudge, she tilted her head back, her warm brown eyes searching his face for reassurance. “You’re no ghost to me, Mr. Parker,” she declared, her speech slightly slurred, betraying the effects of the evening's revelry. A light chuckle bubbled up from her, and she placed her hand over her mouth, stifling a laugh. “The party’s just begun, and I’m already…” She shook her head, a mix of amusement and embarrassment painting her cheeks. "Shit." Extending her hand toward him with urgency, she added, “Help me up. I need to sober up—like, now.”

[finneganparker]

Finn watched her with a quiet, attentive gaze, the soft smile lingering on his lips. As she nudged him and made light of her own uncertainty, he found himself wanting to hold onto the moment just a little longer. The past had a way of lingering, but so did the present, and right now, Vanna’s presence felt almost as comforting as it once had. He shook his head slightly, a quiet chuckle escaping him.

“You’re still the same Vanna,” Finn replied, his voice light but carrying an undertone of something deeper—something that hinted at exactly what he thought and had felt about the other. “Always full of surprises. And I'm sure he'll figure it out. Men are usually pretty simple, even if we don't always act like it.” Himself included, though he had a way to keep dancing around the truth rather than actually see it or speak it into existence.

But then, her sudden shift from playfulness to urgency snapped his attention back to the present. Her slurred speech and embarrassed expression made something inside him shift—protectiveness, concern. Finn reached out immediately, his hand brushing hers as she extended it toward him.

“Hey, no worries. I’ve got you,” he said, his tone soft but firm. He helped her steady herself, his fingers wrapping around her hand with a gentle but reassuring grip. There was a moment’s pause, and then he helped her to her feet and helped to guide her back toward the edge of the water, where she could take a moment to breathe, to regain herself. "Take it easy, Vanna. There's no rush. I got you"

[finneganparker]

who: @cynthiasoriano where: finn's truck

He could have sworn that the weather was going to be in their favor as Addie sat in the backseat of the truck and stared out the cracked window just as Finn closed it back up. The rain had hit just as they'd arrived, making their plans fall through before they'd even begun as he killed the radio to give a cursory glance over at the other. It'd been an offer to catch up while outdoors, pushing through the routine that he'd set for himself that didn't allow for much freedom. At least not the kind that stemmed from spontaneity. This was a prime example as to why he didn't do things without overthinking them

"If I had known it was going to pour, I wouldn't have suggested going out today." Though it had everything to do with him not being able to stomach the walls of his apartment that felt as if they were closing in around him. Still, he hated that the chance to take a hike or a long walk and catch up was turning into a clusterfuck right before his eyes. Finn leaned his head back for a moment before he cleared his throat and glanced back at the other. "Any idea for a back up plan? Or we can wait it out and hope that it's nothing more than a sun shower." Something that would be over before they knew it.

[allaboutlew]

lewis via andrewheaberlin

[finneganparker]

who: @jacksonmadavi where: the rusty spur

Finn had been waiting patiently for the other to show up, but also for a pool table to open up as well. It was a low buzz of noise floating around him, enough so that he could zone out of whatever was being said and focus solely on himself in the moment. He'd been on his own for most of the day, which was something, but he thought that he might have given up the ghost hours ago and called off the other from showing up for a few beers and a game or two.

Though he hadn't given the other a raincheck, trying to push through the indecision and anxious feelings as he took another sip of his beer and grinned when the other joined him. "You sure you're up for this? I'm no slouch even if I look like one most days." Finn gestured towards the now empty pool table, having called it next with a quarter on the edge as he pushed up out of the bar stool he'd been lounging in. "We can order something to eat too if you're hungry."

[catalina-g]

His texts helped ease the rush of adrenaline still kicking in her system—her face even flashing a quick smile at him agreeing without argument. She'd have to reward him for that later, in whatever way he'd want. Catalina slid her phone into her pocket after sending about five thank you texts to him before she made her way to her Captain's office to explain why she needed to leave early.

After about ten minutes of back and forth, negotiating other shifts she'd need to take and the like, Catalina was able to clock out, change clothes, and make her way outside where she could see the two of them rolling up into the parking lot. Her chest thumped loudly, face shifting into one of concern as she walked over to the backseat window that held Ema.

"¿Qué estabas pensando?" she quickly spoke out, green eyes inspecting her sister's face for any cuts or bruises. She found only a small cut next to her lip but for the most part, she was clean, and then her eyes fell on Finn. "Thank you so much for getting her," her tone softer, sweeter as she spoke to him. The brunette moved now to the passenger door, pulling on the handle to open it and slide herself into the seat. Her bag hitting the floorboard as she leaned across the seat so that she could lay a sweet, soft kiss on his lips as a brief thank you. She could feel the eye roll behind her, but as she pulled away from him another idea popped into her head. "You deserve dinner for your troubles, what do you say we all go and grab some things for later."

