GLORY & GORE.

JASON RHODES. 49. husband. father. OWNER OF IRIS & EVE.

[jasonrhcdes]

CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE.

      Holding a conversation with Jason often felt like a test of Topher’s patience. One the investor continuously failed time and time again. Ocean hues scan the establishment for any means of escape but his main one was preoccupied. Why his wife insisted on being picked up from her rendezvous with Reina and the rest of the ladies before she was actually ready was beyond him but next time he’d make sure to send Matty in his place. “Usually I don’t ask this but something about you makes me feel like I have to. The guy in your story, is still alive correct?” Topher asks, his tone sarcastic despite the validity of his question. 

     If someone were to tell him tomorrow Jason Rhodes had been arrested for a slew of crimes, it wouldn’t surprise him in the slightest. He just seemed the type and unfortunately for Topher since Claire seemed in no rush to leave, he’d probably have to keep talking to him. The knowledge of that is enough to force him to down half the beer he’d been nursing for the last hour. “It’s not my business to tell other people how to run theirs,” yes it was, “but maybe next time don’t beat up a customer? He could sue, or, god forbid leave a bad yelp review.”

Jason rolls his eyes at the other man’s comment, irritated that he even has to defend himself. “Yeah he’s alive. Jesus.” The way Jason says it makes it seem like killing someone is completely out of the realm of possibility for him, but anyone who knows him knows that’s not the truth. While Topher may not be privy to the shit that goes on below his restaurant, Jason’s aware that he’s got an air to him that gives off some shady energy, but he’s proud of that air. And the fact that Topher seems so offended by it makes Jason think the guy’s more of a stick in the mud than he’d previously thought, which is saying something.

He doesn’t exactly appreciate Topher sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong, despite the fact that Jason had been the one to bring it up, and he gives the other man a dirty look. “You know what? You’re right. It ain’t your business.” Topher’s got no right to tell him how to run things and Jason will be damned if he lets this guy patronize him. “If a customer’s in here being an asshole I’m not about to just let him get away with it. Piece of shit can sue me all he wants, fuckin’ pussy.”

[jasonrhcdes]

ELIZABETH KENNEDY.

Liza bites her lip, eyebrows furrowed as she makes another glance at the man, who’d, in the span of a couple minutes, had gotten far too close for her comfort.  “I… guess?” She says softly, not sure if he was looking for her to say a specific answer. “I mean… you were only trying to protect your wife, right?” Her eyes visibly scan down to his left hand, searching for a wedding ring — she hadn’t ruled out the prospect that he was outright lying to her. 

“Exactly.” Jason gives a little toast in her direction, as if she’d just solved all of his problems. She’s a little young for him and he’s not usually that disgusting, but he does love the attention and he wouldn’t mind keeping her company for a little while longer. She seems uneasy so he decides to tone it down a bit, trying to see if maybe he can garner a little sympathy from the blonde. Jason’s got a few tricks in his playbook and he’s always desperate to make sure they still work, regardless of who he uses them on. “I mean, it may not be the happiest marriage ever but I still gotta stick up for her, y’know? Even if she’s always fuckin’ around on me and makin’ me feel like shit.”

[jasonrhcdes]

PANDORA MARLOWE.

At his unnecessary words, all the blonde bartender could do was peek at him whilst catching sight of the smirk. Luckily, all she could do was turn on her heel and allow the seafoam circular eyes to wonder who dropped the male on his head when he was a baby hence due to his peculiar actions of satisfaction. Putting back polished glasses on the shelf, it was only when Jason’s words caused Pandora to return back to him ─ unfortunately. One eye slightly tampered, jaw protruding forward presenting the older male with a controlled but common facial expression that inched upon her overlay commonly. While she would’ve much rather have no informed the other, barely caring for the workplace antics unfolding whilst she only came to make money and go home, owners needed to know what was being spread. “Both of them. At different times of the evening but Alex was first.” Spoken through a thin, songbird of falsetto as if it was clear through her interlaced words on how little she cared to know any more details. The two bussers were known to eavesdrop into a conversation. Yet, cleaning up the kitchen was a rarity considering their jobs were strictly to be on the restaurant floor. Whoever decided to be a fucking pig and not clean up after themselves would endure some sort of wrath. Popping her left hip out, a slight hilarity illuminated upon her minimally layered of makeup, probably the first time in a while when Jason’s words caused a reaction other than disdain, “Of course. I think we know by now I can tackle and be the narc if necessary.” Not that it would ever beat on her conscience but the word would eventually come around over who was the patrons involved in the kitchen escaped. Even if Jason was one of the owners, the truth was the female was far from threatened by his remarks. If it was coming from Reina, then she would take them gravelly. “Jason,” she breathed before pinching the bridge of my nose. Nodding in his direction, “I know all of the unfortunate circumstances for all of our behalves. I just think those two brats need to get under control because they get amused by everything. I know how to keep my mouth shut for the sake of others.” It was like reassuring a child. Sometimes, it was like that.

