crestfallen

CLOSED   STARTER    —    nari   hwang    ↻    clarke   whitlock   (   @crestfcllens   ) ›    clarke's   house

he’d been desperate to share the news with nari, clarke was just waiting for the right time. he knew his friend would be proud of him for putting himself out there, but he couldn’t help but feel bashful about being so caught up in elliott. what if he didn’t feel the same about clarke? as nari settled next to him, clarke pushed his glasses up on his nose and brought his blanket to his chest. a blush tickled clarke’s cheeks, he hadn’t quite expected her to pick up on the shift in his demeanor so quickly, but she had. and surely hamlet had noticed that clarke hadn’t been home quite as often and that he had a newfound goofy, dreamy look on his face at all times. “oh…is it th-that obvious?” his lashes fluttered on his cheeks as he tried to hide the sheepish smile that played on his lips. “i…i might’ve kissed someone,” clarke divulged, no longer able to keep his gushing smile and lovestruck eyes to himself. “nari…he’s perfect. his name is elliott and…” clarke trailed off before he could get ahead of himself. the way elliott had taken clarke’s black and white world and painted it with the most beautiful colors was magical. he took nari’s hand in his, giving it a squeeze, “i’m falling for him. and…i-i’m equal parts terrified and so happy.” a pause, his brows knitting together as he looked at nari. “you have news, too?”

location: nine lives cafe for: closed for @crestfcllens (iris)

lorraine was always a breath of fresh air, the warmth of the sun after the chill of winter. and iris felt lucky to bask in her friend’s presence. she’d ordered herself a pecan iced coffee, sipping on it as if she hadn’t quenched her thirst in days. “it’s liquid gold, i swear,” she mused in agreement, giving her drink a shake, “an elixir.” her eyes lit up as she listened to lorraine. their jobs were so different, and iris couldn’t help but feel like what she did carried little importance. a laugh fell from her lips before taking the very last sip of her drink. “you’re so brave, lorraine,” she spoke earnestly, a warm smile pulling on her lips. “i swear, i’d faint if i worked in a hospital. how do you do it?” leaning back in her chair, amusement danced in iris’ eyes as she laughed, “the most exciting things in my life are my fantasy football team and the new sweater i bought yesterday. your stories are much more interesting.”

closed starter for @crestfcllens (iris) location: sweeney todd @ the birmingham

where: Station 5

zayaan loved the events maple brook put on, they made the town feel even more magical. it was something he’d missed while he was away. as the mayor, his father had truly made maple brook a community. so, zayaan was eager to involve himself in all of october’s festivities. his favorite season was winter with stringed lights hanging from trees and snow covering the ground, but fall was a close second. his brown eyes flickering from pumpkin to pumpkin as the doors of the fire station were opened. as he was greeted by the captain, zayaan grinned, “you’ve got a talented bunch, don’t ’ya? who knew firefighters could be so creative? we might have to start sending some of your men to art school, captain ashcroft.”

the fall breeze tickled zayaan’s face as he walked down the street with a particular pep in his step. he felt truly happy, for the first time since moving back to maple brook. so happy, in fact, that he’d managed to pull himself out of bed before ten in the morning, which was quite the feat. zayaan had strolled into the nine lives cafe to pick up two iced coffees, one for himself and one for his father as he intended on surprising julian at work. he was humming to himself as he rounded a corner when he heard a voice that sounded rather frustrated. his brows furrowed.

location: the bark & nicker for: closed for @crestfcllens (clarke)

clarke couldn’t have been more grateful for chester’s presence in his life. not only was he a dear friend who clarke cherished, but he was so gentle with his beloved dog, hamlet, who was clarke’s baby in nearly every sense of the word. he knew he probably popped into the bark & nicker far too often for the staff’s liking, but chester never seemed to mind. instead, he always welcomed clarke in with a warm smile. this time, clarke had been worried about hamlet’s sudden aversion to his favorite treats. it seemed to come out of nowhere, and surely that meant something was terribly, terribly wrong, right?

