“ah come on, man.” sam didn’t believe a single word coming out of ryan’s mouth. he shoved himself off the hood of his cop car and he gave the man an expression that read just that. “you’re telling me there’s a single soul in this god forsaken town that thinks you’re outta shape?” he shook his head he tossed the toothpick he’d been chewing on from his mouth. “fuck no, can’t fool me.”
“alright, alright-,” ryan grinned, lifting his hands up in mock surrender, “you caught me red-handed, officer. i may be exaggerating just a lil bit on this one, very specific occasion. sayin’ that, i’m sure someone’s said it at some point when they’ve been drunk off their ass, totally delusional, trying to make themselves feel better abut getting kicked out the bar... something like that.” joking aside, he then gestured towards the cop car, “long day, sam?”
𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 at the bar a little earlier than expected. she found herself particular about where she would park her car ( for safety and vanity reasons of course. ) as she shut her passenger side door, she noticed the man beginning to slow his run, a sight that brought a cocky smile to the girl’s red-painted lips. throwing her long hair over her shoulder, jude tucked her keys into the front pocket of her tight jeans and started her walk towards coyote ugly. however, as she heard him speak, her strut turned into a slow, hesitant walk. “ out of shape? ” she questioned, brown eyes scanning the sight stood in front of her. “riight,” jude spoke, tattooed arms crossing over her stomach. she understood the come down from a runner’s high–pushing yourself over the limit was always welcome in her eyes. “ no shame, dude. that last kick into high gear gets me everytime. ” she, uncharacteristicly, sympathesized, slightly tilting her head to the side.
ryan liked to keep his head down and stay out of too much trouble. the way he’d been told it (especially working over at claddagh), the coyotes were trouble. still, he’d found himself tucked away in the back of the crowd once or twice at their bar now so he did recognise her as one of the bartenders. he let out a laugh at her ‘right’ before smiling sheepishly.
“gotta set the bar real high or i might start lettin’ myself get sloppy,” he joked, taking care not to think too much abut that red, cocky smile. “yeah?” ryan nodded, always happy to talk shop- he was good at that at least, “it’s worth it though, huh? heart racin’, lungs pretty much hating you didn’t quit half an hour before but you get to just focus. no distractions just... being the fastest man alive,” ryan joked, feeling a little embarrassed for going on before adding, “or woman, of course.” he should have quit while he was ahead, he thought. good chat and all but he had to get home, get ready for work but for some reason he couldn’t help asking---
“so, how long you been working at the famous ‘coyote ugly’, if you don’t mind me asking?”
status: open
location: neutral nashville; nearby coyote ugly & claddagh on an evening run
Ryan had a couple hours before his shift started at the Claddagh to kill which meant he’d extended his usual run time. That would have been totally fine if he wasn’t so prone to pushing himself too hard (he blamed high school football practices and his overachieving nature). Point was, even for him it was getting to really be something to catch his breath. Not that he was admitting defeat but he finally slowed down, draining what was left of his water while Kip Moore drawled something encouraging through his ear buds.
When he took one out, he realised he wasn’t alone. Usually he’d just mind his own business but being so close to work, he had a reputation to think of, y’know?
“Hey, I’d ah, really appreciate it if you kept seeing me so out of shape between the two of us? Can’t go having any troublemakers in the bar thinkin’ they can pull one over on me,” he breathed, half smiling for good measure, “You understand.”
when: evening, sometime around midnight
where: outside Coyote Ugly OR Claddagh; your choice!
Billie didn’t smoke. Not really, not unless she was drunk enough to say yes to a few drags when offered – knew the taste, but her voice was already husky enough, why chance it? offered up with a smile each time.
So. Billie didn’t smoke, not really, but she always had a lighter on her – hefty little Zippos that were warm against her thigh, or, like today, cold inside her little black purse. She’d stepped out for a breather, the cold breeze nipping at the hem of her dress a welcome thing.
