#* ( threads ) jeb

[springbreezc]

♡ — closed starter for @lyswrite | based note: made with beta

dressing in front of them doesn't cause jeb to even blink an eye, so accustomed to sharing the same space. living together with his ex came with its issues, but it didn't suddenly make him shy. the sun peeking through the curtains had been what woke him up, having collapsed on the couch the night before after his shift. "you have plans tonight, right?" he posed the question to the other as if he didn't actually remember that they had a hot date planned. "do you need me to stay out of the apartment for awhile or if things go well, is the plan to go back to their place?"

[springbreezc]

♡ — for @persephonyed​​ | continued from here

“fuckin’ travis,” jeb griped, gritting his teeth as his heart was gripped by an unexpected wave of nostalgia that threatened to paralyze him in the moment. it was surreal, seeing malia there now. for the years that they had been apart, she had been frozen in time in his memory, forever cemented as that one that got away just in the nick of time. the one that didn’t have to see the failure of a man that he had become. here being the one to pick him up was the universe giving him yet another giant fuck you. “hey, malia...” he managed through a heavy swallow. “sorry that it wound up being you...” meeting her gaze was difficult, his eyes searching for something that he knew could no longer be there. not after all of this time apart. she had to be doing this solely as a favor for travis, not because there was any affection left in her heart for him. 

[springbreezc]

♡ — for @daringsunflowers | continued from here

jeb did need a ride. he needed a lot of things, have next to nothing to his name. that's what made it so difficult to face talia now with nothing to show for the years apart other than a criminal record. "forgive me for being a little too shell-shocked to see you to automatically resort to gratitude." the mortification outweighed any other emotion that he could feel, presenting her with a shell of the man that she had known. he'd been knocked down several pegs, felt so low that he may as well be buried in the gutter. swallowing what little reminded of his incredibly mangled pride, his head bowed down, glancing at her feet and unable to meet her gaze. "thank you. there, is that better?" eyes lifting, he finally took the time to survey her. "did you come here out of the goodness of your heart or to laugh at me or..." he couldn't fathom why she would want to see him.

[springbreezc]

♡ — for @tearfest​ | continued from here

areum’s appearance soured any relief that came with breathing in the fresh air. the image that she presented to the public of polished and pristine politician’s daughter could be tarnished if she were to be seen with him. the version of her that he had known so intimately was never afraid to get her hands dirty, but this was still not within the realm of his expectations. the years of silence between them had created a chasm, a distance that he did not know how to begin to bridge. a step forward was taken, his head tilting as he perceived her. 

“uh huh,” he drawled, clicking his tongue to the top of his mouth, disbelief coloring his tone. “no, no pen pal wife to speak of. you know i was never the type to write letters or wax poetry.” the man was not known for his romanticism, his blunt demeanor often more abrasive than he even intended. “and you are offering this because...why? out of the kindness of your heart?” it was hard to fathom she was interested in just shooting the shit with him and ‘catching up’ on old times. he glanced around her. “or are the paparazzi nearby? is this some kind of publicity stunt? your father promoting some kind of rehabilitating program or somethin’?”

[springbreezc]

♡ — for @fxckupmusings​​​ | continued from here

“fuck, shoulda known better than to call alex. he was always such a fuckin’ narc,” jeb complained under his breath, a hand running through his buzz cut. “hey, mags.” he finally offered her a proper greeting, kicking at a pebble on the ground as he stuffed his hands into his jacket. how long had it been now? the years had stretched by in a blur, and what did jeb have to show for it? there was nothing he could say to maggie that he would be proud of. “i won’t bother you for long. if you could just drop me off at the bus stop maybe?” he scratched at the back of his neck.

[springbreezc]

♡ — for @lomawrites​​​ | continued from here

lina being manifested in front of him was startling. shame prickled at jeb's skin, mortified that after all this time apart, this was how they reunited. with him in old, worn clothes, having just swapped them out from the orange suit that he had been wearing for the last handful of years. it's not as if he had never thought about this moment, and what it would be like to see her again, yet he could have never fathomed it being like this. because it was the worst possible scenario, and his stomach twisted in embarrassment. "i, uh, yeah. thanks." he had to get ahold of himself, his jaw locking back up. "i'd...that'd be nice, but...i don't have any money on me." his face pinched at the admission. "you don't...you don't need to do any of this." he had always seen her as too good for him, and their circumstances just proved that he'd been right. he had fumbled his chance long ago.

[springbreezc]

♡ — @loveshard​​ sent: “do i trust you? absolutely not. next question.” [from faith]

“harsh.” but incredibly smart on faith’s part, probably. he didn’t trust himself on the worst of days. this day, however, was one of his better ones, and he’d thought that he’d had a eureka moment. “you didn’t even hesitate to wedge that knife right into my heart.” jeb scratched at his head, arms rolling in a shrug. “you saying that kinda makes my next question a moot point. i was gonna suggest an exchange of services of sorts, but, uh, doubt you’d be interested now.”

[springbreezc]

♡ — closed starter for @thekoolkat​ | based  

the breakup was taking a toll on his friend, and while jeb wanted to suggest that they find this wretched ex so that he could rearrange their face with his fists, he doubted that would be an appreciated suggestion. pulling the cigarette from his mouth to blow out a cloud of smoke, he threw a different idea out there. “if you’re that upset about it, why not try and make your ex jealous? make them feel a miserable as you do now.” and maybe in the process, they could legitimately move on. that would be the ultimate goal in jeb’s mind.