With one last glance in the two bussers’ direction, Jason nods, trying to figure out what to do with their little rat asses. The two of them work for him on the underground side of the business so he can’t exactly fire them, not if he wants them to keep quiet about what really goes on there, but he can’t just let them off the hook after spreading some pretty detrimental rumors about him — even if they don’t know he’s the on who made the mess in the kitchen to begin with. He could kill them, he guesses, but that’d just piss his wife off and contrary to popular belief, Jason doesn’t actively try to make her mad. For now, he’ll just mull it over while shooting the two of them dirty looks to make them sweat. He appreciates Pandora’s willingness to rat the two idiots out, of course, but he doesn’t miss the way she takes a condescending tone when she speaks to him and it’s enough to piss him off more than he already is. He gets irritable when people don’t respond to his threats the way he wants them to, and Pandora’s monotonous tone makes it pretty clear to Jason that she doesn’t take him seriously. “Alright, I just thought I’d fuckin’ warn you. No need to get snippy.” He’s not pouting, per se, but Jason’s definitely got a scowl on his face as he leans back on his barstool and crosses his arms. “You know any other interesting information about this place that you wanna share with the class? Now’s the time to tell it if you do, so I can get all this shit under control.”

[wintersthighs]

dedicated to my fellow Grillo dumpster inhabitants. 

I salute you.  (*•̀ᴗ•́*)و ̑̑

[jasonrhcdes]

ANDREW THANE.

Andy has never liked his brother in law. He’s slimey, the kind of person you thought people just made up rather than someone who actually existed. But then he met the other man, and was proven wrong – Jason’s a piece of shit, without question. Andy tries to dodge the other man, to be civil when he’s stuck with him, but fuck it gets worse and worse every time. He reminds Andy far too much of his late father, but at least his father gave him in the tools to properly interact with someone like this. At least, until his temper got the best of him and he can’t hold back. He knows exactly what the other man is alluding to, heard stories like this plenty of times from his own father or the MC members from his hometown. “M’sure he got what was comin’ to him.” He begins, tone unable to fake any sort of enthusiasm. “Lets keep that outta this trip though, man.” He suggests, before adding: “God knows the fuckin’ producers will have a fit.” Trying to play it cool, even though all he wants to do is call this man a piece of shit and be on his way. 

Of course, Andy has to be the poster child for good behavior, and Jason rolls his eyes in his brother-in-law’s direction. “Yeah, yeah. I’m fuckin’ behaving.” He’s been pretty good this whole damn time, and he doesn’t need Andy fucking Thane giving him a lecture on how to act. The producers would probably love if he had some kind of outburst and Jason’s knows it, but he’s so sick of this whole thing that he can’t help but shake his head at the mention of them. “Can’t wait till all this shit is over, if I’m being honest. If I have it my way we’ll be on a flight back to Memphis as soon as the cameras stop rolling.” Not that Reina is having any of it when he brings that up, since she keeps claiming she’s got too much on her plate on that godforsaken island to leave it. He’s fucking bored, though — the business coming to and from Catalina isn’t enough to keep Jason occupied, and he’d much rather be back in his city where he can rebuild his empire. It doesn’t matter what his wife wants, anyway — he’ll drag her back to Memphis kicking and screaming if he has to. “Be nice to have that beach out back all to yourself again, won’t it? None of my shit head kids running around, just yours.”

[jasonrhcdes]

CLEO HALLIWELL.

There only a person that Cleo believes that deserves a death wish ─ and it’s Jason Rhodes. It was clear that the man is an evident waste of space. Not only did he smell the foul, aged beer from a few weeks ago lingering upon his clothing, whilst living in a lavish home perched up in Ventura with a multitude of bathrooms at his disposal, but it also seems as if it was far from his concern to care about his hygiene during a pandemic. Then again, perhaps the coronavirus will take him out once and for all. She wasn’t opposed to the natural selection of this virus doing its wonders. Whilst the ideas crept into her conscience, a cunning upturn of a singular mouth corner consumed her, knowing she would be viciously chuckling in the distance at his pure stupidity on his death bed. It would only vex the older man further knowing Cleo was romantically seeing his adopted son, Miles, as well. Yet, whilst she avoided to provide that latter information only to use it as a jab when it was needed ─ if he thought he could ever get rid of her, then he didn’t know how much of a fighter she truly was and how her attachment to the family was further intertwining. Tilting her head in the opposite direction at the words from the older man, pursed lips as she hummed momentarily whilst remaining oddly calm and collected to get underneath his skin, “Your threats do nothing to me either, Jason. Not from the first once I met you,” she confessed in a razor-sharp, gashing fight and flight response. Keeping her distance, only to allow her arms to cross tightly over her chest as cerulean hues stared at him hostilely, “As a matter of fact, two can play this game and I would love for the coronavirus to do wonders to you right now. Considering the fact if you were to pass on… no one in your family would even grieve over your departure from this planet. I hope natural selection does wonders for you.” Falsing a saccharine tone, her ping-pong sized hues grew to a tempered state, doing what was typically the best approach to everything ─ killing with the kindness and the brutal reality of how despised he genuinely was by everyone. Hues rolling into the back of her head, snickering at his self insert, “I don’t care if it doesn’t phase you. The only thing you will never know is how much I am willing to ruin your life because I run this fucking island. You’re just a guest in my territory.” And it was true that Reina brought out another side to Cleo since their establishment in the last five years, the blonde was far from sane long before then. If anything, she helped intensify these erratic emotions and words. Although his next sea of words amused her even further, aware this conversation was simply killing her time until Iris came downstairs. The younger sister was probably far too focused upon the multitude of designer shoes to pick from. “Awww, fuck me,” she breathed through a false, bummed tone as if her facial expression was bland as white bread sitting on the shelves of the local grocery store. False sniffling, just like she taught Iris a couple months ago, “Would you really want to kill me? I am bearing your future grandchild after all…..” There she was going with the mention of Miles and herself. Only a few knew including Reina. Illuminating in a cheeky smile as hands collapsed together in a wicked tone laced in-between her silvery range, “Congratulations, grandpa! Miles and I are expecting. Bringing another legacy to the Rhodes family.” 

