the animal whisperer.

[rafaelxxnavarro]

meet RAFAEL NAVARRO

NATHAN MEYER, the 40 year old VETERINARIAN, who is best known around town as MIRIAM'S EX-HUSBAND. apparently they’ve been living in CANYON CREEK since MAY 2026, and according to word on the street they are NEUTRAL. i’ve heard that they are quite COMPASSIONATE & HESITANT TO ASK FOR HELP, and if their life had a theme song it would be TBD by TBD.

THE DETAILS

BIRTHDAY: january 2, 1986 LOCATION: sedona, arizona in the canyon creek neighborhood (visiting miriam morales) LOCAL STATUS: temporarily arrived as of may 2026 OCCUPATION: veterinarian VEHICLE:  2021 subaru outback touring xt, magnetic gray metallic EDUCATION: cibola high school (2004). colorado state university, bachelor's of biological sciences (2008). colorado state university, doctorate of veterinary medicine (2012)

IMPORTANT RELATIONS

PARTNER/SPOUSE: none. CHILDREN: none NOTABLE RELATIONS: ex-husband to miriam morales (divorced 2022)

PET(S)

none

COMMUNITY

FREQUENTED LOCATIONS: coming soon LIKES: smokey whiskey, strong coffee, breakfast at non-breakfast hours, watching documentaries, weekend road trips, late-night conversations, open windows, being useful, earning nervous animals' trust, mentoring younger clinic staff DISLIKES: passive aggression, overly sweet coffee, loud chewing, seeing animals suffer, cheap tequila, unresolved tension, performative arrogance

TLDR:

born in albuquerque, new mexico on january 2, 1986. he is the oldest of three, having a younger sister and a younger brother.

his father was a skilled trades worker, working a variety of careers over his childhood years. his mother was a compassionate nurse.

rafael had been taking care of his siblings long before he was ever asked to help out. he has always been someone that is naturally dependable.

growing up, he was socially easy. he was friendly, open and the kind of kid that teachers trusted and neighbors liked having around. he wasn't the attention seeking type or loud, but people still gravitated toward him.

animals have always been drawn to rafael and he has alwaysa been drawn to them. as a kid, he used to play with neighborhood stray cats, keep injured birds in the garage and seek out lost dogs for friends and neighbors.

went to colorado state university for both his bachelor's and doctorate of veterinary medicine degree. at csu, he met miriam morales around the age of 22. they were both starting off in veterinary school.

they married a short six months after meeting and began to build a life together in colorado. after they graduated vet school, they stayed in the area to work at a veterinary clinic together. they were the type of couple that balanced one another out. and for a long time, he believed they would grow old together.

rafael wanted children and the topic surfaced early on in their marriage, but hadn't taken long to fizzle out. life rarely became less busy for them and miriam kept kicking the can down the road. he never blamed her and he doesn't resent her, but it did become it's own kind of private grief.

life was never flashy for the two of them but it was theirs. companionship became second nature to them somewhere along the way and he never doubted that miriam was home to him. then maeve died.

after miriam's twin's passing, every unresolved thing in their marriage became smaller than her loss. grief hollowed miriam out and he watched the woman he loved become unreachable in ways he didn't know how to fix.

rafael did his best to support her, but he also threw himself further into work and routine when he no longer knew what to do. when she asked for a divorce once year after maeve's death, he didn't fight it because he thought letting her go was the kindest thing he could do.

they've remained amicable over the years of their divorce. they stayed in contract after, almost instinctively. the shape of their relationship has changed but it has never disappeared entirely.

after the divorce, he moved and began to work for the next several years as a relief veterinarian in the southwest and western states. he took temporary contracts at clinics and the lifestyle suited him more than he ever thought it would.

over the last few years, rafael has dated occasionally and genuinely tried to build a life outside the one he previously shared with miriam. however, nothing has fully rooted but not because he was hopelessly stuck in the past.

officially his arrival in sedona is meant to be temporary. unofficially, he isn't sure what comes after this.

