you dont know shit

Sure, there were other guys she could sleep with, but Sweet Pea was different. There was something more intriguing about how she stumbled upon the tattoo shop. It was classic feeling, no phones, or texts. No booty calls. Just the two of them when she felt like going over there. Plus there was an added bonus, he didn’t seem to mind. 

A smirk played across her lips when he asked her if Christmas came early. “I suppose it has. Although, Santa’s helper costume is not under this. This is just the beginning.” Brooke hummed as she walked closer to the desk. She eyed his legs up on the desk and took in his aura. “So, it looks like it’s a pretty relaxing afternoon for you, boss.” She mused as she took in some of the paperwork. “Judging by how you’re seated there.” 

A flash of disappointment showed on his face, as he took in the length of her body once more before his eyes settled upon hers, lazy grin on his lips. “I have a few hours to kill before my next appointment, might as well get comfortable, right?” he muttered, placing the pen back between his teeth. He leaned back on the chair, tilting the front legs backwards as he balanced on the back legs. 

“But who knows, might get a walk in or two. No doubt it would be the more....responsible thing to appear available. After all, the door isn’t locked, anyone could turn up....at any time.” 

He saw someone looking at some of the items and he thought they looked a bit lost and he approached them from behind. It wasn’t his job, but whilst he had grabbed the servers service he could at least try and help. 

“You looking for something in particular?” 

ARCHIE: We definitely are, man. You're family too, man. It's been really hard getting back to civilian life and having someone there who gets what its like has been helping the process.

ARCHIE: Complicated how?

ARCHIE: I mean Kris Kringle was originally a ginger, so... I'd like to think that even with a little fat on me I'd still look decent. Yeah, what blonde might that be??

SP: We live together, are raising a child together, run the MC together yet...we're not together-together. Hanna falling pregnant wasn't planned, y'know? It sort of changed the relationship we did have. We've just never addressed what we now are. It's a long story, one involving a lot of beer. You'll hear the rest tonight.

ARCHIE: You know I hate getting sentimental. But man. I'm so appreciative of you and Hanna and you guys letting me hang around and stuff. It's been really nice.

ARCHIE: They grow up so fast it's nuts.

ARCHIE: Get me a fat suit and I'm down.

SP: I do, but we're man enough to bro it out. And in all seriousness, it's been nice for us also. We're both examples of blood doesn't make you family. And you're definitely family.

SP: I keep getting the urge for more, but it's very complicated and I don't know if it's just a fleeting thought or a genuine want. But I definitely have no regrets.

SOUTHSIDEKING - new post

You lucky you’re cute miss. The real appreciation should go to this QUEEN. Not only a beautiful woman but a fierce, fantastic mom.  I’m lucky, so is Ember and so is everyone you welcome and look out for. You saved me, now and back then and without you I definitely wouldn’t be who I am now.  ​ #queen #mom #appreciationpost 

ARCHIE: I had a feeling. I am more than happy.

ARCHIE: Perfect. I'll be there.

ARCHIE: I'd love to. Thanks so much for the invite.

ARCHIE: I'll be bearing gifts for Ember.

SP: Of course, you're family, bro.

SP: God, first Christmas, fucking wild man it's come so quick.

ARCHIE: That sounds awesome. I'm down to help.

ARCHIE: Bro- all my days in musical theater in high school got me covered in glitter. I'm not ashamed. Don't be ashamed of the glitter, Pea.

SP: Okay, I secretly love the glitter. Happy?

SP: And that's chill bro, swing by anytime after 9.

ARCHIE: I'm surprisingly feeling festive and need some ideas of how I should enjoy the holiday season. What's your favorite thing to do during Hanukkah and Christmas time?

Solo Thread - Sweet Pea - 7 years ago. Ft: Reggie (mentioned) @thereginaldmantle​ Music Muse For Setting: Live Forever - Oasis TW: Fire, Swearing, Long Post

The leaflet had been scrunched up in his school bag, barely any notice paid to it when he first received it but now it was flattened out in his hands as he sat on the pier. His feet were dangling off the end, the sun was falling and as he took a deep breath. He was out of here, in less than 24 hours and he didn’t want to think it had been a spur of the moment decision. He could stay, he had the Serpents- he could just get a job, make a life in the town he’d been abandoned in. 

