one day robots will cry.

this won't hurt more than a pinch, so just pour a drink; let's talk it over. GABRIEL "GABE" MORELOS. 39, drug trafficker / dealer for cortázars, bouncer at the cancún.

[luthienne]

Naomi Shihab Nye

[samemiistakes]

Send “%” for a CURIOUS text. - felix

[SMS 12:34 AM]: Who the actual fuck was the last person in the warehouse? [SMS 12:34 AM]: I can't fucking find what I need and have to be in another state tofuckingmorrow [SMS 12:35 AM]: What will it take to get you to come down here and help me

Text message meme. // @felixsecada

[samemiistakes]

🌟 …someone my muse trusts.

That's easy—it's Taís. Any lie he's ever told her has been found out in due time, so he offers her nothing but honesty, for better or worse. Beyond that, he respects her greatly despite all they've gone through and views her as a safe space for all of his secrets (or just his thoughts and emotions in general), knowing they will live and die with her. Their entire adult lives have been with each other, and there's no point in hiding now. So, he trusts her wholeheartedly, implicitly. // @curad0r

Get to know the people in my muse’s life.

[javier-huerta]

"That's homophobic," also a recurring joke. He presses his lips together, though he can't help his smile or his light laughter. "I'm not kidding, you're going to get frostbite on your fingers Gabby," besides, it's not like the other tried to get away from his grasp. This, and the way he looks at him, the words he says. Javi could swear he felt his stomach churn. Maybe that third cocktail was a mistake. Never mix your alcohols they said. Pepto Bismol would be his bestfriend in the morning. Advil would be his second best friend. Crankiest trouple on this side of the Hudson.

"It's alright babe, we've been training for this moment for years," he scoffs and looks over his shoulder, catching a glance of the countdown to midnight. Right.

Though, this being said, they've had their share of pecks through the years, celebratory, after a cartel victory or when Mexico won futbol world cup matches and scored goals during international and Copa America games in general. Yeah, that was a lot of practice. Javi's smile spreads and he wiggles his eyebrows at the other as if to dare him to do it.

[samemiistakes]

Despite his attempts, Gabriel’s own laughter fights its way through, short and quiet but no less genuine. “I'm warm-blooded, don't you worry.” Which is inherently true. Even if his hands feel cold to the touch, he feels warm—hot even, beneath his sweater, from how he's been constantly moving all night. And now it feels like he's in a can of fucking sardines, with how many people are around. Yet, he can't focus on the pairs around him, when he's focused on the pairing he's unintentionally made with Javier and himself.

We’ve been training for this moment for years. It's true, so he doesn't argue it, but why does this feel different? He chalks it up to love (and lust) in the air, as the countdown officially begins. Seconds to midnight, seconds to make a decision. The challenge is fucking accepted.

“Fuck it,” he mutters under his breath. As if to punctuate this declaration, he closes any distance between him and his friend, waits for that final second to reach twelve o’clock on the fucking dot, and then his mouth meets Javier’s. This isn't new to either of them, however the kiss lingers a little too long. He gets a little too into it as well, with the way his hand reaches up and his fingers tangle themselves into Javier's hair.

If he's going to do this, he's going to do it right.

[vulcansalute]

ALEX MERAZ
 as Patty in The Last Son (2021)

[javier-huerta]

"Fine. I won't tell mom you lied to me," hard to say whether he means Kamilah or his own mother. Gabe has met both after all. Javier slips one hand in his pocket, the other taking a sip from his drink. "Thank you, Dick." His retort comes with a slow grin and it only grows as he sees him searching around for someone else. Whoever Gabe looks for, if he's stopped working for them, they must be special. And he hasn't heard about them before. "You're gonna have some explaining to do," he doesn't give a shit if Gabe ditches his corner. He's curious though, now and that means being obnoxious. He wiggles his eyebrows. Are we looking for a lady or a gentleman, or a non binary pal?"

What? He's inclusive.

"Me?" His mouth forms a comically shocked O and he scoffs. "Why must you think so little of me." His shirt is hanging half open, which doesn't prove much, but is rather telling. "Says the guy who shows up right before the clock strikes twelve," he leans in, picks up a piece of lint from Gabe's shoulder. Least he can do is help him look perfect for the special occasion, wherever his mysterious 'friend' is hiding now. "Don't worry, if they are a no show, I'll personally bring you to the bathroom," he joking. Mostly. He still has buttons to undo on that shirt. He's joking. "We can't have you start the year so poorly," joke aside, working outside in the cold did sound depressing, especially on a night like this. He reaches out, as if to test his theory. Gabe's hand is definitely cold in contrast to his. "Remind me to get you hand warmers".