HEADCANONS;

still reaches instinctively for his phone to text miriam when something funny or interesting happening before

incredibly good with nervous animals specifically because he never forces interaction. he patiently waits them out until they come to him.

he will overwork when emotionally overwhelmed. long clinic hours, extra shifts, paperwork at midnight. the productivity becomes emotional avoidance for him

rafa wanted children more than he ever admitted aloud. sometimes he catches himself thinking what his kids with miriam might have looked like.

he keeps surprisingly domestic habits like folding laundry immediately and keeping spare blankets around for guests 

rafa falls asleep on couches constantly because of years of clinic schedules and they permanently ruined his ability to maintain normal sleep habits

rafael is terrible at recognizing when he needs something emotionally until he’s already exhausted by it

goolge doc

[nevermindcrs]

𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐧𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨 ( @rafaelxxnavarro ) — 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲'𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 !

it was nearing two in the morning, but the only person she trusted more than herself to care for moose was the man who'd answered after the second ring. he'd woken her up to go outside and when he'd came in, he'd refused to put any weight on his back left paw and when she'd examined it, he'd yelped. "he's in the kitchen. i'm sorry, i think i overreacted," she explained, the panic in her voice now faint. she knew she looked tired and she saw it on him too, but in true rafa form, he'd shown up, regardless of the hour. "like i said over the phone... it's not like him to wake me up in the middle of the night. he went out like he normally does and when he came back in, he refused to put weight on it. i tried to look at it and he yelped. i just... i need a second opinion."

maybe he'd gotten something stuck between the pads of his paw, or maybe he'd gotten by by something while out on his potty break. either way, she understood fully why even the most experienced pet owners went into a state of uncertainty when something like this happened. "rafa," she called, waiting for his gaze to meet hers. "thanks for coming."

[rafaelxxnavarro]

On the phone with Mallory, Rafael got himself ready to head over to her place the moment he heard what was going on. "You don't have to apologize." He told her, "I would always rather you call me ten times over than spend the rest of the night wondering if you should have." He continued, moving to get into his vehicle and ending the call before he got to her place.

Rafael offered her a tired smile as he stepped inside. His keys were still looped around one finger. If there were anyone he'd answer the phone for in the middle of the night, it was Mallory. Regardless that their marriage had ended, he'd always be there for. Rafael moved to the kitchen where she said Moose was. "Hey bud," he held out the back of his head for a beat, "Did you hear him yelp outside at all?" Rafael questioned, trying to put the pieces together.

[respairs]

⸺GUILLERMO "MEMO" TORRES GARCÍA.

Guillermo scored his meal and drink from one of the food trucks. The tacos and magaratia deal from Loco Life has never failed him yet. His path had led him past where some seating area was set up, but he was intending on finding solitude in the sea of people– easier said than done. His stride slowed when someone addressed him. He weighed the pros and cons of sitting down. The guy didn’t ultimately give off ‘yapping’ energy, but who knows? 

“As long as you don’t expect scintillating conversation.” He felt so uncomfortable using ‘big’ words, and his expression probably conveyed as much. “Or any yapping for that matter.” Guillermo’s warning comes as he takes up the space across from the man. “I’m way too sober for this shit,” he adds with a lowered tone. Moments later he begins sipping his drink.

[rafaelxxnavarro]

Rafael let out a quiet chuckle at the man's words. He leaned back for a beat, "No need to worry about that kind of conversation here." Rafael's mind was plenty stimulated when he was at his job. Right now, he was looking for something mindless, something to help him relax. "Been to one of these before?" Rafael asked casually, figuring small talk might be acceptable after the man took the first sip of his drink. He followed suit, taking a sip of his own. "It's mine, so I'm really just figuring it out as I go." The crowd of people could easily captivate him for a day in just people watching, but he figured he should at least try to socialize with people outside of Mallory.

[nevermindcrs]

"my argument still stands." she'd never felt old with him, not even after the loss of her twin, when their spark had burned out because she'd let it. "what would be your suggestion, doctor?" she studied him for a flicker of anything she would recognize behind his darkened gaze. "i happen to like those." the woman bit softly into her bottom, stifling another sound of amusement. her heart thudded a few beats faster when he agreed to a drink. it wasn't that she'd expected him to decline, but truth be told, nothing would've surprised her. "guess i better start off strong..." she teased, carefully bumping into him before falling into stride at his side.

[rafaelxxnavarro]

"I'm thinking I'd start with a soft bristle brush and then a hose to get most of it off. Followed up by a shower, because you know that this powder has somehow ended up in places it has no business being." A quiet laugh escaped him with his answer. He glanced at her sideways as she bumped into him, the corner of his mouth lifting further. It was easy with Mallory. He'd say it always had been but he knew that meant he'd be trying to hide the years that held grief. "You probably should," he teased right back, "maybe I'll follow your lead. I happen to trust your judgement more than my own."

END.

