#Ruby Martinez

[whereslynx]

Reader is gf of spooky for a long time, they all head to the pool together. Monse being jealous bc reader is very close with cesar, and you know, usual stuff like ruby and jamal caught staring 😂

a/n: HAHAHAHA SUREEE!! sorry for not posting yesterday, i got really busy :’)

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The sun was high in the sky, casting a shimmering reflection over the pool, making the water sparkle like tiny diamonds. You stretched out on a lounge chair, soaking up the warmth while the sounds of laughter and splashing filled the air. The Santos crew, along with Ruby, Jamal, and Monse, had gathered for a rare day off, the mood light and easy for once. Oscar, always close, was perched beside you, sunglasses on, looking every bit like the king of the block, even at a pool party.

You adjusted the straps of your swimsuit, glancing around the group. Ruby and Jamal were already in the pool, goofing off and splashing each other, while Cesar was sitting on the edge, legs dangling in the water. Monse sat near him, her attention flicking between you and Cesar with a thinly veiled expression—her eyes narrowing just slightly every time she saw you and Cesar exchanging playful banter.

Cesar caught your eye, grinning as he called out to you, “Yo, you gon’ join us or just sit there all day, looking pretty?”

You laughed, sitting up slightly and pulling your sunglasses down the bridge of your nose to look at him. “I don’t know, C. Think you can handle me in the pool?” you teased back, your tone light and playful. You’d known Cesar almost as long as you’d known Oscar, and the two of you had always had this easygoing, sibling-like vibe—though Monse clearly didn’t see it that way.

Oscar, sitting next to you with his usual unreadable expression, gave a small chuckle. He wasn’t the jealous type, not with Cesar, at least. He knew his little brother meant no harm and that the bond between the two of you was innocent. Still, you could feel Monse’s eyes on you, her posture stiffening as you spoke to Cesar.

Monse, never one to hide her feelings for long, shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “You two are always so close,” she muttered, loud enough for you to hear, though she tried to mask it as an offhand comment.

You raised an eyebrow, glancing her way with a knowing smile. “Cesar’s like my little brother, Monse. You know that.”

Monse’s lips tightened, but she forced a smile. “Yeah, I know.”

Oscar leaned over, placing a hand on your thigh, his touch possessive yet subtle. He smirked, sensing the tension but not commenting on it. Instead, he tilted his head toward the water. “Go on, babe. Show ‘em how it’s done.”

You shot him a playful look, rising from your chair and sauntering toward the pool. As you did, you could feel eyes on you—specifically, two pairs that weren’t as subtle as Monse’s. Ruby and Jamal, who had been engaged in their usual bickering, suddenly stopped when you walked past, their conversation faltering as their jaws dropped just a little.

Jamal, his wide eyes barely hidden behind his sunglasses, nudged Ruby hard. “Yo, bro, are you seeing this?”

Ruby, caught mid-sentence, just nodded slowly, his gaze following you as if in a trance. “Yeah, man… I’m seeing it.”

You bit back a smile, pretending not to notice them staring as you reached the pool’s edge and dipped your toes in. The water was cool, a welcome contrast to the heat. Cesar smirked up at you, mischief in his eyes. “You sure you can swim, or am I gon’ have to save you?”

Before you could answer, Cesar grabbed your hand and yanked you into the pool, causing a huge splash. You came up laughing, water dripping from your hair as you playfully shoved him back. “Oh, you’re so gonna pay for that!”

The splash had been enough to snap Ruby and Jamal out of their daze. Ruby leaned over to Jamal, his voice low but not low enough. “Man, if Spooky wasn’t in the picture…”

Jamal, still staring, added, “No kidding, bro. She’s like… wow.”

Monse, clearly overhearing their conversation, rolled her eyes. “You two are pathetic,” she muttered, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked away.

