multihailstormm

[multihailstormm]

closed for @cherryflcvoured​

it takes a lot to pull juni from behind the counter, but as soon as she saw who was walking through the door, she was rushing from behind the counter already snapping at the customer. “what do you think you’re doing?! are you crazy?! no mames! A dog in a cat cafe?” she glanced down at the angel on the end of the leash. it wasn’t the poor babies fault that they were being lead into a danger den of cats, and if she had a normal cafe she would have welcomed the puppy with open arms, but sadly that was not her reality. she could already hear her poor babies getting worked up at the sight of the four-legged slobber machine. “you mentecato!! out out out!” juniper yelled at the man just as gina walked into the shop. “not you, mamas,” she clarified with a soft hand gina’s shoulder. “you could do nothing wrong and you are always welcome. you though,” she turned to the door owner, again, “make better decisions! adios!” juni helped him out the door, despite his protests, and turned to gina again. “i am so sorry, gina. that was embarrassing! ridiculous! do you want your usual?”

[multihailstormm]

Closed for @overwhlcmed

a movie premiere came with an annoying amount of duties. pick up my dry cleaning, bea. call my publicist, bea. it was a never ending deluge of demands and needs. all culminating into a couple of hours in heels and not nearly enough snacks or popcorn around. being there for her boss was part of her job description, but that meant she used her plus one as emotional support. sadly, with her brother not in town, that job fell to her brother from another mother - sami. 

who’s home her towncar was pulling up to now. she was late and bea could NOT be running late. the boss would throw a fit and she honestly did not have the mental bandwidth to deal with that at the moment. she walked up to sami’s buzzer and started rapidly pressing the buttom. “sami! sami! sami! sami! let’s go! you better be dressed.”

[multihailstormm]

overwhlcmed​:

☁️ ⠀  ⠀ ⠀  ⠀ ────────────  imani  didn’t  flinch  at  the  harsh  tone  the  man  took  with  her.  as  someone  who  grew  up  being  hauled  from  one  stranger’s  house  to  the  next,  she  was  use  to  bad  attitudes  and  displaced  anger.  if  she  couldn’t  handle  a  little  contestment    she  wouldn’t  have  become  a  journalist.  granted,  it  was  a  job  title  no  one  but  damien  knew  she  possessed  but  that  had  more  to  do  with  secrecy  being  essential  and  nothing  to  do  with  being  afraid  of  being  found  out.  why  should  she  be  ?  she  was  proud  of  her  work.  similarly,  though  on  a  much  smaller  scale,  why  should  she  be  embarrassed  about  keeping  strays  fed  ?  she  was  proud  of  that  too.  “  i’m  sorry  for  interrupting  you  like  that,  i  understand  that  was  probably  startling.  ”  imani  wasn’t  someone  who  couldn’t  admit  her  wrongdoings,  and  apologies  were  easy  when  you  prioritized  the  feelings  of  the  person  you  were  apologizing  to.  so  when  she  apologized  to  him,  she  meant  it.  she  wanted  to  make  that  clear  before  she  met  his  energy  with  a  semblance  of  her  own.  “  oh  yeah  ?  ”  she  questioned,  pulling  a  few  bottles  of  water  from  her  bag  to  begin  filling  up  a  big  bowl  for  the  dogs  still  crowding  around  her.  “  and  which  one  would  you  suggest  ?  ASPCA  ?  not  necessarily  a  no  kill,  but  they  don’t  euthanize  based  on  lack  of  housing,  pets  that  were  returned,  or  space  constraints  which  means  they’re  incredibly  overcrowded.  which,  can  lead  to  anxious  dogs  who  lash  out  because  they’re  scared  or  in  distress.  who  wants  to  adopt  them  then  ?  and  you  know  what  shelters  do  to  the  aggressive  breeds  when  they’re  overcrowded,  i’ll  give  you  three  guesses  if  you  don’t.  ”  

she  moved  on  from  the  water  and  onto  the  food,  making  the  decision  she  didn’t  think  she’d  get  his  help  on.  “  or  maybe  social  tees  animal  rescue  ?  a  private  no  kill  shelter  who  does  work  with  foster  parents,  their  whole  goal  is  to  re-home  but  what  if  they  don’t  think  the  dog  you  showed  up  with  can  be  rehomed  ?  well,  they’re  private,  they  can  turn  you  away.  they  may  not  have  a  spot  for  your  pet  but  come  back  in  a  few  weeks  and  you  could  get  lucky.  even  then  there’s  no  guarantee.  there’s  no  pay  in  fostering  and  it  can  get  costly  extremely  quickly  so  it’s  hard  to  find  volunteers.  which  means  they’re  not  only  overcrowded  in  the  shelters  but  in  the  homes  as  well.  when  they  could  be  out,  running  free  without  the  anxiety  or  aggression.  making  their  own  friends  with  a  community  that  looks  out  for  their  food  and  water.  i’ve  even  gotten  at  least  five  of  them  spayed  or  neutered  so  that  there  aren’t  more  out  on  the  street  being  ignored  by  new  york  joggers  who  believe  they  know  better  than  everybody  else  or  maybe  they  just  have  better  things  to  do,  like  get  their  apple  watch  steps  in  for  the  day.  ”  she  smiled  up  at  him  while  the  dogs  happily  munching  at  their  food,  a  hand  coming  up  to  give  a  gentle  pet  on  one  of  their  heads.  “  you  said  all  of  that  when  you  could  have  just  answered  the  question  so  i’m  going  to  say  you  just  think  you  know  better.  ”  she  shrugged.

Fully chastised, Benjy crossed his arms over his chest and turned in on himself. There was the ghost of his wife and a slightly overweight cat back at home that would probably be smacking him across the head if they had heard the way he’d just spoken to the dog lady on the ground. Officer Ravioli had been the brain child of Lily’s when she found out there wasn’t much time left. A little something to remember me by she had told him the morning she’d came home from her coffee run with a hairy furball in her hands. They’d never had a pet before, and Benjy was slow to warm up to the little demon, but Officer Ravioli had kept him sane of the last few months. It was something that needed to be taken care of on the hardest days and, on the rare occasion, a very cuddly friend who made him laugh. Now, he sounded like a grumpy, dog hater. Which he wasn’t! He wasn’t about to walk back on his bad attitude though - not when he had a reputation to uphold. 

