#muse‚ asher barzal.

[athl3tes]

closed // movie night ! // @epigraphed

⸻   no   hostilities   set   out   between   them   .   a   clean   slate   ,   moreso   an   opportunity   .   the   rookie   had   done   everything   necessary   to   ensure   the   night   went   smoothly   .   impromptu   cleaning   session   aided   by   none   other   than   mutual   aid   in   the   form   of   the   younger   hamilton   .   snack   bowls   set   out   ,   gentle   blue   indigo   ambient   lights   set   a   calming   mood   .   even   the   movie   had   been   ready   to   go   by   the   time   the   elevator   ding   rang   out   .   penthouse   accessed   by   keycode   mara   had   free   will   and   access   to   .   comfortable   skylar   branded   jogging   pants   ,   and   white   tee   grace   his   form   .   rounding   corner   to   view   the   two   from   elevated   perch   .   ❝   hey—   welcome   .   ❞

the   defenceman   had   his   own   reservations   ,   but   kept   them   to   himself   .   more   than   ever   ,   he   was   open   to   the   idea   .   of   three   together   ,   as   opposed   to   three   separate   .   figured   life   would   be   easier   ,   happier   that   way   .   hands   interlocked   as   they   entered   the   penthouse   ,   released   to   not   stir   the   centers   jealousy   .   ❝   hey   mav   ,   nice   place   you   got   here   .   ❞

[athl3tes]

closed for jeremiah // @epigraphed location : skylars stadium

⸻   ❝   you   son   of   a   bitch   ,   ❞   a   playful   greeting   whispered   from   stadium   shadows   ,   before   he’d   all   but   lunged   at   his   best   friend   who’d   been   more   like   a   brother   all   his   life   .   sturdy   arm   slung   around   broad   shoulders   ,   and   knuckles   dug   into   his   bowed   hair   .   ruffling   it   up   as   they   walked   through   hallways   .   they’d   worn   different   colors   ,   jerseys   and   logos   nowadays   .   but   their   brotherly   bond   hadn’t   withered   in   the   slightest   .   ❝   you   didn’t   think   you   were   actually   gonna   come   down   here   and   get   away   from   me   ,   did   you   ?   ❞   laughter   rumbled   from   broad   chest   ,   finally   releasing   the   french   canadian   .   ❝   you’re   lookin’   a   little   tougher   to   defend   this   season   .   what’s   up   with   that   ,   try hard   ?   ❞

[athl3tes]

adding :   asher barzal ,   twenty five ,   multi-verse ,   mathew barzal   .   defenceman   drafted   fourth   overall   ,   endured   season   ending   injury   in   rookie   year   .   has   spent   the   preceding   years   rebuilding   his   stock   .   (  affiliated  with  @epigraphed  ) 

[athl3tes]

@epigraphed

[athl3tes]

…      consumed  by  a  towering  shadow  of  sorrow,     happiness  had  been  incredibly  allusive.     they  both  know  the  source  of  his  troubles,    faded  away  by  those  around  him  who  loved  him.     jeremiah,    was  the  first  person  to  breathe  a  sense  of  hope  back  into  his  life.     ❝   i  am  happier,   ❞     always  been  the  happy  one.     quite  a  wrench  required  to  throw  his  vibe  off  it’s  carefully  charted  path,    but  it  was  possible.     he  was  human,    afterall.     ❝   there’s  just  one  thing  missing  now,   ❞     it’s  regretful.     but  they’ll  work  on  it,  he  knows.     ❝   you’ll  have  to  meet  her,  maybe  get  you  set  up  on  a  double  date    …   ❞  

their  shared  dream  had  been  short  lived,  becoming  neighbours  was  a  solid  second  chance  in  the  center's  opinion.       ❝ thanks  asher,  ❞        widely  grinning  at  the  defenceman,  often  one  to  go  out  of  his  way  for  those  he  loved.  knows  little  of  the  ballerina,  yet  to  meet  her  too  -  but  asher  seems  happier  than  he's  long  seen  him.  and  if  anyone  deserves  to  be  happy  it's  his  best  friend.       ❝ you  have  yet  to  introduce  us,  and  you  know  how  i  feel  about  social  media.  ❞         tends  to  stay  away  from  it,  a  rather  private  person  -  if  occurring  online  it  is  likely  because  friends  posted  pictures  or  videos  of  him.  instagram  was  for  friends  and  family  only.       ❝  you  seem  happier  asher...  and  happiness  looks  great  on  you!  ❞  most  things  tend  to  however,  quite  the  pretty  boy.

