javier-castro

[javier-castro]

Javier stopped walking for a moment, feeling the weight of Iara's words sink in. The sincerity in her voice, the warmth of her hand in his, made his chest tighten in a way he couldn't quite explain. He swallowed, trying to fight back the lump in his throat, but a small, grateful smile crept onto his face. "You—" He paused, clearing his throat. "You don't know how much that means to me, Iara. Seriously. I don’t… I don’t have a lot of people like you around." He glanced down at their hands, a little bashful, but not pulling away. "I’ve been trying so hard to stay strong for everyone, you know? Like I’m the only one who can hold things together." He sighed, shaking his head. "But sometimes, it just feels like I’m running on empty."

He gave a small, self-deprecating chuckle, as if trying to lighten the mood, but his eyes were a little softer than usual. "I guess I'm just not used to having someone look out for me like this." He paused, giving her a sheepish smile. "So, uh, this isn't just me being all super charming and stuff, right? I mean, are we—are we, like, doing this? Is this... a date?" He gave a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Because, if it is, I swear, I promise, I'll be on my best behavior. No more of this brooding nonsense, just... just me being me." He winked at her, but there was a vulnerability in his eyes that showed he was hoping for her answer, even if he was trying to play it cool.

Iara's expression softened as she listened, the corners of her lips curling into a small, sympathetic smile. She could feel the weight of Javier's words hanging in the air, heavy with the pressure of everything he was holding back. She didn’t push, but her gaze never left him, letting him know she was there, truly listening. As they continued walking, she reached for his hand, her fingers curling around his with a gentle, comforting squeeze. The gesture was subtle, but there was a sincerity to it that spoke volumes.

“You’re not alone in this, Javier,” she said quietly, her voice calm, but with an undertone of genuine empathy. “It’s okay to not have everything together. No one expects that from you, not even yourself.” Her thumb brushed across the back of his hand as she walked beside him, her pace slowing to match his. “I get it, though. Pretending can be a way of surviving, but you don’t always have to pretend with me. If you ever need to talk—about Alexia, The Family, or anything else—I'm here. You don’t have to carry this by yourself.” She let her words settle, giving him a moment to process. There was something about Javier, an unspoken vulnerability that she hadn’t expected.

“I know it’s tough right now,” she continued, her tone thoughtful. “The Family’s falling apart, and no one knows which way to turn. That’s a lot for anyone to handle, especially someone who’s trying to hold everything together. But you don’t have to figure it out alone, okay? You have people who care about you. And I... I’m one of them.” Her voice dropped just a little, a touch more serious. “So don’t bottle it up. You don’t have to keep pretending, not around me. Whatever you need, I’ll be here for you.”

[javier-castro]

Javier gave a quick, reassuring grin as he crouched lower, focusing his attention entirely on the shy Bella under the bench. His voice dropped to a soft, steady tone, clearly intent on not scaring her away. "Hey, Bella, you’re okay, sweetheart. I’m not gonna hurt you, promise." He gave a few gentle clicks of his tongue, his hand held out but not too close, respecting the dog's space. "Look, see? Treats." He noticed Isagani’s careful positioning of the pupperonis and nodded in silent agreement. "Yeah, gotta keep it calm. I get it, I get it. No sudden moves. No spooking the princess."

Javier turned his attention back to Bella, inching closer slowly, his hand outstretched but with exaggerated slowness, like a guy trying to coax a squirrel to take a nut. His smile widened, though, as if he were talking to a person rather than a dog. "She’s just a little shy, huh? I respect that. I know how it feels—sometimes I’m a little shy too, believe it or not." He chuckled to himself, oblivious to how funny it sounded coming from a six-foot-tall, broad-shouldered guy who definitely didn’t appear shy in any way. "But hey, we’ll get her. I’m real good with the shy ones." He paused, glancing at Isagani with a goofy smile, "You just gotta trust me. This dog’s gonna be my best friend before the day’s out."

Isagani nervously cast a gaze towards the stray that had been with him. Seems it had wandered off to go try to steal a ball from a child. He turned his attention back to Javier and the shy Bella under the bench. With a quick nod, "Yes, it's essential. Well, good nutrients too especially if they're getting less table scraps. At least that's what I tell myself."