[finneganparker]

Finn knew that Catalina was worried about the kid in the backseat, eyes in the read view mirror for most of the drive over because he would have been lying to himself to say that he wasn't worried at all either. Whatever had happened, most of it was explained between Cat and the school which left him as the self declared driver for the moment and concerned person who didn't know what to do or say other than offer them both a lift home.

So when he saw Catalina appear beside the truck, he knew that the concern he'd felt through the texts was only the tip of the iceberg as he leaned over to help open the door at the same time that Cat was opening it from the outside. He offered a supportive look and smile, feeling the way his heart skipped a beat when she left the gentlest of kisses before he leaned back against the headrest of his seat. "You know all you have to do is ask and I'll be there," he spoke up after a beat. "I'm just glad I could help."

There was nothing but honesty in his words, giving a small nod about the mention of dinner and them all going to get some things as he glanced back in the mirror once more. Another reassuring smile towards Emalina and he put the truck into reverse to get them out of the parking lot and head towards the closest grocery store. "I could eat. I think we all could eat."

[pinarxcerkez]

starter for @finneganparker

location: the golden hour

Pinar had never thought of herself as the type to frequent local bars. In her marriage, that would have practically been unheard of for her to do. It wasn't so much a habit she was building, but the discovery of a certain allure. The atmosphere had drawn her in, especially as her daughter began to settle into their new life. Slowly, but surely, it was becoming clear that she would have a little bit more free time on her hands. The last time she stepped into The Golden Hour, it had been a spontaneous visit. She hadn't expected anything more than to enjoy a local drink and get lost in the worn poetry book she kept in her bag. However, it prompted conversation with the local bartender. Tonight, Pinar carried something different in her bag. It wasn't a poetry book for herself, but rather one she had chosen with care to give to Finn, Milk and Honey but Rupi Kaur. Walking up to the bar, she didn't see Finn right away, thinning her lips in thought as she pondered the cocktail menu on the bar top.

[finneganparker]

He'd been moving things out back, getting ready for the late night rush that always hit around the same time when he worked those shifts compared to the earlier ones. Those were the ones where he was often missing out on a lot of the chaos and chose to stick to the back or cleaning up after others. It took a lot out of him some nights, some more than others, but then there were good moments when he could distract himself by watching everything and reading some of their conversations before he disappeared back into his head. As he head back out to the front of house, ready to stock up the last of the condiments that he hadn't gotten through already when he noticed the person sitting at the bar top already. A few others littered about the place, anticipation in the air as other started to fill in around them as he sidled up towards the familiar face with a small smile and a nod. "What're you thinking for tonight?"

[emilmoreno]

Whatever Emil expected, he was admittedly nearly knocked off his barstool when he heard what Finn was attending for. "Well damn," he'd nod, pensive. "That's great that you're lookin' to do something like that..." that part was less shocking, the want to help. Sometimes he wondered if it was an inherited trait in their family. What with the way Holly was, the kind of young woman who'd help a stranger or a stray. A loud laugh escaped him, and Emil took a sip of his drink. Letting the amused rumble die in his chest before he spoke again, keeping eye contact with his former friend. "We are, yeah. Can't say I need 'em but it's nice to have a reason to brush up, learn something new whenever we get the shot too." Emil counted his lucky stars, growing up there'd been a few things in life that had just come easily to him. Dancing was one, a trait handed down from his abuela. "It's a good distraction... somethin' besides the urge to work myself into an early grave." Emil teased at his own expense, though the overworking was a relatively new habit. Just a way to try and over-correct leading into another potentially nasty custody battle for his daughter Isabel. "An' I didn't think I would be getting Holly to the batting cages with me," he joked. Luckily, he had a friend for that too. Keeping active helped him feel less alone.

[finneganparker]

Finn’s smile softened as he listened to Emil’s response, his mind lingering on the idea of distractions, both the healthy and the less-so. He could understand the impulse to keep busy, especially when life was throwing curveballs. "Sounds like you're balancing it all pretty well," Finn said, his tone casual but carrying a hint of genuine appreciation. "It’s seems like a way to make sure you don’t lose your mind." He paused, looking back at the pool tables and the ebb and flow of life around them. "Guess it’s good to have some hobbies that actually let you breathe, huh? Not a bad idea at all."

