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@leobetancourt
āŗ basics;
Full Name:Ā Ā Leandro Michael Betancourt
Nickname/Preferred Name:Ā Andy, Leo
Age:Ā thirty-four
Birthday:Ā Ā May 22, 1990
Zodiac:Ā Gemini sun, Sagittarius moon, Capricorn rising
Sexual Orientation: Ā Heterosexual
Relationship Status: Ā MarriedĀ
Religion:Ā Money, family
Neighborhood: Claret Park
Occupation:Ā Corporate general counsel attorney
Location: Betancourt house
When: December 18, 2023
Closed: Odessa & Leo @leobetancourt
āLetās see do we have everything?ā Odessa asked as her eyes scanned the room. āWe have the tree. And thankfully Daddy has put the lights on for us. Thank you, Daddy! We have the garland and the popcorn garland. Canāt forget that. Ornaments, where are the ornaments?ā Another question flowed from Odessaās mouth her eyes searching the room again. She was sure she had put the box full of their Christmas ornaments in the living room earlier that day. The box being of good size meant that Odessa shouldnāt have had that hard of a time finding it. Then again once she spotted it on the kitchen counter she knew why she had missed it. āAh ha, itās over there!ā She stated, pointing her finger towards the box. āOK, that leaves just daddy, Elyse, and mom to could for and weāre all here. But why do I feel like Iām leaving someone or something out?ā
The thank you, daddy was the reward for multiple phone calls to his dad, because an electrician he was not. Actually, neither was his dad. But somehow, between phone calls and YouTube DIY tips, they'd figured it out. Leo accepted the thanks with grace and maybe a little bit of pride, even knowing there was no way he'd figure it out again next year without the same research.
Finding the ornaments, hidden in plain sight, was another task altogether. His pride didn't last long. There was still a long way to go here and he had a feeling, Elyse's personality being bigger than her physical presence, all those ornaments were going to end up clumped on the lowest three rows of tree branches. Worth it.
"Mac!" Leo called, barely suppressing his amusement. "Where you hiding, buddy?"
Lorelai nodded as it sounded like at least like it could be the right direction for the gift giving. "I suppose that some heavy metal then has a bit of drumming. Though I am not sure if there are metal bands who don't scream expletives in their lyrics. I'm not an expert by any means, but do believe that is not encouraged by parents." She had a feeling hippie parents might encourage it, but she also wasn't sure if gentle parenting was the new version of that or not. Lorelai laughed at the man's honesty about wanting to annoy his sister. "I think if you really wanted to annoy her you'd get him a small drum set. I'm sure she'd truly appreciate that."
@leobetancourt
Leo laughed and shrugged. "You're not wrong, but it's also not my problem." He didn't really have any problem with being the 'bad influence' uncle. Especially because he was reasonably sure his sister wouldn't see that coming from him at all. And it would earn him some form of credibility with his nephew. "He's got one of those kits, the ones with the pad that lets them practice silently or with headphones." He bit his lip. "But this is a good start, thanks for your input. Do you have any gift needs I can help you be sneaky with in return?"
"Nothing wrong with that," Derek had those phases in his life, but as winter quickly approached, he was far more willing to be in the outdoors. Which, quite frankly, was the opposite of most people. "Hopefully just late?" Derek offered with a raise of his brow. "If I had my way, in the mountains," he chuckled, "missed the daylight today though, but I try to get out snowboarding several days a week this time of year." @leobetancourt
"I hope so," Leo confirmed. The confirmation turned to a validating nod when his counterpart said he'd rather be in the mountains, though winter specialties weren't typically his thing. He'd never lived close to, or had the money growing up. In college, there were closer hills than at home, but he spent a lot of winters holed up in the library. "Snowboarding hasn't ever caught fire with me, more because of lack of opportunity than anything else. How'd you get into that?"
"Favorite person in the whole world," Aspen chuckled, waving a hand through the air with a sense of false bashfulness, "Oh Leo, don't flatter me." As soon as Leo's booming voice finished echoing through the home a patter of footsteps could be heard as the little girl made her way over from wherever it was she had been. Aspen couldn't help but wonder what it had been that she'd gotten into - but it appeared it wasn't more important than seeing who had come to visit.
