without passion there is no art

Ivy looked up from the book she was reading when the other began speaking. Ivy considered herself lucky that he happened to be an educator from the look of it. She had been presented with an opportunity at Kew Gardens to join their Training and Education section as a Professor. It wouldn’t take away from her Horticulturist position, but add more to her profile there. “No, don’t apologize! You needed to vent, and I’m glad to listen. Besides, you’re giving me great insight.” Ivy smiled. “Do you mind if I…” she gestured to the empty seat at his table then picked up her mug of coffee, the plate with her half-eaten sandwich and her book and joined him. “I’m Ivy. What subject do you teach?”

Alejandro was a little taken aback by the way the woman didn’t seem to be annoyed by his little rant at all but instead, she’d actually listened and apparently, was able to relate. “I’m giving you insight?” He asked curiously, his brows raised as a soft smile tugged on his lips. “How so?” He wondered, genuinely interested now before he looked down to where she’d gestured and he was quick to shake his head. “Oh! No, no, I don’t mind at all, please – sit,” he offered with a grin, reaching out to bring his papers closer so she’d have more space to sit and put down her food. “I’m Alejandro, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Ivy. I teach art history for the most part.”

“Yes, maybe you should try thinking about a career change,” Olivia said wryly. Perhaps yoga wasn’t even all that bad, but it certainly didn’t help with her current situation. A grin tugged at the corners of her lips as her best friend lightly scolded her. She had never been shy talking about sex. Perhaps, in the beginning, it could have been a bit scarring for the male in terms of just how open she was, but with time he most certainly had gotten used to it. “Oh please,” she said. “You wouldn’t have it any other way.” After all, it was just part of who she was. Men were able to live out their sexuality as they pleased, so why shouldn’t she be able to. “You should be.” No one knew her as well as he did and there was no one she trusted more than him. It had taken a while, but now she was glad he was here. Once she saw her best friend return with the drink, Olivia got up from the couch, receiving the glass and taking a sip, before starting to pace back and forth. She couldn’t just sit still, not if she had to talk about this. 

“I don’t know how much longer I can continue sharing the penthouse with Mireya.” Of course, he knew about the whole situation. About how at first she had thought she would be able to use her as leverage for her husband who was also the leader of a rivaling drug ring, and how in the end she had sworn to protect her when she had found out about the abuse she’s had to endure under his hand. What he didn’t yet know, however, (or at least so Olivia thought) was that Mireya’s presence had driven her mind into chaos with no light at the end of the tunnel in sight.

Alejandro merely shot his friend a look from behind his glasses before he pushed them back into place, an amused smirk playing on his lips. “Oh, definitely. At least now I know what to do when I get sick and tired of my real job,” he joked before letting out a snort. He’d always enjoyed the bit of banter between the two of them. They knew each other inside and out at this point which was why Alejandro didn’t seem too shocked by anything the woman would tell him – he was always prepared. A confused expression settled on Alejandro’s otherwise soft features when Olivia, instead of enjoying her drink in peace, got up and started pacing. A sign that something was definitely not right.

She watched the other with a careful eye. Having a very close friend was not a concept she had ever really bought into. However, considering even Olivia had one, the male in front of her being living breathing proof for that, perhaps even she herself would one day be able to stop living the way she was now – taking her distance from everyone and everything. At least to a certain degree that was. With Olivia having hired her to keep an eye on Mireya, she spent more and more time around her place, which in turn meant she also saw people coming and going. Not that there were too many of the sorts but the woman’s best friend certainly was one of them. She glanced down at the pile of papers. “And yet you’re still doing this job,” she said, shrugging. “Must be something about it that keeps you there.”

Alejandro let out a deep sigh when he realized just how much he’d rambled and couldn’t help but feel a little silly about it in hindsight. Teaching was what he’d describe as his calling after all, it had never been something he’d ever take lightly but every now and then the stress got to him and he wondered how he was supposed to handle so much responsibility all at once while also making sure his students could come to him with whatever problems they might have. Availability was key for him, both in his personal and professional life so he hadn’t meant to whine. “Of course. I have to, otherwise how would I pay my rent?” He joked with a small laugh but was quick to shake his head. “No, there is! I love my job, please don’t get me wrong but this,” Alejandro huffed, gesturing at the sheets of paper in front of him, “it’s ridiculous. I don’t do it for the grading, it’s my least favorite part. I want to teach and educate young people. They’re the only reason I’m doing this.”

