pcrdita

[pcrdita]

Jude's proud of the little idea. Simply enjoying a movie together in the back of his truck, stuffed with blankets to give the metal bed some sort of comfort to it. But he knows Luciana's made of tougher stuff, she'd sat on the back of his bike for longer periods than this and didn't seem to mind.

Usually in moments of great vulnerability Jude would take that as a sign to resign to being absent from a dynamic. But baring it all only had an astonishingly positive effect, the pair bonding further and further day by day. To the point where he couldn't imagine ever going back to a time where Luciana wasn't around.

Watching her shift herself, Jude follows the shadows of the night framing her face. Beautiful both inside and out, he'd be a downright fool to ever forget that — take it for granted. As she settles on his lap, Jude almost mindlessly lets his hands rest on the back of her head, lightly touching her hair, then slide down to rest on the side of her thighs. A great moment of tenderness, he didn't really seem to care if it was in eye shot of the cars next to them. They weren't doing anything untoward anyway. "I don't believe that." Ironic, Jude would say the same thing about himself, but he couldn't imagine her being that cataclysmic. But regardless, it seemed clear they were of the same mind about things.

"I think we're gunna be alright." A soft smile dangles in the corner of his mouth, before softly kissing into the palm held next to his face, as Morticia Addams voice plays in the background from the big screen.

— @lucianaxalvarez

Relationships weren't quite easy for her. Not since her childhood. Her father MIA, her mother constantly treating her as an enemy or the competition when she was anything but... The only person she ever let in was someone she didn't even know anymore, only read about from afar. It was how she knew little pieces of his life that she didn't get to be apart of. This is why she promised once the two of them started growing closer together that she would be different. She would be willing to let down her guard and be there.

She didn't know if it was necessarily important for her to know where the two of them stood but maybe there was a part of her that just wanted to know how he felt, what he was thinking when it came to their relationship. Especially with how emotionally vulnerable he became the last few weeks. She thinks about all those moments in the court room where he gave her hand one little squeeze, the way his features would pinch together and even the emotions of the aftermath. She knew he held back what he probably usually did, sinking into her instead of whatever he used to sink into.

"I'm glad I could help," the words were whispered. Mainly out of respect for those around them since it dawned on her they were in the bed of his truck, having this conversation about what they are, what they wanted to be. She brushes her tongue along her lower lip as she lifts her head up from his side to look at him. Once he speaks about how he didn't talk about it. With everything that had been on his mind, she hadn't expected him to talk about defining their relationship.

"I like doing that too," she says after he finishes. She adjusts on the truck of the bed, moving one leg over to settle herself onto his lap. Mainly to be closer to him, not anything more than that. She places her hands on each side of his neck. "I can't say I have some traumatic experiences when it comes to relationships, at least, this kind of relationship but I pretty much have always ruined everything I touch and I don't want to do that here. I'm fine living in the moment, I usually do better that way because the worrying about what could happen is just... too much." She brushes her thumbs along the lining of his jaw. "And I wasn't expecting ya to talk about this before, you had more to focus on than a conversation that can happen at any point in time."

@pcrdita

[pcrdita]

"It's a prerequisite for the job." A bout of humoured air leaves Jude's mouth. It's something about spending hours working on something that won't smart-talk you back was a great incentives to those who didn't like talking that much.

Jude snorts. He too would like to satiate his own curiosity. Jude reckoned himself a reasonably attractive man, however the inner personality was something most didn't think too highly of. Or at least that's what he believed. "You'd have to ask her. It's not my place, right?"

— @caleb-majhi

Caleb only challenges Jude with his typical Caleb-branded stare - the one he makes whenever anyone says something that isn't even mildly threatening. It's usually reserved for people who get mad at him for towing their car, but the mention of his wages doesn't cause for him to flinch or blink or fear any repercussions.

Besides, repercussions for the truth would be entirely out of Jude's character.