"Wow, you're useless to me then," Aspen huffed, rocking Mac in their arms a moment longer before passing the child back over towards his father as Elyse appeared around the corner. "Hey there sweetheart - what trouble are you making today?"
"A Jamaican phase, huh. That sounds dam--ng good, though." They hesitated, combing a hand through their hair as their eyes turned towards the children. Watching their language around young ears wasn't one of their stronger suits. "I don't know, maybe you should leave it to the professionals," they joked. "But we can go check it out."
If there was one thing Leo genuinely liked about any of Odessa's siblings, it was the way Mac hadn't taken over for Elyse as the apple of an eye when he was born. He remembered being shelved time and again as a kid, less important with a the birth of a new and younger sibling who was inevitably cuter or less problematic than he was.
He took Mac gladly for that reason and also because Mac was one of his favorite people. He pulled a blatantly silly face at the kid who, now fully alert, squirmed to get down but Leo held fast and shifted
He chuckled as Aspen waved him off. "Not the first time I've heard that, probably not the last. I'll let you know what I come up with. There'll always been enough to go around eventually."
The chuckle remained as Aspen corrected their speech. "Nice swerve. Elyse is about to start a jar for swear dollars. Can we count you for donations or...." He shrugged. "Let's go see what we got."
"Well, it's hard to say, considering I don't know the kid personally but eleven can be a tricky age. You might actually be onto something with the record player. It's a unique idea, and no harm introducing them to something new. Music has a way of transcending age, you know?"
She paused, her eyes scanning the shelves. "But hey, if you're uncertain the safe bet is to throw in a gift card or something small, something related to their interests. It's the thought that counts, right?"
Zuri's anxiety kicked into gear thinking of the idea of the holidays being right around the corner, yet she hadn't even thought about any gift shopping.
"You're definitely right. Plus he's started playing an instrument, so not only could it transcend age, it could sort of defy genre, too. You can find whatever you want to expose them to."
Her following suggestion was an excellent one, one he hadn't actually considered. As a general rule, he didn't do a lot of gift cards for the people he was closer to because they felt so impersonal. But if they were paired with a solid base gift, maybe it wouldn't be a terrible idea. "That's actually perfect. Are you finishing up your shopping, because it seems like you're in the zone there. Regardless, thank you. I'm Leo, by the way."
Joselia's mouth pulled into an amused 'oh' at the added context, eyes crinkling with laughter at the admission that he wanted to drive his sister crazy. It must be a universal truth that brothers and sisters are made to torture each other. "Jesus, drums are a tough act to follow," she admitted, glancing at the jazz section and suggesting, "Maybe a trumpet? Trombone? Something really loud and brassy."
A sudden memory brightened Joselia's expression and she abandoned the records entirely, turning to face the stranger. "Do they make iPods anymore? I used to have this... VideoNow, I think it was called? It was like a mini DVD player and I had a couple of music videos I watched over and over." She grinned, revealing, "I used to force my brothers to be my backup dancers and learn the choreography. Drove my mom crazy-- they couldn't dance for shit, I couldn't carry a tune."
He watched her face and he knew she fully understood his underlying motivations. It was something he'd had to confess more lightly to Dess, close as she was with her siblings (and as invested as she was in this little prank war not escalating between he and his many siblings with their children.) Here, felt he could be a little more free to express just the tiniest bit of vindictiveness behind his actions. It was a good feeling. "Now we're onto something. Think my wife would forgive me?" He asked with a smirk. "French horn, maybe? Are those loud? Trumpet might be the best call." His mouth twisted into a more contemplative shape as she posed her question. "There's something worth looking into. I don't know." He raised an eyebrow. "Your brothers did that for you? Were you the oldest? Because that's some impressive command."
@joselialopes
Elliot had the whole thing planned out to a T. All he needed was to sort out the music, and what was more romantic than a romantic jazz vinyl playing in the background? He was sure that he'd find something to fit what he had in mind. He just had to browse the hundreds of vinyls for sale to get that. At the question posed to him, he turned around to face the man next to him. "Vinyls are becoming quite popular these days, so why not? It's never easy to buy anything for a tween. Anything can be a hit or miss for them."
