s o f t / e d g e s.

–

Out of every response Dani could have hit him with, Sawyer hadn’t been expecting that one. A soft frown furrowed his brow as he studied her and silently debated on an answer. He knew he could try and offer her an explanation, but what was the point? Either way, he knew Dani would likely still see it as a rejection, and he wasn’t about to apologize for however he felt or didn’t feel— especially when it came to Remi. “I didn’t lie to ya, Dani,” he answered simply, shoulders shrugging slightly, “I don’t do relationships, ya know that.” And he’d always thought it would stay that way. Sure, he’d wanted to be with Remi five years ago, but he’d never thought it would actually happen given the stark differences between them, especially when it involved the club. "But when it comes to her,” Sawyer trailed off with a soft shake of his head, having never been able to define how he felt about Remi— he just knew he’d never felt that way about anyone before, “I won’t apologize for feelin’ the way I do. But I am sorry for bailin’. I thought ya wanted me to give ya space, so I did.” And when Dani hadn’t reached out either, he’d taken it as some sort of sign, but now Sawyer could see the error in his ways. He hadn’t taken the initiative and perhaps he should have. “Me not reachin’ out has nothin’ to do with me and Rem. It’s just me bein’ a shitty friend,” he admitted, frowning gently once she finally looked at him. Swallowing thickly, he nodded and moved to pour her a cup of water. “Here,” he murmured, holding it out for her. “Look, I wanna make this right, Dani…but if ya wanna leave it as is, ‘m not gonna force it.”

➖

DANI rolled her eyes. He hadn’t lied to her, that was fair. But he’d allowed her to find out from other people and given the situation, it had all felt horrible. Silent treatment from him after finding out, telling her the main reason for his lack of affection towards her was not being able to be in a relationship but jumping into one. It would have all sucked less if he’d told her that he liked someone else himself. The brunette looked away and tried not to wince. It still hurt hearing it but luckily, she’d had time to process. “I’m not going to apologize for feeling hurt either.” Dani had taken too much of herself and given it to people and she was tired of letting things be brushed under the rug. “You saying you thought I needed space is a cop-out.” Either way, she was tired of fighting and having these conversations with him when there would be no change. Reaching out for the drink in hand, she took a sip of it and placed it on the table in front of her. “I don’t care about your relationship. All I know is that I spent five years taking time out of my day and using money to come and visit you. I didn’t even get one text message. You didn’t think about me and that’s okay. Maybe things have changed and it’s time to just let it be because I don’t have any more energy for this. I’m tired and I’ve done more than I should have.” 

Open Starter !

Hours of begging from the younger members of her family had brought her to Skateland, watching from the table they had claimed on the walk in by leaving various stuffed animals and jackets atop it. Half-eaten nachos had found their way into the mix and Nora picked at her own, barely paying attention to the food and choosing to watch the joy on the kids’ faces as they looped around the rink. It felt like she’d hardly gotten to see them lately. They all were at an age where friends and extracurricular activities took place of the time they once demanded from her, so she’d take any moment like this that she could get.

The word no was mouthed a few times towards the three kids who motioned for her to join them before shrugging her off and continuing their fun. “Not really in the mood to fall on my face today.” The words were spoken to anyone who would have been around to listen. Her siblings knew she could barely stand on her own two feet. Add skates and injuries would ensue. “You any good?”

➖

DANI needed some extra cash and found herself at Stakeland with the children she’d been babysitting, watching them skate around. They’d asked her too many times to go on and she’d told them all that it was for the best that she didn’t. Certainly a lot safer for everyone involved if she remain seated on the side lines. With a few of their drinks and snacks, she picked at the forgotten sugared treats and chips until she heard a voice behind her. Peering over her shoulder, she smiled. “You and I both.”

The brunette twisted herself slightly to face the blonde as she shook her head. “I can’t say that I’m good at walking in general. I have two left feet and tend to trip over them a little too often. “It’s probably safer if I’m here. I’m just babysitting right now.”

