Unseen

The only thing making this whole ordeal harder, was his own head, and honestly, what was the worst that could happen? People just walking on by without paying any attention? Well, someone soon caught his eye. Mason listened to the other’s comment, and nodded. Of course he knew that he needed to play his ukele and sing, but that was a lot easier said then done right now. “Right…” Mason answered. “I get that.. um.. there’s just.. more uh.. people out then I t-thought, today.” He stuttered. “It’s uh..” Mason paused to exhale a breath he’d apparently been holding for a second. “This was a bad idea…” 

Considering her job, Hayden had become quite perceptive over the years. Really, anyone could have surmised that this man seemed nervous, but Hayden liked to think she picked up on some of the nuances that other people may have missed. “Mm, stage fright?” she asked, popping an eyebrow as she followed his gaze toward the crowd. Crossing her arms over her chest, Hayden pursed her lips, shaking her head. “It’s not a bad idea. I mean...you’re probably good if you’ve got the balls to come out here with the intention of performing, so.” She shrugged her shoulders, knowing her brand of encouragement wasn’t necessarily everyone’s cup of tea. “I don’t think it’s a bad idea. Hayden, by the way,” she held a hand out, “Sorry if I startled you.”

It was a nice thought, even if Ashton had a feeling she would still manage to be terrible at any type of combat no matter how much instruction Hayden gave. More than anything, she was distracted by the woman’s touch against her pressure point. “Ah, technique. That…absolutely makes sense,” Ashton agreed with a thin nod, her eyes drifting towards Hayden to linger. Ashton was easily distracted as it were, without the attraction she felt towards Hayden rising up in her. “You think so? I’ll take it.” Ashton chuckled deeply, a smile curling her lips with an unfamiliar softness to them. She wasn’t used to feeling like this, bonded in some way towards someone, but she wasn’t minding it either. Sighing some, she let herself relax into the silence, letting everything relax as her mind started to calm. The drama with her mother had been enough to deal with for the day. “It…sure, yeah. Just a lot of work, as always. I don’t do much outside of work, if you hadn’t noticed.”

It didn’t seem like Ashton was paying all that much attention, considering her tone, and Hayden looked up with a grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. It remained, her voice going soft as she brought her hand up to drag her thumb across Ashton’s bottom lip. “What’s that look for?” she asked quietly, not breaking eye contact. “You know, I had noticed,” Hayden teased, “But I’m the same way most of the time. I just happen to not have...any work while I’m on leave.” Once she was called back overseas, that would change of course, but for now, Hayden just spent most of her time trying to find things to curb her boredom. “I guess I’ll just have to drag you out more, hm?” she said, dragging her thumb across Ashton’s bottom lip and letting it rest at the corner of her mouth. “What do you like to do outside of music and writing?” she asked curiously.

Lynn: Didn't say that I was, fuck off.

Lynn: Yeah, that one. She's still at it.

Lynn: Who the hell is Ashton?

Hayden: You fucking said you thought it was an STD, you fuck off, you're sleeping with someone.

Hayden: Jfc, what a creep, call the cops.

Mason was one of those musicians who would only write and record their music, upload onto Spotify or Soundcloud, possibly record a music video and… that was it. The thought of playing to huge crowds and having a thousand eyes staring back at you, was daunting and scary as hell. But as he had becoming close to finishing his next EP, a sense of courage and bravery had washed over him, and he wanted others to hear his songs. How he’d come to be stood in the middle of town was beyond him, and as he looked out to passers by, he started to cave. “Shit…” Mason exhaled, pulling his ukele behind his head. “Come on.. Come on..” He muttered to himself, feeling his heart begin to race faster. Do not have a panic attack right now. “Breath.. It’s fine.. no-one is looking.” Mason told himself, closing his eyes behind his black raybans. Why did he think that he could even do this?

