vik suraj adani

⛯ and he sought out the world with eyes unclouded by hate ⛯

[fyrefcx]

"Okay so, the guy is freaking out and the other firefighters are trying to talk him down off the literal ledge. And I am on the roof in my harness, getting ready to repel down. They sent me up with the probie and he was just all tangled up in his gear and taking way too long. So I just take off without him and go down the building taking the guy by surprise as I basically tackle him back into his apartment." As CJ finishes telling the story, she takes another swig of her beer. "My captain was all pissed that I left the probie behind but if I had waited on him, it would have been a disaster." @sapphirestarters

[verymuchvikram]

"Geez, I'm glad you took matters into your own hands then," Vik said incredulously, taking in a deep breath to ease his second-hand anxiety. "How often does this all happen?"

[cobblestcnes]

nadya appreciated the offer for help more than she could even express, especially coming from a near stranger. she could even tell he actually meant it and wasn't just saying it to be polite without any intention to follow through. "that is so sweet of you, but i think i'll be okay," she replied. she always had a hard time accepting help, determined that she could do it on her own. perhaps she'd regret turning him down later, with everything she still had left to do, but that was a problem for future her. "wow, 7th grade, huh? that was a pretty rough year for me but maybe it would've been better if i had a teacher like you," she paused for a moment, her cheeks warming. she hadn't meant for that to come out so flirty, but it'd probably be even worse if she tried to backtrack. trying to brush past it instead, she rushed to say, "i'm glad you liked the cupcakes! you wouldn't believe how many orders we get like that during the school year" she cringed internally at herself, feeling flustered. at his explanation, she relaxed slightly; at least she wasn't the only awkward one. "well, in case you can't tell, you're not the only one who's awkward. although, i'm usually not this bad. i guess you bring it out in me," her mouth shut with a click; she needed to stop talking before she made it worse.

[verymuchvikram]

despite her saccharine promise of positive tides ahead, he could tell nadya was left in unprecedented and unpleasant circumstances. the inkling of hesitance that she tried so desperately to conceal became vik's cue to push his offer further. "you sure? i mean right now it's pretty dead in here, but wouldn't it be overwhelming if more folks came in?" he asked innocently, though retracting a bit to not project his intrusive thoughts onto her, "not that i doubt you could handle it, you know crowd control best. i'm just offering to make things a little easier for you."

vik took the moment to imagine a 7th grade version of the established woman before him and a soft chuckle erupted from his lips. "yeah, i don't know anyone who was thriving in 7th grade. i feel like that year is like an open wound for everyone -- it's vulnerable, it's needing attention and it's certainly not pretty," he described, hoping his words were relatable in some way and not at all disgusting like he feared it would be. "sorry, that analogy was a bit unsavory," he apologized in advance, looking around at the confectionary around him, "definitely not the place for such language." he couldn't help but laugh at her theory. "damn, i was hoping that two awkward people could combine forces to cancel out the awkward, but it seems we're just two pickles in the same jar," he concluded, diluting the discomfort with corniness. it was a method he often used at parent-teacher conferences, and it was always a hit.

[everleighsmith]

"It's so much worse when a new trend on Tik Tok happens and it's close to the holidays becuse that is all they talk about, which I don't even know why children have Tik Tok, but that's a whole other issue that I don't even want to talk about right now." She shook her head and looked at him with a smile. "Thank you, they always instilled in me that I was very lucky to grow up as...not like wealthy, wealthy, but we never struggled, you know? They wanted to make sure I knew to always give back and volunteer and donate and do what I can to help those less fortunate and I try to keep it going when I can."

[verymuchvikram]

A visible shiver went down Vik's spine at the mention of the dreaded app that occupied his students' brain the majority of the school year. "Yeah, I'm right there with you. It baffles me how much time they spend engaging with that shit. I really hate nagging them about it, but it gets out of hand too often for my liking," he vented with a furrowed brow, "Skibidi toilet is one of the terms officially banned from my classroom." He took in the information she gave him to paint a better picture of how she grew up. "Well then you were certainly raised with care, not just materially but morally," he acknowledged, his tone ladened with admiration and a hint of jealousy.

