hector-rivera

[hector-rivera]

“One second, chamaca.” If there was something Héctor loved about his neighbors, was that they really didn’t care what happened to the fruit from their communal trees as long as it wasn’t rotting away on the ground. His final stretch finally paid off, he managed to snatch the apples from the branch before setting them down in the basket he’d brought down from his apartment with him; the thing looked like it was a couple apples away from giving in. “Hungry? They just need a little clean-up but they’re way better than anything you can buy at the store.” He grinned, offering her the one apple he was still holding.

From the moment Tessa opened her sleepy eyes, to the moment she was out the shower, the girl knew today was going to be her day. She didn’t care if her hair was not agreeing with her, because there were always headbands for that issue, and used that as her motivation to smile even brighter today. Her nails were freshly painted pink, her lips were glossed up with her favorite clear shimmery lip gloss, and each step she took was with purpose even if the girl herself didn’t have an actual destination in mind for the day.

She found herself lost in the music blaring through her headphones, popping some of her favorite strawberry bubblegum, walking towards the Sea Life Sanctuary. When all else failed for Tessa, she always made her way to either ther or the beach. There was a pause in her music as her phone loaded the other song, which is what caused her to finally pay attention to her surroundings. A smile spread on her shimmery lips when she noticed where her feet had taken her. “Hmm,” She looked to see if she could find someone to make a quick friend with, “Psst. Hey you, yeah you. Are you busy?”

[hector-rivera]

cocoxrivera​:.

“¿Te sabe?” Her head tilted, eyebrows pinch in confusion at the unfamiliar type of greeting. Once she caught on, she giggled and shook her head. “Tontería–honestly, Héctor, you think I’ll judge you for that? I know how much it means to you.” With a wide smile, she stepped inside, coming face to face with the mess of an apartment. “I will judge you for this mess, though. Maybe you wouldn’t lose so many things if you picked up around here. I know organized chaos is a thing, but this is extreme!”

“Gracias. This is why you’re the best ever.” He waited until Coco was inside to plant a big kiss on her cheek, smiling brightly at the non-judgmental response he had gotten in regards to his mild crisis... up until she saw the apartment and had her judgment be well-grounded as more than adequate. “I swear I know where everything is.” Héctor jumped over a discarded CD pile as he spoke and walked around the place. “Those drawers are for clothes, except for the last two where I keep my journals. My shoes are always by the door and my capos...” He picked up a plastic box and held it up, many capos slid inside– the golden one nowhere to be seen. “They go here!”

[hector-rivera]

attacapell​:.

“You’re welcome,” she answered, his bright smile warming her up to a small grin. Atta looked over the flyer in her hand. She wasn’t one for parties, but she knew the event would boost local morale. “It sounds fun,” she said, her expression still mildly stoic. “Okay, I’ll come. What kind of food are you serving again?”

“It will be! And as we all know to be true, more the merrier.” Yes, Héc always looked forward to being involved in any event where music could be brought in, but nothing made him feel as good as being surrounded by a sea of familiar and new faces that were bound to find a sort of common joy for a couple hours. “Bueno, there’s going to be plenty of tamales; tacos won’t come until later. We’re of course pairing that off with atole and café de olla if you like your late caffeine a little sweet. There’s a lot of snacks and candy but I’m going off on what I’m most excited about.” He stopped himself from resuming his train of thought, there was an undeniable spark to his gaze. “Oh! We’ll also have some games. The prizes are small but funny... much like myself.” Héctor laughed.

[hector-rivera]

rosierora​:.

I believe in you, Aurora repeated in her mind. With a tilt of her head, any tension she had in her body melted away, revealing a soft, grateful smile. “You know, I haven’t heard that in a long while.” Her family believed in her ability for greatness, but they didn’t see ballet as a part of it. “It’s nice to know someone does,” Aurora added, reaching out to squeeze his hand. She pulled her hands up quickly to cover her warm chuckle. “If my career wasn’t riding on your ability to pull it off, I’d love to see it. I’m just not sure a mustache would suit you.”