For as long as her and Ashton had had...whatever they had going on, Hayden considered herself pretty adept at seeing when people had talent. She wasn’t, she absolutely wasn’t, but Hayden certainly thought she was. So, when she saw some guy looking nervous to perform, Hayden furrowed her brows. Street performers weren’t her thing, but judging by the fact that this guy had an honest to god ukulele hooked over his shoulders,Hayden was pretty sure it was right up his alley. “Hey,” she said, approaching, still frowning, “You good, dude? Normally people actually play the instruments they bring into the street.” 

Lynn: Like you know. An STD or whatever. Fuck off.

Lynn: This whole thing is fucked up and I hate it.

Lynn: Ah just this like. Girl that follows me around town sometimes. What about yours?

Hayden: Dude, what the fuck. What trash are you sleeping with? Not an STD though, I have not been having sex.

Hayden: Girl that follows you around town sometimes? Your stalker? That hot doctor?

“Oh, I don’t think I’d be much good at it. I’m too weak,” Ashton admitted. She worked out to keep in shape, sure, but by no means did she have strength enough to imagine she could defend herself. “It does. It gets tiring, but…it is what it is. I wouldn’t change it.” She loved her career and there was nothing else she could imagine wanting to do with her time. With Hayden’s arm about her shoulders, Ashton leaned into her, resting her head on the other woman comfortably. “Whenever I want? And what if that starts to be a lot more often?” Ashton mused, teasingly. If she were being honest, though, she was starting to want it to be more and more often. “Thank you, though, it…means a lot. And the same goes for you, of course, if there’s ever anything I can do.”

“It’s not about brute strength,” Hayden said with a shake of her head. “Not really, anyway. It’s about technique and using your strengths to throw someone off balance. It’s the placement of a hit more than anything else.” She reached over, grabbing Ashton’s arm and setting her finger against the inside of her upper arm. “For example, this is a pressure point. You can punch it or press against it and it’s pretty painful, actually. You don’t even have to hit particularly hard. It’s about placement.” She paused, biting the inside of her cheek. “Though, strength can help, I will admit. But it’s more about technique.” Breathing out a laugh through her nose, Hayden chanced a glance down at her. “I think I can handle a lot more often. Wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.” Leaning down, she pressed a kiss to Ashton’s head, feeling a curiously warm sensation shoot through her chest. “Thank you. You’ll be my first call.” She let the silence hang then, content to just let her chill out for a few moments. “So, aside from...whatever happened today...has the rest of your week been alright?”

“No problem. Just doing my good deed of the day over here,” Noah chuckled, shrugging a bit in response. It was no sweat off her back to call out and alert the woman about her fallen wallet. Her features brightened when she realized who it was, a familiar face from her earliest days there in Orlando. “But nope. Not that night anyway.” She had a warm laughter at the mention of the girl she’d moved there for, who she was no longer seeing whatsoever. It had been fun at the time, but things like that grew old. “How have you been, though? Still out and about saving damsels in distress?”

“Not right away?” Hayden asked, eyebrow quirking slightly in interested. “That sounds like a story. Did she turn out to be nuts after all?” It would be kind of gratifying if so. Hayden had warned her. Without waiting to be asked, she flopped down next to her, making herself comfortable as she squinted up at the sun. “I mean. I’ve been alright,” she said, clenching her hand as her eyes flitted to the annoying red line. “You know, nothing fancy going on or anything. And no, god. I don’t save damsels in distress like...ever.” She was too prickly for that, even if she helped every now and again. Hayden was no hero. “You must be special. Though you don’t exactly strike me as a damsel in distress type, to be honest.”

Lynn: I don't know, maybe you can only pass it on in...certain ways.

Lynn: Most of that shit doesn't...you know just. Transfer randomly.

Lynn: But yeah, I don't know. I guess I'd have to ask someone else.

Hayden: Certain ways? What ways are you even talking about.

Hayden: I mean...I don't know. Lots of stuff is transmitted by touch, or through the air. The food. All kinds of shit.

Hayden: It's just weird that it's reacting so specifically to one person. I'd do that though. Get a second opinion.

Lynn: ...yeah. One fucking person it...yeah. I don't get it.