Oscar, who had been watching all of this from his seat, finally stood up, stretching his arms before making his way to the pool’s edge. He took off his sunglasses, his eyes following you in the water as you laughed with Cesar. With a quick glance toward Ruby and Jamal, who immediately snapped their heads in the opposite direction, Oscar raised an eyebrow. “You guys got something to say?”

Ruby held his hands up in surrender, a sheepish grin on his face. “Nah, Spooky, we’re cool. Just, you know, admiring.”

Jamal nodded eagerly. “Yeah, just admiring.”

Oscar smirked, not missing the way they were both still staring at you. “Better keep it that way,” he said coolly, his tone half-joking but with enough edge to remind them exactly who you were with.

Meanwhile, in the pool, Cesar gave you a knowing look, clearly aware of the situation but trying not to laugh too hard. “You’ve got them all wrapped around your finger, huh?”

You shrugged, splashing water in his direction. “Not my fault. I’m just here to enjoy the day.”

Monse’s patience finally snapped, her voice cutting through the lighthearted mood. “Cesar, you mind helping me with something over here?” she asked, her tone sharper than usual.

Cesar blinked, confused but obliging. “Uh, yeah. Sure, Monse.”

As he got out of the pool to follow her, you couldn’t help but notice the way Monse’s glare lingered on you for a moment before she turned to Cesar. You sighed, shaking your head slightly. It wasn’t your fault that you and César got along so well, but you knew how Monse felt about it.

Oscar, noticing the shift in the vibe, walked over to where you were still floating near the edge of the pool. He crouched down, giving you a rare, affectionate smile. “You good, baby?” His voice was low, just for you.

You smiled back, reaching up to lightly brush your fingers along his arm. “Yeah, I’m good.”

He smirked, leaning down to kiss your forehead, his lips lingering just long enough to make you feel like the world had shrunk down to just the two of you. “Come on, let’s get outta here. These fools can keep staring all they want.”

You laughed softly, knowing he wasn’t wrong. With one last splash of water in César’s direction—just for good measure—you let Oscar pull you out of the pool, his hand warm and steady as he helped you onto solid ground.

Ruby and Jamal, still stealing glances, exchanged another look as you and Oscar walked past them. “Bro,” Ruby whispered, “how does he do it?”

Jamal shook his head, still in awe. “I don’t know, man. Spooky’s got the game on lock.”

Oscar glanced over his shoulder, giving them both a pointed look. “Is something the matter?”

Both Ruby and Jamal shook their heads quickly, stammering in unison, “Nope, all good, Spooky!”

Oscar laughed, his arm wrapping around your waist as he pulled you closer. “That’s what I thought.”

You couldn’t help but grin, feeling the warmth of the sun and the quiet, comfortable power of being right where you wanted to be—with him.

[daydreamabout]

3:15 (Oscar Diaz Imagine)

Summary: You're in a situationship with Oscar, not sure if you want to be official. Inspired by 3:15 by Russ.

All I ever tried to do was help you understand and grow

Light the way for truths that if not for me simply wouldn't show

'Less you get somebody else who's on my level, but you know

That there's no one on my level, you gon' realize if you don't

I wish you would own up to your flaws

And just say that you're wrong when you're wrong

Instead of actin' like you're right, then it turns into a fight

Now you're stormin' out my house in the middle of the night

“What's on your mind?,” Oscar interrupted your few kisses.

You were currently all over him in your bedroom, as usually. You pecked his soft lips one more time and sighed “I don't think you should do it tomorrow.” you spoke softly.

Your lover's dark eyes looked at you for a few seconds before he frowned “Don't start this shit again.”

The anger about the same situation started to boil within you, so you got off of Oscar and laid on your back.

“What is your problem?” you spat at him.

The sudden tension in the room was obvious. He suddenly sat on the edge of your bed and gave you an intimidating look over his right.

“I don't think we're close enough to have this kind of conversation!”

“Wow.” You didn't know how else to react. He was obviously refering to the fact that you weren't sure how to label your 'thing'. You cared, a lot. But he was part of a gang and you cared too much about other people's opinions too.

