#byruthie

[bulsoitan]

❛ what are you doing? ❜ / @byruthie

the words catch him off guard as he turns to look over his shoulder. ( connor wasn't supposed to be home for another hour. as it stands, jay is in the middle of their small living room, dancing along to a video he'd been studying for the past week. he only feels foolish when he realizes how sweaty he is. )

swallowing, a hand runs through his hair. ❛ practicing, ❜ he counters, brow raised. ❛ you wanna join me? ❜ he teases, pointing to the tv with his thumb. chuckling, he crosses the room, choosing to head into the kitchen instead. he ducks down to put his face into the sink, cold water soothing him immediately. ❛ i did also order pizza, if that's something that interests you, ❜ he tacks on, brow raised from where he's bent over the counter.

[bywiley]

It was another day where Francis Bixby was gone and he was doing all he could to not act on that. He had been feeling things for the missus of the Inn for quite some time now. Something about her so soft, so delicate, so... desperate for an affection he could offer her. He hadn't had a woman to love in years and it wasn't that he was really looking for one either, but Kathryn spoke to him. She spoke to pieces of him that had laid dormant for years and untouched. He hadn't ever even thought about the lack of love and care in his life until they started speaking-- conversations that were hushed and gentle, filled with the dreams she had. She was... broken. He couldn't fix what had happened, but he could do something to make her feel better. Perhaps that was wrong. Perhaps that was foolish. Feelings for another man's wife? That'd get you shot in most places and he wasn't too confident in saying this place wasn't one of those.

He had decided to busy himself with his case, exiting the Inn in the morning only to return that evening. He had made his way upstairs to his room only to find her there, making the bed. He'd forgotten he mentioned to her that he was ready for her to do so and had paused as he watched her, standing in the open door with dark hues flickering over her frame. His breath had caught in his throat as he stared at her, waiting a beat as he flexed his hands at his sides. He'd never been at such a crossroads in his life before over anything and it was bringing him further into the room. He stepped closer to her, exhaling a soft breath as he came to a stop behind her. Gently he murmured a quiet, "Should apologize for being out all day. 'M sure your meals were great today."

@byruthie had paused, her head turned slightly to look over her shoulder at him before offering a quiet sad smile. His heart sank slightly, stomach twisting, and dark hues watched as she looked back at her task. He reached out, not thinking. His hands found their way to her biceps and he grasped them in a careful hold, drawing himself in closer until he was practically pressed to her back. His head tipped down and his nose brushed to her hair, eyes falling shut as he drew in breath that drowned himself in her scent. "I was going to stay out later, but..." his hands on her arms began to rub gently, squeezing here or there as if to massage the tense muscles, "...I wanted to see you before it got too late." Dangerous. Wrong. And yet, "Kathryn... tell me to let go."

Please… Don't stop.

He nearly expected her to tell him to let go and stop. Nearly expected her to draw away and put space between them despite whatever chemistry existed between them. She was married. She was set in her life. Bruises, burned skin, and hurt heart didn't change that. But she doesn't tell him to. Instead she's telling him not to stop and he doesn't. He slid his hands down her arms, removing one to find her hip while the other took gentle hold of her hand. The one on her hip slipped around to her stomach, drawing them flush together as he lifted her hand and turned his head to place a near ghosting brush of a kiss to the back of it. He exhaled softly, "I shouldn't do this, Kathryn. I should respect the ring you wear."

[bywiley]

@byruthie continued from 🙏

She returned his hug, her arms sliding around his waist to draw herself in closer. Her head rested to his chest and he melted, forgetting briefly that they were even standing in an airport. She was here, she was real, and she was more beautiful than a camera could share. Her frame was so small and she was short, Tanner's head having to duck low enough to where his nose could barely brush the top of her head. He smiled to himself as he did so, heart racing quicker knowing she could hear it thudding in his chest. He wanted to stay like this, wanted to just goo into a puddle right there-- but, well, they were at an airport and they had a Con to go to starting tomorrow.

When the signal for bags blasted and she jumped he gripped her a little tighter, squeezing her middle then loosening his hold as she turned slightly in it. She b umped him and though he'd chuckled at her teasing remark, he could sense the nerves dancing off her skin. His expression softened, lips turning at the corners and he shifted about until he was able to take hold of her hand. He laced their fingers together and gave the gentlest squeeze, nodding his head towards the claim, "I'm right here, yeah? I won't leave your side."

[bywiley]

Rarely did he go about leaving Paradise Resort, but when he did there was always good reason to. This? This was one of those good reasons. He wasn't going to let some guy come into their circle or take Jillian away. They needed her. Paradise would fall without her. This was a three person operation and she was essential to it, but on the same note... four people? Including Elliot on this? Not a chance. He would sniff out the scheme in an instance and it'd be over. They'd lose everything. How did Jillian not see that? How was she so blind to what was right there. Even if he came in and lived within the walls? He'd know. He would sense it all. The only solution was Jillian leaving if he did propose, but Victor... Victor wasn't going to let that happen.