Leo nodded in agreement with the man's words. He'd only recently discovered vinyl himself. While he didn't have a lot of time or personal space to listen, he'd already enjoyed delving into the difference in sound with Elyse here and there when he could get her to sit still long enough. He'd never been into music, but it was mostly because he hadn't cultivated the habit. He was hoping to some extent to build his own and give her something that expressive, too. Maybe a healthier outlet for feelings sometimes than methods he'd employed, and he could only see that now as an adult.
"Yeah I'm just delving in myself. He lives in California, though, so I don't get to really dive in with him. There's probably plenty of opportunity there for him to expand, though. Or donate it to goodwill if he's not interested." He thought about it for a second longer before he posed his next question. "Do you remember what you listened to at that age? I'm trying to think of what I was into but I'm at a loss."
Lorelai was sifting through records, trying to figure out a gift for Elijah since their friendship had gotten back on course in the past few months. She also was sifting through to find possible gifts for herself when she heard the man next to her. She blinked a few times at the man's question, knowing he must be serious in his question, but wasn't sure if he was actually asking her. "I have no earthly idea what eleven year olds are interested in. I probably am the exactly wrong person to ask. Does the eleven year old like music?" Lorelai had never understood children or why people would give such large extravagant or expensive things for them when it was possible they'd lose all interest in a few months.
@leobetancourt
Leo sighed. He knew it was probably a fool's errand to just blurt the conversation out toward a stranger in open space. That didn't stop the spike of childlike disappointment at not being given the answer. It wasn't disappointment directed at his counterpart, though, but instead at some part of him that was frustrated he didn't know the answer. "Yeah, I think so. All he ever talks about on our calls is his drumming. He just started but he's really into it. My kids are way younger, so he's a little out of my league," he admitted. "I would be lying if I didn't say I also want to get him something loud enough to annoy his mom because she's my sister and she has it coming a little."
@lorelai-tseng
Jr. had told her not to move to a town before visiting it which, at the time, felt silly. That's all he did for work-- move from place to place when the Army decided it was time, usually to places he'd never been. Sure, he had the security of being on Base and not having to sign a lease at some shitty apartment he'd never seen, but... Joselia would never admit that he'd been right.
Not even now, when she was stuck in the cold with wet hair because her hair dryer had blown a fuse and her landlord couldn't get over until 'tomorrow morning probably.' She'd taken to wandering the downtown strip, finding refuge from the cold in a record shop when the stranger interrupted her spiral.
Joselia thought about it for a second, her fingers hovering between Steely Dan and Steve Lacy. "Aren't eleven-year-olds into like... Pokemon?" she suggested, shrugging her shoulder. "Sorry, I'm not really the right person to ask, but... I feel like they'd rather use Spotify?"
Leo watched where her hand was as a means of gauging if they were into the same things. The Steve Lacy was actually something he'd enjoyed last year when it blew up, the single at least, and he'd enjoyed The Internet when they were around. He knew fuck all about Steely Dan. Maybe they'd get along. It wasn't enough to really tell.
"I'm not the right person to know, either. And the kid's playing drums, which leads to me to believe nothing I buy will really get under his mom's skin the way I want it to since she's my sister. She bought my daughter a xylophone. Anyway, she's not big on him using a phone, though. He'd probably love Spotify, but his screen time is pretty limited for now. Maybe you're right and something more digital is the way to go anyway."
@joselialopes
who: open | cap reached! where: The Vinyl Countdown when: a weekday afternoon probably
Leo didn't love holiday shopping of any kind. It was a labor of love to pick out gifts for his immediate family, and maybe a couple of select friends and siblings. As it stood, though, most of what he had left on his to-buy list were peripheral relatives: his uncle, three nieces, two nephews, and a work client. It wasn't going smoothly.
"I don't know. Is an eleven year old going to be interested in a record and a record player or is this a waste of time?" He casually asked of the stranger next to him. "This is the blind spot in my shopping."
