hvneymelons

[hvneymelons]

LEA: Absolutely not, where are you? LEA: Are you alright? LEA: Let me have my babysitter come over and I'll head out. LEA: Please wait inside of an establishment with other people and I'll be right there

Grace 📱 Lea

GRACE: Would it be terribly burdensome for me to ask for a ride? GRACE: Some lunatic vandalized my car so I'm momentarily unable to drive it.

TAGGING: @hvneymelons

[hvneymelons]

It had been weeks of waiting. Weeks of canceled appointments and reschedules, and while it would have been far too easy to find and question Damian at work, Juno figured that wouldn’t have been a good place to go. He was already upset with them over entering his home without informing him ahead, so they figured his place of work would have been the same. But Juno was now more upset than ever, and needed to figure out what was going on with Damian. He knew them too well. Knew they would have followed him around and kept a look out for Juno, so they did the next best thing and crawled in through the window of a female they had associated with him.  Juno stood outside of Ivana Li’s bedroom balcony almost entranced. They had been quiet their entire journey up. Benzodiazepine pumping through their system which only served to make them extra attentive to their every step. Juno was not sure why they were being so quiet about the entire thing, though. They wanted to speak with her - no needed to speak with her - and for that Ivana would need to be risen. So while they could have easily made enough of a ruckus to get the woman’s attention, Juno simply pushed a plant. They had thought about simply walking in and staring at Ivana until she awoke, but Damian’s displeased facial expression kept them from doing so. The thought did make their lip curl for a fraction of a second before warm chocolate eyes stared back into theirs.  The woman was understandably surprised, but Juno made no motion to move towards her nor away. Just stood there, allowing the situation to settle in the other’s head. “Is that normal practice for you?” they found themselves asking in surprise. They weren’t very knowledgeable on what customs people had in relation to exchanging bodies, but Juno was more than a little sure this wasn’t one of the options. “I can assure you that is not the reasoning behind my unannounced visit.”

STARTER FOR: @hvneymelons LOCATION: vanya's residence / cardinal hill

Sleep is an enduring enemy. Vanya has tried to snatch fitfuls throughout the day—in the mess hall, the library, her office cubicle—but it’s a lost cause. Eleven p.m., now. Six hours until she has to gear up for another workday, but her head is swimming in lead. (Not helping: the three espresso shots she’s taken from her trusty Breville.) No amount of doomscrolling, Candy Crush, or a few perfunctory chess games has nudged her toward sleep.

At eleven-thirty, a yawn finally fights to escape the back of her throat. She takes it as a cue to trudge towards the bed, not even bothering to change out of her work clothes, and sinks into the mattress. Her head hits her pillow with a heavy thud.

Something like rest comes to her for about a minute. Then she opens her eyes, and finds another pair of eyes staring right back. 

“What the fuck!?” 

Vanya’s voice cuts through the silence. She’s not imagining things; yawn aside, her cognitive faculties are still so painfully alert. She shoots up from the bed, the window screeching as she yanks it up to the hinges. Outside, barely an arm’s length away, stands a figure on her bedroom balcony who is close enough to touch. 

“What are you—?” She steps closer, trying to process their figure. Never mind the fact that they’re actually sort of gorgeous, all dark curls and big doe eyes almost black against the night, or like night itself.

Come to think of it, Vanya’s messaged a few people on Bumble recently—if a bit hastily, in a 3 a.m. swipe spree where she abandons all expectations and forgoes proper vetting. The next thought that comes to her mind is absurd, and yet, it bears articulating—“Did I forget a booty call or what?”

[hvneymelons]

Juno nodded in agreement. It was usually how things went whenever they were involved. Over the years, Juno had learned that when speaking to others the words that they spoke weren’t always understood or thought possible. While they did wonder where exactly the disconnect happened, they couldn’t be bothered to entertain other people’s self destructure. Their own was enough at times, but overall most things simply did not matter. “That’s alright.” They said, “Different perspectives can be eye opening.” Pushing emotions aside was a learned behavior for Juno. A way to get away from unpleasantries and unwanted attention. They had been perceived their entire life by this point. When they couldn’t separate, they abandoned ship.  Ash’s response made them blink. Had they offered drugs? “If that is what you’d like.” they said, thinking about the pills they carried with them. Offering them out wasn’t their intention, of course, unless the other wanted them - which to Juno it seemed like perhaps that was the direction they were headed. They didn’t mind it, of course. Drugs were daily companions of Juno from the moment they learned about it. It had started with prescriptions after the incident in the forest. Medications they called it, but a drug nonetheless. Over the years, Juno took it upon themselves to acquire them on their own. For Ash, however, they figured-, “I enjoy making clay things.” Juno offered, “The process - it’s… calming. Distracting, even. Helps clear the mind.”

it seemed as if they'd reached an impasse. ash could tell that juno was struggling with what saying next. ash liked juno well enough, but they didn't know ash and it felt slightly insulting when they assumed to know the way they worked. it almost felt as if juno operated on the reality that what they thought about the world was the only correct outlook. ash knew, logically, that it wasn't true, but they weren't in the mood to try and rationalise it. they wanted to drink and forget about their sister haunting the town they had sought refuge in. ash took a quick look around the bar, taking in the drunk patrons and worn out decor. it was not exactly what they would think of as calming. ash thought it was the same as any bar, just a little rougher around the edges. "i guess we have a different outlook on it," they replied slowly. the words seemed to insinuate something, but ash couldn't for the life of them put together what juno was referring to. the look given to them seemed expectant, as if they waited for ash to accept their offer. something clicked. "are you offering me drugs ?" ash asked bluntly, voice a hushed in the crowded bar.

