Golden Boy

Lucas Hale, 31, Paramedic, Fathergolden child, lion boy; tell me what it’s like to conquer. fearless child, broken boy; tell me what it’s like to burn.

[lucaskumar]

Determination to win not for himself but for his five year old had taken up so much of his focus, it had left him almost blinkered to the world around him. Time and time again he put his money into the claw machine before eventually gave up. Upon turning around he realised that he had something of an audience and sheepish smile was sent there way just in case he’d kept them waiting. “I’m telling you, this thing is rigged.” Pointing over his shoulder as if to prove his point, he shook his head with playful ruefulness. “I just wasted a tenner trying to win that bear for my five year old and didn’t even come close.” 

[lucaskumar]

C A S S A N D R A :

Wondering around while lost in thought was an unfortunately frequent event in Cass’s life. More often than not she was thinking of song lyrics, or about one of the horses, or her friends, or a million other things that flitted through her mind, like the new carton of ice cream she had in her freezer. So it should have come as no surprise when her toes caught the edge of a loose chunk of sidewalk, sending her stumbling forward and into another person with a muffled ‘oof’. Jerking herself upright, she took a step back mumbling an apology while pushing her curls out of her face. “No chance you can pretend you didn’t see that, huh….” she mused with a hint of humor in her voice, looking up to see which unfortunate soul had had the misfortune to encounter her today.

Just as he was about to take a much needed sip of coffee, a foreign body collided with his own and sent the hot liquid into a new home on his shirt. Instead of getting even remotely frustrated, he shook his head for teasing tones left his lips. “The coffee on my shirt is going to be pretty hard to explain to my daughter without your part in the story.” In typical fashion Lani had begun questioning any stains that appeared on his clothes with mock exasperation, mimicking the way that he did with her. Then came the inevitable chiding if his answer wasn’t deemed good enough. His joking put aside, he cast a glance over the women, paramedic training and concern kicking in almost before he could help himself. “Are you okay though?”

[lucaskumar]

A M I R A :

Amira motioned to the bartender for another round, before turning back to the person sitting on the stool next to her.  “Honestly, I forgot what these journalism networking things were like: one big circle jerk.” She sighed with a roll of her eyes before draining the last few dregs of her drink, in desperate need for a taste of her own little oblivion after that shit show.  “Honestly it worries me about the future of journalism and press in general.  You’d think people who are supposed to be telling the masses what’s happening in the world wouldn’t be so ignorant, but you’d think wrong.” she huffed, trying and failing to keep herself from continuing to rev up her own anger and displeasure at the entire situation.  “You should have heard the questions I got after telling people I was a foreign correspondent in the middle east.  Ridiculous.”  She gave the bartender a grateful nod as he slid her next drink in front of her.  Turning to her drinking partner once more she raised her glass in cheers.  “Well, I did meet some of the most insufferable people…But they also met me.  Sláinte!”

Amusement coloured his features as the brunette spoke, finding her flood of words endearing rather than overwhelming. He couldn’t claim to know much about the event that she was referencing - there were rarely anything of that equivalence in his line of word - but enough of it rang true for him to get the jist of it all. “Ignorance in our journalists? Who’d have thought.” Grin tugs at his lips after he feigns surprise for a few moments. It was all too easy to read things online these days and take them for fact and he sometimes wondered whether the authors of such thing believed them to be true. “But then again, with all that fake news getting everywhere, maybe should have seen it coming.” Head shook at her next comment, finding it impossible to believe anyone could find her infectious enthusiasm the least bit insufferable. “Somehow I don’t think that’s a fair trade off.” Obligingly he took a swig from his own drink already knowing he was barely prepared for whatever the night ahead held in store. “Sláinte.” 

[lucaskumar]

A I S L I N G :

ruairí was her entire life, and aisling made sure everyone knew. as much as she loved the bakery and her work, he would always be her priority, and as much help as iain and mary were, he was still her son and she cherished those few and far between moments where it was just the two of them. spending time with lucas was always so comforting; no one could understand her situation quite as well as someone who shared it. aisling chuckled, but shook her head. “quite the contrary, i think it makes you a great dad. we’re giving them fresh air, exercise, and socialization,” she reasoned. a vague gesture at their surroundings and a grin cast his way accompanied her words, but aisling knew what he meant and shared the same worry. “ru, get away from there!” watching her son turn guiltily to look at them before returning back to the playground, she huffed a sigh. “peace, right.”

