#thread:jai

[blackboxwcrning]

CLOSED STARTER FOR @iridcscentmvscs FT. JAI & ISHANI

he'd seen a lot of people, especially during his time in the military when he'd gone overseas. not only had seen a lot of people but he'd seen a lot of things that he didn't talk about outside of the four walls of his therapist's office, one he had to find a replacement for since he decided on picking up and moving to north carolina in attempt to start over. even with the amount of people he'd seen, he couldn't help but feel as though he knew the girl seated next to him at the cafe. her face was so familiar and even so, he couldn't quite put his finger one where the hell he knew her from. so, instead of continuing to stare at her, he leaned forward. "excuse me," he started, dark eyes landing on her face, "i just moved here but i can't help but think i know know you from somewhere..."

[blackboxwcrning]

jai hoped that by him being there, he didn't bring up the memories of what the two of them had been together. though, he was sure that he did and that's why he was so hesitant on spending time with her. even so, he was happy to have a familiar face hanging around. "it's just right as far as i'm concerned. it's not as loud as midtown." and that was the main appeal. he wasn't a huge fan of any sorts of loud noises, especially after everything that happened. he nodded in agreement to her suggestion and offered her a smile, "alright, let's do it. do you want me to drive or should we walk? i'm up for anything if it gets me out of the house for a little while."

Ishani's emotions were all over the place as she listened to Jai. Part of her was happy about him possibly sticking around, but another part was freaking out about the memories his presence dredged up. Still, being around him left her at ease. "Masonboro's a great choice," she nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "It's got that perfect balance of suburban peace and easy access to the city." When he asked if now was a good time, she hesitated. She should probably take a breather and process everything, but the thought of being alone with her thoughts right now sounded about as appealing as a root canal. "No, now's fine," she assured him, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I could use the distraction, to be honest. And that bookstore I mentioned, Read it 'n' Weep, we could start there and then maybe grab some lunch?" She paused, realizing she was rambling again. "Sorry, I'm probably overwhelming you with options. We can just play it by ear if you prefer."

[blackboxwcrning]

jai laughed at her words, slowly shaking his head as he did so. "i don't think i'm qualified for either of those jobs but you could be right. there's no telling where i'll end up." and he wasn't worried about that right now. after all, he'd only been retired for a couple of months and spent most of that moving so he had yet to enjoy his downtime. he wasn't blind to the fidgeting she was doing and he wondered if he was making her uncomfortable. he certainly hoped not. though, seeing her did bring back a lot of memories. "noted. i'll be sure to keep that in mind. i'm thinking masonboro might be more my thing."

he didn't want to pressure her into being the one that showed him around but he did ultimately hope that she would, especially since he was familiar with her. "uh, are you sure? if now's not a good time then we can meet up later." he assumed she needed some time to comes to terms with his arrival.

“Who knows? Maybe you'll end up as a tattoo artist at Sinful Ink or a zookeeper at the Wilmington Zoo," Ishani joked, trying to imagine the tough military man in either role. "Though I have to warn you, the animals might be less intimidating than some of the clientele at the tattoo parlor." Her fidgeting never stopped, and despite acting fine, she truly wasn’t, “if you're serious about finding a place to call home, Wilmington's got a lot to offer. There's Midtown if you want to be close to the action, or Wrightsville Beach if you're more of a beach bum." 

She paused, realizing she was rambling. "But, uhm, yeah. I'd be happy to show you around. No pressure or anything." The thought of Jai potentially sticking around made her heart race a little. She tried to play it cool, though. "So, if you don't want to wait, we can start with a little tour after this.” their therapy session was what she meant. “I know this great little bookstore. It's got the coziest armchairs and the best selection of books. Plus, the owner makes a mean cup of coffee." 

[blackboxwcrning]

there was no telling when it came to what he would end up diving into career wise but he had time to figure it out. it wasn't like he wasn't getting paid. his retirement was more than enough for him to live off of but he wasn't the type to want to sit around. he knew at some point he was going to want to get back out there, especially since he wasn't a fan of being along with his thoughts in the first place. "who knows? maybe one of these spots you show me will be hiring and it'll be something i'm into."

as she continued to go on about the spots she was taking him, he couldn't help but smile. all of that sounded interesting, fun, and who better to spend his time with than a local? jai smiled at her, "you know, maybe that's what i need. i am looking for a place to call home after all and if you're going to make it feel like home then i may as well fall in love with it, right?" he asked. "i've got to say though, you really have me looking forward to this. i almost don't want to wait."

