#threads — natalia dubois.

[oculiaperticlausi]

fright fest w/ @tcintedsvcrets

Mateo leans back against the bench, holding the water bottle full of vodka in his hand. He barely pays attention to Natalia occupying the spot next to him until she touches his arm. "Yeah?" He turns his head to look over toward her. "Oh hey," he turns his head to look ahead, resting his elbow down against the arm of the bench. "I'm not gonna lie to you, Nat. I'm fuckin' terrified I'm goin' to turn the corner and she's going to be in the other half of the costume we decided on earlier this year."

[oculiaperticlausi]

Tonight brought up a lot for Kai, running into Isabella and the death of Daniela. A part of him even wants to call Natalia out, wondering if she was fully aware of the blonde being on the island. He lifts his eyes up toward her, his own cup of coffee cold to the touch. He's not even sure who the murder could be, he's only been here for a few months and he doesn't know anyone. "Hopefully they find who did it."

@tcintedsvcrets

marina open location: rise and shine

Still doning the costume from the night before, hair and makeup still in place, if not a little messed up, Natalia sat silently before the stone-cold cup of coffee. After being questioned by the police, the masses had swarmed any place that opened their doors to them, going home didn't feel right. Not when Daniela would never go home again. "I still just can't believe it," they'd huddled into a booth with a handful of other people, nobody felt like a stranger and yet, everyone most certainly was, "what kind of... -- I know I've written some fucked up shit, but this is so beyond messed up."

[hopelessromantic1352]

New Beginnings- Chapter 13

After their relationship is outed, Thomas stresses over how to protect Natalia’s career and image. Thanks as always @alj4890 for helping me and convincing me my writing sounds ok 🤣

Warning: swearing, light sexual innuendos/actions

Tags: @alleksa16 @alj4890 @kuladekiwi @lxaah11 @lilyoffandoms @moodyvalentinestories please let me know if you would like to be added or removed from this taglist!

“What the hell is going on, Hunt?”

Lucas, Thomas’ agent has never raised his voice towards the director, but today has been filled with uncharacteristic surprises involving the brooding and (supposed) eligible bachelor.

His polished, brown Santoni’s echo against the marble flooring in the grand entry until they meet the threads of a Persian rug. He stops, pinching the bridge of his nose and he releases a deep sigh.

“This was not supposed to be public information until after the movie had been released.”

“And when was I going to be informed?” Thomas closes his eyes, “Cause where I’m standing, you’d think telling your agent would be a high priority. Especially when you want to keep news out of the news!”

He stares at the wall, clenching his jaw. “I kept it from you in hopes of keeping it from everyone. I did not see any point in revealing a private relationship to you.”

The younger agent nearly growls in frustration and Thomas has to pull the phone away from his ear. “This kind of thing ruins careers, Hunt! I didn’t think I had to tell you that. You aren’t some stupid, young, think with your other head kid that has too much fame to go around. You’re smart and don’t let things like this happen.”

He could not begin to fathom how he had let this happen. He told Natalia he would not be the reason her career was brought to ruin. Yet here he was, listening to his agent scold him as though he was a new arrival to the despicable world of Hollywood. As though he was a child.

“It’s time you go on the offensive. Get your ass back to LA and take her out as soon as she’s feeling up to it.” Lucas takes a shuddering breath, his anger simmering on the surface, “Until then, keep your fucking head down.”

Thomas winces and internally cringes at the foul language. He despises using obscenities, despite the occasional use in his head, he tries to never use the words out loud. It was ungentlemanly. It was not him.

Lucas hung up before Thomas could say anything or defend himself further, so he simply shut his phone off and began to pace the marble flooring once more. There were no upcoming awards ceremonies or any parties he knew of, but then again, he usually did not attend such parties.

He paced for another minute or so before he decided on calling his friend.

“Ryan, I must skip pleasantries—“

“I saw the news.” His friend cut him off and silence stretched between them for a few moments.

“Are there any upcoming high profile parties?” Thomas simply stares out the front windows, watching as branches sway in the cool breeze outside.

