MY HEART IS IN HAVANA

26. front desk at the starlite motel. miami baby. [closed rp blog for the vacancyrp group.]

[mariposalvarez-blog]

Oh damn my bad but uh who has your heart currently?

“My husband...”

[mariposalvarez-blog]

Is your heart really in Havana though?

“As much as it pains me to say it, yes. It is.”

[mariposalvarez-blog]

How can I help?

[mariposalvarez-blog]

jonahcorado:

Jonah smiled but shook his head. “We’re working on manners. Say thanks,” he said again. This time Kylie looked balefully at the woman standing there and said a quiet thank you, clinging to Jonah’s sleeve. He grinned down at her. “Good job.” He turned his gaze back to Mari. “Were you an older sibling?” He wished his parents had had more kids. Besides giving his mom someone else to pin all her expectations on, it might have prepared him for taking care of a kid.

“Older cousin.” She said. “My family’s huge and we all lived pretty close together and we would have get togethers for no real reason, and I had to look after a lot of them.” She smiles fondly thinking of her family back in Miami. “I’m guessing Kylie is your little girl?”

[mariposalvarez-blog]

jonahcorado:

Jonah smiled thankfully at the woman as she approached. Okay, he knew this one. They hadn’t talked yet, but Rocky had pointed her out to him when he had first arrived. “Thank you so much,” he said, patting Kylie’s back gently as the initial sobs petered out into sniffles and whimpers. “They had sugar at school today, so I think she’s crashing.” He held his hand out to shake before remembering the tissues in her hand, pulling back to just a wave.

“I’m Jonah, the new groundskeeper. You’re Mari, right?” He kind of felt like he was treading on eggshells at all times. He’d asked Cora out before knowing that she knew Emma, and he didn’t want to accidentally cause problems between friends by just showing up on the scene. Emma had seemed surprisingly okay when he had run into her, but the last thing he needed was extra drama in his life.

Kylie had recovered enough by this point to remember to be shy around new people. She backed up, staring at Mari from just behind Jonah’s shoulder. “Say thanks, Kylie,” he said, glancing back at her.

“Oh yeah, I heard about you.” Mari smiled and nodded politely. “Yeah I’m Mari, I work the front desk.” She looked over at the little girl, Kylie, and smiled more gently. “You don’t need to say sorry.” She said kindly and looked back at Jonah. “She really doesn’t, I’ve been looking after kids since middle school, this is practically second nature to me.”

[mariposalvarez-blog]

corawinterfell:

“Oh, okay… Thank you.” She didn’t thought it would be easy. “No, no police. there’s no need.”

Mari grimaced when the call to Jimmy went straight to voicemail and she hung up rather than leave a message. “Are you sure? Honestly it would be no trouble, and if whoever did this had malicious intentions and sees the police sniffing around, it could scare them off.”

[mariposalvarez-blog]

atlasbell:

He knew she didn’t mean to, but every word she said grated at him. Hit his ears at the wrong octave, and rubbed him the wrong way. She didn’t know, he told himself. She has no idea what she’s talking about. This is what Atlas continued to tell himself, over and over and over before he finally burst. 

“What makes you think you know how in control I am?” He was fuming, and was surprised there wasn’t steam spewing out of his ears. “This is a normal life. Maybe not to you, but to me it is. Life on the road, making money and putting my sisters through college. I don’t have to it,” his voice is lower and spilling out like poison from a snakes fangs. “I do it because I want to, and I will continue to do it as long as I want to. And no little girl,” he threw those words at her like an insult. “Is going to make me question that.” He stood, trying to back away from her. “You can have your morals, and your ethics, and whatever else you want.” His eyes narrowed on her. “All that shit is subjective, and has nothing to do with me. Whatever you’re projection onto me, stop it.”

