noah-atwood

[noah-atwood]

“Yeah, sure, as long as you’re not saying I walk around with a scowl.” Noah most certainly does not, if you ask him. “Absolutely. I could justify a dog with that sort of schedule, and hamsters aren’t… I don’t know, as fulfilling? And they bite.” At least every hamster Noah held bit him. They could just hate him.

A golden retriever suits Tori, if you ask him. He smiles at the thought. A loveable ball of fluff. “That’s smart. Don’t want to rope yourself into a responsibility you’re not ready for. It’s a big shift.” He begins tapping away the the screen of his phone to pull up a recent photo, then turns it around to face Tori.

“Here he is. The old man in all his glory."

@victoriaxsanchez

Victoria chuckled, already picturing the grumpy tripod cat in her mind. “A cat born with a scowl? I love him already. Sounds like he’s got the personality to match you perfectly—independent, but secretly good company.”

She tilted her head thoughtfully. “I get what you mean, though. Cats have this way of filling the quiet without demanding too much. Kind of like they’re saying, ‘I’m here, but don’t get clingy.’ It’s oddly comforting.”

At his question, she smiled faintly. “No pets right now. I used to have a dog growing up, though—a big, clumsy golden retriever named Max. He was the definition of chaos on four legs, but he had the biggest heart. I’ve thought about getting a pet again, but it’s a big commitment, you know? Gotta be sure it’s the right time.” She shrugged her shoulders. "But cats, you know, you're right they're more independent to look after themselves, not that I have a hectic job like you."

Victoria leaned forward slightly, curious. “Anyways, most importantly, do I get to see pics of Stanley?” @noah-atwood

[noah-atwood]

“Preferably. Too many hands get mixed into it, it can get chaotic.” Not to mention the way Noah has been purposefully keeping himself distant from Atti. It sucks, honestly. “Or just me and you, it doesn’t have to be a whole lot of decorating. And I like your company, if that counts for something.”

Dallas is roped in regardless, and Noah has no qualms about it. He does, however, frown when Angel mentions Atticus again, and damn, is he a mind reader? Maybe Noah shouldn’t let his mind linger on his name so long.

“Uh, no,” he sighs. “Actually, honestly, I’ve been trying to put some space between us, so definitely no.” That would have the opposite effect, and Noah is anything but a time waster. “Besides, I think he’s being Beavis. Or Butthead.”

Except if he is Beavis, Noah still thinks he’s a butthead.

“Would you have any sound advice about something like that? I know you and Dallas, yeah. You know. But it just feels like going back to the friends we were before is harder every time we hang out, not because I’m expecting anything. I don’t know. I feel like being his friend now is harder than ever.”

@firefighterrojas

Angel lets out a snort of amusement. "Only you would find the cynical side to that." He gives Noah a disbelieving shake of his head, knowing Billie and everybody else would be more than happy to help him out.

If it was Atticus asking for help, well, that might be a whole other story.

"Just you, me and Dallas?" Angel nods his head. There was a time when the idea of sharing such close quarters with Dallas with only one other person would have made his head spin—but they've worked hard to find equal footing with each other.

"I'll ask him." Pulling out his phone he types out a quick message and fires it off to Dallas. "Who's going to be your partner for that costume? Atticus?" It would be an apt costume, really, considering Atticus Cortes was the biggest pain in Angel's ass. @noah-atwood

[noah-atwood]

CLOSED STARTER for @dannyfm

"I'd say 'what are the odds' but honestly, I think I'm more likely to run into you here than it is for anyone to run into me."

Noah's smile grows, though remains closed, and is accompanied but a short bout of chuckling. It's true, considering the only reason Noah is there is because Priya talked him into it.

( It's not that hard a feat, Priya can easily get Noah to agree to almost anything without having to even twist his arm into it. )

"How's your night so far?"

[noah-atwood]

Noah: I rest. I get four days off a week Noah: and I do nothing on them Noah: why, are YOU going to the fancy ball? I need a good enough bribe to trade in the sweatpants for formal wear @priyaxdesai

Priya: For the love of god, Noe. Priya: I get OT is nice, but so is taking time for yourself and resting. Priya: Ooooor going to the fancy shmancy ball?

[noah-atwood]

"No."

The answer comes out more stern than he intends which might allude to the opposite of what he is insisting, but Noah stands firm on that. "I want to go back to the friends we were before he-" Noah pauses to correct himself. "Before it turned into this weird thing."

