cigarettes and fuckin' on the windowsill

starter for: @emirturel​ location: holly’s apartment  time: 10:45pm, friday the 15th 

Holly had never really loved living on her own. Of course, she loved the autonomy of it, the ability to do literally whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted, however she wanted. But while she thrived on the independent woman persona she carried around like a second skin, it was just that, a second skin in a few small ways. One of them presenting in the form of not feeling safe when she was home alone at night. Couple that with the recent crime spree Mystic seemed to be having and Holly’s anxiety whenever she was home alone was becoming almost unbearable. She’d spent a lot of time lately trying to come up with various ways to distract herself, one of which was long luxurious baths watching her favorite netflix show with lots of pretty scented candles. 

She had just finished doing exactly that when a loud, thumping knock at the front door crashed through her recently acquired peace. Clutching her black, silk robe tightly, she forced herself to take two long, deep breaths. If someone was knocking at the door, that surely meant they were here for a good reason, right? Holly made her way to the door, stopping to steel herself for a second before reaching for the handle and opening the door. 

If there was something that Emir could not handle was feeling like he wasn’t enough. The thing was that he always felt like that, be it with his family or with his friends, it was almost as if he chose the people that would never see him for who he was. It seemed to be a pattern. A pattern that eventually led him to being ghosted by one of the few people he had ever, genuinely cared about. It made no sense to him, how things were moving for them and that she had eventually disappeared from his life like he didn’t matter at all. He knew it was bullshit, he knew she wanted more of him as much as he wanted more of her. Most days, Emir was able to not think about it, about her. Other days were tougher.

When those days hit, Emir grabbed a bottle of anything he could find and tried to forget it all. The thing was that before, he’d been in Houston and Holly was far away, he didn’t even know where. Now Emir had her barely a few miles away, so it wasn’t surprising that he found himself at her door step, ignoring his driver that kept telling him this was a bad idea. He waved him off and proceeded to knock on Holly’s door. A dumb smile appeared on his lips at the sight of her, his drunk mind obviously forgetting that he was supposed to be angry at her, or at least, annoyed. “There you are,” He leaned against the doorframe, trying to be closer to her. “You gotta stop hiding from me, Hawthorne.”

+

Taking into account Emir’s words, Celestina was well aware of her fair share of lows and had to admit that he was right. “I focus more on the landing and moving forward rather than the fall.” She then flashed Emir a sheepish smile and when a new round of shots came through, she immediately picked up a glass, clinked it with his and downed it like clockwork. 

Clearing her throat from the burning sensation, she looked over with her head tilted and a slightly curious, yet confused expression. “Oh?” Getting up from her stool, she grabbed her belongings and nodded, “You’ve peaked my interest…Lead the way bestie.” 

The corner of his lips tugged up into an smile at her words as he nodded slowly. “Well, I think it’s time that I learn a thing or two from you.” He lets out easily, clinking the shot with her and sighing at the burning in the back of his throat. Whatever, nothing that a good night out and lots of drinking can’t fix after all. Besides, he’s in great company, which is very rare for him now that he’s moved to Mystic. He’s still getting to know everyone so his list of friends is very limited.

But honestly, Celestina is more than enough to have a great time. He assumes that there are very few things that she says no to, just like Emir. “That’s what I like to hear.” He drops some money on the bar, enough to pay for their drinks and to tip the bartender before he follows her outside, leading her to the SUV where his driver is waiting. “I swear, you’ll have to come to Houston with me some time. I feel like you’ll enjoy the scene over there even more than I do.”

+

“One hundred fucking percent.” she replied with confidence and integrity. Why would she lie about it when the truth was clear as day? However, despite having a superficial mindset, Emir was a friend at the end of the day. “Broken heart? Please…You’re going through it huh?” She sighed and shook her head solemnly, “Look, it’ll be nothing but good vibes from here on out. I refuse to see you wallowing up over an ex, it’s forbidden in my rulebook in order to have a fun time, for a long time.”