[sunbleachcd]

Something in the sound of Rafael's voice tugged at her heartstrings, knowing just how true it was. Maeve had always carried such a bright and beautiful energy. The kind that captivated others and allowed her to make friends easily. It was no wonder why the woman had picked such a social occupation and she had truly thrived at her job as a flight attendant, no matter how much Sage had missed her during her time away.

At the mention of an excuse, Sage's smile softened even further, wondering if there was anything more to the man's words. Sure, they were friends and things had changed since the divorce, but she could only imagine how difficult that transition had been. "I wish she had lived closer before... you know. But I get it, and I think that living in Sedona will be healing for her in a lot of ways. I just hope you're holding up okay yourself. And I hope that if you're not... there's someone checking in on you too."

[rafaelxxnavarro]

"I think it will be." He hoped for Mallory's sake that it was. He cared about her and knew that he would never stop caring for her even if their relationship had changed. "I've got people checking in on me." Rafael smiled warmly in her direction. "My family makes sure of that." Even when he didn't want to talk, they had a way of making him feel seen. "But thank you." He gave a slight nod of his head to her with his thanks. "Are you getting to enjoy the festival?" He questioned, taking a beat to look around. There was life everywhere one looked. People living so carefree and he hoped there would be a day he could do that, too.

[sunbleachcd]

It was moments like this that made Sage realize just how many chapters of Mallory's life she had missed out on. Aside from the divorce, she had no concept of the aftermath, who was hurting, or even what had transpired between the couple. Years of silence and casual check-ins were never enough to amount to a proper relationship.

"I'm glad you two have remained so close," she answered warmly, the woman's eyes glistening in the sunlight. Sage could only imagine how hard it would have been to completely cut ties. Especially when it was by choice. "And hey, I'm certainly not complaining about you prolonging your visit. I know we didn't get to know each other very well back then, but I always appreciated your kindness and I know Maeve did too. I'm sure you've been a tremendous help at the clinic."

[rafaelxxnavarro]

Rafael's own smile softened at the mention of Maeve. "She made it easy to be kind." He responded with a quiet voice. His gaze lingered beyond Sage for just a moment. "I wish I had got to know you better back then." He admitted to her with a faint smile resting against his lips. There had been so many missed opportunities, he realized. Yet, he knew that he could not change the past. "I've been trying to make myself useful." That part had always been instinct to him. "Though, Mallory is perfectly capable of managing without me. I just - really, it gave me an excuse to come see how she was doing." And maybe it would reassure him that she could start again.

[nevermindcrs]

"you're only saying that because if i'm old, you're old." she grinned up at him, the curve on her mouth mischievous and entirely for him. mal was glad he hadn't left yet, happy that he hadn't checked in and checked out. then again, that wasn't like him. "i think i heard someone mention a hose," she challenged with a quiet hum of airy amusement ghosting off her mouth. at his question, she allowed herself to look over him, to really see the man that she'd spent so many years loving more than she could ever love herself. "mmm," she hummed, dragging out the sound as her dark orbs swept over his dark hair. after a couple of intentionally placed beats of silence, she nodded slowly. "pink, yellow, blue. maybe even a little orange." she knew her hair probably looked the same, if not worse, but that was the whole point, wasn't it? "if you're okay with all the mess..." she trailed off, her eyes falling back to his gaze, "care to grab a drink?"

[rafaelxxnavarro]

The curve of her mouth was mischievous, a look he knew all too well from their years of marriage. "Shh, neither of us are old." His own lips curled in a playful smile in return. "A hose? That's one way to take care of this," his gaze shifted, looking down at the blend of colors that were decorating him. "But, I think that would make me look more like a watercolor painting than anything." His attention returned to Mallory. There had always been something comforting about her presence. As she mentioned grabbing a drink, he nodded his head. "Yeah, I'd like that." He motioned for her to follow as he took a starting step. "Come on, first round is on me."

[nevermindcrs]

it was just like rafael to accept whatever was thrown his way, literally and figuratively. "it looks good on you," she complimented, the curve on her mouth deepening as she dragged her eyes over him, taking in the mix of colors and how it looked on him. "not sure about that," she added, chuckling to herself, her cheeks feeling a bit warmer in his presence. "see, i was thinking i was just old." she rolled her eyes, echoing the sound of his laughter with the sound of her own. "how difficult do you think this is going to be get off us?"

