better.

“It’s a wedding, I have to look nice,” Ximena shouted over her shoulder as she finished zipping up the back of her dress. “She’s become one of those brides that you see on TV about how crazy they get about every little detail but as if it’s any consolation to me, I’m making the dress so I have to be there.” Her frustrations were let go on the person with her, even if they didn’t want to hear it. “This one or the one in yellow?” 

“Uh huh.” Victor was sprawled out on Ximena’s bed, pillow pressed over his face to shield his eyes away while she changed. He was more than aware of how crazy the bride in question had become, hearing every detail (multiple times) from Ximena, but truthfully, he didn’t mind listening. It took his mind off his own stress, reminded him he wasn’t the only roommate struggling, that there were bigger problems than loads of Instagram DM’s and unflattering Just Jared (Just Jared!!!) photos being posted. When it was clear it was time for his opinion, the pillow was removed from his face and he propped himself up to get a good look at her. It was pointless, considering it was Ximena, and she looked good in everything, but he could at least attempt to help. “...which one do you like?”

wes: did you get something dropped off today?

wes: fed ex... they left a package and it was some weird doll thing with my face on it and a note?

wes: it said "1 of 5, hope you all like it" signed by "your biggest fan" ???????????????

Ivy laughed before she shook her head, “Oh, please, you draw beautiful stick figures.” She rolled her eyes before a smile formed on her lips, “So, nothing to fix, huh? ” Moments like these are what drives her crazy. She thinks something is missing and he thinks it’s fine as it is. They may have different opinions on the drawing, but it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s wrong. And that’s what drives her crazy, if he was right why doesn’t she feel the same way?  She let out a deep sigh before making a face. Seeing him grin while looking at her drawing made her smile once again, “Thanks for thinking its amazing.” Man, she wasn’t good at accepting compliments towards her artwork. “Maybe I should work on something else…”

Victor placed a hand over his heart, staring at Ivy with puppy dog eyes. “You really think so?” Pretending to wipe a tear away, it was only a second later that he was laughing, shaking his head in amusement at their antics. Being around Ivy always made him feel like he was back in high school. “Really, though. It’s perfect, Ives.” He’d been amazed at her talent back then, and continued to be so even today, having been serious about both sentiments: his lack of ability and the abundance of her own. He could tell that she was still worried about it though, so with a sigh, he looked back down at the picture. “I do think it’s amazing...but if you really thought it needed something, maybe some...color?” 

“Gotta hire someone to follow you around on stage with a bucket of water,” Logan chuckled. “Last I heard it was like…. a hundred and five in Vegas. Hell. The Midwest isn’t the place to be right now. I do not envy you one bit, man. Good luck with all that.”

“Oh, I’m trying. Put an ad out on Craiglist and everything.” Victor teased. He couldn’t help but whistle at the revelation of Vegas’ temperature, though his nose scrunched at the realization that he would most likely be playing in that 105 degree heat. And not even to mention the places he’d be playing with high humidity...his hair would not be seen without a hat settled neatly on top of it. “I’m starting to think that maybe we should’ve made it a Winter tour...”

@reckless-vic

“Vic,” Skyler moved a little closer, a wicked smirk on his face as he probably got a little too close – personal space wasn’t a thing with him sometimes, “Go to this party with me, yeah? There’s gonna be lots of food, some drinks…maybe some drugs if you’re really into it. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.” 

Vic had been in the process of falling asleep when the shift in the bed and the sound of Skyler’s voice had his eyes fluttering back open. “Mhm?” He turned on his side to face the other, slowly blinking until his eyes no longer felt too heavy to be kept open. “A party?” He let out a breathless laugh, reaching a hand to rub over his face. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you. “My hero.” Dropping the hand from his face, he shot Skyler a more awake look. “Where’s it at?”

Zahra laughed, “Sure, make me out to be the villain,” Actually I think Fourth of July was our last date,” they broke up soon after that. The kiss they shared sort of confirmed what they both knew for a while– it wasn’t going to work. There was no romance novel spice, she mused. If it wasn’t for their very convincing circle of friends they might not have even thought about getting together. “Sadly, I recall thinking the only fireworks I experienced that night was for the celebration.”