Taking a sip of his water bottle from down behind the bar, Finn let the conversation shift naturally. "But hey, if Holly’s up for dance classes, who’s to say you won’t end up with a secret talent for it too?" Finn’s grin was easy going by then, a good cover for the fact that he couldn't think of any hobbies of his own since returning to Briar Ridge. All his life, it'd been his work, and then school but the job at Golden Hour had been a suggestion by someone close to him. That way he wouldn't be holed up in his apartment all the time, but maybe there was more to it than simply work.

"It's good that you guys have that." Him and Holly, others too, as he considered his own life and trying to reconnect since returning. "I think the closest I get is a game of darts after hours against Sahra, loser usually having to do some kind of closing task that neither one of us wants," he spoke with a bit of a chuckle. @emilmoreno

[adaptationsdaily]

LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY (2023) Episode 1: Little Miss Hastings

[finneganparker]

@catalina-g

[vivienneryan]

CLOSED starter for @finneganparker, at golden hour, mid-evening.

"You know, I can't believe it's taken me this long to see you since I've been back," Vivienne sighed, shifting on the bar stool she'd perched herself on and leaning her cheek into her palm. "Well, since we've both been back. And I had to ambush you at your job to even get that, Finn. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were avoiding me.." The brunette concluded with a grin, directing her pointed gaze in the man's direction.

She paused then, interrupted by the intrusion of another patron placing their order. It was a bit in poor taste to monopolize to bartender like this, but Vivenne didn't care. Everyone else could wait, just this once.

[finneganparker]

"Avoid you?" Finn had to shake his head, even though it did little to curb the slight grin of the implication on him as he knew that he'd done a decent job at keeping just about everyone at arm's distance since returning. He didn't know exactly how to jump back into things, not when everything felt so different and the same all at once. It made it even harder when everyone seemed to want to see him, but he couldn't break out of his own thoughts to see it himself. "I wouldn't do that. I don't think that I could," though she was right that she'd had to all but ambush him at his job for some one on one time. "I've been...," His voice trailed off with another shake of his head before he offered a sheepish look. Okay, he might have been avoiding. "What if I offered you a drink, on the house, to make up for it? Maybe two?"

[valentincflores]

Val's eyes flickered with amusement as she watched Finn sign, taking in the fluidity of his movements, the ease with which he expressed himself. There was something about it that made her feel a little less alone in the chaos of tonight.

She nodded her head, not quite relating, but understanding his sentiment all the same. “Hey, we stan self aware kings around here!” she signed, a teasing and yet at the same time impressed smile on her features. She didn’t always make those kinds of choices, even if they were for her own good, when she wanted to do the exact opposite. Glancing around the ballroom and the crowd of people around them, she couldn’t help but ask, cocking a brow in question, unable to keep her nosiness at bay. “So is tonight turning out to be worth it?” Her hands asked, “I promise I won’t tell!” she offered, a conspiratorial grin tugging at her lips. 

At his question, she shrugged, “To be honest, I don’t usually enjoy going out if I don’t have a good idea where the night will take me, but I’m trying to push myself beyond that comfort zone.” 

[finneganparker]

Finn’s eyes softened at her words, the playful energy from earlier shifting into something more genuine. He appreciated the way Val seemed to understand. He smiled warmly at her, a little impressed with how she seemed to navigate her own boundaries, much like he did in his own way.

As she teased about tonight, his expression flickered with a lighthearted challenge. He raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by her question as he gave a quick glance around the growing crowd. "Is tonight worth it?" he signed back with a grin. "Well. it's a bit loud, a bit chaotic, but I’m not going to lie. It’s been more interesting than I expected, and I’m actually enjoying the conversation." His hands slowed.

When she shared her thoughts on pushing herself beyond her comfort zone, Finn gave a small nod, his expression turning thoughtful. "I get that. I think we all have our little pockets of comfort we stick to." He paused, his fingers tracing the edges of his glass. He did that well enough, meaning that tonight was one of the few moments when he was out of his comfort zone.

He flashed her a grin, leaning slightly in her direction as if to share a secret as he signed once more. "Though I’m curious, what’s the craziest thing you've done when you’ve let yourself step outside that comfort zone?" His question lingered in the air, the smile on his face teasing but open, waiting for her to reveal a little more of herself.

[alarakcplan]

"Funny is one word for it, cruel and unusual are two others I can think of that apply too." she said with a shrug, a teasing glint in her eyes as she looked up at him.

Alara studied him for a beat longer than she meant to, searching his face for something—maybe a clue, maybe a sign of the boy she used to know. He looked the same in some ways, but there was an edge to him now, a weight that hadn’t been there before. His words—unfinished business, facing things—lingered in her mind longer than she wanted to admit. Probably because deep down she knew she could relate to them.

