zurixmitchell

[zurixmitchell]

These kids were next-level smart. Turning their dad's own words into evidence? That was some serious power move energy. "I swear your kids are going to skip grade school and go straight to Harvard Law. They've already got the whole cross-examination thing figured out," she gushed. wished she had been this smart about the law when she was younger - these kids were already light years ahead of where most adults were. The way they handled their snack negotiations was giving her major faith in the future generation of lawyers, and she was totally living for it. The Pop-Tart incident had her brain working overtime, thinking about turning their living room into a legit courtroom. She pictured the whole scene - stuffed animals as jury members, toy gavel and everything. "We should make this a whole thing. Write up some official house rules. Everyone gets equal rights to the cookie jar. No unauthorized candy trades. But for real though ... your tiny legal eagles would probably find every single escape clause before the ink even dried."

The comparison of his kids to FBI agents had Noah smiling—Zuri really got it. His twins would absolutely rock those tiny suits and sunglasses. Her enthusiasm for their "spy game" made him wonder if maybe he should encourage their detective skills, even if it meant never getting away with sneaking snacks again. "Supreme Court? CIA? Well, they've already mastered the art of making me confess to every cookie crime," he said, pride mixing with amusement at how scarily competent his five-year-olds were becoming. Their interrogation techniques were getting more sophisticated by the day. "Last week, Lyra actually used my own words against me. I told her 'sharing is caring' when she didn't want to split her markers with Zephyr. Then she threw that right back at me when I tried hiding in the pantry with the last Pop-Tart." The memory still got him—outsmarted by a kindergartener. "Maybe I should start teaching them about plea deals. You know, negotiate my way to at least half a cookie without getting reported to the Snack Police."

[zurixmitchell]

Most of her friends acted like she'd suggested putting ketchup on ice cream when she mentioned pizza before noon, but Elena's reaction was pure validation. The floodgates opened in Zuri's mind - all those weird snack ideas she could finally discuss without getting the "bless your heart" looks. "We seriously need to make this breakfast pizza thing happen. Like soon. The supreme with extra cheese at eight AM … actual life goals right there," she said. No side-eye about dessert for breakfast, no lectures about proper meal timing - this was friendship gold right here. Every amazing idea under the sun packed into her brain at once. "Listen though, this mango sticky rice sundae situation is everything. Sweet meets salty plus these amazing crunchy bits ... total game changer. You're gonna love it." The first time she tried that sundae was like getting a hug from the inside out. Food was her way of making friends, and this dessert never failed to win people over. 

Elena couldn't help the grin on her face as she heard Zuri's words. She'd really found a kindred spirit and for that--she was thankful. Friends in Wilmington was a very touchy subject for Elena. She had them of course--but then with her time away, some of those friendships had fallen apart. And now she'd of course alienated her sister in a way of speaking and so she'd really been looking for someone who she could talk to and someone who could obviously confide in her as well. Maybe Zuri would become that person, who knew? "Coffee cake is the best thing in the world so I'm so glad you get it," she grinned at Zuri before letting her mouth drop open at the mention of loaded pizza for breakfast. She'd had cold cheese pizza often for breakfast and loved it but this was taking it to a whole new level. "This needs to be in my future, I don't think I'm going to be okay until I try it now," she said with a chuckle before looking back at the other and nodding. "Oooh you're hitting all the right spots Zuri, Mango sticky rice...in ice cream form? That's what dreams are made of."

[zurixmitchell]

"No murder here, promise. I've got way too many legal ethics classes under my belt now. But if you're about to tell me something wild, maybe I should start taking notes." Zuri tried really hard not to read into Dante saying he enjoyed hanging out with her, but her brain had other ideas. The rational part of her knew she needed to shut down these feelings ASAP - he was married, this was friendship, end of story. Too bad her heart was being super stubborn about the whole thing. "These books are literally haunting me in my sleep now. Last night I had this crazy dream where my Legal Ethics textbook grew fangs and started chasing me," she said. Having him here felt dangerously comfortable, which was exactly the kind of thinking she needed to avoid. But it was hard when he kept choosing to spend time with her, even if it was totally innocent. Her crush-addled brain wasn't helping matters at all. 

