Jake Fields

Taking her bottom lip between her teeth, she held it there for a moment before letting out a laugh and shaking her head, quickly pushing her thoughts from inviting him over to talking about how broken they were, realizing that... well, she didn't feel very broken in the moment. And besides, it was sweet, him talking about his bum leg, her talking about her bum leg... okay, sweet in a little bit of a dorky way, but still. "I like to think of it more as... inspirational pair. Since we didn't let the bum legs hold us back, right?" she laughed, shrugging both shoulders, "mine literally led me to be come a physical therapist, so there's that."

"Sure. Whatever works for you— yours does sound a helluva lot more prosperous though." He told her, when the breath that had caught was exhaled again, and his gaze shifted from her eyes to her mouth and back, "Mine...works." He said, quick nods in succession and a quirk to his lips. "It can hold up for a formal dance. Which—" and he knew what he was about to say was beyond cheesy and it would show when his expression scrunched in an abnormal way, shaking his head along with, a cough practically accompanying the words, "led me to you... Literally. Like. I had to walk over to you." Jake lingered on that for maybe two seconds, tongue and teeth sucked back his lips and thankful for the newly fall breeze that simmered his reddening cheeks, he threw back his head again in a laugh, "I don't bow next time I see you I'm in the dog house right? I know how that goes." He teased, rhetorically at the expense of their now inside joke. "A scythe?!" Quick, he craned his neck back to her, another step to another fork - this time going left and then right quickly again, always right, right? "And we both become Merrock's own campfire tale? Have a whole franchise made after our deaths by scythes? I mean, one wrong move, not like they'd know where they were hacking into," or who. At that, Jake turned to pull her in closer again, now in the next longer expanse of the maze's pathway, and it was practically impossible not to. Her hand a welcome temptation. His guttural laugh was quiet again, mimicking full body chills from the neck down at the thought with a joker's eyebrow lift. "Naw, I'll take lost. Besides, if we really needed to, something tells me you've got a whole survival kit up here..." he said, tapping a finger lightly on her temple, "same place as your charts."

Halloween had always been Mena's favorite holiday, one not involving gift exchanging or one you spent with your family. No this one always involves a little mischief, a little bit of spookiness, and most of all you could be whoever you wanted to be. And this year, she was matching with Lucie, both of their sons as little ghosts and the moms as Ghostbusters. Then by chance Jake wound up matching the crew, another ghost buster to chase down the ghouls. But now it was just Jake, Mena, and Mateo as they walked the streets all too familiar to both parents.

"Nuh huh," he shook his head, reminded Mena had a vastly different experience. At least partially, where Halloween night was concerned. "Guess it was both, really. Got —" and he flicked his costume-fitting old school velcro watch with matching slime design to his face, "about twenty minutes until sunset and we're just getting started." Part of his favorite things about fall, earlier nights. "I think. He seem's good to go for a couple hours..." Mateo eager at every house so far. "What was he last year?" He asked, pulling a swig of the wine he had at his side in bladder form with the backpack attached, a definite edge off when it came to Mena. Necessary even. "Yeeah, and we got into a lot of that. No doubt about it." It was stunning really, how quick when left alone, they were right back into this mode of remembrance, doubt, awkward... "Did we, egg? A lot? Flown right over my head." He threw that one out with a laugh, a side eye and nudge to show no actual hard feelings.

Taryn grinned and nodded. "Got it. Sorry for the assumption. I can and will provide all of those things at the cafe." She smiled as Jake said that he loved long walks before laughing at the flour and egg mention. "Mine was a bag of flour. It was a girl that my partner named Sunflower only to leave me a single parent and I happily renamed my baby girl Lenore and became an A plus mom." Her partner in the family project had not been the best, but at least she had known that she could take care of something by herself. She never thought it would be three dogs, a cafe, and herself though.

"Lenore. Far cry from Sunflower." And as he said it out loud he laughed, "Sunflower —did y'all spell it F-L-O-U-R?" Pre Lenore, of course. "Iiii might be saying that, yes. It's not exactly the toughest gig in the world but — and especially early on, it's a learning process. You'd think I'd have had the mic's figured out, not so much." He told her, not so much ashamed anymore but he had since, gone back and listened with some winces here and there. "Lots of rambling too, lots of rambling." He took his phone back, and dropped in his bag. "Alright. Fair is fair. Got me there. Good deal."

"Hm," she replied, trying to make it sound like a non-committal noise while simultaneously feeling her throat go a little dry. A man, in her house, who wasn't her brother? Foreign concept since Nate, anyway, unless she counted the friends that came by, or her father. And yet… "I'll take it under consideration," she said with a teasing smile, "but I think it might be nice to have company." Which actually, she did very much so mean, given what she had just thought about how long it had bee since she had entertained anyone. Regardless of what that meant. "Had a bum leg back in college, but she's doing well these days," she said as she patted the side of her leg, pulling herself out of any lingering thoughts before laughing, "what a pair we make."

