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@smokefind
#𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 ― a dependent , multi - muse blog associated with jasperfms ; do not interact unless affiliated with the group. mun + muses are 25+ ; some triggering content may appear / be explored but will be tagged accordingly.
mallory bennett ⭒ forty - two. she / her. owner of prestige tea co. agustin ❛ gus ❜ salvador ⭒ thirty - five. he / him. kindergarten teacher.
‑ˋ⭒ introductions ⭒ starters ⭒ wanted connections ⭒ˊ‑
location: the 21st amendment who: open @jasperstarters
Kaleb huffed dramatically, as his date was going on about something he didn't care about. Kaleb had been trying very hard to pay attention to the new story they were now sharing, but just couldn't. Every so often he'd let out a small laugh, or a nod to show that he was paying attention. Even though everything was going in one ear and out the other.
He grabbed the attention of the bartender and ordered another round of drinks for them. It was the least they could do, right? Kaleb didn't know. He hardly dated.
Eventually, he did have to excuse himself to the restroom. Not like he needed to go or anything. He just needed to get away from his date. Kaleb needed to think of an escape plan, which he feared he simply could not do on his own. In other words, his brain was so foggy from drinking to much.
Kaleb exited the restroom, and made sure he stood in a location his date wouldn't be able to see him. Kaleb then approached someone, "Can you help me." His voice was filled with desperation. "I'm on the worst date of my life and I need help with a distraction. Something, anything, get me the fuck out of here."
it was a relatively chill evening for gus ; any plans he had were casual and non - committal , so it was no real surprise that he found himself in the corner of a bar nursing a drink. the ice was just about melted , but he didn't much care. he was quite content people watching. he'd occasionally partake in some small talk , either with nearby patrons or the bartender if service was slower. thus , he barely blinked when someone approached him.
he turned with a slight smile on his lips. “ worst date … ” he repeated with a hum. “ okay , like … how bad ? do they just stink or is this like … murder - y vibes ? ” gus' question was far from serious. he craned his neck to look around , as if he had any hopes to find the other half of this apparently horrible date. plenty of couples and groups occupied the bar ; it was likely an impossible feat. he exhaled a sigh , as if defeated.
“ okay , a distraction ? ” gus nodded he shifted his position slightly. “ what if … hear me out … ” he raised his hands cautiously. “ may sound crazy , but what if … you're just honest and say you want to go home … ? ”
open starter !! (2/6) @jasperstarters location: the 21st amendment
"I don't care if you asked nicely...I'm still not dancing on the bar. This isn't Coyote Ugly." Romeo chuckles, shaking their head at the drunken patron sitting at the bar. "Here's a water on the house. Drink it." They state before turning to the person waiting for their attention, flashing a smile in their direction. "Ignore Frank, he's mostly harmless. What can I get started for you?"
gus can't help but chuckle as he watches the interaction between the bartender and patron ; enjoying it so much , he's almost disappointed when the attention is turned to him. he blinked , forgetting he was in fact waiting to order and not just standing there to people watch. “ wait … this isn't coyote ugly ? ” he asked , but his tone is anything but serious. he looked around the bar , dramatically. “ where am i ? ” he furrowed his brow , feigning a sad expression. “ dang … guess i'll have to settle for a tequilla soda then … ”
location: candyland status: open
the smooth bass line of Under Pressure drifted over the radio of the candy store and pulled a playful smile to charlie's lips as she gently pried open a plastic bag. nothing made her feel like she was in the right place at the right time as much as her favorite band coming on the radio while she was out. granted, it wasn't exactly like Queen wasn't still popular, but sometimes it felt like they appeared in the most unlikely places. she'd come to associate the tones that came over most candy store radios as pop – j-pop, to be specific. two years in and jasper was still keeping her on her toes.
she had just filled a good quarter of her bag with banana runtz, an already ripped open pack of red licorice in her other hand. she munched on a twist as she turned towards the jelly beans, colliding with the solid form of the person beside her. she hadn't realized she'd been humming along with the music until it cut off abruptly in her throat around a soft oof and she nearly choked on her licorice.