It’s not surprising to Jason that Cleo would wish death upon him — she’s never been shy about her distaste for him and he doesn’t exactly expect her to start now, but when she brings up the supposed pandemic that’s sweeping the nation in an attempt to terrorize him, he can’t help but scoff. “That shit’s dumb. Fuckin’ hoax if you ask me.” Jason’s the type to believe he’s tougher than a silly little virus, and the thought of actually catching that shit hasn’t even crossed his mind. As she continues to blab on and on about ruining his life or whatever teeny bopper bullshit she’s threatening him with, Jason lets a hand pass over his face in pure irritation. “The only thing you run is your goddamn mouth, Cleo, Jesus fuck.” He’s about to just start tuning her incessant yapping out, but then Cleo mentions something he just can’t seem to ignore. At first he’s not even focused on the fact that she says she’s fucking pregnant, he’s more irritated that she just associated Miles as a part of his family. Just because Reina took his sorry ass in doesn’t mean Jason will ever claim Miles as his own. “Good thing Miles ain’t my fuckin’ kid.” Once the words leave his mouth, though, he realizes that if she’s dead serious, there’s more than likely going to be a screaming baby in his presence and the mere thought of that is enough to flare his temper. It’s gotta be a lie, but he also wouldn’t put it past Miles to knock this stupid bitch up, so he can’t quite count the possibility out yet. Still, he refuses to entertain her bullshit, he just tosses his glass in the sink with so much force it’s a wonder it doesn’t shatter. “Seriously, just shut the fuck up, would you? Go get my kid, do whatever fucking dumb bitch bullshit you make her do, and get the fuck out of my house before I dropkick your ass out of here.” He points to the stairs where Iris is still yet to be found, practically frothing at the mouth in his efforts to get Cleo the fuck away from him before he does some shit he’s going to regret. He’d much rather have her upstairs and out of sight than in his general vicinity where it’s way too tempting to take a knife from the kitchen counter and have some fun. “I’m serious — go.”

[jasonrhcdes]

MILES ELLIS.

It felt good to get that first hit in, when fist met nose and that sound and the momentary spurt of blood felt good. He had seen just red; seeing Safiya talking to him, watching him fucking brag about violence like it made sense. Miles hated seeing his ma hurt, and he absolutely fucking hated Jason. Loathed him, in fact. But that moment of euphoria fades as quickly as it comes, because he’s being dragged into the alley out back, and he knows that Miles is going to get his ass beat. Just like old times. The grip hurts, but the pain only fuels his anger. “Come at me, big guy. Show me what you got!” Miles is struggling against the older man’s hard grip on his neck, but he still tries to get something in there. One more punch. “What? Suddenly you’re pussying out? All that dickin’ around got you worn out? Yeah, I fuckin’ know.” 

Being antagonized is a sure fire way to get Jason riled up and Miles seems to have it down to a science, knowing exactly what to say to make the older man forget about how much shit he’ll get into for beat his ass. Right at that moment, his only thought is fuck it, which isn’t going to end well for Miles especially after the kid manages to get another punch in. “Shut up,” he says, emphasized by a swift punch to Miles’s gut that has the kid keeling over long enough for Jason to smash his foot into his face and put him on the ground. He’d have let Miles off easy if he’d have just kept his fucking mouth shut, but apparently the younger man is incapable of doing that and Jason doesn’t feel bad about the hell he’s about to rain down on this kid. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you not to run your mouth about shit you don’t know anything about?” He grabs Miles by the collar of his shirt just long enough to deliver a few more blows to his face, then finishes off with a solid kick to his ribcage for good measure. “Just remember you asked for this, you little piece of shit.”

[jasonrhcdes]

ELIZABETH KENNEDY.

“I mean, I don’t know you. You might,” she replied, always speaking before she thought, and she instantly regretted it as soon as it came out of her mouth. “But I believe you,” she quickly added. Her gaze moved to her side, if only slightly, to actually get a look at the man — a well-worn smirk, perhaps a bit too smarmy for Lizzie’s liking — but she was always a bit too curious for her own good. “What… did he do?” The hesitance to pry was clear in her voice, but she couldn’t help the interest from overtaking her impulses. 

