She Keeps Her Hands Around The Cup Of Tea, Eyes Focused On Vanni As He Speaks. His Question Doesn’t

although their words should’ve made her heart flutter, somehow they just leave a bitter taste in her mouth. there’s a sudden urge to bite back at spencer, but she has never been the type to lash out at somebody, even if she’s still upset that they just upped and went on with their life one day. “i know,” jackie responds, grinning cheekily. “you must be going through some crazy shit if you’re out here trying to contact demons. what have you been up to without me, huh?” although it comes out as a silly banter, she truly wants to know all about it. there are so many questions she wants to ask, but for now she decides to bite her tongue ⸻ she doesn’t want to risk scaring spencer off now that they’re here. “oh, i’m just visiting my cousin. he’s a really busy man, so i had to come here and find him myself,” she chuckles. taking a moment to gaze at spencer, she wonders if they would stick around this time, or maybe they would try to run away from her again. either way she thinks it’s worth a try, so she asks, “do you want to check out this bar together? see if we could find any ghost or demon to contact?” it’s her way of saying we should definitely talk. “pretty sure they got some spooky ass drinks we could try too.”

i could never forget you, they should say, but instead settles for, "you're hard to forget." despite going no contact, spencer thinks of jackie often, thinks of reaching out, trying to mend things. but they haven't, clearly, as they're standing shell-shocked in front of her. they know that jackie knows they meant what are you doing in chile, but they only hum in reply, "mm, right. i had the same thought, was hoping to see if could contact any demons. brought my ouija board and everything." they joke, trying to act at all like this is normal, like they haven't been ignoring their connection for so long, "i... well, it's a complicated answer," not really, "just been going through some personal bullshit and my mom used to take me here as a kid. just needed a break." they shrug, "now your turn. what brings you to chile? other than trying to find a ghost at this bar, of course." they resist the urge to move closer. even after all this time, there's a natural draw, there's a palpable connection that's hard to shake.

without a beat, her infamous catchphrase comes out as soon as she hears salem. "why not? i mean if you pay for it, that shouldn't be a problem, no?" jackie has no idea if any of these cats are for purchase, but she believes when there's a will there's a way, and if not, she's pretty sure they could work something out. "i guess you can talk to the owner about it or something," she suggests, a playful smile toying on her lips when an idea suddenly pops into her head. "or don't. it's not like you can get arrested for stealing a cat," then a pause. "can you?" she's unsure. well, now that the realization begins to hit her, maybe they should just abort that mission. "you did say you want to pay for it. i think that works."

status: open @valpostart location: el café de los gatos

“so like….hypothetically speaking if someone wanted one of these cats could they have one?” she asked the person beside her while her gaze was fixed on a larger grey tabby cat. salem being at the cat cafe wouldn’t surprise anyone ( neither would wanting to take in a random stray ) and she knew it would have to be one of the first stops she made as soon as she came back to town. as she crouched down to pet it she wondered how much her own cat would object to a sibling. she seemed to do well with “boat cat” after all. “i mean obviously i would pay for it and ask if i could have it but like can the cats leave with human if they want to?” 

closed starter for reyna, @fram3s

location: around el carnaval de invierno

when rachel finally got the chance to visit the winter carnival, she wastes no time to drag reyna along with her. it would have been incomplete to go without her best friend anyways, and now that she's walking arm in arm with reyna, donning matching crochet snoods that she had learned how to make herself for the two of them, this almost feels nostalgic all over again. "so tell me, what do you want to do first?" she turns to reyna with a huge smile. "do you want to play one of those carnival games? or should we get something to eat?" she looks around for a moment, her eyes lighting up at the sight of her favorite ride. "oh, we should totally ride the ferris wheel too!" there are so many things to do around here, that rachel could feel her body shakes with excitement.

as a fellow adrenaline junkie, she couldn’t really tell why rohan is even complaining about rollercoasters. sure, they might not be as challenging to some, but his complaint doesn’t even imply that, more so the fact that they are too much of a risk, whatever that means. “really, rohan? since when do you consider the risk and what potential harm it could bring before you do something? i thought you said you’re an adrenaline junkie,” she taunts, nudging him gently with her elbow. “i don’t know what’s your deal with rollercoasters, but they’re super fun. well, unless you’re scared,” and suddenly it hits her, “are you scared of rollercoasters, rohan?” no, it’s totally valid, even for someone who craves an adrenaline rush ⸻ jackie doesn’t want to assume things about him, but it does make sense that he might be. she just needs to hear it from him.