" oh, i'm sorry, " she murmured, somehow managing to keep her items tightly in her palms. " i guess i was just off in my own little world. "
t was almost strange for mallory to be in the candy store without her kids. her five year old daughter , specifically , may threaten to throw a tantrum if she were to learn she missed a trip to candyland. however , the mother did not exactly have the time to spend all afternoon negotiating with her youngest about sweets. she was on a strict mission : to pick up the typical reward for a good report card for her oldest on her way home from work. of course , she'd get a small something for her daughter as well to help prevent any potential fallout.
mallory was distracted herself , perusing the seasonal options when she collided with someone. “ oh ? ” she laughed , wobbling a bit before catching her balance. thankfully , neither party seemed to scatter any precious candy on the floor. “ no , no … i'm just as guilty , i'm sure , ” she insisted as she gave the other woman her full attention.
“ easy to get lost amidst the sugar. ” she held up her own collection of sweets , currently comprising mostly of sour items. it was her son's favorite , though she almost had to beg him to stop testing how many lemon warheads he could handle at once. she eyed the other's selection , chuckling softly. “ quite the assortment you got , huh ? ”
𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 : closed. @smokefind 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 : mallory's home !
when it came to mallory , felix always felt at home. he mad himself comfortable in her home , moved around if freely and comfortably. there weren't many people he could do that with , but she was definitely one of them. things had always been effortless with her , and it was something felix was incredibly grateful for. there weren't many people in his life that he trusted so having mallory around meant the world to him. he helped himself to her cabinet , pulling out two mugs and setting them down on the counter. ❝ coffee or tea ? ❞ he questioned as he turned his head towards her. it might've been her kitchen , but he spent enough time in it to know his way around. the least he could do was offer to make her drink for her. ❝ oh , and what are your christmas plans with the kids ? i was planning on keeping it pretty lowkey with evelyn. do you think we should do a joint dinner type of thing ? we could end the night with christmas cookies and a movie if you're free. ❞
felix was practically part of the family , so mallory rarely blinked an eye at how casual he was in her home. she , too , was guilty of the same when she visited the henderson home. thus , it was second nature to find felix comfortably in her kitchen after she returned from checking on the kids. “ tea , ” she answered. “ my favorite black one , ” she motioned vaguely , knowing he would know what she was referring to without further explanation. she was a creature of habit , mostly , and felix probably had her routine memorized as well as she did by this point. “ oh , the same as last year , ” she responded , though there was a bit of hesitancy in her voice. the holidays were always a bit rough when navigating a lingering grief she seemingly didn't acknowledge. “ already bought a ham that i doubt olivia will eat , ” she shrugged , like it wasn't an obvious tradition in her household. “ so i expected to have leftovers if you and evelyn don't join , ” she chuckled softly. “ i don't mind handling dinner if you deal with everything after , ” she smirked , already imagining the sugar high they would inevitably allow as a sort of christmas present. “ but we may need to prepare for more than one movie , in case someone doesn't agree … ”
"Exactly. Good for your soul!" Layla shot back with a wink. She handed over the plate with the pastries and rung her up. "Hey, I love Disney. But I do understand maybe not wanting to hear it all the time. It's getting to close to holiday season, and as much fun as Christmas music is, I usually want to slam my head on the counter by the second week of it. I'm hoping my boss let's me add more songs so it's not as repetitive." Layla said, handed Mallory, according to her customer account, back her receipt. "Enjoy your food and let me know if you need anything else."
