SHEDDING SKIN.

cisco fontenelle. 34. cresthill meadows. bioethicist at chapman university.

[franciscofontenelle]

THE INTRODUCTION.

NAME: Francisco Edgar Fontenelle ALIAS/NICKNAME: Cisco, Fran AGE: 34 RESIDENCE: The Willows, Cresthill Meadows, Kismet Harbor, OR TIME IN KISMET HARBOR: 2000 - 2011; returned February 2024 OCCUPATION: Bioethicist at Chapman University FACE CLAIM: Alfred Enoch

tw: child abuse, illness, divorce, cheating

THE BASICS.

DATE OF BIRTH: 29th January 1992 HEIGHT: 6’4 HAIR COLOR: Black EYE COLOR: Brown PLACE OF BIRTH: Oxford, England GENDER/PRONOUNS: Cis-male (he/him) SEXUAL ORIENTATION: TBA ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: TBA RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single POSITIVE TRAITS: loyal, resilient, self-reliant, intelligent NEGATIVE TRAITS: moody, pessimistic, reclusive SPOKEN LANGUAGES: Portuguese (native tongue), English, Spanish, Italian ALLERGIES: peanuts ILLNESSES/IMPAIRMENTS: cardiac insufficiency

RELATIONSHIPS.

FATHER: Richard Langdon (biological, estranged); Kenneth Fontenelle (adoptive) MOTHER: Selva de Souza (biological, estranged); Shani Sanah-Fontenelle (adoptive) SIBLINGS: TBD Langdon (biological, half-brother); TBA, Amayah, Carmen, Lexi & TBA Fontenelle (adoptive) PARTNER: none EXES: Cheyenne Hoffmann CHILDREN: none FRIENDS: Aliye Balik, Enrique Marrero, Genoveva Marrero PETS: A tabby cat named Winston

BIOGRAPHY.

Francisco was born in Oxford, England, but his parents divorced when he was still a baby. While his mother went back to Brazil with him, where she practically raised him by herself, his father stayed in the UK, barely making the effort of keeping in touch with his son.

Francisco was a lively child, loud and full of laughter, despite the concerns of his physical health. As energetic as the boy could be, he could be bedridden the next, barely able to move. Visits to doctor’s offices and hospitals were bordering on normalcy for the young boy. With his mother doting on her frequently ill son, Francisco was easily and quickly adored by nurses and doctors alike. Though, seeing as there were no causes for the sometimes severe symptoms, it took years for an attentive doctor to find Francisco's medical files suspicious. At the age of six, it came to light that Francisco's mother suffered from munchausen by proxy, willingly putting her own son’s health at risk. 

Quickly, the boy was removed from his mother’s custody and was instead placed with his father, a stepmother he didn’t know about as well as a younger half-brother, having to move back to the UK at the tender age of seven. 

Francisco had a difficult time adapting to the change of scenery. After all, he did not quite understand why he was taken from his mother, as he believed she had always done her best to take care of him. Living in a country that was completely foreign to him, with a father who was completely foreign to him, as well as a stepmother and half-brother he couldn’t quite connect with, Francisco also struggled with the language barrier, since he only knew how to speak portuguese. His father found himself unable to bond with his son who he had not been in touch with since the divorce. It resulted in a divide between them. Eventually, Richard deemed it best to put his son up for adoption, as he believed it would provide Francisco with the opportunity of a better, more loving life.

Francisco, after spending less than a year with a foster family, was eventually adopted by the Fontenelle family at the age of eight, suddenly finding himself on the other side of the globe once more. This time in Kismet Harbor with a family he would stay with for good. 

Had Francisco once been lively and energetic, he had become quiet and reserved, almost withdrawn, very shy and suspicious of anyone. The warmth and openness of his new family however made it easy for the young boy to let his guard down for the first time in many years. He learned to trust his adoptive parents and siblings rather quickly, even if he still struggled to refer to Kenneth and Shani  by “mom” and “dad”. Outside of his family it was hard for him to make friends, however he managed to do so, eventually finding himself among many popular peers, despite his reclusive and rather quiet nature. Being part of the basketball team certainly helped him, as well as it aided him in beginning to date Cheyenne Hofmann. 

