#surajthreads

[b4rredteeth]

@anchoragestartersLOCATION: outside of ugly mug cafe & diner limited (3/5)

Suraj had no interest in participating in Halloween. Sadly for them, however, their boss had once again asked them to help with something, and Suraj couldn’t say no. Even if said job meant they were decorating the outside of the cafe and diner for the festivities while wearing the worst costume their boss could think of: a broken mug. Basically they were Chipper from Beauty and the Beast, but worse. By the time the sun went down and the place was about to close, Suraj was sweaty and almost done. They wished the last customers good night when a loud bang could be heard from the other side of the street. Suraj dropped their bucket of cobwebs and looked at the patron. “Did you hear that?”

[b4rredteeth]

Suraj nodded expressively. “That too! I love talking with people about something they’re passionate about, I find it so… uhm, inspiring. I always don’t mind when I end up speaking with people about subjects I know nothing about, I’ll happily listen, you know. It’s cool that there are so many things out there, and so many people who are passionate about those things.” They blushed a little, happy about speaking about it but also thinking they were getting a bit too loud. Even though they were not. Though Lara did explain it better than they could. With better words, words that Suraj wanted to pluck out of the air and write down on paper. They could imagine Lara in a scene, explaining this, face visibly lighting up when mentioning the smiles of others.

“Have you ever worked with an analog camera?” they asked, as they put their camera back over their shoulder, keeping it near their hips carefully. Suraj had perfected walking with it against the softest part of their body to ensure it couldn’t be dented. “Perfect,” Suraj agreed, smiling. They took the liberty to guide Lara to the place, thinking that since she was new, they might know how to get there the best. “It’s a bit too cold for ice cream, but they have these uhm… tiny waffles with whipped cream!”

Lara's eyes shimmered with comprehension as Suraj unraveled the serendipitous dance of connecting with kindred spirits. "Luck indeed has its quirks," she concurred, a smile infused with warmth gracing her lips. Growing up as the youngest child in a Turkish immigrant family, Lara navigated a profound loneliness with a knack for sparking conversations, a skill that revealed its challenges in the school days' ebb and flow. "I've always found joy in hearing people talk about their passions. There's an authenticity in their smiles, an extra charm in their eyes that reveals the sheer beauty of the world," she mused, realizing the innate connection between genuine enthusiasm and the captivating allure of shared stories.

Suraj's unbridled excitement resonated with Lara, kindling a reciprocal fervor within her. "I'd be more than delighted to delve deeper into my photography journey," she affirmed, her gaze reflecting the fervent love she held for her craft. As Suraj meticulously secured their camera in a padded case, Lara observed their meticulous care, a silent tribute to their unwavering dedication. "I completely understand about steering clear of the Ugly Mug. A change of scenery on days off is a breath of fresh air," she acknowledged with a nod of understanding. "How about we venture to the Ice Cream & Coffee Bar nearby? It seems like the perfect haven to swap tales and embark on a shared exploration of our creative endeavors." Lara's proposal carried a buoyant optimism, a door opening to a space where stories and dreams could intertwine.

[niekwrites]

closed starter for @lullabyhrt

Suraj decided to instead of waiting inside of the cafe - where they'd been about 30 minutes before the time them and Aroon had decided to meet up - to wait outside of it. Just because... well, because they were nervous and they felt like fresh air might help to stop themself from overthinking having a nice chill time with a friend. A friend, you hear! Certainly they didn't need their heart to make this anymore difficult, though it was adamant that it tried at least. When they saw Aroon appear around the corner, they smiled and did a little wave, as if it wasn't perfectly clear that they were standing there.

[b4rredteeth]

LOCATION: ugly mug cafe & diner TIMESTAMP: wednesday afternoon @anchoragestarters ( no cap )

Suraj bit their lip hard as they waited for the last minutes to tick by. Throwing their work hat off the moment the clock struck two pm, saying bye to their colleagues and almost running to the front desk to order some coffee. Their brain had been brimming with ideas, and they needed to write them down as soon as possible. They produced the old macbook from their beat up eastpack and started to slam down on the keyboard without ever having taken a look where they’d sat down. They got woken from their frenzy as coffee was placed before them, and then smiled at the stranger seated opposite of them, suddenly aware of how loud their typing was. They smiled awkwardly. “Sorry… that wasn’t too loud, was it?” they asked apologetically.