“ good for the soul , yeah , “ mallory agreed with a nod. she accepted the plate , resisting the urge to immediately pick up a pastry and take a bite. she had enough self control to save it until she sat down , or at least that's what she told herself. ” disney is wonderful , nostalgic even … but a grown woman can only hear let it go so many hours of the day , “ she chuckled softly. she paused , listening to the music that currently played. ” well … best i can suggest is alternating between the christmas classics and the more , well , modern hits maybe , “ she offered with a sheepish smile. she collected her receipt , nodding before taking out a few of her smaller bills to slip into the tip jar per usual. ” oh , i will. thank you so much , layla. "
❝ well , i guess that depends on how you feel about the holiday's. ❞ she knew that everyone viewed them differently , that for some people , they were not important and that for other's , they were extremely passionate. she was one of those people who loved celebrating the holiday's. gianna enjoyed the togetherness and the fact that her parents came back to town to visit her. ❝ if you're looking for something fun to do this holiday season , then it'll be the perfect piece for you. if you're trying to avoid the whole ... holiday spirit thing , i'd probably just skip this one. ❞ she nodded at his words , a smile smile offered to gus. she adored children , but she wasn't so sure she would handle working with them for several hours a day. childcare was not for everyone , and she'd always possessed a great deal of respect for the individudals who chose to pursue careers in that field. ❝ well , they are notoriously stubborn from my understanding , so i commend you for your efforts. how are you feeling about being back here ? you were away for quite awhile. ❞
“ the holidays are fun … at least , usually , ” gus mused with a gentle smile. he was aware how delicate feelings around the holidays could be ; memories could be happy or sad or even bittersweet. still , he chose to try and embrace the more fun and festive side of the season when he could. “ well , i can't wait to read it then , ” he chuckled softly. “ help me decide what to do and what to avoid , i guess. ” he was curious what gianna may include , anyhow. even more so , he wondered what was new since his absence and what might still be the same all these years later. a laugh escaped , one that was perhaps a bit louder than intended. “ stubborn ? that's an understatement. ” he looked around , almost a little bit embarrassed. gus adored his students , but there was no question that they were still quite the handful. “ i , uh … ” he nodded , rubbing the back of his neck as he looked back at the other. “ i'm glad to be back. just trying to get back into the swing of things , y'know ? ” his smile turned sheepish. “ like you said … been awhile … ”
"Yes, I'm doing a bit Gus, play along!" She shout-whispered back, raising her head to glare before laying back down and closing her eyes. How was she supposed to be adorable and hilarious in these conditions? But, knowing the moment had passed, she cleaned up anything. Standing over the garbage, she rubbed away at the glitter and glue, the crafty mix raining down into the pail. "That makes sense, technology moves every forward, but I'm glad they get to experience tapes. Even if it's more to surprise them and get teased about old stuff. Still, regardless of the medium, movie days were always so kick-ass. And now I'm sad thinking about how old I am."
“ sorry , sorry , ” gus raised his hands in surrender. he was no improv professional , but he knew enough to follow along with daily games of make believe everyday. “ i was asking for context , obviously ! ” that wasn't entirely true ; he was mostly trying to poke fun at her charade , but clearly he'd ruin the bit. he tossed some of the unusable scraps in the respective waste bins , recycling what paper wasn't completely covered in glitter at the very least. “ their reactions are always a bit funny to the older technology , ” he chuckled as he moved to the sink. “ plus , vhs tapes don't have random ad breaks , “ he pointed out with a smirk between scrubbing his hands and lower arms clean. he stepped aside , making room if layla wanted to follow suit. ” c'mon ! don't be sad. they say thirties are the new twenties … plus , these kids think , like , anything before 2015 is old anyways. "
❝ right , right , of course , ❞ felix answered as he nodded rapidly. he had no idea what was wrong with him. he was typically a much more composed person. he could flirt , he knew how to talk to people , but it was as if it all vanished when he was in the other's presence. he was internally embarrassed , even if he was managing to maintain a neutral sort of expression on the surface. ❝ well , thank you. i'm um ... i'm really proud of her , but i think being her dad makes me a little biased , so i'm happy to hear it from someone else. ❞ while he liked what he did and there was a certain satisfaction that came from helping people , he never wanted to see anyone he actually knew in the er. felix chuckled , nodding in understanding at the other's words. ❝ hopefully it's an injury free year for you. ❞ he couldn't imagine chasing around an entire classroom of kids. he already had a difficult time keeping up with his own some days. ❝ they can be especially picky at this age , ❞ he sympathized. his daughter had her own preferences , and he was constantly trying to keep up with them when they changed. ❝ yeah , okay. cal's is good. i like their food. ❞ it wasn't too fancy , and it was a relaxed enough environment. that was exactly what he was looking for. ❝ what time works for you ? i just need to get her ready and dropped off for her sleepover , then i'm pretty free after that. ❞