“Well, thank you for that enlightening lesson. I will be sure to avoid all options if I ever find an animal that I can’t keep,” he frowned as he watched her and the pack of dogs run amok. There was a tiny dog off to the side who’s tail was wagging like crazy as he munched away at his food. Benjy’s eyes, for all intents and purposes, softened at the sight of the pup. They weren’t bad creatures, just a pack of dogs in a rough spot. There was nothing Benjy could do though. He shook his head, hardening his heart again. “I’m just saying, don’t ambush people in the middle of the street for your Mother Theresa act.”

[multihailstormm]

overwhlcmed​:

☁️ ⠀  ⠀ ⠀  ⠀ ──────────────  shame  wasn’t  an  emotion  nate  felt  very  often;  he  hardly  felt  anything  at  all  anymore.  it  was  exactly  how  he  wanted  it.  when  maya  passed,  he’d  buried  the  part  of  him  that  cared  so  deeply  in  the  recesses  of  his  mind  and  abandoned  it  there.  he’d  left  it  there  so  long  that  the  path  back  to  it  had  become  overgrown  with  weeds,  elm  trees,  roots  spreading  across  the  ground,  and  moss;  so  much  foliage  blocking  out  the  light  made  it  impossible  to  find  his  way  back  to  it  even  if  he  wanted  to.  but  the  look  in  jane’s  eyes  as  he  shot  off  bullets  that  were  aimed  to  maim,  lit  a  fire  to  the  blockage  and  left  him  feeling  something  he  hadn’t  in  years.  the  guilt  from  how  he  ended  things  rising  from  the  shallow  grave  he  dug  for  it  and  trying  to  claw  its  way  back  into  his  heart.  there  wasn’t  anything  she  said  that  wasn’t  true.  the  prods  to  his  chest  weren’t  particularly  rough,  but  each  one  reverberated  beneath  his  rib  cage,  breaking  off  more  pieces  of  himself  he  didn’t  even  realize  he  had  left  to  lose.  it  was  hard  to  keep  her  gaze  as  she  spoke,  but  he  owed  it  to  her  not  to  look  away.  he  should  listen  to  the  truths  he  was  continuously  trying  to  deny.

when  she  walked  away  he  expected  to  feel  relief,  but  he  was  only  unsettled.  the  space  between  them  was  filled  with  things  he  should  have  said  but  wouldn’t.  the  bottle  from  her  bag  stopped  at  his  feet  and  he  told  himself  to  kick  it  away,  to  pretend  he  never  saw  it,  pretend  he  never  saw  her  and  go  home.  but  his  body  didn’t  listen.  instead,  it  bent  over  to  pick  up  the  cool  bottle  and  head  in  her  direction.  the  slow  walk  turned  into  a  light  jog  to  catch  up  with  her  and  once  he  was  at  her  side  he  slowed  down  to  keep  her  pace.  his  eyes  stuck  on  the  ground  like  a  child  who’d  just  gotten  scolded  as  he  held  the  bottle  out  in  front  of  her.  “  you  started  it.  ”  he  muttered.  it  was  immature  to  keep  score.  what  he  had  said  by  far  was  worse  than  any  insult  she  had  given  him  but  to  apologize  would  be  a  display  of  vulnerability  he  just  wasn’t  capable  of  anymore.  “  i  did  mean  it  though,  what  i  said  before.  ”  he  went  on,  his  eyes  still  averting  her.  “  about  going  alone  to  those  kind  of  calls…───  and  also  about  slowing  down  and  actually  reading  the  casting  calls.  you’re  too  trusting.  always  have  been.  that’s  all.  ”

There was the age old saying what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Jane, especially in that moment, wanted to take the proverb and shove it up the ass of  whoever decided that (Not Kelly Clarkson, of course, but the person before Kelly Clarkson), because it was bullshit. There was not a moment in their life that Jane felt stronger or better since her crash, her brush with death. Some days the weight of the world felt too much to bear. Getting out of bed was difficult most days, and they were always crying. And now they were crying in front of one of the few people that new them before everything changed. That’s why Nathan didn’t seem to understand. He wasn’t the only one who experienced a life-altering, world-shattering experience. There was a before Jane and an after Jane, and After Jane was weak, insecure, and broken and it had taken just a few words to crack her shell. She couldn’t get out of there quick enough. 

Their mind wandered to laying in bed, cocooning herself into a bunch of blankets, and watching reruns of the Great British Baking Show when they felt Nathan’s presence to their side. A laugh almost escaped her at his petulant attitude, but her snotty tears turns it into a gargley sigh. “I think that depends on how far we’re going back...” She responded, unsure if she was teasing or wanting to really start keeping tally of the wrongs they both shot at each other. Jane rolled to a stop and turned to look at Nathan, their eyes falling just on Nate’s nose so they didn’t have to look in his eyes. She took the bottle back from him. “Careful, Nathan. Someone might think you actually care.” She sighed and ran a hand across her eyes, smearing her eyeliner. “No, no. You’re right. I’ll try to stick with Union Casting Calls... “

[multihailstormm]

[multihailstormm]

[multihailstormm]

[multihailstormm]

worldofbeauties​:

Geraldine Viswanathan

[multihailstormm]

thejobutupaki​:

adria arjona via instagram

[multihailstormm]

overwhlcmed​:

☁️ ⠀  ⠀ ⠀  ⠀ ─────────────  surprisingly  enough,  growing  up  as  kal  sekh’s  sister  had  made  her  well  equipped  to  deal  with  stubborn  men.  yet,  benjy  continued  to  test  her  patience  with  every  conversation  they  had.  she  never  let  him  to  deter  her  though.  she  was  determined  to  help  him  come  out  of  the  depression  that  losing  his  wife  had  put  him  in.  eren  knew  the  pain  that  came  with  losing  a  loved  one;  her  own  father  being  lost  to  the  same  illness  that  threatened  to  take  her  meant  to  had  to  grieve  her  own  life  just  as  much  as  she  grieved  for  him,  but  if  there  was  one  thing  she  was  certain  of  it  was  that  her  father  wanted  her  to  live,  not  to  just  be  alive.  it  was  the  same  wish  she  held  for  reid  if  she  should  pass  on  soon.  while  her  intentions  and  friendship  with  benjy  had  come  from  a  pure  place,  she  couldn’t  deny  that  she  pushed  him  so  hard  because  she  was  terrified  of  reid  ending  up  in  the  same  darkness  benjy  had  found  himself  in.  subconsciously,  she’d  been  projecting  onto  the  older  man  but  yielding  results  so  she  continued  to  push.