“Alrighty.” What she liked about Emir was that he didn’t have a stick up his ass. There was nothing wrong with being serious about something, but it had to be to an extent. Some towns folks lacked in that department. “Mmmm…Good question, no clue. They’re quite secretive about it if you ask me, unless I haven’t been paying attention.” Celestina then shrugged and sigh, “On the bright side, as long as it ain’t us in the body bag…We should be Gucci.”  

“Eh, don’t say you’ve never been lame enough to fall and regret it.” Emir always plays it cool, showing his feelings is not something that he’s wanted to do; feelings are useless in his opinion. Little things that keep you away from what you want and from your goals, little things that make you focus on something that isn’t worth it. But he’s also not dumb enough to act like it doesn’t hurt him, that it still hurts him after all this time and yeah, he’s more than happy to see that with Celestina around, he can forget about it. 

“Cheers to that.” Emir agrees as the bartender sets a new round of shots on the bar for them, taking one of them and downing it easily. He looks back at his friend and grins. “So, ready to get out of here and do something fun outside of these walls or what?” He says excitedly. “Come on, I wanna show you something.”

x

“That’s good to hear they helped. I’m sure it can’t be easy moving from a big city..” After all, Mystic was a significant down-size on those terms, he had to give credit to Emir for making that decision for himself. “You said you moved for your job, right?” Ben asked, trying to remember again from their previous encounter. At any rate, he figured it could be another decent guess, considering how the other guy seemed just as tied up with phone calls a lot of the time. “Oh, right.” Ben shook his head, as he hadn’t even come to that conclusions initially, considering everything that had been happening in town had frustratingly taken up most of his mind. “There are a lot of good running trails here, but you probably knew that already. — Trust me, I hear you. Yeah, I mean, not on this scale they don’t, no. No one wants a repeat of what happened five years ago especially…not to put a damper on how you’re settling or anything.”

Emir nodded easily, offering him a small shrug. “I just opened a new business in town, that new car dealership. I don’t know if you’ve seen it. So I’ll be staying here, for at least, a few months while everything settles there, you know.” Honestly, Emir would lie if he said that he didn’t miss Houston, after all, he loved it there. But he couldn’t say he had a lot of people that kept him there either. In fact, he felt as if he connected with people better in Mystic for some reason. Maybe it was because they didn’t know anything about his family and his past. He gave Ben a smile and shook his head. “Oh, no, you’re okay. If I got scared easily, I wouldn’t ever moved to a small town.” He joked lightly. “Crime like this is always scary, of course, but I don’t feel it as much as everyone else. Big cities, like you said, have a different rhythm. Something like this happens back home and most of us don’t even know it. I’ve just been trying to help; offered some of my security detail to some of the business owners and tried to make it a little better. What about you though? You okay with all of this?”

+

Squinting slightly, she thought about their age difference and agreed on the fact that he wasn’t thaaat much older. However, in her eyes he fit the agenda and she wasn’t going to take back the opportunity. “Oh God no, we’re probably a few years apart…Still, you meet the criteria.” She wasn’t going to beat around the bush, she thought this was a win-win situation given that not only was she capable of making bank, but she was able to have a friendship along with it. If he had the same mindset as her, then they would both know it’ll be beneficial in the long run. 

“Spoken like a true business man.”  she mused with an impressed expression. Celestina didn’t want to pry on what kind of businesses he had, but she appreciated knowing what kind of involvement he had. Emir was certainly knowledgeable in that realm and she wasn’t going to take that for granted. “Your assumption is right. It’s not everyday we get a high turnover of crime and then something as big as a dead body comes along. The domino effect has been at full force lately.” She furrowed her brows and hummed, pondering on the recent events. “It’s crazy…Any one of these motherfuckers could be a murderer don’t you think?” Cel paused and then met Emir’s gaze, knowing that what she said might not technically work in her favour. “—Uhhhh, look I’m totally not one! I’ll be real with you, no one is worth killing here if you were to ask me. Mhm, I said what I said. That’s just me…I’m calling it now, if you were to speak with the authorities, you better not be a snitch Emir. I am inebriated and candidly speaking with you.” Cel was covering her bases at this point. Although, there was her father…but she wasn’t going to get into the specifics—that was a whole other morbid thought in itself. 