Jason’s smirk only grows as she realizes her mistake and tries to cover it up, and he decides this one might be fun to fuck with. This meek little girl, he feels like she’s easy prey and he just can’t help himself. He leans forward just slightly, a little too close for comfort as he tries to catch her eye and make her squirm. “As you damn well should.” Leaning back again, Jason takes another swig of his whiskey before setting his glass back down, giving her a look that practically screams predator. “He was ogling my wife. Of course I’m gonna beat the shit outta him,” he shrugs, “You’d want a guy you were with to defend your honor, wouldn’t you?”

[jasonrhcdes]

ROWAN THANE.

It makes her so goddamn happy when Jason’s jaw clenches as she speaks, makes her feel practically giddy when she can see that she’s getting under his skin. It’s nice to know that she’s able to reciprocate the irritation he gives her so easily and she would be lying if she said she didn’t feel a sort of smugness settle over her. “You give them things,” she corrects him with a tilt of her head and a raise of an eyebrow. “You throw money at them as if it’s going to replace any kind of actual relationship — which isn’t something that you have.” Rowan’s sure that Jason had hoped his comments would lead to the end of it and if she had any sense she would let it be the end of it — the last thing she really needs is to be caught berating her brother in law on television because there’s no way this is going to end up on the cutting room floor. But she’s beyond wound up now and there’s definitely not going to be any stopping any time soon and that’s evident in the way she barely even blinks before carrying right on. “Your kids don’t know you. Iris has spent the last five years askin’ about her daddy and you know what the boys said? They’d just shrug and said you yelled a lot. That’s all they know about you – that you’re a loud, violent, asshole. When she’d ask me about you I’d lie. There’s not a single good thing about you I could’ve told her to make you out to be the kind of father she wants or deserves. Now that you’ve crawled out of whatever dumpster you were staying in, I wish I had told her the truth. ‘Cause all I did was set her up for disappointments when she sees you for what you really are.” Which is probably the worst ting about all of this. Rowan is a grown woman, she can deal with Jason even if he does bring out the worst in her. But poor Iris has spent the last five years watching Andy and Maddie and hoping that her daddy would show up and treat her that way —- and she gets stuck with this piece of shit.

The way he emphasizes the word family has her fighting back a gag. Rowan loves Reina more than anything; no amount of time or distance or lack of blood relation will ever change the fact that they are sisters, and she adores her niece and both of her nephews but Jason —- being associated with him is enough to give her a fucking ulcer. Her eyes roll because as fired up as she is, Jason has kind of backed her into a corner. While there is a lot she’d love to say about their marriage and what a fucking sham it is… everything is being caught on camera and she isn’t about to put her sister through that kind of public humiliation. It’s one thing to call out the fact that Jason is a shit father — his five year absence alone is enough to have anyone jumping to that conclusion, but to call out the fact that their marriage had been one of convenience and power? Christ, she might as well paint devil horns on Reina’s promo poster herself. “For now.” She settles back into her seat, head shaking. “I am stuck with you for now.” As much as she hates to admit it, she knows it’s probably forever or at least a very, very long time. Reina deserves more than Jason has ever or could ever give her, but Rowan knows her sister isn’t about to go walking away from the lifestyle Jason’s career allows her to live. “I was here before you and I’ll be here long after you — you’re a fucking blip in her life, Jason. Me? I’m her sister; that’s forever. So when she finally does figure out what a colossal waste of space you are, I’ll be right there to escort you off the property.” Not that Reina can afford their house on her own, but Rowan can and if it comes down to it she’d practically jump at the opportunity to steal it right out from underneath Jason and give it to Reina as a happy divorce gift. 

Every word that comes out of Rowan’s mouth is like a punch to Jason’s gut — not because he gives a shit that he’s a bad father, but because he can’t believe she’d actually have the audacity to call him out on it this candidly and he can’t do anything about it. What he wouldn’t give to deck her —to take her by the hair and throw her out the front door for good — but he can’t right now, especially not when she’s calling him a loud, violent asshole. Not only does he not want to prove her right, Reina actually would kill him and he’d go to prison for assault, and that’s not something even Jason’s dumb enough to do. That doesn’t stop him from gripping his whiskey glass a little too tight, and staring his sister-in-law down with a little too much heat. “The boys don’t know what the fuck they’re talking about and you know what? That little girl worships the ground I fuckin’ walk on. You wanna talk disappointment, why don’t you take a look at your own dumb as fuck husband.” It’s all Jason knows how to do when he’s cornered; deflect and throw the conversation back on Rowan. Andy and his manhood have absolutely nothing to do with his absentee parenting but that doesn’t stop Jason from going in on him anyway. “You’ve got him by the balls so bad I bet he can’t even piss like a man anymore. Must be hard being with someone so fuckin’ weak.” At this point he barely knows what bullshit is spewing out of his mouth, all Jason knows is he’s seeing red.