Lynn: I hate it. Like, I'm assuming it's a virus that the person it reacts to gave me?

Hayden: I mean, maybe but I doubt it?

Hayden: Think about it. By all accounts, you probably would have given it to me. You had it ages ago and we hung out.

Hayden: But the line doesn't give a shit about you. And it can't be a virus if bloodwork isn't turning anything up yeah?

“I mean, I’ve understood it but that’s just not really me. Everyone is the way they want to be-or pretend to be I guess.” Rebecca said with a shrug but smiled as both women drowned their shot glass. Laughing a little, Rebecca gestured for a refill and nodded at Hayden. “It’s the good stuff alright. But what do you mean overseas? What do you do?” Now, Rebecca was curious and wondered if her line of work was why she was the way she is.

“Pretending’s fucking exhausting,” Hayden said with a brief snort. “I don’t know why people would devote themselves to that when there’s so much better shit to do.” Giving a brief shrug, Hayden took another shot, relishing the way it burned down and settled warmly in her chest. “Ah, I’m in the Army? Cavalry.” It wasn’t infantry, but it was fucking close enough as far as she was concerned. 

Lynn: Solid, yeah. It...it grows? The weird line shit grows and feels like it's fucking real. Idk.

Lynn: It almost feels like...it's tugging me places. If that makes sense. But that's fucking dumb, it's probably just in my head.

Hayden: Dude no. Like...I wasn't going to say anything because it sounded nuts but like...same???

Hayden: It just showed up but it like...reacts when I'm around people. One, in particular and it freaks me the fuck out.

Lynn: Most of them kind of suck.

Lynn: Yeah, not sure it's worth going in for. I haven't died yet, it just...it's fucking weird.

Lynn: Gets weirder over time. Weird shit happening.

Hayden: I mean...fair as hell. Like, congrats on spending too much money on shitty wall art.

Hayden: It is weird. It seems like it's just getting more solid over time. I don't feel different but. It's freaking me out.

With the weather starting to slowly shift and get cooler, Noah was finding all different types of new things to do outdoors with her time. That afternoon it was a trip out to one of the water parks in town to catch some sun before the cooler weather truly started to settle in. She was propped up in a chair, nestled in a pit of sand, people watching more than anything else. It was peaceful, but still an exciting atmosphere. Her attention was drawn when she saw something drop out of the person passing by’s bag and she settled up just a bit to call out to them. “Hey, you dropped your wallet back here.” 

Hayden honestly wasn’t much of a parks person, and now she remembered why. People were annoying, and they were pressing in on her, and screaming children were beginning to give her a headache. She was honestly contemplating punching the person who had suggested this, when she heard a voice call out. The lilting of the accent caught her attention, and Hayden let out a bark of laughter, bending to pick her wallet up and making her way over. “Thanks. Would have been so fucked without this thing.” Grinning, Hayden shook her head. “Glad to see you didn’t feel the need to use my phone number. Your friend you met in...Indonesia was it? She didn’t decide to become a murderer?”

“It’s plenty helpful in my lifestyle to have people around that are good at all that. I am…not at all,” Ashton shrugged. It was why she needed bodyguards to look after her. She certainly couldn’t have managed it all herself. “See, that’s where I’m fortunate. People expect me to be a bitch, it’s the whole public persona I’ve built up, so…at least I don’t have to be nice all the time.” Ashton usually was when she wasn’t specifically on a job thing or interacting with people that seemed to be big fans, though. It wasn’t in her nature to be a complete asshole all the time. Following Hayden’s direction, Ashton settled down next to the other woman, sighing slightly when she finally got a chance to catch her breath for once since everything had started going on. “Mm, it is what it is. Every day can’t be perfect, I suppose. But…thank you for all of this. I just. I don’t know. Wanted to see you.”

