‘ kids are fucking weird . what the fuck is a tik tok and why did those goddamn teenagers want me to be in one ? and what the fuck is an eboy ? whatever it is , i’m not one and i’m fucking annoyed that i got called one . ’ @nyc-hqs
"Really? I hadn’t fucking noticed, Dashiell.” Maybe it’s not the best idea to snap back at her neighbour while there’s a corpse starting decomposition in the alley they’re standing in. But damn it if she’s going to be made to feel bad about not listening to what Dash told her. She’s a grown ass woman, she’ll go where she likes even if it means witnessing the man she has grown so fond of beat the literal living shit out of a guy. Though she doesn’t feel anything for the man, he spiked her drink and if she didn’t have Ben point it out… God knows what this night could’ve turned into. She does however- feel guilty that Dash took the matter into his own hands.
“Lets just get some fucking things clear-” She tries not to look hurt when Dash flinches from her and instead balls her hand up into a fist. “You’re not okay and I am gunna go home- when I know you’ll be coming home too.” Aysel takes a deep breath in and crosses her arms over her chest against the cold air. “If anything comes back to you- and you can’t fucking say no- I’m you alibi. I’m not letting your dumb ass go back to prison.”
‘ then take something seriously for once in your goddamn life ! ’ he doesn’t mean to snap like that , but the words are out of his mouth before he can stop them . there’s a million things on his mind , none of them soft or kind . why is she even still here ? why doesn’t she do the smart thing and just run fucking screaming ? he knows she knows better than to get caught up in shit like this .
‘ you don’t need to get caught up in this . ’ the last thing he wants is for aysel’s life to go south because dash is a fucking mess . she has good things going for her . just like imogen does . truly , the women in his life deserve better than him . ‘ i have people to handle things like this , aysel . and you’re not getting tangled up with them . ’ they don’t need to know he has anything he cares about . aysel doesn’t need to be clocked as dash’s weakness . ‘ so go the fuck inside so i can call them . if i need your help , i’ll fucking ask for it . got it ? ’
“I laugh at inappropriate times okay?! I once laughed at a funeral!” She’s not exactly proud of that moment, her brain seems to translate any sad emotions or surprise into laughter. It has gotten her in trouble quite a few times and yet her brain won’t learn to not do it. “My hearing is excellent, I listen to heartbeats and creepy old men flirting with me all day. I just choose not to hear your whining.” Aysel has to think as to where she placed the helmet Dash got her before remembering she placed it on the giraffe statue she has in her bathroom. “Does a bear shit in the woods? I’ll be back in two seconds!” She moves quickly to her apartment, having to balance on the edge of her bathtub to reach the top of the giraffe before returning to Dash with it on. She has added to it, giving herself a helmet Mohawk in bright yellow. “I know- you’re shook at my amazing helmet and no we can’t match it wouldn’t make me look as cool any more.
‘ still a dick move , ’ he comments , shaking his head a bit . he’s not even gonna touch on the funeral matter ---- half thinks she’s probably fucking around , anyway . ‘ i’m not fuckin whining . you’re the one who was whining about wanting me to come . ’ his raspy voice raises into a falsetto to mock her , ‘ oh , dashiell , please come with me , i can’t live without you , i need you with me ! ’ then he tenses slightly , fully anticipating her giving him a smack for that . and ..... he hates the little modification she’s made to the helmet . truly hates it . ‘ jesus christ . why . you look like a kid that’s about to take off the training wheels for the first time . ’
“If I cut it you can’t bitch at me for it.” She points a finger at him before grabbing her scissors. Aysel makes sure to pull to fabric in a way that it’s not possible for the scissors to catch Dash’s skin and sets to work. The fabric is soon sliced in two and she grabs some latex gloves to put on before checking Dash’s ribs. “I need you to keep your back as straight as you can and breath evenly while I check your ribs.” She takes her index finger and pointer finger of each hand and presses them into Dash’s sides feeling around in order to find any issues. Brows furrow, concentration set in as her bottom lip is caught between her teeth. “So- there’s definitely a sprain over here but I’ll bandage it up and give you something for the swelling.”