[hvneymelons]

“Of course you are, you gorgeous girly you.” he said, planting a kiss on the top of her head just as she moved out of his hold. Dante didn’t doubt her intelligence for a moment. In fact he had always found Dorothy to be more responsible and able then he ever could be. A mother now, adding onto the list of amazing qualities he could add onto her make up. It was all normal and yet Dante was nowhere near as ready to handle the life that she so effortlessly carried. Dottie was beyond admirable. “But it doesn't change the facts.” he finished with a smirk, giving her a wink before glancing back to his old man and the child who had lost all interest despite his previous laughter. Oh to be a child again.  He knew that he should do a better job of staying in touch with people when he went on tour, but having to maintain two separate lives was harder than Dante had ever imagined. There were the parts of him who wanted to be immersed in the music and forget about the rest of the world - which had only served to make him neglectful when it came to his closest friends and family - and the parts of him that missed the closeness and familiarity of the people he loves. Dorothy, for example, who had been nothing but a ray of sunshine from the moment they were children. Who had gone out of her way to keep his old man entertained when Dante himself wasn’t present. Dante’s eyebrows furrowed at the absurdity of her words, “Of course, you’re more than welcomed in our home, Dottie. I don’t think that’s even in question.” They’ve known each other far too long, their families having shared a historical friendship, for her to ever feel unwelcomed. His house would always be hers. And besides this wasn’t even his home. It was his pawpaw’s home. Regardless he followed her into the kitchen, hopping onto the counter once there where he sat. “Thank you about that by the way. I’m sure he appreciates having you check in on him more than I. He’s… I don’t know… he doesn’t tell me how he really feels. Just kind of...” Dante shrugged, biting his lower lip. “But I’m doing alright. Working on a couple of things which has kept me out of the house lately, but soon it’ll all make sense, promise!”

As Dante pulled her into his arms, Dottie settled slightly. She should’ve been more anxious with the close contact, considering their situation, but he’d always been a confidant for her, someone she relied on and trusted. It hurt her, to know that even though he felt and thought the same of her, realistically it wasn’t true. But she took a few selfish seconds to bask in his touch, wrapping her own arm around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder. It made her feel young again, when they were teenagers sneaking off at family events to gossip with a bottle of stolen alcohol between the two of them. If she had the chance, she’d grab her younger self by the shoulders and shake her, screaming about how good she had it then. “Have you considered that maybe our sense of humour is merely too niche for you? I’m an intellectual, Dante.”

Stepping out of his hold, Dottie glanced up at Dante as he began to speak softly to her, a conversation clearly meant for just the two of them. She still stayed in his orbit, a hand fisted into the side of his shirt like a toddler seeking comfort. It was hard not to, when she’d already given into his affirmations and affections. “It would be conceited, yes.” She teased, paired with an eye roll, but it was clear there were no ill intentions behind it. This was classic Dante, and Dottie still loved him for it. “Not entirely untrue, though. I do miss you.” Like he could read her mind, he suggested they spend some time catching up. And while it sounded nice, it also caused her breath to hitch with stress, suddenly feeling very trapped. But it’d be far too obvious if she denied them time together - and she did miss him immensely. Secretly, she always hoped he’d be here when she came by, even if the idea made her heart seize from anxiety. Taking his hand, she gave it a gentle tug in the direction of the kitchen where she’d left her bowl of cookie dough unattended. “If you really don’t mind me coming over, I like doing so. To check on your pawpaw - I worry about him.” Which wasn’t to suggest Dottie didn’t think Dante worried about his grandpa, but he had his own struggles currently, ones she was equally as concerned about. “And you. You’re never really home anymore. How’re you doing? Really?”

[hvneymelons]

Dante offered him a gentle smile, understanding a little too well exactly how he thought the other male felt. There was no denying that each had their own version to confront, but their sentiments did align. It made him wonder more about the pretty face he had found at the music store. Made him just a little more curious - if that were possible - which only served to entice Dante to keep his attention longer. He too used working out as a distraction from his problems. A way to channel into all of those feelings and allow his mind to work through it enough to soothe the ache.  His problems with Sawyer had yet to be resolved, even if they did speak once more. There was still a lot that the two needed to discuss. So much more that they needed to work through in order for them to trust each other again. Dante wasn’t naive enough to believe she was the only one who needed forgiving. He had also messed up along the way, even to the very end, and for that he needed her forgiveness. But that was a dilemma better worked through over time. Sobriety wasn’t something that Dante himself knew very much about, but for the people who meant the world to him he would definitely make an effort to understand it better.  He had blanked out for a moment, with Damian’s voice bringing him back to. Had he some shame, Dante’s cheeks would have reddened, but he was far from shameful. What he was, however, was a jokester and in a very Dante fashion, he winced and reached for his ankle - bluffing in order to keep the male before him just a little longer. “Oh, yeah. For sure. I hadn’t noticed until just now. Ow.” Dante was doing his best to hide his smile, to curve that need to laugh at just how unserious he was, “I think, I might need some help getting over to that bench over there.” he went on to add pointing in the direction of the bench with his other hand.

Damian takes his headphones back gratefully, happy to know that the flush of his face can be blamed on the exercise. “Thanks,” he mutters, dusting off some of the grime that’d found its way on them quickly. He wraps them around his neck, glancing back to where the other guy — Dante, he remembers suddenly — to where Dante turns to look as a joke, laughing a little awkwardly. Meeting the other man’s gaze again, he shakes his head once. 

“Sorry, just trying to,” he clears his throat. “Regain condition I’ve, uh, seem to have lost as of late.” He pauses, heart suddenly beating a mile a minute in his chest. Logically, he knows there’s no way Jason can know this conversation is happening — but he can’t shake the feeling that he’d find out, somehow, and where would Damian be, then? Unable to run at the gym. Unable to run at the park. Maybe he’d get a treadmill, run in the house, but even that suggestion had seemed to somehow be a burden to Jason, when Damian had brought it up as a possibility. 