[rafaelxxnavarro]

Rafael had learned a long time not to argue with compliments, especially from Mallory. "I'm choosing to believe you." He said as the corner of his mouth lifted. "I don't think you're old." He shook his head, eyes drifting toward the crowd for a moment as another explosion of powder erupted into the air. At her question, Rafael looked down at his clothes once more. "I have a feeling I will be finding this stuff in my car next week. Maybe for the next month." He brushed at his shirt absentmindedly while lifting his gaze back to Mallory. "Tell me, is there pink in my hair? I feel like there's pink in my hair."

[sunbleachcd]

Although she had never been big on music festivals, pride month had always been important to Sage. No matter the time of year, she was proud to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and was happy to live in a city that celebrated those of differing sexual and romantic identities. Especially since it was run by one.

With some time between sets, Sage wandered the fairgrounds in search of something to eat, though the sound of the man's voice distracted her from her mission. As her head swivelled to look at Rafael, it took her a moment to realize just who was staring back at her.

Truthfully, it had been far too long since she had seen him. Between Maeve's death and the divorce, she couldn't remember the last time they'd spoken, though she was certainly grateful to see his friendly and familiar face. "Hey! What are you doing here? I didn't think you and Miriam were.... In touch," she concluded sheepishly, not knowing how else to word things.

[rafaelxxnavarro]

There was a sheepishness in her voice that earned her a smile from Rafael. "That's a fair assumption." Most people would not assume he was in touch with his ex-wife. That they'd remained close friends despite the end of their marriage. "Honestly, we never really stopped being in touch. Things changed, you know, after the divorce." Because how could they not. "But she's still one of my closest friends." He imagined that she always would be, no matter where the other was. The care between them had never disappeared, even if it had taken on a different shape. "I'm visiting." He told Sage, "It was supposed to be a short one, but I've been here longer than I planned but I've been lending a hand at the clinic where I can."

[nevermindcrs]

𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐧𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨 ( @rafaelxxnavarro ) — 𝐬𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 !

"look at you," she exhaled, amusement weaved through her tone. they'd both ended up at the paint party, but she hadn't seen him until the end. "were you trying to be in the middle of everywhere?" she traced the various colors that clung to his skin and clothing, her smile stretching wider, especially because she knew that she probably looked the same. "don't laugh, but i definitely didn't understand what i was supposed to be doing at first. then someone flung a whole lot of color at me and i caught on," she joked, though the woman she'd bumped into had helped her sort out the point too. "did you have fun?"

[rafaelxxnavarro]

Rafael glanced down at himself, blue smeared across one arm, streaks of pink through the front and enough yellow dust clinging to him he was convinced he'd never see the end of it. "I'd like to say it was intentional." He teased, "but I think I just kept accidentally wandering into the line of fire." A quiet laugh escaped him. "You wear it better than I do." His gaze softened as it landed on her, taking in the vibrant colors scattered across her. "I'd honestly be surprised if anyone understood what was happening at first. I'm pretty sure it was a kid that nailed me for the first time." The recent memory drew another laugh from him.

[nevermindcrs]

"it seems like it." even when she didn't want to see what he did, rafael always made her feel like he was looking out for her. she'd appreciated it, but lately, the more the older woman reflected on things, the more frustrations prickled beneath the surface. "that happens when you're married to someone for as long as we were." she still remembered when he sank down to one knee and popped the biggest question of her life. she remembered all the good times, and all the quiet lows they'd shared. for the most part, their marriage had been easy, simple. she wondered if they'd both settled for it, or if her grief had really been the crack to their foundation.

she'd thought more and more on why he'd stayed when she'd given him every reason not to. she'd been distant, quiet, not all there. "you're a good man for that. not many people would've done it." he wasn't like everyone else, and that was one of the many reason she knew he'd always have a place in her heart.

miriam pulled in a shallow breath and nodded. she wanted him to be happy, regardless of what it took or who was on the other side of it. "i'm patient. mostly." she exhaled a quiet laugh, because they both knew that while it was truth some days, others she could everything but such.

her hand lifted to cover her mouth just before another laugh spilled. once it echoed off her fingers, she dropped it and shook her head. "cats are so hit or miss." she'd gotten lucky with crinkle, mia's feline friend. "did you go back in? stand your ground?" she looked at him expectedly, eager to know where the story was headed.

[rafaelxxnavarro]

After everything they had been through, after all the ways their lives had changed, there was still something comforting about existing in the space space. "Yeah." The word fell softly from his lips. His head gave way to a nod, acknowledging that she called him a good man. It wasn't always what he thought of himself, especially standing before the woman he didn't fight for when grief rocked them.

