lucianasalazar

[lucianasalazar]

@_sotnikovaa_d

[lucianasalazar]

pope dawson ;​

“You’ve got me there, that’s a good idea,” He nodded, grin piercing the corners of his mouth at her suggestion. “This is the third bar of the night, and I agreed to five for the crawl, so maybe eliminating choice all together balances out the scales.”

Their youth was one that Dawson had seen in the movies, one that wasn’t all that real because of his own past that poisoned the innocence of it. There was a time where he was desperate to have it, always going too far, and then a time where he despised it in a shade of green from the sidelines. That had kept him safe, though. The denial had kept them all safe until it didn’t. Dawson lingered around places like these with his friends to be watchful and to calm his own lurching stomach at the thought of another one going too far, even if they never did. 

“I grew up in Seattle for the most part, but always on the outskirts of where I settled down. Suburbs are always different even if it’s just a few miles apart. Don’t be fooled, though. This place isn’t all neighborhood cook outs, but I’m sure you know that working here.” 

The last time she’d done a bar crawl with her friends, she’d ended up meeting the man who would become the father of her child. Somehow, tequila and bearded men never seemed to go well together. “I’d argue that you all should just end the crawl here. What’s the point of having to move to another bar when they seem entertained enough and the service is the best in the city?” Selfishly, she wanted the tips, but seeing as he was one of the only sober people left in the bar, she wanted the company too.

Seattle seemed beautiful enough and with her love for a quality overcast day, it seemed like the perfect place to settle, yet there she was in the midst of the Northeast. If it weren’t for her daughter though, she would have still been somewhere in Texas. “I know that there are pretty nature trails,” she hummed, a mocking look of contemplation on her features as she tried to think of everything she’d learned so far. “Oh, and there are good bakeries that actually stay open past seven. I also know that I need to get out more.”

It seemed like all she did was cover shifts for someone and offer to pull doubles whenever her boss would allow. If she wasn’t making strides towards getting to know her daughter, then she could at least ensure her bank account stayed decently fluffed. “Since I moved here, it’s been a lot of work and little play. Guess I need to make friends as cool as yours,” she teased, smile widening as one of them made a move for the jukebox. “Any idea what he’s about to pick?”

[lucianasalazar]

henley elgin ;​

“Oh, yeah. Absolutely.” He matched her teasing intonation, just barely holding back the snorting laugh that threatened to bust out of him as he grinned. “You should walk into any local bar on a Friday night and say that about school and I bet just about everyone would agree with you,” he said with joking sarcasm, head shaking slightly. In truth, Henley was happy to be in school – to finally be in college. It felt both monumental and insanely mundane, but it was a privilege he’d been uncertain of achieving for so long that he didn’t want to be anywhere else now that he was in the thick of it. “You know, I’m not totally sure. I keep considering forest conservation, which I think would create a lot of local opportunities for work, too, because there are actually some great hiking trails around here,” he said, answering both questions in one go. “Even just the parks like this one…” Henley shrugged as he trailed off, glancing away to survey the joyous festivities that were going on all around them. It brought a softer smile to his features when he turned back to the other. “I could go into research and probably get to travel more, but I think I like the idea of putting down roots. – Did you know that there’s a local hiking club? It’s ran through the community center or something, I think, if you’re into walking with groups. Always safer for your first few times on a new trail, anyway.”

***

Biting down on her lip in an attempt at stifling the laughter that dared to follow, Luciana shook her head and offered a smile in his direction. As much as she liked to think that she had that kind of pull on the masses, she didn’t. “Even you?” Her question came with a raised brow and a curious look. If he thought everyone was so quick to fall into line against her charm, where did that put him? Not that the answer truly mattered, but the amusement that lingered in the air between them was enough for her to wonder. No one thought of the careers outside of a tall building, yet it seemed like it was all he’d thought about. “I think you’ve mentioned that a time or two,” she teased, though her smile was genuine, as was her interest in what he had to say. It was one thing to enjoy nature, but to love it in the way that he seemed to? She had to admire that about him. “I didn’t know there was a local hiking club, but I might have to look into that if it means having a hiking buddy. What about you? Are you already a member or do you prefer to do these hikes solo?”