gus nodded , trying to contain his smile best he could. “ no , no … you should be proud , ” he insisted. he knew parents were obviously biased of their own kids , but he didn't think he was exaggerating in the slightest with his praises about evelyn. “ she's great. promise. you're doing a great job. ” maybe he was a bit biased himself , given he knew felix before fatherhood. even if he hadn't predicted any of this , watching his former friend now , somehow it made perfect sense. there was clear love , and suddenly gus couldn't imagine anything else. “ oh , i highly doubt i'll get away from this year unscathed , “ he let out an amused laugh. ” if i'm not chasing that one … “ he pointed a look in the little girl's direction , but his exaggerated expression only contracted the idea that she was even close to a potential problem. ” i'm chasing someone else. i'm probably safe until spring , but … “ he shrugged before holding up both hands , fingers crossed. he doubted he would actually end up in the hospital ; but a twisted ankle and plenty of paper cuts were surely in the foreseeable future for the teacher. ” you're telling me … got a few kids who don't eat if the sandwich is cut wrong , “ he chuckled softly. safe to say , the extra ( picky eater approved ) snacks he kept stocked came in handy more often than he'd admit. ” good , “ he nodded as his choice of establishment was accepted. at the following question , he hummed in thought. ” well … does six pm give you enough time ? "
"sort of. i mean, the more you swipe yes, the more potential matches you'll get. it's all a numbers game." gen shrugs, sipping from her drink again. "you're not telling your life story, but there are usually some prompts that you fill out and such that are meant to catch people's attention. it's not for everyone, though. though i can't say i've had any luck with meet cutes or meeting anyone in real life either."
her nose crinkled slightly. “ should finding love really be a numbers game … ? ” mallory mused , her tone almost sad at the idea. maybe she was a bit too nostalgic for the less technological methods of dating or simply too out of touch for modern methods. she nodded as she listened , though didn't seem completely sold on the concept of dating apps. “ i see , ” she hummed. “ that's such a shame. i mean … i used to love hearing how couples met. it's a bit boring if everyone met on an app now ... ”
His automatic reaction was to tighten his chest and push forward as if to incite a fight. “ Now what’s your problem? ” He asked immediately following the impact before noticing the kindergarten teacher that he dropped the little girl off to every morning. Taking a step back, Zaire recouped himself and almost chuckled at the stress steaming off the other male. “ Don’t sweat it, ” he said, waving the apology away like an annoying fly, “ At least the cup was empty. ” He proceeded to straighten his shirt and jacket, then glanced at the watch adorning his wrist. “ It's a quarter to two. ” Z offered the time, smirking while he thought of what else the teacher was possibly drinking along with his coffee. “ Past five somewhere. ”
gus blinked at the male's reaction before they both seemed to register the connection. the teacher awkwardly laughed as the tension seemed to fade. “ oh , i'm sorry , ” he apologized again , straightening his posture. “ mr. bell , right ? ” he always opted to be more formal with his students' parents , even outside the vicinity of the school. as the other stated the time , gus looked a bit surprised. “ … already ? ” he asked , glancing back at where his computer still sat. “ huh. been here since at least ten … ” he quietly mused , mostly talking to himself. “ no , no , no … ” he shook his head in response to what the other was seemingly implying. “ my , uh … my stupor is sugar - based , if anything. a sugar high , y'know ? ” he insisted. he hated the idea that a parent might assume he would be drunk , in the middle of the day no less …
everett wasn't even paying attention, all he was looking at was a piece of paper with a huge order of coffee and baked goods for the fire station. it was a long day and the man needed some caffeine. he didn't normally drink it late in the day but he figured what the hell. while standing in line, the bean scene was busy and he looked up for a split second at the menu and felt someone bump into him. noticing how flustered he was, everett shook his head "don't worry about it man. i wasn't even paying attention. i got this huge list of orders. is the blueberry or cranberry muffin better? it's been a while since i ordered from here."