“With my whole heart, I’m always in your corner.” Héctor said, though the smile that accompanied it turned a bit sad. He couldn’t understand why Aurora would say that– actually, what he couldn’t understand is how anyone could know her, how someone could witness her talent and not let her know how much appreciation there was for everything that she was. “I don’t want to stick my nose where it doesn’t belong... but that can’t possibly be right– right?” A long time ago, he understood what it was like not to be supported by those you loved; unlike him, she deserved every bit of encouragement that could come her way. He squeezed her hand back and bowed his head. “Not to under-appreciate the classes I had, but you are certainly the highlight this classroom has seen all week.” Héc meant it, rehearsals had gone well but they hand’t been nearly as entrancing. “You’d be surprised! I had a mustache for years and I’ve got the pictures to prove I can pull it off.” The man laughed. “My ex-wife would agree with you, but I think it added a bit of flair. I like the dramatics.” With that Héctor let himself fall back-first into the piano, the smashed keys chaotically echoing around them.

[hector-rivera]

Héctor had to make a conscious effort not to yell in slight disgust as the butterfly made his way past him. “Me neither. Those things give me the creeps. Are you a photographer?” It wasn’t unusual for him to roam around the Ancora after hours, he didn’t get much sleep and there was always something interesting to be involved with whenever he took a stroll down the halls that felt just like home to him. When he poked his head into the only lit room, we wasn’t expecting to find what he’d walked into. “Whatever, I didn’t mean to scare you or distract you from your work.” Héc walked into the room and smiled at the young man, stretching his hand towards him. “How’s it going?”

“Well… I supposed that’s it for the day.” Victor murmured happily, watching the revived butterfly flutter away. He’d been able to bring it back to life, and he knew it had partly been just because she’d been dead for mere seconds. She’d wandered into his lab and passed there and he’d seen it as a signal. But still, she was back, his new method had worked at least once now and that made him very happy. He felt his heart soar along with it as he saw it go, taking only a couple of pictures. He was surprised to see the person standing beside him. “Oh, I didn’t know there was anyone else here.” He commented, a little shocked. It was quite late and he wasn’t used to finding people at the university at this hour. 

[hector-rivera]

dante-xolo​:.

Dante: Pues mi abuela decía que saben mejor recién hechos Dante: Pero no sé… Dante: Es medio tarde, no quiero mantenerte despierto toda la noche Dante: Por la comida y la limpiada y así pues!

Héctor: Bueno, no soy nadie para discutir con eso. Héctor: JAJA no juegues. Apenas son las ocho, ya vente. Héctor: Qué crees que no voy a aguantar o qué? Héctor: No. Ya valió. Haré café de olla también. Héctor: No te tardes :D

Héctor left his phone down on the counter and looked around his mess of a kitchen, the deep sigh that followed was long and tired. “Puta madre.” He thought he’d have around half an hour before Dante got there; he started to collect all of the dishes and pans until there was a heap inside the sink– he also mentally cursed himself for not having bought a dishwasher already. It wasn’t often that he cooked, it was time-consuming and frustrating and he didn’t see the point of doing it if he didn’t have someone to share it with. Slowly but surely, Dante had become one of the people he’d grown closest to and he wanted to keep nurturing that friendship. With his permanent state, Héc was aware of the fact that he had to make the most out the people he had in his life in every single moment. He mulled over the facts as he made the coffee, a recipe he held near and dear to his heart.

After a while, with the stuff drying off in the rack and a table that was all set, there was only a knock to look forward to– he practically chucked the napkin holder away and leaped to the door once he heard his guest had arrived. Héctor opened the door and grinned. “Hey! ¿Listo para acabarte este desmadre?”

[hector-rivera]

“I’ve been there at least six times and I can tell you no lies are being thrown around, my friend.” Héctor replied with an alarming degree of excitement as he joined Bernie’s spot, crossing his words over his heart. “You want to go on? I think it won’t take us more than fifteen minutes, queue and all. We can eat at that new Gyro stand afterwards?” Since his... accidental condition came around, Héctor had become quite fond of any experiences that promised a whirlwind of emotions and adrenaline. Without the fear of something happening, he could try everything countless times and not worry about tomorrow... until tomorrow arrived and it all became a boring blur of experiences. He would worry about that when the time came.

