gildedash

[gildedash]

closed for @greatresilience adrian x kenjie kenjie: i know where the volkova girl is. kenjie: but we're still using our connections right? kenjie: she was seeing the underboss she's probably distressed right now. kenjie: she's a friend and a victim in all of this. kenjie: i was thinking of getting her to talk to zev kenjie: but you gotta make sure the other nocturne members don't want to kill her. keep em busy for a while.

[gildedash]

luca blinks at him. looking like a deer in headlights. what was it with all these ghost rider boys telling them shit? how had they gotten involved with this shit?  “shit.” they say, thinking out loud mostly. “um.” luca shifts in their spot as they sit there across from him cross legged. why were they so bad at this? the comforting aspect. at least jason got something out of them. “do you need to take the rest of the day off? a mental health day, or whatever it is kids call it these days?” they offer lightly to him. he doesn’t want to be talking about this shit with his boss. does he? but maybe it would be a good thing for luca to have to listen to him right now. make them more sympathetic, maybe they could try to fix the fact that they really weren’t sympathetic towards anyone. It was like luca always had people at a distance, and only more recently, jason has been able to break those walls aside from damian. they start unwrapping their sandwich from the tinfoil. ham and cheese, the same sandwich they have made for the past five years for lunch, and yes, they were a creature of habit. usually they did not bother to sit with their coworkers for lunch. They went back to their office. there was still so much that needed to be done in this shit motel, but right now their employee was going through it. their friend. they don’t push him away from the awkwardness of their first reaction; they blink a bit as they clear their throat. “do you want to tell me more about it?” luca asks calmly. they swear in a past life they could have been a therapist, if they worked on their initial reactions a bit better. but they were composed now, it was fine. they just acted like hero didn’t tell them his whole world was falling apart. they won’t tell a single soul. it’s not like people actually pay attention to luca that much anyways these days. they’ve seen that pentavita underboss and that nocturne weapons specialist here the other night, and now one of them winds up dead. they didn’t say anything about that. luca was good like that. it’s why most people kept them around. why there's still a few people in the pentavita that keep them around. “i don’t judge.” they say with a shrug. “do i need to do something to this person’s old man? rough ‘em up a bit?” they ask, taking a bite of their sandwich as if this was a normal every day lunch break for them.

He dragged the towel across his arms, slow, more to stall than to dry off. The storm in his chest didn’t ease none with duct tape or Luca’s steady voice—hell, if only it could. He leaned back against the counter, long legs stretched out, looking for all the world like he was just catching a breath, though his jaw stayed tight as a locked chain.

“Pipe ain’t the only thing leakin’, Luca,” he muttered, voice low, that Southern drawl roughened by the weight in his chest. He rubbed at his face, towel hanging loose in his grip. “Feels like the whole damn world’s got holes I can’t patch, no matter how hard I wrench.”

He tried for a smirk, faint and crooked, but it barely held. “Don’t reckon you got duct tape for the inside of a man, do you?”

A beat, and then his eyes slid to Luca, blue deep and storm-heavy. “I found out somethin’ the other night. Somethin’ I should’ve been there for.” His throat worked, words catching like barbed wire, but he forced them out. “She was carryin’… my kid. And her old man—” He cut himself off, fingers flexing like he could wring the memory out of his skin. “—he made damn sure that future didn’t happen.”

He looked down, towel twisting tight in his grip, knuckles pale. “Can’t get it outta my head, Luca. That there was a life I should’ve protected. But I didn’t even know. And now it’s gone before it had a chance to be somethin’.”

For once, the charm slipped clean off him, nothin’ but raw edges and a man sitting in the wreckage of what he couldn’t fix. “So yeah,” he said finally, voice quieter, steadier. “That’s what’s goin’ on.”