But the thought of staying in a place which only held bad memories for him wasn’t something he could stomach at the moment. He’d let someone in, just for it to go to shit and once again be reminded of the trash he was born to be. Used, laughed at, humiliated- all by one person he truly thought had become different. But the continuous howl of laughter was a painful memory, the look of disgust which had been thrown his way. The hurt he felt, taking someone in and giving them shelter and a safe space. It was ruined. His faith in people was ruined. 

He cast a dark look out towards the horizon before shaking his head and standing up, sliding his feet back into the flip flops and shoved the leaflet back in his hoodie pocket and turned his back on the sinking sun which had left a hue of pink and purple in the far off distance and walked back to his bike. 

After kicking it back into life, it didn’t take him long to ride back to the small trailer park. It was mainly abandoned, he and a few others still lived on the site but his stood out amongst the remaining occupants. It was done up, the effort he had made turning it into a home, not just for him but for.....- even the thought of his name hurt and he was pissed at himself that someone had gotten so deep under his skin to make him feel this way. 

He flicked on the living room light, casting the sofa into a soft hue and he looked at it darkly, it was missing the pillow and ratty blanket but he could almost imagine it placed in its usual place. Memories filled the trailer, snapshots of moments when it had been good. 

“You know, I could be your broad, SP.” “Who said it’s a broad I need?”

He grabbed his rucksack from the cupboard, slapping a hand against his head as more memories surfaced. 

“Where’s the blanket gone?” “In my room....” “Oh.” “You coming?”

He didn’t need to take much, he wasn’t allowed much anyway and most of the stuff he had wasn’t useful. But he grabbed a few pictures from the fridge, a small metal box from the kitchen counter before heading to his bedroom.

The dim light in his room highlighted certain items he had almost forgotten about. Items which weren’t his and he bit his lip contemplatively. A can of deodorant, a shirt, a Andromeda High varsity shirt, toothbrush and a small bottle of cologne. He quickly he gathered the items, shoving them in a box and placed it on the bed before focusing on grabbing his own clothing. 

“Are you okay?” “Yeah, just...sore.” “I’m sorry.” “It’s okay. It’s uh, a good sore.”

Tears pricked at his eyes, fucking Reggie Mantle. The vile, arrogant, beautiful piece of shit.

“Are you seriously planning on going?” “Why shouldn’t I? You’re going to college and I’m just not set for that....” “This is your home though.” “Do you want me to stay?” “Yes.”

Jeans, sweats, hoodie, underwear, toiletries and other little bits were shoved into the rucksack as he tried to focus on that task and not the constant hammering of memories hitting him like a bus over and over. 

“What the hell was that?” “You know what it’s like.” “Really? You’re really giving me that shit? You don’t even like them Reggie!” “Look, you don’t get it okay? The pressure, the expectation, the-” “Why? Because I’m not a pompous arrogant prick with more money than sense and parent issues?”  “Well at least I have some!”

His hands found the tux in the wardrobe, it wasn’t the smartest but it had been enough. He remembered the way they had held each other close, dancing in the empty classroom. The fevered kisses, pressing him against the blackboard, falling to his knees and the gasps and moans which surrounded them both, palms on the back of his head-

“No!” He pulled the tux off the hanger angrily, tossing it to the bed and he picked up the box of items, shoving it under his arm as he felt around in his jacket pocket. It was extreme and maybe in a certain way, overly dramatic but one of them had to embrace the gay inside them. And Sweet Pea couldn’t hold onto the pain that lingered here. He needed no excuse to come back. His fingers found the lighter and with a click the zippo sparked into life and Sweet Pea didn’t hesitate to drop it to the bed. 

