#sara.jesse1

[sarayoonc]

SETTING: wine and painting in durham, nc ; late afternoon AVALABILITY: closed starter for jesse graves | ( @jessexgraves )

Out of all of the unexpectant friendships she could've gotten, Sara's friendship to Jesse was probably both the strangest and yet, one of her favorite. She was always happy when art brought her close to people, especially since she'd been using art to express herself for so many years. So, that afternoon, since both happened to be free earlier in the day, she had gotten them tickets for a wine and painting type of evening the next town over in advance, and, drove by the school to pick him up. "Hi there, Mr. Principal, sir." She teased, rolling her eyes at her own words, before wrapping her arms around Jesse in a sweet hug and planting a small and soft kiss on his cheek. "Are you excited? Because I don't know if I'm more excited about the wine or the paintings." Sara chuckled as she pulled out of the pick up lane and started heading out the road, her usual bubbly kpop tunes playing from her car's radio.

[sarayoon]

— SETTING: end of summer bonfire bash ; — AVAILABILITY: closed starter for JESSE EL-MASSALAMY | ( @jesseelmassalamy )

There was something fun playing in the background, the kind of bubblegum pop that Sara had always loved listening to, and she was taking the opportunity dance around with her kid, after all, hearing his giggle was like fuel to her. It was what kept her going on the most difficult moments.

As the song changed to something else and little Hanbin continued dancing, he ended up spotting a familiar face, and, as per usual, stormed off to said person's meeting. "Uncle Jess!" He zoomed past everyone on his way, making Sara desperately do the same and hugged Jesse's legs. "I swear to God, I'm going to stop letting him out of the house if he keeps running from me like that." She chuckled, slightly out of breath from both the dancing and the running. "Hello, my love." Still smiling, Sara rested her hands on his shoulder, gently pulling him down to kiss his cheek.

"Would you like to hang with us? We have s'mores and CapriSun."

[sarayoon]

Sara looked up at him. Having come from a family with different ethnicities, sounds, faces and cultures, it wasn't hard for the petite brunette to see a familial figure in Jesse. Growing up with someone as similar to her in terms of being calm and collected, definitely helped. Not only that, but she could remember like it was yesterday, late afternoons practicing their piano lessons and giggling at one another whenever there was a wrong key here and there.

Family, she knew, didn't have to be bound by blood.

"I know." She nodded, before leaning against his chest. If she would trust a man with her son's safety, that would be Jesse. That was, since her own parents didn't live with her anymore. "You're home. I know he'll always be safe with you." After all, Hanbin didn't call just anyone his uncle. Jesse was the only one who had been granted the title. Everyone else was either an ajeossi or a hyung. Jesse? Jesse was uncle... in any and every language.

She couldn't help but to chuckle at him when he called her a sap. "Gosh, you're the worst." Playfully, she smacked his chest, then pulling herself away from his embrace. "Besides, I've always been a sap. And you've always loved me for it." Again, the young mother stuck her tongue out him, then paying attention to how Hanbin moved closer to offer uncle Jesse some well-deserved s'mores.

There had always been softness in the way Jesse treated her little one, and vice-versa. Sara would love to say that Bin had gotten that from her, his empathetic ways, but it seemed like his were way greater than hers had ever been. He knew exactly who to hug when they were having a bad day, or offer some sweets. It hadn't been taught... he just... had it in him.

'Later! I promise!' The little boy pressed a kiss on his uncle's cheek, then stormed towards his friend's tent, which allowed Sara to sit down beside her soul-brother for a child-free chat. Hopefully, he would actually be able to keep thar promise before the clock struck ten and he needed to go home with his nanny, because Sara really wanted to instill in him the notion of keeping his promises from a young age.

"Is it hard for you tonight?" She questioned, her hand sliding down his own and lacing their fingers together, then giving his hand a light squeeze. She couldn't even begin to think about how it was for him, to be surrounded by so many drunkards. "The night really is beautiful though." She granted. "Junho was here earlier." Pause. "He's met Bin." Pause. "What have you done so far?" The brunette asked, laying her head on his arm as her thumb drew circles on his hand, as if to soothe him. Or maybe... to soothe herself. / @jesseelmassalamy

The boy easily felt like blood to him, Jesse's bonafide nephew regardless of genetics and lack of sharing real DNA. It was moments like these where he felt his height and size was best used as he carried Bin and playfully tickled and gently tossed him around a little. Those particular sounds of laughter were some of the best forms of medicine. "Nah, I don't think so, little man. Can't be cramping your ma's style." There were certain words and phrases that brought out the Bostonian accent stronger than others and 'ma' was one of them.

