⎣ glory and gore ⎤

❝ We gladiate but I guess we're really fighting ourselves. Roughing up our minds so we're ready when the kill time comes ❞ Nate Huntington / 32 Detective Port Elisabeth

[natehuntington]

❛ IVANNA DELGADO

ALBI - @elisabethstarters​

Ivanna didn’t want to think about the crumbling pieces her life was currently turning into; not wanting to think about the two that had gotten away. One who had been completely hers and the other who hadn’t been hers to begin with. She didn’t want to think about what a piece of shit person she was for doing what she had done so that’s why she was currently planted in the stool at the bar in the Albi. She exhaled as she picked up one out of the two shot glasses that were placed in front of her. When she felt someone come up next to her, she used her free hand to push over the other shot glass to that person. “Here you go,” she told them, tilting her shot glass in their direction before bringing it to her lips and drinking the shot in one swift motion.

          Most days once his shift was over and done with Nate avoided going home for as long as possible. The emptiness and quiet hurt more than he could really handle, no matter how strong he always appeared to be to any of his friends and colleagues --- his missing daughter was eating away at him. A whole year now of being with out his little angel Danielle and sometimes he got so angry he nearly wanted to tear the walls down of his home. So the best option was usually to hit up the bar or invade his friend’s homes and plant himself on their couches. Tonight the choice was the bar and he immediately noticed Ivanna having her way with some drinks when he stepped into Alibi. “Wow I haven’t even said hi and you’re already trying to get me drunk. My raw sexual magnetism is still that powerful huh?”

[natehuntington]

THURSDAY, 8.06  at THE RICCI RESIDENCE with CONRAD HILL ( @cxnradhill​ )

          “Is Bella home?” Minutes ago he’d walked through the Ricci’s front door and made himself comfortable on their sofa --- complete with his feet up and all. The comfort of companionship had been the driving force in stopping in at his longtime friend’s house, that and... well, maybe his hunger. Nate was off a little earlier in the day this time since he couldn’t sleep as per usual last night and decided to head in earlier this morning. “What’s for dinner?” He loved Conrad like a brother but the powerhouse in the kitchen of this household went to his best friend’s Italian wife, so Nate didn’t exactly trust Conrad in the kitchen. Or himself for that matter. It was a late afternoon that would stretch into evening and night like so many others, where Nate would prolong going home to his empty house and feeling the weight of what was missing once more that much stronger. “So, my baby sister is dating this new dude and...” He settled back further into the sofa cushions. “Do you think it’s wrong if I do a stakeout? You know, just to suss out if this is a guy she should be seeing.” Of course he was expecting his best friend to agree and enable, and would likely be stunned if he got any other response from Conrad. He knew what it was like he had a sister of his own, plus Nate’s little sister had a horrible track record. Allison had the worst taste in men. At least by a big brother’s standards, but there were some issues with mistreatments in the past. “Also, I got hit on like five freakin’ times today.” Pinching his shirt and giving it a little tug at the chest, a smirk grew. “Am I just too sexy in this? Green is a my color, huh?”

[natehuntington]

❛ MILO JOHNSON

It’s late and he is outside one of the local bars with his phone glued to his ear, yelling at the top of his lungs. “I get it Ralph, trust me. But I need you to give me a week to get that for you.” As he does this he wonders how is it that his life has turned into such a disgusting mess. He had wanted to be a police office, work for the FBI, catch the bad guys.  Milo never expected for everything to get this complicated. Sure, undercover work was exciting at first but after years of having to do horrible things it started to wear him down to the point where now he could barely get out of bed without a little help in the form of a white dust. He works a menial job that is not all that satisfying and struggling to make ends meet. Crazy how nowadays he has to worry about getting enough money to pay his bills. “Give me a break, I’ve never been late before. I’m just asking you for a fucking break.” He pauses, rubs his forehead with his fingers and prepares himself for the incoming migraine. “Yeah, one week. Thanks Ralph.” He hangs up, taking a deep breath and placing the phone back inside his pocket and it is then that he realized that he wasn’t alone.

