asher-finch

[asher-finch]

continued from here. @evaniemay

“Don’t threaten me with a good time, Ev – I’m gonna do it and you know it,” Asher teased, a smirk on his lips along with a raise of his brows to emphasize what he was saying. “Man, I’d get so many tips,” he sighed as if he was already dreaming up the rather unlikely scenario. As much as Asher liked running his mouth, he rarely pulled through. While he’d been blessed, or cursed, with a big mouth, he knew that he wasn’t exactly the most intimidating and would often back track but that didn’t keep him from doing so again and again.

It was funny to Asher sometimes, to know that not everyone had grown up the way he did and that while he could do whatever he wanted for the most part, sometimes he’d longed for the structure. The rules and boundaries others had. There was a carelessness and disinterest that came with his freedom and in a way, it had shaped him to be exactly who he was now. He couldn’t help but wonder if he’d have a proper education. A job that paid more than the two he somehow tried to keep up with and yet, never really found the motivation to do more than what was asked of him. Asher was sure there were pros and cons for every situation though, so he couldn’t bring himself to care too much. “Nah, I just know how to fake it,” he joked, shrugging. He’d never been good at accepting compliments. “Oh yeah and it’s all good until you realize you’re actually conscious and it’s your reality so that kinda sucks sometimes, there's no way to deny that. But hey, it’s home. It’s where I grew up so…you get used to it,” he added. “Sounds like this isn’t your average growing up experience though, huh?”

[asher-finch]

the trailer park wasn’t somewhere that evanie frequented , but she wasn’t about to turn down the opportunity of a new friendship simply due to unfamiliarity . unfamiliarity peppered every aspect of her life ; when she left alabama for new mexico , a blind spin of the dice , she had been plunged into a world endlessly removed from what she was used to . whether she was ready or not , the redhead would never know if she didn’t take that jump — everything good in her life had been grown from the seed of her leaving on an impromptu , solo adventure , so why should her luck run out here ?? “ who knows whether it’s your thing or not ?? i might be the next tony hawk , and you might be the next tim mcgraw . you’ll never know if you don’t don some boots and let me spin you around the back of a barn , “ the very idea had her snickering behind her clasped knuckles . she would need to acquire a pair of cheap ropers for asher as payback for whatever cuts and scrapes she was about to litter her body with from their skateboarding session . evanie-may knew , from now , that the nights they were stationed together at the wild pony would be filled with giggly anecdotes , jokes that only they knew , side-glances and comments born from a moment of bravery . “ i can’t say i’ve ever swung by the trailer park , y’know . greystone isn’t the most glamorous of places in the world , but at least i know my roof will always be right where i left it . i’ve heard some horror stories , “ although she wasn’t one to judge — her home had been the back of her car for the extent of the drive across states . she was sure her eggshell-blue baby would be okay without her if they stepped away for a few hours of well-meaning fun . 

The trailer park was all Asher knew and frankly, likely all he’d ever know, so as much as people talked about it, it’d always be home to him. He wasn’t exactly the type to crave change and maybe that had to do with his upbringing. As long as it felt safe and easy, Asher was as happy as one could be. He’d seen a bunch of people come and go just to return eventually – some had left to build a life outside of Roswell. To go to college and seek out what they really wanted from life but Asher had always been very easy to please and happy where he was at so even though those late night thoughts that popped up every now and then told him otherwise, he wouldn’t change a thing right now.

“Shit, can you imagine?! Me doing the whole cowboy thing? Next thing you know, I’m gonna show up to work in a cowboy hat and some boots. Maybe even some chaps if I’m feeling naughty,” he teased with a terribly awkward wink before he snorted and shook his head. “You didn’t miss much, though we do have some killer lawn parties if you wanna call them that,” he told her with a grin. “It’s not too bad,” he mumbled. It was home after all but if anyone knew how rough it could get out there, it was Asher. “You learn how to handle it and yourself,” he told her with a nonchalant shrug. “No one wants to steal from a trailer that looks like it’s gonna fall apart the moment you close the door a little too hard,” he half-joked.

[asher-finch]

If you saw Asher walking down the street, maybe the first impulse wouldn't be to think that the young man was interested in any sorts of greenery and floral in the slightest but truth be told, he liked having something thriving in his trailer for a change. Whether or not the plants that were (un)lucky enough to come into his possession were to stay alive, was a whole other story and so Asher tended to drop by the Stalk Market Florist whenever he had some extra cash to spare for a new arrival. Snorting at Meilani's words, Asher merely offered her a smirk. "Hey, I'm not telling my sins as long as you keep them hush, too," he told her with a raise of his brows before he dragged a hand through his shaggy hair. "Obviously all the plants I ever purchased from here are all good and alive and totally clogging up my trailer by now. I don't know what you could be possibly talking about," he told her rather dramatically before leaning in, a hand coming up to rest over his chest, just above heart. "Meilani. There's just one thing you should know about me...I will never ever talk about my body count. It's a vow I made to myself and it covers every single aspect of my life. Gotta stay consistent and all."