He only really came out of his shell when he moved to New York City with Cheyenne for his studies in 2011. Their romance progressed rather quickly from then on and Francisco, for the first time, felt hopeful when he thought about his future. After dating for a little less than two years, Cheyenne broke the news that she was pregnant and Francisco, at the age of 21, was prepared to change his life around completely. Dropping out of university and starting to work a fulltime job to be able to provide for his own little family, it all came crashing down once the little girl was born. The little girl, who could impossibly be his own. It took the results of a DNA test for Cheyenne to admit to cheating on Francisco, pretty much throughout the entirety of their relationship. 

Breaking things off with her and picking his studies back up, Francisco decided to, in spite of all that had happened, stay in New York City, visiting his family whenever he could, and working on himself with the help of a counselor.

It was when the opportunity presented itself to work as a bioethicist at Chapman university, that Francisco decided to move back. It was only supposed to be a temporary spot, though the prospect of being back home and getting back a sense of belonging, drove Francisco to accept the position, moving back to Kismet Harbor in February 2024. 

other pieces of info:

plays the violin, though doesn’t enjoy it as much

had heart surgery at the age of 12

adopted a tabby cat, that one day sat on the fire escape in front of his window kitchen a little less than two years ago

drinks very rarely and doesn’t smoke 

[rioxcooper]

starter for @franciscofontenelle

location: a lake

Rio was starting the morning off doing exactly what he loved. The lake was almost perfectly still as he and a few people launched their kayaks off the beach and into the calm waters. Rio intentionally guided himself near the back of the group, knowing that people tended to enjoy themselves more when they weren't being micromanaged by their tour guide. Rio was just about to point out a bald eagle that was perched in the trees when he heard the unmistakable sound of a splash. Head on a swivel, Rio found the disturbance in the water, "Hold on, I'm coming!" Rio called out, guiding the kayak in the other's direction.

[franciscofontenelle]

After a short night's sleep, he should have ditched this morning's kayaking session. The splash caught Francisco off guard and the lake's cold water engulfed him completely within the blink of an eye. Bubbles surrounded his body, tickled his neck and his cheeks and when he surfaced, he gasped for air. "I'm fine!" He shouted, eyes squeezed shut and his words were distorted by a fit of nasty coughs as water got transported from his throat out his nose and he was sure it was far from a glamorous sight. "I'm fine!" He wasn't. Long fingers wiped his eyes and he soon saw a vaguely familiar face paddle toward him, as he frantically attempted to keep his own kayak steady as his dignity, he suspected, was sinking onto the bottom of the lake, far beneath him, already. "I'm just less coordinated today than I thought." @rioxcooper

[rheaxblakewood]

Rhea couldn’t help but burst into laughter at those words from Cisco, he wasn’t wrong…she could see that having happened if they had remained in that restaurant. “Exactly why we had to stage our escape the way we did,” she grinned at him before looking up when he gave her that lopsided smile as she asked what was new in his life. Having these meaningful friendships was a big part of Rhea’s life and being able to stay connected with people she’d known for years was very important to her. “Hmmm, well I know that’s how you choose to see things but I’m telling you, there’s something that’s going to blow you away and that’s when you’re going to see the world with rose-tinted glasses, like me.” Rhea retorted. She did see the world through a more positive lens for the most part; of course she had her moments of darkness but when she was around people she tried to bring a brightness whenever she could. When he mentioned turning his home more homely, she grinned and nodded, “it’s definitely about time, and let me know if you need a second opinion, you know I’ll never shy away from that,” she grinned before shaking her head, wondering how much to share and how much would be considered oversharing. “Nothing that exciting honestly…oh but I did hide all dating apps on my phone right now, they’re still there but…I’m so meh with the people I meet on there.” | @franciscofontenelle

[franciscofontenelle]

