aiden-burke

[aiden-burke]

Nuntium was a lot to get used to but one of the things Aiden enjoyed was the in-building gym. He’d used it every chance he could. Of course, that meant that he was at the office more than he was at home, but with nothing and no one to go home to, well...

The gym helped him clear his mind. Exercise had always had the effect for him. He had his headphones on and was working away, lost in his own thoughts, when a slight figure appeared in front of him. For a moment, he ignored the boy until he realised the other was speaking to him. He frowned slightly, pulling his headphones down to rest around his neck casually. 

“I’m pretty much done,” he replied, settling the equipment back into place. And he was - he had no qualms about telling someone to wait if he had to. This just wasn’t the case. He took a moment then, as he wiped at his towel, to look at the younger man before him. His brows furrowed again. 

“Everything okay, man?” He asked, noting the bruises on his face and around his nose. If he didn’t know any better, he’d think the kid had a broken nose. “Should you be workin’ out in your condition?”

where: nuntium private gym status: open

His nose was set back in place- Nate would lie if it was the first time- but his face was still bruised. It was a painful reminder of what he had done to his best friend (granted, Kal probably no longer saw him that way), and while Nate avoided looking in the mirror, it didn’t make much of a difference. He knew he fucked up, and yet, he still didn’t completely regret it. Granted, that meant doing a lot of things he typically didn’t do, like going to gyms he typically didn’t, because he found himself wanting to avoid his best friend as often as he could.

Which was exactly how he found himself at the gym of a building he worked in, and while the place was great, he simply felt like he didn’t belong. “Sorry-” He approached one of the people there, not really wanting to disturb yet wanting to get on with his plan as well. He had so much to get home to, after all. “-were you using that? Do you mind if we swap?”

@nhhqstarter​

[aiden-burke]

This is my sweet, level-headed, tender babe Aiden. I hope y’all love him as much as I do! 

BREAKING NEWS! ((AIDEN BURKE)) who looks an awful lot like ((ALDIS HODGE)) has just been seen around Nuntium House. Apparently ((HE)) is ((34)) years old and have been in the New York City for ((TWO MONTHS)). They work as a ((LAWYER)) at ((NUNTIUM)). If they had an article byline it would read ((A SWEET HEART CAN STILL HOLD STURDY)) - but we have yet to make up our mind if that is accurate.

Keep reading

[aiden-burke]

“Exactly!” Aiden exclaimed with a grin and a laugh. “Not to mention, they have no idea if the person they asked actually knows the right way. Like with you,” he continued with a slight shake of his head. He’s still smirking a little when the younger man keeps talking. “Still not that long, I guess. Ah, work. It can definitely eat away your playing tourist time,” Aiden mused. He remembered it had taken him a long time to get out and about when he’d been in college here. Aiden frowned momentarily, before shrugging. “Like I said, about a week. But I went to college here and spent a few years working here, after. Only just back,” he told him. “What do you do for work?” he asked curiously. 

aiden-burke​:​

Aiden couldn’t help but chuckle a little at the strangers words. He was sure he’d spent a good chunk time giving out wrong direction the first time he’d lived in NYC. He could relate. “I’m sure they do. And really, if they haven’t looked up where they’re going on Maps or whatever first, then that’s on them,” Aiden told him with a slight shrug. “Besides, there are about as many tourists and there are native New Yorkers around. It’s a pretty big risk to just ask someone off the street anyway,” he mused, sipping at his coffee. He grinned gently then, nodding at the question. “It used to. But I’ve only been back in the City for about a week now. So,” he shrugged. “You pretty new to New York, then?”

“You’re right… They didn’t look at the risk versus reward.” It’d have been one thing if he was wearing a Columbia sweatshirt. Instead he was just in whatever he found that was clean and warm enough for the crisp December air. Thinking about that simple equation made his stress drop. They did have Maps, they had their phones. It wasn’t a question they couldn’t look up. It wasn’t asking him which dollar pizza place was really the superior slice. It was directions. “Sort of, I’ve been here six months? Seven months? Most of my time is spent at work.” Or overseas… “So I don’t get out as much as I’d like. How long have you been here?”

[aiden-burke]

In all the courthouses, in all the world... 