"Miserable's a strong word there. But maybe that's you being a magnet for it. Drawing all of us sad, lonely losers in to work on cars."

Caleb doesn't mean it. Not entirely. That would require him knowing more about his coworkers than he'd like, and Jameson and Max are kept at surface level.

"It's not your place to question what she sees in you. Just accept it. She seems something good in you. Personally, I'd like to know what it is, but that's just for satiating my curiosity in the matter."

@pcrdita

[pcrdita]

Jude doesn't know how to take compliments, nor gifts. Its not something he ever did willingly. "You're a good person." He shrugs, it was only natural he treated a decent person with respect. "Y'treat me well, I treat y'well. Simple."

Glancing up towards the shop in question, Jude sits in the silence for a moment. She was right, he had put a relentless amount of blood sweat and tears into building this place up from the ground. But was it enough for him to accept the incentive? "Y'sure there's nothing y'need that money for?"

— @cavenshh

Lia smiled softly, shaking her head as she watched Jude’s reaction. “Jude, you did more than just fix my car,” she said gently, her voice steady but kind. “You’ve always looked out for me, even when you didn’t have to. This isn’t just about the car; it’s about you and what you’ve built here. You deserve this.” She stepped closer, placing the envelope back in his hand, her eyes full of sincerity. “I’m not giving you charity. I’m investing in something I believe in—and that’s you, Jude.” She paused, searching his face for a moment. “You’ve worked hard for this place, and I want to see it grow. Let me help, okay? Besides, what good is money if I can’t use it to support the people who matter to me?”

@pcrdita

[pcrdita]

"Oh I'm aware." Jude knew how rough around the edges his employees were, by no means was Jameson going to ever fool him. "If the foods good, the foods go. Don't matter how fancy the place." He reasons, already planning out his order. "Luce's probably going to get her way—" As usual "—and I'll be dressin' up for that party."

— @jamesonxcassidy

“ i don’t think they’ve ever steered me wrong. Besides im not fancy at all so i dont really like going to those other restaurants in town” they also probably wouldn’t want him there. He may have been on his best behavior since being released but Jameson was still a known face. He looked like his dad. “ got Halloween plans? “@pcrdita

[pcrdita]

This felt good, like it always did. It was astonishing how just being around someone who cared for you so deeply was soothing to the soul, he'd forgotten what that had felt like. As Luciana settles in against his frame, Jude can't help but smile. A secret smile that was only for her, the one person to be so invited into his soul, and hold it with her caring hands. No pretence, much less fear than ever before, he wanted to mentally capture this moment in time to look back on like a picture. Not just preserve the visual of them together, but the feeling of true happiness.

"Yeah." He chuckles back, despite their development in dynamic you couldn't quite take tease out of the man just yet. He let's her words sit and resonate in the space for a moment, glancing up towards the screen however not focusing on the movie. That time she vocalised them being in a relationship he wasn't in the frame of mind for such a conversation. However, today he was more ready to pick up where they left off. He didn't particularly need to talk about these things, but if having an understanding of where they stood was important to her — then it would be important to him.

"I think... I don't hold any expectations over what 'ya need to be for me, but I appreciate what y'have done." He nods, as if mindlessly confirming to himself the words came out the right way for once. "A lot." If that wasn't already obvious, he wanted to reinforce it. "I didn't not talk about us being couple because I was ashamed, or nothin'." Jude wasn't sure exactly of what was going on in Luciana's mind after that initial conversation about his dad, but he had an inkling of sort. He didn't want to further encourage lingering feelings of uncertainty of his interest in her. "My last serious relationship ended really fuckin' badly, was pretty toxic lookin' back on it now. And I played a part in lettin' things get to the point of no return. I think, because of it, sometimes I'd rather live in the moment than live in fear of the future. 'Cause i don't wanna fuck this up. You and me."