“  absolutely  fucking  not.  ”  her  response  was  quick;  her  arm  looping  through  his  just  in  case  he  tried  to  make  a  run  for  it.  for  a  sick  woman,  her  strength  was  still  somewhat  there  and  she  yanked  him  deeper  into  the  ballroom  without  letting  up.  “  you’re  not  a  pity  date,  you’re  my  friend  and  i’d  like  to  enjoy  some  time  with  you  here  as  well,  but  i’m  loving  the  gala  to-do  list  you’ve  got  going  on  in  your  head  right  now,  that’s  a  good  starting  point.  it’s  good  to  set  goals.  ”  she  agreed  pulling  out  her  phone  to  type  up  what  he  just  said  with  the  intention  of  the  two  of  them  marking  each  off  as  the  night  progressed.  “  okay,  i  think  starting  with  a  drink  is  good,  but  we  need  to  up  the  stakes  on  the  ‘  hi  ’  remark.  instead  of  just  saying  ‘  hi  ’  to  someone,  you  need  to  have  a  conversation  with  them…──  twenty  minutes  minimum.  actually,  make  that  two  someones.  bit  of  a  challenge  for  you.  ”  she  noted  the  changes  in  her  notes  app  before  continuing.  “  let’s  see,  having  a  snack  is  fine  but  you  have  the  snack  after  you  dance.  now,  i’ll  be  understanding.  you  can  either  dance  with  someone  you  know  for  three  songs  or  someone  you  don’t  for  two.  now,  if  you’re  able  to  find  a  group  of  people  to  do  a  line  dance  with  i’ll  let  you  get  away  with  only  dancing  to  one  song,  sound  good  ?  that  sounds  great  to  me.  ”  she  concluded,  knowing  his  input  would  be  less  than  agreeable  and  sending  the  notes  his  way.

“Okay...” He smacked his lips together as he was directed into the ballroom. This was not his first rodeo at one of these things. Every year the Rangers held a fundraiser for the fanciest New Yorkers and he had to dress up and be paraded around for that. This felt very similar to that situation as he and Eren glided around the room. Something she said though reminded him that this situation was different though - They were friends, as unconventional as their friendship was. Still, spending time with friends was supposed to be fun. All of his friends in the past had been their friends. People who didn’t know how to be around him after Lily died. Which had literally pushed him into the direction of Eren and their support group. Fate was really odd that way. 

Benjy watched on as she started making a list of things to do at the gala that evening. “Uh, it wasn’t really a to-do list, but okay... You are not going to drop this and I'm an idiot. Okay.” He had trailed off, mostly whispering to himself. He scratched absently at his forehead trying to think of ways to up the ante. “Let me guess, you don’t count towards those two someones. In my defense, you are a someone though.” He sighed as she continued on, practically ignoring his protesting. They weren’t really challenging, it was something he used to do all the time, but Eren seemed to know exactly what he didn’t want to do and decided that was exactly what he needed to do. “That’s what you consider to be understanding? More like torturing.” She continued and he couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh.

 “Fine,  but I’m hungry so let’s do this thing.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her out onto the dance floor. A swinging jazz number was playing, and he settled his hand on her back like he used to do with his wife towards the end of her cancer, weak and clumsy. Eren was not to that point by a long shot, but old habits die hard. “Lily had me take dance classes for our first dance, so I will warn you that I’m pretty good at this.” At the perfect moment, he dipped her low and started dancing again. “What’s your to-do list for the evening, then?”

[multihailstormm]

overwhlcmed​:

☁️ ⠀  ⠀ ⠀  ⠀ ─────────────  it  was  easy  to  see  that  benjy  had  gone  somewhere  else  in  his  mind.  there  were  a  few  times  she  had  caught  him  like  that,  but  there  were  just  some  pressure  points  on  a  person  she  didn’t  think  she  should  press.  she’d  already  invaded  benjy’s  life  with  her  eccentric  five  year  old  and  her  knack  for  breaking  into  his  apartment,  the  last  thing  she  wanted  was  to  give  him  a  reason  to  shut  her  out  for  good.  the  person  she  was  five  years  ago  was  a  lot  like  him  in  believing  she  didn’t  need  anyone  in  her  life  to  get  her  through.  five  years  with  the  most  insane  five  year  old  had  showed  her  that  there  was  nothing  more  important  to  have  than  a  community.  she  hoped  her  and  yesina  had  provided  some  semblance  of  that  for  him;  dysfunctional  as  it  may  be.  “  who  got  too  much  sleep  ?  ”  she  questioned,  taking  a  moment  to  look  around  as  if  there  must  have  been  someone  else  he  was  speaking  to.  “  don’t  speak  that  into  the  universe,  whatever  deity  that  has  it  out  for  me  might  here  and  cut  my  hours  even  more.  ”  she  played  along  just  as  yesina  came  crashing  into  her  legs.

‘  they  have  the  warheads  !  ’  the  young  girl  exclaimed,  bouncing  at  her  side.  she  recognized  benjy  standing  beside  them  packing  things  away  and  held  it  up  for  him  to  see.  ‘  do  you  like  these  mr.  benjy  ?  i  like  the  way  they  burn  my  tongue  ’  there  shouldn’t  be  anything  that  startles  ximena,  when  it  comes  to  yesina,  yet  she  still  reached  her  hand  to  cover  the  young  girl’s  mouth.  “  what  did  we  say  about  our  inside  thoughts,  sina  ?  ”  she  questioned  with  a  force  laugh  as  she  removed  her  hand  to  grab  one  of  the  coffees  she  desperately  needed.  “  don’t  answer  that  eat  your  candy.  ”  some  battles  were  better  lost  before  they  even  began.  “  i’d  like  to  say  that’s  not  what  she  meant,  but  it  absolutely  is  what  she  meant…───  i’m  doing  my  best  to  tire  this  one  out  so  we  can  all  get  some  sleep  tonight  so  we’re  headed  to  the  children’s  museum.  you’re  more  than  welcome  to  join  us  if  you’d  like.  ”  

Benjy’s hand went up in defense. “No, no. I think you, and the universe, misheard me. I got no sleep. Much needed sleep, I might add,” he teased, rolling his shoulders, making something in his back crack loudly. He took the moment to give Yesina a hard look for his lack of sleep, but he let a small smile escape to let her know he was just teasing. Not that the child needed the clue. She was smarter and more devious than any child he had ever met, and he had met a handful - a lot of his teammates had children and they were around the rink all the time. None that could hold a candle to Yesina though. 