Closed Starter; @asher-finch​. Closed Location; The Stalk Market Florist.

With the chime of the door, her gaze lifts from the bouquet she’s currently in the midst of wrapping, calling out a warm greeting to the patron who’d just entered. It’s only when she finishes her presentation and delivers it to the customers before her that they move to leave and allow her chocolate orbs to land onto the familiar face, warm smile inching further upwards as amusement tugged at it. His arrival could only mean one thing. “You know…I’m pretty sure my kuia thinks all of your stops in here are for new additions rather than replacements. She would be heartbroken if she knew the truth and you would likely be banned.” A half truth, knowing her grandmother was too soft a woman to ban anyone who hadn’t committed a proper offense but sure that the male before her wouldn’t escape without a stern lecture on taking better care of his plants. “How many times is this now? I mean…I don’t know exactly the requirements to be listed as a serial killer but…I imagine that the plants most certainly consider you one.”

[asher-finch]

“ okay , “ with a dimpled grin , evanie-may pulled herself upright and threw a strand of fire-red hair over her shoulder , “ maybe i am inviting myself , then . i think it sounds pretty cool having fun in the skatepark . i haven’t been around there , actually — i have two left feet with that sort of thing . you should see me trying to line dance !! “ it was borderline comedic ; she had been taught by her mother , white cotton dresses swinging above her knees as she was swung from person to person , side-stepping in her sandy boots . if let loose on a skateboard it was inevitable that she would fall and scuff her chin on the tarmac within seconds of her attempt , without even trying to perform a trick ( or anything more than forward motion ) . “ as long as you don’t mind little ol’ me tagging along , i think it could be fun , “ the woman couldn’t count many friends on her five fingers . her sister didn’t count — she was blood , and therefore shackled to at least liking her — and so asher , on the borderline between friend and co-worker , was somebody she was going to cling to if , and when , she could . meeting asher in the dark , sweaty bar had propelled their status as two strangers into something other , something unable to be placed , a bulldozed lot ready to build foundation upon . “ lead the way !! i’ll be right alongside you . “ 

Holding up his hands in defense, Asher shot Evanie a broad grin, shaking his head. “Hey, there’s no shame in that. I invite myself by just showing up – you got way better manners, Ev,” he teased. “I mean, it’s nothing super special but it’s a good place to hang out,” he added with a shrug before he raised his brows. “Line dance’s not my thing either but I can skate and do some basic as shit tricks so if you wanna try again, I got a spare board,” Asher offered. Granted, he was by no means a pro at – well, anything – but he did know his way around the park at least. “Nah, I don’t mind. Some company’s good either way,” Asher told her genuinely. He knew his way around town – for better or for worse – he knew those who hung out behind trailers and those who stirred up trouble. Maybe he’d simmered down a bit but he couldn’t help but enjoy the looks and side-eyes he got whenever he rode past some elderly citizens. He didn’t let a lot of people close as it was but Evanie seemed harmless that way. Both of them familiar enough but without asking questions that felt too personal and that’s just how Asher liked it. He had to admit that a little rush of excitement shot through him at the idea of having a new person to hang out with outside of work and with that, he shot up. “We just gotta swing by the trailer park real quick if you don’t mind but then we’re all good to go,” he told her, clapping his hands contently.

[asher-finch]

the friendship between co-workers was a connection that begged for a scientific explanation . there had to be a reason , below the surface , as to why two individuals trapped in a dark room for hours upon hours felt the need to discuss their life goals , their deepest fears , and their embarrassing moments all in the liminal space between orders . for the most part evanie-may kept her head down throughout her shifts at the pony , pulling pints and engaging in painful smalltalk , but it made things easier when asher was on shift and they could , at least to some extent , relieve the pressure . “ it’s nice , “ she responded , and there was truth laced in her spoken words — they were often plunged into the low-light and interrupted by swirling orders ; here asher and evanie could speak . really speak . it felt , for the first time since knowing one another , that they had finally been heard . “ for once i’m off , thank god — do you have anything good planned ?? god knows i need a distraction from all this ... “ a gesture to her brain . of late , her thoughts had been too damn loud to even begin to track , a whirlwind of chaos strung together by neurons and nerves . once she spoke the words , though , evanie was immediately second guessing herself ; he doesn’t want you there . he thinks you’re a loser . he’s only talking to you because you’re stuck there . “ not that i’m inviting myself . “

Asher had always worked the odd jobs around town for as long as he could remember. There was always a ten dollar bill to be earned, whether he was helping out the old folks with their garden or other handy work (that quite frankly, he was absolutely terrible at) or if it was a quick shift at the local grocery store. Nonetheless, balancing two jobs was nothing new to him and yet, he was glad he got to work somewhere close to two of his favorite things - people he actually liked and booze. Evanie was easy to get along with and he was always glad to spend that extra time with her but now, outside of the bar and outside of any establishment he frequented often, it was almost a different dynamic to have. At the pony, he didn't have to think twice about whether or not it was okay to bother her, he just did - it was in his nature after all but now a part of him hoped that she wasn't just hoping for him to shut the hell up. Her words quickly silenced his mind though and he grinned widely. "Nope - I'm probably just gonna hang around the trailers and drink too much beer. Who knows, maybe I'll start some trouble with my asshole neighbor just to feel something," he half-joked, a smirk on his lips. "Or maybe I'll just hit the skate park. So many options," he joked again, shrugging before looking over to her. "I invite myself places all the time. Once you lose the shame of it, life's suddenly a lot more fun, you'll see," he added. "But hey, if you lower your expectations when it comes to anything good, be my guest."