[cobblestcnes]

nadya laughed at his assumption and how accurate it actually was, nodding her head in agreement, "i'm sure it happens more often that even i realize." her gaze followed the direction in which he pointed, her shoulders drooping slightly at the reminder of all the work she still had to do. "oh, only for a few more hours. i had an employee call out sick," she explained with a shrug, trying to seem nonchalant. she tilted her head slightly as she listened to him, a soft smile on her face. "oh, you're a teacher?" she inquired. for a reason she couldn't quite explain, she wanted to learn more about this man and was therefore quietly eager to soak up any information he wanted to share. a confused wrinkle formed between her eyebrows as she heard his confession, "nervous? why would you be nervous?" she could only hope it hadn't been because of something she did or said in their initial meeting. to be fair, the encounter wasn't super clear in her mind but she was pretty sure it had been perfectly pleasant, if slightly awkward.

[verymuchvikram]

vik watched the poor sweet woman slouch, his empathetic mind leading him to feel the evident weight resting on her shoulders. he could tell she was swamped, and felt the immediate need to grab an apron and pitch in. would that be strange to suggest to practically a stranger? he had a few hours to kill, and all of it would be time wasted on worrying about what he could've done to help if he left without at least leaving the offer on the table. "could you use a hand? i don't know much, i help my mom bake sometimes, but i know i can work a cash register," he suggested. his eyes showed his sincerity and his smirk acknowledged the humor in the situation.

"yeah i teach 7th grade at misty glen middle school. actually one of my students came in with birthday cupcakes from here, which were top notch by the way," he detailed, vividly remembering the taste, "i looked your store up on instagram and, well, that's how i recognized you." he noted how the confusion struck a cord. the slight panic in her eyes revealed a deep symptom of people pleasers like himself — the fear of having upset another. vik rushed to clarify himself and reassure her. despite how hastily honesty laid on his tongue, the flip of his gut turned the tides of his words. "because i'm a bit awkward around semi-strangers, i don't know if you can tell," he admitted, using some truth and poking fun at himself to distract from the tension's main source.

[everleighsmith]

"Breaks are important, doesn't matter the age, everyone desereves a vacation or some time off from work or school." She looked at him. "Though it does stink we have to wait until we're done with our work before we can have any fun." She joked. "They do both, to be honest, which I'm not going to complain about, because who doesn't like gifts? But I'm also glad that they help with the classroom and students too. I am very lucky."

[verymuchvikram]

"Absolutely, it's just the lead up to the breaks that makes me break down," he admits with a weak chuckle, thinking of how rowdy his 7th graders get as the holidays near, not to mention the influx of grading he has to do. "Your parents sound awesome," he complimented, "I guess generosity runs in the family."

[r0mntics-deactivated20251223]

status:  open. ( @sapphirestarters ) location:  the  reading  corner. when:  surprise  me.

             eyes  bounce  between  the  newly  organised  shelf,  bottom  lip  tucked  between  her  teeth  as  a  hand  rests  on  her  hip.  she  isn't  sure  how  she  feels  about  the  layout,  but  yumi  also  knows  that  perfection  isn't  realistic  (  no  amount  of  hoping  will  change  that  ).  a  few  more  seconds  tick  by  before  she  finally  wipes  her  hands  of  the  ordeal,  nearly  jumping  when  she  feels  someone  join  her.  schooling  her  features,  her  customer  service  mask  slips  into  place  and  she  addresses  them  with  a  gentle  wave:    ❝  hey  there,  hon.  welcome!  lookin'  for  anything  special  or  are  you  just  stoppin'  in  to  keep  me  company?  ❞

[verymuchvikram]

vik doesn't set foot in another learning establishment during the school year, but the summers are when he finds his pleasure reads. he hadn't yet frequented the reading corner, but the library has always been a special place for him, especially in childhood. him and his dad would scour the shelves of the countries and cultures section as per their tradition, though this collective hobby ventured into solo territory as vik grew older. every time he enters a bookstore or library, he is reminded of these memories — both the sting of abandonment once his father gradually discontinued their favorite pastime and the nostalgic longing of the bond they once had. vik's forlorn rumination was interrupted by an inviting gesture by a kind stranger. "oh, uh nope, nothing in mind. just wanted to find a good read for the beach," he said, taken aback by her effortless charm.

[everleighsmith]

"Ugh we're gonna need drinks after the stress of finals. Fifth graders are so brutal that time of year." Waverly laughed and looked at him and nodded. "Yeah, like two or three years ago, I asked my parents if we could start doing presents again, but I told them the big kind of gifts I want are for my class room and for my students."