[gildedash]

his eyes rest shut when he hears miguel’s admission. his hand still on top of miguel’s and he gives his hand a soft squeeze. “i’m sorry i wasn’t there to help.” he says softly. “to save you, from being hurt.” his voice soft as his hues study miguel’s finally, moving from his eyes, to his lips, back to his eyes. he lets his forehead rest against miguel’s shoulder, feeling a bit defeated with the world right now. “i had a twin brother.” he admits. his own admission coming forward now. “he hurt me though. he’s back at home. i cut ties with him. i don’t want to cut ties with any more people. i’m not. not with you, not with archer. neither of you have hurt me like he has. what he did, was unforgivable.” he swallows nervously as he finally looks up at miguel his gaze studying miguel’s, realizing how close they actually were. kenjie could practically feel his breath on his skin right now. “i’m just tired… of people not being good people, but you never were a bad person. you are one of the better things in life right now…. and i.. i think, i might be a bit fucked up in the head right now. i think i always have been. fucked up or whatever.” he says his brows furrow as the hand that was interlaced with his fingers gently moves up to miguel’s jawline. “it’s been causing me to not be a good friend lately.” he leans into the closeness slightly, though still not fully closing the space, he leans in so much his forehead rests against the other male’s.

"Yeah, well, I'm not." And that was the truth. He wasn't prepared for that, nor for the fact that he was raised by his grandmother alone. Miguel knew people came and went, meeting new people, losing contact with old ones. Life often got in the way of things, but to the people that mattered, he cared for. He would go the extra mile, and that included Kenjie. If Kenjie suddenly wanted to leave, without so much saying a word. That would hurt him. All Miguel wanted was for his friends to be happy and secure. These past few days, it was all a mess. First the Gala, then this beach event, it was like someone was out to get them one by one. At the mention of cutting ties, Miguel raised a brow, his focus on Kenjie's words. "Your twin?" has Kenjie ever mentioned family to him before? Maybe it was the rush of emotions, or the rush of the moment but he didn't want this conversation to feel as if Kenjie was saying goodbye. Maybe right now, Miguel was not utilizing logic this time, but emotions. "You and Archer are my two closest friends, people I trust my life with," and that wasn't something he did lightly. His gaze never faltering as he looked at Kenjie, they all had a bond. Something sacred. "I thought that was known. If you need me, I'm there." Wasn't that already a given? "That goes for Archer too."

[gildedash]

“not him, right now. his friend.” atlas says, showing the news about levi to elias on his phone. “but— but– but they worked together and…. what if it happens to him next?” his head was spiraling and he took a long drag of his blunt, because that was all he could think of to do right now and hands it over to elias to finish it off. he knows he has a shift for work in a couple hours, but how was he going to work now that this news came out? god, this was fucked. this was fucking fucked. his brows knit together as he pushes himself up from the table and he anxiously scratches the back of his neck. “with him gone, what does this mean? who is this veil person?” it had been hard to try and pinpoint everything together with the information that destinee had provided him and the information that he gathered like everyone else from the veil. he was actually genuinely worried about his family right now. he knows that he still has to go to his shift and make money to pay his rent, but there was something in the air at the moment. like something big was brewing and atlas did not have a good feeling about it.

THE SHIFT IN ENERGY is extremely difficult to ignore -- even if elias initially wonders if he's being overdramatic. atlas was never really the kind of person to be so serious unless there was something really going on. " oh? " he questions sitting up with him, the joint still between his fingers. frankly, he immediately prepares for the worst. with the veil lurking behind every corner, there was no telling what could happen. ever since his own sister had come back into his life, he wasn't proud of it, but he had been keeping tabs on her out of fear of losing her again. " everything good man? " he questions. despite their differing allegiances, atlas' based more on family than anything else, this didn't stop elias from caring. the second he mentions his brother, elias nods. " yeah -- absolutely. something happen to him? " make sure my brother isn't dyin'. he had been sitting up slowly at first, but that immediately causes him to sit up straighter. " next? " of course this allows him to put the pieces together that somebody's dead, but he has a feeling that he shouldn't pester too much. " let me get the cab, okay? i'm not goin' anywhere. "

[gildedash]

“miles my bike just got destroyed in that beach bash thing i gotta handle that first.” they say with a shrug. the bookkeeping has been the same for over thirty years. they were able to learn it pretty quickly when they got rid of the previous owners. however it was time consuming. “a shrug. “usually about 12 hours per month, 16 on a bad day if the computer is being slow. $500 is still a lot for anything,” they say as they watch him work on their computer. “you delete any of those files i’ll kill ya. the previous owners were actually very tedious about that stuff.”

"They don't have to be expensive." He tapped the keys and watched the screen. There was no way this would last much longer. He hadn't seen a computer this old since he was a kid. "You can get one for like less than five hundred if that's all you want it for. It would be even cheaper if you build it." He shook his head and waited for the screen to do anything. "How long does it take you to even do bookkeeping on this?"