There’s nothing that irks him more than the thought of his wife fucking off and leaving him behind — not that she’d ever, but the mere insinuation has him out of his seat and in Rowan’s face before he realizes what he’s doing. Somehow he manages to keep his hands to himself but he’s still got one balled into a fist and the other gripping the table so hard it’s a wonder it hasn’t snapped in half, and that surely says enough about how he’s feeling. “I don’t know where the fuck you think you get off talking to me like this in my own fucking home,” he hisses, practically snarling at her like a rabid fucking animal. “But if you wanna keep going I can make sure you ain’t around forever. Then it’s just me and your sister here, living in peace and fuckin’ quiet without your harpy little ass trying to fuck me over at every goddamn turn.” When he looks up he realizes once again that they’re not alone, and more than one person in the room is looking a tad concerned. The camera’s are definitely eating this shit up but he can tell by the concerned looks on people’s faces that they’re not sure if they should step in or not. He maybe has made a little mistake for his public image, but in Jason’s delusional mind he can fix it quickly with a smile and some charm, so that’s exactly what he tries to deliver. “Just kiddin’, Ro, but really—” He stands straight, clapping her shoulder with a grin, although he doesn’t break eye contact. “You’ll get to keep dealin’ with me for a long ass time, I promise you that.”

[jasonrhcdes]

LOURDES HOWARD.

Lourdes must have really zoned out because she assumed he just took the guy out back and just asked him to be on his merry way. But it didn’t seem like it was out of character for Jason Rhodes to get into fights; it was just a vibe Lourdes got, and sometimes gave out. She wasn’t afraid to get into a fight or take a punch. “….So Reina’s description of your trouser snake is inaccurate?” Lourdes panicked, and all she remembers is the conversation they were having the other day, with Reina being cagey on details and the former being able to pry something out of her. Why had she panicked? Because of the way Jason called Reina a liar, just like that. She knows pathological liars, heck she might even be one…but her own father would never come out and say stuff like that about Charity, and right then, Jason was a dad figure and his daughter was literally just a few steps away. Immediately cringing at the thought of asking him about his dick, because he might have taken that as an invitation to flirt, and Lourdes isn’t tempted. Trying to seem nonchalant as she took a step back, she gave him what she hoped was a smile, and not a grimace. “I’m sure you are. You’re….you’re being very welcoming right now, actually. You know, for a new face, you fit just nicely with the rest of the…people! In Catalina Island, I mean…” 

Jason’s a little taken aback that his nanny would so openly discuss his junk to him but the comment has him smirking, even though Reina could potentially be lying and saying he has a small package. It doesn’t matter to him, really — he has no problem proving otherwise "Didn’t know she went around talking about my trouser snake, but depends what she said. Wouldn’t mind you being the judge of that.” He’s not really all that serious. She’s a little too close to home for his liking and Jason usually prefers to keep his affairs away from his turf — with Safiya having been the exception to that rule. But if Lourdes is actually interested there’s no way in hell he’d say no, so the offer’s there if she wants to take it. He doesn’t miss the way she steps away from him, but it’s kind of cute how shy Lourdes is being, and he thinks maybe this is her way of playing hard to get. Jason may be an asshole but he’s not a pusher, though, so he can back off just slightly until he’s sure she’s interested — slightly being the key word. “Really? Good to know the charm’s working,” he winks, because even if he’s not actively trying to fuck her currently, he just can’t help himself. “I feel like everyone here’s kinda prissy for my taste. It’s a whole lot different than the South over here. All this goddamn brunch bullshit I’m being dragged to is really starting to get on my fuckin’ nerves.”

[jasonrhcdes]

SAFIYA TORRES.

Oh fuck indeed. Safiya didn’t like the dynamic between them. Jason was her boss yes, and they had made use of the empty kitchens to have some fun, but it had been different before she found out about his still married status. It had been fun, and she was looking forward to it again, but after knowing what she did, the very thought of the kitchen and their escapade made her feel dirty. “I wasn’t asking for long term. I was just asking for an orgasm.” Maybe the second time would have been different because Safiya wasn’t relaxed on their first encounter, and she wasn’t one to complain about that, but still. “Sounds like a lovely marriage you two have. No love lost between you two, huh?” She’s not ready to leave without a fight though, at least an acknowledgement that something had happened between them, but then he moves closer and propositions her and Safiya is only a woman, and she’s weak at the knees for him again. Jason may not be the classiest man, but he was a good looking one, and she hates herself for saying what she says. “…Right now? It’s the middle of day. My car is parked further out back….” She’s not saying no, not right now. 

“And you got one, so quit bitching.” Didn’t she? She definitely did, there’s no way he left Safiya wanting. Jason considers himself a God in the bedroom and if she didn’t get off, that’s her own issue. The sarcasm regarding his marriage has Jason’s lips twitching for a moment, but he chooses not to comment any further. Anything that comes out of his mouth about that particular topic is just gonna get him into trouble. Her offer is tempting, more than tempting if he’s being honest, and while usually he’d be ready to unbuckle his pants just at the mere mention of fucking in her car, the small but rational part of Jason’s brain has him pausing for a moment. “Uhhhh...” Shit. How the fuck is he supposed to say no, when this girl is basically offering herself up for him to have a go at again — despite the fact that he’d already screwed her over once just in the last week. “Kinda risky, I can’t guarantee no one’s gonna see us out there.” Still, Jason’s never been one to let a little risk stop him from doing what he wants. He’s already in deep shit with the wife, though, and he can’t imagine what would happen if she somehow turned up and found him fucking his employee in her car down the street. They’d both get at least a bullet to the brain, and that’s if Reina’s feeling kind. “Look, I can kinda control the situation in here, see what I’m saying? Out there anybody could come knocking on your window and then we’d be screwed. You wanna take a rain check? Not — I’m not gonna fucking call you, just next time I see you.”