“Hey, I didn’t say anything like that.” Victor held his hands up in surrender. “Just that you broke poor little fourteen year old Vic’s heart, is all.” He grinned at Zahra, leaning over to bump his shoulder against his, only teasing...and not just because fourteen year old him hadn’t been very heartbroken at all. In fact, he had been mostly relieved. Having a girlfriend had been a lot of pressure. Now that she said it, he did seem to recall the fourth having been their last date, nodding his head at the memory. “Yeah...wait, hey!” Realizing what she’d implied, Victor feigned offense. 

“Does that look straight?” Jules looked up at the lifeguard tower, the sign about high tide finally placed mostly straight on the side of the wood. He had been out there all morning, getting increasingly frustrated with himself. The hangover wasn’t helping, and he almost thought it was time for a midday drink. “Fuck it. I need tequila.”

“As straight as you are.” Victor teased from his spot in the sand, having been directed to remain there for a better view of the sign...which was straight. Mostly. Sensing Jules’ frustration, Victor was quick to shake his head, clapping his friend on the back. “I’m just fucking with you, dude. It looks great. I am very aware of the high tide now, thank you.”

“Bring on the memes,” he grinned, watching Victor search his phone. Enrique got comfortable now that their order was placed, and glasses filled with water. “All this talk of fame has me thinking,” he paused with a pensive expression on his features; as if he really was deep in thought and about to give a profound statement. “I can’t wait to benefit from the perks of having a famous friend. Just think about it. I’ll be there to console the groupies when you turn them down.” He joked.

Victor was ready to bring on the memes. Locating the text he’d sent to Charlie, his phone was turned around and placed in front of Enrique for him to see. “I ask her if this really happens.” He admittedly wasn’t well versed in what occurred when on the job as a paramedic, and frankly was only interested in it due to knowing two. His phone was quickly locked and placed back in his pocket, not wanting the temptation of checking it during their meal. It was a habit that his mother detested, and scolded him for whenever he had a slip up (though she didn’t seem to mind so much when it came to her phone and her Words with Friends turn). Taking a sip of his water, Victor’s eyebrows furrowed when Enrique informed that he’d been thinking, but nearly choked with laughter on his drink when it was revealed what exactly he’d been thinking about. Lowering his glass to the table, a few half coughs, half laughs escaped his lips as he struggled to breathe without inhaling water. “Dude.” He shook his head in amusement. “You can’t just say things like that.”

@reckless-vic

“Okay, okay, I know that I’m the worst friend in the world for forgetting to tell you I was going out of town for two weeks,” he started, taking a couple of steps into his friends apartment, “so to make up for it, I got you a little gift.” The male reached into his pockets, digging around for a small plastic bag. “West Virginia ain’t famous for much ‘cept all the, well, confederate flags flyin’ around…but the gift shops have some cute stuff.” Mac pulled a small keychain in the shape of West Virginia, handing it to Vic. “And, for the record, I totally didn’t get this in the airport.”

“Dude, I thought you got, like, kidnapped or something. Called the police and everything. I thought you died.” Victor feigned seriousness for all of mere seconds before breaking into a grin, clapping his hand along the other’s shoulder, shaking his head and shutting the door to his apartment shut behind Mac. “Nah, man, you’re good. I’m not your keeper or anything.” Besides, he had his own shit going on, with the tour. Mostly laundry. It was the bane of his existence. About to protest the gift, his eyes fell to the object in question, unable to keep himself from laughing as he reached for the keychain. “Dude, you totally didn’t have to get me anything.” But it didn’t stop him from reaching for his keys and making a show of sliding the keychain on them. “Thanks though, man. Airport keychain? I must mean so much to you.” Teasing, he pulled the other in for a brief hug, before pulling back to look at him. “So? How was the trip?”

“Yeah fucking right. You’d have to try pretty hard to forget about me. Besides, I’m famous in my own right,” he gave the other a sly smirk, squeezing him lightly before pulling away from the hug to get a better look at his friend. Sure, maybe Rizzo wasn’t a household name, but his mother sure was. Placing himself next to Vic at the bar, he signaled the bartender to bring him whatever the male was having before turning back to him. “Oh, you know. Makin’ the rounds,” Rizzo offered casually, assuming Vic wouldn’t exactly take well to his whole I’ve been high since ten in the morning schtick. A lot of people tended not to, and he wasn’t exactly close enough with the other musician to make that judgement call quite yet — not that he probably didn’t notice. “Not to mention drinking as much as humanely possible so I can forget about both of my exes pissin’ me off in the same week. You ever have that happen? I think it’s because Mercury’s ‘bout to go into retrograde.”

