&. reflex

jacob quentin-jonasson . 36. race car driver.

[jcbisms]

@emmaainsley​ — exactly what it looks like. 

location: near step beach.  time: early afternoon. 

This wasn’t...alright, it was exactly what it looked like and the alarmingly bright no trespassing sign positioned dead center on the chainlink fence didn’t exactly help the feigned attempt at ignorance on the matter. He was halfway over, leg swung to the other side which left Jacob to straddle the fence. His knuckles had turned white from how tightly he gripped the metal to keep his body from tipping to one side or the other too much, but what really caused Jacob to nearly tip over had been her. The petite brunette. She came out of nowhere, or so it seemed. Enough so that when Jacob turned to look he visibly jumped (as much as he could). “Jesus,” he breathed. “Is this...do you always....frankly, it’s rude.” Jacob gestured between the two individuals. “Sneaking up on someone like this.” Though any other comments were quickly dismissed when that gesture caused his balance to waver. His blue eyes grew wide momentarily and his hands desperately found their grip on the metal once more. Once Jacob regained his balance, he paused. His forward gaze slowly turned to look down at the woman. “I’ll forgive you for that one but,” he sighed. A defeatist tone in the words to follow as he held his hand out, as if she could reach. “I just...do you...come here.” He waited. “Please, come here.” 

[jcbisms]

audreymoroz​:

Audrey grimaced, watching Jacob’s failed attempt to wipe it off of his face. She really didn’t want to do this, but whatever, they’d swapped spit enough times, might as well just go for it. “No… no, come here…” licking her thumb, she reached up to wipe what she assumed was melted chocolate chip reside off of his chin. “Messy eater,” she commented shaking her head. “Sorry for the saliva, but you’ll live.”

“Really?” Jacob deadpanned. “You’re just gonna do that?” His nose crinkled and the corners of his mouth twisted. “Just gonna give me girl cooties?” But before Jacob could even get the words out, his best attempt to feign annoyance fell to the wayside with a stifled laugh. “You didn’t even go by the playground rules. I get a ten second running head start.” Still, he attempted to keep a smile from forming on his lips with a tone that was anything but serious in delivery. “I’ll let it slide this time, Audrey. For the schmutz, but next time you owe me pancakes for the trauma.” 

[jcbisms]

aaronhirsch​:

For: @jacisms Where: Bootlegger’s  When: Friday night

Aaron knew that he really needed to stop heading out on his own on a Friday night. But seeing as he had Elena on a Saturday night, he’d kind of got into the habit of it, whether he had company or not. Since moving to Lafayette Square Bootlegger’s Pub had become his most frequented bar, but aside from the odd appearance of Ethan just lately, he generally didn’t see too many people there that he knew. Tonight, it seemed, was going to be different.

As he made his way inside and over towards the bar to order a drink, his gaze fell upon a familiar face sitting a couple of stools away. He waited, though, didn’t approach just yet, instead grabbed himself a drink first, wanting at least a couple of sips of dutch courage before he made his way over there. Once he had a drink in hand, however, he made his way over there slowly, coming to a stop at the stool beside him. “Didn’t think I’d bump into you here…” was his opening line, what he hoped was a confident smile on his face.

He’d been nursing his drink for the better part of the evening. An old fashioned that had yet to leave his grasp as Jacob’s gaze wandered around the unfamiliar establishment. A stark contrast to the atmosphere Le Rouge provided, and with that he hadn’t quite come to determine if he liked one over the other. On the short list, Le. Rouge had the convenience box checked, close to his place of residence, but Bootlegger's had the appeal of unfamiliar territory and with that unfamiliar faces. Such as the one that caused Jacob to sit up taller once the crease in his brow had faded from the sudden change of expression. Was his ego really that big? Did that sudden elevated chin reflect his own need to place himself as the subject of a hero in everyones eyes? Apparently so, given the nonchalant, “I know.” Luckily he reserved the offer of a photo or autograph. Jacob’s fifteen minutes of fame were reserved for the race track and the select few who bothered with the world of cars and NASCAR more specifically. Still, he added after a moment, “it’s exciting.” A comment that fell to the wayside in favor of his alcoholic beverage. “You never know what the chances are gonna be,” which incidentally happened to be a knock off version of what his fame-whore model brother Nathan always told fans when they met him. Apple didn’t fall far apparently. 