–

“Yeah, no problem, darlin’,” he murmured, offering a small smile in her direction as he raised his coffee to his lips and drew a long sip. Shifting his weight between his feet, he fell quiet for a moment, unsure of what to say to her and how to act around her now. Sawyer sighed. He’d never expected to feel this way around Dani. She’d been one of the few people in his life he could count on to consistently show up over the five years he spent in prison and now the two of them felt more like strangers— all because he’d found her letter and hadn’t felt the same way. "Right,” he muttered, head nodding sharply, “Well, I’ll get right on it, get ya fixed up.” Sawyer started for the garage, eager to remove himself from the awkward equation, but paused in the doorway and sighed. Had she been anyone else, he might have let it be and walked off without another word, but he couldn’t. “Hey— ya been doin’ alright?“ He asked, turning on his heel so that he could face her, “I know it’s been a while— just wanted to check in.”

➖

DANI nodded her head and opened the magazine. She expected that he’d come get her when all was done so they could settle the bill but she was surprised to hear his voice. His question made her pause, not ready to look up at him yet. There was a lot of emotions involving him. She’d been rejected and that had only been the tip of the iceberg. It felt like forever since she’d last spoken to him and he hadn’t attempted to bridge the gap. “Sawyer, it was hard enough to find out that it wasn’t that you weren’t ready for a relationship but that you just plainly didn’t like me.” His new relationship had been mainly what had clued her in because he hadn’t plainly told her he didn’t feel the same way. Though she’d guessed as much. “But then you fell off the face of the earth. It wasn’t just rejection. I wouldn’t have done that to you.” And she hadn’t. She’d went to him every day. Taken time out of her week to make the drive to visit him. “So let’s just leave it as it is.” Her eyes finally met his, forcing herself to swallow the emotions. “I’m fine.” Slowly, the brunette rose and turned her back, wiping her cheek with the back of her hand. “Is there somewhere I can get water, please?”

–

Sawyer refilled his coffee cup for what had to be the sixth time that day and eased out a long sigh, grateful for a momentary lull in the seemingly endless stream of appointments. Grease stained his hands and his joints ached, but he didn’t mind the grind. It kept his hands busy and his mind even busier, giving him less time to dwell on the slew of thoughts running through his head. Lifting his gaze from his coffee as he heard the shop door squeak open, Sawyer offered up a strained smile as he realized who was walking in. He didn’t really know where he stood with Dani anymore, if he even stood anywhere at all. Ever since he’d found her letter that night at her house, their friendship had understandably hit a snag and he was beginning to doubt that they’d ever find a way around it. Clearing his throat, Sawyer set his coffee aside and nodded, “Ah, shit— alright, I’ll take a look, see what I can figure out.” While their friendship clearly remained in an awkward limbo, Sawyer was still a good mechanic and more than willing to help diagnose the problem and fix it. “I still got your number,” he reminded her, lifting a brow, “Unless ya changed it recently.”

➖

DANI knew her car was old but she’d kept up on all the check ins and gotten all the oils replaced at the right time so she wasn’t too nervous about something being wrong with it because of that alone. Sure, she didn’t have spare money to pay for a big damage but she’d manage like she always did. Maybe pick up some shifts here and there to close the gap a little bit more. It wasn’t exactly the car that was making her heart pound but the fact that he was here. Sawyer. A friend she missed but didn’t know how to speak to anymore. “Thanks, I appreciate that.” She told him with a smile and casually looked around to see if he was the only mechanic or he’d taken her on because he knew her. It didn’t really matter and she didn’t want to think up some false stuff in her head either. “It’s the same one, I wouldn’t change it.” But if he’d texted her or called her, he would have figured that much out on his own. “I’ll be around. I took the morning off so you probably won’t have to call me.” She assured him as she turned around to move to the waiting room and pick up a magazine.

