thecjonowelford

[thecjonowelford]

📬A Letter.

RECIPIENT ADDRESS:

Nathan Crane ( @nathancrvne ) Harlem St. Cafe Blue Harbor Illinois

RETURN ADDRESS:

CJ Ono-Welford Apartment 3 Caffelicious Coffee Shop Blue Harbor Illinois

Hi again Mr Crane, its me CJ but I think you know that by now!

I saw in the paper that your looking for entrenaier enterainers entertainers at the club and I think Im pretty enter tain ing !!!

I can do tricks on my board OBVIOUSLY and also dance and moon walk and also rap but only Eminem and only on karryokie karaoke at Mic Drop. Do you think thered let you borow there set up for my set?

Would I need to awdishon audition or is it a done deal because were like friends?

Cant wait to here from you dude!

Lots of love,

CJ x

[thecjonowelford]

It was nice that the woman just sort of followed him, because a lot of people really didn’t take CJ seriously, for like, whatever reason. Of course, not having this authority all the time made him kinda inexperienced in what to do next. But if he was anything, it was quick…ish on his feet. 

“Yeah sure dude!” He waited until they were safely in the dance room, where their conversation couldn’t be heard by anyone else. Never being able to keep still, CJ walked over to the wal lof full-length mirrors, arms hooking around the barre. “Oh, basically, just need to look like I’m chatting to customers. Keep my manager happy.”

Believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see. 

That family mantra of sorts (or maybe it was more of a warning?) perked up its head the second a hand landed on her arm, chased by the words ‘don’t be scared’. Mara wasn’t scared, but she was wary. In her experience acts of reassurance were more often than not lies. 

Call her curious, though. He didn’t look threatening—not that the observation meant anything—so she nodded once and followed into the empty studio.

Rather than tensing or bracing for impact she let her limbs go loose and fluid. Ready. For what, she wasn’t sure, and the irony wasn't lost on her that now, hiding out in small town Illinois, she felt more on guard than she ever had within the 'family business'. 

One brow lightly arched, head canted to the side, she kept her gaze locked on his face. “Can I help you?” 

[thecjonowelford]

Okay, that was fair enough, CJ thought. Would he be bugged out if someone he never met before came up to him to say ‘don’t be scared’? Maybe, depending on who was instructing him. The creepy little girl from The Ring? Hell yeah! But CJ didn’t think he looked like the girl from The Ring, even if he was overdue for a haircut, hand subconsciously running through the shaggy dark locks of his hair. 

“Well…do you feel scared?” He double checked, because if she didn’t, who was the trainer to say it wasn’t because he told her not to be? “It’s nothing bad! Maybe! But if the dude who leaves that office comes out, can you cry or something?” He nodded towards the office door he had just exited out of.

The gym had become something of a comfort to Dani since moving back to her home town. She had never spent much time here before. In high school you could not catch her inside anywhere that had the word fitness or gym in the title. She was not someone who worked out. She didn't run, didn't lift weights. None of that. But in college she had taken a yoga class for a semester and fallen in love with the activity. The deep stretches and meditation had her leaving feeling better, not just physically but mentally as well. And now that she was back home, she needed that kind of solace. So the gym had become her happy place. She went to stretch and walk on the treadmill or stair master, but mostly to partake in a yoga or pilates class. She had just gotten out of a class and was in the process of getting a few more deep stretches in before heading home for the day, when she was approached. "Gonna be so honest, starting a statement with 'don't be scared' isn't exactly comforting." Not moving from where she was on the floor, Dani looked at the man and asked. "What's happening?"

[thecjonowelford]

Honestly, CJ was relieved. He was fully expecting the woman who looked like she was getting ready to warm-up for a full body workout to tell him to get lost, or whatever. But she seemed pliant enough, so CJ would take it. “Uh….this way.” He took the lead, into the currently empty pilates studio with the big windows that looked out to the rest of the gym floor; just public enough that if the skateboarder was asked after, people could tell the truth: he was talking to a member. Whatever conclusions his manager came to, well, that was their business. 

“This isn’t like…nothing bad, I just have to do like…check-ins. You a regular member here?” Should he give a heads up in case his boss walked by and he suddenly had to turn like…tough? Hmm, it depended on how well this lady’s acting was. “Or is this like…a trial period?”

Izzy was staring at herself in the mirror. It probably seemed vain to anyone looking, but vanity was not exactly hard to come by in a place like this. Let them think what they wanted. She was looking at her body, not to admire it, or to criticize it, but to appreciate it. To hope. With any luck, this body might be able to create a whole new human soon. It was terrifying... but hope usually was.