[verymuchvikram]

"all they care about is holiday break, which hey, trust me, i get as a former child myself," he jokes, "but unlike them, i know how to save my excitement until after the responsibility period is over." vik raises his brows in admiration at the sound of her redirecting her gifts to her students. "that's very thoughtful, i hope your kids appreciate it. do your parents abide by your wishes or do they get you presents anyway?"

[cobblestcnes]

nadya narrowed her eyes slightly at the man in front of her, recognizing him from somewhere but not quite able to place from where quite yet. "oh, thank you," she said gratefully, wiping at her face in the general area he'd gestured towards in hopes to dislodge the offending frosting. after a moment, she looked back at him, a bashful laugh bubbling up, "sorry about that. how can i help you?" she felt slightly creepy as she continued to stare at him, sure she knew him from somewhere, but the memory continued to escape her. clearing her throat, she decided it wouldn't hurt to just ask, "sorry, have we met before? you just look... awfully familiar." before he could even respond, it came to her suddenly, "wait! we met at that chinese place a while ago, right? i said you should come by but when you didn't show, i just figured you forgot."

[verymuchvikram]

with nadya's initial reaction, vik felt a bit defeated — not by her inability to remember but his inability to be memorable. though he did notice something that sparked once their eyes met, and that was enough to give him a sliver of hope. "oh, no need to be sorry! nothing offensive about frosting on the face," he assured with a laugh, biting his tongue to not reveal his inner thoughts on the matter like how cute the dash of frosting looked on her classically beautiful features. "i'm sure it happens all the time right? i can't imagine how hard it is to escape unscathed," he assumed aloud, pointing to the kitchen from whence she came, "though, i am surprised to see you up front and not back there. you're not operating this whole place by yourself, are you?"

by the squinted stare, he could tell she was trying to place him in her memory, and thankfully she brought it up since he was frankly too shy to do so. if she didn't say something, he probably would've left without acknowledging their previous run-in, rushing off with a treat and a swift goodbye. although he dreaded being perceived in this vulnerable light, he took the chance and came here, so he had to follow through. "yep you got it! sorry to keep you waiting, the last few months of teaching were a doozy," he admitted with a sigh, "I don't have an excuse for after that, I think I was just a bit nervous to come in here honestly." at his last confession, he scratched the nape of his neck, wearing an embarrassed grin. he hated how honest he was sometimes.

[cobblestcnes]

OPEN STARTER; 3/4

location: sweet tooth bakery @sapphirestarters

hearing the bell above the door ring out as it was opened, nadya lifted her head up from the task she was working on, a piping bag in her hand. her opening employee called out, so it was just her in the shop for a few more hours. she grabbed a rag to wipe her hands off before she began walking out from the kitchen to the front register, a friendly smile plastered on her face.

she was sure she looked like a complete mess, strands of hair plastered to her forehead with sweat and what she assumed was a dollop of buttercream frosting on the side of her face. how that got there, she had no idea. her apron was even worse, so she tried brushing the crumbs and flour sticking to it off as she approached the customer.

normally, she actually enjoyed the customer service aspect of her business, but she wasn't in the mood today. she had several order due in a few hours that still needed finishing touches so she could only hope this interaction didn't last too long. "hi there, welcome to sweet tooth! what can i get for you today?" she injected as much cheerfulness into her tone as she could muster, which wasn't very much after the rough start to her day.

[verymuchvikram]

vik was hesitant to walk into sweet tooth after his first meeting with the lovely nadya. it wasn't because her or her confections didn't entice him -- it was quite the opposite, actually. he just had no idea how to go about talking to someone he knew, without fully knowing, to be inherently captivating.

it was their initial interaction that sparked his interest and her lingering kindness that kept it aflame. it was certainly a sight to see: two delightfully awkward adults sat next to each other, thumbs scrolling on their phones and eyes sneaking glances at each other while waiting for their chinese takeout. it was vik who recognized her, not that it would be absurd for anyone to single out this downtown darling before the humble middle school teacher. he had searched her up on instagram after a student brought in birthday cupcakes with her company name on it. her page mostly featured her delicious desserts, but every so often, she'd pose next to her products and grace the site with her infectious smile. vik kept it brief, not wanting to bother the poor woman while waiting for her food by solely acknowledging how he caught word of her work. she suggested he come by the store, and it took months for him to muster up the courage to come through.