Well, this wasn’t actually his courthouse. If anything, it was probably more hers. Still, even though he’d known she was here in NYC, he hadn’t actually expected to run into her here. Stupid of him really, though. This was the one place he should have known she’d be. A courthouse was after all, where they met.

He sighed, heart sinking a little as Mina said his name, her face panic stricken. She looked horrified to see him. Aiden had known it wouldn’t be easy to see each other again, after the way she left and the two years that had passed by. But he’d never in his life thought that she would be so panicked and scared to see him. He hadn’t thought he’d ever done anything to cause her to be scared of him. 

Aiden took the slightest of steps back. He didn’t want to crowd her and he knew the kind of image he could present at times. Slowly, he let his eyes run over her, taking her in like a thirsty traveler sees a mirage in the desert - it had been so long since he’d set his eyes upon her. He still missed her, even after everything. Mina still looked gorgeous as ever and he hated the fact, just a little. 

So wrapped up in his thoughts, he almost missed her question. He shook his head, once it registered. “No. No, I’m not here for a case. I...came to meet with Greenberg. My old law school mentor, I might have mentioned-” he gave her a strained smile and shook his head again. “Anyway, I had a job interview. We were going to get lunch. I didn’t...expect to see you,” Aiden explained. He dithered for a moment, about whether to tell her that he’d known she was in New York and that he had planned to track her down. 

Looking at her, he couldn’t help but let the words spill forth. 

“That’s not completely true. I knew you were here, in the City. I was going to track you down. It just wasn’t supposed to be, yet.” 

aiden-burke·:

It had been over 5 years since Aiden had been in New York City but the place still held its impressions. Coming out here had been a sort of a whim. Professor Greenberg had always wanted him to join their firm and Aiden had considered it, back when he’d just graduated. He’d ended up moving back to California, yet still kept in touch with Greenberg. He was grateful for that now. 

The offer of a job interview seemed to have come at the perfect time and in the perfect pace. If Aiden believed in fate, which he didn’t, he’d have attributed this good fortune to it. Wilhelmina was in New York City. He’d known for a few months now and had to figure out what he was going to do about it. The angry, petty part of him had wanted to send the divorce papers straight to her - but, he couldn’t. He’d needed to talk to her, see her again…

Aiden shook his head. No. He couldn’t think about about Mina right now. He’d had the interview with Greenberg and the partners, now he was simply going to catch up with his old mentor. Sliding out of the cab, Aiden straightened out his suit, striding confidently up the courthouse steps. He was going to meet Greenberg there, then go for lunch or a drink together. 

Eventually he got through security into the lobby, mind firmly on the get together with his former professor. It was as he was digging into the pocket of his slacks for his phone that he noticed her. The dark hair, her lithe frame, the gait of her walk. For two years he’d been missing her and he felt his heart clench painfully in his chest. He knew she was in New York but he hadn’t thought he’d run into her like this. 

He thought he’d have more time. He wasn’t even sure what he wanted to say to her yet. He’d had two years but still, she took his breath away. 

Without thinking he drifted towards her, long steps closing the distance between them quickly. She hadn’t seem him yet and secretly he hoped it wasn’t her. Even as he tapped her on the shoulder, breathing in her perfume, face carefully blank. “Wilhelmina?”

( @courtrait )

-

Mina held the pages up, squinting at the face that stared back in brightly coloured soft pastel. The defendant’s gaze was direct and unflinching in-spite of hiding the rest of their face behind bejewelled fingers and a stark white tissue, the latter of which billowed as they blew their nose with a loud and conspicuous honk.

Placing the piece in her book, along with the rest that would each need a few layers of fixative on them once she’d neatened them up a little at home, she looked up as one of the clerks called out to her.  “Still on for coffee tomorrow?“  "Sure – so long as session doesn’t drag past 5.”  "I’ll lodge an official request with the judge!”  Mina smiled at that as she sanitised her hands, an expression still frozen on her lips in the moment she felt that tap to her shoulder—

Today was supposedly a day like any other; she’d selected her palette for the day, a collection of jewel tones that would hold up well against the navy charcoal paper; then, with the aforementioned in-mind, she selected her suit for the day – a deep burgundy, so the chalk might not stand out quite so starkly come the inevitable mess, coupled with the turtleneck that the winter months typically necessitated and the heels that commonsense argued so strongly against; her bag weighed heavily upon her shoulder and, as per usual, she was already massaging her collarbone by the time she’d reached the subway station and had found herself a seat – she’d be massaging the back of her neck on the ride to the NYT offices.