[lucianasalazar]

Priscilla Quintana as ISABELLA TAVEZ Good Trouble | 2x14: “In Good Conscience” 

[lucianasalazar]

jaxson davis ;​

Jaxson sat there, holding the glass of whiskey in his hand as he glanced down into it. He thought about what happened at the flower shop a few days ago with Selin and Piper, the promise he spilled out into the air and now he was going to have to tell his daughter that her mother was back. He wanted to least give her the chance to decide for herself because shockingly for a little girl who was almost three she seemed to absorb everything around her… She was so smart like her mother even though Luciana probably didn’t feel like she was smart. He shook his head a little as he adjusted himself on the seat, raising his eyes up towards her. “I used to be angry but… as the years went by…” He inhaled. “I just hope that you found whatever you were looking for.” He lifted his eyes up towards her. “Is there anything you want to say?” 

***

As she waited for Jaxson to say something more, she heard a cat call pointed in her direction, followed by a drunken jerk asking for her attention. Light eyes rolled as she blew out an annoyed breath of air, pulling herself from before Jaxson long enough to see what the man wanted. Between pathetic lines, she was able to get a drink order from him and once she’d slid the glass across, she shifted back to the only man in the bar who could hold her attention. “I don’t know what I was looking for,” she admitted in a soft chuckle of defeat. At first, she’d just wanted to put as much distance between herself and Piper as she could in hopes of giving the child a better life, but after that feeling had faded, there was no excuse. “Other than I shouldn’t have left?” Swallowing down the lump in her throat, her gaze flashed towards the clock on the wall once more. It was hard battling every emotion that raged on in her chest in a room full of people, but the man had made it clear that he took no interest in continuing things elsewhere. “I want to know more about her. I know she’s still young, but I want to know her favorite food and her favorite color and... what her first word was, or when she started to walk. You don’t owe me any of that... but I want to know, Jax. I want to know it all.”

[lucianasalazar]

raj sahni ;​

“of course, the most popular option is our chocolate chip scone. you can never go wrong with chocolate chip, right?” he said, reaching for the scone in the case with only a slight pause when she introduced herself by name. he’d heard his wife mention a luciana recently, and while it wasn’t the most unusual name, he wasn’t afraid to make the wrong assumption when he repeated, “luciana? would you happen to be familiar with a monica soledad?” and he certainly didn’t forget the hyphenation of her surname with his own, continuing, “technically soledad-sahni, since we got married.”

***

“You can’t, which is why I have to have one. If that’s what everyone is getting, then I think I’d be silly to pass up on it. On second, if you have two made, that would be nice.” She’d take one back to her place for Percy and if he didn’t show up, she’d just have it for lunch. Hearing her name being echoed back to her, the woman’s brows pinched together. Before she could answer, he’d clarified. Wow. Monica really had settled down since the last time they’d spoken to one another. “I do know her. Well, I did. We were younger, but we’re playing catch up now. It’s nice to know she married someone with crazy good baking skills,” she teased, smile genuine as she looked back at him. “She’s really something, isn’t she?”

[lucianasalazar]

amina dubaku ;​

Amina’s lips pressed together carefully, thinking about her words. She knew personally that she had been someone who held in all her real feelings. Instead of lashing out when Raj got married to someone else shortly after their break up, she swallowed all the negative feelings and stuffed them down as far as she could. Was that the definition of running away as well? She inhaled through her nose as she nodded her head. “Sometimes it’s better to face whatever you’re running from,” was the sometimes a deflection on her part? Brushing her tongue along her lower lip, pulling the glass towards her. “Top shelf scotch, huh?” She chuckled. “You sure you want to be the one paying for this? I don’t think I can ask that of you. I’m more than happy to pay for it.”

