jasperxsinclair

[jasperxsinclair]

Jasper watched the way she folded her arms over chest. He knew that she was trying to guard herself from him and he didn't blame her. "Yeah, Haven." He replied, letting out a breath from his nose. When Jasper decided to get clean it was because of his family and it was a family that he had been missing out for years because he was always chasing the next high. There was a pause in the air, letting the weight of what they didn't say settling between them. For an instant, he agreed with her. Though he was not born and raised in the coastal time, he had never expected to make a return to it. The words she spoke cut into him like a knife and he slowly averted his gaze from her, "Yeah, well, life will surprise you." Jasper said slowly, being honest in the only way he knew how. @marincole

END.

Marin had tried really hard not to pay attention when Jasper talked about his family. Not only had the thought of family struck a nerve in her, it also made her realize that the more questions she asked and the more information he gave, the closer she felt herself growing to him regardless of how much she tried really hard not to. So when he mentioned he'd moved to Kismet when his sister, she nodded though didn't stop the question that escaped her lips. "Your twin?" she asked, hoping for a split second she'd remembered before she felt her stomach lurch at the idea of actually remembering. The power this man had always had over her. She exhaled, crossing her arms as she looked at him, nodding his head. "I am. I never told you." she shrugged. One thing about Marin Cole is she would go about her day being as secretive as she could, letting her past remain just that - the past - doing anything she could to keep the parts of herself that triggered her a secret from anyone she dared cross paths with. "Had no reason to; I sure as hell never thought I'd be back in this town." she admitted, though, the statement was less harsh than it had been before. Something about hearing Jasper confess that she'd never see him again didn't sit right with her; it didn't make her feel great and even though she didn't trust him as far as she could throw him she'd never admit out loud that there was a small part of her that was upset by the statement. Something about him being around again seemed to make her feel something again, even if it was nothing but hatred. Couldn't say she necessarily loved that emotion. "I wouldn't find that likely." she stated, eyes focusing on the other. "It's been a really long time since I had someone in my life that was worth staying around for." @jasperxsinclair

[jasperxsinclair]

Jasper let out a low laugh with Noah's words. "A pink leopard cowboy hat," he blew air over his lips. The idea, however absurd it sounded, seemed like something he would be willing to do for his niece if that was what she wanted. Jasper wondered, if this was what family was all about. The family that he had abandoned all those years ago for selfish reasons. "Yeah, makes the most sense to me." he'd had people stare at him for worse reasons and if it made his niece smile, then he'd be happy to do it. "Some bedazzled rodeo clown I'd be," he chuckled once more, shaking his head. "I worry what else she's going to get me into as she gets older." Jasper said, though there wasn't actually an ounce of worry in his voice, but rather a hint of excitement because it meant he'd get to be apart of the future. @noahsinclaxr

"I could keep Jazz, but we all know that as soon as she catches on, it'll be Jazzy in no time." He mused, placing the folded stack of sweaters in the laundry basket. "Good." Noah offered his little brother a smile, not needing to go into detail about it as he was certain neither needed a reminder of the lost time. "I'll make sure to get you a pink leopard cowboy hat with Jazzy spelt out with rhinestones.. I feel like that will absolutely make sense for you to wear." @jasperxsinclair

[jasperxsinclair]

Jasper shook his head, indicated that he had not been asked that question by Orion before. "Nah, no worries, man," he walked alongside the other, keeping his hands placed in the pocket of his sweater out of habit. "I've only been here since February, actually." Four months wasn't a long time for his family to forgive him but he had been taking the necessary steps to stay involved in their lives, show them that he wanted to be in them. "You live here your whole life?" He questioned in return. @orionxblakewood

He nodded his head, once the other finished speaking. "No worries on my end." Though he could understand why people could become impatient with Orion in a conversation, Jasper had no room to judge the other for the way that he was. "Slowin' down isn't always easy for people and they're always thinkin' about themselves." And for the first time in a long time, Jasper was trying to put other people first. He hadn't always, but as part of his reform, it was something he was being more conscious of. "Never going to say no to food," he gestured, "lead the way, man." @orionxblakewood

