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Realistic or Modern 𝓒𝓻𝓲𝓶𝓼𝓸𝓷 𝓐𝓬𝓮𝓼 || Main Thread

Characters
Here




/*left side*/






escape the ordinary.



mood
angry

location
kitchen

outfit
click!

mention
Ink/Smoke [ _amaranth_ _amaranth_ ; Bear [ MadiRaiCat MadiRaiCat ]






/*right side*/

juniper






Juniper honestly didn't know what was worse: the fight between her and Smoke or the one between Bear and Ink. Blow wise, it was probably the latter, if you were talking physical hits. Emotionally, the one between her and Smoke was probably worse, but this wasn't really the time to compare the two. Ink and Bear were moving around the kitchen like animals hunting their prey, blow after blow landing on each of them and destroying the room in the process. Smoke made it clear to Juni that she didn't need the blonde nurse's help, but what did draw the two girls together was them trying to pry Ink and Bear off of each other. Of course, it didn't do a damn bit of good, and one of the fists of fury or an elbow or something hit her in the face and she realized she was bleeding again.

Now she'd had enough. She stepped back from the fray, looking around almost wildly for something that might draw the attention away from the two males trying to kill each other. She hoped the bowl she broke didn't have alot of sentimental value, because within seconds it lay in glass shards on the ground. Juniper stood above the broken pieces, her chest heaving as everything in the kitchen came to a screeching halt. Suddenly things were quiet, but Bear broke the silence by finding Smoke and asking if she was alright. Brady's eyes found Juniper and she looked at him as he moved closer, his voice and touch much softer than it had been when directed at Bear. "Don't touch me." She reached up, grabbing his wrist and pulling it away from her face, her own voice shaking with hurt.

His words towards Smoke made her wince, and she realized in that moment why she was so hurt. He'd attacked Bear because he was jealous. Jealous over the girl he'd publicly broken up with. Everything he'd said to Juni had sounded so nice that she wanted to believe in it, but it was clear where his heart really lay. But Smoke had her own bitter words to say back to Ink, and Juni's eyes darted sharply over to her. "Smoke-" But she didn't get a chance to finish before a deep male voice interjected, a familiar one to every single person in the room. Juniper's eyes shot wide as she turned towards Shotgun, finding that he wasn't alone. His voice shook the room, and even as Brady tried to explain, the man made it clear he wasn't interested. It didn't take a genius to figure out who had been fighting and why, and Juni felt her heart sink into her stomach as Shotgun took a seat.

Drawing in a shaky breath, Juni looked down at the ground when Shotgun asked if there was anyone who hadn't fought tonight. She owed alot to the man, and yet here she was, fighting his daughter and breaking shit in his house. "I'm sorry, Shotgun." She told the man who was like a father to her almost, moving towards the fridge to grab the broom from beside it. She swept up the broken glass shards, sliding them onto the dustpan before she moved to throw them away, putting the broom back. The kitchen still looked like shit from the fighting between the guys, but there wasn't much she could do about it for now, so she just sighed. "I'll deal with everyone later. But you two... you stay." Shotgun looked between Brady and Marisol, clearly dismissing the other two. Juni took her chance and turned on her heel, marching to her door and heading back into her basement, trying and failing not to look at Brady before she went, unable to hide the tears in her eyes.








/*do not remove credit*/
괜찮아도 괜찮아 (That’s Okay)
coded by weldherwings


 




/*left side*/






life is short. fuck it.



mood
relaxed

location
millie's house

outfit
click!

mention
Millie [ MadiRaiCat MadiRaiCat ]






/*right side*/

ash






It was pretty clear to anyone who looked at Ashton Valencia that he was not a cuddling, fluffy blanket and hot chocolate type of guy. But yet here he was, with two out of those three things. Though honestly, cuddling up under a warm fluffy blanket wasn't the worst thing in the world, and it wasn't as though he'd never cuddled before. He just usually didn't, at least not like this. Not where it meant something more than just having a warm body next to him. Thankfully though, Millie knew the way to his heart wasn't hot chocolate but the liquor she'd brought out, along with the beer, one for each of them. With the horror flick on in the background, the scene was almost perfect. It probably could have only been more perfect if his lips were on hers. Clothing optional.

Her sarcasm in response to his only solidified the moment for him, and he pulled her closer so that they were both laying on the couch. She snuggled into one of her pillows and rested her back against his front, her body warm against his. His eyes shifted from the movie to the beautiful girl in front of him, and a soft but genuine smile appeared on his lips. His hand automatically moved to her side, his fingers toying with the hem of her shirt and a couple of his fingers slipping underneath the fabric that had ridden up some. Her skin was soft under his calloused fingers and he sighed in content, forcing his eyes to shift back to the movie. That is, until she turned her head to look at him, her words causing a grin to grow on his face again. "What are you talking about? Haven't you seen Scooby Doo?" He asked her, scoffing lightly. "Shaggy always lives."

His sarcasm and jokes were a way to lighten the mood, but before she looked back at the TV he thought he saw something in her eyes that made him question himself. But she looked away before he could be sure, and he just watched her for a moment longer before looking back at the movie. They watched in silence for a few more moments before his phone started vibrating in his pocket, and he groaned, hanging his head. He decided to ignore it, but when it started up again he knew that something was up. "Sorry." He murmured to her, reaching down into his pocket to grab his phone and pull it out. Seeing Shotgun's name, his heart jumped a little bit, but he just swiped the phone to answer it, not even letting go of the girl in front of him. "Yeeees?" He drew out the word, his eyes on the movie but unseeing for the moment.

"I'm out." He said a moment later, though Shotgun's voice could clearly be heard by the girl in front of him. "Have you any idea what your idiot siblings have been doing?" Ash scoffed. "Not a clue. What, did they get caught having make up sex in the living room?" He rolled his eyes, and he could practically see the vein in his father's neck bulging out. "I'm so sick of your fucking idiocy, Ashton. Whatever girl you're out there fucking, wrap it up. I want you home in an hour. We need to have a family meeting." And then he hung up the phone, and Ash just groaned again, clicking his phone off and leaning forward to toss it onto the table. "He'll be alright if I'm a little late." He told Millie, settling back down onto the couch, sliding his arm around her again. "Besides, I have to admit, the fluffy blanket won me over. I'm too comfortable to move."








/*do not remove credit*/
괜찮아도 괜찮아 (That’s Okay)
coded by weldherwings


 








Millie was acutely aware of how close she had gotten to Ashton, how quickly she had begun to let him back in like those five years hadn't even happened. She could feel the warmth of his body against her back, the warmth of the blanket covering them, and the warmth of the alcohol within. She did her best to focus her ocean blue eyes on the movie, but every vibration of his heartbeat or rise of his chest with a breath distracted her. She had lost what the plot of the movie was, and so she made a mental note to rewatch it later. But for now, she couldn't help but analyze herself. Her therapist's brain identified the rapid heartbeat, the fluttering in her stomach, the pressure in her chest, all signs of a nervous nature. On the surface, one might just attribute it to her personality. She was anxious and indecisive, naive and too trusting. So, maybe it was just the underlying feelings of being associated with a gang member. Logically, though, that didn't make sense. Millie had been around the Crimson Aces since she was a child, the whole gang thing didn't affect her. No, deep down she knew exactly what those feelings were. She just couldn't admit them.

Pulled from her thoughts by Ash's voice, Millie let out a laugh and rolled her eyes. "Scooby-Doo and horror movies are hardly the same thing," she replied, and the silence fell over them. It wasn't long before his phone vibrated, and the blonde woman silently hoped he would ignore it. He did, but shortly after the humming started up again and Ash moved to answer it. His grip on her never faltered as he answered the phone. Milana could vaguely hear the disgruntled voice on the other end, but couldn't make out all the words. Nevertheless, by Ash's reaction and the deepness of the tone, she could tell that it was probably Shotgun, his father. While she and Shotgun had met, they had kept their distances from one another. Millie didn't think it was on purpose necessarily, moreso they never really had a want or need to interact. He was the father of her best friends as well as the leader of a powerful street gang. Meanwhile, she was nobody, just a childhood friend and now the town shrink. She could only assume he wasn't aware of some of his members visiting her every now and again, telling her secrets that she was bound by therapist-patient confidentiality to keep. Maybe he would be more interested in her had he known.

