am i one of the weak? or am i one of the strong?

kingdom multimuse indie roleplay | 21+ written by grim

[kingxkulina]

♚ main ♚ bio ♚ face ♚ muse ♚ wishlist ♚

about:

This is a sideblog, and I follow back from my main @grimmusings. Please direct IMs there, since it’s easier for me to keep all my messages on one blog. It’s also easier to start interactions with me there, where I regularly post open starters and meme prompts. For a full list of rules, see my main. Honesty hour questions will largely be answered IC and treated as anonymous unless signed by a muse.

This is a multimuse blog for canon characters from Kingdom (spoilers ahead). Alvey Kulina is a retired MMA fighter who owns Navy Street gym in Venice, California, where he trains professional fighters, including his sons, Jay and Nate Kulina. All details vary based on verse, but in general, I don't acknowledge any of the plotlines of season three, including Jay's baby and Nate's death, unless specifically plotted ahead of time.

muses:

♢ Alvey Kulina ⭒ Frank Grillo ♢ Jay Kulina ⭒ Jonathan Tucker ♢ Nate Kulina ⭒ Nick Jonas

default verses:

canon (+/-): Any events that take place at Navy Street before or after the timeline of the show. May include canon divergences. Unless writing with a Lisa muse, Alvey and Lisa are only business partners.

mcu: A former MMA fighter, Alvey runs Navy Street gym to train potential Avengers or superheroes in mixed martial arts.

verses by request only:

I'm happy to write these, but since they're more specific AUs, I don't default on them for asks/memes. Please feel free to request them.

king kulina: A canon divergent AU that takes place during Alvey's years as a professional MMA fighter. It likely will not include Christina or the boys, unless writing with those muses.

lie down in the light: A post-season three verse where Alvey wins his legends fight, and Alvey and Jay have to come to terms with Nate's death.

[king-kulina]

[grimmusings]

"Oh, this is punishment? Put me in chains, my dear lady." He turned in her arms, scooping her up practically in the same motion and turning to sit her on the counter. His body fit comfortably between her knees, his arms still wrapped around her.

"I'm sorry I left you. I gotta get to the gym." It was the only reason Jay could be persuaded to leave the bed before the clock hit double digits. He needed to train if he wanted Lisa to get him a fight, and he very much wanted that. He didn't seem in any hurry at the moment though. His head dipped, lips brushing the bend of her neck and shoulder.

[afliictionbound]

Oh, right…He had mentioned something about the gym — but that was last night, before the two had tumbled into bed to do just about everything but sleep.

A put out sigh is heaved, breath blowing across his bare back as Caly squeezes him tighter to try and get her fill before he has to leave.

“Wish I could go with you…But I don’t want to get on your dad’s bad side by distracting you.” Caly’s nose crinkles at the image provided by her active imagination — of dark eyes ablaze, arms crossed over a thick chest as he stares disapprovingly at the couple being overtly affectionate with each other, just waiting for them to take notice so he can tear into them — no, thank you.

[kingxkulina]

"Does my dad have a good side?" He said it with the usual humor and tilt of a half-smile, but it spoke to decades worth of issues between the two. No matter what Jay did, Alvey inevitably made him feel like a fuck up, and so far, he'd treated Caly with the same attitude, which bothered Jay for obvious reasons.

He could admit in the past to having been derailed by a woman, but Caly wasn't like that. She supported his fighting; she knew he needed it or some vital inner part of him would suffocate. They didn't drag each other down. They raised each other up. How to make Alvey see that when he'd never seen Jay clearly either was a battle he didn't know how to begin to fight though.

So, he didn't. He ignored his dad as much as it was possible to ignore that dour, watchful presence over the gym, and focused on the things he wanted: Caly, a fight, maybe a few more smiles from his little brother. Simple enough. His hands curled around her thighs, head raising so he could rest his forehead against hers, breath ghosting over her lips. "What are you up to today?"

[grimmusings]

The slightest shiver ran through him at the brush of her fingertip over his tattoo, and his smile widened, an eyebrow cocking like he was made of trouble. "That's not the only place I have them." Jay's forearm tattoos were armor, a visible signal that he was always mentally and physically prepared for a fight. He'd been raised by a fighter among other fighters, lived and learned and breathed it from the time he was a child; it was no surprise he approached his whole life that way. Then again, there were some who would argue he played as hard as he fought, or harder. There had to be a balance, right?

