#::end

[amyinnile]

Location: Thaw & Bloom Market Thread: Festival Market Fun Event Thread: for @hllboymglds @wolfontheloose @tortledimlr1-blog @midnitemoonlight @littlesugarnspice Status: Finished

Amy Everly Amy, all bundled up in her sweater, because although the weather has warmed up it was not quite there yet for a coatless walk-around, waited for people she'd arranged to meet with at the festival, first to arrive out of the group. She checked her wrist watch as she waited under an easily recognizable landmark at the festival, scanning the crowds for any familiar faces.

Marsden Lee There's one fairly recognizable landmark in that he's just so tall so he sticks out from the crowd like a goth thumb. Dressed in all black with the soft chime of chains accompanying his gait and the unmistakable squeak of little toddler feet slamming against the melting pavement. Marsden arrives, sunglasses on, toddler in hand, and very large boyfriend in the other like a small gang.

Ryden Bolt A lot less chimey and clanky than the other man, and not quite as tall but definitely broader in the shoulders (and everywhere else for that matter) than the man he held the little toddler's hands with, Ryden was just happy to tag along with his family, currently entertained with a hotdog which he often paused all three of them for so he would share a little nibble with the little girl safely trotting between them. One little bite of mostly bread later, because somehow toddlers always found bread way yummier than anything else the bread went with, he looked up, pointing out the woman who seems to be waiting for someone close by. "This that friend o'yers, luv?" He remembered Amy from the photos she and Mars sometimes took together.

Jodie Kennedy Jodie sat at their stall, looking at lot more bright and welcoming than they did when they were behind a register at Glasseye -- which is to say, not particularly different from normal. They smiled at passersby, using one of the metal frogs they'd bought from Hiro earlier to keep Piper behind their stall. Her little voice rose from beside Jodie, "Ribbit, ribbit, hop!" While Jodie rearranged a blanket on the table.

Marsden Lee "That's the one," Mars proclaims with a nod, enough to tip his sunglasses lower on the bridge of his nose to look over them to the shorter woman they now approach. "If it ain't the Amazing Amy. Rapid fire intro time. Dis da baby and da babe. Jelly Belly, but you know her and then Ry Bread."

And the little one known colloquially as Jelly Belly or Jelly Baby or any other manner of assorted nickname, like an alien honing in on another species from her planet, immediately seems to notice one of her kind. A little one with a frog. She points with saliva sticky fingers, "Awog!" Translation: a frog.

Amy Everly It was easy to recognize Mars in the crowd, especially with the memorable entourage he had with him. Amy smiled politely at the three, eyes drifting between Ryden and the toddler, but lingering longer on the child. "Lovely to meet you both, especially the little one." She follows the direction where Maria Elena had pointed to, noticing Jodie's stall and the metal frog the baby took the interest in. "Oh wow, look at all the pretty things there! You guys wanna check it out while we wait for the others?" She suggested.

Marsden Lee "Release the kraken!" Mars proclaims as he unhands Maria Elena. She scampers free like a hound from hell but the problem with being oh so little is she can't see well over the table. "Dada, dada, dada," she weaves between Ry's legs, already trying to climb him. "Ups!"

"Mm, smort baby," Mars chuckles fondly and looks over at the table with interest before addressing the woman it seemingly belongs to. "What's all this then?" Adopting a poor attempt of a British accent, sounding like a cockney cop patrolling the streets.

Jodie Kennedy Jodie looked up at the sound of another child, and Piper glanced up as well. Jodie barely had time to stand up before Piper was stealing their chair, yanking it slightly so she could stand on it and look over the table. "Hops!" She squealed, holding the metal frog up. Jodie chuckled a little at the interaction, turning their eyes on the group of adults.

"Good morning!" They greeted brightly. They chuckled again at the mock British accent, shaking their head. "I hope you're all doing well."

Ryden Bolt "Aye, dada ups. 'ere we go!" Ry, the actual real deal cockney speaker (though definitely not a cop) follows Maria Elena up to the stall and crouches down to pick the toddler up, settling her against his hip facing forward and making sure she had the full view of the display before them. Grinning at the other kid behind the stall, he exaggerated, "Holy shit, ya got sum hops there, don'cha? Lookie baby, it's hops." Between this, he made sure to give the adult behind the stall a friendly nod in greeting.

Marsden Lee "Amy, ya want some hops, doncha?" Mars grins at her like there's a joke there only he knows about. "Where's your little girlie pals? They still meeting us here?"

Then he spots an adorable knitted sweater, small and cheery looking. "Lookeedere! How much for that one? Jelly Bear, ya like this one?"

Amy Everly "If the lovely little lady will share some with me. And yes, they are running a little late which is no issue. They can take their time, I planned for a few hours here." Amy smiled at her friend. As Mars took interest in a sweater, Amy turned her attention to Jodie. "Hello there. All this looks lovely. Do you have any recommendations?"

Jodie Kennedy Piper giggled as she was address, bouncing the metal frog across the counter. "Oh, that sweater is 5 dollars," Jodie answered, brightening at someone showing interest in their creation. They glanced at Amy, still smiling, and reached for one of their blankets. "I know it's supposed to get warmer, but if the weather keeps up like this, these blankets are real nice. Only 10 bucks for each of them, too."

Amy Everly "Oh my goodness, those are actually wonderful. This one will go so well with my living room throw pillows." Amy marveled at the one Jodie held up, actually surprised how well it will fit her living room setup now that it was pointed out.

Ryden Bolt Leaning Maria Elena over the counter so she could watch with amazement as the other child made the little metal frog hop all over, he glanced at the sweater Mars had pointed out. "Heckin' cute. A bargain." To Jodie, he nodded. "Deal. Pack it up, she likes it." The baby didn't even glance at it, she was too distracted by the froggo, but Mars liked it and that was a reason enough for Ry to buy it

Marsden Lee "Yeee, also this one," Mars points out one of the crochet stuffed animals. At least it looked like an animal, or at least animal adjacent. "Goblin guy."

Jodie Kennedy Jodie nodded and bagged up the sweater, and then picked up the goblin. "Oh, he's one of my favorites to make," Jodie said, setting him gently into the bag. "He's a bit pricier, 15 dollars for him." They said, hoping they weren't charging too much for him.

Ryden Bolt "Pffff. Pack up the goblin guy too. Into da bag cave." Ryden snorted, handmade shit for this cheap? He almost felt like he was stealing from this person. Maria Elena was now doing a mighty wiggle dance, trying to join in the frog play with Piper but being too high up in her dada's arms she actually could not reach anything. Which was a good thing because her little fingies were STICKY and GRABBY and nothing would be spared. So safely she remained in her dada's arms, letting out small whines of protest, trying to pinch the coat of Ryden's forearm like that measly effort would hurt him any and make him relent.

Marsden Lee It really did feel like stealing. Mars has no idea how much this shit should cost having no idea about what sort of effort goes into it but you couldn't even find a sweater for $5 at the local thrift store these days. Youths all about avoiding fast fashions had upped the price of second hand goods so much. He nods at Amy when she mentions the coordination of the blanket with her throw pillows, "Oh shit, you right. It would. Kismit."

Amy Everly "Done deal. But honestly, only $10? Are you sure?" Amy asks Jodie, trying to figure out if this was some charity deal second hand sort of a situation or some other reason why everything seemed so ridiculously cheap. She decided to outright ask. "Is there a reason why your pricings are so low? Should we compensate with tips?" She glanced around for a tip jar or some sort of a poster that's been put up but they all somehow missed that explained the rules of the deals available at the stall.

Jodie Kennedy Jodie folded up Amy's blanket and put it in a separate bag for her, sliding the bags towards the group. They smiled at the other toddler again, before answering. "Oh, yes, I'm sure," Jodie said seriously. "Honestly, I have a ton of these things, and I'm not hurting for money."

Amy Everly Biting her lip a little awkwardly, Amy reached for her wallet, pulling out a $20. "Please no need for the change. I insist. And don't add a freebie or anything." She handed the bill over and took her bag.

Ryden Bolt "Ya got anythin' else ya like, babe?" Ryden had no issues whatsoever with the prices he was given. But he was also fine with getting whatever else Marsden also wanted. As Maria Elena progressively started putting up more fuss, he reached into the bag that was packed for them to pull out the goblin toy and handed it over to her. Finally she smiled, her frowny face now doing a complete switch once she'd gotten her hands on something.

Marsden Lee Maria Elena seems sufficiently placated now her hands have something to do. She's like her dada Mars at that. Always needing something for his spindly fingers to be handling. "What about you, my love? You see something you want?" They've been focused on himself and the baby thus far.

Jodie Kennedy Jodie's eyes widened at the 20 but they took it, placing it carefully in the money box set underneath the table. They looked to the other two men to see if there was anything else needed, folding their hands in front of them.

Ryden Bolt "Eeh, naw. I'll fuck it up eventually." Which was true, anything on the stall would end up being Ryden's stress ball which his destructive hands would end up clawing to shreds. "Though… What's yer longest blanket?" He asked Jodie.

Jodie Kennedy Jodie perked up and turned around, digging haphazardly through a box behind their stall that was overflowing with creatures and clothes and anything else they could make. They pulled out their longest blanket -- it had taken them a month to finish -- and set it on the table for Ryden to look at.

Ryden Bolt Ry gave the blanket a scrutinizing glance over the top of his daughter's head, a scarred eyebrow raised. Then he looked at Marsden. "Movie night blankie?"

Marsden Lee Marsden coos at the blanket. "Hell yes. Movie blanket. Get it. Sold!" He snaps his fingers, knuckles and silver rings clicking. "How long did it take to make this thing? It's fucking taller than me. Is it? Measure me!"

Milvi Orson Milvi hated running late; in fact, this may have been the first time she had run late for a specifically agreed-upon time in the past decade, probably. Her excuse was not good so she had decided that she would not even try to make it when she arrived at the agreed-upon spot to see neither Amy nor Renée. She turned around on her heels, pulling the hat back on her head to see better and wondered if she was, in fact, early? But then she saw the familiar face by a stall a bit away and slowly headed there. At first she stood by the side then stepped a step towards Amy, touching her elbow, unsure of who the other people were. "Hey, sorry…"

Amy Everly "Oh, Milvi! You're here! Hi!" Amy startled a little at the sudden touch to her elbow but then put a wide smile when she saw that it was Milvi. She leaned in to place an air kiss against her cheek in greeting. She made no mention of any tardiness. "Let me introduce you, remember my friend Marsden I told you about? This is he. And that's his s/o Ryden and their daughter Maria Elena. Renee is yet to arrive."

Renée Harper Renée finally arrived, squishing through the damp grass. Grateful she chose to wear platform sneakers instead of heels, knowing still that she would be leaving with muddy shoes. She spotted the group from afar, not her usual crew, but she liked them enough to have an enjoyable market day. Plus, it was fun to see everyone's taste and judge accordingly. "Hi, girls! Ready to find some treasures?" she asked with a grin, completely ignoring the men nearby.

Milvi Orson "Lovely to meet you, I'm Milvi," she was saying, nodding at the men and small girl, staying by Amy's side as if not to stick out too much as the odd one out. Then her gaze turned towards the items on the table, trying to see if there was something she could buy for her small apartment. "Did you buy anything?" she asked Amy. And just then, another voice joined them, and she looked up again, glad to see she had arrived second and just on time, too. "Miss Har… Renée," she stopped herself from being official. This was supposed to be a casual day, she could be casual…

Ryden Bolt "Yo." Ryden nodded Milvi's way, arms too busy with a toddler entertained by just purchased crocheted toy to wave or shake hands or whatever. Then he grinned at Marsden who had demanded to be measured by a blanket. Unfortunately he cannot help him with that as he could not put Maria Elena down here. "Later babe, we'll roll ya up like a burrito when we're home." His friends were here so he was perfectly happy to let him interact with them for a bit, especially now that a third had arrived.

Marsden Lee Mars lifts a hand to greet the incoming flow of ladies, silver rings adorning long fingers and black eyeliner smudged around the crystal blue of his eyes, "Yo," said right back to them in a smiliar fashion. Ryden and he had been so engrained together that by now they often sounded like the other without even meaning to.

Amy Everly "Hey Renee. We've found this gem here, take a look. It's lovely and everything is crochet." Then to Milvi she handed her bag which held a beautiful greenish blanket she'd just purchased. "Mars said it's kismet. So I had to have it."

Renée Harper Renée leaned in to admire the color, "Wow, where'd you find that??" she asked before looking around in attempt to spot the booth. She turned back when she realized Amy had said Mars. "Mars?" she glanced over at the only person she could assume was meant to be Mars. Renée wouldn't admit it, but she wasn't above judging a book by its cover. As beautiful as his cheekbones were, he didn't seem like Amy's type, but she may have been mistaken. "boyfriend?" she pointed over, still only speaking to Amy as her eyes go back and forth between the two of them.

Amy Everly Amy blinked stupidly for a second at Renée's assumption out of the sheer ridiculousness of it. Because Renée was right with her initial judgement, Marsden was decisively not Amy's type. "Oh my gosh, no, Mars is a friend, he is here with his significant other. I just wanted to introduce him to you guys. And I found this right here." She pointed at Jodie's stall right behind them then waved Mars over. "Marsden, this is Renée, she works at the Art Center. Milvi is with me, at the museum." She clarified.

Jodie Kennedy Jodie watched the interaction go on, quickly holding the blanket up to Marsden so he can be measured -- not that Jodie was quite tall enough to do all that. They watched the introductions go on, wondering if they ought to cut in and introduce themselves, when one of the newcomers asked Amy about the blanket. "Oh, that was me! I made it!"

Marsden Lee "Eh?" Mars had decidedly been spacing out as he is wont to do at times and then joins Amy's side once beckoned. Then hums at the introduction and offers his hand to shake, chunky silver rings and black painted nails, "Charmed, I'm sure." It should also be noted that he doesn't offer his hand for a normal handshake and instead offers his hand like he's the Queen of England and is expecting a kiss to be placed upon one of his assorted rings.

Renée Harper Renée laughed, definitely relieved. Not that there was anything wrong with Mars he just seemed….different. And the proposed handshake did nothing to prove otherwise. "Nice to meet you, Mars, friend of Amy." she said, nodding in his direction, not being baited by the extended hand. She wasn't bothered her own wrong assumption, but it was fun to watch Amy squirm a little at the question. She moved on quickly, not bulldozing, but nearly as she turned to Jodie. "Excellent work, I'll have to stop by and see what else you have!" Renée had been waiting the whole second half of winter to thaw just for this market, she was itching to get browsing as the market bustled around them.

Marsden Lee The frown upon Marsden's face when his hand gets ignored is deep. Deep frown. But he is as ever, undeterred and after clacking the rings on his fingers together, lets his hand drop and slide easily into his pockets. Maybe something else gets slid into his pocket. Something off the edge of Jodie's table.

Jodie Kennedy Jodie folded up the extra long blanket, stuffing it into a bag for Ryden to take. They didn't notice someone's sticky fingers take something off of the edge of their table, distracted and frankly, a little overwhelmed at the amount of people surrounding their table. "Oh, thank you," They told Renée. "I have a lot of stuff to choose from, and I'm taking commissions now, too."

Ryden Bolt With Maria Elena held at hip, Ryden gets a better hold on her and bounces her up, getting his wallet out of the back pocket of his jeans, waiting for Jodie to be done with the conversation to ask, "How much all in total again?"

Jodie Kennedy Jodie looked at Ryden, blinking a few times before answering. "Oh, it's 20 dollars," They answered, smiling again at Maria Elena.

Milvi Orson Milvi stood quietly at the side, the slightest of tension causing something in her to wish to be invisible for the time being. A habit she could still not get over. Instead of interacting with Amy's friends she had been browsing the crochets on the table when she heard the price that Jodie gave. "I'm sorry… 20 for…" she looked at the items in Ryden's hands and almost didn't say anything. "Do you mean 200?" she asked, watching the details and having seen enough handmade things to knw they must have taken forever to make.

Ryden Bolt Ryden made a face. One that pouted his lips, and almost made the upper one touch the bottom of his nose. Then he sucked on his teeth noisily, while playing with the little stud poking through his tongue and at that point he probably looked like he was ready to haggle. But he was not. He was debating inwardly though. Then Milvi spoke up and he spared the woman a brief glance before he shrugged. "She rite, tho." He then motioned for Jodie with a wiggle of the fingers of the hand that held his wallet. Low, so as to not have anyone else hear and therefore not embarrass Jodie in any way, he said, "A word to the wise. You suck at doin' business. Where's yer phone? Look up how much stuff loike this actually costs, yea?" He threw a wink their way then, a conspiratory one. "No need t'thank me later." Then he actually did pull a two $100 bills, making it $200. A quick glance was cast Piper's way. "Cute kid, by the way. How old?"