Ishani listened as Jai shared his thoughts about his future career path. She could sense the uncertainty in his voice, and it struck a chord with her. Then again, she was in the same boat. After her traumatic experience, she forced herself to step back and reassess. "You know what? I think that's a fantastic idea. Sometimes the best thing we can do is try something completely different. I’m sure there’s some hidden talent or passion you’ve been concealing too." She chuckled along with him, finding his company oddly comforting despite their shared ordeal.

“You have no idea what you're in for," she teased,. "I know all the secret spots that'll make you fall in love with Wilmington. We're talking hidden beach coves, the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and maybe even a speakeasy or two if you're feeling adventurous." She paused for a moment, then added with a mischievous smile, "But fair warning—once you see Wilmington through a local's eyes, you might never want to leave. You ready for that kind of commitment?"

[blackboxwcrning]

jai didn't think diving into something as similar at the military was a good idea. after all, it was the reason her retired in the first place. he man suffered from a little bit of PTSD, especially from that moment the two of them had shared together and he knew stepping away was best. he just wasn't sure what to get into after that and maybe making a complete career change would be best. "hell, maybe i'll do something completely different instead. there's no way to know for sure. i just hope something helps me make a decision." he finished with a light chuckle. despite what they went through being traumatic, he found her company to be somewhat soothing. in fact, that was one of the many reasons he'd asked her to show him around. "well, i look forward to hearing from you. you're going to have to show me all the cool places. you know, the ones only natives know about."

Ishani nodded when he suggested exchanging numbers. It made sense if he wanted her to show him around Wilmington. She was the native, after all. As he shared how different life felt after retiring from the military, she found herself fascinated. "Yeah, I bet it's a huge change," she said. She thought about how going from the intensity and structure of military life to a more open-ended civilian existence couldn't be easy. Her own experiences were different, but she understood feeling lost after…well, everything.

The fact that he was considering law enforcement caught her attention. "You'd probably be a great cop. But I get wanting a break first." She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "No matter what you choose, I hope it makes you happy." She truly meant that. After everything he’d done for her, she wanted only the best for him. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and glanced around before looking back at him. "For now, I'm happy to help keep you busy by being your tour guide."

[blackboxwcrning]

"i understand." jai didn't mind the thank you but at the end of the day, he just wanted her to know that it was his job. even if he didn't admit it out loud, he was thankful to have her by his side during that time. facing that alone was something that he was glad he didn't have to go through. offering the other a smile, he gave her a nod. "should we exchange numbers then?" he hoped that wasn't weird of him to ask, especially if she was going to show him around town.

his question was basically answered by the other handing over her business card and he tucked it into his pocket. "i'll be sure to send over a text." he reassured. jai didn't have anyone else anyways and so it would be nice to catch up with ishani. "it's been...different. i mean, i was so used to the routine and now i don't have that. i guess for now i'm taking time off but i would like to find something to fill my time. i've considered going into law enforcement but i don't know if that's something i want to dive into quite yet."

Ishani smiled, liking how humble he was. While he brushed off her gratitude, she knew she owed him her life. He had saved her, and she would never forget that. "You're right. It’s a habit of mine.” To thank people who helped. In his case, he saved her life. When he asked if she'd be willing to show him around Wilmington, she nodded without hesitation. "Of course, I'd be happy to give you the full tour." 

Spending more time with him didn't sound so bad. It was a way for her to repay him. "Just let me know when you're free." Grabbing her business card, she handed it over. “All my information is in there.” Learning that he had recently retired from the military piqued her curiosity. "I can only imagine the adjustment after your career," she mused, having seen firsthand the intensity of his former life. “What’s your plans now?” By that she meant his job.

