Dying in LA

Cassandra and Santiago Headcanons

Santiago has a board in his office that said ‘Number of Days Since Someone Mentioned Gusto del Paradiso’ and because people keep talking about Cassandra’s pastries in front of his pastry display cabinet. 

However, he doesn’t sell cannolis and when he wants one he calls Cassandra and has a bunch delivered to his apartment. 

If they meet on the street then you better just walk around them they will stand there and chat for hours. 

oly often wondered what things would be like if he knew everything about santi, maybe they’d actually step outside of the cafe together. go for dinner or a movie. something stupid and mundane that would leave behind everything they know about the mafias and the conflict. they could’ve made a world for themselves, but it was doubtful they ever would. oly smiled, fluttering his eyes at santi as he watched the other blow smoke out. ‘have i really known you to be careful, santi? it is a nice party… for the teenage girl, but it could be a great party just between us.’ his eyes drifted back down to santi’s lips, before plucking the cigarette back from him to take a drag in. ‘unless you’re here on a date or something, but then you probably wouldn’t be sitting here with me.’

//closed @santiagonavarette

The time has finally come and Javier unleashed himself from he clutches of his suit. He was grinning like a wild man, a gun and a knife at hand. He felt his blood rushing in his body. He did not attend the event to sing and dance, celebrating a little girl’s party. He was there for this moment alone. The Mexicans will be claiming the criminal underworld, and Javier will do whatever it takes to get his hands on the diamonds. 

Javier was whistling, clearly enjoying himself as he was attacked by a French looking man. He took his knife and skillfully stabbed him in the gut, before pushing his hand for the knife to reach the chest, then twisting it, making sure his insides were beyond impossible to be saved. The blood stained his white polo, almost like a design. He felt the dripping of the blood in his hand, a familiar sensation, fueling his very passion. Javier focused solely on getting to the diamonds, killing whoever was in his way. Another man ran towards him with a knife at hand, and Javier took him by the neck, did a headlock and was about to slit his throat when a familiar man came in hallway “Oh, Santi! It’s good too see you!” He smiled, the other man still in his arms as Javier points a knife in the man’s throat. “Didn’t thought I’d see you from the amount of people.” He said, finally slashing the throat of the other man, a limp body falling on the floor. “So I have to eliminate some. You okay?” 

Santiago was rather exasperated by this whole thing, he was making his way towards the front door. Apparently, they weren’t allowing people to leave but he was happy to play up the idea that he was just a poor cripple. See, I have a cane. He had tried that with the hotel security but it didn’t work. He wondered if they saw the blood on his cane. If they would connect the bruises and broken bones to him.

When Javier appeared, Santi actually smiled. “Javier, it’s good to you too.” Someone came running out of the ballroom behind them and Santiago stuck his cane out, tripping the man and then hitting him in the head with the handle. “I do hope that wasn’t a civilian,” he said absently. “I’m fine. A little sick of this whole evening. Can you see any way out of here? I’d rather not get shot.”

“Santi, that’s your loss, if you had asked you know mami y papi would have never said no.” Mia shakes her head fondly, happily devouring the pink fluffy ball of sugar in her hands as Santi went down memory lane if the mention of drugs was of any indication. “A petting zoo? Pa que? I think I heard there is a petting zoo here too….um no thanks i’ll pass…” Mia wasn’t a huge fan of most animals, with the exception of horses….and dogs. But even then, it’s been forever since she’s been to a rancho, and she wasn’t exactly itching to go back anytime soon. The thought of a petting zoo at her brother’s party made her nose wrinkle, gracias a Dios, that never happened, 

“Oh es obvio que esta niña es inocente y protegida de mas.” Mia smirks at her brother, her mind recalling some instances where his acts of rebellion would sometimes include her.  “and what exactly would you have brought?” 

Mia’s brows furrows when Santi’s attention was taken by something else, only to have him deflate a little. She leans in and places her hand over his, the one that was holding onto his cane. “Que paso? Suddenly your aura shifted Santi. Te sientes bien?”

“Yes, they would have. And it would have been a mess,” he said with a laugh. “It’s good I didn’t think of it.” Santiago sipped his drink, “I do like the chocolate fountain. I’m going to remember that. Maybe El Placer needs one.” H He was distracted, thinking that something to take the edge off aside from alcohol and nicotine actually sounded pretty good right now. Especially if it met forgetting the brown eyes that kept missing him. 