“—Aiden?” Mina wasn’t quite so skilled at doctoring her expression; the smile fell, of course, replaced by a look of sheer panic as her eyes grew wide and her throat jumped with a visible gulp as she craned her neck to look at him properly. “You–”

He looked the same. He’d grown something in-between a beard and stubble since the last time she’d seen him, whereas before he’d been clean-shaven, and there was something different about the cut of his suit, but beyond that? It could have been a week. It wasn’t, not even close, but to look at him? It could have been. She wished it was.

“What are you doing here? How– are you here for a case?”

[aiden-burke]

Aiden couldn’t help but chuckle a little at the strangers words. He was sure he’d spent a good chunk time giving out wrong direction the first time he’d lived in NYC. He could relate. “I’m sure they do. And really, if they haven’t looked up where they’re going on Maps or whatever first, then that’s on them,” Aiden told him with a slight shrug. “Besides, there are about as many tourists and there are native New Yorkers around. It’s a pretty big risk to just ask someone off the street anyway,” he mused, sipping at his coffee. He grinned gently then, nodding at the question. “It used to. But I’ve only been back in the City for about a week now. So,” he shrugged. “You pretty new to New York, then?”

“Yeah! Yeah, you turn left up at the end of the block and then take another right, and it’ll be another five minutes or so. Have fun,” Cameron waved to a mother and son, taking a step away and letting out a sigh of relief. Another day, another time being mistaken for a Columbia student. He couldn’t say no when they asked for directions towards the campus, and he thought he knew the layout of his neighborhood by now (spoiler: he didn’t). “I definitely sent them in the wrong direction… God.” Foot took a step forward, nearly ready to go back and correct his mistakes, but he saw someone else nearby. “They have phones, right? They’ll be fine.” An uncomfortable laugh followed. “Tourists, always asking for directions… Does that happen to you too?”

open @enycstarters​

[aiden-burke]

It had been over 5 years since Aiden had been in New York City but the place still held its impressions. Coming out here had been a sort of a whim. Professor Greenberg had always wanted him to join their firm and Aiden had considered it, back when he’d just graduated. He’d ended up moving back to California, yet still kept in touch with Greenberg. He was grateful for that now. 

The offer of a job interview seemed to have come at the perfect time and in the perfect pace. If Aiden believed in fate, which he didn’t, he’d have attributed this good fortune to it. Wilhelmina was in New York City. He’d known for a few months now and had to figure out what he was going to do about it. The angry, petty part of him had wanted to send the divorce papers straight to her - but, he couldn’t. He’d needed to talk to her, see her again...

Aiden shook his head. No. He couldn’t think about about Mina right now. He’d had the interview with Greenberg and the partners, now he was simply going to catch up with his old mentor. Sliding out of the cab, Aiden straightened out his suit, striding confidently up the courthouse steps. He was going to meet Greenberg there, then go for lunch or a drink together. 

Eventually he got through security into the lobby, mind firmly on the get together with his former professor. It was as he was digging into the pocket of his slacks for his phone that he noticed her. The dark hair, her lithe frame, the gait of her walk. For two years he’d been missing her and he felt his heart clench painfully in his chest. He knew she was in New York but he hadn’t thought he’d run into her like this. 

He thought he’d have more time. He wasn’t even sure what he wanted to say to her yet. He’d had two years but still, she took his breath away. 

Without thinking he drifted towards her, long steps closing the distance between them quickly. She hadn’t seem him yet and secretly he hoped it wasn’t her. Even as he tapped her on the shoulder, breathing in her perfume, face carefully blank. “Wilhelmina?”

( @courtrait )

[aiden-burke]

ALDIS HODGE 27th Screen Actors Guild Awards › April 4, 2021

[aiden-burke]

This is my sweet, level-headed, tender babe Aiden. I hope y’all love him as much as I do! 

