isaganitan

[isaganitan]

[isaganitan]

"Gin it is, I haven't played that in awhile." Isagani had played solitaire and other games when it was just himself alone. It was becoming a little more frequent that he had company to play cards with. No one needed to know that tidbit though. He smiled brightly, with a slow shrug of his shoulders. "I hate losing, but you don't have to worry I won't flip the table." Maybe he shouldn't have promised something that could easily be a lie. "That's true, just like the air we breathe. Danger is one of those things where it can carry a different level with each person." Issy added while he seemed to gaze through her a few minutes. Lost to his own little world for a minute, before he blinked down to the deck. "Oh right!" He drew a card from the deck and placed a 7 of hearts into the discard pile.

Ellie eyed the seat he nudged out, a ghost of a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. Issy had a way of making everything feel lighter, like the weight of the world wasn’t as heavy when he was dealing the cards. She settled into the chair, rolling her shoulders back as if shaking off the tension she carried like a second skin. “Gin’s my favorite,” she admitted, reaching for the deck with an ease that came from years of playing, though there was an absentmindedness to her hands as she shuffled. “But I’ll play whatever, as long as you’re not a sore loser.”

She flicked him a glance, teasing, but her mind was already circling back to his first question. Do you think we’re all in danger? Her fingers stilled on the cards for half a second before she forced herself to keep moving, dealing out the hands. “I think danger’s always there,” she said finally, keeping her voice light, but something flickered in her eyes. “Just depends on whether we see it coming or not.” She tapped the deck, signaling for him to draw. “Your turn, Issy. Let’s see if you can keep up.”

[isaganitan]

THE FIRST FROST 难哄 (2025) dir. Chu Yu Ning

[isaganitan]

Issy nodded along conspiratorially to her reaction. They both knew he was full of absolute shit, but boy did he love to sell a fictional story with hot loot. "Yeah, scouts honor and all that." He replied with a committed nod. The man couldn't stop the words that parted his lips in poor taste ( if this story was real). "Well, she probably thought he could give her a good plowing." Miraculously he was even able to keep a straight face after that. "Oh yes, very dramatic knees in the mud 'WHYYYYYY'" Issy pumped his fists for extra presentation points, before he rested his elbows back on the case. "I think he was crying when he was telling me this story.. but honestly, that could have just been sweat. " He sure did fucking sweat running around that house like he had any sort of agenda to be there. Issy's head tilted at the pipe comment with a slow nod of confirmation. "I know that's right." Listen, he didn't ruin lives, he just got rid of them.

"Not really, but hoping the cash will bring him some emotional healing. You know? Maybe he can go on a retreat or something. At the moment he's into wallowing in pity." He knew those burner phones he kept in his closet would come in handy. "That would be nice, I can give you his number for sure." A smirk with an unspoken challenge thrown into the air.

Nellie sucked in a sharp breath, eyes going wide like he’d just told her the juiciest piece of gossip she’d ever heard. She leaned in across the counter, mirroring his posture, one hand coming to rest dramatically over her chest. “No shit.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, like she was hanging onto every word. “And the gardener, of all people? Damn. That’s movie-level betrayal. What was she thinking?”

She fiddled with the ring between her fingers, turning it over like she was studying its tragic little history. “You gotta tell me—did he at least throw in a dramatic storm-off? Rain pouring, shouting into the night, maybe even a single, manly tear?” She tsked, shaking her head. “Bet the gardener didn't even lay good pipe. It’s always the average ones that ruin lives.”

She sighed, setting the ring down with exaggerated care. “Your cousin’s a strong man for not torching it all. Real restraint. Hope he’s doing okay—emotionally speaking.”

Her gaze flicked up to Issy’s, unreadable for a beat, before she cracked a smirk. “I mean, I could call him. Offer my condolences.”