He observed Javier with a bit more curiosity. As he grabbed the crumbled pupperoni bag from his pocket. He didn't want to make any abrupt movements while Javi was working magic with the dog. So Issy placed a few treats on the ground, and carefully rolled them in the direction of the bench. "Just be very careful, any sudden movements and she will be scared. Though if you think she's truthfully hurt I can probably help you capture her if we corner her." Issy didn't mind the occasional dog bite. Especially if it was for the dog's best interest. "Just gotta remain talking calm too. Don't get overly excited."

[javier-castro]

Javier blinked, a confused expression creeping onto his face as he processed Nellie's words. "Wait, what?!" He scratched the back of his head, nervously laughing. "No, no, I mean, dogs—like, the kind with fur and tails, not... y’know, that kind of taking care of stuff!" He gestured wildly, trying to clarify, but only seeming to dig himself deeper. "I just... I like to help out the strays, give 'em a home! My boys and girls are pups, ma'am, just dogs! I swear, no weird basement stuff or anything creepy like that." He smiled broadly, as if that would somehow ease the tension, and puffed out his chest like he’d just delivered the most solid argument in the history of mankind.

He quickly realized how that sounded and his face reddened slightly. "I mean, I talk to them, like, lovingly—not like a weird... weirdo." His voice trailed off as he took a step back, overthinking every possible implication of his words. "Look, I'm just a guy who loves dogs, okay? Simple. Good-hearted. Not... not a watchlist guy. No basement, no secret stash of, uh, unfortunate circumstances... just me and my pups. Promise." He let out a nervous laugh, hoping Nellie would just let it go.

Nellie squinted at him, lips pressing into a thin line before she let out a short, amused scoff. "You ever hear yourself talk, or is it just raw, unfiltered nonsense straight from brain to mouth?" She gestured vaguely at him, then at the dog. "Your little boys and girls? You know that sounds creepy as hell, right? Like you got a basement full of kids you ‘take care of’—and not in the heartwarming way."

She shook her head, exhaling through her nose like she was debating whether or not to keep entertaining this conversation. "Lucky for you, I’m gonna assume you just mean a bunch of stray dogs and not, y’know, somethin’ that’d land you on a watchlist." A beat passed, then she tilted her head. "That is what you mean, right?"

[javier-castro]

"Ah, nah, no kid bleeding out, don’t worry about that." Javier chuckled, wiping a bit of sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. He wasn’t even the least bit embarrassed about being caught off guard. If anything, he found it funny. "But yeah, Bella here’s my... uh, project," he said with a half-joking tone, rubbing the back of his neck. "She’s a little... special when it comes to the leash thing. I’m working on it." He threw Asa an exaggerated, goofy grin, trying to play off how nervous he was about how poorly his "dog parenting" was going.

He waved his hand around in a dismissive way, as if to downplay the whole situation. “Nah, we’re not doing some trust exercise or anything. It’s more like… she doesn’t trust me yet. Which is fair, honestly. I mean, I barely trust myself sometimes. But I’m getting there, right?" He looked back down at Bella, who was now sniffing the grass and looking way too comfortable for someone who’d been rescued from a park two seconds ago. Javier gave a little shrug and flashed Asa another grin, trying to act like this was no big deal, even though he was overthinking every tiny movement Bella made. “She’s just... I don’t know, a bit of a free spirit, y’know? Like, she does her own thing and I’m just here, tagging along like some kinda goofy sidekick.” He tilted his head, eyes full of that warm, optimistic vibe he always had. “But I’m getting better at it, I promise. I mean, hey, at least she’s not running from me anymore, right?"

asa had gone hard last night—bottle service, some rooftop event, faces he half-recognized and names he didn’t bother to store. the kind of night that clung to his skin even after a shower that barely took the edge off. his body knew the drill, though. no matter what he did to it, it always woke up demanding movement, something to burn through the excess. so he ran. the air was crisp, biting at the patches of exposed skin where his hoodie had ridden up slightly. not cold enough to be miserable, but enough to keep him sharp. the cap on his head was turned backward, sweat sticking to his temples as his sneakers hit the path in steady, controlled strides. the park was mostly empty—early risers, the occasional other jogger, a couple of dog walkers still shaking off sleep. peaceful.

until a guy cut into his space. asa clocked him immediately, that flicker of irritation setting in. he could spot paparazzi a mile away, and for a second, he braced for the usual routine—but then he caught his face, the way his brows were drawn together, eyes scanning past him. just a guy, then.

asa slowed, exhale steady but measured as he closed the distance. brown-blackish? sounded more like a guess than a certainty. the man looked too tense for this to be some random kid he barely knew. and when a bark cut through before he could say anything, he could observe how the tension left the man's shoulders in an instant. asa followed his gaze and spotted the actual culprit trotting out from behind a bench—not a kid, then.