Dante chuckled at the remark, glancing down at his hands on the table. "Other than you, I got Noah, and I don't know -- out of the two of you, I feel you'd be less likely to want to murder me for this." Grant it, he's sure Noah would be there if he needed him. But he also was aware that mentioning Andrea to him would start an entirely other argument he had no intentions of being in. "Plus, maybe I enjoy your company?" He tossed out, before his eyes lingered over the mess of text books and paperwork. He chuckled, "And if anyone needs the break, I'm assumed it'd be you." He pointed his head towards one of the books, "How's that going, by the way? You still got a hand up on it? Or has it finally began to kick your ass?" He asked her, playfully.

[zurixmitchell]

Zuri wanted to hug him for offering to check her car - no sketchy Craigslist kidney sales needed. "Today was such a mess. My professor went full drama queen because I was five minutes late. Like, excuse me for existing? This guy at the drive-through counted out his coffee money in pennies. Then at work, this Karen complained her eggs were 'too eggy.' What does that even mean? I swear, some people wake up and choose chaos," she said. The wine made her giggle at the ridiculousness of it all. Her day from hell didn't seem so bad anymore, sharing them with someone who got it. "But real talk? This wine and hanging out with you is making everything better. Like, way better."

Rio raised his eyebrows, trying to think of what the issue could be. "Interesting. I'll look at it and hopefully it isn't the motor because if it is, that would suck." He admitted with a small sigh. He loved his beat up truck, but sometimes keeping it felt like it was more expensive than paying for a new car, honestly. "Let's not sell any organs yet, we will figure something out." Dario admitted with a small chuckle. "What else made your day a mess?"

[zurixmitchell]

Zuri couldn't believe he was still trying to be chivalrous in this weather. His offer to repay her made her giggle. "Holding an umbrella isn't exactly rocket science." The rain drummed against the fabric above them, creating a cozy bubble in the middle of this mess. It was kind of nice, actually, this random act of kindness between two people. "There really is no need for repayment. Good karma is payment enough. Though if you're really desperate to square things up, you can buy me a coffee sometime. Just none of that fancy stuff … I'm a diner coffee kind of girl. Now stop arguing and let me help you while you fix this tire."

matthew did appreciate the fact that she was here, even if he was trying to be nice by steering her away from it all. after all, he didn't think that she deserved to be soaked. she wasn't going anywhere though, so he smiled in response to the other and gave her a single nod, "alright. if you want to hold the umbrella while i put the tired on, that would be great. you have to let me repay you though." how? he wasn't sure.

[zurixmitchell]

Kian's question about prison survival hit different. Zuri's mind flashed back to those 13 years - the blank walls, the quiet that got too loud, the daily grind of staying okay. But this talk needed zero drama and all the real talk. "First rule: get obsessed with something," she said. "Books were my jam. I went full nerd mode ... read every single book, even those dollar store romances with the shiny dudes on the cover." Prison book club became her Thursday thing, like brunch but with less mimosas and more paperbacks. "Second rule: stick to your schedule like it's your job. Basic stuff … bed made, teeth brushed. Sounds extra but it's low key genius when everything's wild." Sharing Mrs. Chen stories sparked that old feeling of connection. "Third rule: keep those neighborhood updates coming. They're better than Netflix, for real. And rule four: you've got people out here. I'm in your corner, no lying here. Even if Mrs. Chen's backup camera is living its best chaotic life right now. You've got nothing to worry about. We're getting you out of here. There will be no prison stays for you."

Laughter bubbled up at Zuri's stories about Mrs. Chen's parking skills. "Three spaces? That's got to be a new record for her," he said, imagining the street drama back home. These updates from the outside world gave him a break from the prison walls. He rolled his eyes at the backup camera situation. "She got a backup camera but still drives with her eyes closed? That's peak Mrs. Chen right there. Next she'll be teaching driver's ed." Each story brought a piece of his old life right into this cell, making everything suck less for a minute. The fact that someone still shared these stupid little moments with him made prison bearable. But surviving in here? That was another story. "How do you do it? Survive prison, I mean." He didn't want to dig up bad memories, but being in jail was crushing him. The question burned in his brain and he needed answers. Since Zuri knew what it was like to be locked up for something she didn't do, maybe she could give him input.