his thoughts had slid sideways, as one tended to do while under the influence, mind suddenly full of extraterrestrial wonderings that'd never amount to anything substantial. but it felt serious in the here and now, ford's forehead wrinkling as he glared up at the big, open sky, contemplating his history of doubting the possibility of life beyond earth. he was about to say as much, too, pursed lips just beginning to part before zayaan pounced. his exacted revenge was swift and unexpected, jarring enough to knock the wind out of him as he was flipped onto his back, left splayed beneath his friend's body weight on the dewy grass. slowly, everything melted to molasses around them, and ford's mind began to stray in a very different direction... there was no time at all to catch up with the hands skimming along his ribs, a ticklish jolt zapping through him, making ford squirm. "dude!" he crowed, like he hadn't just done the same thing to zayaan seconds earlier, a choked-off giggle that he couldn't restrain spilling free in the next moment. he knew that he was already flushed from drinking, but the color deepened and spread, crawling beneath the collar of his shirt to warm his chest as they wrestled. only once zayaan collapsed into his fit of laughter did ford manage to snark back, "and here i thought you had a healthy ego, all this braggin' and shit." he exhaled a 'tch' of a breath through his teeth, grinning because he just couldn't help it as he looked over at the other. "you're no better than me." except that he really did think zayaan was, in many ways, and he was willing to argue it, too.

it wasn’t often that zayaan faced existential crises, but staring into space while intoxicated had his mind thrumming with questions of his future. but, it didn’t last long. the sound of ford’s breathing next to him anchored zayaan to the present because as he watched the rise and fall of the other’s chest, he remembered he was on solid ground. that was, until zayaan hovered above his friend, thighs pinning ford to the ground as his fingers continued their mission of torturing through tickles. he would’ve felt guilty for the torture, but ford had started it and this was only revenge and not an excuse to touch ford, right? the laughter than left ford’s lips was nearly as intoxicating as the beer they’d shared and zayaan found himself growing dizzy from catching his own breath, trying to keep up with ford’s fit beneath him. only once he’d fallen back onto the ground, did zayaan recognize the ache in his chest for ford’s touch once more but he shoved the thought aside. with a fond roll of his eyes and a cheeky grin, zayaan huffed, “well, you know i learned it from you.” his knee gently bumped against ford’s as he poked his friend’s arm, “this huge ego of mine comes from hanging out with the likes of you.” it was all in jest. zayaan had always admired what a good person ford was, he’d seen the loyalty and compassion his friend tried to hide behind quips and charm. and he felt lucky for it. zayaan’s head fell back in laughter, hand falling to his stomach to ease the ache of too much joy and what a beautiful feeling it was. he looked at ford from the corner of his eye, a smirk pulling on his lips, “you’re rubbing off on me, aren’t you?” but, zayaan could only be so lucky to be like steady, easygoing, kind ford.

Elise flashes Clarke another smile before turning her head back to the cookies, impatiently trying to will fluff up. Clarke speaks again and Elise turns back, her own eyes slightly wide. "Intruding?" She asks. "Clarke, had I not wanted you, I would not have invited you."

as much as he loved his apartment and the space he’d created for himself, clarke often found loneliness creeping in, and an ache for company that he couldn’t quite shake. getting lost in grading papers and reading books helped, but inevitably it couldn’t quiet the longing for more, for a life outside of the ‘safe’ walls he hid behind. breaking out of his shell was frightening, but if anyone could make it feel less daunting, it was elise. a soft laugh fell from his lips, realizing how ridiculous he had sounded, “i…i guess i’m still getting used to b-being invited out.” it was his own doing, of course. the habit from shying away from everything had begun when he was a child.

