spice must flow

for hassan & hera. sedona roleplay.

[wildspice]

wildspice is a dependent mumu blog for sedona roleplay written by (syd)ney (30s, she/her, pst)

Hassan Mustafa — ( intro , all threads , musings , pinterest )

Hera Wong-Keating — ( intro , all threads , musings , pinterest )

[nathanxmeyer]

When playfully shoved by Hera, his hand immediately went up to rub the spot where she put some force. "Have you been going to the gym without me, Hera?" He questioned, a hint of playfulness encasing the spoken words. "Nah, being mad at you wouldn't be a good use of either of our time." Nathan continued to joke with Hera. When he was around her, life was a bit lighter. His gaze shifted, catching the sight of the bike rack and letting out a lowly chuckle. "C'mon," he gestured with a wave of his hand, "my truck is parked in the lot. Want to take your bike so I can just drop you back off at home after?" @wildspice

[wildspice]

Hera's arm, flexing proudly, met his gaze, her signature smirk in place as she patted her biceps. "Mama doesn't wait around for no city slicker," she quipped, knowing well that Sedona was a city (of course), but it wasn't anything vast or show stopping like the others. With a nod, she signaled to Nathan that she was already moving, heading to retrieve her bike from the office near the lot. Moments later, she was making her way back to him. "This is why having friends with trucks is a must," she announced, lifting her bike and placing it inside. She grinned and winked before heading to the passenger door. "Can I place my bet now that the pizza girl will ask for your number this time?"

[desertblvsh]

Roman blinked, his smirk wavering into something closer to an awkward laugh as he took her words in. "Um," he began, his tone of voice lighter than his expression. "I feel like I just walked into the middle of a therapy session I didn't sign up for." THere was humour in his voice, but also genuine confusion, his brows knitting as if he couldn't quite decide whether to laugh or intervene. Well, at least his night wasn't turning out to be boring? "For the record, no one's had to whip me into shape yet.. though, judging by that speech, maybe I'm overdue."

[wildspice]

Hera rolled her eyes, heavier than she could ever remember, scoffing loudly enough to draw the attention of nearby people. "You're welcome!" she declared, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Maybe my grievances can be a mere footnote in your undoubtedly extensive Rolodex of endless suitors, all eager to send you countless letters... anxiously awaiting your return..." Midway through her tirade, Hera's resolute expression faltered. A familiar ache in her chest, a painful knot in her stomach, caused her brow to furrow. She pouted, burying her face in her hand before reaching out and snatching a shot from a nearby person, downing it in one gulp. "HEY!" the person yelled. Hera waved them off, gesturing towards Tyler Durden. Turning to the now shot-less, angry cowboy, she said, patting both of them on the back, causing the remnants of alcohol in her cup to splash lightly onto them, "He'll buy you another one, don't worry about it."

"Oh shit," she laughed, losing her balance slightly and leaning on the cowboy for support. The cowboy, brow arched and anger mounting, turned to Tyler Durden and asked, "Do you know her?"

[hometownobody]

Jack huffed a laugh, running a hand through his hair as he took in the soaked suit and the puddle spreading at Hassan’s feet. “Yeah, I saw,” he said, voice low but subtly fond. “One minute I’m looking for the emergency exit, next minute you’re out here rescuing clowns. Real heroic stuff. Twelve-step-approved, even.”

He smirked, but there was a flicker of something gentler behind it; that silent check-in they’d learned to read between each other’s jokes.

When Hassan jabbed at his costume, Jack looked down at himself and could only laugh at the truth in the barb. He shifted his weight as his eyes tracked the last few guests staggering toward the exit. “You, uh, did good back there. Jumping in like that.” Then, softer, “You good? I know nights like this can get... loud.”

He didn’t mean the music or the blackout, and Hassan knew it. The chaos, the adrenaline, the echo of old habits coming knocking — they’d both fought those before. Jack’s hand twitched, like he wanted to offer something: a pat on the shoulder, a joke, anything, but he settled for a small smile instead.

[wildspice]

Hassan scoffed, a sound that was half-chuckle, half-annoyance, at Jack's joke, wishing he'd thought of it first. His brow lifted slightly, and he tilted his head. "Good one," he admitted, unsure if he meant it or if he was being sarcastic. Hassan just knew it felt good to laugh with someone about heavy things, and to be reminded that they weren't always so heavy. "Jokes on you if I've somehow won a lifetime worth of Tom Holland's Bero."

