emilmoreno

[emilmoreno]

when was the last time you did something you feared?

"Er, I don't know. My job can be dangerous. Sometimes I worry a diving accident could impact my family, but... otherwise? It's been a while."

[emilmoreno]

What is your perfect day now and what do you want it to be in 5 years time?

"Now? I don't know, I've not taken the time off in ages but... a mini-road trip would be ideal. Or, I don't know, take Lia and Isa out on the boat. See if Lia can sail. In 5 years? Any day in which my daughter actually lives with me. That's really my only future goal at this point." ( @lia-lozano )

[emilmoreno]

Time evaporated for an instant, he recognized that tipsy wobble and the deeply rooted impulse to step forward and brace her was difficult to stifle. Emiliano didn't quite manage it, his feet moved forward before his brain could remind him why he shouldn't. Then, just a step shy of closing the distance logic kicked back in again and Emil awkwardly froze in place. The hand he had instinctively outstretched went to push back a loose curl instead— a misplaced, sudden gesture that might've been more obviously last minute if Hercules hadn't barreled between them to save the day. A hero. "Yeah, he's gotten big... an' he's a complete ladies man so watch out." The rasp of his gentle laugh parted Emil's lips, and the tip of his tongue chased it to lick over the bottom one. His gaze flicked between his ex and his four-legged companion. Unable to help but still keep an eye on her unsteady gait. "Leyla has threatened to dognap him more than once." A soft quiet smile played across the line of his mouth, "I... uh— don't know if you remember but he's named after the dog from The Sandlot? That baseball movie I made you watch at least ten times."

She didn’t notice anyone approaching at first—her alcohol-hazed brain was too preoccupied with the singular goal of retrieving her phone and somehow managing not to topple over in her heels. The gravel beneath her feet only made the task more difficult, forcing her to focus entirely on staying upright.

It wasn’t until his voice cut through the muffled noise from inside the bar and the distant crash of waves that she even realized she was no longer alone. She didn’t look up right away. Instead, she took a breath—trying to gather what little composure she could—before slowly turning in his direction, just as she finally managed to stand to her full, albeit wobbly, height.

And then she saw him.

Emil.

Here. At Golden Hour.

The sight of him—windswept hair, steady gaze—sent a wave of memories crashing over her. A sharp pang bloomed in her chest. She’d told Lia at the Spring Fling that she owed Emil an apology for how she’d ended things between them. She’d even meant it.

But now, with him standing right in front of her—this perfect opportunity dropped into her lap—Alara found herself hesitating. Uncertain.

If she explained herself, if she apologized for how she had ended things, it would effectively be the last thing she needed to say to him. She’d have no reason to maintain contact after. Because deep down, Alara knew she couldn’t handle being casual friends with him right now. It was still too painful. And the fact that she would be shutting the door on that hurt too. 

Realizing she’d been staring at him too long, Alara gave a small shake of her head, trying to snap herself out of the fog.

“Sorry. Umm…” She glanced down at her phone, checking the screen. “Seems no worse for wear, çok şükür.”

Right on cue, as if rescuing her from the awkwardness of her own thoughts, Hercules trotted over and nudged her hand with his snout, demanding attention. Grateful for the distraction, Alara crouched to pet him—a bold move, given how unsteady she’d just been.

“Hey there, good boy,” she murmured softly, fingers ruffling his fur. “He’s gotten big,” she added, glancing up at Emil with a tentative, uncertain smile.

[emilmoreno]

The bracelets seemed like a bit of a peace treaty between the girls, and watching the exchange did help to genuinely ease some of the quiet anxiety Emil was attempting to mask over. Isabel was on a mission once the topic switched, hands chained together towards the booths. His daughter's hand in his, Emil tugging Lia along behind them. "Yes!" The young woman's voice carried and there was an eager hop in her step. "She has a collection," Emiliano explained. "Apparently they're one of the more popular plush lines these days? So far Easter and the Valentine's Day ones are her favorites. Flower crowns and hearts." Not that he was the most up-to-date of parents. Disney movies he got, but he'd been a jock who went outside and played in the mud he didn't really have plush or anything all that creative as a kid. "I'm not awful," Emil grumbled. However it was spoken loud enough for his daughter to chime in with a bright sing-song 'Yes you are'. He opted to ignore it. "Your competitive side? You realize I was our high school's pitcher during my varsity run and on a baseball scholarship in college right? If you can beat me at the the milk can game there's something wrong." Isabel shot him a look over her shoulder just as they came to a stop in front of the booth, "maybe Lia played Softball! You don't know." And, again, he was bested by a twelve year old.