when : october 4th

“the only time it’s quiet here is two minutes before close,” iris explained with a grin (and oh how she loved the commotion) before waving a hand in the air, “or when golf is playing on the tv’s.” even still, iris managed to get the crowd chatting on those days. her expression quickly turned concerned, “is the noise bothering you?” gaze flickered from helena to the crowd gathered near the biggest tv in the final whistle. iris didn’t want to run helena out, she was thrilled the older woman had stopped by. helena was exactly the woman iris had needed as a child and a teenager (and to be fair, even now). she’d forgive the fates for not bringing helena into her life until recently so long as they promised never to separate them. the brunette placed the plate onto the table before crowding next to helena in the booth she’d been sitting in. taking a sope in her hand, she dipped it in the beans. “trust me, helena. they’re life changing,” iris mused before taking a rather unladylike bite. “ari’s gotten me addicted. try one!”

"Thanks, kid." Jules fought to hold back the tears that pricked at his eyes. It hadn't been the easiest raising Zayaan without Claudia, but he'd never really been alone. It had been Claudia's loss that had served to remind Jules of the village they'd created for themselves; he would be forever grateful for everyone who'd stepped up and helped him to raise his son into the man that he was all while keeping his wife's memory alive. "It helps that you're an easy guy to love." Jules couldn't imagine how difficult it had been for Zayaan to lose his mother at such a formative age, and while there had been the usual moments of teenage rebellion, he could hardly complain. All in all, Zayaan was perfect. "I know it's not always helpful to talk to your old man," he began. He wasn't being self-deprecating, just acknowledging that sometimes Jules's rose-tinted glasses approach to Zayaan was not as objective as he needed. "So, maybe it'll be helpful to talk to someone else. A therapist, maybe? Or an objective friend. But I still hold to my point that you're perfect and you'll find your new passion soon enough."

zayaan noticed them, the tears threatening to fall from his father’s eyes and it made his throat grow tight as he fought off his own tears. the two had never shied away from their emotions and zayaan was eternally grateful that in julian, he found the bravest and strongest man he’d ever known who wasn’t afraid to cry and who never chastised zayaan for his tears. he knew not every man was lucky enough to have a father who encouraged their son to express their emotions, but julian did and it’d helped zayaan tremendously. especially after they lost claudia, who lit up their lives. and after the injury, too. julian had let zayaan sob, he’d welcomed the wave of emotions zayaan was swept up in, and he was zayaan’s anchor through it all. julian had always been his anchor. “i’m not sure everyone would agree with you on that, dad,” he chuckled, bringing a hand up to wipe a stray tear from julian’s cheek. zayaan had a relentless desire to be liked by everyone, something he’d never said aloud but was always creeping in the back of his mind. he feared not being universally liked. he tried modeling himself after his dad who was a gentle, steady force, and a wonderful man loved by all. but zayaan often fell short of that with his boisterous ways. his father was a great listener, but zayaan never wanted to worry julian with any fears or insecurities. the thought of seeing a therapist hadn’t crossed his mind until julian mentioned it and a smile curved onto zayaan’s lips, “i think it’s time for me to see a therapist. thanks, dad.” it’d be scary at first, no doubt, but he knew it’d be beneficial. and maybe, just maybe a therapist could lead him towards a new passion in life. zay lovingly poked his dad’s cheek, a beaming grin on his own lips, “if i’m perfect, i got it from you, old man.”