‘ if it was my metallica shirt , we’d have an issue . ’ though the term shirt can only be used loosely for the scrap of fabric he wears far too often . it was cut into a tank top many many moons ago , and doesn’t do much to cover his muscled arms at all . he falls silent , much to no one’s surprise , and lets aysel do what she needs . straightening up , deep breaths as his gaze settles on a small dachshund figurine on the shelf that he’d bought for her a few months after she got monster truck . he’s trying to keep his gaze from wandering to her face , the soft crease on her forehead when she focuses , the swell of her lower lip disappearing between her teeth . a low sound of pain is pulled from his chest when the injured rib is prodded , but he recovers and rolls his shoulders back slightly to play it off . ‘ okay . ---- thanks . ’
“arguing’s normal. it’s the loudly in public part that i don’t find to be as normal,” he said. or maybe that was becoming more common and he just didn’t realize it. he wouldn’t want an entire room of people to overhear whatever he and his wife were arguing about but these two clearly didn’t mind it. “maybe they get a rush off of it.”
‘ especially if your person’s a little shit . ’ that part is mostly mumbled under his breath , for his own benefit rather than to further the conversation . ‘ yeah , maybe . either way , it’s obnoxious as fuck . i’m sure they could ---- broadcast their shit on social media instead of ruining everyone’s fuckin lunch . ’ so he says like he’s not the first person to start a fight when the opportunity presents itself .
hvnt-xr:
“If they go to the bathrooms I give it ten seconds,” he wagered with the blonde. The Double Down wasn’t exactly dirty it just wasn’t sparkling clean. There were plenty of signs in there that read ‘you puke you clean’ and if that didn’t explain the environment inside he didn’t know what else would. Sure drinks were cheap but they certainly weren’t top shelf material, and when a gig was on the place was crowded with drinks being spilled all over the place. "You sticking around for the band tonight? I heard they’re pretty shit.”
‘ yeah , that wouldn’t surprise me . ’ he exhales smoke through his nose like a dragon , glancing over his shoulder . some posh girls just want a walk on the wild side , and think the double down is a good place for that . usually , it’s a little too wild for them . ‘ i don’t know . depends on when my ..... neighbor gets off work . promised her we’d order take out and watch whatever shitty movie she wants . what about you ? gonna open up the fuckin pit tonight ? ’
You don’t love me you don’t like me I fuckin’ get it. I’m a piece of shit, okay?
‘ pretty sure i just saw the kid in charge of my extracurriculars duck inside . ’ it feels like something he should keep his boss informed of . he didn’t say anything to what’s her face ..... phillippa , but it’s not like they’re friends , so who fucking cares . ‘ pretty sure she’s hanging with the dancers or something . just thought you should know . ’ @lolaxio
hvnt-xr:
As the black haired male exhaled smoke escaped into the cold New York City air. He was leaning against the wall of his favorite dive-bar the Double Down Saloon. His attention was perked as someone he’d never seen seemed to be heading inside. “You sure you want to go in there?” he asked before returning his lips to his cigarette, his gaze back to the slice of sky between the buildings. He’d done his duty, he’d made them think twice, they could go in if they dared. The crowd inside didn’t take too well to outsiders coming in and thinking the place was anything but itself. The smell of piss in the bathrooms clearly a sign of what level of class lingered in this place.
there’s a few people loitering outside the bar , smoking their cigarettes and talking . dash doesn’t do much of the talking part , but does plenty of the smoking . it’s kind of amusing , watching the flighty tourists wander in then scurry right back out when they can’t handle intensity that radiates from the double down . usually dash just watches it happen without saying anything , maybe snorts to himself . hunter’s nicer than he is . when the preppy - seeming tourist girls huff and walk into the bar anyway . ‘ i give ‘em thirty seconds . ’
“I don’t expect you to play nice with me sister Because I am cold all over Not just ice in my blood and bones But pure nothing - the essence Of deepest space You once told me a joke and said No matter how fast light travels It will always find that Darkness Has gotten there first And how ironic, is what I think now Because no matter how far Or how fast I run My shadow will always stretch behind me Tar black with all the cruel things I have tried not to say But it’s so cold in here, all year round And if you had succeeded even once In tearing apart my brittle bird bones To see what truly lay in my heart Well - sister I’m afraid to say You would have only found A very black hole.”
