call you back

Interesting choice. Kaia wonders who she has to thank for this obnoxious distraction in the gardens. With her hands clasped behind her back, she studies the new statue installed in the gardens with the airs of a professional critic, only vaguely aware of the presence beside her. Perhaps if she were more sociable or maybe a better person, she’d glance over to ask their interpretation of this…wasted metal. Her eyes flicker to the person beside her, which they seem to sense, because she feels their attention shift to her. She glances over with the intention of scaring them away, had it not the nag of recognition. Her features freeze, pensive at best, judgmental at worst. Both true, but she looks back at the statue again after clearing her throat.

[ APO NATTAWIN, HE/THEY, DEMI MAN ]  —  [ ROBERT NAMART ]  is a child of  [ ATHENA ]  with the power of  [ ENHANCED OBSERVING ] .  they were born in  [ 1993 ]  and have been in nemean lion since  [ 2010 ] .  with the change, they  [ HAVE GRADUATED FROM ]  the  [ BUSINESS ]  role which makes sense since they’re usually  [ TEACHING OR HANDLING INTERNAL HR COMPLAINTS ] .  if you’d like to meet them try the  [ SUN ]  building .  

“Yep, I just bought something for my moms. I got all of my other gifts early for everyone else.” And Jake’s gift was included in that bunch, it was actually the first one he bought. “Did you find everything or are you still looking? Shit, did I interrupt you, should I leave you alone until you’re completely finished?” Simon even let go of Jake’s hand, slowly pulling it free from the other’s hold.

Her body is already turning to him before she even registers that it’s him. December is usually a pretty lax month, so other than a birthday celebration she shares with her best friend, her days are typically pretty empty. But this year, she’s tried to put any down time into extra training, lamenting the fact that they haven’t really seen each other too much this winter season. A smile lights her face at the sight of him, and she easily takes her place by his side, walking along the sidewalk with him without question. “Roast or completely and totally burn?”

LOCATION && WITH WHOM : : THEY’RE TRAPPED! W / @efflorcscences​

“What the fuck is this shit.” Alphonsine was not happy, her entire being filled to the brim with anger and a drop of disappointment. Because of course she got caught under one of those damned mistletoes and that person happened to be someone she did not want to kiss: Angel Yoo. “Is this a joke? It has to be because what the fuck.” 

LOCATION && WITH WHOM : : ANYWHERE W / @efflorcscences​

The two had split up to do their own thing but as soon as Simon saw him, he immediately grabbed held of Jake’s hand, interlocking their fingers and showing the other that he absolutely was not going to let go. “Missed me?” 

“hey, stranger.” it feels a little weird, to have his time more split than it used to be with a relationship, and he feels a little bad that the holidays haven’t just been them like the past few years. he’s trying to make up for it, though, at least. “come roast marshmallows with me?” 

“Of course.” If he was gonna be late, it had to be fashionable, and he was glad that Jake understands that. Even if the other said it in a teasing manner. “We can leave an hour early, or whenever you’re ready to go. I may be the birthday boy but you’re my date and I want you to be comfortable at all times,” he said. “I’ll be cool with whatever as long as I’m with you.”

                            ❝ uhh – you won’t ask for anything kinky if i am , yeah ? ❞   he’s been a little traumatized .

“We can have a coffee, sure,” Grey says with a nod. “I was only taking a walk anyway. But let it be my treat.” He looks at Ginny, head tilting slightly. “Are you alright? You’re speaking faster than usual.” The moment he notices the eyes around them, and the fact that Ginny was avoiding meeting them, he gets the discomfort somehow. He takes the cap on his head and puts it on hers, hoping it would help a little. “Let’s go.”

The way I love and hate them but that’s just me. "That’s fine with me.“ Simon easily followed Jake’s movement, eyes fluttering shut as he pressed closer to his boyfriend. A small laugh slipped past his lips. "It’s my birthday, people are expecting to see me.” Simon Hong never skips out on a party, especially a Halloween party. It was his thing after all, it would look strange if he wasn’t there and he was all about keeping up appearances. “… But we could always leave early and just come back here.”