“Okay, I’m not going to leave you much of an option here because I don’t remember the last time we had any fun outside Campus.” Héc grinned at the man. Bernie understood what it meant to love music and that had been the beginning of their friendship when they became coworkers. Leaving all work aside, he was grateful to have a kindred spirit to talk to and share a nice time with. “Though my back disagrees, I’m ready to feel eighteen again.”

Harbor Carnival

Typically Bernie Berlioz was one of the first teachers at Ancora University to jot his name down for summer availability. He genuinely enjoyed spreading his knowledge onto hungry minds, and usually, his students were putting requests in for his summer courses. This year, though, Bernie did not jot his name down nor put any available courses up because he had decided this would be the summer he actually took some much needed time for himself and explored what Costa Serena had to offer. Of course, his students were a little disappointed, but after he promised not to throw any surprise quizzes at them (if they chose to take his course) next semester for three weeks, they were okay again. 

The first couple of weeks were miserable. It had struck Bernie in those weeks that he needed to be more social outside of his relationships with coworkers and students. His piano? That would always take priority, and he would never feel guilty for spending any time with it. It was, after all, the light in his life that brings him back from the darkness. Regardless of his initial struggle to find activities for him to do, he did eventually find his rhythm with everything. After that, there were many days spent at the beach, the movie theatre, day drinking, and he even tried yoga one week. Yoga, though, had proven not to be his cup of tea. 

Today, Bernie found himself spending the second part of his day at the Harbor Carnival. It had been on his “Summer Bucket List,” but either he was too worn out from the beach to go, or he got sidetracked with his buddies at night to remember to go. Luckily, tonight it was a different story. He was enjoying the lights that illuminated from all the rides, snack stands, and even some of the attendees with glow sticks here and there. He had been about to grab something to eat when he came across a ride that caught his attention, so he stopped to examine it a bit. It looked exciting, a bit scary, but overall something he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to try alone. Then, as if some unknown force had made his decision, a stranger came up next to him, and without looking over, he asked,” Do you think that it’s as fun as it looks or it’s just lying to me?” He chuckled a bit, “Also, do you think it’s something to ride alone, or should I just grab something to eat?”

[hector-rivera]

rosierora​:.

Aurora was surprised at how intrigued he was by the idea, as she was only joking. She gave him a strange look, but her grin soon returned as she lept toward the center of the room. “You can if you want to,” she laughed, facing herself in the mirror as she practiced her arabesque. Aurora easily hopped up onto her toes, bouncing for a moment before turning to see him. “Well, let’s hope I can win them over so you don’t have to chase after them. I love you, but that would be embarrassing.”

“Then I definitely will. To be honest, that was more of a warning than a possibility.” He laughed softly, feeling his chest fill with pride as he watched Aurora practice her movements. She moved and flowed with a rhythm that was only hers, he admired the connection the girl had to the dance. It was impossible for Héctor not to be moved by moments like this, he believed every single person had a unique spark of expression to them and this was Aurora’s to enjoy. “I believe in you.” He smiled wholeheartedly before shaking his head. “In any case, if they need some sense to find them... I can always borrow a fake mustache from the theater department and pretend I’m a casual bystander that has been so utterly captivated with your talent that is incapable of holding back from jumping at your defense.” Héctor shrugged. “Just saying.”

[hector-rivera]

attacapell​:.

She nodded. “I know… I approved it.” There was a moment of silence in which Atta’s brows knit together as she tried to understand where the conversation was going. “Oh, you want me to come?”

“Oh right.” Héctor breathed out and chuckled a bit more awkwardly than he had intended to. “Thank you for that!” He exclaimed with sincere joy, nodding along to Atta’s words. “Well, of course! Leaving aside the fact that it’s probably all alive thanks to you, we’d love to have people join us and have some fun. What do you say? I promise you we’ve pulled together a lovely, lovely evening.”