“By association?” Victor teased, laughing as the two parted from their embrace. He grinned at the other, patting him on the back to show that he was only kidding. The last thing he wanted was anyone thinking that his newfound fame had gone to his head. Admittedly, there wasn’t even much fame to go to his head to begin with. Sure, his Instagram followers had skyrocketed, and he got stopped on the street every now and again, but things for Victor hadn’t been too different the past few weeks since his first performance. However, everyone at the label is saying to prepare for that to change, with the impending tour. He simultaneously couldn’t wait and was extremely anxious for it to begin, part of him wondering how he even wound up in this position in the first place. Pushing his nerves aside for the moment, Victor tuned back in on Rizzo, leaning against the bar and offering him a smile. “The rounds.” He nodded his head, as if he knew what that was supposed to mean. He stopped, suddenly, however, when Rizzo went on to mention the problem of his exes. “...both of your exes?” His eyebrows furrowed, never having even heard about one.

Task 002:

Victor Martin Hernandez was born to Cynthia and Ricardo Hernandez on August 26th, 1993. He was the first and only child of the couple, who divorced around the time Victor was one. Victor would only come to understand later on in life that it was due to the family that Ricardo had accidentally started while still married to Cynthia. His half-sibling was born a little before he turned two. Despite their closeness in age, Victor has actually never met his half-siblings, or any of his father’s new family, and has not seen his father in years.

For awhile, it was simply Victor and Cynthia. She assumed he was putting on a brave face, trying to make her feel better by not claiming to miss his father too much, but the truth was, Victor had more than enjoyed his time with his mother. She was his best friend. The one who checked under his bed for monsters, tucked him in at night, cut the crusts off his sandwiches for school lunch. She was at every school recital, every soccer game, student of the month awards...it couldn’t have been easy, he knows now, and yet, Cynthia had done it all, and without complaint. His mom’s the strongest woman he knows.

Both of them are, actually. Around the time Victor was seven years old, Cynthia met and fell in love with Melony, the woman who would come to be his step-mother. His mother had shared with Victor by then that she was a woman who happened to like both men and women, which hadn’t been too complex of a thought for Victor to work through. He happened to like Melony--she liked soccer, like him, and kicked the ball around in the backyard with him--but with Melony came Lola. And Victor loved Lola.

“Don’t tell anyone. I have to keep up this ideal that I am actually better than everyone else – accent included.” Jules grinned a little more, and he pulled out his phone so he could record Victor. “Let’s go, Vic. I can’t wait to put this on your instagram and watch everyone unfollow you for it. Sing ABBA’s Dancing Queen.”

“Your secret’s safe with me.” Vic put his fingers up to his lips, before rolling his eyes and standing up. It wasn’t as if he’d never played a gig by himself before, but hearing the song that the other wanted him to sing? “Bro...” But if Dancing Queen was what King Julian wanted, Dancing Queen was what he would get. Downing the rest of his drink, Victor made his way over to the sign up booth.

Devin: WHAT HAPPENED TO FAMILY FIRST, KID??

Vic: LITERAL

VIC: FIREFIGHTER

@reckless-vic

This was ridiculous, he had scheduled studio 8B for this evening and when he arrived it was still in use. At first, he sat on one of the lounge chairs in the waiting area and pulled out his phone for entertainment. The minutes kept ticking by and he couldn’t sit still. While he understood that creativity could not be bound by the construct of time; meaning that sometimes musicians could run over by a few minutes, it was nearing the 20 minutes mark already. To add insult to injury RJ realized that it was a member of the band Reckless hogging extra studio time –and the new member at that– he began pacing in annoyance.

