The Stowaway

Nate Jones, 26 year old father of one. Freelance stuntman and a part time cleaner at the Metro theatre. married

[jonesxnate]

SPOTTED: Is that (NATHAN JONES) that I see over there? You know they have quite the reputation of being the (THE STOWAWAY) around town. The (26) year old has been around these parts for (A WEEK) and within that timeframe has landed themselves a job as a/an (FREELANCE STUNTMAN/ PART TIME CLEANER AT THE METRO THEATRE) while living in (SYCAMORE APARTMENTS). I overheard that they can be quite (NAIVE) but their saving grace is that they are (KIND). Rumor has it they’ve been keeping a secret, and it’s only a matter of time before everyone knows.

tw: homelessness, pregnancy, miscarriage

basic

Full Name: Nathan Andrew Jones Nickname(s): Nate, probably idiot or dummy, depending Age: Twenty-six Height: 5′8″ Gender & Pronouns: Cis-male & he/him Orientation: Pansexual Hometown: Caldwell, Texas Residential Area: Sycamore Apartments, Juniper, WA Occupation:  Freelance stuntman/part-time cleaner at the Metro Theatre

bio

Born and raised in Caldwell, Texas, Nate is one of the middle children from a family of six. His parents got married when they were seventeen, just months before his first sibling was born, and they are married to this day. Happy or not, that is up for discussion, however, it’s one that no one is allowed to bring up.

The family had inherited a farm from his grandparents, and that was where Nate had spent most of his time in. Whenever he wasn’t in school, he was working there, and whenever he wasn’t working there, he was dancing.

It was a hobby of his that his parents didn’t really tolerate. There weren’t many classes he could pick up without his parents prohibiting him, but Nate tried his best. He tried out many different styles of dancing, even picking up gymnastics and a couple martial arts classes before ballet eventually caught his eye; and yet, it was the one style his parents disapproved of the most. However, no matter how much his parents tried to steer him towards professions they would approve of, Nate was passionate, and all he wanted was to dance.

All of it, eventually, boiled down to a single, explosive argument. His parents refused to accept that their son had different views and wishes than what they wanted him to have, and, eventually, an ultimatum was made; either succumb to their choices or no longer live under their roof. Packing up whatever belongings he had, Nate took one last glance at his family and left.

His first few weeks were spent wandering around Texas, sleeping rough and barely going through the days, until eventually, the young man decided that New York was the place to go. It was the place where all the dreams came true, so why couldn’t he attempt just that for himself?

Dreams, however, didn’t help him have an easy life there. Couch surfing was what he did for the first few months until eventually landed a job- anything worked- and found a stepping stone to start his life in the city. Once he had his own bed, it was time to start with auditions, and Nate was adamant. Achieving what he wanted took a lot of hard work, but the young man was set on doing it, on getting what he wanted, and nothing could stop him.

Nothing, of course, apart from multiple rejections. Not having a proper education- having not even finished high school- Nate was rejected left and right. It was difficult, trying to achieve what he wanted, so when he made friends with another guy with similar wishes, it was like a blessing. The guy helped him with everything, supporting him and earning himself Nate’s gratitude for an eternity. It was through him that Nate got a job at NYCBC, and it was more than he could have ever asked for.

Still, that didn’t mean that he was successful. More often than not, he was either the understudy for his friend or a background dancer, but he was on the stage, and he was doing what he wanted. It didn’t pay much, and he had to find a job as a waiter to support himself through it, but all of it was worth it.

Neither did that mean that Nathan wasn’t making mistakes left and right. Exploring his sexuality, he got to be as open as he wished to be. That was, at least, until he came across the one guy who caught his eye, also capturing his heart. The two were reckless and carefree, and after a year of dating and a drunken night together, they decided to get married. It was crazy how easy it was to do that, and before Nate knew it, he was a married man.

It was only after the marriage that the two of them moved in together, finally making an attempt at family life. Yet, they clashed, often not being at home together, or ending up in petty arguments. Most of their time together was spent in negative ways, and soon enough, neither Nate nor his husband could really understand why they were doing this. After one last explosive argument, his husband packed his stuff up and left.

However, sad days did not seem to last a very long time for Nate. Happiness came with the name Rylan, and while the two had their issues, Nate was absolutely smitten by the girl. Hiding the relationship was difficult, with her being a public figure and him being a failure, but he was willing to do just about anything for her. Losing his job at NYCB was painful, he struggled with it so much, yet Rylan was there, always, for him.

Nate knew that Rylan was the one for him, so when she fell pregnant, it was like a dream come true. His career dream had failed, yet here he was, getting his ultimate dream. Yet, the pregnancy soon ended in devastating pain for both of them and now it was Nate's turn to be there for Rylan. When it happened again, he was there for her, too. When her parents gave the ultimatum and she was cut off, he was there for her, too, even if he wanted her to think really well about whether it was all worth it. Secretly, Nate was relieved when Rylan decided to stay with him.

Finally, a breath of fresh air came in the form of their rainbow baby, Savannah. Nate had never known that he could love anyone else as much as he loved Rylan, but this love was on a whole new level. The little girl quickly became his world, and he was wrapped around her tiny little finger; Nate had no regrets. He was there for every diaper change, for every moment when Rylan needed some time for herself or needed to work. He loved his girls more than life itself, and he couldn't be happier.

While his family life was going great, his career was in a state of stagnation. Being a waiter was fine, but he wanted more, even if dancing was now off the table. Coming across stuntwork was accidental, Nate had helped a friend out, but he quickly found his footing there, and he loved it. It was fascinating, it was exciting, and his background in dancing and so many other activities was more than beneficial. He trained hard, and took on anything he could, working through the oddest requests to broaden his profile, so when he finally got a high-profile job, he was thrilled.

