H A L E

HALE WESTLEY COOPER Photographer || 27 || Closed 3x3 RP

[hale-cooper]

lucianaxreyes​:

I’m shook. You never turn down the opportunity for free things, Hale, especially food.

I do when I know that I’ll regret it. I’m not a big fan of putting myself through things when I know it’ll end in pain.

[hale-cooper]

lucianaxreyes​:

Here’s to free samples that set my tongue on fire like Satan’s ass.

You can have mine, Luci, I don’t feel like having fire come out of my ass later.

[hale-cooper]

joelxharvey​:

Is it in anyone’s here? 

Hey, look, I’m not saying you owe this town anything. You don’t owe anyone shit and whoever put that in your head can go fuck right off. That wasn’t what I meant by doing something good. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have you go anywhere near the stand, but the courts are a fucking asshole system even I can’t keep at bay. This boat you’re traveling on, Hale, I promise that you aren’t alone in it. There’s players in this game risking just as much, their lives, their reputation to nail her ass to the goddamn wall. I know how the public will look at them all, kid. Maddox might approach you later, but if you want me leaving you alone, I will.

No, I don’t owe this town shit, but in the end I’m still going to have to bleed for it, more than I already have and you know it. Where you’re wrong is that the others who are under her thumb will have their reputations intact, they were pulled in because they had someone to keep safe from Robin. Me? Who’s going to want anything to do with someone who did what they do for money? I’ll be alone on the stand. I’ll be alone as they air every single thing I’ve had to do for charity in front of everyone, and it’ll be a goddamn surprise if I don’t lose everything. Do this for me, Joel, you tell Maddox that I’ll do it but I don’t want to hear about the investigation, how it’s going, who all you have to go on the stand against her. I don’t want to hear anything, I’d like to live my life as normally as I can until I have to self-destruct it. 

[hale-cooper]

lincolnxcole​:

Of all the things Link had dreaded Hale telling him, the last thing he expected to hear was how the mayor was extorting Hale’s vulnerability to not only have sex with him, but to keep him vulnerable and powerless. Hale didn’t say it in words, but Link wasn’t an idiot – it didn’t need to be said. He felt sick to his stomach, disgust at the situation and blatant abuse of power. Robin didn’t need to do any of it, she was a grown woman who should have either pointed Hale to where he could get help or turned him away. What she was doing to Hale… it made Link angry, angrier than he has ever been. The changes in his friend that he had thought was because of the accident made more sense now, it was all a culmination of the trauma and assault he was suffering, the rapid decline in both his mental health and self worth. Link didn’t hesitate to shot back his drink and pour another, pushing the bottle closer to Hale knowingly. “I…” Link’s mouth went dry so he swallowed, his mind running with all the things he wanted to say. He knew he had to be careful with his words so not to spook Hale. His friend more than likely thought that they would clean their hands of him, the tormented look on his face was a dead giveaway. But there was nothing that Hale could say about this that would make Link hate him, not when it was so obvious to Link what was happening, not when Link hated himself for not being able to help his friend. “I hate her. I hate that she’s doing this to you. I especially hate that she’s made you think that you mean so little, that I would turn my back on you when I will never do that.” Link reached over and squeezed Hale’s arm, his brown eyes staring at his friend imploringly. “None of this is your fault, Hale. And none of us will ever hate you for this. I… I’ve got some money saved, I could help out with your dad.” There wasn’t much Link wouldn’t do to help his friends, he’d sell the bar if he had to.