[athl3tes]

no   matter   the   resting   tension,   they   always   found   a   way   to   breathe   calmness   into   their   encounters.   part   of   the   reason   they   complimented   one   another   so   well,   there   was   nothing   he’d   sacrifice   for   the   bond   they   carried.      ❝  well   you’ll   be   the   first   to   know,   i’ll   get   you   in   contact   with   my   real   estate   agent,   too.  ❞      managed   to   score   a   beautiful   waterfront   property,   a   rarity   in   new   york   city.   and   wouldn’t   have   it   pried   from   his   palms   in   exchange   for   anything.      ❝  my   girl,  ❞      not   exactly   his,   not   entirely   anyways,   but   nothing   short   of   great   things   to   say.      ❝  telling   you   bro,   she’s   the   most   gorgeous   thing   i’ve   ever   seen.  ❞      and   that   wasn’t   a   hyperbole,   either.      ❝  have   you   seen   her   yet ?  ❞

sigh  of  relief  escapes  the  center  as  his  best  friend  cracks  jokes  rather  than  dwells  on  factors  they  cannot  change.  skylars  may  have  wanted  him  once,  but  those  days  were  over  no  matter  how  beloved  he  may  have  been  by  their  fans  -  a  betrayal  to  now  play  for  their  rivals.       ❝ well  you  tell  me  if  anything  becomes  available  in  your  neighborhood,  ❞         if  not  playing  for  the  same  team  they  could  at  least  have  that  together.  nose  crinkling  at  the  added  insult,  yet  to  feel  like  a  brooklyn  boy.  his  heart  still  lingering  with  the  skylars.       ❝ tell  me  about  your  girl?  ❞

[athl3tes]

⸻   unexpected   laughter   rolled   from   the   centers   parted   brims   ,   rolling   over   only   slightly   .   his   failed   bid   to   contain   the   laughter   which   slowly   tapered   off   with   those   of   the   defencemans   .   glance   stolen   away   from   blank   television   screen   ,   pulled   away   by   the   calling   of   a   nickname   he’d   assumed   pertained   to   his   own   habits   behind   closed   doors   .   ❝   would   i   be   able   to   rip   it   ,   i   dunno—   y’know   .   i   kinda   remember   you   scolding   me   for   that   shit   one   time   .   can   never   make   up   your   mind   sometimes   ,   but   that’s   alright   .   ❞   mind   resistant   ,   yet   complying   for   now   .   a   gesture   to   barzal   spiked   his   grin   once   more   .   ❝   we’ll   take   care   of   all   that   for   you   .   ❞

  ❝   may   aswell   not   waste   your   time   ,   you’ll   find   a   way   to   turn   heads   in   that   thing   too   .   ❞   huff   of   his   breath   ,   then   he’d   reclined   against   couch   cushion   .   eyebrows   furrowed   at   the   mention   of   lingerie   dismantling   .   a   feat   of   the   rookie   he’d   not   yet   heard   about   .   ❝   the   ripper   ,   ahhh   .   ❞   he   contemplated   ,   grinning   with   a   click   of   his   tongue   against   the   roof   of   his   mouth   .   ❝   somehow   ,   somehow   that   doesn’t   surprise   me   at   all   .   ❞

soft exhale of relief at the joined laughter between her favourite people, soon enough even the ballerina cannot keep it together. a chuckle slips past glossed lips, squeezing their much larger hands in retaliation.     ❝ oh shush now! the two of you are plenty colour for a life time, ❞ accompanied by a roll of mossy greens. too many times has she witnessed either player in various shades of yellow, blue and purple - the occasional red too, whenever they're left bleeding. not counting for the marks she often leaves behind, little love notes written in flesh. plus she loves the contrast, most ballerina's opting for whites and pastels. gaze drifts to the defence man, brow arched,     ❝ is that a complaint? maybe i'll wear a nun's habit next time, it's black and shapeless, not to tempt weak minds, ❞ a playful crinkle of her nose, sounds awful to not wear something that shows off the figure she works tirelessly to maintain.     ❝ think you'd be able to rip that ripper? ❞ slight dig at the rookie's tendency to tear the lingerie she often wears, gaze drifting between the two.