Theo shook his head. "No, it's my first time doing... This." Paternity. The unthinkable. Even now, so near their due date, it didn't feel very real. "But I suppose it should make things easier, considering it's all I'll ever know. Also, two at a time, I won't have to worry about them being alone, or worry about needing to get them a sibling anytime soon." Theo didn't like the thought of bringing a lone child into the world. As much as he wouldn't like to admit it out loud, having a sister was, for certain, one of the best parts of his life. "How old are your children?"
"Comfort food. That's a good way of putting it. And it's counterintuitive, but the more we grow, the more we need it, right?" Theo scratched his head, then shrugged. "Can you help me with the energy drink? They recently moved my favorite type to a higher shelf." He asked, still mildly annoyed by it. He hated it when stores did that. "I need to get as much work done as possible before they get here."
"Yeah, there's something to that," Leo agreed. "I'm all pre-conceived notions now. If we have more, I'll have to unlearn and then reframe everything each time." His gaze shifted back to the store shelf. Maybe he needed a second jar? "We have a five year old and a one year old."
His chuckle was warm. "It fills its own purpose for sure. It also changes for me depending on my mood." Having never been a big energy drink guy, he didn't keep up on the stocking trends or changes. "Yeah man, sure. Lead the way. I don't even know where they are."
"Thank you," Theo weighed the jar in his hand, then nodded. "Yes. Plural." He still couldn't really believe it, if he was being honest. Even seeing their distinct shapes in the 3D scanner-thing didn't make it any less unreal. "We only have a few more weeks to go---this jar should be just enough." He said, grabbing his wheels and spinning his wheelchair around. "Although I can't blame her, being so addicted to energy drinks myself. I don't even have an excuse as good as hers. I'm Theo, by the way. I figured I should introduce myself before using your height to my advantage once again." He smiled, sticking out his hand.
"Do you have any other children? I only ask because mine were both singles and I'm not sure I can imagine two babies at a time," Leo admitted. He didn't want to be discouraging, though. He knew people did it all the time and thrived. "I'm sure you and your partner will find a groove, though. Just takes time." The comment about energy drinks and excuses made him chuckle. "Yeah, we all have our own hangups. I can't even make an excuse about mine," he said, holding up the smaller jar as some kind of proof even though he didn't know his counterpart. "Comfort food, I guess. Takes me back to simpler times for sure." He reached out his free hand and shook. "Leo. Anytime, man. Happy to share the inches."
Derek chuckled with the other's question, one that could be taken as flirtation. While he was no stranger to being a flirtatious man and couldn't really tell if the other meant it or not, he turned to him with a flash of his own grin. "I'd love to say that I do," he laughed softly, "perhaps I would see more of you if I did? Or is this not your usual watering hole as well?" @leobetancourt
Leo shrugged. "Nah. Not my usual scene. Kind of a homebody these days," he admitted. Though honestly, being at home wasn't terrible at all. He loved it. "Meeting a client, though they seem to be either late or not coming. Where are you normally found, if not here?"
@derekxaranda
"You're kidding. I could color for hours when I was a kid. Or at least more than five minutes, I think." Aspen chuckled as they walked further into the home, bouncing Mac lightly in their arms as they did so. Truth be told, Aspen had never given much thought to having children of their own - partly because the opportunity hadn't ever presented itself as of yet. But they adored their nieces and nephews and was more than happy to spend endless amounts of time with them.
"I guess it could be fine if she's...napping or something..." Aspen spoke thoughtfully, trying to imagine a situation where a child being quiet could possibly be a good thing. "Don't lie though - Elyse most definitely is the boss. She's got you wrapped around her finger." Aspen poked a finger back in Leo's direction. "Or at least she's got me."
"Not too much new going on, really - just been spending time with everyone now that we're all in town again. Plus with the holidays coming up...What do you think Dess wants for the holidays? And what smells so damn good?"