“so, not a child bleeding out somewhere. that’s good.” asa ran a hand under his cap, dragging damp hair off his forehead. “you always let her run around like that, or is this some kind of trust exercise?” not judgmental, just curious. because if she was the kind to dart off and get herself in trouble, maybe the leash situation needed reevaluating.

[javier-castro]

He chuckled to himself, oblivious to how ridiculous he sounded, and wiped his hands on his pants as if prepping for a big moment. But when Nico gave him the advice about offering his hand to Bella, his face lit up with that unmistakable, dimwitted optimism. "Oh! Yeah! Totally makes sense!" Javier said, nodding with exaggerated enthusiasm. He raised his hand dramatically, as if he were about to perform some grand gesture, and took a cautious step closer to Bella.

"Alright, Bella, here comes the strategic hand," he said in a voice that was much too theatrical for the moment, as though he were announcing his victory in a game. His hand extended toward her, and he squatted down a little, trying to look as non-threatening as possible—but of course, his big frame and overly eager grin probably weren’t helping. "See? I’m chill. I’m chill like a cucumber... in an ice bath," he continued, still talking to Nico like the dog somehow understood every word. "We’re just two buddies trying to... connect."

Bella, however, wasn’t having it. She eyed him warily, taking a step back and shaking her head, clearly not impressed with his attempts at charm. Javier froze for a moment, looking back at Nico with wide, innocent eyes. "Uh... she’s not... she’s not into cucumbers, is she?" He asked, genuinely puzzled, before shaking it off. "Alright, no worries. I’ll try a different approach. Maybe I should offer her a snack... or my mysterious aura." He flashed a grin at Nico, not really picking up on the fact that he might be making things worse, but utterly confident that he’d win Bella over with his boundless positivity and strategic genius.

"Strategically following," he let out a chuckle, one he couldn't help - props to Javier. "That's a new one." His amusement was set within his eyes as he couldn't quite believe the bullshit, Nico appreciated it though, so maybe there was a difference. He watched Javier, brow arched as he spread his arms out wide whilst describing himself as chill. "Okay." he nodded faintly, a light scoff escaped, and actually he wasn't judging anymore. This entire interaction was just painful - more so where the canine was concerned. He sighed, relenting in some ways because he wasn't even sure why he was sticking around, "Offer your hand out, let her sniff you first, you look like a threat."

[javier-castro]

Javier scratched his head sheepishly as he tried to explain himself, his usual charm making it sound like an optimistic mess of good intentions. “Well, see, I am trying to take her home. The thing is, Bella gets super nervous around cars—totally freaks out. I think that’s why she got hurt in the first place. When she tries to get away from them, she... well, doesn't exactly think things through." His voice softened as he reached down to gently pet Bella, who looked up at him with wary eyes.

He smiled awkwardly at Gigi, clearly overthinking his explanation. "I know, I know, it sounds like I'm just stumbling around here, but I just want to make sure she’s safe and, y’know, doesn't get hurt worse. I might not be the best at this whole ‘responsible dog owner’ thing," he said, his tone light and self-deprecating. His grin was wide and easy, though a tiny hint of uncertainty lingered behind his eyes.

Looking at Gigi with that goofy, over-optimistic charm, he added, “I mean, come on, I’m a big guy. I can handle this. I just... need a little bit of help figuring out the details. But I will figure it out. I’ll do whatever it takes.” Javier chuckled to himself, like he was the only one who truly believed in his own words. He looked down at Bella again, gently stroking her fur. "I don’t want her to end up alone. Not if I can help it." He shrugged, trying to brush off the doubt, even though deep down he had no idea how this was going to play out. But he'd do his best—and that, in his mind, was all that mattered.