[asher-finch]

It was no secret that Asher could be more than a handful but he didn't exactly have the desire or willpower to change that part about him, if anything, he enjoyed turning it into a personal little game he liked to play - and that mostly consisted of a round of how long can this person stand me and my bullshit before they snap? Pulling a face, Asher chose not to comment on that further. He surely wasn't a sports guy either outside of riding his skateboard or bike around town but either way, he'd never be seen running laps. Jade and him had a special kind of bond though - they gave each other a hard time more often than not but in a way, it felt mostly like tough love to him. Huffing and giving an even more exaggerated roll of his eyes, Asher tilted his head at her in a mocking manner. "I'm stuck in my teenage boy foods moment - I tried," he defended himself, gesturing at the spread on the table before snorting. "You? Nice? Is that even possible or are you in pain? Blink twice if you're in need of medical attention, J."

Jade had to resist the urge to roll her eyes and chide him further, be a smarmy asshole type - well more of one, lest she give herself a bad name. "I hated running at first too," she snorted at the thought since that was forever ago, "Granted, I was... five." Poking fun at his habits, she could only hope some of her advice would reach him, sooner or later. In her own way, she quite liked him, though one would think otherwise based on how they interacted. Almost always bickering. "Not everyone gotta be a green goddess green juice kinda girly," she mimicked his voice the best she could. "Just don't be having McDs and junk food on the daily. I do like a dessert or two once a while. Balances it out nicely." Raising an eyebrow, she had to take in a deep breath. "Oh Ashy boy, you don't even wanna get me started 'cuz my sweet, I could go on all. damn. day. But I'm gonna be nice this once..."

[asher-finch]

“Three hundred and sixty-five or something,” he says, acting as if it was a struggle to recall. It’s funny, the way he can only be a year older but feel this much older-- maybe it was the alcohol. Or maybe it was the painful sobriety on Leo’s breath. “Get a better job then. I’ve got plenty of spaces on the construction team if you’re looking for some cash,” he offers. Leo had worked his way up, going from nightshift to dayshift, to being someone that people looked to for answers. Maybe it also had to do with him being the boss’ almost-son-in-law. “Fine, I’ll take the beer. But you’re going to regret that-- I’ll remember. And now you owe me. Bud Light’ll be good.”

With an impressed nod, Asher accepted the number without questioning it in the slightest. He hadn't been known to pay attention to, well, much of anything but numbers he'd never had the time or patience for. With a huff, Asher leaned in and rested his hands on each of Leo's shoulder, shaking him lightly. "Dude. Could you imagine me working in fucking construction?! That means I'd have to actually work. The pay's kinda shit at the gift shop but man, if I wanna kick it back and not bother? No one's on my ass about it aside from...well, Marlon," he hissed the name as if it physically pained him to say it out loud. Most people would've appreciated the offer but Asher could already imagine how it'd go. He'd be sore constantly and get ridiculed for not being great at doing any kind of heavy lifting. "I'll sleep on it." Asher added. He likely wouldn't but it was enough to ease his own mind and hopefully Leo's, too. "Shit - whatever. You know where to find me anyways so I'm sure we'll be even before you know it." With that, a broad grin returned to Asher's face and he motioned for Leo to come along. "Gross but yeah, you got it. One Bud Light for a nightcap, promise."

[asher-finch]

“ as true a love as can be between woman and car . “ evanie-may was far from a motor head . in all honestly she didn’t know much beyond the colour and the make of the vehicle , but that was enough : the bond had been created through hours of rolling through countryside and yelling at the top of her lungs to tim mcgraw . those moments , although inconsequential to most , flashed in her brain whenever her eyes closed , whenever her mind drifted . scrunching her nose , the woman’s head of auburn waves shook from one side to the next . “ oh , it’s okay . “ evanie had the blessing — or perhaps it was the curse — of always seeing the best in people , of shrugging off ill words or insults and blaming them on a bad day . everyone was fighting their own battles , she told herself ; who was she to say who was good , who was bad , or who was simply crushed beneath their burdens ?? there were days where she herself felt as though she was a moment away from being overcome by the weight of her crumbling world : she missed her family , she was lonely , heartbroken , and now her teal-blue baby was destined for the scrapheap . amber eyes flicked from the ceiling back to the dark-haired male opposite , shoulders rolling — how was she meant to answer such a question when nothing had been okay for ... well , in fact , she couldn’t remember the last time those dimples sunk in a true , authentic smile . “ life gets this way sometimes , i suppose . you gotta look at the bright side , right ?? like , at the very least i’ve now got another familiar face in this desert . “ 