[gildedash]

how did kenjie round up here? on this chair, getting his knuckles stensiled? were his hands shaking slightly? could elliott tell? he’s certain he could as he nods, sitting back in the chair. his eyes stared up at the fluorescent lights, looking oddly amber under this hue. he looks away from elliott, staring at something on the walls. did elliott know how he wasn’t trying to drink? was this his way of keeping him grounded? he can’t recall who he had told anymore. “how much longer?” he asks, his voice clearing as he speaks, and he bites the bottom of his lip, wondering if it was a mistake being here in this moment, itching to get permanent knuckle ink. a silence fills the air again, aside from the music playing in the background that was very faint. kenjie had asked if he could turn it down earlier because he wanted to sit alone in his thoughts, he supposed he didn’t realize how long it would take him to stencil his hand, though and he sat in his thoughts for too long.

There is no change to his expression or demeanor, though internally alarm bells are ringing. Elliott remains quiet, he doesn't have to ask to know the current inner turmoil the other is facing is due to current event, and he instead remains quiet. If there's one thing he's learned in all his years, it's that grief is a funny thing, and the most appropriate place to grieve is wherever you start to feel it. So he slides his gloves off, lacing his fingers together and lowering his head, allowing Kenjie the space for silence.

It isn't until he hears the other shift that his head raises, eyebrows pulling together briefly but it's gone in an instant, an effort to maintain neutrality. Elliott shakes his head at the suggestion. "We gotta finish your fingers first." A nod to the purple stencil on Kenjie's skin.

[gildedash]

“see, he’s someone i know that you don’t know.” he adds with a slightest bit of an amused smile on his lips. “he’s that weird kingsley guy. the youngest one i think, always off his rockers it seems like.” a shrug. to be fair, kenjie wasn’t any better. when he was off his rockers people never really expect it from kenjie. he can feel something building up in the back of his mind. something that could make him crash and burn for real this time. maybe he won’t even have anyone around. he almost thinks if that would be better for him. for him to form new alliances and push old alliances away.  Maybe trying to attempt to get the people out of his life who are drowning him. he might as well start with adrian especially if they work together already. It was an easy alliance to form. “listen i want you to know, i don’t care if you’ve got one of these secret things,” he says as he pushes his plate away finally, knowing that he was no longer interested in his food. the waitress comes by and takes their plates away. they sat there in silence for a moment. “you’re my friend. i just care if you’ll be there when mine comes out. if it ever comes out.” he says calmly, before giving adrian a soft smile. a genuine smile. “it was nice to actually catch up with you, though. I appreciate you telling me this.” he says firmly, his brown orbs reaching adrian’s as he gets up and leaves out enough cash to cover both of their meals on the table. “i do have to go though. work stuff soon, y’know?” he gives him a soft smile and with that he turns on his foot and leaves.

FIN

chartreuse orbs flicker up at the mention of amelie. "who the hell is atlas?" puzzlement drew unruly brows towards each other. the further extensive the list of unfamiliar names became, the more adrian silently anticipated the conclusion of their exchange so he could carry out his own share of due diligence. ironic of a moniker to be addressed as — the veil — largely considering just about everyone remains clueless up until the last minute, once chaos has ensued and lives are actively endangered. the combination of a sigh and casually dismissive shrug affirms the conversation's diversion, adrian leaning back to drape an arm across the backside of his booth. nocturne's lead recruiter didn't seem too ecstatic to immerse into sordid details, while adrian was never one to push or prod. despite a shared history of banter and razor edged witticisms, similarities between both men clearly weren't too implausible. offering a nod, he's quick to begin sliding out from behind the table, finally rising to his feet. appreciation surged amidst his success in cultivating a common goal with kenjie, except now is where action required application. "i'll start covering bases after here. work my way down my contacts, hit up city hall, the casino — places swarming with information." during his speech, attention is craned down towards his phone as fingers flew, delivering a test message to the other. needless to say they weren't the most tight, seeing as little to no communication occurred between them under normal circumstances. piercing eyes lifted back up, he mutters, "anything crucial i come across will be sent your way. just shot you a message to make sure that's still your number, though." ok, so maybe they weren't close at all. no better time than now to switch routines.