At Isa’s initial unease, Lia shut down the voice inside her head that it was because she didn’t like her, telling herself that it was because she was shy. She was still young after all. Nodding in response, Lia’s face showed a gentle smile. “He did. I think he knew I wouldn’t believe he picked out the gummy bear bead himself.” Lifting her head to wink at Emil, Lia held her wrist out towards Isa to show her that she had the bracelets on, like she did most days these days.

Leaning towards him as she felt his arm around her waist, Lia felt some of her anxiety dissipate at his reassurance. It was all she had needed really, to know that she wasn’t doing too much or too little, but that she was doing okay. She had never done this before, but that little moment with Emil had settled her enough. Her hand found his that was on her waist and she gently rubbed it with her thumb, hoping he too was doing okay with the two women being introduced.

“You did?” As Isa held out the bracelets to her, Lia leaned down to take them. “Isa, that’s so sweet, thank you so much.” Taking the bracelets from the young girl, Lia couldn’t help the smile that widened on her face as she slipped them onto her wrist to sit alongside the others she had received. “You do have an eye for colour, these are gorgeous. This one is pretty much all of my favourite colours in one.” Holding her wrist out towards Emil, she showed them to him sitting alongside his, her eyes wide with excitement. “Aren’t they all so pretty together?”

At Isa’s excitement, Lia looked between the two of them, following along as they began to move towards the fair games. “So it’s operation, get butterfly squish? Okay, I’m in.” She listened intently as Isa explained the rules, nodding along until she revealed the game that Emil was worst at the. “The water guns? Really?” Looking back at her date, Lia playfully raised her eyebrows at him. “Is it bad that I really want to pick something at the water guns just to see what this is really like? Apparently you’re awful.” Giggling quietly, Lia couldn’t help but tease him a little bit. “So where was the butterfly squish? Are we all trying to get it? Is my competitive side about to come out?”

[emilmoreno]

If you won the lottery tomorrow, what's the first thing you would buy?

"... uh. Maybe a nice boat house? And whatever Isabel wants, just... not a pony."

[emilmoreno]

👐 how do you feel about selin?

"Honestly? She's a bit infuriating. I don't think I'm normally all that easy to provoke but even without Lara involved we'd probably butt heads. I get it though, as frustrating as our last encounter was, if I was in her position... well, I jus' get it. I'm glad Alara has someone outspoken like that in her corner. Not that Lara is exactly quiet." ( @selinymaz )

[emilmoreno]

who is your celebrity crush?

"Lia Lozano, duh." ( @lia-lozano )

[emilmoreno]

when's the wedding for you & Lia?

"Er... what? If you've been keepin' up we're not even "official" so that question is premature. An' I'm divorced, with a kid, so... not something I'd jump into on the fly." ( @lia-lozano )

[emilmoreno]

Are you worried about Lia's fame? Does it scare you to be apart of that world? What about your daughter or your ex? How do you think they'd take it?

"I don't know if scared is the right word... worried. Mostly about Isabel. I wouldn't mind myself, I'm just clueless. My Instagram account is the only social media I have and it's mostly for my scuba diving lessons. My ex wife... well, all I can do is pray she doesn't start drama just for her 5 minutes of fame. If she does? I'll handle it. Lia has enough to worry about with her ex, she doesn't need mine lumped in." ( @lia-lozano )

[emilmoreno]

If Lia chose friendship over a relationship with you, how would you take it?