[samemiistakes]

“It's not a lie, it's more like a change of plans.” It's both, really, because Gabriel doesn't want it to seem like he's been here at all. He's grateful that he's only bumped into Javier, not customers or his coworkers. Or, he was grateful, until he's asked who he's looking for. He supposes he should've been less obvious about it. “That's none of your business,” he shakes his head. His answer would give too much away, so he decides it's better to dodge the question altogether with the age old proverb of, ”I plead the fifth,” and this time, he laughs.

“It's looking like I'm gonna be the no show. Or late, kind of.” Another glance at his phone and he has to accept it's too close to midnight to find his so-called mystery person on time. He did at least warn Val that he might be a few minutes late. “I don't have time for sloppy bathroom sex with you.” As if time is the issue here and the only reason he's saying no to the idea at all. When Javier reaches out to feel his hand, he furrows his brows and laughs again, “Don't be so fucking gay about it, man.” A recurring joke, made that much funnier when he looks around, sees pairs of people find their date and prepare for that magical ball drop, and his gaze finds Javier again—

“It's looking like you're gonna have to be my midnight kiss with the way this shit is heading.” He says it like a joke, but is it? The lines have blurred before and it looks like they might again.

[theangellies]

Val is elated - walking on air as they feel for the wall, trace the fancy, grooved wallpaper as they carefully go down steps. Once they figure the size of each, it's easy. This is after a short elevator ride of course. All just so they can find Gabe outside somewhere.

They've had drinks, they've schmoozed and chatted and flirted - and the ball has gone down, and it's 2024. Hair is messy, curly and wild and they smell like the strawberry mojito they recently drank. Minty, fruity. A hand slips into theirs and they gasp before being pulled into a quieter area, into Gabe's warmth.

And Val flings their arms around him with a mumbled, "Asthore..." A kiss to his neck, his cheek, draped around his body. "Stop apologizing! Stop it." They laugh, find his face, cradle it with warm hands. It's bracingly cold outside. "Still counts, darling. Of course it does."

[samemiistakes]

Secluded in dim lighting and only the errant unrecognizable face around the two of them, Gabriel allows himself to relax, his arms wrapping around Val’s waist. Pulling them close—closer than necessary, really, but it's the new year and he came here to specifically see them after all. Even if he's a bit late for the classic new year’s tradition. “Are you having fun, palomita?” The smile he's wearing can be heard in his words, head tilting slightly to lean into their hands. Warm, gentle.

Eventually, his forehead rests against theirs lightly and once more, they're closed in by the mess of Val's curls. “You look wonderful,” and he's said something similar already, but now he gets to say it to them in person. “I can't spend too much time here. Wish I could.” Alas, he has a couple of people waiting on him. He's selfish enough to let them continue waiting, if only for this.

“But, happy new year,” he murmurs, finally closing the gap between the two of them and allowing mouths to meet, his lips fitting damn near perfectly with Val’s own.

[javier-huerta]

"Well, well, well. Didn't you say you were going to skip this one out?" To do what? He had no fucking clue, but Gabe had been clear about not wanting to spend the evening out, and having a quiet NYE (which Javi respected as much as he envied it). And yet, here he was. "Of course I fucking look good," because what else was he supposed to do with himself on a night like that. He still wondered if Kamilah hadn't asked him to come with her out of pity, because she knew his other option included drinking alone and passing out on the couch. She wouldn't have been wrong about that. He didn't want to be seen when he was feeling like shit. But, being out, seeing people, was actually doing the opposite of that. He was having a good time tonight, and he'd have to thank her for not letting him mop by himself. "What the fuck are you doing here? You didn't come here to sell, did you?"

[samemiistakes]

“I did fucking say that, yes. As far as you're aware, I'm not even here.” Except he absolutely is, even if it's only for a handful of minutes. Still, Gabriel hopes to be out of here as quickly as he got here, and this is admittedly messing with that plan. He doesn't complain, though. “Hey, next time someone—specifically your fucking friend—compliments you, try saying ‘thank you’. Dick.” He laughs, before looking around the buzzing space in an attempt to spot the person he's looking for, then glancing quickly at his phone.