[zurixmitchell]

Zuri kept her eyes on Kim at the bar, her mind flashing back to those prison TV shows she'd watched during her law school study breaks. This whole detective thing was way better in real life. When the female came back, her brain went into full spy mode. "He totally did that smooth move where he read it and acted like it was nothing ... like he gets secret notes every day. That's either amazing or super sus." The reality of their Thursday night shenanigans made her want to laugh - two random women playing Sherlock Holmes at a bar. It was peak ridiculousness and she lived for it. "I can't believe this is working. We're giving those true crime podcasts a run for their money."

Kim's good deed comment made her smile. "Listen, my friend needs to straight up name her baby Zuri Junior after this. And real talk about that bartender looking normal? After spending thirteen years watching people pretend to be something they're not, I know better. But this right here? This is actual fun. Not that fake fun where you post on social media pretending to live your best life." The honesty jumped out before she could filter it. "I forgot what it felt like to have genuine fun like this. We're basically out here being undercover agents. Saving lives with our lipstick spy game and everything. Like, who even are we right now? Because this is not how I planned my Thursday night but I'm so here for it."

Kimberly sighed as she took a good look at the bartender, “Honestly, he’s paying no mind to the patrons and seems to be doing his job…But you never know with some people, looks can be deceiving.” As she stood up, she took the napkin and then walked up to the bar to order a cosmo. While she waited for it to be made, the heiress chatted up a few patrons next to her while observing the bartender and once he slid over her glass, she did a quick hand off of the napkin before walking back to Zuri as if nothing happened. “...Did he react? Did he take the bait? I didn’t want to turn back to make it obvious.”

Hearing her other suggestion, her eyes widened as she nodded in agreement, “Oh wait that’s actually genius. I couldn’t see! We have to try that.” This was probably the most fun she had on a night out like this in a while and so, she was glad to have befriended Zuri in these circumstances. “I’ve done my fair share of outings and this takes the cake. I feel like we're on some top secret mission which is so much fun and on top of that I also feel like we’re doing a good deed of the day. For what it’s worth, it’s better to be safe than sorry and your friend totally owes you for going to such great lengths at this point."

[zurixmitchell]

Zuri couldn't believe how much Noah's twins reminded her of those TV detectives she used to watch during rec time. His story about their ice cream stakeout had her imagining two tiny agents in footie pajamas, complete with magnifying glasses. "Real talk, your kids are like tiny FBI agents," she said. Noah's teasing about her being nosy only made her want to know more. Her law school excuse was totally transparent - she straight up wanted the tea about these mini sleuths. "Look, this is research for my future career. I need intel on their spy game." The mental image of Noah sneaking around his kitchen for a midnight snack, only to get caught by his pint-sized patrol squad? Peak entertainment. "For real though, your kids are giving me major future Supreme Court Justice energy. Or maybe they'll run the CIA. Or both? I mean, they've already mastered stakeouts and interrogations at what ... five years old?"

Noah had to admit, Zuri’s laugh made the whole cookie-busting saga feel less like a parenting fail and more like a sitcom episode. Her suggestion about the bathroom as a snack hideout was oddly genius—though he wasn’t sure he wanted to explain to his kids why their dad was eating Oreos next to the toothpaste. “Stealth missions, huh? Sounds like you’ve got some experience in the field,” he said, amused. Her curiosity about the ice cream incident made him chuckle. Of course, she’d want the full breakdown. He could already picture her filing it away as some kind of case study for future courtroom antics. “Alright, so here’s the deal,” he began, leaning in slightly. “I thought I was being smart—waited until they were dead asleep, crept downstairs, and didn’t even turn on the lights. But Lyra? She’s got this sixth sense or something. She just knew. Next thing I know, she’s standing there, arms crossed, asking why I didn’t bring her a bowl too. Zephyr joined in like two seconds later. It was like being interrogated by tiny FBI agents.” He shook his head, still baffled by how they managed to catch him every time. Then, with a teasing grin, he added, “How does my 2 AM ice cream debacle correlate to your law career?” He squinted at her, letting a dimpled smile break through. “Admit it, you’re just trying to be nosey.”