"It's unfair to assume Alara would ever ask that of her, but... it'd be Lia's choice to make. As upset as I'd be over the letdown, my concern would be Isabel. I hate the idea of having got her hopes up. She's a sweet kid who worries about me more than she should, and after the Spring Fling I think she's really started to like Lia." ( @lia-lozano )

[emilmoreno]

👐 do you have any regrets?

"Yeah, I do. Mostly that it took so long to start fighting back against my ex-wife again. I was willing to brush a lot off if it only impacted me, but I should've known better. It had an affect on Isabel too, and I can't decide if going through all this now that she's a little older is harder or not. She has more say, but she'll also remember a lot more of it than she does from the divorce."

[emilmoreno]

What do you think about second chances?

"I wish I could say I believed in them, but I have a hard time. It depends on the circumstances I s'pose but... I don't know. Life doesn't come with an undo. Forgiveness is hard and it has to be earned."

[emilmoreno]

If you could have a ONS with anyone, no consequences, just for pure fun, who are your top three? 😉

"Reina is really fuckin' cute, uh... Gen? Can I say one of my best friends? Eh, sure. Last pick, ... Valentina?" ( @reinayourparade , @genortiz, @valentincflores )

[emilmoreno]

Would you still have kissed Lia at Halloween if you knew she was friends with your ex?

"Yes." ( @lia-lozano )

[emilmoreno]

Why haven't you made it official with Lia yet?

"Not that it's anyone's business but ours, but the timing isn't great. We're dancing around some people's toes. Unfortunately. We both have a lot going on in the background and going publicly official might have real consequences outside of upsetting some people. Would I like to? Hell yes, but it's not legally advisable at the moment." ( @lia-lozano )

[emilmoreno]

EMIL | NIA | CIVAN

My muse is under an honesty spell for one hour.

Send 👐+ any question you wish to ask my muse. They will have no choice but to answer truthfully.

[emilmoreno]

This conversation was giving Emil a slow growing headache. Unsure why he was even bothering to keep getting defensive, when rightfully he knew that no matter what Selin would take Alara's side. "No." Emiliano answered honestly. "I do not believe Alara did it actively to hurt me, but intentions do not make people impervious to the consequences of their actions. We were in a committed relationship and friends for years beforehand. I find it difficult to believe if someone broke up with you the way your cousin did with me, leaving the country without a word, that you'd welcome them back years later with literal open arms." With a frustrated huff the rest of the markers were set aside and he started to pick up his spot at the table. "Don't." His head snapped towards Selin, frustration having gave way to a much more poignant irritability. "I don't want to hear you or anyone else bring Lia into this. You want to be petty and judge me? That's fine. Do that. Lia hasn't done anything, and she doesn't deserve to have any snide remarks made about her or her relationship to me." Emil rolled his eyes and stood straight, "The only thing about any of this that's a joke is you feeling the need to butt in." He snatched up his poster, "Nothing will ever be as black and white as you want to paint it. Alara and I are not okay, and yes I have moved on with someone. That doesn't mean I don't care about her. We were friends first, before everything. You can't just flip a switch and one day magically stop giving a shit about someone, or maybe you can but I can't."

"Have you asked her why she left town? Do you believe that she did it to hurt you?" Selin wondered how far their conversation had went. The one she had with Alara had gotten cut short when they'd spoken about it so she didn't know the ins and out and how much Emil knew.

"Alara isn't a cruel person. We aren't known to speak on feelings and sometimes the need to run away trumps anything else." She understood that better than most, and while Alara had told her about her need to leave, she wouldn't have blamed her if she hadn't. "Aren't you with someone? It's a little odd that you aren't wishing your girlfriend all these well wishes."

Her gaze rolled at his saintly act of wishing her well all along despite the betrayal he didn't seem capable of moving past. "Would you like to be praised?" She tilted her head and regarded him. "I was considering writing a few but I saw that we were clearly making a joke of it so I'd rather just pass." Her hand flicked towards his paper. In truth, she'd only been curious and wanted to see how it worked but she'd stumbled upon him and couldn't help herself.