#ft. civan guneri

[lia-lozano]

Location: Chapman's Grocer Starter for: @civanguneri

It was a strange experience for Lia to run into her or her friend's ex boyfriends. If she ran into hers, she'd probably end up pushing her shopping cart into him and hightailing it out of the next available exit, even if that happened to be an open window. When she had spotted Nathaniel in town the other day, she had glared at him so hard, an elderly lady had stopped to check she was an actual psychopath. There was no way to explain that she was hoping a hole opened up and swallowed a man whole, so she'd just walked away.

But as she rounded the corner of the little grocery store and spotted Civan, she didn't feel any hatred she felt for her or Holly's ex. She still didn't know what had really gone on with him and Mari, but she had always liked Civan. Even if she was a little bit sure he had only just about tolerated her. Raising a hand in a wave as she approached him, she could only smile. "Civvy, it's been a long time." Even if he more than tolerated her, she couldn't say the same for the nickname she had given him once when she was drunk. "It's nice to see you."

[nate-strauss]

"It's not your worst trait, don't worry." Over the last year, Nate had many people in his life try and sugarcoat things to try and make him feel better but very few gave him the no bullshit attitude like Civan did. It might not be the easiest thing to hear immediately, but it ultimately was better than anything else.

Maybe he had downplayed his actions, hoping that it wouldn't have hurt Holly as much as it could've but as he took in his friend's words, Nate couldn't help but want to defend himself slightly. "There's that, but also.. she never told her family about us, you know? I guess a part of me wondered that if you're not sure enough about someone after a year to introduce them to your family, was it just not worth it to her." It had been the only real point of contention in their relationship and it was definitely something he'd clung onto when he'd made the decision to not try and contact her. "But at least I didn't have to try and get chai stains out of my shirt."

Raising his eyebrows slightly, Nate almost shuddered at the memory of the venom he'd received from Mari and the disgust on her face that he was back. "If she doesn't set me on fire, the other one will, Lia is it?" Shaking his head gently, Nate chuckled at the idea before he looked back to his friend. "Wouldn't you like to know? But letting go of the regrets is easier said than done at the minute, especially when I'm not seeing that coffee I was promised." He smirked at Civan, trying to lighten his own mood. "How're things with you anyway?"

"Wouldn't know how, even if I tried," Civan admitted openly. Whether that came from the lack of trying and practice, or, as he assumed an innate inability, would never be determined. At the end of the day, certain pleasantries seemed like a waste of time. His gaze dropped to scan Nate's attire, almost as if double-checking himself for evidence that the man had come out unscathed. As the other continued Civan's head tipped to one side, some genuine curiosity stamped across his otherwise placid features. "Interesting." Civan wasn't the friend you wanted to have if you were accustomed to avoidance, he spoke openly. "Makes sense you'd downplay your own actions." A shrug decorated his shoulders, "Wouldn't be too surprised. She's young. Given the timing of everything, you might have been her first serious relationship." Mention of Mariana stiffened his frame and Civan took a steady sip of his own warm beverage. He scoffed. "That is not shocking, if a bit hypocritical of her." Civan was not resentful, truly. He'd forgiven Mari a long time ago, but, she still wasn't exactly a paragon of healthy relationships. He didn't believe in throwing stones when you lived in a glass house. "The girls aside," Civan amended "— You had your reasons, and what's done is done. Regret gets no one very far, unless you've invented a time machine since we last met."

[marcoscntos]

Marco was spending as much time as he could at the beach these days. Soaking up the last remaining dregs of warmth that he could. Besides, after being locked in a cell for five years, the freedom a wide open beach offered, was something he had a hard time staying away from. He had spotted the group of people playing volleyball up ahead, but he was still a ways away and didn't pay much attention to who was playing until he was closer. He saw one of the players separate from the group and began heading towards the person who was walking several feet ahead of him. Only as he continued walking, getting closer to the conversation, did he begin to recognize the man who had left the game and hear what he was asking. Civan. Marco winced inwardly at the awkwardness of running into the son of the woman who owned the house Juan had broken into five years ago. He tried to speed up, hoping Civan wouldn't notice him, but as the person Civan was talking to turned down his offer and the younger man's eyes turned towards Marco, he knew there was no avoiding it now. "I'm guessing you don't need another team player that badly?" he offered, glancing over Civan's shoulder at the group of people waiting around the volleyball net.

Who | open ( capping at 3 ) Where | the beach. In the slowly dying out glimpses of summer heat, a deep chest rattling sigh escaped Civan as he was volunteered by his teammates to find a last minute substitute player. Why he of all people had been entrusted with the task he would never understand - but he begrudgingly obliged the others' urging. Bare feet carried him across the warm beach, stopping at the nearest beach goer who looked to be by themselves and of an age wherein they might actually agree to the favor and enjoy themselves. A hand raised to shield his eyes from the sun so he could look them in the eyes, offering what was a bit of an awkward forced smile. "Hey, uh, any chance you're up for a game of volleyball?" He'd gesture to the ball tucked under his left arm, as if that might be necessary. "Me and those guys..." he'd turn to glance back behind him to an equally shirtless crowd of adults around a volleyball net. "We're trying to get in a few season end plays, just for fun, and we had a no show."

[nate-strauss]

"You know, for a second, I thought you were going to sugar coat things and then I woke up and remembered where I was." Smirking a little, Nate leaned forward and against the island in Civan's kitchen. There were lots of things he was enjoying about being back in Briar Ridge, but being able to catch up with his friend, his old man, slipper wearing friend, in person, was one of the best things about it. He'd been willing to buy them a coffee to catch up with, especially as he had a lot of news, as usual, but neither of would've preferred to relaxing at Civan's home.

"I was pretty shocked I didn't walk out of there wearing the chai she'd ordered. She said it would be a waste but until I walked through my front door not wearing it, I wasn't sure that she wouldn't change her mind." Blowing out a deep breath, Nate shook his hand. "I don't know, I don't know what I expected but it was it and wasn't it all at once. I think I maybe underestimated just how much it hurt her. Maybe to make myself feel better, I don't know." Shaking his head, Nate pushed himself up to lean his hip against the island instead. "Then I saw your delight of an ex-girlfriend and she pretty much threatened to set fire to me, so all in all, it's been great."

@nate-strauss Where: Civan's home, Briar Ridge Hills. It was the perfect time of year. Cozying up with a book by the fire was the exact seasonal aesthetic and frankly, one that Civan could get behind. It was his day off, and so far he hadn't had to people. In hoping to keep it that way, the suggestion to meet up for coffee with Nate was countered with 'I have coffee'. Coffee, espresso, tea - Çaykur to be specific. You name it. Civan also had a very nice shiny pristine coffee machine. Best for the days he needed a quick shot of caffeine to keep him alert and standing upright. "So?" Civan questioned with a raised brow, looking across his kitchen island at Nate expectantly. He wasted very little time with pleasantries and instead got very quickly down to a different kind of tea. The 'listening to people's drama' variety, which he was fond of as long as he himself didn't have any. "I'll be honest. If she kicked you in the shins and ran for it, I wouldn't be shocked." Holly gave him the impression of a woman who'd put up a fight.