Ash ended the call and groaned, his phone clattering against the coffee table as he returned to his position behind her. A smile crept onto her lips over his words regarding the blanket, and she let out a light laugh. "I told you so," the blonde answered, her tone teasing. She tried to settle back in and figure out where they were in the movie. But before she could, the doorbell buzzed. Realizing she was rather hungry, Millie untangled herself from the blanket and slipped out from Ash's arms, making her way towards the door. She only opened it for a moment to pay the delivery man and take the box in his hand before locking it once again behind her. Milana paced back over to the couch, sitting the box on the coffee table. "I'm going to grab another beer, do you want one?" she asked, taking the empty bottles before walking into the kitchen. Truth be told, Ash's words were getting to her a bit. Sure, they were having a nice time. But he seemed to have more important things he needed to be doing, things that most certainly didn't involve fluffy blankets or her. "You know, I can wrap some of that up to go for you," she called from the kitchen, reaching into the fridge for two more beers, "If there's somewhere else you've got to be."







the good girl



millie.








  • filler tab!





♡coded by uxie♡
 








Protect and serve, that had been his mission for as long as he could remember. Even as one of the Aces, they protected one another and served their leader. Though he would never have thought it to be true before, Jason would be lying if he said he didn't see the similarities between the precinct and the gang. Brothers in arms, staying true to what they believed in and what they stood for, protecting their families at all costs. Maybe one did it in a way more illegal than the other, but the outcome was still the same. Even partners on the force fought from time to time. Though, Bear had a feeling that the fight between him and Ink would take much longer to resolve. This was more than just some simple disagreement. This was about the pride and egos of two alpha male stereotypes, unwilling to give in to the other because loss was most certainly not an option for either of them. But thankfully, Juniper had shattered that bowl and, as much as he was sure it would be a pain to clean up later, it had been successful in its endeavor.

"Good," Jace responded to Smoke's words, happy to see she hadn't got caught in the crosshairs of their scuffle. He hadn't even realized what injuries he might have sustained until she reached up to trace his skin lightly with her fingertips, instilling a soft ache wherever they touched. He would certainly be bruised later, knowing that the marks were probably already starting to form. Adrenaline must have kept the dull, throbbing pain. But, now that the fight was over and his heart was beginning to calm, its painkilling effects had begun to wear off. He heard her whisper, and Bear reached up to gently take her hand in his, a soft smile on his face. "It's not your fault, Smoke. This is my job," he answered, shrugging his shoulders as nonchalantly as he could. Sure, he hadn't been protecting her from any immediate danger. After all, Ink had attacked him, not her. But maybe he was protecting her honor in one way or another. Smoke slipped away to the freeze and returned with an ice pack wrapped in a town. The cool feeling of it against his bruised cheek was a relief, but it was short-lived. With tempers that couldn't keep from lashing out at one another, Smoke and Ink were quick to snap once again.

For a moment, Jason thought he would have to fight once again. But a loud, booming voice sent a shiver down his spine. He saw Smoke's face go pale, heard Ink stutter as he addressed the powerful man that now stood in the room with them. Shotgun was a force to be reckoned with, could have any one of them killed simply by snapping his fingers. But, based on who currently stood in that room, Bear could safely assume he was the only one the man would even consider. The blood in his veins turned to ice as the man narrowed his eyes at Jace. "Why did you fight?" What had moments before seemed like a valid effort now seemed so foolish. "I'm sorry, sir," the blonde man responded, bowing his head slightly as he knew his place. Shotgun was quick to dismiss those that he didn't consider immediate family. Bear shot one last look at Smoke before heading upstairs. He grabbed his jacket from her room and continued out the front door, pausing on the stairs. As he lit a cigarette between his lips, he couldn't help but think things certainly hadn't gone as planned.







the cop



jason.








  • filler tab!





♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:



















Smoke



the leader's daughter













The fight was over and the aftermath was definitely going to echo not only in the kitchen but in the minds of the actors for quite some time. The whole room looked like a mess. Not only furniture was all over the place but now glass shards were covering the ground, posing danger to bare feet. Smoke’s blood was boiling because until now, she was having the most amazing night despite the events in the clubhouse. Bear was able to take her mind off of it and take her to a nicer place, bringing out the softer version of Marisol Valencia, the version buried deep under the layers and layers of rough biker gang member and the leaderIs daughter. The version which had last been seen before Smoke even reached fifteen. God knew because when she started high school, she was already filled with attitude and snark. So really, what Bear managed to do with her, it was next to a miracle. One that was now completely gone thanks to Brady and his retarded ass.

Bruises on Bear’s face started to form and the brunette reached up to trace them as regret filled her eyes. This was so not how the night was supposed to go. Granted, Smoke didn’t have any plan. But this? It was nothing but a shitshow. Bear’s fingers wrapped around her hand and he still had that soft smile for her. "It's not your fault, Smoke. This is my job," he told her but Smoke just shook her head. “It’s not your job to fight Ink and his moods. You shouldn't have to.” she retorted and went to get the ice pack for him. It was not going to make those bruises disappear but it was going to help at least a little. She was ready to return upstairs and take care of her knight in shining armor but Ink’s words had her snapping back. And what was worse, her father made his appearance in the worst possible moment.

Wayne Valencia was literally the only person who could instill fear in Smoke. And it was more than obvious as all blood vanished from her face and she trembled, not because of her lack of clothing. Shotgun’s thunderous voice echoed in the kitchen as he said his piece and dismissed Bear and Juni, wanting the other two to stay. Smoke’s eyes met Bears and she squeezed his hand just before he left the room. “Dad come on, this…” Not that she got very far. “I don’t even want to hear it, Marisol.” he hissed at her and grabbed his phone. “It’s Smoke…” she mumbled, not ready to openly defy her father. She remained quiet just as Shotgun talked to her brother on the phone and Smoke crossed her arms on her chest, annoyed beyond belief. In the corner of her eye, she noticed Bear walking towards the front door and made a move. “I said you’re staying.” Shotgun growled. “Until Ashton comes home. I had enough of you shenanigans.”

“God, dad! He’s not coming any time soon!” she exclaimed in exasperation. “If he’s with a girl, it’s gonna be hours. Can I just…?” With the look Shotgun gave her, Smoke froze again but now there was an angry glint of fury in those dark eyes. Fucking Ash, he always got the better end of the deal. “No, you can’t go and hunt your Bear down. Not when your boyfriend is standing right here.”

“Whatever… It’s not like it matters. He’s not my boyfriend anymore anyway. He broke up with me…” she snapped and silence fell on the kitchen.












































?coded by uxie?
 




































  • how he's feeling...



    kind of...afraid

















Ink



the hot-head













It was safe to say that the whole evening was not done. It went to hell rather quickly. Damn, he never even managed to make that large bowl of popcorn, let alone curl up on the couch with Juni by his side and watch a movie on TV. In retrospect, maybe it was slightly his fault, not that Ink would ever admit it out loud, certainly not in front of Smoke. But maybe he just should have let it go. He was the one who broke up with Smoke so why was it bothering him so much who she fucked in her bed now? It wasn’t like she was totally faithful even when they were together so why now? Well, the answer to that question was simple. Brody felt like a fool. He was the one to cut the ties and yet, Smoke mocked him by bringing her bodyguard, or whoever Bear was to her, here? In Ink’s book, she did it to humiliate him even more. And that stung more than he could bear.

Seeing Juni’s bruised face, Ink’s raging haze fell off him and he walked to her, inspecting the injury. Her snappy answer surprised him and he tilted his head in curiosity. Juniper even pushed him away and her voice was filled with hurt which Ink didn’t understand at first. His next words were directed towards Smoke and they would end up in yet another fight if Shotgun had not made his appearance, making everyone go silent. The kitchen turned into the North Pole within seconds and Brady’s jawline tensed as the man who saved his life took a seat and started to investigate what happened here. He had way too many questions and Ink was not able to process all of them at this point. But he did notice when Juni cleaned up quietly and left the room, followed by Bear, leaving the former couple alone with the frightening leader. "Juni...!"

Ink’s first instinct was to follow Juni and explain his behavior but it felt like his feet became one with the floor. For once, Smoke was quiet as well and Shotgun made his call to Ashton. Lucky bastard, wherever he was. A sneaky weasel she was, Smoke tried to leave the room but it wouldn’t go well with her father and Ink was more than glad that he hadn’t acted on his instincts of following the blonde. There was something extremely satisfying in watchin Smoke getting scolded. And then she dropped that bomb, revealing everything to Shotgun, and Ink tensed even more.