“I think you should go home. ”you let out bluntly without thinking.

He turned his head away from you and let out a dry laugh “You know.... I fucking might!” and stormed off.

***

How come when I love somebody, part of me don't wanna stay?

Every time I get too close, I just start pushing them away

I know, I know

Maybe I just wanna leave before they try to leave me first

Maybe I don't wanna need 'em 'til they say they need me first

I know, I know (yeah, yeah, yeah)

Damned if I do, damned if I don't

Drank Tequila, I can't drive home

Hard to play cool, heart belongs to you

I know that if I show that

I keep my walls up, if you want me then you better start to climb

WoMen who love me aren't rare

WoMen who mean it hard to find

Somethin' tells me that I'm right about you

Please, don't prove me wrong

They say love's a song for fools

We're wise enough to sing along 

“Back off!” you raised your voice and pushed the guy to the side. You were frustraded, ended up at someone's houseparty, drank enough Tequila to not drive home by yourself, but not enough to forget about Os. The porch made an exceptable place to sit down for a bit and re-think your previous thoughts. You wanted him. All to yourself. So you took all your courage and dialed his number.

Oscar picked up after a while, but did not say anything. You could just see the seconds of the phonecall on your screen.

“Can you pick me up?” you asked carefully.

You could hear him sigh into the phone. “Where are you?”

***

It took about 20 minutes until you could see the familiar red car pull into the street. You slowly got up and neared yourself the sidewalk.

The car came to stand right in front of you, but before you even had the chance to get in, your lover already got out. He stood right in front of you and looked deep into your eyes.

“You're in my head.” you said while pointing to your temple. The alcohol was definitely kicking.

His eyes softened and you felt like there was a slight smile on his lips.

He took your hand in his and placed a soft kiss on it “Get in the car, Y/N. ”

You continued to stare into his eyes. “I want everyone to know about us. ”

His face seemed to light up a bit. He pulled you in and kissed your forehead before whispering in your ear “Get in babe, we'll talk about it tomorrow.”

But now it's hard to breathe

I'm not in love, it's just a game we do

I tell myself I'm not that into you

But I don't wanna sleep, it's quarter after three

And now it's hard to breathe

I'm not in love, it's just a thing we make

We're skin on skin, I need this spell to break, oh

But I don't wanna go, and I know that you know

You're in my head like

[stargirlposts]

El Malo

Chapter 3

I sat on my bed that night looking at the moon through my window. Tony is a good man and he loves me and maybe I can love him, but I have doubts. Fuck. I’m such a bad person.

It's been six weeks since Oscar got out. I've been keeping myself busy by working at my sister’s beauty store and avoiding Oscar. And I’m doing a pretty good job at avoiding him, if I do say so myself. I was finally walking home after I finished helping my sister with her store when I spotted Jamal, Ruby, and Monse.

“Monse!” I shouted her name with a smile and sped up to greet them.

“Hey, when did you get back?”

“I just got back today, hey do you know why Ruby and Jamal aren’t talking to Cesar, he tells you everything cause these shitheads won’t tell me anything” She walked next to me to look at Jamal and Ruby with an eye roll. Just when I was going to answer, we heard someone blasting their music and when we turned to look, it was the familiar red impala coming down the street.

Ruby shook his head, “We can’t tell you what Cesar said.”

“Fine, then I’ll ask myself”

She walked on the street and stopped right in front of the Impala, forcing Oscar to stop the car.

“Hey, you crazy!”

I turned to Jamal and Ruby.

“What did Cesar say?” I asked. I was curious to know why Monse was so upset and why they weren’t talking to him.

“Cesar said he hit it” I gasped and turned to look at Monse leaned over talking to Oscar.

“Jamal!” Ruby yelled and Jamal quickly covered his mouth with his hand. He turned to me”, look just don’t tell Monse”

“I won’t, but you know the truth always comes out, I’ll talk to-“

“Hey Y/N! Get in the car, I’ll take you home”

I turned to look at Oscar and crossed my arms.