[jasonrhcdes]

ROWAN THANE.

The sight of Reina catering to Jason is enough to spike Rowan’s blood pressure in itself. She bites her tongue to hold back the fact that he’s a grown ass man and ask who had cleaned up for him the last five years while he had been away from his mommy-wife. She can’t hold back the eye roll and noise of disgust that leaves her when Jason slaps her sister’s ass though, as if she and Andy aren’t the poster children for PDA —- but when her brother in law is involved, it all just feels gross; like he’s left slimey handprints all over Reina’s $2000 dress. She hates that Jason is able to send her into orbit so quickly. She likes to pride herself on the fact that she is generally a collected person, someone able to roll with the punches rather than throw them, but with Jason all that goes directly out the goddamn window within minutes. Her fingers literally twitch when Benny’s name leaves Jason’s lips and the desire to jump across the table and choke him to death is stronger than it has ever been — but she isn’t an idiot. There are cameras around and she can’t go to jail for attempted murder over Jason of all fucking people. And besides, she knows if it came down to it he could overpower her easily and then it’ll all be for nothing. So she straightens up in her seat, her grip on her wine glass tightening. “You’re very tough, Jason. So tough that you have to make a dig at a one year old. Terrifying, honestly and truly.” Though Jason actually is scary, as much as she hates to admit it, but it’s not something she will ever let him see. He has the same air to him that her foster father has, the one her father in law had before he finally fucking croaked and she wonders if she is ever going to be truly free of pathetic men who think their fists are the only way to gain any sort of respect. 

Rowan chooses to ignore the dig at Andy, choosing not to mention the fact that her husband makes a disgusting amount of money and half his job is to hit people — she doesn’t trust Jason not to take it as some kind of challenge or chance to prove himself as the alpha and sucker punch Andy when he comes back to the dining room and that’s the last thing she wants. For obvious reason of it being a shitty thing to do, but she also doesn’t want this fight to turn into Jason vs Andy – she doesn’t need or want her husband to fight any of her battles for her, especially this one. “My kid can be whatever he wants to be. Doesn’t matter to me.” And again she bites her tongue to keep herself from pointing out that his middle child actually is going to be slapping other guy’s sticks around. It’s painful to know something that would send Jason into a fucking fit and keep it from him, but Rhett had confided in her in confidence and she would never betray that. Plus, she knows Jason would make a beeline for his son and beat the shit out of him right then and there and then Rowan really would commit a murder on national television and she just doesn’t have the time to deal with the lengthy trial that would come from that. “You think you’re really going to have any kind of influence on those kids? You think you’ve been around long enough to leave any kind of long lasting impression? Rhett and AJ barely know who you are, and they knew you before you pulled your disappearing act. And Iris? Christ, you’re gonna be lucky if she even remembers your name in a few years.” She pauses to take a sip of her wine, fingers smoothing out the table cloth in front of her. She doesn’t really think Jason has any interest in being father of the year, but she knows that his ego will have him wanting to be the biggest factor in his kids lives. “Thanks for your opinion, Chris Benoit, but the opinion of America’s most pathetic father isn’t one I’ve got any interest in when it comes to how my kid’s turn out.” She leans forward, arms crossing to rest on the table and tilting her head. “I’m just biding my time until you get bored and you’ve worked your way through the six women on this island dumb enough to fuck you and you take off again. You’re a sad, pathetic excuse of a man, Jason. And I can’t wait until a few years from now you’re no where to be found and we’re all sittin’ around the dinner table at Christmas time laughing about it, wondering what poor broad you slipped six bucks to to suck you off for the holiday, while you drown yourself in cheap beer.”

The only reason Ro’s not getting her neck snapped is because she’s Reina’s sister, and Jason’s pretty sure they both know it. Not to mention there are cameras tracking his every move set up around the dining room, and he’s not about to do time over this dumb blonde bitch. Still, his blood boils with every comment she makes, his face growing more red with each passing word. How the fuck she has the nerve to speak to him like that in his own goddamn house, Jason has no fucking clue, but he wants nothing more than to teach her a lesson on how to shut the fuck up. He’s not sure how Andy deals with that mouth of hers because if it were him she was married to she certainly wouldn’t be saying all this shit, but luckily for him she’s not his wife and unluckily for him, it’s not his prerogative to set her straight. So all he can do is sit there, silently stewing in his rage with his fists clenching as Rowan makes him look like a complete fucking moron on national television. He resents her for it, but she’ll get hers eventually — they always do. For now, all he can do is seethe and grit his teeth as he tries to defend himself. “My kids fuckin’ know me.” It’s all he can really come up with at the moment, since he’s totally dumbfounded by the dressing down he’s just been delivered. “I’m a good dad, I give those kids a shit ton.” He gives them money, that’s about it and Jason damn well knows it, but he’s got a reputation to uphold. America can’t be thinking he’s actually the world’s shittiest dad, or his business might go down the toilet.