His eyebrows raised at the warhead comment, and he did his best to hold a smile back. There really was something about his neighbors that just pulled his personality out of him. On the days he felt the most down or hopeless, he would heard Yesina running around or Ximena singing and he would crack a smile or remember a happier time with his wife. “I’m personally more of a sour gummy worm kind of guy, but uh... Thanks for sharing.” He grabbed his own bottle of coffee and popped the lid before drinking half of it in two seconds, if only to give him something to do while the other two had their mother and daughter moment. As they left the bodega, he held the door open for the two women, pausing only slightly when they invited him along. “The Children’s Museum? What is on display at a Children’s Museum?” He wondered out loud as he thought about the invitation. His evening was free, thanks to an early morning practice that went as well as he could hope at his age, and he enjoyed spending time with X & Y. Was that not weird though? It was weird. He was a single, sad man and they were a family enjoying a sunny Sunday. “You know, that’s alright. Wouldn’t want to impose on the ladies day out. Plus, I don’t know if I would fit into the museum. If it’s for children.” He attempted the joke.

[multihailstormm]

overwhlcmed​:

☁️ ⠀  ⠀ ⠀  ⠀ ──────────────  the  sight  of  the  color  blossoming  on  his  cheeks  was  too  much  for  kehlani  to  take.  her  smile  spread  so  wide  the  width  of  it  hurt  her  cheeks.  she  had  to  tuck  her  lips  and  nose  into  the  palm  of  her  hand  to  try  and  hide  the  extent  of  it;  her  head  tilting  away  slightly  so  compose  how  giddy  she  felt  just  looking  at  him.  “  okay,  okay.  i’m  sorry,  you  just  took  me  by  surprise.  ”  kehlani  spoke  after  composing  herself  enough  to  speak.  it  wasn’t  an  easy  thing  to  do  whenever  momo  was  involved.  the  natural  state  of  him  was  enough  to  make  her  heart  swell  three  sizes,  and  a  permanent  smile  to  be  etched  onto  her  features.it  went  beyond  just  enjoying  his  company,  but  it  was  a  feeling  she  couldn’t  quite  put  into  words  yet  (  or  perhaps  she  was  just  too  scared  to  ).  change  was  an  entity  that  left  her  unsettled.  there  were  too  many  avenues  for  things  to  go  wrong  that  she’d  rather  relish  in  the  comfort  of  routine  than  take  a  step  off  a  cliff  not  knowing  what  lay  beneath.  so  instead  of  reflecting  on  why  there  were  butterflies  taking  residency  in  her  stomach  at  the  side  of  his  blushing  cheeks,  she  settled  for  opening  her  lips  once  more  to  offer  another  taunt  at  his  expense.  “  does  that  mean  we’re  going  to  be  talking  about  kinks  again  ?  ”  her  voice  was  a  whisper  this  time,  as  requested;  her  body  leaning  forward  on  the  table.  “  how  many  do  you  have  ?  should  i  be  concerned  ?  ”  even  without  his  response  laughter  bubbled  up  behind  her  lips  again,  and  she  had  to  cover  her  mouth  with  her  hand  again  to  muffle  the  sound.

the  teasing  made  it  easier  to  forget  about  the  goosebumps  running  down  her  back,  or  the  way  her  hand  itched  to  twirl  a  braid  or  two  around  her  finger  as  she  looked  at  him.  though,  it  never  helped  for  long.  momo  was  always  ready  with  a  reaction  or  a  comment  that  made  her  insides  flutter  with  delight.  even  something  as  simple  as  taking  enjoyment  in  answering  her  nonsensical  questions.  it  was  something  so  gentle  of  an  action;  to  not  just  hear  what  she  was  asking  but  to  listen  thoughtfully  and  provide  a  thoughtful  answer,  no  matter  how  silly  the  inquiry.  her  natural  demeanor  made  it  hard  to  identify  whenever  she  was  being  serious  about  something,  but  rather  than  write  her  off,  momo  decided  he’d  take  most  of  it  seriously  anyway.  it  filled  her  with  so  much  adoration  she  didn’t  know  where  to  put  it  all.  as  they  walked  side  by  side  her  hands  swung  at  her  side  unsure  of  what  to  do  with  them  since  there  was  quiet  urge  to  reach  for  him.  the  comfortable  pace  they  found  interrupted  only  by  his  question,  and  the  shift  in  tone  brought  concern  to  her  features,  her  feet  slowing  down  their  already  slow  pace  as  she  looked  to  him.  “  yeah,  of  course  you  can  momo.  ”  she  spoke  earnestly,  her  hand  coming  to  rest  on  his  arm  in  a  comforting  gesture  as  she  eyed  him.  “  is  everything  alright  ?  is  someone  messing  with  you  ?  y’know,  damien  can’t  really  fight  but  his  size  is  enough  to  intimidate  anyone,  i’m  serious.  ”

Her laughter made Momo drop his face to his hands, his cheeks flaming even hotter at her words. “One day we’re going to get kicked out of here...” He mumbled into his hands. Part of him hoped if the librarian didn’t see his eyes, then they didn’t see him at all and he would get to keep his NYU library access. Kehlani seemed to put that in jeopardy every time they met, but always managed to talk herself out of trouble. Or talk so much that the librarian forgot why she had even come over to their table in the first place. It was her super power. One that had him hopelessly hooked from the moment he met her. One that he hoped could benefit him. The thought sent a shiver down his back, and he felt gross thinking about it that way, but the truth was he needed Kehlani now more than ever. 

Momo rolled to a stop next to her on their walk, confused by her reaction. Nothing he had said warranted her scared reaction, had it? The confusion continued to grow on his face as she mentioned Damien and someone messing with him. In the distance, a bike bell rang and Momo instinctually moved out of the way, taking Kehalni with him with a light touch to her lower back. The contact didn’t last longer than it needed to, but his fingers were ablaze with the innocent, unthinking touch. The comfortable touch... Kehlani was always freely touching him - his shoulder, his arm, his back - but Momo’s movements were always intentional. He kept his hands to himself, but that... Momo crossed her arms under his chest, pressing his hands against his sides to hide the fact he wanted to ball his hand into a fist and scream. The bike passed, and Moisis continued with a gulp. “No, no. Nothing like that. Damien can’t help me here. Well... No, no. He can’t. So, you see, my PHD professor is throwing this big event with all these prospective employers and it’s optional, but highly encouraged. My aunt tells me highly encouraged actually means mandatory, which doesn’t really make sense but... Anyways, I’m supposed to go and talk to these people and sound impressive, but I can’t,” he said with a sigh. “I can’t talk or sound impressive. You talk, a lot, and I find you incredibly impressive though. So I was wondering...” Momo trailed off, but cleared his throat and tried again. “I was hoping you would go with me. Please, go with me.”