***

The shameful truth was that seeing Jaxson again wasn’t the hardest part of everything. It was the thought after seeing him, seeing Piper would eventually come next. It was all she’d wanted for two years and now that she was finally here, all she could think about was the high potential of rejection. “And what happens when it doesn’t work out? Like at all?” Chewing at her bottom lip, Luciana shook off her worries and forced a smile to her mouth. “Relax. I’m not pouring the whole bottle. One shot on the house won’t hurt anyone.” She more than made up for the profit with other sales and she doubted her boss would miss the small amount of liquor unpaid for anyway. “If you like it, then you can pay for a glass. That’s as good of a deal as you’ll get.”

[lucianasalazar]

PRISCILLA QUINTANA as Isabella Good Trouble (4.02)

[lucianasalazar]

jaxson davis ;​

Jaxson thought about all of the dodged questions of his own father growing up. All the man could say to Piper when she asked for Luciana was that mom lost her way and hopefully one day she’d return. At least Luciana didn’t make him out to be a liar but he also didn’t know if he could stand to see Piper’s heart break if the woman in front of him decided that being a mother wasn’t what she wanted after all. His eyes focused on her, observing the way she stared at his phone at their daughter, the way she was looking at a simple picture was the way he knew he had looked at Piper as well. He wanted to ask so many questions. Was there something he could have done to help her stick around for their daughter? What had he done to make her want to push him away? He thought about Selin for a moment. He had always promised if he found someone else he would communicate all his feelings yet right now while he had the chance, it just felt… stupid. He reached out, taking back the phone as he shook his head. “Nothin’ to thank me for.” It was his job. He dropped his gaze down to the picture of Piper on his phone, knowing there were about a million more just like it. “She’s my world, Luci. I’ll do anything to protect her,” it came out soft but he knew the warning was still in between the lines.

***

There wasn’t a bottle of liquor strong enough to take away the guilt and regret that had settled heavily on her chest. Piper hadn’t deserved the same kind of treatment that Luciana’s mother had given her, yet the Salazar’s insecurities had pushed her into making the same mistake. For a moment and a moment alone, it made her wonder if her mother had felt that way too. On the upside of things, Jaxson had held himself together, much as he always had. If there had been any doubt about that, she wouldn’t have left in the way that she had. Nodding, she bit down on her bottom lip to stop it from quivering. Even if he was their daughter’s father, she had everything to thank him for and not enough time in the world to do it. “I don’t know if you have questions or if you even want to talk to me at all, but I’m ready to answer... anything you might want to know,” she offered nervously, light hues dropping from his gaze. For all she knew, he didn’t care about what she had to say as long as it didn’t hurt Piper. “Or not. I don’t know how to do this.” Just like she hadn’t known how to be a mother, but this time she was ready to try.

[lucianasalazar]

ㅤㅤ Priscilla Quintana + Freddie Thorp ( Crackship )  ♡

[lucianasalazar]

henley elgin ;​

If anything was amiss, Henley didn’t catch it. He rarely realized his conversational missteps in the moment or picked up on subtle social cues that screamed at other people to move on! or shut up! in big, bright neon letters. It felt like some kind of ass-backwards curse half the time, inevitably saying too much or too little, no matter how hard he tried to find a happy medium. Small talk was the worst. “Oh, that sounds nice,” he commented. “A fresh start with some bonus support.” His head bobbed and he took another drink from his bottle of water before capping it. “I’m still finishing my degree, so I guess you should only consider me a part-time resident,” Henley explained, giving a one-shouldered shrug while reflecting on the two years he’d spent in Ithaca so far. The future after graduation still felt so distant and looked intimidatingly vast from this point in his life, but he felt hopeful enough to continue, “I could see myself staying here, though, for good. You know, if it all shakes out that way and I land a job that allows it. This is going to sound ridiculous, but –” he cut himself off to huff a quiet chuckle, shaking his head at himself while glancing to the other, “I was actually most worried about there being any worthwhile hiking trails when I came out this way for my freshman year.”