Her last little rant gets him back on track, though, as Jason catches something there he can latch onto to get under her skin. If the stupid bitch thinks she’s gonna get rid of him that easily, especially now that he’s got his wife back at his beck and call, she’s got another thing coming. “Oh, come on. You ain’t gettin’ rid of me any time soon. I actually kinda like it here, nice and tranquil — close to family. Don’t have any plans to go anywhere, and that’s me and Reina both. You think she’s gonna leave me? Not a fuckin’ chance.” He’s not dumb enough to think they’re still married for any reason other than the vast amount of money he brings in, but that’s fine by Jason. It gives him a sense of control that he relishes in, knowing that any money she spends — and she spends a shit ton — is because he allows her to. Of course, Reina takes care of their finances, but the fact remains that she wouldn’t have any of it if it weren’t for him, and that’s enough for Jason. He’s in a pretty sweet spot, because despite everything he knows Reina would never have the guts to kill him and that’s about the only way he’s ever going anywhere, and nothing Rowan says is going to change that. “You’re stuck with me, Ro, whether you like it or not.”

[jasonrhcdes]

LEDGER MELLON.

Mental reminder ─ learn how to read your text messages, Ledger. Little did he know a single text message ‘Do it’ would encourage Jason to beat the shit out of the asshole. Who, everyone in the vicinity of them in the bar, was immensely crowding to catch ear over the story and fawning over his bravery. It wasn’t bravery. It was senseless. Then again, from the short time of him knowing Jason, where Ledger prepared for the worst in a logical manner, Jason preferred the physical route. They were opposites. Yet, drinking bonded them together. It was his first friend on the island considering he rarely left the confines of Westington Estate when Sera was out on the town. Nursing down on his second whiskey neat, only could he do after is chuckle. “Shit, I don’t know how you continue to beat the shit out of people and not get tired of me.” After all, it seemed like a story after another story in their encounters, it was physical outturn. Typically, his tone was monstrous and cavernous but tonight the liquor was flowing and he was astonished by enjoying himself. Leaning back against the barstool, his broad arms crossed in safeguarding but relaxed manner, “Maybe he wasn’t a native of the island hence why he never came back around.”

Truthfully, Jason likes Ledger, which is a rarity in itself because Jason usually likes no one. The guy can drink, though, and they always have a decent enough time shooting the shit. Ledger’s never one to lecture him about being an ass and Jason likes that about him, it makes him feel respected — as he damn well should be. “You can be next, my friend, all you gotta do is ask.” Wouldn’t be the first time he knocked his fist into a friend’s face and it probably wouldn’t be the last. At least it’s all in good fun, right? Jason lifts his glass in concession with Ledger’s assumption that the man he gave a black eye may not be a native, but he’s not exactly buying it. “Yeah, maybe. Or maybe he’s just a fuckin’ pussy. If I were a betting man I’d put money on that, I gotta be honest. Hell, half the idiots on this island are fuckin’ prissy ass pansies. We’re about the only real men in a 100 mile radius.”

[jasonrhcdes]

MILES ELLIS.

“Okay, so I’ve heard enough, and I am fucking tired, Jason.” Fists flexing inside his pockets, Miles promised himself that he wasn’t going to cause a scene in his place of work. But the older man wouldn’t shut up, and with the former’s propensity of seeing red when Jason was involved, it didn’t take him much. “Yeah, you ain’t allowed to do that no more? Well good thing I still can!” And he went in, fists flying at Jason.

Miles’ fist flying at him is totally out of the blue, if you ask Jason. He didn’t do fuck all to deserve it, the little prick’s just always had it out for him and he guesses now’s just the time Miles finally decided to stop being a pussy and do something about it. Part of him is proud — he’s never understood why Reina took such a liking to this punk ass kid and finally he’s being shown why — but mostly, Jason is fucking pissed. If the kid thinks he can come after him in his own establishment, he’s got another thing coming. “You really wanna fucking do this right now, kid?” Jason sniffs as a hand passes over his nose, trying to realign it with a disgusting crack before he grabs Miles by the scruff of the neck and drags him outside, throwing him up against the wall. He’s gonna get bitched at for this and he already knows it, but at least it’s not in front of customers. “Huh? You wanna keep going? ‘Cause I got news for you, bud, it ain’t gonna end well for you.”

[jasonrhcdes]

ELIZABETH KENNEDY.

Lizzie looked wide-eyed at the frankly, terrifying man sitting next to her. Somehow, she was roped into listening to him regale her with a story about how he’d beaten someone up. “Oh — um, wow. That’s… you’re — uh, scary,” she stuttered, before realizing what she’d said. Whipping her head around, forehead shot up, she shook her head. “Um, not that you’re scary — just, um, that’s a scary… story. Yeah.” Lizzie swallowed, clutching her drink. “Please don’t beat me up.”