[isaganitan]

Manny Jacinto 400x640 avatars rpg

[isaganitan]

"I do know how to braid, I've done it since i was younger. My sister got all my bad braiding probably, but I've braided my own hair a couple of times when it gets too long." He admitted. Isagani doubted Linnea wanted to hear that it was easy to ensure hair didn't get into his eyes while working, especially when he was in the midst of murdering someone. Some things were better left unsaid, even though they both worked for Nightshade. Issy returned triumphantly a few minutes later with his burner phone. Damn, did he even know any numbers to prank call? He's sure he can find some. "Oh uh, I'm not that hip on the trash tv shows." He admitted with a slight hint of nervousness to his tone. Issy tilted his head curiously and arched a brow at Linnea. "You sound like you have the snacks prepared, I feel bad I didn't bring any." He scrunched his nose up at the mention about the convenience store around the corner. "Hmm we could do that. Do you have a mask?" After the words left his lips, he blinked his eyes. Almost immediately he held up his hands in a defensive manner. "Not to steal from the convenience store- I just don't want their ctv footage to see my face."

Frowning as she tilted her head, Linnea took a moment to wonder how a mani would mess up his aim - maybe if they did fake nails? She'd worn them for the party and that had certainly felt weird, so she wasn't going to question it. "You know how to braid?" She asked instead, a little surprised, but completely willing since having someone play with your hair was always nice. her dad used to try braiding her hair for school when she was little and he used to be terrible about it until one of their neighbors helped, the memory soft and unexpected and making her smile. "That would be nice."

Isagani was showing far more willingness to go along with her plan than she expected, leaving Linnea feeling woefully underprepared even though it was her idea. "Well, you're the guest, so I think you should pick." She announced diplomatically, scrambling off her bed to start looking for the remote. "Doordash depends on how hungry you are? I have things like popcorn, chips, trail mix… I also have a bag of m&ms that I mix in with the popcorn. I might have some pretzels, but they're probably stale.. if we get desperate, we could always go hit up the convenience store around the corner?"

[isaganitan]

MANNY JACINTO Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)

[isaganitan]

The image of his work cycled in his head like an unwelcome visitor. Normal people were critical of themselves on the job, and he was only slightly different. Such thoughts as 'Damn maybe I should have leaned further right for the splatter.' or ' Maybe I should not have stopped the extra two minutes to feed the dead person's cat.' Today's thought was centered around a sleeping dog he had noticed on the property. In the moment he was able to suppress the impulsion to go set the dog free to a new home & not one marked by death. Part of his mind fogged until his boss made himself known. He turned slightly the gun still in his hands. He set it down on a nearby table with a slow shake of his head. "Clean shot boss, but I contemplated going back and opening the back gate for the bastard's dog. Not with my bare hands of course."

Who: @isaganitan Where: The Arsenal

Despite the way that everyone in their world still seemed to be in a tizzy about the Family and their secrets and their death and their new revelations and what color their shit was, the world was still turning and business was still in order, Diego's people still going out and bleeding to get their job done. The smell of gunfire lingered in the air, tickling Diego's nose as he looked Isagani over in one of the back rooms of the Arsenal, checking for signs of damage. "Anything go wrong?" He asked after a pause, wanting advance notice if he was going to see anything in the news besides the murder of an investment broker.

[isaganitan]

MANNY JACINTO for the New York Times (2024)

Asian Men Are Finally Starting to Get the Girl (or Guy)

[isaganitan]

"Sure you can call me that." Issy added without the grin on his features faltering. Should she be concerned? Not while they were here in the spin cycles. "I don't know, are you secretly my sibling?" The retort slightly belated, but he chuckled soon after. "I guess we will see whom the laundromat Gods favor today." He was definitely going to win. "You got it." Issy nodded after he finished one more shuffle of the cards, and started to deal the hands face down. He placed the rest of the deck face down, and waited to glance at his cards until she was ready to begin.

Dilan leaned forward slightly, watching the shuffle with a mix of amusement and intrigue. “So, what you’re telling me is that you’re a professional sibling tormentor and I should be concerned?” Her lips quirked up as she absently drummed her fingers against the table. “I’ve played my fair share of games, but I don’t think I’ve ever had the pleasure of losing at poker in a laundromat.”