The estate is quiet today, aside from Mr. DuBois and Elizabeth, and it felt empty. Perhaps it was just the added stressful situation grabbing at his brain.

“Chris has a premier coming up in a few weeks. After that, we’ve got a few birthdays that’ll definitely hit the tabloids. What’s on your mind?” The friendliness in the charming actor’s voice was one of the many reasons Thomas gets along with him.

They’ve known each other for ages, although Ryan doesn’t show his age, his maturity does. He matured in a way Thomas respects and although the man can get on his nerves, much like all his close friends, it never irks him for too long. Vice versa, when Thomas gets in one of his moods, Ryan brushes it off because the elder man is just too serious to let loose. Or so Mr. Summers says.

“It’s time I show the world how much Natalia means to me. The minute she feels ready, we will be attending parties and taking the offensive so I can salvage her image. Can I trust you will assist?”

“Of course. I’ll enlist the others too. We care about you, Hunt, almost as much as we care about Nat.” The chuckle only forces the director’s lips into a tight scowl.

“Much appreciated.” Without a goodbye, he hangs up, leaving Ryan to his own amusement.

THREE MONTHS LATER

Months had come and gone. Most of Natalia’s time was spent resting between physical therapy sessions and editing film with Thomas. Since the accident their friends rallied around the couple and helped with whatever Thomas would allow them to. Everyone chipped in here and there, whether it was regarding the film or navigating the media or just day to day tasks at home.

Now that she’s up again, they’ve needed help less and less thankfully. Her physical therapist has gotten her walking without a cane or any assistance and she knew what that meant.

“The premier is this weekend.” She laid between Thomas’ legs on the couch, eyeing the scar on her right leg as he tightens his arms around her waist. “How are you feeling?”

Insecure.

The bruises and cuts have healed on her face, leaving behind only minuscule scars in a couple spots. He swears no one can see them, but she can. Her eyes leave the scar on her leg and move to the long reminder on her forearm. Gently, her fingers follow its path.

She never thought of herself as beautiful or gorgeous. But now the doubts about herself are only enhanced by the defects on her skin.

“I’ll have to buy a new gown.” Deflecting his question, she focuses on what she would want. “Something floor-length with long sleeves.”

The man holding her nods, but moves a hand to gently trace a line down her arm, sending delicious shivers up her skin. Since the wreck, they had not been intimate and she has been aching for him. Besides chaste kisses that didn’t lead to anything more, she’d begun to doubt his feelings for her. He always said he loves her, which she reciprocated, but don’t actions speak louder? It’s been nearly a year they’ve been together, but still, they have not been together. The accident ruined any chance of that happening after New York when she was ready to give herself to him. So for a few months, her need for him has only increased with no way of acting on it. But now she can walk, surely they can finally give in.

“Why must you cover yourself so much?” His deep voice is hushed and his breath brushes against her ear as his finger is now trailing circles across her exposed thigh.

She internally scolds herself for wearing shorts around him.

“I’m not certain I’m ready to show off the new additions to my skin.” His finger slowly moves higher, to the inside of her thigh and pauses.

Natalia’s breath hitches and she feels a new hardness pushing into her back.

Without any warning, he had flipped their positions on the couch and now braces himself above her. Not even registering what exactly was happening, he presses a deep kiss to her mouth, suffocating any questions that were rising. It didn’t take any time for her body to react, wrapping her arms around his neck as one of his hands slide down her belly, stopping at the waistband of her shorts.

He broke away, looking down at her with darkening eyes that hold an equal amount of love and lust. “This body may have imperfections now, but that does not take away from the fact that every single part of you is beautiful. What has been left on you only shows the world what troubles you have overcome to be where you are now.”

Thomas pauses, his voice becoming deeper as the emotion he feels continues to grow. Love, grief, anguish for what she had suffered. He can see her eyes welling with tears, her hands busying themselves in his hair, so he reaches a hand up, leaving her waist, and gently places it on her cheek. The soft, olive skin is damp from a rogue tear, so he wipes it dry before his thumb moves along her cheekbone.

“My love for you is not only for your looks, my darling, it is for your heart and soul. You should pride yourself on everything you have survived and fought through to get where you are today. You are where you want to be and a handful of scars will never take that away from you.”