“Don’t be sorry,” the brunette insisted gently, unable to stop the smile forming on her lips. Clearly he was just as enthusiastic a reader as she, and there was nothing to be apologetic for when it came to that. “Are you from Mexico then? I didn’t want to ask when you came here before but I thought I recognized the accent.” She gazed at him quite sweetly, clutching the book in her hands as if a very VALUABLE item. “I never can, as silly as that might be.” She ducked her slightly, somewhat bashful. She was a bit of a romantic, perhaps STRANGELY so in the society they currently lived in. Some people found that outdated, but so long as love stories continued to charm Andy, she didn’t care to change. “I feel the same way. The world can be so sad and so lacking in love –– but I feel as though love can be spread through the words of literature, don’t you?”

An almost embarrassed laugh escaped Alejandro when the brunette pointed out his accent but it was something he’d learned to accept over time. Back in the day, he used to be rather self-conscious about it but it was just another part of him and he tried to embrace it. “I am! I was born in Mexico but we moved to America when I was a child,” he explained with a soft smile. “So you can imagine how this would be a story I’d be very interested in,” Alejandro added, finding it refreshing that someone had similar views when it came to romance in literature because most people he knew had always resorted to calling him ridiculous for enjoying all things that were on the sappier side but he couldn’t help it – it was how he’d always been wired. “That’s exactly how I feel as well. Life can be so cruel so books like these have always been some kind of escape for me. They still are. Sometimes I just want to enter a different world, you know? So yes, I know where you’re coming from.”

Even though it was already later in the evening, luckily it was still pretty warm when Sean was walking through streets of the city. He didn’t really want to go anywhere specific, the man simply enjoyed the fact, that the city wasnt that packed anymore during this time of the day. His hands buried in the pockets of his jacket, clenching his fist to stop them from slightly shaking, he turned right, heading towards the Thames again. He had only made a few steps though, when he bumped straight into someone who had obviously just left a pub, whose entrance was at the side of the small alleyway. Immediately jumping to the side, his eyes opened wide in fear before quickly trying to calm down again when he realised that there was no reason to panick. “Sorry!”, he simply mumbled in a quiet voice, still heavily breathing.

Granted, going out wasn’t something Alejandro tended to do very often but every now and then even he, who usually enjoyed a quiet night in quite a bit, felt like getting a drink and socializing a little. It had been a rather mild night out but everything seemed more refreshing than the stuffy air inside the pub which was why Alejandro had said his goodbyes to go for an evening walk back to his apartment. He hadn’t been paying attention to where he was going when suddenly his body collided with another male’s and he gasped and started apologizing profusely. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you and wasn’t looking where I was goi-,” he paused, his eyes widening when the realization hit him just who he’d run into. “Sean!” He exclaimed. “I didn’t even see you. Hey - are you okay?” He asked, his brows furrowed when he took in his friend’s form, taking in the way he seemed a little frazzled.

Andy appreciated the returned enthusiasm –– sometimes people tended to ignore her, and though she was too SWEET to hold a grudge about it, it did hurt a bit. And when she was so enthusiastic about books and so eager to give recommendations, she really appreciated when someone else shared the sentiment. “You’re in luck, we’ve got plenty of poetry books in stock,” the brunette beamed, already making her way around the counter to guide him to her selection. “Actually, we did just get a new poetry book in recently, I think you might like it. I personally thought it was incredibly moving …” She approached a shelf where the book lay, standing on tip toes to snatch it off the shelf. “With the River on our Face … it’s somewhat of a commentary on border relations between the states and Mexico, but it also reflects on the beauty of the border lands and the people and culture.” A gentle smile. “And then one of my PERSONAL favourites, Love in the Last Days … I can’t help myself when it comes to a beautiful love story –– and Tristan and Iseult are one of the greatest, aren’t they?”