She spotted someone patting down their pockets, and sauntered over, like a patron saint of smokers, dressed in all black.
“Y’need a light?”
Now, given that Ryan did not live under a rock, he knew who Billie Marquez was. Even if she weren’t a regular around the bar, Nashville was built on music and anyone with ears knew she had it. Of course he wasn’t going to mention all that to her. Who needed a recap on who they were from a near-stranger? Besides, best bets were she knew just how talented she was all on her own.
Ryan smiled when she came over, asking if he needed a light.
“No ma’am,” he answered, deciding whether to leave things at that or not. Stoic was in his reputation after all. “I haven’t smoked since I was in high school and even then, that was just the one time. Almost coughed up a lung and my mom was not happy when she wound up smellin’ it on me. Scared me straight.”
“Cherry mint gum?” He then offered the packet he’d been patting down his pockets to find.
[ CHARLES MELTON, 29, CIS MALE, HE/HIM ] welcome to nashville! have you met RYAN KIM? i remember seeing them down by CLADDAGH the other night drinking an IRISH COFFEE. if you need something they work at CLADDAGH as SECURITY. some people say they can be -IMPULSIVE & SELF RIGHTEOUS, but i always like to say they’re +KIND HEARTED & GENEROUS. you should go say hello and let them know we sent you! [ paige, 24, she/her, gmt ]
ooc; it’s paige again!! here’s some info on this SoftTM security guard <33
Content Warning; Death mention
About Ryan
Ryan’s another one from some small town and his case, the only way out was through football. Football meant a scholarship which meant college, making his dad proud and graduating at the top of his class. He did it too, you know? He was actually a bit of hot shot in high school games but a now-healed injury knocked a football career off the table which was chill. His grades more than spoke for themselves.
He was going to be a lawyer; that was the dream. Ryan was less interested in intellectual arguing and protecting the 1% and more interested in justice, taking and winning the cases no one else does. Ryan’s always been a little self-righteous with a ‘black and white, no grey’ outlook on life.
Always a sweetheart, maybe even a little romantic, he never had time for relationships. Sure, he wants to be in love one day but it he always felt that was something he could put off for another year or so. Ryan had all the time in the world.
Well, that’s what he always thought. Then something happened: his dad died. It was some freak accident with no one to blame and no justice anyone could get. After that... Ryan’s heart wasn’t in it anymore. He quit, he ran, he wound up in Nashville working security at the Claddagh.
Ryan’d still rather use his words than fists, he’s even a little bit of pacifist but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t have a little bit of a saviour complex. Someone has to stand in and be the hero and well, usually it’s him. He’s got a low tolerance for nonsense. Occasionally he might lose his cool.
He’s kinda quiet, keeps himself to himself, is a bit of a mystery outside of work.
His mom is moving on now and it’s kinda hard for him to accept even though he is happy for her.
Isn’t into the Claddagh vs Coyote tension. But ah...secretly...might want to switch bars for working security. SH...
Extras
A private*TM* person.
Probably a wild rumour or two about him around the Claddagh about his mysterious backstory and whether or not he’s single lol.
Has a one eyed rescue cat called ‘Hook’.
An Aquarius who’s bad at dating but wants to #connect.
Wanted Connections
Again, any friends, family, romantic/platonic, enemies etc connections would be fab!! Some suggestions below:
I don’t have a fully formed reason why he might want to switch jobs yet but maybe some Coyote connections could come into play?
A workout buddy: they can be really close or just bond over getting shredded!
He defended your honour and it was chill or you rolled your eyes to this day over it.
You matched on online dating!
You’re a regular at Claddagh and he’s made sure you got home alright.
I’m so used to seeing the Asian man being portrayed as the sidekick or the best friend or the jokester. There’s this idea of Asian men where they’re not outspoken, they’re weak, they’re not romantic. This film [The Sun is also a Star] goes beyond that stereotype.
Charles Melton photographed by Clément Pascal for The Last Magazine - 2019