“No, I’m perfectly fine with walking.”

Cesar turned to look at me with desperation in his eyes. I sighed and bid my goodbyes as I got in next to Cesar.

Oscar drove me to his house and asked me to stay for a while. But I declined and told him I was gonna pass to the bathroom and get some of my stuff, although I left out the second part. I was only gone for six weeks and the house is already a mess. Ugh, men. By the time I walked out, I saw Cesar sitting on the couch and Oscar sitting behind him on a crate, with Monse standing in front of him.

“We can go inside-“ Oscar cut him off by clearing his throat “, But uh if you wanna sit on my face, you gotta put that mouth on pause so I can concentrate”

All of the Santos laughed and he fist bumped Oscar. Poor Monse had the look of humiliation on her face.

“What the fuck? You put him up to this didn’t you!”

“Hey,” Oscar stood up and tried to get in my face “,don’t start shit.”

“Fuck you Oscar”

I was beyond pissed. How dare he try to intimidate me in front of his puto friends. I wanted to release some steam by hanging out with my friends but they were on the clock so that was a no and my mom went to visit family in Mexico, so I’m in a house all by myself . You must be wondering what happened to Tony. Let’s just say he could see I wasn’t Interested and he wasn’t mad. He told me he loved me and he’d be willing to wait for me when I realize Oscar ain’t shit.

I was watching tv in the living room when I heard movement in my room. I could feel my heart start racing. I sped tip-toed into the kitchen and grabbed a knife. I stood beside my closed bedroom door and waited for whoever was in there to come out. My heart sped as the door opened and I put the knife against the throat of the perpetrator. Only it wasn’t, it was Oscar. I let out a sigh of relief.

“What the fuck Oscar? You could’ve knocked on the door”

I walked to the kitchen with him following behind me and put the knife away.

“What are you doing here?”

“Came to talk.”

“ I don’t have anything to say to you’’

“Haven’t seen you with that guy”

“What’s it to you?” I asked as I leaned on the kitchen counter. I watched as he stepped closer to me.

“I failed you a thousand times, yet you’re still mine”

He walked closer so our chests were touching, he held my chin up gently forcing me to look up at him.

“He seemed sincere unlike my flaws, but I’m the bad guy you don’t stop loving. You’re like Cinderella and he’s the pitiful fool and even though I’m not Prince Charming, I’m still the love of your life”

My eyes started to water and I tried to look down but he wouldn’t let me.

“Oscar- please”

“I love you, Y/N”

I felt a tear run down my face and Oscar leaned his forehead against mine touching my nose with his.

[caiusmarciuscoriolanus]

Rewatching on my block and realizing that Mario had wasted potential. He obviously had his own tiny subplot with the whole baby thing but I genuinely think they could have done more with his character. What I really think would have been cool would be to have further explored his relationship to Oscar. You’re probably thinking “Benny they had like 2.5 scenes together, what relationship?” It’s very obvious in season 2, episode 5, that they know each other somehow. They openly talk to one another at the store counter when Mario is buying snacks and stuff for Ruby. Mario is open about what’s going on and about his concern for his little brother. Oscar asks if the snacks are for his baby mama, indicating that he knows about her. He even laughs and listens when Mario expresses his concern. Those topics of conversation are not ones that you have with strangers or even just because your siblings are friends. They know each other someway. Whether because they went to school together or because Cesar and ruby have been friends for a while. This point is also solidified later at the party when they have that drink together Oscar also doesn’t seem to have any issue about Mario being there even though we haven’t seen them hang out before this. At this point, Oscar keeps to his people and only really lets ruby come to the party because he feels responsible for the pain ruby is going through. Oscar would have said no had it been anyone else but allowed Mario to come and had no issue with him being there at all. Either way they know of each other. I think it genuinely would have been a fun avenue to explore in allowing Mario and Oscar to be childhood friends that had fallen apart due to Oscar being a Santo and having them sort of come together again as we watch the parallel of Cesar’s relationship with ruby, monse, and Jamal go through the ringer. It could have been this really cool way of showing that the kids were gonna have to grow up and it would be possible that even though you get older, things aren’t always easier or change all that much. It could have also been a reflection point for them in realizing that, despite how most teens feel, the world isn’t ending and we all go through similar shit at times. We’re all trying to get it figured out.