          Generally, Nate paid no attention to people on the phone or in conversations around him. Partly it was an unwritten rule in public to just mind your business as best as you can. But when someone yelled? That was kind of a different story. His detective brain and curiosity piqued at some key things that the male was saying, catching them as cues for nefarious things. There was a big chance Nate was taking simple statements for something they weren’t but he sat there with some suspicion anyway. He took in the appearance of the other, very subtly and generally only in his peripheral, so that if this still bugged him at the end of the day he could look into this guy. “Sucks when the boss can’t cut ya any slack, huh?” Nate spoke casually once the guy was off the phone, making casual conversation with anyone like he normally would. “I’m only curious since you were yelling and I got invested in the drama...” A friendly smile popped up, it wasn’t often that Nate treated someone like a stranger and he wasn’t about to now. Using his natural go-to of humor. “Dude, sit down,” the extension of his hand to gesture to the chair across from him broke up his words, “have a beer and let it go. Yeah?”

[natehuntington]

❛ LYDIA KINGSTON

     Burning liquor served as a pick-me-up for the woman who had travelled for the best part of forty-eight hours to return to the island; a two-week camp out on the east coast of Canada had done her dirty with the no alcohol policy, one she personally held a grudge against. It made her weak against the attack of tequila, a spirit she would usually dominate in a fixture of sittings. Tonight though, she was running on empty and playing a game — One shot, one secret, a deal sealed by the shake of a hand and the promise that she would go first. “Fuck, ok— I’ve had chlamydia, twice.”

          Too often Nate found himself sitting at a bar at the end of the day. Anything was better than going home to an empty, quiet house and facing the reality of Danielle not being there. He had control, he wasn’t getting fall down drunk every day but it’d be a lie to claim that the alcohol didn’t help to soften the edges. “Okay --- what?” After the shake of hands, Lydia was so quick to blurt out her secret then drown it in a shot that it hadn’t quite registered what exactly she confessed. “Oh,” it hit him, “chlamydia twice, huh? Is this recent, or --- did you just have some wild college days?” Knowing it was going to be his turn, Nate’s fingers gripped the shot available for him. “One time when I was grilling steaks for a bunch of friends I had over I dropped them all on the ground.” A shrug of his shoulders broke up his words. “I just rinsed them, put some more rub on them and everyone ate ‘em up.”

[natehuntington]

❛ CELESTE SWAROVSKI

The days after a wedding is just as exciting as the days leading up to it. Reviewing their work, reliving the moments, it was one of the best parts of it all. But this wedding, however, was slightly different. The mishap did not come from Celeste’s team –– they rarely do –– but it was the groom and her photographers captured them well for memories’ sake. “Oh God,” Celeste sighed, palming her forehead before swiping through the subsequent photos on her iPad. The groom was sitting on the floor with a nosebleed that did not come off his shirt entirely throughout the ceremony. “They had a dancing entrance at the chapel and the groom fell and broke his nose,” she cringed a little, showing them the picture. “He had a bloody shirt the entire ceremony.”

@elisabethstarters​

          Unable to resist, Nate leaned forward and somewhat looked over her shoulder to look at the photos on her iPad as she spoke and told what had happened. “Ahh, yeah... not everyone’s got great legs like these.” Absently and with a smirk on his lips his palm met the side of his thigh for a few pats. Obviously Nate was exaggerating, he could dance but he wasn’t so good that he should’ve been bragging. This was him and his humor though. “Wow, so... how’d it break?” A nod of his head accepted her further explanation that the groom likely wasn’t getting any deposit back on his tux. Not with the amount of blood. “They’re not trying to blame you or anything are they?”

[natehuntington]

❛ REBECCA MAYNE

@elisabethstarters​

“God, what a day. I’ll take a whiskey. On the rocks.” Rebecca attempted her best to hold back a sigh as she saddled up upon the bar-stool. Throughout work the whole day, her mind had been absent – unable to focus on anything at all. And now? It was official – the divorce papers freshly signed and yet the reality of it all hadn’t sunk in yet. Even now, she stared down at her hand, still unsure of why she was even still wearing the ring. Perhaps she’d been holding onto that last shred of hope that something would’ve changed but now that was all gone. “Consider it a tip. I mean – that’s if you really want it.” She pulled the shimmering diamond off her finger although her voice sounded somewhat serious rather than joking. After all – what the hell was she going to do with it now, anyway? 

          The most Nate could muster was a nod --- it had been a day. It all started with only having been able to get two hours of sleep, then pushing his carcass around all day working. Crime wasn’t astronomically high but there was a big investigation going on. What’s more, still, even after a year of no results, Nate spent his free time --- however that was constituted --- looking for Danielle. He sipped on his beer in silence for a while longer, his usually conversive nature dimmed tonight, until... “Alright, nah, you don’t wanna do that.” Hand covering the wedding ring, Nate pulled it back toward the brunette. “Pawn it or something, then do something with the money.” One thing he knew was that end of the road feeling, that hopelessness that settled in, and the worst thing was acting out in a way that could cause regret.