A smirk unfolded above his lips and lingered in place as Rhea's bright laughter echoed into the night. "It was a self-rescue mission, alright?" Cisco retorted, a rare chuckle emitting from him as he walked beside his friend through the nearly vacant streets of the town he had somehow found himself considering a home. "And what exactly would that be?" He spoke in response to the uplifting message Rhea aimed his way, though the smirk that slowly began to fade by the smallest margin, ceased to betray the cynical undercurrent with which his words were delivered. "Besides your new creations. I mean, in the last month my car got vandalized, my place got robbed and I'm certain that I've upset some ancient deity and now something evil is coming after me." He looked at her as they rounded a corner, heading toward their destination and the smell of street food began to fill the night air. "Oh, you know I will take you up on that offer." When it came to decor, he knew he was a lost cause and could use any and every second or third opinion he may get. "Good for you." Sincerity dripped from his lips as the words were cemented into reality. "I never know how people can stand being on these apps." Not like he'd ever tried. "All I hear are horror stories." @rheaxblakewood

[alfmorales]

Alf had never once thought of his big goals and lofty dreams as a bad thing and he nodded warmly when Cisco agreed that there were worse qualities to have. He knew it didn't always work out in his favor and, sure, the big dreams could leave him disappointed at times, but he hoped he never lost that wonder in his life. He wanted to inspire all the kids that came through at the theatre and the only way to do that was to stay inspired himself. A delighted grin rippled across Alfonso's face at Cisco's words, a booming laugh quickly following. "Oh, they'd love that! They love all the superheroes. I might have to get some Batman and Robin costumes for the costume closet," he mused, knowing the kids would get a kick out of whatever dramatic story he ended up coming up with. He would take some artistic liberty with the way things turned out, make the story fit better for the age level of the kids he was telling it to, but the heart of the story would still be his newfound crime fighting partnership with the man he was now walking with. His lips pursed together in thought at the question, weighing out the merits of the two courses of action. "I'm thinking we start downtown, more places to park there. More likelihood of stumbling upon something, no?" he mused. If that didn't pan out, the next best plan would be to swing through the neighborhood the thief had been working, see if they might be able to catch the guy in action.

@franciscofontenelle

[franciscofontenelle]

Vibrant reveries had never particularly counted toward the most important qualities, that had added to Francisco's childhood. Too often, he had found himself at the beginning of a long, winding path, without knowing for certain what would await him by the end of this long walk. Only as the years passed, trust was slowly gained in a spectacularly limited number of people. His family, above all. Some select friends. Ricky. Mabel. Perhaps even Aliye, to some extent. And when Alf's laughter echoed in the summer air, Cisco's lips twitched and curled into a smile that was unwilling to wane and fade just now. "Costume closet?" There was a brief instant of subtle confusion, his question of rhetorical nature rather than intended to actually pry. Until now, he had assumed that Alfonso spoke of his own children, and too late Cisco realized, that it was not that odd for families to obtain costumes for their kids. And when the plan slowly began to take shape, a nod was delivered. "Sounds like a plan to me." His words were delivered with a nonchalance that didn't quite land as they neared the other's vehicle. "Whoever broke into my apartment must have done it in the morning or around noon, when most of the people in the neighborhood were busy doing .. other things. Like .. work, or something." Clearing his throat, he checked the watch around his wrist. "Maybe we're lucky and we'll find something that gets us somewhere." A beat. "Thanks for helping me, by the way. I appreciate that." @alfmorales

[frankiexcalloway]

"Go ahead," she gestured to the same chair that he had pointed at when he asked if he could join her. Talking with Francisco had been an enjoyment for the blonde, though she knew that was often attributed with her more outgoing nature. "I've been good." She answered him with a smile pulling the corners of her mouth upward. "Gia and I are performing in town here soon, like an actual concert and not just us having some fun at one of the local businesses." Which they had done a few times, here and there. "I'm really excited." Though she would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous about people showing up. "And you?" Her brow raised inquisitively. @franciscofontenelle

[franciscofontenelle]