[multihailstormm]

overwhlcmed​:

☁️ ⠀  ⠀ ⠀  ⠀ ──────────────  when  people  spoke  of  a  frightening  familiarity  with  an  ex,  she  doubted  this  was  what  they  meant.  as  she  stood  in  front  of  hunt,  his  jaw  locked  and  her  hands  fidgeting  with  themselves  in  front  of  her,  it  was  an  eerily  similar  scene.  how  many  times  had  they  been  in  this  position  before  ?  hunt  with  something  buried  deep  within  him  locked  so  tight  not  even  his  fiance  could  pull  the  information  out  of  him,  and  evie  afraid  of  losing  him  for  good  timidly  asking  questions,  trying  to  pry  more  information  out  of  him,  practically  begging  him  to  talk  to  her,  before  giving  up  entirely.  in  those  days,  it  was  easier  for  her  to  accept  his  silence  for  the  delusion  that  she  just  needed  to  be  patient;  he’d  find  his  way  back  to  her.  making  herself  believe  a  fallacy  was  easier  than  accepting  that  she  could  lose  him  because  losing  him  meant  losing  her  safety  net.  it  meant  admitting  that  she’d  become  so  sick  that  being  with  someone  who  didn’t  treat  her  like  he  wanted  to  be  with  her  was  the  better  alternative  to  being  in  her  own  home  alone.

but  time  had  past  since  then.  her  greatest  fear  of  losing  him  coming  to  pass  by  her  own  hand.  there  was  nothing  but  her  own  guilt  still  tied  tight  with  barbed  wire  around  her  heart  that  made  her  hesitate  in  pushing  him  further.  there  was  a  knee-jerk  reaction  to  apologize,  not  just  for  her  attempt  in  making  casual  conversation  but  for  all  of  it,  but  she  knew  it  would  only  be  in  attempt  to  alleviate  the  pressure  on  her  own  heart.  she’d  say  the  word  as  many  times  as  he  wanted  to  hear  it,  but  only  if  it  was  what  he  wanted.  but  that  had  always  been  part  of  their  problem,  he  never  told  her  what  he  wanted.  “  then  don’t  pretend,  i’m  not  asking  you  to.”  it  was  spoken  so  softly,  almost  a  desperate  plea,  she  was  surprised  it  had  left  her  lips  at  all.  the  urge  to  bite  her  tongue  and  leave  it  at  that  building  up  with  her  panic,  but  she  didn’t  know  if  she’d  ever  get  an  opportunity  to  speak  with  him  again.  “  speak  honestly,  have  the  conversation  you  want  to  have  with  me.  the  one  we  never  did.  ”  in  the  aftermath,  there  wasn’t  much  talking  between  them.  a  sorrowful  realization  that  things  were  over,  justified  anger  and  disappointed  consumed  every  interaction  afterwards.  any  ‘  i’m  sorry  ’  she  could  give  hanging  in  the  air  without  her  knowing  if  it  was  something  he  was  ready  to  receive.  and  then  he  was  just,  gone.  “  but  please  just…───  talk  to  me  ?  ”

Talking. Thinking. Yelling. Fighting. All of the above with her, with Evie. What would it change? Unless they could go back time and change things - Stop the cheating. Stop the distance Hunt had put between him and Evie. All of it. That was the only thing that could make any difference at this point. Even in his wildest Science Fiction fantasies he couldn’t see that happening or coming into fruition. To be fair, he was a terrible, unsuccessful Science Fiction writer. And that was the problem, wasn’t it. He wasn’t the man he planned on being. The expectations were so great and, while some would think he surpassed them, Hunt had gone in the complete opposite direction. The romance novel had been a one shot. A completely, unplanned writing exercise to get out of his mind. An exercise he had accidently sent to his agent. Now this... This I can work with, they said. Simultaneously a dagger to the heart and a gift. A gift he entertained and worked with for years, but it was never enough. Never manly enough for his father. Good enough for his sister. Prideful enough for his mother. The thoughts and feelings started creeping into his relationship with Evie. His fiancé. Fiancé. Part of Hunt wonders now, looking back, if the proposal was a knee-jerk reaction to his feelings of emasculation. Hopefully, his feelings were just tinged by the darkness of hurt and sadness. 

How did someone turn all of those thoughts and feelings into... words. “I should be better at this. I should be able to take everything up her,” he motioned to his head, “and turn it into fucking words. I’m a fucking author!” Or he had been. Or was. Hunt hadn’t written a word in days. Months probably. A few sentences here and there, at most. Nothing since his muse left him. Since his Evie left him. A deep sigh escaped his lips. “What is there to say, Evie? What conversation is there to have?!” He walked over to the steps and sat down with a huff. “I can’t talk to you. I can barely look at you. But, if I’m being completely honest - I can’t look at myself. I can’t sit here in my head any longer, running in circles, pretending that everything is fine when everything is bullshit. Everything is just bullshit! Is that what you want to hear?”

[multihailstormm]

overwhlcmed​:

status : closed / ( @multihailstormm​​ ) location : a theater on broadway, any of them really

☁️ ⠀  ⠀ ⠀  ⠀ ─────────────  auditions  were  their  own  form  of  agonizing  torture.  artists  were  made  to  stand  in  front  of  a  group  of  the  most  judgemental  yet  brilliant  minds  that  expanded  across  generations.  trinity  had  been  subjecting  themselves  to  the  humiliation  of  it  since  she  was  eight  years  old,  yet  the  harsh  twisting  in  her  stomach  every  time  they  had  to  walk  up  to  the  double  doors  of  a  theater,  to  wait  in  a  cold  hallway  until  their  name  was  called  never  loosened.  it  wasn’t  the  actual  audition  part  that  wrecked  their  nerves.  whenever  trinity  performed  they  went  somewhere  else,  became  so  immersed  in  the  character  she  was  portraying  that  any  remnants  of  herself  were  left  at  the  door  to  be  picked  up  on  the  way  out.  what  often  made  them  hesitate  wasn’t  their  own  perception  of  themselves,  but  everyone  elses.  each  time  walked  into  a  waiting  room  and  fellow  eager  performers  sighed  or  rolled  their  eyes,  scooting  closer  to  their  friends  to  speak  in  hushed  tones  about  who  their  dad  was  and  how  nepotism  must  have  played  a  part  somehow  (  if  it  wasn’t  the  part,  it  was  the  audition,  if  it  wasn’t  the  audition  it  was  a  sneak  peak  at  the  upcoming  show’s  book  ).  it  bothered  them,  of  course  it  did.  she  worked  just  as  hard  (  they  would  argue  even  harder  )  than  most  of  then,  but  all  of  their  accomplishments  continued  to  be  attributed  to  their  father.  their  debut  on  the  west  end,  a  feat  her  father  never  managed  to  acquire  during  his  career,  could  only  distinguish  them  for  so  long.  they  needed  their  big  break  out  moment  and  they  needed  it  fast.