Clearing his throat again, he takes a couple of steps back, offering Dante a tight smile. “Hey, sorry again, man,” he says, glancing around as if to make sure no one’s taken notice of this exchange. No one seems to care, which he has to remind himself is a good thing. “Seriously. I’ll make sure I’m looking where I’m going next time.” Glancing over Dante’s shoulder, he tries to find the best path forward without looking too eager to exit the conversation. He stretches out his leg, keeping himself busy in order to finalize a strategy. When he realizes the other man hasn’t moved just yet, he can’t help but raise a curious eyebrow. “What?” he asks, suddenly self-conscious. “Did — wait, did I actually hurt you?” He frowns, straightening up again. “You need some ice or something?”

[hvneymelons]

You shouldn’t call me that.

To consider Leandro surprised at the mention of Terry knowing Annie - and therefore her father seeing as they’ve had dinners - would be a bit of an understatement. His eyes found Terry in the short distance, curiosity sitting at the tip of his tongue but he knew better than to ask stupid questions. At the very least, he was aware of how it could potentially seem to Ketziya if he randomly started asking what other single father they enjoyed spending their free time with. Instead, Leandro focused on their brief walk and reacted only to his son’s question. “But of course, Papi, Anything for you.” he replied, ruffling his son’s head with his flower free hand. He would do anything for them. Be anything for them. All they ever had to do was ask. 

Since Terry had offered on their own, without any initial prompting from his children, Lea felt it was only right to accept the invitation. Later on, when they had a moment away from the children, he’d assure that it’s what they actually wanted. He was fairly curious to see what Terry surrounded themself with daily, also. What their home looked and felt like, if it differed from his own. The expectation was that yes, it should. The two, despite their fruiting friendship, were completely different human beings. What linked them was their gentle nature, he thought, although even that was a little far fetched. Terry was a person beyond his understanding and yet the two had formed a friendship that both thrilled and pained him.

Even if it does entertain your children.

Lea almost gasped as Terry closed the distance between them - their hand on his shirt possessively bringing him closer. Their scent immediately overtook his senses despite the light breeze in the air but he was rendered motionless. His eyes closing before their face came into contact, the smile on his features frozen in place not only from the excitement coursing through his veins, but the shock of what they were about to do. In front of his children, of all things. Lupita’s voice filled his ears, but he was far too interested in what Terry would do next. Lea knew if he tried to move, Terry - much like a bird, might retrieve from their interaction and so he stayed rooted, awaiting further actions.

Just as he thought things would come to an end, he’d been pulled once more, but this time he didn’t hold back too much. Placing a hand on the small of her back, Leandro added onto the closeness they now shared. His mind and body were unequivocally involved in her very being for the duration of their kiss. Almost lost in her touch to the point that he hadn’t noticed he stopped breathing all together. By the time they grew apart, he was almost lightheaded and lost. Confused for certain, as he watched Terry with more longing than curiosity.

They might expect too much.

It took a moment more for him to realize where the flowers had ended up - even as Terry reached for it. As she returned back to her chosen place, to finish the food Lea had already forgotten about, he reached up to feel the petals in his ear. What is happening? He thought to himself, but couldn’t ask them straight out. Not just yet, that was a conversation for when the two were alone. For when his children were not eavesdropping and adding layers to their already complicated relationship? Friendship? Situation? Whatever the case was. Leandro shot his eyes towards his children, not too far. Lupita caught his glance between the slits of her fingers as she covered her eyes but continued to giggle.

I’m not going to abandon them just because I don’t know how to be around you.

“Do you not think I’m pretty, Lu?” he asked, surprising even himself with the nickname his late wife used to love. He could see it surprised her too, all of the little home videos Sol had made addressing her as such she had seen. Lea wondered if it bothered her to hear him say it. His daughter was still sensitive about her mother, even as the years went by and the image of her disappeared. Leandro tried his best to keep talking and bringing her up, but even he had grown tired of it all. Diego didn’t feel it as much. He had never known his mother like his sister had. 

“Boys can’t be pretty, Papi.”

“You’re handsome!”

“Right. Good job, Diego.”

"I'm handsome, you see?" Lea corrected Terry clearly amused.

As his children fell into conversations of their own, Lupita leading the way as usual, Leandro took a seat beside Terry once more. Gravitating towards their presence with curious intent, only to be rewarded with yet another touch on their part. Leandro was utterly confused with Terry’s sudden change of pace and tune, but he was slow, not stupid. He reached a hand out, instinctively welcoming her touch with his own, and cupped her thighs in his hand. His children were far too distracted wrestling with their second burrito to pay them any mind. So he took advantage of it.

Leandro’s pants seemed to grow tighter at Terry’s next suggestion, but unlike before he didn’t stare back in shock. Giving her leg a squeeze, Lea raised his hand to caress the side of her cheek before guiding her face to his children. To keep a look out as he leaned towards and trailed his nose along her neck and shoulders. “Maybe I should come over this time.” he said, remembering the little mishap the last time they entertained this lust. Leandro was playing with fire, he knew it, Terry was still such a mystery to him but it only took a few words for him to ignore all of her previous warnings and caution. The choke hold she had on him seemed only to grow alongside his curiosity. “I’ll get them situated, and come by after.” 

Just as Ketziya had done before, Leandro returned to his position at a moment's notice. A kiss left on her skin to coat the words he had spoken. He could still feel her on his lips, but he knew it was the anticipation of the coming night. His children had gone to their grandparents the weekend before, but Lea was sure he could score them a sleepover with Daniel or Jia without too many questions. The burrito he had yet to uncover now gained his full attention as Lea attempted to fill a hungry beyond its limits while his children gushed about their lunch.