[soul-music-is-life]

On My Block: Pilot vs. Finale

These babies grew up. I'm crying.

Bonus because I haven't cried enough:

(Oscar Diaz deserved better)

And one more for the road (full circle):

[councilofcastamere]

PRECIOSA | ON MY BLOCK X OC | ACT I. CHAPTER I.

a b r i d g e m e n t : When Florence Shay Cappelleti moved into Freeridge to stay with family, she more or less didn’t expect to get so closely acquainted with four weird but eventful people, much less accompany them as they try to escape gang life chasing them.

TW: none yet

You weren't sure if moving there from Staten Island was a win or a loss. In all honesty, it felt bad. You weren't exactly prepared to leave your home and parents behind. You definitely knew your great-uncle Calian was a kind and just man, and his grandson, your great cousin, was cool, but still... it sucked.

You stood at the airport, typing on your phone.

You were just about to text him where he's at when...

"Florence!" you heard a voice call out, and quickly recognised it as your great cousin Angeni.

You quickly stood upright, cracking a smile at the sight of him. The phone in your hand got quickly tucked inside the small purse hanging at your hip.

"Angeni!" you smiled, quickly walking over to his car, opening the door for yourself to get into the passenger's seat.

"How you been?" he asked, performing the dumbass handshake you both practised when you were like 5 and him 10.

"You know, I've been fine." you shrugged, applying a bit of lip liner in the small mirror. "Just, y'know, studying the books."

That made a laugh escape his mouth. "You're already studying your books for your new school? Wow, you're the teacher's pet to a hundred."

"Literally shut up, moron." you laughed, rolling your eyes. "I'm just a very type A kinda gal. You know that."

"Sure do, but make sure to keep it subtle.

Freeridge isn't exactly a place for that."

"Yeah..." you nodded, glancing at him. "I'm kind of nervous, I don't exactly have experience with any gangs. I mean, there's still some juvenile shit in the Island, but probably not as heavy as in Freeridge."

"Just try to avoid the Santos. Their leader lives next door but he's cool." Angeni spinned the wheel, turning left. "Just don't come outside when they're having their little porch party shit."

"Mhm." I nod, slumped back in my seat. "It actually looks kind of nice here. Suburbia."

"So god help you, Florence, cause you are actually so blind and dumb." Angeni murmured. "I love you, but you're lowkey fucking stupid."

"Whatever." you said, shrugging. "I'm just here to finish some school."

As he drove through the streets, he settled on parking right in front of the house.

You unbuckled your seat belt and got out of the car, your limbs weak from sitting for so long.

"Alright, ready to meet grandpa Calian?"

"I already know him, moron. This isn't a first time meeting." you laughed. "Anyways, I was thinking abo-"

You interrupted yourself as you saw a guy across the street. He was short, and staring intently at you.

"Fucking Ruben." Angeni murmured. "That kid always comes over to help grandpa with taxes."

"Damn." you said. "Why he staring?"

"Fuck if I know." he shrugged. "Let's just retire for the night. It's late."

You brushed it off, walking inside.

Tomorrow was a new day, and you could not wait to start orientation day.

[thursdayxwednesday]

I was just watching "On My Block" and also caught a bit of the spinoff. Am I the only one who doesn't understand why they didn't make the spinoff about Ruby's grandmother when she was younger? It seems like it has a lot of potential to me, and she's already a character everyone likes.