Gigi blinked, confused by the whole situation, yet curious. It wasn't everyday she met a man running after a lost dog, making it sound as though he's lost a child instead. She studied the interaction between the two; the pup seemed more of a mutt than a house dog which explained the lack of collar around its neck or a hanging loose leash. Its eyes were weary of her, so slowly she reached and let it sniff her hand, ensuring she wasn't a threat. "Why not take her home then?" Gigi looked back up, meeting the man's eyes. "Why let her roam alone in the park where she can be hurt by other dogs or even worse?" She didn't mean to scold, but spite came natural. Especially with the dose of contradiction in the man's words. Looking back down, she reached a little further and scratched the dog's head, right in between the ears. As a kid she wanted a dog, but her mother would never agree. They were too messy she'd always say.

[javier-castro]

Javier's brow furrowed at her question, the playful teasing in her voice cutting through him in a way he wasn’t quite expecting. He shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck, trying to keep his smile in place. The subject of Alexia and The Family was a touchy one, and though he didn’t fully realize it, Iara’s words were pushing at a wound he wasn’t ready to face. "Ah, yeah, well, pretending is, uh... kinda my thing, I guess,” he said with a nervous laugh, scratching his head again. “I mean, who wouldn’t wanna pretend they’ve got it all together, right? Life’s easier that way, I think. But, uh... yeah. I’m not as put together as I look, I can tell you that much.” He paused, trying to collect his thoughts, but his mind was racing. "Alexia... she was... everything to The Family. She kept things running, she kept us grounded. And now... I don’t even know what to think anymore," he admitted, his voice softer than before. He wasn’t used to talking so openly about things, but there was something in Iara’s gaze that made him feel like maybe it was okay to just say it. He let out a deep breath, and for a moment, his usual optimism seemed to falter. He was trying to stay strong, trying to keep things from falling apart, but everything was so... messy. "The Family? They’re just... they’re struggling. Everyone’s scrambling, trying to figure out what’s next, and no one really knows. It’s like the whole thing’s falling apart at the seams, and... I’m just trying to hold it together as best as I can." His eyes flicked up to Iara, not fully aware of how vulnerable he seemed. "I don’t know how long I can keep pretending, though. But... I guess, I’ll figure it out. We’ll figure it out, right?" His smile returned, but it was weaker this time, more uncertain. He really didn’t know if they would, but he wanted to believe they could.

Iara glanced at him, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips, though her eyes were sharp, studying him. She leaned in just slightly, the distance between them disappearing with ease. "You’re good at pretending, I'll give you that," she said, her voice soft but laced with an edge of playful teasing. "But don’t worry, I’m not expecting you to have it all figured out." Iara knew too well how hard it was to deal with a tragedy. She envied Javier a bit; unlike with Matias, Javier could at least have closure. She paused for a moment, eyeing him thoughtfully before continuing, her tone shifting into something a little more serious, though still carrying that slight flirtatious bite. "I mean, Javier, how’s your organization handling the loss of Alexia? I’m sure she was a pretty key part of things, right? It's gotta be... well, messy." Her voice dropped low, laced with subtle curiosity, knowing he wouldn’t like the question but also knowing he wouldn’t avoid it. It was a simple fact that The Family was going through a loss, and a big one at that. She folded her arms, watching him carefully, knowing his walls were high but also trusting her ability to push him just enough to make him answer, even if it was only half of the truth. "I know you’re holding it together for you, but are they? Your people, I mean. I’ve heard a lot of things about how people in your organization are handling it, and it's not very flattering." She tilted her head slightly, giving him a look that said she was watching, waiting for his response.