BREAKING NEWS! ((AIDEN BURKE)) who looks an awful lot like ((ALDIS HODGE)) has just been seen around Nuntium House. Apparently ((HE)) is ((34)) years old and have been in the New York City for ((TWO MONTHS)). They work as a ((LAWYER)) at ((NUNTIUM)). If they had an article byline it would read ((A SWEET HEART CAN STILL HOLD STURDY)) - but we have yet to make up our mind if that is accurate.

Aiden Burke is the second son of five children. Anton and Alaina Burke had met in college - both pursuing law degrees. They didn’t start on their family till they were well-established in their careers and then their five kids came quickly. 

With an older brother and three younger sisters, Aiden never grew up lonely. Of course the siblings didn’t always get along but they were definitely always there for each other. Aiden quickly became the peacemaker and rational thinker of the family. He didn’t have the ego of being the eldest, nor the entitlement or competitiveness of his younger sisters. 

Aiden’s parents were very much focused on their kids education and college was a non-negotiable goal. So, Aiden did well at school. He was an intelligent boy and his level-headed, charismatic demeanour meant he was well liked too. He breezed through school with a bucketload of curricular’s like sports and violin. 

His hard work paid off and he got accepted into all his top choice colleges. Unfortunately, Aiden wasn’t sure what he wanted to do yet. He eventually chose Stanford with the intention to follow in his parents footsteps. Law school was the way to go!

Though he thought about staying at Stanford for law school, he eventually moved across the country to NYC after being accepted into Columbia Law. 

After graduating and passing the Bar, he interned for a year at a prestigious law firm in Manhattan. Eventually though, he missed home and moved back across the country to Los Angeles. 

It was there that he begin working for his father’s firm - learning everything that he could. Aiden found that there was just something special about working by his father’s side. (Passing the California Bar with ease.) 

He did such great work for his father that eventually he moved up to the San Fransisco office Burke+Turner. 

And it was in San Fransisco that Aiden fell in love. He’d been in relationships and in love before but this was different. Anya Mendez was pretty much the woman of his dreams. 

Their eyes caught across the court room and Aiden was done for. It took a little while, but eventually he pursued and wooed Anya. 

Six months of courtship and they were at the Courthouse! This time for them. Getting married in the very place they first met. It was all so romantic. 

His family were surprised, of course. He doesn’t do rash but this whirlwind romance was definitely that! Still, they saw how happy Anya made him and accepted her wholeheartedly into the family.

Once the dust had settled the Burke family threw Aiden and Anya a celebratory party as an engagement/wedding/reception all in one. 

They lived in a perfectly blissful bubble for about a year. Until it burst. Aiden thought everything was good, he thought he and Mina were on the same page. He’d wanted to start talking about children because he’d always wanted a solid family, just like his own. But things weren’t perfect - Anya began pulling away and Aiden didn’t know what to do about it all. 

Anya left. Just up and left him one day. It broke Aiden’s heart. 

At first he was frantic, he couldn’t understand what had happened. But then the anger set in. Aiden wasn’t often an angry man but Anya leaving had changed things a little. He still loved her of course, but he was angry and a little resentful. 

Eventually though, after about a year of silence he decided he needed to find her. Even if she didn’t want to be with him anymore, he couldn’t just leave things in limbo. He used a PI (someone the firm used) to try and find out where she went. He was determined to settle things between them: whether that meant divorce or reconciliation, he wasn’t sure. 

Three months or so ago, he finally got the news about Anya’s whereabouts. He sought her out and to his dismay, she didn’t want to reconcile. Instead, they started on divorce proceedings. 

Now, that he’s had such a big upheaval in his life, Aiden’s moved to New York City to start afresh. Taking a job with the Nuntium legal department, on the recommendation of his old law school mentor. He’s just hoping that he can rebuild his life after the whirlwind that was Anya. 

[aiden-burke]

~everything under this post is archived.~

[aiden-burke]

Sean grinned as he took a moment to look over Elise. She looked beautiful, not that that was a rare thing. He was surprised when she leant in to press a kiss to his cheek, but responded in kind. He kissed her cheek back before pulling away, bringing up a hand that held a bouquet of flowers. He wasn’t sure what her favourite kind were but he’d thought it was a sweet gesture. 

“Thank you. You look beautiful,” he replied with a chuckle. “These are for you. A little cliche maybe but, I’m old fashioned,” Sean continued with a smile. 