Flames began to lick across the linen and catching the tux, Sweet Pea grabbed the small tin of lighter fuel and began leaving a trail from the bed and out behind him as he made his way back towards the living room and kitchen area. Dousing whatever he could reach in the liquid. He saw two more items laying about and grabbed them, a photo of the two of them and a tiny wooden box which housed pathetic tokens. Boardwalk tickets, a receipt from the Coral Diner, a couple of photobooth snaps, a Andromeda varsity patch and Serpent patch- other things collected from the trash heap of a relationship or whatever it had been between them.

He knew it wouldn’t take long, the materials itself the trailer was built from wasn’t the most fire safe and he walked out of the trailer, slamming the door behind him as he threw down the cardboard box to the grass a few feet away from the billowing smoke flooding out one of the windows. 

With sick satisfaction he watched as the flames flickered out the window and the trailer lit up like a bonfire, the heat enough to singe his nose hair and he stepped back some more. Fire was purifying, it was time to start afresh. No looking back. When he was ready, he’d go nomad, find another Serpent charter in another state of town when he finished his military tours. Who knew how long that would be, but definitely long enough to make sure he forgot about Reggie Mantle and Andromeda. 

But even with his determination to leave him behind, he couldn’t help but reach into the box and remove the cologne. He gripped the bottle tight before letting out a pained growl and instead shoved it in his rucksack. Kicking the box further away, he wasn’t sure if the items would be picked back up by their owner but at least he didn’t burn them with it. The respect was still there. He valued people’s items. 

As orange and yellow blazed behind him, he swung the rucksack on his shoulders and jumped back on his bike. He’d drop it back to the clubhouse, they’d look after it. After all, where he was going he wouldn’t need it. 

“Do you want me to stay?” “Yes.”

The motorbike revved and fled into the distance, leaving nothing but the inferno and a sad, tiny box of memories. Tomorrow he’d be in another state, far away from Andromeda.

And far away from Reggie Mantle. 

Reggie had every intention of just going in to the bar, in spite of Sweet Pea, having a drink and then leaving. Had. That was until he mentioned his father. There was very few things that truly got under Reggie’s skin, but his father was a big one. Reggie turned hot on his heel when the biker grabbed his shoulder. He was quick to shove his hand off. “Don’t you fucking dare mention my father. Don’t even think about it.” 

Reggie took a breath. He wasn’t one to stoop to a level of the poor and desolate and fight hand to hand - not to say he couldn’t, he was a well built man who had four years of football training and seven years of boxing under his belt - but he was better than that. He had more class than that. He straightened out his suit jacket and looked through the crack that the door had been opened. Nobody was even looking at them - yet. 

“I know just how much of an asshole you are already. No need to emphasis it. But, again, I think I’m going to stay. I hear the drinks here are phenomenal.” With that, Reggie pushed the entrance door completely open and made his way in. He knew now that the other man couldn’t confront him without making a scene and that’s the last thing he’d want to happen - with this being his baby mama’s work establishment after all. 

He knew it was a low blow, after so long as well to bring it up. He didn’t even know why it had been the first thing in his arsenal to reach for. Maybe he didn’t like the hurt he’d long buried deep awakening like a beast at seeing Reggie once more. He’d done well since his return to avoid him, if he was honest, he hadn’t intentionally set out to find him. They were nothing to each other now and he would’ve been fine to share the town with him. But seeing him, brought it all back like a tidal wave. He also disliked the shame niggling at him for being so cruel on the outset. 

The door was barely open, no one indeed was looking at them and for those split few seconds both were paused by the door, closer than they had been in years Sweet Pea could feel a sort of mental fog in his brain as he was unsure just how to deal with this situation. But then Reggie spoke up once more and the flair of protectiveness hit him at Reggie being around his family. Reggie didn’t deserve to see that. Or even know of them. “Takes one to know one, huh.” he spat, deciding anger over confusion was the way to deal with this. 