"I have been called worse things, Caly." His expression went mock-solemn for a moment and then relaxed. Jay had been called a lot of things, and most of them didn't stick. Show-off was practically a compliment, especially in his line of work. He gave half a bow and gestured elaborately for her to lead the way. "Well then, I'll defer to your expertise." He fell easily into step beside her, pausing only to collect his shirt and his shoes, both of which he pulled back on while he walked. "Are you originally from Venice, and if not, what brings you here?"

[afliictionbound]

Oh, he's one hundred and ten percent a showoff -- but so long as he's willing to not only acknowledge as much, but also own it...? Caly doesn't see the harm in encouraging the behavior. Truth be told, she's been in the company of guys with way less charm and bigger -- egos -- who just can't back up this style of flirtation.

Jay Kulina is a breath of fresh air.

"You'd be right to do so!" She retorts, in reference to her 'expertise', of course. When it comes to mixing drinks, Caly does pride herself on being something of a master. It's all about the individual person's tastes! Find the right flavor, balance it with just enough alcohol to keep them wanting just one more drink...And you've got yourself a loyal customer who will return to your bar specifically, time after time. What? It's not wrong! A little manipulation is how anyone in the customer service industry gets by, after all.

It's a shame to see those rippling abdominal muscles concealed once more beneath a shirt...But if they're going into public spaces together, well, it does make sense. Maybe later Caly can convince him that it's just too warm to stay out anywhere; and her place isn't fancy, but they do have a functioning central AC system -- down girl.

After wiping the disappointment from her features, Caly cocks her head to one side as she offers Jay a sly smile. "Mm, getting into the Q&A already? Okay -- so the answer to your first question is, 'no,' I'm not from here. The why is...Complicated and delves into traumas I'm not sure you're prepared for yet, Jay Kulina. So let's leave it at -- I came out here for the job opportunities."

[kingxkulina]

Jay didn't need encouragement, but that didn't mean he didn't love it. Someone who could just roll with his vibe was always good in his book. Was he just imagining it that they were clicking already? He did have a tendency to get ahead of himself like that, and even knowing that about himself never seemed to slow him down. Whatever. He wasn't going to kill his own vibe by examining it too closely.

"Is it so bad that I want to know you?" Anyone who didn't know him would have called that smile guileless, but it was only half true. It wasn't like Jay had an agenda, or at least an agenda that wasn't obvious. She was gorgeous, she could banter with him, and he wanted to spend more time with her, clothing optional. But he could also say that with complete sincerity because it was true. At the moment, he wanted nothing more than to know her better. It was a weird mix of truth and bullshit that was Jay Kulina.

"I might surprise you, but okay. Tabling the trauma for now. How is the job hunt going, if I might inquire?" He could not, for the life of him, guess what she might do for a living. Actress or model were the easy choices. A lot of girls came to L.A. for that very reason and slummed it in Venice because the rents were cheaper. He found himself hoping that wasn't the case though. He didn't have a great track record with girls like that. Okay, he didn't have a great track record period, but throw another spotlight seeker in the mix, and it was a recipe for trouble.

[afliictionbound]

cont. from here with @grimmusings

The way he makes that declaration with such certainty has Caly’s heart skipping a very necessary beat. She’s known from the start that Jay Kulina doesn’t love with anything less than his whole being — but she hadn’t been prepared to hear the word wife falling from his lips.

Wrapped up in strong arms, she feels…Complete. Like the darkness that’s always threatening to creep in is finally a safe distance away. Jay’s light is too strong to allow anything else in. And she loves him for it.

She drapes arms over his shoulders (already turning a faint shade of pink that makes the freckles flare brighter against her skin), drawing him in closer as her blunt nails trace lazy patterns into the short-cropped hair at the back of his skull.

“Mm, you have - but I’ll never complain about hearing it again.” She giggles, leaning in to brush their noses together. Then their lips. And if she holds that contact for a few beats longer than what is considered socially ‘acceptable’, who’s going to tell her?

“I bought it with you in mind.”