Only, it meant moving across the country. He couldn't move alone, not when Savannah was just under two years old, so after extensive conversations with Rylan, the two decided to move. It would be temporary- so they thought- and he hoped that it would give them a fresh start they so desperately needed as a family.

[rylanprattmodel]

“First time i’ve heard you complain about that.” Rylan chucked, the serious look on the daughter’s face was equal parts funny and adorable. She was such a perfectly blended sass of the two of them it wasn’t hard to tell who her parents are just by being around her for a couple of seconds, Savannah was truly Rylan and Nate’s daughter. “Oh, I can share the bed too? You’re so generous baby! I think that’s a very good idea, but maybe just at the weekend, we can have sleepovers and watch Frozen.” The suggestion entirely selfish, she wanted her boyfriend all to herself sometimes. It was hard for the two of them to have special time just the two of them with a wriggling two year old sleeping in the middle. “What do you think Nate, weekend sleepover and movie nights?” She rose an eyebrow at him with a grin, knowing that wouldn’t stop the two year old from running into their room in the early hours of the morning like she did most nights, but it was worth a try. 

God, was Nate perfect or what? As she was pulled carefully towards him by the hand on her ass she dropped a kiss against his lips gently, smiling against them before moving away properly. Forcing herself to remember they were in the middle of the Ikea showroom rather than at their own apartment, or even in the car which would provide a little more privacy. “You’re too good to me sometimes, but you already know that.” A disapproving glance because he had such unrelenting faith in her it was often hard to understand how he managed it, she only saw her failures, but Nate seemed to just see her positives instead. Maybe that was why they balanced each other out nicely. “Bob!” She laughed as Savannah clapped, passing her across to Nate so she could grab the handle of the shopping cart and follow them towards the restaurant. “Yeah, good point, maybe we’ll cut your meatballs into little bits just while you’re so little baby. Mama would never forgive herself if she choked on your dinner.” Eliciting the little girl’s tongue to come pointing out of her mouth towards Rylan as a response, making her have to try and suppress her smile knowing it would just encourage that behaviour in the future. “Hey, less of that missy, if the wind changes you might stay like that.”

As they arrived at the cafe she parked up the cart before instructing Nate and Savannah to find a table for the three of them so she could go get the food. Miming to the man to check he wanted meatballs and French fries, knowing that’s what the toddler would have but on a much smaller scale of course. With copious amounts of ketchup, there was nothing she wouldn’t eat with that stuff smothered all over it, much to Rylan’s confusion. It being something she personally hated. Sliding trays of food in front of them all carefully she stole a French fry from Savannah’s plate before starting to cut up her food for her, there were some things she had down as a mom at this point, making sure nothing bad happened to her little princess was one of them, making sure to divide up the food before Savannah even had a chance to argue on the matter. “Do you think they’ll deliver the stuff today?” She asked Nate as she carried on with her task, wondering if they’d have to keep sleeping on a mattress on the floor a little longer or if the bed might actually get into the house tonight. “I want to see that the bed is strong enough, that’s all.” Shooting him a wink as she passed the fork across the the little girl, watching as she stabbed a bite with it enthusiastically, shoving it into her tiny mouth with all the dramatics someone performing on stage. 

[jonesxnate]

"Not a complaint, babe, you look amazing in my hoodies." Nate assured her with a playful wink. He loved seeing her wearing his clothes, it was that odd and fun way of showing whose girlfriend she was, and it made him so damn proud to know that she was his. There were other ways to show that they were forever bound together- marriage being there at the top- but there were far too many obstacles in the path for that to be achievable at the moment. Still, it was on his to-do list, and the sooner the better. "Frozen! I want Frozen!" Savannah was quick to nod along, much to Nate's relief. As much as he wanted to spend time with his daughter, and he loved the cuddles, sleeping with a toddler wasn't exactly the most comfortable thing out there. Besides, he still wanted to spend so much quality time with Rylan, and he was never ashamed to admit that. "I think that would be the best! And maybe we could even build a fort and watch the movies there."

Nate could feel her smile against his lips as she kissed him, and it only made him pull her in for a longer kiss, despite the protests and groans from Savannah. He loved Rylan so much, and despite the few years that had gone by, he still felt about her the very same way he did when they first kissed. Actually, no; he felt so much more, if that was even possible. It took everything in him not to continue on, knowing that they had to behave at least a little, so as they pulled away, he was quick to playfully poke Savannah, in hopes to cheer her up once more. "I'm not even close to being too good. You deserve the best." Nate assured her as Savannah grinned once again, her excitement, which only matched her father's, returning in full force. Savannah continued to sing along even as she was shifted securely into Nate's arms, her energy quickly picking up despite all of their batteries starting to run low. She only quieted down, wrapping her arms around her father's neck and burying her face there when she was told off by Rylan, the image far too scary for the two-year-old to imagine. "Uh-huh. I know a boy who did that once. He walked around with his tongue out, and couldn't eat his favorite treats."