“Why did you break up?” the man asked, looking straight at Brady now. Squirming like a worm in the direct sun, Ink was not in a hurry to reply. “It was not working out.” he mumbled, failing to keep eye contact with the man. “Did you two get in a fight with each other then?” The questions kept coming and Ink knew that while he was raised as his child, Shotgun was never going to condemn his own daughter. Not more than he would do Ink. “No. No, we didn’t.” he said finally. “Then why did you break up?” Shotgun kept pushing, knowing them both more than well. He also knew they were not working well together but they still tried to hold it. “I know my daughter and I know you. So what was it? Why did it happen? Who did Marisol fight with?” Shotgun went on and stood up. Ink was a tall guy but Shotgun towered even over him. “Juniper!” Smoke exclaimed after a while. “I got in a fight with Juni, okay?” More anger flashed in Shotgun’s eyes when he looked at his daughter and they engaged in a little staring contest. “Get out!” he growled at her dangerously. “Get out of here now.” Well, Smoke didn’t need to hear more and she scurried away. All they heard then was the front door being slammed as Smoke left the house. And then it was just Shotgun and Ink again…












































?coded by uxie?
 




/*left side*/






escape the ordinary.



mood
angry

location
kitchen

outfit
click!

mention
Ink/Smoke [ _amaranth_ _amaranth_ ; Bear [ MadiRaiCat MadiRaiCat ]






/*right side*/

juniper






That night at Shotgun's house, standing in his kitchen with the shattered remnants of that bowl and her heart at her feet, was burned into Juni's mind even as the cool autumn air gave way to a winter chill. Deciding to stick around town for a while, Juniper officially gave her notice with the prison and got a job at the local urgent care. She saw alot of the Aces there, and got friendly with some of them. She was usually recognized, of course, even in her scrubs and behind her stethoscope. But for the most part, the people that came there weren't in a position to turn her help down, so they begrudgingly accepted it. She wasn't always treated the nicest, but then again, she hadn't always been in the prison either. So in a way, she was used to it, but at the same time, it did hurt.

Christmas Eve crept up on her, and she was working the closing shift at the clinic. They closed at eight, but took patients up until then, so she and her coworker Rosie didn't get out of there until after ten. They closed up and parted ways in silence, and Juni just climbed into her jeep, mentally and physically exhausted. She turned on her music to keep her alert as she headed back to Shotgun's, but when she pulled into the driveway, she pressed on the brake when she saw all the cars and bikes parked around, confused. About a second later, realization struck. Her eyes went wide and the blood drained from her face when she realized what was happening. The party! Shotgun had been planning it for weeks now, and of course, she'd forgotten all about it. Shotgun, the old softie he was at heart, had even gotten someone to organize a secret santa.

Imagine Juni's shock when she'd pulled out Ink's name. Her present for him was currently wrapped and tucked in her closet, at least she hadn't forgotten that. Leaning her head back on the headrest, she sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, she found a parking spot amongst the bikes and grabbed her bag, getting out and heading to her entrance. She could hear the sounds of the party going on, but she didn't figure she'd be welcome by most of the members, so she just went into her own area. Besides, the guys weren't back from their trip yet, so Brady would just have to get her present when he came back. After letting herself into the basement, she tossed her bag on the couch and went into her little bathroom to strip out of her scrubs and get into the shower.








/*do not remove credit*/
괜찮아도 괜찮아 (That’s Okay)
coded by weldherwings


 




/*left side*/






life is short. fuck it.



mood
relaxed

location
millie's house

outfit
click!

mention
Millie [ MadiRaiCat MadiRaiCat ]






/*right side*/

ash






Ash had ultimately decided to stay with Millie for as long as she let him that night, which earned him a nice ass chewing from Shotgun when he finally arrived home. He took the chew-out like a man, cursing under his breath only after Shotgun left the room. That man could instill fear in the most hardened of people, and Ash was not immune to that power. To a degree, he had it as well, but his usually easygoing nature kept him from reaching his full potential. Now there were times where he could channel his inner Shotgun and scare the hell out of people, and he did cherish those times, but for the most part he only brought that side out of him if necessary. There were other ways of getting what you wanted in life, and Ash wanted to explore all options. Usually.

A week or so after his mostly magical night with Millie, Shotgun informed him and a few others that they would be going on a mission. It was a lengthy one, and would involve some legwork. So he and the others packed up and left, and what was supposed to be a lengthy mission nearly doubled in length when shit went sour. They finally managed to get things back on track, and would be home in time for Christmas. Ash had never been the type to be excited for the holiday, but this time, he was. His father had gotten someone to plan a party, and who was Ash if he said no to a party? The secret santa thing was something new, but when he found out who he was buying for, it only made him more excited. He found something he hoped Millie would love, and had even managed to put it in a bag. A birthday bag, but hey, it was something.

The party was in full swing and Ash was just finishing up his shower when his father barged into his room. "Just wanted to make sure you were coming down." The man grunted, two beers in his hand. He handed one to Ash, who nodded in thanks. "Of course. Wouldn't want to miss secret santa." He smirked, lifting the bottle to his lips and taking a swig. Shotgun clapped him upside the head, nearly causing him to choke. "What did I do?" He groaned, side stepping away from his father and turning a glare onto him. Shotgun just shook his head, muttering something under his breath as he turned and left. Ash rolled his eyes, taking another drink of his beer before he set it down to get dressed. A few minutes later, he was heading down to the party where people immediately started congratulating him on the job well done. He had his birthday bag in hand as his eyes scanned the crowd, looking for Millie.








/*do not remove credit*/
괜찮아도 괜찮아 (That’s Okay)
coded by weldherwings


 
Last edited:








"And I'm just not sure where I'm going in life or what I want to do with myself," the large bearded man spoke, laying back on the soft beige couch with one of its teal throw pillows tucked behind his head. He wore dark denim and leather, with swirls of dark and colorful ink permanently etched into his skin. Hidden amongst the plethora of art was the signature tattoo of the group he was a part of: an Ace of Spades playing card. The man was one of the Crimson Aces' foot soldiers, a biker with a rough past who had somehow gotten caught up with the illegal activities of the gang over the years. He ran a hand over his beard, eyes focused on the ceiling as he spoke. Across from him, sat in a wingtip armchair that matched the sofa, Milana quietly wrote down notes in her journal. He was one of her patients, one of the few members of the Aces that had sought mental health help from the young blonde. It was through those conversations that she learned some of the secrets of the gang, like where they had disappeared for the last few weeks. While it wasn't any of her business, Millie couldn't help but worry about her friends, about Ink and Ash, and hoped they were safe.

The therapist's eyes flicked to the clock on the wall, the even ticking intended to help calm her patients. She quietly closed her journal, turning her attention back to the bearded man. "Tell you what, Johnnie. I want you to come up with three goals before our next meeting. One that you want to accomplish in a few months, one you want to accomplish in a few years, and one you want to accomplish within a few decades. Bring those back to me, and we'll go from there, alright?" Johnnie nodded, pulling himself from the couch. He towered over Millie when they stood across from one another, shaking hands. "Thanks, Millie. See you next week," he said, offering her a smile before disappearing out the door. That was it, her last appointment for the day. She rolled her neck in a circular motion, hoping to relieve some of the tension that she held there. But it didn't seem to help. Despite all the wine, bubble baths, exercise, and comfort food she had had over the past few weeks, none of it was enough to destress her completely. But maybe that night would, once she had seen them in person.

Millie was usually invited to the annual Aces Christmas party by Smoke and, as a kid, she would often attend. But she hadn't been in several years due to school and moving away. So this was her first time back. The blonde was rather surprised they had decided to do a Secret Santa, it just didn't seem like something a rough-and-tough biker gang would do. But, at the end of the day, they were like a family, and maybe there was some sort of softness to the intensity that was Shotgun. What are more confusing was whose name she had blindly chosen. That night in her apartment, Ashton had thrown caution to the wind and stayed over far later than she had originally planned. They ate pizza, drank, and cuddled while watching various movies. At one point, they just lay together on her couch and talked. Though the night had started rather rough, it felt like she had never left for school by the time it ended. For a while, Milana had no idea what to get him. But, as she was cleaning an old memory box she had found in her closet, she found the prom photos they had taken together all those years ago. On a whim, she had decided to frame them as his gift, unsure whether he would like them.