He chuckled at his sister, “I had many people ask me to go. I’m very popular, I’ll have you know.” Santiago was about to go back to the dessert table and find all the chocolate he could when Mia asked what was wrong and he squirmed a little. “Todo bien,” he paused then, catching sight of Olyvar again. “I’m just avoiding someone. Or he’s avoiding me. We’ve agreed to avoid each other. I know him from the cafe. That’s all.” Of course, Mia wasn’t going to let it go so he added in explanation, “We’re...I know him intimately.” 

maybe they didn’t know each other in the ways that it mattered, as in he didn’t know how many siblings santiago had but he knew he had some. did it really matter? they pretended they were just sex, but outside those walls they never spoke and nothing ever mattered. but maybe not, because here they were outside of el pacer and taking. oly couldn’t help but smile when they were alone, sitting next to each other. he was thankful for santi lighting his cigarette and took in a deep inhale, exhaling the smoke up with a deep sigh of relief. the weight of the world lifted out his shoulders. 

his gaze dropped to santi’s parted lips, barely hearing his words and oly plucked the cigarette from between his own lips to place it down between santi’s, eyes darting back up to the others. ‘as you wish, navarette, keep looking at me like that and you can have whatever you want.’

Sometimes Santiago thought about asking. Thought about learning more about Olyvar. Here it seemed like more of a possibility. There was no chance he would break the speel. It was all very real here and in the real world, there were questions that people had to answer. Consequences. Still, he smiled a little as Olyvar sat next to him. This was nice. Just like this. It was nice. 

it wasn’t as if he got this nervous around regular people, but this was santiago. the fact that their relationship never went past the gates or el pacer should be reason enough. there wasn’t so much as a text, no yearning for each other. it was just,, olyvar walking in and being completely week and unable to resist the man. just sex would be easier, but whatever they’d become, the long talks they had after… that was something else entirely. 

and it was completely wrong and could never go past what it was. there wouldn’t be a time where oly would somehow meet santi’s family, go to family dinners or maybe even come to one of these things as his date. that wouldn’t ever happen, it was so far out of the clouds… so why did he wonder? it was a fleeting thought still, maybe the man knew exactly what role he played in olyvar’s life, how olyvar couldn’t tear his eyes away even if he tried. 

he was nervous. his eyes darted over santi’s face, not wanting to be caught looking too long and they fell again towards a balcony. ‘thank you. uh, yeah. as much as one can be enjoying a night like this.’ he sighed quietly as he took another sip, and reached into his coat for a cigarette to rest between his lips. ‘come out for a smoke?’

Santiago felt warm all over every time Olyvar looked at him and frankly, it drove him up the wall. Not because it made him horny or uncomfortable but because he couldn’t control it. Get it together, Navarette. He shouldn’t let some man he barely knew aside from sex get to him like this. Except that he did know Olyvar. He knew him in some way. Those long, moonlit talks in Santiago’s one-bedroom over El Placer or their discuss over coffee or whiskey, sometimes playing footsie under the white table cloths. He knew Olyvar from there. Whatever version of Olyvar he was getting. 

Not for the first time, Santiago wondered how this would end. How he would feel when this fell apart. Because it couldn’t last. 

&& OPEN

Mia was feeling an urge for a snack, too much booze and not enough food. That was never a good plan and so she started looking at the different options the birthday gala had. Her expectations high for an event so grand and it was such a wide range of finger foods and appetizers, all of them looking mouthwatering. She grinned, knowing that no matter what she got it would be absolutely delicious. 

And yet, when she saw the sweet and pastries section, her eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store. That gaze of wonder and lust for the sweets there on display evident in Mia’s chocolate brown eyes. Brownies, cookies, cakes and pies, all in individual servings ready to be picked up and devoured yet Mia’s true excitement hiked up when she saw the ball of pink fluff waiting for her. Cotton candy, sure its just pure sugar but for whatever reason it made Mia so ridiculously happy. She gave a little dance, feeling someone behind her she turns and happily explains, “They have cotton candy…at a gala….oh my god I love them!” 