“I popped in to see someone and found you instead,” he shrugs. “Not selling here, but I am in the area to do that. I've been busy for the past two or three hours and I'm fucking tired, man.” This used to be so easy, he wants to say. He doesn't.

“What are you doing? It's almost midnight. I expected you'd be fucking someone in the bathroom at this point, or at least have them hanging off your arm, waiting for that cheesy midnight kiss.” Which is why he is here in the first place.

[samemiistakes]

CLOSED STARTER for @javier-huerta. LOCATION / SETTING: Night of December 31st (New Year’s Eve), nearly midnight, somewhere in The Top of the Standard.

Gabriel is, for all intents and purposes, not here. He said he wasn't going to show up to this party, and he didn't even mean to, but he realized he has a bit of time to kill before his next deal. Not that much time, he's realizing, as he's quickly dodging and weaving through crowds of people to find someone. The person he bumps into isn't exactly who he's looking for, either, however it turns out to be a pleasant surprise.

"Fuck, man, sorry!" He has to raise his voice a little, just to drown out the standard party commotion, and he's reaching out to grab Javier’s arm as if to stabilize him after quite literally running into him. "Jesus fucking Christ, you look like a disco ball," he says while eyeing the other man up and down, then finally—

"You look good, though."

[kamilahxmarques-deactivated2024]

There was a comfort that came in Gabriel's arms. Considering everything they had been through together, he was, in a sense, home to her. Often there were times she wondered what it would have been like if they ended up a family - not this co-parenting they had managed to perfect; falling into each other's bed.

She wanted to believe his words, that everything would be okay. The doctors would come through and tell them she was up, being her sassy self, but when she noticed the doctor coming in their direction, the look on his face said everything.

"Mr. and Mrs. Marques," he started, and she wasn't going to correct that they weren't together in that way. "About Isabella." Pause. "She is stable, however, she is in a diabetic coma. We have faith that she will wake, but for now, all we can do is wait. Let me take you to her room."

Kamilah was speechless. She had done all her research on diabetes when Isabella was diagnosed at four. This...she didn't want to think anything negative. Her daughter would be fine. A hand searches for Gabe's, lacing their fingers together. "Por favor." She follows after the doctor.

[samemiistakes]

Throughout his body, there is only tension, as if joints and nerves are being pulled taut to the point of snapping altogether. Despite this, Gabriel’s face is nearly blank, stoic to a fucking fault. But, the look in his eyes gives him away to those who are privy enough to his inner workings, especially as the doctor steps out to deliver the news. And, fuck, if he thought the phone call was bad, he's experiencing an entirely new revelation.

Stable, however—there’s always a fucking however. A but. Logically, he knows to be grateful that Isabella is stable and he is, yet he still has to face this new fear. Both of them do, as parents. Venturing into the unprecedented that he hates himself for not being prepared for, not considering, because who wants to think about something so dreadful?

"Diabetic coma," he mumbles under his breath, as if he needs confirmation. He doesn't. Not as his hand squeezes Kamilah’s gently, thumb caressing her soft skin, remaining right by her side as they enter Isabella’s hospital room. The shift in his breathing is audible in the too quiet space, and he breaks just a little more, another chip of himself to go missing. No parent should have to see their child like this, but there they are, bearing witness to it.

"What does this… I mean, how do we…" He shakes his head, feet carrying him closer to Isabella’s bed on instinct, and his brows furrow. A look of pain and confusion, albeit a subtle one. "How do we… fix this?" He feels ridiculous, almost childish, for even asking, gaze temporarily moving from their daughter to Kamilah and then the doctor.

[max-millers-deactivated20250119]

Instant relief fills Max chest, along with the guilt of relapsing. Again. The third time this month. But it's coming close to Christmas, after all. He's not the one to blame (or is he?), with everything that has been going on.

"Wish it was just that.", he mutters, taking a last drag of the cigarette before throwing it to the ground and crushing it with his foot. His leg aches in the motion and he stops himself from groaning. He's rarely ever looked this bad, this beat up. His knuckles are bruised, too, and he feels them hurt as he pushes his lighter back into his pocket and greets Gabriel with a simple handshake. "Don't worry.", he adds, obviously little mad, just fed up.