What ruckus. A pleasant ruckus, at least—all cacophony of voices and childish laughter, Lea so at ease with his son and daughter. They couldn’t imagine how this would have gone without his presence—warm, solid, so attuned to his children—that it almost left them green with envy. This had never come easy, parenthood. How could it? Their father was patient but silent, and Terry had learned to be silent in kind. No pattern to emulate but quietude, precision. Even their family trips were marked by quiet: the lush Catskills greenery, woodlands enveloped in fog, birds gliding past, slopes bathed in golden light. 

Micah could have benefited from someone like Lea for a father, they mused. But Terry had never seen the point of bringing any man home, not when people often lost interest at the mention of their son. The shift was often visible in their faces, and those that surpassed that initial barrier were often such a shame—too much fumbling in the dark, slurred speech, and inexpert tongues—that they, too, had found the appeal receding as soon as it came.  

Far easier to go at their own pace. And, anyway, no one quite understood them, how their brain had always demanded everything to be retranslated before it could be understood, how they’d then recalibrate their response, their own way of living, in kind. Too exhausting to explain. Too lonely it had made their existence. 

Yet here, in this town, it felt different. Different, too, in how people treated them—their differences as no longer something to be smoothed over or shaken out, but something to be tended to, and even respected. With talk of Annie came the other figures—of Rory, Jack, of this social circle they’d made for themselves in Forest Lake. Certainly colored by complication, the lot of them, each with their own ghosts that were as of now unearthed.

“I have met Annie, Diego,” they began, catching the boy’s eye and watching his face promptly light up at her mention, “Annie and her father have been over to my house for dinner. Would you like that sometime?” Invitations upon invitations. In the absence of Micah, they couldn’t quite stop.

“Papi, can we go over to Terry’s, please? I said please!”

They already knew Lea’s answer. When it came to children, it was difficult to say no. 

“Does Terry get a kiss too?” 

Diego’s question pulled them from their drifting thoughts. Their instinct was to say no, but—oh, it was so difficult to say no.

So, no, Terry doesn’t get a kiss, if only by technicality. Not when it was Terry who’d closed that gap first, to accept Lea’s wildflowers with one hand and to spool the fabric of his shirt just above his navel with the other, pulling him in. They pressed a hard kiss to the edge of Lea’s far too-bright smile, just to the left where the muscles of his lips ended, and the rough line of his jaw began. 

Behind them, an exaggerated ugh! came from Leandro’s daughter. “Oh, gross, Papi!” Lupita squealed, covering her eyes—though it was for naught. 

Funny, Terry thought, couldn’t remember the last time they’d kissed a man. Months, maybe. Years. More than a decade since it had actually mattered or had been this deliberate. Flings with men, after Severine, had been minimal and painful and best left for dead. They’d almost forgotten what it felt like, how the sensation of stubble overpowered everything else. Almost—and their desire, however, displaced against the vast expanse of the forest, began to wane. Only, they did not have the full picture yet, did they? Barely anything. Only jaw and stubble against the soft contours of their mouth, like rough-hewn wood against soft skin, the sensation of tree bark against their back. 

Another attempt. A ghost of a smile, here, as they pulled him closer for another time: motion deliberate, studied. The hand that held the wildflowers rose to tuck the flowers above his ear, then back down to his cheek. The textured grit of stubble again: better now that they’d acclimated to it.  

The other hand, still spooled around his shirt, pulled him closer to Terry still.

They closed the gap again. Another testing of the waters—no. Not quite like sinking. Recalled the sensation of a cigarette, how they’d put the stick between their lips and take a long drag, letting the controlled burn take over. They stroked his face beneath their fingers, the delicate contours of his cheekbones. The soft ridge above his eyelids, fluttering, as he finally registered what was happening. The sensations of mouths moving. The curve of his upper lips, warm against their own. A swipe of the tongue. They couldn’t tell who gasped first. It might have been Leandro, and they’d swallowed his exhale, almost gravelly, in their mouth. The kiss was over before Lea could move his lips to keep up. Any second more would border on obscene, especially with other people as witnesses. 

But, mostly, it was over because Terry Lowenstein had decided it was over. They might be cautious, or tentative, but never not the one in control. 

“Your father gets a kiss,” they corrected, releasing their hold over him and adjusting themselves back towards the tree stump. Space but not distance. “He’s very pretty, isn’t he?” Terry raised their hand to the great white trilliums, tucked now behind his ear, Leandro himself the undergrowth from which the flowers were plucked. “Papi, Terry just called you pretty!” The forest air was punctured again by hearty giggles. 

Terry waited until he’d settled back on the stump. Closer now, they thought. Head tilting to his side, almost accommodating, stray curls clinging to his bare shoulder, like edges of spider silk. A hand moved to meet the small of his back, away from view, stroking the fabric there, his muscles taut beneath their fingers. 

Is it so wrong, to have missed it? They don’t remember the last time a man’s kiss had ever felt comforting, if at all, or have such an encouraging band of witnesses in these displays of affection. Men had never kept their interest long enough. No one had kept their interest long enough—until Severine who broke through the stillness of the surface that concealed the enormity of their desire, the pulse points still hammering, crude but welcome, beneath their skin. Ten years, underwater. Alive again.

Nothing like it with Lea. Nothing like it with anyone but Sev, for that matter. Terry had not expected there to be, and yet—what had he said? Would that satisfy you? Lea had seemed malleable enough for the taking. Hard, but pliant, and not too easy to break.

“I can think of other things that would satisfy me, if you want,” they raised their lips to his ear, voice just above a murmur, not unlike the trills of birdsong, “Tell me when I should come over tonight.” 

The sun was strong today. Too strong. Leandro’s features too clear and punctuated in the light. Brown hair and brown eyes and brown everything. The dark was another thing. They stilled their hand before turning their back to the children. “So? How was everyone’s food?”