[javier-castro]

Javier’s face lit up with a sheepish grin as he glanced down at Bella, who was wagging her tail enthusiastically, oblivious to the mess her owner was making of the situation. “Oh, no, no! She didn’t slip out of her leash or anything, I swear,” he said, raising his hands in defense. “Bella’s just a little girl with big ideas, y’know? She’s got so much energy, it’s like she wants me to run after her. But she’s not a troublemaker… well, not too much, anyway!” He chuckled, clearly not realizing how out of breath he was from the sudden sprint. Taking a deep breath, Javier seemed to shift from his frantic energy into something more sincere as he looked at the woman. “She’s hurt herself a bit, just a scrape, nothing too bad, I promise. But, well, I couldn’t just leave her, y’know? She’s family to me. I take care of all my little ones like they’re my own. Dogs, especially, they deserve all the love in the world. She’s tough, don’t get me wrong, but I just—I want to make sure she’s okay. I’d do anything for her.” His voice softened as he patted the puppy’s head, his gaze growing warm. “She’s really something special.” Javier straightened up, trying to look a little more put together, though his messy hair and disheveled appearance didn’t exactly help. “So, uh, yeah, sorry if I looked all panicked there,” he said with a goofy grin, scratching his head awkwardly. “I just... I love her, you know? And when you love something that much, you kinda go a little crazy for ‘em.” He winked, clearly proud of his attachment to Bella, but still oblivious to how he might have come off.

Genevieve froze in her tracks, pulling out the earphone from her right ear to be able to hear the man's words. It wasn't a habit of hers to pay attention to a stranger's call, but man's current state made her. Was it the messy hair or frantic look in his eyes? "Um," she instinctively took a look around, taking in her surroundings. There was a playground not so far, but none of the kids matches his description and to be honest her gut feeling made her question his intentions. She could be wrong, of course, but the man didn't strike her as the father figure. Besides, why would a hurt kid run away from its parent? Wasn't it logical to seek attention instead?

It happened too fast - the bark, the relief washing over the man's face, the stray peeking from behind one of the trees. "Okay, you got me. Did she slip out of her leash or something?"

[javier-castro]

Javier came to a screeching halt in front of the bench, panting a little as if he had just sprinted the length of the entire park. His cheeks were flushed, but his smile was all warm and big, eyes shining like he hadn’t a care in the world. The second she spoke, he straightened up a bit, adjusting his jacket like he was trying to look more serious, even though the whole situation was probably anything but. “Ha! You think she’s bleedin’?” He chuckled, scratching the back of his head, his fingers tangled in his messy hair. “Oh, no, no, she’s just… she’s got a lot of energy, you know? She’s a little girl! A little ball of chaos.” He gestured over to the small dog, who was now wagging her tail enthusiastically, completely unaware of the dramatic back-and-forth that had just unfolded. Javier grinned at the woman, clearly missing the sharp edge in her voice, completely oblivious to how out of place he might seem. "Anyway, yeah! Bella's got me running around, but that's what I do for her. That’s what we do for the ones we love, right?" His voice got a little quieter, almost sheepish. “I take care of all my little girls and boys, y’know. Gotta look after 'em.” He gave a small shrug, the warm, kind smile back on his face, though there was still a hint of overthinking in his eyes, the wheels spinning in his head like he wasn’t entirely sure if this woman was teasing him or just genuinely curious.

Nellie had been minding her own damn business, enjoying a cigarette on the park bench while Bear sniffed around, when some guy came running up looking like he was ready to shake down a stranger for answers. She tensed instinctively, eyes flicking over him, sizing him up before he even opened his mouth. Not a cop. Not some desperate father looking for a lost kid, either. Too familiar, too comfortable in this kind of setting. When he rattled off the description, though, she stiffened—until the bark rang out.

Her gaze followed his to the dog peeking out from behind the bench, and she let out a sharp, amused breath. “That your ‘little girl’?” she asked dryly, exhaling smoke through her nose. “Christ, you nearly had me feelin’ bad. Thought some kid was out here bleedin’ in the bushes.”

She took another drag before nodding toward the dog. “She got you runnin’ around like a damn fool, huh? Guess we all got someone like that.” Her tone was casual, but her eyes lingered on him a little longer, piecing things together, trying to figure out if she recognized the man.

[javier-castro]

Javier barely even registered Nico’s attitude—too focused on the dog, his big brown eyes full of concern. He crouched lower, hands resting on his knees, trying to make himself smaller, less threatening. “I wasn’t chasing him,” he corrected, voice softer now, gaze locked on the trembling pup. “I was… strategically following. There’s a difference.” He clicked his tongue, glancing at Nico with a lopsided grin. “And I am being less overbearing! See? I’m chill.” He spread his arms wide before immediately realizing that was the opposite of chill and slowly brought them back down. The dog let out a small huff, shifting slightly but still watching him with wary eyes. Javier’s smile softened. “C’mon, buddy. I just wanna help you out.”