[novillanelle]

[natehuntington]

❛ MICHAEL OTIS

     “Oh but I think we should talk about it,” Mike fired back with a light laugh. “We don’t look the same,” he defended. It wasn’t true, they were identical twins with some minor differences in build and if one of them wore their hair and facial hair different, but over all and beyond that they were fairly indistinguishable. The retired marine just couldn’t see it given his awareness and lifetime of knowing the differences. Still, it was fun to give his friend a hard time. “Glad you’re havin’ a great time… I wasn’t all that worried of that, ya know?” The blond glanced around, seeing if he could spot Nate’s date but to no avail. “Yeah the bridesmaids had a real busy day. A bit more work than all of us had to do… but you’re seriously gonna make a girl with tired feet dance. You’re cruel man. Come on, let’s get a drink and join this drunky level. I got fuckin’ married today.” He laughed some and his hand clapped onto the back of the detective’s shoulder. “Thanks for everything though, brother. Means a lot to have ya here and apart of all this.”

          “I think you should shut it before I shut you down.” Not that Nate would ever and he doubted that he actually could ever. The man and friend he looked up to was the elite of the elite and he knew better than to test himself against that. Plus, there was that whole thing about them being friends and Nate only playing around anyway. Thankfully Michael knew his sense of humor. “You’re identical twins you fuckwad. Yeah you do look alike.” A laugh broke up his words and he shook his head. “Of course I’m gonna make Anna and her tired feet dance. I’m not as nice and gentlemanly as you Mike, it’d do you some good to remember that.” Again, thankfully, his friend knew he was playing around. If anything he assumed his role tonight was piggyback guy when Annabel couldn’t hack it anymore. “Alright, alright... you don’t have to tell me twice.” Walking along with Mike he breathed a bit of chuckle out and tried to deflect the sentiment some. They weren’t the sappy type, they always brushed these sorts of things off. “You did and I’m glad you noticed, I was starting to get worried with how spacey you look.” Then he simply nodded and returned a pat to the back of the groom’s shoulder. “You know I wouldn’t miss this party. The invitation did say open bar....”

[natehuntington]

❛ BRIAR SKOVGÅRD

LOCATION: nuts & bolts car garage WHEN: monday, may 18th WHO: open ( @wilmingtonstarters​ )

           “Seriously?” Briar couldn’t help the bitter disbelief in her voice. “What? You think just ‘cause I’m a girl, I don’t know the basics of my car? It needs an oil change not a new engine—- it’s like two years old. I was here last week specifically to ask about the price, I know how much that should cost. You can’t just try and upsell me for no reason.” Briar was no mechanic and there was certainly a multitude of things she didn’t know when it came to cars. She’d easily admit such. However, that wasn’t to say she knew absolutely nothing. Sure she didn’t know how to change her own oil, but she knew her car didn’t need anything more than just that. So when the new mechanic began spouting off about how it was in dire need of a new engine and the exorbitant price of the oil change itself, she could practically smell bullshit. After all, it wasn’t the first time the blonde had encountered someone like him and it wouldn’t be the last. But as he began to argue once again, she couldn’t help but turn in frustration to the unlucky company nearby. “Do I look like an idiot to you? Because clearly this man thinks I do and I’d like to know if he has a reason.”

          There was absolutely no way for Nate to avoid eavesdropping on the argument going on between Briar and the desk clerk at the garage. Usually he didn’t butt into these sorts of things because, well, he didn’t want to. Mostly it was due to the fact that the blonde could for sure handle herself and the jackass kind of deserved to be told off for thinking he could take advantage like that. When women came into garages these guys saw dollar signs for whatever reasons, as though their prices weren’t posted right there on the damn wall right behind the counter. When he was, of course, invited into the conversation Nate inwardly groaned and balked for a moment. “Well, I mean ---- it’s kind of rude to ask me to be honest about that right now.” Why was the first thing he always jumped to, no matter what, jokes? “I don’t wanna embarrass you in front of this guy, Briar.” Stepping up to the counter beside her then, small smirk in place as he glanced down at her, then turning a serious look to the mechanic. Nate let out a sigh. “Are you doing it again?” A nod broke up his words as he curled his finger for Travis to come a little closer. “We talked about this, didn’t we? Remember when I said it’s against the law to inflate prices so that you could get that new riding lawn mower? Was it the John Deere? Anyway... can you just hurry the hell up and make this right, and fair, because she owes me lunch and I’m starving.”