[zurixmitchell]

The wine got Zuri thinking about how random life was. Here she was, learning about some appliance whisperer named Marco who named everything he fixed. Like, who even was this magical repair wizard? The flooded house story had her rolling. "For real though, my washer's keeping its drama in one room at least," she said. This whole naming machines thing was exactly the kind of weird she needed in her life. Her washer deserved its moment after all its recent performances. Having someone who could fix both cars and washing machines? That was basically winning the lottery. The thought of her car getting its own name made perfect sense now. "Betty the truck is iconic. My car's gonna end up with something extra like 'Diva' because it's been so loud lately. Our machines should start their own reality show."

Kian sat back, letting Zuri's words about her car problems sink in. "Marco's a miracle worker with cars. He once fixed my truck when it sounded like it was ready for the junkyard," he said, sharing the contact info from his phone. Her description of the washer situation pulled a real laugh from him. "At least your washer's providing free entertainment. Mine once flooded the entire first floor of my house. Had to replace all the baseboards." How strange it was to be discussing something as mundane as appliance problems when his life had turned upside down. "You know what's funny? Marco actually started out fixing washing machines in high school. Maybe he could take a look at yours too. I should probably warn you, he likes to name all the appliances he works on. My truck is officially 'Betty' according to his paperwork." The thought of Marco naming her washer made him smile inside.

[zurixmitchell]

She felt seen - finally someone who understood why rushing through life was so wrong. Those prison years had shown her how precious each moment was, like finding gold in between book pages. "Coffee cake is what breakfast dreams are made of," she said. Really, finding someone who didn't look at her like she was crazy for wanting dessert at 8 AM was straight-up rare. Most people would've already launched into their "proper nutrition" lecture by now. Elena's reaction to the food made everything worth it. No more explaining why dessert worked at any hour. "You haven't lived until you've had loaded pizza for breakfast. I'm talking maximum cheese, all the good stuff on top." The female’s food happiness was contagious. "I told you! This place knows what they're doing. Next time we should try their mango sticky rice sundae … it's like a vacation in your mouth."

"Exactly!" Elena was truly surprised she'd found someone to connect with on this thought process so easily. But it was the truth. "Every single time I even mention a movie to someone to watch on Netflix, they're like--'oh I saw it on double speed.' Why would you do that? Just relax and watch the two hour movie. It won't be that bad." She chuckled as the two of them began walking towards the benches to sit on as they munched on this crazy fusion dish. The conversation they were having about this dessert that would follow was already making her super eager to try it out. "That's so interesting, I can't wait to try it out!" Elena grinned as the two of them realized they were bonding on what could be called a fundamental philosophy. Dessert. "Yes oh my god--chocolate cake for breakfast, or even ooh...coffee cake? Gives you the best of both worlds," she grinned happily before taking a bite of the dish Zuri had ordered for them. "Oh my god," she let out a soft gasp before turning to her new friend. "This is...honestly amazing."

[zurixmitchell]

Everything inside Zuri lit up like Times Square on New Year's Eve. Thirteen years apart, but their vibe check? Immaculate. It was giving straight-up Disney magic, minus the singing animals. "I love you too, smol bean. Like, to infinity and beyond levels," she said. Being locked up had taught her to speak her truth without filters. She'd spent way too many nights wishing she could tell Wynne how much she missed her, and now? She was going full-on clingy sister mode and zero percent sorry about it. "And you know what? You're stuck with me now. No takebacks."

wynne was always going to be there for her older sister. after all, the two had been apart for too long and she hated that they'd spent so much time apart. so, the only thing she knew to do now was to make up for lost time and give zuri the love she wished she could have given her when they were growing up. "i know. it's weird, right? i'm glad we were able to reunite like no time had passed at all." smiling at her words, she leaned against her. "i love you, you know that?"