[athl3tes]

⸻   an   irritable   ,   yet   playful   roll   of   deep   cerulean   hues   accompany   the   ballerina’s   scolding   notion   .   brought   comfortably   to   rest   on   padded   ,   memory   foam   couch   after   a   long   day   in   the   west   village   .   grocery   shopping   aided   by   covert   sunglasses   and   puffy   hoody   .   the   last   thing   on   his   list   ,   a   joint   meeting   between   the   three   of   them   .   not   underlined   ,   nor   circled   .   entirely   void   of   any   anticipation   .   ❝   well   you’re   just   afraid   of   anything   that   has   color   ,   or   life   in   it—   ❞   own   teasing   words   offered   forth   .   handsome   grin   written   across   his   visage   focused   teasingly   on   petite   frame   .

much   to   his   surprise   ,   the   center's   comment   brought   with   it   ,   a   shade   of   laughter   .   either   men   had   ,   as   if   by   muscle   memory   ,   interlaced   digits   with   the   ballerina’s   much   smaller   ones   .   often   referred   to   as   dainty   by   the   rookie   ,   how   comically   tiny   they   looked   nuzzled   between   either   mans   own   .   ❝   you   know   mara   ,   he   has   a   point   .   we   all   know   you’re   not   one   for   color   ,   but   if   we’re   talking   about   teasing   .   .   .   ❞   wandering   hues   find   purchase   on   visage,   only   momentarily   .   as   not   to   overstep   joint   boundaries   .   ❝   you’re   certainly   not   a   stranger   to   it   ,   not   with   your   wardrobe   .   ❞

greetings exchanged from respectable distance, even if the last thing the ballerina wants is any distance between the three of them. tries to tread carefully however, once beckoned towards loft level her patience may wears too thin as nimble hands grasp each player. left hand curling around the center's bicep, her right grasping the defenceman by the wrist to pull him along. floor plan assumed to be foreign to him. softly chuckling at the mention of minions, one haunted by yellow and the other a constant shit stirrer. fingertips slightly dig into strong bicep, a 'behave' muttered beneath her breath before mossy gaze drifts to the assistant captain.     ❝ i'd be afraid of yellow too, ❞ tone laced with humour despite previous reprimand, both men knowing there was not an ounce of colour in her wardrobe - black upon black.     ❝ and no teasing... at least not that kind of teasing, ❞ feigning innocence by the slight shrug of narrow shoulders, not wanting some sort of argument to break out between the men who held her heart between them.

[athl3tes]

⸻   a   respectful   distance   had   been   maintained   ,   atleast   until   greetings   could   be   said   .   the   concept   of   the   three   of   them   together   ,   or   at   least   in   the   same   space   simultaneously   was   foreign   to   him   .   and   for   all   he   knew   ,   it   would   continue   to   be   foreign   .   though   ,   he   certainly   wasn’t   closed   off   to   the   idea   .   bulky   frame   brought   forth   at   beckoning   ,   a   peaceful   smile   was   what   he   offered   to   the   center   .   and   he   got   one   back   ,   much   to   his   surprise   .   ❝   i’m   up   for   anything   ,   really—   just   not   the   minions   movie   .   don’t   ask   me   ?   i   swear   to   god   ,   it’s   everywhere   i   go   .   .   .   ❞

peace   ,   or   at   least   an   attempt   at   it   .   that   was   what   maverick   promised   himself   ,   and   if   not   for   himself   ,   then   for   mara   .   not   quite   decided   if   he’d   do   it   for   asher   ,   just   yet   .   though   ,   a   graceful   chuckle   did   leave   from   parted   brims   .   beckoning   the   duo   up   towards   the   loft   level   of   the   penthouse   .   ❝   you   don’t   like   the   minions   ?   they’re   all   cute   and   yellow   though   ,   go   on   ,   tell   him   mara   .   ❞