***

Without the help of Percy, she wasn’t sure if adjusting to Ithaca would have been possible. It wasn’t that she hated it there, but the thought of running into Jaxson and Piper on the street at any given time always left her fearful and sick to her stomach. It wasn’t their fault; it was hers and that was something she’d accepted the moment she walked away. “When I say I’d be lost without my closest friend, I mean it.” She didn’t give Percy enough credit, but without him, she would have already ran for the hills. “Oh, well, that sounds like fun. School is still everyone’s favorite pastime, right?” Her tone was teasing, her smile wide. She was envious of those who got to live what she deemed a normal life. College and all of the mistakes that followed; it just didn’t seem fair. “What kind of job are you looking to land? If you don’t mind me asking?” While she had own educational desires, she doubted she’d ever make it happen. Between putting her focus into her daughter and making enough money to keep herself afloat, student debt just wasn’t an option. “But there are hiking trails, right? Because I’ve been wanting to go out looking but I haven’t had the chance. Sometimes a trail is the best way to clear one’s mind.”

[lucianasalazar]

raj sahni​ ; ​

he was familiar with the woman’s face from frequenting the bars in the area, a regular at most of them.. and in a small town, it was only due time before she’d end up visiting him at one of his places of work. raj at least could convince her that they weren’t an alcoholic. a part of him swelled with pride, having sold a section of the mango braid barely below half an hour of it being out of the oven.. he couldn’t keep that bit of information to himself, either. “it’s pretty fresh out of the oven, too, i just took it out maybe twenty minutes ago. the mango should still be really tender and warm, it’s just. incredible. the other ones i’d recommend are the scones, but of course you’ll need a cup of coffee to go along with that if you’re in the mood.” 

***

The thing about Luciana is that she knew how to make a sale, yet she knew how to fall into one too. When it came to sweets and coffee, it didn’t take much for her to eagerly agree to whatever was being offered in her direction. “You don’t have to keep trying to convince me that it’s a good buy. I’m already sold,” she smirked as she bit down on her bottom lip to stifle a laugh that dared to follow. “Fine, you got me. I’ll take some of the mango braid, a scone, and obviously a cup of coffee because if I’m going to commit, I’m going all the way. Whichever is your more popular scone option, I’ll take that. As for coffee, whatever you recommend. I’m not really picky when it comes to that. I’m Luciana, by the way. In case you’re wondering who your new most frequent customer will be.”

[lucianasalazar]

pope dawson ; ​

“It’s hard, and not really something you should do, but I made a point to learn how to handle it. I’ve managed to convince myself that when I drink, it’s no good to anyone. Just smelling a corona already makes my skin crawl, so I’ve ruined the experience completely,” He said with a chuckle. Dawson had managed to create a completely adversary attitude towards alcohol, but it wasn’t hard when that hadn’t been the worst of his problems. It reminded him of his mother, whose memories had turned more than sour which made it easy to taint what was suppose to be a bottled good time. 

He looked over his shoulder at his friend who stumbled away with a laugh. This time, he didn’t let his own echo of it be silenced. His grin pierced his cheeks with enough livelihood that he could be mistaken for more than liquid confidence in his glass. 

“I’m betting on some place just outside the town over by the farms. As long as I drive, they can’t argue where it is we go,” Dawson said. “But that guy? Not married, but it might be because he’s a whiner when he’s sober. He’s the worst to get him to agree except when he’s drunk where he trusts everyone’s opinion. That might be the only I’m worried about on the drive over.”

Dawson looked over to them. The intention behind every tip of their glass was innocent, and he knew to some extent, well deserved. He didn’t disapprove of their victory calls and all he wanted was to ensure that they’d have another day to be just as victorious to celebrate again. 