The more he spoke and the more he caressed her cheek just made her heart melt. “Thomas—“

Her voice cracks and tears fall slowly before he leans down and kisses her gently. “I love you, sweetheart.”

The gentleness in his voice, the sweetness in his touch, when she closes her eyes and focuses on him completely, that’s when she knows. He really does love her.

“I love you too.”

The next day, she, Addison, and Holly went shopping for gowns. The girls expressed how Natalia was happier than they’d seen for a long time. But the night of the premier, she couldn’t be more nervous.

Her almost sheer silvery, white dress is flowy enough for her to feel free. She knew her nerves were going to be enough for the night, she didn’t want to feel constructed in her gown. The jewels spattered across the material almost convinced Natalia not even to try it on, but Addi convinced her otherwise.

The fashionista had said , “This is your first premier with your sexy, reclusive director… I can’t believe I just called him sexy.” She then proceeded to make a gagging noise before she thrusted the dress into her friend’s arms. “You need to make a splash and get everyone’s attention.”

Since the surgery on her arm, she hasn’t gotten the full use of it yet, so Addison is at Thomas’ doing Nat’s hair. “I love your hair.”

The blonde sighs as she pins curls atop her friend’s head. Natalia has let her hair grow out, the ends a lighter, bleached brown compared to the rest of her deep chestnut color.

“Thanks Addi, I love how you did your hair and your dress.” Her nerves keep her mind occupied so she just gave a short, simple reply to her friend who looks at her worriedly.

Addison has her hair curled with one side pinned back and a bright blue, sparkly gown that fits her slim figure perfectly. “You ok?”

“Hmm?” Natalia looks up and shakes her head, focusing. “I’m fine, I suppose I’m just..”

“Nervous?” She finishes the brunette’s hair and sprays a little hairspray to keep everything in place. After a small nod, she sits on the counter facing Nat. “You don’t have any reason to be nervous. You’ll have Thomas right next to you, Holly and I won’t be far away and of course Ryan and Chris.”

“I know that, it just seems as though things have gone wrong so much as of late and now I’m going out into the public eye for the first time since the accident.” Her eyes inadvertently look at the scar along her forearm, sighing quietly.

Addison catches the movement and she sets a gentle hand on her friend's shoulder, “I think those scars are cool, and if I were you, I’d show them off like a badge of honor.”

Someone behind them clears their throat, urging both the women to turn around. “You both look beautiful.”

Although Thomas says it to both of them, his dark eyes are fixed on Natalia, roaming the curves of her dress and dancing across the updo until they land on her lips. She wears a deep blush that only accentuates her makeup and her eyes meet his every darkening ones again before looking down at her gown.

Addison’s eyes dart back and forth between the two, feeling the sexual tension rising with every second before she suddenly stands, “Thanks, Thomas, I’m gonna head out and meet with Holly. See you two at the premiere.”

When she passes her former professor, she doesn’t look him in the eye and he pays no mind to her either. “You look absolutely stunning.”

Uncomfortable and unsure how to respond, Natalia stands and grips the skirt of her dress subconsciously. As she looks up at him, her breath is taken away. His taut muscles fill his tuxedo, not able to hide the broad shoulders or narrow waist. Her tongue slides across her bottom lip as he adjusts his cufflinks, smirking at her.

Looking away after being caught ogling, she just releases a breath and smiles softly, “Thank you.”

Her quiet response has Thomas moving towards her, gathering her in his strong arms and securing her in a warm embrace. “Any particular reason for your sudden shyness?”

His warm, tender lips move down and across her cheekbone, eliciting quiet moans from her. “Because you just have that effect on me, Mr. Hunt. You seem to bring out a very submissive side that I have no control over.”

A quiet animalistic growl comes from Thomas, his arms tighten around her waist as the admission from her ignites a fire inside him. “We may be fashionably late to this premiere.”

Soon his lips and teeth travel down her neck, careful not to leave marks but firm enough to get her heart racing. As her hands begin to wander, slipping to the front of his slacks, a phone breaks their passion causing Thomas to groan in frustration.

