what are you, cracked?

"I mean, look at him. He's too pretty," Cam said, obviously grasping at straws, but still too convinced that Ace was up to something to see what was right in front of him. If that wasn't a sign he was traumatised... At the very least it was keeping them entertained. He'd opened his mouth to tell Trevor it was never going to happen while he lived and breathed, but he got cut off and sighed, figuring there was no harm in playing make believe. It wasn't like he hadn't set the standard by getting his ass signed up anyway. "Well, we'd all have to beat the shit out of you first. Then if you survive that... depends what he wants you for. Dude's Rosewood's Pablo Escobar, he's got shit goin' on everywhere. Maybe straight dealing, maybe enforcing... y'know, debt collecting, retaliating against threats, that kind of shit. Yes, it's the worst thing because it's criminal and you're better than your waste of oxygen father, Trevor. Ace'll make you hurt people because he knows it'll get to me and you ain't no pawn, man. I mean, fuck, Polo keeps some guy's finger in their freezer as a trophy."

"I've looked at him," he admitted, though he couldn't say that was his type - too pretty. The way he saw it Trevor didn't have a whole lot else going for him. He had a college degree but no clue what to do with it, with just the loans he'd cleverly taken out in his father's name to show for it. And once the old man inevitably kicked it, choking on his own vomit probably, like Cam predicted, who knew what sorts of problems he'd inherit. It was far from rock bottom but close enough to entertain joining a gang, apparently. "Easy, been takin' punches my whole life." He finished off his beer and reached for another. More than the Chadwells or other big names on the north side, Rosewood revolved around Ace- of course he had business everywhere. Where someone like him possibly fit in to that he didn't know but they never thought Cam would get so involved either. "You do it. You think I'm better than you? Look at my lawyer dawg." He wasn't dismissing him at all, but it was hard to take his scare tactics seriously when he considered who was talking. "What else am I gonna do?"

At least this time around they seemed to be talking each other off the ledge of an outburst. Hashtag growth or whatever. That being said, Cam was still thinking about the logistics of how much water and asparagus he could safely consume between now and when they scoped out the Duchamp house the next day. Old man Duchamp's bed was never gonna be the same. "Marlo? No way, he don't do chicks... And I already talked to Ace about it. Tellin' me all about how he fucks her brains out, which she corroborated by saying her brains were scrambled. He's up to something, man. I can feel it." Cam paused mid sip to give Trevor a deadpan look, knowing he'd said too much now. "He gave you a nickname, means he likes you. I mean, it's a shit nickname but he ain't that funny anyways."

"Shit he's gay too? I thought you were the token." His nose scrunched up, "Why the hell would she tell you all that- actually why would either of 'em tell you that, fuckin' nasty." He shook his head, nearly choking on a mouth full of beer as he tried to knock the mental image he'd unwillingly conjured up out of his system. It made him forget about everything with his dad for a minute at least, a brief flash of gossip-fueled distraction. Trevor didn't say anything about the look Cam gave him, just nodded and quietly sipped his beer, wheels turning. "And what if he did," he wondered aloud. though he anticipated Cam would shut it down immediately, and he raised his hand before he could cut him off. "Humor me a sec, okay. What if Ace.. recruited me or whatever, and I said yes. What would that look like and.. would it be the worst thing."

Cam took a long gulp of his beer in an attempt to find zen. He'd always been angry but had never let it control him, though Trevor's dad sure did like to hammer the button. It was just one of those moments that made him wonder when they'd ever catch a break– because that's what it had always been, them as a collective. Whatever one of them felt, they all felt, and Cam had always been most vigilant of their most volatile limb. "Jesus fuckin–" He shook his head, every minute of his life aging him ten times faster than anyone else, he was sure of it. "It's Ace, bro. He's done that weird hypno shit he does to lure people in. She thinks she can change him or something, I don't know. I was out here too busy worrying about him jumping you in, and he's snatched her up instead. Next he'll try and woo Greg or somethin'... Weird mind game bullshit..."

Though his reputation as the crazy Duchamp boy still preceded him, Trevor didn't carry his anger like used to- he wasn't explosive. Probably because he'd found other outlets, like throwing shit and breaking things, and he was still reckless as always, but for so long he wasn't honest with himself, about who his father was. It made him resentful, towards his friends with normal parents, towards anyone else who didn't have to put up with the shit he did. He paused for a second, lips pursed as he tried to make sense of that information but no, he really couldn't. "You sure? I thought it was one of his friends, uh, Arden's old neighbor. Marlo? Yeah he comes by the shop sometimes, picks her up on his bike." Or maybe it was Ace and they had some weird agreement where one of his buddies looked out for her and gave her a ride home, he didn't know. Who Arden did or didn't fuck wasn't really any of his business... except when she made it his business, by doing it at their place of employment, and Trevor had to walk in on the aftermath. "Wait," he circled back to something else Cam said, "You think Ace wants to jump me in? The same Ace who still calls me Trenton?"