[b4rredteeth]

@scarlctheart ft. Freya - before 11.30 pm

Suraj had gotten most of the parts of their outfit out of Nivant’s closet, not sure if it was their brother’s or his partners. Not that it mattered, they figured they looked close enough to the animated character that it wouldn’t get anyone’s attention as they hadn’t spend a single dollar to put it together. Now that was the least of their worries. They went out with Lou plenty, ending up at the club with Lou’s friends, dancing, kissing strangers, staying far away from Mindy if they could help it. And that would be their weekly outing. The other nights they would stay in, watch a movie, either with Aroon or with Mei, depending on who was available, or they would be working. 

Now they were at a Halloween party, playing dress up, suddenly extremely aware of all the familiar faces around the place. They felt like they couldn’t just disappear in the crow, even if they had one of the most boring costume. Anyone who recognised them could come up to them, would have a reason to. And it filled them with dread. 

They hid in a corner somewhere away from the crowds, reading the book they had as a prop to get their heart-beat under control, when someone bumped into their make-shift hide-out, and their eyes shot up to find Freya. “Freya, hi! Uhm… I’m not hiding… I’m just… taking a break.”

[b4rredteeth]

@fragilcline ft Mei - before 11.30 pm

Suraj knew something had happened between Mei and her friend with benefits… at least Suraj had thought it was that. It was a secretive relationship between them, after all. They were not supposed to know. That didn’t mean that they didn’t, and that certainly didn’t mean that nobody had found out after. So, they had decided that the least they could do was make sure Mei had a good time at the party. Even if they were the last person to be counted for as a party animal, and Mei had never much seemed to enjoy all the bar nights with Mindy and the rest. 

“Hey… uhm, I got you a soda,” they said, joining Mei in the parlour. They felt a little on edge given the possible scares of the night - and the few jump scares they’d already experienced - but they were trying not to let it show. They’d seen Benny around as well, almost naked in his chosen outfit, and they tried not to look at that either. “Are you… ready for the costume competition?”

[b4rredteeth]

THE SEARCH IS ON... with @fragilcline

Suraj wasn't sure why they'd ended up volunteering for this thing, handing out and finding supplies was very much the type of thing you did when you didn't mind being useful. But they'd stood hearing about the search one moment, and being dragged along to help another. Was it because they couldn't say no?

It was much harder work than their job at the Ugly Mug, and after a five hour shift, they were exhausted. They sat near the scooter they'd used to bring water and food to the search parties - or at least to the main location. They still had plenty of flyers, and their phone so far had only been quiet for a few minutes. They had their head in their hands, barely able to keep themself from falling asleep right there.

They looked up when they heard someone approach, hoping it was Mei, not having the guts to call anyone else to come have lunch with them. They smiled warily. "Hey," they said, feeling so so tired. "I'm so sorry I made you come here." Not that it was that far from the trailer park, but regardless, it meant Mei had to walk all alone towards them.

[b4rredteeth]

For @nivant-das DIWALI THREAD

Suraj was sometimes rather happy that they followed a different religion and thus different holidays than most people around them. Even if Diwali was growing bigger and bigger in the USA, it still didn’t mean it was universally accepted as a holiday. So they could take most of the time off. They’d cleaned their own RV and Nivant’s home too with the help of his kids and partner. They’d bought themself a new dark blue kurta and a warm winter jacket in a similar colour so it wouldn’t look too odd, and send back money for mithai to their parents. They loved Diwali mostly for the sweets, buying a huge box to share from the local Indian restaurant. 

They managed to - just for a day or two - ignore everything that had happened at Halloween, and instead focus on good things, lighting several oil lamps on the street outside as they heard the door open behind them. “It’s… a bit odd to see so little light out,” they said. “Even though I know we’re only one of the few South Asians in the neighbourhood… maybe next year I’ll send your kids to beg everyone to at least light one oil lamp,” they suggested with a grin.

