#devilsj.starter

❛ ☾ ◟━ TIME: afternoon

❛ ☾ ◟━ STATUS: open to anyone

Throwing the ball for Idris to catch, Marisol cooed out words of encouragement for her dog to go fetch. It was a beautiful sunny day, with a forgiving breeze that offsets the humidity and she wanted to spend her day outdoors rather than cooped up inside. While she would have preferred tanning on beach in Ibiza, this would have to do. Once Idris dropped the ball in front of her, she impulsively threw it and immediately regretted it as it almost hit a passerby, "Ah fuck." she muttered to herself before flashing them an apologetic smile. "I am so so so so so so sorry! Would you believe me if I told you that the wind had my hair obscuring my vision while I threw that!?" Instructing Idris to get it, she strode over to the individual and asked, "Are you alright though?"

capping at (4/4) location: the junction diner

Aarti had downed three cups of mediocre coffee and her patience was running thin. An hour late. This was getting on her nerves. When they finally strolled in, she didn't bother hiding her irritation. She lifted their hand, pointed at their watch and said, "Did you miss the time change? You're more than hour late." Patience was not her virtue when she was starving and it showed because she was on the verge of throwing a hangry fit. "Next time you're running late, a text would be nice. Some of us have sensitive stomachs."

LOCATION: Diamond Plaza CAPPING: 04/04

Location: civic centre

Dominic looked around the Civic Centre, standing in line to register his offerings to the auction, that now was dressed to the nines like its attendees. He’d been to many charity events such as this in his old life, he thought to himself as he felt an old spark of something settle in his stomach.

An understated matte black gift bag hung from his right index finger while he fought the urge to play with the Dunhill Rollagas vintage lighter than sat in his slacks pocket. Hopefully the money his items garners would go to a good cause. “Would be good to one day cater an event like this.” He whispered beneath his breath.

The coffee in her hand had gone cold, but Sienna didn’t move. She was curled up in one of the waiting room chairs, her hoodie pulled around her like armour, dark circles carved deep under her eyes. The emergency wing was quiet at this hour—just the occasional shuffle of nurses or the click of a clipboard. Outside the glass windows, Devil’s Junction flickered to life with the kind of indifference that stung tonight. People went on living, laughing, arguing over parking spots. Her world had stalled, but theirs kept spinning.

She hadn’t slept in nearly two days, not really. Her dad had been admitted again, this time worse than before, and the doctors still didn’t know what was wrong. That helpless shrug—that look of “we’re doing everything we can”—was becoming too familiar. Sienna hated it. She wanted data, she wanted solutions, not more waiting.

She brought the cup to her lips before remembering it was cold and grimaced. Setting it down, she exhaled slowly, letting her head fall back against the wall behind her. She didn’t notice the sound of approaching footsteps until they were close, and even then, it took her a moment to lift her head. Her voice was soft, scratchy.

“Hey. Didn’t expect to see anyone tonight.” A tired smile, just barely there, flickered at the corner of her mouth. “You here for someone too?” Was she trying to find some solidarity with someone else right now? Yes--perhaps it was true, misery really did love company.

⸻   Enrolling on that open-24-hours gym had certainly been one of the best decisions that Sasha had taken all year, last year. With her hectic schedule, it was hard to tell when she would have time to hit the gym and she couldn’t afford the luxury of having a two-hour time slot in his day, every day, at the same hours. And that was one of the few fitness centers in DJ that never closed, so she needn’t worry about punctuality anymore than she did as a doctor. Yet that was not the only reason that made her choose that specific gym. It had a huge swimming pool underground that was also open for use all night long. An avid swimmer since childhood, Sasha couldn’t decline the opportunity of having a swimming pool all to herself, all night (for that was the time in which the gym had fewer attendees, and, usually, the time slot that she had available for exercising).

    That was another one of those long nights that she spent at the gym. Swimming, or simply enjoying the calm and the silence that the lonely pool provided… It was something, she found, that helped keep her mind away from issues that she wanted to avoid, at least for the time being. And most importantly, exercising kept her away from, not just thoughts, but a habit that she had been trying to avoid, as of recent… And so, there she was, in the silent, isolated pool. After having done a few rounds, she found herself quietly contemplating… That is before her train of thought was cut off by an abrupt noise in the distance. Someone seemed to be coming by the desolated pool area… No one was supposed to be there at that hour. Well, no one except herself and herself only.

     Curious, and slightly worried, she immediately asked, ❛ Who's there?❜

The sun had barely dipped below the horizon, casting the surroundings in that in-between light where everything looked a little softer, a little more worn-in. Demir knelt by the side of his beat-up 1972 Chevelle, grease smudging his forearms and the front of his plain grey tee. Hood popped, socket wrench in hand, he worked in silence, save for the occasional muttered curse or the metallic clink of a bolt slipping loose.

The street was quiet except for the distant hum of traffic and some kid’s music blasting a few blocks over. Demir wiped his hands on a rag, eyes scanning the engine like it had personally betrayed him. He didn’t look up when he spoke. “You ever get the feeling machines break down just to remind you you’re not in control of shit?”

He finally glanced sideways, catching whoever had wandered close—someone walking their dog, a neighbor coming home, or maybe just a curious stranger drawn by the glint of chrome and a man who looked like he had more past than future.

His tone wasn’t exactly warm, but it wasn’t closed off either. Just a door left half-open. Enough for someone to step through. “Got beer in the fridge. You’re welcome to one if you’re not in a rush.” And with that, he went back to work—waiting, quietly, to see if the universe had plans for company tonight.

where : event !!

capping @ 3 2/3

Mariana nurses her third glass of wine, feeling that perfect buzz where everything seems a little softer around the edges. The cheap plastic cup doesn't match the supposedly upscale festival, but the wine inside isn't half bad. When her favourite song starts playing through the speakers, she perks up and can't help swaying slightly with the beat. "Not bad for a hoity-toity event, huh?" She gestures broadly at the festival around them. "Good food, even greater alcohol and the best music. I need to come to these things more often." She takes another sip, enjoying how the tangy sweetness lingers. For once she's not analysing everything to death; just existing in a moment that feels almost normal.