Javier, who was already holding his breath with a nervous grin on his face as he inched closer to Bella, froze at Nico’s voice. His eyes widened in slight panic, but then the corners of his mouth turned up into a sheepish smile as he glanced over at Nico. Of course he had to be watching, he thought. The last thing he needed was Nico seeing him try—and fail—to befriend the stray dog. "Ah, well, you know..." Javier chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "She’s not really mine… yet, I mean! I’ve been trying to make friends with her for a while now. She’s, uh... a little shy. But we’re getting there, I swear!" He looked down at Bella, who was still a bit hesitant, though her tail was wagging slowly. "I think she likes me! I just... I’ve been taking it slow, you know? Don't wanna overwhelm her or anything. She got hurt a little while ago, so I’m just making sure she’s okay. But-" Javier looked back at Nico with a grin that bordered on awkward, "I think she might be warming up to me? Maybe?" Javier's smile softened as he glanced at Bella again, crouching down slowly to avoid startling her. "Any advice, Nico? You know, for... dog whispering?" He tried to keep the mood light, though inside he was still hoping Bella would trust him enough to approach. "You seem like you’re good with animals, right?"

[javier-castro]

Javier's eyes widened a little at Dean's words, his smile faltering just slightly as he looked down at Bella, who was still peeking out cautiously from behind the bench. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Yeah... I mean, she's a stray," he admitted with a sigh, glancing at the dog. "I didn't want to put a leash on her right away. I thought if I gave her space, she'd come around. But I guess, uh, that hasn't really worked, huh?" His tone was light, but there was a hint of frustration behind it. Looking back at Dean, Javier let out a nervous laugh, scratching his head. "I just wanted to make sure she felt safe first, but... I mean, you’re probably right. I didn’t think of the leash. I just—I don’t know, I feel like I’ve been trying to do everything wrong." He shrugged with a sheepish grin, trying to keep things light. He watched Bella inch a little closer to Dean, her tail flicking nervously. "I’ll get a leash, though, for sure. Thanks for the advice, man," he added, his voice warm but slightly embarrassed.

The park had been a short cut to the church, where he had agreed to meet Leon just a few hours earlier. He’d been running through the long list of things he needed to get done when a voice cut through his thoughts. His stride slowed, eyes cutting toward the frantic looking man. Exhaling through his nose, he shifted the toothpick in his mouth, giving the guy a once-over before settling his gaze on the dog peeking out from behind the bench. "Don't know about a little girl, but looks like you found your problem," He let out a short breath, shaking his head as his gaze flicked from the dog back to the man. "Might wanna put a leash on her before she gets herself into somethin' worse."

Dean squatted down, clicking his tongue, coaxing the dog out. "C'mere, girl," he murmured, voice low so not to scare her any further. The dog hesitated, then started inching forward. "Not everybody out here's got good intentions," he added, looking up at the man before turning his attention back to the dog. As she crept closer, he reached out, steady and patient.

"You got one?" A leash, that was.

[javier-castro]

Javier, who was already holding his breath with a nervous grin on his face as he inched closer to Bella, froze at Nico’s voice. His eyes widened in slight panic, but then the corners of his mouth turned up into a sheepish smile as he glanced over at Nico. Of course he had to be watching, he thought. The last thing he needed was Nico seeing him try—and fail—to befriend the stray dog. "Ah, well, you know..." Javier chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "She’s not really mine… yet, I mean! I’ve been trying to make friends with her for a while now. She’s, uh... a little shy. But we’re getting there, I swear!" He looked down at Bella, who was still a bit hesitant, though her tail was wagging slowly. "I think she likes me! I just... I’ve been taking it slow, you know? Don't wanna overwhelm her or anything. She got hurt a little while ago, so I’m just making sure she’s okay. But-" Javier looked back at Nico with a grin that bordered on awkward, "I think she might be warming up to me? Maybe?" Javier's smile softened as he glanced at Bella again, crouching down slowly to avoid startling her. "Any advice, Nico? You know, for... dog whispering?" He tried to keep the mood light, though inside he was still hoping Bella would trust him enough to approach. "You seem like you’re good with animals, right?"