[kingxkulina]

Jay never did anything halfway, including love. He'd fallen for girls before, usually too fast and too hard as was his style, only to get shattered on the rocks below after lunging off that cliff. But Caly made all of them feel distant and shallow. He'd never known any of them like he knew her. He knew she had some darkness in her and he didn't mind. It matched his, or at least didn't turn it into a time bomb ready to shred them both and anyone standing too close. He knew she was good too, and that she deserved someone good. She made him a better man.

His smile widened at the touch of pink rising in her cheeks, lips ghosting over the warmth there. One of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen still blushed when he told her she was. Unreal. He tilted his head, happy to linger in the kiss with her. Jay was a dyed in the wool exhibitionist who thrived under a spotlight. There was pretty much no level of PDA that would make him uncomfortable, his or anyone else's.

"You did? It looks great on you." He gently brushed his nose against hers when they came up for air. He could stand there and hold her like that forever, her slight weight practically nothing to him. He preferred them like this, in fact, and if they weren't touching he'd be seeking her out like a moth to a streetlamp.

[kingxkulina]

@afliictionbound

“Hey, babe…” It’s rare that Caly is so soft spoken — unheard of, really. Especially with Jay Kulina, of all people, who not only recognizes - but encourages - her wild spirit.

What she’s gearing up to ask him requires more courage than standing up to some drunken prick at the bar, though. Hell, even breaking into the local pool after hours to go skinny dipping feels like child’s play compared to finding the words to ask her boyfriend if —

“Can we fight?” Oh dear god. Context, Caly, context! “Not like. Seriously fight! I just.” She’s twisting the hem of her shirt between her fingers. Her knuckles have gone white.

“Maybe throw me around a little? Pin me like you do when you’re in the ring. I wouldn’t even mind a couple of bruises-” Holy shit, he’s going to think she’s insane.

“You know what? Never mind. I don’t know what I was thinking asking you to…That’s crazy, isn’t it?” The laugh that’s wrenched from her throat is dry and humorless. She feels that familiar tightness behind her breast; panic. He’s going to leave.

That tone instantly put Jay's guard up. No good conversation ever started with a tone like that, especially not from his spirited girl. It meant something was wrong and, as always, he had no idea what it was. He'd thought things were going really well with them lately, but it wouldn't be the first time he'd been wrong about something like that.

There was no squashing that anxiety spiral once it started, but he could be distracted out of it, so it was fortunate that her next words made absolutely zero sense. Fight? Argue? Which they rarely did about anything serious. He honestly thought she might be a saint for how easily she put up with him. Train? He'd shown her some basic things at the gym just in case she ever needed them when he wasn't around. And, okay, maybe they both enjoyed that a little too much.

"You want to fight me?" Amusement and confusion warred in his expression. They both knew she wouldn't win. There was no picking up in a couple months what Jay had been training for all his life. "Hey, we're both crazy here. That's why we work." He might not know what this was about, but his instinct was still to comfort her. He caught her hands, gently untangling them from her shirt and trapping them in his.

He was giving himself a few moments to sort through what she said and try to make sense of it and, no, it didn't sound crazy. Unexpected, but not crazy, and not entirely off base given who they both were. Jay ate, slept, lived, and breathed fighting. Caly was the only girl he'd ever been with who could match that fire without burning them both down. And if training with her was that much fun, he could easily see it translating to the bedroom.

He freed her hands, one of his own coming up to her throat. His grip was firm but not tight, not cutting off her air, just letting her feel the strength in it as he backed her into the wall. "You wanna play rough, baby?"

[kingxkulina]

send [grind] : sender’s muse grinds on receiver’s thigh

@afliictionbound

It was safe to say Jay lacked the ability to sit still long enough to watch a full movie. He almost always had to be doing something else: drinking, lines of coke (nope, off the hard stuff for his girl), getting handsy with her, or just generally fucking around. Put Caly in that mix and it was a wonder they even bothered to turn on the television. Nate refused to watch movies with them anymore, poor boy. He hoped his little brother was out somewhere getting laid.