— @lucianaxalvarez

Luciana settles against him once he slips into the truck bed. She lays her head against his shoulder. It feels good to be like this with him, maybe it was the trip but somehow it felt like the two of them were closer than ever. She lifts her eyes up to look at the screen, placing her hand on his abdomen. She plays with the fabric of his shirt as her attention focuses on the screen of the movie. It felt good to be back in Aurora, not having to worry about something bad happening. It was like the cloud wasn't over the both of them anymore but it was a cloud that was necessary.

"A good day, huh?" She teases. She tilts her head up to look at him when he says she deserved it after everything. "I'm doing what I'm supposed to do, you know? It's what grown adults do in an actual relationship," she pokes at his abs gently. It was brought up once, the idea of being in an actual relationship, considering the label and throwing it out there but with everything that was happening with him in that moment, it wasn't something they actually discussed. "What do you think about that?"

@pcrdita

[pcrdita]

"Y'make me sound like I shit out money or somethin'." Quite the contrary. After expenses like salaries, insurance, maintenance, tools, parts and his own rent, whatever was left was usually eye-wateringly low. "Nah, it's on me." Family was always counted in to his own personal finances, no matter how few were left around here. "Yeah, that sounds good." Anything sounded good right about now, you could almost hear Jude's stomach rumbling.

— @mikeyxcallahan

"You, the owner of a whole ass business, are going to ask me, a failed soldier and waitress, to pay for our lunch? Rude." Mikey only said all of that to be as dramatic and annoying as possible to her cousin, she was always like that. "I'm kidding, I've got ya if you need me to! What'cha in the mood for? I'm thinking Sea Shanty."

@pcrdita

[pcrdita]

Jude: $120 for the coolant flush Jude: Yeah so no worries Jude: I'll be there till late so you got time

— @jaspermorgan

@pcrdita JASPER: Hi Jude. Thanks so much for letting me know. JASPER: How much will it cost? JASPER: And is it okay for me to come by just before you close? I'm busy up until then.

[pcrdita]

"It's the engine oil, isn't it." Jude did make sure to sniff test the overalls before putting them on, he didn't think anyone would appreciate him wearing used work wear. But that stuff sometimes seemed to linger a little bit. "Who y'dressed as?"

— @missxrivera

Closed for @pcrdita

Ramsey had to sit down for a bit. She loved her costume but it was starting to get a bit heavy to walk around in. She had moved in heavier clothes on the runway but that was never for an entire night and never while dancing. As she moved over to take a seat she noticed a masked man and had the weirdest feeling she knew who it was. There was only one man she knew who committed to hiding themselves this much. “ is this who I think it is?”

[pcrdita]

Jude liked being being back home with her. Falling back into their usual routine, the comforting rhythm of their daily lives they'd seem to fall into. Seeing her happy at the proposed date idea, in turn made him feel good. After all, the deserved to a moment to themselves to enjoy the others company without any external stresses. He intentionally picked the non violence packed movie for the day, considering it would difficult to maintain the romantic vibe he was going for.

"You caught me on a good day." The blonde quips over the truck bed, before placing his boot on top of the wheel to prop himself high enough to climb into the make-shift bed with her. Settling himself down next to her, Jude wraps his arm around her shoulders before pressing a kiss lazily against her head. "Y'deserve it, after everythin' you've done." He mumbles into her hair, holding there for a moment before settling himself down against the outdoor pillow he had propped behind their backs.

— @lucianaxalvarez

In the few weeks they spent in Baton Rouge. It felt like the two of them had grown closer together. For the first time in her life, she had this stable relationship and she wasn't fucking it up like usual. In fact, she was doing the opposite. She was doing her best not to ruin it by acting like she usually did. Instead, she made decisions she should have a long time ago when it came to people in her life and went with him to one of the hardest things he'd ever have to face. She spent every day, holding his hand and listening to the arguments, to what he had actually done and spent every night remaining as close to him as she could, brushing her fingers through his hair and providing the physical comfort she knew how.