[blackboxwcrning]

as she thanked him, he shook his head and shot a small smile in her direction. "you really don't have to thank me. i was just doing my job." he reassured. despite the fact that were true, the two still went through something traumatic together and so, he got where the thank you was coming from. "well, you don't have to worry about what would have happened because i was there and we made it home." she, to wilmington and he, to fayetteville. he never realized how close the two of him lived either but he had to admit, it was nice to see her again.

jai gave her a nod, "well, since it's your home town and you're probably the only person that i know around here, would you want to show me around some time?" if she didn't, he'd understand. it's not like they were best friends by any means. they knew each other from something terrifying but even so, he still felt as though the two of them had some sort of connection. "yeah, i retired a couple of months back. i decided i had enough and i'm just kind of laying low right now but i may pick up a part time job to fill my time or something."

Ishani felt a wave of gratitude wash over her as she stood there, face to face with the man who had saved her life. The memories of that terrifying night in Venezuela still haunted her, but seeing him again oddly brought her peace. "I never got the chance to properly thank you. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there." She paused, her mind drifting back to that harrowing day. If it wasn't for him, she might not be standing here today.

Pushing the dark thoughts aside, she forced a smile. "I'm glad you decided to make Wilmington your home. It's a great city, and I think you'll really like it here." While they had only spent a short time together under the most extreme circumstances, she felt trauma bonded to the guy, and she hated it. Still, she was trying not to show it. "So, I’m guessing you’re done with the military?" she asked, curious to know more about his decision to start a new life in her hometown. "I'm sure this place must be quite a change from what you're used to."

[blackboxwcrning]

jai didn't think he'd run into ishani after the two of them got out of there. he realized now more than ever just how small the world really was and he couldn't help but nod at the woman's comment, "guess so." even so, it wasn't like he hated seeing her. in fact, he was thankful to see that she was doing alright after everything or well, alright enough not to have let the memories of what happened land her in a dark place. one too dark to come back from.

he was surprised to hear that she was from here because he honestly hadn't known than until now. "well, i have to say, it's nice to see a familiar face." even if the two of them hadn't met in the most pleasant way. he still felt some sort of connection toward her, especially with how vulnerable things had been before. "i, uh, was actually stationed in fayetteville and decided that i liked north carolina but fayetteville wasn't where i wanted to live. i was looking over the map and well, wilmington seemed nice so here i am."

She hadn't expected to ever run into the man who had saved her life, but here he was, sitting right next to her. The memories of that harrowing night in Venezuela came flooding back as she took in his familiar face. Though two years had passed, the trauma of being kidnapped and their desperate struggle to escape was still fresh in her mind. "Yeah, it's me. Small world, huh?" She chuckled softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear in a self-conscious gesture.

She noticed the way he pushed his fingers through his hair and wondered if he was nervous too. If that was the case, at least she wasn’t alone in feeling that way. Seeing him brought everything right back, and Ishani had to take a slow, steadying breath to calm her nerves. "I live here, actually. Born and raised. Wilmington is home for me. I'm surprised to hear you just moved here, though. What brought you to the area?" She asked, curious if he had family here or if it was for work. Either way, it seemed fate had brought them back together in this unexpected way.

[blackboxwcrning]

as she mentioned his name, his eyebrows rose in surprise. so, they did know each other and the longer he stared at the woman, the more the memories of what the two had been through together flooded back to him. "ishani," he breathed out, her name falling from his lips softly. he honestly didn't think he'd seen her again either but that didn't mean he wasn't thankful she was alright and that she seemed to be doing well. "i could say the same for you." he replied and pushed his fingers through his hair. it was a bit of a nervous tick. he didn't know why he was nervous though. he assumed that it had to be due to the fact that the two of them had been in such a vulnerable moment together. "i just moved here. what about you? are you saying here?"

With a deadline for a piece coming up, Ishani had been spending her time finishing up her article. Even at her therapist office she was still working. When a man’s voice greeted her, she glanced up from her laptop, her brows furrowed slightly as she took in the man seated next to her. There was something vaguely familiar about his dark eyes and the way he carried himself, but she couldn't quite place where she might have seen him before. "Oh, uhm… I don't know..." She said, studying his face for a moment longer before realization dawned. "Wait... Jai?"

The name felt foreign on her tongue, but the memories came flooding back—Venezuela, the kidnapping, the night they spent huddled together in that tiny cell. Her heart started racing at the thought, and she had to take a deep breath to calm herself. "I... wow. I never thought I'd see you again." She said, setting her laptop aside. "What are you doing in Wilmington?"