[b4rredteeth]

Suraj nodded, a worried smile for a moment as they took the words in. They’d been blessed, a little at least, with a family that held them close. Not as close as they might like, and certainly not as often as they would like, with their own secrets and things left unsaid. But they figured culture played a big role in it as well, and they knew Nivant and them were doing better, trying to do better. For Nivant’s kids, maybe one day for their kids. “That’s good,” they said. “I’m glad you are finding your place here.” They also set down their dvd and paid for the renting cost, without any snacks, then nodded at Elspeth and took the lead to show them to the restaurant. “Thank you, I am really craving some Burfee. It’s almost Diwali, so I’m trying not to eat too many now, because I placed a huge order to share with my niblings.” They grinned. “Do you uhm… do you ever go clubbing? A friend of mine always takes me clubbing, it’s a great place to meet new people as well.” 

leaving everything behind, throwing her belongings in the back of a pickup and hurtling down highways and blacktops, meant that elspeth had arrived in anchorage with little else beyond the contents of their vehicle. outside of work, cultivating relationships had seemed borderline impossible. in that moment, with suraj and an armful of bollywood movies, they felt as though a seed had been sown, the beginnings of truly carving a wedge for themself in anchorage. “it’s fine. it’s just how families are. some get lucky, some are left to pick up the pieces. that’s alright with me so long as what i gained is more than what i traded in. this life, here, with the friends i’m making, is suiting me right down to the ground.” elspeth handed the dvds to the attendant and waited as they were rung up, alongside the chosen snacks—arguably too many for one person. "a five minute walk is good enough for me. come on. let's go. i'm not letting you feel as though the things you love don't matter." @b4rredteeth

[b4rredteeth]

@hunter-davis

SEND 📞 FOR MY MUSE’S RESPONSE TO YOURS CALLING THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

It had to be something wrong with the alarm. Suraj was slightly shaking as they ran down the street towards the Diner. They'd parked their bike where it was safe enough - since they had borrowed this one - and headed towards where Hunter said they'd meet them.

"Hey, hey sorry, I'm sorry I'm late, I came as quickly as I could. What... uhm, what happened?" they asked, staring at Hunter with wide eyes. "It isn't a Halloween prank right?" Their Halloween decoration still hung there.

[b4rredteeth]

LOCATION: ugly mug TIMESTAMP: monday after work @vibesfm

Suraj hung around work after their hours just to get a bit of food and some coffee. The weather outside was cold - as it always was here - and they didn’t feel strong enough to go out there and brave it. Instead they sat in the relatively empty diner, since it was a monday after all, and picked at their food. They looked up whenever the door opened, too distracted not to take a moment to watch whomever came in. When it was someone they didn’t know yet, they made up stories about that person. A familiar face they would try to image what they would come and order, and why they went to the diner. 

When Sarai appeared, dressed in what Suraj could only pinpoint as hospital work place clothing, they had waved a hand before they even noticed what they were doing. They knew her from coming in dressed casually, they had no idea she worked at a hospital, and the sudden curiosity was probably a result of restlessness. “Hi Sarai, done with work?” they asked.

[b4rredteeth]

@nivant-das

Suraj felt sweaty and dirty after another long shift at the ugly mug, though they were never one to mention it when they got to Nivant’s place because they knew their older brother had a schedule that was far more intense than theirs, and a job that was far more demanding than waiting tables and washing dishes. Not just that but they’d both grown up in a family that didn’t complain a whole lot. Taught from a very young age to be happy with what you got. 

They helped around the house sometimes, something their parents would expect of them, something they felt like Nivant would appreciate. Putting the kids to bed, cleaning up, helping with dinner. 

Now they came back exhausted and could barely lift a hand to help, waiting for their brother on the patio for his return from the hospital. Happy to see him, but always a little reserved. “Hey, how was work?” they asked.

[b4rredteeth]

Suraj’s eyes were wide as the question was thrown out of the window and their answer - no matter how much it had been ramblings - was thrown out as well, accused of not having anything useful to say. They were aware that they might be trembling a little, felt the future gaze at them: a little brown kid with a high-pitched voice asking if they could please pay for the flowers. It was not the truth, but a possibility. They bit the inside of their mouth. “Uhm… but… first impression?” Great comeback. 