"I did try, yeah." He shook his head. "I stepped back into the room and he flattened those ears and hissed at me." It almost made Rafael reevaluate every decision he ever made. "So, naturally I had to bribe him. Churu, of course." The cats seemed to go feral for the tube of liquid treat. "He still hated me, but it mostly worked. I was able to at least get the exam done and for me, I will consider that a win." Even if the cat had still very much hated him during the duration of it.

END.

[nextchaptcrs]

"Will it, though?" He prompted, eyebrows raised. "Gotta have a lot of faith in life to trust it to sort things out by itself." His smile now had a sour taste. "I used to try and make myself think like that too, but I've found that taking some kind of action can help with the control thing. At least, it helps tricking your brain into thinking we have some." Elliott chuckled, approaching the man's car again. "Sedona tends to do that, yeah. It wants us to look back into ourselves while we wait."

[rafaelxxnavarro]

The question from the other lingered. Honestly, he had said it, but he wasn't sure anymore. "I used to think being patient was one of my better qualities. Still do, most days." He said with a small smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. He wondered, however, if he had been mistaking his patience with waiting. Waiting for the right moment. Waiting for someone else to be ready. Waiting for life to settle down. "I came out here thinking this would be less emotionally expensive than therapy," he chuckled softly, "but I'm beginning to think I miscalculated that."

END.

[rafaelxxnavarro]

starter for @respairs

location: sedona pride event

Pride was a little out of Rafael's comfort zone and not because he wasn't in enjoying it. Quite the opposite, he was having a good time so far. He couldn't deny that there was just something nice about seeing so many people happy. Yet, he couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed and out of his element as he had not tracked down Miriam yet. Music carried across the fairgrounds and there was enough color walking around him that the desert seemed muted.

Rafael had never been a lot type of person. It was how he ended up sitting at one of the picnic tables with an ice coffee where the ice was melting quicker than he could keep up in drinking it. His attention wandered across the crowds, enjoying watching as people walked by. He had always been a curious type.

The seat across him sat empty and most of the others didn't. As someone walked by, the words left Rafael before he could even think twice about them. "You're welcome to it." He offered, gesturing to the seat. "I'm not saving it for anyone."

[rafaelxxnavarro]

starter for @sunbleachcd (sage kirkland)

location: sedona pride festival

He hadn't expected to still be in Sedona this long but since he had stayed, he figured he might as well attend the local festivities. He had quickly decided, however, it wasn't his natural habitat. And it wasn't because he didn't like it, in fact, it was quite the opposite. There was undeniable joy radiating through the grounds. The music drifted and people were dancing as if embarrassment didn't exist. In comparison to the rest of his life, it was a lot. He preferred his quiet road trips and watching documentaries but he was trying to immerse himself in the place that Miriam was calling home.

His attention wandered while waiting in line for a coffee, gaze moving across the crowd until his attention was caught unexpectedly. His eyes landed on someone familiar. He frowned slightly, the recognition not coming all at once. And then, it clicked. Sage. Instincts told him to look away, to not draw attention to her at all but before he knew it, he had left the coffee line and was making his way toward her. "Sage?" Her name left him carefully.

[nextchaptcrs]

"I mean, what can I say? You lucked out." He laughed, but was locked in by the time the man started speaking again. "Hm". Elliott nodded, nudging him to keep going. "That bad, then." He started, a knowing smile almost fainting from his face. "I feel like there are times we don't know if we'll ever become a part of our real lives when we have no idea where the fuck it's happening." His gaze was then directed at the sky, while putting both hands in his pockets. "You feel like there's a lot you can't control these days?"

[rafaelxxnavarro]

The question brought a quiet laugh from him. "Yeah, honestly," his gaze remained fixated on the stars for a moment longer. "Probably more than I like to admit." The answer came easily enough, though. He tightened his fingers around the bottle, a squeeze before the relaxed again. "I have to say I've been pretty good at convincing myself that if I stay patient enough, just give something enough time, it will sort itself out." He let a smile tug at the corner of his lips, "Then I came here and everything's slower than I'm used to it and it's giving me a lot more time to think, you know?"

[nevermindcrs]

she couldn't imagine that silence was the answer that sage had been looking for. no one wanted to be alone when facing grief, not really. miriam hadn't, even if she'd pushed at the man now standing before her, he'd always stayed. "how do you always know what's best for me?" there was no sense of sarcasm in her voice, only a raw, quiet plea for an answer. "even after everything we've been through, you're still patient with me, and you're kind." she frowned, her eyes settling on his dark gaze. at the end of the day, she wished him nothing but happiness. she always had, and she always would.