gus let out a small sigh of relief. “ great , ” he laughed as he dramatically pretended to wipe sweat from his brow. “ huge list , huh ? ” he craned his neck slightly in a half - hearted attempt to see the list in question. it was more curiosity than anything. he hummed as he considered the question. “ blueberry is classic , but … it is cranberry season , right ? ” he didn't know if cranberries had a season which they were freshest , but they seemed rather popular around the holiday season at least. “ maybe i'm just a sucker for marketing , ” he said with a shrug. “ i always get the special , or whatever is considering seasonal. limited time offers , y'know ? ” he chuckled. “ but … both are good , from what i remember. i don't think there's a wrong choice. ”
"No no, this is the end, I know it. I can feel the icy breath of death upon my neck. Take me to the window, I wish to say goodbye." She moaned, hamming it up to make Gus laugh more. She had flopped onto the floor in her dramatics and it was warm against her back. "Honestly that's not so bad. So I have glittery poop for a while, wouldn't be the first time." Then she pooped back up, making her way towards his kitchen to grab some paper towels. They both needed it. "I hope the kids like them, it really is such a cute little craft. I always loved the holidays in school; making stuff to bring home, eating candy, watching movies on the rolling tv cart. Do you still use those? Or is it like a projection on a screen?"
gus watched as his friend only upped the dramatics , not making much of an attempt to hide his amusement. “ a glitter death would be more … scratchy than icy , in my opinion , ” he mused. “ say goodbye ? to who ? what ? the birds ?? ” his laughter eased. he blinked back potential tears , but tried not to touch his face again with his hands. “ makes for a pretty toilet bowl , i'm sure , ” he joked as layla stood up. he started to clean up some of the scraps and excess. it was easy for the mess to just spread , especially if they didn't clean as they went. he continued to sort as he listened. “ i hope so too , ” he hummed. he chuckled softly at the question. “ not as much , sadly. lots of projectors and youtube videos now , ” he admitted. “ but sometimes i get to wow them with the cart to watch a vhs tape. talk about old … ”
"cheers to that." genevieve lifts her drink in a cheers motion, taking a sip. "truly, it's tragic when you let a good hair day or a cute outfit go to waste. all of the apps kinda suck in their own ways, but i guess lots of people meet their partners too, so they have their redeeming qualities too. clearly, i just have terrible luck." or terrible taste in romantic partners, but gen wasn't about to admit that.
mallory chuckled at the cheers before mimicking the motion. “ so , so tragic , ” she agreed with a shake of her head. she furrowed her brow slightly as she tried to understand dating apps in general. she wasn't judging , but it seemed so foreign to her since she never partook in them herself. “ it's all swiping , isn't it ? how do you know someone's … vibe ? from a few pictures and words ? ” the question genuine. “ what happened to meet - cutes ? like reaching for the same box of cereal in the grocery story ? ”
"You deserve a chocolate one. It's good for you, it makes you happy." Layla replied, knowing the tone very well. In her humble opinion no food was better or worse than any other, it was just how and why you ate it. Don't eat a pound of candy, duh, but also don't eat a pound of broccoli. Nothing was good in excess, and she learned that the hard way. "Sure thing, just bring your plate up to the counter when you're done. Otherwise, stay as long as you like. If you have a song recommendation, yell it out. I'm trying to beef up the playlist."