If   Nari   had   her   way,   chances   were,   they   wouldn’t   be   standing   there   making   eyes   at   each   other   while   trying   to   enjoy   this   party.   They   would   be   halfway   across   town,   on   their   way   to   either   one   of   their   houses   and   tearing   each   other’s   clothes   apart.   But,   Zayaan   had   asked   the   blonde   to   be   his   plus   one   to   this   party   and   the   only   way   she   would   have   said   no,   would   be   if   Julien   didn’t   approve   of   their   blossoming   relationship.   Maple   Brook’s   elite   only   proved   to   her   that   people   with   money   were   the   same   everywhere   in   the   world.   From   the   lavish   parties   her   so-called   parents   used   to   throw,   to   the   snobbish   artistic   elite   of   both   New   York   and   Los   Angeles,   not   to   mention,   the   sophisticated   parties   she   used   to   go   during   the   time   she   worked   as   an   escort,   only   showed   that   people,   when   given   money,   liked   to   show   off.   Nari   too,   when   given   the   chance,   loved   to   show   off–maybe   not   in   a   materialist   way,   although   she   really   did   love   money   and   the   small   hints   of   happiness   money   would   bring.   Nothing,   however,   could   quite   feel   the   same   as   being   dragged   by   Zayaan.   His   boyish   grin   reminded   her   of   simpler   times   and   for   the   first   time   in   a   long   time,   she   wished   it   was   easy   to   give   her   heart   away   to   someone,   because   Zayaan   seemed   like   would   take   good   care   of   it.

having nari by his side made zayaan feel like the luckiest man in the world. no championship trophy, no accolades on the soccer field, no game-winning kick could compare to the thrill that coursed through his veins when she so much as smiled at him. he’d hoped their second date would be more romantic, more personal, and more catered to nari’s interests. but, he knew he had to show his face at the yacht party and he couldn’t bear to be away from nari, so it was the perfect excuse to see her again. and he hoped that inviting her to be his date, nari would know what his intentions were : zayaan had feelings for nari and wanted to properly court her, like he’d seen in bridgerton (but without having to be followed by chaperones.) it did feel a bit like bridgerton, looking around at the crowd hiding behind masks of wealth, using their names as leverage, and an abundance of jewels hanging from their necks. but that world didn’t exist when he was in nari’s presence, all he saw was the woman who held his heart in her hands, even though she was unaware of it.

where: just outside the final whistle when: mid september who: armando & iris (@crestfcllens)

her shift had gone by quick, almost too quick, because iris found herself dreading going home to an empty apartment. she much preferred being in the company of others and hearing the cheers and chants that echoed through the final whistle while football games played on the television was music to her ears. but she knew well enough to know that ari would shoo her out once her shift ended so she could get some rest though, if it were up to her she’d be the first to arrive and the last to leave the final whistle every night. the place had become a safe haven, a home, for iris. she tossed her bag over her shoulder and waved to ari before heading out into the crisp fall air, the wind tickling her cheeks and tangling through her long hair. her eyes danced with excitement when she heard armando’s voice and she quickly turned to face him. “armando!” his name rolled off her tongue like honey and a bright smile lit up her face. “it’s been too long, my dear. how have you been?” iris glanced up at him with genuine curiosity.

                                oh, helena is used to making promises she can't keep, so she smiles and gives the man an enthusiastic nod. "i did get spoiled of most of it but i feel like i can trust you, clarke. so i need to exchange a promise for a promise — will it be worth it or should i just chat gpt it?" how did she live before the internet was a thing, she'd never know. her attention is laser focused on clarke, however, as the topic of award shows is one of her favorites, after all. "if your students know who is at the red carpet, she must be good." she interjects before he can even finish, though her smile grows as he realizes. "oh, that pink dress was like a dream! i was partial to these cute looks myself," after playing strong, stoic, sarcastic women during decades, she had always wanted to stand out from her roles and be her own person, so she didn't always go for the scandal looks she so adored. "did you have any more faves?"