Hale focused on the movement of the liquor bottle and the sounds of the sloshing in Link’s cup instead of the other man, not hesitating to finish the rest of his own glass and filling it again when the bottle was pushed closer to him. Hale focused on anything but Link as he waited for him to form his words, preparing for the million scenarios of how the rest of the conversation would go. Hale managed to smile, however broken, when Link confirmed that he was still his friend, the air squeezing out of his lungs with a shaky exhale. Hale glanced over to Link when the other touched his arm, forcing himself to blink away any unshed tears; he knew that once he started he wouldn’t stop. Every day was getting increasingly harder now that he knew there was a potential end to his suffering. “I hate her, too,” Hale said quietly, a thought he never let pass by his lips to another soul for fear that Robin would appear out of no where and punish him. In the safety of Link’s bar behind the locked door with one his best friend, he was finally able to let that truth free after years. He shook his head. “I can’t let you help, Link, that would mean that you know more than you’re supposed to. Robin is smart, she’s playing games with a lot of people, and she wouldn’t hesitate to target you to get back to me. Anyone close to me could get in trouble, and it doesn’t feel great.” Hale raised his glass again to drink again before turning to Lincoln. “I wanted you to know from me instead of learning it from any other person. Apparently Robin has pissed off the wrong people and there’s an investigation being ran against her, under her radar– I probably wouldn’t have told you if there wasn’t, if I’m being honest.” It didn’t feel good keeping secrets from his friends, but knowing that the secret was never supposed to see light made it easier. When Nate found out, it almost broke the façade Hale carried. Then he told Peyton, and now Maddox and Joel knew? The list was growing bigger and Hale couldn't outrun it forever. “I was content with living my life the way I have been... I had to be, but knowing that there may be a day that I get called into court and have all of my secrets spilled made it increasingly harder to be content– if anything, it’s made everything more difficult. I just have one request,” Hale’s eyes met Link’s dark ones, a sad smile on his face, “just keep standing with me if there’s a day that everyone in town finds out about this. I know any testimony I give can help, but I could lose everything in the end and I’m not... strong enough to survive that.”

[hale-cooper]

lincolnxcole​:

Link grabbed a bottle of bourbon, one of the ones they both had a particular fondness for. He filled two glasses and left the bottle open on the counter. Instead of standing behind the wooden counter, Link moved around and pulled out a stool next to his friend. He turned his head toward Hale when he spoke, his eyebrows drawing together as he started to worry more than he already had been. Trouble… a million things started to fill Link’s head, but he tried to stamp them down and listen. “I’m here, Hale,” he said with soft eyes. 

Hale’s hands immediately wrapped around the glass that Link provided, pulling it to his lips and taking a healthy swig. With Peyton, it was easier to talk about his situation because they were in similar boats, but to talk to someone who has no idea how deep and how far it goes? Terrifying. Hale swallowed past the lump in his throat. “You remember when my dad was involved in that accident? He, um... had to go through a few surgeries and he’s been in a coma since,” Hale’s voice was quiet, his eyes never lifting from the dark liquid in his glass; the surface of the bourbon making tiny waves as his hands shook. “I was going to take over the shop eventually, but I didn’t know the first fucking thing about managing it at the time. I lost clients, a lot of clients. They didn’t trust someone so young– I couldn’t pay the bills on everything. I was drowning.” He hated thinking about that time, the darkness that settled over him that he desperately wanted to forget. It was slowly coming back with the looming investigation that threatened to bring it to the surface. “There was only one person I could think of that had the money that could dig me out. We practically grew up with Grey, I was close with Nate– so it was my best bet to ask Robin for help, and I did. Begged, actually. The price at the time didn’t seem too steep, but now?” He finally glanced Link’s way, daring a look at his friend’s face before dropping it again. “Do you know how hard it’s been to look at Grey and Nathan in the face when I’m sleeping with their mom for money? How hard it’s been to look at all of you and not hate myself?”

[hale-cooper]

lincolnxcole​:

Link shrugged his shoulders, “No problem.” He gave Hale a small smile in return, but inside he felt cautious. Link knew that whatever Hale had to tell him it wouldn’t be nice, he’s witnessed how exhausted emotionally his friend has been of late. Link opened the door to the bar, locking it behind them before moving to the bar. “Probably not. You’re my family, what’s mine is your’s and all that. Just don’t tell the others.” He turned to the shelf of alcohol and called over his shoulder, “What’s our pick?”