[emodrstan]

I think my favorite part of On My Block that happened and was just brushed away was that Ruby pretty much single handedly ended the truce between Santos and the Prophets by accident and he was a literal kid

[ilovefanum]

GRAVITY is out now !! 🫶🏾💕

(also finished watching arcane, ekko carried)

𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐘 | Oscar Diaz

[cookstorys]

𝖮𝗇 𝗆𝗒 𝖻𝗅𝗈𝖼𝗄

𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫

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𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝? 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭

𝐑𝐮𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐳

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[whereslynx]

Hi, can I request one with jealous spooky x reader, and jamal and Ruby are crushing on reader, spooky gets jealous but reader thinks its funny cause both are just teenies 🥰

a/n: HAHAHAHAHA sure thing! this was fun to write. sad eyes version <—

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The afternoon heat lingered over Freeridge, the sun hanging heavy in the sky as its rays bounced off the pavement, warming the neighborhood with a golden sheen. You stood outside Oscar’s house, waiting for him to finish up inside. The heat clung to the air, but you didn’t mind—it was just another day. Leaning against Oscar’s Impala, you scrolled through your phone, trying to pass the time when you heard three familiar voices approaching behind you.

Turning around, you spotted Cesar walking up with Ruby and Jamal in tow. “Hey, Lil Spooky,” you greeted with a warm smile, reaching out to playfully ruffle Cesar’s hair. He shot you a mock glare but didn’t dodge it, grinning at your usual teasing.

“Jamal, Ruby,” you added, nodding toward the other two with a friendly smile.

Ruby stood a little straighter, his face instantly flushing red as he stared at you, clearly trying to contain his nerves. “Uh, please,” he stammered, “call me Ruben.” Cesar shot him a look, eyebrows raised as if to say, Are you really still dragging that Ruben thing?

Jamal, on the other hand, was less subtle. His eyes widened as he took you in, almost gawking. “What’s up?” Jamal asked, flashing a grin that was a little too wide, clearly attempting to impress you. His gaze flicked from your face down to your outfit, and back up again, like he was in awe.

Cesar chuckled at Jamal’s antics, shaking his head, but you just smiled, amusement dancing in your eyes. It was hard not to find the whole thing funny—especially knowing Oscar would probably roll his eyes at Jamal and Ruby’s little crushes on you. But it was harmless, and you weren’t about to make things weird for the boys.

“Nothing,” you answered, biting back a giggle at their awkward behavior, “just waiting for a certain someone to hurry up.” You threw a playful shade Cesar’s way, referring to his brother still being inside. “It’s Oscar, what do you expect?” Cesar laughed, nudging you lightly with his shoulder. His relaxed energy was a stark contrast to Ruby and Jamal, who seemed to be trying hard—too hard, actually.

Ruby cleared his throat, shifting his stance awkwardly. “So, uh… you like… cars?” he asked, gesturing to the Impala like it was a conversation starter. Jamal, not to be outdone, quickly jumped in. “Yeah, yeah! Or, uh… maybe you’re into… stars?” he added with an exaggerated hand gesture towards the sky, even though it was broad daylight.

You stared at them, trying not to laugh outright at their painfully awkward attempts at flirting. They looked so out of their depth, it was kind of adorable. “Please,” you smirked, shaking your head. “Y’all are babies. I’m old enough to be your tía.”

Ruby, eyes wide with sudden inspiration, puffed out his chest. “Well… I could be your baby,” he said, sounding more confident than he looked, though his face was turning beet red.

Cesar snorted, giving Ruby a side-eye. “You sure you wanna get at Oscar’s girl?” he asked, amused but also low-key warning him with a raised brow.

Jamal, always the bold one, stepped forward. “Well, I don’t see him!” he declared, spreading his arms dramatically. “Clearly, he ain’t treasuring you as much as I would!”