he opened the door and his heart skipped a beat at the sound of the bell as he entered. he quickly swallowed his anxiety as he approached the register. he observed her hurrying to greet him and he couldn't suppress the slight chuckle that seeped through his lips at the sight of the frosting on her face. "hey yeah uh -- you um, have a little something there," he addressed, demonstrating where to wipe it off of so she could mirror him. he figured she'd probably want to know about the buttercream immediately, but hastily added, "it's not a lot, don't worry," as to not worry her. vik used this scenario as a cover to avoid revealing himself. he was just too nervous to make his identity known and too curious to see if she remembered him.

[abadomens]

the fluffy golden has already taken it upon himself to follow his new furry friend, briefly glancing up at micah for a sign to continue on, and with a nod from him, he darts toward lenny. for a moment, micah looks over the other dog—unfamiliar, to thinks to himself. he makes a habit of remembering every animal that passes through the clinic where he works, wanting to build relationships not just with their owners, but with the animals themselves. still, the lack of recognition is a good sign in his book. if the dog hasn’t come through his doors, it likely means nothing serious has brought the man before him to his clinic. “indi,” micah offers with a smile, watching the pair of pups begin to roughhouse, already breaking into boisterous play. “as in indiana jones. he’s always been one for adventure, so it only felt fitting.” he shifts the leash between his hands. usually, he only keeps it on hand in case there’s anyone nearby who might be spooked. “and that’s lenny, i presume?” he asks, nodding toward the australian shepherd before crouching down and extending a hand for the dog to inspect once he comes closer, with indi at his side. “i’m micah,” he adds, glancing back up at the stranger with a warm, easy smile. “don’t think i’ve seen you out in these parts before.” it’s not unusual—not many venture into ruby woods unless they live nearby or frequent the trails regularly.

[verymuchvikram]

vik surveils the two dogs greeting each other with caution, but he weirdly has an odd amount of trust in the situation given how little time they've spent together. it was how indi roamed without a leash and looked up to his owner for permission.

"god, he's adorable, and really well-trained too," vik complimented with an impressed sigh, watching indi explore with decorum while lenny can barely contain his excitement toward his new friend. "i've been wanting to rewatch indiana jones again. I loved it as a kid. I guess this is my sign to get to it already, huh?"

he nods his head at the man's question. "yep, that's lenny. short for lentil," he said with a pause, shoving his hands in his pockets, "which was the first food he stole from me. i have to eat my dal khichdi in another room because of him." lenny wasn't prone to misbehaving, so vik figured he clarify to avoid concern. "he's friendly, but he's too smart for his own good. sometimes you just got to compromise and find some lentil dog food."

he decided to cease his awkward rambling and focus on how his beloved furball readily approached the stranger,. "i'm vik, and yeah, i only started coming around here recently. i've been taking him here a lot more 'cuz he loves it, though he usually spends most of his time sniffing for other animals. i'm happy he's more interested in his own species for a change."

lenny seemed to grow bored of misty glen and its inhabitants. vik took notice and roped in his desire to trek through ruby woods as his plan of attack. "you live around here?" he inquired, admiring the lush scenery surrounding them.

[everleighsmith]

"I take payback as a form of drinks." Everleigh joked with a giggle. "I guess that's fair, fifth grade classes aren't as big as seventh grade classes." She shrugged. "I don't mind. My parents always made sure I knew didn't get lost in the holiday mess for my birthday, which was very nice, but I did go through a phase where I just wanted my party to be a nice dinner and not anything big so we did that for a while."

[verymuchvikram]

"Drinks I can do, especially since your birthday is around Christmas break," he schemed aloud, imagining a cold California night spent celebrating warmly, "by then most of my final grades will be in." Vik let her paint the picture of her doting parents, imagining presents piled high and categorized for each occasion. "Sounds like you've moved on from that phase since you say it in the past tense, no?"

[everleighsmith]

"You never have to repay me for celebrating you." She promised him. "Seriously, you should see my room on my student's birthdays, they get cupcakes, I hang up banners, I go all out." She laughed. "My birthday is December 21 so I get lumped in with all the Christmas fun."