Seeing how stressed out Gabriel seems to be, he pulls the pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and offers it to him. "Care for a smoke, or in a rush? Do you even smoke? Sorry, my mind's been blurry." For a week or so.

"How much you got for me and how much I'm payin'?"

[samemiistakes]

Gabriel eyes Max up and down, curiosity briefly evident in his features, before he schools his expression altogether. "Do you have any injuries you need tending to, or are you good?" There are better ways to ask ‘how are you?’ but they go unsaid. This isn't exactly the most formal or friendly meeting of two people, and he tends to keep it strictly business, especially with the thoughts weighing on his mind.

"Sure," he mutters, reaching for a cigarette and grabbing his lighter out of his pocket. He's already carrying his own pack with him but who has to know? "I've been trying to quit, actually. Thought I'd make that my new year’s resolution." Except he's stressed and smoking more than ever now, merely making casual conversation as he lights the cigarette and inhales.

"Five and five, like we agreed." Free hand is reaching into the inner pocket of his jacket, retrieving the two small bags for Max, one containing the requested microdots and the other holding weed. "Hundred even. Call it a Christmas special." The reality is that he doesn't actually do discounts, however it's fun to pretend.

[samemiistakes]

CLOSED STARTER for @yarn-spinning. LOCATION / SETTING: Night of December 31st (New Year’s Eve), shortly after midnight, outside of The Top of the Standard.

Very clearly out of his element, and not even supposed to be here in the first place, Gabriel is watching his phone like a damn hawk. He's running late for a deal at this point and he knows it reflects negatively on him, however he's been run ragged all fucking night and the party isn't even over for most people. Regardless, he's already told Val to meet him outside and he absolutely will not abandon them.

Relief floods him once that familiar—and very pretty—face is spotted and he practically snatches them once they're close enough, his hand grasping theirs. "Just me, don't panic," he murmurs, able to be a little quieter now that they're both a bit of a distance away from the buzzing crowd of partygoers.

"I'm sorry I couldn't find you in time for the whole… thing," he chuckles. "Does the tradition count if it's a few minutes after midnight?"

[theangellies]

Val listens, feels- fingertips trace and touch, not really helping with the jacket coming off or the shirt, but more-so following its path up until its pectoral muscle, warm flesh...

They lean down again - long and lean, it's easy to slip against Gabe. Shift into him better. How do they want it? Like it? Val can hardly think straight enough to answer.

"With you..." It's sappy, and stupid. Val barely knows him. "'Like it with you... anything..." They sigh as fingers dig and mouth kisses and touches. The feeling is amazing - just touch and the arch of hips. "Just... please. Please, shag me. Rough, gentle. I don't care. Just want you t'fuck me, asthore. It's all I fuckin' want." They whisper in a hiss as they find Gabe's mouth, claim it.

[samemiistakes]

With you. It's cheesy, and it shouldn't affect Gabriel like this, but it does. Being a sentimental romantic who has to keep that side of himself under lock and key has always maintained itself as a fatal flaw. It's not something he can think about too much, not with the way heat is coursing throughout his body and this primal need is overtaking him.

"Fuck, you're so fucking eager for it," and he knows he's said this to them before, however it's different getting to press the words into their skin, punctuate this praise with an open mouthed kiss. It's too much effort to have to pull himself away, even as a hand trails down Val's frame, finding their cock once more and stroking them slowly, deliberately teasing them.

"Where do you keep lube?" Because his patience is fucking waning rapidly and all he wants right now is to bury himself inside of Val, hear them moan and fall apart for him in an entirely new way.

[merazwrites]

ALEX MERAZ via instagram

[max-millers-deactivated20250119]

@samemiistakes | Setting: Gas Station near 506 Lenox Ave | Local Time: 00:21 | TW: drug abuse mention

Leaning against the wall of the gas station, Max practically inhaled his cigarette. Smoking was a habit he never really attempted to quit, but it had never gotten out of hand, anyway, so there was nothing to really worry about. Talking about habits to worry about: Max silently snorted to himself, even though he didn't think the situation was funny at all. His left hand, which wasn't holding the cigarette, was trembling slightly, his right hand's knuckles were bruised, just like his lower bottom lip and his left eye.