Jodie Kennedy "I'm sorry? 200?" Jodie asked, eyes widening as they looked at one of the other women. They were still slightly overwhelmed by just how many people were around, and now they were being told they were charging too low for their items. Their already wide eyes went wider at the 2 hundred dollar bills, half wanting to protest, but half knowing they really needed it. Piper smiled at Ryden as he glanced at her, and Jodie stuttered out an answer. "Oh, she's four. She'll be five in May."

Amy Everly "Renée, I just saw a very adorable…. tablecloth here, I think, that reminded me of you, you should definitely take a look." Amy suggested to her friend, wanting to move past the awkward little misunderstanding they've all gone through a minute ago, briefly glancing at the otherwise occupied Ryden and feeling guilty on both his and Mars' behalf.

Ryden Bolt "Eyyy, they're pretty close these two, ain't they? Jelly Baby's three goin' on four." He grinned at Piper then Jodie, not actually minding being honest for a change with someone who had a kid that reminded him of Mars' and his own daughter. "Ya guys do play dates?"

Jodie Kennedy "Oh, we haven't yet, I don't know many people with kids," Jodie said, looking back at Piper. She was still playing with the frog, very quietly saying 'hop, hop, hop' to herself. "But we can! We totally can, here." Jodie fumbled again for one of the cards their dad had ordered from them, with their stall name and Jodie's phone number on it.

Ryden Bolt "We can hook ya up. We're the boss o'this block." Ryden bobbed his head, then bounced the baby in his arms a bit. "Yeah, Jelly Beans? We da boss of dis gym?" The kiddo threw her very warmly tucked hands into a snuggly coat that kept her toasty, exclaiming an extatic 'yeah!' In the meanwhile, Ry reached out to take the offered card. "We'll reach out, so when yer in da mood, why not eh?"

Marsden Lee "Yeah," Mars purrs over Ryden's shoulder, hooking his chin over it as he blinks languidly at Jodie, "Also ya gotta keep a better eye on your shit." Something plops back onto Jodie's table. The dragon fruit spider plush. "This was so easy to steal it wasn't even fun."

Jodie Kennedy "Yeah, great, no problem," Jodie said, watching Ryden and the toddler interact. They looked over at Mars when he spoke, blinking a few times when they plopped the dragon fruit spider back onto the table. Their cheeks went red slightly, with embarrassment, as they reached out to drag the plush back to its spot. "Oh, okay."

Ryden Bolt Seeing that Mars had managed to employ his notoriously sticky fingers, Ryden sucked in a breath through bared teeth. Yikes. Jodie was sorely unprepared for street business, it seems. "Ey, is cool, ya live ya learn, yeah?" He comforts lamely, leaning his head a little to rest against Mars' temple. "Oh, marshmallow toast, by da way, we got ourselves a playmate. Would be up for a play date sum time. Cool, huh?" He jerked his chin in Jodie and Piper's direction, taking a chance to ask for daddy Mars' approval of this too.

Marsden Lee "Mm, lotus blossom," Mars turns the cool glacial gaze of his eyes onto Ryden, instantly warming the moment he looks at him so his gaze becomes a pool of clear water instead, "We up for playdates." And a tender kiss gets pressed into the sharp slant of Ryden's cheek.

Jodie Kennedy "Perfect," Jodie said, referring to the playdates. They looked at Piper, who absolutely was not listening to Jodie, and looked back at them. "Will um, will that be everything, then?"

Ryden Bolt "Yea, yea, we'll git outta yer hair." Ryden bobbed his head, taking the bag of their goodies (Maria Elena still had the gremlin toy at this point), happy that taking the money he left with Jodie was no longer an issue. He did not want to further hold up the stall from other business. "Bye kiddo." He said to Piper even if the kid was not too interested in interacting. Maria Elena herself was in her own headspace too at the moment. Looping the arm that held the bags around Marsden's, he lead them to the side. "Sup with yer lady friends? Ya wanna skip off and hang with 'um for a minute? I got things 'ere so don'cha worry." He suggests.

Marsden Lee "One of them was mean to me," Mars pouts privately. "Didn't take my hand when I offered it like this." And he does it again, the same gesture of his hand extended limply at the wrist like a dignitary. He's not really upset of course, only being a bit pouty to lure more kisses and affection from his love in this separate private aside moment. Once he's placated he'll bounce right back like nothing even happened. Something Ryden who knows Mars so well would know.

Ryden Bolt "Awww, baby." Ry did not have enough hands to reach out and take Marsden's to kiss so he just bent over to do so when it was offered, smacking a loud smooch against his knuckles. "May she step in dog shit today, my liege. Ptooye."

Marsden Lee Marsden giggles. "I love you my sweet petal. My darling crispy waffle Ry." Like a waffle fry except it's Ry. "I'm good here with the gals. You go have dada baby time and I'll find you later." He leans in to give his man a proper kiss now that he's been sufficiently placated. Full and warm over his lips.

Renée Harper "A tablecloth?" she questioned, but moved swiftly along with her regardless. "I'm not really in the market for a new tablecloth. We mostly eat at the kitchen island." she confessed, having felt a little tinge of shame knowing she hadn't hosted anything worth decorating her formal dining space in quite some time. She didn't really have a lot of friends that she felt would accept the invite. Whether it being a falling out or them just not really clicking with her whole "vibe" whatever that means, Marcia., a now ex-friend who recently decided that "spending less time together would be best". She was obviously not bitter.

Amy Everly "Well I don't know. It might as well be a bath towel maybe. It has your colors, alright, that was my point." Amy said, tone a little bit lowered so as to not offend anyone for really not having a clue. It was not the crocheted piece's fault, or the artists. Amy was just not able to see its designated purpose yet. Perhaps if they asked… She guides her closer to Jodie's stall, pointing out the said piece to her friend. Because yes, Amy did already consider Renée her friend. They shared a drink? Check. Bitched about work to each other? Check. Complimented each other's outfits/style/accessories at least thrice? Check. Therefore, friends.

Renée Harper "Ooo, I could always spruce up the guest bath"** she was fully bought in now, any excuse to do a little bit of shopping. Even if she hardly ever followed through, the window shopping was most of the fun anyway. She did have a few things on her list that were a must. "Have you seen if there were any purses anywhere, I'm thinking I should get something that says spring. If I don't find it here, I'd be shocked."

Amy Everly "Purses?" Amy instantly looked up and around, like someone had shouted 'purses on sale!' and it was her sign to go feral. "I did not. Yet. But would I like some? Yes." Turning to Jodie who seemed to be finished with Mars and Ry, Amy smiles sweetly at them. "May I show my friend the daisy patterned…" She trailed off, hopeful that the adorable but a tad mysterious item will be explained to her on this cue. "Oh, and do you crochet bags as well?" That would be interesting to look at too. Amy hoped she wasn't being too demanding here.

Marsden Lee "Getting a purse now too? We're gonna buy out the whole table," Mars jokes as he leans his chin over top of Amy's head. She just so happens to be the perfect height for it.

Amy Everly Unperturbed, Amy just casually reaches up with a blank expression to pinch Marsden's nose with the knuckles of her middle and forefinger. "If you want a purse, tree-man, just say so." Her face was perfectly serene, with her neatly plucked eyebrows just a tad raised.

END.

[wolfontheloose]

Location: Thaw & Bloom Market Thread: FOOD !!! : Ryden & Ivan Thread: for @monstersunderurbed Status: Finished

Ryden Bolt

Marsden and the baby had an emergency, as it sometimes happens with a toddler, and after helping them find a public toilet with a changing table and all the necessary things for changing a baby with a sudden, explosive bowel movement, Ryden was left to manage himself on his own. Knowing that this might take a while, he spied a food stall nearby and meandered to it with hands in his pockets like a guilty thief. He was on a meal plan and already shared a hotdog with Maria Elena buuuut.... it was a holiday, fuck it. He could cheat for a day. The line in front of the place was disorderly and it temporarily confused Ryden as he leaned next to the person ahead to inquire. "Yo, ya waitin' on this too?" Accent thickly British and height significant, he tried to be as unassuming as possible because reactions in public to a huge tattooed man with a permanent scowl and a lot of piercings varied drastically.

Ivy Reyes

Ivy turns around and finds himself looking up. A bit higher up. Ivy was never self conscious about his height, he compensated with strength and charm, and in fact, found quite interesting to look up at someone above him. He shows a friendly smile and sighs. “Uh- yes. I don’t even know that they have down here, but there’s a long line. It tells me it should be good, right?”

Ryden Bolt

"Huh." Now that Ivy had pointed it out, Ryden could make out that long line he'd mentioned, as casual and disorganized as it was since some people waited in whole groups and packs. Craning his neck for an even better look, his perfect vision made out the sign in the distance hanging above the stall. "Eeeh, no wonder. It's Rossi's pizza. They're the best in town." Then he settled happily behind Ivy to hold the line because Rossi's pizza would definitely hit the spot. Mars and Maria Elena would love it too, they all already had their favorite order from there.

Ivy Reyes

“Ah fuck yes! I don’t know what I was hoping but pizza is somehow better than I thought. have you tried anything else around?”

Ryden Bolt

"Aye, hotdogs're good. Stall's right o'er there." He turned around to point, it was maybe three stalls away from where they were now. "I need a fuckin' drink tho." While he can still have it. Mars drove here and Ryden knew that he dutifully did not lick a drop whenever he drove or had the baby with them so perhaps Ryden could risk a beer with his pizza because that would soooo hit the spot even more. "Ya seen any good beer stalls around?"

Ivy Reyes

“Uh…” he looks around. He’s sure he’s seen something around but he’s too distracted to actually know which way he actually came. “I know I saw a wine booth over there, maybe they have some beef. I can tag along with you after we get some pizza?”

Ryden Bolt

Ryden's head bobbed into a casual nod as he followed Ivy's wandering gaze to where this wine stall is supposed to be, about to agree but then realized he did not even know the guy. "So, who's taggin' along?" He inquired, looking to get a name, because although a 'hey you' was not beneath Ryden, it was inconvenient to use in a crowd. Everyone could end up being a 'hey you' in this setting.

Ivy Reyes

"Ah, shit– sorry. I always forget about introductions and stuff– people know me, you know?" He jokes, trying to show his best charming smile so he doesn't sound like a total asshole. "It's Ivy. Ivy's tagging along." He grins.

Ryden Bolt

"Which people? You sayin' I've been livin' under a rock, mate?" Ryden grinned mischievously, with a hint of naturally sharper canines showing. "Ivy loike dat climbin' wall grass plant?" No bad intention there, just matching the light mood with his own brand of it. "I'm Ryden. Not RydeR, RydeN. You from around 'ere?"

Ivy Reyes

"Maybe just hanging out with the wrong crowd, buddy," Ivy said with a little shrug and a wink. "Just like that! Yes. Can be poisonous too, if you're not careful," he chuckles. "It's actually Ivan, but... sounds too serious for me, I think. Like that's a man's name. I ain't no man," he said with a little laugh. "Ryden, got it. Like... ryden' a bike?" He joked immediately embarrassed about his sense of humor. He shouldn't have taken that edible earlier. "Born and raised, never left, never leaving," he added. "You've been here long?"

Ryden Bolt

"Naah. I am the wrong crowd." Ryden grinned, stuffing his hands into his pockets as they waited and basically hung out while doing so. The line was hella slow, moving at snail speed and it made Ryden wanna chew on something even more. "No worries, I trim my weeds on regular." He easily picked up on the banter, glad the other was not offended by his edge yet. He shrugged as Ivy expressed his dislike for his full name, not seeing anything wrong with it except that it reminded him of Igor, and Igor was Dr. Frankenstein's unhinged helper. "Naw, naw, naw, listen bruv. Me full name's Ryden Douglas Bolt. Ryden D. Bolt. But I also got bikes. Yea." He nodded, his sharp grin revealing that he himself was highly amused by this too. Shifting from one foot to the other, he rumbled in thought, the sound deep and vibrating. "'Bout four erre five years now, yea."

Ivy Reyes

Ivan doesn't want to laugh. It's not that he has a funny name, it's actually quite badass– very much fitting for a man that looks like that, but he keeps getting ideas and references he can't quite put into words as fast as they come to his mind. "Bolt. Like a lightning bolt. Man, you should be racing bikes, or something. That would be fucking legendary," he can't help himself from speaking his mind. He suffers from foot in the mouth syndrome a lot. "damn, where have you been all this time, then?" he shakes his head. "Where were you before that? England, I take? Somewhere over there?"

Ryden Bolt

"I do." Ryden shrugged humbly, because he did ride bikes and he did have a gathering of bike riders frequenting the Rusty Dog bar where he worked and he did officially name the bike gang Skull Riders. "And yea, I am." This statement no shrug could humble though. "Ya got too many questions, mate. Pick one b'fore ya git to the other." He grinned challengingly, but past were the times when Ryden had to be paranoid about anyone inquiring too much of his whereabouts. "Born in Manchester, UK. Moved to NY, US when I got legal. Now I'm 'ere. The end."

Ivy Reyes

“That’s fucking badass, man. I’ve been saving for ages to get a good motorbike, but i keep spending everything on random stuff before i get anywhere close.” he laughs softly. “Sorry. I can’t stop myself! My mouth works faster than my brain, but feel free to tell me to shut it if i’m bothering you. i’m kinda used to it.” he rubs the back of his head. “Sweet. That’s awesome. Kind of, I guess. I don’t know if Manchester is better than here.”

Ryden Bolt

"Ya ever git close, hit me up, I'll find ya a good machine for a good deal f'ya don't mind not buyin' brand new." He offered, his attempt of being friendlier to random strangers. It was good for a small family community to be like that, he'd been told. "Yer fine, m'just pullin' yer leg. And naaw, it's a dump where I've been in Manchester." Ryden confessed, shrugging again. The line for the pizza crawled forward a little bit more. He could now almost see the ovens they set up. "How'd you like yer pizza, mate?" There was a certain science behind how people liked their pizza. You could guess one's personality by it and Ryden swore on it.

Ivy Reyes

“Brand new…” he exhaled long and loud. He could probably upgrade his van before getting a bike, but at the offer… well, it would be present in his mind from now on and it would definitely be hard to shake it off. He could just imagine himself all cool on his bike. Maybe a chopper. He loved those. “Still, I do talk a lot.” he said apologetically, and lowered his head. “Uh… warm? Alright no, cold pizza is the fucking bees knees too. honestly, as long as it’s edible, I'm down with it. I could fuck with that kind of everything pizza? The one with all the meats and the peppers- extra cheese. Just… everything.”

Ryden Bolt

"Not brand new. If yer on a budget." Ry clarified, in case a trip to dreamland moment made the other mishear. Then his grin widened into something cheshire and almost wicked, but when it comes to Ryden, that was a good sign. "Atta lad. I like ya." Apparently, a test was passed and Ryden liked the answers given. He raised his hand to offer a fist to be bumped in commemoration of it.

Ivy Reyes

Oh, shit– sorry, man. You just look all classy and shit, I thought you meant brand new. I– I could never even dream of that. Besides, it's kinda... I don't know. It's kinda cool, don't you think? Owning stuff with a history, even if you don't know it. It's fun to imagine where things have been, sharing old vibes and..." he covered his face. "Sorry, I'm rambling. Took an edible earlier and it's still hitting full force, shit–" he giggled. "I like ya too, mate," he said, trying to mirror his accent, but coming up with one of his own, and fist bumped him. It had to be the first time he did that in a LONG time, but it felt like some kind of bond had just been made.

Ryden Bolt

Classy? Ryden was surely not classy? He looked down at himself, then figured maybe and shrugged. Probably his husband's influence, who had a much better fashion sense than Ryden. He often asked Mars about his outfit picks, it was basically a routine now. Guess his mans levelled him up. "Oh yea, me first bike was scrapped from tires t'handles. Her name's Princess. I still drive her the most." Ryden bobbed his head, Princess held a lot of good memories and always put him in a good mood. He then gave Ivy a look from head to toe, not judging but estimating. Next thing, he pulled a pack of salty crackers from his pocket, a snack for Maria Elena otherwise, but put for safekeeping there before Ry took them out. "Ya need to eat, bruv. I'll git ya sum water when we fuckin' make it to the top o'the line." The 'water' pronounced more like 'wadda' than anything else. He offered the crackers to the other after they fist bumped but then deadpanned at the accent. "Don't do dat."

Ivy Reyes

“Did you fix it yourself?” Back at it with the questions but he couldn’t stop himself. He was a naturally curious person. “Princess, that’s cute. I named my van too- she’s Eva.” He couldn’t even explain how he got to that name without sounding insane. He’d been high out of his mind and she merely introduced herself. He was just respecting her decision. “I need to eat? What? Are you hiding food in your pockets? What’s next? A fucking burrito?” he laughed. “I'm alright, man. I mean, I'll take it if you eat half with me.” he says, taking another couple steps down the line. “It’ll be like. maybe 10 more minutes. i should be fine waiting.” he grinned. “I… can’t promise you I won’t but I can try.”