[daftorpunk]

I feel it’s important to show that one thing that you do doesn’t define you as a human being. It doesn’t mean there aren’t ramifications or you shouldn’t pay for that but its not who you are.

[jcbisms]

roryhirsch​:

@jacisms​.

LOCATION: catalina coffee & cookie co. / lafayette square DATE AND TIME: sunday / afternoon 

The coffee place he’d come to frequent in his neighborhood is packed for that afternoon. Rory understands the sudden uptick in foot traffic, given that Ventura’s favored coffee establishment had gone out of commission due to the incident not too long past. So, he understands — though that doesn’t mean he has to like it, especially because his favorite booth has been occupied…

…and, worse yet, the occupant is reading a magazine whose front cover reminds him of the source of his relationship troubles. Part of Rory knows he ought to let sleeping dogs lie and to go about his merry way, his to-go coffee order in hand — but his legs didn’t seem to get the memo, and he finds himself shamelessly sitting down on the opposite end of the man’s table. “Man, that guy is a drag,” he points to the magazine cover, a poor substitute to a greeting, “I swear, don’t let his looks fool you. Guy’s a demon.”  

After the ordeal that came with the request for a milk alternative in a latte, Jacob had every intention to be left alone. The magazine he entertained himself with by reading the gossip columns of Hollywood elite was laughable at best, but enough of a distraction that he had hardly even glanced at the front cover. In fact, the magazine hadn’t even been set down until he came to realize the other wasn’t speaking to the man with what Jacob would call questionable but others refer to as fashionable attire in the booth adjacent. Still, his comment was met with unintentional hostility. “Do I know you?” Came first. Followed by, “You know this is taken.” He gestured to the table and booth he currently, well they currently occupied. “Someone sitting here means its taken.” Then a long pause followed, one that Jacob interrupted as if he had failed to finish his prior statement. “By me. It’s taken by me.” Still, even after the clarification, Jacob’s own curiosity to the stranger’s statement allowed the momentary intrusion as his gaze lowered to the magazine. One turn of the pages to close the tabloid filled exposes and there it was. Nathan Jonasson, Jacob’s own big brother. 

This just got interesting. 

Jacob was quick to drop the persistent effort to get the other to leave and instead leaned back in his seat. Arms crossed against his chest and a quizzical smile creased the corners of his lips. “You don’t say.” He squinted down at the grayscale photo of Nathan in some overpriced suit (Jacob had the same one) with the same stupid expression on his face that managed to pay for a lavished lifestyle and the house in Venture that Jacob currently occupied. Some people. “He looks smug.” 

[jcbisms]

margoteden​:

WHO: @jacisms​

WHERE: Le Rouge

WHEN: Evening

It had started out like any other evening for Margot as she walked through Le Rouge, making sure everything was running smoothly. Even when she wasn’t working she was still working, taking in the guests and the atmosphere, ensuring that every one of her patrons were enjoying themselves. And, just like any other night, it was the familiar face of a new regular that had managed to capture her attention, Margot pausing before making her presence known, unsure if she should. It had been past the time that he had so adamantly insisted they meet for a “date,” one where Margot hadn’t shown. Still, her curiosity got the better of her, the woman wondering if he even remembered he’d asked her let alone any conversation they may have had. So, she put on her owner smile and approached Jacob, her tone polite, and professional. “Welcome back to Le Rouge. Are you enjoying your evening?”

