just an ol' gamer

[mateolunamarin-deactivated20230]

mateo nodded quietly, keeping the coffee for himself. the last words made mateo raise a brow. "and where would we go? back to azusa? my dad would literally kill me and my mom doesn't want to see me." he didn't want to think about going 'home' and angel not being there. "besides, i have a business and a boyfriend here." kiyan had moved but kit was still there. "papa, i understand if you want to move but i can't."

@juliannieves

[juliannieves]

˙ ˖ ✶ Mateo

"No we wouldn't go back to California, and sorry I was just not thinking, a bit frazzled now that it's just back to you and me," Julian sighed, pulling him into a hug and kissing his temple. "I just worry about you mijo, don't want you getting hurt again, and I know Kit wouldn't want you far either,"

[mateolunamarin-deactivated20230]

@juliannieves

mateo was so tired, he was already released but he was staying around the hospital to stay with gael and julian. he walked to the coffee machine, sighing. he hardly slept since the event, maybe a couple hours. he leaned against the wall, waiting for his cup to fill with coffee when he heard someone walking up. he looked over when he spotted julian and smiled tiredly. "hey pops," he grabbed his cup. "do you want this? i can pour me a new one."

[juliannieves]

˙ ˖ ✶ Mateo

"Mi vida, you need some rest, I'll be fine." Julian said looking over his child with concern as he could see dark circles forming under his son's eyes. "No, I don't want coffee, my nerves are on high alert enough as it is." he sighed. "I thought this was over, and now this...should we move?"

[gaelxsantiago]

𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋 heavy like they did at Envy -- but he somehow feels lighter the more real the other becomes. Lips grace his with a weak but gentle smile as he pulls away, gripping to his hand with tears in his eyes as he watches the other collapse to his knees. "I don't make promises I can't keep, amor." He would do it again in a heartbeat, if it meant that Julian was going to be okay. His free hand reaches over to graze against the flesh of his cheek, unable to hold back the tears anymore. "I would do it again if I had to. For you, anything."

I love you too. I'm in love with you, Gael Santiago. The words breath the life back into him that he almost lost.

His cheeks flush a shade of pink as he makes the effort to move over to create space on the bed next to him. Sure, it hurts to move -- but he needs to hold him. He needs to be next to the man he loves. To say that now, face to face, feels like a dream. The last person who it felt comfortable to say it to was Miyeon.. even if it felt like dusting off a part of himself he thought had been long since gone, it's worth every second. "Te amo.." He says again, his heart rate quickening as he says it again. "It's never been easy for me to say. Not before you, Julian."

[juliannieves]

˙ ˖ ✶ Gael

"You silly man," Julian couldn't help but choke out the words, somewhat smiling at the way this mad admitted that he'd do it again. "Life without you isn't a life I ever want to experience so let's just promise to keep each other safe. We're a team," His tears fall just as easily, watching the love of his life promise him the world as his own tears streaked down his face. "Gael," his name sounded so delectably sweet from his lips, to utter it was a blessing not many others would ever get to share. Julian loved him, loved him like he's loved no other man before.

A smile played on his face as he witnessed the little struggle from his boyfriend, giving him space in bed, not so subtly implying he wanted him there, wanted him close. Julian had been so afraid to love before, afraid that it would play out like last time, find himself in some grand prank only to have his heart shattered into a million pieces. This felt so different, everything felt so new and amazing with Gael, the man was so gentle and sweet, it was hard not to fall as fast as he did.

Lying next to him, he kept himself careful not to squirm too much in fear of hurting Gael. "Te amo como nunca he amado a otra persona, tu aliento es mi razon para vivir, y no creo que amare a otra persona igual que a ti. Tu eres mi primer y ultimo amor." he whispered softly into his ear, caressing his cheek with his lips before kissing him.

[gaelxsantiago]

@juliannieves

LOCATION: Hidehill General

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄 acknowledges when he opens his eyes is the sterile nature of the room he is in -- causing him to wonder if he didn't make it out. Is this what death felt like? Then comes the echo of the machines, causing him to realize one thing: he's in the hospital. He made it out. Then his eyes fall on figure curled up on a nearby futon -- Julian. The sight that the other is okay causes him to gain a sense of comfort in an environment where he would usually be anything but, the exhaustion coloring his voice as he horsely calls out to his boyfriend. The man he loves. He thought he'd never get to say those three little words again.

"...Julian."

He hadn't wanted to wake the other, considering that his frame seemed to be melting into the dilapidated mattress. Even still, he is so overcome by the sight of the other's safety that he cannot help himself.

"Julian."

[juliannieves]

˙ ˖ ✶ Gael

The last thing Julian had expected when he attended the memorial was that he'd become a target, and then Gael stepped in, saving his life but ultimately risking his own. Julian had never felt a fear and hopelessness such as this before, but he had to keep himself calm as freaking out wasn't going to help anybody. So he waited at Gael's bedside, having made sure Mateo was alright, seeing his boyfriend stop by to check on him gave him some reassurance.