[gildedash]

“do you now? You’re always so tense these days.” kenjie notes with an amused smile on his lips as he can’t help but nudge henry’s shoulder. “do you want to see my big foot impression? i can do a really good one. i do it to scare away all the men when my lady friends are walking with me if it’s unwanted.” he says teasingly as the line getting into the current place moves forward and they move with the line. “and i just got a new i.d. so i should be good to get in anywhere tonight.” kenjie could find himself having the itch to be reckless. the new i.d when his past one was expired for three months was just the turning point. “You want to see my fake name this time?” he asks, as he pulls out his wallet and hands him the new i.d. showing a stunning picture of kenjie with the name showing: kane azevedo. “i’m prepared for anything tonight.” he says with a shrug. “i promise too,” he says his eyes looking over at him. “i won’t let you do anything reckless tonight either.”

“ well,  i  do  know  how  to  have  fun  sometimes, ”  he  stated,  a  grin  tugging  at  his  lips.  he  was  fine  with  getting  himself  into  a  little  bit  of  trouble.  it  was  just  in  his  dna  to  be  foolish.  he  blamed  his  father  for  that  one.  he  was  no  stranger  to  bad  ideas.  he  welcomed  them,  even  if  he  was  aware  of  the  potential  consequences.  life  wasn't  supposed  to  be  mundane  anyways.  he  listened  to  the  male  list  off  rules,  nodding  along  at  what  he  was  saying.  it  seemed  like  between  the  two  of  them,  henry  would  decide  to  be  the  more  responsible  one.  it  wasn't  a  role  he  typically  took  up,  but  he  had  more  faith  in  himself  than  anyone  else.  “ got  it, ”  he  declared.  “ i'll  keep  an  eye  on  you.  promise.  in  fact,  i  won't  even  let  you  out  of  my�� sight. ”

[gildedash]

another person that doesn’t smoke. he shrugs not going to peer pressure them as he takes a long drag of the blunt, blowing it out as he watches the clouds move across the sky. He arches a brow up at her as she mentioned the boat cal arranged and an amused smile formed on his face. “i could see that.” he says with a shrug. “people don’t really think well when they’re under distress. i think i would probably be one of those people. though really, i know i just think too much. maybe this isn’t helping my case.” atlas says, gesturing to the blunt in his hand. “aside from my own incident when i was younger, i’ve been offered a pretty good life.” he knows he has. he doesn’t take it for granted. he knows other people, like his friend mia may not have had a good life, and he’ll do his best to be one of those people in her life to be a good distraction. most of the time atlas is okay with being that type of friend. except he can start feeling his own world crumbling down. slowly yet surely. “how have you been?” he asks nonchalantly as he glances back over at the sky, watching a plane go by. he wonders where they’re going. maybe they’re going to spain, where atlas should have gone when he was younger to save himself from the cruel and unusual streets of harlem. atlas is starting to learn to grow from the mistakes he made when he was just trying to grow up to stay with his family and keep them together. “want to come to my place? i just remembered i need to water my plants.” his house which was basically a greenhouse at this point and where he can offer her other services other than a blunt.

Mia was finding herself more and more at the park these days, often just wandering around with only a million thoughts in her head unrelated to work. We're sorry, the person you are trying to reach is unavailable. Please try your call again. This would be the second time this week she'd try calling her brother. She would be lying if she said she didn't miss her parents back in Wyoming but seeing them, the way they still looked at her twenty years later was always like a fresh wound opening in her chest. Hell, she even missed her ex husband at times. So often lately was just a bunch of, I miss ---, what could've been different. Mia promised herself and her husband when she married she'd live without these burdens, that she owed it to herself, but then again, she's not married anymore is she?

"Bob the builder, huh?" She looks to the clouds, doesn't see one resembling any Bob. "Looks more like a dove." It was always funny and interesting to Mia how the perception of clouds were similar to the rorschach tests but Mia wasn't here to analyze atlas. "No thanks, I don't smoke." She didn't mind people who did but it was never her own thing. She sits beside him as he, self describes, monologues. "Oh, no. There wasn't enough room for Jack. They would've both went over." It was a theory recreated to prove the contrary. No way Atlas was on the team of both could fit on the door. "Now if Rose would have taken the boat Cal had arranged, Jack would have lived. They would've found their way back to each other. It was just one of those sappy romances." But did she ever love Titanic. Many loved it for the Jack and Rose romance but Mia? She loved the history being recreated through film. The tragedy and terror of over fifteen hundred passengers that night, it was truly one of the greatest tragedies of history.