“ good for me , huh ? ” mallory chuckled lightly. “ healthy for the mind , i guess. ” she didn't often do things for herself. she was a mother. she was preoccupied making her kids were happy before herself ; because if they were happy , then so much she , right ? occasionally , she remembered she needed to do things for herself too. “ of course. i know the procedure , ” she laughed. “ oh , i'm not the person you ask for music recommendations. my phone is fully of disney soundtracks , ” she admitted. she obviously had a playlist for the tea room , too , but that was almost purely instrumentals.
izzy stumbled back a half-step when they collided, hands shooting out like she was ready to catch a toddler mid face-plant. once she realized it was a full-grown man and not a rogue five year-old, she snorted.
“jesus, dude! gotta watch where you’re going,” she laughed, steadying him by the elbow. she tilted her head, recognizing him fully now. “wait… i know you. you were at my show last month, right? front row?” her grin was all teeth and teasing warmth. she glanced at his empty cup. “c’mon. let me buy you a refill before you walk into the pastry case next.”
“ again , sorry. ” gus blinked as he was apparently recognized. it took him a moment to connect the dots himself. “ oh ! yeah , probably , ” he awkwardly laughed as he rubbed the back of his neck. he had a soft spot for live music and supporting local artists. he often found himself near the front because too many people were cowards to claim it themselves. “ izzy , right ? twenty - first amendment ? ” he asked as he gestured. “ what ? no. you don't need to buy me a refill. i swear i'm cognizant enough to do it myself , ” he assured with a smile. “ sincerely hope you're not out here buying coffee for everyone who ever sat front row at one of your shows … ”
❝ you and me both , ❞ he stated , a low chuckle passing through his lips. he felt like he'd be a headless chicken without mallory , really. she was one of the only people he truly felt like he could be reliant on without the fear of her up and disappearing in the dead of night looming over his head. ❝ well , thank you for that. ❞ he wasn't sure why he was thanking the man for doing his own job , but he cast the thought aside. he was not about to go off on some internal tangent on himself in front of gus. he hadn't seen him in years , but he still at least believed him to be capable of being responsible for the children in his class. he was curious to know what brought him back to town in the first place. perhaps he'd ask him when they were alone. he just needed to make it through the rest of their conversation without completely embarrassing himself. ❝ while i'm sure that statement holds some truth , it's still a lot better to be a non - patient. nobody wants to be stuck in a hospital. ❞ he knew he didn't want to walk into an emergency room to find gus in there. ❝ food , right , ❞ he stated , nodding. ❝ that would make sense. people do tend to do that. i'm down for whatever ... i'm not really a picky eater , so whatever works for you. ❞
gus gaped a little bit as felix thanked him , his cheeks heated with slight embarrassment. he hoped it wasn't enough to be noticeable. “ just , uh , doing my job , ” he chuckled softly. “ and she makes it easy. she's a good kid , a great kid. ” the father probably already knew the type of kid he had , but he also knew some kids were completely different at home than they were at school ; he had a feeling evelyn wasn't one of those kids , however. “ a non - patient , ” he repeated with a nod. he knew what the other meant , but somehow he found the phrase a touch amusing. “ i promise i'm not trying to end up in a hospital bed anytime soon , but you know what happens when you're chasing around a couple dozen kids during recess. ” he didn't actually think he'd wind up in felix's care anytime soon. he couldn't recall the last time he was even at a hospital , but he suddenly found himself less terrified of the idea. gus couldn't help laughing at felix's response to his vague suggestion of food. “ okay , ” he nodded as his grin grew. “ i wouldn't judge you even if you were a picky eater , y'know. ” his tongue swept across his lips , almost smirking. “ spend all day with picky eaters , actually. how about … cal's ? ” he suggested the diner with a raised brow. it seemed like the simplest option ; an ideal place for two friends to catch up , right ?