Nodding along to Rylan's offer for meatballs and fries, Nate was quick to find them a table a little further away from other people, in hopes of granting just an ounce of privacy. It was difficult, especially when Savannah demanded so much attention, but with food present, he could hope that he and Rylan could have a moment or two to themselves. Adding a toddler chair was quick and easy, and just as Savannah was settled down in one, Rylan reappeared with the food. "You're the best." He complimented her with a smile, even if it bothered Nate that she didn't have a plate for herself. Sure, there'd be plenty of leftovers from himself and Savannah, but it was never enough, and it worried him that she was potentially still restricting herself so much. "Have another one." He insisted, offering his plate to Rylan, even if a smile was quick to appear at the sight of her acting like such a mom, cutting up Savannah's food while the toddler took up her father's offer, grabbing a handful of fries from his plate. He still couldn't believe that he was so lucky to have the two girls in his life, and while he worried that maybe Rylan didn't want this life, she seemed to be flawlessly adjusting to it. Then again, when was she not absolutely and utterly flawless? "I would hope so. Although, don't tell me you won't miss our nights sleeping on that mattress." He added teasingly, laughter quickly escaping his lips when he noticed Savannah's dramatics. She really was an adorable little copy of himself and Savannah. "Come on, Sav, don't tell me we'll need to pick out more bibs for you?" he playfully teased the little girl as he reached up to gently wipe off all the ketchup she had managed to get on her face.

[beautifulxdamned]

Aslan didn't mind when people asked her opinion on wines. Some would think that because it was her job she would grow sick of answering these types of questions however it had become a topic that she actually enjoyed and enjoyed even more educating those with little to no knowledge of their own.

"Old-man's-headache." She chuckled lightly with a shake of her head as she laid the small menu down on the bar in front of her "Well I good was to prevent that is to go for a wine with lower tannins... which would typically be your white wines." She informed him "also a good tip would be to stick to American wines instead of something imported from France... the processing for the wine is different in the States and the way American wine is aged gives it a smoother recovery... luckily we live in Washington so it isn't hard to get a great locally sourced wine... in fact we have our very own Vineyard right here in Juniper." She informed the male. So what if this conversation gave a perfect segway into shameless self promotion.

"However if you were looking for more of straightforward recommendation and not a lesson in the world of wine I would recommend a good Chardonnay, Riesling, or a Moscato of sorts... but if you are hellbent on consuming a red wine despite it being hire in tannins I would stick to either a Merlot, Zinfandel, or Pinot Noir because they will have the lowest amount out of the red wine family.

[jonesxnate]

Nate listened carefully, nodding along as if he totally agreed with the woman. He probably should have, but, in reality, he had no idea what she was saying, simply finding it so fascinating that she had so much knowledge about the wine. "We do?" He asked excitedly at the mention of the vineyard just in town. Maybe he really should be paying more attention to the place, rather than going from work to home, then to work, and then to another workplace.

"No, I love it! You have so much knowledge when it comes to wine, it's honestly amazing. Just out of curiosity, do you work at that vinery? Cause if not, they should definitely hire you." Nate added as he paused for a moment, thinking over all the information he had just received. It could have easily been overwhelming, almost too much, but the way she had explained it made everything make sense. "So then I would be best off choosing a white wine, probably a local one, right? So I can still go home and make sure I'm not acting like an utter idiot around my daughter and girlfriend."

[rylanprattmodel]

“Nooo, naughty dada, you can’t just take people’s beds!” Rylan joined in as the little girl giggled in her arms, eyebrows raising as she heard that actually Nate would be sleeping with his daughter instead of his girlfriend. Well that was a turn up for the books. “Oh he’s sleeping with you is he? Well lucky me, I get to spread out like a starfish in the middle of the bed every night with all the space to myself, how lovely.” The whole thing just teasing because obviously it was well known that Rylan didn’t sleep as well if Nate wasn’t laying next to her. Even when he was just out at work she would lie staring at the ceiling until he came in, often when she was away for work herself she’d fall asleep with the two of them on the phone or FaceTime. She just felt more comfortable when he felt closer. Maybe it was the woman being needy but…she couldn’t help it. 

“It’s funny isn’t it? I’ve spent my whole life modelling but really I should have been a stand up comedian.” Rolling her eyes with yet another blush as his attempt to tease her ended up in the most classic Nate way to just be home paying her the most lovely compliment. The squeeze of her butt making her smirk at him, eyes testing him to go further with a laugh. Just watching him do something as simple as writing down the number for the bed, their bed, it was a kind of sweet domesticity she’d never pictured for her life but felt so perfect for them right now. A long way from the bright nightlights of New York where she’d spent her nights drinking and taking recreational drugs, now she was a mom and for all intents and purposes a wife. Although her significant other had yet to propose, not for lack of her dropping heavy hints. 

“Bob the builder, can he fix it, Bob the builder, yes he can!” Rylan sand as she lifted the two year old onto her hip, pressing a kiss to her cheek with difficulty as she nodded at the request to eat something before they left. “You need to be big and strong, so let’s head tor the meatballs and see if you can fit a whole one in your mouth all at the same time. I know I can.” Not looking at Nate as she said it, unable to stop herself, just chuckling quietly under her breath. “Here, daddy will carry you, he needs to make sure he keeps up on arm day otherwise he won’t be able to do all his big stunts right?” Passing their daughter over to him from her already aching arms. 

[jonesxnate]

"You take my hoodies, I take the beds!" Nate argued back with a grin. He really didn't mind Rylan wearing his clothes- in fact, it was wonderful to see her wearing them- and this was all down to teasing. After all, at the end of the day, he slept best with Rylan in his arms, and he knew it was the same for her. They'd spent plenty of nights talking to each other for hours while Rylan had to be away, and now that they had the luxury of being together each night, Nate wasn't going to let that go. So when Savannah frowned, thinking hard about what her mother said, trying to understand what to do, he couldn't help but laugh. "It's okay, honey. Mama can sleep like that all she wants, but we get to cuddle." He assured her with a playful wink, and the girl nodded immediately, thankful that there was a resolution to this before she lost it. "Unless Mama wants to share the bed with the two of us, and we can all spend the night cuddling? What do the two of you think?"