Parenting was far from easy and he knew that he’d be learning new things about being a father for the rest of his life. But as with most other things, it had come to him pretty easily and while there were hard times they were mostly fleeting and easily eclipsed by the love he had for his daughter. That didn’t mean that there weren’t still plenty of moments of exasperation and him being endlessly thankful for someone like Aisling who understood it all without him having to explain anything. “Ticking so many boxes in one go - does this make us one of these super parents who have it all that I keep hearing about?” He chuckled, wondering if all of those stories he heard had any truth to them or maybe that’s just what happened when you weren’t alone in parenting. “Hope you weren’t encouraging him, Lani.”  Stern look was given to his daughter when he knew she could be a bit of a ringmaster, happily leading others astray in the name of fun. “Let’s face it, peace is long gone from our lives.” 

[lucaskumar]

L O G A N :

Logan sat at the dinning room table in her pajamas clicking away on her phone as she tried to answer the countless emails that she still in her inbox. When she heard Lucas’ voice she looked up from her current one, she shrugged. “I mean do Cheetos count?” She asked. If there was one thing Logan loved it was junk food, while she tried to not eat like a teenage boy who video gamed all day, she still was addicted to most of the foods. “I’ll be honest I don’t think there’s anything I really need to add to the list right now. If I think of something I’ll just stop by the shop on the way home and pick it up.” Raising an eyebrow when he said he was going to start some meals. “What’s on the menu for this week?”

Grin sparked up over his features at her suggestion, chuckle leaving him before he  “They do as long as you share.” As she continued, he nodded in understanding when he knew that his sister was more than capable of fending for herself. “No problem.” As he looked over his list, pen tapped against the pad slightly. “I’m thinking some hot pot for later in the week when I’m working late - it can just be heated up. I have an evening off in between shifts when I’ll do fajitas, Lani likes helping with those. The rest I’m still debating.” Light shrug was given when he knew inspiration would eventually come to him before he looked back to her for one more decision. “What take out do you fancy on Friday?” 

[lucaskumar]

N I C K :

Nick chuckled amused, “Yeah, it’s nice to meet you but I’m having a sandwich induced spiritual experience here, no offense, and I’m eating the Korean Gangster, when I read the ‘slutty sauce’ un the description I just had to find out what it was all about.”

The name of it earned a chuckle from him, never ceasing to be amazing at the creativity of others. “That’s some name for a sandwich. And with a description like that I’m not surprise that you couldn’t resist.” Gaze drifted back to the menu before flicking back to Nick, still undecided about just what he would get. “Have you tried any of the others?”

[lucaskumar]

 S O P H I E :

Sophie was glad that Lucas was a pretty good guy, because she knew that if the roles were reversed she would never let the poor guy live it down. She grinned as he greeted her, using the same greeting as she had with him, “well I do have that effect on people,” she grinned. When he offered her something she smiled, “a coffee would be great,” she grinned, “black, no sugar,” she added.

There had always been an ease between the two of them as it wasn’t a stretch to assume that she made other people feel likewise. “Of course you do.” Brow raised at her, grin forming on his features once more as he couldn’t help but make one of those jokes he’d only started to not cringe at since having a daughter. Turned out dad jokes were a genuine side affect of being a father. “Oh you’re sweet enough are you? Coming right up.”

[lucaskumar]

Z A H R A :

she was french enough to always be on the wrong side of on-time, but also far too afraid of turning out like her dad to to ever been late-late, so zahra had turned up a little while ago - spending her time scrolling through instagram and pretending like she wasn’t checking if a certain person had watched her insta-story. ( they hadn’t. ) “ oh, finally - i was about to eat my phone, ” she joked, grinning widely at lucas as he offered his apologies. they hadn’t been friends for the longest time - and okay, fine, she hadn’t told him the whole truth about herself. but then again, how was someone supposed to drop their father’s criminal empire into casual conversation? was there a greeting card to break the news? maybe that was a lucrative business just waiting to happen. “ the dad jokes have started,” zahra said, scrunching up her nose at the lameness, but smiling anyway. “ what happened to the last sitter? ”

The smile on his features only grew wider as she joked in response to his apology, humour going a long way to letting him know there was no hard feelings. “Good job I got here just in time then - pretty sure it’s got the wrong kind of chips in it.” Joke rolled of his tongue easily, barely managing to keep a straight face as he delivered his next practised dad joke. “Hey, I’ve gotta start with them early or it’ll end up past my bedtime.” Shoulders rolled into a shrug, never keen to make a big thing out of whatever struggles he face being a parent. He knew there was no shame to any of it but he’d always felt as though he had something to prove. Whether it was to anyone else or just himself he was never really sure. “Other commitments I guess. I think I’ve found another one but Lani is stubborn and doesn’t get used to people all that easily. We’ll see tomorrow whether they ended up friends or mortal enemies.” 

[baawri]

[lucaskumar]

There was always something to be done even after his shifts and even though he had his sister to help out, sometimes it still felt like there weren’t enough hours in the day. Frown had settled onto his features as he painstakingly added more items to his online basket in preparation for the week ahead. Busy checking it over, he couldn’t shake a nagging feeling that he’d missed something important off it. “Is there anything else you want added to the list?” Glance was shot as his sister, grateful to be able to take his eyes away from the screen for a moment. “I’m going to do get it delivered as I should be around tomorrow. Get the food and then start some meals.”