[zurixmitchell]

Score one for random acts of kindness. The mayor’s laugh made her feel less like a total mess for getting lost. Even fancy mayors needed breaks from boring paperwork. "Those directions sound like a quest in a video game. Past the magic fountain, through the enchanted hallway, take a left at the mystical painting." This government building was giving her major RPG vibes, minus the cool power-ups and save points. She'd played enough video games during her late-night study breaks to know that these directions were straight out of some indie puzzle game, and honestly? She was kind of living for it. "Thanks for being my guide. I promise not to make any jokes about following the yellow brick road." Better than doing the walk of shame past that water fountain again. "Lead the way, Mr. Mayor. I'll try to memorize the route this time."

Her words about the system clicked with Irza, but he simply nodded. The GPS comment made him laugh—this place had kicked his ass during his first month as mayor too. That records room might as well have been in Narnia with how well it was hidden. "The records room is a bit of a maze to get to," he said, standing up from his desk. "Tell you what—I could use a break from these budget reports anyway. I'll walk you there myself. The route's counterintuitive—you have to go past the water fountain, take two lefts, then a right at the painting of the old courthouse. Even my staff still gets turned around sometimes." He snagged his keycard, thinking how nice it was to have an excuse to ditch the paperwork for a few minutes.

[zurixmitchell]

Zuri's legal textbooks were everywhere when Dante walked in. Her stomach went full butterfly mode - which was totally inappropriate since he belonged to someone else. "It's whatever, I'm living that law school life right now. My brain's basically broken," she said, acting like his arrival wasn't making her whole night. It bugged her that he thought he needed to apologize for coming to her, even as she knew she should probably discourage these late-night meet-ups. But being the person he turned to made her feel special in a way she hadn't felt in years. "Want to tell me what's really going on? Because we both know you've got other friends you could call at this hour." She teased, like a good friend should, while silently cursing herself for hoping there was more to his choice than simple convenience.

TO: @zurixmitchell

Maybe there should be something telling in the fact that the first person he wanted to go to after arguing with his wife was Zuri. Maybe that had more to do with the fact that she just calmed his mind in a way that no one else seemed to. Or maybe there was something more behind it all that he just simply refused to give any true attention to. The moment he entered the cafe, his eyes immediately fell upon the woman he was there to see. Sliding into the booth opposite her, he gave her a brief smile, "Sorry to bother you so late. Thanks for meeting me, though." He told her, "I didn't know who else to call." That wasn't exactly true, now was it. "Did I wake you?"

[zurixmitchell]

Zuri's jaw dropped and nearly spilled her wine. This was next-level gossip. Her years in prison had taught her to spot truth from lies, and Eddie was being real right now. "Excuse me ... Donnie? Like our actual Donnie?" The wine buzz made this ten times better. Finally, some normal friend drama to live for. "Start from the beginning and don't skip anything. Was it awesome? Weird? Did time stop?" Past Zuri would've kept quiet, but present Zuri needed details. "Consider this conversation locked in the wine vault." She’d gotten really good at keeping secrets over the years - it was like having a steel trap for a brain, except way more fun when wine was involved.

eddie didn't know how cute he actually was but it was relieving to know that he could open up to someone about what happened. he trusted zuri and he knew that she wouldn't go around talking about what it was that had happened. "i have no doubt about that. i'll definitely be tipsy after another one of these." he pointed to the glass and took in a deep breath, "i kissed donnie..." he trailed off, peering up from his glass and over at the other woman.

[zurixmitchell]

A smile spread across Zuri's face. Life had turned into one big DIY project, but at least wine made it entertaining. It hit different coming from someone who actually had the money to throw at problems. Life had taught her to be resourceful, even if that meant spending Friday nights with YouTube repair tutorials instead of Netflix. "I've got a PhD in YouTube tutorials by now." Money problems meant getting creative - like figuring out why her washing machine sounded like a broken robot. Wine made everything better, though. She saw herself in those late-night choices. Law books scattered across her floor, sticky notes everywhere, coffee cups multiplying like rabbits. "Girl, sleep-deprived law students do questionable stuff too. Yesterday I alphabetized my socks. Your museum rainbow doesn't sound so bad now. You know what? Let's trade skills … I'll teach you appliance repair, and you can show me how to color-code my life."