"I would, though. If you wanted." Sure, he was certain Trevor would never get to that point but he'd be damned if he didn't lay it on the table. He was ten toes down for his boys, and in that moment he wondered if he were becoming more like Ace by the minute. Every day was a headfuck as he bounced between calling it reconciliation and being convinced he was being gaslit into thinking his brother was any different. Mostly he just found a tiny bit of jealousy still lingering that Ace had been the one to save the day the first time around, as if Trevor hadn't considered him good for it. "Who gives a fuck? I'll shit on his pillow if he don't got nothin' to take."

"I know," he said back, matter of fact. There was no doubt in his mind that Cam had his back like that but again he'd never ask him. If there were a situation where they ran up on his dad and just beat the shit out of him again, however... He had Trevor's full permission on that one. "Yeah? Maybe tomorrow, I got some shit of mine I wanna take back anyway, but I'm done thinkin' about him for the day." He took another swig of beer then made a hard pivot in conversation, "You know Arden's been fuckin' someone in the stock room at work? Least I think it's her, cause it ain't me and it ain't Pete, so..."

Cam hated seeing Trevor at the mercy of his father's bullshit, always had. Much the same as it had always been between all of the boys and their respective troubles. There was never much they could do aside from taking their frustrations out in whatever way necessary; sometimes it was breaking things, sometimes it was drinking, sometimes it was playing chicken on the train tracks just to try and feel something. "Yeah well, not all dreams are made to come true," he responded, dark in a way that meant he was serious. There were few people he would wish real harm on, but Trevor's old man was at the top of the list. "As if the shit stain would learn his lesson," Cam took the beer, not intending on raining on Trevor's attempts at optimism, however hollow they may be. He just knew better by that point between the shit hand he had been dealt with his own family, and what he'd seen Trevor deal with. "Ace probably knows someone inside..." Cam shrugged as he took a swig of his beer, serious but not serious but also kind of serious in the offer. "Whatever man, you don't need this shit. He's away for while, maybe we should rob him."

"Didn't want you to do it anyway," he said just as serious, in case that wasn't clear already. It wouldn't make Trevor feel any better, knowing his best friend crossed that line for him. Maybe he had already, with the gang, and it'd just be another day at work for him, but he doubted it. Ace had his issues but he couldn't see him going that far- it seemed like there were still some things he wanted to protect his brother from, if he could help it. Watching Cam and his brother's relationship evolve might've given him a little glimmer of hope too, as he went from someone Trevor regularly said he wanted to kill, much like Cam talked about his father, to someone he oddly enough really respected. Ace was complicated though, and his dad was just a piece of shit. "He'll be away from me," he offered, as an alternative bright spot. At least he could be sure of that. Even if he'd kept his word on leaving him alone these past few years there was always the sneaking feeling that he'd get bold and show face. "Yeah?" He took a long gulp of his beer, considering. "I wouldn't be mad at that… Fucker just asked me for money, you think he's got shit worth stealin'?" Truthfully he couldn't remember the last time he'd made it farther than the living room of his house since he moved out, and so maybe his old man did have some doomsday level stash at the back, and Trevor shrugged, "We could drop by though. See for ourselves."

"Yes, really." The topic of her father was one she hardly brought up to anyone. The man was a ghost that haunted their home, which was saying something, given that her mother's presence was felt in every corner of her life. Having a dead mom and a barely present dad was quite the double whammy, but Sophia dealt with it in stride. She separated herself after he attempted to become mayor and rubbed elbows with the elite of Rosewood. She was never interested in the role he wanted her to play, but now her father seemed interested in her life. A plot twist she never saw coming.

They didn't talk about their families much, or ever, which is how Trevor preferred it, if only so he didn't have to get into everything with his dad. Or mention that his mom was dead- that was just a bummer. Sophia's dad seemed to know a lot about him though, which was fine, but it did make him feel.. strange. There was a whole part of his life, of himself really, he'd totally closed off to her and yet here she was, bragging to her dad about him. Maybe what he felt was guilt, pitted towards the bottom of his stomach, for how he'd taken their relationship for granted. And that he'd just assumed this was as casual for her as it was for him. "You told him all that?" He was surprised clearly but there was a teasing quality to his tone too, until he got serious a second, "That's really nice of you. I would've done dinner regardless, but hearing that I'm clever and you like me... doesn't hurt either."

Cam was in an alright place for possibly the first time in his life - he had his friends, he had Greg, he was doing well at school, even Ace wasn't trying to kill him anymore which in itself felt like a miracle. To say he had a pep in his step might have been too generous given he'd just got back from hanging out with Arden and figuring out she was sleeping with his brother had melted his brain. Still, he was in good spirits as he'd come home, hoping one of the guys might be around to help him rinse his mind out with the beers he'd picked up on his way back. Hearing Trevor on the phone had him moving quietly so not to disturb him, then he caught some of what he was saying and stilled, selfishly wanting to hear as much as he could before Trevor noticed him. Given he was obviously talking to his father he knew it was unlikely he'd want to elaborate since Cam had threatened to end the guy on more than one occasion.