"Man, I'm almost jealous now - wish I had that kinda love going for myself," Asher joked, a grin on his lips as he let out a sigh and he stretched out his arms and legs, happy to have some company on this otherwise rather boring day. Days off tended to be just that. Asher always found some way to occupy himself, always restless and trying to be as busy as possible but today felt a little off, so he was thankful for the distraction. It also wasn't every day that Asher Finch uttered an apology but in a way, he really did feel bad about mocking her now, even if it had been in a joking manner. He could tell there was more to the car, not that he could understand or relate even but nonetheless, Evanie seemed serious about it. He knew he could be too much and he knew that he wasn't too bright. It wasn't that he cared much about being too blunt at times either but when it came to people he enjoyed being around, he at least tried a little harder than he normally would. He leaned back in his spot, his head tilting as he brushed his hair back and out of his eyes, long overdue for a trim but who had the time and money for that? He'd do the job himself - eventually. Snorting, Asher nodded. "I guess, yeah - more often than not, honestly but no, I get it. At least we get to hang outside of the bar for once," he told her, holding out his fist for a fist bump as he grinned back at her genuinely. "You working tonight or are you off, too?"

[asher-finch]

"That's exactly right, poor fucking me," Asher complained before pushing his plate a little closer to Jade, as if to make an offering to her. "Vitamin A, B or C, either way - I didn't like it," he mumbled. Growing up on pasta with ketchup for dinner would do that to a guy but aside from that, who could afford this kind of thing several times a week? Not Asher, that was for sure. He sighed when Jade went on about the benefits of a nutritious meal before tilting his head. "Look...the juice I got was fine, I guess?" He offered, as if he owed her an excuse for his choices. "Not everyone can be a green goddess, green juice kinda girly, J. And clearly, that's not the vibe for me. But hey, if you got any pointers for my vitamin intake - shoot." Not that Asher cared much about what went into his body but ultimately, it was the thought that counted, right?

"You poor thing," Jade chided, grabbing a fork from beside her salad and taking out a small piece of the sweet potato. Smacking her lips after she was done chewing, though it was quick, she stared at him, almost perplexed. "No idea what on God's green earth you mean. That was delicious. It could use a tad more flavor, but it's packed with a ridiculous amount of Vitamin A... which is great for your eyes, and potassium which is good for your achy muscles. Need I go on...?" She asked with a sickeningly sweet smile, knowing the question was rhetorical. A social creature, she wanted to fill her battery - Asher was no exception, though she enjoyed annoying him a bit too much.

[asher-finch]

“Just a reminder that I’m only a year older than you, dude,” he reminded Asher. Of course, Leo went through enough shit to be qualified as geriatric. After his older sister managed to raise him, he also went on to help raise his three little brothers. He’d like to say that he’s not bitter at his parents for the way that they were forced to grow up and the way that they made ends meet. There’s been plenty of times that Leo would take advantage of the kindness of a friend’s home for some extras or the snack aisle not having a working camera in it. “Don’t I know it.” Leo shakes his head and reaches into his back pocket, grabbing the pack out, pulling a single cigarette out for Asher, holding it out to him. “Just remember, you said it. Take it and let’s get somethin’ to drink. I’m thinkin’ top shelf,” he smirks.

"That's like...," Asher frowned, using his fingers to count silently before shaking his head and huffing in defeat, "still a whole lotta days you got on me, dude," he deadpanned, a brow raised as if that had been a sufficient argument to bring into the conversation. To be fair, Leo had always seemed a little older than his actual age, a little more settled and wise in a way that was almost reassuring for a guy like Asher. He couldn't say he had a lot of people to look up to, if any at all, and his own family surely wasn't the greatest example for it. He was an only child. An ex-latchkey kid. He'd learned how to fend for himself but never for others. With a content hum and a nod, Asher reached for the cigarette offered to him. "Oh fuck off - you can try that again when I make top shelf money," he snorted. "A beer is in it for you for sure though," Asher half-joked, ignoring the lack of cash in his wallet.

[asher-finch]

“ well , i know that , but my girl is special !! she got me all the way from ‘bama to new mexico without even a peep , and now i’m here nursing her when she’s on death’s door … i don’t know what i’d do without her , “ the freedom that came with those four wheels was unmatched ; for evanie’s entire life she had felt as though she was too naive to break away , too sensitive to exist on her own , and although she had her sister by her side the big move proved that she was capable of hard things . sure , the woman often spent evenings beneath the covers scrolling through images of her and her ex-boyfriend , but when the hot desert air hit her face mid-afternoon on her way to a wild pony shift she was reminded that the world , that all of roswell , was hers for the taking . she just needed to reach out and take it . “ gas is expensive . that’s enough to put you off driving for life . honestly , if it wasn’t for my daddy giving me the old motor there’s no way i would’ve been able to keep it running this long . other than the fact it’s blue i couldn’t tell you one thing about her . i’m not much of a vehicle buff myself , “ although the chevrolet was pretty , and that was enough for evanie when she was cruising down roswell streets and swinging , haphazardly , into parking lots . “ it’s far from a purr . i might have to cut my losses and sling her in the scrapyard , even though that idea darn near breaks my heart just thinking about . i swear , god better have my plan out in blueprints right in front of him , “ defeated , she tipped her head back and stared at the cracks and watermarks in the ceiling , “ i don’t get how one person can be stung with such bad luck . “ 