@logankumar​

[lucaskumar]

N I C K :

Nick was saving up as much money as he could, he truly was, but the only thing he never, ever, spared any money was when it came down to food, it had been the thing he had missed the most and he had decided to eat out a couple of times a week and try as many new places as he could. He was in a sandwich restaurant and he hadn’t expected much from it, he truly hadn’t but he had been pleasantly surprised and so he was wolfing down his sandwich, he turned to grab the napkin next to him and notice someone staring at him, he didn’t know if it was because they just were lost in thought and happened to be looking at him or if they were grossed out by his eating but still he smiled at them and shrugged. “It’s so good, so good.” He said taking a breath and reminding himself to slow down. “I’m sorry you had to see that… I guess I was more hungry than I thought I was, I’m Nick and despite what it may seem like I wasn’t raised by wolves.”

Usually he didn’t have much time for indecisiveness, instead going with his tried and true favourites or picking something entirely random. Today though, he had an extra five minutes on his hands and wanted to make a more calculated decision. Gaze drifted over the other customers before settling on one more who seemed to be enjoying his choice the most. Hands raised in a gesture of mock surrender, quick to claim innocence in the case of finding fault in the other man’s behaviour. “No judgement here.” If anything he found it pretty relatable when he was almost certain that’d be him whenever he decided on what he wanted. It seemed pretty obvious to him that he should give whatever Nick was eating a go. “Just a little bit of jealousy - what you got in that?” Head nodded towards the sandwich in the other man’s hands, good natured smile hovering on his lips as he introduced himself. “Lucas. I’d hold out my hand but yours seem pretty occupied right now.” 

[lucaskumar]

Lateness had never been a trait he’d particularly liked and he had always been someone who’d been pretty punctual ( but not too punctual ) except being a father tended to derail even his best laid plans to be on time. Spotting the familiar brunette, he headed over with an apology already spilling from his lips. “I am so sorry I’m late.” He shrugged his coat off, continuing to explain the delay in his arrival as he did. “Lani just wouldn’t settle with the new sitter and I know I maybe should have texted but I figured I just be better getting here.” Apologetic smile was flashed at her before he continued. “Not quite mastered that whole texting and walking thing yet.” It wasn’t quite true when he had slowly developed a knack for multitasking, though texting did undeniably slow his speed while walking, but he hoped the joke would help make up for his lateness somewhat. Or at least make her laugh.

@zahrahashemi​

[lucaskumar]

E L Y S E :

“I’m one of the best god damn neurosurgeons in this country and he had the audacity to tell me I only got here because of my fathers name?!” Elyse exclaimed, and if looks could kill.  An important and well known patient  had asked for another surgeon simply because she was a woman, and when she had told him while it was his decision to make, that she had a record in the hospital. That’s when he told her he knew her and her family, and that she wouldn’t have gotten as far as she had without her father and his name. “Fuck” she says, finishing off the rest of her gin and tonic, and sighing “I need another drink, and keep them coming, please” she says, tapping her fingers on the  bar top anxiously. 

Lucas didn’t date, or at least hadn’t dated since his wife had left him. Tonight would have been the exception, finally giving in to an incessant coworker about how much he and her cousin would suit one another. Except his date had failed to show and he had been about to leave when a somewhat familiar voice caught his attention. Footsteps halted at his colleague's words, frown building on his features as he listened to the injustice of it all. “Let me get that for you, Dr Montgomery.” It was hardly unusual for him to be generous with his coworkers but on this occasion the offer was made even more readily than usual. No one deserved to have their talent and skill questioned after all. “Now I don’t think you should give an idiot any more time but if you want to talk about it some more I’m here. Or I have a couple of funny stories I can use to distract you.”

[lucaskumar]

Between shifts, general household upkeep and looking after Lani, he rarely got to spend quality time with her let alone socialise too. That was way their weekly trips to the park to meet Aisling and Ruairí had become such a fixture. Gave the kids that time to play and interact with each other, as well as the two parents some time to decompress as well as share stories of the less fun parts of parenting. “Does it make me a bad dad if I say that this is one of my favourite parts of the week?” Grin was flashed a her as they walked around the edge of the playground, gaze fixed on his daughter as he leisurely put one foot in front of the other. “Promise it’s not just because we get a couple of moments of peace.”