Family. She figured that it would have something to do with family, because really the money he made should’ve gotten him out of the motel. It made her empathize with him more. After all how long had she put up with her husband’s life because it meant more money for her family? When it comes to putting your morals first and more food on the table, it isn’t hard to see which one was more appealing. “I’ve overstepped.” She said. “And I’m sorry Atlas, I didn’t mean to upset or offend you. And perhaps I am projecting, who knows.” She shrugged, remaining as calm as ever despite the sadness that was welling up inside. “I’ve said my bit. I can’t tell you how to live your life, only what I think and I’ve done that.” She stood up from her seat as well, nudging it back in with her foot. “I’m not going to tell anyone.” She said in a hushed voice. “Whether or not you believe that is up to you, but I won’t. But if you need anything, anything at all, just ask for Mari at the front desk.” She glances at her watch, and decides that it is well and truly time for bed if she wants to be awake enough for her early shift in the morning. “Goodnight Atlas.” She said while walking away, neon light flickering harshly against her silhouette and partially illuminating her. “Sleep well.”

[mariposalvarez-blog]

atlasbell:

He knew she was only trying to help him, but the insinuation that she knew more than he did about the risks drove him towards the edge. He sat forward in the chair, hands tightening into fists. His lip curled in disgust as he responded. “And what makes you think you know anything about me, or what I gain from this? Sure you know about the money, but do you know the thrill of watching the horse you put it all on hitting the mark? Or watching everyone else lay the favorite, when you know the underdog is going to pull through? It’s not about money, honey.” He paused, leaning back. He knew he was going too far. “It’s about the thrill, it’s about knowing that I’m in control. I’m in charge.” He forced his hands to unclench. He wanted to stand up and walk away, to pack his bags and get away from here. From her. But, he was a gambling man, and he wanted to see this outcome. “I’m in the land of legal gambling. There’s a lot of work involved in proving what I do it illegal.”

“I know more than you think Atlas.” Despite the tension that had arisen, Mari had remained calm. She had expected this kind of reaction and did not take any offense. She knew why people turned to illegal endeavours to make their money, she didn’t like it but she understood it. But she understood the dangers that came with it too. “I know that it can feel good to have a lot of cash on hand. So what if you did it under the table? Money is money is money and these days hardly anyone can afford to turn their nose up at something like that. But there comes a time when you have to step away.” She leaned in a little closer, and lowered her voice to express the urgency she felt. “It isn’t too late for you. You can leave this all behind, have a normal life, before something happens or someone comes along and takes it away from you. No thrill is worth looking up and realizing you’ve let the devil into your life because you were too naive or blind to see him approaching.”

She thinks of a bar in Miami that was popular with tourists and locals alike. She thinks of a young woman, who has barely shed the skin of girlhood, serving drinks that she herself cannot have for another three years. She thinks of a man in a fine suit with a bright smile and a voice like velvet. She closes her eyes. “The control you feel is an illusion.” She says softly. “You’re just another horse on the racetrack, with someone pulling at your reins. No matter how much control you might feel in the moment, it can all crumble beneath your feet and leave you in the dust.” She finally opens her eyes. “Jump the fence and run before that happens Atlas.”

[mariposalvarez-blog]

atlasbell:

“Call me Atlas,” he told her quickly. “The whole ‘Mr. Bell-Bennett’ is getting weird.” He watched her move, looking for a fidget or a tell that she was only half-certain, or maybe an unnatural lay in the fabric of her clothes disguising a wire. His eyes narrowed at her next comment, but he knew she was right. There was no need for the film noir theatrics if he was already damned. That peaked his interest. If she didn’t want him locked away, or his money, what did she want? After a long moment, staring between her and the chair, he sat. Back rigid, arms still crossed. He quickly scanned around them, just as she did, looking for anyone lingering too close. “What do you want from me, if not money?” He asked her eventually. 

“I want you to leave this life alone.” Mari saw no need to beat around the bush now that she has Atlas’s attention. “I know the money’s good, but your luck is gonna run out sooner or later, and when that happens that isn’t going to leave you with a whole lot of options.” She thinks of the men who had worked for her husband, who had gotten cocky, who had been left high and dry once their usefulness had run out. She was fairly sure that Atlas was working alone, but even if he had been in a syndicate or something like that she doubted he would fare any better. “It sounds like you’re not in deep with anyone dangerous, which is a miracle trust me, so you can walk away from this and get an actual job. It might not pay as well but you won’t have to spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder, which is more than a fair trade if you ask me.”