The chair was pulled back right after Frankie had formed her answer. And with an almost appreciative nod, Cisco lowered his tall and lean body onto the chair opposite the blonde woman. His brows raised as dimples were carved into his cheeks by a smile that slowly shaped his lips into a gentle upward curve. "Hey, that's great!" In a rare instant of genuine enthusiasm, Cisco forgot about the ill thoughts that had been eating away at his mind in recent weeks, even if the trail they left was less one of destruct and more one of subtle irritation. "As you should. Are you nervous at all?" He figured not, as she must have done this numerous times before. And when she tossed the question back at him, he rolled his shoulders in an idle shrug. "My place got broken into and now I consider moving into a different part of town." Another shrug, before his eyes widened in subtle terror. "I'm not usually that open with stuff like this." And it sounded like an apology. @frankiexcalloway

[franciscofontenelle]

His lips were firmly pressed into a thin line and his hand curled tighter around his bag's shoulder strap as a pang of familiar, secondhand discomfort settled inside his chest. The feeling of being a freshman at uni, he remembered all too well and Cisco doubted he would ever free himself of the feeling that came with the memories. He let the blonde's question linger in the air, awaiting realization to fall upon her without any elaboration on his part. "Yeah," he mumbled. "I'm afraid not." Brown eyes were struggling to not study the costume she wore. It was loud and colorful and out of place. "Some do." Always have. "Most of them are trying to figure themselves out and don't realize that doing so at someone else's expense is pretty fucked." His voice's calm quiet didn't match the language used and for a brief second, Cisco was regretful of his choice of words. "What are you going to study?" @camrynxlawson

[camrynxlawson]

"Yeah.." Camryn agreed with him though didn't dwell on using too many words for it, just looking down at her costume only to then slowly take off the wrist cuffs that belonged with her costume, feeling silly wearing all of it now. Thank goodness she hadn't decided to paint herself blue like Disney's genie. It was his question that got her to look up again. "Uh. Marine biology." She explained, moving her hand up to pull her hair from the tall ponytail. "But if I'm honest. I'm doubting on if I should pull out already. Things haven't exactly been... Ah never mind." @franciscofontenelle

[franciscofontenelle]

There was silent compassion slowly bleeding onto his features and it softened the expression he bore ever so slightly. It was a difference difficult enough to recognize, though when Cisco briefly averted his gaze downward, as if in shallow contemplation, it was to swallow down this sentiment. A brown eyed gaze was lifted when she gave her answer, and a smile tugged gently at the corners of his mouth, before it promptly faded as the blonde girl continued on. "Oh." A pause extended briefly and Francisco was collecting his thoughts for no longer than a handful of seconds. "It's none of my business, but .. maybe .. I don't know." He shrugged, realizing once more he sucked at giving unsolicited advice (or any kind of advice at all). "If you want to study marine biology, you'd be in for a real treat. The prof's one of the best at Chapman." At least, in his humble and incessantly correct opinion. @camrynxlawson

[mabelxhughes]

"Two years? What made you come back?" Mabel asked, though she was certain they'd have an ocean of time now that she was back. So when she asked him for a hug and he granted her one in that old Cisco tone she'd missed so much, she broke out into a smile and stepped closer, wrapping her arms around his frame. If she hadn't known any better, he felt smaller than she recalled him, but taller, even though that wasn't exactly possible. He'd always been very tall. She sighed into the hug, pressing her cheek against his chest and simply taking in just how much she'd missed this. Missed him. "I missed you too, tall guy." She whispered back, her fingers digging in his shirt. Only then did she step back, taking in a deep breath, slowly holding her hands up. "Let me see you." @franciscofontenelle

[franciscofontenelle]

"A number of things." He sounded the words as his shoulders rolled in a shrug. "I got a job offer from Chapman. And I missed my family." The way he phrased it, it sounded as though it was deserving of the tiniest shred of shame. Though the sole thought was lost when Mabel pressed her cheek against his chest. There was a familiarity that felt holy, a homeliness that catapulted him back into the years and years he had spent by Mabel's side. The thought that his friend would one day be gone without a single trace had never occurred to him ( why would it? ), not even once knocked on his mind's walls. His hands were placed on her shoulder as they both lingered on in the embrace. A slow smile sprawled on his lips, twisted them into something lopsided and when he loosened his gentle hold around Mabel when she stepped back. It was only as she sounded her request, which required Cisco a handful of seconds to fully register, that his heart sank in sync with the realization that slowly began to settle. And he, for a moment, felt boundlessly foolish for not realizing it sooner.