Before you could even respond, a familiar voice cut through the air like a smooth knife. “Oh yeah?” Oscar’s voice rumbled from behind them, causing Ruby and Jamal to freeze in their tracks like guilty kids caught sneaking snacks.

Oscar strolled out of the house, hands in his pockets, with a slow, almost predatory smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I ain’t treasuring her enough, huh?” His eyes flicked between Ruby and Jamal, clearly enjoying their sudden panic. He gave Cesar a quick dap before sliding an arm around your waist, pulling you closer.

Jamal, wide-eyed but still trying to save face, stammered, “W-Well, I just meant—uh—y’know—hypothetically—”

Oscar chuckled, squeezing your waist affectionately. “Hypothetically, you two should stop flirting with my girl before you end up doing her laundry for a week.” Ruby gulped, muttering, “Please call me Ruben…” under his breath as Cesar shook his head, barely containing his laughter.

You leaned into Oscar, smirking at the whole situation. “Told y’all, babies,” you teased, poking Jamal’s arm playfully.

“Well, I don’t see y’all getting outta here,” Oscar said, his voice dripping with playful menace. “I’m guessing you do wanna do her shit, huh?” Though his tone was teasing, you knew how those boys worked—anything Spooky said, they took it seriously.

Ruby’s eyes went wide, his confidence crumbling. “No, no, Mr. Oscar, we’ll be on our way!” he blurted, grabbing Jamal by the shirt and practically dragging him along. Jamal barely had time to protest as Ruby sped-walked down the sidewalk, both of them desperately trying to put as much distance between themselves and Oscar as possible.

Oscar watched them go, amusement lighting up his face. He looked back at Cesar, who was still standing there, shaking his head at the whole scene. “Tell your lil homies to stay away from my girl, aight?” Oscar said, a smug smirk playing on his lips. Cesar chuckled, shrugging as if this wasn’t the first time he’d seen Ruby and Jamal talk themselves into trouble. “They just don’t listen,” he exclaimed, shaking his head before jogging off to catch up with the pair, who had already managed to scare themselves around the corner of the block.

You laughed, playfully slapping Oscar’s chest. “You’re cruel, they’re only just babies,” you exclaimed with a grin, still amused by how quickly Ruby and Jamal had fled. Oscar raised an eyebrow, his arms wrapping around your waist as he pulled you closer. “Babies or not, they better know whose girl you are,” he teased, leaning in to press a soft kiss to your forehead. “Can’t have them thinking they got a shot.”

“Please,” you chuckled, looking up at him, “they wouldn’t know what to do with me even if they tried. You saw how they panicked.”

Oscar smirked, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on your back. “Yeah, but I saw how you handled it. Making them nervous with that smile of yours, huh?” He teased. You rolled your eyes, leaning into his embrace. “Oh, so now it’s my fault?”

“It’s always your fault,” he teased, kissing the top of your head before letting his hands fall to your hips. “But that’s why I keep you around.”

“Oh, is that right?” you laughed, giving him a playful shove before stepping out of his hold. “Maybe I’ll start hanging out with them more, see what happens.” You shot back with a smug smile, clearly joking. Oscar let out a dramatic scoff, “You wouldn’t dare.” he grumbled. You grinned at his mock outrage, your laughter filling the quiet street as the sun continued its lazy descent over Freeridge, casting long, golden shadows around you both.

[bambinafangirls]

last night i had a dream that i started dating ruby martinez (the character)?!?! he took me to mcdonalds for a mcflurry, and on the way there i turned to him and said "at least you found someone shorter than you”?!?!

[mochi-chan-2006]

Giving my Kai and Ruby them a new project (To make them look like their mom Molly from Aftermath)

(Meaning from an alternate universe.)