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closed starter for JACKIE ( @detruines ) location : la  carnaval  de  invierno,  some rollercoaster

-ˋˏ ‏‏‎ ‎꒰ ‏‏‎ ‎🐚 ‏‏‎ ‎꒱‏‏‎ ‎ ──‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎rollercoasters  are  not  really  rohan's  thing.  cliff  diving  and  swimming  with  sharks  and  sometimes  driving  a  little  too  fast  on  the  highways  ?  sure.  rollercoasters,  however  ?  rohan  stares  up  at  the  rickety  rails  with  his  hands  in  his  back  pockets,  half-squinting  with distaste towards  it.  " why  would  anyone  want  to  go  on  the  metal  death  trap  again  ?  "  he  questions,  turning  to  look  over  his  shoulder  at  jackie.  he's  not  sure  where  she  popped  up  from,  but  she's  here  now  (  much  to  rohan's  vague  chagrin.  )  "  like  i'm  all  for  an  adrenaline  rush  but  those  things  are  too  much  of  a  risk.  imagine  what  the  windchill  is  like  when  you're  up  that  high  and  going  that  fast  ?  i  saw  a  video  not  that  long  ago  of  a  whole  bunch  of  people  getting  stuck  upside  down  for  hours.  "  yes,  he's  aware  statistically,  he's  safer  on  the  rollercoaster  than  any  of  the  other  stuff  he  likes  doing.  doesn't  matter.  "  it  doesn't  even  sound  fun.  " 

“that’s right! you really shouldn’t miss breakfast. it’s the most important meal of the day,” rachel chirps, although she couldn’t say the same about the others. it’s easy to miss lunch or dinner when she gets too caught up with work sometimes, but she often makes it up with midnight snacks; that’s if she ever remembers to eat them. there is a bashful smile on her face when she heard rania, head shaking softly in response to her words. “oh come on, you said it just fine! at least you know what it means and how to use it. i gotta give you props for that,” she teases, listening attentively when rania talks about her kid. “thanks for the tip, mama. i think i’m good with french braids. might need to work on the fishtail and learn the others though.” it’s not like rachel is getting married nor getting kids anytime soon, but it’s nice to be prepared, right? a laugh escapes from her mouth. “sounds about right. anything else i need to know about having kids?”

"of course, have to be fueled up to take on the day." she takes a sip of her own coffee, grinning at the younger woman, "so good? wow. incredible, we're off to a great start." she reaches out and gives rachel's shoulder a friendly squeeze, "see? 'manifesting' sounds so much more normal coming out of your mouth." oh to be young and hip. rania agrees then, nodding, "you're right. self-care is important!" and something she neglects and is bad at, but that is not important right now, "mmm, i'm fine. sonia threw a fit over her hair this morning, but nothing a french braid couldn't fix." she snorts, teasing, "if you ever had kids? add different types of braiding to the list of things to know. a little french or fishtail can remedy almost anything. it's like me and a cup of coffee. healing, even."

“You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go, and see what happens.”

— Mandy Hale

DAISY JONES & THE SIX (2023) Track 9: Feels Like the First Time

"just stop thinking about it" my brother in christ, if I could stop thinking about it I would

“well, it’s okay to worry,” she reassures, a gentle smile on her lips. “it’s normal to be worried, especially when it comes to something that really matters to you like this. just don’t let it get the best of you.” jackie knows it’s easier said than done, but she trusts that leon would be able to overcome it eventually. “who? me?” she asks, letting out another laugh. “of course i do! there are so many ways things could go wrong in a big race, but you know, it gets better the more you do it,” she grins. “you've done this a lot before, right? think of all the fun you'll be having on that stage, leon. i'm sure you’re gonna fuckin’ nail this.”