As much as Jason truly appreciates being called scary by this girl, the stuttering’s kind of off-putting and his smirk falls just slightly. Of course, that’s not about to stop him from continuing to peacock around like an asshole. “Oh, come on, sweetheart — you think I’d lay a cruel intended hand on a woman?” Yes, he would, but Jason’s not about to admit that to the poor girl sitting next to him at the bar, or anyone for that matter. He loves to keep the illusion that he’s a good guy, if only because it might help him get laid. “Of course not. I’m a gentleman, I know how to respect women. That guy was just asking for it.”

[jasonrhcdes]

PANDORA MARLOWE.

Every so often, an ‘uh-huh’ ‘yeah’ ‘interesting’ forcefully slipped off her tongue, not even daring to make eye contact with the owner of the establishment. Technically, he was one half of the reason why Pandora was employed. While she would never say anything absurd to her employer, the light-toned female was hoping and praying for something to deliberately shut her up. Surely, no bystanders in their vicinity would take the risk considering they were eavesdropping into the conversation and knew the male got physical when things did not go his way. If anything, a few gentlemen scooted further down on the opposite side of the bar for their own safeguarding. Wiping down the bar countertop, which was already spotless considering Pandora was a vivid stress cleaner, it was anything to keep herself consumed and withering into a conversation. Once he finished, the admission of her words played through, “Anyway, great story.” Lying straight through her teeth, wearisome expression was drained due to the work shift. Not like she wanted to be disrespectful but there were other pressing measures. Seafoam hues eventually made eye contact but staring at him made them burn. No wonder. “I hate to break up and ruin your evening but one of the bussers wanted me to tell you that someone had sex in the kitchen and not only did the cleaning crew not come to clean up they had to pick up the cleaning. Both Alex and Jordan want to talk to you later when you have a chance.” 

“Yeah, I thought so too,” he says as he leans back into his barstool, smirking around another gulp of whiskey. If it weren’t for her looking him directly in the eye he probably would’ve missed her next statement, but he doesn’t and the recant of the consequences of his own mishap in the kitchen has him choking on his whiskey. Shit. “Oh, yeah? Which one of those little fucks told you that?” Either way, both Alex and Jordan are going to get an earful from him about learning to keep their stupid fucking mouths shut, and not spreading rumors before coming to their boss. Not that the ‘rumor’ isn’t completely true, because it absolutely is, but still. “Listen, do me a favor and keep that shit to yourself for now, would you?” Pandora seems like a smart girl, or at least smart enough that she’d know not to go blabbing about shit that doesn’t concern her when he asks her not to, but just in case he’s not above throwing a little threat to her job in there to be sure the point is driven home. “We don’t want that getting around to customers and shit. Nobody’ll come here anymore and you’ll be fucked for a job.”

[jasonrhcdes]

ROWAN THANE.

Rowan isn’t sure there is anyone in this world who manages to put her in a sour mood quite as fast as her brother in law. While she’ll never outright admit that she hates him – besides venting in the privacy of her home to her own husband, being sure that the cameras are gone these days – she doesn’t really do a very good job hiding it. Honestly, if she thought she could get away with it Rowan is pretty sure she would have jammed a salad fork in his eye years ago and left his body to rot in an unmarked grave somewhere. But she doesn’t think she could pull it off and while she knows Andy’s father had taught him a very unique skill set that would probably help her out, she wouldn’t ever ask him to do that and so it just remains a tragically unattainable fantasy. A hum sounds in the back of her throat, feigning any kind of interest in what he is saying. “That’s fascinating, Jason.” She deadpans, a brow raising in his direction as she sips at her own glass of wine. “Always the toughest guy in the room, right?” She asks with a quirk of her head and as far as she is concerned, the fact that he feels the need to so grossly overcompensate the fact that he is manly just means he must be lacking between the legs. “What an impression you must be making on your children.”

Jason can tell Rowan’s not interested in his story, and he hadn’t expected her to be. Mostly, he just enjoys trying to rile her up, and he takes a sort of sick pleasure in how much she very obviously can’t stand him. Family dinners never go well when the four of them attempt to have them and it’s mostly because he’s either antagonizing Rowan or blatantly hitting on her, and at least one of those things usually hit the mark in getting her panties in a bunch. He won’t be too bad in front of Andy and Reina, though, so he waits until they’re all done eating and Andy excuses himself to do God knows what in the bathroom to really push Ro’s buttons. “You’re goddamn right about that one.” He gives his sister-in-law a wink as Reina comes to clear his plate, and his wandering hand reaches up to give her ass a pinch and a slap before she goes off to the kitchen. He’s definitely getting screamed at for that later, especially since they’re on camera now, but Jason doesn’t really give a fuck at the moment. After all, like Ro said — he’s the toughest guy in the room, always. “I’d say I’m making a pretty good impression on ‘em. At least my boys won’t be fucking pussies, right? Not like little Benny boy over there,” he starts, nodding over towards the kid’s high chair. “Probably gonna grow up slappin’ other guy’s sticks like his old man.”