At his teasing, she rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t quite stop the grin that tugged at her lips. Nudging him with her elbow, she shot back, "Don't flatter yourself that much, Parker."

But as they slipped so easily back into old habits—teasing, laughing, falling into the rhythm they once knew—something inside her twisted. The weight of her more recent past crept in, the guilt and pain she had been carrying pressing down on her chest. She didn’t deserve this moment, didn’t deserve to laugh with Finn. All she deserved was pain.

And so, the self-sabotaging part of her, the one that had followed her like a shadow for as long as she could remember, reared its ugly head. It reached back, grasping at one of the most painful decisions of her first eighteen years of life, dragging it to the surface like an anchor she refused to let go of.

"I would have gone with you, you know."

Her voice was quieter now, the teasing gone, replaced by something raw, something somber.

[finneganparker]

Finn’s smile faltered for just a moment when her words shifted, the lightheartedness between them falling away like a veil. The weight in her voice caught him off guard, and he could see it—feel it—in the way her eyes seemed to momentarily drift away from him, like she was wrestling with something much deeper than just the words she’d spoken. It was something that he could relate to in a way, reminded daily about everything that he'd done differently or wrong over the years and stared him in the face since his return.

But there were also those moments and people that he'd done his best to avoid, without putting too much thought into it either, so it came across as he was merely set in his ways. Though he knew deep down it had a lot more to do with moments like this, when he felt the shift as much as he could see it happen as his gaze lifted to see something different between them than nostalgia.

They were kids once, determined to make a life for themselves elsewhere, but got thoughts in them that didn't contain the other. Or so he thought once. His life wasn't ever meant to take hers down with it as she spoke those words that he'd dreamed about once. But a decade and some chance later, Finn never expected to hear them at all as he shook his head and still wasn't able to push them aside.

"I should have asked."

And he knew that it was one thing he'd regret regardless of where their lives twisted and turned out, because in that time - Alara had been his life. They'd been able to figure something out, so he had hoped, but instead he'd been the one to leave first and not look back until now. Fear did that to him, so did the uncertainty of what would be there when he got back. Or if anyone would care to let him back.

Finn shook his head. "But I didn't think, I didn't know what was going to happen and it just felt impossible then to think that we'd make it anywhere on twenty bucks and teenage ambition." That was his problem. He didn't think, he never thought, even if it seemed like that was all he did over the years as he grew better at watching than anything else.

[sahrademir]

Biting down on her lower lip to try and at least slightly stifle the grin forming on her lips as the coworkers worked out the details of the new deal. "And don't you forget it." She mused, holding her shot glass in one hand as she countered his teasing look with her own playful wink. "Oh, a few ideas, huh?" She smirked, head shaking as soft laughter left her lips. "You're gonna try and eat me outta house and home, aren't you? Luckily, I. Don't. Lose."

Unable to keep the cocky grin off of her face, Sahra pushed herself off of the bar and took a step towards Finn, extending her own hand and slapping it in to his to give it a firm shake. "Well, sounds like it's time to put up or shut up, Neems." Raising her shot glass in a cheers, Sahra brought the glass to her lips and quickly swallowed back the chilled liquid within.

As the tequila left a warm trail down her throat, she kept her facial expression stoic, bright blue eyes locked on Finn's in front of her as she licked over her lower lip to remove the left over salt from the rim. She wasn't sure how long she was supposed to keep her facial expression blank, but she knew if she kept holding eye contact she wouldn't be able to for long. And not because of the tequila. She'd break with a laugh, but she wasn't going to allow herself to do that just yet.

[finneganparker]

Finn's eyes locked onto hers, his smirk widening as he watched her carefully. He could feel the playful energy crackling between them, the kind that made everything feel just a little more alive. There was something about Sahra’s confidence that kept him on his toes, a challenge. As she swallowed the tequila, he matched her gaze, trying to keep his composure, but the way she licked her lips and held the eye contact… it was like she was daring him to break first.

But Finn wasn’t one to back down, especially not now.

He leaned in just slightly, his voice lowering in mock seriousness. “I don’t think you realize what you’re up against. You may not lose, Sahra, but you’re going to wish you had.” He stepped back, a slight chuckle escaping him as he adjusted his position, his eyes never straying far from hers. “But hey, I’m not in any rush to make you regret it just yet. I’m enjoying the anticipation. How about you?”

A joke, easily replaced with the shot glass as he downed it as quickly as she had before finishing off the salt rim and knocking it back down for a refill. The tequila burned, but it was the tension in the air between them that really heated things up as he shot a grin. She might have gone stone faced, but he was going light hearted in hopes that she'd break completely first.