[gildedash]

atlas stares at her for a moment as he lets his hand wrap around his fancy matcha drink. it felt weird enjoying it with her right now. but he really did call her up asking for a distraction. but really, his mind was wandering even more. he stares at the green drink in front of him, wondering if it was still something that he actually enjoyed or if it was just a mindless task to do right now. to fill up the world and the time that most people seem to forget is so precious. “used to have him over for family dinners when my siblings and i all lived together.” he shrugged. “he was my brothers brother.” he takes a sip of the matcha. “did you know him?”

"I'm sure they are. A loss is never easy." She says, normally with such conviction but undertones lies unsettled bitterness for the ugly truth of her own life is there between the lines and those were lines she didn't want to come to terms with. Though deep inside, she knew and yet she remained cool as a cucumber, inner thoughts and emotions never to bleed through expression. Glasses clink against the other before she prompted, "Did you know the deceased?"

[gildedash]

it feels surreal being here with cassius. his brother was someone that he always thought was someone who was solid. he was someone who had all the answers even with atlas’ photographic memory, he never asked him for help. cassius always did things on his own. like he knew everything and the street of new york city was just his playground. he tightens his grip onto cassius. “i can’t tell you what will or won’t happen, i’m not a fortune teller. if all of this will get any better or not.” atlas says calmly. his voice sounding like it was a sense of steadiness. his brother needed someone right now. before it had always been levi and to be honest, atlas was always kind of jealous of it. that he had a brother, but he seemed to pay attention to someone else. atlas had tried so hard when he was younger to keep cassius in his life. sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t. he was glad that at least he tried when he was younger because he wasn’t sure where he would be standing here right now if he hadn’t tried. “but i’m here with you, walking through this world. with you. and.. i’m walking again. i won’t let that happen again. you won’t lose me.” he links his hand with cassius’ giving him a tight squeeze. “but you have to promise me the same thing.” his orbs stare at cassius. almost as if he’s scared about thinking of this life now. is now a good time to tell cassius that he knows everything? probably not. but he does anyways. “des told me everything, by the way.” he says a bit bluntly. “i want in with your operation. i want to be able to help you where i can. knowing that levi is dead– i don’t want that happening to you too. i will…. i’ll fucking lose it if you die. i am not— i’m not letting that happen. i’m not letting this veil fucker, fuck with our family. We’re better than that. we’re kingsleys.”

cassius  didn’t  move  when  the  door  creaked,  didn’t  even  flinch  when  atlas’  voice  cut  through  the  silence.  the  texts—he’d  seen  them,  ignored  them,  not  because  he  didn’t  care  but  because  he  didn’t  know  what  the  hell  to  say.  what  words  were  there?

but  when  atlas’  arm  draped  over  his  shoulders,  something  in  him  cracked.  the  mask  he’d  been  holding  onto—stone,  steel,  unshakable—slipped  just  enough  for  the  weight  beneath  it  to  show.  he  leaned  into  it,  into  atlas,  like  he  had  all  those  years  ago  when  their  places  were  reversed,  when  it  was  cassius  carrying  his  brother  bloody  and  broken  through  harlem  streets.

his  voice  was  low,  rough.  “you  remember  that  night?”  he  asked,  eyes  fixed  on  the  floor.  “when  they  fucked  your  legs  up  so  bad  you  couldn’t  stand.  i  carried  you  .  swore  i’d  never  let  go  ‘til  you  were  safe.”  a  breath  dragged  out  of  him,  heavier  than  he  wanted  it  to  be.  “feels  like  that  again.  except  this  time,  i  can’t  carry  him  back.  can’t  fix  it.  levi’s  just…  gone.”

cassius  scrubbed  a  hand  down  his  face,  finally  letting  the  rawness  through.  “i  lost  the  one  man  i  trusted  to  hold  this  shit  with  me.  and  now  i’m  sitting  here,  wondering  how  the  hell  i’m  supposed  to  keep  moving  like  nothing  broke.”

he  turned  his  head  slightly,  enough  to  glance  at  atlas,  eyes  shadowed  but  honest.  “you  want  to  help?  then  don’t  tell  me  it’ll  be  alright.  don’t  tell  me  to  let  it  go.  this—”  he  pressed  a  fist  against  his  chest,  “—this  doesn’t  go  away.  the  only  thing  that  makes  it  bearable  is  knowing  i’ll  make  the  bastards  that  did  it  choke  on  their  own  blood.  that’s  how  you  can  help  me.  ”

cassius  let  out  a  slow  exhale,  the  grief  and  fury  braided  tight  in  his  voice.  “you’re  my  brother,  atlas.  always  been  closer  to  you  than  the  rest.  and  right  now…  i  need  you  more  than  i  ever  have.  because  if  i  lose  you  too…”  he  trailed,  jaw  working  hard,  unable  to  finish  the  thought.