[mariposalvarez-blog]

atlasbell:

He watched her carefully. He knew she worked here, but not her name. If she had been able to see what he was up to, maybe he hadn’t been as careful as he thought he had been. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked out the window she was. He knew his time was ticking, but never thought he’d be brought down by some random girl. Always assumed it would be by someone who had lost too much. Someone who didn’t want to pay up after they had lost everything. “I know what happens to bookies when they’re put away, thank you.” He could have denied it, he could have rolled his eyes and pretended she was crazy. Then he would have had to leave again and he wasn’t ready for that. “How much is your silence worth?” He asked her carefully. “Name a figure and I’ll take care of it.” It was a gamble, but not even the biggest one he had taken today. 

“I’m not interested in your money Mr Bell-Bennett.” She said sincerely. She turned so that her body was completely facing Atlas. When he had first checked in she thought he had seemed like a nice guy, and even now she still thought that, which was why she had to do this. “If I wanted you in prison I would’ve told someone by now, all I want to do is talk.” She stretched her leg out to kick the chair closer to him. “And I think you’ll be far more comfortable if you sit. At the very least we won’t be attracting any unnecessary attention.” She glanced around pointedly. Even though there was barely anyone else around, she still wanted to check. One of the things you learn from being married to a gangster is the importance of paranoia. They can’t get the drop on you if you’re expecting them my love he said, and as much Mari hated to admit it, even to herself, it was sound advice.

[mariposalvarez-blog]

atlasbell:

And Atlas thought he was dramatic. She might as well have turned off all the lights except a lone lamp beside her. “It’s Bell-Bennett,” he corrected. The hyphenation had been an attempt by his mother to keep some part of herself. He felt it important to allow her that.

 “And what exactly would that be, besides going out for a beer?” He looked that the woman for a long moment before slowly making his way towards her. The thought that she truly knew, that the FBI were on their way, were the thoughts that kept him up at night.  His phone chimed, someone trying to place a bet. “I don’t wan’t to sit,” he told her. “But I’ll listen for a few minutes if you insist.” After a moment he added, “I’m never one to deny a woman my company.” He gave a small laugh, but it wasn’t convincing. 

“Bell-Bennett.” She corrected herself. She watched as he approached and she shrugged when he rejected her offer. “Your choice.” She looked back out onto the road, watching the occasional car pass by. “I have to say, Vegas is a good place to make a living as a bookie.” She said casually, as if they were discussing him being a croupier or wedding officiator. “Plenty of people willing to make bets, most of them too dumb or naive to know a good bet from a bad one, which leaves you with a comfortable living.” She hadn’t been able to learn just how much Atlas made, only that it was enough to sniff at. “Until of course someone comes along and blows the whole thing.” She turned to look back at him, right in the eyes, her mouth set in a firm line. “You know how often bookies get booked here? And how they’re treated? I won’t go into details but I’ve heard some stories and I wouldn’t tell any of them to my cousins.” She cocked her head to the side. “Sure you don’t want to sit?”

[mariposalvarez-blog]

@atlasbell

“I know what you’re doing Mr Bennett.” Mari said coolly as Atlas passed by her. It was a cool evening and since she wasn’t working the night shift, Mari decided to hang out in the fresh air, sitting at one of the small tables outside the grill. She had seen Atlas approaching, but didn’t know it was him until he was standing in the glare of the neon light. She kept her gaze focussed ahead, legs crossed and head high in an almost defiant manner.

It hadn’t taken her long to pin down Atlas’s profession. For one, he was making too much money for Mari not to notice. He hid it well, but Vegas isn’t the kind of place where secrets can be kept for long. All it took was a mention of her husband’s name and Mari learned all about the new bookie from Chicago. All things considered, it wasn’t a dangerous profession, not like the drug and gun running her husband partook in, but it was still illegal. She gestured to the chair across from her, almost lazily, looking past Atlas. “Sit. I want to talk.”

[mariposalvarez-blog]

i wanna get back in the swing of things so like this for a starter! and if u want we can plot it out!

[jonahcorado-blog]

Pulling up in the parking lot of the hotel, Jonah reached into the back seat to begin unbuckling Kylie from her carseat. This was made more difficult by her constant squirming. It had been some kid’s birthday and his mom had brought in cupcakes, meaning that Jonah now had to deal with a four year old who was all hopped up on sugar. When he was a kid he had hated his mom for refusing to give him desserts in his lunch, but if this was how difficult to deal with he had been, he didn’t blame her at all.