[jasperxsinclair]

Jasper nodded his head to Haven's words. Things were still rocky, yet there were things to be rocky about. His heart soared being near his family again, a feeling that he never thought he would experience. When he saw the first photo of Eloise on Noah's Instagram it was his push to get clean. He'd always teetered right on the edge. He'd stay sober for a few weeks, months, but then something would happen and he'd relapse. This was the longest he had been sober and for the first time, he didn't feel like he was holding on by a thread. "I want to be here," he told Haven, wanting to assure her. "I might not be able to keep up at first as long as he's patient with an old man like me," he half-joked, the corners of his eyes crinkling when he smiled. "I'm liking it, I mean not a lot has changed," he told her, "but people have been real kind." He paused, "You won't believe who works at the tattoo shop now, though." Jasper slowly shook his head, knowing his sister would remember her. "Marin." @havenhawthorne

"Yeah," he said softly, surprised by his own answer, "Yeah I do." He shifted a little closer to his twin sister, reaching out with careful hands. He felt like the baby might disappear if he moved too quickly. That was his fear about a lot of things in life as of lately. That it all might slip through his fingertips if he weren't careful. "I mean, if he will let me," Jasper trailed off, agreeing to bottle feed the baby with a quiet voice. "Thank you, Haven, for trusting me with them." Jasper knew that he had a long way to go to completely earn his trust again in the eyes of his siblings but he was willing to go the extra mile. He knew that he had not made things easy for them in the last several years. "I'll be ready for the next round of Mario Kart with Lake after this," he wanted to soak up as many moments with his family as he could, as many moments as he was allowed without taking them for granted. @havenhawthorne

[jasperxsinclair]

"It's an alright spot," he said with a slight nod of his head. It wasn't anything special, but he knew that he didn't deserve it. After all that he had done to his family, Jasper knew that he didn't even deserve their forgiveness. And at the end of the day, he knew that he had to be okay with that if it didn't happen. "I didn't know," he looked down, "I'm sorry, Amerie," had he not left, he could have been there for her. "I want to stay." And he hoped that he would, but only time would tell. @ameriecelestino

Amerie nodded slowly, taking in his words with quiet thoughtfulness. “Driftwood Haven,” she echoed, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “That isn't too far away from me. I took over my mom's house after she passed away.” She explained with a small smile, eyes softened, studying him in the dim light. “You don’t have to come back with everything figured out, Jasper. Just showing up… that already says a lot.” There was no denying the ache of the past, but she wasn’t holding it like a weapon. “Coastal Haven’s lucky to have you,” she added, her tone laced with a quiet kind of pride, even if she didn’t say it outright. “And so are we, if you’re staying.” @jasperxsinclair

[jasperxsinclair]

"Not really," he said with a shake of his head, "I was born in Boston but moved here after 'Bama with my sister." A sister that he had meant to stick around for, to be there for and then he abandoned her. Just like he had Marin all those years ago. At her words, winced, barely. The edge in her voice was noticeable, but he didn't move to defend himself. How could he when he was the one that left? He knew that Marin had every right to be pissed at him - his therapist often reminded him that was part of the recovery process of being an addict. And not everyone had to forgive him, no matter how much he would want them to. "I didn't know you were from here," it hadn't exactly come up in their time together or if it had, it had been erased from his memory after his dive into drugs and alcohol abuse. "Right," he said with a nod of his head, the word finally leaving his lips, "sorry you had to run into me again." And the unspoken words that rang in his head were the ones that said he had never forgotten her, but he knew they weren't going to be welcomed by her. "Hope you find someone to stay for, too." His voice was quieter, softer as he hoped that she would. @marincole