[hvneymelons]

Closed Starter:  @izuluzakwe at some bus stop

Taking the bus out of town had been something Dilara did during her adolescence. Be it to meet with authors, visiting museums and hospitals, or simply to get away from the small town she called home. It’s been a while since she had done so, and even longer since she’s been on her own. The last few times her mother had accompanied her so they could visit her sister after giving birth. Nowadays, Dee drove pretty much everywhere because it was easier than waiting around. There was no need for her to actually take the bus this beautiful Saturday morning, but she woke up feeling nostalgic. Rushing to make it to the bus doors before they closed, she stepped onto the bus and paid her fare, turning to attempt to find a seat and finding them all but one taken.  She hadn’t recognized her right off the bat. Izulu’s large curly hair covered her face as the other woman seemed to look out the window, so when Dilara walked up to the empty seat beside her she let out an excited greeting. “Izzy, hi!” Dee half fell into the seat as the bus had already begun to move which caused her to let out a surprised ‘Ooh!’ before settling into place. As regular as taking the bus was for many people, Dilara hadn’t expected to run into anybody on her morning adventure, but she was glad to be able to share a pleasant ride with one of her most recent patients. Even as the two women had spent a good amount of time living in the same town, it wasn’t until she walked through Dilara’s hospital doors that the two had a proper moment to connect. “Running some errands in the city this morning?”

[hvneymelons]

Dilara’s brows raised in amusement, but she simply rolled her eyes and shook her head. Not adding any more fire to his childish bit because she knew it would go nowhere. He knew it would go nowhere as well so they were better off leaving it alone. They have known each other so long that this was normal. Easy, and maybe even a little comical she found. Abel always had this way of making all of Dee’s problems just sort of disappear without even knowing it. His presence alone providing a wave of comfort and tranquility to her mental chaos. It never ceased to surprise her which only made her appreciation for him grow tenfold. “If you insist,” she said, lazily, “I’ve actually been working on not falling asleep. So you can totally help in that department.” She didn’t actually have any pressing work to get done, Dilara was simply far too ambitious for her own good. Always needed to be ahead of herself in order to function properly, but recently it’s become even more of a pressing need. Being at work kept her from the emptiness of her home. Going out to see friends and family was great and all, and Dilara loved doing so as often as she could. But after? When everyone went back to their regular lives and she had nothing but herself to entertain? The empty rooms were almost deafeningly loud. Her mother had warned her about purchasing such a large house, but after pining after it since she was a young adult there was no way she wouldn’t get her dream home.  Her laughter filled the room, “Abel!” she exclaimed, her cheeks reddening far too quickly despite the lack of evidence behind his tease. “My sex life is not that uneventful to where I have to fantasize about canes.” Not that she’s not had thoughts about the owner of said cane, but that was a thing for the wandering mind. An impulsive thought because she saw him daily, certainly. Totally normal. Totally not weird at all. Needing to change the subject desperately, Dee opened up her drawer and pulled out some scones to have with her coffee. “Tell me about life, Abel. Outside of these walls, what have you been up to? You attended the luncheon right? Tell me about that.”

Once at a work event, someone had offhandedly referred to Dilara as Abel’s work wife. He was familiar with the term, had had a similar relationship with a woman he’d worked at a bar with when attempting to scrape by in University. But she’d been a rough and tough lesbian three decades his senior who’d treated him more like a son than anything else. Hearing it in reference to Dee had brought an immediate blush to Abel’s cheeks that he’d had to excuse himself to hide from his peers. But it wasn’t exactly untrue. They argued like a married couple on their best days, always the same old back and forth that neither of them would get tired of because in their eyes, they were both on the correct end of their argument. 

“I’ll start when I want to start, thank you very much.” He mumbled petulantly under his breath, always a little bit childish when it came to disagreements. Not that this was the same as the kind of pettiness that was displayed regularly in his family, but he still couldn’t help but revert to that mindset anyway. But Dilara wasn’t his family, she was a grown up who clearly was capable of making her own decisions. It wasn’t like Abel ever wanted to tell her what to do as is, but he did wish she would at least allow for help when it was offered to her. His concern lied in her determination and stubbornness to take on everything herself, seemingly with the fear of relying on others. He wanted to prove that he was someone she could rely on, and would still be there the next day to do it again. “Well, that’s good. I have nothing scheduled until later this afternoon so I’m free for the next few hours. What’re you working on?”

As she worked over a particularly rough knot in his palm, Abel’s brows furrowed slightly. Over the years, he’d tried his own solutions - which usually just meant avoiding his cane altogether. But it was hard to fix the already formed calluses with just one available hand, and he’d never dreamed of bringing this to a doctor’s attention. Which was above and beyond hypocritical of him, a doctor himself, and lecturing Dilara about burdening herself when help was readily available, but everyone had their thing. “Right.” He scoffed teasingly, knowing exactly where she was going with this. No one was more on top of his cane usage than she was - another regular argument of theirs. Abel didn’t even try to avoid using his around her anymore, knowing she had at least three from hospital supplies stored in her office somewhere that she liked to whip out when he was being particularly difficult. “I’m starting to think you have a thing for canes. Is this some secret kink of yours, Dee?” Though he tried to fight back his playful grin, Abel could feel himself cracking. After a moment’s hesitation, he finally conceded with a soft, “That does sound nice. I’d like to borrow that cream sometime, if you wouldn’t mind.”

[hvneymelons]

DEE: Ha! I can imagine DEE: There are some pleasant children scary films to keep her entertained though. Or is her taste pretty specific? DEE: LISTENNN DEE: I don't know, I just really enjoy the mixture okay DEE: I'm not the biggest fan of mustard as a condiment. As a binder yes! For sure, but not on the side. DEE: Unless it's honey mustard... that don't count. DEE: Of course. I can understand that. DEE: [typing] DEE: I’m here though. If you need anything. Anytime DEE: Don’t hesitate to reach out. I know I disappear and get sucked into work too much, but I can always make time for you. DEE: Even if all you need is a little laugh once in a while. You should see the way I’m handling these chickens. Quite pitiful. I’ve got plenty of stories! 🫶🏽

ELIJAH: She really does! I would say takes after her mother, but I don't think she's particularly thrilled about it either. ELIJAH: You're helping a ton with the recommendations, thank you! I know they'll be very happy to see you, spend some time with you and all that. ELIJAH: Mayo? ELIJAH: Questioning a few things about our friendship, Dee, I can't lie.