She slid into the chair, resting her elbow on the table as she studied him. “Guess we’ll see if you’re as good as you say, or if your sister was just letting you win to spare your ego. — Deal me in while I get my load started.”

[isaganitan]

He's so cute!

Manny Jacinto as Elliot in 'Balestra' (2024)

[isaganitan]

"Such profound words for a laundromat." Isagani teased from behind the paper, before he had placed it down onto the card table. A mischievous glint flickered in his gaze. Was he baiting to get information? Maybe. Maybe he was just bored and had all the time in the world to kill in the moment. His attention perked when another offer was on the table. "You know.. I can play a hand to that. Come take a seat. Are you a poker man or a Crazy eights kind of guy?" There were plenty of subjects to discuss, especially if the only thing he couldn't touch on was the gala itself. Issy gestured to the seat across from him.

Helping out his Ma' was never out of the question, but finding her usual laundromat closed for renovations, while a menial disaster at best, felt like a sign that he should have claimed being busy. The next closest establishment one he knew all too well held ties to the rather formidable Nightshade. Still, he'd rather be struck down by them, than his own mother for returning with damp linen. Priorities. Setting down the basket, he'd found it rather easy to ignore the occupant, clearly made quite at home at the card table, kicked back with the newspaper in hand. Already, he knew the likelihood of what they were reading. Events of the Gala were all anyone could talk about, with good reason. He felt his jaw click tightly into place, the muscle working overtime as he shoved the white sheets into the machine. "Worlds a big place, plenty of things to miss." It's offhanded, not even entirely certain he's speaking to gain an answer or rhetorically. He huffs a laugh, and pops coins into the machine, "Tell you what, I'll play a hand, but not for your machine." The sound of coins falling into the compartment of the machine sounds loudly, "I'll play you to talk about anything else other than what it is you missed." Clearly, the other man was going to talk regardless, Nate might as well make an effort to steer clear of things far too personal to be discussing in a laundromat with a stranger.

[isaganitan]

The Acolyte Incorrect Quotes

(He is not wrong tho—)

[isaganitan]

Isagani couldn't help but snicker at the mention of tops and bottoms. Though he tried to do a quick recovery from that onto other matters. "Not exactly, colors mainly. Don't want a new red to bleed onto your other clothes. Take it out and hello new pink shirt. Or accidentally shrinking pants. Just slight things like that." Issy offered with a slow shrug of his shoulders.

A smile spread across his lips. Now, he didn't think Gio actually knew anything - but that comment though. It spiked his interest. He squinted upwards at an imaginary light as if he tried to recall if he knew any card tricks. He knew plenty of tricks when it came to other things, but as far as magic goes? No, his magic tricks were normally murdering and disappearing. "I don't..but I did learn recently how to play California solitaire. Want to learn how? No bets, I just got the time to kill."

gio pauses, laundry against the mouth of the machine with a few socks stuck to the bottom of the bag, when isagani mentions sorting his clothes. "what, like tops and bottoms?" he'd always thought of doing laundry as being a fairly straightforward task and hadn't considered any other step prior to putting his shit in the machine. he thinks about making some snarky comment like 'what are you, some kind of laundry expert?' but he knows that this is probably more of a skill issue on his part than isagani being really good at doing laundry. who's good at doing laundry? gio scoffs at the suggestion of staring at each other while their cycles finish, says, "if you're trying to psych me out for somethin', s'not gonna work. also, you ain't gettin' shit from me." not because he's got a fortified loyalty or an integrity made out of titanium or whatever barones are supposed to swear by. he simply just doesn't know anything. not anymore, at least. "you know any card tricks?" he offers as an alternative.

[isaganitan]

"Oh, I'd let you use it if you beat me." Issy confirmed, but tilted his head. Amusement consumed his features as he pictured her trying to fit an actual drying machine in her pocket. An anime move if he ever saw one. "What would you want if you win?" He asked curious now to what her answer would be. Isagani relaxed in his chair further, crossing one leg over the other. "Tell you what, since you're so sure you can beat me. What game would you choose? There's plenty of card games, and I bet I could beat you in every single one." Was he really that sure of himself? Not really, but he was bored while he waited for instructions.