"I think you could do whatever you want, and you'd succeed at it, love." He smiled at Rylan, genuinely believing it. Rylan was so amazing, so beautiful, so perfect, that it made sense to him; no matter what she was willing to do, she would absolutely succeed at it. She was already amazing at modeling, and she was perfect at being a mom to their daughter. And now, she was perfect at teasing him back, urging Nate to do more. So his hand remained on her butt, playfully albeit carefully moving her towards him for another moment or two before he finally let go. After all, he would have more than enough time to make up for it when they were back home, testing out the new bed.

"Bob!" Savannah clapped along gleefully while her mother sang, much to Nate's delight. It didn't matter to him that they got a look or two from people around them because all he cared about was his girlfriend and his daughter. It was so weird to think about Rylan as just his girlfriend, but he was still terrified about facing the obvious and admitting the awful secret that he was holding all to himself. The longer he waited the higher the possibility was that she would leave him over it, and the fear was paralyzing. It was easier to pretend that all was fine than face the unfortunate reality. His mind quickly shifted away from those thoughts when Rylan spoke up, making him laugh out loud before a blush crept up his cheeks. "Maybe don't be as eager and... capable as mommy is, darling." He offered to Savannah, despite a quick glance or two he cast Rylan's way. Instead, he focused on his daughter, quickly picking her up from Rylan's arms when he noticed the way his girlfriend was clearly straining to hold her. "And Savannah would love to help me with my workouts, right, Sav?" He grinned at Savannah, lifting her up joyfully and making the girl squeal. Leaving the trolley to Rylan, he was quick to play along to their daughter's requests, leading the way towards the restaurant.

[carmitareyes]

How much time had she spent walking this same path since moving here? Familiarizing herself with it, making it a routine. She needed that, routine, normalcy, and consistency that made her feel like she was home, a place where she felt not just wanted but welcomed. Walking to the farmers market every warm enough weekend in the past six years had become something that would replace the lonely walks home back in Chicago. Slowly one would phase out the other.

“Oh you get me!” she agrees because that had always been something she believed. In her home, it was blasphemous to buy strawberries out of season. They weren’t the right color, and don’t even get her started about the taste. Flowers were much the same, a nice pop of color but they always felt out of place when the popped in too early, when there was still a hint of chilliness in the air that leaned more towards winter. “I figured I’d welcome in the first sign of warmth with color, you know? It’s my favorite season,” and why she’s telling this random stranger this, she doesn’t know. Graciana would have never done this, and maybe that’s why Carmen does. “Your daughter is beautiful by the way. How old is she?”

[jonesxnate]

"You think the same? Awesome! Honestly, sometimes it's impossible to make people understand that the strawberries you buy during winter months are just not the same. Even if they're shipped from the same country, they're not the same." Nate nodded along with a smile on his face. Savannah finally managed to pick a flower out for herself, sniffing it curiously and playing with it- if Nate was lucky, the flower would last until they got back home. However, he also had to make sure to get flowers for Rylan; the woman more than absolutely deserved it.

"She's absolutely stunning, isn't she? She's all her mom, she's like a mini her." Granted, Savannah seemed to have his energy, but everything else was all Rylan. That was definitely a deal he was more than willing to accept, and as the girl smiled brightly at the woman next to him, he could see Rylan in that smile, too. "Hello! I'm Sab!" She greeted the woman before focusing back on the flower in her hands while Nate handed a dollar to the stall owner. "I don't blame you, spring really is something else, isn't it? Such a breath of fresh air- almost literally- after months of mud, snow, and coldness." He agreed with a nod. "She's Savannah, and I'm Nate. Honestly, it's nice to meet someone else who doesn't think of this season as just allergy season."

[voidedlux]

starter for @jhqstarters ​at anywhere they could be seated together —

Should she message them back or not? That was where she was at after reading the notification on her phone. Honestly, why was she even using a dating app? To this point, since signing up at the pushing of a friend, Ren hadn't engaged at all. There was nothing really wrong with it, dating apps were more common than the old fashioned ways at this point. Her problem was being unsure of how to partake from there. For so much of her life the brunette felt as though she'd been wrapped up in one relationship to the next. What was actual dating and garnering interest? So, after setting her phone down, Ren looked over with some amusement and decided to get some feedback. "Are you a 'hey', pick-up line, question, or random fact type of person?"

[jonesxnate]

Sitting on the bench, Nate was watching Savannah play nearby, keeping a careful eye on her in case the girl would need any help. Then again, even at two years old, the toddler was already as expressive and chatty as her parents were. Still, Nate was cautious, and he didn't want to end the daddy-and-daughter time with a frantic call to Rylan, not when she was getting some time for herself. "I think I'm more of a 'be as awkward as possible and hope it wins them over' kind of person. I mean, it kind of worked." Nate joked, nodding toward his daughter. "So I guess it's all three combined, in some kind of silly way. But you could never go wrong with just a simple hey."

[jadaxmalone]

@jhqstarters open starter location soliel restaurant

it wasn't that jada minded mattie with the running of the restaurant when he wasn't there however it was dreadfully boring. there were a million other things that jay would have rather involved herself in. the whole world was filled of opportunities of crime and fun and yet here she sat at the front of the restaurant because they were a little short staffed with the call outs tonight. the female was invested in her phone just waiting from updates if there was anything exciting going on in the town tonight when she had seen the light dim from the person who was now in front of her.

"sorry we are pretty full and short staffed tonight.. i could seat you at the bar if you would like unless you are fine waiting around." putting her phone down she had looked up to see the friendly face. "oh. sorry. just a family emergency." she had lied about her phone. "were you here to pick up some food, dine in or have a drink?" she questioned, "because if you are looking to drink i might just join you." she teased with a playful smile.

