byronic.

Samuel Bautista. 31. Vet. Amputee. Photographer.

[sambautistas]

rhetthawkins‌:

“Any time. I’m here to help. It’s what I do best.” He almost couldn’t say the words with a straight face - he caused as much chaos as he helped, if he was being honest. He wondered what it felt like to be at peace, or what it would feel like to be the kind of person that everyone liked and got along with. It was unrealistic - he would never be that person and he would never try to be that person. “I don’t know if the word hero really fits me.” He laughed slightly as he said it, shrugging off the sentence and shaking his head at the thought. He was a dirtbag, at best. He’d been spending his entire life clawing his way out of the hole he’d been thrown into as a kid. His version of a palace had been bouncing from one shitty foster home to another, over and over until his parents had taken him in. Even then, it hadn’t been sunshine and rainbows. Rhett hadn’t known what love was and so he had fought against everything that they tried to give him. He still did that, even now. “He-man is a much more accurate description, though.” It wasn’t the first time that he’d been called that, or something similar, and it wouldn’t be the last time. “Alright, fine. I appreciate it.” It was as much as he could work into the conversation, rolling his shoulders. “Let’s do something fun. This conversation was depressing.”

Sam had been through the therapy. He knew all the right words to say. He’d sat through enough group sessions with vets who’d seen the worse of humanity and had been expected to reintegrate into civilian life to know that asking questions was the difference between life and death. He also knew how annoying it could be to be asked to talk about one’s feelings, especially when those feelings were tied to deep seated experiences of self-loathing. He got it, so he would back off. “Hey, you’re the one that went and got yourself brained like some sort of zombie,” he teased in a small attempt to lighten the mood. Sam liked Rhett. What had began as a random meeting between two people exercising their dogs had grown into something else and Sam had come to think of Rhett as a friend. “All right,” he agreed. “I’m game for something fun, but I’m a little slow right now, so make sure you choose something reasonable. Not like bungee jumping or something.” 

[sambautistas]

mrdamienclarke‌:

Damien leans back against the couch shaking his head. He smiled softly as Nova came to sit on his lap and scratched her head gently. “Honestly not even close. Originally I wanted to be a sailor or like my father. When i got to high school it just didn’t seem like something feasible or what i wanted anymore. I ended up speaking to a recruiter and you know how that goes. It gave me the chance to get away, be a part of something, protect people. After that it was all i wanted to be..but seems life has a way of just adapting your dreams.” He nodded to him. “what about you..did you always want to go into the military” He smiles and nods. “Oh i know you are. Honestly I cant imagine you weaponizing that magic, that’s part of your charm. You’re kind iand people love you for it”

“Do I seem like the kind of kid who grew up wanting to be a soldier,” Sam asked teasingly. When he’d first announced his enlistment, his parents had been shocked. Neither side of the family had had very many military men and Sam had always been a dreamy kind of child. Most definitely not the kind that made a good soldier. “I wanted to be a photographer. My da and granddad are both photographers. There’s something about being the person to capture a perfect moment that’s magical. Either that, or a baseball player. I played in high school and college and was supposed to go into the minors before I enlisted.” It all seemed like so long ago now. “It seems like a waste of a gift, to be honest. Maybe I’ll have to read up on how to weaponize it.”

[sambautistas]

msalexfortier‌:

“As long as I’m the yellow ranger.” She winks to him reaching for her phone to make an order. She was pretty fond of t he Thai place nearby and it was safe to say that unless Sam or Damien were cooking she needed to be aware of the good take out places in the area. “I can’t help but try..just out of habit. Feels like I’ve been fighting or fixing one thing or another all my life.” Her eyes downcasted for a moment then she offered him a soft smile. “Thankfully though, not with you or Edgar. Things are calmer with you. Granted I also try to reign in my crazy with the two of you so I don’t run you off” She finished placing the order and leaned her head back against the cushions. “its on its way. Maybe after we can go to the park, just that one near by with the nice benches and room to run for the pups”

“You could be every single Ranger and the Megazord, and I wouldn’t complain.” Sam answered the teasing wink with one of his own. Alex had a way of making him feel human again even when he was being particularly difficult on himself. It was one of the reason why he valued their friendship so much. “I’m not running off anywhere. Especially not now,” he added, motioning to the place that Evelyn used to occupy. Perhaps, the joke was in poor taste, but it was a part of Sam’s charm, if he did say so himself. Sam closed his eyes for a bit while she placed the order. He was tired in the bone weary kind of way, but not tired enough to sleep. It had been like that for a few days now. “Yeah, let’s do that,” he agreed. “I haven’t gotten the babies out for the day. Sol’s okay with it, I’m sure, but Luna’s been pawing at the door all morning. Sooner or later, I’m sure she’ll figure out a way to get out without me.” 