And maybe it's not so weird, Noah's just unable to unblur those lines in his head and is reading more into Atticus's actions than he should.

He falls silent to listen to Emerson, and for a moment feels sympathy for her. Up until the end, and he quickly cuts in, "I'm not confused. He's just being an idiot." A big, dumb, flirty idiot whose friendship Noah should've never put on the line.

"But..." he takes the other shot, not noticing Emerson put in an order for two more. "I was dumb too. We do dumb things when it comes to the idea of 'romance'. Can't go back from crossing that line." Save for his first kiss, with Ravi, when it was just easier to get their silly challenge over it by 'tying' rather than being first before the other.

"You can't buy every round, I gotta get the next one. After a water, because that's three? Three. Wow, three shots in under twenty minutes, Em. I'm calling you tomorrow for hangover supplies."

@emersonxcassidy

Emerson listened as Noah spoke, always willing to lend an ear to anyone, but especially someone she considered a friend. She felt a frown pulling at her lips as she listened to Noah's predicament; she knew how it felt to be friends with someone you were once with. She knew that it was hard to stay in the 'just friends' category as well, but the thing was, where she felt like her and Jace both didn't want to stay in that category, she had a feeling that Noah didn't want to change where he was. Maybe.

"Okay, so..you want to be just friends. You're sure right? Or...do you want it to be more again?" No judgement either way, she just wanted to know to better navigate the situation. "Although I do think either way...you two should hash it out? Because trust me...as someone who's..also in the limbo of trying to be just friends with someone you were once..more than just friends. I know just how confusing it can. Upsettingly so." And when he said he liked the one shot, she turned to the bartender and ordered two more, one with extra juice and figuring she could join him in the next round since she wasn't much of a drinker, but she figured something that maybe was a bit fruiter and sweeter wouldn't be so bad.

"And please don't apologize. This is what friends are for, right? So feel free to unload. And I can either give advice if wanted or," She turned to the bartender and took the next round. "I can supply drinks and let you ramble it out to your hearts content?"

[noah-atwood]

CLOSED STARTER for @priyaxdesai at seascape's new years eve ball

Noah feels out of place. He should be outside like he was last year, not for any reason other than his insatiable need to be busy. He also feels out of place dressed up rather than wearing his E.M.S. uniform. It doesn’t make sense, because if there is any hint of an emergency, a suit and tie doesn’t stop him from being any bit useful, and Noah is aware it boils down to feeling inadequate beside his best friend.

It’s no surprise that Priya steals the show, but it is surprising that she asked him to go with her rather than anyone else. Mostly because Noah knows she can have anyone else, so he can’t help but feel a little bad.

“You can go mingle and all that,” he suggests. “I’m having fun, but I know I’m more of a background kinda guy, so if you want to go dance or anything, don’t feel like you have to stay with me.”

[noah-atwood]

CLOSED STARTER for @wesxevans at the secret santa banquet

Noah seeks Wes out and waits until there is an opening to approach. He has with him a carefully wrapped gift, the contents of which is a checkers and chess set filled with pieces carefully carved from white and black onyx crystals. Both in the form of checkers pieces as well as carefully designed chess pieces.

“Merry Christmas, from your not-so-secret Santa,” he grins, close-mouthed and holds the box out. “I hope you like it.”

[noah-atwood]

Noah: I haven't volunteered myself to work yet, if that's what you're asking Noah: I don't usually work Tuesday nights, so I'm off from work right now but they can probably use the extra hands Noah: And OT pay is nice @priyaxdesai

TXT Priya 📲 Noah

Priya: 👊🚪 Priya: wellness check Priya: tell me you didn't take a shift for christmas and/or nye and are actually gonna relax @noah-atwood

[noah-atwood]

Noah pushes the cart along with a hum. He looks over their cart and decides to begin heading back up to the front. They have plenty for their small group.

"Hey, that's cool. We can talk about it before everyone comes over if you'd want? Bounce ideas, see where you're at with your confidence in it. But I think we're all pretty new to it, so there's no reason to sweat it. You'll do great."

@edenxoconnell

"Because you're hosting and I'm always way too early for things because I have anxiety about being late?" Eden laughed as she put the Chip A'hoys back on the shelf. "Alright, I'm taking your word for it."

"Yeah, I think I might. I've been reading a Dungeon Master's guide and I've been brain storming some ideas." She shrugged, feeling a bit sheepish to admit that she was already working on it.