The moment that he opens the door, Imogen takes a quick look at him. “You look like shit.” She concludes before walking to the door and heading straight for the kitchen. Setting the bags of food on the counter, she grabs two plates, knowing the place by heart. “Yelling is easier, also makes sure the words get through that thick skull of yours. I would’ve texted but my hands were pretty full, so yelling it is.”
Handing one plate to Dash, she doesn’t hesitate to open all the containers of food and line them all up on the coffeetable before quickly filling up her own plate. Taking a seat on the floor, she practically inhales the food. “I needed that.” With her intial craving having been fulfilled, she takes a moment to sit back and look over to her brother. “So how come you look like you’ve been hit by a car?”
‘ yeah , what’s fucking new . ’ he ambles after her to the kitchen , pouring himself a water and a lemonade for imo . ( he can’t stand the stuff , but he keeps it around for her . ) ‘ waking up the fucking neighbors and shit . ’ but he’s fond anyway , sets their drinks down on the coffee table and gracelessly takes a seat on his couch .
‘ jesus , imo . ’ he watches her scarf the food down like she hasn’t eaten in weeks , and concern raises . ‘ when’s the last time you ate ? i know you’re busy at work but you gotta eat . don’t make me come down there and make you . ’ though , maybe it’s not such a bad idea . hit on the nurses and stuff . well - off girls always love a walk on the wrong side of the tracks : which is dash .
“Fine, scum fits better anyway.” Hazel eyes spark with both frustration but also amusement. The two emotions Dash seems to be able to drag out of him in seconds. “Part of my job is making sure previous offenders aren’t digging in the criminal trash again.” The question causes a dark brow to raise, a slight uptick to his lips. “Both of those options- in your dreams, Dashiell.”
‘ sure it does . ’ tony really just wants dash to lose his fucking mind , doesn’t he ? he likes to think he’s not a really bad person , just mildly bad . but it’s hard to work to be better when everyone around expects the worst . might as well live up to it . ‘ previous offenders my fucking ass . you don’t have to check up on me and you know it . you’re not my fucking PO . ---- you sure , lombardo ? cause we both know what happened last time . and that wasn’t a fucking dream . ’
“Oh nice. I like the Ducati XDiavel myself but I tend to also like the look of the classic harley.” Nick clearly was someone who had some interest in the vehicle like it was anther other, rather than a fanatic who lived and breathed the vehicle. Nick quickly shook his head as Dash got the misunderstanding on his experience. “Oh, no I’ve ridden before but I wouldn’t say I’m that experienced. It’s been some time, and I wouldn’t want to jump into it at the hardest time too, you know?” He explained.
dash is kind of trying to be polite for once , nodding in acknowledgement of the other’s words . must’ve caught him in a good mood , most days he’d just walk away without a word . ‘ harley’s aren’t bad . a bit overrated though . ’ stated like a fact even though it’s fully opinion . ‘ like you borrowed a friends bike in college ridden before or owned a bike and then had to sell it ridden before ? ’ dash is pretty into bikes : he’s good with his hands and likes to work on cars and motorcycles . he did that as a job for awhile before his last stint in jail , actually . not that he’d tell this guy that .
“Back in the morning? Oh, shut up. I’ll do it now.” She tosses over her shoulder, no heat to her words but an underlining of care. Aysel wasn’t about to send Dash back to his apartment bleeding. Finding a bobble she pulls her hair back and digs out some gloves to then return to Dash. “On the blood stool.” She gently directs him to the stool she has specifically for Dash to sit on. There’s a couple blood stains on it and the fact she can make a gross pun with it only adds to the charm. “So-” She steps back and hums before pulling scissors out of her bag. “We can lift it off you which will hurt like a bitch or I can cut the front?”