flame had been extinguished long ago. at least until her rookie had suggested a movie night - an olive branch that gave the ballerina hope for a better future. one where her two favourite people got along. now the kindling flame has her buzzing with excitement, nearly messing up the code to her other home. time split equally between the penthouse and asher's house. home were where they lived, not the condo her estranged parents had bought her silence with. hand released from his calloused palm, knows it is not to stir the temper of her rookie. eternally grateful of his gift to read the room better than most. nimble fingers curl into the white cotton, greeting the center with a quick peck to the underside of his jaw. red bottoms the sole reason he's even within reach for her petite statue,     ❝ thank you, ❞ she murmurs against the smooth skin. attention shifting back to the assistant captain, softly smiling at him. free hand beckoning him closer, not wanting him to feel left out despite having greeted him in the exact same way when he'd held open the door to the aston martin's passenger seat.     ❝ ash and i are curious, what are we watching? ❞ spent at least a few minutes of their drive discussing movie titles, trying to guess whatever mav had picked for the three of them.

[athl3tes]

asher   tirelessly   wanted   to   understand,   could   perhaps   see   the   sense   of   betrayal   that   must’ve   sept   into   the   innerworkings.   everything   setup   for   a   big   return,   and   then   swept   beneath   the   rug   like   it’d   never   happened   in   the   first   place.   it   had   soured   his   own   perception   on   the   organization,   who   he   was   set   to   enter   free   agency   with   at   the   end   of   this   season.   attached   to   its   hip,   the   only   national   hockey   uniform   his   mother   ever   saw   him   wear.      ❝   i   guess   it   is.   ❞      and   he   should   learn   to   accept   that,   enjoy   the   little   things   in   life   before   they’re   cruelly   stolen   away.   the   words   of   his   own   therapist   in   a   time   of   dire   need.      ❝   well   then,   you’d   better   buy   a   house   and   come   be   my   neighbor.   we   always   said   we   would.   ❞      their   boyhood   dream.      ❝   you   owe   me,   brooklyn   boy.   ❞      joked,   with   a   subtle   chuckle.

feelings  were  hurt,  how  could  they  not  be  when  the  skylars  had  signed  someone  else?  even  if  said  other  player  was  probably  on  every  team's  radar.  talents  only  rivaled  by  their  rookie  signing  -  if  he  did  not  flunk  under  the  pressure  of  his  surname.  replaced  twice  by  better  prospects,  first  by  trade  later  by  backing  out  of  a  nearly  signed  contract.  pains  him  to  hear  the  pleas  of  his  best  friend,  the  sole  reason  he'd  even  looked  at  the  possibility  of  playing  for  the  skylars  once  more.      ❝ wanted  to  be...  ❞         grumbling  over  words,  ego  a  little  bruised.      ❝ i  miss  you  too,  but  i'm  in  new  york  now.  which  is  closer  than  we've  been  for  years.  ❞        reason  he  stopped  playing  football.  doesn't  regret  it  in  the  slightest,  just  wish  they'd  had  more  time  to  play  together  before  asher's  rookie  season  injury  and  his  trade.

[athl3tes]

⸻    the    lines    weren’t    blurred,    not    for    asher.    perhaps    his    opinion    was    biased,    but    he    knew    that    jeremiah    was    still    a    fan    favorite    in    the    stadium.    wanted    and    expected    to    be    resigned    by    the    organization    until    a    surprise    swung    in    from    left    field.    ❝    everyone    here    wants    you    back    jere,    and    remember,    the    suits    did    too.    ❞    what    he    referred    to    the    decision    makers    as,    rarely    ever    saw    them    nowadays.    ❝    you    want    to    be    in    new    york,    and    i    know    you    wanted    to    be    with    us.    so    don’t    just—    i    mean,    tell    your    agent ?    tell    somebody.    ❞    it’s    a    tireless    plead,    because    he    felt    as    if    he    needed    it    to    come    true.    ❝    i    miss    you    dude,    ❞    his    tiresome    confession.