@noah-atwood

[noah-atwood]

Emerson's gentle demeanor is a salve to the emotional wound that's making Noah feel bristly. He's feeling the tension leave his body, first in the form of his shoulders relaxing and then in the way he stops clenching his jaw. Confrontation was never his strong suit.

"It was easy. Or, it should've been."

Noah answers in a way that sounds nonchalant, his chest tightens again. "Okay, see, we were friends before, then we dated for a few months and I don't know, somewhere in there we decided we were better friends, and that was the agreement. Go back to being friends. Except I think he's bad at being 'just friends'." He takes the first shot and stares at the second, surprised at her generosity. Noah makes a mental note to make it up for her, tosses back the green tea shot and waits for the second.

"I like this one," he notes, holding the second without taking it just yet. "Also, I need to let you know that I'm not looking for anything more, but I can't tell if he purposefully is flirting, or if he's just blind to doing it, but either way it doesn't feel good."

Noah sighs and puts on a one-sided smile, lifting his shot glass up. "Sorry for that unload, Em. Bottoms up, right?"

@emersonxcassidy

"Surprise you, got it." And while again she didn't know much about shots or drinking in general, she'd figure out something good for her friend. So she easily looped her arm through Noah's and lead them through the throngs of people until she managed to snag a spot by the bar and she soon enough got the attention of the bartender and she ordered two different shots, surprising even herself that she knew of them.

While waiting for the drinks, she looked to Noah, listening as he spoke before she let out a breath. "That...doesn't sound easy, I'm sorry." She glanced around the room, knowing her own ex/friend was there (as her not-date no less) and so she knew how difficult it was to navigate things. "So was the um...the fight? About that? His flirting?" She wondered, tilting her head, "Or the better question I think is...do you want him to flirt?" After all, he could either want nothing to do with his ex, or he could want them to not be exes. Both were very valid in her opinion.

"Oh! And here," She thanked the bartender before sliding both glasses over to Noah, "This one is a green tea shot, and the other is a cherry vodka...thing I remember hearing about once that's supposedly tastes like a gummy bear."

[noah-atwood]

Noah rubs his chin at that thought-provoking question Dallas presents. “I mean, I don’t usually think much of it. Not until it’s brought up. It gives me this existential dread over something unpreventable.” It’s the last thing Noah needs above all else. Something else to overthink about.

“I might feel different in two years and I hit the big three-oh, but my birthdays also skate by without a big celebration. Makes it easier to not dwell on the idea of aging.”

Except now he’s considering it. The end December, he will be twenty-nine, too, and just one year away. Then he thinks, what makes thirty so different from twenty-eight? What about thirty two from thirty? Maybe he is older than he's really realized. 

“I’m officially tripped out over getting older, and it’s your fault for it.” If he still had his menu, Noah would probably slap Dallas with it.

Gently.

And with plenty of affection.

But how dare…

"Do you have any fun goals for twenty nine? Or plans or whatever?"

@nomadjones

"Burgers and beers," Dallas concurs, giving Noah a military style salute to show how serious he was about it.

. . .

After briefly parting ways to hit shower in their respective homes and change, Dallas had impressed himself with making it to Sea Shanty in good time, sitting across from his friend on a high stool in the outdoor seating area.

( There was few better places to be on a warm evening. )

Folding his menu, he hands it to the waiter who had just scribbled down their burgers order, sliding his beer closer to him in anticipation of taking a drink that he holds off on for a moment, verbalising the main thought that had been at the forefront of his mind for days.

"Does it ever trip you out? This whole getting older business."

@noah-atwood

[noah-atwood]

“That’s what he is! I’m pretty sure he was born a grumpy old man. Just came out, a whole cat with a scowl.” It’s what drew Noah in when he went to the shelter. He mostly wanted him because he was labeled a senior and one of two tripod cats available. “I work overnights, three times a week, usually. Seven to seven doesn’t always end at seven, and cats are more independent, and I was lonely, so I picked him out.”

The rest is history. A very short history, it’s not been all that long, but Noah is happy with his choice.

“If your roommate isn’t allergic and hasn’t vehemently said ‘no’ to a pet before, I don’t see why not. But also, don’t upset them. Even if they want a cat, it might be better received if you ask first.”

Respectful, too. Noah won’t let himself be a bad influence this time around. He never is one, there is no point in starting now. “Assuming you don’t have any other pets… do you, though? Or ever have?”