[jonesxnate]

Nate liked cooking, he really did- especially for his girlfriend and daughter- but there were times when it was so much easier to just order food. Besides, sometimes, they had just to treat themselves.

Clearly, he wasn't the only one thinking that, as the restaurant was absolutely packed. It was a good sign, showing that it was a good place, but as the woman focused on him, placing the phone down, it was easy to tell that there were only so many people in the room thinking that way. "Pick up the food. By the looks of it, I'd be stuck here for hours otherwise." He added jokingly, even if he did feel bad that the other had to go through the chaos.

"Is everything okay, though? Do you need any help?" He had done plenty of waitressing before, and while he wanted to get home, it felt wrong to just ignore everything around him.

[beautifulxdamned]

Social Oak Wine Bar

Open Starter @jhqstarters

Should Aslan be sitting in a competitors wine bar? Perhaps not but if any suspicion was raised around why she was here she would simply chalk it up to 'scoping out the competition.' However to be completely honest she just needed a moment to herself, a moment to get away and think for herself instead of for everyone else around her.

She sipped on her red wine, a Duckhorn to be more specific, as she glanced over their little wine menu. She personally had always thought that if The Velvet Vineyard had reached out to The Social Oak they could make some sort of business deal instead of being competitors but her parents had no interest in her idea. They never really did.

She had been so in her own head that she hadn't even noticed someone speaking to her. She only noticed when the person lingered for a moment, looking at her almost expectantly "I'm sorry... did you say something?" She asked apologetically.

[jonesxnate]

When the offer was made to go for drinks after a particularly long day at work, Nate knew better than to say no to it. He was missing Rylan and Savannah and wanted nothing more but to relax with his girls, but social gatherings were a must, especially if he wanted to get anywhere with this career. And he had to, to make sure that he was earning enough money for their little family.

After a few bottles, things were getting loose, and people were chatting about and getting more and more distracted by other things. Using it as his chance, Nate wandered off for a little bit, figuring he could order himself one more glass and then excuse himself to finally go home. The woman at the bar seemed to be observing the menu all on her own, actually not looking confused, and, figuring he could use it as his chance, he approached her, in hopes of not scaring her off.

"Sorry!" He quickly smiled when his first question was left unanswered. "You looked so comfortable going over that menu, I figured you might know a thing or two about wine. I'm totally lost, I just know there's red and white, and I just really want to figure out if there's a wine that won't leave me with old-man's-headache tomorrow." He rambled jokingly.

[rylanprattmodel]

Raising her eyebrows, Rylan pulled away just enough to look at her daughters tiny but serious face, unable to stop herself grinning. God she was cute. And that wasn’t just because she was totally biased. “Your bed? You heard the girl Nate, it’s her bed.” Even the simple compliment from her boyfriend (well was partner more of the word? They had a child together, he just…hadn’t proposed yet and honestly Rylan wasn’t sure why) was enough to put a little blush on her face. Heart swooping at his relaxed boyish smile. Lifting the little girl off the bed so she was leaving it free for Nate to finish tidying up - grateful that maybe people would stop staring at them for a second. At least while Savannah was quiet.

“Of course you think they’re awesome, because a normal pencil reminds you just how small you are.” Teasing as she closed her eyes when his lips came into contact with her cheek, humming under her breath. “You look like a giant too, maybe you should carry them around at all times, not the worst idea in the world right?” Rylan was exhausted and Savannah was clearly flagging too, but the real backbone of this situation was Nate, propping the two of them up with his relentless enthusiasm, she had no idea how she’d gotten so lucky with that man. That he wanted her. There were still days she woke up needing to pinch herself that he was his family, this was her family. Not that she did have another one but this was different, she felt accepted and safe here in a way she never had with her parents. They might have cut her off but as long as she had these two in her corner everything would turn out okay. 

“I can’t wait to watch you try and put all this together, our very own bob the builder, right princess? Daddy is going to be like bob the builder for us.” Making the two year old giggle, glancing over at Nate with a cheeky grin. “I help!” She exclaimed, eliciting another laugh from her mother. “Well then we are absolutely going to need to get you some lunch, meatballs or otherwise, so you guys can keep your strength up right?” 

[jonesxnate]

"Does it mean I get your bed, Sav?" Nate played along to Rylan's question, raising a brow as he pretended to be serious, looking at the girl who shook her head quickly. "No dada!" Savannah explained patiently. "Dada sleep with me." She said seriously, prompting yet another smile from Nate. How did he ever get so lucky? Here he was, standing in front of his precious daughter and his blushing girlfriend, and he couldn't imagine a better life for himself. Rylan was naturally his everything, so to have Savannah, who had somehow topped that, was a cherry on top. Both of them were his absolutely everything, the two people he would risk it all.

"You're such a comedian, darling." Nate pretended to roll his eyes before breaking into a smile. "It's not my fault that the love of my life is an absolutely perfect and beautiful supermodel and I don't even come close to her." He added teasingly, playfully squeezing her butt before moving on to take down the number for the bed. They were still in a public setting, even if more and more people were paying attention to other things but them, but he didn't want to risk it. Especially when Savannah was trying to catch onto their every word, every action, questioning just about everything. "Of course, you help! I'll be Bob the builder and you'll be my best assistant!" Besides, that would give Rylan some time to herself, maybe take a nap or just relax. He was forever thankful for everything she was willing to do for their little family, everything she had sacrificed, and he wanted to show her his appreciation as much as he could.

"We're going to need all the strength we can get! You promise to eat so you can help me with all the building, little star?" Nate questioned Savannah, playfully squeezing her arm to accentuate the muscles she had. The girl squealed again, and Nate grinned, moving over to where their shopping trolly was. "Come on, let's get going! And we can get whatever we still need after we had something to eat."