-

“Still trying,” Angel admits with a laugh she can’t quite help, smiling as she tucks her hair behind her ear, “I will say, though. I’m doing a pretty good job at it.” And it’s the truth. Things have been good, and it’s finally as if she’s able to catch her breath. However, she’s not stupid. She knows better than to believe just because things are good now that they’ll be good always. Trouble don’t last always, but neither does peace. “Oh?” Angel says, slightly taken aback by the mention of wanting a family. Sure, they’re sorta friends. They’ve had their run-ins, but there’s still so much about Dani she doesn’t know - her interests, her desires, her aches. “Aren’t you kinda…young?” She asks innocently enough. This entire time she just assumed they were the same age. “I mean to each their own. I can’t imagine having like a family or whatever right now.”

➖

“NOTHING wrong with that.” Dani felt that as long as people were doing their best and even if they weren’t totally succeeding, it meant a lot. “You’re trying and not giving up so take it easy on yourself and remember that you can do anything you put your mind too.” Dani said with a wink before she leaned back and brought her leg up on the chair with her. Certainly things would come and try to disrupt that process but all that mattered was that Angel kept getting up. “Sorry, it’s just been on my mind a lot and you would think but apparently my GYNO things not. He even mentioned freezing my eggs because I’m not in a relationship.” It had kind of killed her a little bit but now she wasn’t sure what to do. “I might just throw caution to the wind and go to a sper... Sorry, this is too much information.” She laughed, flushed red. “You’re definitely too young and it’s fine not to want children.”

❀

“Absolutely not. Hope you have a good memory, sweetie,” she says, her eyebrows doing the talking. Izzy wasn’t good at admitting when she was wrong— she tended to sit and pout like a child afterwards. It’s probably the same reason it’s a good thing she doesn’t want kids. Considering a lot of parenting seemed to doing something wrong and then fixing it, at least a dog couldn’t blame her for ruining their life as long as she fed and played with it. “Oh yeah, I’m definitely not in a rush. I just would like a dog for like if Wyatt isn’t here and I can’t con Ryder to come over or something. Like it’s one thing when you’re alone in an apartment but like totally different when I’m here alone. It’s so fucking quiet.”

➖

“GOOD enough, I’ll just have to replay it in my head.” She’d said it once which was more than she’d expect her to say it so it would have to do for the time being. It wasn’t really a shock that Izzy wouldn’t want kids even though the brunette felt like she would surprise everyone by being a good mother. A mom who would need a lot of help but not a total horrible one too. “I was going to say that I would see you with one of those small dogs but I don’t know how well that would do at protecting you.” Not that great if she had to guess. “It’s quiet but you’ve got people around. It’s not like they won’t hear you scream. I’ve heard you before and it almost shattered my eardrums. Plus, this place seems safe enough.” Well, for a normal family but Izzy and Wyatt were not normal by a long shot. Their involvement — both past and present — could bring some unwanted characters around. 

location: restricted access

DANI was working on one of the girl’s hair when she saw Finn come in. Telling her to wait, she walked over and smiled at him. “Hey boss, I brought you a coffee in earlier but I think it’s probably cold on my station. I can warm it up if you still want it.” Normally when she brought gifts, it was often because she wanted to ask him something and that was her way of buttering him up a little bit. 

“I was hoping to switch a day with someone.” She told him bluntly even though there wasn’t a back up hairdresser but she’d already planned for that. “It’s when we have that big shoot but I got someone else to come in and cover for me. I promise that she’s not like the other one who spent two hours trying to get an hairbrush out of a girl’s hair only to end up cutting it off. Even though the girl looks even better with her bob, but she’s actually really good and I think she’d be able to handle it.” Her face contorted into her famous puppy dog eyes. “Is that okay? I could maybe swing coming in in the afternoon if I’m really needed.”

Location: ​Garage

BY now, Dani figured that her lack of seeing Sawyer had to do with his new girlfriend. It wasn’t really hard to figure out since she knew some of the club people and word travelled last amongst them, especially at Finn’s studio. It had hurt but she wished she’d known from the start as it all felt a little shittier now. It was also why she’d done her best to avoid him until the last possible second. But when her car wouldn’t start and she was forced to get it towed to the nearby garage, she jumped out of the truck and headed inside to give her information. 