sees  opportunities  where  there  is  none,  the  forward  can  only  admire  his  best  friend's  ability  to  fix  problems  -  or  attempt  to.  jeremiah's  solution  to  be  closer  to  home  -  closer  to  asher,  was  unforgivable  in  the  eyes  of  many  -  mostly  fans  and  former  team  mates.       ❝ ash....  i  signed  with  the  whalers,  ❞        eyes  drifting  to  his  feet,  unable  to  meet  his  eyes.  even  saying  it  out  loud  leaves  a  bitter  taste  in  his  mouth.  foolishly  told  james  he  was  moving  back  to  new  york,  in  the  talks  with  the  skylars  when  alexander  slafkovsky  had  shown  interest  in  the  skylars  -  they'd  be  fools  not  to  take  him,  even  if  it  meant  bringing  home  an  old  fan  favourite.  so  his  sole  solution  was  the  whalers,  closer  to  asher  and  james  wouldn't  have  turned  down  the  opportunity  to  cheer  for  the  cowboys  for  nothing.       ❝ they  won't  take  me  back,  not  after  signing  with  your  arch-rivals.  ❞

[athl3tes]

⸻    impartial    to    the    signing,    mostly    because    he    knew    what    it    entailed    the    minute    it    happened.    never    considered    the    possibility    that    they    might    never    play    together    again.    ❝    i    could—    i    dunno,    our    secondary    isn’t    spectacular.    you’d    be    a    killer    defenceman,    utility    man.    we    could    figure    something    out,    can’t    we ?    ❞    they    always    had,    and    it    had    never    been    a    question.    hates    to    admit    that    he’d    even    considered    making    the    jump    across    boroughs    just    to    be    with    his    best    friend.    losing    him    sucked    a    portion    out    of    the    fun    of    it    all,    made    it    feel    more    like    a    job    than    the    sport    he    loved    playing.    

did  love  him  like  a  son,  no  denying  his  mother  was  fond  of  the  defence  man  -  even  encouraging  the  forward  to  pursue  hockey  in  favour  of  football.       ❝ well  you  never  referred  to  her  as  a  bitch  before,  times  certainly  have  changed,  ❞        elbow  playfully  nudging  his  ribs  as  baby  blue  hues  roll.  grimace  flashes  across  handsome  features  as  he  brings  up  when  he  is  coming  back. nearly  had,  had  it  not  been  for  a  certain  one-in-a-million  kind  of  player  snagging  what  should've  been  his  contract.       ❝ i'm  not  coming  home  asher...  not  really  at  least,  ❞  fumbling  over  his  words,  can't  quite  believe  he'll  wear  red  instead  of  gold  when  the  season  starts.  a  late  trade,  his  first  practice  with  the  whalers  -  the  arch-rivals,  is  next  week.

[athl3tes]

⸻   he’d    be    offended,    if    there    ever    was    a    chance    of    such    circumstances    being    true.    wafting    a    hand    dismissively    with    a    laughter    rumbling    within    his    broad    chest.    ❝    yeah,    yeah.    now    you    and    i    both    know    that    your    mom    loves    having    me    for    christmas    dinner,    and    she’s    already    invited    me.    ❞    the    defenseman    joked,    shrugging    his    shoulders    in    response.    ❝    well    you    know,    this    used    to    be    your    home    too.    ❞    often    times,    he    still    thought    of    it    that    way.    the    forward    was    always    welcome    in    manhattan.    perhaps    even    preferred    mentally    than    the    hotshot    rookie    which    had    replaced    him.    ❝    now    my    question    is,    when’re    you    comin’    back ?    ❞

grunt  escapes  the  forward  as  bulky  frame  collides  with  his  now  nearly  matched  physique.  always  been  the  lankier  of  the  two.  with  the  announcement  of  his  departure,  his  previous  team  had  more  or  less  benched  him.  allowing  for  the  forward  to  bulk  up,  better  part  of  his  time  spent  in  the  gym  rather  than  on  the  ice.       ❝ i  will  remember  to  tell  my  mama  that,  say  goodbye  to  her  christmas  cookies,  ❞        knows  how  fond  she  is  of  his  best  friend,  loving  him  like  her  own  children.  elbow  digging  into  ribs  to  shoo  him  off,  laughing  equally  as  much.       ❝ you're  the  sole  reason  i'll  even  dare  to  go  here  out  of  game  days,  ❞        rivalry  runs  deep  between  teams,  but  they  were  practically  family.       ❝ new  team,  have  to  impress  -  and  figured  it  was  time  for  someone  to  withstand  those  brutal  tackles  of  yours.  ❞