[ ... ]

ELIJAH: Um, I don't really ... talk about it, at all, if I'm honest. It's complicated. ELIJAH: Thank you for telling me, though. If I hadn't already known I would have appreciated it.

[hvneymelons]

LEA: Con razón es que tu estas tan positivo todo el tiempo LEA: Esí es bueno vivir. De veras LEA: Of course, I'll add it onto the list 😁 LEA: I do love a good game of futbol. Have you watched it already? LEA: Should we watch it to LEA: I know Daniel might like it too, we can grab some beers and binge it one of these days? LEA: I was beginning to think you only know demonic content jajaja

ANTONIO: Será que no me ha fallado hasta ahora? ANTONIO: Pues que más te llamo cuando te portas tan dramático, amigo? ;) ANTONIO: Yet more to discuss the next time we see each other, yes? ANTONIO: It is the plot of a show, yes. Ted Lasso. No demons, no vampires. You might enjoy it.

[hvneymelons]

DEE: That's adorable. She has got some guts! I could never. DEE: You should have taken her! And the house of mirrors I hear is also popular with the little ones. DEE: Absolutely. I'll take a look online and see when they have any guided tours and activities! DEE: I am definitely a ketchup and mayonnaise girly unless it's a chili dog, and which case it needs neither! DEE: [...] DEE: Is that something you'd find comfort in discussing? DEE: I'm not due back for a pretty long while

ELIJAH: Yeah, Hats has been obsessed with them lately. She wants to run through the haunted house this year and everything. I don't know where it came from. ELIJAH: They would both love the butterfly conservatory, though! We haven't gotten the chance to go yet on our own, so I'm sure it'll be fun! ELIJAH: I'll definitely let you know. ELIJAH: Sounds pretty crazy to me, by the way. Ketchup or mustard?

[ SEVERAL MINUTES PASS ... ]

ELIJAH: I did, yeah. I saw him a couple of times. ELIJAH: We're not ... speaking, exactly.

[hvneymelons]

LEA: Tu ‘ta como que muy creyente en la manifestación. LEA: Y entonces, por encima me llamas dramático! No, no, no pero no se puede contigo. LEA: E’to ta fuerte, Antonio. LEA: Jajajaja por favor LEA: As is most of the scripture as well. We are only humans after all. LEA: I'm not sure that I follow LEA: Is that the plot of a new show?

ANTONIO: Todo se puede creer si uno se lo propone, no? ANTONIO: No seas dramatico! Una lloradera puede ser catartica. ANTONIO: You're sweet. Thanks for that. It's a lie, the guy still sounds like a dick, but thanks for that. ANTONIO: Sounds like she was misunderstood to me. ANTONIO: How do you feel about European football and an American football coach with a dream?

[hvneymelons]

Working with children was one of the most important things that Dilara had ever thought she’d do. Getting the chance to not just aid in the pre-care but also watch as they grew over the years and be available and present in case any complications ever occurred. After finding out she couldn’t have any of her own she had felt this large void blossom inside of her that only seemed to increase as the years went by. Smiling as the close friends around her moved forward with their life and started families - which brought her great joy - also deepened her wounds. It became almost impossible to want to be around them because while she was happy, there was also that part of her that wished she could experience it too. But she loved their kids like they were her own, and that allowed her to look beyond herself. Soon after she began her journey in pediatrics. Over the years, looking into the smiling faces of all her patients was able to patch the void. Dilara didn’t think it would ever fully heal, ever since she was a little girl she had dreamed of raising a family of her own. Of having a safe and happy little bundle of joy of her who she’d raise to be as close to her as she was with her own mother.  Fraser’s squeal brought her back to focus and Dee couldn’t help but bounce him on the table once more so she could hear the symphony of his laughter. “He is perfect.” she said in agreement, turning to give Dorothy with a smile, “We should receive his labs within the week for sure, but everything does seem to be going well from what I’m seeing. And ever so happy, sweet baby!” It was almost impossible to watch Fraser and not change the tone of her voice - turning from her regular softness to a high pitched coo. “How about you, Dorothy? I hope all is well?”

Watching Fraser squeal with delight in Dilara’s arms, Dottie felt relief wash over here. She loved her baby, it was an unconditional feeling that’d taken over the second she discovered she was pregnant - but she often wondered if she was doing this right. Anything, really, when it came to parenting. He’d been sick since birth, and Dilara had been such a big help that it wasn’t like Dottie had to worry or struggle. But between her uncle and Fraser, the two people she cared about the most being sick, it felt like a weight had been placed on her shoulders that she hadn’t been prepared for. There would always be a guilt there, when she reminisced on her old life and how much easier it was - she wouldn’t trade what she had now for the world, but it would always be at the back of her mind.

Standing from the chair she’d been watching from, Dottie moved to Dee’s side, admiring at the way she handled Fraser effortlessly. Sometimes, Dottie still worried she’d break him. “He’s good!” She said automatically, before pausing and backtracking slowly. “Or - better, definitely. Still not perfect… Will he ever be? Not that he’s not already. Look at him. He’s pretty perfect.” Gently, she gave Fraser’s belly a gentle poke. With Dee’s help, he’d gained some weight recently, a proper chunky baby now where he’d been a bit scrawnier growing up. It warmed Dottie’s heart to see the change, anxieties pushed away for the time being. She used to be a mess, when Fraser was only a few months old - Dottie might’ve lost her mind by now, if it weren’t for Dilara. “I mean, look at that belly. That’s a good sign, right?”