they’d  been  so  engulfed  in  running  the  sides  over  in  their  head  once  again  they  only  tore  away  from  it  when  the  snickering  beside  them  became  too  loud  to  ignore.  she  figured  it  was  directed  at  her,  head  snapping  up  to  make  a  passive  aggressive  comment  when  they  realized  it  was  directed  at  the  familiar  face  sitting  across  from  them:  jane.  “  lorraine  and  sarah,  isn’t  it  ?  ”  they  popped  up,  voice  sickeningly  sweet  as  she  leaned  forward.  “  you  guys  did…──  beetlejuice  in  the  previews,  right  ?  ensemble,  of  course.  ”  the  blow  came  with  a  soft  laugh  that  could  have  been  seen  as  well  natured  if  you  weren’t  attuned  to  the  hardships  of  broadway  auditions.  “  it’s  crazy  not  seeing  you  guys  in  all  the  ghostly  make-up.  you  two  look  human  !  almost.  must  be  the  lighting.  ”  they  went  on  as  they  rose  from  their  own  chair  and  moved  to  sit  beside  jane,  effectively  blocking  her  from  the  view  of  mean  spirited  actors.  “  well,  i  hope  you  guys  worked  out  those  count  and  going  flat  kinks.  i  know  that  was  something  that  got  you  cut  from  the  six  call  so  maybe  that’s  something  you  should  be  working  on  now,  hm  ?  just  to  be  safe,  you  could  be  called  in  any  minute.  ”  she  concluded,  the  smile  on  their  face  never  leaving  until  the  two  turned  away.  “  don’t  mind  them,  the  only  thing  those  two  would  ever  succeed  in  is  the  lost  art  of  industrial  shows…──  in  fact,  i’m  pretty  sure  lorraine  did  do  walmart  the  musical,  talk  about  career  suicide.  ”  they  tsked  flipping  their  side  back  to  the  front  before  looking  back  jane.  “  they  didn’t  psyche  you  out  did  they  ?  because  if  you  go  in  there  and  don’t  give  your  all  because  of  something  ghouls  number  two  and  seven  said  i’m  going  to  be  so  pissed.  ”

It wasn’t a dance call, but Jane always felt a little more relaxed and calm when she was stretching. The holding area was full, but they were able to find an area to sit down and stretch out, sides just in front of her so she could practice. Thankfully, these sides weren’t for a porno masquerading as a musical. Although, Moulin Rouge wasn’t too far off considering everyone wore things and bustiers through the two act musical. The dancing and lights and music though made it one of their top musical wish-lists on Broadway right now, so when the open call came around, Jane made sure she was on the audition list. Auditions... Their least favorite part of musical theater. She hated the part where she went and stood in a room in front of the people that could make or break her career and there’s was two minutes, before she sang or dance or performed, where they were just judging them on their appearance. Their mangled, imperfect appearance. Jane had to work twice as hard just so they would look past her face.  

Thankfully, the mean girls in the audition holding room were great practice for that. They wouldn’t notice Jane at first, but when the others started looking around and sizing people up their eyes would land on her and the whispers and giggles would begin. She stood out, for the wrong reasons, and everyone made sure she knew that. After the fourth or fifth audition, they learned to keep to themselves. To tune out everyone to the best of their ability. Everyone but Trinity. For some reason they looked right past her face and made it all about talent or practice. Trinity could knock her down three pegs, for sure, but it was never about how Jane looked. It was about who was best for the part and who deserved it more. It was that reason, Jane never listened to any of the rumors about nepotism. They knew how hard Trinity worked and they were not about to diminish that talent. There was a mutual respect and admiration there, even if they were each other’s competition. 

That was everyone though, and Jane was happy to have them on their side. Even just a little. Evident by the way Trinity had stood up for Jane and put Lorraine and Sarah in their place. A small smile graced Jane’s face as the two girls turned away, leaving her alone finally. She didn’t thank Trinity - that wasn’t the type of relationship they had but she was appreciative of their actions regardless. Taking a deep, calming breath through her nose, Jane shook their head. “No, no. I’m used to it. I know they don’t matter. The only people that matter are in that room.” She remarked, pointing at the door to the stage. She leaned over to touch her toes and let out another deep breath. “I think you psyched them out though. You have a radar for everyone’s weaknesses, I swear. It’s amazing. Going out for Satine?”

[multihailstormm]

overwhlcmed​:

☁️ ⠀  ⠀ ⠀  ⠀ ────────────  on  every  star  in  every  constellation  she  could  see  past  the  light  pollution  of  the  city,  evie  had  wished  she’d  met  hunt  in  the  light  years  before  the  accident.  she  was  stronger  back  then,  confident,  and  brave.  the  evie  before  moved  with  certainty  and  without  hesitation.  she  wouldn’t  have  needed  to  cling  to  him  every  second  of  every  day.  she  could  stand  a  night  on  her  own,  sitting  in  the  darkness  without  a  sense  of  dread  overcoming  her  for  things  that  hadn’t  or  wouldn’t  happen  but  felt  real  to  her  all  the  same.  she  wouldn’t  have  sought  out  safety  in  the  arms  of  someone  he  trusted  almost  as  much  as  he  trusted  her  because  the  evie  before  didn’t  need  anyone  else  to  make  her  feel  safe.  the  person  she  was  when  she  met  hunt  wasn’t  the  woman  he  deserved.  from  the  moment  she  met  him,  he  always  made  her  feel  like  there  was  a  world  in  which  she  could  but  years  of  therapy  taught  her  that  she  never  did.  instead  of  getting  the  help  she  needed,  she  expected  him  to  heal  her.  she  placed  the  burden  of  her  own  mental  instability  onto  his  shoulders  and  cut  him  down  in  the  worst  ways  when  he  cracked  under  the  pressure  of  it.  the  person  she  was  before  wouldn’t  have  treated  him  that  way,  and  who  she  was  now  needed  more  than  an  ‘  i  love  you  ’  to  feel  safe.  she  needed  noise  cancellation  headphones,  a  bottle  of  pepper  spray,  and  a  silent  mantra  to  herself  whenever  facing  something  difficult;  and  hunt  was  the  most  painful  memory  to  face.  

