thedogofwar

[thedogofwar]

Really, no drinking on the job, she was using that excuse? He scoffed until she mentioned how her grabbing a soda could work. That had him laughing aloud. She was something. But it was feeling like he was getting politely turned down and he wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"So fuckin' technical." He muttered, eyes crinkling in laughter as he leaned down and reached for the strap, fingers brushing her skin as he slipped it into its buckle. It took him a few tries to try and secure it, goddamn sausage fingers. But finally, he did it. "So don't drink on the job." He challenged, keeping his hand about her ankle, boldly sliding it up along her calf slowly, gaze smoldering as he settled back. "What time you get off?"

Emerald hues glance down at the fingers that caress her skin, head slanting to the side. He was ballsy, she would give him that, not that she hadn't thought of six different ways of laying him flat on his ass. A sweet smile pulls at the corners of her mouth at his offer. "Rule number one, no drinking on the job. Unless you are offering me a soda, then I might be able to join you." Her gaze flickers from his face down to her heel that still needed to be buckled up. "Will that suffice?"

[thedogofwar]

Damn, she went for the drink and not Yoda? That was...unexpected. He was expecting to be shot down on all fronts and get told to fuck off. Whatever. He'd take it.

"Mr. Miyagi." He said, as he climbed out from between the ropes, tucking one of his gloves under an arm and tugging it off. "Or Sensei, that works too." At this point he was just fucking with her, having his fun while he retrieved her a pair of her own wraps and gloves for her to wear, motioning for her to give him her hand. "Might take a few tries before you remember how to wrap 'em, but don't ever enter in a ring without 'em." He instructed, unrolling a wrap and easing her thumb through the loop.

"You let me know if its too tight." He said, wrapping her hand carefully, once, twice, three times about her palm, and then threading it between each of her knuckles, his calloused fingers gentle against her skin. He was focused, much gentler with her than his attitude and behavior had just implied. When it came to boxing even if his guard was up in the ring, his defenses were down. He had an incredible amount of respect for the sport and the last thing he wanted was to see her get hurt on account of his goofing off.

"How's it feel?" He asked when finished, already grabbing the second wrap to begin working on the other. "Can you make a fist? Move your wrist?"

The blonde didn't know what she was doing. The alternative was to hit something else but she knew she'd only end up with a broken hand and more anger towards herself. But she was set on not taking no, which was why she began to put her hair up and re-lacing her shoes.

His first condition only made her roll her eyes but she remained quiet, at least until he mentioned the second one. "You're kidding, right?" Her gaze rose to meet his. It was better than having to give him an handjob or something else but it was still ridiculous. "I'll let you buy me a drink but I'm not calling you yoda. Pick something else."

[thedogofwar]

He absolutely knew he was, and he didn't care that she found him vulgar. If anything, she was getting a very PG version of him. She should've seen him when he was serving. But her mentionining ending her engagement caught him by surprise. Her? Engaged? What unlucky bastard had decided to do more than just hit that? "It's Garrett." He said speaking about the cigarette between his lips, making no comment on the admission of her cheating. That was her business, and it wasn't his place to judge, even if he'd never do something like that himself. "Something like that. Only minus the STDs. Ain't trying to have to drive two towns over to get laid." He said, pocketing his lighter.

It was hard for him not to crack a grin when she couldn't decide between him being bold or stupid. "How 'bout endearing?" He offered, knowing she had to have found him that, even a little bit. Otherwise, why bother talking to him at all? "How 'bout you? Or you planning on giving me a fake name and number?" The first few times that'd happened to him he'd gotten offended at first, then disappointed. It took him some time to understand rejection from a woman when he saw it, and now he took it in stride. So if things were headed that direction with her well...he wasn't about to lose sleep over it.

Flora shot the male a frustrated glance, her eyes rolling so far back they practically disappeared into her head. "You are absolutely vulgar, did you know that? You have to know that." Though she would be lying if she said she wasn't the least bit amused. Maybe it was because she'd decided he was rather good looking, a nice distraction to look at even if he wasn't exactly pleasant to listen to. "If you must know, I recently ended an engagement," a pause, "after I slept with someone else -- so, yes to strange guy, and no to any STDs. I'm not some easy fucking whore." Flora couldn’t help the way she began to get defensive, her guard up after fending off a barrage of judgmental questions from her father and publicist -- which was, frankly a bit humiliating. "Though, that was an oddly specific guess..." the heiress gave him a knowing look, taking a long drag of her cigarette.

"My condolences." She murmured with a wave of her hand, breathing out a thick plume of smoke. "Well you certainly seem to be at home with the locals -- I should know, I'm unfortunately one of them. Why anyone would choose to come here, though, absolutely stumps me," she cocked her head to the side, "so? What's the story? Wanted to come to a new town to pick up some brand new STDs?" The brunette couldn't help but tease, a wicked smile playing on her lips. "Down boy -- that almost sounded like you were flirting with me. Which would make you either incredibly bold or undoubtably stupid." Flora plucked the cigarette from her lips and set it between her pointer and middle finger, using her free hand to grasp her drink. "I'm undecided on which category you fit in. Right now, it's a tie for both." She brought the glass to her lips, taking a quick sip. "I'm guessing you have a name tht isn't either of them?"