He took a little step back then, not wanting to crowd her. After all, this was only a first date and there was potentially, a lot on the line if things didn’t go well. As much as he tried not to think about it, their jobs could be at risk and though he saw romantic potential with Elise; he didn’t know where that would lead yet. 

“I booked us at a little restaurant in the inner city. If that’s okay with you?”

Elise felt as though she was in a dream. Once she’d crossed the line and kissed Sean weeks earlier, she was sure she jeopardised not only her job, but her friendship with him. Luckily, they’d spoken about it, and they set up a date! To say the brunette was quaking on the inside would be an understatement. 

Standing in front of the full length mirror in her bedroom, she examined her appearance carefully, down to every last detail, even taking a few seconds to admire how the figure-hugging dress looked on her. She had to look perfect and the night needed to go well… she desperately didn’t want to screw up her chance with him. They had such chemistry, and she hadn’t felt that way towards someone for a very, very long time. 

Upon hearing a knock at the door of her apartment, Elise’s gaze shifted towards the hallway and took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her nerves. She was incredibly excited, but nervous at the exact same time. It wasn’t everyday that one would go on a date with their boss, and there were a million thoughts buzzing around in her mind. What would their superiors think? What about her co-workers? Surely she’d get accused of sleeping her way to the top, and that was certainly something she would never do. But the worry was there.

Without wasting any time, she made her way to the door, opening it swiftly to reveal Sean looking as handsome as ever. The moment the word ‘love’ left his lips, she swooned. God, he was so gorgeous… she couldn’t get over it. “Well, hello there.” She grinned, leaning in to press a kiss against his cheek. “How are you? You look… wonderful. Very handsome.”

[aiden-burke]

Sean was nervous, in a way he hadn’t been for years. He’d had lots of first dates throughout his life but for some reason, this one had made him feel completely different. Even Tisha had noticed he wasn’t his usual self. 

Stepping out of his uber he fixed his jacket and made his way to Elise’s front door with a smile and confidence in his step. Even if he didn’t feel it on the inside, Sean was quite capable at appearing cool, calm and collected. A rather special talent he’d cultivated over the years. 

Knocking on her door, he stood with a smile. He’d had his reservations about going out on a date with Elise, after all they did work together. But they had talked and he’d talked it over with his sister. One date couldn’t hurt and quite frankly, Sean was willing to risk it for Elise. In his mind, that was a sure sign that there was something there between them worth diving into. 

He grinned a little wider as the door opened. “Evening, love.”

( @eliseswright )

[aiden-burke]

Text: Marco

Sean: Yeah. Pub near my place unless it's too far?

Marco: Works for me. I'll see you there!

Sean: Thanks mate

[aiden-burke]

Text: Marco

Marco: What've you done? Can do. Got a night off tonight.

Sean: Nothing bad. But enough to lose my job maybe

Sean: Lucky night.

Marco: Shit. Where shall I meet you?

Sean: Yeah. Pub near my place unless it's too far?

[aiden-burke]

Text: Marco

Sean: Mate. I think I fucked up. Wanna grab a drink later?

Marco: What've you done? Can do. Got a night off tonight.

Sean: Nothing bad. But enough to lose my job maybe

Sean: Lucky night.

[aiden-burke]

Text: Marco

Sean: Mate. I think I fucked up. Wanna grab a drink later?

[aiden-burke]

Sean sighed as he watched Elise. He could tell that he’d hurt her, he could see the disappointment in her eyes and countenance. He wanted to reach a hand out, to comfort her but he didn’t. 

“No, you’re not stupid. Please don’t think that,” Sean insisted, hating that he’d made Elise feel that way. It was the last thing he ever wanted to do. “I’m sorry Elise. I really am,” he continued, shaking his head a little. God, was he sorry. 

“Are you okay?” He asked, even though he knew he probably wouldn’t receive an answer. He grimaced, rather sheepishly then, nodding his head. “You don’t need to thank me. It was the polite thing to do,” he informed her, taking a few steps back. 

“Goodnight Elise,” he said as he turned away.  

seanjmitchell·:

Sean frowned, dropping his hands down into the pockets of his coat. A defensive action. His eyes glanced around the street and the buildings, not settling on any one thing and certainly not on Elise for the moment. He heard her start to speak and apologise and he shook his head. 