“I can handle more,” she responded quickly, fervently, in the hopes it would get through his head. “What about you?” Cece asked, a touch quieter this time, gentler. Jake had always been one to never complain about the weight of the worries plaguing him at any given point in his life, but she knew better than anyone that it didn’t mean it was easy. He would shoulder it, light or heavy, no matter what, it didn’t make a difference to him. But she feared at one point or another it was going to break him. Ever since she’d met him she’d been trying her best to make him understand that there were people in the world who would want to help carry those burdens with him, especially her, but he’d been through so much up until now that it was hard to unlearn how alone he felt he was. “Don’t be sorry, it’s not about that,” Cece whispered, shaking her head slightly, biting her lip as she tried to think of the right answer. “I just… I wish you would think about yourself every now and then, Jake.” When she looked back up at him, she tried to find the truth in his words, in I’m fine, but she wasn’t sure where the line was. She knew that in this moment he had probably convinced himself that he was in fact fine, but she couldn’t tell how deep that mask really ran. All she wanted was for him to be honest, but she didn’t want to question his trust, or let him know right now that she doubted it. “I’m sorry I found out today. I would have held it in for a day if I could but I just… the thought of it…” Her voice trailed off, not wanting to let him hear it waver, and stubbornly turned for just a moment to quickly wipe an annoying tear away. “You mean too much to me.”

When one pulled away, the other would just pull them back in. Despite what Jake said, Simon just pulled him back in, kissing him once again. Even when he pulled away from the kiss, he still kept a short distances between them. “We can be a few minutes late.” Another kiss. “Yeah?”

He was cheesin’, cheeks a light pink as he reached forward. Hand resting on the back of Jake’s neck, Simon pulled him down, lips connecting with his. It wasn’t a quick peck nor did it last too long, only because they had somewhere to be and appearances needed to be made. So he pulled away, seconds longer than intended, smile still wide on his face. “You ready to go?”

“You’ve put on a T-shirt before and called yourself Shaggy, that’s different,” Cece responds, shaking her head with a small laugh, hoping the exhale of breath helps to loosen the strange feeling in her ribs. “Howl’s Moving Castle?” she asks with a raised brow, of course already knowing the answer— she was Kiki’s Delivery Service only last year— but she’s not entirely sure why he’d pick a tertiary character from the movie until he explains Simon’s costume and it makes sense. “Oh, that’s… That’s gonna look really cool, Simon’ll kill that. I’m glad it sounds like you’re having fun,” she says, and she does honestly mean it. Jake hardly participates in these sort of things, especially parties. She’s usually the one that has to drag him out of his apartment, and it means something important to her that he has friends who want to do the same. “No, I—” She doesn’t know why, but suddenly Cece doesn’t want to tell the truth. It feels too pathetic, or like maybe he might worry about her if she confesses to wanting to stay at home all night instead of be around friends. In the one second of panic she allows herself, she decides to save him the trouble. “Actually, I’m keeping August company,” Cece blurts, busying herself with finding the right place to fit her book inside her bag so she doesn’t have to look him in the eye. “You know August, right? She’s new— Nyx kid in Tech— anyway, she’s got this big project to finish, and I just figured she shouldn’t be alone on a holiday, so… yeah. Maybe some trick-or-treaters will come by the Agency building,” she finishes her lie with a big smile and prays August will forgive her for throwing her under the bus.

“It’s fine. I’m just happy that you decided to dress up tonight.” For Simon specifically. This wasn’t the first time he had a date for his birthday, much less a romantic one, but it didn’t stop his heart from fluttering as if this was his first time having a crush on someone. Gods, get it together, Simon! “Yes but I wouldn’t mind hearing it again.” 

“Actually—” Cece starts with a slight smile, closing her book at the mention of Halloween. She’d been thinking about the upcoming party, and the way that this year still just felt so… heavy on her. Last year, she would have been dragging Jake to come along with her, but now all she wants is to stay in and rest. She’s about to go on and ask him to stay in with her, imagining how nice it would be to just order take-out and watch movies all night, when Jake speaks up again and the thought doesn’t get a chance to ever make it past her lips. She pauses for just a second, processing the information and hating the crestfallen feeling in her chest enough to pretend she doesn’t notice it. “Oh, you’re— You’re dressing up?” she repeats, adding jovial teasing in her tone to hide the shocked surprise. “As what?”