[hvneymelons]

“Oh, you’re just teasing!” Dee exclaimed after a moment, pouting at him with reproach. All jokes, though, she wasn’t actually upset about it. It’d be a little silly on her part, but she enjoyed the ease with which he teased her back. Those brief bits of personality that burst out of him so effortlessly and Dilara adored. Angel had become almost like a little brother to her by this point in their lives, and as such she loved to see him still cracking jokes. His words made her pause, “Wait a what? What kid?” she asked confused, “I hope you mean a responsible adult who is also helping you pay the bills.” Dee raised a brow questioningly although her concern was evident. She wanted to ensure he was looking out for himself in all aspects of life. Especially with how crazy the recent economy had become, although she’d never mention it to him in such a way.  She chuckled, “I’m well balanced thank you very much, but I can tag along with the coffee.” Dilara’s eyes traveled to the register behind him where the line had definitely gone down, but she wasn’t ready to let Angel go just yet. Dee hadn’t noticed just how much she had missed his presence until now that they got to catch up again. Making time to take him out was definitely going to the top of her list once she gets into the office.  “Right.” she laughed, already picturing the crowd of twenty-something years old crowding the establishment. “For sure next time.” Whenever next time came around, because the longest Dee thought about clubbing the more aged she felt. Which was dumb, but lately it’s been a present thought in her head. Maybe because she didn’t spend enough time out and about. The hospital kept her so pleasantly distracted from the rest of the world. “Oh?” she asked, attention brought back, “Do tell. But please follow me to that line because the smell of coffee is about to burn a hole in my psyche.”

it felt freeing to be able to laugh with someone that at one point had only been a constant reminder of the pain and grief he'd felt. ms dee had been a constant in angel's life when he biweekly would go and pick up abuela's medicine. now it was easier and dilara was a bright spark whenever they would run into each other. but angel was still not above joking around with her. "she just has that je ne sais quoi, you know ?" he shrugged cockily and took a sip from his coffee. "her or christina. she was fucking cool." is this when he told dilara that he had never actually watched the show ? he considered it for a brief moment before deciding that it was funnier not to. "ms dee, you need balance. my balance is that my mornings are spent checking up on the kid i let move into my apartment or buying way too much coffee that my heart will protest in the long run." he took another sip from his coffee to underline his point. the thought of dilara navigating the crowded dance floor of aurora made him laugh internally. it was an interesting image. "come on, ms kaplan ! you would love letting off some steam at the club. it's such a good time." at the mention of suitors angel perked up substantially. "there are not a lot worth mentioning ... but there's this one guy that i like. i don't know how he feels about me though." daniel was hard to read, even though he seemed interested he was also not initiating anything.

[hvneymelons]

“For sure.” she said, giving into a small laugh as she eased into the moment. There was definitely no way that anybody - least of all Antonio - would know what exactly she was there for when Dilara herself didn’t actually know. This was childish on her part. Brought back quite a bit of memory from her teenage years. Exciting and fulfilling with the smallest of interactions. A caught glance, a kind gesture, or crooked smile. Just tripping off a crush. “I’m glad to hear that.” she commented before he proceeded to ask about her. Dilara wasn’t conceited by any means. At least she wouldn’t call herself so, but there was no way for her to avoid the thrill of getting to talk about her profession. In no way did she make herself seem like the best in her field, but getting to the place she has gotten and being able to do what she did on a regular basis was not for the weak. In that she took great pride. “Yes! In pediatrics, actually.” she said, to clarify, “It’s undeniably the most amazing job. I get to enjoy what I love, which is medicine, and save lives everyday. I won’t lie, I was terrified at first.” Dee was sure he didn’t remember her originally only planning on being a pharmacist - they hadn’t talk that much, if at all, back then. “But over the years it just sort of revealed itself to me. Is that odd to say? The path kind of just… appeared.”  Now Dilara only seemed to want more and more. Opening up an obstetrician practice to aid pregnant women, providing IVF treatments, and overall just threading the waters of new life in any way she was physically able to when her own body limited itself. It was a tough reality to embark on, but served a purpose that was rewarding enough for her to handle it all.

Watching as she flushes, Antonio can’t help but feel a little bad for cornering her so soon after she’s arrived. He hadn’t meant to embarrass her — he doesn’t think — and she doesn’t exactly look malicious, all things considered. He’d just — rather be here, if she’s going to ogle his — friend. Doesn’t exactly know if that’s going to make anything better, mind you — might very well make things worse — but that’s where his logic’s gotten him, up to this point. He watches her approach casually, allowing his lazy smile to widen into something sincere, the way he’s always been able to shape it under the influence of alcohol and a whole lot of media training.

“Nothing like the atmosphere of instruments to get you ready for a long day of work,” he drawls, an edge of teasing to his tone. He leans against the piano, keys folding under the weight of his arms, errant notes flying across the shop. “I’ve been fantastic,” he says, and it’s hardly a lie. Not that he’s going to elaborate. “How about you? Hear you’ve been doing very well for yourself,” he tilts his head curiously. “Surgeon, right?”