“Just a month?” He asked. “I’ve been here about a year but I used to have a vacation house with my ex-wife. We used to come here all the time. I finally decided to settle down here again and it’s the best decision. It’s a good place. Do you agree, or are you still on the fence?”

Her own father had never been so strong when it came to battling his addiction with alcohol. It was painful to watch as he drank himself to the grave, but it gave her hope seeing that not everyone lost that battle. “You should be proud. I mean everyone you know should be proud. It takes a lot to stay off the bottle and even more to be around and not be tempted.” She had a thousand compliments lined up, but she doubted he needed any of them. Not when it was obvious that this wasn’t his first time out and probably wouldn’t be his last either.

By the looks of it, his friends were harmless and if they weren’t, Luciana had no doubt that the man would check their every move. That was the role he played for the night, wasn’t it? A role he seemed confident in playing.

“I wouldn’t even give them an option. Just take them somewhere and park. As long as there’s food, it doesn’t seem like any of them mind.” She was making a loose assumption based off of a quick moment’s worth of judgement. Decent guy and unmarried, yet she was only interested in playing into the flirting game for the tip that would follow. “Whiner? I guess it’s good to know.” Flashing the man a smirk, she shook her head and turned her attention back to the only man in the group without a beer in his hand.

Nodding, tongue rolled across pearly whites before she smiled. “Just a month. Seems like forever at this point.” All because she’d been too much of a coward to reach out to the father of her child sooner and the anticipation had been driving her insane. Now, all she had to do was step up and be a decent mother and maybe she’d get to stick around and battle some of the guilt that had consumed her for two solid years now.

“I think I’m still on the fence. Not that it’s bad, but I’m trying to find my footing on where I belong. I spent most of my life in the same place and New York, it’s,” she paused, shaking her head as she struggled for the word she was looking for. “It’s different. In a good way, but between us, I’m dreading the cold weather.”

[lucianasalazar]

selin kavas ;​

“Thank you,” she gave the bartender a small smile, as she took large gulps from the glass. She didn’t want to lose her entire head, but a bit to just take the edge off and forget all about her ex husband was what she needed. It didn’t matter that it had been ten years, not when everything she felt all those years ago rushed back to her the moment she laid eyes on him. It seemed as if he had moved on from her and she reminded herself to forget all about him. “You know, as vain as it sounds, I just can’t believe he moved on from me,” she said, warmth flooding her cheeks, “he’s got a kid!” She exclaimed, frustrated at the idea of it, “I mean, I’ve never even been close enough to have a kid with someone else,” she let out an awkward chuckle, “it sounds awful of me to say that, doesn’t it?” The most shocking part of it all was the little girl on his hip as she spotted him in her shop and she wondered all about the life he made without her.

***

“Don’t worry about it.” In a way, the moment she’d signed on to be a bartender, she’d also agreed to listen to whatever it was that someone needed. Granted, sometimes she needed the same thing in return, but it wasn’t often she allowed herself to air out any of her own business while behind the wooden bar. Brows shot upwards in surprise, but Luciana had to admit, she admired that vain streak that ran through the other’s veins. “You two were married. I’d say you have every right to feel that. Did he marry again or just knock someone up?” Biting down on her bottom lip, she thought about her own situation, but opted not to overthink it. She’d never believed that Jaxson loved her and she’d never let herself believe that she loved him either. “It’s not awful.” Not by comparison to what she done, but she wasn’t ready to admit to her own faults to anyone but him. “Maybe this is your second chance to get things right?”