@aislinged​

[lucaskumar]

V A L E N T I N O :

☼ —  ❝ This — ❞  Val began with an emphatic nod toward the warm ceramic bowl he held out in an offer ,  ❝ — happens to be a very secret Solís family recipe , I will have you know , passed down for many , many generations before it was finally shared with me . ❞ A fond smile tugged lightly at the corners of his lips as he shared the rich and time - honored origins of the meal in question .  ❝ When I was younger , every time I would fall under the weather , my abuela would go all the way into the city — a trip that usually took her the better part of a whole day , mind you — and she’d go to the market street with her quilted cloth bag and she’d gather all ingredients she needed to come home and make me this sancocho that night . And she swore by its healing properties — well , not really , she was a Catholic , but you understand my point . Whether it worked or it just tasted good , I can’t recall, but as I got older , I learned that it also makes for a wonderful hangover remedy . ❞ An almost mischievous smirk found his features amid the reminiscence at that — it was the truth , and a truth he’d come to take whole and sincere advantage of in his adult years . Many a morning after a long night of drinking have been spent in front of the stove of his small studio flat , chopping vegetables and simmering broth .   ❝ Anyway , since I heard you weren’t feeling great today , I thought maybe it might help ? I’m no cocinero , but I think it turned out okay .❞

Even in his college days he’d never been much of a drinker. Enough that he enjoyed himself, a healthy buzz but not enough that he ever forgot the evening. In fact there was only one occasion where his memory has completely escaped him and the tales that his friends told him of his antics had been enough for him to vow never to get blind drunk again. ( of course he later found out at least half of the stories had been fabricated, simple pranks, but the feeling had stuck with him enough already by that point ) Now though, as a father, he found himself drinking with even more caution. Which made it all the more ironic that  a handful of beers at the weekend had given him a killer hangover. Or maybe it was just the fact his body was so out of practise with dealing with the effects of more than a couple of pints. He’d been surprised when popping in to see Val had ended up with him being presented with a warm bowl filled with a supposed cure but he was grateful for it. “Oh you heard, huh?” Self deprecating smile tugged at his lips, low chuckle slipping from him at the notion that his being worse for wear was common knowledge. “Well the entire Solís family has my eternal gratitude if this does the trick.” Grateful found its way onto his features. “Thank you for taking pity on me.”

[lucaskumar]

A M I R A :

“Hmmm–” she thought for a moment.  “Or it could be a lie propagated by the establishment in an attempt to discourage.” She said completely seriously, before a hint of a smile tugged at her lips  “But yeah, I supposed I’m okay with it if it goes to charity.” she conceded.  She was still wondering if he had recognized her yet.  She had always had a talent for faces and names, something that came in handy in her line of work.  But she also felt as if a mask didn’t truly hide one’s identity, as there were so many other factors that she could recognize.  The way they held themselves, the way they walked, how they used their hands.  She was an observer by nature, what could she say. – “Well whoever it was is clearly an idiot.  You would’ve looked very dashing in pink.” 

“That darn establishment out to steal all our fun.” Tut clicked from him as he shook his head in mock disapproval at her words before replying with an equally light tone. “But seeing as this whole night is for good causes I’m going to choose to believe there’s no ulterior motives here.” He’d always been someone who saw the silver lining, choosing to believe that the world wasn’t as bleak as everyone liked to make out. It had its issues but that didn’t mean he couldn’t accept that there was some light in it all. “I’ll bear that in mind next time there’s a black tie event and rent myself a pink tux instead. Black and pink is a classic combination, right?” He flashed her a grin, brow raised as he waited for her response to his almost rhetorical question. Gaze flicker over to her once more, an inner debate taking place as he tries to decide just how bold his borrowed mask makes him. “I think green’s definitely your colour.”

[lucaskumar]

S O P H I E :

The first time Lucas and Sophie met wasn’t one of Sophie’s finest moments. She’d fallen over and dislocated her knee, whilst rather messily drunk out with some friends. She’d been her usual cheery self but with some extra slurred words thrown in. Of course he had been fantastically professional but after that moment Sophie had seen Lucas around the hospital and it was rather embarrassing, knowing that he’d seen her like that. Sophie however didn’t hide behind embarrassment, she revelled in it. Her and Lucas didn’t cross paths a lot, given that Sophie worked nowhere near the emergency room and her hospital ran a little differently, but she still enjoyed seeing him when they did. She was at a call out at another hospital when she saw him by the coffee stand. “Oh hello Mister Lucas, how are you on this fine day?” she asked as she approached.

He loved his work. That much always went without saying, but his love for it was a layered thing. Not simply just the job itself that pushed him to roll out of bed at ungodly hours to make his shifts, but the people that he met through it always left a mark. Whether they were patients or coworkers each had their own spot and with Sophie being both, there was no denying a certain amount of fondness was felt towards her. At the sound of her voice he turned, easy smile already on his lips. “A lot better now I’ve seen you, Miss Sophie.” Tilting his head towards the counter he made her an offer, fully intending to catch up with her regardless of whatever answer she gave. “You want something while I’m up here?”