“Okay, Ky,” he said, lifting her out of her seat and placing her on the ground. “Dad’s got to work with afternoon, so you’re gonna hang out in our room and watch TV.” Probably not the best parenting tactic out there, but it was what he had. “I rented Beauty and the Beast so you can watch that again.” And again and again and again, in all likelihood.

This, apparently, was too much for her. Whether it was the sugar or the prospect of being bored or just her being overwhelmed by life in general, she burst into tears. “Crap,” he muttered. “Ky, calm down.” He knelt beside her and winced at the large bubble of snot that was making its way down her face. He looked up to see someone passing by and called out to them. “Hey, you don’t have any tissues or something, do you?”

[mariposalvarez-blog]

The sound of a crying child was one that was familiar to Mari. Having grown up in a big family with plenty of small children running around, there was always one or two crying over something. As one of the older kids Mari had often been asked to deal with the little ones so that their parents wouldn’t lose their mind. It was a role she hadn’t had to reprise for a while, but it was one that was so lodged in her that a child crying got the same reaction from her that she imagined a code word would get out of a sleeper agent.

Without hesitating she walked in the direction of the child in question, pulling out tissues that she had in her bag. “Come here chiquita.” She said soothingly, kneeling so that she had a better view of the little girl as she gently wiped her face. “Stop crying now yeah? I’m sure it isn’t as bad as you think.”

She looked up at the father, or at least the man she assumed was the father, with an understanding smile. “Rough day?”

[bwttercp]

“I just have a question. Is it normal to people here to find fish in their doors?”  She said in a serious tone, staring at the receptionist in front of her. It was her first day at the motel and something weird like that was happening. Cora wouldn’t have minded if she didn’t thought it might be a threat against her, the girl would have just picked up the fish and threw it away in some dump. But Mark was still around and he always liked playing games. “I wanna talk to the manager.”

[mariposalvarez-blog]

“No not at all.” Mariposa said, equal parts embarrassed and befuddled. “Um, I’ll try and call Mr Cohen.” She picked up the phone and dialed, still eyeing the fish. “If you like I can contact the police as well? You know, just to give you some peace of mind.”

[mariposalvarez-blog]

what up yall it’s cody with a second character lmao. her name is mariposa and she works at the front desk! all her info will be under the cut!

so mariposa (or mari as she likes to be called) was born and raised in miami to cuban immigrants. she grew up in a largely cuban community and she always dreamed of going to cuba. she knew it wasnt paradise but it was where her parents were from so naturally she wanted to see it.

growing up mari was the nerdy one in class, straight As, honor roll, all that jazz, a real credit to her parents. but she was also incredibly shy (yep a painfully shy nerd *miranda priestly voice* revolutionary). she mostly kept to herself and read books alone but she did have a few friends (most of them were also the children of cuban immigrants).

nothing of any note really happened for mari until she graduated high school. she went to the university of miami on a scholarship what up (double majoring in english and latin american studies and minoring classics), and she started working at a bar. during this time she met a guy from cuba. he was suave and handsome and passionate and hooooooo booooooy mari fell hard and fast. they started dating but mari put her education first and she told him that and he respected that. he was constantly going back and forth from miami to cuba but that was fine with both of them. when mari got her masters in all three of her subjects she agreed to marry him and live in cuba.

for a while everything was blissful, despite the poverty that existed in cuba and that her own parents had experienced while growing up, mari lived a life of luxury. her husband was a business man with close ties to the government which meant they had a far better life than the average cuban. but mari did a lot of work for the poor in cuba, advocating for better pay and setting up a charity foundation for them.

ruptures started to appear about a year into the marriage. that was when mari discovered that her husband was actually a gangster and was running drugs and weapons in and out south america to the states via cuba, the whole business man thing was a front. mari tried to reason with herself that it was somewhat ok as her husband also helped people get off the island, and she remained quiet and turned a blind eye.

but things came to a head when mari saw her husband shoot and kill a man in their home. now utterly terrified mari decided to leave. while her husband was in columbia, she fled back to miami and told her family everything. however she didn’t stay long as she feared for their safety so she travelled west, finally settling in nevada.

she now works at the front desk for the starlite motel and is using her maiden name and praying that she will never have to face her husband ever again.