Hale followed Link to the bar, taking a seat at his normal spot. He didn’t know what to say, how to start, and it didn’t get easier when Link threw the word family around– like Hale hadn’t kept him in the dark about everything. “I wouldn’t dream of it,” Hale managed to squeeze out before he went back to gnawing at his cheek until it almost bled, “bourbon, just straight up.” He waited patiently for Link to sit down, buying himself more time until he ran out and had to actually begin talking. “I’m in a lot of trouble, Link. I don’t know any simpler way to put it– everything that I’m about to tell you is about to come to light but I’d rather you hear it from me first.”

[hale-cooper]

lincolnxcole​:

Alright, we’ll use the bar then. You can help yourself to whatever is there.

“Thanks,” Hale responded a small smile though it felt hollow, so he let it fall. He was exhausted. “After you, mighty key holder– you’re probably going to regret giving me that go ahead to help myself.”

[hale-cooper]

lincolnxcole​:

Let’s talk wherever your most comfortable, but no one else would be coming inside if you want to go to the bar.

I don’t think the place is really going to matter, Link. It’s not a comfortable topic.

[hale-cooper]

lincolnxcole​:

We can go there if you want, I have this thing called a key.

Um... yeah, as long as it’s just the two of us. I have to talk to you.

[hale-cooper]

lincolnxcole​:

Bar is closed today. No one needs that after last night.

I guess I’ll have to find some other way to drown myself in alcohol.

[hale-cooper]

joelxharvey​:

I don’t do pity, Hale. I need you, yes, but I need you to be okay first.

It tears something up inside of me seeing in all the ways I failed you, kid. I was meant to protect everyone in this town from the worst dangers and to know it happened under my nose is agonizing. You don’t have to dive into details about what you’ve gone through the last six years and I get you’ll say fuck everyone, I wouldn’t blame you. You don’t ask anyone to relive that shit and expect cooperation. I want to give your choices back to you, I’ll try my fucking hardest to fight against anything that’d do it to you again, but I hope you’ll understand her lawyers might not. Tell me, Hale, have you ever wanted to do a scrap of good? Something that would make a difference in this shit show of a life?

Okay isn’t in my vocabulary since we’re being candid.

You do realize that any scrap of good I do is basically destroying everything in my life in the process, so no I never wanted that; I don’t care if that sounds selfish. I’ve always looked out for myself but we both know that I don’t have a real choice here, Joel, no matter how nice you want to be to me right now. You don’t control the courts, if Robin’s lawyers are coming after me, I know Maddox will too– I’m not so naive to believe that people would leave me alone just because it hurts. So, whatever. If you want my cooperation, just... leave me alone until the trial day. 

[hale-cooper]

joelxharvey​:

Before you leave, I’m begging you to hear me out. I won’t take away your choice, but I’d like for you to stay and listen for a minute. Can you do that for this old man?

You must either really pity me or really need me to be begging. 

You have a minute, Joel. No more.

[hale-cooper]

joelxharvey​:

Nothing like that. Listen, Hale, I’m approaching this with a form of gentleness not often seen by me, but I know it’s a delicate matter. I’ve come across a specific piece of information that’s concerning to me for your well-being.

Joel, no. The moment you speak about what I think you’re about to say, I’m out the door.

[hale-cooper]

joelxharvey​:

Good at intimidating newbies, bad at some time management.

Sit down, kid, we need to talk.

Ew, Joel, it sounds like you’re breaking up with me. What, do I have some unpaid parking violation?

[hale-cooper]

joelxharvey​:

Now, I know you’re not messing with a man on his lunch break.

You’re the one that called me, I think you could’ve scheduled that a little better.

[hale-cooper]

aeshaxpatel​:

That’s a massive call, Elliot and Maddox are pillars in this community. Overthrowing them wouldn’t be easy… but I think we could do it. They’re starting to get old.

Exactly– plus we have the fact that we’re a career dynamic duo on our side. No one would be able to say that we’re not at least as hot as those two, if not more.

[hale-cooper]

audreyxfabray​:

Well me torching your gravestone is a compliment too. Means I cared enough to get revenge even after your death.

So basically I have it one of two days, stay in your good graces that you come to my funeral or piss you off so much that you desecrate my tombstone– I think I can manage at least one of those.