"Clearly I didn't either." she admitted. Though, much like she could assume with Jasper, she didn't know if that would've changed anything. She'd still have ended up here at the end of the day, she was sure of it. "Wait, are you from here?" she questioned, the emphasis on the word from nearly stinging more than it should. If that were the case, how had the two's paths not crossed before their time together in Alabama. She wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer. Arms crossed - clearly forgetting the sanitary requirements of the gloves she'd now have to change - she looked at him. "Well, glad you have someone here to stay for." The statement was less than enthusiastic, but, his admittance to all the people he had didn't sit well with her. He'd left her, along with everyone else in her life. "I'm from here. Grew up here. Left at twenty and moved to Alabama." she stated, leaving out the details that's where they'd met. He didn't need that reminder. "This fate shit's starting to get old." she admitted, shaking her head. "Please do. I don't have the time to get caught up in you again." She had a feeling that statement would be far from the truth. @jasperxsinclair

[jasperxsinclair]

"Yeah," he said softly, surprised by his own answer, "Yeah I do." He shifted a little closer to his twin sister, reaching out with careful hands. He felt like the baby might disappear if he moved too quickly. That was his fear about a lot of things in life as of lately. That it all might slip through his fingertips if he weren't careful. "I mean, if he will let me," Jasper trailed off, agreeing to bottle feed the baby with a quiet voice. "Thank you, Haven, for trusting me with them." Jasper knew that he had a long way to go to completely earn his trust again in the eyes of his siblings but he was willing to go the extra mile. He knew that he had not made things easy for them in the last several years. "I'll be ready for the next round of Mario Kart with Lake after this," he wanted to soak up as many moments with his family as he could, as many moments as he was allowed without taking them for granted. @havenhawthorne

𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 @jasperxsinclair

"You want to hold him?" she asked as she looked at her brother, eyes searching his face for any sort of an answer. The two had been working on rebuilding their relationship since his promise to remain in town, and she had to say she was happy with how things were so far. He'd been bonding with Lake more - which of course had included Lake's favorite game of all time, Mario Kart - and of course he'd been there since before the twins were born, which had resulted in him being able to watch them grow too. It really was a breath of fresh air in it's own way. "He's also hungry so if you want to bottle feed him I'll let you." she shrugged, thankful that neither twin cared how they were fed as long as they were eating every three hours, nearly on the dot. "Your call though if you'd rather me do it just say the word but you may end up with this one." she nodded towards her son that was sprawled across her lap. "May be your last chance to get a baby snuggle in before Lake steals you again."

[jasperxsinclair]

Jasper let out a quiet laugh, one that sort of caught him off guard. He hadn't expected it to be so soft, so warm. "Jazzy, huh?" A brow raised, thinking that the nickname sounded awfully close to glitter stage name, but he wasn't going to say that in front of Noah's daughter, "Yeah, that kind of nickname," his tone softened just a touch as he agreed. "I'm glad to, uh, be here." He told Noah, looking over at his brother, "Bein' Uncle Jazzy and all." A smile tugged on the corners of his lips, evidently amused. "Might have to get that put on a hat or somethin'." @noahsinclaxr

“Oh, yeah.” He smiled, watching his brother and his daughter who seemed to be in unison together. He was certain that with Jasper’s influence, Eloise might just as well become an even bigger personality than she already proved to be. “Uncle Jazz. Jazzy.” It had been a nickname he had in his head ever since he learned he was to become a father, holding out hope that his baby brother would one day return. He couldn’t be happier now that he was. “You mean that kind of nickname?” @jasperxsinclair

[jasperxsinclair]

Jasper's jaw tightened, though he didn't look away. "I didn't know you were here, Marin." And if he had? Jasper didn't know what he would have done, actually. "I came here after Alabama and then left." He didn't go into the details, "But I'm back. I've got a family, a niece, nephews." And if he hadn't known that, Jasper feared he would have been six feet under because of the choices he had been making. "How'd you end up here?" He questioned back, though not nearly as harshly as she had. He knew that it wasn't because she knew that Jasper was in town, that would have been a reason to avoid Kismet Harbor altogether. "This town has got to be big enough for the two of us. I'll stay out of your way." @marincole