[lucianasalazar]

percy moon ;​

“it amazes me that you think i’d ever insult you,” percy laughed, and he remembered all the things he loved about her, her sense of humor being one of the main things they worked perfectly. “you better let me help my best friend one of these days, otherwise i’ll just slip you the money without you noticing, even if telling you now totally defeats the purpose of it being a surprise.” he couldn’t help but worry, sure he struggled himself, but percy was raised to always lend a hand no matter what. his grandmother would feed and clothe whoever needed some solace or warmth. “you will never stop with that one, huh?” percy laughed shaking his head at her. “i can’t even talk to a guy, let alone let them do whatever they wanted to my…what was it that girl called it, my persussy”

***

“Everyone is capable of a good insult if they try hard enough. Never say never.” Even if it were just joking, it’d eventually happen. It always did, especially when she was the one who usually started the playful banter. “Smooth move, Mr. Perfect. I promise, if I actually need the help, I’ll ask you. I’m just adjusting from the move, that’s all. Texas is a long way from here and in case you haven’t noticed, things aren’t cheap these days, but I’m fine. Pinky promise,” she offered in a juvenile manner with a smirk hanging off her lips. She was far from fine, but her emotional mess would be kept at bay until it couldn’t be kept there any longer. “Nope. It might be the biggest what if of my entire life,” she exhaled in a dramatic, yet teasing tone. “Okay, first off, I think what you need are few good practice nights at the bar. Get some flirty college grad students and who knows? You might luck up.”

[lucianasalazar]

monica soledad-sahni ;​

ＴＨＥ thrill of their past ran through her as she soaked in the realization Luciana was closer than she thought. How things had been going lately, she needed friends. Their support meant everything to her since she felt so uncertain about everything, lately. Her professional success was minuscule compared to her desire of true friendship and love in her life. “You know, you sound like my guy,” the guy in question being a psychic assigned to her since birth. Her grandmother insisted on every one of her grandchildren being read by a person with spiritual or so powers. “He warned me that I’d be experiencing a lot of people of my past soon,” she explained, unsure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Luciana was a good thing, but who else could possibly pop up in Monica’s life? She let go of the femme’s frame, smiling at her and squeezing Luciana’s wrist as she heard her. Monica was flattered, knowing exactly what Luciana was probably thinking– is this really Monica? She’d have to find the discrepancies in teenage Mon vs. adult Mon. “Oh, please,” she waved a hand, acting like she’d woken up like this. “You’re stunning, bellisima, now just save some for the rest of us,” she teased the brunette. “But– those skills still come in handy, clearly,” she rebutted. “Maybe, we should dance on top of a bar one last time. For old time’s sake!” 

***

There were certain from her past that she never wanted to cross paths with again, but Monica didn’t make the list. If anything, she’d found herself missing the woman even more than she’d ever truly realized. “Yeah?” Brows pinched together in a mixture of confusion and curiosity, but as it was explained to her, it made sense. “Whoever this guy is, he sounds good at what he does. I’d let him warn me about something, but I’m afraid of what he’d say.” Her life was a total shit show as it were and she didn’t need anyone solidifying that or giving her another reason to worry about what the future would hold. “For the record though, I’m the best person possible from your past, right? Totally the most fun friend of them all.” They’d been wild together and while things had changed, including themselves, she wondered if that chaotic streak still ran through their veins somewhere buried deep. “You have to be joking, Mon. If I didn’t know any better, I would definitely try and take you home.” A compliment and the truth; she was gorgeous and Luciana wouldn’t let her argue otherwise. “Don’t threaten me with a good time because I’ll do it.”

[lucianasalazar]

juniper wilde ;​

The corners of his lips twitch. June leans back from the bar counter. “Stronger,” he answers, his eyes trailing her as he watches her move. His eyes drift down when she slides the drink across the sticky counter. It leaves a wet ring when he lifts it up. He meets her gaze as he lifts it to his nose. “Moment of truth?” He lifts it to his lips. Stronger is an understatement. It hits him the moment it touches his lips, but the taste is masked well enough that he was sure, in another life, this would be dangerous for him. “That’s not bad,” he gives in. “Eight out of ten,” he decides. 

***

Nothing was perfect upon first tries, but she’d mix a drink to the patron’s liking if she just knew what they wanted. For the person before her, it never seemed like he was one to hold back and a part of her liked that, even if her gentle rejections usually said otherwise. “Eight out of ten? I guess I can manage. What can I do differently to get that perfect score?”