[hvneymelons]

Her excitement diminished the longer she watched his features but she did her best to ensure it did not show. Dilara couldn’t claim to be a good people reader, but Saul seemed distressed by her inquiry which concerned her a little. She liked being able to help without asking too many questions. After taking another sip of her glass, Dilara placed it back onto the coffee table and crawled back into his space. Allowing her hands to find him and offer a distraction if needed - as she worked them over his shoulders. Inching herself closer to him, Dee pressed her chest against his side, resting his arm between her breasts while fiddling with his shirt and collar - waiting ever so patiently for him to speak. Her brows raised with each new wave of information but she let him finish speaking. “Wow.” she said, meeting his gaze with a sympathetic smile, “Eventful lunch for sure.” Dee teased in an attempt to get him to smile.  After expressing her contentment over the luncheon having achieved its intended goal, Dee offered a bit of insight into what her own day had been like. It had truly been no different than any other. Surgery went by much faster than she had originally intended, so she spent the remainder of the afternoon at home. Dilara didn’t say all that though, instead she told him about the surgery and the child she helped. Putting a little buffer between her last question and the new. She knew how sensitive a topic his son was, so Dee made a mental note to ask him more about Micah after dinner when he’s a little more relaxed. “I don’t know if I can picture you screaming. Is that weird to say?” she asked, angling her head to the side so he could see her face. “Tell me… what made you so upset?”  Her thoughts momentarily turned to Terry, and Dee wondered if perhaps she should reach out and make sure they were alright as well but that seemed a bit too involved. There was also the fact that she’d have to figure out a way to bring it up in the first place as Terry wasn’t someone who willingly volunteered information. Dilara had gathered that much in the year the two had shared a fence. Her neighbor was vague by nature, and held such peace in their speech that the thought of Saul yelling at them made no sense to Dee. Perhaps they were arguing about their son. “If you don’t mind elaborating, that is.” she added after a moment, wanting to make sure Saul knew he didn’t have to speak about it further if he didn’t want to. Her space was meant to ease his mind, not further derail it.

if it wasn’t for the fact that he had already made plans to come over to dee’s after the luncheon, saul would’ve backed out. during the event, it was easy for him to keep his mind only in the present and focus only on the task at hand. after it, however, he was left to replay the whole day over and over in his head. if he wasn’t exhausted enough, the mental replay was about to push him over the edge. dee’s couch was entirely too comfortable and if she hadn’t come back into the living room after toiling around the kitchen, he promptly would have fallen asleep. that, and the delicious aroma floating in the air kept him from completely dozing off. he had dropped micah off at his mother’s home, and dee’s proximity to terry’s helped in decision not to back out of their plans—just another example of how intertwined his life was with his many ex-wives, it was almost suffocating how everything always came back to one, if not more, of them. even dee wasn’t completely without her ties to one of his ex-wives, being neighbors with his first; that was easier to swallow than his kinda-sorta boyfriend of the whole summer being fuckin’ high school sweethearts with his third ex-wife. saul would have welcomed a distraction, but dilara entered the room and sat down beside him to ask about the whole thing he couldn’t stop thinking about. he tried not to groan. “oh, they sure did.” saul sighed tiredly. he didn’t know where exactly to begin. “my son’s back. unannounced, just as he left last month.” in front of his son earlier, he was all about understanding and forgiveness, but irritation was finally starting to settle in. “and i got into a fight with my ex-wife. screamed at her, actually. not my finest moment.” he ran a hand over his face, as if to wipe off the shame. there was no point in mentioning his little argument with terry, the first mrs. weissberg, because all of their conversations were little arguments. “but we did exceed our goal for donations! and everyone seemingly had a great time, so all in all, it was a success.” something he had to be grateful for; even when his personal life was shit, he still knew how to throw a party. “how was your afternoon?”

[hvneymelons]

Nodding her head, Dee replied, “No, worries. Take your time.” In his absence, Dee turned back to the wall of instruments and equipment that made sense to just about everyone else who walked into the store except for her. She had been wondering for a while whether she should pick up a new hobby since her superiors were up her behind, commenting on all the time she put in at the hospital. Dilara obviously didn’t mind it, in fact she preferred it, but every year they tried to talk her down from her ‘madness’ as if her love for work was outrageous. Luckily, all they could really do was make sure she followed regulations - which she did - and the rest was up to her.  She’d been wanting to get her things in order though. Age was slowly creeping, and while forty one was nowhere near what she considered old, there was only so much left for her to accomplish. Reading and painting took up the little time that Dilara had to herself, but if she worked a more regular schedule then she’d have more than enough time to learn new things. An instrument for example. Which one would take longer to come to her. “Take your time.” Dee replied to Roman when he returned, not too worried about what was happening at the moment though she did turn back to face his side of the store.  In the twenty-something odd years that the two had technically known one another, Dee was never able to tell when Roman was being serious and when he was merely joking. His comment now seemed a bit on the serious side, but he couldn’t really just despite everyone who worked for him. That wasn’t logical, was it? “Oh, um-” she had to think about it for a moment, as Dilara tended to disconnect emotions from her place of work all together, “I guess so. Although, I wouldn’t say I work with them very often - if even at all.” It was always the people she saw the least that got under her skin, “My previous director was definitely a test on my patience, but as they say ‘kill them with kindness’.” she said, letting out a brief laugh.

Of course. A lot of the instruments purchased were generally online orders, with most people opting to ship directly to their homes, except for the occasional parcel that came from the warehouse to the store. He briefly recalled a guitar order coming in, but with everything else going on in his life, Roman admittedly let it slip by. “Right. Bear with me a sec?” And he momentarily stepped into the back to retrieve the instrument…finding it not there. Fuck. He came out, and whilst he normally tried to shift blame on the customers, couldn’t help but feel a level of affection for Dilara, and thus found it difficult to find it in himself to point the finger at her. “I need to get in touch with someone…one second.” He opened the group chat he begrudgingly allowed, asking which fucking mouth breather had been the one handling online orders as of yet. ‘Several people are typing at once’ didn’t bode well to Roman.

At her comment, he let out a noncommittal hum, before deciding that was rude and pulling his eyes from his phone. He actually had plans to invite Toni over to close up, the task seeming more bearable with the former bandmate at his side — especially with the new developments — but with Dee’s guitar being delayed, it seemed like it was no longer in the realm of possibility. “I will be yes. I have three employees in total who are allowed keys. And I tend to let most of them finish early if I’m in, can’t fucking stand them. Bet there’s some you feel that way about at the hospital?” Because who genuinely liked all their co-workers?