[gildedash]

“what if i’m not?!?!?!” levi asks, his head snapped towards her. his blue hues staring at valentines orbs. “maybe i’m just fucking not able to love anyone properly. It’s like i have these people in my life, that i love, but they’re so entangled within me, that when i try to love them properly, the world goes to fucking shit.” he was rambling now, his words coming out so fast it seems like his lips were barely keeping up with his thought process. he anxiously scratches at the back of his neck. “i have tried! i have tried to let her into my home, my life. but there is still something just….. just, not fucking allowing me to be completely teetered to her, but i can feel her fucking trying to find my soul. is it because of him? i had waited so fucking long, to love one person. now, there might be fucking two people? why? why is the world fucking cruel like this? i don’t want any of it……. i should have let my love die with my uncle. With my family.”

Witnessing Levi in such a state of despair, fear, heartache... It sent distress rippling through every bone in her body. The way he shrank away into the corner like a frightened, wounded animal, the darkening of his gaze, the fidgeting of his hands. Years had gone by since the last time she'd seen him in such peril. And for this moment, they were those very same young adults. "Levi... you are capable of so much love. And I can't..." She couldn't fathom what he was tormented by. The truth that had come out. But she wouldn't ask.. She remembered that time. The boy. What it had done to Levi. "You're trying... you're trying, and we both know that's what matters. Irina will understand. She won't judge you... You just have to be willing to expose yourself to her." Valentine longs to close the distance between them. To hold him again. But he needed to breathe. To swallow all the thoughts racing through his mind.

[gildedash]

a genuine laugh escapes his lips. a real one and for a moment kenjie thinks it’s almost been a minute since he’s heard himself laugh. “i think the sleep deprivation is actually getting to me these days. does it show on my face? i was using this ice cream as a pick me up. trying to replace unhealthy habits with other unhealthy habits, y’know. But like, at least ice cream isn’t as damaging,” he says with a shrug. he could enjoy a walk with someone.

She couldn't help but laugh at his comment; it was funny. She wasn't implying that he was a paleta, but his choice of ice cream reminded her of it. "Oh no," she shook her head. "Not you, but your ice cream selection," she clarified. "It's colorful, and reminded me of it," she then noted his hair color and chuckled once again. "A walk sounds lovely." Plus, the city itself was beautiful.

[gildedash]

“you probably gotta have a lot of empathy and what not for that job.” which was exactly not the job for luca. they don’t know how to do empathy. how many times has someone told them something deep and they didn’t know how to respond to people? they’ll be the ones there patting someone’s back and just saying there there, if people expect them to be sympathetic, they’re probably losing their marbles and luca is the sane one. it’s part of the reason why luca chose their role in the ghost riders now. They don’t have to deal with people to an extent– until they’re dead and gone. they aren’t really sure yet if lydia can tell what else they do outside of running the motel. that time will come at some point. and they’re certain that lydia will be disappointed in them in the long run, but they never swore to her that they knew exactly what they were doing. “think it might, but also, i’ve found a guy that’s actually good at that stuff now.” they say as they hand her her drink and they lean against the counter of their kitchen island, their big brown eyes reaching hers, holding their drink out to her. “cheers though, i guess to finding someone that actually knows what they’re doing, whether it’s you compartmentalizing or someone knowing how to fix an ac unit.”

A classic. She watches both of the dark liquids start to mix together, a throwback to late nights in truckbeds on the outskirts of the woods. Ghost stories, laughter, teenage angst and wishing to leave their middle of nowhere town. Lydia isn't sure who got out, but she hopes those she left behind got what they wanted somehow. She shrugs at their comment, never having thought much about it. "I'm pretty good at, like... I dunno. Compartmentalizing and realizing what's in control and what's not. Someone has to do it." She offers, knowing Luca isn't looking for comfort, but hoping it provides a little bit of insight. A little gasp as they fill her in on their day.