Ryden Bolt

"Hell yea, built her all the way up from the engine." Ryden puffed his chest out proudly, looking mighty smug at this brag. "Nice, pretty name." He approved, nodding appreciatively then letting his expression fall flat. "A burrito in a pocket happened b'fore." He admitted, because it did. And hopefully he wouldn't have to get into that story. He then shoved the crackers into Ivy's hands, letting out a loud tisk. "Don't piss me off, eat sumtin' salty b'fore ya fly off into the fuckin' sky like a fartin' ballon, yo. The other half's for my kid. And ya better try yer bestest, I ain't above smackin' a motherfucker." He grinned back.

Ivy Reyes

“Of course it happened before,” Ivy rolled his eyes with a little laugh. He had his own story or two about food in his pockets, most of them had not been the greatest ideas and a product of being high out of his mind and thinking it would be a good idea. It never was but Ivan hardly ever learned from his mistakes. “What? I'm not that skinny, come on!” he’d actually been working out at the trailer park. sure, his bones still poked out of his skin, but he was damn proud of his biceps. Still, he popped a cracker into his mouth, only then realizing how hungry he actually was. Did he even have actual breakfast that morning? He couldn’t remember. “You got a kid?” he asked looking up with a new glow in his eyes. He couldn’t stop showing off his new baby sister any time he could and he was about ready to pull out the pictures on his phone.

Ryden Bolt

Yeaaah, of course it had happened before. Ryden made a face that said exactly that about himself too. Then their permanently scowling gaze, mostly due to a naturally low brow bone but even otherwise just because this was Ryden's default expression, landed on the 'not so skinny' Ivy, looking him up and down, not impressed. But then again, and perhaps it was very mean of him, Ryden had full right to not be impressed in most cases. Compared to him, not many could boast Big Muscle TM. But he said nothing of the sorts outloud. Live yer best life, Twix. Then the glow in his eyes that matched Ivy's own suddenly lit up. "Uh-huh." Without even asking if Ivy wanted to be spammed for the next ten minutes or so with a phone screen into his face full of adorable pictures of a three year old kidlet, he pulled the device up and was already turning it to show off his current favorite - her St. Patrick's outfit.

Ivy Reyes

He really wasn't that skinny, was he? He wouldn't stop wondering from now on. He wrapped his arms rather self consciously around his middle, figuring he could blame it on the sudden wind chill passing through them. And finally, they moved another step down. only one more customer to go. "Oh, my god– look at her! That's the most adorable thing I've ever seen. What's her name?"

Ryden Bolt

Ry grinned even wider, a hint of naturally sharpened canines showing up to make the otherwise very genuinely happy expression still turn out slightly menacing. "Maria Elena. Or Jelly Baby. Or Jelly Beans. Or Peanut Butter and Jelly and all the other sweet things. She's three." He juts his chin out proudly, now flicking through more pics of the baby and a lot of them with Mars included too, her other dada. Some of the three of them together, because on Ry's phone he was mostly the one taking pics.

Ivy Reyes

“She’s adorable. Just like candy, I think Jelly Baby is the most perfect name for her.” He never knew he liked kids this much. He couldn’t think about the idea of having his own, but ever since meeting his sister, he had been noticing all the little kids in town, and surprisingly so, he was surprisingly good with them. Ivy leaned a bit further to look at all the pictures, then pulled out his own phone. “This is Romy. She’s my baby sister.”

Ryden Bolt

"Right?!" And that was it. Ivy was now an awesome person in Ryden's headspace. Done deal. Ivy can no longer do any wrong, ever. Ry reciprocated when a picture of the other's sister was offered, grinning widely as he looked. "Aww shit, she's friggin' adorable. Love the name, yo. Didn't hear o'it b'fore. She looks new, freshly baked. How old?"

Ivy Reyes

"Actually... me neither." Ivy frowned for a second there, clearly lost in thought. "I actually don't know if it stands for something longer. I really should have. Anyway, that gives me something to talk about next time, yes?" he shook his head, coming back to the moment. "Just got out of the oven, yes. Three months. She's the tiniest little thing."

Ryden Bolt

"Aw shiiit, they're so cute when they're dat small. I miss dat time." Ryden reminisces for a second, playing with the stud poking through his tongue as he does so, pocketing his phone because although there's no limit to his urge to brag about Jelly Baby, he was aware people had theirs. He found it a little odd that Ivy did not know his sister's full name but then again, Ryden was not aware of the whole family situation so he did not mention anything further. The line for the pizza stall finally made them next to order and Ry gave Ivy a good smack between the shoulder blades - an unintentionally bone-rattling one. "Go, kiddo. Git yer slice first."

Ivy Reyes

“I mean, I'm sure it stops being cute when they wake you up like three times a night or something, but as a big brother… her giggles give me life! I think she recognizes my voice now?” He’s too excited to be able to hide it. He thinks little babies and kids are everything that’s good on earth, they have a clean slate and a chance to do everything for the first time and do it right and somehow feels responsible for making sure Romy goes the right way for once. His dad deserves a kid that does. “Alright, if you insist.” Ivy takes a step to the counter and gets two slices with everything in them. He’s a hungry boy. “That’s all and… whatever my friend over here wants. Put it on my check.”

Ryden Bolt

"Yeaaa but dat's still fine. Me issues're stanky diapers." Ry makes a face that does not even begin to explain the horrors he'd seen but it's a pretty closely appropriate stare into the void. It was quickly replaces by a grin though. "Bet she does. They pick up on shit pretty early, ya wouldn't believe." He waits as Ivy sorts his order out then the other actually manages to impress him even further. Food on someone else's tab? Shit, he'd be Ivy's friend for life. "Naah bruv. I gotta buy ya a beer now." Ry could go for three slices on any day but had also settled for two, he did not want to mooch off Ivy too much. Ryden seemed like he was the older one here, it didn't feel right. Not now that he decided he liked the kid.

Ivy Reyes

“It’s alright, you don’t have to. I just like to do things for friends,” he shrugs. He really would do anything for anybody who was kind to him, let alone cool and showed him family pictures. That was a hell of a lot of trust to show and he wanted to give something in return. “But I won’t say no to a beer. They have a cool tap booth back there. We can go there when we get our stuff.”

Ryden Bolt

"Ey, wat a coincidence, me too." Ryden grins at being called a friend after literally just fifteen minutes of acquainting with the other. Contrary to any first impressions, Ryden loved to make friends easily and was a social butterfly despite his edge. "Sounds loike a plan, mate. But fair warnin', I gotta scoot real soon after, m'ere with me fam but wanna loike, exchange numbers, Insta, wha'ever? If da kidlet ever wants a playdate, recommend us yo. But also, yer a cool bloke. We can hang. Ya got free drinks on me at Rusty Dog." Ryden nodded, playing idly with his tongue piercing as he often did whenever in a good mood.

Ivy Reyes

"Don't worry, I gotta head to work at some point too," Ivy finds himself lying. The shop won't open until way later, but he thinks it would be kinda sad to just admit he doesn't have anybody else to hang with for a while. "But yes! I can definitely give you my number. If you ever... you know, need a favor or two, I'm more than willing. I could even sit for you guys if you ever want to have a date night." Ivan shows his best responsible adult smile. "Oh that's where I've seen you! I don't usually show my face around there, but I've been there a few times. Next time I'll come say hi."

Ryden Bolt

"I dun know, gotta let da husband check ya out first." And that was a fact, no decisions about the baby were made before Mars and Ryden discussed it together and Ry would not have had it any other way. "But if da whole work thing ain't until later for ya, ya can come o'er, hang with us. Two birds wit one stone." He offered casually with a shrug. "What we luv for sure is playdates for the Jelly Bean. So when Romy's a bit older, let 'er mum know we're open. Heck, we wouldn't mind it even now but a three-month old ain't doin' much but sleepin' and poopin'." He then hands his phone over to Ivy to punch his number in. "Yoo, I've been perceived, neat." He grins then gets briefly distracted as their food was done and he takes it over and hands Ivy his share after he's done with the phone.

Ivy Reyes

"I mean, of course! I don't mean like... soon, or– Of course, why would you trust your kid to someone you met 20 minutes ago!" Ivy said with a little bit of an embarrassed laugh. "But the offer still stands. If your kid and your husband end up liking me, yes," he added in confirmation. "I'll let Maisie know, don't worry. They'll be besties in a few years, I have a feeling." If Ivy could control the world, everyone would be best friends with everybody. It's how it should be. He was a hippie. He would have been a hippie back then, spreading peace, love, and flower power, Ivy thought as he punched in his number and sent a call so he could have Ry's saved on his own phone. "You're hard to miss, pal, I gotta say," he said, grabbing his plate with one hand, taking a slice for a bite with the other.

Ryden Bolt

"Tanks, bruv. 'ppreciate it. To be fair, we need all da free time we can git." He admitted, Mars and him have been planning an at least over weekend trip for the longest time and still hadn't gotten to it. He found it a little weird that Ivy called his mother by her first name but then again, kids these days... So, he does not mention it. "Beeet." Ry grinned, slapping his two pizza slices on top of each other, the upper one top down, so he could devour both at once. "Miss, walk past, ignore and tolerate. I know." He nods knowingly.

Ivy Reyes

"Oh my god– that's a sandwich. That's fucking brilliant!" His eyes were glowing. He'd found a way to eat faster and potentially more at the same time. This day was going better than he'd expected. "What? I tolerate you. You're not hard to tolerate at all."

Ryden Bolt

Ryden gave him a look like Ivy was a fool for never having figured this out before because, duuuh. Pizza sandwich. The awesomest thing ever. If he were home, Ryden would probably put some extra cheese between too. When not on a meal plan... "Thath cuth yer wholethom." He says over a large mouthful muffling his words.

Ivy Reyes

"I'm what?" He has to laugh, but takes a giant bite of his own pizza sandwich, and clearly doesn't care for any sort of manners. He has a napkin in his other hand, that would do.

Ryden Bolt

"HARD OF HEARIN'!" Ryden raises his voice when asked to repeat himself after he swallowed the bite he'd been chewing on, immediately replacing it with another large one that will likely not help further communication any.

Ivy Reyes

He has to laugh, half covering his mouth so he doesn’t show the food in his mouth but it’s kinda hard to avoid it. He doesn't think his friend would mind it. “Maybe a little bit. Too much partying, man.”

Ryden Bolt

"Bruv, I DJed for years, I legit think I got a perma bass inside my brain space now." Ryden rolled his eyes, the aches and pains of working in the night life were real.

Ivy Reyes

“A DJ?? No way!” He was perhaps TOO excited about it, but this guy just kept getting cooler and cooler. He even seemed like he’d just walked out of an edgy mom show from Netflix. He was very much amused. “Did you do the whole Ibiza thing and what not? I mean, I know it’s not England, but it’s kinda close, no?”

Ryden Bolt

"Pshh, no Ibiza. I wus too shit-poor for Ibiza. I did shit locally, wherever I was." Ry nodded, not ashamed to admit a god honest truth. Luckily he was well off enough now to support his family. His sandwich pizza slices were now all gone, all gobbled up in record speed and he was using a napkin to wipe his mouth. "B'sides, da hard stuff cost too much back then."

END.

[wolfontheloose]

Location: Thaw & Bloom Market Thread: A Family Moment : Ryden & Marsden Thread: for @hllboymglds Status: Finished

Marsden Lee

Car freshly parked, Mars unfurls his long limbs from the car, exiting like a tentacled creature from the black depths of the ocean's belly. Or maybe he just slides out. The air is crispy, cool and significantly warmer than before so the asphalt is slick with melting snow and the giant grey tundra piled on the sides of the road are dying icebergs in the memory of winter. "Grab da bag, I'll grab da baby?" Mars calls over his shoulder to his dear beloved behind the wheel. Maria Elena in the backseat makes a squawking sound like a seagull dying. Or maybe it's a gurgling giggle.

Ryden Bolt

"Yea, yea." Ryden responds, making sure the front seating area of the car was perfectly ready for when they have to return to it upon leaving a few hours from now (as it often happened that they had to leave places in a rush, for a toddler was an unpredictable force of nature that can, at the blink of an eye, change moods and states like a bipolar weather report). With the routine collaboration practiced between the two men over and over again whenever they were out and about with the baby, he grabbed the bag containing their toddler's stuff while his love handled their little babbling daughter.

Marsden Lee

And once the little girl is toted under his arm and the car sufficiently locked up, because Mars can't help but check and then double check that the doors are in fact locked and the trunk is indeed closed all the way and that nothing of notable value and worth can be seen through the deeply tinted windows of the car, Marsden immediately snuggles up into Ryden's side. Maria Elena squished between them in a tight and loving embrace. She giggles, muffled, wiggling like a fish. "I'm excited. Are you excited, my love?" He peppers Ry's cheek with kisses.

Ryden Bolt

Done with his part of the chore, Ryden waited for Mars to perform his usual safety ritual around the car, not minding the delay even if they were already so well coordinated with these things that there was hardly any room for mistake. He began walking them to the festival grounds as soon as Marsden glued himself to his side, Ryden stretching his free arm around the other man's shoulders while Maria Elena reached up to grab onto the flap of his jacket's collar for some more security. "Meeh. I'm playin' it cool." He grinned at Mars, his words obviously bullshit. "Excited we're finally out of the house t'gether." And that was a fact. This cold weather had been brutal, especially for Mars and the baby.

Marsden Lee

"Yeah," Marsden's cool gaze warms when he looks at Ry, it always warms when he looks at eye. The glacial caverns that make up his irises melting in the starlight that is Ryden, "Me too. We were getting a little stir crazy." Their little daughter tucked up warm between them so she wouldn't feel a bite of the cold though it already fluorescences on the tip of her wee nose.

Ryden Bolt

"I took ya to the backyard a couple o'times t'make them snowmen and snow angels but I guess it wasn't enough." Ryden chortled, leaning over so he could plant a loud smack on the corner of Mars' lips. Then he stopped them all suddenly. "Ey, yo, wait a sec there. Don't move." He rummaged into the pocket of his jacket, coming up with a handful of crumpled receipts first, stuffed them back in, then found his phone. Leaning away a bit, he positioned the phone camera to catch Marsden's face, just as the light of the great big outdoors hit him just right, capturing the cerulean gleam of his eyes. A wide grin manifested on his face as he zoomed out, this time catching both his beloved and their daughter in the same frame. "Yeaaa, gorgeous." He looked down and admired the results on the screen for a second.

Marsden Lee

"Starshine, you're gonna make me blush," and he's already got a red nose from the cold weather. But he stays still as instructed only for Maria Elena in her excitement to throw up her arms in a celebration pose only to at the right moment, smack her hand back right into Marsden's lip. "Ah, fuck. Straight on the kisser!"

Ryden Bolt

"Shiiit, don't beat up daddy." Ryden warned without any heat behind it, and only leaned to kiss over the little piercing in Marsden's lip, which was likely what hurt to be smacked the most. He then kissed the crown of Maria Elena's head too because even when she was a ball of spazz, she was cute. "Ya have Amy t'meet up with, rite?" He checked with Mars again. "Ya sure I ain't a bother t'tag along?"

Marsden Lee

Mars smiles at the sweet kiss to both himself and their little girl, heart warming in his chest and even the ache on his lip is soothed from the tender affection. He blows a raspberry in the air, waving a loose wrist in the air, "Bother? Pshh. You? Never. You're the sugar glue my delectable gingerbread house. Never a bother. It's more than alright for you to tag along. Besides ya gotta. Amy said she gonna introduce me to her girlies and I'll need your hand to hold for social support." As charismatic as Marsden could be, in larger groups he often got quieter.

Ryden Bolt

"Aww ya gettin' shy, baby?" Ryden melted at the reassurances, he was usually Mars' opposite, quieter when one-on-one or in smaller groups but an absolute loudspeaker social butterfly in boisterous crowds. He took it as a competition to be the loudest of all loud motherfuckers fighting for loudness in the vicinity and wider. "I'll hold yer hand, I'll never let go." And he would've kissed it too but they were moving and holding their baby so it was inconvenient. So instead, he took a peek at his trusty Apple watch real quick. "It ain't yet time, got anywhere ya want me to take ya twos?" They were here early because of the baby, she would need her afternoon nap so an early exit was very likely. To make up for it, they went in well before noon.

Marsden Lee

"I need a coffee and a nibble," Mars leans in to give his man an affectionate nibble to the cheek before soothing the same spot with a brush from the tip of his nose.

Ryden Bolt

"Ya greedy caffeine junkie bastard, heh." Ry chuckled at the nibble to his cheek then secured his arm more snugly around Mars' shoulders, his own wiggling happily at all the affection he was receiving. "Hot dogs?" He suggested. He knew Maria Elena would love those. More for how the snack was called than how it actually tasted.