“Because I’m rich?” He asks teasingly, though he assumes he already knows the answer. A part of him is used to having people around him simply based on the fact that he is, indeed, very damn rich. But even if he’s having this conversation with Celestina, he knows that it’s not all about the money with her. She doesn’t seem like the type to hang out with anyone that she doesn’t genuinely like just based on all the no limits cards in their wallet and even if she were, she wouldn’t be the first or the last friend that he has that is only interested in what he has to offer in that regard. “Works for me though, better to have a friend than a damn broken heart.” 

The man was used to having an audience. He was used to people listening to him, he was used to people running when he called, and he was a man that’s used to having his way. Helin was more than happy to show that she was not going to be one of these people. She knows it’s her own righteous protectiveness coming into play, coupled with her parents teaching her to never back down. Mystic is located right by the waters, people at drawn to this place all the time and there’s always an ebb and flow of new faces ; it’s streets filled with quirky shops and welcoming restaurants, paired with the charming waterfront, well, Mystic will always have the potential to drawn people in. 

It’s why Helin has always been so proud of the town she grew up in.  It’s also why Helin is so incredibly unwilling to allow just anyone to waltz into Mystic, open up a luxury car dealership that most of its people were unable to afford without feeling suspicion. By the way Emir shrugs off her words with a smile, Helin can only assume this isn’t the first time he’s had a conversation like this. He’s all too calm. That, or he’s good at holding back, biting his tongue. Helin, on the other hand, was happy to make her cards known right then and there. This could be a game to him, but it’s not to her.  The woman has enough to deal with in her daily life, let alone her work life and - what would this be labeled as? A Devil’s Game? Anyway, the veterinarian doesn’t have time to beat around the bush.

❛ There will always be men like you. ❜ Helin remarks confidently. Defiantly.  Staring him down, hardly blinking and refusing to  be shaken by his words. She wasn’t afraid of Emir, ─ or maybe she is. Maybe, more specifically, what he plans on doing during his stay in Mystic. Helin refuses to believe he has actually moved to stay here, her eyes narrow at thought. Her features falter only slight at the mention of the Mayor. The thought of these two men meeting creates an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. There as never been an ounce in her bone that trusted that man. 

With a gentle sigh, Helin straightens to her full height, an easy smile on her lips as she takes her own time in finishing her drink. ❛ Give Jonathan my best, will you? ❜ Her tone is silvery. Kind, even. But of course she doesn’t mean anything by her words such as these ones. There’s a clear performance to them, but with so many people around, it wouldn’t be wise to unleash what she really wanted to say in this moment. Setting the empty crystal class down on the bar, the tall statured brunette and her movements still filled with fluent grace despite the annoyance settling into her throat, turns on a heel to direct herself towards a more familiar face to engage with. 

When the person approaching the street box had ended up addressing him, Ben folded up his newspaper copy in his free hand, finding that he had recognized the other man as well. “Good morning.” He gave a nod in return, the entire recollection coming to him when the beach party had been mentioned. “Right, yeah. And you’re..Emir? I’m guessing my party suggestions went well.” Ben mused, certain that Emir had already known, no matter how long he’d been in town, of what had rather drastically changed since then. News traveled fast around Mystic, positive or negative. He sure knew it.  “All good, as long as you weren’t being chased or anything on your way here.” He remarked of how winded Emir seemed as he ended up grabbing a paper for himself. “I was doing that..but I probably shouldn’t have even bothered..” His hands began wrapping up the one he’d been holding. “At least, I didn’t find much of anything worth it..” Better to have given a ‘warning’ to his familiar company, right? 

Emir actually grinned as he nodded. “Hey, surprisingly enough, I’ve been able to have a good time. So thank you for the suggestions.” Sure, it wasn’t anything like Houston where he could bar hop or even club hop, but it was better than having to throw house parties. That somehow felt out of place for someone his age now. He wasn’t surprised to hear and see that nothing had changed in town, after all, he imagined that the police weren’t used to cases like this one. They were probably working like crazy to get things done and as frustrated as everyone else. “Oh, no. I was just jogging.” He gestured to his running shoes, shorts and shirt as if to explain that he wasn’t just running around without a reason. “I have to stay fit somehow. But honestly, I’m not surprised there’s no news yet. By the town wide reaction after everything came out, it’s clear things like this don’t happen often, I assume?”