Over the years, Hassan had grown more accustomed to navigating the holidays, so when he saw Jack purposefully avoiding his gaze, he adopted a facade of peace, pushing that persona to the forefront. Hassan didn't always find it easy to admit he might have been putting on an act all night. Maybe it was because of his work at both the daycare and the bar, but Hassan had always found it easy to play pretend. He was so good at it he couldn't tell if he was genuinely at ease or if he'd just crash from exhaustion as soon as he got home.

There's a look in Hassan's eye that says he's appreciative that Jack could pull him out of it, even if he didn't know he needed rescuing. "I'm good." He says at first, like he's tired. "I'm..." he says. The absence that he's unable to fill ends in a laugh, and Hassan shakes his head, running his hand through his beard. "I don't fucking know." There's an ease in the way he says it though, and for a moment, Hassan wonders if that's a good thing. Maybe it's good not to know for once and just live in the moment. "Trying to get over the fact that I saved a clown." He's laughing, shaking his head again.

Hassan then leans over, giving Jack a much-needed sturdy pat on the arm, like he's telling him to relax. "What about you," he says, like an older brother would, with care but not too much. Hassan smiles though, easy about it. "How many drinks did you have to turn down?" he asks, also wondering if he was okay too.

[kirazturan]

She flashed him a roll of her eyes as she leaned forward slightly, comfortably placing her elbows on the bar surface. "How lucky of me to be your chosen one." The words were exaggerated and sarcastic, but there was an hint of amusement. She would return the favor when the opportunity came, but it was better that he believe she'd let it go so she could have the shock value when she decided to get him back. "Only an handful? That must explain my bad dating history then. What would you suggest that I put on my profile to better attract people and cast a wider net since you're so wise and experienced?"

"I'm sure there's a few diamonds that come through here and there. You've just got to look and take the risk." She leaned forward and poked at his arm which was the closest part of him for her to reach. "I do notice that you always have excuses. Have you thought about that and why that is?" She snorted then, pausing mid-laugh to ask for a water. She'd had two drinks and that was her limit. "You're going to vet my dates now? You've got that much time on your hands. We need to find you an hobby."

[wildspice]

Hassan smirked, his nose crinkling briefly as Kiraz offered that familiar, gentle smile, the one he knew well. He wasn't always sure what her smiles meant, but over time, he'd learned the trick to earning them. He held her gaze for a beat longer, then leaned back, rolling his eyes, and occupied himself with a rag on the counter.

When she teases him about being wise and experienced, Hassan can't hold back his laugh. The bartender did not date—not really. He'd meet someone if a friend went through the trouble of trying to set them up, but in Sedona, Hassan managed better on his own. He was incredibly hesitant to trust anyone and risk everything he'd worked to build—like an architect wary of an inspection.

"Okay, got me there." His hands are up in surrender, nodding in defeat. "Maybe it's because I'm old now, and I'm refusing to 'get with the times', but I would suggest that you meet someone ...the old-fashioned way." Hassan didn't have an actual reason for his advice; he had only heard horror stories from people using apps like Tinder. Still, he offers her a mischievous grin, crossing his arms. "Like... in a bar," he adds, still teasing her about his participation in her dating life.

Hassan let out a deep sigh, the kind you make when you're tired of hearing the same thing time and time again. Even though it hardly came in the same way, he always ended up with the same feeling of dread. It plagued him to consider compromise, especially after spending all these years on his own. "I think you don't fix or change things that aren't broken," he shrugged, appearing nonchalant. Though he was very much... chalant.

"Well, someone's gotta—" he says, like it's obvious. "My hobbies are you, the bar, and the kids." He's mostly kidding and mostly means that she was a handful, but Hassan didn't feel the need to elaborate. "If I picked up something sensible like jogging around the park, I wouldn't have the time to vet creeps like Grant's son and keep them from the bar and you."