"Filed under: things only a mother would say," Asher mocked jokingly, a smirk gracing his features as he listened to the little anecdote and to be fair, he could see Evanie's point. "That's true love, huh?" He asked, a hand over his heart and while he was still very much mocking her and her love for that vehicle, there was a glimmer of softness to be found in his glance. Maybe he was just too used to not having the kind of money for these things so the few belongings he called his own were limited and easily replaceable. He didn't own much that had emotional value and maybe his own priorities varied but he'd rather buy new clothes or a new board than worry about fixing something that'd eventually break again. Though, hearing her talk about it, he started to get it. He focused back on Evanie, snorting at her words as he gave an understanding nod. "I get that. My old folks have nothing to their name so I didn't even get a rundown version of anything. If they gave me their car, I probably wouldn't even make it to twenty-seven - it looks like it's gonna fall apart any minute," he told her, shrugging. "Man...I hope she'll make it. I'm sorry I was being a dick about it earlier, I didn't know it was scrapyard serious," Asher admitted with an apologetic grin. "Amen to that," he told her with a sigh, looking over at her with a tilt of his head. "You okay?"

[asher-finch]

Thea tucked her short little legs under her, making herself comfortable in the chair on the lawn. One benefit to coming late to these kind of parties, was that people were usually drunk or high long before she got there. If she did go ass over tea kettle on this chair, at least no one would remember it. Except Asher, and lord knows he’d never let her forget it. “I think it’s safe to say I’m weak and not exactly good at staying strong to beat the big bad cigs.” The curly haired brunette chuckled, swatting at his arm gently for his teasing tone. She didn’t mind the banter, in fact it felt more like home than most other things did. Sarcasm and playful teasing was an art form lost on some people around here and she felt like she often had to try and be two different people. Careful with her tongue in some conversations, while loose lipped in others. Asher’s teasing, while hard to pick up on at first, was always welcomed. When she first met him, his sarcasm and teasing was dry and for some they might chalk it up to him just being an asshole. But after a little while crossing paths, she liked to think she could spot the truth in his words more easily now. With the cigarette between her lips, she flicked the lighter a few times until she got a flame long enough to light the damn thing. Drawing in a smooth inhale, she tipped her head back and savoured the taste for a second before release a puff of smoke into the air. It hit the spot. From the second she inhaled she felt a calm begin to wash over her. Which she assumed was thanks to the nicotine addiction, but she tried to put why out of her head and focus on the warm content feeling in her chest for now.  Seeing Asher’s grabby hands towards the lighter, she grinned and placed it back in his palm. Still working away at her own cig while he lit another one. “It’s seriously eerie how quiet it is over there! I swear I can hear the electricity humming because there is nothing else making a noise over there. It’s enough to make your skin crawl.” She shuttered for added effect, letting her arms wiggle the horrible sound right out of her bones. “Oh yeah? It better be a good picture then. Are you going to go for your serious broody face or can I expect a wonky eye and a little tongue action instead?” She pulled a face at him to mock how she was sure the lighter would look, only stopping when she couldn’t hold back a laugh any longer.  "Almost is not good enough, Finchy.” Finding her can of beer, she took a long drink as he told her what the price would be for a rematch. “Yeah yea— and when I win again. You have to buy me one and pack of twirlers.” A 2 time winner needed something extra to commemorate their win and Thea just happened to have a big sweet tooth. When Asher’s question turned more serious she took a second to pause and really think about her answer. Her brown eyes searching for his as she finally shrugged a bit. “I’m okay, I’m just sort of in a weird place right now. I’m working on it though. You don’t have to worry, I’ll be alright.” Leaning over the edge of her chair, she let her elbow knock his in a silent thank you for checking in. “Is this the part where you tell me how you’re feeling or are you still too tough to tell me that kinda thing?” She teased, but truthfully she wanted to give him space to open up, while also making it safe for him to tell her to fuck off. The careful balance made sure she didn’t push too hard to be let in.

Throwing an arm over his eyes in a rather dramatic manner, Asher groaned. “Too weak to break the bad habits, the story of my fucking life,” he sympathized in a way that would’ve had most people throwing a punch his way but when he dropped his arm to his side again, he shot Thea a broad grin. He appreciated that she seemed to get him and while he hissed at the swat as if it’d been a proper hit, he knew it came from a place of friendship and it made him chuckle instead as he plucked out another cigarette for himself. Deep down, Asher knew he wasn’t for everyone and that was okay, sometimes he wasn’t even for himself either but in moments like these, it felt like a small reminder that a very limited number of people saw him for what he was – just a guy trying to make it around here. Life hadn’t exactly thrown him a bone when it came to anything really but he was still here and that had to count for something at least.