That answer was easier than the truth of likely slipping away because while he could handle temptation, there was a breaking point. Plus, there were certain faces around that might prove to lead to an explosive encounter.

Which, he needed to avoid.

"You're a good mom," he complimented, hugging her a little tighter for a moment to his chest as Sara leaned in. "But when he's running toward me he's very safe." The former policeman would do unspeakable things to anyone that dared harm a hair on Bin's head. He had the money, resources, and skill if anyone was hell bent on meeting the devil.

A smile touched his lips at her sweet sentiment, grinning even wider at the woman who was like a sister to him's childish antics. "You're such a sap."

They made their way toward Sara and Bin's setup, letting the boy lead the way as he walked alongside the woman he needed to do a lot of catchup with.

It went without saying he could be awful with communication.

The CapriSun was easily caught and eventually stabbed through the bottom with the straw as he settled onto a stump near the tent. "Wow," Jesse said, brows raised in amazement, "these are better than the ones I used to make." One of the campfire treats was stolen from the plate and bitten into— "you'll have to teach me how you do it, Binie."

Of course he could expect his nephew to stick around when he had friends nearby so he finished off the s'more and drink while watching the exchange between mother and son before Bin was off with his buddy.

"I'm alright," a smile cracked his momentary distant look and he bumped her shoulder gently in return, "it's kind of nice out. Though—" The barista chuckled, "I kind of miss the coffee shop."

A safe place was a safe place even if it was work. More so, Jesse relied on the routine quite a lot. It not only kept that twitch at bay, it also drowned out the demons in his head. / @sarayoon

[sarayoonc]

Had things happened differently between them, Sara could honestly see herself allowing herself to open her heart to Jesse. From the way he would lean into her touch, to the way he relied on her to comfort him fed into her need to be that type of person to someone, however, he was dating someone when they met, so, friends was all they had always been and friends, Sara realized, was everything they needed to be to one another.

"Putting ourselves out there is hard, isn't it?" She asked before returning her hand to the steering wheel. Sara had only now gone back into dipping her toes into the dating pool and she didn't know how people with kids did it with so much ease. Or at all. It kind of made her wonder if her therapy was really working or if she should try a different approach, because she still wasn't over her abandonment issues... or the fear that she would be letting someone in again only to end up heartbroken. "And... how is the right person like to you?" / @jessexgraves

jesse didn't have a lot of people that were close to him and so he hoped that the woman knew that he was always going to be there for her. he wasn't willing to offer his company to just anyone but he was definitely willing to hang out with her. "i know. i appreciate that." he replied and leaned into her touch. it felt nice to be like this again with someone, even if the moment were fleeting.

"i suppose so. i mean, i don't know that always includes love for everyone. some people prefer to be alone and to skip out on the family but i don't think it's something i want to miss out on." he paused at her question and slowly lifted his shoulders up in a shrug, "i haven't found the right person. it's not for lack of trying." in fact, he'd gone on a couple of dates but they hadn't worked out.

[sarayoonc]

There was a small, yet sweet smile on her lips when Jesse mentioned that she also had him. Sara had never been one to look down on her friends, especially since they had always helped her pull through no matter what, so of course, Jesse was included. "Of course I know that, Jess." With one hand steering the wheel, Sara reached over with her free one and gently cupped his cheek, rubbing her thumb against his cheek and feeling his light stubble prickle on her skin. "And you've got me too, you know?" They might not have been the closest of friends, but she did care about him. A lot, actually.

When he finally answered her question, still Sara tried to make sense of his words. "Isn't that what everyone wants? To be happy?" So, in a lot of ways, he wasn't wrong in wanting just that. "But is your happiness in a family?" Again, she pressed. "And well... what's keeping you from pursuing it, then? Finding someone to love, start a family with and all that..." / @jessexgraves

he'd gotten to know sara enough to know that she probably wasn't in a situation she thought she would be in at her age either. even so, he couldn't help but feel as though he could really open up to her. he trusted sara and she was a good person to lean on. "and you know, i'm here too. i know i'm not as great as your siblings or your fathers but you know, if you ever need me, i'm there." he assured. as she went on to ask what he wanted, he lifted his shoulders up in a shrug, "i don't know. i just...want to be happy. it's been a long time since i've been genuinely happy. i think a family could do that for me."