+

Celestina’s eyes widened once she heard Emir’s response. Her face lit up with excitement and immediately switched into determination as she found his response amusing, yet genius in his own right. Setting her glass down, the dancer happily clapped and bounced in her seat, “It’s fucking official and I should be thanking you!!! But you are very welcome. Moving forward I am your official slash unofficial sugar baby—unofficial because you can call it off whenever you want sir.” She then cheered to that and downed her drink in one go before waving the bartender for another round. 

While she waited for her drink, dark hues followed in the direction of where Emir’s bodyguard was and Cel didn’t hide her impressive look. “Ah shit, I fucked up there, but I now know better! Damnnn, you are ahead of the pack.” Leaning in, she then narrowed her gaze and whispered, “Wait a minute…Do you own like…Lotsa stuff?” She was nosey, but she didn’t care. Cel was transparent about her thoughts and opinions, therefore she genuinely wanted to know about Emir’s riches. It was nice to know she scored a jackpot type of friendship, but she treated the other with respect given that he had done the same to her. Therefore, all their interactions were far from superficial. She liked to believe that they had a good, yet unconventional friendship. 

Pursing her lips together, Celestina couldn’t help, but pout and ‘aww’ at Emir’s concern for her. “Ugh, my fucking heart.” She then clutched her chest dramatically and nodded in understanding. “No I totally get it, I’m very touched by the sentiment Emir. The feeling is mutual.” She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, “I am doing everything I can to be careful and I appreciate the extra help, but I think the bouncers will do, as well as I make sure I’m not alone when I’m out at night…However, if I do change my mind, I’ll let you know.” Her curiosity got the best of her when she suddenly asked, “So a dead body and high crime in a small town doesn’t drive you away huh?” 

“Wait,” Emir raised an eyebrow as something came to his mind, the look on his face absolutely puzzled out. “I am not that much older than you to be a sugar daddy, right? Shit, don’t make me feel so old now.” And sure, he was aware that having friends that made him blow his money wasn’t what most people considered a healthy relationship or whatever, but he had money and he could spend it however he wanted. Celestina knew how to have a good time and so did he, Emir wasn’t really one to really think about his money as more than just his way to get everything that he wanted. He was all here for the unconventional combination.

He almost snorted though at her question. “Yeah, we could say that. Let’s say I own more than just a exotic car dealership.” He says as he laughs and then signals the bartender for another round for them. The night is only starting and honestly after battling his own feelings about following his ex all over town like a lost puppy, Emir wants to have a good night and to forget everything.

All she sees is arrogance etching into the features of Emir. As he talks, dark eyes are pinned on him while sipping from the sparkling glass. Ah, so he’s branching out from mommy and daddy. Now she get’s it, and yet, it still doesn’t change the fact that something within her was screaming at her to not trust Emir Turel. Perhaps it was her father’s voice ringing in her ears, reminding her how the government and the wealthy weren’t to be trusted with money nor your ideals.  It’s easy to see that it’s far better for the wealthy to keep as much of it as possible for themselves and use ( a fraction of ) it to do benevolent things through philanthropy, which is what she sees the business man before he doing. He isn’t here to make Mystic better in anyway. In fact, she can only see him doing the opposite, draining Mystic dry for his own needs. Soon enough, there will be more so-called billionaire philanthropists floating through town.

‘ family money is different than your own money, right? ’ 

Helin arches a dark brow. Does her seriously want her to answer that? Oh, this poor little rich boy is so out of touch. Rosie and Can believed that their daughters should be hard workers and earning their money would be more beneficial than simply handing them a weekly allowance - at the time, Rosie and Can also didn’t have the funds at the time to be tossing change at their daughters. For a long time as well, family money was her money. Even Yasmin. The Solak sisters were born for work and opportunities. ❛ I wouldn’t know, I come from a humble farmer and a diner owner. ❜ Her voice comes out nonchalantly.