[michaeltrevinosource]

Michael Trevino in Out of Control (2018)

[sambautistas]

mrdamienclarke‌:

Damien cant help but smile and nod. “I’m working on it. First step I think, is retiring from the FBI. I’ve already talked to my section chief about it. She’s not happy but I think on some level she understands. I think she knows I’ve been winding down lately.” He laughs shaking his head. “Really? That’s your basis..come on. First of all, you have puppy dog eyes, if you actively used them you could get anything you want instead of just head scratches from Alex. Second of all, Furry kids are probably a lot easier than human kids. Human kids talk back and I don’t mean those conversations we have with Nova when she’s pissy but sure. Eventually I’ll make you an uncle. You’ll be a good one” 

Sam nodded along. He couldn’t imagine what went into retiring from something like the FBI. He’d never worked for somewhere that required extricating one’s self so completely. “Is this what you dreamed of doing as a child? Being an agent?” It was always strange to think back to childhood, to that cliche question that every teacher had ever asked: what do you want to be when you grow up? Back then, Sam had only ever dreamed of playing baseball or taking photos like his father and grandfather. He’d never dreamed of being a soldier, but circumstances had led him to this fate. Damien could’ve been different, though. “I can imagine tiny Damien pretending to be a lawman or some sort of superhero. You’ve got that savior thing down pact.” Sam smiled and shrugged, a slight blush on his cheeks. “I like kids. Furry or human. You know I’m as ace as they come, right? I’m sure I could do more with my magic puppy dog eyes if I learned to weaponize them, but great responsibility and all that.”

[sambautistas]

msalexfortier‌:

“I can multi-task. I mean right now I have my computer processing through hours of footage trying to find my blackmailer, so until I find ‘the who’ there, I’d be happy to beat up “the who” that hurt Evelyn. Atleast I’d feel somewhat useful.” Her eyes shifted away from him and she continued to play with his hair smiling softly as he leaned into her hand. “French fries are hardly a good meal, but now that I think about it I’m starving. I haven’t really eaten since sometime yesterday..what are you up for Chinese, Thai, Pizza?” 

“You’re a hero. My personal power ranger.” Sam wished he could be as proactive as Alex, but everything in him just wanted to forget the excitement of that night and return to the usual humdrum of his life. “You can’t fight the entire world, Alexandria Fortier. Sooner or later, you’re going to just have to let things be.” Easier said than done, he knew, but he worried about her sometimes. The constant going. The constant problem solving. When did she ever rest? “Thai, I think,” he answered, letting the conversation drift to less hostile topics. “I’m feeling pineapple fried rice.” 

[sambautistas]

jacksonkealoha‌:

“I don’t have a single better thing to do with my time.” He meant it - he was happy to be able to help in any way that he could. He had always been that way. Everything was important to him if it was important for someone else. “We all have our time to go. Makes no sense to fight it, we just have to let the universe run its course.” His faith in the universe had always been what kept him going. It was easier, that way. No questioning what was meant to be, or what was going to happen. No worrying about the next day. “I think it’s much more entertaining. Plus, someone who isn’t expecting it might freak out and everyone can get a good chuckle out of it.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Sam had been raised religious, learning the stories of his culture and his faith and the way in which the two melded. During his teenage years, he’d drifted away from organized faith and had begun to refer to himself as spiritual rather than religious. After his tour, he’d lost even that, but slowly, Sam had begun to believe again in the structure of the Universe, in the idea that something out there cared about maintaining a balance. Mostly, he’d begun to believe again that there was something out there that concerned itself with order. It made it easier to see purpose after everything he’d experienced and kept him from wallowing in his own failures. “Honestly, sounds like a fun time. I’ve been to a couple of funerals and believe me, they definitely could’ve used a light moment.”