A glass of water and bottle of beer. That was what was on the menu for Jacob that evening, and the former seemed to be far more frequent than the untouched bottle and he had his reasons. Sobriety. That was what Margot wanted from what his hazy memory could recall of their run-in at the wedding. He got the message loud and clear when he spent Friday night at the Bistro in the Atwater Hotel alone. A sad sap of a man who inevitably got himself drunk that evening as well, but for some reason the fact that Margot stood him up only made Jacob want to prove himself to her that much more. His ego was funny like that. “The water here tastes a little funny,” Jacob criticized. But he’d seen her coming. His first sip of alcohol that entire evening and there she was, spotted out of the corner of his eye. It took everything he had not to smile as she approached, but he managed, at first. “It’s too bad you couldn’t make it, you missed a hell of a night.” But attempts to acknowledge her absence that Friday aside, “You look amazing, as always.” He gestured to the empty seat adjacent to the one he currently occupied. “You can ask your bartender here,” Jacob raised the bottle to showcase the topic of conversation, “first one I’ve had all night.” And his second sip at that. “Can you be bad at your job for the next five minutes and play favorites? Just five minutes.”

[jcbisms]

@elizcbethkennedy​ — cue the cards 

location: outside Lizzie’s home.  time: 2:30pm

Someone had once told Jacob boredom birthed creativity, or something along those lines. Whatever they said about it, he was bored. Left to wander around the Ventura home with little to keep the driver entertained that otherwise hadn’t been exhausted since his arrival. Such as his phone which was carelessly tossed onto the light-washed leather couch in the living room and the large flatscreen Jacob had passed by as he paced from one room to the next. He’d even exhausted the bored eating habit which left a mess of overpriced dairy-free graham crackers, that were probably marketed to kids given the packaging, littered across the grey and white marble countertop in the kitchen. 

But that boredom certainly did give way to something. Within twenty minutes time Jacob stood outside his home with enough supplies to warrant an arts and crafts project for a kindergarten class. It was amazing what the old modeling posters of his older brother Nathan could be used for. So those large posters, along with a box of sharpies in various colors were placed on the ground by his feet as the male allowed a wandering gaze to fixate on the neighboring house, the balcony to be specific. His hands fell to his hips as blue eyes squinted and his form leaned forward slightly. That’d help him see. Was that? “Elizabeth?” Not that she’d be able to hear or if Jacob wanted to continue yelling. Which is where that boredom of his came in handy. He waved, held up an index finger for her to wait once he caught her attention and proceeded to use the back of the poster to write the words: HI LIZ. HOW R U? in a black sharpie. Then held it up, backwards at first. It took a minutes before Jacob turned the poster over and still yelled out the very words he wrote in case she couldn’t read. “How are you?”  Love Actually had nothing on him. 

[jcbisms]

@marionstewart​​ — names & faces. 

location: Lafayette Square. time: 9:21am. 

The first time had been understandable, hell even the first five times he’d gotten lost on his way back to the home in Venture could be explained by his recent arrival to the island, but now it was just getting ridiculous. Once again Jacob was lost. Left to wander the streets of Lafayette Square without any sense of direction or semblance of knowledge that he had passed the same building with the same black Audi parked out front three times now. He had attempted to ask for directions, once Jacob had finally come to terms with accepting he was lost, but it didn’t go so well. The first person he had asked was a middle aged woman who had no interest in taking time out of her day to bother with a stranger. She was nice, enough. Well, enough for someone who ignored his plea for help to continue on her way in a hurry. The second was a twenty-something year old kid, as Jacob now referred to anyone younger than him as, who told him he was headed in the right direction. So another round of the same buildings and same Audi and here he was, right back where he started. But third time was the charm right? As Jacob made his way down the same pavement for the fourth time, he allowed his gaze to wander..Yup, same building, same car, same...wait. “Blondie?” Because like always he could recognize a face easily but the only names he could ever recall were usually the names of someones dog he met on the street one time. Priorities. 

[the-memedaddy]

me irl

[jcbisms]

anxliese-atwater​:

Anna made her way through the crowd, not even tipsy as she balanced on wedge heels that made her long legs even longer, a smile on her face as the blonde chattered with those she knew and introduced herself to those she didn’t. Somewhere in the crowd were both Ahren and Austin, as well as her brother. They were, each of them, faces she wanted to see. And, yet, there had been one that had dogged her all night. One she hadn’t thought she’d see again, not after all these years.

At first, she’d believed him to be an allusion, a figment made up of a bit of alcohol and a face that looked just a bit too like his own. And, then, Anna strayed a bit too close to the man staring at the table. He opened his mouth and anger courses through her veins, an almost immediate reaction.