"It got worse." It was a statement, spoken with a faint undercurrent of defeat. Only now Cisco realized all the things he'd missed from her life. Realized that the last years were shrouded in mystery. He swallowed, as he took her hands with an impossible gentleness and carefully brought them up to his face. @mabelxhughes

[samfosters]

“Sometimes I can feel my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I’m not living.”

— —Jonathan Safran Foer, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close 

[rheaxblakewood]

“Honestly, you have….but because it’s been forever, I’m not at all opposed to the compliment,” she told him with another giggle before they began their exit from the rather fancy place. It was true, there was nothing wrong with it, and they’d probably have had an enjoyable evening here too but Rhea just didn’t feel like staying that somewhat stuffy atmosphere and knew the two of them would be able to kick back better and actually talk normally if they were in a different place. “Well thankfully we got out of there before he did,” she chuckled before wrapping her arm around his bicep as they began their little trek. The place she wanted to go to wasn’t too far and the evening air wasn’t that chilly but this way they could speak and walk side by side. “So—talk to me, pre-dinner conversation. How’s everything going with you?” | @franciscofontenelle

[franciscofontenelle]

The smirk that slowly grew on Cisco's expression spoke volumes and saved him the breath needed to voice his thoughts. Walking to increase the distance between them and the restaurant, his step slowed after several feet, falling into a comfortable pace beside his friend. "He looked like the kind of server who sells you a whole bottle of the most expensive wine they have." And he didn't even drink. Another half turn granted him with the option of looking back at the place, the warm light pouring through the windows onto the dimly lit streets and it looked almost homely and cozy. It reminded him of his humble beginnings as a withdrawn child in a town, where everything was foreign and everyone was a stranger - including the people he know knew as his sole family. Feeling Rhea's hand around his arm, Cisco looked down at her with a slightly lopsided smile and shrugged. "You know me. My life is pretty unspectacular and even if something's happening, it's never something to be impressed or delighted by." As he spoke, memories of Cheyenne's return slowly flooded his mind. "I'm thinking of turning my home a little more homely with decor and stuff." Another shrug. "After a couple of years, it's about time, right? Cisco paused briefly. "What about you? What have I missed?" @rheaxblakewood

[alfmorales]

The question brought a bright, loud laugh from Alfonso who nodded emphatically. "I have been accused of being a dreamer many times before. No harm in dreaming big if you ask me. Makes life feel a little more worthwhile," he mused, a rumble of laughter still in his chest. The idea that they might genuinely make a difference by pursuing this was a long shot, but Alf was hopeful enough in his life to believe that a long shot was still something possible. As they walked out of the station, Alf was one hundred percent ready to go out there, find this man's belongings, and somewhere in the process make the world just a slightly better place. The quick answer from Cisco didn't put him off at all and he merely nodded his willingness to let the other man be in control of driving. His own sense of stranger danger wasn't alerting even in the slightest. He sensed nothing bad about the man at his side and he was left with only a sense of overwhelming compassion and eagerness to help Francisco. "Great, you drive and I'll keep my eyes peeled. Probably makes the most sense anyway since I've seen the car," he mused, nodding along as he let the other man take the lead to get them to his car. Alf paused to take the hand that was offered, giving a firm handshake in response. "Alfonso. It's good to meet you, even in such strange circumstances. Makes it more interesting, though, I always like to think. How often do you get to say you met someone while fighting crime? The kids are going to love hearing about this."