But Reggie entered the bar and Sweet Pea staggered back from Reggie and straightened out his jacket, aware of eyes from his crew on the both of them and he simply glowered, walking the long way around the bar, nodding to some as his eyes remained trained on the man who looked so out of place in the dark, smoky room. The tension could be read in the room. “We got a problem, ‘Pea?” a voice spoke up from the crowd and Sweet Pea paused for a fraction, weighing up the numerous ways this could play out. It all depended on what Reggie’s move would be. Whatever it was, he was Serpent King and he knew majority of the people inside would be at his side within a second. 

After sliding her phone into her pocket, Brooke’s first move was to fold her arms across her chest. “Self-entitlement? By all means keep going. Why stop there?” The brunette scoffed loudly, shaking her head, but a moment later had freed an arm, and had a finger shaking in his general direction. “Normal people? Okay? Do not shout at strangers on the street. And in New York? Yeah … we don’t acknowledge people shouting on the street, those people are usually crazy.” Maybe she wasn’t in New York anymore, sure, but some habits did die hard after all, didn’t they? “Again, New York. We are strangers, you are yelling at me on the street. What other reaction would you like from me?”

If it had been a cold day, you might have seen the steam coming off of Brooke, but as it was, she was still seething, and that was evident. Her eyes narrowed, her arms refolded themselves, and her weight shifted as she fell back onto her left side. “Charming.” She did stoop to pick up her back and tuck it under her arm – but her attitude didn’t change. “You must have a stellar reputation around here.”

“This isn’t New York, although now you mention it, it makes a hella lot of sense where the uppity personality comes from. You need to let loose, it’s a chill vibe here and stop being so uptight.” he commented with a sneer. Tourists, out of towners, anyone who wasn’t from the town and from the east coast grated on him. As they did a lot to other townies. Their town was a paradise, he was proud of it and there were enough arrogant money wavers in the northern territories. They certainly didn’t need Miss Priss adding to the mix. 

He wasn’t going to apologise for his petty behaviour and he felt satisfaction when she’d picked up her purse. He was still regretting not emptying it now. “And for your information, I have a great reputation. At least with those who matter and who I respect.” he added, folding his arms in a matching stance to the woman. He failed to note how it looked to someone watching them, although opposite in height, their stance and looks of hatred at each other were eerily similar. 

Reggie’s smirk grew deeper as the taller man got closer. Sure, to a lot of people he’d be intimidating, but Reggie was far from scared. “If that’s true, why aren’t you there?” Reggie took a step closer to where they were almost chest to chest. 

“I think I’m going to stay.”Reggie took another step as if he was going to square up with the biker, but instead swiveled on his ankle and stepped past him and headed into the bar. 

He tried to avoid fights if possible, he couldn’t afford getting locked up and he was a long way from his juvenile years. But Reggie got under his skin, even all those years ago at school and it seemed that hadn’t changed when he pushed up against him, fluffing his feathers and starting shit he would not like to see finished. “Brave coming from a daddy’s boy.” he growled, huffing when Reggie stepped past him and he was quick to follow at his heel, grabbing his shoulder roughly at the entrance. “I think you’re going to leave. Before I show you how much of an asshole I am!” 

Reggie dusted off the completely immaculate lapels of his suit before turning around. He had heard the motorcycle revving get closer so he assumed it was only a matter of time before he was confronted. He assumed correctly, of course. A smug smile appeared on Reggie’s face as a “big tough biker” - coincidentally called Sweet Pea. 

“Lost? No, on the contrary. I was just in the neighborhood looking for a fine establishment to get a drink and low and low and behold I found this place.” Reggie straightened his suit, sizing up the biker from foot to head. His right eyebrow rose in defiant question. “You got a problem with me being here?”

“That depends if you’re gonna make it a problem being here- this isn’t the place for you, might I suggest Seaside. It’s asshole central.” he replied darkly, getting off the bike and standing up, refusing to acknowledge the twinge in his leg from the quick move. He wasn’t going to be caught unaware. Leg be damned. He might have been gone from Andromeda for a while, but he never forgot a face, especially one as smug and irritating as Reggie Mantle. “You should leave.”