Scowling deeply, he fishes his phone out of pocket, his eyes flashing with concern before he answers. “Yes?”

His gaze settles on Natalia, who is checking her hair and makeup in the mirror. Her eyes meet his and her heart lurches at the worry he wears on his face.

“Yes, I will inform her. Thank you.”

Thomas doesn’t have time to pocket his phone before she places a hand on his arm. “What’s happened?”

“Lucas had been investigating who tipped off our relationship and he says he has finally found the source.”

By the expression on his face, her heart clenches in her chest. “Who was it?”

[warofthenewage-rpg]

REBEL ARMY: CAPTURE THE NOVA

OBJECTIVE: Just like Capture the Flag, each team will be instructed and led by one of the three Novas to capture each of the other teams’ flags––or in this case, the Novas themselves. Under their Novas’ directions, Rebels will need to properly utilize all of their powers and skills to assist their teammates in fights against other teams, infiltrating other bases to capture Novas, and helping defend their own Nova. The team that manages to capture the other two Novas first wins.

SETTING: Just outside of Wayland Hills in the woods area. Each Nova base is located in a clearing designated about a mile and a half apart from each other. The bases will be set up much like campsites with large tents, supplies like weapons, gear and first aid kits, and food and water to keep everyone hydrated and energized. 

RULES:

The game must not leave the woods at all. If anything gets out into the city, the game will automatically end. The Rebels want to keep this as isolated as possible to avoid any attention. 

Do NOT fight to kill. This is meant to be a fun training exercise, however, necessary roughness is encouraged as long as it’s non-lethal, and injuries sustained are not severe (i.e. don’t aim to purposely break your opponent’s bones, but accidents can happen––healers and medics have been placed on each team in case this happens). If anyone is using weapons like guns or knives, etc., they should be adjusted so they won’t severely harm others (i.e. guns should be loaded with blanks). Temporarily incapacitating an opponent is perfectly acceptable. 

Novas can be stolen. If a team already captured a Nova, another team can always “steal” their Nova from them for themselves. Novas can also be rescued by their own teams, however they can not just escape by themselves––they must be rescued by their own team to get out of “jail.”

Be creative and work together! The whole point of this exercise is to have Rebels working together and meshing their various abilities and skills together in different situations. Think outside the box when it comes to capturing Novas and fighting other Rebels. Literally, anything can go here. 

No side switching. If there’s a disagreement between two Rebels on a team––tough. Not everyone is going to get along, however, that’s no excuse to refuse working with them. 

NOVAS AND THEIR TEAMS

ALICE RYBAK:

Deidra LaReaux

Charlie Lennox

Natalie Petrovskii

Spencer Carmona

DANIEL BATES:

Nick Howling

Foster Grayson

Lee Dubois

Lila Sawyer

KARA BROOKES:

Brendon Jones

Erick Magnusson

Natalia Moretti

Ryan Carter

Since this is a large group and doing threads with this on the dash could get complicated, this portion of the event will be played out via Skype or Chatzy, depending on players’ preferences. If a player has Skype or access to it, please send your username to the main if you are not already contacts with an admin. More information can be discussed for this over Skype/Chatzy in a group chat. 

@novaalicerybak || @dcfective || @thirdnova-kara || @deidrafaye || @charlieimmortal || @nataliexpetrovskii || @pyro-carmona || @nickthedragon || @fosterthegrayson || @wild-lee || @thewingedgoddess-lila || @brendon-jones || @erickmagnusson || @nataliaofmana || @rebelrycarter

[oculiaperticlausi]

sunnyside diner w/ @tcintedsvcrets — natalia dubois

Mateo exhales as places his menu down on the surface of the table. "What the fuck am i supposed to do, Natalia? She packed her bag and walked out on me. She told me she wanted me to see other people? How... How do I fight for something she doesn't want?" He shakes his head, dropping his gaze down to his menu. "Eleven years together and this is how it ends? It's like a sick joke I woke up in."