[thedogofwar]

JON BERNTHAL - PORNSTACHE PARADISE collab with amazing @darlingshane

[thedogofwar]

[thedogofwar]

The sound of the stool scraping against the floor caught his attention, and he watched as Aelin headed towards the band. He was unused to seeing her on this side of the bar but it was a refreshing sight, as she began to dance with the crowd completely carefree. He couldn't help glancing over at her anytime there was a lull in the conversation at the bar, the way she moved uninhibited, without a care in the world, drawing his gaze towards her. That was until she pointed.

He didn't have nearly enough drinks in him just yet to join her on that floor. "Pretty sure I'm just gonna kill your vibes, A." He joked. "Least let me finish my drink first."

FOR: OPEN STARTER. ALL.

WHEN: 28th of August, 2023.

WHERE: The Outpost.

''You're being boring,'' She pouted to her friends that were sitting around deep in conversations that she clearly had no interest in. It was her night off and the live band had her enjoying the evening, especially after the cocaine had set in.

It was her only night off this week. Whether she worked at the Outpost or on the streets tonight, she was making the most of it. And she was finding herself immersed in the lively atmosphere. The bar, a haven for her, that spanned beyond the worn-out barstools, had become the only definite in her life. The streets were unpredictable and as she'd found out this week, people would bite the hand that fed them no matter how much time she put into them. Aelin carried herself with a gritty resilience that spoke of a life both challenging and unapologetically real.

Without another word, she threw her stool back and made her way to the front, dancing with the first person that she found. The drugs were doing wonders, and right now, she had no care in the world.

"You,'' She pointed to another person without looking who it was. ''Come dance,''

[thedogofwar]

[thedogofwar]

"Who's asking?" He asked, confused for a moment who this guy was. He'd been told to look for a red flower on the table and this guy had one, but far as he knew he wasn't meeting a guy. Or so he'd assumed. He hadn't bothered to ask the details of who the blind date was with, seeing as it was supposed to be blind. All he'd gotten was a name, a time, and place. He gave the restaurant a quick scan as he claimed the empty seat across from him, gaze roaming across the man's ringed fingers and tats before settling his gaze on Asa curiously.

"Not gonna lie, thought you were a chick. Unless you got a sister I don't know about." He joked, pouring some water into one of the empty glasses on the table, taking a sip. "Ain't been on a date with a dude before. I'm guessing you have." He wasn't gonna leave the guy high and dry cause that was just rude, but he was definitely gonna need a few drinks in him to really put himself at ease. "Should've known, no chick would wait around after showing up ten minutes late."

Location: Madre Tierra Status: Closed ( @thedogofwar )

He's wondering if he should've said no. Not because he isn't interested, and not because he isn't desperately lonely, but because Asa's just so nervous. Meeting up at a bar for a pint is one thing but Erin had insisted it be a restaurant. 'A blind date is so much better at a restaurant! You can see what the other orders and share food, it's romantic!' Meanwhile Asa feels like he'll probably end up hurling whatever food he orders right back up. He's been given simple rules: he's supposed to be there at 8 PM. He needs to wear black, and have some type of red flower on the table. He knows the man's name is Garrett. That's it. No age, no profession. Couldn't even give a basic description.

Asa's done what she's asked. The black button-up is almost a bit soft and silky, open enough to show the tattoos adorning his collarbone down towards his chest, and a simple gold chain. Sleeves are rolled up on inked forearms. A few rings on similarly inked fingers. There's a red peony on the table and he's there at 7:58 PM. It is maddening, to quell his usual anxiety as he sits there with water, watching people enter and walk by. Many nicely dressed people. Plenty of folks in colorful garments, but black is a normal color to wear. So many people in black. He's going to kill Erin if he's ghosted again. But then a little after 8, he sees someone looking around, seeming to figure things out. A man, in black. So that's at least something. Asa swallows thickly but holds up a hand in an effort to get the other to notice him. Okay. This is happening. Right. "Hullo, um. Are you Garrett, by chance?"

[thedogofwar]

When you look at the entertainment industry, it’s amazing how doors are slammed in your face. I remember casting directors looking at my big nose and my giant ears and just being like, “What are you doing here?” Feeling like you don’t belong, agents never returning your phone calls. You get so much rejection and people make you feel so small, and the second that things start to change for you, those same people all want something. – Jon Bernthal for The New York Times

[thedogofwar]

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit curious 'bout what you're up to." He admitted, somewhat unnerved by the ease which she called him that. He knew it was just how she spoke but no one called him darling quite like she did. And not in that accent either. His brows furrowed slightly, taken aback by her bringing up their relationships since. That was not a road he wanted to go down. He knew a trap when he saw one.

