“I know, I was surprised too, usually there’s a lot more bullshit that I’m able to notice. Maybe you’re finally improving, shocker right?” Grace teased, nudging their shoulder with hers as she looked over the table. “I haven’t played in over a year, but I might remember,” she hummed, doing her best to line up the shot, barely missing the formation as she shot the ball. “I mean, it’s a start.”
“A for effort Gracie,” Kale said, clapping their hands.”That’s a better shot than I would have made...or will be making...is it my turn to try to break now?” They dicked around, lining the pool cue up with an absurd tilt before finally settling into a more accurate posture for a real attempt. They pulled back and forced the stick forward. It wasn’t the best break, half of the balls only moved a few centimeters but they’d at least made a dent in the formation. “Shit this is harder than it looks.”
ethan twirled the cue in his hands and cocked an eyebrow at the other. “i kind of figured that one out after your first shot,” he laughed. “one most definitely does not need to be an expert in pool to enjoy it. there’s a reason they’re pretty much in any bar you walk into. the layperson has to be able to enjoy it somewhat.”
Kale gasped, hands placed to their chest in faux upset. “You mean I didn’t convincingly fake it till I make it?” They shook their head, leaning against the pool cue like it was a makeshift cane. “Well I am, if anything, a source of enjoyment.”
“I’m terrible and that’s what makes it enjoyable.” He joked, noting the times he’d hit the cue ball off the table. “The people who take this game seriously is ridiculous.” The male commented. To be honest, there were things Nick took seriously that people didn’t understand or probably would say it was ridiculous also.
“No, the people who take curling serious are ridiculous,” Kale corrected with a laugh. Their teasing was all in good fun though, they never judged anyone for a passion or hobby. “What do you say we skip the pool and just go right for the beer? We’ll pretend you won and I’m buying.’
“I guess I’ve always felt it? Well, since I was about sixteen, seventeen.” Jason replied. As they moved their hands and kneaded his muscles and skin, it made Jason feel like he had waves of relaxation washing over him. “Maybe it’s why I sleep around a lot, to just… Feel something? I don’t really know. I never really put much thought into it.” He replied. Jason was surprised that he was talking to Kale about this sort of stuff. “Sorry to load my shit onto you. I just… Find it hard to talk about stuff.”
“Stop apologizing,” Kale answered gently, thumbs working reassuring circles against the curve of Jason’s neck. “Everyone needs people to talk to. That’s how people connect, support each other through touch shit and sharing the good shit.’ It made them sad, the amount of times they heard people linking the idea of “sleeping around” with being broken or stifled or messed up somehow. Kale did not see themselves as a perfect being, but they didn’t feel broken, and when they slept with multiple partners it was because they liked feeling connections, as many connections as possible with others. Why did sex have to be a tool people used to cover up their loneliness? “You can talk to me anytime, man. Seriously. And if you need to not talk about something I’m here for that too. But you know...usually the cure for loneliness is to get out there and interact with people...let yourself be seen and embraced.”
Mia watched them and laughed with a shake of her head. “how am i not surprised with that uh?” she smiled fondly. “i mean…not really, you just gotta put the balls in the holes with a stick, easy and…this didn’t sound right” she laughed.
Kale grinned, pointing their index finger in Mia’ direction. “No no, by all means keep explaining to me where balls and sticks go in relation to holes, you’re doing great.” Shaking their head they laid their pool stick on the table and raised their hands slightly. “I say we skip pool and just go get something to drink.”
finley: thank you thank you. you should tell that to my manager so he can give me a raise
finley: i mean i'd rather not date old ass men who put on way too much zinc and can't handle a good ol alcohol chug in the first place. give me that "whiskey chugging foul mouthed explosion of personality"
finley: my whiskey chugging party is exclusive sometimes i don't even make it past the bouncer
kale: if your manager needs prodding to give you a raise then you need a better manager. maybe i should switch careers.
kale: jesus do people still wear zinc? >.
kale: well shit next time that happens just come over to my room and we'll have a more intimate whisky chugging party. with tequila shots thrown in for good measure.
Sylvia couldn’t help but laugh along with them, even if at the time it was anything but funny. She playfully hits their arm, “Three or four times? Get out of here, that’s so mean! I almost had a heart attack because I thought some kid was actually on the verge of dying.” There’s always a small flush that appears in her cheeks the closer they get to her, not necessarily in a romantic way, but in a way her body couldn’t help but react to with their soft touches. “Mm, and to be honest, you don’t have to fake drowning to get me to kiss you,” she winks with a teasing smile, her hands finding their hips to pull them impossibly closer as she wraps her arms around them. “Good, because now you’ve got plans! I’m in the mood for something sweet, so…ice cream??”