[osirismatthews]

osiris let out a soft laugh at the man's comment about dragging his family there. "the whole place isn't bad.. let me correct myself.. however anywhere you go there are people who are bad and do wrong. juniper is a great place, i shouldn't discount the good with the bad." he gave the man a reassured smile. iris shook his head, "no. i try my best to cut people around here a good deal. i mean it is going to need some work and it may cost a little bit but it will certainly be a lot cheaper than a brand new car or even a used one." he reassured him once more.

"so are you just wanting me to get you back on the road and not worry about the cosmetics of it?" he questioned. "because the dents will pull right out and i could probably buff the scratch out but if you have no interest in paying to get that painted then we can leave it be and save some money. " he had explained. he shook his head, "yeah i mean i think i saw you and your family move in.. in fact the woman and little one that was with her when you moved managed to get a flat tire the other night." he pointed out. "luckily i fixed it up for them." he explained to the other. "yeah i mean go ahead and take it until we can get you back on the road.. you are right down the hall from my apartment so i know where to find you if you decide you are going to keep it." he teased playfully. "where did you guys move here from if you dont mind me asking?"

[jonesxnate]

"You're not wrong. It's probably just me, a little too stressed to really notice the good things about this place. It'll come with time." Nate agreed with a smile; after all, the man really was helping prove him wrong, and he wasn't angry about it. If anything, he knew he'd be forever thankful for offering help (even if paid), because the small acts of kindness were exactly what could lead to this place being great. "I'm not one to question your kindness because it's rare nowadays but... is it good for business? I mean, you've got a customer for life from me, but what about the others?"

Nate had to take pause and think through the man's question. His immediate thought would have been to say yes, he didn't care about the cosmetics of it as long as the car was fine enough. However, he more than cared for Rylan. And he had already dragged her out of the fabulous life, everything expensive and fancy, into a world full of uncertainty and living paycheck to paycheck. He could hope that he could give her the luxury life once more, and he worked hard towards it, so letting her drive a scratched-up car... that just felt wrong. "No, you know what? You're right. It's best to get the cosmetics sorted out, it wouldn't look right otherwise. He could pick up another shift or two at the cinema, was sleep really that needed? He was still young enough. "So you're the one who helped us? You're really becoming our guardian angel, and I don't even know your name yet." Nate smiled widely. "And you basically live next door! I promise, I'll take care of that car, unless some idiot will ram right into her as well. Which... honestly, I hope that doesn't happen, but I don't have the best of luck." He rambled on with a grin. "We came from New York. I'm not going to lie, the road trip across the country was a challenge, albeit a fun one."

[rylanprattmodel]

They were getting glances from people around them that were shopping but Rylan couldn’t care less, was it because of who she was, that she and Nate had been in the headlines for their Dancing with the Stars scandal, or because their two year old daughter was screeching at the top of her voice? There was no way of knowing but it didn’t really matter either way. It’s not like Rylan was making things any better by peppering kisses all over the toddler’s face quickly as she herself laughed loudly. Family days like this were some of her favourites, being parents was exhausting, but that didn’t mean she would change it for anything. Even as Savannah hung off her like she was a climbing frame. 

“Okay take a breath baby, if you’re too loud they won’t let us have the bed.” Wrapping her arms around the girl as she koalaed herself to the woman’s front, wrapping both her arms and legs around her, which allowed attentions to be turned to Nate. “I think it might be something like a yes, though there is no way to really be sure. Me? As long as you’re in it baby then it’s the best.” She cooed in a soppy voice, smirking at him. The bed was hardly what they’d slept on in the apartment back in New York but that had been purchased before her parents cut her off leaving the couple to fend for themselves. They hadn’t gone as far as to actually take the mattress away though. 

“Do you want to write this one down with those stupid little pencils, they deliver right? There is no way in hell we’d be able to get this into the car.” The car they had spent just over a week in as they drove across the country about a week ago, making a trip of the move, which in hindsight was…ambitious. 

[jonesxnate]

Savannah continued to squeal and giggle, trying to both wiggle out of her mother's kisses and capture each and every one of them, making Nate smile. How did he ever get so lucky? He had always wanted to have a family of his own and to have Rylan, and this perfect little girl they had as their daughter. Really, if he had told that to himself five years ago, that this would be his life now, he wouldn't have believed it. It was almost too good to be true.

Almost immediately, Savannah fell silent, seriously taking her mother's threat. "My bed." She demanded, a lot quieter right now as she held onto Rylan, as if it would somehow make the possibility of not getting this wonderful bed go away. "You're adorable, babe." Nate teased Rylan with a smile as he finally got up from the bed, finishing fixing it up and going over to his girls. He could've easily paid attention to the people who glanced their way, and noticed the looks they were receiving, but none of it mattered. All it mattered was making his girlfriend and his daughter happy. "What do you mean, stupid little pencils? They're awesome! I feel like a giant holding that pen and that notepad." He grinned cheekily, taking both of those items out of his jacket's pocket to note down the bed's code. Once done, he leaned over, kissing first Savannah's cheek, and then Rylan''s. It was a long day for all of them, and he could only but be proud about both of them managing all of this so well.

"They better be delivering, I'm willing to put it all together, but I'm not willing to play Tetris in our little car." After all, it had survived so much already. "Has anything caught your eye, darling? Cause otherwise, I'd be willing to stop by the restaurant and get some of those Swedish meatballs."

[osirismatthews]

osiris let out a snort and looked over at nate, "i would tell you that i have certain heard worse stories and that is fairly believable.. actually a lot of times people come in here where there was a hit and run." he began to explain then lowered his voice at his next sentence, "granted most are them hitting and running but.." he shook his head. iris clapped his hands together and then rubbed them over one another as he began to move. "good news is that i can fix this.. easily." he said looking between the scratch and the man.