three  things  you  see,  three  sounds  you  hear,  three  parts  of  your  body…──  the  sound  of  her  therapist  reciting  the  mantra  to  her  played  back  in  her  head  as  hunt  addressed  her  with  something  that  wasn’t  disregard  or  apathy.  it  an  isolated  incident  to  hear  more  than  four  words  given  in  her  direction.  she  didn’t  know  how  to  keep  this  line  of  friendly  communication  going,  and  the  thought  that  he  could  disappear  into  the  crowd  again  set  her  on  the  verge  of  panicking.  three  things  you  see:  the  blue  of  eyes,  the  way  they  couldn’t  meet  hers,  the  sullen  look  on  his  face  telling  her  something  was  wrong.  “  yeah,  yeah.  i’m  glad  i  came  too.  it’s  good  to  get  out  sometimes.  see…───  familiar  places  or…  faces…───  and  everyone  and  thing  looks  so  nice  !  ”  three  sounds  you  hear:  the  way  he  said  her  name,  how  stupid  she  sounded,  the  silence  that  built  between  polite  sentences.  “  i  understand.  it’s  pretty  busy  in  there.  lots  of  people,  and  movement,  and  loud  music.  a  break  from  the  excitement  could  be  helpful.  ”  three  parts  of  your  body:  her  shifting  knees,  her  shaking  hands,  her  heartbeat  picking  up  speed  by  the  minute.  “  um,  no.  no,  i  don’t  think  i  will.  ”  the  mantra  hadn’t  helped  her  feel  that  much  better.  in  fact,  it  almost  made  her  feel  worse.  being  present  in  that  moment  with  him  only  reminding  her  of  how  much  she’d  hurt  him.  “  i  think  i’ll  go  try  and  find  some  sort  of  constellation  in  the  sky  instead,  my  head  gets  too  busy  at  these  things  i  think  i  just  need  to  empty  it  for  awhile.  ”  she  breathed  take  the  few  timid  steps  off  the  stairs  and  on  to  the  same  ground  he’d  been  standing  on.  “  what  about  you  ?  ”  she  let  the  question  hang  in  air  for  brief  moment,  mouth  opening  and  shutting  again  before  she  pushed  through  and  asked  the  question  anyway.  “  i  know  it’s  not  my  place  and  i  don’t  really  have  a  right  to  ask  anymore  but…──  are  you  okay  ?  it  just…──  i  don’t  know,  it  feels  like  something’s  off.  ”

That was a part of Hunt, a part deep, deep down inside that knew the demise of their relationship wasn’t just on Evie. That he had pulled away and became distant and withdrawn. Had lost his confidence and motivation, and taken it out on Evie in a way. It had been the exact opposite of what she needed, and so she had sought comfort from someone else. His best friend. The bastard. All of that said, his blood still boiled when he thought of someone he expected to live the rest of his life with tangled in the arms of someone he would have died for. Two knives to the heart and every kind word she said now felt like nails on a chalkboard. It was the way she was casually conversing with him that caused him to clench his hands into fists. At one point they had shared their greatest secrets. Whispers in the dark, while their heads rested on the same pillow. Evie knew his true writing identity. And now they were talking about music and people and a party like they were talking about the weather. Or, at least she was, he wasn’t saying much of anything now. He couldn’t be polite.

Finally, his eyes went to hers as she walked down the steps and stood un front of him. He stared down at her, the height difference evident, as she posed the question. ‘Are you okay?’ Was he okay? He could have laughed. “No...” He clenched his teeth. “You don’t have the right.” She gave up that right when she because the source of his problems and the bane of his existence. Evie broke his heart. Now, he couldn’t write the love stories that kept food on the table and his lights on. Stories he didn’t even want to write but could help to because he was a failure as a science fiction writer. All of that was coming to a point and he blamed Evie and she had the gall to ask him if he was okay. “Evie, I can’t do this. I’m not there. I can’t pretend everything is fine and have these conversations with you.”

[multihailstormm]

apcthetics​:​

*˖ ⊹       he  heard  juni  before  he  saw  her,  the  sound  of  her  voice  calling  his  name  echoing  down  the  hallway,  causing  alistair  to  sink  down  in  his  chair.  his  hands  came  up  to  rub  against  his  face,  and  he  peered  at  the  time  blinking  at  him  from  his  computer  screen  from  between  his  fingers.  he  loved  juniper.  for  a  better  portion  of  his  formative  teenage  years,  she  was  his  whole  life.  when  their  mom  died,  their  dad  following  suit  not  long  after  from  the  grief  and  the  alcohol,  the  only  way  he  knew  how  to  deal  with  his  pain  was  by  ensuring  that  juni  didn’t  have  to  miss  out.  even  if  he  felt  his  own  young  life  spiralling  out  of  control,  he  could  focus  on  making  hers  the  best  it  could  be.  he  was  a  lost  cause,  but  that  didn’t  mean  his  baby  sister  had  to  be.  and  he  succeeded─…  at  least  well  enough  that  juni  hadn’t  ended  up  in  jail,  had  gotten  her  education,  had  her  own  life  and  her  own  business.  it  wasn’t  a  complete  failure.

and  yet  ?  every  time  juniper  reached  out  to  him,  seeking  the  emotional  comfort  that  a  big  brother  should  have  provided,  he  felt  himself  pulling  away  from  her.  she  was  yet  another  painful  reminder  of  the  past  that  he  tried  so  hard  to  shake  off—  the  parents  he  pretended  he  never  thought  off,  and  the  struggles  of  his  youth  that  alistair  preferred  to  avoid  rather  than  acknowledge  head  on.  the  old  alistair  castillo  was  dead.  he  had  done  his  job.  she  was  a  fully  fledged  adult  now,  and  like  most  others,  she  would  be  better  off  without  him.  but  their  genetics  were  the  same,  and  the  stubborn  loyalty  that  ran  through  his  blood  ran  through  hers,  too.  