She was tapped on the shoulder by a trainer she only recognized in passing. He had a look of mischievous adventure in his eyes that snapped her easily out of her obsessive staring. She paused for only the shortest of beats to think about it, but then swung her pilates bag back over her shoulder, and nodded.

"Yes sir," she smirked, and whispered, "Where are we going?"

[thecjonowelford]

CJ liked Sadie. And he trusted her, mostly. He thought they had a good time together, and she never seemed phased (or was it…fazed? He was never quite sure…) about the shenanigans he often ended up being involved in. So, at least picking her as his target, for lack of a better word, made him like 97% sure she wouldn’t blab to his manager on him. However, he didn’t say anything until the door of the class studio shut behind them, and he glanced through the windows, then backed to her. “Someone’s been stealing stuff… or so I heard. Like, total mystery. So funny that you called me Sherlock, because I need you to be the other guy…um, the dude from The Hobbit. Bilbo!” 

Sadie, who had just finished her fifth attempt to untangle her earphones, barely glanced up from the floor when CJ appeared in her peripheral vision. She didn’t need to hear what he was saying to know he was up to some ridiculously dramatic nonsense. Honestly, she kind of wanted to laugh. She yanked her earphones free, giving him a once-over, before rolling her eyes dramatically. "Oh, yeah, sure. Lead the way, Sherlock," she said, standing up with a half-sarcastic, half-amused smirk. She followed him, dragging her feet slightly, because if she was gonna get roped into this nonsense, she was going to do it on her own terms. "I feel like I should be aware what my potential complicit involvement entails CJ. What the heck is going on?"

[thecjonowelford]

aurora nightclub. ft. jeanie ramachandran ( @jeanieinabxttle )

In the spirit of the holiday season, CJ's ban from entering Aurora had been temporarily lifted, allowing the skateboarder back into the club on probation. This, naturally, had come with the condition he remained on his best behaviour, and then Marvin would consider trusting him again. It meant no stealing decor or props, no property damage, no trespassing (including attempting to climb up the walls), and most importantly: a three-drink rule.

"So...if I order a flight of shots, that doesn't count as one drink?" He double-checked with Jeanie as she worked behind the bar. "That counts as like...more than one?" He frowned, because the math didn't sound right there. "What about if you pour a beer into a cocktail, does that count as one drink?"

[thecjonowelford]

— powerpulse gym & yoga studio. open. ( @bluestarters ) — capped. please no longer reply to this open as of 25th november 2024.

Leaving his manager’s office, CJ thought he was doing a pretty good job of looking miserable, like the verbal lashing he had just received regarding some missing equipment had affected him. Truly, he didn’t get what the big deal was — it was just a few dumbbells, and they looked sick in the little elf hats he made for them, sitting on his and Seb’s fireplace — but if he looked too unbothered, he’d probably get fired. Being on his second strike was bad enough.

Still, he denied, denied, denied having anything to do with the uncounted weights, claiming he saw ‘some dude’ suspiciously hanging around the area a few weeks ago. Technically not a lie, as CJ was some dude, and he caught a glance of himself in the floor length mirrors as he bagged them up. Still, it was his ‘mission’ to catch the culprit, and in an effort to look like he was doing his job, tapped the first person he came across on the gym floor, gesturing to the empty studio room that held classes. "Don't be scared. I just need you to come with me for a minute."

[thecjonowelford]

A lot of places made CJ feel like he had to leave. Usually because he was being “too loud” or “disrupting the peace” or “damaging property”. So it was nice to be somewhere where his company seemed to be reciprocated. “Do you do like…everything muffins? Like all the toppings mashed together. It’d be so sick. If not, blueberry.” After a beat, hearing a voice that sounded like his sister, quickly added, “Please and thank you!” 

“I mean, I will once the conversation starts getting lame. But it’s pretty insightful.” A word he had learned from watching TV. Who said you never learned anything from that?! “Y’know The Brave Little Toaster? Like, seventy…seven, point, six, percent sure that’s my toaster. In his retirement.”

sofia raised an eyebrow at the customer's confession, a soft laugh as she busiest herself with his coffee order. she was grateful for the break in repetition, the slew of the same orders over and over again, small talk and rushed thank yous before they'd disappear out the door. the light comedy was surely appreciated. "well, you certainly came to the right place!" the small woman cheered, nodding her head to the case next to them with her baked goods on display. "what kind of muffin are you feeling? blueberry, chocolate chip? i'll find the biggest one we have, just for you," she grinned, setting his coffee onto the counter top once it was done, ringing the items through the till. "maybe you should get your toaster checked out, you know – if it's talking to you," she smiled.