"i mean, kinda? i guess?" leon chuckles as he sees the excitement on jackie's face. it's real contagious. he usually freaks the fuck out before a performance if he hasn't rehearsed day in and out for a month. but he's played this kind of crowd before. la fiesta de la vendimia was actually a success, and he was nervous then too. "i worry too much, i know," he offers a defeated smile with a small shrug of his shoulders. "but you're right. we're vibing, chilling, having the best fucking time of our life," the blond nods. "don't you get nervous before a big race? this feels like a big race somehow. not that i've ever raced before," he grins.

there is no doubt that rachel is some sort of an all-rounder. academic wise, surely, but for something that requires physical movement like roller skating? it depends on a case-by-case basis. she finds it easy to understand the concept ⸻ she listens to the instructions well and imagines doing them in her head, and yet when it comes to moving her own body, well, it’s easier said than done. someone like sade probably wouldn’t get it - not that it’s her fault! - seeing how effortless she has been doing with those wheels on. to say she’s a tad bit envious would be an exaggeration, but man, rachel wished she could be that good.

she takes a deep breath when sade comes around her again, mentally preparing herself to go over this thing one more time. “really? you think so?” the reassuring words from sade doesn’t make her feel better, but she appreciates it anyways. “okay, bend my knees,” rachel repeats as she does it. “elbows out for balance. lift from my hips and push,” and again, she’s stuck. c'mon, just push forward, she tells herself, and suddenly it all feels impossible again. “this is not- i know how to walk, sadie. this is not just like walking. like look at you, you’re…” what’s the word? “…gliding, and i am not. i can’t.” maybe this is a sign rachel should just give up.

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-ˋˏ ‏‏‎ ‎꒰ ‏‏‎🪐 ‏‏‎ ‎꒱‏‏‎ ‎ ──‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎sade  watches  her,  arms  crossed  over  her  chest,  lips  slightly  pursed  to  the  side.  rachel's  frustration  is  clashing  with  her  own,  though  sade  is  sure  her  slightly  sour  mood  isn't  improving  the  situation.  why  does  she  feel  like  she  isn't  being  listened  to  ?  obviously,  rachel  IS  listening,  and  if  sade  were  to  actually  look  at  the  other  woman's  posture  then  it  would  be  obvious  that  it's  just  beginners  anxiety  (  and  potentially  the  pressure  that  they're  both  putting  on  her.  )  but  because  rachel  doesn't  get  it  right  away,  at  least  not  like  sade  gets  it,  she  finds  the  experience  mildly  aggravating, like rachel is doing it on purpose.

a  soft  sigh  escapes  her──  okay,  maybe  she  should  relax  a  little.  rachel's  obviously  trying,  and  struggling,  and  sade's  impatience  is  not  HER  fault.  she  tries  to  remind  herself  of  all  those  things  her  therapist  told  her  when  she  got  back  to  jersey  :  not  every  inconvenience  is  an  attack  on  you,  sadie  !  inhaling  deeply,  sade  lets  the  tension  melt  from  her  shoulders,  and  pushes  off  the  cement  so  she  can  skate  up  beside  rachel.  "  you're  really  not  doing  that  bad,  "  it's  her  reluctant  attempt  at  reassurance.  " we'll  start  from  the  beginning.  bend  your  knees,  like  you're  sitting  down,  "  she  goes  through  the  steps  a  little  slower  this  time.  "  hold your  elbows  out  on  either  side  of  you  for  balance.  lift from your hips──  it'll  help  you  keep  your  balance.  then  you  just  push──  "  she  presses  off  one  foot,  rolling  forward,  though  she  doesn't  go  far  from  rachel.  "  just  one  foot.  and  then  the  other.  it's  just like  walking.  "