For once in her life Marin wished this was a joke. To be standing face to face with someone from her past nearly made her skin turn cold; something she'd never admit out loud but she had to keep her composure. Never let them know you're thoughts, Marin. "You tell me." she countered, eyes focused on the other. He'd changed a lot through the years, yet something about his eyes had always mesmerized her in their own way. Nearly enough to send her back over ten years and cave again. But she wasn't soft, not then and certainly not now. Exhaling she removed her gloves, tossing them in the trash can behind her before she crossed her arms. "What are you doing here?" Though the question felt harsh. What if he'd been here first; he likely had been. "Out of all the damn towns in the United States how the hell did we end up in this one together again?" @jasperxsinclair

[jasperxsinclair]

He nodded his head, once the other finished speaking. "No worries on my end." Though he could understand why people could become impatient with Orion in a conversation, Jasper had no room to judge the other for the way that he was. "Slowin' down isn't always easy for people and they're always thinkin' about themselves." And for the first time in a long time, Jasper was trying to put other people first. He hadn't always, but as part of his reform, it was something he was being more conscious of. "Never going to say no to food," he gestured, "lead the way, man." @orionxblakewood

Orion nodded his head as the male spoke. He could feel that the other understand how hard it was sometimes to talk to people. It was painful for Orion, at least used to. It was hard when he over analyzed the person he was talking to and especially he was sensitive to the vibe and mood change of another. "It.....can be...weird. I know most....people are....not patient enough....with me when we....have a conversation..." he shrugged his shoulders. It did not bother him that much now. Orion smiled. "Thanks...." he chuckled softly. "Ready to grab something...to eat?" @jasperxsinclair

[jasperxsinclair]

Jasper chuckled softly with his brother's words. It might have seemed that he was playing off the weight behind what his brother was saying but it felt like something clicked inside of him. Though he had spent so many years avoiding facing the truth, facing coming back, it had been clear to him in the few months that he had been in Kismet Harbor that this is where he was supposed to be. "You think I'm due for a cool title next?" Jasper quipped, focusing his attention on his niece, though he was mostly speaking to his brother. @noahsinclaxr

Noah looked up from folding the clothes, just placing one of Eloise's dresses on the stack when Jasper spoke, causing a chuckle to fall from his brother's chest. "I have yet to come down from my toes since the day she was born." He admitted, enjoying watching how his daughter took a shining to his little brother. It was a change he had easily adjusted to and it brought him relief that Eloise had done the same. "If she trusts you with her food, though. That usually means you're part of the inner circle. Kudos." @jasperxsinclair

[jasperxsinclair]

When Jasper was told that his tattoo could be done by someone else, he obliged. It wasn't ideal but it wasn't anything incredibly detailed that he wanted and he was assured that someone else at the shop could do it because Omar was sick. Walking into the shop, he was quickly met with the piercer. Her voice sounded familiar, like it used to haunt his dreams. It wasn't until she turned around, her joke falling short when his face went pale. Marin Cole. If he wasn't determined to be back in his family's life, this would have been reason enough for Jasper to high tail it out of town. "Marin," her name fell from his lips as he steadied a gaze on her, "Is this some sort of sick joke?" @marincole

𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 @jasperxsinclair

"I have to say, I don't know what boss man was thinking when he told you that I'd be doing this tattoo for you." Her back was still turned to the table as she allowed herself to move towards the sink, washing away any remnants of the sandwich she had just finished, a box of pink gloves she'd insisted on Omar buying when he'd hired her on the shelf close by. Nimble fingers reached into the box, pulling out two of them and pulling them over her hands before she exhaled, tossing a playful laugh towards the other as she gathered more supplies. "I'm no tattoo artist, just a piercer so unless you want a smiley face I wouldn't trust me with that gun." a pause. "A shiny silver ring on your d-" though her voice stopped as she turned fully around this time, eyes falling on none other than the man that had broken her heart in Alabama all those years ago. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