[natehuntington]

❛ OAKLYNN BECKETT

“I am telling you this place is haunted.” Lynn was positive that much was true. It was also probably the reason that her grandmother had will her the place at the start. Somehow she had managed to get Nate to agree to spend the night over to prove that she was right and not insane. She handed him a beer as she came back into the living room, determined to not come off as crazy as she sounded, “At 3 a.m. there are noises that come out from the basement and then all my portraits are turned upside down – not to mention that my dog keeps barking into thin air. On top of buying a bridesmaid dress for Julianna’s third wedding I am going to be homeless.” The woman didn’t have any money to rent a place, sure she had some savings but right now that was being spent on her car that kept on shitting on her and not to mention her mother’s trips to the hospital. “Also last night I heard it say that I am going to end up alone, so I think it might be my mother’s future ghost coming back to haunt me.”

@natehuntington​

          “Haunted.” Still, he wasn’t all that clear on how in the hell Lynn had convinced him to stay the night. It could’ve been the offer of beer and likely dinner, to which he gladly accepted the bottle she offered him and twisted the cap off. “Well, I’ll tell you what. I’ve watched enough Ghost Adventures to know how to manage this situation.” While he was pretty sure Zak Baggins didn’t drink on the job, Nate too a generous gulp of his beer and began moving closer to Oaklynn has he spoke, absently gesturing with his free hand as he did. “First, we’re gonna need some tighter shirts and baggier jeans. Second, we’re gonna have to get really dramatic with every fucking sound we hear ---- like teenage girl dramatic when she was playing Bloody Mary. Third and most important, we’re gonna have to tough talk the shit out of these ghosts. That’s how you deal, we might get some scratches but from what I’ve seen of Zak, and he’s never wrong, is that they don’t like when you bring the fight right to them They’re cowards.” He was talking so much bullshit and he knew it yet couldn’t stop himself either. If anything, the night might turn out fun. Most of the time those shows were hoaxes so Nate actually wondered if someone was messing around with Lynn. “She’s getting married again? Jesus ---- they’re gonna have to put a cap on the amount of times one person can get married, I swear. But also, come live with me.” Shoulders shrugged as if that wasn’t a huge offer. Why would he leave a friend with nowhere to sleep? Or live, in general. “I’ve got a whole house to myself so I’ve got plenty of space. It’ll give you some time to save some money too.” Again, he shrugged not wanting to make a big deal of it. “Good lord ---- well now I’m afraid what she’s gonna say about me if she was that honest about you.” Never could he resist a chance to tease.

[natehuntington]

❛ CALVIN MCCOY

                      “You want me to answer that honestly? S’cause something tells me that might hurt your feelings, Nate.” The captain jabbed back with a smug smirk approaching the corners of his mouth, unable to resist it. While the banter with Nate was easily tossed in his direction, well, Calvin had also been pretty damn good with having quick wit and a rapid mouth. More often than not that mouth had earned him a deck to the jaw but it had been all in good fun with the fellow detective. “You’re so fucking needy, Huntington. What, now Mike’s off hitched, you gotta come latch onto me? C’mon, there’s gotta be some brunette around here that you can steal some time with.” Calvin teased when he popped a horderves in his mouth, chewing thoroughly before swallowing. “You’ve got my attention for about ten minutes before I steal that girl from that head table to take her home and get that dress off of her.” He chuckled, then brought his beer to his lips. “That suitable for you?” 