"Don't do that." He finally replied, visibly uncomfortable. "We ain't gonna sit here and talk about other people we've been with."

There was no way in hell she was gonna take that well, or that it wouldn't open up old wounds for the both of them. The smart move was to avoid that line of questioning entirely. "How 'bout we talk about those tabs you've been keeping." He said, re-directing. "Better not be stalking me with some P.I." He joked. No, but he really hoped she wasn't. That was a liability in his line of work.

Hey, Dace. That Brooklyn accent, that deep, gravely voice - she hadn't heard it in so long and it brought her right back to those years where she and him were wrapped around each other, unable to ever tear apart from the other. Darcy could remember being wrapped in his arms, pulling him back on the couch of the penthouse in London - how his steamy kisses would envelope her, his warmth something she still craved at times. Pushing some of her blonde strands aside, she arched an eyebrow at his words and shook her head.

"Not too bad? Well, darling, look at you. You sure know how to butter up a woman, don't you? Perhaps you're just rusty, darling, is that it?" She loved to call him darling whenever they were together and she knew the word would bring him right back into their relationship, into the memories.

"Although I find it hard to believe you've been with no one else besides me since our break-up - I can only imagine." Taking a sip of her tea, she kept that devious, mischievous smirk on her face as she sipped at it. "Are you going to ask me the same question?"

She had to laugh, shaking her head. "You have a google alert on me, darling? I see - always keeping an eye on the one that got away, hmm? Would you be surprised if I said I had my tabs on you as well?" It was like she could slip back into the flirty, coy blonde that she was all those years before - when they had first met. The spark was still there - the electricity.

[thedogofwar]

"If it makes you feel any better, you don't need no pampering 'cause you're beautiful even without all this shit." He said, referring to the mask he wore that currently had the skin of his face feeling uncomfortably stiff. "But since you brought it up and since I clearly got time to kill sitting here getting pampered, what's it you do? You a painter? Do construction?" He probed, his gaze wandering down to her hands, trying to assess. "Clearly gotta be a job you're willing to get dirty."

avalon had needed a trim badly. usually she did it herself but this time it was beyond her capabilities. she'd spent way too long between trims and with working at the garage, her hair was a complete mess. sue her for letting her hair be the one indulgence she had. her mother had always loved her hair.

she chuckled when she saw him sitting in a lush chair looking pampered to all heaven. "when they have time. some of us don't bother, given our professions. it's all kinda wasted on me," she replied cheekily.

[thedogofwar]

He glanced up, his eyes meeting hers for a moment only to linger in slow recognition. She was most definitely not the little girl he once babysat. "You really are your mother's daughter." He said, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. If he was wrong about who she was then this little chat was about to get awkward, fast. But if he was right, and he was pretty damn sure he was, then she was about to be on the receiving end of the biggest, warmest bear hug in existence. It was pretty damn hard to forget her and her mom. The two had been his rock when he was younger.

"Small fuckin' world. Real small. Never thought I'd see you again." He said, all smiles. "How's she doing, by the way?" He asked completely forgetting to finish off his order. "Not a day's gone by where I haven't regretted losing touch."

The thing about living the double life she did was she was up at odd hours of the day, usually having only gotten an hour or two of sleep herself between jobs. She had just arrived for her morning shift early in the hopes of getting in a bite to eat before she clocked in when her manager let her know the other server had to leave early, asking her to serve the man who'd come in and settled in the booth in the back. Reluctantly, she did so, tying her apron on and making her way over, turning on her customer service persona with a warm smile.

"Good morning," she greeted, and though the man didn't look up at her when he ordered, there was something familiar in the cadence of his voice that gave her pause. "Black coffee, got it." She jotted it down, glancing at him from the corner of her eye and hoping for a better look at his face. "Can I get you anything else today, sir? We have a few breakfast specials for early risers if you'd be interested."

[thedogofwar]

[thedogofwar]

[thedogofwar]

He'd been watching her since she'd passed through the crowd, his gaze lingering on her a little longer than was necessary, craning his neck to catch sight of her if she just happened to bend over. She didn't, much to his disappointment. Maybe his leering was considered ungentlemanly, especially in an establishment like this, but he wasn't gonna mask his interest in a pretty woman like her. "Sure." He said, sliding his hand along her ankle, his fingers deliberately caressing her skin. "If you let me buy you a drink." There it was. The catch. He toyed with the strap, but made no attempt to actually fix it, awaiting her answer first.

Where: The Raven Who: Open

Sanem was close to finishing up her shift at The Raven, an hour more to go. The dancer was making her way through the crowd one more time before she would find a way to kill time. Emerald hues flicker down to notice that the strap on her heel was undone. There were pros and cons about her attire. Pro - she looks smoking hot. Con - if she bent over, some might get a show that she didn't want to share. She turns to the person sitting in the chair, lifting her leg up to rest the tip of her heel on the edge of the chair.

"Think you can help me out?" A well manicured nail points to the strap of her heel.