It was a relief when it ended in their favor. Well, his favor. She sat in the passenger seat of the truck as he drove, her eyes glancing over at him every so often to take him in. To see him back to being Jude in Aurora Bay and not the Jude in Baton Rouge. He seems more at ease here which is nice to see. She gets out of the car and shuts the door behind her. She walks over to the other side of the bed across from him, smirking at his words.

"Too bad I already posted it all over Facebook," she teases as she walks over to the back and pulls herself up into the cargo bed. She gets comfortable in the blankets, turning to face him as the movie starts. "You keep doing romantic things like this, Jude and a girl could get used to it."

@pcrdita

[pcrdita]

Jude: No worries. Jude: Doors always open if you wanna learn a thing or two every so often.

— @wesxevans

Wes: hey! unfortunately im still at neptune for the time being, but I'm definitely still interested! Wes: sorry for disappearing my life got kind of crazy with working a second job at the library over the summer as well as beginning school on top of family stuff Wes: I think things might be calming down a bit though @pcrdita

[pcrdita]

Starter: @lucianaxalvarez Where: Sunset Drive In

They'd been back from Baton Rogue for a few weeks now. Not only was he thrilled for this years ordeal to be over, but he felt that their week away had been a pinnacle part in the development of their relationship. While normally affectionate with Luciana, Jude felt himself let go a little more. Lately he wasn't so afraid of letting a bit more of his feelings show in public, something that didn't really come natural to him. Why? Well, if there was anything that would prove to Jude how committed she was to being in his life, it was the working she'd put into supporting him during his dad's appeal process.

Despite his initial fears of opening this specific can of worms, Luciana had watched him go through one of the toughest moments he'd face in life and not be afraid. In fact, in a way Jude felt a lot closer to her than ever before. So in return for her kindness Jude was putting into more effort than usual, actively suggesting they take his truck and take it to the movie drive in with some blankets.

"Don't go tellin' no one this was my idea." He winks, from the other side of the car, hoisting himself into the cargo bed with the last of the blankets to settle down with her before The Addams Family started playing.

[pcrdita]

💭 + Jude

" I hate my dad. I never really considered him a dad, because he was in and out of jail my whole life until he died. I feel like in a way Jude is someone who had come into my life to make up for how shitty my dad was. He's really more of a brother in a lot of ways, but everything useful I've learned since being released from prison is because of him. He took care of me when no one else wanted to give me a job. He makes sure I'm doing okay but he also doesn't sugar coat shit either. I need that in my life and I honestly look up to the guy. Even if he'd hate that I said that " @pcrdita

[pcrdita]

HALLOWEEN 2024: Jude Bordelon as Michael Myers (Attending with @lucianaxalvarez as Freddy Krueger)

@aurorabayaesthetic

[pcrdita]

💭 + Jude

When I moved back to Aurora Bay almost two years ago I tracked down my cousin Jude along with my other family and friends. It's been so nice to be so close to family again, although I do miss parents and Japan.

Jude's cool to talk to and I know about cars because of him. So that's neat! We go to lunch sometimes.

@pcrdita

[pcrdita]

💭 + Jude

"He's what I look for in a boss. Don't helicopter manage me, let's me do my thing, doesn't try and put in place any over-the-top rules.

He's a good guy. Won't catch him dead out and about though. The fact I saw him at the bar had me doing a double take. He keeps to himself. That's one thing I can appreciate. Jude is never an over-sharer. That also means he doesn't pry, and with how nosy some of the fuckers in this town can be, it's an admired quality."

@pcrdita

[pcrdita]

💭 Mikey

"She's a good kid, got brains. 'bout time someone living in this family had some. I don't wanna get in her way in life, but I feel kinda responsible in makin' sure she doesn't do anything too dumb. She reminds me of mum."

— @mikeyxcallahan

[pcrdita]

Jude: Hey. Jude: Still interested in working on some car skills? — @wesxevans