Take a drive, she thought, indignant in her simmering rage, standing tall and imposing in heels and her jump suit, make up like she was ready for war. Yet, she didn’t move. Instead, her face kept that fake, plastered-on smile she was so used to upholding. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m friends with one of the brides. Have been since high school. And I don’t give a shit how I look to you, but I definitely think you should go drive off the side of a cliff. Excuse me.”

Anna was already wanting to leave. To find Austin or Ahren or Jamie and just go. She needed to.

And I don’t give a shit how I look to you, but I definitely think you should go drive off the side of a cliff. Excuse me...

So it hadn’t been the happiest of reunions with Anna. At least from what Jacob could recall from memory of that night, which wasn’t much given the amount of alcohol he managed to consume in a timely manner. His attempt to go one for one with the tall blond guy at the open bar didn’t help either. In fact, the more Jacob sat there in an empty booth waiting for his pizza to go at Antonio’s he couldn't help but continue his attempt to piece together what happened. 

(flashback to the Wedding) 

“What you don’t remember?” Jacob prodded. If his desire was to get a rise out of her, he was. succeding in record time. “We almost did. Well,” he paused. Jacob’s elbow came to rest on the tabletop adjacent to the empty plate that had been pushed aside. “Listen, Anna. You don't wanna hear it from me I get it, but you do look great.” His short attention span proved to be a trait that remained as he suddenly parted from her searing gaze to look for the nearest glass of alcohol. “And....” Nope, his attention still had yet to return to her until....there it was. A glass of red wine in hand. Not his drink of choice but it’d do. “Anna, honey...you dwell too much on what happened.” 

(end of flashback) 

The rest was blurry, but he had some inkling that he never got the chance to drink that glass of wine. Now, this desire to suddenly remember hadn’t plagued his dreams or left him with some sort of guilt complex for what happened with Anna, but because the blonde inline looked a hell of a lot like....oh shit! Immediately Jacob began to sink lower in his seat as his gaze peered over at the woman. But honestly, as long as the guy behind the register, Johnny his name was Johnny they were on a first-name basis, didn’t call out...

“Jacob, we got your order ready.” 

his name. Yup, there it was. “Thanks, Johnny,” Jacob called from the booth. He avoided eye-contact all the way up to the counter before the painstakingly long process of paying for the pizza commenced. “Little louder next time, buddy. I don’t think the place next door heard,” Jacob deadpanned. But the cherry on top of this all really was that his card kept getting declined. Not once, not twice, but three times. Every swipe felt like a wound to his already fragile ego. “Yeah, okay...no that’s I paid it. Can I do like one of those I.O.—” “No.” 

So much for a first name basis. Clearly meant nothing at Antonio's Pizzeria which he should have paid before the pizza was made, but Johnny can be blamed for that. So he was left to either walk away without his dinner, attempt to swipe his dinner, and end up with a bigger issue or....no. He wasn’t about to go talk up Anna for twenty bucks. Well, maybe. 

[jcbisms]

audreymoroz​:

@catalinastarter​

“In the words of my mother, you’ve got schmutz on your face,” Audrey mentioned, pointing to the other’s chin. “I must be turning into her because I just had to urge to lick my thumb and wipe it off for you, but to spare the embarrassment, I won’t.” 

“This is why you can't take me anywhere.” A generalized statement but still it wasn’t far from the truth when Jacob was concerned. “Alright, did I get it?” He came to ask only after his hands rubbed across his face, nearly everywhere but his chin. “Did I fuck up? Cookies for breakfast, was that a bad idea?” Of course it was. “Did I get the schmutz off my face yet?” And yes, he butchered his own attempt at the word, but it was one he was going to be adding to his vernacular. “I liked the sound of that, schmutz.” 

[jcbisms]

@leahtierney​ — a bunch of potted plants. 

location: Grow. ( lafayette square ) time: 11:45am. 