[sarayoonc]

If she should be further in life than she was... maybe she wouldn't put it like that. Sara pressed her rose-tinted lips together, thinking about how to answer him without throwing a pity party for herself. Did she wish to be divorced at 33, a single mother, and having to deal with her son's father being in town and, once again, breaking a promise he made to her? "I don't know... I feel like professionally speaking, I'm at a great point. My son's healthy, my fathers are by my side, my siblings are too..." She shrugged. "My ex-husband is in town, which basically means that no, I did not want to be divorced at this point of my life, but it is what it is, I suppose..." Sara once again, pressed her lips together. "But... my question is: do you want a family? Because otherwise... why does it matter if they have families?" / @jessexgraves

jesse wasn't much of an art kind of guy but even so, he liked to think that he could learn to enjoy it as long as he had sara. the two had fun together and he didn't have a lot of friends. he was thankful for ones he did have. "i'll keep that in mind." he chuckled. as she offered an ear, he debated on taking it. after all, who else did he have to talk to? "do you ever feel like you should be further in life than you are? i mean," he cleared his throat, "a lot of my friends have families but i...just work."

[sarayoonc]

Sara let out a giggle at his words. "You know it's not about painting nicely, right? It's about the feeeeeelings, Jessie." The petite woman teased, gently placing her hand on his chest, right above his heart. She sadly didn't know Jesse enough yet to know where his feelings lied, but art, to her, had never been about how accurately one would paint a portrait, but the emotions they'd put in the process. As she pulled away from the school's drop-off lane, Sara occassionally glanced between her current companion and the road ahead of her. "Hm? Why is that? Is something going on? I'm a great listened if you'd like to talk about. Plus, I'm driving... you can say things to me without my eyes on you." Which, to Sara, herself, sometimes it was harder to confess when people were watching her. / @jessexgraves

jesse spent too much time working. to the point where he'd take anything he needed to get done home after work hours and so he was trying to make a point to get out of the house more often, which seemed to be working well. smiling as he noticed the other's car and slid into the passenger's seat, his arms giving her a squeeze once she hugged him first. "of course i'm excited. though, i'm hoping the wine that we drink is going to make whatever i paint look somewhat decent." he joked and buckled his seat belt. "i'm really excited to get out of the house, if i'm being honest with you."

[sarayoon]

The instant relief that took over Sara's features upon seeing Jesse lifting up her son gave room to an easy smile that always appeared on her lips whenever she saw someone being kind to her child. Jesse, as familiar as he was to her, wasn't an exception. "I'm ok!" The child, as tall as he was for his age, still seemed small in comparison to Jesse. "Are you staying with us?" He asked excitingly, still clinging to Jesse's neck, happy to be carried around since it wasn't easy for neither Sara nor Quinn to do it anymore.

"I know, I know. I just worry. That's how kids end up in the back of white vans." She sighed, leaning onto his chest as the man she considered a brother of her own, pulled her close. "I'm good. Better now that you're here." Sara smiled up at him, scrunching her nose at her best friend like she often did with Quinn, too, and sticking her tongue out at him.

At his request she let her son guide Jesse back to where they had settled down and reached into the cooler bringing out three CapriSuns, giving one to her son, keeping one to herself and throwing one to Jesse. "Uncle Jesse, I have s'mores!" They had made a few a while back, so Bin easily grabbed the plate they had kept them, and offered them to Jess.

One of his friends from school who were stationed not too far from where they were invited him over, and, since his parents were there too, Sara allowed him to go, but made him promise he wouldn't leave the tent unless it was to come back. Once promises and agreements were made, Sara turned to Jesse, gently nudging him with her shoulder. "Hey. What about you? You okay, big guy?" / @jesseelmassalamy

This was only Jesse's second year with the bonfire in Bighorn Hills, and thankfully, it was much easier this time around. Everyone dancing around and drinking didn't really bother of effect him much, what began to get to him was the amount of times he'd have to turn down the offer for a drink. For whatever reason that was becoming a bit of a hangup for the barista, despite how simple it was to graciously decline.

A small body slammed into his legs and wrapped around tight just when he'd needed a distraction the most, and a smile instantly had been drawn on his face. "Binie, my man," the disgraced former policeman rasped as he easily lifted the boy into his arms to give him a hug and then have a good look at him. "Saw you out there dancing those legs off. Are we gonna have to get you replacements?"

The Bostonian accent rang out like it always did and Jesse ignored Sara for a moment. At least, until he no longer could when she'd pulled him down for a spot of affection. "He's fine, he saw uncle Jesse, no biggie," he attempted to soothe the woman that was practically his sister.

"Hey, darling, you good?" The tall man's arm curled around her petite frame and gave Sara a little squeeze at his side, soon after letting the boy he considered a true nephew back to his feet.

"Who could resist a combination like that?" A smirk. "Lead the way." / @sarayoon