"better news is a lot of folks who come in here have never bought insurance a day in their life." he nodded. "i can buff this scratch out easily and then we can take a look at the hinges to make sure you don't have any issues with it opening up and closing because it is in a pretty rough spot." then he nodded his head, "you have a daughter?" he asked, osiris had always wanted children though the timing and the money just never once added up, "in that case we better get you fixed up quickly." he mused, "no, no point in running off and dropping a bunch of money on something new. by the time you get this little gal back it will be as good as new." he patted the hood of the car. "the only downside is i wont be able to get to her until monday." he explained. "usually we are open on saturday's but i've got some things that have come up." honestly the man just needed a day off, "so you are probably looking at wednesday until you get her back. i don't usually do this for people that i don't know.. but you said you had a daughter and a wife-" he pointed out. "and this seems pretty important and i am pretty sure we live in the same building on the same floor. i've got a lincoln around back i can loan you for a couple days.."

[jonesxnate]

"That's definitely comforting. And also kind of worrying about what kind of place did I just drag my family into." Nate joked, even if it was all light-hearted. What was worse than New York City? He had seen so much in there, experienced so much. So while he wanted all the best for his little family, he knew he had to be realistic. And, naturally, extremely protective over the two of them. Besides, at least the man was giving some positive news in the end, making Nate perk up once more. "Really? That's amazing, thank you! I was beginning to dread I'd be spending a fortune on a new car."

"I'm not too fussed about the scratch, I won't lie. It's the functionality of the door I'm worried about, especially when all of this is in use all the time." Then again, he wanted all the best for Rylan, especially when she had grown up in luxury, and driving around in a scratched-up car would have been yet another new low for the two of them. Lately, unfortunately, there had been way too many of them. "I do! She's my little menace and princess all in one." Nate smiled once more at the mention of his daughter, always so proud of her. Sure, maybe Savannah was merely two and certainly living through her terrible twos phase, but that didn't matter to Nate. She was his daughter, and having her with Rylan was a dream come true. "You're a lifesaver! Seriously. It's been such a long and difficult move here, and this was just the cherry on top. But maybe this town isn't all that bad if people like you live here. While Nate expected for a delay to get the car fixed, it still hurt to hear that. He had to work, Rylan had to work, Savannah had places to be driven to, and he couldn't really rely on public transport in a place like this. So when the man mentioned the loan car, it was a sigh of relief, the light at the end of the tunnel that was painfully closing off around him. "Are you sure? That would help us out so much, thank you!" He didn't dare to argue and say that Rylan wasn't his wife (even if it was his plan eventually), focusing on the positive for now, not willing to make the man upset. "It won't cause you any issues, right? And I swear I'll keep that case safe and secure! I live just down at the Sycamore Apartments, parking there is safe enough."

[rylanprattmodel]

You’d think Rylan would be embaressed by this display, would try to stop what was going on since they were in public, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Across the showroom looking at various duvet covers the sound of her daughters screeching giggle was distinct enough to make the woman turn around, grin spreading onto her face as she caught sight of Nate following Savannah under the covers. Wandering over to where they were playing she stood with her hands on her hips in mock annoyance, expression twisted into a stern glare even though the glint in her eyes gave away how she truly felt. “I walk away for one second and there is total havoc over here, what am I going to do with you two, huh?” Reaching out to grab her daughter’s ankles so she could pull her gently towards her on the mattress, leaning down to pepper kisses across her face as she giggled and tried to wiggle out of Rylan’s clutches. “You’re bed testing for me are you? What do you think of this one, would you be happy to come crawl into this bed in the middle of the night to sleep with mama and dada?” The brunette asked as tiny hands wrapped around her neck, signifying she wanted a hug, leaving Rylan unsure of what she’d done to deserve such a cute family. Being a mom was still something she was grappling with, it wasn’t easy and she didn’t think she was very good at it, but in moments like this everything that stressed her about it melted away. She just wanted to drink in the time with her family. “Shall we tell dada to buy it?” She whispered, glancing over at Nate before shooting him a little wink along with her smile. 

[jonesxnate]

Nate knew it probably would've been smarter to not encourage Savannah to act so boldly, but he was a sucker for displays of joy and affection. Besides, the little girl was merely two, still just a baby, and babies did get a pass for just about anything, didn't they? Not that Nate could ever say no to his daughter. So he remained grinning as Rylan came up to them, pulling their daughter to herself, giving him a moment to catch his breath. Was he getting old? Probably, even if it was more likely that the work, the move, and everything else were catching up to him.

Savannah squealed again, scrunching up her little face as her mother kissed her, yet not even attempting to pull away. Watching the two interact still felt so wonderfully overwhelming to Nate, and he loved every moment of it. To think that he'd find the family he had always dreamed about in Rylan was more than he had ever asked for, and he wished that he could find ways to thank her every single day. Yet, all he was doing lately was pulling her out of her comfort zone, moving them across the country to an apartment that felt the size of her bedroom, shopping in a place where their entire budget was probably the size of what her old bed used to cost.

"My bed." The girl nodded along seriously before breaking into giggles again as she demanded her mother's attention, her tiny little arms wrapped around Rylan's neck for support. "I think that's a yes." Nate smiled, reaching over and playfully tickling Savannah's foot before getting up to fix the mess they had made out of the bed covers. "What do you think, though? It's not the best, but should be enough for a few months."