Unfortunately for her, the first face she saw belonged to the blond man she had continuously visited in prison and who’d then found her love letter to him. “My car broke down. I got it towed here. I’m not sure what’s going on with it but I was hoping to just leave my number so you can call me with a quote.” The brunette said as she took a nearby pen and looked around for a piece of paper. 

❀

Not everyone would necessarily describe Wyatt as a great guy, Izzy obviously was one that would. He was great for her and while there were things she was sure that she didn’t know and probably some stuff she never wanted to, they just made sense when they were together. Two storms for people confined to bodies that happened upon each other. He calmed her and she took care of him, not perfect but still good. “You’re right. You’re right as usual— but don’t let that shit get to your head because I am not above hair pulling next time I’m right,” she teases. Izzy looks around and nods at the house. There may be a dog in the future, that was a possibility. Izzy had loved living with Ryder’s dog for this long. “Maybe we’ll get a dog but I’m thinking one of the rooms will be like my office and workout area or something. Plus a spare bedroom for Ryder if he wants to stay over. He’s going to miss my ass, whether he admits it or not.”

➖

HER friend was taking a big leap with a guy and that was frightening so it was Dani’s job to make sure that Izzy knew she was making a good decision. Life was about taking risks sometimes even if things weren’t going to work out in her favor, Dani would be there if she needed someone to lean on. However, she had a good feeling about their relationship and it moving further. “Can you say that again so I can record it? I’ll need when I’m doubting myself because those aren’t small words coming from you.” She teased her friend, hands placed on her hips. “A dog could be fun.  Maybe get settled in with the two of you first, though. Seems like you’ve got a lot of work unpacking first. I visited Ryder a few weeks ago. I think he’ll miss you too but he’s probably proud of you for doing this.”

Open

Outside of Little Dove Diner

Matt had an hour to get food and of course the diner was a staple in his life considering that was like only one around. He got the same thing virtually every time he went, a grilled cheese with a pickle on the side. But today they had run out of the cheese he used, which left him a little too stunned to stay inside. Instead, he went out for a smoke, something he did when he was stressed. “If you’re planning on going in there and getting a grilled cheese, they’re out of American cheese.” He tried to sound casual about it, obviously not wanting the other person to pick up on the fact that he was stressed. “Please tell me you know of other good options on the menu.” 

➖

DANI had a routine when it came to certain nights of the week and this night was when she could treat herself and get something from the dinner rather than having to cook for herself. So she parked her car and was just about to head inside when someone mentioned that they’d run out of American Cheese. “That’s unacceptable. Think we could sue?” She teased and then chewed on the inside of her cheek to try and see what could work well for him. “Well, I’m a bit at a loss because I normally get the Chili with the grilled cheese and now that I can’t get that, I might have to go back to the drawing board. I don’t remember half of what they serve either now that you’ve put me on the spot.”

❀

“Yeah it’s definitely something,” she comments. Izzy definitely hadn’t thought that she was going to be where she was— in this house— with Wyatt. She had been convinced that living a single, carefree life living with her best friend and hooking up with anyone and everyone would be enough for the rest of her life. But when she realized that while that was enough, that it might not be enough for Wyatt, things started to change and eventually she just decided to dive in. Diving in, however, didn’t come without her hesitating at every turn. “Sometimes it makes sense but like sometimes it definitely doesn’t but I think it’s just like me processing it or something. Maybe once I’m done decorating and stuff it’ll make sense because it’ll be like my house and me and Wyatt can like settle in and not keep finding new projects.” Maybe then it would feel like real life. “Well the living room is done but like you already saw that. The rest of it you can see at the housewarming party, just like everyone else. I can tell you that there’s a giant soaker tub upstairs that I’m obsessed with. And there’s a pool outside. I’m not in charge out there though, that’s Wyatt’s.”