"You do that." His smile was more resigned, bit back by his teeth and tongue pressed against the inside of his lip, the slight shift in the air around them reflected solely to him in that consideration. Impossible now to not imagine at least the possibility of being surrounded by her space, whatever that meant — and, just like at the gala, it was damn near impossible not to watch her lips as she contemplated that consideration, breaking into a laugh again at her equally post-tormented leg, "A broken pair." Jake's eyebrows rose, and his laughter dulled only a little when Liv tripped into him— not as if he hadn't had her this close. His hands had been at the indent of her spine, where the fabric of her lobster inspired dress met the low of her back before, that moment though, where he could feel the heat of breath for even a second ignited something in him more. (Maybe that was the mystery and the maze, and really, for the first time just the two of them locked in- so to speak) "Oh I am well aware, you like to hold a grudge. Or so you say —" he took a couple steps, (one or two nice wobbly ones on his left leg in jest) backwards but made sure to clasp at the hand that pushed him, turning fully, slowly, to lead the way, making the right. Then the next. "By the way, when we get lost? No you know what, I'll take that. In fact...I hope we do get lost. Big lost. I hope it takes us hours to make it out of here."

"That depends on who or what is distracting me," she volleyed back with a smile, meaning it. When she was focused and locked in, Livvy could do pretty much anything, without hesitation. But when the right person was hanging around, or something was really interesting… sure, she could admit to being bad about paying attention to what she was supposed to be doing. Oops? "If you're saying that you're going to try to distract me, then yes, it will probably work," she replied airily, shrugging both shoulders. If anyone could get him to achieve his goals, it was probably her -- and that was just Livvy's ego talking.

"Soo, yeah." He nodded, "That's what I mean, and uh, if that's you inviting me over, I'm all for moving past the hypothetical." And he felt the heat rush to his cheeks when he said that, the smile on his face impossible to hold back. And he turned on his heel again, lollygagging-like when he stepped further into the maze, "I can handle it. Can you? My left knee's only a little, tiny, itty bitty bit worse for wear." He said through a laugh, looking backwards with a wink. Filing away their new form of introductions for later date, if he could make her laugh that was something. When he got another good look around, left or right, there was straight ahead first, and they moved inward, Jake turning back again to face her. Walking backwards, not that he didn't trust the theory she'd heard (never had executed herself) but getting lost with her wasn't actually the worst thing to imagine here and now. And when he reached out to grab hold of her hands he pulled her in closer, a trip up when their shoes hit, she said just the right thing, "We're goin' right."

Taryn's eyebrows shot up as Jake said he could eat an entire cake in one sitting. "So you're a cake monster, I see. Interesting. I would've guessed you were a cookie man for some reason. I don't make cakes at often, but they are in the display every now and then so I can tempt you with that I'm sure." She hummed at his logic, knowing he's the expert and clearly would know what he was talking about. "Yeah, I still don't know about taking myself in there. I'll keep to the long walks with my dogs and lifting bags of flour. Though, if you send me your playlists, I could listen to them while I'm walking." she shrugged with a grin.

"Hey I don't discriminate. Cakes, cookies. Gimme them all." Even when he did wonder what was the determining factor in what made him seem like one or the other. "I gottchu, I get it. I love long walks, long walks are great! Bags of flour remind me of Home Ec. But I think that was an egg..." TV said otherwise, but he did remember very vividly a weeks worth making sure he didn't crack the egg. (Didn't necessarily do much in the long run, as it was) "I'll send you the ones I think are worthwhile." Handing his phone over, at the same time Jake glances at her dogs — never know. "Oh I'm all in. I can be a pretty good hype man, always. And mean it!" The kicker.

WHO: Gabby & @jake-fieldsrp

"Woodfire activity?" He said, a huff to his breath as he just caught up to Gabby. A planned meet up after an earlier shift at The Body Shop, she wasn't far or anything but the Jake was a more than a little bit wired, took to it with a sprint until he spotted the brunette. "I like woodfire activity too. Crave it actually, fall's my favorite." Like Summer was his favorite when spring came to an end, winter would be next. "That what we on the hunt for today? Firewood? Can you even do woodfire activity? Think you'd set off an alarm. Get a pretty quick eviction notice." He said incredulously, pulling his sweatshirt over his head because momentarily he was on fire, "He's good. Saw him a couple days ago, he's already dressing up. Prepping for trick or treating and kind of scary but he's a natural with the archery." A random moment that exposed him to the sport turned into something a little more constant, "What about you? You good?"

"Damn, free child care." Iris nodded solemnly, remembering what it was like to be a responsible young lady in her neighborhood, always volunteered to keep an eye on the kids. "I think I'm a kid crying on the fire escape, which feels like a third, equally sad option. But quiet crying, I can't draw attention to myself."

"Because," And he stopped to think about what it was he was actually going to say to her, five minutes before and Iris was accepting no form of help there in the swimming hole, a wall was very much evident around her, "You're scared as hell but don't want to inconvenience anyone? Especially not mom?"