“No, no something that won’t die.” His gaze peered down at the various succulents on display in front of him. Maybe Jacob had put too much thought into this, or that was just the employee's default expression, RBF (resting bitch face). Either way, he still had more than just one condition when it came to replacing the plants he managed to kill within his sort lived time at the family's vacation home. “Or inflict pain if someone trips and falls.” Yup, the cactus was out. The disgruntled employee with jet black dyed hair visibly expressed her opinion on Jacob, which had been executed in the form of an overdramatized sigh followed by an eye roll as she went to go “check in the back” yeah, Jacob didn’t believe her either. 

She also most likely missed the, “what about something realistically fake?” idea that came just as the employee had disappeared. This left Jacob to wander the establishment of Grow while he whistled some variation of “Here Comes the Sun”...The Beatles wouldn’t be impressed. By the time Jacob had come to a stop in front of a potted fern, hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans, the whistling came to a slow end. More of a breathless whistle when he noticed a familiar face walk in the shop. Layla? Lola?...Whatever her name was he needed to say something because the staring was getting past the point of what would be acceptable. 

“Leah?” He addressed her with slight uncertainty in his voice. “Leah, hi.” There it was. “What are you doing here?” Jacob begged the question as he ventured past the array of colorful flowers and towards the woman. Flowers...not an option, they’d be dead in a week. “Do you not live in Flordia anymore?” Why he thought she lived in Florida was chalked up to a guess and the fact that Casie still lived in the sunshine state and he’d be hard-pressed to remember anything past that. 

[jcbisms]

margoteden​:

Margot had been well-accustomed to reactions that were similar to Jacob’s. Being in her line of work for fifteen years, the woman had seen it all – the good, the bad, and the ugly. And yet, there was still something about Jacob’s comments that made the woman smile, albeit more in amusement. It was as if he was entirely flustered whenever they spoke, and now had been no exception. “A feathered disco ball …” she let that sink in for a moment, and while she wasn’t insulted it certainly wasn’t expected. “Oddly enough I didn’t have that in mind.” He covered himself though, with the addition that she looked great. The woman’s brow raised, her lips pursing for a moment as she smiled ever-so-slightly. “You look great, as well.” 

The woman sipped at her wine, eyes gently falling over Jacob as she took him in, not one opinion fully formed. The man was entertaining, she’d give him that. Clearly smitten, which was something she was used to, and yet his manner had certainly piqued her interest, particularly when he mentioned meeting her the next week for dinner. “Are you asking me on a date?” Red lips curled into an amused smirk, somewhat impressed he’d managed to slip that in so subtly. But she’d never been one to be so easy at accepting a proposal such as that; unless she had no choice, of course. “Perhaps you should try asking me again when you’re sober,” Margot added, head tilting as she observed him. “I don’t think we’ve had one conversation where you have been.”

There had been no way around it with her, and Jacob should have known she’d be the type to call him out so effortlessly. Still, he was caught off guard. “I—You know...I am.” He stuttered at first. Blue eyes failed to meet her own gaze for a moment before Jacob nodded in confirmation. “I am. Yes, I’m asking you out.” Even with a little help from the liquid courage he’d been downing all evening didn’t seem to come to his aid when Margot put him on the spot. However, the real blow came to his ego at the statement that followed. The jovial expression and smile on his lips fell immediately. His brow furrowed and the evident shock was a difficult expression to hide, especially in his eyes which had momentarily widened at her response. Clearly a misunderstand. “Margot.” He paused. “No, Margot I don’t think you heard me right, I said I was asking you out.” Yup, that was it, she just didn’t understand. 

“Next Friday at eight. So we won’t have to,” he gestured between the two of them as if that would somehow explain what he had lost the words to say. But once again, Jacob found himself at a loss for words at her constructive criticism when it came to asking her out, again. And ever the quick thinker... “That’s exactly why you should.” Jacob shifted the weight of his body, one foot to the other as he prepped for his sales pitch which started with his index finger held up to preface one thing. “If I were drunk, but I’m not.” He was, kinda. “What if we only ever see each other drunk again? This way I can guarantee we can both be sober and get drunk together. If you want.” He tapped his index finger against his temple. Genius idea. Though any and all added comments had been pushed to the side when he thought he spotted Ava Halliwell..formerly Jonasson out of the corner of his eye. “Eight, don’t forget.” He began to backtrack in the physical sense, one foot behind the other. “You look amazing.” And he kept going even as he bumped into someone in the process. “Very sexy.” And going....and going until he departed with one final, “Margot.” 