@franciscofontenelle

[franciscofontenelle]

As Alfonso spoke, Cisco could not help but wonder when he had dreamt big for the last time. Surely not when he returned to Kismet Harbor, turning his back to New York City and all the opportunities the city had offered to him in exchange for some normalcy. A closeness only found by the community he had been a part of for most of his life. "There are worse qualities to have," Cisco responded with a nonchalant shrug of his shoulder as he stood and set his feet into motion, walking behind the stranger toward the station's exit. Taking the steps with a certain bounce, Cisco felt significantly lighter than he had an hour prior to this very instant, when he found himself walking beside a stranger, who kept him company on this arbitrary crusade for justice. Some part of him was mesmerized by Alfonso's kindness, the naturalness with which he agreed to aid Cisco, a complete stranger, without so much as any conditions - at least none he had voiced already. Shaking the man's hand, Cisco's lips adapted the shape of a friendly smile, dimples forming on his cheeks as he nodded, as though to confirm he'd heard Alfonso's name. "You can tell them we're the original Batman and Robin," he spoke, his words slipping from his tongue with a little too much dry earnestness to be taken with the humor Cisco had intended. "Should we just start in the downtown area? Or Cresthill Meadows?" He asked the question without any certainty of what it exactly was that Alf and he were even looking for, were they to come across the van in question, when they neared the man's vehicle. @alfmorales

[hollysdekker]

Alfred Enoch as Isaac Fagbenle in Run Away (TV series)

[camrynxlawson]

"Huh?" Camryn furrowed her brows at the question. She was there wasn't she? Camryn had never been a mean girl, or a popular one for that matter. She had plenty of friends, always enjoyed a good party and she'd never had to deal with bullying or hazing or the like, so when the man explained that the parties close to a new semester starting were most likely to haze new students, she let it sink in. "Haze how?" She wasn't afraid to ask naive questions, but the moment she asked, she realised. The cheerful expression had worn off, her chin dropping as her gaze moved to her costume and then back up at the man again. "It's not a costume party, is it?" Was it too much to ask to just have a distraction from one night? To not have to be at home, being reminded of her father and just have a good time? She wasn't sure what was more appealing in the moment, to go regardless and be put to shame or to go home and cry herself to sleep once more. "College students kind of suck.. Don't they?" @franciscofontenelle

[franciscofontenelle]

His lips were firmly pressed into a thin line and his hand curled tighter around his bag's shoulder strap as a pang of familiar, secondhand discomfort settled inside his chest. The feeling of being a freshman at uni, he remembered all too well and Cisco doubted he would ever free himself of the feeling that came with the memories. He let the blonde's question linger in the air, awaiting realization to fall upon her without any elaboration on his part. "Yeah," he mumbled. "I'm afraid not." Brown eyes were struggling to not study the costume she wore. It was loud and colorful and out of place. "Some do." Always have. "Most of them are trying to figure themselves out and don't realize that doing so at someone else's expense is pretty fucked." His voice's calm quiet didn't match the language used and for a brief second, Cisco was regretful of his choice of words. "What are you going to study?" @camrynxlawson

[frankiexcalloway]

starter for @franciscofontenelle

location: cobblestone cafe

It wasn't unusual for Frankie to be one of the first people through the door, at least on a normal day. However, Frankie had the day off and had deviated from her routine. They had got back from Portland late, after midnight after playing a show. So, she slept in, at least after she got up and fed June. Then the dog was content enough to spend a few more hours snoozing. In front of her, coffee still steaming, Frankie had a notebook open with observations she had been making about the horses at Equestrian Estates. She went to underline a note when the pen ran dry. She clicked it once. Then again. Still, nothing. A crease formed between her brows and she laid it down atop her notebook. Well, there that went idea. Lifting her gaze, she began to take in the customers of Cobblestone Cafe, her gaze landing on a familiar face. She lifted her hand in a wave, hoping to catch their attention. "Hey," she smiled, "Francisco, right?"