"Hey," Javi greeted in return, recognizing Jake once he took the time to actually look at who was behind him. Javi raised a brow, not because it bothered him that Jake was buying so much, but out of curiosity. He couldn't help but laugh lightly. "Not gonna back out, but thanks for the offer, I don't mind, but do you mind if I ask what you're buying all the leftover muffins for?" While he spoke, Javi took his card out of his wallet and handed it to the barista to show that he was serious about paying for it.

"Yeah? No kidding. Well shit, thanks man." He responded, a little surprised even with the rundown of what exactly he was planning to get. "Nah, don't mind. Coworkers —" Telling him, which was the truth to a degree, here and now he'd alter his coffee order. Run with the muffins. "Coworker. And me. We have this game." Especially as things slowed, "A little like baseball..." Deciding to end that there. Overnights were a truly different breed where it counted. "We get a little bored. But hey, drop by The Body Shop when I'm on, got a deal with your name on it."

Who: Mason & Open When: October 2025 Where: The Fun Spot

Batman was his favorite and he frowned exaggeratedly, shaking his head because now, the frown was permanent. And without much of a pause taking one of those tenders to bite into with a little more fervor —Jake of course didn't actually care Batman was Mason's one big no-go, he sat back in the booths seat, chomping away, "Alright, The Penguin. Leatherface, oh oh, get one of those hunchback getups, noodle hair, that creepy dude from Rocky Horror. Sid - pull a Nancy, that's a go to costume."

"No, for once I don't think I did this," Che commented, pushing up the tent further. He was grateful for the height that plagued him just a few moments prior. "Way to welcome in the season." He ducked back under the table fully, once he realized he was unable to see anything. "You okay? Nothing hurt? I don't know how to treat injuries."

There was a lot of commotion, a lot of instant screams, screams turned to laughs, and broken glass around them with the others scrambling about, Jake focused on all the externals too, aware he did get knicked by something on the heavier side as the sting was quick and he subconsciously reached for the spot of contact as it didn't hurt any - laptop a little more significant at that moment. Che asked the most obvious of questions, and he started to pat around his being — "Nah, I'm good, got whacked—" his hand went back to his head again, "Just gonna stay awake for the next 48 hours in case, no biggie. You? You good, bud?"

"Smack dab in the middle isn't so bad," it was better than being helpless, probably not as good as doing it all himself. She'd get him into shape, one way or the other. Maybe some gentle persuasion would be what he needed to get him in the kitchen, doing dishes and maybe even making himself a meal. Which, actually, she made a mental note to figure out whether or not he could cook for himself. But another day. Not when they were wandering towards a corn maze. Her gaze flicked from the path they were walking on to his face, his cheeky grin, the twinkle to his eyes… and she couldn't help but to mirror the grin, brushing loose hair behind her ear. "Does that mean you'll be hanging over my shoulder while I'm charting, breathing down my neck and distracting me from making it perfect?" Which he could probably do. Easily. Without even needing to try. "Good. It's the motivation you need to become an A student."

Jake's smile grew wider, toughed up to the sky for a moment when she pressed the scenario he'd set up, "I don't know, yes. Maybe. Guess that depends how easily distracted you are." And as it was, thrilled at the prospect of finding out. Be it charts, or be it a simple grocery list he could be around for. "Something like that." He let a breath out, a crooked smile when Jake knew very well, he was a B student till the end. But he didn't mind trying, or pretending otherwise, where or with whom, it counted. "Did you just - was that a...do I bow?" He couldn't help but let out a more gutteral laugh, thrown back with his own posture as rolled one out with his hand like a knight in shining armour was supposed to, "Am I?! Gold? That'sss, easier than I thought. Hell yeah," He teased, and that knights bow was completely gone as he shot upright, walking backwards towards the maze where Liv stood at decision's end, "Is there a method? Unless you actually know something I don't — it's just up to us, baby! You okay being a B student for the next 45 minutes?"

"You know what I mean of what you meant!" He exclaimed with a laugh before stopping and shaking his head, the confusion creeping in. "I'm not a man to kiss and tell. Even with the hottest woman in all of Merrock," he winked at his brother, patting him on the shoulder. Then he looked down as his brother fixed his tie, and then his eyes widened. "We haven't talked about moving in yet, or anything else," he put his hands up, "but I have thought about it. And knocking is always good practice." He fixed his own collar before swallowing, "uh no ice shopping yet. But I appreciate it. And hey if you ever decide on needing to go ice shopping, I'm your man."

"Right answer." Jake said after a boisterous laugh, there was definitely a wrong one, and that one was best kept to himself. Tugging at the final twist of the tie, "Oooh no brother, that's a long long ways off," Jake tacked on a hefty pat to JD's shoulders, "just you know, making sure you know that I'm here. In case all that's you know, a thing. Or going to be a thing soon. I wanna be there. Alright?" In truth, he hadn't always been there, not the last decade or so, not in the way he'd at one point expected at least. Now was the time, or at least, the time to make it known.