Santiago watched Mia fondly, picking up an overly frosted cupcake and smiled as he started to lick off the frosting. “If I’d known I could have a birthday like this, I would have begged Mama and Papa for a petting zoo. Though I think my birthdays would have had far more drugs. I get the sense this girl is rather sheltered.” He glanced around like he might see something that he hadn’t before. “If I’d known, I would have brought some with me.” 

As he looked around, Santi caught sight of Olyvar and sighed, moving so Mia was blocking his view. “Where’s your date, darling?” 

You’re Worst Than Nicotine | Olyvar/Santiago Playlist

@santiagonavarette

the pair had always acted strangely around one another, so at least that bit wasn’t new. not seeing each other in the familiarity of his cafe, that was. he liked the cafe, with it’s mostly welcoming walls and tables and whatever else because let’s be real. olyvar only went to that cafe for one person and one person only, the lovely man who owned it. how it’d started, he didn’t know. they weren’t good for each other, either. they didn’t like to talk business but it wasn’t as if it wasn’t there. santiago was with the cartel being whoever active, olyvar actually had no idea and oly was… a floater. he trusted no one and hovered around everyone if he could. they weren’t good, it wouldn’t last… it wasn’t even one thing or another. maybe it’d be easier if it were JUST sex, but it always went one step further. 

he enjoyed his company and maybe that was the most dangerous part because when it came to seeing him in public… well he didn’t know what his move was. he’d already spent enough time downing drinks and just trying to avoid his gaze but also look at him every chance he could. santiago navarette… just standing there looking fucking gorgeous as he spoke to people olyvar didn’t know. then he was alone and it might be his only opportunity to walk over. grabbing two fresh glasses of whiskey– different than what they’d usually drink back in his cafe but good, he hoped– he walked over, extending one out with a smile, an almost shy smile.

‘santiago, this is a nice suit. you look really gorgeous.’ oly even went as far as tugging at santi’s tie playfully before putting it back into place and looking deep into his warm hazel eyes. he honestly had no idea how to act, but he missed the other and he wanted to talk and he hoped it was obvious enough despite the whole interaction being surrounded by awkwardness. 

Santiago has seen Olyvar come in and hadn’t known if he should go and say hello or not. Their relationship was one that was rather locational. At El Placer, Santiago knew exactly where they stood. If he saw the man at Barney’s, he might have turned a corner and spent the next hour in the shoe department if it meant not having to figure out where they stood outside his restaurant. He could always ask the question ‘what are we doing?’ but then the spell would be broken, the question would have to be answered and the answer would be ‘we’re not’ because while Santi felt good with Olyvar, he had commitments.

So instead, when Olyvar didn’t come to him, Santiago started up a conversation with the Dean of Tisch, about Santiago offering a possible scholarship. He drank away any pain that might appear in his leg and his fingers started to itch for a cigarette. He mingled and sometimes he caught sight on Olyvar in the crowd but never caught his eye. Still, even when deep in conversation he could feel the other man’s eyes on him. They made him feel warm and that made him feel...strange and oddly guilty. 

Mia squealed with utter excitement and joy the minute she heard Santi’s voice from the back. She quickened her pace and as soon as she made her way into the little office of her brother’s she dropped her bags and rushed to him. She didn’t go full force for the hug on account for his leg and his dependence on his cane but that didn’t stop her from wrapping her arms around him tight and squeezing even harder. “Te he extranado tanto,” she breathes. She finally lets go to get a better look at him. “Technically I’m supposed to be on my way to my new apartment so I can freshen up… but I didn’t want to wait another single moment before seeing you again! Saaaanti,” she singsongs his name, a longtime habit since they were children that she’s never been able to outgrow. “A year is too much time apart, how have you been hermano? How is business?” 

Santiago hugged her tightly and smiled, pressing a soft kiss into her hair. “I’m glad you came here first. If you’d got to your apartment, I don’t know if I would have gotten to see you.” He said and then guided her back into his office where they sat down. He had missed her voice and her smile and her smell. “Yes, I will have to work to keep you in New York as long as I can.” He leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees. “I’ve been well. Working mostly. As you can see the café is doing very well.” Santi smiled proudly. “Though I’d like to have you look at the books. You're better at numbers and tax forms than I am.”