The subtle grind of her hips against his thigh hadn't escaped his notice, and he thought he was showing remarkable self-restraint, thank you very much. To be fair, Jay had never (and would never) do anything to discourage her either. On the contrary, he'd stretched out a little so she had more room, fingers occasionally ghosting over her hair or her back in encouragement. And, okay, he had absolutely no idea what was happening on screen, but that was normal for him.

[alwaysxinxtrouble]

The last thing Matt had ever expected was to be invited to train under one of the greatest fighters in MMA history. The trainer approached him directly after of one of his fights and the next day he spent almost all of his money to book an one way flight to California for the following week. It was an once in a lifetime opportunity and he had no intention of passing it up, even if he had to hitch hike across the country to get there. He managed to fit his entire life in a large duffel bag and backpack, deciding everything else could easily be replaced with the winnings of his fights. Once he had fights, at least.

Matt would like to think his father would have been proud. Battlin' Jack Murdock had been a boxer who still managed to make a name for himself on both coasts. A bullet to his back after his big win against a prize fighter ended his professional career before it had the chance to start. What Matt wouldn't give for his father to have seen him climbing his way into the professional fighting ring. He wasn't there yet but he knew Alvey Kulina would be the one to get him there.

Standing outside of Navy Street Gym, Matt could only compare it to an abandoned warehouse. There was a flash of doubt in his mind he was at the right place, though the white painted lettering at the top of the building told him otherwise. The fact there was only a pickup in the parking lot didn't help. Then he began to question if he had a mistake by coming to California; dropping what little he had in New York City and using nearly all of his money to move out to the West Coast just to train under Alvey. He didn't have a place to live, barely enough money to get himself food.

But this was an opportunity he would never get in New York.

Hiking the duffel bag higher up on his shoulder, he made his way through the oversized gym door and began his cautious search for the trainer. There wasn't anyone at the front desk but clearly this was an active and well stocked gym, easing the fears he had outside. It was far nicer than where he trained back in the city and the excitement quickly returned.

"Hello? Anyone here?"

@kingxkulina

[alwaysxinxtrouble]

Leave it to him to act like a fan instead of a fighter. But it was so hard for him to comprehend how his biggest dream had become a reality. If he had been alone, Matt would have pinched himself. He had admired Alvey as a fighter for years, watched his fights almost religiously, trying to learn everything he could from them. He knew his father wanted more for him than a life of fighting but there was still the hope if he was alive to see him then, he would be proud of the man he had become.

"Yeah, that would be great. I'd love to see the place. I'm sure the last gym I trained at doesn't even compare to here." Matt fought to keep a stupid smile off of his face, desperately wanting to come off as a hardened fighter. As someone worth Alvey investing his time in. If for whatever reason Alvey decided he wasn't worth it, he would have nothing. No money, no place to live, no reason to keep going.

"I'm a red belt in taekwondo." Matt grabbed his bag off the floor and hauled it up on his shoulder, heading back out into the gym. His gaze moved hungrily over the ring and equipment. "Black belt in brazilian jiu jitsu and brown belt in judo. I do train with some boxing and kick boxing. And I have studied a little bit of Wing Chun, not it matters since it's banned." It had been hell to get where he was as an orphan, scrapping together every single penny to be able to afford lessons, but he managed in the long run. He was born for the ring.

[kingxkulina]

Alvey knew better than most the way fighting ran in the blood. He'd wondered from time to time if his boys still would have found their way into a cage even if he hadn't raised them on this shit. He wasn't positive when it came to Nate. He was a hell of a fighter, but deep down, Alvey didn't think he really liked hurting people. Jay, on the other hand, might be a headcase, but he needed the fight the same way he needed oxygen. He lived it, breathed it, the same as Alvey when he was younger. Jay always would have ended up a fighter. He had a feeling Matt would have too. Some people just had the devil in them.

"Still. Useful to know what you can't do." He nodded in approval at his resume. He'd already studied up on Matt's fighting history. The belts were a matter of public record, but he couldn't find out everything from an internet search. The rest was good to know. "Locker room's this way. You can store your bag." He nodded to it and headed that way, pointing out the women's and the sauna before they entered the men's. "Showers through there. We've got you set up here." He tapped his palm against a locker, Matt's name already stenciled on it, and stepped back to let him get settled.

[alloverandrestart]

Nick Jonas with Jonathan Tucker and Frank Grillo

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