Emir goes on again and on again. She asked the questions, so she should really only be blaming herself, but she didn’t expect him to sound to … Rehearsed. ❛ How many times did you practice that one in the mirror? ❜ 

Carefully, she sets down her empty glass of vodka that she finished while Emire was talking. A new sort of stern-look comes across her own features as her dark eyes took him in observantly. ❛ I know men like you. Men like you who will fast until he gets what he wants. ❜ Slowly, Helin shakes her head at Emir, seeing right through him and his gimmick, and it pisses her off. ❛ Burada açlıktan öleceksin. ❜ You will starve here. She doesn’t know if Emir knows any Turkish. She doesn’t care. 

She was a tough crowd, Emir could see that from a mile away. As much as he could play around with people’s perspective of him, Emir was even better at reading them. After all, it was a part of his plan to know what people really thought of him. It was easy to see that Helin would catch up to him and his ways sooner rather than later. Anyone that came as prepared as Emir himself was someone that thought just like him. Helin had only looked at him once and she had knew who she was, but that didn’t stop hm from being genuinely surprised that she called him out on his bullshit right away.

With years of practice though, Emir simply offered her a small shrug and almost a taunting smile. It would be so easy to snap at her, but that would immediately prove her point and what Helin doesn’t know is that her challenging and disapproving tone are part of what makes Emir work like he does. Her answer is what makes the adrenaline pump through his veins.

The language that his parents made him learn with the sole purpose of talking to them sounds almost different from the woman’s mouth, but Emir understands enough of it. It’s been years since he has really used it, but he’s very much able to understand it and to even form a few coherent sentences. 

“I’m afraid that is where you’re wrong Helin hanim, you don’t know anyone like me.” He watches her for a second before his smile takes over his face all over again, taking his wallet out of his pocket and dropping a 50 dollar bill on the bar without even finishing his drink and then brings his attention back to Helin. “Men like me don’t fast or starve. İstediğimizi alıyoruz.“ We take what we want.

        Yasmin considered that for a moment. “Touche,” she nods — after all, what on earth could possibly be of value to an extraterrestrial being? Pulling herself back into reality once realising she’d distracted herself, the brunette sighs and leans back in her seat. It really had been far too long, sitting in the waiting area. Yasmin was patient, but she wasn’t sure she was patient enough to withstand hanging around any longer. “That’s a positive spin,” she replies, taking his words under consideration. “I guess that gives me a little more hope for the human population.” Shoving her phone back in her purse, she was just about ready to give up when the guy shared the exact same sentiments. “Tell me about it! I’ve been waiting to speak to them for at least an hour and a half now. I know there’s an influx of people but it really feels like it’s only getting worse. You’d think speaking to the Gazette would be on their list of importance for someone in the police department.” Rolling her eyes, she’d been happy to wait but right now she was growing increasingly frustrated. “Oh, without a doubt. —If you don’t mind me asking, what is it you’re wanting to get out to other business owners? Maybe I could help.”

“Positive views equal positive outcomes.” Emir murmurs easily. Despite how shallow he seemed, he did believe in thinking that way, in not losing sight of the good things that he had. He was lucky enough to have so many things that people took for granted anyway. “The Gazette? Do you really think they want to talk to the news with everything that’s going on? Don’t be surprised if the sheriff turns around as soon as they see you.” He does not have any sort of knowledge about how it works, but he knows hiding better than anyone. After all, his family has incredible secrets that the police and journalists back in Houston have not been able to get their hands on. As he stands next to the stranger though, he realizes that, for once, he doesn’t have to run in the opposite direction. No one in this town knows who he is, therefore, he can actually make them see who he wants them to see in him. “Kind of a personal question despite the fact that we don’t know each other’s names, miss.” He offers her a lopsided grin and sticks his hand out. “Emir Turel.” He finally decides to answer her question though, figuring that she definitely could help. If she didn’t help with his security ideas, she could, however, help him and his business look good. “And I am actually not trying to get anything from them. I want to offer to have some of my private security roaming around some of their establishments, keeping an eye out. You know, help out the community as much as I can. I’m still new in town, so I figured that getting the sheriff or the deputies to approve the plan would give me and my security more credibility since I don’t personally know any of them. People would feel safer to to shop and walk around the areas so everyone would benefit from it, you know?”