[franciscofontenelle]

Cisco had found himself halfway through annotating the margin of a journal article, when he caught his name over the sound of ubiquitous chatter and the smell of coffee. Lifting his dark brown gaze, he looked around and it took him only a handful of seconds to spot Frankie. A smile as polite as it was genuine, slowly emerged on his expression and he hoisted his hand, waving back. The conversation with her had been one of the few that hadn't felt like an obligation. And after a moment of letting the quiet rest amidst them, he stood, folding the pages with practiced ease before he stood. "Frankie," it sounded like a question. "Mind if I join you?" He pointed at the empty chair opposite her. "How have you been?" @frankiexcalloway

[alfmorales]

The crime at hand wasn't Alfonso's to bear, but that was just the way that he went through life. He took on other people's problems, willing to shoulder whatever burden he could to help people through life. He didn't know the man in front of him, but he could feel the pain emanating from Francisco and for Alf that was enough to make the problem his own now. "Absolutely nothing to lose here. Worst case scenario, we get a nice drive about the town. Best case scenario, who knows, maybe we bust up a whole burglary outfit and win a medal of honor." A far-fetched dream of what would likely come of it all, but Alfonso was nothing if not a dreamer in life. One arm lifted up to rest a hand on Francisco's shoulder for just a moment, gripping it tightly as he gave the man a gentle nod. "It's no trouble at all. I'm with you on this. Benefit of working for myself, I can take the time for something like this," he assured the younger man. Whatever he had on his schedule could be moved. Sometimes there were things more important than work and Alf was never going to let those moments slip by. "I've got my car in the parking lot if you want me to drive? Or if you're more comfortable driving, I'm happy with anything."

@franciscofontenelle

[franciscofontenelle]

On some days, Cisco could not quite fathom the very real possibility of luck being bestowed upon his meager existence. A glimmer of hope shimmered in the dark brown hue of his eyes as he looked at the stranger, who he minded less than most other people he had spoken to today. There was a kindness, harder to deny than to accept and something about the man was disarming enough to not ring any alarms when Cisco, again, made the impulsive decision to trust him. And the comment about medals of honor tugged at the corners of his mouth. "You really dream big, don't you?" Just having someone there to help him with the disastrous situation he found himself stuck within, lifted a small weight off his shoulders. The hand placed on his shoulder with firm and even pressure was strangely reassuring and for only a moment, he thought to finally understand how dogs could find unconditional trust in people. If he were a stray, he'd follow this man anywhere, Cisco thought and realized too late he had not listened to what the man had said, just when a car and a parking lot were mentioned. Stranger danger, for the first time came to mind and the trust he had just found, began to waver and tremble slightly. "I can drive." The words were spoken too quickly and an apology was dangerously close to the tip of his tongue. He stood, offered the man his hand for a simple handshake. "I'm Francisco, by the way." @alfmorales

[alexandraxrivers]

Where: High Pulse (Alex's Birthday Party)

Who: @franciscofontenelle

"Well aren't you cute." Alex complimented to the man who took the seat next to her at the bar. "So tell me devil, what brought you here tonight? Do you know the birthday girl? Or here party crashing?" Not letting on about the fact that this was her party, or the fact that she knew she hadn't invited him. "I'll let you in on a secret." Gesturing for him to come closer so she could whisper. "I'm a party crasher."

[franciscofontenelle]

Discomfort rendered his limbs stiff and his eyes wide as music played and he'd lost track of the faces around him. Angels and devils accumulated and it proved to be more difficult to keep people apart, than Cisco had initially anticipated. And so, as he'd lost track of the friend who had dragged him along to a stranger's birthday party. And so, he idled by the wall, on the outskirts of all the fun, when he was approached. "Uh, probably the latter?" His voice sounded unsure and nervous. "Well, at least I don't the birthday girl. A friend of mine dragged me along." And he sounded less amused than he should. And when the blonde gestured for him to come closer, he slowly leaned down, so he could hear the words she spoke better. "Oh," he voiced, the faintest of smiles tugging at his lips. "Then I don't have to feel so bad, do I?" @alexandraxrivers