Millie locked her office up and headed upstairs to get ready for the party. She had picked out the perfect outfit: a crimson red high-low lace dress with a sweetheart neckline, a pair of nude strappy heels, and a gold layered necklace with matching hoop earrings. She tied her blonde hair back into a low ponytail, letting a few pieces fall forward to frame her face. Her make-up was simple and natural, how she usually liked to wear it. She felt pretty, but couldn't help but overthink it. Was she pretty enough? Was her hair alright? Was the outfit appropriate for the party theme? Pulling herself away from the mirror, Millie pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind, grabbed her clutch and gift wrapped in glittered holiday paper and ribbon, and walked out the door. By the time she reached the party, it was already in full swing. People mingled with their chosen cocktails and appetizers, conversing with smiles on their faces. Her icy blue eyes scanned the crowd in an attempt to find a familiar face but found none. So, she decided to approach the bar instead to order. "Gin and tonic, please."







the good girl



millie.








  • filler tab!





♡coded by uxie♡
 








Shortly after that night in the kitchen at the Valencia estate, Jason had gotten the orders that he would be sent with the other foot soldiers to move product across the border. He was a little surprised, given his previous assignment to Smoke, and this was the first time he had been chosen to go on one of those missions. It was enough of a step up that he had no other choice but to report it to the State Department. And so, he rode his motorcycle a bit of a way out of town, parked in a roadside camp, and used the burner phone he had been given to call his contact. After months of slacking and maybe even going a little bit dirty in the process, Jace finally had a new lead, one that was important to his employer. They gave him very strict, very direct orders for it to play out correctly. Keep an eye on everyone. Keep track of who was where and when. Find out what products were being moved, both drugs and weapons, and where they were going. Determine who the sellers and buyers were. Gather as much evidence as possible without getting caught. And take note of every last detail.

And so he did. That was his job, that's what he was getting paid to do, and that's what he was sent to the Aces to do. He had forgotten that for quite some time. But, he was forced to remember it. Jace was a cop and detective first, and not supposed to be an actual Ace at all, despite what he had been feeling the last few months. He did as he was told on that mission, both by the Ace leaders and the Department. Keeping his head down, Jason stayed the course and completed his mission. His charm and intimidating stature kept anyone from really questioning what they were up to, what was truly in their vehicles compared to the invoices they displayed. Crates of automatic weapons, palettes full to the brim with bricks of heroin and cocaine. It wasn't as if they would have been stopped by anyone. No, the State Department wanted to make sure they committed the crime so that they could be charged for it. Bear did not doubt that they called down to the border to ensure the team's success. His intel was too precious.

So now, the brunette man had traveled to the same cliffside park he had been at before and used the same burner phone to call a new, untraceable number that would no doubt be disconnected as soon as he hung up. This time, however, was different. Jason leaned against his bike as he waited, a light breeze barely chilling through his leather jacket. He heard the approaching vehicle before he saw it, a blacked-out sedan. Its tires crunched against the gravel as it pulled up alongside him. The window rolled down, revealing an older man who, despite it being evening, wore sunglasses. Jace paused for a moment, appraising the man before he passed him a single envelope containing a flash drive, and that was it. No words, no confirmation. Just a passing of information. The window rolled back up and the car drove off, disappearing into the night. Running a hand through his hair, Jason let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding, tension built up in his shoulders. He was off the hook... for now.

Straddling the motorcycle once again, it roared to life beneath him as Bear took off down the road. It was time for him to return to the Valencia House, where the annual Christmas party took place. They hadn't planned on being back in time for the holidays, but somehow it had been a holiday miracle. Whoever had planned the occasion had decided that a Secret Santa was in order, and whether it was rigged or by complete fate, Jace had drawn Smoke's name. He knew her fairly well, but that didn't necessarily mean he knew what she wanted as a gift. And so, instead of thinking about it too much, he just went with his gut. While walking down the street in town, he had passed by a store with jewelry in the window. One piece, in particular, caught his eye. As he parked his bike, he reached in to feel the red velvet box tied closed with ribbon inside his jacket pocket. The party had already started by the time he got there, but no one seemed to notice that he was late. Now, to find Smoke.







the cop



jason.








  • filler tab!





♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:




































  • how she's feeling...



    excited

















Smoke



the leader's daughter













The night certainly went to hell and despite the joyous moments in the sheets that Bear had given to her, Smoke was just frustrated. And it would all be just fine, had her father not walked in when he did. At least she still managed to weasel her way out of the immediate scolding and ran outside in hopes that Bear would still be there somewhere but all in vain. She returned to her room, pouty as ever and only the large white T-shirt covering her slender form was the very last reminder of the tattooed man and his antics. Smoke locked the door after herself, knowing that her father would come to talk to her if she didn’t and the rest of the night was haze. Bear’s shirt was not the only white item in her room and the other one disappeared up her nose rather quickly, sending Smoke into the sweet release of her high.

Days after the incident were considerably calmer but also maybe simply because Smoke refused to stay at home for longer than necessary. Shotgun allowed Juniper to live in the basement and Smoke was not a fan. Especially not after seeing that little weasel all over Brady. Don’t get her wrong, she didn’t care where Brady was putting his dick. It just stung that he publicly broke up with her only to pursue the traitorous doe-eyed doll. Especially since that doll used to be Smoke’s best friend before she vanished from their lives. Call her bitter but Smoke was having the hardest time to get past that.

Christmas time approached the Aces faster than they knew and Smoke kept using her tiny condo instead of the family house, now more than ever. Some days just merged into each other as she was trying to drown her frustrations in alcohol and sprinkled cocaine all over them but there was a part of her that knew she needed to get her shit together. Especially when her big softie of a dad came up with the idea of Secret Santa and the paper Smoke pulled out stated Bear’s name. What a coincidence, right? She smiled as her finger traced the big letter B but then panic fell on her shoulders. She needed a gift for him and it had to be something nice, something cool. Not just some random bullshit, a bottle of whiskey or shit as the Aces usually got each other.

When the time of the party came, Smoke was ready. What she got him was meant as a little joke but it was also extremely adorable and Smoke hoped he was not going to be offended. It was a soft, fluffy, light blue care bear onesie, carefully folded in a box with all kinds of colorful bears and a decorative silky ribbon was wrapped around it. On top of it all, the care bear whose onesie Smoke got was Grumpy Bear and a part of her found it extremely fitting for her guardian angel. With a small smile on her lips, she zipped her dress up, slipped into her thigh high leather boots and applied one last layer of dark purple lipstick before snatching the gift bag with the onesie and only then she left the condo. Her bike parked in front of her father's house within minutes and the leader’s daughter strutted in, straight to the set up bar. Thinking no one she wanted to see was there, Smoke wanted to get her drink but then her eyes found Millie. “Hey, girlfriend.” she grinned and plopped onto the chair by the blonde’s side, slamming the gift bag on the counter. “You know…I feel I should apologize. I’m a fucking shitty friend and I should’ve hung out more with you. Please, don’t hate me?” she batted her eyelashes, offering Millie the best puppy eyes. “And if we’re still besties, pray tell, who’s your Secret Santa, hm?”












































?coded by uxie?
 
Last edited:




































  • how he's feeling...



    hopeful

















Ink



the hot-head













“Yeah, love it. Looks amazing.” Ink grinned in the mirror, running his fingers through the fresh blonde strands of his hair. “Thanks, Tali. Amazing job, as always.” he winked at the tall lanky girl, dressed in black, sporting thick-framed librarian glasses. Talissa grinned back at him and accepted the hugh he offered after handing her a twenty dollar bill. “You know I’ll fix that hair anytime and you don’t have to…” she started but Ink pressed a finger on her lips, imprinting her transparent lip gloss on it. “Nah, hush. You know I would never. Say high to the little one for me, will you?” Ink smiled and reached for his jacket, slipping it on. Talissa was an amazing person, an Ace born and raised. She simply had a bad luck and ended up with pregnant with an asshole who never cared and claimed the kid was not his. After he called Tali a dirty gang slut, and bunch of other things, Aces paid him a visit and made sure his filthy mouth never called any girl anything. And that he would never father any children either.