Marsden Lee

As if on cue, the little girl proclaims with delight, "Hada!" As her attempt at the word and Mars the proud father, nods approvingly, "Yeh, yeh, that's right, hada. Let's get it." Ready to part the crowd with their family's unconsciously intimidating presence. The only one of them not remotely intimidating is Maria Elena between them and perhaps her presence softens theirs by a significant degree.

Ryden Bolt

Perhaps before Ryden would've minded his intimidating presence, or more often than not take advantage of it or revel in it, but being with his family softened him up in all the right ways. "Hell yea, hotdogs!" He repeated, this time pronouncing correctly for Maria Elena - one of them encouraged verbal expression of any kind and the other corrected, for future better speech and communication. "Ya wanna share the hotdog with me, honeybun?" He asks the baby, knowing she will not finish a whole hotdog on her own but wanting Mars to have his all for himself and not always have to eat bread soggy with Maria Elena's saliva.

Marsden Lee

Maria Elena responds by wrapping her short and chunky arms around Ryden's neck. Chunky because the thick jacket she wears to keep her warm makes them so. Then she presses a sweet and only little bit wet and cold kiss to his very large and angled jaw. The little one used to be very bad at sharing, perhaps due to Mars or perhaps because she's an only child, but lately Mars and Ry have been working on getting her to be better with sharing. She went from being sweet and good with sharing to suddenly being protective of her things like a goalie and would cry and scream when Mars asked for a grape she was eating and now she's back to being sweet about it again. Ah, such are the fickle whims of a toddler. Mars praises her kindness with a pat on the back and swift kiss to the top of her head. "That's a good little sugarplum. Sharing with dada Ry is a very nice thing." Then he nods to Ry, "I can share with you too, starshine." As Mars generally had a weak appetite.

Ryden Bolt

"Aww baby." Ry practically melted at the hug from their daughter, always amazed at what her affection did to his heart strings. For who knew which time now, he thought how he would pluck the stars off the sky, pick up the moon from the heavens for the two dearest people he now had with him. The little bit of slobber on his jaw was not even noticed. "Yeaaa, she's a very good girl, sharing with dada." He reaffirmed then directed his absolutely melted expression full of d'awws and aww's at Mars. "Okay, moonbeam." Ever everyone's trashcan, he did not even mind. Mars would probably notice that even though Ryden was not prone to shedding a tear, he was as close as he could get to it out of pure joy.

Marsden Lee

The pair of them walk through the still early crowd of other people coming to enjoy the festival market and explore. Many glance their way but of course they would, this is the happiest little trio anyone could ever see all clad in leather and black. Mars perks with a bounce in his step, heels barely touching the floor and preferring to walk close to the toes of his shoes out of a lingering dancer's habit he never quite unlearned. The hotdog stall is easily located. "A pickle dog? Da fuck is a pickle dog?"

Ryden Bolt

"Ah, it's the dog in a pickle." Ry explained helpfully. He actually knew what it was but it was just fun seeing Mars wonder. It was even more fun seeing the other man with a spring in his step, happy as a Mars bar can be.

Marsden Lee

"Mhm, Mhm. Gimme twenty." Mars replies jokingly.

Ryden Bolt

"You sure?" Ry smirks mischievously, giving a little elbow nudge to his side. He would do it if Mars continued joking about it. "Do we want twenty picked dogs, honeybun, huh?" He asked the Jelly Baby, knowing that he would get her support.

Marsden Lee

Maria Elena giggles in that impish way she inherited from Mars. Seems the answer is decided. "But at least one normal hot dog. Yanno. Protein."

Ryden Bolt

"Fine, fine. We git two normal hot dogs, waste not blah blah. I'll share both o'yers when ya light eaters git full." He knew that in the end... what would they do with twenty pickled hot dogs neither Maria Elena nor Mars will likely want to eat much of if any at all? Ry really didn't feel like heartburn in the middle of the night, even though a challenge of eating twenty pickle hot dogs was very tempting like any other challenge would be for Ryden. Stopping at the stall, he took Maria Elena over so Mars could handle the food, which is an easier task. If needed, they could switch up again. Or let the little gremlin walk around on her own for a change, lovingly of course.

Marsden Lee

The two normal hot dogs are ordered and paid for and soon in hand. "Let's sit over there," pockets a handful of mustard packets but no ketchup. The mustard is for him and his hot dog. Maria Elena gets no condiments because she can't be trusted with them. The moment either of them so much as blink it'll likely end up in her hair or between her toes or behind her ears and then she'll get uncomfortable and cry and it'll cut their little wonderful family outing horrendously brief.

Ryden Bolt

Mars' seating of choice was a foldable picnic table nearby, something put up specifically for the festival goers to use during meal breaks. "Aw, fuckin' asshats, don't nobody clean after themselves anymore?" Ryden grumbled, finding the table surface like most others littered with wrappers and paper cups and other trash people left behind after their meals. "Da day hadn't even started and there's already pigs all around. Yuck." Maria Elena repeated 'yuck!' as Ry used his free hand to clean up a little bit, make a little mountain pile of trash way over at the farthest edge of the table to toss out later. No way his two stars would sit in filth. Settling the baby bag on the bench and Maria Elena to stand next to it, he rummaged for wipes too as he helped her keep her balance.

Marsden Lee

Maria Elena could not be balanced but only because she wanted to move. She wiggles and sways, dancing to faraway music like a fey-child who can't help themselves but pick up their feet and frolic at the sound of a few melodic notes. Mars does the same. Dancing around the table, light on his toes and scoops up the trash left behind to discard it now. No problem at all. Nothing will ruin the day, not even litter. Then he returns back to his beloved with a hand out, knowing that Ryden would be there likely with a squirt of hand sanitizer or a wet wipe for him.

Ryden Bolt

And naturally, Ryden had both at hand. He had probably never in his life, before a baby got dropped in it, used a hand sanitizer but here he was now, fretting over the level of yuck on a public picnic table, weapons of disinfection in both hands. He squirted a generous amount of sanitizing gel onto Mars' outstretched hand, making a very comicbook-y SPLAT sound effect while doing so. He repeated the sound to draw Maria Elena's attention too and have her give him her tiny little hands to for a SPLAT as well. She did, after another couple of clumsy twirls on the bench which Ry had to be patient through while holding onto Ry's belt loop. Then he put her all the way down onto the ground to stand on her two little feet to figure out rubbing the gel all over her fingies on her own so he could wipe the table down for them before they used it.

Marsden Lee

Mars waits patiently as Ryden cleans the table, now holding Maria Elena by her little fingers to dance and sway together. She seems confident in her abilities. "Wath- wath me do dis one! Did you see ith? An I can do it also dis way," as she spins in one direction and then the other. "Woah, very cool," Mars praises cheerfully.

Ryden Bolt

And finally... they could sit. Ry was done over-fretting. He was truly lucky to have Marsden be so patient with him because heavens knew that Ry himself would condone smacking himself up on the back of his head. Hotdogs in their wrappers on the now clean table, Ry worked on pulling out an assortment of juice boxes for the bebe from the baby bag, additional snacks, and already pre-sliced apple and a whole lot of napkins for just in case. And wadda. Can't forget her little bottle of wadda. "Let's dig in!" He announced ceremoniously, probably more hungry than either of the other two.

Marsden Lee

With the table sorted out by his darling beloved, Mars sits himself down quite happily and begins to do his usual process when it comes to eating a hotdog. That is, smothering it in mustard. He takes the hot dog out, squeezes a packet of mustard into the bottom of the open bun, nestles the hot dog back into the bun with that generous bed of mustard beneath and then over top goes another packet of mustard. Not ketchup though. Marsden is one of those true Chicagoans who thoroughly disproves of ketchup on hot dogs and believes it's only fine when you're a child under eight. Then he eats. Happily watching his little family with him.

Ryden Bolt

Even if he were, in fact, always hungrier than his two most favorite people in the world (Ry could always eat. Eat like someone would steal it from him), he still made sure to first break off a piece of bread and the dog for the baby (more bread, less meat because that's how toddlers seem to like it, weirdos) and only when the piece was secure in Maria Elena's grabby little sanitizer smelling fingers after much coaxing and calling her over from her very busy busy, very showing off her skills dancey dance did he take a bite himself, giving a small huff of enjoyment at the first taste. Chewing, he stole a few sneak glances at Mars sitting next to him then sighed again, this time more mournfully and for a very obviously different reason. At least to Mars, who would know the sound of each of his sighs and what they might mean. Unless the ball strayed way out of any so far familiar courts.

Marsden Lee

Mars catches those sighs and sideline glances and scoots himself close. Closer. Closer. His leg hooks over top of Ryan's thigh and he extends his hotdog, offering him a bite.

Ryden Bolt

Yeaaaa, that made it better. Ryden was now humming happily, an arm curling around Mars' thigh as he leaned in to steal a bite of Mars' hotdog. It was a small, considerate nibble compared to how huge Ry's bites otherwise were. Absently, he kneaded the perfectly sculped thigh muscle under his palm as he chewed and spoke. "Yanno, we should try for another one sumtime." He declared randomly, no other context provided. Maria Elena was currently way over at the other side of the table, within sight but otherwise occupied by a trail of ants crawling in an orderly line on the ground there, which she carefully observed.

Marsden Lee

"Yes. A thousand times yes. We should try right now," leaning in close to whisper sweetly into Ryden's ear like he's a devil on his shoulder, fingers trickling up the front of his broad chest. "Find us somewhere private. Someone to watch da babe fer 30 mins. Enough time for ya to put a baby in me or at least get one started."

Ryden Bolt

Ryden tips his head back, letting out a roaring laugh that would've probably spooked everyone if the only people around him weren't the ones who were used to it. "We can dream." He sighs after, taking a bite of his own hotdog. He wasn't gonna eat all of Marsden's before the other man was done with it.

Marsden Lee

Mars lays his head over Ryden's shoulder, the one that's just for him and releases a whimsical sigh. "I do dream. Every night, every morning, every waking moment with you is a dream, better than a dream."

Ryden Bolt

"Then, I hope it's a good dream and not a boring one." If he had the guts to get them to hook up, end up being together before the baby arrived, Ryden knew that they would be having a wild ball all day every day, free as two birds in the sky. Like this, they were often caught between daily routine, work, obligations and the baby and what she needed. It has been so for three years now, a long time, and Ryden was absolutely certain that he had become a dull shell of his former self. He placed a soft kiss to Mars' raven hair as he laid his head on top of his shoulder and withholds yet another sigh, glancing away briefly to check up on the kidlet who was still very much entertained by ants.

Marsden Lee

"It's the best dream for one very important reason. Ya wanna know why?" He tilts the crystal blues of his eyes to look up at Ryden's piercing silver ones.

Ryden Bolt

"Mmm?" Ry hums at the question, Immediately returning the eye contact fondly.

Marsden Lee

"Mm... it's a secret," his voice lowers, quiet and private and close to Ryden's ear, ready to whisper.

Ryden Bolt

"Ya keepin' secrets from me?" Ry purrs, bringing his deep baritone as soft as it would get, cheek pressed against Mars' forehead. "Baby did a bad bad thing." Likely the song reference would not be missed.

Marsden Lee

And it isn't missed. Marsden presses his lips against the shell of Ryden's ear and hums deep in his throat to go along with the bassline, "Yea ever love someone so much ya thought yer little heart was gonna break in two?" He hums along some more, tapping the beat of the music against Ryden's thigh with his foot. "Ya ever close yer eyes, making believe yer holding da one yer dreaming of? I never do cuz yer here with me," mixing lyrics with his additions. Marsden speaks in a mix of references, poetry and song lyrics to get his point across. "Yer my baby, baby, baby. Life's a happy dream since da day we met. Ya remember it, starshine? I've been running on adrenaline since the day I walked off that stage and caught yer eyes. That's the secret."

Ryden Bolt

Ry's grin widens, way more than it usually does with anyone else who isn't his man. The hand on Mars' leg joins the rhythm they're now both drumming to, in perfect sync, though Mars is the only one singing. "Ya caught my eyes on da stage already. All shiny like a star. Spotlight was a moonbeam on ya and I fell in love loike a fool. Dat's my secret. A secret for a secret." He leans away a bit so he could press his forehead against Mars', getting them face to face, and he closes his eyes at the familiar, reassuring feeling.

Marsden Lee

"Secret for a secret," Marsden repeats as their foreheads press together and their heartbeats sync together. His eyes open and look back into the liquid iron of Ryden's gaze and can see himself reflecting back at him. "My face in thine eyes," he lightly caresses Ryden's jawline, "thine in mine appears... and true plain hearts do in the faces rest."

Ryden Bolt

"Aw shit, moonbeam. Dats poetry..." He sighs longingly, every time Mars recites something that sounds poetic and old and rhyming in the ways of the poets of the past he ends up feeling a yearning so great inside him that it could almost devour him whole. The only one who could save him was the one saying those verses. And to the reference of one of the awesomest on screen couples ever, he lifts Mars' arm and begins landing loud kisses up from the wrist and all the way to the shoulder.

Marsden Lee

He laughs at the peppering of kisses all the way up to his shoulder. Maria Elena, watching her dada's public displays of affection delightfully exclaims, "Me too! Dada! Me too! Kissus!" Marsden gently coaxes, "Ask nicely, sweet thing."

Ryden Bolt

"RAAAAH, KISSUS!!" Ryden roars playfully and does not wait for her to ask nicely, scooping her up as soon as she approached to plop her on their lap, with the two men intertwined like this she could sit on both chairs so to speak. He litters kisses all over her jacket covered arms and face but then stops abruptly. "Eat more o'yer hotdog and then more kissus."

Marsden Lee

Oh the squeals she makes are heart squeezing. Pure childish delight of love and adoration in every happy giggle. She tries to keep up, delivering sweet kisses of her own but can only do such with her little toddler reach and so most of her kisses meet the air and are only noises, "Mwah! Mwah!" Then at the prompting to eat more of her hotdog, opens her mouth big and wide and then proceeds to take the smallest but very exaggerated nibble of the bread saying, "Mmmm," in satisfaction as she does. Mars takes the opportunity of a distracted toddler to have another bite of his own hotdog. He pauses and faces Ryden. "I got something on my lip?"

Ryden Bolt

"Atta girl." Ry praises fondly then glances at Mars, checking first but since he found nothing, no crumbs or mustard on it, he just grins. "Nope. Just a kiss." And leans in to give Mars' bottom lip a quick peck, followed up by a nibble of pure adoration.

Marsden Lee

He smiles back, even a little peck and a nibble is enough to send him soaring. "You know what I was thinking about, my love?"

Ryden Bolt

"Me?" Ry guesses humbly, his wolfish grin of pure adoration for the man never leaving his face.

Marsden Lee

"Always you and also yes, you and your fitness club and the girls at the club got me thinking about something. So I want your thoughts too. It's the first time I'm sayin them out loud," Marsden was always a thoughtful person despite his appearance, which distinctly gives off pure spontaneous energy vibes. "I miss dancing."

Ryden Bolt

"Bet, baby, wat's on yer mind? Want t'use da gym for it? I can make part o'it look like a dancin' studio?" He offers immediately, all ears for anything Marsden had to say even as Maria Elena began wiggling in her seat on them, ever full of energy and always wanting to be somewhere else before she'd even get where she was going in the first place. He uses this chance to put her hotdog down to rub soothing, comforting circles around Mars' back.

Marsden Lee

Mars shakes his head slightly and pulls up the chain from the lock hanging around his neck to his lips, a habit to gnaw on something rises occasionally and the closest thing aside from the ring in his lip is this necklace which never gets removed. "I'm not sure exactly what I wanna do yet. I just got an itch, yanno? Feeling itchy. Part of me wants to just... dance. Part of me wants an audience again but I don't want to strip," his eyes turns to their little girl between them. Gently, he adjusts her jacket, tugging at her sleeves and just idly fussing with her, "Part of me wants to try and teach ballet but... who'd wanna learn from..." he lets his silence fill in the rest.

Ryden Bolt

Ryden's heart squeezes painfully at seeing Mars like this, getting insecure and fidgety in a bad way and just on the border of becoming sad. "Than scratch it, baby. Scratch da itch. Do wat ya want. Try all of it. See what works. If sumtin' does not end up workin' out, nevermind, we move on t'da next thing, yea?" He kisses his temple, hand continuing to circle over the wide expanse of his back, between prominent shoulder blades under the jacket Mars wore.

Marsden Lee

"We can start with.. a private studio? Just for me? In the house or at your gym?" Marsden suggests, already feeling warming in his chest under the carefully tended affection of his beloved. His lips turn up and gaze softening, "Be my architect, starshine?"

Ryden Bolt

"Pshh. I'll build a moon for a rockin' chair for ya, noodle. Ya can 'ave both. At home and at da gym. Jus' give me a week." He will find time. He will always find time to build Mars up to his dreams, whatever they may be, because Marsden was his dream.

