A JOURNEY

we are simply riding a wave

[ren-ortiz]

Renata was starting to feel the effect of the night air so she stopped mid stride to untie her jacket from her waste and then slipped into the leather garment. “Glad to oblige,” she continued, though she chuckled under her breath. Everyone knew Renata’s boring ass wasn’t the go to for a fun time. Normally. “That being the case, fill me in on your love life. What hearts have you broken lately?” She teased, looking over her shoulder at her friend as she picked up her pace. “I was actually gonna take you to an Escape Room event but I think I like your idea better, honestly. We’ll have to go for round two of this fun fest next weekend or something though. Unfortunately,  I’m doubled up on work the rest of the week.”

[ren-ortiz]

“Oh, well pardon my assumptions then.” A hand and went to her hip as she admired the little one. She would have guessed having to look after a little baby could have been counted as a reasonable distraction but then again that’s probably why she didn’t have kids of her own nor did she plan to have any. Renata couldn’t help but gush over the little one despite her own foolish notions about parenting. “Such a fun age I hear. She keeps smiling like that and I might change my mind and have a dozen,” she joked. Big time. “So are you in a hurry to leave or can I interest you in some coffee and dessert? They have the best macaroons! Least I can do since I nearly trampled ya,” she smiled, motioning at all the bakery items on display at a nearby cafe.

[baawri]

[ren-ortiz]

@erenkoz

[manipzone]

DJ Cotrona and Adria Arjona manip

[tarnishedsurvival]

THURSDAY, APRIL 2ND, 2020. AT KING NEPTUNE RESTAURANT: @wilmingtonstarters​.

          It was late evening, which meant that people were generally out for a late dinner and or drinks anywhere they could get it. Apparently, some enjoying what King Neptune had to offer more than others, one particularly coming to mind, as he proceeded to try to make conversation with Thalia every time she passed the general vicinity. Of course, not in the mood to deal with idiots, she declined his advances — but apparently this was the final straw, as she told him to ‘beat it’ before trying to head back to her table, unfortunately though, she was pulled back into his personal space. “Let go of me right now,” her voice firm and making it very clear she wasn’t in the mood to deal with his shit, “or my foot will go so far up your ass you’ll taste leather.” Faux, for that matter. She couldn’t tell who was about to lose their temper more, but it was apparent they were causing a scene, as whilst the man gripped onto her arm, she saw people’s eyes falling into them, one even approaching from the corner of her eye.

[ren-ortiz]

If there was one thing Ren couldn’t stand it was a man who couldn’t respect boundaries or the simple concept of no meaning fucking no. She had been at the bar ordering takeout when she noticed a female patron in some kind of skirmish with her company, one that escalated fast. The woman asked to be let go of and Ren was on her feet before she could even think about what she was doing. Approaching the table, Ren could tell from the guys body language that his intentions weren’t going anywhere positive, that and the death grip he had on the woman’s arm. “Hey Asshat. Did you not here this lady ask to be let go of? Because everyone else did.” A hand causally went to her waist and her jacket fell open to reveal the badge she wore on her hip and the Glock 19 she wore in a holster. “Take off before I let this nice lady shoot ya in the cock you dumb piece a’ shit.” Ren couldn’t help but chuckle watching the guy nearly turn over his chair as he took off. Turning to the blonde, a satisfied look took over her features. “Are you okay miss? Sorry if I overstepped, just seemed like you were in a bad spot.”

[monroecharlotte]

Sitting down at the first table she saw in the cafe with available chairs, Ember sighed before taking a long sip of her drink. “Do you ever wonder if maybe people just.. y’know, all get together one night and decide ‘hey, I’m going to be an asshole tomorrow for absolutely no reason’? I.. I’m pretty sure they do, because today has been full of grumpy, grumpy people, they.. they definitely had an asshole meeting last night, and everyone was invited except me, apparently. I hate this day,” she rambled quickly, looking up to the other person. “Sorry. Ignore me. Go back to your drink, I can be quiet, I promise.”

@wilmingtonstarters​

[ren-ortiz]

Opting for a later shift, sometimes Ren has the luxury of stopping for a glutenous breakfast before work. She had been there catching up on the local news, stuffing her face when interrupted by an interesting diatribe. Ren looked up at the woman, mouth full of pancakes. She took the time to finish chewing then swallowed a sip of coffee. “Please, feel free to vent if you need to. I’ve been there. On both sides to be honest. Did something specific happen or are you just bothered in general?”

[memoryslandscape-deactivated202]

What I mean is—when I see your face in the dusk I understand the desire of the rain. Each time you happen to me all over again:

Aleda Shirley, from “A Dwelling in the Evening Air,” Long Distance: Poems (Miami University Press, 1996)

[ren-ortiz]

“I bet when I asked you hang out you never counted on all this fun,” she joked. They in fact were not having fun. One of Renata’s tires had blown out and unfortunately, she’s forgotten to replace the spare after the last incident and now here they were. Trekking down ridiculously dark road, somewhere in the country between bumfuck and Wilmington, walking for what seemed like an eternity. “Anyway, let’s talk shit and distract ourselves. I feel like we’ve got to be close,” she said, taking a swig from of their few remaining bottled waters. “What haven’t we talked about yet?”  @ellamgraham​

[naomi-owens]

                       She was still jumping out of her own damn skin. Every little sound had her wary, an innocent wail of a child across the room had her quickly tending to her quiet daughter, and that scream of the tea kettle on the stove behind the counter? Lord. Naomi would remind herself that not only had their beloved town been through a great amount of tragedy, something they all still were recovering from, so had she. She wondered if her cousin was having any luck sleeping as of late as for her? She got more shut eye when Raelynn was first born than she was getting now. “Oh, goodness, I’m so──” Naomi’s hands immediately reached out to balance herself when a shoulder collided with another familiar figure right outside of the reopened Bespoke, then moved to adjust the planner and bag she balanced in one elbow. “Sorry. I clearly have my head in the clouds today.”  