END.

[jcbisms]

avahalliwell​:

She found herself terrified, stuck in limbo the longer Ava stared at Jacob, her brother-in-law of all people, to be standing at a grand event such as this one. Besides crossing paths with Nathan again, seeing any members of his family would be high on her list of nightmares that she wished not to come true. Even when her marriage was seemingly perfect with her husband, she was never particularly close to Jacob; as much as she wanted to reach out to him, Nathan would pull her back with words whispered in her ears, an simple reminder of the sibling rivalry driven between them. But of course, being the dutiful wife she was, she would always side with Nathan, believing in every word he fed her.

Yet she couldn’t help but be puzzled as to why Jacob grew confused at her question, didn’t she have the right to ask why he was standing in the middle of her hometown, of all places? Better yet, shouldn’t she be doing all the questioning, especially the one that was looming over her mind — was Nathan here? For a moment, she wanted to bite back and tell him that she had just as much right to pose such question as he did — but it was her fear of Nathan that ultimately led to her succumb to the darkness instead, creeping back into the corner that her husband had backed into. Although it was his next words, that truly, rendered her speechless, cemented her belief of the monster Nathan really was.

“Follow — stalking? W-what? I-I live here.” The brunette stammered, shock and disbelief plastered across her features. “I grew up here…didn’t he tell you that? Her stomach sank as Jacob continued, visualising the picture that Nathan was painting for his family, turning the fingers around to point at her as the bad guy. Of course, he would. But that didn’t keep her sinking lower; even now, the lack of her husband’s presence was still as powerful as his presence alone, which only stripped away the glimmer of hope that she could ever part from him. “Jacob, you can’t possibly believe—” Ava stopped herself short then, unable to provide any reasoning to allow her brother-in-law, of all people to choose to believe her over his brother. Perhaps, blood was truly thicker than anything else at this point. “I’m not a homewrecker,” Her voice felt small then, unable to muster any strength to defend herself. The truth was, she was exhausted. This losing battle with Nathan, she wanted to give up. Maybe the sudden appearance of Jacob had proven as much. “I loved him, but he broke my heart.” He made me fall out of love with him. Yet now, really wasn’t the time for her to dive into the details of her marriage with Nathan right now. “I don’t—I don’t know what he said to you, but it isn’t true. But you’ll never believe me, right? Because it’s Nathan’s words against mine.” It always is.

She lived here? See, these were the things Nathan really needed to tell people and yet another clue into the convoluted mind of the man. One that of course, Jacob neglected to ignore as would the rest of his family. This also happened to be why such a simple fact was twisted t turn on her. “Oh, so that’s what this is then.” So the accusatory theories began. “Nathan buys our parents a nice home here and you suddenly strap a restraining order on him.” The last few words had been said in a hushed whisper despite the volume of his voice rising once again within a matter of seconds. “You are unbelievable Ava and you can cut this,” he gestured to the woman in front of him, “this act. you can put it to rest. I know everything already. He told me everything.” Everything that would incriminate Ava and paint the picture of the she-devil she was made out to be. 

Jacob fell silent for a brief moment. His tongue darted out to wet his lips that had become dry from figuratively spitting out accusations at her the moment she spoke. “You really wanna do this, Ava?” To Jacob, his proceeding actions didn’t register as intimidating when the reality of his sudden step forward had been to keep prying ears at bay. “What do you get off on dragging my family's name through the mud?” Sure, the casualty of being a Jonasson wouldn’t affect his own career or attach itself to any rumors because he went by his mother’s surname, Quentin, instead but his father? His brother Adam? It was just cruel. 

Eventually, Jacob did allow Ava to speak again which was rare given the constant need to tell her off but what she had to say? God, if he wasn’t so disheveled with her appearance in Catalina he would have laughed out of spite. “Yeah, I’m sure he did and that’s what you tell everyone, right?” He snapped. “Hollywood really missed out on you honey. I don’t think I’ve seen a better actress.” So selfishly Jacob’s care for Nathan’s own reputation mattered little, even more in the way of his personal affairs and how his perfect life had come crashing down. Looks like mom had a new favorite now. But what he did care about was his father, his mother, his own career, his daughter, and whatever else this little stunt would bring up in the public eye. 