          “I’m a grown man I can take it.” Too amused, Nate kept going, always curious just how far he could push these little moments with Calvin. “I think it might hurt you hurting me than me being hurt over you trying to hurt me.” Blues eyes darted to one side, contemplating and going back over his words in his head to be sure that made sense. When it got confusing he shook his head and quickly tried to move on before his friend and captain could figure it out. “Well... I need somebody too, McCoy. You ever think of that? I feel sorry for Caleigh if this is how stingy you are with your love and affection.” It was hard, even for him, to keep a straight face as this particular banter went on. “Don’t act like I haven’t always been latched onto you anyway. Why are you always trying to deny me? You can’t just keep using me for only when you need me, it goes both ways.” That ---- well, that earned them a couple of looks and Nate scrunched up his face in quiet laughter. They needed their own telenovela series. Complete with slaps. “Why brunette? I’m equal opportunist. I’m killin’ all the ladies tonight.” Attention directing to the head table, Nate really couldn’t resist that setup. “Uhh, you know Mike will fucking kill you... best friend or not. You better not run off with the bride. Matter of fact, I’d put more money on Caleigh than Mike to tear you apart.” Then, in that moment, he caught Mike and Zach standing together once again and shook his head wishing they’d stop doing that. It was tripping him out to see double. “Besides, you really shouldn’t paint that kind of picture to another man, Cal. Not when your girlfriend is that freakin’ h----” Foot immediately in mouth, Nate cleared his throat and corrected himself. “...beautiful.” Of course, Calvin’s question brought about a shake of Nate’s head. “No way. Are we gonna dance?”

[natehuntington]

SMS → SHAY.

SHAY: Oh... Nate. My god, really?

SHAY: Sorry, it just doesn’t seem real. A year.

SHAY: How are you holding up?

SHAY: That’s a stupid question. Yeah, I can meet you. Where are you headed?

NATE: Yeah... really.

NATE: I'm not doing too great and I'm getting lost on what to do. I'm really worried because anything I've done or thought of has turned up nothing and truthfully... I'm really scared what that means.

NATE: The one closest to my place. Thanks, I appreciate it.

[natehuntington]

❛ NAOMI OWENS

                       "Oh, I see it. I’m pretty sure everyone else sees it too. I’d be cautious who you dance with after the bouquet toss, ‘cause you might just be next, Nate.” Naomi hummed out and nudged the side of the groomsman beside her. It was nice to be able to mess around and tease him like he was her own brother and perhaps that was what Naomi had to look forward to now that she had legally blended her life with Michael’s. Nonetheless, it was definitely an exciting prospect to think about. Both Naomi and Michael loved the idea of an extended family. “Oh, please. You think I didn’t come prepared?” Naomi then bend down and lifted the skirt of the reception dress to gesture to the pair of boots she traded her heels in for nearly thirty minutes ago. “Sweetheart, I can say the same to you.” Laughing softly, the brunette twisted around and followed the gaze that Nate pointed out, shaking her head when she found the two brothers standing side by side. “I’ve witnessed years of women fainting at my man. From both his looks and the fact that he would easily stand in front of a bullet for a stranger. Even when I couldn’t do or say a thing…” That part was a little painful, but alas… “I’d say have at ‘em. I don’t blame them.”

          “Funny story, fam... I could catch the garter and the bouquet myself and I still wouldn’t be next.” The reason? Nate had baggage and was working through the grief of a missing daughter no matter how much he joked and appeared in good spirits. Plus, he generally didn’t believe that he was fit for anyone. At least not now. With a glance down at Naomi’s boots, he shook his head and tsked at her. “You could be in crocs right now and I’m still willing to bet that your feet are going to be tired as hell by the end of the night.” A warm little feeling came over him as the brunette and new pseudo sister-in-law called him sweetheart, he always liked that. Yet again he shook his head, feeling awfully defiant. “Nah, I mean, I’ll get on the floor a few times but Jonathan is kind of showing everyone up out there.” His eyes momentarily drifted to Mike’s dad tearing it up and chuckling fondly at the sight. If only his dad had been that cool. Suddenly things turned a little serious and Nate’s gaze glued to the brunette beside him. Decidedly he tossed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her comfortably into his side. “Well, they’re both married now. And we don’t need to see you smack a bitch at your own wedding.” Still thinking on the stand in front of a bullet comment, the extent of Michael’s sacrifices and heroism were amazing. “How’re you doing?”

[natehuntington]

SMS → SHAY.

NATE: Well... it's been a year now.

NATE: An entire year.

NATE: SOS.

NATE: Can you meet up for a drink?

[natehuntington]

If you had a choice, what would your last ever meal be and why?

          “Barbecue and then peanut butter fudge for dessert.”

honesty hour.

[natehuntington]

Would you go with aliens if they beamed down to Earth?

          “Nah... when I say I want to travel it’s never been an otherworldly destination.”

honesty hour.

[natehuntington]

How do you feel about Riley?

          “She’s the little sister of one of my best friends and someone I look up to quite a lot but... I feel like she’s someone I can talk to. She’s got a great sense of humor and she’s a real comfort. We’ve gotten a bit... close and I’d definitely like to get closer.”  @rileyotis

honesty hour.