[verymuchvikram]

"I know I don't have to but I'd very much want to," he countered, leaving out the second part where he very much couldn't afford to go all out, despite how much Everleigh deserved the hypothetical generosity. "Maybe I'd do a little bit of that for my students if I didn't have 6 classes of 20+ students per year. Though by the time kids get to middle school, they think celebrating birthdays are lame anyway," he reasoned aloud. Vik was impressed by how much she offered to her students, wondering how she had the funds to do so. Teaching wasn't a high-paying job whatsoever (his parents made it a point to remind him of that every chance they got). He had half a mind to ask her, but the lingering discomfort of the question silenced him, allowing the assumption of her coming from money fill his thoughts. "Do you like sharing your birthday with Christmas time?"

[abadomens]

location : ruby woods open to: all sapphire cove residents

this is the time of day micah loves most—early morning, when the world has barely stirred. just him, walking through the woods, the trees rustling in the wind, the crunch of leaves and twigs beneath his boots, and one of his many collected strays padding along at his side. the air is crisp, clean, the pale light slowly filtering through the branches, offering the day a soft, unhurried rise. today, he has indi with him—named after indiana jones for his love of adventure, off leash and trotting ahead, ears perked and nose to the ground. it’s indi who notices it first, a sound, distant but distinct. something—or someone, up ahead. at first, micah assumes it’s a deer. the dogs have a habit of chasing them off the trail, but when he squints through the trees, it’s not an animal. it’s a person.“indi, get back here!” micah calls, whistling low between his teeth. the mutt hesitates, then trots back toward him. micah lifts his hand in a quiet, easy gesture of reassurance. “sorry about him — he’s friendly, i promise. just a bit boisterous.”

@sapphirestarters

[verymuchvikram]

the only respite vik received from the summer and its incessant heat was its dimly lit dawn. the initial humidity made his raven-colored hair frizz up, but it was the only frazzled thing about him for now. the only sounds resonating in the seemingly soulless forest were the rustling of foliage and the crickets letting out their final chirps. it was music to vik's ears, abruptly interrupted by his dog's alarmed bark.

lentil, becoming a blur of black, white and brown, sped ahead and dragged his owner along with him. "shit! lenny slow down!" vik commanded, gripping the leash and fumbling forward. in this frantic haze, unknown figures appeared in his gaze. before the two dogs could meet, the unfamiliar man's faithful pet had already returned to him with one whistle tone.

vik raised his brows, impressed by the strange dog's obedience. lenny, on the other hand, did his stereotypical downward dog arch before and sprinting ahead once again, recognizing a playmate when he sees one. "yeah this one's boisterous too, as you can tell," vik replied, yanking on the leash for lenny to heel. the intelligent australian shepherd took the tug on his neck as his cue to sit patiently. vik has frequently ventured into reuby woods since his homecoming 2 years ago, but he has not once encountered the curly haired fellow. "what's his name?" vik inquired, nodding his head toward the man's dog.

[everleighsmith]

Everleigh watched him air out his shirt and smiled and then gasped when he said that his birthday had just passed. "Whoa, wait a minute, how come you didn't tell me your birthday was the other day?" She pouted playfully. "You know how much I love going all out for them!" She added. "34 and every birthday is special and you know this."

[verymuchvikram]

"Probably because I knew you'd go all out and I wouldn't know how to repay you," he admitted, ashamedly scratching the nape of his neck. "I appreciate you saying that though. I promise to do more for my 35th and you're definitely invited. When's your birthday?"

[everleighsmith]

"I feel like summer flew by in the blink of an eye and as much as I love teaching, I am so not looking forward to spending eight or more hours a day inside of a stuffy school." She laughed. "How about you? Are you excited or sad that summer is almost over?" @sapphirestarters

[verymuchvikram]

"Yeah, you pretty much summed it up," Vik responded, "They really got to fix the air conditioning in the middle school. I'm afraid when we set up our classrooms again it'll feel as hot as India in there." Instinctually, he grabs the collar of his button down shirt and starts airing out the fabric. "Summer always goes too quick, and I never feel I do enough. My birthday was last week and I just ate dinner with my family as usual, but 34 isn't a special one anyway."

[newie-talks-trash]

same

[engulfes]

something deeply intimate about being outside early in the morning all alone and seeing the world as she is