The way Zuri handles things with such creativity makes her realise how cushy her own life has been. Cristina feels bad for saying she just throws money at her problems now. "I totally get the instant noodle lifestyle. I used to throw money at problems. I'm trying to be more realistic now. Mum would have a fit if she knew I once stayed at a hotel because I couldn't work out how to use the spin cycle." Mum would add this to her growing list of "why my daughter needs a sensible partner" examples. She can already picture the exasperated look on her mum's face, the same one she gets whenever Cristina mentions her solo travels or takeaway dinners. "Maybe you could teach me your YouTube repair skills. I spent last week trying to organise museum stuff by colours because I was too tired to think straight. Sleep-deprived archaeologists make questionable choices."

[zurixmitchell]

Prison tricks. Yeah, she'd learned plenty - like how to make coffee with a sock and keep her wits razor sharp. "Prison teaches you way more than tricks, my friend. Like how to spot BS from a mile away," she said. His comment about partying with the best made her roll her eyes. The old Zuri would've taken that as a challenge, but now? She knew better. Those high school teachers who'd written her off would totally flip seeing her now - law school was definitely not in their predictions. When he asked who told her about the mystery girl, Zuri's lips curved into a knowing smile. The gossip had reached her through Ariya, but watching him squirm was way too fun. She shrugged her shoulders. "I have my resources." She wasn't going to tell him. A girl had to have her secrets when it comes to gossip. "Spill. I need to know who this person is."

Ryat arched a brow at the brunette, not at all surprised by her statement. Smirking, "I would hope so. Prison is nothing if not good for teaching someone new tricks." Not that he actually had the experience she did. He had been arrested before and held, quite a few times. He just somehow never found himself in a position such as Zuri's. A true surprise if you were to ask him, considering he probably definitely deserved it more. "I can still party with the best of them, Mitchell. I'd say that keeps me fairy young." He mused, before finding himself tossing back another drink. Glancing over at his friend, "In all seriously, you're head's on good." He gave a side tilt of his head, agreeing with her statement. "Those high school teachers are rolling their eyes at just how wrong they were." He fell quiet at the moment of a girl -- immediately he knew exactly who she was speaking about. He chuckled dryly, "Who told you that?"

[zurixmitchell]

Zuri wanted to jump up and down - finally someone who got it about instant gratification! Elena's agreement about people's impatience made her feel validated in a way she rarely experienced these days. "Right? Like we're all living life on double speed," she said. The dragon fruit ice cream talk pulled her mind away from the dark stuff that usually hung around. "Oh my gosh, you need to try it! It's this crazy purple color and tastes totally different from anything else." Zuri loved how Elena didn't judge her dessert-for-breakfast philosophy - most people would give her major side-eye for that take. It made her want to spill all her wild food opinions, like how pizza was totally valid at 8 AM and ice cream counted as a legit dinner choice. "For real! You're speaking my language with this dessert-as-a-meal thing. I've been preaching this forever ... breakfast needs to take several seats. Give me chocolate cake for breakfast any day."

“Oh my god, yes…it’s the worst,” Elena murmured with a chuckle before shaking her head. “I just feel like this mentality is just going to ruin our future so much,” she murmured before looking back at the other with a fond smile. She didn’t find many people often that she could discuss her opinions with and so it was nice to have met with Zuri who understood where she was coming from. “Dragon fruit ice cream? That sounds so unique and…almost intriguing,” she chuckled before nodding at the other’s words, deciding already that it definitely sounded like a possibility with what she’d told her so far. “Oh girl please…I’m not someone who ever needs convincing about dessert. I have another stomach just for desserts. It’s actually the most important meal of the day—irrespective of all that nonsense people say about it being breakfast nuh uh—it’s definitely dessert.”