[wildspice]

.　 🍕　˚　𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 @mayarcsso… 𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚'𝐬…𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐨𝐧

Hassan, who worked at a daycare, was accustomed to interacting with children of all ages and had developed a great deal of patience for the younger ones. However, he found that his patience didn't always extend to teenagers. Though he understood that getting involved was necessary, he wasn't prepared to deal with a crying teenager in a pizzeria. He questioned whether he was doing the right thing, but he couldn't bring himself to leave a sobbing kid alone in the park, especially after he had passed a group of teenagers who seemed like they might be bullies. Fortunately, Nonna's was just across the street, and he figured that giving her something to eat would at least make her feel better. After realizing the teenager's phone was broken, Hassan offered her his own so she could call her mom, then went to fetch their food. Returning with a large pie, he slid into the booth with a soft but restricted smile as she settled his phone back onto the table. "She'll be here soon," she said through a few sniffles, and Hassan chuckled, nodding for her to take a slice. "Alright, eat up," he said, leaning back in the booth. His gaze remained fixed on the door while she ate, and Hassan seemed to relax as she began to calm down.

[sunbleachcd]

Summer’s cheeks burned as she yanked the curtain shut again, her heart pounding so loudly she could hardly hear herself think. “Oh my god,” she muttered under her breath, pressing a hand to her chest as if that might steady it. Only Hassan could stumble into something like this. Accidentally flashing half the boutique was bad enough, but doing it in front of one of Jack’s friends? That was a special kind of mortifying. Summer fumbled for her shirt, pulling it over her head with a muttered curse, trying to shake off the embarrassment before stepping back out. When she finally emerged from behind the curtain, the blonde crossed her arms over her chest, her cheeks still glowing a bright shade of red. "Let's just forget that ever happened now, sh'all we?"

The corners of her mouth softened slightly, unable to hold onto her annoyance once she caught sight of the sheepish look on Hassan's face. “A gift, huh?” the woman pondered, allowing her tone to lighten as she nodded toward a display full of jewelry and candles. “For who? Since you’ve already traumatized me, you might as well let me help. Is it a birthday, thank you gift.... peace offering?...”

[wildspice]

He agrees with a heavy nod, an exasperated "Yeah" escaping his lips as he relaxes his shoulders. "Right with you." Hassan would rather forget the whole incident: accidentally exposing his friend's wife to the entire store, the same woman he suspected of only tolerating him. He half-expected Summer to brush past him, leaving him in the dust, but instead, she offered to help him find a gift for Gloria. Confusion paints his face, almost as a precaution, until he pauses, deciding to go along with her strange offer. "It's—" He clears his throat. "For my coworker. At the daycare," he adds, considering her limited knowledge of his life, which revolved mostly around bartending... among other things. Hassan wasn't too sure how much she knew about his other job, or if she knew at all. "She's having a retirement party, and I wanted to get her something nice."

[senatortedcruz]

My Etsy witch will hear about this

[timotaychalamet]

Sound of Metal (2019) dir. Darius Marder

[desertblvsh]

Roman blinked at her before raising an eyebrow, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Obnoxious, huh? I'll take that as a compliment," he replied, his tone of voice showcasing his amusement, but as always, he was cool, calm and collected. He leaned back on his heels, letting the fair’s noise and chaos blur into the background for a moment, eyes fixed on her in sheer curiousity. "Now, now.. what's wrong with blue eyes?" A playful smirk lifted one corner of his mouth as he folded his arms across his chest, waiting for his coutnerpart's response. "I hate to break it to you but the eyes are all me. No filters, no lenses. Just naturally this... devastating," he added with a shrug, that effortless smirk of his seeming permanently etched across his face.

[wildspice]

Hera rolled her eyes, annoyed that he took her jab as a compliment. "Pfft." Scoffing, she punctuated her disgust with a graceless wave of her hand, her drunkenness now plainly evident. While she didn't dislike people with blue eyes—some of her cousins carried the recessive gene—she was currently amused (incredibly so) by the Miley Cyrus meme that highlighted the color of her eyes. It was all she could think about as she looked at him, a man who bore no resemblance to the singer. "Oh God—" she groaned, feigning a gag and rolling her eyes again when he described himself as devastating. "You've got to have been humbled by a woman before; tell me someone has done me the pleasure of slapping you into shape." Hera, a woman who reveled in teasing men, saw it as her only recourse. It was her revenge for being heterosexual and being abandoned by the love of her life after a passionate four-month affair.

[fromdvsk]

Dre grinned as she drew on him, lifting his hands, which both held steaming to go cups of hot apple cider, in mock surrender. "Easy there, Miss Croft," he said, the corner of his mouth tugging upward. “Wouldn’t wanna get on the wrong side of that thing.” He nodded toward the plastic weapon.

“Figured you could use this to warm you up a bit,” he added, offering her one of the cups. Dre had been practically drug to the town's Halloween event by his mother. Not literally, of course. But just one 'don't test me' look from Margaret Carter and Dre knew his decision had been made for him.

Despite his lack of enthusiasm for attending a town-wide event, however, he was grateful his mother had pushed him to come. If only so he could finally hear Hera sing. Their friendship had grown over the last couple weeks during their run in's in the park, but he hadn't heard her sing yet. Tonight, as he had listened to her, it felt like another piece of the Hera Wong-Keating puzzle had slipped into place for him. Her singing was an incredible gift and the performance felt effortless, like the music came from somewhere deep she didn’t even have to reach for.

"Gotta say, Hera," he pointed with his chin towards the stage. "That was something else up there." Turning his gaze back towards her, a smirk took over his features as he admitted defeat. "Didn't think my mother would be proven right about me having a good time tonight so quickly, but here we are." His face grew solemn, pensive, as he offered her an appreciative smile. "That performance alone just made this night worth it."

[wildspice]

Her lips curved into a smirk as he indulged her playful mood. A dry chuckle escaped her, her voice still raspy from singing for nearly an hour. They hadn't intended to perform for that long, but the next act's guitarist was unwell and needed extra time to recover before taking the stage. "Oh, you'd love to try this one," she said, her eyebrows wiggling as she grinned. She then squirted an unknown liquid into her mouth. "Vodka," she announced suggestively, almost daring him to join in. She waved the plastic weapon between them, silently asking, 'Are you sure?'

Hera's brow furrowed, her expression softening into a grateful frown at Andre's unexpectedly sweet gesture. She accepted the warm cup, her partially sweaty hands meeting his, and tilted her head with a bashful grin. "Andre..." she began, her gaze knowing as she playfully shoved him. Hera had a knack for turning any situation into a memorable moment; she loved exaggerating and adding drama to make the mundane extraordinary. "You know I'd vote for you for Sedona's sexiest bachelor—you didn't have to do all this."

Hera didn't anticipate his compliment about the band's performance. Considering everything, she never thought her voice was particularly special. Her mother had always received the praise, and Hera had only ever heard that her voice was decent enough not to embarrass her mother's legacy. Despite her avoidance of praise, Hera occasionally experienced genuine bashfulness.

"—Oh—" She quickly averted her gaze, her face flushing, and cleared her throat to brush off the compliment. "Thanks," she coughed, shifting the subject. "We've been covering a lot of Fleetwood Mac." It was easier to talk about something manageable, like the current band they were covering, since Hera hadn't written a song in a year. "Our sound is kind of—" She coughs again. "—similar. Or—" She clears her throat. "The Cranberries! Yeah... We like them too!"

[nathanxmeyer]

Nathan's own feelings resonated with Hera's scoff and shake of her head. She didn't have to say much about it, but he could understand her frustrations. "Nonna's. My treat." He agreed with her decision, not minding in the slightest. Making friends after the loss of his sister had not exactly been high priority for him and the older he got, the less of a priority it became. So, when he did realize he had friends, Nathan didn't find himself in a position to not agree to paying for a drink or a meal every now and then. "You know that's the real reason I invited you out," he had learned to joke with Hera as their friendship grew, "I always like stealing a bite when you're not looking." As if she didn't know. @wildspice

[wildspice]

The park ranger chuckled, playfully shoving Nathan with some actual force. Hera wasn't one to hide her strength. She might not have been as graceful as her mother, but she had spirit. "Alright, so you won't be mad when I eat both our treats?" She stated it matter-of-factly. As they walked toward the parking lot, Hera turned to Nathan, gesturing toward the bike racks. "Ugh, I'd hate to ride this all the way from the Heights to Southpoint..." She trailed off, batting her eyelashes, hoping he'd offer her a ride. Hera rarely chose her bike over her dad's truck, but it was a beautiful day, and chances like this were rare.

[kirazturan]

Kiraz wasn't certain what to expect when she first stepped foot into the venue. Perhaps she'd half expected a few mediocre outfits that were clearly thrown together last minute — and while there was that — she was pleasantly surprised at the effort many had put in. It was obvious that her costume, though expensive, was on the more mediocre side of things. A store bought costume that she'd pulled from a bag and slid into with ease and lack of effort or creativity. Frankly, it was a public service given that she could barely draw a stick figure, much less put a garment together with the aid of a glue gun.

As the night progressed and a few odd jokes were made about Mr. Incredible, Kiraz didn't think twice about it. It was confusing but she figured people assumed she was alone and needed a partner. A boring joke. At least until she stood off to the side and she turned her head at a familiar voice, jaw dropping when she took in the costume which was a perfect replica of her own outside of being suited for Mr. Incredible. "Is that right or did you basically copy me?" He'd been the one to plant the seed in her head but she'd still assumed the suggestions were for her to wear. "I should have because parking was horrible to find. But really, who told you I was dressed as this? When did you buy your costume?"

[wildspice]

Hassan sensed his company acknowledging his shift of attention to Kiraz, almost as if they were drawn to their playful energy, subtly distancing themselves from the pair. He glanced back as they moved, then, with a headshake and an eye roll, he turned his attention back to her. "I specifically remember telling you about the movie weeks ago—was I supposed to know that my influence alone motivated your decision?" He was flattered either way, choosing to take it all in stride. Hassan was beyond humored and amused that he had been on her mind; it was even better that she didn't realize it. "Mid-October." Hassan crossed his arms over his fake muscles, tilting his head with a challenging look in his eye. "I think it's more likely that you were thinking of me without realizing it." He was mostly joking, but Hassan couldn't deny the whole couple costume thing taking more precedence in his mind than he realized.

[desertblvsh]

Nadia's gaze softened at his words — trying to make up for lost time. There was something quietly disarming about the way he said it, like the truth had slipped out before he could stop it. "I get that," she said after a moment. She really did, because in some ways she was realising that she was here to do the same. "Sometimes the slower pace is exactly what we all need." Her lips curved a little as she added, "Or so I keep telling myself every time I have to share a roof with God only knows what animal."

Her brows lifted slightly at his follow up, amusement tugging at her lips and lighting up her warm browns. "Good save, there, Hassan," she teased, her voice lilting with playfulness. She took a slow sip from her glass, eyes locked to the remaining liquid as she thought about it. "Not yet, but if I'm honest, I'm not one to accept.. help easily." When he spoke again, Nadia lifted her gaze, noticing the small shift in him.. a stillness that drew her in before she'd even realised. She often wondered about the lives of strangers, what they had been through in their lives. And with Hassan, she could somehow tell there was something deep. "Tell me about it. Breakups have a way of... hollowing things out." She swirled her drink absently, her voice gentler now. "Starting over here makes sense. Sedona's always been the kind of place that lets you breathe again. If you let it."

[wildspice]

Hassan was used to dealing with various personalities, but he was pleasantly surprised. He found it refreshing to converse with someone who wasn't intrusive. He had braced himself for the typical probing small talk about where you came from or where you were going. His shoulders eased, grateful they didn't have to do much of that. Still, Hassan couldn't help but wonder, would they continue to talk around their deepest, darkest secrets until someone gave in?

Hassan's gaze narrowed as she mentioned sharing a roof with an animal. "Right," he acknowledged, as if he couldn't believe he hadn't raised the subject sooner. "Which reminds me, I don't know how you do it." He lets the question hang in the air, like she's supposed to know what he means. "I don't think I'd have the energy to own anything, but owning a motel is... different." Hassan chuckled, shaking his head. "Seems scary." He studied her for a moment, a grin forming. "You don't seem like you scare easily, is that it? Or was owning a motel a bucket list thing?"

He grins, a soft nod and a shrug accompanying his agreement. "I can understand that. All give and no take—my mom is the same way. My Khala used to throw fits finding out all the things her sister did on her own." A distant hollow grows inside Hassan's stomach at the mention of his mother, but only his gaze softens, thinking about how much harder it is to come back to Sedona whenever he visits her. So, the visits to her grew less, and the years passed, and Hassan realized at that moment that it must've been at least four years, and a lot of excuses, that had made the pit inside his gut burn.

"Big on the 'IF'." When she places her glass on the counter, Hassan tops her off. "If I try hard enough, it really feels like I started over." There's an honesty in his sigh, his eyes softening as he rests against the counter behind him. "But they say you can't do that without accepting things and, well, I'm no good with that." Hassan realizes his tangent, nodding in her direction."What about you? Did you come here to ...breathe?" There's a bit of humor in his tone, but Hassan is genuine in wanting to know more about her.

[hometownobody]

CLOSED starter for @wildspice, at The Paloma, post-evacuation. — HASSAN

The night air hit like a slap of reality.

One minute, the ballroom had been a blur of fog and flashing lights; the next, the power had blown, and someone was yelling about sparks near the pool. Now, the crowd spilled out across the hotel courtyard in a mix of damp costumes and confused laughter. The smell of wet velvet and burnt wiring clung to everything.

Jack stood near one of the now cold patio heaters, jacket slung over one shoulder. He’d already helped one guy pry open a stuck door before security barked at him to clear out, and now he was regretting ever showing up. The noise, the flashing lights, the mayhem, all of it had all set his nerves humming like a frayed wire.

He rubbed at his ear, the one that never quite caught the low frequencies right, and scanned the crowd for a familiar face. That’s when he spotted him.

Hassan. A friend.

Even from a distance, the Mr. Incredible suit was hard to miss — red spandex clinging in all the wrong places, the foam muscles sagging just enough to make the whole thing look endearing rather than heroic. Jack couldn’t help the small, surprised laugh that slipped out.

He made his way over, dodging a couple arguing vampires and what might’ve been a very lost pirate. “You look like you just saved a small city,” Jack said, biting back more laughter.

[wildspice]

Hassan knew exactly how this must look. He was partially drenched after pulling someone out of the pool—someone who'd been shoved in during the blackout. Luckily, everyone was taking the whole mess in stride, chuckling as they navigated the ballroom, trying to escape in one piece. Hassan had been near the pool most of the night but hadn't witnessed the sparks that preceded the outage. Maybe it was the ill-fitting suit or his natural urge to help, but he'd acted without thinking. Now, he wished he'd worn something other than his boxers under this thing.

He waved off the soaked clown, who thanked him as she left with a friend, just in time as he heard someone speak to him. Turning, Hassan's gaze landed on Jack and grinned, his once tired expression now twisting in his efforts to bite back his own laugh. "I did, you didn't see that?" he joked, now facing him fully. Hassan eyed Jack's costume, tilting his head as he tried to place what he was supposed to be. He knew his counterpart wore a costume, but he couldn't help but pick up on just how well it suited him. "So... your costume is just an 80s version of... you?" he smirked, arms crossing over his foamed muscles.

[nathanxmeyer]

starter for @wildspice (hera wong-keating)

location: red rock state park

Nathan and Hera knew each other from the last three years. Their professionalism took a turn toward a friendship after rescuing a group of kids from the state park. Rightfully so, Nathan had been infuriated, more internally so, that they kids had intentionally endangered themselves. Today, was another day for the both of them. Nathan had been called out to help find some hikers that had wandered off the trail with the help some of the park rangers. "Up for a bite to eat?" As someone who didn't particularly love the company, he sure got a lot less looks when he had someone to eat with.

[wildspice]

Hera would be lying if she claimed that she hated rescuing people. In fact, she looked forward to it. Out of context, that sounded bad—she knew—but Hera was fed up with people disrespecting the park. They were just teenagers, sure, but it was always gratifying to see the troublemakers get their comeuppance. "After that?" she scoffed, shaking her head as they left the park. "Definitely." A beat later, she let out a hungry growl, playfully hitting Nathan's chest. "Nonna's?" she grinned. "Your treat?" Hera wasn't unaware that Nathan's likelihood of saying no was little to none—so she rather enjoyed deciding for him. It's what worked between them as far as she was concerned. Could their contrasting personalities—his quiet intensity versus her fiery spirit—create a sense of balance? "And I promise to get the ice cream." Maybe.

[mayonezli]