As Nico sat on the bench (the one the runaway dog would later be hiding behind) he was essentially watching the world go by as he drank from his water bottle, one that surprisingly actually held water this time. His gaze, however, soon locked onto Javier as he noticed the other man's worried expressions, ones that soon lifted into a smile, and as Nico followed that line Javier's focus was on he noticed the dog and couldn't help his own faint amused scoff.

Instead of getting up and continuing his run he decided to watch the interaction, purely because he was curious as to where it was going. So evidently Nico found the humour with the canine coming to sit behind where he was sat. "Yeah I'd hide to." he mentions to the dog as he spared it a glance, noticing her lifting her paw before watching its' owner again, being able to hear him this time.

As the dog barked and Javier approached, Nico spoke up, "Didn't realise you had a dog."

[javier-castro]

Javier scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, his smile still wide but tinged with a bit of embarrassment. "Yeah, uh, she’s been avoiding me for a bit now, actually," he admitted, glancing over at Bella as she hesitated nearby, sniffing at the ground. "I’ve been trying to befriend her for a while. I think... I think she likes me, but she’s, well, really cautious. Which, I get it, I mean, who wouldn’t be with everything going on?" He chuckled nervously, rubbing his jaw. "I might’ve been a little too eager at first, you know? Maybe came off too strong." He looked at Bella again, his eyes softening. "I just really wanted to help her. She’s been through a lot, and I wanted to be the person she trusts." Javier paused, his gaze now filled with concern as he watched Bella limp slightly, her movements still careful. "I just—I don’t know what I’m doing wrong," he muttered, more to himself than to Sharon. "I’m trying to give her space, but she keeps running off when I get close. I swear, I don’t want to hurt her or anything... I just want her to feel safe. It’s like, I really want her to trust me, but every time I get a little closer, she pulls away, and... it’s frustrating. I don’t know what else to do.” He turned back to Sharon, looking a little lost. "Do you think she'll be okay? I just... I want to fix it, y’know?"

A calm day, the sound of nature with distant traffic somewhere in the background. Every now and then moments like these, the calm ones, were the most precious. Occasionally someone louder would draw closer, a messenger on a bike or a group of tourists, children running by; it added to the peace somehow. And Sharon treasured it, those moments when her mind wasn't occupied with work or things unfolding within the city, or the most recent events.

When the voice finally reached her, the woman turned around. Her eyes scanned the one in front of her, scanned the area yet before she had a chance to say much the missing one in question seemed to show up just as quickly. The description caused a chuckle, bursting forth almost inevitably. "A little menace, indeed." Sharon's eyes darted over to the little bundle of nerves. "I suppose all is well after all. Are you alright, though?" He did seem out of breath. "Will she be okay?" - @javier-castro

[javier-castro]

Javier’s face lit up with a goofy grin when he saw Bella, but still hesitant. His heart swelled with concern, remembering how she had run away from him earlier. She’s hurt, though, he thought, worrying that his attempts might have scared her off. He glanced at Isagani, his excitement bubbling up. "You have pupperoni?" he asked, his voice too eager. “I’ve heard that’s the secret weapon for getting dogs to trust you! You’re a lifesaver, man!” He fumbled with a crumpled bag of treats in his pocket, wondering if he looked too desperate. His gaze softened as he crouched down to Bella’s level. “It’s okay, Bella, I’m not gonna hurt you. You’re just scared, huh?” he cooed gently, holding out the treats and hoping she’d come closer. The temptation of food seemed to win over her hesitation as she inched forward.

He glanced back at Isagani, a nervous laugh escaping him. “I love dogs, and work with them. But sometimes, I’m not the best with dogs, but I just wanted to help. I don’t want to mess it up, though. Should I just wait? Am I doing this right?” His hands trembled as he offered the treats again, but his smile wavered with uncertainty. “I just want her to feel safe. I know what it’s like to be scared and alone. I don't want her to feel that way.” Javier’s voice was soft but filled with determination as he waited for Bella to trust him, hoping she could sense his warmth through his awkward attempts.