"No! Again?!" Top lip curls into a snarl. This happens too often. "Does it need replaced completely?" She asks, eyes following the stream as Luca finishes a pour for her, a little smile on her face at the show.

[gildedash]

“unfortunately i’m one of those people that is allergic to cats. but there’s a few strays by the motel. i should see if there’s any place that can take them in. i’ve been leavin’ food and stuff out for them but like, i don’t know what cats really eat, honestly.” they say with a shrug. and that’s part of the reason why luca would be an irresponsible pet owner because they do not do the research you’re supposed to do. mostly because they don’t have the time anymore to do it. “cup of coffee and some pup cups sounds like a perfect plan, then.” luca says with a shrug, giving her a small smile. “i can take one of their leashes if you’d like?”

"i think a cat would be great for you." she spoke. cat's were great for some people. they were independent once old enough too. "the only thing you would have to do is feed it obviously, and also brush it too a few times a week." which was something that just about anyone could do too. if she didn't have two dogs, she would have gotten a cat herself. but she was a dog person. "i could go for a cup of coffee." especially since she had yet to even have her cup that morning. which was always a must for her. "oh they love pup cups. i almost always do my best to get them one if i can."

[gildedash]

“i tend to fall asleep in bed whenever given the chance to.” he never understood how people could think the best from bed. that was where dreams were supposed to happen and where blankets are supposed to be comfortable and cozy. the bed wasn’t supposed to be a place for much thinking. besides, a table top with a great view of the sky is as much of a distraction right now and exactly what atlas needed. “you’ve never smoked before?” he supposes though that’s not as shocking as the fact that he’s never slept with anyone before. never even kissed a soul. though he figures that at least she has. “fair enough.” he shrugs as his big brown eyes reach hers. “you sure you want to listen to my monologues? i got a lot to say and life is fucking fucked right now.” he takes a long drag from his blunt. “sometimes i think if shakespear was alive i’d be a character in one of his plays. y’know? y'know. right now i think i relate the most to mercutio in romeo and juliet. y’know, his whole death was the turning point to get romeo to kill tybalt or whatever.” he sighs as he stares up at the sky. “i don’t want to die like mercutio i hope all of us live long lives. have families and all that jazz. there’s too much shit going on right now.” 

“  no,  not  really,  ”  she  admitted,  giving  the  other  a  skeptical  look.  “  my  best  thinking  tends  to  come  from  the  comfort  of  my  bed,  ”  delilah  stated,  shrugging  slightly.  she  was  curious  to  know  what  was  going  on  in  the  other's  mind.  the  blonde  had  always  been  the  curious  type,  though.  she  glanced  up  at  the  sky  for  a  moment,  lips  pursed  in  amusement.  she  didn't  agree  that  the  cloud  looked  like  bob  the  builder,  but  she  wasn't  one  to  squash  anyone's  imagination.  “  that's  an  interesting  eye  for  clouds  you've  got  there,  ”  she  said  instead,  grinning.  delilah  quickly  shook  her  head,  a  kind  smile  spreading  across  her  features.  “  no,  that's  okay.  i've  never  really  smoked  before,  ”  she  told  him.  she  decided  to  join  him  on  the  table,  head  turning  to  look  over  at  him.  “  i  don't  mind  listening.  i've  been  told  i'm  pretty  good  at  it.  ”

[gildedash]

“you need help carryin’ your food?” they offer as they wait for their food. they got it to go because really, they didn’t want to be on pentavita ground longer than they needed to be. but little mario’s was calling their name tonight for some reason. the girl not too far away from his side. it must be nice to always have a mini me around for the rest of your life. a built in best friend as you watch them grow. “how has she been lately?” luca asks. for some reason ever since the beach bash, they have been oddly enough checking in on people. “i know there were a handful of kids as that beach event. were you there?”

Neo remembered them well, but he wasn't going to comment on that or any of their connections to Pentavita. It wasn't his business. "Yeah, it's slowly getting better." He said with a nod. He assumed they remembered him; it wasn't like he wasn't known in that world. The drama that unfolded when Vincenzo de Luca had to take in his two bastard children. It was everywhere throughout the mafia world. "It's gonna be a while till I'm 100% but it ain't too bad."