“Well…,” Asher mumbled, finally having secured the lighter as he flicked it to lighten his own cigarette, exhaling the smoke with a content hum as he leaned back, tucking his leg under himself as well to get a little more comfortable. Snorting, Asher shrugged, a brow raising. “Why would I spoil the surprise by telling you? You get what you get,” he teased with a smug beam before gasping in mock horror. “Remind me to never ever give you a free cigarette again if that’s how you’re gonna pay me back. Ungrateful as shit,” he muttered in disgust, though there was no heat behind it, merely the bantering tone she should be used to by now that was accompanied by another flash of teeth as he grinned.

Pulling a face at the nickname, Asher couldn't necessarily argue. He liked giving people random nicknames as well or simply addressing them with their last name just to be difficult so instead of giving her a hard time for it, he rolled his eyes once more, shaking his head as he exhaled the smoke of his cigarette into the opposite direction. "Okay so - when I win, we're gonna double that. Deal?" He asked, extending a hand towards Thea before a moment of silence settled between them. Humming, he gave another nod and took a swig of his beer before setting it down, his head rolling to the side to face her. "You know I'm always doing just great," he told her with a more subtle grin this time. It wasn't true. They both knew that but Asher wasn't good at this kind of thing. Being honest and vulnerable didn't just come to him. "But nah, I'm good. Just taking it a day at a time. Glad you're working through it but you know, if there's a time and a place to go on about it, it's a free therapy session also known as a good ol' lawn after party. Sponsored by this fun little thing called alcohol. So...you wanna talk about it?"

[asher-finch]

"'sup, hot stuff?" Asher grinned, teeth flashing in an exaggerated manner as he leaned back. He was using his fork to poke at a piece of steamed sweet potato - or squash - whatever it was, clearly not all that into it and frankly, craving a burger from the Crashdown Café instead. He might've been a grown man after all but would always have a child's palate. Pulling a face, he put his cutlery down, tilting his head at Jade. "What can I say, I'm a growing boy - gotta get my greens in," he mocked but ultimately, couldn't hide the roll of his eyes. "Seriously though...why do people pay so much fucking money for a bite of what tastes like dirt?"

a short n sweet starter for @asher-finch

"Hey stud muffin," Jade began with a sickeningly-sweet smile, slurping her newly-bought smoothie. An insult of endearment, she liked to call it, considering he was not her type. "I think I see a vegetable in whatever the fuck it is you're eating, and I got to say, I'm so proud."

[asher-finch]

“No, I don’t want to go back in there but if it’s that or hearing you fall off the stage by yourself, I’m looking out for you,” he offers. And admittedly, Leo wasn’t the kind of guy to leave a friend stranded when they needed him. He was protective, even of drunken idiots. “You like my ten year old brother, man,” he adds. “And that’s not a good thing,” Leo reminds him to ensure his point gets through the drunken hazy blur. He’s been there plenty of times, although his tendency to go to a karaoke bar is lacking. Instead, Leo usually just finds a girl to head to the bathroom or home with and have a quick nightcap. It’s not such a bad life, either way. “So you’re offering to pay for everything but you are doing it in exchange for a cigarette? -- Fine, dude,” he half-laughs, reaching into his back pocket for his cigarettes. Pulling one out and presenting it to him for a moment before clenching his hand around it again. “You’re buying, right?” he clarifies, sure not to get screwed over. “Say it.”

Waving him off, Asher snored. "I'm gonna be fine! You know, I'm not so different from an outdoorsy cat. Always find my way back home," he joked. He appreciated the concern, even if he was under the impression that it was misplaced. It wasn't. Leo knew him after all but he was merely trying to protect what was left of his pride. "All I'm hearing is that you're calling me young and you know what? I'll take that," he kept teasing. "It's fine, we can go somewhere else if you wanna," Asher offered in an attempt to not be selfish for once, though deep down it mostly came from not wanting to head home yet and hanging with Leo was a bonus to him anyways. A smirk spread across his lips, an apologetic shrug accompanying it. "Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do to make it around here," he added, happily reaching for the cigarette offered to him but quickly pulling a face. "Sure," Asher said, rather unconvincing before clearing his throat, putting his palm flat over his heart as if he was about to take an oath. "I'm a lot of things but I'm not a dirty liar, man. I hereby swear that I am buying." He paused. "In exchange for a smoke."