[osirismatthews]

open to all//no cap// at his garage. @jhqstarterss

the man always appreciated the business he had gotten. being the mechanic shop in a more sketchy part of town meant a lot of people were more afraid to come out and leave their car. but iris had made sure it was always in good hands and a fair price when left with him. those things are what helped get his name and business out there in the town of juniper. any busy he had got had always kept him humble and grateful.

osiris had lead them back with him to the back of his shop where his men had drove the car inside. taking a couple of steps closer he had looked over the damage trying to wrap his head around what had happened. "so give me the run down again on what happened here?" he asked curiously. "actually on second thought don't. it isn't my business and i would rather not know." not that why their car was in the shop was for a shady reason but he still had many of shady customers that needed new paintjobs quickly or dents out of things.

"let's just start with the basics, yeah?" he looked over at them and gave them a small smile. "what brings you into the shop today?" he questioned curiously..

[jonesxnate]

"Is it wrong to say that it was totally not my fault and I found my car this way?" Nate asked jokingy albeit a little awkwardly. It had to be the worst situation given everything combined; he had no insurance, he had just moved to the town, and he came back to find a a long, nasty scratch across the whole side of his car. Even the doors struggled to open, and with a child to bring everywhere, it was a big issue. "I went to work, came back, and found it this way. Doesn't help that I was due to get insurance tomorrow, and now it looks like this. He had to act quick, and, finding the shop nearby, no matter who shady the area looked, seemed like the way to go.

"Is it actually something that can be fixed? I just moved here with my girlfriend and our daughter a week ago, and honestly, this was the last thing I was expecting." Maybe he was oversharing, but, at the same time, he was simply tired after a long day at work. "Sorry, might be too much. But would it be better to just buy a new car?"

[jonesxnate]

with: @rylanprattmodel where: IKEA

"You have to be honest with me. Really, really honest." Nate spoke seriously, staring up at the ceiling as he tried to get it all together to figure it all out. The wrong choice could lead to everything else falling apart, and he knew he had to get it right. They had to get it right. "If mama and dada got this bed, would you like it?" He finally turned to look at his two-year-old, lying on the bed next to him. The lights on the display floor were bright and almost uncomfortable, yet it was surprising that the toddler was still as energetic as she was. With a giggle, Savannah dug herself under the neatly made-up covers, and Nate followed her, despite the odd looks he knew he was bound to receive from the passers-by. It didn't matter, not when he could make his daughter happy. "Hey!" He grinned, catching up to Savannah under the covers as the little girl wiggled around, trying to get away from her father in a play-pretend manner. In a way, he could still argue that they were testing the bed, although Nate would also be the first to admit that he just wanted to make his daughter laugh. "Get back here before the tickle monster comes out!" It only made Savannah squeal as he caught onto her, pulling her close to himself and back from under the covers, the girl's laughter echoing through the floor. It only got louder as Nate tickled her for a moment or two before the two of them settled on the now-messy bed. "Shh, let's stay quiet! Or mama's gonna find us and tickle you even more!"

[carmitareyes]

open starter @jhqstarters

where: the indoor/outdoor farmers market.

It was a whopping 40 degrees in Juniper today, but the sun was out and that meant Carmen was out. She would take any amount of Vitamin D she could get, even if that amount also called for her to wear a denim jacket and a beanie. Spring was coming, that much was true, and it was her favorite time of year. Sure, the area saw more rain than anything else, but the foliage that sprouted into view during this time made her feel alive, life really could be beautiful if you looked at it a certain way. For the past few years, Carmen was allowing herself to see the beauty in it, because for so long she hadn't been able to. Some people thought she was maybe a little too naive for that, but what was a tiny bit of naivete every once in a while?

there was a strawberry smoothie in her hand, even if the cold was seeping into her bones a bit, wishing she had packed some gloves. Instead, she just drank it faster, walking down the street that would lead her to the indoor/outdoor farmers market. The start of spring was the perfect time to freshen up her apartment with fresh flowers and perhaps try some new fruit.

She was running her finger along the top of a pink rose, not exactly her favorite, but it was pretty enough, when she leaned in to smell it, stopping only when she felt a presence next to her. She stood straight up, and laughed, slightly embarrassed. "Isn't life about stopping to smell the flowers, or something?" she asked, waving off her embarrassment and shrugging a single shoulder. "Besides, there's just something about spring and it's flowers that bring in something special, I think."

[jonesxnate]

The farmer's market in Juniper reminded Nate of home, yet, this time, the memories were positive. He could just pretend that this is what life at home, in Texas, was like, rather than the memories he carried with himself. Besides, now that he was a father, he wanted to show Savannah the kind of life that she hadn't really experienced in New York. Then again, she hadn't experienced much, being two and all.

So, letting Rylan have some time to herself, he packed it up and went with his daughter to the farmer's market. It was nice and chilly outside, just the kind of spring weather that he was expecting. Making sure that Savannah was comfortably tucked away in her pushchair, he wandered around the market, pausing whenever the girl wanted something, or just to check something and show it to her. It was all fun as long as she was in a good mood, and as she sat in her pushchair, covered up in a warm blanket and munching on a newly bought banana, he could count on it to last at least a little bit longer.

Spotting a flower stand, Nate wondered whether it would be cheesy to go home with flowers and coffee for Rylan. Maybe it would be, but when did he ever care about cheesy? So as Savannah spotted the pretty flowers, immediately asking her father for them, Nate made his way over, pausing by another person who was doing something that Savannah clearly wanted to do. "Something like that." He agreed with a smile as he crouched down to his daughter's level to help her pick one flower out of the many that were displayed. "I'm with you on that, it's almost like the flowers during the winter are fake. Kinda like strawberries, you know? Strawberries during summer and strawberries during winter are two different things, seriously."

[brunettessource]

TOM HOLLAND. The Puppy Interview with Buzzfeed.