Past weeks were hell for the young man since he spent them away from home, working his ass off for the Aces. Shotgun sent him and a bunch of others on a mission and Ink would never say no. Only when he found out Smoke’s newest boy toy was coming too, his smile turned sour and he felt throbbing in the remaining injuries on his face that Bear had put there. Sure, Ink had gotten a few good punches in as well but he knew it was not him who won. Well, no one did because Juni stopped the fight but had it continued, it would have not been Ink coming out on top and he knew it. Well, what was done was done and Shotgun gave orders, they all needed to figure it out.

Finally the men came home and it was just in time for Christmas. And the fresh haircut. There was a party Shotgun had put together and he even came up with the idea of Secret Santa. Imagine how happy Ink was when Juni’s name smiled at him from the small paper. But with that joy came also a large responsibility. He needed the perfect present, especially since their night went downhill and took the wrong turn. Ink fucked up, he knew it. Smoke was in the past, he didn’t care about her. But the fight told her otherwise and since then Ink had not seen her. Now he needed something that was going to tell her he was not a complete douchebag and that he cared about her deeply.

Come the party, Ink felt like an even greater asshole. He still didn’t have anything for Juni and how was he supposed to arrive at the party empty-handed? Especially when everyone was going to exchange gifts? He could already see Juni’s face when no one would approach her. She was his strong girl, she would pretend it was alright. But inside, it would hurt her. And he would be the reason. “Come on, dude. Think!” he growled at himself after coming home but no idea hit him so instead, he hit the bookshelf. As if it was his saving grace, the bookshelf spat an answer at him. The impact of his fist caused several books to fall out and Ink cursed, dropping to his knees to pick them up. And one of those books was the perfect solution. It was old, saw better times but it was still it. And it was still filled with memories and dreams, just as Ink remembered. His eyes lit up as he picked up the old scrapbook. Having no time to find a pretty wrapper, he looked around and found an old newspaper on the table. Rolling his eyes over his own stupidity, he grabbed it and wrapped the book in it. Well, the gift was perfect, wrapping didn’t have to be. Maybe this was what he…what they needed to reignite that flame again. Maybe it was going to help them to find their old feelings. And filled with hope, Ink walked downstairs, scanning the place thoroughly to find the beautiful blonde who needed a reminder of what could have been.












































?coded by uxie?
 
Last edited:




/*left side*/






escape the ordinary.



mood
angry

location
kitchen

outfit
click!

mention
Ink/Smoke [ _amaranth_ _amaranth_ ; Bear [ MadiRaiCat MadiRaiCat ]






/*right side*/

juniper






Juniper stayed in the shower until the warm water ran cooler and her fingers were pruny, but she'd needed the distraction from the night she'd had. They all seemed to run together at this point, and all ended the same way. She woke up, she went to work for hours, she came home, ate, showered, and slept. Sure there were some things in between, a movie or tv series or book here or there but ultimately things were the same. A few times since the big showdown between Bear and Ink, Millie had convinced Juni to hang out, sometimes even with Smoke. Those times had been nothing short of awkward, though thankfully the girls hadn't come to blows again. Juni didn't think she could take it again, the other girl could pack a punch and Juni was far from a fighter.

As she climbed out of the shower now, she wrapped a towel around herself and ventured back into her bedroom, drying off the rest of the way and throwing on a pair of sweats and a tank top. The party was in full swing above her head, but she was still on the fence about going. Millie wanted her to, which would be Juni's only reason for going, but she also knew there were quite a few faces who wouldn't be happy to see her. Nobody would dare do anything more than throw dirty looks her way, especially in Shotgun's own home, but was that really something she wanted to deal with? She tilted her head back, sighing softly as she sank onto the edge of her bed. Using the towel to dry her hair, she pulled her legs up underneath of her, trying to weigh the pros and cons. It wasn't even like Brady was going to be here for her to give her gift to.

But she'd also be lying if she said she wasn't lonely. Blowing out a soft huff of air, Juni stood and quickly threw her mostly damp hair into a messy bun on top of her head. A few minutes later, she'd changed into a pair of skinny jeans, thrown a bra on under her tank top, and found a cardigan to throw on top of it. Slipping her feet into her flats, she paused by her closet, wondering whether or not she should grab his present anyway. After thinking about it, she decided to go ahead and get it, that way it could sit on the table with the rest of the presents. Underneath the perfect wrapping was a dual sided frame, where one side held a photo of Juni and Ink as teenagers, and the other held something she'd drawn herself. It was a tattoo gun with a stethoscope wrapped around it, something she thought might make a great addition to the ink on his skin if he was interested.

The closer Juni got to the stairs, the more nervous she got, but she pushed through the anxiety and ventured up into the party. As she suspected, there were more than a few dirty looks, especially as she made her way to the present table to drop off Brady's gift. Doing her best to ignore them, Juni turned around and spotting Millie sitting nearby. Good, Juni needed her friend. Unfortunately, she didn't notice Smoke on her other side until she'd already approached. "Millie, thank god-" Juni stopped when she saw Smoke, feeling some of her happiness deflate. "Oh, sorry. I just wanted to... Hey, I'll be right back." And without warning, she turned on her heel, planning on going right back downstairs. This had been a mistake. But on her way, she ran right into someone, and she felt her nerves skyrocket. "Shit, sorry-" But then she looked up, recognizing Ink. Well, almost. "Brady? Your hair..." She slowly reached up to touch the blonde locks of hair, a small smile appearing on her face. Then, without warning, she threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. "You're home..."








/*do not remove credit*/
괜찮아도 괜찮아 (That’s Okay)
coded by weldherwings


 




/*left side*/






life is short. fuck it.



mood
relaxed

location
millie's house

outfit
click!

mention
Millie [ MadiRaiCat MadiRaiCat ]






/*right side*/

ash






Ash noticed the table for the secret santa gifts, but he didn't set his down. If anyone was going to take credit for the gift he'd gotten Millie, it was going to be him, damn it. Ash had never been good at keeping secrets, and he wasn't about to start now. Shit, as soon as he saw Millie, he was going to hug her and shove the bag into her hands and make her open it then and there. The last few weeks of being away had weighed on Ash more than he liked to admit, but at least everything had gone down without a hitch in the end. Everyone was back safe and sound, and they were here at Shotgun's celebrating christmas and some fat guy in a red coat as opposed to attending a mass funeral. The music wasn't complete shit, there were plenty of drinks to go around, and even a few other party favors that Ash saw. As long as things didn't get too out of control with the harder stuff, Shotgun wasn't that opposed.

Ash found another beer and popped the top easily, tossing it aside and bringing the opening up to his lips again. He paused, his eyes scanning the crowd for a familiar face that he didn't see yet. Hell, even his bitch sister would work at this point. The door to the basement opened instead, though, and Ash turned to see Juni step out from there. He saw the looks people sent in her direction, but she did her best to ignore them and hold her head up high as she moved to set a wrapped gift on the table. She then caught sight of something and headed in that direction, and Ash followed her line of sight and grinned when he saw the aforementioned bitch and the woman of the hour. Taking another swig of his beer, he started in that direction as well, just as Juni was leaving. Ash watched her for a second, then turned back to Smoke.

"What did you say now, demoness?" He asked her, moving closer so that he was between the two women. Wrapping an arm around Millie, he turned his head to look at her and grinned, dropping the bag basically in her lap. "For you. From santa. AKA me." He winked at her before he pushed off, taking the seat on Millie's other side that Juni had elected not to take. She'd disappeared into the crowd now, though Ash wasn't really looking for her now. His eyes were focused on Millie as he waited for her to dig around in the birthday bag and find his christmas present to her. "It's more manly. Feel free to thank me." He told her, downing the rest of his beer and setting the bottle on the table to be cleaned up later. Leaning forward some, he looked over at Smoke again, resting his chin on his hand and his elbow on the table. "Seriously, though, sis. When you gonna stop acting like you smell something rotten whenever she's around?"








/*do not remove credit*/
괜찮아도 괜찮아 (That’s Okay)
coded by weldherwings


 








While most therapists might find it a bit strange to share a bar with their clients, Milana was rather comfortable with it. She spent several hours of her day with hardened criminals and gang members, and she had a problem with separating her work and home lives anyway. It was like her brain was constantly in analysis mode. Every body movement could be an indication of emotion, every word could be an indicator of a deeper meaning. While she had always been relatively intuitive and decent at reading people, psychology classes in college captivated her and built upon those skills. She was a human mood ring, a living lie detector. But every gift had its curses. College friends got annoyed with her trying to psychoanalyze them, and partners didn't like that she seemed detached from their relationship. Her last girlfriend had even gone as far as to call her robotic. So, Millie learned how to tone it down, how to not blurt out everything she was thinking, though she wanted to. She was still blunt, but at least there was a bit of a filter there now.