‘ ‘kay . ’ he can’t help but feel stupid every time he ends up on this dumb chair . stool . whatever . feels like a fucking kid getting put in time out cause he shoved another kid down a slide on the playground . he’s tall enough so his feet rest flat on the floor when he takes a seat , small grunt of pain when he accidentally jostles his ribs too much . ‘ just cut it . there’s a reason i wear shitty shirts to these things . ’ it’s a plain black one , probably bought in bulk from somewhere . he doesn’t mind taking the L on it .
jack looked over at the other and then at the couple. “you’d think they would be,” he shrugged. “i can’t imagine arguing like that with my wife in public at all. but i suppose we’re not ones to argue quite like that either,” he shook his head. “don’t they realize that we don’t care about what their issues with each other are?”
‘ i mean -- i argue with my lady all the time . ’ he’s not quite certain what to call aysel . they’re not together , not really , but both of them know they’re not just friends . they fuck other people , they date other people , but they always come back like magnets to each other . so he keeps it vague . whatever . ‘ fuckin kids , man . the world revolves around ‘em . ’
The moment Aysel saw that half-assed nod she’d be damned if she was going to stay put where Dash wanted her to. If Dash was going to risk his own safety then fuck her own, she needs to know he’ll be okay. Aysel’s breath catches when she’s handed the knife, it has been a while since she held one- back when she was on the streets of Chicago. At his words, Aysel gives her own half-assed nod and slips the knife into the waist band of her skirt.
Aysel stands in her designated spot simply to watch Dash move around. Wherever he went next she’d follow. The blade of the knife is almost a calming cold against her hot skin and she crosses her arms keeping her focus on the blonde. It’s like being at the zoo and watching a Jaguar pace back and forth looking at the toddlers banging at the glass like it’s next meal. A lump forms in her throat, fuck, she should’ve just continued to lie, make up another bullshit excuse. Now Dash is looking ready to murder someone and doesn’t give a damn if he comes out of it fine or not. She’s less worried about the spiker and more about Dash.
The moment a man’s shirt is grabbed, Aysel looks at him. Her throat tightens and she can’t swallow. She takes in every detail of the man that targeted her tonight and there’s a mixture of fear and fury as she watches Dash drag him outside. Aysel decides she’ll count up to a minute and then follow, the seconds in her head ticking by excruciatingly slow. Though wants those seconds come to an end she’s across the room in a heartbeat and throwing the door open. The sight she sees pulls a gasp from her lips, brown eyes widen. The blood doesn’t cause much of a reaction, Aysel is a nurse after all and seen every injury known to man… And more dead bodies than she’d like even outside of her profession. She takes in the man’s face, or what is left of it and forces herself to breath. Dash’s voice causes her to flinch when she first hears it and she shakes her head. “Since when do I do what I’m told?” Her voice is stronger than she expects it to be and she moves forward slowly like Dash is a wild animal that she’s worried will run if she moves too quickly. Ignoring the body, she reaches forward, hand shaking somewhat as she brushes blonde hair of Dash’s forehead and asks the one important question. “Are you okay?”
nobody’s gotta worry about dash . catlike in his nine lives , he always bounces back with more teeth , more claws . honestly , he doesn’t even consider the fact he might come into harm . he’s usually bigger , faster , nastier than people around him . untouchable . which , in this case , is true . the guy didn’t even get a fucking punch in . it’d be funny if it wasn’t fucking terrifying .
‘ this is a little more fucking serious than that , aysel . ’ why can’t she just listen to him when it matters ? nausea spikes and it feels like he’s about to throw up for a moment : not because of the dead man at his feet , but because she knows . now she knows . he’s fucked up in the head , he’s a fucking terrible person and now aysel’s gonna call the cops , or worse , stop talking to him . dash isn’t sure he could survive that . he’s taken off guard when she touches him so gently , adrenaline still coursing through his veins so forcefully he flinches away from her . ‘ i’m fine . you need to get out of here , though . if things go south i don’t want you getting in trouble for this motherfucker . i’ll pay for your cab home . i gotta deal with him . ’ his body , he means .