[sambautistas]

mrdamienclarke‌:

Damien nodded with a soft smile leaning down to pick the pup off the floor setting her on the couch next to Sam. She was so full of love especially for Sam. He wasn’t surprised, he had rescued her from the shelter and brought her home to a place full of love and care. He chuckled as she padded up to him to lick at his hands. Meanwhile he leaned down to scratch Sol’s ears. Nova on the other hand was across the room napping in her cat tree. They had quite the little furry family. His head lifted at his comment and nodded. “Keeping mementos..not so much. Can’t say I’ve really been able to over the years. As far as kids, I think about it sometimes. But I need a more stable life for that.” 

“So, make it happen.” Sam reached over to scratch behind Luna’s ear. He adored her. She and Nova had fit so well into their family that it was difficult to remember a time when they’d only had Sol. “I mean, I understand that it’s more difficult than I’m making it sound, but also... is it really? If stability is something you want, then it’s definitely something you should pursue.” Sam couldn’t say that he understood Damien’s career. It was different than active service and it was vastly different than being a security guard. He could imagine, though, that the travel and the danger, not to mention the secrets and confidentiality, didn’t exactly lend itself to a very family friendly lifestyle. Still, Damien would make a good father. It was almost as if he was built to be a family man. “I don’t think I know anyone better suited to having a family. Just look at how easily you folded when it came to adopting Nova and Luna,” Sam pointed out with a chuckle. “Dude, figure it out so that I have something else to spoil. The animals are going to start realizing how annoying I am sooner or later.”

[sambautistas]

ayladcmir‌:

The brunette couldn’t help but smirk when the male admitted to working on his faults. Not that she saw them as such, but his confession was enough to elicit a laugh. “Oh yes, you do owe me dinner and I’ll readily accept because I’m still as big a fanatic as food as before.” She said with a wiggle of her brow. Surely it was his way of apologizing for their first meeting, which she’d accept because no one in their sane mind would deny free food. However, it was his next question that made the brunette’s smile falter slightly. “I….” she shrugged her shoulder and pushed a strand behind her ear. Truth was, she wasn’t actually certain. She’d kept busy enough to keep her mind from wandering — which also meant she hadn’t taken inventory of herself. “I’ve been better, but it’s also getting better.”

Sam had expected her to turn him down. He wouldn’t have held it against her if she had. He’d made a decision that had affected both their lives without involving her much in the process, and had been sort of rude about it when he’d seen her years later. “I’ll shoot you a text with the info once I work out the details. Unless, of course, your number has changed. In which case, just send me a text first.” He hadn’t considered that she could’ve changed her number in the years that had passed since he’d seen her. It hadn’t really been something that he had to consider and now he felt foolish. “Makes sense,” Sam responded. It was awkward. He wasn’t sure what to say or do to offer comfort in this instance. “Well, I’m here... You know, if you ever need anything.”

[sambautistas]

msalexfortier‌:

Alexandria chuckled as at his response and smiled. She was glad he had Damien here, especially right now. She doubted Sam liked having to rely on someone to move around but Damien was a big guy and could probably offer more help then she could. “Sounds like Damien. She’d deserve it too.” Her head rested back on the couch and as he suggested  that the cops would figure it out she nodded. Granted she didn’t believe it anymore than he did. The cops were great and all but they didn’t have a lot to go on and things like this often went cold. His next comment made her smile and she reached over to play with his hair softly, a motion that calmed her as much as anything. “No offense taken, you’re mom is pretty awesome, but I get your point. You know I’m here for you, for anything you need. Which right now is probably food, have you eaten anything?” 

“Don’t you have other things to worry about,” Sam asked. It wasn’t a mean-natured question and he was sure that Alex understood that. “I mean, we could go down the rabbit hole of trying to figure out why it happened, but it’d be essentially pointless. Unless, of course, you plan to beat up whoever you find on the other end. In which case, I support you one hundred percent.” He smiled, and leaned into her hand. He was half convinced that he was half dog or something, but he’d always found it relaxing whenever someone played with his hair. It was one of those tiny instances of platonic intimacy that he valued. “I had french fries a few hours ago. I’m not really hungry but I won’t say no to food, especially if you haven’t eaten yet.” 