[asher-finch]

When people often asked about her time at college, Thea would say she’d changed her ways and was in her dorm by 6pm and studying the night away to make sure she could hold onto her scholarship. But the truth was Boston College only gave her a bigger play ground. Naturally she spoke well and wrote even better. She could talk her way out of anything and she’d yet to find an assignment she couldn’t bullshit her way through. School had come easy to her, and after a few weeks into her freshman year, she knew she could give less of herself to academia. While her nights weren’t spent in trailer parks like this, it was mostly spent in shitty student houses where the walls had more holes than windows. She found comfort in sticking with a pack, allowing herself to turn her brain off and live in the moment. Only chasing what brought her momentary joy and satisfaction. Her band of party going misfits had served her well at that time in her life. Looking around now, she thought maybe she could find that feeling again.  “Something you haven’t done in days,” she teased as she made herself comfortable. No one really knew whose chairs these were at this point. They’d been out here for as long as she could remember; they were a little broken and if you leaned back too far the little plastic legs might buckle and send you crumbling onto the patchy gravel. But they did the trick and no one around them seemed to crave anything more. “An emergency pack? I think if you reach emergency pack status that’s when people really want you to quit.” Thea chuckled softly, watching as he obliged and flipped open the pack of cigarettes. She let a comfortable silence fall between them for a second while she tried a few times to spark the lighter. Letting out a tiny “Yesssssss” once she got it lit. Her cheeks tightened as she took her first sweet inhale, her shoulders relaxing almost instantly, as if that was just the fix she needed. “No, it was too quiet in that house. Everything in my head seemed a lot louder and it’s too early in the week to deal with that.” Never once in her life had she lived somewhere quiet, until now. Growing up it was yelling and fighting, slamming doors and fists hitting walls. As a teenager and young adult, it was roommates, parties and walks of shame that filled the halls with enough noise to calm her. Not to mention the roar of sirens, cars and pedestrians that came with big city life. Being in a room where all you can hear is your own breath and thoughts was too much to bear. “Now you’re really not allowed to go to sleep. If you do, who’s lighter will I steal?” Twirling the lighter between her slim fingers, she grinned before handing it back to him. “I’d say I owe you one but I think you still owe me from when i kicked you ass in beer pong a few weeks ago.”

“Everyone knows that sleep’s for losers, Thea,” Asher insisted, leaning back in his own chair without a care in the world. Somehow, they’d always held up and he trusted that they would for another few get togethers like this. He didn’t really know what it was like to spend your time and money on comfort when it was easier to settle for what you already had sitting in whatever ditch they’d brought those chairs in from. His entire interior design choices were mostly made due to whatever was available – a strange mix of colors and fabrics that had their own charm to them. He was used to getting teased for it but it didn’t matter, not to him. He’d been raised to be content with whatever it was that he could afford. Taking a swig from his beer bottle, he hummed in confirmation before snorting and rolling his eyes at her. “It’s just for emergencies! Doesn’t mean you have to resort to it. If you’re all in, you won’t even be tempted but…here we are,” Asher mocked, not in a way that was meant to be mean but a teasing tone laced his voice.

He let her light her cigarette and put down his bottle, letting out a breath as he crossed his arms in front of his chest, a comfortable silence settling between them now that the noise around them seemed to die down and turn into a quiet hum of chatter and laughter. A sympathetic huff escaped Asher as he nodded. He got that – though there was barely a quiet hour around the trailer park. Whether it was stray cats fighting or dogs barking or families fighting, there was always something to be heard. Asher got Thea’s point though, he couldn’t imagine simply existing with his own thoughts and frankly, he couldn’t remember the last time he had to. Whether his TV was playing whatever was on or his music was on, Asher was no fan of loud thoughts himself. “Fucking Amen to that,” he muttered, making grabby hands at the lighter as he fished out another cigarette – for himself this time. He plucked it between his lips, lighting it up and taking one long drag before exhaling slowly, a content expression on his face. “I’m sure I got a spare one around somewhere. Hell, I’ll get you one made with my face on it – I saw an ad the other day,” he said, not sure if that was a generous offer or a genuine threat. “Oh come on, it was almost a tie! You’re on my list now, Rockwell. Next time, I’m kicking yours and you’ll owe me a full pack,” Asher insisted, a rather shameless request but a request nonetheless. He fell silent for a moment, backtracking what Thea had said about her mind being too loud. “Are you good though? Like…generally speaking?”

[asher-finch]

Asher had always found it funny how like moths always seemed to find the light, so did the town’s misfits. Not that he minded all that much, it was the crowd he felt most at home and comfortable with. There was no space left in his life for those who were anything but real and would rather spend their money on expensive things they didn’t need than the bare necessities. Though, he was never sure if that was a view he had due to his upbringing or if it was really his own opinion on consumerism. Frankly, he could just so afford some of the most basic things but then again, he enjoyed the freedom that came with not working himself into an early grave. In a way, he was sure that there was some nice in-between – a way to get the best out of both worlds but up until now, he hadn’t figured it out and spending his money on booze and weed didn’t exactly seem all that smart either but Asher had never claimed to be any of these things and he got by just fine – at least for the most part. Growing up with parents who always acted more like roommates than figures of authority would do that to you and now, Asher wouldn’t have it any other way. If he’d grown up sheltered, he’d missed out on a lot of fun. At least he way he saw it.