Marsden Lee

Marsden laughs, full throated and from the chest, "A week? For both the gym and the house? You're the sweetest man," he wraps an arm under Ry's back, hand coming up to massage the back of his neck as he leans in to press a warm kiss to the corner of his lips, "I love you, to the moon and back and back over again and beyond to all the split infinities in this galaxy and the next. Eighty-eight."

Ryden Bolt

"I do miracles for you and only for you, tadpole." He shrugs humbly, yes it will be a race with time, yes it will not be perfect in a week, but it will be started and mostly done and useable so Mars can be happy and smiling for him again. "Eighty-eight, baby. You, me and infinity. Love ya so much I can't even explain it." He returns the kiss with a more direct one. "But yanno, if dis shit's really troublin' ya, you can always talk t'me sum more, work it out out loud so it gits worked out in yer head, yea?" He offers, perfectly happy to listen from dusk till dawn to anything Marsden had to say, anything that was on his mind.

Marsden Lee

Mars exhales, a sigh of contentment and adoration as he all but melts into Ryden's arms. Everything just feels better when he's with Ry. The world makes more sense when it normally doesn't always. Or maybe it's just Mars who makes more sense when normally he doesn't always. Somehow, something about Ry calms the weird little gears in Marsden's head enough to put things into place. "I don't think it's troubling me. I'm not like losing sleep over this, yanno? It's like a song in my head I can't stop thinking about. I got a melody in me and my body is trying to dance to it. You ever feel that way?"

Ryden Bolt

"Okay good. Cuz anythin' troublin' ya is 'bout to git troubled by me." Ryden huffs out protectively, patting Mars back one more time then stopped rubbing it, lest it starts feeling too much to be touched on the same spot over and over again. "Oh yea, fer sureeee. Ya got an idea and ya jus' gotta get it out. Mood." Ryden bobbed his head, perfectly relating to it.

Marsden Lee

"Yea, yeah, exactly," Mars nods back at him, heads bobbing in sync like a pair of bobble heads. "So that's where I'm at right now. Itchy dancey song in my bones but no where to do it at. I mean, yeah, sure there's the actual gym and da, loike, whatever field space there and all, but it ain't the same. It doesn't feel right. The ground isn't good," and for Marsden the ground has to be good. He has always had a very particular thing about floors. Chalk it up to his time doing classical ballet where the floors really mattered so now he has a strange and unique fixation on floors.

Ryden Bolt

"Yea, yea, yea, I got it, da floors." Ryden knew all about the floors, special floors would have to be purchased and installed for sure, and he was already thinking of a place he could order from, outside of Ennora, top quality. It will take some time to arrive so floors may end up being the last thing to be done, but those were good floors and therefore worth the wait. "We'll make it feel rite. Work on it 'till it does." He nods resolutely then lifts up a hand for Mars to fist bump as a sort of a seal the deal sort of gesture.

END.

[wolfontheloose]

Location: Thaw & Bloom Market Thread: Found Family Festival Reunion : Ryden & Rosita Thread: for @icanbuymyownflowers Status: Finished

Ryden Bolt

It was kind of a surprise when Rosita texted Ryden to tell him she's at the festival market because he figured these things wouldn't be her thing. But hey, he was glad to take a moment from the outing with his fam to greet the kiddo. She'd always been a kiddo to him, even way back when in NY where they met. "Lookit you, all lady like, damn." He catcalled playfully when he spotted her where they decided to meet, a very different young woman from the one working clubs in the Big Apple. Every time they met to catch up, her fashion and overall air of luxury got a good level up.

Rosita Rosales

Rosita hated these kind of things, but Eduardo loved them and so she decided he wouldn’t have to go on his own. A little bit so he wouldn’t feel lonely, but mostly so he wouldn’t get tempted to buy ugly things for their home. She sent a quick message to Ryden who would probably go with his family at some point anyways. She kind of hoped he wouldn’t bring the little one because she wasn’t so good with babies, but if he had she would’ve made some kind of an effort. "Had to make sure everyone knows I don’t belong here," she half-joked, referencing her outfit that was way too fancy for the occasion. "Hey, how are you doing?" said Eduardo, bringing him into a hug. Ryden was very important in his opinion since he was Rosita’s only family member.

Ryden Bolt

"Watch out for mud an' dog shit, then. Those very much belong 'ere and yer shoes're too fancy for that crap." He grins, sharp canines on display, then moves in to give Eduardo a quick hug, the cool kind all the cool bad boys do, kind of sideways leaning. "My man, how ya holdin' up?" He pats his back, perhaps way too strongly, ever excessive in his displays. "Ya better have brought a long stick, you'll need it ta chase away all them nasty creeps cause yer babe's way too pretty not to attract some." He chortles, never the type to draw a line between appropriate comments and ridiculousness.

Rosita Rosales

"Don’t give her even more reasons to want to immediately leave," joked Eduardo. She wasn’t actually being that difficult, but she did made him promise he’d buy her a new pair of the heels she was currently wearing if they got dirt on them. "That’s all I do whenever we go out. Thinking about keeping her locked inside," he joked while Rosita rolled her eyes. Ryden knew about their arrangement and about how their marriage wasn’t closed. Eduardo was about to speak again, but Rosita interrupted him. "Okay, enough catching up. Would you buy us some drinks? Coffees?" She asked her husband, then turned towards her friend, "What are you in the mood for Ry?"

Ryden Bolt

Of course Ryden knew, but also of course Ryden was a shithead who liked to say shitty things and get everyone riled up sometimes. The more ironic or sarcastic the situation gets as a result of his no brain to mouth filter, the better. It was all mostly a small veiled dig at Eduardo, not her really. "If I tell ya wat I'm really in da mood for, ya'll are gunna both beat me wit a stick." Ry bobbed his head happily at the prospect of being a cause for chaos. "Naw Ed, surprise me. I'll 'ave wha'ever ya 'ave." Poor bloke. He was such errand boy material.

Rosita Rosales

Rosita wasn’t going to dirty her hands trying to find an actual stick, but she did slap Ry’s shoulder. "Maybe we should," she playfully said. "Find alcohol," she told Eduardo, leaning close enough so she could kiss him before she sent him away. He didn’t mind how she treated him at all. It wasn’t serious with him like it was with anyone else. She was surprisingly very kind behind closed doors. "So, anything new and exciting going on with you?" She asked, curious.

Ryden Bolt

"Domestic violence! In public!!" Ryden raised his voice playfully, shrinking away from Rosita's blow even if they were just mosquito bites to him. When they were left alone, he stuck his hands into his pockets, figuring him and Rosita would just stay where they were so Eduardo could find them later. "Eeeh, f'ya don't count da baby bein' sick while we were snowed in, then nothin' really. Everythin' at the Rusty Dog's still breakin' down. I had a leak the other day, the dishwasher broke. We had an awesome St Paddy's day tho. Lot of unfairly pinched people, heh. Mistake was, we made it a two day thing. Ugh." Ryden's expression alone would tell just how much a pub got busy on two St Patrick's days.

Rosita Rosales

"And I’d do it again," she replied in the same kind of playful tone. She always let herself be more silly whenever she was around Ryden. Not that she would admit it. "She’s doing better?" she asked, slightly concerned. She didn’t want to spend too much time with his baby, but it didn’t want her injured or sick either. She was certain they would have fun once she would be old enough to go shopping with her. "Anything we can do to help?" she asked. Offering money.

Ryden Bolt

"Friggn' bully. Yer not girly at all, I take dat back." Of course it was all in good faith, Ryden could be very offensive even when he didn't want to be but more often than not there wasn't a single evil thought in his head, not towards people he loved at least. "Yeaaa, she's fine, kids dis age're jus' constantly sick. It is wat it is." He shrugged, not minding the sleepless nights, the crying when her little nose needed to be rinsed, the scares from her loss of appetite and the myriad of other concerning things that kept him and Mars crying inwardly (and sometimes outwardly). "Naw, all good babyface, ya didn't drop 'er dat one time ya two met and dat's all I culd ever ask fer." Ryden knew not to push Maria Elena onto Rosita. He was aware this was not the age the young woman could handle kids at and that was fine. She could have her sometimes when she's old enough to get nails done or some shit like that.

Rosita Rosales

She raised an eyebrow at his words, jumping on the opportunity to make him look like an asshole. ''Sounds transphobic to me.'' Obviously she was just teasing him. ''I don't know how you do it. I usually avoid Phoebe and Patrick whenever they're sick. You can't exactly avoid a baby,'' she probably shouldn't have spent their teenage years avoiding them whenever they just coughed in her presence, but she couldn't help it.

Ryden Bolt

"Aaah, who's sumtin'-phobic now, I'm gay!" Ryden's shit-eating grin was wide as he pointed a thumb at himself proudly. He was not above teasingly evoking his gay rights at an opportune moment whenever it suited him. As always, Ryden just craved some chaos. He would start a modern day revolution for any cause just for the heck of it. "Eeeh, I loike brats, ya don't. Dat's how." He shrugged as he shoved his hands into his pockets, blunt as always.

END.

[wolfontheloose]

Location: Thaw & Bloom Market Thread: Lost Toy : Ryden & Maya Thread: for @mayarparker Status: Finished

Ryden Bolt

Another emergency came up, of which there were no shortages when a toddler was involved. The newly purchased bag troll Maria Elena had gotten from Jodie's stall had, in a moment of all of their inattention, slipped from Maria Elena's noodle fingers and now was sadly lost. Ryden was dispatched to look for it as, even though they've just met, the baby was inconsolable that her new friend was gone. Weaving through the crowd, Ryden's eyes mostly glued to the floor, he tried to do the impossible and find the lost crocheted bastard. He did not even notice that a person was standing there as he looked around her feet, recalling that this was where they stood in line before for some cotton candy, and perhaps this was where the soft toy was last seen. Though beats him if that were really true.

Maya Parker

Nico had switched to texting. Maya had thought, or maybe hoped, that he had given up when he had stopped calling incessantly. Things had been quiet for a few days, but now he was texting, long diatribes about how unfair she had been, how he wouldn't take her back when she inevitably came crawling back to him, how much happier he was without her and so on. Maya refused to let herself react with each buzz on her phone. Instead, she was watching people pass at the Thaw and Bloom Festival. There were many couples as well as small groups moving through the grounds together. She spotted Ryden, he was hard to miss after all, with his eyes glued to the ground clearly looking for something. What though was the question. "Looking for something?" she called as he came to a stop in front of her.

Ryden Bolt

"Aw shitfuck, ya scared me." The man startled, which was a rare thing for him, the sudden jump in his chest not something he was accustomed to. He frowned deeply at nothing in particular, feeling just ridiculous now. "Yea. Yea, I'm searchin' for sumtin'. My sanity." Unlikely he would find that, unless he found the toy Maria Elena lost.

Maya Parker

Maya considered pointing out that she had been standing still the entire time. It didn't seem particularly helpful. Still, she couldn't help herself when he said he was searching for his sanity. "Well I think the ship's sailed on that one awhile ago," she replied. She flashed a grin before adding, "But I can help you look for whatever's currently representing your sanity."

Ryden Bolt

Ry could not even protest that. It was so true. So he shrugged and nodded, with a very agreeable expression. "Okay, yea, sure, um... Did ya see loike a..." Aw shit, how would he even describe what he was looking for. "It's a knitted toy doll thing. Looks like, I don't know, a friggin' goblin I guess. But in a cute way. Colorful. Uh... I tink it was green." Or it could've been blue. Who knew. Ry was a little color blind. Thus all the black wardrobe among other reasons.

Maya Parker

Maya nodded. She knew generally what he was talking about and thought she might've even seen a stand selling them earlier. "Maria Elena?" she asked as she started to scan the surrounding area. From what she knew of him Mars might be the owner of the crochet goblin in question, but he seemed less likely to lose it.

Ryden Bolt

"Yeaaaa...." Ry almost whined, his heart infinitely aching for his poor little bundle of joy now shedding streams of crocodile tears because of a stupid gremlin. Oh god almighty he hoped this would not be her future too, in a different way. But hey, a little punk was easier to beat up than a little toy no larger than Ryden's fist.

Maya Parker

Maya nodded again. Her gaze scanned across a low fence, looking for the small creature rescued by some passing townsperson. "Could that be it?" she asked, spotting some small greenish thing on the corner of the fence. It was a bit too far away and there were a few too many people to see the thing properly, but it was at least worth investigating.

Ryden Bolt

Since Maya started looking, Ryden also continued looking, fully focused on the task. When she pointed out a potential find, he immediately rushed, weaving through the crowd, and bent over, coming up with a deflated, muddy children's ball in a greenish color that was so gross in its recently thawed state after the snows they've been having. "Nah. Not it." He pointed out the obvious, tossing the item back where he found it.

Maya Parker

It was a bit impressive really how quickly and smoothly Ryden moved through the crowd. But Maya's focus was on the object he held up, making it easier to see. She followed through the crowd, weaving with grace of her own. "I know you've probably thought of this, but where was the last place you saw it?" she asked. Ryden had probably already been to whatever that location was, but it was worth asking. The stress of finding a lost children's toy could make people forget seemingly obvious things.

Ryden Bolt

"Well, there. Where yer sneaky ass spooked me." He pointed back to where they've been, close to the cotton candy stall. Maya was right though, Ryden was stressed, and it showed in the way his jaw clenched as he chewed on the stud in his tongue, grey eyes darting all around without the desired goal to land on. "Fuuuuck...." He exhaled loudly and remained crouching there, arms coming up to fold over his head as he tucked it between his knees. He was a fuckup of a father after all...

Maya Parker

Maya nodded, gaze briefly returning to the spot they had been standing earlier. She didn't see any obvious lost crochet dolls. Her attention was drawn away though as Ryden seemed to sink into overwhelm. "We'll find it," she said, not quite sure how to comfort him, "Or if you bought it here, we could get another one." Her hand came up slightly, not sure if she should pat him on the shoulder. Opting against it, her hand fell again. She didn't say it would be okay. There was no guarantee of that. Certainly, in the long run it would probably be okay, but that never helped the short term.

Ryden Bolt

"Yeaaa..." Ryden rumbled from between his knees where he kept his head bowed for a second longer then looked up, neck slightly red from being curled up and kind of upside down for a bit. Now that he had some blood rush up to his brain, he felt better. He was otherwise a machine of a human, always ready for every situation like clockwork, but when it came to his family, he always felt he came out short. "Thanks, cupcake." It was not a random nickname meant to demean or offend, he was genuinely grateful and this was just the first endearing word that came to mind. "Imma look for a lil bit longer. Don't let me hold ya up, mkay?"

Maya Parker

Maya let him stay where he was. She knew better than to rush someone into feeling better. Instead, she kept scanning the area for the missing crochet toy. After another moment, he looked up at her again with a nickname that rolled off his tongue in such a way she assumed it was what he called most people. She shook her head at his offer to let her continue, "I'm kind of invested now." This was also a good distraction from the phone still buzzing in her pocket. "Actually, do you want me to swing by the stall and buy a back up?"

Ryden Bolt

"Naw, I'd feel loike shit if ya did. B'sides, I can do dat meself." He slowly rose up with a muffled grunt to continue looking, although he was slightly discouraged now. "If we don't find it in da next ten minutes, forget it." Now he really did need a beer...

Maya Parker

"I can always give it the extra to one of the kids at the ward if we find it," Maya offered although she suspected that Ryden wouldn't take the suggestion. Still it felt worth it to make it. When he said they should look for another ten minutes, she nodded, "Okay sounds like a plan. Then I think a round of drinks for a hard day's quest." She returned to looking, hoping to find the small crochet creature.

Ryden Bolt

"Well lookit you, a fairy godmother." He smirked, finally a hint of a smile on his lips ever since Maria Elena burst out crying earlier. "I kinna like dat tho, regardless. Ya gunna go t'the hospital open doors one'o these days?" He asks as they move to search some more, a hand coming up to scratch at the buzzed short back of his skull. "No can do, I already had a beer and dat's one beer too many t'day. But I can buy you a drink. I'll have, I don't know, me own fist in me mouth if I don't find dis freakin' toy."

Maya Parker

Maya shrugged, blushing a little. It wasn't a big deal after all. It was just the right way to go about it. She shrugged again when he asked if she would be going to the hospital open doors. This time though she added, "I don't really know. I try to spend as little time in hospitals as I can generally." She had spent plenty of her misspent youth in them already. As far as his offer of a drink, Maya shook her head, "Don't worry about it." Her eyes settled on something in a nearby mud puddle. "What about that?" she asked as she went to pick it up.