[hector-rivera]

“Well, in that case...” He said excitedly, he’d been handing out flyers for the last two days in all the places he could think of and he was handing the very last one to the woman. “There’s going to be an International music showcase in the community center tonight at eight; it’s going to be so good! There’ll be cool decorations, food and drinks... and amazing music, of course. Guaranteed!”

Atta tried to slip out of the building unnoticed. Unsuccessful, the woman had to make out as if she wasn’t trying to avoid the conversation. “No, I’m not doing anything later… Why do you ask?”

[hector-rivera]

dante-xolo​:.

Dante: Ah bueno, suena prometedor entonces Dante: Bueno, ya no tanto. Dante: Pero a ver, quieres que nos veamos mañana pero ya hiciste los frijoles?

Héctor: Bueno bueno bueno, lo que importa es que los hice con cariño Héctor: La intención de cocinar algo comestible es lo que cuenta Héctor: Sip... me pasé de baboso?

[hector-rivera]

@cocoxrivera​

“¡Ya sé, ya sé! Es una tontería.” Héc laughed nervously, he hadn’t dared open the door to his apartment all the way through... but deep down he knew Coco would probably be perfectly able to see the disastrous state of his home from where she was standing. “I’ve searched everywhere for it, and I swear it has vanished, poof!” He said dramatically as he finally stepped away from the door. “I can’t play without my lucky capo– you remember how it went last time.”

[hector-rivera]

rosierora‌:.

“Maybe she is living vicariously through me,” Rory giggled, “She died before I was born. Maybe I’m her reincarnate.” She took his hand and gave it a little squeeze. “I’ll save you a seat in the front row.” Rora was on her toes again, talking as she pirouetted towards the mirrors. “It’s one of the hardest turns in all of ballet. But, they’ll only be impressed if I get it right.”

Héctor kept quiet for a moment, if there was something he absolutely had to believe in, it was the intricacies of the spirit world. “Mi hermosa Aurora, I think you just might be onto something. Never underestimate the pull of your soul.” He said with earnest devotion, not failing to return the squeeze with a genuine smile of his own. “I promise to use it if I’m not standing up and clapping through the whole thing.” Héc teased, settling in his seat as he focused on the dancing. “You’ll get it right, because you will make it your own. Besides, Art is not about thing being perfect; they’ll commend you on your attitude, I will personally give them a piece of my mind if they don’t bet on everything you can bring to the table.”

[hector-rivera]

dante-xolo‌:

Dante: Lo que quisiera saber es de donde sacaste los totopos Dante: Porque si son de esos chafas que venden acá me voy a decepcionar.

Héctor: No friegues Héctor: Los hice a mano como se debe, tengo la marca del aceite para probarlo Héctor: Pero...sí te voy a fallar con los frijoles...se me quemaron poquito...

[hector-rivera]

rosierora‌:.

“Oh, I wish,” she beamed at the comparison, but brushed it off with a wave of her hand. She knelt down to adjust the ribbons on her shoes. “Ancora is putting on Giselle for their summer ballet intensive. I think I’ll include that in my audition piece.” 

“You have the blood to become greater than her! She wishes she were alive to witness your rise.” Héctor’s eyes widened at the name. “Giselle? Well, now I know where I’ll be when Summer ends.” He grinned at Rory. “Fantastic job, that move looks like it isn’t a walk in the park. I’m sure they’ll kneel when they see your performance... both at the audition and the ballet, of course.”

[hector-rivera]

Text -> Dante

@dante-xolo

Héctor: ¿Te acuerdas que por alguna razón te debía unos chilaquiles? Héctor: Conseguí la receta de la salsa de mi abuelita y me quedó poca madre. Vente a desayunar mañana.

[hector-rivera]

“Wonderful, Aurora!” Héctor beamed from behind the piano. “You’re our Margot Fonteyn in the making. Have you got a new move up your sleeve or are you planning a performance with what you’ve learned?”

“And that is how you do a fouette without falling over,” Aurora beamed. “I’ve been practicing that one for months.”