Curled up in a futon having slept the night next to the man he loves, he felt himself go in and out of sleep throughout the night. Restless thoughts having kept him awake. But then he heard it, his name being called out, it sounded hoarse and weak, but still so familiar.

When his eyes fluttered open, he found himself staring back at Gael, his heart raced as he slowly approached the bed, softly pressing his lips on the man's before falling to his knees at his bedside. "Don't ever scare me like that again, but...you're my hero, and I heard you...I love you too, I'm in love with you Gael Santiago,"

[adrianamartinez-archive]

open : @hidehillstart memorial event : club envy

Stuck on the reflection of herself in the large mirror on the wall near the back of the club, Adriana couldn't bring herself to take her eyes off the ring on her finger as she tucked her hair behind her ear. Wearing it was a mistake. Her own thoughts too loud inside her head that she didn't notice someone talking to her until they appeared behind her in the mirror. "Sorry, what?" She finally brought her eyes to them but didn't turn around. "I didn't catch what you said."

[juliannieves]

˙ ˖ ✶ Ana

"I just asked if you were doing alright, you seemed a little out of it there so I came over to make sure nothing was wrong," Julian said offering her a smile. "You seemed to be lost in thought there,"

[gaelxsantiago]

@hidehillstart

LOCATION: Envy, Memorial Event

𝐆𝐀𝐄𝐋 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃𝐍'𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐁𝐔𝐓 look around, wondering what this was all was really for. Was this what Miyeon would have wanted? Even after they ended things, Gael cared deeply for his ex. She was the mother figure that Ella never got, and he could have only done so much to raise her. Sometimes, Gael wondered the kind of person his daughter would have been without her. Perhaps this is why he struggles to make sense of the fact why people are drinking the souls from their bodies. Gael found himself letting out an exhale as he tried to keep his anger inside of him. "Is this what grieving is supposed to look like?" He muttered, eyes becoming lost in his watered-down whiskey. "I know it's supposed to be different for everyone... but getting blackout drunk is a new one."

[juliannieves]

˙ ˖ ✶ Gael

"My love, there's no real way to grieve properly, and it doesn't have a certain look," Julian mumbled rubbing Gael's arms as he rested his curls on him. "I've found that it's mostly something that the young have been tending to do, drinking away your feelings is easier than confronting them or even feeling at all. It's the fault of my generation for not teaching them how to properly process emotions in a healthy way," he sighed, hoping Mateo wasn't going to be one of those getting drunk tonight. "Are you okay, mi amor? If it bothers you we can go, I just wanted to pay my respects,"

[alisahqs]

"yeah, right?" alisa's voice went up an octave. "what i don't understand is how that killer got away when her sister was literally gunned down. did they run out of bullets or something? how incompetent can you be that you know someone killed people and tried to stabby stab people and let them just get away? time to invest in more security, for realsies."

[juliannieves]

˙ ˖ ✶ alisa

"they were probably not in the same area of the carnival, that seems to be the only thing that makes sense to me, didn't what was her name, have a hostage with her?" julian recalled the news about mallory and how tragic it must've been to almost survive to almost make it out.

[emmelinehq]

"guess you really don't know anyone." emmeline had put her trust in alara, so much so that she'd moved in with her; she'd acted like a fool and was therefore treated like one. "it's terrifying. like, what happens now?"

[juliannieves]

˙ ˖ ✶ Emmeline

"wish i could say i could still see the good in people, it's just harder right now," julian couldn't believe this was done by just three young adults. "i don't know, i've never been in a situation like this,"

[josiahsterling]

"Hey, let's not try to give 'em too much slack. They were all adults. Knew plenty well what they were doing. Some people are just...built wrong, I guess." Josiah hadn't been close to any of them, had known of Carter from high school but that was where the connection ended, really. He found it hard to have sympathy, or concern, or anything other than a sense of revulsion.

[juliannieves]

˙ ˖ ✶ Josiah

"Sorry at my age and seeing how young they were I can't view them as anything else, but it still doesn't admonish them of such crimes," Julian wasn't about to argue the notion of people being built wrong or innately evil. "I just knew the one boy, Carter, he was in the band with my son and he just seemed so...gentle,"

[izaiahwheatley]

Izzy was in disbelief, how could his childhood best friend be behind all of this? "Yeah, they said one got away..." He said shaking his head. "Do you think they really caught them? I wasn't at the carnival... but last time they arrested the wrong people... I just... I've known Carter my whole life... How did I miss this?"

[juliannieves]

˙ ˖ ✶ Izzy

"I'm assuming it is the sister of the other one," Julian sighed as he didn't really know any of these people, only that Carter had been in Mateo's band and seemed like a sweet kid. "Because you were just seeing your friend, and not someone who could commit such acts, I knew the kid a little, and he was always so kind and sweet, it's hard for me to imagine still even knowing the truth."