Ryden Bolt

"Smart. I'm askin' cause they have, yanno, donations open for the pediatrics ward an' all. Mebbe you'd like t'check dat out too sum time, since yer so saintly." Ryden might always sound harsh when he spoke, but most of the time a harsh intention was not behind it. It was just the way he worded things. He did actually think Maya was a good kid for thinking about giving out toys. "Pssh, too late. I'm worryin'." Then his attention got directed to where Maya seemed to have spotted something and he followed her, tense with hope.

Maya Parker

Maya nodded, "Good to know." She wasn't quite sure how to read his comment about her being so saintly. It would be easy, especially with her phone laden with hate filled texts, to read it as sarcastic. But she didn't detect any sarcasm in his voice. She did her best not to read into it at all. If not for the small thing in the puddle Maya might've argued more about if he owed her a drink or if she would let him buy her one. Instead, she had zeroed in on whatever it was. Covered in mud as it was, she plucked it from the ground and held it up. It was definitely goblin shaped and made of yarn, but the mud and water had turned it more brown than green or blue. "What's the verdict?" she asked Ryden, holding it up for him to see.

Ryden Bolt

Ryden had been just a couple of steps away when Maya picked the item and held it up for inspection. Immediately, everything in Ryden brightened like a sunshine, eyes widening and fists pumping up a bit with excitement. "Fucking YES, dat's the fucker!!!" He probably said that far too loud, earning them many odd looks from passersby. "Dat stinkin' ass... hidin' in da mud... bitchfuck. Shit, thank you. Gah, thank you! I owe ya me life!" He took the dirty thing off Maya's hands, holding it between thumb and forefinger and looking at it with contempt and mild disgust. "Guess I gotta clean it up..." That was another hurdle there, he could not hand it over like this to Maria Elena but it's a thought for later.

Maya Parker

Maya smiled happy to see the joy and relief on Ryden's face. She preferred to be useful after all. Again, she shook her head, "Chalk it up as pay back for helping me get Spencer home from his appointments." She didn't think he would go for it, but it was worth trying. "Just a bit," Maya agreed that he would have to clean it up, "And I think those kinds of things are hand wash only."

Ryden Bolt

"Pff come on, dat don't count, I did not do dat for you but for the old man." He didn't bite, unfortunately for Maya. "But wa'ever, I git it, big bad girl don't wanna be spoiled with a couple o'beers, fine, be tough." He grinned widely at her then looked around to check if he could find a stand that had bottled water available to at least rinse the toy with. "S'fine, I think I've been hand washin' stuff at least once a day for the past three years."

Maya Parker

If anything, Maya smiled wider. She has been devastated on the bus ride to Ennora at the idea that Spencer didn't have anyone to take care of him during his illness. But now she was discovering that it was just his stubborn refusal to tell anyone about said illness. "I don't know about big," Maya replied. She wasn't tall next to most people, but her height, or lack thereof, was especially pronounced next to Ryden. She continued, "But I am a baddie." Her phone buzzed again. Finally, she took it out to see the latest of Nico's dozens of texts. She turned her phone off. "Anyway, I should let you get back to your family," she said, some of the sunshine gone from her expression.

Ryden Bolt

"Eyyy, baddies come in all sizes." He said absently as he tried to slap some of the mud off the toy, holding it up at an arms reach and as away from either of them as possible. "If ya ain't got nothin' goin' on rite now, hang with us." He offers casually as he begins walking towards a stall where he reckoned he'd seen bottled water being sold.

Maya Parker

Maya shook her head. In her pocket, she could still feel the phantom buzzing of her phone. But it was off, she knew it was off. "Oh I wouldn't want to be a bother," she replied. Still, she walked beside him without noticing that he had any particular goal. Her mind was 150 miles away in Boston and a life she knew she was better off without.

Ryden Bolt

"Naw, it's a festival. Ya can't be a bother even if ya wanted to." He reassured. "But if ya want to, do yer best, we can take it." He reached the stall, asking for two bottles of water. Once obtained, he uncapped one and started moving to the side and away from people, to give the toy a little rinse over a patch of freshly thawed grass. If it could be even called grass right now. But it was trying.

Maya Parker

She had to remind herself to believe him. If he said that she wasn't being a bother then she wasn't being a bother. Maya hoped someday that wouldn't be something she would need to remind herself of. "Alright," she replied, "If you're sure." As they made their way to a small area of grass to make a first attempt at washing the small crochet creature. "How are things at the Rusty Dog?" Maya asked.

Ryden Bolt

"Stop questionin' me, yer making me anxious." Ry threw that at her, squeezing excess water out of the soft toy. "Dis fucker better not shrink..." The next question she'd asked seem to have irked him even more than the goblin. "It's fallin' apart, all day, every day. A shithole. If it ain't for Mars stoppin' me, I'd burn it down."

Maya Parker

Maya almost shrunk into herself, shoulders slumping and movements getting a little more stiff. She hadn't meant to make him anxious. It was just that she didn't want to be a bother. After all, Ryden had been asked to keep an eye on her. It wasn't as though people wanted to put up with her without being tasked with it. Her green eyes, rarely settled in one place especially in a crowd like this, followed Ryden as he tried to wash the small toy. Her head tilted slightly, braid swinging to the side as she did it, as she listened to his answer. He exaggerated Maya knew, but she also knew that hospitality was hard work. "Because the insurance payout isn't big enough yet?" she asked.

Ryden Bolt

Ryden wasn't one bit anxious, he was just saying it so she'd stop fidgeting about being invited on a simple hang around at a festival. It was normal to hang out with people at such events, what's the big deal? No big deal for Ryden for sure! "Nope. Not nearly." He squeezed the toy out of excess water. It looked... less muddy now. "Quick, how do I explain to a toddler why their toy now look like dis?"

Maya Parker

There had been a time in her life that Maya hadn't been so worried about if people actually wanted to spend time with her. For a few years, after moving to Boston it had felt like healing. This felt like sinking again. Some days, she felt like she was treading water at least, but not today with the weight of her text message laden phone in her back pocket. "Gotta up that, I knew a guy back in Boston. But I don't know if he's licensed in New York," she offered with a crooked smile. When he asked how to explain the toy's new look, Maya tilted her head, causing her braid to swing to one side. For a moment, she considered the question seriously. "They went on a quest to rescue a princess and nobody believed a knight in shining armor anyway?" she offered before adding, "Of course that one does require buying a princess toy as well."

Ryden Bolt

"Naw is fine, I'll work it out even if it kills me. But tanks fer offerin', 'ppreciate it." Ryden said that genuinely, at this point it was just his stubbornness and the unhealthy conviction that he can handle everything on his own much better than anyone else. "Shut up, yer a genius! I'll buy 'er another one and say all dat shit, she'll eat it up!" Because Maria Elena so totally would, they made up stories together like that as a family all the time. It was just that in some situations, as an adult, you begin to run out of ideas out of pure adult responsibility panic. "We'll find sumtin. You pick da princess."

Maya Parker

Maya shrugged. She figured he didn't really want to burn the pub down. After all, it would be far easier to sell it. She joked simply, "If you change your mind, I've got matches." His enthusiasm for her suggestion made her smile. She liked to be useful. She also had plenty of experience spinning up better stories to tell children. "Smart, you should have a princess pick your princess," she said, eyes sparkling with amusement. As she said it, she headed in the direction of a toy stall she'd seen earlier.

Ryden Bolt

"Cool, don't tell me where ya keep 'um, I'll steal 'um." Just like his beloved, Ryden also had a habit of swiping things away that were not his. But it was only specific things - lighters, cigarette packs, ashtrays, matches. Anything related to his former hobby which he'd now abandoned for the baby's sake. "Rite ye are, m'lady." Spirits lifted, Ryden followed after her, trying to dry the no longer dripping wet toy some more by wiping it on the shirt under his jacket.

Maya Parker

"Then I'd burn your bar down," Maya replied with the teasing edge to her voice. Arson was a bit more than the petty crimes she had actually committed in her life. They walked down the aisle. While Maya had a stand in mind, she kept an eye out for other options. Seeing a row of custom redone Barbie dolls, she stopped "Here we go." She smiled and greeted the stand owner before saying to Ryden, "You should get the one that looks most like her."

Ryden Bolt

"How? I stole yer matches." Ryden entertains the banter, knowing full well it's all in good humor. As Maya took a pick at the stand of her choosing, Ryden glared at everything on the table, a deep frown of focus twisting his brow. "Uhhhh... Dat one?" He pointed insecurely, as if asking an opinion on just how spot on he was. Or far off, which was more likely.

Maya Parker

He had her there. Maya just shrugged. It would've been nice to think of something clever in the moment, but she wasn't always clever. They stood side by side in front of the toys while Ryden considered. She didn't say anything. At least she didn't until he pointed one out. It had the same color hair as his step daughter at least. "That could be a good choice," she replied, knowing that at the end of the day the look of the princess toy wasn't overly important. "What about this one?" she asked, gesturing towards a doll that she thought matched Maria Elena's spirit a little better. Of course, she didn't know the girl as well as Ryden did.

Ryden Bolt

"Dat one's cute too." Ryden agreed, regarding the little toy princess for a second longer. "I'll trust ya on dis one. I am shit at toys anyway. One of da first ones I bought 'er, she culdn't really use until now." He exchanged a few words with the person behind the stall and the purchase was made. Perfect, because now the bebe had something to hold onto until her crochet goblin was properly cleaned and dry.

Maya Parker

Maya felt a twinge of regret. Maybe she should've just supported the one that he had picked. It was too late now though. "Okay," she said simply. She hoped that Maria Elena would like it and that it would help soften the lost, found and soaked crochet goblin. Luckily, kids that age were usually pretty easy to make happy, especially those that came from loving homes. "You should probably get back," she added, "Missing daddy's a lot worse than a goblin toy."

Ryden Bolt

That was actually a really friggin' cute thing to say and Ryden gave it a little snort, looking almost sheepish. Almost, because he did not do sheepish. Hard to be that way when you were naturally wolfish. "Naw, but for real. Come with. Ya ain't busy, I can tell." He insisted, shoving the bottle of water he hadn't used to wash the toy into her hands. Just in case, she didn't seem like she even had a bag on her and pockets can only hold so much. It was a good idea to carry at least a bottle of water around, even though it's not summer. "I'm goin'! Follow up, don't git lost. I'm done lookin' for lost shit t'day." He tossed that over his shoulder, not even looking over it to see if she would follow, pretty certain that she would.

END.

[goldenchildminmin]

Location: Thaw & Bloom Market Thread: Festival Market Shenanigans Thread: for @tortledimlr1-blog @hllboymglds @chxsingthunder Status: Finished

Park Minho Minho loved festivals like these and was delighted to see that Ennora had them. Any festivals back home they had to attend they usually performed at, so being just a nobody wandering around was a breath of fresh air. Distracted by some pretty lights at a stall that sold candles and diffusers and hanging handmade lamps and lanterns, they did not notice until too late that someone was walking their way and bumped with a soft exclamation against the person. "Oh, no! So sorry! Are you okay??" They immediately fretted, looking up to check just how much they might've pissed off the other, ready to apologize however much it was needed to remedy this blunder.

Caspian Baudelaire Caspian usually didn't go to these sorts of things. Both from being overwhelmingly uncomfortable with crowds -- unless it was a college party, of course -- and from his general unease about people seeing him in public. An old insecurity, but one he couldn't seem to shake off. He wasn't really paying attention as he walked along, fingers in his pocket fiddling with a flask of whiskey he was too afraid to take out and drink from. So he didn't see someone coming at him, and he gasped himself when they collided. "Oh, yes, I'm fine," He said quickly, blinking his blue eyes a few times. "It's my bad, I wasn't watching where I was going. Are you alright?"

Park Minho "No, no, it's um, my fault! So many people, I get, uhh, how to say, distracted! Yes!" Minho laughed softly. Now that they said more than a two-three word sentence it has become obvious that they were not an English speaker and therefore struggled a bit. But they were still easy to understand, the pronunciation carrying just a hint of an accent if one did not mind them stammering occasionally. "I am sorry, again. Really! Can I buy you coffee to apologize?" They offered, a little awkward about it but having the best intentions.

Caspian Baudelaire "Accidents happen, it's alright," Caspian said, clocking the accent. He tried to place it in his mind, having heard quite a few when he was going to college. He shook it off, though, shaking his head at the apology. "Really, it's okay. I won't say no to coffee, though," He said, thinking it would be a good chance to at least calm his shaky hands.

Lake Thongchai Separately from those events, already in line before the coffee stall, waits Lake patiently and quietly, tapping at his phone to occupy himself until his turn to order.

Park Minho Minho's smile turned dazzlingly bright, just happy to see that no harm was done. "Great! What coffee do you like? My treat!" They insisted, looking around to see if they could find a coffee stall. They were sure they saw one while passing by a few minutes ago, but Minho was so very terrible at directions. A longer persistent look paid off though and they exclaim happily. "Ah, there, there!" They point it out for Caspian before motioning him over. "I passed by it, smells good, good quality coffee for sure!"

Caspian Baudelaire "Something hot," Caspian joked, looking around as well. He was tall enough that he could see over the crowd, looking at the coffee stall before nodding once. "A latte would be wonderful." He followed Minho towards the stall, keeping his eyes on the shorter person to make sure he didn't lose them in the crowd.

Park Minho "Ooh, latte! I like latte. Matcha latte, my favorite." Minho hummed happily, very friendly, bubbly and open now that there was no threat of being disliked for a little unintentional blunder. Joining the short line at the coffee stall with Caspian, they briefly get distracted as they seem to spy a familiar back. After a moment, they were certain they've not made a mistake so they lean over to give the person a light tap on the shoulder. "Hello, Mr. Tulip!" They chuckle.

Caspian Baudelaire "I'm quite partial to matcha myself. I didn't try it until college, though," Caspian admitted, stepping into the line behind Minho. He wasn't quite paying attention, his eyes flickering about the stall to see exactly what flavors they had available. He glanced back down when the person in front of him tapped someone on the shoulder, and for the first time since arriving, visibly relaxed and allowed a smile. "Lake!"

Lake Thongchai He looks over his shoulder, the name giving him pause but once he sees who it is, an amused glimmer flashes in the warmth of his eyes. Then his gaze shifts once more to the person behind them, another familiar face. "Casper," a nickname he fashioned for Caspian after one of those late nights pouring over case files and Lake completely forgot he was there and so when they bumped into each other in the hall, Lake thought he was a ghost. "Minho," he greets with a slight tip of his head, "I have no tulip for you today I'm afraid."

Park Minho "It's okay hehe! We are having latte." They explain the situation although it's likely not necessary, and look between Lake and Caspian with a good-natured confusion. "You two know each other? How lovely!"

Caspian Baudelaire Caspian rolled his eyes at the nickname, half realizing he hadn't introduced himself to Minho before this moment. "Caspian," He corrected, looking at Minho. "Yes, Lake and I are on the same career path." He explained, looking back at Lake.

Park Minho "Oooh, co-workers, yes?" Minho nodded with interest, popping out a hand to offer a handshake to Caspian. "Min-Ho! Nice to meet you! I know Lake because he gave me flowers! Okay, I go get us coffees, one latte and what do you want? I get for you." They offer to Lake too.

Lake Thongchai He's about to protest that he can buy his own drink, it's no trouble at all but something in him feels like… Minho will insist. So he concedes with a nod. "Just a coffee for me, thank you. No latte. I can't have milk." Then to Caspian, "Another late night?"

Park Minho "Coffee! No milk! Yes!" Minho parroted then stepped in front of the other two in the line, giving them some room to catch up while they handled the coffees. Upon placing the order and waiting for them to be done, the easily bored and distracted Minho kept glancing about with a happy hum on their lips and a bit further away noticed yet another pair of familiar faces. For essentially a tourist in Ennora, they sure seem to know a lot of people. "Hiro! And Iggy! Hello!" They raise their voice, waving from where they stood at the stalls the other two held. Then off they go, leaving the line and the order in favor of greeting the other acquaintances as well. As reliable as Minho had the goodwill to be, they were simply… not.

Caspian Baudelaire Caspian watched Minho leave, scooting slightly closer to Lake. "It's always a late night for me," Caspian said, settling his eyes on Lake's. He didn't mention that last nights case was being worked on for someone less than ideal. He glanced over when Minho called out, watching them leave the order on the stall. "Shall we?" He gestured for Lake to proceed him to the drinks.

Lake Thongchai Caspian didn't need to mention, Lake could see it in the subtle glance. A slight downcast of his eyes gave him away. These are the small details he has picked up on during their friendship. Lake merely hums in agreement and offers a polite thank you to the clerk handing out their warm cups of steaming drinks. He lets Caspian take his own drink while Lake takes his and Minho's, ready to follow over to join the easily distracted but endearing fellow. "Friends of yours?" Lake asks Minho, now beside them with their hot latte offered between them.

Hiro Uehara Hiro stands up once he sees people approaching his table, scrap metal sculptures laden across the entire length of it. "Hey," greeting them with a nod and a glancing eye to the rest. Then he gives his usual simple spiel, "Everything is uh… handmade by me. Just let me know if you got any questions."