Alejandro had always been an avid reader. He enjoyed diving into stories and letting them consume him in a way. It had been one of his biggest escapes outside of painting and to this day he tried his best to find the time to just sit down and read whenever he could. “Perfect! I was hoping that’d be the case,” Alejandro told her with a grin, immediately catching up and following her guidance. “Moving is always a good thing…that’s how you know the author wanted his words to have a real meaning. A purpose,” he ranted for a moment before chuckling and shaking his head. “Sorry, sorry. Go ahead,” he said, a smile still tugging on his lips and it softened when the young woman started to explain what it was about. “That is something very close to my heart actually,” he shared with a nod. “It sounds like a beautiful read,” he commented before he let out a small laugh before letting out an almost dreamy sigh. “Who could resist a good love story? I’m a big fan myself. I think that we get enough bad news and energy from the world surrounding us so I’d rather read something about life and love any day.”

“Yoga is great if you’re looking for back pain and… well… I guess it could help improve flexibility,” she then said, a smirk now rising up on her features, her mind drifting off. She had never been shy when it had come to her sexuality. She lived it, loved it. Men or women — it didn’t matter. Still, so far she had stuck with one night stands. One, everything else was too complicated. Two, she didn’t trust people enough to let them in emotionally. Most of the time she slept with a person once and then never saw them again. Alejandro was probably one of the few people she hadn’t slept with and who were still in her life after this much time. He truly had made an effort to win her trust and now she was glad he had. “Truly, you’re the only one who can,” she said, slowly sitting up. “Oh please, here I thought you know me, when was I ever a wine girl? Bourbon or scotch, always.”

“It does and it actually helps your back get a lot less achy, too.” With that, Alejandro cringed and shook his head. “Oh god, I sound like a yoga instructor who spends too much time at his studio,” he complained with a roll of his eyes and a shake of his head. Being a rather passionate person, it was easy for Alejandro to get excited and interested in pretty much anything as long as it tickled his interest in one way or another. When she noticed his friend’s smirk, he couldn’t help but snort. “You’re awful!” Alejandro scolded her playfully, not at all minding the suggestive nature of her words. With his sexuality being as fluid as it could get, he was definitely not one to judge and especially not when the person in question was his best friend and someone he knew everything about – and likewise. “I’m honored,” Alejandro told her, placing his hand over his chest just above his heart. He was nothing but genuine when he said that. After all he’d known Olivia long enough now to know that he’d earned her sincere trust. With a snort, Alejandro gave a shrug. “Hey, I wanted to be versatile here,” he joked before he busied himself with fixing his friend a drink and himself a glass of red wine.“Okay, now - “, he offered her the drink before sitting down in his spot again, “tell me what’s going on,” Alejandro prompted.

“Yes, well,… tell me about it.” Perhaps she did need a new back. Or maybe his back was just too healthy. Either way, a new couch was going to happen. It was going to be a great one and he would like it. Or he would learn to like it once he sat down on it, that much was for sure. Money didn’t matter to her, but in her mind, a new couch would be good for him. A small huff at the question whether she had given yoga the chance to clear her mind. “Are you going to talk yoga to me now?” A single brow was rising. Then again, her mind was too preoccupied right now to empty it anyway. “God it’s exhausting that you can read me so well,…” She wasn’t someone to talk about her feelings a lot. Or, well, talk about them at all for that matter. However, there was currently only one person in her life who she felt like she could be completely herself around. And that person was Alejandro. “I’m going to need a drink for this conversation.”

“I’m one to talk,” Alejandro said with a grin, aware that getting a new couch would definitely be the easier option on hand. Completely unaware of his best friend’s plans, he relaxed and snorted at her question. “What’s wrong with that? Yoga is great! I’m not even being sarcastic right now, I did it for a while, it was amazing,” he kept gushing, an amused smile playing on his lips before it twitched into a smirk. “It took me a while but here we are, you’ll have to learn to deal with that,” he teased. He’d known Olivia for a while now and to be fair, he’d always been pretty good at reading people. Alejandro also knew Olivia well enough to know how hard it had been for her to really trust him and open up to him and he’d happily waited until his friend had been ready. “Don’t tell me you don’t love it,” he joked and was quick to raise to his feet at the woman’s request. “What can I get you?” He asked as he made his way over to his kitchen area. “Do you want a glass of wine? Or do I need to get you some of the real stuff for this?”

@alejandroxfernandez // closed.

“Isn’t yoga supposed to help you or something?” She sighed, letting herself fall against the backrest of her best friend’s couch. “Good lord, you need a new couch…” Olivia groaned slightly.