Life had been mostly uneventful for Trevor as of late- a little boring, sure, but he wasn't worried about how he'd have to cheat death next, like he did with Panic, or about seeing his dad, and if he'd get out of that unscathed. Boring wasn't so bad when it meant he was surviving, managing more than most ever thought possible of them. The bar was low but he was still still clearing it at least, proving he could be more than just his father's son, that he wasn't destined to end up just like him. "Nope, not my problem. That's what I told him." Retaliation for that was what worried him, that once his father weaseled his way out of jail (and he likely would) he'd come back with a vengeance, eager to teach his disrespectful kid a lesson. He walked right past Cam and snatched the six pack from him, heading into the kitchen with it. "Yeah but then you wouldn't get to kill him," he joked, tossing Cam a beer after he'd grabbed one for himself. Sometimes he wished he was dead, wondered if it'd be easier to mourn what their relationship never was instead of the alternative, wondering if he'd change. "Some time'll probably be good for him. He can stop drinking, get into a routine. Read a book."

The soft breeze danced across Sophia's skin as she sat beside Trevor. Her knees were brought up to her chest, one arm hugging them and the other holding a beer. If you were to ask her four years ago if she'd ever willingly drink beer, she would've told you no, but over time, her mind had been swayed. The taste was still bitter each time it touched her tongue, but the company made it bearable.

Cracking a cold one was obviously one of Trevor's favorite past times, a close second to throwing stuff and breaking shit. The difference in sharing that past time with Sophia versus his friends was he honestly felt more relaxed — or maybe relaxed wasn't it, he chilled with his friends too, but he had some decorum. It got quiet between them, which was nice too, unusual for him of course, who could never seem to keep his mouth shut. Then she asked if he'd go to her dad's for dinner.

Now wasn't the moment to say 'I told you so' but Sophia couldn't help the knowing look on her face as she glanced at Trevor's back. "extremely crispy." she grimaced at the forming burn. "I told you to wear sunscreen or at least carry it. The sun's been unforgivable these last few days."

"Who just carries sunscreen," he scoffed in response. "It's cool, I gotta even this out anyway." He lifted one of his sleeves to show off the farmer's tan he'd acquired just in the last few weeks. "You know anyone with a pool, or, actually- do you have a pool?"

"Not really, no. He's kinda creepy. Not a good creepy either." The live action Jim Carrey movie that came out eons ago had freaked Salem out as a child. It was a scar she carried to this day. "Okay, yeah, but we can agree Rudolph is a classic. Oh? I didn't know the streets were saying he's a gay icon. I should probably take back all the negative shit i've said about him lately."

"Not even animated Grinch?" He shrugged, not having any strong feelings about it either way. "You know what's crazy about Rudolph- or not Rudolph, but the song. They're naming all the reindeer, like, hey you know all these guys, but do you know the most famous of all? Like yeah if I know all those other reindeer obviously I know the most famous one."

"can someone tell me why the grinch has a renaissance every ten years. " salem mumbled to herself as she found herself passing yet another man dressed up as the fury, green giant. "there are other holiday icons people can be dressing as. like ... buddy the elf or frosty. i'd take the kid from a christmas story at this point. i'm tired of the grinch!"

"You don't fuck with the grinch?" Rufus gave a nod to the guy in the suit as they walked past him. "Nah, Elf's overrated, the green guy's classic. And a gay icon..? I think. I don't know, I'm just saying what I've heard."

Cami's lips curled up subtly, always finding Rufus' small maneuvers of affection so sweet, a lesser woman would probably even swoon. "Speaking as someone who tries to ride you every chance I get, that is an apt choice." Cami, in a manner similar to Rufus peered over at him with a mischievous smirk then started singing 'baby shark' to him while her fingers wiggled, seeking to brush against any part of him they could manage, teasingly.

"Knew you'd say that." He flicked at the water near Cami's hand, hardly enough to splash her. Once she started singing he laughed and pushed off the side of her floatie, sending them both floating in opposite directions. Rufus then slid off his into the water and swam back her way, head emerging back at her side. "You're lucky I like you too much to flip this over," he teased as he threatened to do just that.

"If you were a pool float what shape do you think you'd be? I think I'd be like..." Cami floated on a classic flamingo, running her fingertips back and forward over the water at a slow and steady pace, really considering her own answer, "Lips. Like red kiss print type lips. I feel like that's the energy that most resonates with me you know?"

He reached out to grab Cami's pool float from where he was laid out on his own and gave it a tug, ensuring they didn't drift too far from another. "Lips? Oh I'm sure," Rufus teasing, peering over at her from the corner of his eye. "I'm going with shark, but the kind with the handles you'd try to ride around on as a kid."