( &&. flower of lions )

Mateo    nods    his    head.    “Yeah,    I’m    busy    nonstop.”    He    points    out.    “It’s    not    easy    being    king    ping.”    He    winks.    Listening    to    her    story    about    her    trip,    he    laughs    a    bit.    “That’s    a    party    I    would    have    loved    to    see.”    He    leans    against    the    wall    as    he    looks    at    her.    “Nah,    I’m    free    for    a    bit.”    He    tells    her.    “Can’t    go    too    far    into    the    city    though,    what    do    you    have    in    mind?”

“maybe one of these days you can actually catch a break.” of course she knew that wasn’t going to happen, not with what he did but it was better than to say the facts and just sound negative. “i told you, mateo, you missed out. the old fleur was blooming that night.” she said with a bit of a guilty smirk. “great!” she said reaching out for his hand and tugging his arm. “no city? oh... okay well.” as much as she would have loved to head back to the city vibes after the trip she bit her lip. “okay... well we can head downtown. i need to get a good piece of pizza, i loved greek food but i miss the chicago stuff.” 

Mateo    smirks    and    licks    his    lip    as    he    greets    her,    wrapping    his    arms    around    her    and    giving    her    a    kiss    on    the    cheek.    “I    bet    you    do.”    Stepping    back,    he    watches    as    she    reaches    into    her    pocket    and    his    eyebrow    raises.    “You    got    me    somethin’?”    He    questions,    eyes    darting    to    the    beaded    bracelet    she    got    him.    He    takes    it    and    looks    at    it    for    a    moment    before    putting    it    around    his    wrist.    It    probably    will    only    remain    there    for    a    few    hours    before    it    gets    stuffed    into    his    pocket.    “So    sounds    like    you    had    a    wild    time.”

she went into the hug and was actually surprised to see that he had taken her gift with no hesitation. once again fleur was just getting her hopes up. it wasn’t like trying to be friends with mateo could turn out good for her in any way. “it was just something small. thought you missed out. but im sure you were busy... as always.” she said knowing not even going into asking how he was making out business wise. “i wouldn’t say wild... those days haven’t been as frequent. but there was a party and i pretty much ended up shit faced. so, looks like im really not doing the best in that way.” she shook her head. “are you busy? ive been bored since getting back.” 

Mateo    had    been    continuing    to    work    while    most    of    the    Malnati    hotel    went    on    a    cruise.    Something    he    wasn’t    entirely    sure    if    he’d    attend    regardless    of    the   circumstances    for    him    at    the    moment.    When    he    got    the    text    from    Fleur,    he    smirked    and    got    himself    dressed    and    made    his    way    down    to    the    lobby.    He    had    his    hood    thrown    over    his    head    as    he    takes    the    elevator    down    to    the    lobby    and    once    get    gets    there,    a    smirk    takes    over    his    face.    “Miss    me,    mami?”    He    says,    licking    his    lips    as    he    watches    her    spin    around.    “Lookin’   good.”

fleur was always taken by mateo’s looks. that tall, dark, and handsome just wrapped her right in.with a smile she nodded. “i always do, darling.” she said moving closer and reaching in her pocket. “so since you missed all the fun i made sure i picked you up something special. you don’t have to wear it or anything... i kind of just got it as a joke.” she said holding out a beaded bracelet with greek letters on it. “it’s your name. like i said, you don’t have to wear it.” she said to the male. 

fleur knew he was no good. a bad influence. bad news bears. but its who she knew, years in chicago and it had always been mateo around. at the time she was sure her needing the product he supplied wasn’t the only reason he kept around but now... trying to get on track he seemed less interested in her. she couldn’t have that, he was what she knew, he was familiar to her and even if he had been only wanting to pull her back into her old habits she still wanted to try and be friends. so when she texted him to meet her in the lobby she held the small greek souvenir in her hand. maybe she can come around to him. as she spotted him the girl instantly perked up. “mateo! long time no see. you really missed out on that trip. i managed to get a killer tan,” she said spinning a bit to show off the newly glowing skin.  

mateo: it doesn't work that way, fleur

fleur: were we ever friends?

                                                  FLEUR DE LEON 

mateo: yeah aiight. we'll see.

mateo: aiight, thanks mama.

mateo: come see me when you're back from your trip. i got a little something for you.

fleur: you know i cant.

mateo: is he trustworthy?

fleur: id say so.

mateo: i'm sure

mateo: hey listen, some dude that claims to know you got in contact with me. you give my number out?

mateo: it's not like that

mateo: i've got a business to run here

fleur: i see...

fleur: either way you are missing out big time

mateo: hows your trip going mami?

fleur: its good.

                                              FLEUR DE LEON: 

closed for @flxurnati​ location: mykonos, greece

nate’s plan for today was to enjoy the beach. he’d been missing the one in hawaii and it was impossible for him to deny himself all of the water activities — especially surfing. the best part was that he wasn’t going alone — somehow he’d managed to get fleur to agree to spend more time with him, not that he was complaining. “hey beautiful.” he greeted her with a smile, letting his eyes roam for a moment to look at her attire. “you look amazing as always, ready to enjoy some waves with me?” 

new bathing suit, no thinking about mateo, and just have fun. it was what she set her goal out for this trip and she was going to make it happen, she was going to ignore the cravings and see and do everything. when she saw nate she added him to the things she was going to see and do. “hey!” she called moving to instantly hug him and place a quick kiss on his cheek. she didn’t know what they were but she was happy that he wanted to spend time with her. “of course, you know, i really want to see your moves on one of those surf boards. im sure you will blow the whole beach away.” she giggled before taking his hand and eagerly pulling him toward the beach.

fleur had felt sick from the flight and even worse, ever since seeing mateo she knew she was in trouble. but as she lounged on the deck of the ship the girl found herself taken over by the shadow of the taller male. instantly warmth in her swelled and she nodded. “you know what... that might be the best idea i’ve heard all morning.” she said finally feeling a true smile since her week had started. feur reached her hand out to him and offered him a big smile. if there was anyone who could make a vacation it was nate. he was a saint. “come on, hun, we are going to leave a real mark here, i need a real adventure.” 

@ncthaniel

open starter:

When Jack was younger, he must’ve watched the Lizzie McGuire Movie twenty-seven times because of Magnolia- and while he had always longed to be like Gordo (he gets the girl in the end, obviously), Jack was very much an Ethan and often travelled wherever his stomach took him.  So when he stumbled out into the fresh air of Rome (after taking a shower in his hotel room, of course), his stomach immediately begged for one thing and one thing only. Pasta. He caught a familiar face out of the corner of his eye and quickly stopped them, “Hey! I’m not sure if you have plans, but if you don’t I heard there’s this awesome pasta joint down the street, care to join? After that flight, I’m pretty sure I could eat a whole pasta-monster myself.” His stomach gurgled angrily as he walked closer to the person “Google gave it high reviews? Or we could totally do something else if you have any ideas.”

“i sure could go for a monster plate of pasta, always. “ fleur said trying her best to push past the itching tick that had her eyes going every which way. she didn’t think she’d be this bad but maybe a few days away from the malnati would be good for her, clear out her body. and if there was anyone who would help her she knew jack would. but she first had to find the guts to tell him. she was so ashamed of relapsing and now she was back to square one all because of mateo. “maybe after we eat... there is this garden of statues around. i hear if you look close enough you might see one smile at you.” she offered trying to make the night as eventful as she could.