There were definitely more comfortable couches than this one for sale, it was almost a crime that his was so damn uncomfortable — at least to her. It was in this moment that she decided she would buy him a new one. That was, however, not something she would announce to him. “Anyway, you’d think that with everyone and their mother being so bloody invested in yoga that it would actually clear your head like it’s supposed to.” A huff. “Namaste?  — rather, Namas-absolutely-not.”

Alejandro raised a brow behind the thick frames of his glasses as he looked over to his friend who’d just slumped down on his couch in a very elegant fashion. “Excuse me?” He scoffed jokingly. “I’ll have you know that I spent quite a bit on this beauty so you might need a new back if you think it isn’t comfortable,” he teased with no heat behind his words. The male genuinely didn’t think there was anything wrong with his couch so he didn’t understand why Olivia would have a reason to complain. “Did you give it a chance to do that for you?” He wondered, leaning back in his own spot on the couch. “Yoga is amazing but you really have to try and get into that mind space,” Alejandro pointed out with a shrug. “It took me some time to think of nothing at all while practicing it, it’s not easy because there’s always something going on in here.” He tapped against his temple with a roll of his eyes before he snorted. “It sounds like you’re a hopeless case right now though.” Alejandro fell silent for a moment. “But well, since you’re already on my couch...wanna play a round of patient and therapist? Because something’s up, don’t even try to tell me otherwise.”

“Oh, god,” Bambi groaned, covering her face with her hands the second that the elevator suddenly jerked to a stop. The lights flickered, and maybe she would’ve found the whole thing more terrifying if she wasn’t so annoyed. There was only one other person trapped with her, and with a huff she was kicking the elevator doors, doing so before she really even considered pressing the emergency button. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered before finally hitting the button for the emergency, taking a small step back as she leaned against the back of the elevator. “I totally have the worst luck ever.” Maybe she was being dramatic, but that was really just her general style of attitude always. “I only have… ten minutes before I’m beyond fashionably late and I’m just rude.”

A gasp escaped Alejandro when the elevator stopped suddenly and with impact, causing him to attempt to clutch at the wall he’d been leaning against and his eyes were wide in surprise and to be fair - a little moment of shock had also made an appearance on his features. “Oh god...I never liked elevators, now I remember why,” he mumbled to himself more than to the female standing across from him. He watched her when she kicked the elevator doors. “I - actually don’t think this will do anything good, miss!” Alejandro pointed out carefully, pulling a face before some sense of empathy washed over his features. “I’m sure this won’t be so bad. They hopefully won’t let us wait too long,” he told her with a gentle smile and hopeful tone. “Maybe we’re not even completely stuck! There might just be a little issue so - don’t worry, you’ll be fine and either way you’ll have a good excuse to be late at least,” he assured the stranger.

Andy was sitting behind the counter in the shop as usual, waiting for customers to come in and check out. It was a GORGEOUS sunny day outside, and though she was fond of such days, there was also the downside of extreme heat taking more of toll on her with her condition. But she was fine inside the cool shop and was actually happy to hear the familiar jingle at the door as someone walked in. Sometimes it was a customer, other times someone just looking for direction. Either way she ALWAYS gave a smile and greeting. “Good afternoon –– can I help you with anything?” 

With the unbearable heat pretty much sucking the life right out of Alejandro whenever he so much but had to step outside of his apartment, there wasn’t a lot he felt up to aside from having to work which wasn’t so much of a choice as it was a necessity. He usually didn’t mind the warm weather so much but at this time of the day, it was just exhausting to him. Seeking some kind of shelter in one of his favorite shops to be, a bookstore, Alejandro was quick to enter it and immediately mirrored the young woman’s smile with a friendly nod. “Good afternoon!” He echoed before allowing his eyes to scan over the displays for a moment. “Actually - yes! That’d be amazing,” he told her with a bright expression on his features as he took a step towards her. “I’m looking for some poetry books. Nothing specific though, just anything you’d recommend or whatever you have.”

[ ALFONSO HERRERA ] —— [ ALEJANDRO FERNÁNDEZ ] is a [ THIRTY-FOUR ] year old [ ART HISTORY PROFESSOR ]. They identify as a [ PANSEXUAL CISMALE ] and I’ve heard that they’re [ NURTURING & PATIENT ] but can also be [ SARCASTIC & PRETENTIOUS ]. [ HE ] has been living in London for [ TWO YEARS ] and has since been known as the [ AESTHETE ].