[sambautistas]

jacksonkealoha‌:

“Pine it will be, then.” He said the words seriously, but the twitch at the edge of his lips betrayed the amusement he held for talking about the potential burial practice of a prosthetic leg. He appreciated the importance that different objects could hold for different people, across generations and borders and ideals. He had seen people heal themselves just by using their own pure thought, and if Sam wanted to bury his leg in order to appropriately process it, he would be there. “Absolutely serious. I can think of nothing I would rather do with my time.” Most of Jax’s life was things done in the chase of the thrill of a story, but not in the interest of exploiting it. Only in the interest of it being something that filled his heart. “I have seen some…interesting ones. There was one, in the Philippines. They dress the body in clothes to make it look alive, and place a lit cigarette between their lips.”

“Honestly, I can think about 700 other things I’d rather be doing with my time, but I appreciate the fact that you’re willing to help. Evelyn does too, even though she’s out of commission.” He’d wrapped up the previous year with plans for the next none of which had included getting fitted for a new leg. In fact, all of the plans he’d made after entering the military had gone up in smoke. If Sam had known ten years ago that his life would look the way it currently did, he would’ve made different decisions. Maybe. “That sounds interesting. Fun, even. I could think of a bunch of people who’d prefer that to a boring old funeral.” 

[sambautistas]

rhetthawkins‌:

“I’m sure I could get my hands on one at the precinct.” He would, even. He liked Sam. “Good. It’s a very infrequent offer. Sort of like seeing comet go by, honestly.” He could sometimes be helpful, but most of the time he pretended that he wasn’t. He pretended a lot of things, but lately he had been noticing that it was harder to pretend around everyone. As though they were slowly cracking away all of his layers. “I’m sure people would. Not that I can blame them, I think I have a pretty great physique.” He shrugged at the question, hating how often he had been asked it, but proud of himself that he had so far managed to at least respond to it, and hadn’t responded to it with sarcasm at all. “I’m fine. Embarrassed, and tired of being told that I have no reason to be. Taken down by a punk with a crowbar isn’t exactly what I want to be known for.”

“Well, that image is definitely going to haunt me for the rest of my life. So, thanks for that.” Sam was grateful for the lighthearted subject and for Rhett’s offer, though he’d simply nodded and deigned not to acknowledge it further. It made him feel awkward having to rely on other people for help, and even when he didn’t have to, he felt as if people expected it. It was almost as if the majority of people were walking on eggshells around him and the only way they knew to make things seem less awkward was to treat him like an invalid, which only increased the awkardness for him. It was one of those catch 22 situations that just couldn’t be helped, which was why he was thankful that Rhett joked around rather than acting as if he was delicate. It made him feel normal. “Listen, even heroes mess up. Not that that can really be counted as your fault. Who the heck expects to be attacked with a crowbar? It’s straight out of some post-apocalyptic movie. So, yeah, everyone’s going to tell you that it’s not your fault because it wasn’t, but you’re a He-man so you won’t listen. I get that. I’m still going to ask how you’re doing regardless of how annoying you find it because checking in is the only way to keep people safe. People who don’t check in go off the deep end and end up hurting themselves.”

[sambautistas]

ryderthompscn‌:

A soft chuckle broke, and he shook his head. It seemed as though the two of them were similar, in that sense. “Well, I can’t help but think I could take you to find a new one,” Ryder said, shrug following. “I know of a few places that make great customs. Not that anyone could ever replace Evelyn, of course, but as they say. There are plenty of fish in the sea.” Ryder hated the saying, but in the moment, the words made him chuckle.

It took a certain type of person to laugh at such a morbid situation. It was one of the reasons why Sam actively maintained relationships made at VA events. The men and women there had looked death in the face and had lived to tell the tale, just as he had. It forged a kind of camaraderie that just wasn’t found elsewhere. “I may just take you up on that. I haven’t seen the doc yet. I’m sure she’ll lose her shit when she sees Evelyn, but she’s been trying to get me to trade up for a while now.” Between his doctor, Alex, and his parents, Sam had had an earful about getting a prosthetic that fit better and was more comfortable, but he’d been putting it off more for sentimentality’s sake than anything else. Now, he didn’t even have that excuse. “At least there’s that.”