Park Minho "Woow, you do this? I did not know! Amazing!" Minho expressed their genuine surprise, startling a little when they were offered their own order of matcha latte, about which they've already forgotten. "Oh, thanks!" They felt awkward for one second before they were over it, sipping on their drink while quick eyes fleetingly scanned the stall. "So pretty! Anyone want anything?" They ask Caspian and Lake. Hopefully this time they will not get distracted again and leave them to pick up any orders after them. But a butterfly piece already held their attention fast enough.

Caspian Baudelaire "These are beautiful," Caspian said, looking over the metal pieces. He carefully brushed his fingers against one of them, admiring it. "How much for the scorpion?" He asked, looking at the man behind the counter.

Iggy Reyes Iggy was having a blast giving people a hard time about the cost of Hiro's work. He made sure they paid a good price for anything they wanted, and so far most people eventually gave in to what Iggy asked. Most likely because he was obnoxious, but he liked to believe it was because he was good at this. Spotting Minho, he grinned, then felt a little guilty about how hard he planned to go on the cost of things now. But only for a moment.

Park Minho Minho gave Caspian a sideways glance, perhaps judging the choice of scorpion a bit but being too polite to point out how scary scorpions are. The last thing they wanted was to offend someone with their irrational fears. "I buy the scorpion for you! Iggy, you are helping here?" They inquire happily, matching his grin.

Lake Thongchai He quietly peruses the options, drawing to a metal cat with a drastically arched spine.

Hiro Uehara "Yeah, I go around to scrap yards and collect shit and then twist them around," he really liked it. Finding the rusted scraps of metal people leave behind and turning it into something worth looking at again. Giving something that was slowly dying in the earth a new life. "The scorpion is $60," and then he pauses, glancing at Iggy as if to see if the other would suddenly interject with a different price.

Iggy Reyes Iggy grins, nodding and adjusting Hiro's jean jacket around his shoulders. "I am, thanks for noticing," he said, and then turned his attention to Caspian. "And the scorpion is actually eighty bucks. A hundred if you really wanna support independent artists," he said, staring hard at the other.

Park Minho Upon hearing Iggy, Minho was already rummaging through their wallet, giving it a little pout. They did have the cash that was asked for, but then they will be left with no more. It was not a big habit for them to carry around cash. "Do … you accept card?" They ask awkwardly, ready to pull out their very VIP, very fancy, very abused Black Card that never seemed to run out. Unless the business does not accept cards…

Hiro Uehara "Oh, uh…" He pulls a paper printed sign over for easier viewing. There's a QR code, "Can you do Venmo or Zelle?"

Lake Thongchai He watches and then focuses back to the items at the table, picking up the metal butterfly to inspect it closer.

Park Minho "Ah, yes! Venmo is possible!" But before they actually went ahead to pay, they glance at Lake to ask if there was anything he'd want too, noticing him picking up the butterfly. "You want?" They ask with a smile, unfortunately having missed Lake's initial choice, which was the kitty. Alas, Minho's attention span was a weak, easily lost thing, and their awareness was even worse off.

Lake Thongchai "Not for me." Lake lifts the small item further up so it can be viewed easier. Ever the quiet type, he often leans back and observes silently. He'd seen Minho eyeing this one only moments ago and now understanding that Minho seems to have a distractable nature -- of which he's familiar as his sibling shares a similar nature, albeit River is not as distractable as this -- he tends to pick up on these things. Noticing where the eyes go and the little fluctations in tone. He catches the polite smile on Minho's lips and thinks perhaps it's a little saddened. Perhaps he's wrong though. "Weren't you looking at this one?"

Park Minho Minho's little smile froze for a moment as they blinked stupidly at Lake, unsure why their own preferences were mentioned now. "No, you can have it! I will buy it for you!" They insist, already feeling guilty if Lake noticed they liked the butterfly and was now feeling bad about getting for himself what they both liked.

Lake Thongchai Lake catches that little halting moment and shakes his head, firmly but gently, "I only picked it up so you wouldn't forget it." Then he picks up the small cat figure he'd been looking at earlier. "I'll take this one. Minho will take the butterfly," now speaking to the young man on the other side of the table.

Hiro Uehara "Sure, yeah. Uh… it's twenty five for each," since they were smaller pieces. "So fifty for both."

Park Minho Utterly confused by this sudden turn of the situation, courtesy of Lake, Minho humbled with their phone and with their wallet, scanned the QR code and ended up paying for the scorpion, the cat and the butterfly with a very confused blush tinting the tip of their ears.

Caspian Baudelaire Caspian pulled out his own wallet easily at the mention of the money, unbothered by the suggestion to spend more. The money wasn't an issue, not for him, but then Minho was rushing to pay for them. He put his wallet back, making a mental note to buy something for Minho before the day was over.

Iggy Reyes "Actually, seventy-five for both!"

Hiro Uehara He chuckles softly at Iggy's interjection. He'd been waiting for it, alas Minho was quicker and Hiro pulls his phone back once he confirmed the payment as the price he had suggested and not the one Iggy had. "Let's call it a discount then, for buying three things. Five bucks off from each makes fifteen. Yeah?" Hiro squeezes Iggy's shoulder affectionately. "Lemme pack these up for you guys," and sets to work to do just that. Made of metal they won't easily bend and break unless under intense strength or heat but he does it just the same.

Caspian Baudelaire "Do you have a tip jar?" Caspian asked, eyes flickering between the two men. He wasn't very creative himself, but he knew the amount of work that went into these sorts of things.

Hiro Uehara "Yeah," he taps the edge of a mason jar at the other end of the table. "Or, same deal, QR code."

Caspian Baudelaire Caspian pulled out a crisp 50 and tucked it into the jar, taking a long sip of his coffee. "These really are amazing, by the way," He said, gesturing towards the items on the table.

Iggy Reyes Iggy was ready to protest until the tip jar was filled. Satisfied, he moved on to the next customer approaching, ready to correct any price tags they thought they saw.

Park Minho It was all happening too fast, first there was one price, then it was a second one, courtesy of Iggy, then there was a discount and then Caspian was tipping and Minho's head was spinning. "But… but!" They wanted to pay for everything but things were happening and they could only stammer and do so much with their hands full of their wallet, their matcha latte, their credit card and now the bags that are neing packed up and distributed, waiting to be picked up respectively.

Hiro Uehara "Thanks," Hiro takes the compliment coolly. He knows they're good, not in a cocky way though it's easy to come across that way.

Lake Thongchai Meanwhile, Lake quietly and helpfully takes all the bags with their purchases each within so as to minimize the disturbance between those chatting and ease the situation with Minho who seemed to be reeling. "Thank you, Minho, for paying. It's very kind of you.."

Caspian Baudelaire "Yes, of course, thank you, Minho," Caspian said, focusing his attention on Minho. He reached out to take his own bag, hooking it over his arm.

Park Minho Quite a bit overwhelmed and now stunned by the sudden attention and thanks received from both sides, Minho stopped reeling to violently blush instead, looking around everywhere but at people they were surrounded with. Usually their attempt to treat everyone was met with an expectation from everyone for Minho to do so, not with such obviously expressed gratefulness. Out of pure habit, they respectfully bow to both men, a bit lower than they usually would. "No no, thank you, thank you! Ah, sorry!" They apologize quickly, figuring they probably look very silly right now!

Lake Thongchai "Will you let us treat you to something next?" Lake questions and though it comes out politely, it's clear he's not just saying it lightly but as a genuine question.

Caspian Baudelaire "Exactly what I was going to say," Caspian said in agreement, looking between Minho and Lake. "I saw this lovely knitting and crocheting booth earlier, although it was rather packed at the time…"

Park Minho This was highly irregular. Minho was unused to this! The more the other two spoke, the more they did not know what to say! "I, um… I would not mind… something sweet… to eat…" They mumble into their chin, feeling like their English will likely fail them again if they spoke more. "Ah, but just something little, just a bite!" Nothing too fancy, please, they wouldn't be able to get over the embarrassment!

Lake Thongchai "I saw that booth too. River would like it. We should go by there later," he comments to Caspian. Then to Minho with a nod, "Something sweet. I believe there's some over there." Gesturing further down the street for them all to continue walking.

Caspian Baudelaire Caspian nodded in agreement to Lake, and turned to Minho. He gladly followed them down the street towards the sweets stall, absolutely planning on buying Minho something more than a bite.

Park Minho Minho was perfectly happy to have the next thing in order on the agenda be decided for them by the other two. Also just happy that they somehow survived this whole embarrassment of being clumsy, not paying right and perhaps imposing on or buying people the wrong things. Hopefully it does not take them the rest of the day to recover from it! They wave a goodbye at Hiro and Iggy then mostly glue their eyes to the ground as they walk.

END.

[goldenchildminmin]

Location: Sign-Painting Night Thread: Sign-Painting Night : Minho & Ivy Thread: for @monstersunderurbed Status: Finished

Park Minho

After a very eventful noon at the festival grounds, Minho had ran off home for a quick shower and a change of clothes but was soon back to enjoy other events scheduled for the day as they sounded simply too interesting to miss! When they heard that there was a sign painting event they promptly applied and were now happily working on an intricate graffiti that involved more butterflies and flowers interwoven between the words of a short inspirational quote than actual letters between them. Due to the overall interest in the event, people were paired up to work together in either twos or larger groups and Minho grinned at their newly acquainted painting partner. "Do we have more blue??"

Ivy Reyes

Ivan never considered himself an artist. He can draw stick figures and color without going out of the edges but that’s where he draws the line (pun intended). Still, he figures that last skill can be useful considering how large the drawings are. He can handle it, he thinks. He hopes. And he’s not working alone. He knows how to follow instructions quite well, he will be fine. “Blue- Man, there’s like 3 shades of blue. Sky blue, uh- prussian blue,” he says, struggling to read the label, “and- do you consider turquoise green or blue?”

Park Minho

"We can put sky blue!" Minho chuckles, reaching out to take the said shade off Ivy's hands to squeeze out onto a palette they've been provided with, which was honestly just a flat slab of cork wood. "Prussian blue is very pretty though. And that one, hmm..." They lean over to take a look at the turquoise green Ivy had mentioned. "Think... warm coral reef water color. Very Caribbean water-like."

Ivy Reyes

“Well, to me water is blue. so turquoise is blue. that’s the kind of shit they should teach in schools. if it’s green or blue. just like magenta. is it a shade of pink or a shade of purple?” he says, grabbing at the paint containers.

Park Minho

Minho laughed again, the sound clear and light like a chime bell. "Can be whatever you want it to be! Also! It depends on what it's used next to. So, other, um, how do you say it, color scheme? Palette?" They hum, English not being their first language never stopped them though. They bring their brush up, already dipped in sky blue, and draw a long, elegant line across their piece of the wall, leaving a controlled streak across the surface.

Ivy Reyes

Ivy puts down the paints and just sits on the floor behind Minho and looks at him painting. for a second he’s jealous of his skill but not in a bad way, he admires it. he wishes he could do stuff like that and even though he said he would try it, he’s getting scared he might ruin it. “that looks so good.”

Park Minho

"Yes?" Minho looks over their shoulder at Ivy and beams. "Want?" They extend the brush towards him to hand over.

Ivy Reyes

“I… don’t know, man” he rubs the back of his neck. “Is it easy stuff? I really don’t want to ruin it.”

Park Minho

Minho tisked softly, reaching out with their free hand to grasp Ivy's and place the brush in it. "I help. Come, come!" They motion for him to scoot closer to reach the wall and would keep a light grip on his wrist to guide the brush.

Ivy Reyes

Ivy sighs, still not fully convinced but he's not the kind of person to shy away from a challenge, so he moves up closer and lets him grab his wrist. "okay, but you're the boss. tell me what to do."

Park Minho

"Not much! Just... relax~" Minho encouraged in a sing-song voice, making Ivy apply light pressure with the brush and then guiding it down to leave a clean, nice trail that would fill up the spot they've been working on. "Good. Dip." He praised, then reminded to pick up more color off the palette when it ran out, releasing Ivy's hand so he could do so.

Ivy Reyes

"Look at me! I'm painting! My mom would be so proud of me," he laughs. he has no clue if his mother even thinks of him or what he would be doing with his life. maybe his dad would... who knows? "Alright, so do I just... fill this thing up?"

Park Minho

Minho let him continue in the way they showed him, beaming a bright, genuinely happy smile followed with a small clap of their hands when Ivy got the hang of it and forgot about any insecurities for now at least. "Mhmmm. Then, we use darker color and shade over when a little dry."

Ivy Reyes

"Alright, alright– do I need to wash my brush? Do I pick another one?" He feels rather dumb asking so many questions, specially when there are actual kids doing much more than he is, but he's having fun.

Park Minho

Minho actually giggled at the endearing enthusiasm Ivy was doing this with. "We take a brush that's just a biiiit smaller. This one is too wide." They instruct, perfectly happy to step back and let Ivy have fun while they provided advice.

Ivy Reyes

He takes a deep breath and holds it in as he dips the brush in the darker blue and gets it closer to the wall, but just before he actually puts it down, he exhales and takes it back. "If I fuck it up, will it have a fix?"

Park Minho

"Every oopsie has a fix." Minho hummed in their ever soothing sing-song voice, not at all looking worried. They nod encouragingly at Ivy, reassuring again. "Relax. Let inspiration take you where you want to go." Now that they've become more comfortable in the interaction with the other, their English got progressively better, revealing a much higher level of proficiency than they initially let on.

Ivy Reyes

“Every oopsie has a fix,” he repeats for himself at least a couple times. If only it was that easy with his entire life. Then again, his entire life felt like a whole lot of oopsie. it would take a While to fix it. Ivy sighs and bites his bottom lip, holds his breath again and puts the brush to the wall, doing a single not so steady line. “You’re a good teacher, you know?”

Park Minho

Minho's smile softens and they tilt their head which they accompany with a humble one shoulder little shrug and an even softer little hum. "This is my first time teaching." They can't possibly be good at something they are doing for the first time. "It's not even teaching. It doesn't count. Very good!" They add the last part, to encourage a second, more confident attempt after this.

Ivy Reyes

“Well, I reckon I'm not a very good student, so you’re definitely doing something.” He smiles up at him. “See? You even do the cheering up kinda thing. Maybe if I'd had a teacher like you I would have actually learned something.”

Park Minho

Minho gave a small snort at all this, waving a dismissive hand at Ivy as if to perish the compliments. "You're doing everything all on your own, I am just watching. When you studied, did you study something you like?" They ask, curious.

Ivy Reyes

“I…” he started, biting his lip for a second to think about how to even start. “Well, I dropped out right before 11th grade, so I kinda… you know, didn’t study much.”

Park Minho

"That's okay!" Minho counters, noticing the lip biting and the hesitation. "Do you want to study again?" They keep their smile polite, pleasant. "Oh, missed a spot." They point at the wall where the spot was missed, just as a little distracting side note to help keep the conversation casual.

Ivy Reyes

“I mean… I got my high school diploma a couple years ago, so I'm not completely stupid, but… college and shit? I don’t know. Feels kinda late for that.” Without really counting on the fact that he couldn’t afford it and he would have no idea what he could be good enough for even. “Oh- oh shit. Yes- thank you. Let me just…” he squinted his eyes and very carefully filled in the spot. “Can I switch colors?”

Park Minho

Minho managed a little frown that could very well be called endearing much rather than intimidating and reached out to give Ivy a very light but reprimanding flick of fingers against his shoulder. "Not stupid at all! Silly thing to say." Then they smiled again, hand drawing back to casually rest on their hip. "Never too late if you want it. And of course! Use any color you want."

Ivy Reyes

Ivan let out a little giggle. An actual giggle. He truly wasn't fishing for compliments. He didn't mind being called dumb or stupid, he could hardly even read smoothly, and the last thing he wanted was any sort of compliment coming from Minho, but he had to admit it was kinda sweet and made him feel a little bit of warmth in his chest. People in his life rarely showed him any sort of affection, and he was fine being the one delivering it, but he had to admit, whatever that was, had felt good. "It's alright, tho. I can compensate with charm." Ivan winked and decided to go for the magenta he looked at, only for the brush to fall down on his pants. "Ah, fuck. well, I could use a touch of color today anyway."

Park Minho

"Yes, yes, very charming." And they meant it, although it was said with a little impish smirk that might hint at otherwise. Then the brush was falling and both were too slow to catch it before they hit Ivy's pants. "Oh noo..." Minho felt truly sorry for this mishap, fishing out a pack of tissues from their coat pocket. "It's okay, I pay for, um, how do you say... dry... cleaning?" They offer the pack of tissues as first aid. "Dip in water first."

Ivy Reyes

“What? No- don’t worry. I don’t care much about these jeans. I've got my good pair back in my drawer. I actually think it looks cool, no? Oh! Why don’t you draw something on them? Will it stay? After the wash?”