Leo nodded. "Yeah, I was the same way, just with books. When I wasn't the one making it loud, I was reading in some hidden spot for hours." All it took was the right book to grab his interest. Without that, the effort to sit him down or shut him up proved fruitless. He wasn't a lot better as an adult, honestly. "She's just more curious. Wants to know what's up with everything." All he could do was chuckle and sigh fondly. "She does have me wrapped around her finger, but that don't mean she's the boss. Elyse! Baby, your favorite person in the whole world is here, come see!" He called, knowing if she was hiding, an impromptu game that was always on the table, he'd never find her. She was a lot of things and cleverer than he was definitely topped the list. Footsteps happened immediately and he let that soothe him (kinda.) "Yeah, it's been busy that way, hasn't it?" His second sigh was heavier than the first. "I don't know yet. I'm having trouble thinking of what to get her myself." HIs hand found Mac's back. "This is the only one in the family I know what to get, in fact." After a thoughtful second, he was both able to smell dinner and see Elyse bounding toward them. "Slow down, baby," he admonished half-heartedly. "I think we're still in a Jamaican phase. Jerk chicken, rice and beans. I should probably go help."
with anyone @providencepeakstarters
at the frontier foods, 10pm
It was late. Theo looked down at the basket on his lap. Pickles. Now he needed the chocolate spreadānot any chocolate spread. It had to be Nutella. "Do you mind reaching that for me?" He asked the person next to him, pointing at the Nutella jar a couple shelves above him. "It's a matter of life and death, and the wellbeing of my unborn children."
Leo had no real excuse for being on the condiment aisle at 2200, other than he wanted Nutella. It was a craving of his, a carryover from college eating habits when he needed something relatively inexpensive and he used to eat it out of the jar with a spoon. Anyway.
"Nah, not at all," he agreed, doing as requested and then committing himself to just the smallest jar. "Unborn children, plural? Might want a bigger jar, man."
Location: Betancourt House
When: Sunday before Thanksgiving
Closed: Odessa & Leo @leobetancourt
Hazel eyes moved slowly behind closed eyelids that fluttered gently at first but as time passed they started to flicker before turning full-on blinking. A soft moan swept passed the lips of the young woman those hazel eyes belonged to. Her sleep slowly came to an end, fingertips brushed over the smooth skin they were settled upon. The soft beams of light that trickled through the cracks in the curtains gave proof that dawn had come to greet them. The truth screamed at the woman and yet she could only hope it was all an illusion.
Daybreak meant the shattering of serenity Odessa found herself in. Any moment the small body of their little girl would intrude the warmth of the nest her parents had worked so hard all night to create, or incoherent blabbering would come from the monitor resting on their nightstand, dragging one of the pair out from under the covers. Sluggish and yet, calculating the tiny female body shifted inward, pressing closer to the maleās. At the same time, her head lifted from the pillow coming to rest on her husbandās chest. Eyes drooped downward craving more minutes to just be. Seconds later the truth came to light. āThe kids are not home,ā she mumbled sleepily into the manās chest. āMy parents have them,ā she muttered more to herself than the other. āIn that case, donāt move. I want to stay here as long as possible.ā
There weren't many mornings where waking up was somethign to cherish. Not that Leo was typically slow to wake up. While not exactly a morning person, he didn't linger in bed or grumble much when the alarm went off and pulled him into the day. Even when their kids had been small, not that Mac was exactly big or even slept through the night all the time, it hadn't taken him very long to shake off slumber and join the land of the functional.
It was something much slower and warmer than normal this morning. Before his eyes pulled open and before anything like reason found him, his body knew what was happening and his arm slipped around the warm being attached to him. It wasn't their five year old, who connected abruptly with feet and elbows. It wasn't a sound through the monitor like the toddler still confined to his crib. Those things had their charms, but he liked this one more and fought to keep his eyes closed a little longer. He could go back to sleep just like this.
The kids aren't home.
He felt her words as much as he heard them and he relaxed even further. Part of him wanted to joke about making another one because their kids were pretty great. The rest of him, though, wanted to just soak this up for as long as possible. (And didn't necessarily want more kids right now.) "What if I move just a little and it's to kiss you?" He asked, the argument gentle but still an argument nonetheless.