[ren-ortiz]

“No problem at all. At least you have an excuse, I’m just out here being reckless with my lack of attention for no reason,” Renata said, managing to catch hold of her iPad before it slipped from her hand amidst the collision. “Oh gosh, your baby is so precious,” she said, unable to restrain the grin that broke across her features as she took in the sight of the baby. “How old? She’s a she right?”  She asked, shaking her head. “That came out weird but you know what I mean.” Renata held a soft spot in her heart for children, babies in particular though she hadn’t given much consideration to having any of her own. The world was a cruel place and sometimes she felt like bringing a defenseless life into it was beyond her. That was her jadedness talking though, having seen way too much ugly in the world.

[a-len]

@wilmingtonstarters​

Claire felt her stomach tighten each time that someone stepped close to the booth she’d set up close to her office. As a social worker, she’d had to take note of all the damaged homes and attempt to place children accordingly into houses that were suited for their needs without any damage. Which, frankly, was impossible given the extent of the homes that were affected by the hurricane. While she’d gone to help out, she knew that labour was only one aspect of what her foster homes needed. There was a severe lack of money, which was why she’d chosen to put a stand up in the hope of getting these families money to help rebuild their homes so they could start taking in children again. Least of all did she want to have children in group homes or in homeless shelters because she couldn’t get them beneath a roof. Therefore, when people walked by, she was forced to ask help from those who had been left with virtually nothing in the hurricane. “I know this is a trying time for everyone, but I’m hoping to get some money to build homes for the children in foster care that were directly impacted. Even if it’s a can or a bottle — anything can make a difference.”

[ren-ortiz]

“Oh yea, sure of course,” Renata answered, already going for her wallet before the lady had a chance to finish her sentence. “So who do I make the check out to?” She asked, fishing a pen out of her purse. She rarely used checks these days but had a few on hand in case of an emergency. This seemed like as good as reason as any to break out her wallet. “I’m curious though when you say build a home, do you mean literally? Like from the ground up or does your agency have something else in mind?” She asked purely out of curiosity. “I’m guessing that since you’re asking, there aren’t enough foster parents to go around?”

[ren-ortiz]

S P E C I A L  D E L I V E R Y : @erenkoz​     L O C A T I O N :  The Copper Penny

"-- I don’t know, I’m not really in a hurry to get back to New York. Last time I was there I felt disconnected or something. Everywhere I went felt dirty. People were rude, I ruder than usual. I dunno, it just wasn’t the same. Never thought I’d say that.” Renata shrugged, as she glanced at their waitress and mouthed a thank you as she collected their menus. “The old neighborhood hasn’t really changed though,” she continued, pausing to take a sip of her beer. “Did I tell you about the city is trying to tear down Fulton Complex?  God knows what gentrified Quinoa Bowl Café and overpriced coffee shop is gonna end up there. They’re getting a lot of opposition so who knows if it’s really gonna happen. Where they’d put all those displaced residents is anyone's guess? Sad right? So anyway, what’s happening with you, my friend? And how’s that lady of yours? I’m assuming you haven’t cuffed her yet, or at least you better not have without spilling the deets!” 

Renata strummed her fingers on the table, feeling rambly and anxious for reasons she wasn’t sure of.  Agitated maybe? She wasn’t sure but she hardly ever talked this much. Thinking about it, she reached across the table and grabbed a wing off his plate and dipped it in some ranch, waiting for Eren’s update.  Working these back to back shifts had her feeling out of the loop, like her head was buried in the sand. So she was probably a little too excited to hear about what was going on in his world.

[lachlan-peters-archive]

For the record, Trashbag was not her cat. Trashbag, who was of as-of-yet undefined gender and age, was a local stray Hattie just happened to leave food out for. Still, she couldn’t deny that she had developed a fondness for the mangy thing and, having failed to capture him/her before leaving town for the storm, was worried that she hadn’t seen him/her since her return. 

“Trashbag, where are you?” she sing-songed, feeling stupid as she trolled the streets like some deranged cat lady, armed with an opened can of tuna and a squeaky toy shaped like a mouse. “Here, kitty kitty kitty…” 

@wilmingtonstarters​

[ren-ortiz]

Renata had been out walking, taking in some fresh air after she had finished an extended shift. Taking in the devastation the storm had left behind was an experience of its own, however. Clouds were gray and what was left of the oak trees that lined the streets rustled in the occasional gust of wind. Looking at all the debris in the streets she was starting to feel a little choked up. The town had been hit hard and as she wandered aimlessly through the streets she wondered what it would take for things to be normal again. Spotting a coffee shop in the near distance, Renata wondered if they were open for business and made her way across the street. She saw the woman standing out on the sidewalk and normally would have minded her business, but for whatever reason curiosity got the best of her. She smiled, eyes drooping with exhaustion. “Hey, everything okay? Who’d you lose?”

[pglang]

someone airdrop me a hug a mf going through alot

[diablocodys]

You tackled those demons.

Sharp Objects (2018-) Dir. Jean-Marc Vallée

[ren-ortiz]

Please consider anything before this post archived —

[jazbaaati]

“January dry, hard, glittering, cold, and the wicked beauty of the scraped blue skies”

- Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath.

[mangacartaholygrail]

*refuses to look at texts* I love conversation and communication