The bartender took her order with mild disinterest, probably not wanting to have to make a cocktail since most self-respecting gang members probably just ordered shots or a beer. Nothing that required too much thought or mixing. But she wasn't a gang member, only invited to their parties because she was close with the Valencia siblings, Ink, and perhaps now Juni as well. When push came to shove, she was the outsider of the group as much as she hated to admit it. Millie craved the excitement, energy, and danger that shrouded their lives, wanted that as part of her own so badly. But, she would have to settle for living vicariously through her friends, as she had down for a major part of her childhood. A glass slid across the bar in front of her, pulling the blonde from her thoughts. She nodded to the bartender in thanks, pulling the tumbler to her lips for a taste. The therapist stifled a wince, tasting far more gin than tonic. But she wasn't about to complain. Instead, she took another drink as the chair alongside her became occupied by a certain brunette.

"I'm convinced it's impossible to hate you, Smoke," Millie responded with a grin, leaning to bump her shoulder against her best friend's. Smoke had certainly dressed the part, the devil to Millie's angel. She rolled her eyes at Smoke's question, the wrapped gifts alongside her glass on top of the bar. "It must be rigged or something because I got--" she began to explain, but was cut off by a familiar voice. Juniper stood there, immediately deflating as she realized Millie wasn't alone at the bar. "Oh hey, Juni. You should join--" she tried to say, but no quicker than she arrived, the blonde completion to their trio disappeared into the ground. Millie let out a sigh, not wanting to get mixed up in the drama between her two best friends. She had learned the hard way that it wouldn't bear well for her relationships with them if she did. Thankfully, Ash arrived in all his so-called charm, speaking what Millie was thinking though not in those exact words. She could feel the warmth of his body as he wrapped an arm around her, looking down at the birthday bag in confusion. Her birthday had been a couple of weeks ago, but Ash and the others had been gone on a mission so she didn't think it appropriate to celebrate. Was this a belated gift because of his absence?

Milana quickly realized that the gift was from her not-so-secret Santa rather than an actual birthday gift, unable to help teasingly rolling her eyes as she made a show of examining the balloon pattern. "Huh, I don't seem to remember party hats as part of any Christmas traditions. You guys must celebrate differently than I do," she commented, a smirk playing on her apricot pink lips. Nevertheless, she peered into the bag to find out what was inside. As soon as her fingers found the soft plush fabric and saw the pattern, Millie realized what it was. She met Ash's blue gaze for a moment. The gift was perfectly Ash, a reminder of a good memory they shared without seeming too sentimental or mushy. "It's perfect, Ash. I will fold it over the back of my couch with pride," she answered, her words teasing but her smile sincere. Her heart tightened in her chest for a moment, and the blonde had to remind herself that this was Ash, her best friend's brother and the guy she had only recently forgiven. Her turquoise blue eyes found the wrapped frame, and she reached out to push it across the bar towards him. "From your Secret Santa," Millie said with a shrug, looking back over at Smoke. Maybe a Christmas miracle would happen and she would make up with Juni. Was that too much to hope for?







the good girl



millie.













♡coded by uxie♡
 








Jason had been to a few Christmas parties in his day, though none of them quite like the Crimson Aces. Back at the precinct, the police Christmas parties were just formal social events for lower-level cops to schmooze the higher-ups in hopes of one day weaseling in for a promotion. What most of them didn't understand was all they needed to do was get shot in the line of duty and lose the person closest to them for the State Department to truly take notice. Okay, so maybe he was a little bit bitter about it. He was one of the best detectives in the French Quarter, with a rather high solve rate that got him into organized crime. But he was still just a senior detective, a phony title they give to someone who's been around for a while but the superiors don't want to promote. Because, even back then, he was a little too mischievous, some would say immature and rash at times. But he was good at his job. still was. That was about four years ago, though, and things had changed. He had changed. Originally sent to Newcrest and the Aces with the idea that they had been behind the bank robbery and shoot out that killed Alicia. But now? Jace wasn't so sure.

The structure of the Crimson Aces was far too defined for something as lowly as a city bank robbery. While that job had taken skill, planning, and experience, it wasn't something that matched with the Aces mode of operation. From what he had seen and experienced, Shotgun preferred much bigger payouts: weapons smuggling, drugs, even women though that was still a rumor, at least to him. Feeding information back to his legal employer had been a bit of a wake-up call over their time away, reminding him of why he was there to begin with. But, despite all of that, all Jace could think about was Smoke. What she was doing, what she would say if she found out who he really was, what she would do. The brunette man wouldn't put it past her to show him what a lifetime of gang training had taught her. There would be bruises, maybe something worse. The duality of guilt that was eating away at him couldn't possibly be healthy. This was his job, he knew going into it that, but in the end, there would be burned bridges and lost relationships. And, fueled on anger from a lost love at the time, he had been ready for that. But nothing had prepared him for Smoke.

Bear felt a little too formal in his get-up. Though there wasn't a specific dress code when the invitation was extended to him, he couldn't help but think that a Christmas party required more than just a plain white t-shirt and a leather jacket. So, instead, he wore a black button-up with his leather jacket. Not much of a change, but enough that he noticed. The rest of the Aces milled about, chatting and having what seemed to be a good time. It was nights like that that made Jace realize the Aces were more than just criminals, but a family as well. After all, who else would throw a decked-out Christmas event with food, drinks, and even a Secret Santa. Speaking of which... He glanced around the room once more, eyes finally zeroing in on the pretty brunette. She sat at the bar next to the blonde that Jace still wasn't that fond of. The last thing he needed was a shrink blowing his cover. But, the red velvet box was practically burning a hole in his pocket, and he wanted to give it to Smoke before he got too nervous to do so. Silently weaving through the crowd, he found himself leaning against the bar alongside Smoke, his body angled to face hers and a slight smile on his face. "Hey, got a minute?"







the cop



jason.








  • filler tab!





♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:




































  • how she's feeling...



    flirty

















Smoke



the leader's daughter













Days since the infamous fight in the clubhouse went by really fast and Smoke was mostly away from her usual crowd, not wanting them to see the scratched Juni had left on her cheeks. Unfortunately, it also meant not seeing Millie as often and in Smoke’s book, that made her a really bad friend. They hung out a few times and even Juni showed up but the girl managed to keep things civil this time. Maybe it was yet another reason why Smoke ran away and took some time off from the clubhouse. Not to hide. To avoid further conflicts. However, tonight, she was neither running, nor hiding. Confidence was pouring out of her as she walked down the stairs and made her way to the set up bar, finding Millie already there. "I do want to make it up to you though. I promise!" The girls barely got to talking and Smoke never found out who Millie’s gift was for when Juni appeared. While there were a few moments they had met before, it was certainly not enough for them to be friends again and just as fast as she came, Juni made an excuse to leave.

Only to make the way for Ash to appear with his filthy mouth. “What? I literally didn’t say anything, shut up, asshole!” she hissed at her older brother after he called her a demoness. He and Millie then went on exchanging the gifts and Smoke frowned a little. Was that supposed to happen? People getting stuff to each other? But before she managed to think more about the answer, Ash’s words made her roll her eyes. Sometimes, his confidence and cockiness were way too much to handle and Millie was a saint for doing so. With a soft sigh, Smoke turned to the bartender and lifted two fingers which he understood and served her two cooled shots of Jagermeister. The thick herbal liquor disappeared down Smoke’s throat way too fast when Ash spoke to her again.

“No idea what you’re talking about. She’s welcome to come here, I promise to behave. But don’t ask me to run after her.” she shrugged, downing her second shot. Fuck that, she didn’t have enough alcohol in her to deal with her dumbass brother. “Don’t try me, Ash, or else I’ll call your wife and she’ll set you straight.” Smoke fired and leaned back in her seat crossing her arms. Ash wanted to be a dick? Well, she was gonna be one back. There were a few more jabs on the tip of her tongue but just as her lips parted to speak, a deeper voice from her side reached her ears. Looking over her shoulder, she grinned widely. “For you, teddy bear, I got two.” she winked. “Was looking for you too. What’s up?” she asked and pulled the gift bag closer. “Santa left you something with me.” she added but her heart war beating a tad faster than before and Ash and his stupid ass were absolutely uninteresting now as Smoke’s fingers reached for Bear’s jacket, toying with the open zipper.












































?coded by uxie?
 




