“No, no. You don’t have to apologise Elise,” he told her clearly, finally looking her in the eyes. “This shouldn’t have happened. We work together. I’m basically your boss. I shouldn’t have led you on,” Sean told her, wincing a little as he spoke. 

“I’m the one that is sorry,” he told her genuinely and sincerely. “Why don’t we just…forget this happened, yeah? We’ve been out, had a bit too much to drink,” Sean suggested. He didn’t want to hurt Elise and the kiss had been wonderful but it just didn’t think it could happen.

There it was. Rejection. Elise was starting to feel like an idiot. That was why she was so apprehensive about dating in general… she always found some way to ruin it. She didn’t blame Sean, though, he had a very valid point. He was most definitely her boss, and of course, it wasn’t right to mix work with pleasure… something she thought she’d already learnt after the demise of her marriage.

“Exactly, you’re right. How stupid of me, I don’t know why I did that… but it’s fine, though. I understand completely.” The newsreader trailed off, her gaze drifting to the footpath, trying her hardest to avoid eye contact with him. She couldn’t look at him without feeling utterly embarrassed. 

Let’s forget this happened. Yeah, Elise probably wouldn’t, but she certainly wished it had never happened. Stupid, stupid, stupid. That was how she felt about herself. “You don’t have to apologise either, I was the one who did it. This is why I don’t drink much. I tend to do things without thinking of the consequences. Forgetting about it sounds like a good idea.” She replied, her voice cracking a little as she spoke. “I better go. Um, thank you for walking me home…”

[aiden-burke]

Sean frowned, dropping his hands down into the pockets of his coat. A defensive action. His eyes glanced around the street and the buildings, not settling on any one thing and certainly not on Elise for the moment. He heard her start to speak and apologise and he shook his head. 

“No, no. You don’t have to apologise Elise,” he told her clearly, finally looking her in the eyes. “This shouldn’t have happened. We work together. I’m basically your boss. I shouldn’t have led you on,” Sean told her, wincing a little as he spoke. 

“I’m the one that is sorry,” he told her genuinely and sincerely. “Why don’t we just...forget this happened, yeah? We’ve been out, had a bit too much to drink,” Sean suggested. He didn’t want to hurt Elise and the kiss had been wonderful but it just didn’t think it could happen.

seanjmitchell·:

“I’m sure we can figure something out,” Sean said with a grin and a nod as she mentioned the Brixton experience. “There are some great food places around honestly.”

They had been walking and talking and it had all felt so natural. In fact, Sean found he always felt a sense of comfort around Elise. This time they’d spent together had just confirmed it in a way he was surprised by. Now they were coming to a stop, slowing in front of what he assumed was her apartment. 

He turned to her as she spoke, smiling genuinely. He found he agreed with her sentiment, his eyes casting over her softly as she stood so close. His brow creased a moment, as he watched her - feeling like something was changing and very quickly. 

Sean froze when her lips met his in a kiss - taken by surprise. 

A spark passed between them. It took him only a moment however to kiss her back, just as gently and sweetly. A hand moving to settle chastely on her waist. He hadn’t been expecting this but suddenly it felt like it was the right thing to do. Kissing Elise felt good. 

However, a voice protested in the back of his mind that he worked with Elise. He was essentially her boss! Sean pulled back with a start, sighing as he dropped his hand from her waist and took a step back. 

“Uh…Elise,” Sean murmured, a hand coming up to scratch the back of his head. He didn’t know what to say.

Surprisingly, Elise was acting relatively calm for someone who was making such an enormous step. Internally, on the other hand, she was freaking out. Kissing Sean was exciting, as well as nerve-wracking due to the fact that technically he was her superior, and her career would be on the line if he took her actions the wrong way and completely reject her. People had done crazier things for love, surely.

The kiss was everything she’d imagined it to be. Gentle, sweet… just right. The spark between them was undeniable, and in that moment she was relishing in the moment, almost forgetting where she was at the point… until they eventually broke apart. Shit. What the hell was she doing? She began internally cursing herself. “Um… yeah… I… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have— oh my god. I’m so sorry, please forget I did that…”