Max wasn't proud of how easily he fell back into his addiction around the holiday's, but it was almost Christmas Eve and the thought of spending the day alone with his father was eating him up from the inside. Lifting his head, looking around for Gabriel, Max tried to tune out the Christmas Songs the station was playing silently, but loud enough for him to hear them outside. His money already balled up in his fist and his gun pushed into his belt beneath his hoodie just in case, the young man impatiently shuffled his feet on the ground.

[00:23] MAX: forgot about me?

[samemiistakes]

Gabriel is, in no uncertain terms, running late to one of his many obligations. Because that's what this is now—less about work and money (for him, at least), more about obligations. It's so close to Christmas and he's out here, pushing drugs instead of celebrating with his family. Spending time with his recently hospitalized daughter. He's angry about it with no one to blame but himself, already having agreed to meet up with Max before he ever got the news. Such is life.

He's parked his pickup truck at a distance from the gas station, inherently cautious, before he gets out and begins his short trek to locate his customer for the night. He supposes he can use the exercise. It doesn't take him very long to find him, shuffling impatiently and curiously bruised.

Just as he feels the buzzing of his phone in his pocket, he speaks when he's close enough that only Max will hear him, "Get into a fight on your way here, man?" he jokes, even if humor lacks in his inflection. "Didn't mean to keep you waiting." It's not an apology, but close enough.

[theangellies]

Messy curls hang around Val's face, their smile only growing when they kiss, when they shift against Gabe. He's hard... and god, it feels good to know that Val aided in that.

"I remember, love..." How could they forget? They've been thinking about it nonstop. About being able to sit, skin to skin, feel Gabe against them. In fact...

The author reaches up quickly. Unbuttons a few clasps on the long shirt before tossing it up and over their head. Pale freckled skin, a few tattoos. A pendant or two dropping onto a smooth chest. "Yeah... please, let me show you..." They shift, let their hips drift into Gabe's. A hand slipping down, feeling for Gabe's chest. Then up. A strong neck, that jaw tensed. "Ah fuck. Asthore..." When they bend down to kiss, their hair frames both of their faces. Private. Intimate. Fingers drift under Gabe's shirt. "So much nicer hearin' you here with me in person..."

[samemiistakes]

—

A pleased noise comes from his throat, deep and guttural. Primal, almost. Beyond his control, as more of Val's skin is exposed to him, hands exploring their lithe frame fully now; no fabric to hold him back. "Palomita..." he whispers against their lips, then a second time against their neck, before biting gently at the pale skin there. Another mark.

"Hey, let me—" And he's starting to move, somewhat, one hand supporting Val's back as a free hand manages to maneuver his jacket and shirt off. Both are tossed onto the floor for now as he presses ever closer to them, skin against skin and hips meeting hips.

"Tell me how you want it." A kiss to their bare chest, just below their clavicle, as fingers grab and dig into their waist. "How you like it, palomita."

[kamilahxmarques-deactivated2024]

Kamilah could understand his frustration with not being able to see her, but her previous experience working in an ER, they had to do their job, despite how hard it was for loved ones waiting. She had faith that everything would come back fine, they just had to be patient.

The touch from Gabriel was comforting. She found herself keeping close to him. "She was asleep and my phone starting to beep and her levels were getting lower, and lower, quick." Her arms wrap around herself, remembering the dread that instantly washed over her.

"I called 9-1-1 rushing up to her and she was unconscious. I couldn't wake her, she would respond." It was a horrible feeling. "I gave her the glucagon injection and by that time paramedics showed up." Her tone hushed when telling him the story. "It was horrible Gab. I thought I was losing her."

[samemiistakes]

Gabriel only nods at first to show that he's following along as Kamilah explains the situation, and he is, mostly. Except he thinks he can still hear his pulse in his fucking ears, and he's anxious, and he's doing all he can to not let that show. For her sake, for Isabella's sake.

"Fuck," he mumbles as the situation dawns on him more and more. One of the shittiest phone calls of his life and he can't even pretend that it's better than he originally assumed. He maintains a certain closeness with Kamilah, a strong hand rubbing her back for a moment longer, before he eventually wraps his arm around her waist. Tilts his head a little to rest it atop hers gently.

"It'll be okay." More convincing, because it just has to be okay. Because he won't even think about the worst case scenario, knowing he'd just fucking crumble if he did. "It's gonna be okay," he tries again with a soft murmur, attempts to give Kamilah a small smile for more comfort, even if he isn't sure it lands the way it's meant to.