It wasn't K.O. but it was some exercise he could do with the stray he had found. Isagani had been strolling the park with a mutt of diferent breeds following at his heel. He hadn't found the owners of the dog, but he hadn't even spent ten minutes trying. He refused to take it to a shelter to have it identified. As far as he was concerned founders were keepers.

His shoulders tensed a couple of times when other dogs had approached 'Gab'. Perhaps he should have tried to put a leash on the dog, but he hated leashes. The animal deserved freedom just as he did. From what he could tell his stray seemed fine with other dogs. Birds, rodents, and sometimes cat seemed to be a different thing altogether. The breathless word paused Issy in his steps. Head slowly tilted to the side, as his dark eyes honed in on Javier with a blank expression. Friendly tail wag from Gabi, but as Javier started to describe the girl. Isagani's facial expression twisted to a feigned confusion. Fuck. He didn't want to help this poor bastard find his kid. He hated kids. "Ano?" He inquired right before the bark turned his attention with Gab's. An animal in distress? Instant magic to bring Isagani to the cause. He shifted to the left so he could get a look at Bella, as his stray had already started to timidly move a bit closer. Gab barked back with a wagging tail, and pounced at the grass with an extra jolt of excitement. "Ah, I see now. Want to try some pupperoni to get her closer? I got some in my pocket."

[javier-castro]

Javier walked beside Iara, hands stuffed in his pockets, his steps slow but trying to keep his usual carefree air. He glanced at her, flashing a grin that was more for his benefit than hers. “How am I feelin’? Well, I mean, I guess you could say I’m feelin’ a bit like… like I’m floating around without a clue where I’m headed. It’s weird, y’know? Lost, but also kinda... fine. It's confusing. But hey, I’m still here, still kicking! Could be worse, right? Could be raining or something. I’d have no idea how to handle that." He scratched his head, his usual confidence faltering just a bit. "I’m not exactly great at this whole ‘grief’ thing, but I’m trying to keep things together. Just trying to keep swimming, like Dory said. It’s hard, though. Really hard." Alexia wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but Javier adored his big sister. She kept him going even things felt impossible. She always had a plan, a solution, and he really wished she was here to tell him one. He sighed, his gaze drifting toward the pond, then back to Iara. "But being here with you, I don't know, it makes things seem less heavy. You’ve got this way of making everything feel a little less awful, even if I’m not really sure how to make sense of it all. I guess I’m just trying to keep my head up, even if it’s not as easy as I thought. But hey, you’re still talkin’ to me, so I must be doin’ somethin’ right, right?" He winked, though the warmth of his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. It was like he was trying to keep his spirits up for her, even though he felt more lost than ever.

Location: Palm View Park

Closed Starter: @javier-castro

The events of the past few days had left Iara feeling restless. She couldn’t quite figure out what to make of this Hollow figure. If they truly knew everyone’s deepest secrets, the chaos it could bring was unimaginable. She needed a distraction, so she texted Javier, hoping he might be up for a walk. There was something endearing about him, like the charm of an overgrown puppy. "How are you feeling?" she asked as they walked beside the pond. Javier had recently lost his sister, and Iara could only imagine the pain he was enduring.

[javier-castro]

open starter @bloodnglorystart // a park

Javier ran through the park, scanning every corner, his heart pounding harder with each step. This was supposed to be a normal day. He would jog, maybe have a quick chat with some of his regulars who needed their vice. But then he saw her, those familiar, beautiful brown eyes that always stopped him in his tracks. A grin spread across his face. Bella. She was always around the park, always cautious but sweet. Lately, she had been warming up to him, though she still kept her distance when he got too close. But today—today, something was wrong. She looked hurt, and like always, she bolted the moment he approached. He wasn’t about to let her slip away this time.

“Hey,” he called out to a passing stranger, breathless but determined. “Have you seen a little girl run through here? Brown eyes, brown-blackish hair? She’s super sweet, but I think she hurt herself.” Before they could respond, a distant bark rang out. Javier whipped around just in time to spot Bella—his skittish, runaway mutt—peeking out from behind a bench, tail tucked, those soulful brown eyes watching him with wary hesitation. “There you are, you little menace,” he muttered, relief washing over him.

[javier-castro]

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