➖

IT was a nice look on Izzy despite being a little shocking as she’d known the female to be one who liked to live carefree and not be held down. Not that she believed that Wyatt did that sort of thing for her. They hadn’t really spoken about it for a while and for all she knew, they still had their open relationship. Maybe they were thrown these wild, filthy parties to keep things more comfortable. Dani didn’t know nor was she ready to find out. “Just take it a day at a time and talk to him about it if things don’t feel right. It’s not like you’re being held here. I’m sure he only wants to do what’s best and most comfortable for you, Iz. You’ve found a really great guy and I’m happy for you.” Dani said with a smile because it was a nice home and she could see them settling in nicely. Especially if they wanted to grow their family, there was space for that. “I’m going to have to come over just to use your tub. I couldn’t afford an apartment with a tub and shower separate so mine isn’t even that deep. it’s fucking depressing, actually.” She pouted as she angled her neck further to see glimpses of the backyard. “It looks nice and big if you ever want to get a dog or whatever else.”

.

“Less here than it would if I was there in person.” From what he’s heard the site visits on ships end up being hectic, but it’s not like he’d ever have to experience it. “But from here - I just get the stuff they find and have to spend hours researching which, to be fair is my day job.” Laughing quietly, Ryder picked at a hangnail on his thumb. Hearing that he wasn’t boring Dani - who showed up  for a distraction provided by Izzy, not a history lesson provided by him - made a dark eyebrow shoot upwards. “Oh yeah? Well that definitely did some good for my ego,” Turning to watch as Holly, who was not interested in the conversation, moved across the room to flop onto the couch, Ryder hummed. “End goal really is to figure out what kinda shit we lost. Like there was this jeweled book on the Titanic, called the Rubiyat. Only one in existence and it’s never been seen again. At this point I think people just want to know what’s down there.”

➖

DANI was beginning to understand what his job was in the grand scheme of it all but it still seemed to be an hard one. “Do you just receive pictures or do you get the item itself? I can’t imagine how hard it would be to try and search through pictures. Don’t every piece of scrap and plastic looks the same or do you get the items after they’ve been confirmed as old and potentially from the boat.” A long process before things got to him but it likely saved in trouble in the end. “I’m glad it did.” She smiled and looked at the dog, returning her attention to him. “Would they go on an exhibit then?” She’d rewatched a lot of the titanic and she had never suspected that she’d find someone working on it here. “Is this your first wreck or did you do others before thing one?”

❀

“Wow and she’s modest,” she teases. As if Izzy wouldn’t be flaunting herself around in the midst of the compliments. “Well, here it is,” she gestures, proud of the accomplishment. It wasn’t hers alone, with Wyatt upstairs doing whatever he does. She’s pretty sure it’s a new house project he’d added to the growing list. She didn’t mind, so long as he didn’t get too wrapped up in the house and not wrapped up enough in his girlfriend. It was still weird even thinking about being someone’s girlfriend, let alone Wyatt. He was a Club member, something she’d sworn she was done with but if Ryder was any indication, she wasn’t very good at sticking to that. “I mean obviously it’s different since Ryder and Wyatt are like so different. But things are good. Playing house has been good. I think we’re done with big changes though. At least I am. I’m not even sure how the fuck we got here. Like we’ve been dating for three months or something and now we’re living together. But we were fucking for like a year before that so I guess it makes sense,” she shrugs. Izzy’s not sure where things went from here but she was hoping things were going to be easy. Easy was good.

➖

“I try my best.” Dani said as she walked around a little more to look at the space. It was a lot more than she could afford and impressive. It fit her. “It’s really nice, Iz. I’m glad that you took the jump and did this.” She’d been shocked when she found out because she could remember her friend mentioning something about an open relationship months ago but it seemed that their relationship had progressed in some ways. “Sometimes people go quicker than others and if it feels right, who cares.” Sure it was a little quick and Dani would have advised to take it slower if she knew that Izzy would actually listen to her. But worse came to worse, she’d move back in with Ryder. “As long as it makes sense to you.” The brunette smirked and deposited her purse, shrugging off her jacket. “Do I get the grand tour or do I wait for everything to be done?” Maybe she wanted to show everyone the house together during this party of hers.

.