[heartofasoldier]

"Most folk don't have expensive tastes, let's just say I'm not accustomed to such hospitality." He teased, before raising the bottle to his lips as he took a long sip. "Suppose do, guess we can be thankful neither of us are yet to be picked off in this fucked up game of survivor -- the ultimate game of life and death." @tcintedsvcrets

"Why do we need to be celebrating to break out the good stuff?" In truth, it was more to forget than anything. One bottle of good stuff was better than two of the watered-down cheap ones. "Now feels as good a time as any, doesn't it?"

[oculiaperticlausi]

Chase shrugs his shoulders. "Just speakin' the truth, Dubois." He leans his arms down against the surface of the bar, turning his head to look over his shoulder. "You want me to get up and go get someone else's number even though we are hanging out?" He drifts his gaze back to her, trying to make sure that she was sure about that. "Sometimes it's better to know you're fucking someone clean." He smirks, knowing that's not really it. "Nah... It depends on the chick. I have to trust who I bring home, Nat. I don't need naked pictures of me surfacing on the internet."

"You keep saying that..." And though she knew that Chase wasn't blowing smoke, neither had Natalia been the kind of girl to let anything get too far into his head. Was she perhaps the only woman within the bar that never - and would never fall for his boyish charm? A rule they'd both stuck to - don't fall in love. "Oh come on, you know I don't care about any of that." Jealousy wasn't something she really felt - perhaps because she'd never found anyone worth such an ugly feeling. "Isn't that a bad look for you? One girl in your bed, twice in one week?"

[oculiaperticlausi]

Kai lifts his eyes up from his basket of fries as Natalia plops herself down across from him. "I didn't see anything," he chuckles lowly as he turns his head to look over at the haunted house, thinking back to her punching the clown in the face. "It was hilarious as fuck though." He picks up a fry, popping it into his mouth. "You want to do it again?"

@tcintedsvcrets

( open - frightfest - outside of the haunted house )

"If anyone asks," Natalia begins as she sits down at one of the free picnic benches outside of the haunted house they'd just finished, "you did not see me smack that clown." It didn't matter what kind of thrillers she could create in her own head, clowns were one step over the line. "I just didn't see him, and he was way up in my face, okay? Just give me a minute, and we'll go again."

[oculiaperticlausi]

Mateo holds his gaze with the cup of Jack and Coke in his hand, slowly nodding his head. He knows he has to figure out who he is without Brooklyn. One decade long relationship, so much bullshit... He found it hard not to text her when something shitty happened. He turns his head to look over toward Natalia. "She's been the other half of me since I was sixteen, Nat. It's not that fucking easy to shake it off and pretend it means nothing." He exhales as he taps his index finger against his glass. "It's hard not to fall into old habits. Don't you have anything like that?"

"It's not too late to figure that out," At least she didn't think so. If anything, Natalia was always of the mind that it was never too late for anything. She had to - although her professional career had quickly skyrocketed, her personal life was much alike a deflated balloon. "You can still figure out who you are without her. I get that so much of your life is tied in with hers, but it doesn't always have to be. And that doesn't have to feel like the end of the world." People got divorced all the time and still found happiness after. She wanted that for Mateo, more than anything. Admittedly, she wasn't the most.. compassionate of people, and much like she'd claimed before, Natalia was likely the last person he should have come to. "Why keep giving her the opportunity to hurt you like that? Because that's all it's doing."

[oculiaperticlausi]

Chase shakes his head. "It works then so who am I to complain?" He smirks as he glances over toward her. He leans back against the chair he's sitting in as he raises his glass up to his lips. "You sure you want me to go off somewhere in this bar and hit on another girl, getting her number? Here I thought you were going to let me take you home, Nat."

"Oh, absolutely. Isn't that what we're doing out here in the first place?" Natalia laughs, pulling herself to sit up, legs still dangling over the brick fencing. It wasn't often that she made all too many trips into town for a night out. She was more of a, curled up in front of the fire with a glass of wine, a good book and her cat. But, when Chase called, she couldn't really come up with an excuse on the spot. "You said you could get any girls number. Anyone, anywhere - that's what you said."