[sambautistas]

ayladcmir‌:

“You still apologize a lot,” the brunette said as she remembered that about him. He’d always been a good guy, far better than most of the men she normally went out with. But he’d up and left her life, and suddenly returned in a reluctant fashion. At least, that’s how she believed he felt. With her arms folded over her chest, the brunette peered over him and nodded her head. She wouldn’t force him to take the money, but she truly hoped that he’d consider it. If it was for his comfort and his accessibility to get around, then that’s what mattered most to her. “I mean, coffee, chocolate. Those kind of things.” She said with a grin before pushing a strand of hair from her face. “Otherwise, are you okay?”

Sam smiled sheepishly. What else could he possibly do? He’d always over apologized and it had only gotten worse over the years. Ayla already knew that, and as she’d pointed it out, it seemed pointless to deny it. “I’m working on it,” he admitted. He was working on a lot, but making amends was a part of the process. “Coffee and chocolate I can definitely do.” In the grand scheme of things, it was hardly a difficult ask. “I think I owe you dinner too. At least, that was the plan before the shit show that was New Years’.” Sam rubbed the back of his neck before continuing. “I’m fine. Really. This isn’t something I haven’t done before.” He’d been in this situation before, but it was better this time around. He wasn’t in an absurd amount of pain. He wasn’t mourning the loss of friends and his own future. He was in a better head space. “How are you, though?” 

[macherierps]

Michael Trevino as Kyle Valenti on Roswell, New Mexico; 1.05 “Don’t Speak”

[sambautistas]

mrdamienclarke‌:

“I don’t know man, I think it would be fitting for her. I bet I could pull a few strings and we could make it happen.” He nods in understanding as he takes a seat. He knew what Evelyn meant to Sam. She had carried him for a long time, giving him mobility. She may not have been the best out there but she did her job. “Gotcha, could even get her encased in gold. some people do that. And its not weird. She’s a soldier, she had your back, or rather your leg. Its normal to want to carry that. I mean hell some parents keep hair from their child’s first haircut, that is a little weird but you keeping your prosthetic who literally just saved your butt, perfectly normal” 

Sam had to admit that what Damien was saying sounded perfectly logical. Evelyn was important. She had done important work, and she deserved to be honored for that. It was a reasonable ask. At least, when Damien justified it, but that was nothing new. Damien had a way about him that could convince you to follow him into the flames of hell, which Sam supposed was an important quality in a federal agent. Someone who wasn’t trustworthy or pure of heart just didn’t seem to elicit the same kind of loyalty. At least, not in the idealistic world that Sam chose to live in. “I think encasing her in gold would be a bit expensive,” Sam admitted, “though I’m intrigued by the idea. Maybe some substance that’s slightly less valuable.” There had to be something. After all, he wasn’t the first person in the world to ruin a prosthetic and he wouldn’t be the last, so there had to be some sort of system in place. He just had to do his research. “I didn’t realize that you’re so against parents keeping mementos.” 

[sambautistas]

jacksonkealoha‌:

Being in the elevator hadn’t been his favorite experience. It had made him realize a fear of enclosed spaces that he’d never really realized he had before, and now that he knew, he found himself doing what he could to avoid going through it again. They had been lucky, he supposed. Trapped in the elevator as they were, they had avoided being attacked by either of the two groups that had attacked everyone else. He wished that he had been there to make some kind of difference, to help them, to keep Hadley out of the hospital, but getting everyone out of the elevator had been his way to help. He had succeeded, too, until the elevator doors had closed down on Sam’s leg. He could imagine that being caught in such a situation was less than ideal, and wanting to make sure he was okay was what had brought him to the apartment. “I have a shovel in my bag. Could dig a hole any time you want, and make sure we pick a nice, good spot under an oak tree.”

Jackson Kealoha was a hero, had been for a while. It was difficult to work in a museum and be oblivious to the work he was doing. From the moment Sam had become aware of his work, he’d considered the man nearly godlike. He could admit that part of him was jealous of the way he lived his life, of the ability to up and go where ever adventure called. So, being trapped in an elevator with him hadn’t been so bad. Even if there had been chaos and pandemonium. It could’ve been worse. “I’m particular to pines,” Sam said, a smile under his face. He didn’t really have a tree preference but the comment had seemed necessary. “I may take you up on that offer so be sure you’re serious about making it.” He paused for a few seconds before continuing. “Though now I’m curious about burial practices. I’m sure you must have come across some cultures with extravagant practices in your line of work.”