[allamericanonthecw]

Jordan Baker - S01E01 - Pilot

[roarkexa]

he offers his mom a smile at her comment, acknowledging that maybe he let his mind run wild. “oh, well... everyone’s always on their phones, aren’t they?” not him typically, but even he could occasionally get distracted by the random viral video. “no, there’s always a manager closing with me. most of the time i don’t even have to stay too late unless it’s been a busy night and they need help cleaning up.” roarke’s cheeks glow red, a protest soon following, “oh, no, please! i’m okay. besides, i’m going to be twenty soon. i love you, but i think i’ll be alright.” 

[roarkexa]

"only if ms. hannigan was still working there, but i think she retired a few years ago,” he jokes, though there’s some truth to his words. “well, i was going to head in. i’m not really feeling it anymore, though. was hoping for a distraction actually. maybe you have some ideas?” 

[roarkexa]

"well, i kind of believe that anything is possible," he begins, "but then that could also, um,  maybe mean that i may have read the situation wrong." his words come out slow, as if he's trying to avoid admitting any wrong doing. "scouts honor. i didn’t heat the chime. i was pretty curious, so i did ask around, but no one was really paying attention." taking a seat next to his mom, he sighs, "i just know it's kind of spooky when i'm working late. i wouldn’t want to ever close by myself.”

[roarkexa]

"i think my work is haunted by ghosts,” roarke says casually, “i was helping this old couple and they only ordered, um, tea and then i came back a few times after helping other tables but then, um, like they just... disappeared? they left money on the table to cover their bill, i guess, i mean it's not like they owed much anyway, but yeah... just gone. the weird thing is that i didn't even hear the door chime and usually it's so loud that it always ends up distracting me.”

@chrgemeup​

[roarkexa]

“and then they get on that plane and who is seated next to them? karen." he speaks in a heavy tone at the end, as if to convey horror. “i’m pretty sure they live life in their own bubble where they’re never wrong and everyone around them is the bad guy. i’d hate to live like that.” he puts in his order soon after she finishes doing the same, and then carries on, “anyway, i’m sure karma is just aching to get back at them. things have a way of working themselves out in the end.”

[roarkexa]

“oh, but i like watching animal planet with you,” roarke insists, resting his head on finn’s shoulder for a moment, “i don’t mind if they want to sit on our laps, as long as we still get to watch stuff together.” as much as he tries to avoid jumping ahead of himself, the thought of finn getting a bigger apartment does make him wonder if one day they’ll get a place together. of course there’s too many things that would have to happen first, so he approaches the topic in a different way, though still a valid curiosity, “do you still want to live in ashcroft? if, um, you end up moving?”

[roarkexa]

“i just like anywhere where there’s trees.” he wouldn’t like to live somewhere where it was a bunch of buildings or flat land. the desert being least ideal. "oh, um, that makes sense. i don’t expect to be very involved, but obviously i’ll be around.” there’s an awkwardness that returns to the topic and he finds himself getting quiet for a moment. “but, um... yeah? it’ll be pretty soon.” in an effort to lighten the mood, he muses, “maybe he’ll end up being born on my birthday.” 

[aoca]

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5cwi1vDziI/

[roarkexa]

@finnlxyxclarke

[roarkexa]

“a wedding party? sounds like a blast. please tell me about all of their drunk shenanigans when you get home. i’m sure there will be plenty.” offering a sympathetic sigh, “i’m sorry that you have to work today, but at least you're willing to cover someone when they're sick.” admittedly, armando hasn't experienced much of the work force. never really having to get a job in his youth and then going straight to journalism after college. though he still commends people for putting in an honest days work. 

[roarkexa]

“whoa, bro? maybe you need to lighten up,” brody suggests, “just relax? these are my friends, man, and yeah, i feel right at home, but you’re kind of killing the vibes.” placing a hand on the younger man’s shoulder, “look, grab a beer, let loose, and maybe just try to enjoy yourself.”

[roarkexa]

he doesn’t really have an answer for her. as much as he agrees with her, there’s often too many people who would rather be cruel. “i’m not sure, but i guess that’s why i try to be extra nice to people.” there’s something funny to him about how she says she was still listening to 90′s music, a decade that he was never even apart of, but he isn’t opposed to listening to other generations of music. not that michaela falls into that category anyway, as she is only a couple of years older than him. “oh, well... i was kind of a really big fan of one direction, and, um.... harry may have been my first crush, so naturally i ended up listening to his solo stuff.” shaking his head, “no, um... i don’t think so? i mean, my friend’s played little shows here and there, and i’ve done some with her, but no one’s approached us before. still waiting for that, um, big break, i guess?”

[roarkexa]

“um, no... not really? i mean, well, mostly... i like to eat pretty healthy, it’s kind of important to me, but i’ll eat some sweet things sometimes, but no, it’s not really my first choice.” leaving his focus on the macarons behind, he faces the older man, “chaotic? i would think that it gets, um, worse, after the baby’s born? i feel like all we’re doing right now is waiting.” though he’s typically a patient person, he’s found that even he is a little restless as they wait for the due date. “i've been spending time with her after work lately, but i think our parents have been pretty, um, supportive, and... leo? although, i haven’t spoken to him in awhile. i usually talk to syd.” roarke doesn’t have anything against leo, of course, but he's definitely more familiar with his boyfriend.

[roarkexa]

“i’d really like that,” roarke nods, smiling at the idea, “but i think they’d still end up sitting on us.” at the thought of cuddling with finn, though, he feels the butterflies in his stomach again. for once, it’s nice to think about all of the things they can do while together. it eases his mind from the constant worry that he’s not being affectionate enough with finn. “maybe they get jealous?” he suggests teasingly, “i mean, we’re always watching other animals on tv.” although they also have a habit of sitting on his guitar when he tries to play, so maybe it’s just a cat thing. 

[roarkexa]

“i’m going to be fully stocked by the time i have kids. i’ll have heard every joke in the books.” though, of course, he doesn’t plan on having kids for ages. “well, he’s really chill. thank you.” after setting down the gifted owl, he turns to gabi once again, “i still feel terrible. there has to be a way for me to make it up to you? i mean, i could always buy you dinner? it’s not as original as the gift you got me, but it’s better than nothing? you can’t really say no to a free meal, right?”

[roarkexa]

"that makes sense,” roarke agrees, "cinnabun was a gift from my grandparents, so, um, i didn’t really have a choice in her age, but i’d definitely consider getting an older bunny now.” finn seems to know what he wants, so even though he gladly continues to listen to the other boy, roarke doesn’t provide much input. “oh, no... um, it’s fine? i mean, it’s your apartment." amused, he does consider something worth pointing out, “but, um, watching TV might get a little more crowded now. maybe you’ll have to invest in a bigger couch.” there’s no hesitation as roarke notices finn holding his hand out, immediately placing his hand into his and interlocking their fingers. though it might seem like a small gesture to some, it means the world to the armstrong. it’s the first time since before christmas eve that he’s felt like they were back on the right track. 

[roarkexa]

“and what if they had messed up?” brody asks, mock horror on his face, “they’re over here screaming about their name being spelled wrong, they’d probably want the hairdresser’s head if a single hair is out of place.” it’s a funny image, though he does feel bad for any employee who has ever had to deal with the person ahead of them. “wise words, but i don’t think so either."