[oculiaperticlausi]

Chase was feeling higher than life since his first win of the football season, a win that has him bumped up and ready for the games to come. He decides to entertain Natalia by showing her how easily he could pick up someone yet... as he approaches the blonde he isn't thinking about taking her home. All he's thinking about is taking Natalia home which was why he only made a small conversation with the blonde and made it seem like he was rejected. He spins around and walks over to the dark-haired woman, his right shoulder lifting up as if he was saying can't win them all. "Come on, do you think I'm just a guy full of lines?"

@oculiaperticlausi | chase

Somehow, watching it in person was exponentially better than hearing about the ways in which Chase was inevitably turned down. However handsome, everyone had to luck out sometimes, right? Laid atop the parting concrete wall as he played his hand to the nameless blonde girl. Did it matter that she was likely going to end up back in his bed as a last resort for the night? Absolutely not, in fact, it might have made it all the more amusing, if anything. "You're getting better at this, I swear." Her laughter mottled her words into little more than a string of sounds as he wandered back her way, the blonde - nowhere to be seen. "What line did you use this time?"

[oculiaperticlausi]

Mateo exhales as he turns his head to look down at his drink. "That's the problem... I don't know who I am without her." He brushes his thumbs across the sides of his glass as she chews on his lower lip. He turns his head to look over at her, nodding his head. "Yeah, it happened against last night and she shrugged me off again." He exhales. "It's not me that doesn't want us to work, it's her. I don't know how she can... just end it so easily like this." He swallows as he raises the glass back up to his lips, tilting his head back to drink down the rest of the contents in his glass. He places the empty glass down on the surface of the bar with a soft thud as he nods. "I don't know how to stop it, Nat."

She wasn't entirely sure what kind of perspective he wanted on it, but undoubtedly, she'd try and look at his situation as objectively as possible. Or, at least she'd try. "Okay, so clearly getting back out there really isn't an option for you right now, which isn't a problem - it might just be a good time to.. figure out where you are right now, what you want and all that super healthy stuff." All the things that made people interesting and unique - all the things that most people chose to ignore. Or so she thought. "Wait, you and Brooklyn?" She asked, brows knitting tightly together, "Well, you need to. Talk, I mean. If you don't, you're just going to keep going around in circles with her and it's always going to end with you and me here, having this same conversation. Don't get me wrong - I'll keep telling you the same thing over and over, but whatever this is you're doing with Brooklyn now, it's not working."

[oculiaperticlausi]

Mateo presses his lips together. "Shit, sorry... Sorry," it was difficult, the journey of loving someone for the last ten years just to act like strangers out in public. He nods his head at her words. "That's a good way to look at it," he shakes his head. "Let me just... let all that go and be present with you, alright? I'm sorry. I've been a real shit friend lately... Think you can forgive me?"

It wasn't as if she wasn't quite used to being something of a wallflower - easy to go unnoticed despite always being present but the more time she spent with Mateo the more she felt the ire of resentment begin to stir. Yes, he was going through something difficult, but still, "Earth to Teo, -- welcome back, I thought for sure you'd got your hands on some of the shit the mercer boys had." which, might not be such a bad thing, all things considered. "So what if she is? Wouldn't that be like, some kind of sign that she might want to be around you?"

[oculiaperticlausi]

"I need another perspective on this, Nat." Mateo mutters as he places his hands around his beer bottle, his index finger picking away at the label. "I went on the worst date known to man last night and the shitty part is I was the worst part of that date, the poor girl did everything she could to keep me entertained but I just couldn't get rid of the weight in my stomach that made me feel like I was cheatin' on Brooklyn." He shakes his head. "I don't know." He breathes out. "I haven't really seen her since... we hooked up last week." He turns his head to look over at her. "I know I know, it sounds fucking shitty but I swear to God, Nat. Every time we are in the same room we just... don't talk."

"You're asking the wrong person, Teo." She sighed, eyed wide as she tried to put together the mess of his marriage. It was almost entirely why Natalia spent most of her life on her own - the whole, attachment thing eluded to the possibility of being imparted more pain than she knew what to do with. Love, she could write about - but to feel it? To suffer it? Hard pass. "Do you think there's any chance she'll at least... talk to you about it?" Then again, why would he want to put himself through that? "What do you want?"