now @ taxicalls.

i’m back and i’ve moved over here. a lot of things are still in the works but yeah :~)

her question doesn’t come as a surprise. it does, however, echo a few times in his head almost hauntingly. kiev only had one answer, the truest he could compose, but there’s a crippling fear sitting at the pit of his stomach --- fear that he’ll lose her because it’s not good enough of a reason. and before he could even string the words together, seeing the other man watching the two of them in the rear view mirror is turning his mouth dry, the boy unable to mutter anything in discomfort. it’s as if he had no right to be vulnerable at this time, or else the man would take the opportunity to strike right back. “  lis--- “  he begins, the baby blue in his hues canceled out by the orange street lights pouring in from outside. it’s two or three am, and they’re speeding to god knows where -----  kiev was making an effort to remember which roads they took, but has lost track since the man had provoked him. continuing, he keeps his voice shushed, wanting to deprive the passenger in the front of their conversation, but it’s almost impossible with the searing silence. “  i really didn’t want to make you worry. or be dragged into it. that’s all. “  his gaze falls to his lap, unable to meet the other’s. aside from the unforgivable fact that he’d kept her in the dark, how would he even begin to explain why he had done it in the first place? it was a combination of his concerning impulsivity and a long history with --- “  that kid, mickey romano. you still in touch with him?  “   the man cuts --- or rather completes his thought, supplementing his girlfriend with more information that he’s really not ready to elaborate on just yet. tearing his gaze away from the male, kiev shakes his head in response, wordless at this point.  “  saved his little garage, am i right? and now you’re doing it again with some new recruits, and you didn’t even think we’d figure it out?  don’t tell me it’s just coincidence that your buddy’s gone off the grid. “  his tightly pursed lips are already ajar in an effort to retaliate, brows tightly furrowed as he goes over the accusations, but he’s halted by his own attempt to subdue his temper.  aside from being entirely clueless about everything that he’s just laid out, he’s mad about another thing --- with his disappearance, there’s something mickey’s not telling him. and as much as he wants to prioritize placating lis first, who must be an overwhelming mixture of upset, confused, and shitless scared next to him at the moment, he can feel himself fuming. “  that’s NOT me, “  he spits out, words cutting through the momentary silence, wanting to make one thing clear --- he’s completely laid his hands off of this. “  mickey and i --- we haven’t talked since the last race. i told him i’m out for good. whoever’s recruiting is just using my name. i don’t --- i don’t even know why he’s gone missing. “  he looks over to lis, eyes almost pleading for even just a little bit of trust. / @deaditcs

M A D D I E  swore that her card had enough to pay for at least three more meals, but for some reason, it wouldn’t work. not to mention that what she’d gotten was just a sad, plain salad as nothing else really speaks to her. besides, it’d already been a long day, despite it only being lunch time --- mads has never been a morning person. she’s about to call the attention of one of the staff, a high-pitched complaint about to slip her mouth and possibly annoy the long line behind her, when she sees the item finally punched in the register. seeing a different name on the screen, she looks behind her, taking her a moment to realize that the stranger that just walked past had paid for her. “ oh--- hey! “  she’s peeling herself off the queue with an embarrassed grin, walking towards him. “  dude, thank you. i swear my card is loaded, the whole thing wouldn’t just work. “ maddie sighs, a bit flustered, reaching inside her bag for her wallet. “  hold on, i’ve got some cash. “