  • how he's feeling...



    anxious

















Ink



the hot-head













Being back home still felt a little weird. Ink was an Ace, maybe not born but definitely raised. He would die for any of those men, whether they were close or not, simply because loyalty meant so much to him. Paradoxically, when it came to being loyal and faithful to one woman, he could not handle that. He could blame Smoke as much as he wanted and he would be right but the simple fact of the matter was that he had his lovers as well, cheating on Smoke more times than he cared to handle. During the last weeks, the Aces were not in imminent danger but it still needed a sensitive approach. One wrong move and their asses could have landed in jail. Or worse. Ink was very much aware of that and so now, being at home, he felt so much lighter as he was finally able to relax and take a breather. The party was the perfect start.

His eyes kept scanning the room for Juni as he gripped the shitty wrapping, hiding the gift for the blonde. Honestly, Brady couldn’t wait to give it to her and see the look in her eyes. It was such an ancient thing and yet, it brought tingles to his skin when he realized it was something he and Juni had put together as kids. They were naive, air-headed, dreamed big. But it still didn’t mean they had to stop doing that now. But there was a part of him which was concerned since the last time he had seen Juniper, it didn’t really end well. And Brady was now more than determined to fix that. The present was only beginning. If Smoke could be happy or whatever she was with another man, Brady was going to follow his hear. Finally, after all those years.

As he turned his head to the side, he never noticed a figure approaching him only when she bumped into him. His eyes met those blue wells and he held his breath. “Juni!” he grinned. Although anxiety was tearing through him, he tried to look confident. There was this whole speech planned out in his head to earn another chance but then, out of nowhere, she threw herself around his neck and hugged him. His hands landed on her body automatically and he pulled her to him tightly, inhaling the fresh scent of her hair. “Missed you too. Way too much.” he hummed, placing a soft kiss on top of her head. “I brought you something, little one.” he smirked again, pulling away from her. “The wrapping sucks but it’s from the heart.” he added, rubbing the back of his neck as he handed her the scrapbook wrapped in old newspaper. “Merry Christmas, Dawson.”












































?coded by uxie?
 




/*left side*/






escape the ordinary.



mood
angry

location
kitchen

outfit
click!

mention
Ink/Smoke [ _amaranth_ _amaranth_ ; Bear [ MadiRaiCat MadiRaiCat ]






/*right side*/

juniper






Juniper knew that coming to the party was a mistake, and it showed on her face as she tried to make her way back to the door that led to the basement. But before she could even get close, she ran right into someone, and panic tore through her. That is, until she looked up, right into a familiar face now sitting under a head of blonde hair. Happiness flooded her as she recognized Brady, and before she could stop herself, she was throwing her arms around him. She felt his arms wrap around her almost immediately, and she sank further into him, inhaling his scent. It calmed her significantly, and she could have remained there in his grasp forever, especially when he told her that he missed her too. She honestly could have cried in that moment, but instead, a smile graced her features.

He kissed the top of her head, his next words causing her to lift her head to look up at him. Although Juni wasn't a child anymore, she was curious what he could have possibly brought her. They separated, and he handed her a gift that had obviously been wrapped by someone who didn't know what they were doing. A laugh escaped her when he commented on the wrapping too, and she took the gift and looked up at him. "Merry Christmas to you too, Walsh." She told him, her eyes alight with joy as she looked back down at the package. She toyed with an edge of the newspaper for a moment before she looked back up at him. "Come on." Tucking the gift under her arm, she grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the gift table. "I didn't think you'd be back to get it, but here." She found her gift for him, snagging it from the table and turning to hand it to him.

"We'll open them at the same time." She told him confidently, looking back down at the newspaper wrapping on her gift from Brady. Nearly holding her breath, Juni tore the paper open, recognizing the scrapbook almost as soon as she saw it. "Oh, my god..." She breathed, tearing the rest of the paper off and setting it aside. "Brady..." She ran her fingers over the cover, her eyes now brimming with tears as she looked up at him. "Where did you find this?" Although she hadn't thought about the book in years, seeing it now flooded her with memories of her and Ink filling it with all their hopes and dreams. She cracked it open, scoffing lightly as she slowly turned the pages. When she reached the blank pages in the back, she paused, biting her lip for a moment before she looked back at him. "We never finished."








/*do not remove credit*/
괜찮아도 괜찮아 (That’s Okay)
coded by weldherwings


 




/*left side*/






life is short. fuck it.



mood
relaxed

location
millie's house

outfit
click!

mention
Millie [ MadiRaiCat MadiRaiCat ]






/*right side*/

ash






Ash was actually pretty excited for Millie to open his gift. He was usually the type that enjoyed getting presents more than giving them, depending on what it was, but for some reason he couldn't wait to see what her reaction was. He plunked it in front of her casually, turning his attention back to his sister. She'd already told him to shut up, but since when did Ash ever listen? But of course, where there is smoke, there is fire and there was no shortness of that in his sister's personality. Good thing he'd already finished his beer, or else Smoke's next words would probably have had him spitting the liquid out all over Millie. He leaned back, fixing Smoke with a death glare as she mentioned his wife. "Ex wife, bitch." He snapped at her, drumming his fingers on the table. "We got divorced."

His eyes slid back over to Millie, wondering briefly if she even knew about that. Hoping that his present was enough to distract her, his expression relaxed into a grin when she told him it was perfect. "Good. It'll be better for the next time I come over." He winked at her, never one to miss turning a serious moment into something not. A moment later, she looked away from him, reaching for a perfectly wrapped gift and sliding it his way. "Secret santa, eh?" He asked, smirking as he reached for the package, tearing into it almost immediately. He could tell it was a photo by the frame that appeared, but nothing could have prepared him for the photos within said frame. He paused as they came into view, his eyes drinking in the photobooth pictures from prom night. The prom night that had ignited everything.

Despite himself, his smirk faded into a genuine smile, something that was rare for Ash. Holding the frame with both hands, his thumb brushed over the glass holding the photos within, and then his gaze flicked up to Millie. "You trying to tell me you wanna get dressed up and go to a dance again?" He asked her, but his voice was soft, only slightly teasing her. Looking back down at the photos, he settled back in his seat. Shaking his head, he held the frame to his chest, looking at Millie again. "I'll keep these close to my heart." He told her, his words a soft promise. Leaning in closer, his eyes never left hers, closing only when he reached her cheek to press a soft kiss against. "If you see my secret santa, tell them I said thanks." He whispered in her ear, pulling back and then sliding his gaze over to Smoke. He'd momentarily forgotten she was there. Only now she had a friend. His smile turned back into a smirk as he nodded towards the two of them. "They a thing now?" He asked Millie, his eyes darting back to her.








/*do not remove credit*/
괜찮아도 괜찮아 (That’s Okay)
coded by weldherwings


 








Milana couldn't help but think that this Secret Santa arrangement was some cruel trick of fate, trying to push her and Ash back together into what type of relationship they previously had. She wanted to still be mad at him, intending to give him the cold shoulder for just as many years as he ignored her. But one look at those piercing blue eyes and crooked, charming grin, and she just couldn't keep the ire flame alive. Their shameless banter, a clever cover on both parts to keep whatever lay beneath at bay. The blanket was a representation of that, innocent enough on the surface but a deeper meaning hiding underneath that facade. Someday, Millie might take that leap and truly try to sort through her own feelings for the fire-loving gang-member. But that day was certainly not today. Instead, she slid her fingers across the plush fabric once more before setting the bag on the bar, out of the way. The blonde hadn't been lying, she fully intended to throw the blanket over the back of her couch as soon as she got home that night. Maybe even use it to watch a movie tomorrow if she was feeling up for it. Smoke's words caught Millie's attention almost immediately. She looked over at her brunette best friend with wide, turquoise blue eyes, confusion clear on her features. Wife? Surely that was a joke, right? A funny way of saying a girlfriend that got too clingy or something. But no, Ash responded clear as day with a "We got divorced."