“  you  come  to  me,  on  the  day  of  my  daughter’s  wedding…  “  he  hollered  back  in  the  most  obnoxious  italian  accent  he  could  muster  as  he  heard  juni  call  his  name  again  down  the  hall.  when  she  appeared  in  the  doorway,  he  rolled  his  head  to  the  side  to  flash  a  sardonic  grin  in  her  direction.  letting  his  hands  come  to  the  arms  of  the  office  chair,  he  pushed  himself  back  to  a  proper  sitting  position.  “  glad  to  see  you  out  in  public,  interacting  with  something  that  doesn’t  have  fur─…  are  those  croquetas  ?  “  he  perked  up,  shoving  with  one  foot  off  the  tiled  floor  so  the  chair’s  wheels  slid  him  in  her  direction.  his  hands  made  a  grabbing  motion  towards  the  container  in  her  hands.  “  lo  que  quieras,  no  puedo  ser  sobornado…  but  the  coffee  will  certainly  help  your  case.  hand  it  over.  “  

“Aye, no estoy pidiendo asesinato o dinero!” She called back in response to his quote. However timely he thought it was, she would never ask him for so much. Again. Not that she had ever asked him to take care of her as a child, but he’d done it without question. Now, her problems where her own. She dealt with things her own way. Alistair knew things had gone south when she worked at Per Se, but she never truly told him everything that happened there to make her leave. And she never would. Juni would never be a burden to Alistair again - just a menace. 

As he reached for the croquetas, she pulled the box away from his grasp teasingly. “Croquetas and Conchas,” she informed him, holding her finger up, “but I can take them back if you are going to be snotty with me, manito. Insult the fur babies again and I’ll make sure your next sweet bread or coffee is covered in cat hair.” With her warning made, she handed him the box of sweet and the coffee she had saved for him. He may not come to her store often, for his own reasons, but she knew what he liked. 

Leaning against the door, her arms crossed, she gave him a menacing look. “Why do I have to want something?” She asked taking a sip of her coffee. “I already told you I don’t need murder or money. Can’t I just surprise my brother at work?” She raised an eyebrow knowing that he would likely dismiss the question, but she decided to poise it anyway. “And I brought you coffee. I’m saving someone from a very bad tattoo later. You look asleep on your feet! Why, are you not sleeping? Or are you sleeping with too many? Really, you should be leaving women alone. You’re going to catch a STI.”

[multihailstormm]

apcthetics​:

*˖ ⊹       “  happens  to  the  best  of  us.  there  was  this  one  time  i  went  with  my  roommate  to  this  big  party  for  some  kind  of  book  he  was  launching,  and  i  felt  so  out  of  place  among  all  these  rich-ass  authors  with  their  big  words  that  i  drank  too  much,  and  there  was  this  puddle  on  the  floor  i  missed  and  i  just  ate  shit  in  the  middle  of  a  venue  like  this.  “  damien  babbled  as  he  worked  at  undoing  the  buttons  on  his  shirt,  “  it  was  fucking  hilarious,  man,  but  i  couldn’t  stop  thinking  about  how  embarrassing  it  was  for  like  weeks  afterwards.  “  when  his  younger  sister  came  home  talking  one  day  about  a  boy  that  she  met  in  college,  her  excitement  about  him  was  tangible  enough  that  damien  could  see  it  coming  off  of  her  in  waves.  his  first  instinct  was  to  be  cautious.  kehlani  tended  to  have  her  head  stuck  up  in  the  clouds  in  a  way  that  him  and  honey  did  not,  and  damien  knew  there  was  the  very  real  possibility  of  her  latching  onto  someone  who  wasn’t  good  for  her  simply  because  she  had  never  been  capable  of  just  letting  go.  meeting  momo  for  the  first  time  had  put  every  anxiety  damien  had  felt  to  rest.  the  way  the  younger  man  had  slipped  into  their  unique  (  and  slightly  eccentric  )  family  dynamic  had  been  so  easy  it  went  almost  unnoticeable.  in  no  time  that  same  protective  instinct  he  had  over  his  sisters  had  extended  to  momo,  too—  to  the  point  that  damien  was  taking  his  side  against  his  sisters  any  chance  he  got.  it  was  like  finally  having  a  brother,  even  if  momo  could  be  a  little  shy  and  standoffish  at  times.  “  if  it  were  me,  “  he  paused  to  press  his  hand  against  his  chest,  “  i’d  let  you  go  in  a  heartbeat.  but  i’m  not  risking  keke’s  wraith  if  she  finds  out  i  just  let  you  leave  without  a  fight.  “  

pulling  his  shirt  off  of  his  shoulders,  damien  tossed  it  in  momo’s  direction,  yet  again  reaching  for  the  pale  green  suit  jacket  that  he  discarded  onto  the  counter.  “  i  have  my  jacket  !  “  he  insisted  cheerfully.  there  was  no  timidness  in  the  way  he  altered  his  suit;  damien  had  never  been  shy,  because  he  was  too  eager  to  bask  in  the  attention  of  others.  “  oh—…  i’ll  give  you  some  privacy  so  you  can  change.  “  sliding  his  jacket  back  up  his  arms,  damien  turned  his  back  to  his  friend.  “  but  for  the  record,  i  think  you  could  pull  it  off.  you’ve  got  that  little  guy  charm,  you  know  ?  “  

Hilarious and embarrassing where two words that didn’t typically go together. At least, when it comes to the person who was embarrassed. Momo was not very confident, however. Not like Damien was. It had been one of the first things Momo had noticed in the other man. The way he freely took up space, held his head high, and never apologized for just existing. He couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. Moisis had felt like a inconvenience the second his parents died. Never because of anything his aunt did or said, but just the fact that he was never where he was really supposed to be starting that moment. Damien was trying to cheer him up though, so it would do Moisis some good to get out of his head. A half-hearted chuckle escaped his lips at the other man’s story, but didn’t offer anything more since small talk was not his specialty. That said, the story was enough to calm him down a little. His shoulders relaxed and he finally let his eyes open slowly. He still kept them off to the side, respectfully, but he no longer looked like a toddler. “Yeah... Wrath is one way to put it. I call it passion.” He smiled briefly to himself at the thought of Kehlani, and the fit she would definitely throw if she found out he left. At least, without saying goodbye. “Anyways...”

He took the shirt from Damien and waited at the other man turned around to give Momo some privacy. It took a moment for his brain to catch up, but he finally started to undress. Pulling off his jacket and then his shirt. The words little guy charm echoed through his head and he turned to look into the mirror. Moisis was not a vain man. He saw his body as neutral, and when he looked at himself in the mirror he saw a vessel, a machine that allowed him to walk, run, bike, think, talk and laugh. For the first time in his life, probably ever, he lifted his arm and looked at himself in the mirror as he flexed. His muscles weren’t small, objectively, but compared to Damien there were... less. Momo wondered if others cared about that... He shook his head feeling silly, and quickly dropped his arms. “Maybe... I think I’ll feel better in a shirt though.” He replied, putting on Damien’s shirt and working on the buttons. “It’s a little big, but I think it will work.” He held his hands up to show the full look to Damien. “What do you think?”