“Listen hormonal kids aren’t known for making the kindest life choices,” Kale argued with a laugh. “If we got in to all the dumb shit i did to try and get the attention of people I was attracted to.” They shook their head and made a face of horror. Things were easy with Sylv, their chemistry ebbing and flowing and shifting naturally. Some days she felt more like a little sister they wanted to spoil with bear hugs and keep safe from the world. Other days .... well . . . Kale grinned, loosely cupping her cheek and leaning in to steal a kiss just because they could. “Ice cream it is, beautiful.” Fingers twined with Sylvia’s, Kale ushered her into a playful little spin, and then tugged her close to their side as they began to walk. “Should we get one of the huge sundeas we finish off like champs and then regret later when the sugar rush wears off?”
cassidy cheeks were now tinted pink. “why thank you kale. you don’t look to bad yourself.” she scrunched her face and swung her hair towards them. “yeah well lucky you. i get a lot more tips when i’m looking my best. it’s nothing makeup won’t fix.” she admitted, filling up the kettle with water and placing it on the stove. “i’ve been addicted to tea ever since i was little. i swear i used to get withdrawals from it.” a soft laughed left her pursed lips, “til’ this day i still can’t believe you didn’t. it’s the best thing discovered, besides alcohol.” cassidy admitted.
“Ridiculous, you should be getting tips for your A+ hair flips and your radiant smile. What happened to personality being the thing that made a service a service, ya know?” Kale sat back, legs crossed loosely. “Tea has more natural caffeine in it then half the overcomplicated starbucks drinks out there so I believe you probably got withdrawals.” They gave a shrug. “Well there was a time in my life, little peanut, where if I wasn’t drinking alcohol I was drinking water only to try and not die from dehydration.”
Grace hummed, leaning forward against the other side of the table. “I mean, I kind of figured that, I could sense an ounce of bullshit from the beginning,” she nodded, a quick laugh escaping her lips. “Truly, I don’t think there’s one simple way to play it, at least from experience. Half of the fun is figuring out the most entertaining way to do things.”
“Only an ounce? That’s pretty good for me, my normal bullshit output is at least a liter.” Kale winked, the balls as racked as they were going to get, and gave a formal bow. “Ladies first then....I know you’re at least supposed to try and break the formation apart with the white ball.”
“i’m sure there’s a whole skill to it but i just put it in my hand and do what i think is right. it usually works out for me.” the blonde moved the stick around his hand, twirling it in between his fingers as he watched the other set up the table. “even when you play the ‘correct’ way, you have a chance of losing so what’s the point in learning?” he laughed. “bowling is a bit better but it’s nice to change it up.”
“From anyone else I would say that’s super cynical but from you it actually sounds quite chipper and freeing.” Kale rubbed their palms together and grabbed their pool stick, awkwardly angling it against their hand. The tip smacked against the white ball, but barely broke the racked balls. “Well shit...that was just...that was sad. I know I was supposed to do better than that.”
“alright, alright! i’ll help you out with inventing this unique version of pool,” she giggles, picking up one of the billiard balls from the table to examine it. “okay, it looks like they have numbers on them… that could be something. maybe, uh, the number on each one represents how many points you get if you get it into the other’s pocket?” georgia placed the ball back down on the table, turning to look back up at kale. she raised an eyebrow, trying to catch up with all of the rules they had thrown out so far. “i have a meeting in an hour, k! i can’t just do shots willy-nilly, you know i’d lose,” she laughs, poking them lightly with the pool stick. “maybe we’ll save that rule for another day, when i’m not planning a very important wedding. i don’t think the happy couple would be very happy if i showed up to our planning meeting drunk.”
“Ooo I like that, that’s genius. This is why I keep you around Gi, you fill in the blanks my brain skips over.” Kale grins, holding their hands up in submission when Georgia poked them with the pool stick. “I mean I show up to work after a few shots all the time but a little buzz makes me better with my hands soooo.” They wiggled their brows playfully. “That happy couple is probably so stressed out they’re gonna have a couple shots before they show up. I don’t know how people do such huge events at places like this. How big did you say the guest list was again? I remember the first time you told me I almost fainted.”
“Maybe I do, and maybe I don’t.” He replied with a grin. Jason listened as Kale spoke, each word he said registering in his head. “I just don’t find it easy to open up to people. All I get from them is sympathy and the constant ‘I’m sorrys’, which I don’t want.” He said, looking down at his lap. When he felt the nips against his skin and it made him grin. He tilted his head to the side, exposing more of his neck. Jason wasn’t sure whether to mention what was wrong or not, but he knew that Kale wouldn’t mind if he talked about it. Since they were willing to listen to what he had to say. “I guess I just feel alone.” Jason said, eventually feeling a wave of relief soon washing over him when he mentioned it.
Kale tried to adapt to the needs of whoever he was trying to comfort. It was clear that Jason wasn’t used to being vulnerable, that he was proud and to say “I’m sorry” or something sweetly comforting would probably feel....overwhelming and upsetting to him. They were quiet for a moment, still kneading the skin of his back. “Have you always felt that was, or is this recent?” they asked, focusing less on blanketing the male in compassion and more in showing genuine interest, in making him feel safe to express.
The pay looked like it was going to be decent, the resort is pretty much like an aesthetic orgasm for me; all the sights, sounds and textures I could ever want. I’d been in California for a while and needed to move on to someplace new.
YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN THE CHANCE TO DECORATE YOUR ROOM THE WAY YOU WANT - HOW DOES IT LOOK?
That’s a trick question, my friend. My tastes change frequently. One month i want a room that looks like a tropical oasis all turquoise walls and white sheets, the next month I want red walls and large portraits of a sexual nature and my bed one of those circle styled waterbeds on a rotating platform.
DID YOU FINISH SCHOOL? ARE YOU STILL STUDYING? TELL US ABOUT YOUR EDUCATION.
I started several degrees but didn’t finish anything until my certificate in massage. What can I say it took me a while to figure out what I wanted out of the academic circuit.
WHAT IS A PERFECT DAY LIKE FOR YOU?
The setting varies. It could be the beach, the sand under my feet and the sound of waves, or being stretched out against cool sheets with the window open to let the breeze in. Either way my perfect days involve someone next to me, skin against skin, heads on shoulders, fingers twined, laughing and fearlessly existing. My perfect day is any day with people in it I can be close with.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR YOU TO RELAX AFTER A LONG DAY AT WORK?
Weed, liquor, dancing the work out at a club or sloughing it off with a warm shower and a warmer body I can touch and taste.
WHICH MOVIE CHARACTER ARE YOU MOST SIMILAR WITH?
Magic Mike. Though my dance moves are only half as good and I’m about giving all people pleasure, not just the ladies.
GROWING UP, WHAT WAS YOUR ASPIRATION IN LIFE?
I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I didn’t have any consuming passions of my own, aside from sex, but I wanted a career in helping other people make their passions and dreams a reality.
ARE YOU CLOSE WITH YOUR FAMILY?
Most of my extended family thinks that I’m an absolute heathen, so we don’t talk much. I am, however, close with my mother. You’re damn straight I call her at least once a day and always tell her I love her.
WHAT’S ONE THING YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT?
Scented candles, man. They set the mood for any and every mood and they’re a scent aesthetic and a visual aesthetic. There is little in this world that relaxes me more than lighting a new candle and letting the scent whisk me away to somewhere else.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
Don’t really have any. I guess hang out here at the resort until such a time as the wind blows me elsewhere.
i’m usually one of those girls who likes kids and all but i guess today’s not today, this morning one of them spilled his drink on me and later they pushed me in the pool…can i get a break?
“What a brat, did you push him into the pool too?” Kale shook their head. “I feel like there should be a fine. Kid misbehaves and fucks up a staff members day and you pay a twenty dollar fee.”
It was weird. Jason hadn’t been like this before. Sure, he had Dylan to talk to about things and he trusted her with everything, but he felt weak talking to her about some things. Hell, talking to anyone about those things made him feel weak. He gave off the persona he was always strong and a hardass, but he was honestly breaking inside. The brunette rubbed his tired eyes with his right hand, sighing quietly. When was the last time he’d slept properly? God only knew. He chuckled at the ‘no apologies space’ Kale mentioned. He did as they instructed, sitting forward ever so slightly. His body was aching and tired, so moving was a bit hard for him. He bit down on his bottom lip slightly as they pulled him into their lap, making him grin slightly soon after. “I don’t mind looking at you when I talk, I just… Talking about feelings and problems makes me feel weak, and I don’t want to be that. I’m a Wood. We’re resilient to the end.” Jason explained. “I’ll tell you, I just… I just need a minute to think.” He exhaled slowly.
Jason was weary through every inch of his body, Kale could feel it in the push and pull of muscles as the male shifted. A frown pulled across their face, concern dimming their eyes, fingers working with renewed purpose along the tight muscles of Jase’s back. “Ah you like looking at me,” they teased, voice low, amusement paired with soft compassion. They listened, and having never been afraid of their emotions themselves they didn’t quite understand why people came to believe that, only that they did. And that it put the weight of the worlds on their shoulders. “Maybe your definition of resilience needs to evolve a little. I don’t think talking about feelings makes anyone weak. It’s brave to be vulnerable with people.” Kale leaned forward, letting their breath gust against Jason’s neck. “Take all the minutes you need. I’ll be right here.” They wrap their arms around the male’s frame, pulling them in for a bear hug and nipping at the space where his neck met his shoulder.
“so, remind me again why we’re down here if we’re not even playing the game we came for in the first place?” she asks, her head tilts to the side, looking down at the, currently, useless pool stick delicately held in her hand. “i honestly would have believed it if you made something up on the spot…” she looked at them expectantly, her eyes wide and hopeful, “so, what do we do now?”
“Yeah but then I’d have to do all the world of imagining my own version,” Kale pointed out, grinning in the woman’s direction. “You know I’m much more of a collaborator, Gi. The balls are supposed to go in the pockets, that much I know. I don’t know how the points system works but we can break them up evens and odds or colors and stripes. And then...hmmm....what happens if I pick color but you knock one of mine into a pocket? Shit. I could google the rules but that feels like cheating. We could turn this into a shot game. You get one of your balls into a pocket and I have to take a shot. You get one of mine in the pocket and I have to do two shots. You miss and you have to take a shot. Every game makes sense when shots are added, right?”