“I don’t know Ava, why should I believe you? Why don’t I just call Nathan and ask him why I should believe you because he’s not gonna believe this.” And that was exactly what Jacob did. Phone in hand he departed from the sight of Ava. Nathan needed to hear this one. 

END. 

[jcbisms]

avahalliwell​:

Ava strayed far away from any of the festivities; from catching the bride’s bouquet, to even setting foot on the dance floor — the last thing she wanted was to draw attention to herself. It wasn’t like she felt like celebrating anyway, today’s event had maximised her trauma allowance for the day. While laughter and music filled the air, the brunette had found herself sitting by the dance floor, enjoy the remaining bottle of champagne to herself. Part of her was grateful that no one had approached her, as the only thing she needed right now was to isolate herself from the rest of the crowd, and wallow in whatever it was that made her stomach turn right now.

Once emptying her flute of champagne, Ava found her way to the bar instead. Although wanting to head home already, she knew she was hardly fit to drive right now. So she opted to keep the flow of alcohol going, until at least her mind grew numb and her thoughts would stop invading her mind for the night. Clumsily waving the bartender over, she had requested for something stronger than the watered down drink served for the attendees throughout the day, not quite caring what it was for as long as it could get her drunk.

Taking a sip of her new drink, chocolate brown hues surveyed her surroundings for a moment, a sense of bitterness seeped into her mouth at the sight before her. How happy everyone was, when that seemed to be out of her reach tonight. Then the sudden noise of someone coughing suddenly pulled her out of her reverie, brows furrowing at the patrons a few seats away from her, before her stomach sank when recognition dawned on her. Rubbing her eyes lightly to check that this wasn’t a fragment of her imagination, considering the alcohol consumed throughout the day, it wasn’t until when she met his gaze and the fact he continued to stare at her before she could confirm the man was no stranger to her.

In this moment, she couldn’t quite consume any more of her drink. In fact, Ava could felt bile rising up in her throat, although she took a few deep breaths to ease that nauseous feeling away. Yet her heart began to thump against her ribcage at the sight of Jacob, fear seeped into her being as her legs decided to bring herself towards him, to solve the mystery that suddenly clouded her mind — did Nathan know that she was here all this time? “Jacob,” She didn’t mean for the hostility in her tone, but rather she was scared, that she had spent so long driving a distance from Nathan and his family, only for it to come to a full circle at last. “What are you doing here?”

She spoke first. That wasn’t the plan. Really, there was no plan but Jacob always thought if he ever saw Ava again he’d have a few...or several choice words for her and it’d start with a dramatic entrance. He’d be the hero and say a few quick-witted lines that would leave her speechless and see the error of her ways. Maybe not so much with Jacob staring at her with his mouth agape like a fish at a wedding where his knowledge on the guests was slim to none. Guess there wouldn’t be that triumphant round of applause for her heroic actions either. 

“What am...what am I doing here?” Jacob repeated with a quizzical expression that began to play on his features, furrowing his brow in the process. “No, no...no you don’t get to ask that question, I do.” There was a pause. A moment where his intoxicated mindset left him slow to follow up, but he did after another moment of staring at her in disbelief. Sure was lucky Nathan couldn’t make it (sobriety might lead to that unsubtle coincidence, but not now).

“So Ava what are you doing here? Are you trying to follow my brother?” He came to conclude with an expression that could only be described as disgust for the presumed actions. “This whole stalking Nathan thing,” he gestured an open palm out in a circular manner to encompass his words, “it’s getting out of hand. Leave the guy alone.” Even if the brothers had a tendency to be at odds, always trying to one-up the other, they were family and Ava was the thorn in their side that wanted to divide a wedge between them all and take their money. “Can you be called a homewrecker if it’s your own marriage?” Nope, he didn’t waste any time to tell her how he felt, but the blading male who had gone on about thread count to Jacob didn’t seem to have any issues with prying either. In fact, all he needed was a bowl of popcorn and this little show could have been better than any reality tv. “You broke his heart. My parents now hate you, Adam hates you and guess what I think of you? Homewrecker. Did you even love the guy?” It didn’t matter what she said, to him, every word that came out of that pretty little mouth was a lie (a quote from Nathan).