[jasperxsinclair]

He dropped his gaze for a moment, letting out a quiet breath before speaking. "I didn't expect that," he admitted with a low voice. He would have bolted the door shut if he were his family, if he were Amerie and yet, none of them did. It was as if they had all left a porch light on for him, just in case. "I've got a place in Driftwood Haven," he said, answering her question. "It's nothin' special but it's what I could afford taking a job at this place called Coastal Haven. I'm working as a caretaker there." @ameriecelestino

Amerie held his gaze for a long moment, the quiet between them stretching just enough to carry the weight of everything unsaid. “There’s always been room, Jasper,” she said, her voice soft and steady. “Even when you left, even when I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again… I never really closed that door.” He had always mattered too much for that to become the case. She glanced down at Shane again, her fingers brushing over the fabric of his blanket before looking back up. "Where will you be staying?" She added out of curiosity, wondering if he had mananged to find a roof over his head. @jasperxsinclair

[jasperxsinclair]

starter for @noahsinclaxr

location: noah's home

Being invited over to Noah's home was something that was still new to Jasper. He didn't feel uncomfortable in the presence of his older brother or his niece, that had taken a liking to his longer locks of hair. It was more that he was worried about disappointing them. He was sober and knew that he would spend the rest of his life in recovery from his actions. When his niece asked for a piece of her snack, Jasper reached to the side table where he had it sitting, giving her a small piece. "Does she keep you on your toes or does she just reserve that for me? Like some sort of initiation?"

[jasperxsinclair]

He looked at Amerie, "I wasn't sure either," he said quietly. "There were a hundred times I almost did, but I wasn't ready. I didn't want to come back before I was ready." Before he was a man that was worthy and deserving of the love he once had from the people he left behind. "I hope there's still room for me to figure out where I fit," he paused, "if that's something your open too." @ameriecelestino

Amerie nodded slowly, her expression softening even as something unreadable flickered across it. “Good,” She said, smiling softly, “I’m glad you went to her first.” After all this time, she deserved that. There wasn’t judgment in her tone, only the quiet weight of someone who understood how hard it must have been for both of them. Her gaze drifted back to Shane for a moment, the smallest smile touching her lips as he shifted in her arms, then she looked up at Jasper again. “I wasn’t sure if you’d ever come back,” she admitted, the words tentative, like she hadn’t meant to say them out loud. “It’s strange seeing you here again… but not in a bad way.”

[jasperxsinclair]

Jasper sat in her vehicle, keeping his shoulders tight. The guilt continued to sit heavier on his shoulders with each word that she said to him. He had thought of this moment a hundred times, always wondering how a reunion between him and his twin sister would go. Yet, he could have never imagined that she didn't want him to go. Not after how he left. "I never left because of you, Haven." He said quietly. The words were the truth that he should have said years ago. "I was drownin' and I didn't know how to ask for help." So, leaving was the option. "But I can tell you that I'm here to stay." Especially since she said she did not want him gone. "I'm here to stay because I want to." He'd spent far too long convincing himself that he didn't need the family, it wasn't true. "I won't leave unless you ask me to." @havenhawthorne

[jasperxsinclair]

Jasper figured the question was coming and knew that Noah had every right to ask it. What was the point of getting to know Jasper again? Maybe even forgiving him again if he wasn't going to stay. Jasper saw the question coming at some point. "I didn't come here with a return ticket," though he hadn't taken a train or a plane. He drove, but the sentiment remained. "It's been a long time since I've been here and well," he ducked his head a moment. "If you and Haven don't want me around, I won't stay." He told his brother, looking over at him now. @noahsinclaxr