Gigi's glance shifted between the man and the dryer machine. "You get to keep it either way." She shrugged, not seeing much point in that bet, but who was she to question the man's rules. "It's not like I'm gonna be walking out with a dryer machine in my pocket, even if I beat you." She probably shouldn't be so cocky about it, but her sense of cautiousness was almost always a little too late. Tossing her clothes in the near by washing machine, it took a couple minute to figure out all the needed settings before the machine began filling up with water. "You didn't say what we're playing?" She turned back to the man, hands on her hips. If she was going to be here for the next hour or so, she might as well make good use of her time.

[isaganitan]

"Sleepover practices?" Isagani muttered as his mind wandered back to the old days when his sister would have slumber parties. He didn't really know what they did completely, but he did tend to barge in there to steal their snacks. That was younger Issy''s mission, and he would almost always return victorious. Unless that one asshole kid was there to squash his dreams. Truth be told he didn't really have anything to be paranoid about, but that didn't pacify his internal demons. He tilted his head and listened to her. "Manis would mess up my aim, but pedis I guess? Not that great at either, but I can do a mean braid of your hair if you want."

A slow shrug of his shoulders, before something seems to strike him in the moment. "Oh! A true sleepover has prank calls. Hold on I got an extra burner the other day." He leapt up with a jolt of devious glee as he rushed over to his coat pocket to grab the phone. In a flash he was sitting on the sleeping bag, a curious glance at the cartoon character on it. "Do we need to Door Dash snacks? What trash TV are we talking about here? "

with @isaganitan, @ Linnea's apartment.

"Now you know I don't mind you staying here, but I think it's time you get involved in some proper sleepover practices." Linnea announced as she sat down on her mattress across from Izzy. She always was of the opinion that he needed to sleep, but it wouldn't hurt for him to relax, either. "So that means things like watching trash tv, having snacks that aren't good for us, sharing secrets, and... don't worry, I'll let you skip the manipedis if you want." Linnea had never had a manicure in her life, she chewed her nails too much, but the important thing was to make Izzy relax. Lifting her drink to Izzy in a toast, she smiled. "So what do you say, sleepover shenanigans?"

[isaganitan]

Silently he pondered if it was bad of him to not remember the truth of the owner of these items. Should he feel guilty they were just targets to him? Oh well, they made him money in multiple ways. A wide smile across his lips to the point it shown a dimple in one cheek. "I'll tell him, hell I can take it to him." By him, he means himself of course. Dark hues watched as she slid the pieces of jewelry on the counter. He trusted her expert gaze to appraise them, and if he lost money on it he didn't really care. These weren't even his anyway, any funds.. were a plus to his bank account.

"You want the full story?" His brows drew together, as he placed his elbows on the glass counter. Issy leaned forward with extra care, as if he had some piping hot tea. "Well you see, my cousin had a wife. But he caught her cheating on him with the gardener. So he decided to either burn her things to the ground, or sell them. He went full scorched Earth, y'know?" Issy used one of his fingers to tap one o the rings. "This one was the first ring he had ever bought her. He just couldn't look at them anymore." Uh, no one should look at it since it had belonged to a crime scene.

She didn’t even look up from her spot behind the counter, just rested an elbow on the glass, chin in her palm, and flicked ash from her cigarette into a tray that was already too full.

"Yeah?" she drawled, eyes finally flicking toward the jewelry he laid out like he wasn’t feeding her the same shit he always did. "Must’ve been some sale, then. You tell your cousin I’ll be sending him a ‘thank you’ card?"

She reached forward, lazily dragging a few rings toward her, inspecting them like she actually gave a damn. In reality, she was just stalling, waiting for him to slip up, for some little crack in whatever story he’d cooked up this time. Not that she needed one, she already knew exactly what kind of game he was playing. But a mistake on his part would make it more fun.

Still, she leaned back, tilting her head at him with that dry, unimpressed smirk. "Go on, Issy. Sell me the fairytale. I need a good laugh today."