“Hitting people?” she asked with a laugh, “I can teach you how to do that. It’s all in the art of throwing a punch.” Though she was joking, Hayden genuinely could teach Ashton to passably defend herself if need be. She had training, after all. “Mm,” Hayden hummed out, tilting her head back and forth, “True. Still though. I bet even that gets tiring after a while.” Pushing aside what you really wanted to do, regardless of the situation, was emotionally exhausting, Hayden thought. She remained quiet, letting Ashton get settled next to her. “No, not every day can be perfect,” she agreed, “But you’re welcome.” Her expression softened, and Hayden scooted closer, looping an arm around Ashton’s shoulders. “Well, lucky for you, I have no life, so you can see me whenever you want.” She was joking, aiming to get a smile, but she sighed after a beat. “No though, really. You do know I’ll be here whenever you need me, right? Doesn’t really matter what it’s for.”

Lynn: Makes sense. Rich people are fuckin' weird.

Lynn: But alright, that's fine yeah.

Lynn: What the fuck? Did you get it checked out?

Hayden: Fucking right dude? Not all are bad but like. Fuck.

Hayden: Fancy ass chef prepped dog food is a lot.

Laughing, Rebecca shook her head. “As cheesy as it sounds, why be someone you’re not? Just be you. If others don’t know how to act or be around you then, well, too bad for them right? They have the option of leaving and walking away.” Rebecca watched as the woman explained that she wasn’t that much of a peoples person and smiled. “Oh you’ll see! By the end of the night you’ll at least be able to go up to one person and tell them hey. That’s all, just hey.” She challenged, smiling though when Hayden agreed to her proposal. “Perfect! Believe me, everyone needs this every once in a while.” She said, and held up a glass for Hayden with a smirk. “Come on baby, show us all what you’ve got!” She added with a wink and threw her head back swallowing the shot. 

“Cheers to that,” Hayden remarked dryly, raising her beer in a mock salute. “I’ve never understood people who like...bend to what others want. That is so not me.” Hayden was more likely to tell them loudly to go fuck themselves if they had a problem with her. She wasn’t really going to pretend to be nice just because someone wanted her to. “Maybe if I’m drunk enough,” she agreed with a snort, “I’m sure I can manage that.” She could say hey to someone random right now, that wouldn’t be an issue, but Hayden just...saw no reason to. The pet name made Hayden roll her eyes, but she clinked glasses with Rebecca anyway, downing the shot without so much as a grimace. “Fuck me, that’s so much better than the fucking dog shit they give us overseas.”

It was entirely the case that Ashton didn’t want to talk about it, at least she didn’t think that she did. However, hearing it from Hayden that she could if she wanted to did bring some strange sense of comfort to her. “No, it - well, I don’t know. Nobody needs to get punched, I think. But, thank you?” she replied, her lips pursing together in thought. Maybe at some point that night she would open up, talk about everything that was going on, but that was always a hard ask for Ashton. She could put her emotions on paper in a song, but talking openly about it with someone else seemed too personal. Lounging in the seat of the car as Hayden instructed the driver about, grabbing the food before they got over to the local park area. It wasn’t an area Ash had been to before and she hopped out of the car, looking around. It was quiet enough, not too many people milling about, which was a nice change of pace. “Yeah, it…definitely is. Crowds get…exhausting.”

“It’s what I’m good for,” she said with an uncomfortable laugh. “I can listen and hit people. It’s a surprisingly useful combination a lot of the time.” She’d punched people for her friends before and it generally made the culprit shut up for a while. Advice though...advice wasn’t so much Hayden’s thing. “I can only imagine,” she murmured, pressing a hand against Ashton’s back as she led her into the park. “Dealing with people all the time is exhausting on the best of days, but having to be nice to all those people? Makes me glad I don’t have fans.” Hayden just did not have the personality to do anything in the public eye. “Here’s generally...where I hang out when I get tired of having to be on all fucking day.” She leaned against a tree in an out of the way clearing. It was a prime location for both people watching and not being easily spotted. “Knew all that training would come in handy some day,” she murmured to herself. “Here, c’mon, let’s just...eat and see if that makes you feel any better at all.” She sat down with her back against the tree, patting the space next to her. “I’m sorry your day’s been so shit.”