Taking the photo back, Ryder slid it back into his notebook. It was one of many things he was sent by a former professor. They needed archivists to identify and then archive Titanic remnants and Ryder’s name was brought into the mix, which he was grateful for. But obviously he had to prove that he was good enough to be on the job. So they gave him impossible tasks. Pointing a tattooed finger in Dani’s direction, the historian downed the rest of his drink. “Ah, see that’s the trick.” Laughing to himself, Ryder rubs his chin. “For all I know the rest of this book could be in the gut of a fish somewhere too. That’s the fun of it.” Shaking his head, Ryder leans against the back of his chair, tilting the empty glass in his hands toward Dani. “How am I doin’ distractin’ ya, by the way? Have I bored you to death yet?”

➖

DANI couldn’t even imagine working on something that historic and the stress that would come from it. She’d watched the movie a bunch of times with friends and family, even forced her cousin to stand behind her on her from porch as if she was rose herself. “Doesn’t it feel overwhelming?” The ocean was vast and a scary place. People got lost forever and were never found but he was trying to find scattered pieces and bits of a boat that had sunk many years ago. “What’s the end goal? To try and reconstruct it or do you just want to lean from these pieces?” Didn’t they already have enough? There was a thousand questions she wanted to ask but didn’t want to be distracting. “Shockingly, you haven’t. I’m curious more than anything.”

-

Angel nods as she listens, pulling a leg up underneath her in the chair. Groundhog day, she figures, is better than the alternative. Eventful days in Olympus hardly result in anything good or pleasant. So sure, the days are starting to look and feel the same, blurring together almost seamlessly, but it’s nice to have nothing, just this once, to disrupt the flow of things - no matter how actually chaotic or draining. But she keeps the sentiment to herself, knowing her experiences in this town are far different from Dani’s. “I’ve been pretty good,” Angel says truthfully with a shrug. “Trying to stay outta trouble. The usual. Anyway. Anything you wanna get off your chest?” She offers, taking a bite of a fry or two as she glances up at the woman sitting across from her.

➖

DANI hasn’t gotten involved in many of the drama because she isn’t apart of the club and the issues that arose. Her estranged husband had been and still was apart of the club but those were her only ties to them. She’d heard enough to know that maybe having a simple day be repeated was lucky for her. At least she didn’t have to face down the barrel of a gun or something like that. “That’s good. Have you been succeeding or are you still trying?” Dani liked to think that sometimes life had other plans and no matter how someone tried to be, bad things came to them. “I don’t know. Do you ever feel stuck sometimes? Like people are moving on around you but you’re still there. I don’t want a family to define me but I’d... like a family.” Something to look forward to, maybe the idea of children one day.

❀

“Well fuck, if only I had known,” she giggles, immediately pulling Dani in for a hug. It doesn’t take long for her to turn to look at the gift though. Izzy was a big gift person. She loved being woo’ed with gifts so Dani clearly had hit the right button. “Oh my God, you’re literally so fucking cute, baby. I love your ass,” she says, immediately digging into the gift. Izzy clearly wasn’t going to wait for the housewarming party that she was going to invite Dani to in order to open the gift. “We’re going to have a party like when everything’s set up and looks nice. You have to come,” she says as she pulls out the mugs and then the towels. “Best of all, you’ll get to see the mugs and towels you got us in their new home, while sipping some wine or whatever you want,” she grins wide.

➖

DANI hugged her back and smiled when she took the gift from her. If anyone could appreciate a good gift, it was Izzy. “It’s a pretty good ass.” The brunette had been given good genes when it came to her assets so she had to agree. Smiling as her friend went through the gift, more than content with her opening it now. “Of course I’ll come. I just wanted to see if before everyone else.” She winked and walked around a little bit. “They’ll look great and this place is gorgeous. How are you feeling about finally moving in with a guy that isn’t your best friend and playing house?” She didn’t know if Izzy’s end goal was marriage or children but this seemed like a pretty big step nonetheless.

"When I think about my parents, the people I've lost. I'm an angry crier more than an 'angry' anything else. I don't scream or throw things, I cry and then cry harder."