"you know you can talk to me, right? i know i've asked a lot of you over the last few years. probably too much, but you're allowed to ask for something back. i think we owe each other that much." for as long as they'd been married, for all the ups and downs they'd faced, he deserved to know that he could trust her too, that she could handle it if he'd let her.

miriam released a steady breath and nodded. "you'll tell me whenever you figure it out, right?" as frustrated as she'd been to see him land there without warning, now she worried he'd go too soon. "you're not funny," she countered, though a soft smile on her mouth betrayed the playful argument. "enough about my stuff. tell me something about your life. anything."

[rafaelxxnavarro]

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he looked at Miriam. "I really don't. Not always, anyway." Rafael admitted quietly, his gaze momentarily dropping to his hands. "It's sometimes a guess, but I do know you." They'd spent so much of their lives together, it was impossible to not have a damn good idea of what she was needing in a moment. When it came to Miriam, there were some times she was easier to read than himself. Through school, marriage, their grief and now navigating this friendship, he knew her better than he knew himself some days.

His expression softened as the next bit of the conversation weighed heavier. Part of him knew that she was right, that she had asked for a lot. Yet, that had never been a problem for Rafael. "You don't owe me anything, Mir. I stayed because I wanted to." His words were gentle, lacking resentment.

"If I ever do figure it out, you'll be the first to know. Promise." Rafael met her eyes with his won. "But I wouldn't wait by the phone for an answer." There was a hint of amusement that threaded its way back into his words.

"Alright," he breathed the word, a smile tugging on the corner of his lips. "I got kicked out of an exam room last week. By a cat." Not that it would come as a surprise. Cats ruled the world as far as he was concerned. "The cat made it very clear it no longer required my services," he paused, holding up a finger, "okay, well, he definitely did require my services but he wanted me to perform them literally anywhere else." A huff of quiet laughter left his lips.

[sunsetfumes]

as he explained it sounded kind of ideal. to get to travel and see other cities, experience life there for a little bit, and then move on to the next. plus, there was helping those in need of it. "like a travel nurse, basically," she shrugged, slight smile inching onto her expression. it was the closest comparison she had and something that made for quick understanding. "do ya enjoy that a lot? is that why you're here? just helpin' out for a bit?" it wasn't strange for people to pass through sedona, it was a tourist destination after all.

amusement shaded her eyes as her brow rose along with her smirk. "ya walked in here talkin' tough and swingin' it around like you're eddie felson in the hustler or somethin'." her head shook, "don't try changin' it up now. that was me talkin' right back, lettin' ya know i ain't scared nor am i backin' down from a challenge."

when he threw her eyes followed and then shifted to him when he glanced over his shoulder, smug as hell. the next two that followed were almost as good as the first and paige genuinely was impressed. "alright, alright so ya aren't all talk. that's good." the blonde moved up beside him and nudged him out of the way with her arm. after a beat she tossed her second dart and it landed jusy inside her first, a hair closer to the bullseye. paige smirked but didn't look his way until she tossed the third dart. that one landed just a hair beneath the her first two. "still feelin' confident?"

[rafaelxxnavarro]

As she compared it to travel nursing, Rafael found he was nodding his head in agreement. "Yeah, pretty much like that." The obvious difference being that he was working with animals rather than people, but the concept was more or less the same. The assignments were temporary. The places were new. And he moved on before anything became too familiar.

"I do enjoy it." Rafael answered her question. His answer came easier than expected, if he were being honest with himself. "I get to meet a lot of people and see a lot of places." Plus, it was harder for him to get stuck in any one place if he were always on the move. "Though, I'm here because I'm checking in on a friend." That was true enough, though it wasn't the whole truth.

"Alright, alright," he let out a huff of laughter with her words. "Eddie Felson, huh?" He sounded genuinely impressed by her reference. "How long have you been waiting to use that on someone? All week?" His brow raised playfully in her direction.

He stepped to the side with her jesting nudge, a smile tugging on the corners of his lips. Rafael found himself intrigued and amused by how completely unapologetic she seemed to be. His attention followed the darts as they landed. One. Then another. Then the third. "Ouch," he dramatically placed his hand over his heart, "That was just mean. But, there's enough darts left to embarrass ourselves, right? Or at least, myself." His smile pulled a little wider, "But I won't stop being confident now. I wouldn't want to disappoint you so early on." Rafael tossed one of his darts, looking to the board as it landed. "I'd hate to be the one to ruin all the fun."