[jcbisms]

teddycarlson​:

@jacisms​.

TIME: open dance floor / late evening

He’s relegated to a quieter part of the festivities, unabashedly surveying the dance floor in the hopes of finding any curious sights. While Teddy isn’t one to engage in Catalina Island’s notorious rumor mill, there are certainly a few faces worth prodding into. His idle inquisitiveness is replaced with genuine interest, however, the moment his eyes land on Ava and… his new neighbor. Huh. Even from this distance, it’s clear that there’s some sort of discomfort — though he opts not to pry, instead making a mental note to confront that development for later. 

When he finds Jacob finally free of any company about half an hour past, Teddy walks towards him, sipping his drink as he went. “Was that Ava Halliwell you were talking to earlier?” He asks, in lieu of a greeting. Damn alcohol dissipating any semblance of courtesy. “You know each other?” 

“Was it?” He feigned uncertainty, though most of that had only been because he was caught off guard by his neighbor's sudden interest in who Jacob spoke to. She certainly dropped the Jonasson title fast. Still, he must have known her and that was good enough for Jacob who promptly shifted his form to turn his attention to the individual. “I don’t know a Halliwell.” True to some extent and while drunk he’d probably tell the guy whatever he wanted to hear, the run-in with Nathan’s wife..ex-wife...wife, the details were a little fuzzy, was a sobering experience to say the least. “Why?” Jacob turned his gaze away from the direction he had last seen Ava towards Teddy. “Do you know her?” Because he had an earful for Teddy if he did; eery lie and manipulated story Nathan had told his siblings and parents about the demon wife she was. But damned was the next words that slipped from his lips, “I know an Ava Jonasson.” 

[jcbisms]

margoteden​:

WHO: @jacisms​

WHEN: Early Evening

WHERE: Bar Area

Weddings weren’t necessarily Margot’s favorite past-time, if only for the mere purpose of the thing. It was possible, that divorce had the habit of putting a sour taste in her mouth whenever she thought of her own marriage, the only thing she hadn’t been able to control. But, she was a friend of the bride and an opportunist when it came to mingling, which was why the brunette had been gliding about the wedding party, flitting between guests until she decided a glass of wine was in order. Before she could make her way to the bar the woman had recognized a familiar face, one that brought a glimmer of a smile to her red lips. 

He was interesting, she’d give him that. His interest in her had certainly piqued her own and she used that opportunity to approach him, eyes glinting while she smiled with ease. “Seems that our paths just keep crossing,” Margot announced, pausing for a moment as her mind brought the name to his face. “Jacob …” She seldom forgot a name, and she wasn’t about to forget his. “Right?”

It was hard to forget a face like hers, especially when Jacob found himself infatuated with Margot the moment he stepped foot out of Le Rouge. The kicker, he really didn't know a damn thing about her, except that every dress she wore really got the imagination working. “How do you make a feathered disco ball look good” the comment slipped with obvious intent to backtrack on his unfiltered thoughts that would continue throughout the duration of their conversation. He cleared his throat and tugged his index finger against the collar of his white button-down. “Margot, hi. You look great.” He gestured with his free hand to her attire, the current topic of conversation. 

“And you're right, we gotta stop meeting at bars like this...unintentionally. It’s not working for me.” He trailed off with full intent to be as upfront with her as his intoxicated state thought was a good idea. Which is exactly why, “let’s switch it up a little, say eight o’clock at the restaurant at that one hotel they’ve got around here next Friday,” had been spoken in such a confident manner that the thought of the woman rejecting his request hadn’t even crossed his mind as a possibility. And this was someone who still hadn’t been too confident with his first name. A rushed romantic some would say...and by some it was him. Jacob liked to think of it that way to make himself feel better and justify his own actions.