Most of the time, he didn’t let the thoughts of the what ifs get to him but every other night, when the party was over and he returned to his trailer in the dark and there was nothing surrounding him but silence, he did wonder just what kind of life he’d live had he grown up in a family that actually felt like one. A safe space where he wasn’t left to his own devices but ultimately, he stopped himself right there. His parents might not have been suited to be just that but at least he was here in this world, right?

Lawn parties weren’t exactly a special occasion around the trailer park anymore but that didn’t mean that Asher didn’t enjoy them. If anything, they made for the best nights and distractions so it was out of question to find him anywhere but there whenever someone was hosting one. His features lightened up in surprise when a familiar face settled right next to him and he snorted as he reached up to pluck the cigarette from between his lips. “What the fuck is that thing you’re speaking of?!” Asher asked, visibly appalled, though she did have a point, despite showing up just now herself. Asher didn’t question it though. He was used to the crowd and the late nights spent around here. Rolling his eyes jokingly, he pulled his pack from his jacket, flipped it open and held it out for Thea. “That’s why you always need to keep one emergency pack around, Thea!” He huffed, flicking away what had been left of his cigarette. “Amateurs.” With that, he retrieved his lighter and held it out to her as well, blinking back at her. “It never fucking works so you might as well keep it going.” Asher added before tilting his head. “Couldn’t sleep?”

location - trailer park closed starter - @asher-finch​

It was a tuesday in roswell and for most, their night would be filled with old netflix reruns and left overs. But for Thea, the mundane routine of a normal life didn’t satisfy her the way she thought it would. Growing up she’d lived with a mother who was flakey, inattentive, and more worried about her latest beau than her own kid. As she got older, she’d watch her friends interact with their parents at home. They’d ask about their kids day, have dinner ready for them, and could always be counted on to create a save haven for the neighbourhood kids. She’d longed for a home like that and promised herself she’d be like them one day. She’d be stable and have the home that everyone felt safe in… except now she was twenty five and the last place in the world she felt safe and herself was in her brothers house. It didn’t matter how many photos she put up or how many crystals she brought in to cleanse the space, everything about that place felt fake and forced. On nights when the unbearable discomfort set in, she found herself crawling out the window of the one story home and making her way to the trailer park. Safe wasn’t the word she’d use to describe that place either, but at least it was familiar and she didn’t feel like she had to pretend to be someone she’s not. 

Walking up to the trailer blaring music, she took a beer from some girl she’d met the other night and plopped down in a lawn chair next to a familiar floppy haired boy. “Do you lot ever sleep?” she asked, ignoring the irony of her asking that question at this hour. “Can I bum a smoke? I told myself I was going to quit last week but that clearly didn’t last long.” Thea leaned over the arm of her chair slightly, nearly batting her eye lashes at the boy to convince his cold dark heart to share a dart. 

[asher-finch]

the strong scent of petroleum and men’s deodorant stung delicate nostrils as she lingered in the autoshop . the woman cursed the fact that , when her father used to tinker with the truck that had been his to begin with ( lovingly passed down when she fluked a passing grade her driving test ) , she hadn’t paid attention to where he rammed his screwdriver . now she was forced to bend at the hands of strangers , to dish out extortionate prices for little more than a spare part . “ is that you saying you think i have a cool car ?? “ although her truck was old , it was far from a rust bucket ; the duck-egg blue was mottled with a few scratches and mud splashes but , other than a smattering of surface dinks , the pickup had survived two generations relatively unscathed . evanie would chalk that up to good engineering rather than careful handling ( she would insist she was a competent driver , however all bets were off when luke combs began blasting from the tinny speakers — hence the great possum incident ) . “ and yeah , it damn sure weren’t anything i did out there !! i stick to the laws of the road , “ but it was becoming evident that alabama etiquette and new mexico etiquette were not one and the same . “ i have no idea what could be the problem this time . her engine just started buzzing , and not in a good way . “

Huffing, Asher rolled his eyes. To be fair, he did think that she had a cool car but having to be anything but chill about it wasn't an option so he found it easier to settle for that as an answer. However, there was a bit of envy. He liked the color and he liked the vibe of a pickup truck, even if he had to admit that it was a little cliché coming from a small town and all. "Everyone and their mom drives a truck around here, Ev," he teased her instead. "She's not that special, relax." With that, a broad grin spread across his features and he couldn't hold back a snort. "I'm gonna be super honest here - I don't know shit about cars. My old man couldn't teach me a damn thing about them because for the most part, he got around hitch hiking or something." Or having some shady looking friends come pick him up - but Asher omitted that little fun fact from his childhood for now. "Gas is expensive," he added instead, giving a nonchalant shrug. "Right, right - as everyone does." Asher threw in - not that he'd know, really but he'd learn how to drive one day. Maybe. His attention focused back on Evanie though, his head tilting as he listened and pulled a face at the reveal of the issue. He might not know much about cars but he knew that engines could be tricky, especially when it came to repairs. "I heard they should purr if they work right - buzzing doesn't sound good...not that I'd know what's wrong with it but you know...I'm just here to expand my horizon or whatever," he added. "Is she gonna make it though?"