Victor didn’t mean to be hogging the studio. In fact, he didn’t realize how much time had run over until he’d exited the booth. There had just been this rift he wanted to be absolutely perfect, and while he’d have loved for it to be on the first try, the truth was, it had taken a bit for him to absolutely nail it. Once he had, though, a triumphant grin overtook his features, high-fiving the engineers in the room and wishing them a good night before exiting the studio. He had just made it out the door when he was stopped in his tracks by the figure pacing in the hallway, lips parting immediately to offer an apology, if he had been waiting, but upon noticing who it was, his lips fell shut, for a moment. RJ Henderson. His eyes widened, briefly starstruck, but then in realization that he had kept RJ Henderson waiting. “Oh, uh, sorry, man.”

It’s been a while since she had the urge to work on her drawing again, one that she has been meaning to color in months ago on photoshop. She forgot how much she missed this, even the tedious parts of it. She wasn’t sure how long she was at this for ( it was easy for her to lose track of time ). She was shaking her Lenovo pen between her pointer and index finger as she stared at her drawing. She scrunched up her nose before chewing on her bottom lip, “I feel like somethings missing,” she started as she tilted her head to the side. “Maybe I should add something to the background? — I could go into more detail with the hair or maybe scratch the whole thing … I’m not so sure about the whole side profile thing.” She brought her free hand up to scratch the nape of her neck as she let out a sigh.

“...I don’t know how much this means from someone who can barely draw stick figures, but Ivy, it’s amazing.” Victor laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. Except, he wasn’t. He remembered that Ivy had always been good at the art-y stuff. It was to her like music was to Vic. It’d been awhile since he’d last seen her work, but as he stared down at the tablet, a grin was quick to tug at his lips. “Side profile and everything.”

Anything Mara related, Lina unfortunately resourced from social media. She followed her Instagram and Twitter–Lina wasn’t on Facebook often, barely posted and barely logged in unless extremely bored. So she easily recognized the male that offered an answer, giving him a once-over and finding herself wondering what Mara had seen in him. As she often did with Alex, except she’d end up trying to go for them specifically because of that curiosity. “Victor.” She responded in greeting, not close with her younger sister enough to feel specifically protective of her, but wary nonetheless because they were related. “I’d heard you’d joined…what was it–? A band here in Santa Monica?” That Bree was part of too, their music occasionally played in Blush Boutique when she felt like being spontaneous and playing the radio while she unpacked shipments. 

Like sand on the beach, the Aldridges were everywhere. Of course, he’d known about Mara’s family while they were together, but never did Victor realize just how many of them were around until after they’d broken up. There was no avoiding them, though Alina admittedly was not as common to run into. In fact, this may have been the first time he’d seen her since breaking up with Mara--a fact that most likely didn’t bode well with the Aldridge. Mentally, he prepared himself for the worst. “...how are you?” He offered with a sheepish smile, hand awkwardly reaching to rub at the back of his neck. His eyebrows rose, briefly, at the mention of the band, not having expected to have tabs kept on him...but then again, with Reckless’ fame, he supposed it didn’t mean anything. She could have simply opened up Twitter and seen the news, or spoken to Bree. “Yeah, yeah, I did. Reckless. The one Bree manages.” Which had been it’s own hurdle to jump over.

He could see Victor looking at him for a short while now, casual glances being sent his way as though he thought he wouldn’t notice. Did the guy think he was that dull? He frowned, narrowing his eyes at the other, having half the mind to just go over there himself and ask what he wanted, when he finally came up to him and spoke. Despite the conversation starting out more cordial than what they’re used to back home, Jamie couldn’t help but feel guarded, even when Victor was already making a joke at his own expense. “Is that a joke?” he asked, not well-versed with humor as it was.

Victor didn’t hate Jamie. Or, at least, he hadn’t even disliked him, at first. He could even understand where the other’s frustration came from, but this thing between them had been going on for so long, it just seemed that there was no attempting to make amends. They were trapped in the same rinse-and-repeat cycle of complaints and passive aggressive responses to the complaints, and it particularly sucked because of Vic’s friendship with Mac, Jamie’s boyfriend. Even now, having genuinely just been trying to be funny, he was met with abrasiveness. “No? I mean, well, yeah, but I didn’t--” A sigh left his lips, head shaking, before he leveled his gaze back to Jamie. “Look, can I just...buy you a drink? Or something?”