[thecjonowelford]

FRIENDS – 5.11: The One With All the Resolutions

[thecjonowelford]

@sebastianvora

@jeanieinabxttle

Psych – 5.12: Dual Spires

[thecjonowelford]

Even despite his fear of being turned into some type of witch soup, CJ can’t help but split his face into a toothy grin at Seb’s assurances on his skills. The thing is: he’d inexplicably trust Sebastian with the whole wide world, if he could offer his room-spouse it. Guess that’s what being married meant, in the grand scheme of things.  “Dude that’s, like, the nicest thing, anyone’s ever said to me. Forreal.” Maybe there’s been other compliments here and there, but none of them shine a flashlight to Seb (he’s pretty sure that’s the phrase, even if someone would say candle, which makes no sense because electricity got invented like 500 years ago). 

“I think bong water is yummier than this gel shit, dude. But like, you’re so smart. People just aren’t on your level, man — wasting their money on inedible sea gel when diner burgers are already cooked and bagged up ready to go!” And speaking of ready to go, he slung his shoulders around his husband’s shoulders. “Let’s fucking…blow this popsicle stand or whatever.”

— The End.

Okay, well — like most generally innocuous activities in life, maybe Sebastian’s too high for this. Maybe popping a few edibles before what was supposed to be a quick and easy grocery trip was a bad idea, because now he can only focus on the hypothetical scenario of an angry witch on a skateboard trying to trap all the patrons. Which then, of course, leads his brain into thinking about CJ having to engage in some sort of skate-battle to save them, and then he thinks about the logistics ... like if they can even fit on one skateboard together in order to skate by the door, if the witch even knows how to do any tricks, and he’s kind of lost the real point of the conversation by the time he’s done thinking about it.

“You’re more skilled though, Ceej!” he remarks sincerely, the edge of his lips tipping upwards into a goofy smile. “I know that in, like, my heart or whatever — never seen a witch skate, don’t need to.”

He’s about to comment on the whole Satan and Jesus thing, about to say that CJ’s a whole lot nicer than the Devil himself — and y’know, on that basis, maybe his point still stands — when his roommate’s easily distractible mind leads them to burgers. And he, obviously, has no choice but to agree. Burgers sound fucking dope. “Oh, yeah — please, dude. Diner burgers are so much yummier than this gel shit, I bet. Maybe we can just like, order extra and take some home with us? I dunno why more people just don’t do that, grocery shopping fuckin’ blows.”

[thecjonowelford]

— crave & co. ft. sofia escobedo ( @dazeddreams ) 

So, CJ was maybe bad at looking after himself. Just a little bit. It wasn’t that he didn’t love himself or whatever, sometimes there were just more fun things to do rather than boring tasks doing laundry, or grocery shopping, or sleeping a full night. Also, what was the definition of looking after oneself anyway? CJ was happy, that’s what people wanted to be in life, right? 

Still, he had gone a couple of days without sleeping, choosing to stay up and get high, either filling the hours with movie marathons or video game sessions, too into these other worlds to notice the change of the inky black sky breaking into a bright new dawn. And he decided to combat this by — instead of going to bed — to order the biggest coffee and pastry he could.  "My toaster was definitely talking to me this morning." He yawned out to the barista as he made his order, “Telling me I needed, like, a muffin the size of a baseball glove, if you got one!” 

[thecjonowelford]

CJ: ud B a gud hamster CJ: id roll u in d weel 😃 CJ: if u eva get arested den call me dude id bale u out

Hudson: sure pal Hudson: idk never thought about it actually Hudson: maybe a hamster Hudson: if there was like no risk of getting arrested then yea i prob would

[thecjonowelford]

CJ didn't think the process seemed like it would take as long as Liam was saying it would. He’d call someone up, they’d see how Liam clearly needed a dog, and then CJ had a new furry friend. Simple. “Want me to like, call them?” He offered, “I’m sick at convincing people for things. I have like twenty McRib coupons right now.” Of course, he needed to check the expiry date…

He glanced at his friend, frowning slightly, not being able to help the niggling feeling something else was up with Liam rather than his dilemma (and was it really) of getting a service animal. So, in true friendship fashion, he kicked him in the shins. “What’s up dude? It’s not really the dog is it?” He might have not been booksmart, barely passed as street smart, but he was smart in one thing: vibes.

liam only waved cj away, knowing better than to trusting him with anything scientific. "you having teeth like a bear is more likely than you knowing why you have a lactose intolerance," he replied snootily. "you're so full of shit, dude." the ice cream had begun to melt and liam quickly licked where it had spilled over his fingers. it tasted just as good melted. "i mean, i might get a dog," liam hurried to say. "but the process is really long because i have to show them that i need one and i think i kinda shot myself in the foot by ignoring my issues for so long." hopefully that wouldn't damage his chances. "it would be awesome. and fuck off, dude, don't just say stuff like that."