@victoriaxsanchez

Victoria grinned, leaning her elbow on the counter as she watched Noah light up for a moment, his laughter warm and disarming. She loved the way he talked about Stanley—like the cat was both his biggest headache and his softest spot.

"Stanley's a whole vibe, though," she said, tilting her head thoughtfully. "A grumpy old man who secretly adores you?” Her grin widened as she teased him, but her tone was playful, affectionate.

"You're right." Tori answered with a heavy sigh, debating on whether she needed to spend more time here, for her mental health, of course. "Nothing's better than kitten therapy and I don't have to clean up after them." Her eyes met Noah's for a moment, still contemplating taking her home. "Maybe I should just surprise my roommate." @noah-atwood

[noah-atwood]

“Definitely a little bit overwhelming, but a buzz helps, so surprise me.” Subtle enough to help Noah not care, while also not letting him act like an idiot in any way. It might’ve also been the reason he felt comfortable enough talking to Atticus. 

And by talking, he means confronting him, and it genuinely wasn’t a part of the plan that night; it just so happened that all he was bottling up started to overflow until it all came out at once.

Emerson is privy to it. Not the exact details, but she’s asking, and Noah wonders if his poker face is that bad. Refer back to: alcohol consumption lowering his guard.

“Alright enough,” he inevitably replies, leaning up against the nearest bar. “I just got into a little bit of a fight with my friend.” He pauses and scrunches his nose and adds, “Ex? He was a friend before an ex, but it’s still weird territory. Especially when he doesn’t know how to turn off his ‘flirt’ button.”

@emersonxcassidy

"Fair enough. So yeah, thank you. It's definitely one of my more favorite costumes I've done." Emerson looked down at the flowy white dress she was wearing as she said it, the simplicity of it all definitely up her alley.

"Yeah. Everyone being here is admittedly a bit....overwhelming?" She replied with a little laugh, "But I think I'll manage to stick it out for a while longer. Dunno about staying the whole time though since I'm usually an in bed by ten kinda girl." there was a smile still on her face as she said it, but as Noah spoke she kept her gaze on him, her expression softening just a bit as she listened to him speak before she nodded, "I'm not much of a drinker but sure! I can pick something for you. Are you thinking a basic straight shot, or something more adventurous?" Emerson's voice was softer as she said it too and nodded towards the bar, figuring maybe after he had the alcohol running in his veins he may want to talk. Or maybe not, it wasn't her place to be a snoop. "I...hope everything's okay?" She couldn't help adding at the end though- figuring that wasn't snooping and just..having genuine concern for someone she considered a friend.

[noah-atwood]

“Thankfully,” Noah sighs with the shake of his head. “When I passed my NREMT, I didn’t realize that would’ve been in the job description.”

He’s desensitized to most things now because of it, just as he’s sure Billie and the firefighters are. Really, anyone in emergency response dealt with very unserious emergency situations, such as Tommy Pickles tripping out on a Halloween evening.

When Billie stands, Noah grins knowing it has to be quite the story, and when it’s revealed, he starts laughing. So hard tears spring to the corners of his eyes that he has to wipe away, and when he settles down to the occasional giggle, he asks, “Why is that enticing? A car’s tailpipe does not look at all like the best place to stick that. Did he keep his mask on to try and save some of his dignity?”

@billieconway

"Was he at least using the words of an adult? Because if I had to chase a grown man in a 'diapey' that would probably be the last straw for me."

It was the biggest thing that kept Billie from ever getting too drunk on Halloween. She'd seen way too many idiots do stupid shit in stupid costumes so ever allow herself to freewheel in that way.

Billie stands tall, her hands outstretched like she's the conductor of an orchestra.

She allows a pause for dramatic effect before giving her answer.

"Man in a Ghostface mask with his dick stuck in a cars tailpipe."

@noah-atwood

[noah-atwood]

Black Shuck

“I can be. I think most people can. But not so protective that I’m possessive of things or people in my life. I just reach out often to make sure they’re alright, and I ask them to let me know when they get home after a night out. If I drop them off, I don’t drive away until I see that they’re inside. Just things like that.”

[noah-atwood]

Demon

“Oh, far from it, actually. That surprises some people. My nana is very religious. She likes to pray about angels surrounding my ambulance when I’m on shift, but when you see certain things, miracles don’t come to mind. The world is dark and scary and we make the most of it, but some of the pain I’ve seen people go through, no God would want that. It doesn’t make sense to me.”