“ch-chatgpt, helena?” a gasp left his lips, though a grin lit up his face. “oh, now you sound like my students. do i need to give you the same, uhm, lecture i give them?” he chided her playfully, giving his friend a gentle nudge. “i pinky promise it’s worth finishing,” clarke held his pinky out for her as his grin grew even wider, “and i-i take pinky promises very seriously.” helena always had a way of making clarke feel at ease, she’d broken down the walls he often hid behind and he felt as if he could breathe by her side. “unfortunately, they weren’t quite as enthralled in my lesson today as they were the emmy’s looks,” he shrugged and sighed softly, defeatedly, “i…i can’t blame them, though. i guess studying the impact of the plague isn’t quite as, uhm, exciting.” his eyes twinkled with amusement at helena’s excitement. “you know…i think you’d pull off that pink dress gorgeously,” a cheeky smile as he adjusted his glasses, “maybe for an event…or a date?” briefly, clarke thought about what kind of suit he’d wear on a date and a certain pair of warm brown eyes flickered through his mind and a warm blush painted his cheeks. he was grateful for helena’s next question. “i-i thought selena gomez looked beautiful, too. doesn’t she always?” a smile as he remembered the dress, “red is lovely on her.”

her laugh came low, like gravel caught in the throat of an engine, and it lingered just long enough to blur the line between amusement and warning. “your baby, huh?” she echoed, tossing the rag onto the counter before bracing her palms on either side of the service desk. grease still smudged her fingers, streaked across her forearm in lines like war paint, but tally didn’t bother to hide it. she leaned in just enough that the scent of oil and faint trace of leather clung to the air between them. “good news is — brakes are something i can fix. bad news is — if you’ve been driving around with them screaming like a banshee, i’m not sure your baby deserves that much faith.” one brow arched, sharp and deliberate. she studied iris for a beat, head tilting, eyes narrowing in a way that said she wasn’t just taking stock of the car, but the woman who brought it in. most people flinched under that gaze, shifted on their feet or reached for their wallet like it might save them. iris didn’t. instead, she leaned, chin propped in her hands, looking at tally like she was something worth figuring out. that caught her attention more than any busted brake ever could. “what else might you be leaving with?” tally repeated, the corner of her mouth tugging into that half-smile again. she straightened, reaching for the work order sheet, the pen twirling effortlessly between her fingers. “depends. some people walk out lighter in the wallet, heavier in the ego. some just get their keys back and thank me later when their car actually listens to them. and then…” her voice dipped, soft but edged, “…there are the few who figure out that what i’m offering has nothing to do with engines or brake pads.” she slid the form across the counter toward iris, pen balanced neatly on top. “tell me, princess—” the nickname rolled off her tongue with just enough tease to make it unclear if it was meant as mockery or compliment—“which kind of customer are you planning to be today?”

oh, if only tally knew that iris didn’t just flirt with danger, she hit the gas and chased after it as if she were behind the wheel of a stolen porsche speeding down an empty road at midnight. no headlights, no fears. she lived for a challenge, and for the first time in ages she was being met with one. it sparked a particular kind of excitement in her. “my baby,” she repeated through a hum, pressing her ruby lips together. eyes raked over tally, taking note of the grease stains that painted her like art. she was stunning, unlike anyone iris had ever seen. as the other moved closer, iris did too and the scent of her perfume and temptation mingling with the scent of grease, creating something intoxicating. addictive. a giggle fell from her lips, her eyes lighting up as they found tally’s. “i promise i haven’t been driving it around like that.” a twirl of her hair around a manicured finger as her tone lowered, “after all, she’s my baby.” tally was a puzzle iris knew she’d have fun figuring out, the kind where fingers danced over every edge and curve to find the perfect fit. the difficult ones, the puzzles where cracking the code felt like a treat and it made the result was all the sweeter. a coy grin danced on iris’ lips, looking at tally from underneath her fluttering lashes as she weighed every word that fell into the shared space between them. as the piece of paper made its way to her, iris picked up the pen but didn’t sign anything. no, she began to slowly trace her lips with the top of the pen as her eyes locked with tally’s like it was a dare. “i’m interested in learning more about this other package you offer,” iris mused, “could you divulge the details?” the nickname brought a smirk to her face and she bit down on her lower lip as she pressed the pen to paper, “princess? is that how i should sign?” her voice lowered, cheeks turning the slightest shade of pink, “for the record, i’d like to be the third type of customer.”