[thecjonowelford]

FRIENDS 4.14 – "The One with Joey's Dirty Day"

[thecjonowelford]

It’s kind of scary just how well Clem knows him, mouth open to explain how cool a flying house would be, pouting at the real explanation. That sounded boring — how was that different from any other house, really? Every house he lived in had sections, they were called rooms. “Oh. Well, maybe your family isn't rich enough for a flying house anyway.” He murmurs almost petulantly. He glances at her curiously when she bans Hunter from coming with them to live in Paris. “Why? What’d he do?” His interactions with Seb’s brother had been short but sweet, but then again sometimes people liked others people didn’t, and vice versa. He would still never get Phoebe’s love for Matty fucking Foster after all.

He sits patiently as Clem has the audacity to actually do her job, waiting expectantly for his metaphorical gold star — and physical prizes — his smug grin falling off his face. “Um…schmorange…ba…morange, tr-tryorange….plorange.” He stammers out, struggling to push the sounds out. “But, like, at least you get it. Words are just made up. My Sofu tried to teach me Japanese a while ago and I am like, convinced he was making shit up to fuck with me. What can I have for my free drink?” A prize was a prize, after all.

Clementine’s definitely seen the movie CJ’s talking about. She also definitely saw it while high off her ass and remembers absolutely nothing about it, save for the rat. Still, she waves off CJ’s concerns about spoilers, and instead focuses on his other request. “Sure,” she says of him living with her. “I assume the house’ll be big enough to have, like, wings,” she holds up a finger, as if stopping CJ before he can pipe up. “Not actual wings, CJ, like, different sections in the same house,” she explains, though she’s not sure if that’s actually an accurate description of what she means. Could be, couldn’t be. She’s never been in a house big enough to have wings, anyway, what does she fucking know?

“Anyway, it’ll be big enough for the both of us,” she pauses for a second, nose wrinkled. “Or I guess the three of us, if you’re gonna bring your husband along. His brother can’t come, though,” she warns him, annoyed at how quickly her cheeks flush at the thought of Hunter Vora anywhere near her. That motherfucker still makes her feel like a schoolgirl, and she doesn’t even like men. She’s just embarrassed he made her think she did, for a minute there.

She listens as CJ explains the syrup, then shakes her head once when he finishes. “Don’t have it, then,” she tells him. “Never heard of it. Tell you what, though, I’ll be sure to pick some up next time I’m at Walmart just for you,” she nods over at someone hailing her further down the bar. “Gimme a sec,” she tells CJ, leaving him for a minute to work on his orange list. Once everything is settled with the other patron, she comes back and takes the receipt paper CJ happily hands her, giving it a look-see. It takes her an admittedly embarrassing amount of time to realize CJ’s just added every letter of the alphabet to the beginning of the word, and she’s mostly shocked she expected anything else, really.

Giving him a look, she says, “Even if I were to count these as words — and I’m willing to, ‘cause all words are fuckin’ made up anyway — I did say thirty,” she holds up the paper to face him, taps at the word ‘zorange.’ “These are twenty-six.” She sets the paper down and shakes her head in mock disappointment, though there’s a small amused smile threatening to break through the facade. “Guess that only gets you one drink on the house, pal.”

[thecjonowelford]

Though the weather hadn’t been the best, there had been enough warm days to justify CJ spending most of his free time down refining his skills. It was nice to just be in the moment and to truly enjoy something he loved, and a bit of fresh air never hurt either. Also, it was nice to be considered as someone special in these circles; a few of the kids recognised him for his amateur skate career, asking for tips or demonstrations. He had just finished showing one gaggle of pre-teens a trick easy enough for their skill-set when the familiar voice interrupted them. “Oh hey dude!” He called up at Charlize, frowning in confusion. “I’m not hiding, I’m right here.”

Charlie was enjoying a sunny afternoon stroll. With no particular destination in mind, she wandered around the town and found herself watching the kids at the local skate park. After sitting and observing for about fifteen minutes, she spotted a familiar face on a skateboard. “Hey, CJ!” she called out as she rose from her spot and approached the edge of the rink. “Where have you been hiding? Are you quietly avoiding me?” (@thecjonowelford)