For those who don't know, this is what their mom looks like (in new dresign).👌

Aftermath belongs to: @askkassandragf-v-2 / @hello-neighbor-three-aus

Kai and Ruby belongs to: me

[journalforamerica]

On My Block

On My Block is a coming-of-age story that works through the battles that come from living in the hood. Jamal, Monse, Reuben, and Cesar are a crew, best friends from before the show began. They’re each from different backgrounds, Monse having grown up without a mom, Jamal who has been living a lie to make his parents proud, Reuben (Ruby) who is too smart for his own good, and Cesar whose family is part of the local gang and in turn, force him into that lifestyle. This story relates to the screenings and readings by establishing a unique perspective with diversity at its core. 

From top to bottom: Ruby Martinez, Cesar Diaz, Jamal Turner, and Monse Finnie.

The characters throughout the show focus on their ability to be friends against hardships. The first season focuses on Cesar and his life inside the gang. The crew knows that this life isn't for Cesar and they do everything to help him. This type of life they live all relates to a cultural identity: a shared home, language, and even cultural barriers. Cesar, Jamal, Ruby, and Monse would do everything to protect one another, even if it meant danger for themselves. I think that speaks to their ability to adapt to their rough environment which can be attributed to the stereotypes that come with being Hispanic and Black.

Although this show focuses on four main characters, one character, Monse stands out among the rest. Monse identifies as multiracial: she’s Black, Latinx, and White. This weekly reading is about multiracial and mixed-persons. Being mixed in this country has many connotations and the article addresses how many students struggle with their cultural identity because they are multiracial. For example, in the NYTimes article written by Susan Saulny she writes, “..But, he continued, “I don’t even like to identify myself as a race anymore. My family has been pulling me in two directions about what I am. I just want to be a person.”.” (Saulny, 2011) It can be hard not knowing as well, Monse didn’t grow up knowing her mom or her heritage, but learning about that side also gave her a new perspective. She got to appreciate both sides, which is very similar to the reactions the students got when they realized they could celebrate themselves, not based on what they identify as, but just because they are there. UWM’s own Professor Gregory Jay once stated, ““Race,” then, can be socially constructed by marginalized groups as a vehicle for self-understanding, political resistance, and cultural affirmation.” (Jay, NA) Professor Jay means that groups like Monse’s can view race as a common ground rather than a diverging point.

GIF: Cesar (the one with the gun) was threatened (by the guy in the jacket) in a drive-by. The one in the jacket pulled a gun on him. Cesar's brother determined Cesar's best bet at living would be killing the other guy first. This isn't what Cesar wants. This scene depicts what I think can be seen in real life. I've never experienced it, but drive-bys and gang violence are real. They happen, and this scene shows what can occur if someone doesn't really want to participate but is at risk if they don't.

This next scene (shortened on YouTube), is an honorable mention for me. When it comes to racial identity or ethnic identity, this show doesn't explicitly touch on those topics. It's a given when the show features an entirely diverse main cast. However, this scene specifically plays into the intersectionality that was explored in this course. Socioeconomic status is always a topic that arises when dealing with racial disparity and identity. The Halloween scene is the first time the audience sees the characters outside the hood. They go to Brentwood, the preppy, rich neighborhood. The people in this neighborhood are almost entirely white and of a higher socioeconomic status than the main characters. As the scene will show, there's hostility between the poor and the rich kids based mainly on where they grew up and how they lived. I mentally noted this scene specifically as being one that screams importance regarding racial identity and status.

Citations:

Saulny, S. (2013, February 5). More young Americans identify as mixed race. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/us/30mixed.html

"Terms for Multicultural Studies: Defining "Race", "Ethnicity", and "Nationality" - Prof. Gregory Jay

[thrumples]

found out by accident via the tags on my prev reblog that there is a character named ruby martinez from some show i’ve never heard of and lemme say that i did Not know she existed until today. if you see me posting about a ruby martinez it’s my OC. that being said when the tags auto filled to “ruby martinez x reader” it gave me the fright of my life

[soul-music-is-life]

Watching your shit show and waiting for the next plot twist

Tag yourself....

I'm Jamal....

...except when I'm Abuelita:

BONUS Bonus: When you're watching with your bestie: