ofemeralds

[ofemeralds]

“right.” saul takes a deep breath as his lip falters slightly and he slides into his seat. he wishes that everything would just disappear really. All the recent events, maybe even his ties to the oc? his ties to his family as well? sometimes he just wants a clean slate, a clean slate from devil’s junction. maybe that was part of the reason why saul was actually pretty okay with leaving devil’s junction when he was younger. after all he didn’t have that many friends growing up, now he had built a family that he would actually want to protect. he can’t even imagine how she feels when dante was the person that had cared for her. he was someone that he never really got to know but he wouldn’t wish that tragedy upon his worst enemy. he needs to make time to go see thomas, he was a friend after all. but part of him figured to stay away from all of that. It would be best for his sanity if he did that. “how is he right now?”

Life had gotten so messy lately that seeing Saul's tired face felt like a punch to the gut. His hug was warm and comforting. She'd grown fond of him these past months despite knowing his connection to Sterling. Everything in her world had turned upside down. Between Dante's injuries and the constant worry about what tomorrow might bring, having someone who understood both sides of her life meant more than she could express. She wished she could fix everything that was weighing him down. Make it all disappear. But that wasn't how their world worked. "Don't mention it," she flashed him a small smile. "How are you doing? I'm a bit of a mess because of well…Dante." Seeing the man who helped raise her injured didn't sit well with her. On top of that, she was now unsure if the organization her husband and Saul worked for was responsible for the recent attack.

[ofemeralds]

“Well, i know you’re alive.” he says blinking at her. He did actually sleep. Clearly with him being in his cozy robe and fluffy slippers still. He runs his hands through messy hair before he sighs to make room for her to come in and takes a long sip of his coffee. He was going to need it considering the expression on her face already and it was not even 8:30am yet. He wasn’t even sure why he was up when today was his day off but he had already slept up to fifteen hours which was the most sleep he has had in the past three days combined. “I was about to make breakfast, if you are hungry, and yes i have, that was the first thing i did, sending the flowers. I mean,” he mutters shuffling awkwardly towards his kitchen.

When her cousin opened his door she could feel her face contort into the most sarcastic expression ever. “Please tell me you slept more than I did?” She asked, worried that her cousin was finally losing his mind and consuming too much coffee. “No one died and I’m here to make sure that you know I am alive.” She gave him an uncharacteristic hug and smiled. “Come in, let me in and have some of that delicious coffee you hoard.”

She waited to step through the newly opened door and left her shoes at the door step. “Have you sent flowers to the grieving family?”

[ofemeralds]

[text to amara time: 8:30am] because you love me? And this is me? I am one whole. I am always like this. You know you need the wine anyways xxxxxx

mateo sends the text to her. He knows that he has absolutely not been the greatest at keeping up with his friends but he has been better at keeping up with the kardashian’s instead. It reminded him that he actually needed to get his butt up and talk to his actual friends. As the working day works he finds himself getting more drained from work despite loving his job now that it is actually stable. He closes down the place as he heads back to his own home in the flats which he knows is not amara’s style, but at last, he had made the truck out to her last time. He sends another text as he arrives home. 

[text to amara time: 5:30pm] by the way, the door is unlocked for you, i’m ordering some food tonight, how does mexican sound?

Wine nights and flowers

She was rudely awoken from a dream to the familiar sound of her phone vibrating angrily in her hand where it had resided from the prior nights binge of a Netflix binge. Her other arm was immediately thrown over her eye to block the intrusion of light as she held up her phone to see who had disturbed her.

[message from Mateo] Tonight, me, you, wine and gossip

She sighed and knew that really it was not a suggestion, rather a polite reminder that she’d need a charcuterie board ready for them.

[text to Mateo] Hermano, why are you like this?

She lifted her head and spotted a small mountain of private practice paperwork waiting for her. Flopping back down she stared at her azure blue ceiling and sighed. “Time to start the day, I guess.”

@ofemeralds

[ofemeralds]

the slightest bit of a smile forms on his lips as he listens to her words. maybe this was something that was stable to him and this was really something that he could get used to. He had to stop walking through life these days thinking that he was not going to actually enjoy someone else’s company. He knew that was something that wasn’t sustainable anymore given the fact that he has beein in devil’s junction for as long as he has been. Seong never thought that he would hunker his life down in the midwest and he had always thought that he would stay in that little convenience store in south korea for most of his life. He never thought he would become what he is now, he wonders if his parents were still alive if they would approve of the type of man that he has become. “I don’t flake on people.” he says a bit truthfully with a shrug and that was really the truth. It was how he was able to actually make a family here in devil’s junction when his real one was gone. He stares down mindlessly at his hands resting on the table as his expression goes almost blank. “i guess that’s how i ended up here, in a weird way, isn’t it? i didn’t flake on avenging my parents death.” his voice was quiet and his words weighed heavy in the air.

Nazli held his gaze, letting the weight of his words settle between them. She could hear what he wasn’t saying—the quiet plea woven into the offer, the way it wasn’t just about meeting up, but about making sure neither of them disappeared into themselves. She understood that feeling all too well. The instinct to withdraw, to carry everything alone, to convince yourself that isolation was safer than leaning on someone else. Her fingers curled around her coffee cup, grounding herself in the warmth. “Alright,” she murmured, voice softer now. “A pact.” She let the word sit between them, testing its weight. A small, quiet promise that they wouldn’t let the world pull them apart. That even when life got in the way—as it always did—they’d make the effort.

Her lips parted as if to say more, but instead, she let out a slow breath, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup. “No excuses,” she added after a moment. “No waiting for the ‘right time.’ If one of us needs the other, we just—” she exhaled, meeting his eyes again, “—show up.” A faint smile ghosted her lips, not quite enough to chase away the heaviness, but there nonetheless. “And I don’t make pacts lightly, so you better not flake on me, Seong.” Her voice carried an edge of warmth, a quiet attempt to lift the weight between them. But the sincerity was still there, steady and unwavering. “No matter what time it is… we show up.”

[ofemeralds]

closed for rhys

for @rhysx mateo ft rhys

mateo had not been thinking straight since the news broke out about the explosion. he found himself mind numbingly standing in golden mile handing out roses to those that walk by. it seemed like most people around were also just trying to get whatever it was that they needed to do and then get back home. no one wanted to linger too long in crowded places anymore. people hardly even talked to mateo and didn't even wonder why he was giving out free roses when valentines day was long and gone and no one even had the chance to properly celebrate it. he hadn't even noticed that it was rhys who he was handing the next rose to which was a purple one because he was starting to run out of the standard colors he blinked a bit realizing that it was rhys. "oh, gardner boy!" he says showing a peak of interest before clearing his throat slightly. "sorry, you do have a name, rhys, do you have any more work needed to be done?"

[ofemeralds]

he had not seen much of anyone since the explosion happened. He wasn’t even sure if the person that he was meeting made it out alive and he didn’t really care to know. For right now he cared to be the person in his friends lives to bring them good food and companionship for right now and in this moment ishika was at the top of his mind after learning that indeed she was injured during the incident. he was glad that he had a safety net of a rather well-built sturdy bar to protect him and the buzzing in his ears had finally stopped after the next morning. he was on edge as he drove to the location, down old highway route. “i’m almost there, and i’m totally not eating a spring roll right now.” he says though his mouth was full as he was talking as he was talking and you could hear the ruffling of the plastic smiling thank you bag next to him. “also please tell your men not to point a gun at me, i’m hanging up now because i’m getting close.” he figures it is best to not have a phone on right about now as he approaches the safe house, he hangs up and turns his phone fully off as he pulls his lexus into park upon the gravel driveway. he sees two men stand up instantly as he pulls out of the car, half of a spring roll hanging from his mouth and grabs the plastic thank you bag “relax big boys i got you some to.” he says tossing an extra bag to the body guards. one that he had specifically for them.

they let seong in and he pockets his keys away as well as his phone, he takes the last chomp of his spring roll. “jesus,” he says seeing ishika on the couch. “you look like shit, you know? sorry i didn’t come sooner. i was seeing other people. i was also waiting for my hearing to get back to normal a little bit.” he says coming taking off his shoes– always before entering someone’s home even if it was just a safe house before moving to the couch and sits down next to her. “i got soup dumplings, sweet and sour pork and mapo tofu, i kind of got a little bit of everything. where’s the silverware around this place? let me get it.” he was moving ten thousand miles a minute as he works on sorting everything out on the coffee table.

Ishika stared at her phone, Seong’s message still glowing on the screen. Of course, he brought takeout. She exhaled, rubbing her fingers against her temple as if that would somehow ease the dull throb in her skull. The concussion had been a bitch, but the stitches were far worse. Every movement pulled at them, a sharp reminder of how close things had gotten. How close she had gotten. She’d spent years weaving herself into the undercurrents of Devil’s Junction, knowing how to move, how to anticipate danger before it struck. And still, the explosion had torn through her like a lesson she hadn’t been prepared for. The ache in her back, the tightness in her arm—it all served as proof that she wasn’t untouchable.

The phone buzzed again, this time with his call. She didn’t hesitate before answering, the familiar weight of his presence settling over her like something solid.

“I’m driving,” he said, voice steady, the low hum of the road behind him. “Are you going to tell me where you are, or is this going to be a game of cat and mouse?”

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her lips despite herself. Seong never did like being left out of the loop. “I’m at the Mehra safe house,” she admitted, shifting slightly on the couch before regretting it as a pull of discomfort flared through her back. Her fingers tightened around the phone. “Didn’t think my absence would be this noticeable.”

She rolled her shoulder slightly, immediately regretting it when the stitches in her back pulled tight. Swallowing down the discomfort, she leaned back against the couch, fingers curling around the phone. “Take the old highway route. Less eyes there. I’ll send the exact pin—just don’t make it obvious when you pull in. These guys are already on edge.” Ishika let out a slow breath, shifting the phone against her ear as she glanced around the dimly lit safe house. The security here was airtight, but it still wasn’t home. Not even close.

She hesitated for half a second before adding, “And for the record? I was looking forward to that takeout.” A small smile ghosted across her lips, a rare break in the tension. “So don’t even think about eating mine on the way.”

[ofemeralds]

[ofemeralds]

saul had slept in today after staring at the computers far too long and had actually been in his robe still. he was not really expecting anyone to come over this early in the morning. the coffee was fresh in his hand as he opened the door and sees amara standing there. he still had bed head hair from the sleep before and blinks a couple of times wondering if he was dreaming in this moment but he did remember actually waking up this morning. “yes?” he asks confused but making room for her to come in anyways. Was he in trouble or something? Why was she here standing at his doorstep? “no one died did they? why are you here?” he knew that was probably the wrong choice of words given the state of the town right about now but at last here he was saying those words to her and his brain was not yet functioning properly this morning. 

Of cousins and catch ups

As soon as she had finished her almost endlessly long shift at the hospital, she had begged off a few days to check in with family and wind down after all the chaos. She still had a few other contacts she wanted to look in to and friends to also check in on. But the first person she thought of to check on was her cousin, Saul.

It had been a long minute of contemplation to even ring the doorbell, let alone even step anywhere near the property. But she knew that what happened to the Kang's would raise alarm throughout their neighbourhoods and more likely than not she'd be called into a family meeting.

After a quick refresh at her home, she found herself nodding at the security guards who knew her well before avoiding the doorbell and aiming for knocking on the door. "Cousin," she said clear, employing her Mexican Spanish and speaking loud enough for him to hear her hopefully.

@ofemeralds

[ofemeralds]

seong takes a deep breath wondering what he should have expected with min jun of all people. his gaze follows min jun's eyes and he bites the bottom of his lip nervously knowing very well as to what he was doing. "you want me to stay the night when i live right next door?" he asks with the slightest bit of a smile on his lips though he gestures towards min jun's front door. "lead the way then." he says breathing out as he nervously runs his fingers through his hair. part of him wasn't sure what he was getting into. knowing him he would do as he was told to do and stay the night with the man. of course he would, he wanted to get to know him again like he was still his best friend.

His eyes followed the bob of Seong’s Adam’s apple, in which then his brain supplied images of a snowy New Haven night all those years ago and laying his eyes on him after so long again. He swallowed reflexively and failed to keep the fiery passion from his gaze as it trailed over the other man’s body committing it to memory even with clothes covering it.

He licked his lips a little and turned to eye the top level of windows, not seeing anyone home. “I could let you in,” his eyes returned to Seong’s. “Only if you’ll stay the night. It’ll be empty until the weekend.”

[ofemeralds]

seong enjoyed these nights when they could just be together and finally catch up on what they missed about each other. It seems like he never misses too much, but life in devil’s junction always moves fast. he always made time to see Luana, of all people. she was, after all, mostly the person that he considered family at this point within the insanity of this town. “mister ramsay looks like his hair would turn orange if he was caught in a kitchen fire and honestly, i would rather not be associated with someone like that.” he says with the slightest bit of a laugh as he puts the plates out at the kitchen island and moves around to sit at the bar stool next to her. “this is why i associate with cooler people like you. you’re much more interesting than the boy next door or something like that— which speaking of, i have a saga to tell you after you tell me about your someone that has caught your attention. because, hello? when does that ever happen?" he asks with the slightest bit of a smile on his lips as he serves the food onto both of the plates.

Luana smiled at Seong fondly as they chattered while he cooked. Others could most certainly get the wrong idea about the pair considering how they acted around one another. There was a level of comfort between them that was typically reserved for romantic partners. And yet, the two could not be more platonic. To her, Seong was family—someone to protect and look after for the rest of their days. When he stated he wasn’t sure if he’d ever like to bring children into the world, Luana nodded knowingly. She was on the same boat in that respect. Hell, she had never even been married in her forty-five years of life. And wasn’t really looking to be at this point. “I can respect that. Children aren’t required to be whole in life. I just think you’d make adorable ones.” She playfully replied, a smile ever present on her lips. Man, woman, or anyone in between, it didn’t matter to her which Seong was attracted to. As long as the next person he chose to spend his days with treated him right, it was neither here nor there. “Oh, please. I’m way cooler than mister Ramsay. He just gets an edge because of his octaves and accent.” The woman teased, wrapping up her work at the table. She then opted to head back into the kitchen to wait for their meal. “Everything is fine in my life, I think? I mean, I’ve been keeping busy as always. Ruffling feathers…the usual.” Her shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Someone may or may not have caught my attention recently, but we don’t need to dive into that topic.”

[ofemeralds]

Alisha Wainwright promo for Raising Dion

[ofemeralds]

saul was just finishing up the rice on his plate which was almost clean aside from a few pieces of ginger that rested on the side. he also finds himself leaning back in the warm booth that they have both been occupying for the past hour and he couldn’t help but smile softly as his gaze flickers to sam’s. he takes a clean napkin before reaching over and gently brushes away a crumb on sam’s smile line with his thumb that he had noticed earlier but forgot to mention anything until now. “i am if you are.” he says, his thumb lingering for a little too long before he clears his throat and leans back in his seat. he wasn’t really sure what the two of them were doing at these dinners, but he was starting to get used to the companion and comfort of the other. “where did you have in mind to go? i think violeta is not around this weekend if you want to come to mine?” he asks feeling around for his wallet in his back pockets, finally locating it he pulls it out, opens it, and places his card on the table.

CLOSED STARTER FOR @ofemeralds FT. SAM & SAUL!

getting involved with someone he would consider almost a coworker wasn't technically his vibe. in fact, he tried his best not to mix business with pleasure but the more he got to know saul, the more interesting the other was and he couldn't stop himself from wanting to spend more time with the man. so, that's how the two of them ended up with reservations at the golden dragon palace. he popped one of his dumplings into his mouth before he leaned back in his chair, his eyes focused on the man in front of him. "i don't know about you but i'm stuffed. i don't think i can eat another bite." he paused for a few moments, not wanting saul to feel rushed but he was hoping the two of them could get out of here and get into something else. "are you ready to pay and get out of here?"

[ofemeralds]

closed for kai

closed for kai @fairplcy mateo ft kai

location: the night owl

time: late evening 

mateo never really liked the night owl for it was mostly filled with college-aged children and maybe this is him talking because he never got a chance to go to college with the amount of kids that were in his family. however, this place did have a good happy hour and he has been here since the happy hour. he finds himself with his elbows resting on the table and nursing the same drink he had from two hours ago. His head resting in his hands as he didn’t even find himself interested in the game that was currently on the tv. it was crazy how the world can still go on even though devil’s junction seemed like it was falling a part every second. it felt like he couldn’t even catch a break to breathe these days. he hadn’t even realized that someone was sitting about two seats down when he realized that it was kai of all people. he blinks a couple of times as his gaze finally meets his. “what are you doing here?” he asks, brows furrowing underneath the dim light. “i was just about to order another drink, care to be added to my tab?” 

[ofemeralds]

closed for kai

@fairplcy saul ft kai 

location: his apartment 

time: after the plot drop 

saul needed to just step away from the computer for a little bit. he was pretty certain that his glasses were starting to fail him because the more he blinked his eyes the more his eyes were watering from staring at the screens for too long. he texted kai and told him to come over for pizza night which actually just arrived at his front door and he placed the two boxes of pizza on the counter. one was kai’s favorite and one was whatever the pizza place was offering a deal on which was currently sardines and pineapple which saul thought was a weird mix. however, he did have a professor in college who would put sardines on his pizza and it made everyone physically cringe as he pulled a sardine out of the can and placed it on the pizza. despite that memory in his head, the food did smell good and he didn’t realize how hungry he was. he texts kai again who’s name was currently listed in his phone as long term idiot.

(text to kai) you close? door is unlocked by the way.

[ofemeralds]

[text to ishika] relax. i am alive. Where are you? i went to your home and you weren’t there? i have chinese take out.

seong had been meaning to catch up on his friends and he did make it a priority to have ishika add to the priority of that list. He was driving around devil’s junction tonight trying to figure out what he was doing as chinese take out boxes from a local place sit in the back seat of his car. he knows that he should have messaged earlier before he went out on this adventure but once seong was set on something he did absolutely get his mission done. a client had kept him for much longer earlier today and he was much ready to chow down on some food right about now. he clicks ishika’s name on the phone and calls her because he figures that is safer than texting her. The ring fills the speakers of the car as he finally hears the click of someone answering the phone. “i’m driving.” he says his gaze on the road. “are you going to tell me where you are or is this going to be a game of cat and mouse?”

closed for @ofemeralds ( for seong baek )

[Text 📲 to Seong] Ishika: You alive over there, or did you finally piss off the wrong person?

She stared at the message for a second before hitting send, her fingers curling loosely around her phone as she leaned back against the cushions. The safe house was quiet—too quiet. The kind of quiet that made her think too much, feel too much. And she wasn’t used to that. She shifted, wincing slightly as the movement pulled at healing wounds. The pain wasn’t unbearable, not anymore, but it was a constant reminder that she wasn’t at a hundred percent. That she wasn’t moving at her usual pace, wasn’t running point, wasn’t doing. And she hated it.

Her eyes flicked to the heavy security presence outside the window—guards stationed at the perimeter, surveillance cameras sweeping every angle. It was necessary. She knew that. But she also knew it wasn’t just about her safety anymore. It was about control. About making sure nothing slipped through the cracks again.

She exhaled sharply and looked back at her phone. No response yet. Typical.

Seong was hard to pin down on a good day, but after the explosion? She didn’t know how he was dealing with it. If he was dealing with it. He wasn’t the type to talk about things unless someone forced the issue, and Ishika wasn’t exactly great at the whole emotional check-in thing either. But something about nearly getting blown to hell had a way of making her reevaluate priorities.

[Text 📲 to Seong] Ishika: Don’t make me assume the worst. You know I will.

She let her head rest back against the couch, phone still in her grip. The old version of her, the one who never let things get too real, might’ve let him be. Might’ve told herself he’d reach out if he wanted to. But this version of her—the one sitting in a safe house, body still aching, mind still replaying the explosion in flashes—she wasn’t so sure she had the luxury of waiting anymore.

[ofemeralds]

“clearly, you couldn’t even get your sleeve out of the coffee machine, yes, of course that is some sense.” he says a bit bluntly, matching sterling’s tone. he moves to the sink and stares at the tile along the wall to avoid sterling’s eyes. why was he always in a mood and why was he the one to always get the blunt end of the stick of it? he lets his hands rest underneath the hot water as his eyes rest shut. He lets sterling’s words fill his ear. it almost sounded like a fan that was spinning too hard to him the way that sterling chose to speak. doesn’t it ever get tiring? he takes the scrubber brush, opening his eyes and puts some soap over the part and scrubs away at the coffee reimminents. “no, i got it because you guys are supposed to be friends.” he says sounding rather tired. “but lately it hasn’t really felt like that, has it?”

“Common human decency? Right, I’ll be sure to send the machine a thank-you card next time it tries to maim me.” Absolute nonsense. And bringing his mum into it? Christ. “Mum’s raised me to have some bloody sense, which is why I don’t waste my time sweet-talking appliances.” Saul moves like he actually knows what he’s doing, which is irritating in itself. Sterling’s been wrestling with this contraption long enough that admitting defeat stings. But then Saul lifts the cap, pulls out the funnel, and just like that, his sleeve’s free. Brilliant. So all he had to do was not be an idiot. “Brilliant. So all I had to do was not be a muppet. Cheers for that.” And now he’s on about getting coffee. What, out of the kindness of his heart? “You got us coffee, did you? What, hoping for a medal?” Sterling folds his arms, eyeing the machine like it personally offended him. “And yeah, I’ve been here too long. Clearly. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have let a bloody coffee machine get the better of me.” Saul’s already rinsing the portafilter, so he might as well finish the job. “Since you’re playing handyman, you might as well see it through. I’ll even say thanks, if that helps with the whole ‘common decency’ thing.”

[ofemeralds]

“i know.” he lets his voice drift as he listens to her words. he really does just need more company in his life to keep him more sane through this life in devil’s junction. When he was in chicago he only isolated himself to luana and luana only. he wonders if maybe that was part of the reason why he was able to agree to get married when he was so young– when the reality was that he needed that for his citizenship. he takes a deep breath. his whole life was always turned around this time of the year. him asking for her company was his way of screaming for help. he knows that he should see her other times as well but sometimes life does just manage to get in the way. Right now what they had going on was easy to see each other whenever they could make the time. “well, let’s make a pact then.” he says his gaze meeting hers. “we come back to this spot whenever we feel like we need to see each other. just send each other a quick text, no matter what time of the day it is, we show up, yeah? that’s the least we can do to each other to make sure that we are seeing each other as often as we can.”

Nazli watched him, the slight smile, the way his fingers drifted to his sleeve, the quiet weight in his voice. February always had this effect on him, didn’t it? She hadn’t questioned it before, had never pressed when he showed up in her orbit like clockwork this time of year. Maybe because, in her own way, she understood. She flicked her gaze to his coffee, then back to him. “Mysterious, huh?” she mused, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly. “Seems like a lot of effort to keep up the act.” But she wasn’t teasing him, not really. There was something careful in the way she said it, like she knew there was truth beneath his words, even if he didn’t say it outright.

When he mentioned company, she let the silence settle between them for a moment. She wasn’t one to offer easy comfort, but she also wasn’t the kind to walk away when someone needed it—not when it mattered. It was just something she'd adopted from her parents--true compassion to those that deserved it. “I don’t mind being around,” she finally said, her voice quieter, more certain than playful. “But if you only come find me in February, I’m going to start thinking I have some kind of seasonal appeal, or maybe I can be remedy for seasonal depression or something.” Her gaze softened slightly. “Maybe we should see if we actually like each other the rest of the year too.” It wasn’t an invitation, not exactly. But it wasn’t a rejection either. Just a truth, offered plainly between them.