#fcundaticnsofdecay

the last hour or so had been busy, mostly with leona's preoccupation with finding the right suit after finding out the one she'd intended to wear to tonight was at the dry cleaners still. it was a scramble to pick something that worked, not to mention the admittedly excessive time she spent on her hair, though she liked it to look effortless, as if she'd barely thought about it. this gala wasn't exactly a big deal or even anything to do with her, just something an old friend asked her to come to and though she wasn't typically interested in that kind of party, she had enjoyed the idea of everly getting dressed up for it. of course, as she finally came to settle behind her in the mirror as she finished up, she groaned, hands finding her shoulders. "baby, you look incredible." she leaned in, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. "like, 'i don't know how i haven't already tried to pin you down for a quickie before we go' incredible."

"I told you, gorgeous, it was work. The meeting was going well and I just couldn't get away," Jamie spoke nonchalantly, as if he hadn't burst through her door hours late, touting a large bouquet of roses. (Getting flowers at that hour had been its own feat.) Meeting with a producer had turned into networking, and one drink had turned several. At some point his phone had died, and by the time he'd realized he was late to pick up Valentina the restaurant he'd made reservations for had already closed. On the cab ride over he'd convinced himself that she would understand, that it was an honest mistake. Though the fact that this wasn't the first time his phone had died probably wasn't on his side. "I wasn't out fucking some other woman, sometimes getting the good jobs just takes a little extra work." Crystal blue eyes held an apologetic look, lips quirking into a half smile as he approached her slowly. "Look, I'm here now. Just tell me how to make it up to you?"

the wedding ring on richie's finger was the same as the tie around his neck or the watch on his wrist, just an accessory to complete an outfit and not something that meant anything to him. his finger was bare most of the time he wasn't home, because while richie himself didn't care, he knew that others would and the ring would only get in the way of his plans. if he was out of town, then it was like going to a foreign restaurant, a chance to sample things he wouldn't ordinarily get to taste and while usually he didn't play favorites, there was one particular meal he found himself craving. charlotte was a pretty thing, someone he only met up with sometimes considering the demands that their work placed on them, but richie had full intentions of a dirty weekend with her inside of a hotel room and has scheduled for such. he'd already booked the room in advance and sent her the number so they could meet up, and as richie swiped his own keycard while pulling a suitcase behind himself, he hoped she'd already arrived. "charlotte? i hope you're naked for me after the day i had."

this trip down memory lane had been sparked by seeing a young woman who looked so eerily like arden, that he hadn't been able to drag his eyes away. looking at her from across the room at the clubhouse, he wondered if she was a new club girl or if she was one of the escorts they'd recently hired for their brothel just outside of town. "navy get your ass over here," one of his brothers chuckled and instantly a shiver moved down victor's back. before realizing it, he had shot across the room towards the blonde woman who barely looked eighteen, although he knew she was years beyond. her young looks were more than likely the reason she'd been hired and the rage he felt was unwarranted, but he felt it nonetheless. "get your hands off her!" he shouted at the man, grabbing navy by her arm and dragging her towards the back door in a fit of anger.

tilting his head at her, one corner of ezra's mouth curled up in a smile. if nothing else, she would be a good distraction for the next few hundred miles, assuming she didn't jump out of the truck on the way or try to rob him or do something else stupid. another reason you weren't supposed to pick up hitchhikers is you never knew what they may have on them, but she didn't look jumped up on anything. "lucky you, i'm on my way to pick up a shipment, so you've got at least a few hours before you're forbidden. you heading anywhere special?" he wasn't going to leave his route for her, but he was curious if he was getting her anywhere closer.

they'd been roommates for a week now. three more to go and roman already knew he'd hate it here without her. he'd never felt better coming home from a day at the shop or after a crazy party, than while gen had been living with him. he'd promised her a month with him while she looked for her own place, but how could he tell her he wanted her to stay? the loneliness had all but disappeared since she had moved in. roman stepped into the apartment, throwing his keys carelessly on a side table. "gen? you here?" he called out as he walked to the fridge for a beer as he rubbed his sore neck, from the position he'd sat in while tattooing for eight long hours. "can we have a night in?" he asked when he heard her enter the kitchen behind him, still bent over the fridge in search of the one beer he knew he had in there.

"you alright?" gabe heard the movement up the hall before he even caught sight of her stepping into the living room. that was his thing, always on alert, always listening. he was drinking a weak coffee, making plans for when he'd lay in bed to get a few hours as she slept, but the sight of her awake put a pin in those plans.

it'd been a week since she'd last even caught sight of alicia and seeing her again had left raquel in a strange spot. she'd been plagued with memories of what they'd done that night, when their argument had swiftly shifted to something far more passionate and intense. she barely wanted to face her, but she figured she couldn't avoid her forever. especially when they always seemed to hit the same parties. awkwardly, she hovered in the doorway of the room she'd walked into, spying the other brunette there as she folded her arms over her chest. "this where we do the whole 'that's never happening again, just by the way' thing? cause i figure we're a little overdue."