He'd gone to the promoter's office dressed nicely and well off, rolled up white button down, Rolex watch, nice trousers, expensive dress shoes. He looked the part of a man made of money that no one ever understood how he had. Good. That's what he wanted. And when he was accepted into the office after mentioning he was a friend of Jillian's, Elliot was happy to see him. They'd met before. Several times, but Victor never went about actively getting to know him. He hated the guy. Hated the relationship. Hated everything about the fact Jillian was slipping further from between his fingers-- not that she was ever in his hands to begin with. She'd made it clear years back that she found his advances to be funny, a joke. A good one, Victor. He had scowled at the thought as he rode the elevator to Elliot's office. He may not win Jillian in the end, especially with what he's about to do... but at least someone wouldn't steal her away completely.

Their conversation lasted near an hour before Victor was leaving and heading back to Paradise. He knew by the time he arrived at the resort, @byruthie would receive either a text or call from Elliot indicating their relationship was over. That or he'd spill out Victor's visit, but he was confident of the former two options. See, he'd offered Elliot something. Something that Victor felt might spark his interest more than the idea of wedding a woman with mysterious air to her. He knew her, but did he know her? So while he pondered that question presented to him, Victor asked what he'd do with a large sum of cash should he have it. Would he leave the state? The country? The hemisphere? At first it was asked if Victor was joking, but he made it clear he wasn't. He explained that some things were worth the money and it had nearly came back around to Elliot pointing a finger, claiming Victor felt a way, but the resort manager only hummed and asked if it would take six figures or not to call off the relationship. How he'd pay what he needed to in order to see that Jillian was left to her work.

He caved at six hundred. It was sad actually. Disgusted Victory because maybe part of him was willing to know if this guy would actually fight for Jillian or not, but... here they'd exchanged information to wire him the funds after the breakup was initiated. So when he arrived back at the resort, he went about finding Jillian and almost couldn't stop his own mouth from running, "Elliot's office is a bit lackluster, isn't it?" He wants her to know. He knew he'd be out money or not, but either way he wanted her to know what he did. "You'd think a nightlife promoter would have more... extravagance to him."

[bulsoitan]

muse moodboards : jay and mallory ( @byruthie )

[bywiley]

Jasper was naturally an early riser and even more so over the last several months since he started having his breakfast with @byruthie. Granted she was quite some distance away that only a binocular could catch full view of, but a walkie talkie with incredible range made that easier. Ashton was fun to talk to, fun to joke with, and very fun to flirt with. Was it flirting? He wasn't too sure, but all the teasing and the blush of his cheeks said it was. He liked her and had for quite a bit of time since they started their shifts in tandem at their respective watchtowers, but they had yet to meet in person. It felt crazy, but they were truly miles away from each other and hiking would take hours... something they really didn't have time for when they were on duty 24/7.

"So, let me get this straight," he's speaking into the walkie talkie, finger pressing down the 'TALK' button, "you've never been to San Diego, but you're from Cali?" Like him, "I'd say we should go, but uh... we're obligated by contract to stay in our respective towers for a full calendar year." He chuckles then releases the button using the moment to take a bite of his bagel and sip at his coffee. His binoculars are around his neck and his boots are kicked up on the railing that he's sat by, facing the direction of the other watchtower. The two had initially both waved at one another while using the binoculars before both falling into chairs to sip coffee and talk. Nathan would be up and moving soon enough, but for now? He was drowning in whatever attention Ashton was willing to give him.

♥

[bulsoitan]

muse moodboards : jay and connor ( @byruthie )

[bywiley]

Theo had opened his hotel door half expecting it to be his mother telling him he was being ridiculous for walking out the door last night, but it wasn't. Instead he was greeted by the sight of @byruthie. He had seen her the day prior at the cast party where he was more or less chased out, realizing once and for all in that moment he was never going to be as great as he was in high school. He was never going to be as cool or as suave or... anything, and his life in Santa Fe? A joke. He was a joke and that came to a head last night when his parents made him hear about it. He eventually got sick of it and said he'd be at a hotel until he was able to leave. It had made his dad snort bitterly, but no one tried to stop him. It almost made him realize just how alone he truly was in this world. What friends did he have? What family? What anyone? He was without anyone and it was showing its ugly head today as he sat quietly in the room. He spent most of it sleeping, most of it laying around just melting into his own pity. Hell, he had been debating going back home just to have voices... but then there was Jean. Standing in the open door of his hotel room and staring up at him, saying a set of words that gave him maybe too much pause.

i promised myself i'd behave, and then i showed up here.

He blinks at her wanting to ask a million questions on how she even knew where he was, but he doesn't. Instead he straightens and does his best to catch up to himself and his thoughts, back to that suave coolness he'd been so heavily pouring out at the party. Hell, they'd nearly gotten tangled up there if it hadn't been for the cucked behavior of Cole. Theo had agreed with what was said, but maybe if he'd just wandered off with Jean none of that other shit wouldn't happened. So he clears his throat then speaks, "And I couldn't be happier to see you, Jean Val-jean." He smirks, letting that settle before stepping closer-- hip holding the door open as he brings a hand up. It catches Jean by the chin and he flickers his gaze over her face, "You wanna come inside? Continue that bad behavior?"