[rheaxblakewood]

Such a simple move and yet it spoke volumes on the type of person he was. It hadn’t gone unnoticed just how quickly he was to divert his full attention to her, his phone screen black. “They were! You’re going to have to come by and try some of the others, but I may have a little sample box stashed away in here for you, special perks of being friends with the owner and head chocolatier.” she told him with a grin as she gestured to her bag that she’d arrived with. Honestly she hadn’t expected him to be quite so agreeable to the taco suggestion but now that he was interested, she knew they had a very short window of time before making a quick escape. “You’re the best,” she told him earnestly, her fingers wrapping tightly around her purse strap now as she finally stood and cleared her throat before seeing the server attempt to approach them. “We’ve just—had some news, we’re going to have to cut this short, I’m sorry…” she murmured with an apologetic smile before glancing back at Cisco as they made their way out of there. “I was almost scared he was going to stop us to demand a tip or something.” | @franciscofontenelle

[franciscofontenelle]

"Sounds tempting." Tempting indeed. Leaning back in his seat, Cisco wondered when the last time was that he'd visited his friend at work and came to the immediate conclusion that it had been too long. "Have I ever told you that you're the best?" A smile curled against his lips and brightened the expression his face bore. With the return of many people Cisco had thought he might never see again in this lifetime ( for better or for worse ) a night out with a steady friend was just about the thing he needed to get his mind off things. Tumultuous circumstances and the feeling of missing his sister were greater tonight. And so, he would agree to just about anything, glad for Rhea to take the wheel. As though Rhea's words had been an overstatement, the gesture, a lax waving motion of his hand, was meant to brush their weight off - anything to not take a compliment. Watching her prepare their escape, Cisco followed behind her, aiming an apologetic nod toward the waiter, followed by a shrug. He turned his head for a last look through the restaurant's door before it closed once they had reached the outside. The waiter had moved, though still had his eyes in their general direction and the fresh air surrounded him and it felt like a salve. "I think he was about to." @rheaxblakewood

[mabelxhughes]

The voice startled her. Not because it was loud, for it wasn't, but because of who it belonged to. It didn't take her any effort to put the face to the voice, even if she hadn't seen the face for years now. It was kind of hard to forget one of your best friends that way, even if she had more on her mind to allow her to reminisce about the good old days in the past few years. "Cisco." She let out with a breath, her head having turned into his direction, her arm stretched out as an invitation for him to enter the yard, to come closer to her. "You're still here in Kismet?" With how brilliant he was, she would have assumed he'd have ended up in some big city or at a big wig college. Though right now she couldn't find herself to mind. She'd missed him. "Can I hug you?" She asked him, focusing on the small blotch that she could vaguely see, trying to keep it in her sight as she slowly stood up. @franciscofontenelle

[franciscofontenelle]

Relief crashed above him and doused him in a sudden wave of euphoria. It rendered Francisco motionless, completely still by the property line of the Hughes family home. He swallowed, torn between holding back the laughter that itched in his throat and choking on the vertigo that crawled up to him. The sense of surrealism that kept him in a chokehold whelmed and refused to wane and give way for a chance to breathe and realize this was not just a dream. How often had he lain awake, wondering just what might have happened to the one friend he'd never find himself out of touch with. And when Mabel spoke his name, his lips curled into a smile, dimples carved into his cheeks. Following the invitation, Cisco's steps were careful at first, slow and deliberate before he accelerated his step, picked up pace to find her in her father's front yard. "Well," he spoke, his voice giving away the relief that still clung to his chest. "I've been back for a little over two years now." Slowly, he came to a halt in front of where she lingered. She seemed small in the chair, somehow lost but he pushed away these thoughts for now. "Of course, Mabel." He slowly opened his arms as he spoke and it sounded a lot like; don't be silly. And when he gently wrapped his arms around her, his heart was swelling with a comfort he'd missed for years upon years. "I've missed you, Mabel." The words were a whisper, small enough for the wind to carry it away. @mabelxhughes