They found that people who said they weren’t going to bite, would bite. A chill ran down their back. “I’m getting there,” they answered, truthfully. Not scared of the other person, but starting to think that maybe they should be because it was being asked. He worked in a flower shop… surely he wasn’t about to murder Suraj with roses. They took a deep breath, but that’s where their moment of bravery stopped. They had nothing to add to the conversation, nothing good anyway, maybe the ‘please may I pay for these roses’.

"It doesn't matter," said Karam, barely masking his disappointment. He'd been banking on someone who would give a bolder response but he was stuck with someone who'd sooner tremble out of their skin; not a problem in and of itself, and Karam could at least sympathise with the desire to escape a sudden social interaction, but this wasn't what he'd been looking for. "If you have nothing to say, just tell me that. I'm a stranger, after all." The concept of people pleasing was one Karam had never quite been able to grasp; he would prefer it if he'd been told he was acting strange or inappropriate to being given an answer someone thought he might like to hear. Truthful insults were always more useful than platitudes. (Although, somehow someone who's doing their job made him feel worse, if only because he didn't want to be cramped behind this counter right now. Karam's distaste for being forced to live a 9-to-5 lifestyle was, however, entirely his own concern and not something for any stranger to worry about.)

His eyes fell to the flowers in the other's grasp. It was hard not notice the way they were clutching them tight against their chest. "I'm not going to bite," he added, slouching against the counter and resting his chin in his palm, face slackened by bewilderment. And, then, another question occurred to him. Perhaps any other person would have thought better than to ask it but Karam had never been very good at gauging, or indeed caring, how things sounded once they came out of his mouth. "Are you scared of me?"

[b4rredteeth]

@withoz

Suraj was known to be non-confrontational. They tended to run from any negative feelings like that, any interaction where they might find themselves at a point where they weren't sure they could stay standing. They had ran from security guards a lot, and felt like they were still running from the law to a certain degree.

They'd, however, never intentionally ran from Dorothy. It was far more likely that she'd ran from them, yet it had been the one situations in which Suraj knew they were the party in the wrong, and that they could probably not do anything to fix it.

They'd never expected to run into her in Anchorage of all places... but perhaps it was a cruel play of destiny. They were clearing the tables at the Ugly Mug when all of a sudden: there she was.

The person they had once turned their back on because they'd been too afraid to become bullied. They stared at her, frozen. Every muscle in their body tried to tell them to flee. But they kept standing.

[b4rredteeth]

@nvghtcrrors

Suraj had met Lou in the club, but that had been what felt like hours ago, their slow dance through the place had been connected to a few close calls, one make-out session that had left a hickey on their neck which they tried their best to hide, and a huge red stain on their shirt from someone’s red wine. They’d been offered shots five times - which was a new record - and pretended to drink two. Their head was spinning, while they questioned themselves why they even did this to begin with, but that too was tradition when they went dancing with Lou. 

The one thing that wasn’t tradition was finding themselves at the same spot as Mindy as they searched for a place to take a breather. Not that they had any particular dislike for Lou’s roommate and Mei’s best friend, but they thought that Mindy hated their guts. They always acted a certain way that made Suraj question everything. They felt like a little mouse trapped in the lion’s den, their shoulders hunched as they found they were far too tired to try and escape on the dancefloor. And they couldn’t spot Lou anywhere to demand his company. “Uhm, nice party right?” they attempted, swallowing.

[b4rredteeth]

THE SEARCH IS ON… @hxneybvns

Now Suraj was truly exhausted, they weren't sure how long they'd been running around getting things, or how many times they'd been answering questions about the teams out there. They didn't know anything more than anything else, they just knew that they were one of the few people moving around the town to deliver whatever was asked, and they'd seen so many lists and texted that aside from the exhaustion, they were sporting a headache too.

This was... probably a bit too much since they hadn't really done any exercise in a while. They were hanging over the steering wheel of the scooter they'd borrowed, waiting for the next call to come in.

They looked up when they heard someone approach, thinking it was someone from the group, and shook their head to wake themselves up. They recognised them, but couldn't remember their name. "Uh, hi, do you... uhm, do you need anything?"