Park Minho

Minho was surprised by the suggestion but it was creative, they couldn't say they actually disliked the idea. "Are you sure? If you wash, it will stain, but it will not stay... looking good..." They warned, hesitant.

Ivy Reyes

Ivy bit his lip and looked at him with a grin growing on his face. “I don’t care at all. It’ll be cool. Nobody else will have these pants then.” He said as he sat down. “Come on. Paint something. Go big.”

Park Minho

Well this put some pressure on Minho! What if it smudges and doesn't end up looking good either way?? They purse their lips in thought and sit down with Ivy with some hesitation, absently searching for the smallest brush available and a few colors that would go beautifully with the magenta splatter Ivy was currently sporting. Tilting their head to the side, the purse of their lips becoming more dramatic as they think, and finally get an idea, squeezing out a few colors onto the palette and then bending over with one elbow propped on the ground to get as close as possible. The brush dabbed more than it drew lines, as fabric was not ideal for this type of paint. But soon, the shape of a large fire lily on the side of Ivy's pants began to form - magenta, orange, yellow and fiery reds with a splash of green blooming.

Ivy Reyes

Ivy tried to stay still at best as he could, only moving his leg to give minho more room to paint whenever he needed to. He was hypnotized by the moment, he could barely feel the brush moving but he could see the drawing slowly appearing as if it was magic. “This is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.” He said in awe, not even raising his voice.

Park Minho

"Mm. It's okay." Minho hummed, not looking particularly satisfied with their work as they made some last finishing touches then leaned away to look their work over. Their very good work actually, all things considering. "Ah, nooo but, it probably went through!" They figured suddenly, pinching the fabric of Ivy's pants around the image a little, to make sure it was peeled off the skin below then leaned over again to blow against the flower they've painted, hoping to make it dry quicker.

Ivy Reyes

Ivy’s eyebrows raised as far as they could go, suddenly worried that the work might be ruined if it stuck to his skin but just laughed as he helped him pulling out the fabric. “It’s alright. I'll just have a cool design under it when I take them off. Could probably get it tattooed even. Why the fuck not?”

Park Minho

"No, no! Wash it off when home!" Minho fumbled, releasing Ivy's pants and waving their hands up in urgency. They actually went visibly pale in the face when Ivy thought of tattooing the design Minho had just painted on a whim on his skin permanently, oh my god !! Their mouth parted then opened in mute mortification that something as not thought through as this little fabric painting was might end up on someone forever. "... noooo..." They just slump back on their butt where they sat, hand coming up to cover their face in embarrassment and not noticing when it dropped that a paint stain on the palm had also left a very brightly orange smudge under and across their nose. Now, Minho had an orange moustache without even knowing.

Ivy Reyes

"What- why? What's wrong?" Ivy tilted his head in confusion, not quite grasping what was happening in front of him until Minho found himself with his butt on the ground and an orange stain across his his face. He found himself giggling rather than laughing as he moved onto his knees. "Are you alright?" he asked, reaching to move a few strands of hair away before they were coated in paint as well.

Park Minho

"Don't tattoo that, I just drew it like...!" They make an unintelligible gesture with their hand, wrist loose and hand limp to convey just how wishy-washy they thought their painted fire lily was. They could do so much better. But it would take hours. "Don't ruin yourself with it." The corner of their lips pull downwards in a very sad pouty face as their hair is moved out of the way.

Ivy Reyes

"What? Come on, it's... it's beautiful. How could it ruin me?" he said, gently tilting his head. He genuinely thought the flower on his pants was art, just like that little thing they had been working on earlier on the wall. And it would be even more meaningful considering a friend had done it for him. "But fine, I won't. I'll just take lots of pictures. Now turn that pout upside down. That color is too pretty on your skin to have you looking all sad."

Park Minho

Minho presses their lips into a very tight line, not believing that what they paint is art even for a second because it was a hobby that was rarely practiced lately and only perhaps decent because Minho had some talent for it. But their eyes reveal a hint of endearment for the other as a second layer to their pouty expression. They reach out their hand to have their clean fingers flick at Ivy's shoulder, much the same way as earlier. "Very charming." They repeat the earlier statement then chuckle too, finally noticing the paint on their palm when Ivy sort of pointed it out then gasp! It was probably on their face too because this was the hand they touched their face with! They frown a little at Ivy, like it was all his fault, then reach out and there! A little smudge of matching orange was now on Ivy's cheek too! Minho offers him a most dazzling, brilliant smile at this mischief.

Ivy Reyes

"And you should see me when I'm actually trying to be charming!" Ivy showed his very best charming smile, leaning back just a bit now that his hair wasn't at risk to be covered in paint. That would be a shame, if only for a moment. He giggled again when Minho finally became aware of the paint in his hands, and he didn't even have a clue what his face looked like (rather adorable, to be fair), but he didn't expect to end with a smudge himself. "What was that for?" He exclaimed, feigning offense, but clearly unable to hold back his laugh.

Park Minho

"I'm looking!" Minho exclaims expectantly, leaning forward a bit and making their eyes wide and unblinking, as if trying hard not to miss Ivy's charm that supposedly came from 'actually trying'. Then they chuckle, leaning back again and reaching for the pack of tissues again so they can wipe. They also come up with a little Dior pocket mirror, flicking it open for a look at their face. "Being cheeky too, that for!" They add, throwing them an actual cheeky glance over the edge of their pocket mirror.

Ivy Reyes

"That's not how charm works, baby," he shakes his head dramatically a couple times. "You can't be waitin' for it, or you won't be charmed. But I mean, I guess you already are, or you wouldn't be talkin to me right now," he grins cheekily. Maybe he does deserve the smear of paint after all. "No! Don't take it all off! It's like a battle scar for our hard work today. It's cute."

Park Minho

Minho lets out a little playfully outraged gasp at the audacity of thinking they're that easy to charm! Then they raise their chin indignantly, feigning pride. "Then keep trying. Maybe I'm not as impressed as you think. Maybe I'm just polite." Of course not, Ivy was very charming and that was a fact and Minho can appreciate a charming personality. Then they stick their tongue out in a childish blep at Ivy, doing a complete opposite of what he asked them to and work on wiping their face clean with the help of tissues and the mirror. "Maybe you paint something on me. Return the favor." They add during this defiant act in a very satisfied sing-song tone.

Ivy Reyes

"My dad's polite! This is different," he nods with confidence, even though a part of him is currently wondering if perhaps Minho is exactly that, just polite, smiling at him just to make him feel good about himself. It wouldn't be the first time, he could be sure of that. If that was the case, there was no other choice than to keep trying. He takes a deep breath and shakes the feeling away, at least until later. "Something? Anything?" He bites his lip.

Park Minho

"Mhmm, mhmm." Minho hums, as if listening but not really, like they were just letting Ivy believe whatever he wanted. "Anything pretty." Their face was all clean now and they hadn't really worn too much makeup today so any potential light foundation they might've had will not be missed. Minho folds their legs under them as they scoot to sit literally right in front of Ivy and tap their own cheek. "Right here. Something pretty."

Ivy Reyes

Ivy bites down on his bottom lip and moves a little closer too so he can reach his face. “I can’t paint your face on your face.” Minho did ask to paint anything pretty! Ivy giggles and looks down at the colors available. “I think I'll use my fingers, is it okay?”

Park Minho

"You... !" Minho was about to protest very strongly, though still light-heartedly, when they realize they did not even ask for Ivy's name yet! They make a mental note to do so as soon as they get a chance. "Fingers are okay." They let everything slide because they did catch what Ivy meant by saying they'll paint Minho's face on their face. But they did not comment on it, only pursed their lips to withhold a grin.

Ivy Reyes

He can only wink in response, but can’t stop smiling as he reaches for the tube of yellow paint and pour some on his fingers. “Put that mirror away. Don’t peek.” he whispers and very slowly paints the best sun he’s ever painted. it’s mainly just a circle with squiggly lines around it but he’s happy with it. “Wait. Not yet.” he bites the inside of his cheek and reaches for a different color, going for white to paint a moon going down his temple from his forehead to his cheek, right above the sun.

Park Minho

The mirror was already pretty much forgotten, grasped in Minho's hand that rested against their lap and when Ivy warned, Minho put it completely away. They sit there patiently, very still, though dark eyes never leave from Ivy's focused face. "Waiting~" They hum, putting up with the slightly ticklish feeling a little while longer. "What's your name, charming artist?" They nevertheless search for eye contact even though they know they won't get much of it while Ivy painted.

Ivy Reyes

Ivy lets out a little laugh. He didn't even think about asking about a name. It would be easier to learn it, now that he could associate a memory with it. "I'm Ivy," he responds softly, deciding it's a good idea to add some shading to the sun in orange.

Park Minho

"Ivy..." Minho tried the name on their tongue, pronuncing it perfectly. "Okay!" Then they closed their eyes happily to wait for Ivy to be done painting on their face.

Ivy Reyes

“Do I not get to know your name?” he asks, looking around for any other shades or colors he can find, wishing there was something more glittery but he can’t find any.

Park Minho

"If you ask!" Minho exclaims unhelpfully, forgetting for a second that they should keep still and moved a little but immediately stop themself, falling back into stillness. "Oh, sorry, sorry!" Luckily Ivy was searching for colors and not painting at the moment so nothing was ruined.

Ivy Reyes

"I'm asking!" Ivy giggles, sitting back once he's done. "What's your name, my sweet artist?"

Park Minho

"Min!" They offer, a nickname for a nickname, feeling that Ivy had moved away so they open their eyes and circle their face with their hands. "Done? How does it look?" They pose a little, and are actually quite good at it, likely also mad photogenic.

Ivy Reyes

“Min. I love it.” he grins and slides his hands down to wipe himself on whatever piece of cardboard or paper he can find. “Perfect. You look… that’s- I mean, the canvas was beautiful to start with.”

Park Minho

Minho throws their head back in a peal of contagious laughter. They really did not mind whatever the drawings on their face looked like. "The canvas has botox." They joke but also not, because it was true - things have been done to it to make it more beautiful and Minho attributed all of their beauty to all the work they've had done, of which there was little but enough to say that things have been altered. They offer the pack of tissues to Ivy again.

Ivy Reyes

"Well, the botox was beautifully applied. Have you seen some of the atrocities they have done with it out there?" Ivy states in a very overdramatic tone. "And if this canvas," he says, pointing at his own face, "could afford it, would have botox too. Shut up and take my compliment," he sticks his tongue out, grabbing a tissue to wipe what's left of the paint on his fingers.

Park Minho

Minho raised their chin a little, they were also quite proud of the work that was done on them. Or at least they seemed so. "If you want to do it, then I will take you to do it. No problem." Minho offers, as if they've not heard Ivy saying he can't afford it. They did, they just did not see it as an obstacle because Minho will gladly afford it for them. "But, I don't think you need it."

Ivy Reyes

Ivy raised his eyebrows. He was barely getting to 30, truth, but he felt like so many years of excess had begun taken its toll on him and his skin. "You don't think I need it?" Well, he was impressed. "I think I could use... I don't know. I've never thought about what kind cosmetic thing I could get. Maybe a pair of tits?" He said, jokingly pushing his pecs close together.

Park Minho

Minho lets out a soft little gasp, hovering their hand over their face to still cover their mouth in surprise but not get any more paint on themself or ruin what Ivy had drawn. They glance about, making sure no children are present - and this is why they allowed to have their face painted, the paint was child-safe in case of any likely messes that will definitely happen when kids and painting are involved and therefore face-safe too by default - then they lean a little closer to giggle and whisper. "How big?"

Ivy Reyes

Ivy rarely ever knew when to shut up. Of course he knew not to drop the F word around children but he didn’t spend much time around them to have it engrained in his head so much. He found himself a little confused when Minho started looking around, but dropped his hands when he realized he was looking out for the few kids surrounding them. He did not expect Min’s response at all, however, and Ivy found himself swinging all the way back to the floor, rolling in laughter for half a second before sitting back up. “I don’t know. Maybe a pair of full C’s. Nothing too big but… a handful, you know?”

Park Minho

The exaggerated laughter that made Ivy roll all over the floor spooked Minho and they immediately wave their hand at him to stop. "Nooo, it's dirtyyyy!" Because the ground usually is, that's just the property of ground. They calmed down when Ivy sat back up again. "Okay, good, not too big, that is fine. Not much extra, um, how do you say, weight." They let out a little chuckle.

Ivy Reyes

“I don’t think my back could handle it. I got enough behind to deal with. It may help even things out, you know? Balance myself and all?” He couldn’t stop laughing, his cheeks were already burning. “Do you think I could pull them off?”

Park Minho

"I think you are perfect just the way you are!" Minho exclaims, highly amused with how much Ivy seems to be laughing at all this, just glad when anyone is having fun in their company. At east Minho hoped Ivy was having fun and thus all this laughing. "But also, I think you could pull off anything!"

Ivy Reyes

Ivy looks down at his chest, his pecs still pushed together by his hands. “I think I'm good on the boob job front. Maybe later in life,” he tilts his head as if he’s actually considering it. And he is! He did not know where his life would end up going after all. “Hey- do you want to go get something to eat when we’re done here?”

Park Minho

"When you want, let me know, I sponsor you." Minho winked conspiratorially because heck yes, no joke, they totally would. Then they playfully hum, touching their chin in thought as if the invitation was oh so hard to give a quick answer to. "Yes !!!" They burst out unexpectedly with an explosion of excitement. "What do you like to eat?"

Ivy Reyes

“You’re totally giving me sugar daddy vibes now,” he jokes. “Be careful what you wish for,” Ivy makes sure to throw in a wink to accentuate the joking thing. Min was not old enough to be a daddy, and he couldn’t be sure he had enough sugar. “Come on!” Ivan pleads with his best puppy eyes until Min actually says yes, which prompts a little wiggle of his shoulders in celebration. “Uhm- I don’t know. Anything, really. I know there’s food around but I'm kinda craving pasta. Do they have pasta around here, have you seen?”

Park Minho

"Hehe~ I take that as a compliment." They tilt their head a little and give a little shrug, not minding being someone's sugar daddy. If Rosita didn't find someone in the meantime, Minho would've long become hers. They kind of still are, part time though. "I do not wish, I make wishes come trueee~ You be careful!" They wink at Ivy, giving him a little cute impish look. "Ah! I have not seen pasta! But I know where good pasta is! But! Aww, we can't go get that pasta like this..." Minho points at their face and likely their slightly paint stained clothes too. "Are you really very hungry right now??"

Ivy Reyes

“What if I don’t want to be careful?” He smirks. Ivy finds himself blushing harder than he had in a while. He had far too many wishes going through his head in that very moment, and he needed to take a second to collect himself before they actually pour them all out at once. No no no. This was still a first impression. “Come on. We totally can. You look amazing!” He smiles. “But I get it you don’t want to- there’s a reputation to maintain.” He teases. “I mean, I could maybe get a snack and go for the pasta later. I can even bring us some fries or something.”

Park Minho

"Then say oopsie when you're done!" Minho offers unhelpfully but very cheerfully, with a determined nod. "Oh, no, no, reputation is fine! It's just a very good place!" Likely meaning that it was fancy because Minho was usually only familiar with those. But also, fact was, fancy places did have good pasta and Minho was feeling like impressing this lovely young man they've been talking so pleasantly with. Ivy just seemed too lovely not to get the best pasta. "Oh no! Wait! Actually, I have an idea! Can you... umm hang in there for an hour?" Minho asks as they pull up their phone and dial a number.

Ivy Reyes

"Well, what if I'm not feeling particularly oopsie either? Do I just... wish for it?" Ivy does not mean to sound as flirty as he's being at the moment, but a combination of their closeness and the softer tone in his voice might be pushing it a little bit to that territory. "A nice place? We're going to a nice place?" Ivy had been to the nice places in town, but even when he could afford a fancy meal, he'd usually go for something else. He felt slightly out of place at places like that, but if that was Min's choice, he would very much be down for it. Especially for good pasta. He sometimes missed the pasta his mom made. Sometimes. "Oh– I mean, yes? I can? What are you thinking?"

Park Minho

Minho shrugs casually, perfectly happy to play along and enable anything Ivy had in mind. "Then no oopsie. Just wish for it. Life is too short not to wish!" They tuck their phone between their shoulder and ear and lean into it, letting it ring there until the other line picks up. "Yes, we can, next time! Now it's maybe too, um, how to say, inconvenient for you! I don't want to trouble you!" Then they raise a finger, leaving Ivy's question unanswered as they begin conversing rapidly in their native language with the other person on the line. The phone call is short and they pocket their phone as they hang up. "Pasta on the way. No need to go to the fancy place, we make fancy place come to us! I ordered for you, the best one they have. That's... okay?" They ask insecurely, feeling a little bad for being this bossy.

END.