+

Swaying her hips and working the pole, Celestina was feeling herself as she danced with confidence. With the cash flowing in literally and the music blasting loud, it was a typical run in The 401. Being in the moment and perfecting her craft, she tuned out the rest of the world and oozed of confidence as she entertained her audience. From how the crowd looked, it was a steady night, which she considered was better than nothing. With the latest news of the crime around Mystic, she expected a decrease of patrons, but from the looks of it, the fun never stops. 

Finishing up her set, she ended it off with a bang as she displayed her upper body strength by doing an upside down split on the pole. Once the lights dimmed and her song ended, she regained her composure and grabbed her money bag as the bouncers assisted with sweeping her cash into one pile for her to collect. Finishing up, she walked off the stage area and noticed a familiar face at the bar. Making a mental note to stop by, the dancer immediately went straight to her dressing room to change and head out as her shift was finally over. Paying her cut for the club, she bid her goodbyes to the other dancers and staff before skipping over to the bar and taking a seat next to Emir. 

“Well if it isn’t my favourite client…” she greeted with a playful grin. Her face lit up once she noticed a glass of her fave gin and tonic and she immediately accepted it before lightly bumping her shoulder with his. “Aw you’re the best, thanks! Cash would be better, but I feel like I’ve been robbing you lately of your money, so consider this a break.” she teased before laughing it off. “I’m surprised you’re out and about. Heard about the news lately? You’re a business man too, you should be careful out there.” 

Emir admired people that went out there and did the damn thing, whatever that damn thing was. And Celestina had no issue with doing anything that she had to do. She reminded him of his parents, of how his family had started by simply doing everything that they could do to get everything that they wanted. Most people would think that Emir took everything for granted, but contrary to popular belief, he knew that everyday, his parents had put their lives on the line when he wasn’t even born and they had everything that they did, and Emir was able to live the life that he lived because of their risk-taking and not-give-a-fuck personalities. So he, lowkey, admired that Celestina seemed to have that going on as well.

He smirked a little, shrugging. “It isn’t really robbing if I am giving it to you. but now that you say that, this is the closest I’ve ever been to having a sugar baby. So thank you for the experience I never knew I needed.” He teased lightly, taking a small sip of his own drink. They were quite the pair or so he figured, at least, from the outside. She was the wild child and there was Emir, always dressed to impress, always seeming more collected than he actually was. He gestured to behind him as she mentioned his safety, towards a man dressed in a black suit and tie outfit, standing near them but not too close. “I have always had security. Don’t think it’s very fair to compare me, to business people here. Auto Plaza is not even 5% of what I own.” he shrugged nonchalantly, not genuinely worried about his personal safety, but definitely hoping that his business and even others in town wouldn’t suffer too much because of it all.

He knocked his shoulder against hers too though, keeping their playful tone, as usual. “I do think you should be careful though, I know you’re always running around by yourself. And not too get all emotional and shit, but you’re one of the few people that I actually can stand in this town so I would like for you to be safe.” Which was probably a lot to ask for, considering that both of her jobs were probably considered high risks. “I would offer one of my guys but I know that you’re all independent and shit and you’re gonna say no, so at least promise you’ll be safe.”

"There's not a lot to say but...I have always thought that I have two sets of parents. My mom and my dad, and my aunt and her husband, who I spent a lot of time with while my parents traveled the world and became rich. I get along with them pretty well, but I think I tend to lean towards my aunt and uncle more if I need actual advice. My mom and my dad that are amazing, but they act more like my friends than my parents."

"She's stubborn, very easy to piss off and so damn hard to understand." What he doesn't say out loud is that she's basically everything that he's ever wanted, or that she's also absolutely beautiful, addictive and caring and that he doesn't know how to get her out of his head though. Because, after all, he knows that honesty is not something that has ever helped him out. Especially when it comes to her. @hollyhawthornc