[gaelxsantiago]

𝐈𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 the very moment that Julian and Gael meet once more, Gael holds heartbreak in his eyes. For both the happiness and the people that have been taken from them -- far too soon. While he wants to cry, having witnessed some of the wounds being inflicted from some distance, the tears won't spill over. All he can do is cling to his boyfriend with everything he has, just comforted by the fact that he's there. "Quédate aquí por favor.. God... Cómo pudo pasar esto.." He murmurs into his shoulder, pressing a kiss to his forehead once he finally finds it in himself to pull away. "Julian.." His lips are soon replaced by his forehead as fingers intertwine. Eyes shut as he refamiliarizes himself with the touch he had the blessing of experiencing so many times before. "Can we go home, please?"

[juliannieves]

˙ ˖ ✶ Gael

Julian could see the sadness in his eyes, and how his heart wept for the lives taken and those attacked. For all the horrors witnessed in the world, to see such vile atrocities with your own eyes, it marks you, especially someone like Gael who had seen far too much. Julian loved his boyfriend with every fiber of his being, and as he held the man, he could feel the little quiver from all emotions just rattling inside waiting to spill over. "De tu lado nunca me ire, mi amor." he muttered, smiling softly at the kiss before their hands lace together. "Home," Julian doesn't need much to take Gael away from all of this. The drive back home was a quick but silent one, seeing many more cop cars and ambulances rush to the scene, words feeling all too heavy to say.

As he got out, he didn't let go of Gael's hand once as they stepped inside, and Julian simply buried his features in his boyfriend's chest and clung to him for dear life. "We were having such a good time and then this, I just don't know how much suffering I can take here, I don't want you or anyone in harm's way." he mumbled. "Want to take a shower and go to bed?"

[juliannieves]

@gaelxsantiago

Julian could tell from the messages in the forum that Gael was freaking out, and the events had probably left him shell shocked. "Hey, mi amor," he cooed, slowly coming close in his field of vision as he slowly brought him into his arms. "I'm here, it's okay, it's all over my cielo." There would never be a time where he wouldn't offer solace and comfort to the love of his life, his boyfriend who in such short time had done so much for him. "I'm here, Mateo is safe, his boyfriend is okay, and I just want to be here in your arms okay, you're safe with me,"

[mateolunamarin-deactivated20230]

mateo sighed, shrugging. he moved to sit across from julian with a water bottle in hand. "yeah... it's just." he shrugged, opening his water. "i'm so worried about ky. one of them was his brother." he was afraid to text him at the moment.

[juliannieves]

˙ ˖ ✶ Mateo

"call him, let him know you're okay, and i know he must be going through a very hard time, so you should be there for him," julian spoke softly as he came over to hug his son, letting his thumb brush on the boy's shoulder. "i love you so much mateo, i'm so glad you're not physically hurt, did you know anybody who got hurt?"

[juliannieves]

@hidehillstart

"So there's one of them still out there? I can't believe it, they were so young, just kids, and to some of their own friends," Julian couldn't fathom the idea of wanting to hurt another person and even to that extent, it just seemed inhuman.

[gaelxsantiago]

@juliannieves

LOCATION: Dunk Tank, Carnival Event

𝐈𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐎𝐍𝐄 thing Gael was going to do once he got off of his shift with Reign, it was go see his boyfriend get dunked. His boyfriend. It was still a bit strange for him to say, but the good kind of strange. When he had told Ella he was seeing someone, she couldn't have been happier for him. You deserve this, dad. He'd better be good to you.

Once the clock struck the end of Julian's shift, he grabbed a nearby towel to hand it to him. "I've got dry clothes for you in the car, amor. Lets go get you warmed up."

[juliannieves]

˙ ˖ ✶ Gael

Of all the booths and games he could've been placed, it had to be the one that got him soaking wet. Still, it was a way to be with Gael outside of their bedroom, which considering how they couldn't keep their hands off each other, he was not surprised they were put in separate places.

Having been dunked by many people, Julian shivered, giving Mateo a glance before coming closer to Gael. "That wasn't fun," he said through chattering teeth. "So you're getting me naked, mi vida? Here,"

[daddiclaims]

closed : @juliannieves event 004 : carnival

"I would give anything to ditch this whole thing and go home right now. My bed and sweatpants have really never sounded so good before." Carmen was sat at her booth with Julian in front of her. She was sighing heavily every two seconds and fiddling with the paintbrushes beside her. "I don't think it's fair that we are forced to volunteer. What did you get stuck with?"

[juliannieves]

˙ ˖ ✶ Carmen

"I didn't really know this was mandatory, I don't think anybody would mind though, it's not like they're paying us." Julian shrugged as this was somewhat voluntary, still giving the town a bit of joy didn't seem like a bad idea. "I got stuck with the dunk tank, mija. My boyfriend brought me an extra change of clothes but that's about it,"

[alexishayes]

dunk tank w/ @juliannieves

❛ okay so like, on a scale of funny haha and extremely serious, where were you about pushing that button later ? ❜ she brought julian three extra towels as a sign of good faith for the day ahead, but there's something telling alex he will keep his words.

[juliannieves]

˙ ˖ ✶ Alex

"What? You really think I'd actually go through with that?" Julian looked hurt but he was just waiting for the perfect moment to press the button and have Alex be drenched from head to toe. "Honestly you could park yourself up there and I wouldn't be tempted to press that button, ever."