So he had been married in the time she had been gone. What exactly happened? Did Ash, the king of non-commitment, actually have a brief change of heart where he believed in relationships? Or was it some fluke? A drunken night in Vegas that all the sitcoms loved to reference. Whatever the case, she knew it was some sort of growth. The look on Ashton's face made it clear that he would rather not talk about his ex-wife. And so she pretended to seem disinterested, taking another drink from her too-strong gin and tonic and staring absentmindedly at the bar back. She only returned to the conversation when Ash spoke up again, meeting his gaze and grin with ones of her own. "Bold of you to assume I would invite you over again," Milana sassed back, though it was fairly obvious that she probably would at some point. If they were hanging out together again, it was only a matter of time before things ultimately returned to complete normalcy. Ash nevertheless reached for the package she had brought, ripping it open with no regard for the fancy paper or time spent perfectly wrapping it. But, if she were being honest, did she really expect him to? No, not really. Mille had been worried that the gift was too sentimental, too mushy for whatever this easy, surface-level friendship they had going was. And so she began to second guess herself.

She felt her cheeks flush a bit. "No, I just thought... I mean... Look, if you don't like them, that's alright. It was just something I found and thought..." the blonde tried to say, a bit flustered. But she trailed off as Ash held the frame tighter to his chest, staring at her so intently she froze in her seat. He place a soft kiss against her cheek, something that was so uncharacteristically Ash that Millie thought it all might be an elaborate joke for a moment. But his thanks meant it was sincere, setting her heart racing a bit. "I'll let them know," she responded, her voice barely above a whisper. And just like that, with Ash pulling back, the moment was gone. Taking a breath to calm herself, Millie averted her eyes over to where Smoke sat, Jason now alongside her. He was one of the few she knew absolutely nothing about, often making his words or even himself scarce when she was around. And so, she simply answered with a shrug, "Honestly, I have no idea. Maybe they're just having some no-strings-attached fun. Either way, as much as I love Ink, I think being with someone a little more stable could be good for her."







the good girl



millie.













♡coded by uxie♡
 








Though he outwardly didn't show it, Jason was rather excited to give Smoke the gift he had picked out for her. It had been a long time since he had the pleasure of buying a gift for a woman. Since... well... her. But, he had long gotten over those feelings for Alicia. No, now he was just angry that she had been taken away from the world before she could do all the good that she wanted to do. Their relationship had been more of a partnership, a power couple whose lives were more focused on work than each other. But he did care for her, maybe not truly love. Not like the hopeless romantic kind of love he saw in those cheesy rom-com movies or TV sitcoms anyway. Jace would probably not admit it, but that's the kind of relationship he wanted. Where two people crave each other so much that being without the other feels like a part of them is missing. Where arguments are fought before being solved with communication and good make-up sex. He wanted someone he could buy gifts for, make breakfast for, just because. Despite the rough exterior, he was actually the hopeless romantic.

The bartender took notice of the tall man leaning against the shaped wood, and Bear lifted his chin in a nod to the man. He had been around long enough to have a "usual" now, a hoppy ale that wasn't too craft, yet not too cheap either. Something contently in the middle ground. He lowered his eye back to the brunette in front of him, mirroring her grin with one of his own. "Only two? Damn. I guess I can make that work," he answered sarcastically, reaching out for the dark bottle that was now sitting in front of him. Taking a sip, he lowered the drink back to the counter, tilting his head curiously at Smoke. "Looking for me, huh? Can't get me out of your head?" Bear asked, his words teasing and lighthearted. In reality, it was him who couldn't get her out of his head. Especially after the night they had spent together those few months ago. It hadn't been repeated since then, not after the bruising consequences of their actions. But also nothing in their relationship had changed. They were still friends, he was still her bodyguard, and they didn't lose any of that to some sort of post-sex awkwardness. All was good.

Jason eyed the gift bag that Smoke slid closer to him, more curiously than anything else. So, somehow, they had ended up with each other as their Secret Santas? How about that? Maybe his life was some sort of romantic comedy, Hallmark Christmas movie after all. He looked down for a moment as Smoke played with the zipper of his jacket, hazel grey eyes lifting to meet hers. It became incredibly clear that they were not alone, finding Millie and Ash still on the other side of Smoke. Not wanting to be in the line of their prying gazes, Bear lifted a hand to take hers in his. "Let's find someplace quieter," he said softly, turning to lead her through the crowd and across the room until they were in a side room alone. It seemed to be some sort of den or study, with comfy armchairs purposely placed in front of a lit fireplace. The mantel was decorated in stockings, garland, and twinkling lights. Well, he was going for romance, right? "So, Santa also left your gift with me this year," Jace said, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the red velvet box with ribbon, holding it out for her. The moment of truth. "I hope you like it. Merry Christmas, Smoke."







the cop



jason.













♡coded by uxie♡
 
Last edited:




































  • how she's feeling...



    impressed, touched

















Smoke



the leader's daughter













“Oh, yeah. EX wife.” Smoke purred and chuckled darkly right after. “Does Sugar Hips Purrkins know that too?” she winked and started to ignore her brother. Teasing and provoking Ashton was one of her favorite activities since he was usually the best sparring partner for that. And the red hue in his cheeks when he got annoyed was actually adorable. Don’t get her wrong, Smoke loved her brother to the moon and back and she would walk to the end of the world for him. After all, it was her big brother. But their relationship was kind of based on this merciless teasing and insults which they understood was only innocent fun. One way or another, it didn’t matter how horrible they were to each other, they always had their backs. It was only for Millie’s sake that Smoke bit her tongue and turned her attention elsewhere. To a much more pleasant companion.

Bear asked her for a minute and Smoke told him she had even two which brought another reply from the big guy. “I’m reasonable though. You can earn more of them.” she purred and offered one of her side sultry smiles. “As a matter of fact, no. I missed you, you know? My partner in crime.” she told him but inside, she already felt warmth spilling all over her body when she remembered how good it felt to have his body by her side, to trace his tattoos with her fingers and feel warmth radiating from his muscles. Usually it was Smoke who controlled things but here, it was this man who was slowly gaining control over her, whether he was aware of that or not.

His hand covered hers, stopping her toying with his zipper. "Let's find someplace quieter," he asked her and Smoke only agreed. It would do no good for Ash to witness whatever cuteness there was between Smoke and Bear. And the last thing Smoke needed was her brother having dumb comments on this little possible relationship that was in making here. Nodding, the brunette slid down from her bar stool and her free hand grabbed the gift bag. Her fingers laced with Bear’s as they walked across the full room and ended up in the room her father sometimes used as his office. Only a few people knew Shotgun was a sucker for Christmas. Such a large ruthless guy and yet he got so soft when it came to winter holiday. And the study looked just like that, fully decorated and smelling like gingerbreads and yule log.

And when Bear told her about his gift for her, her lips parted in surprise. How was this possible? How did they end up with each other as Secret Santa? Well, maybe there were some Christmas miracles after all. Red velvet box landed in her hands and Smoke looked at him, her dark eyes meeting his. “What is it?” she asked and tugged on the ribbon, opening the box almost impatiently. And when her gaze fell upon the pendant, crystal with fifty shades of gray hues, she gasped quietly. “Jace…” she whispered and her fingers caressed the piece. “It’s…beautiful.” she told him and couldn’t tear her gaze from it. “Will you…please?” she asked suddenly and handed the box back to him. Then she turned her back to the man and lifted her long chocolate brown locks up so Bear could clasp the necklace around it. “Now I kinda feel stupid for what I got you.” she chuckled when the piece was comfortably resting around her neck. Fingers of her left hand still touched the crystal and this unusual blush was rising to her face as she waited for Bear to open his gift. “Merry Christmas, Jason.” she told him and her heart fluttered the way it only did around him. “Please, don’t leave me for so long ever again.” she added and for the first time, the girl revealed her weak vulnerable side, unseen by others, even her own family, before.












































?coded by uxie?
 




































  • how he's feeling...



    delighted

















Ink



the hot-head













Honestly, Brady was quite concerned over coming to the party. Especially because he had not seen Juni ever since that terrible evening when he and Bear fought because of Smoke. It was stupid, Brady knew it immediately after. He and Smoke were done and the jealousy was not what it might have seemed to be. Ink himself had no idea why he swung at a man who was definitely bigger than him and there was no way he could win. And then they left. Sure, Ink spent most of the time with Ash and tried to avoid Jason but not all the time he managed. Now they were back, emotions were much calmer but Ink was still quite worried about seeing Juni and her reactions. And he was more than determined to use his gift as a means of trying to get her to forgive him.

But when she bumped into him and hugged him tightly, he knew immediately that all was forgotten. Well, maybe not forgotten but at least forgiven. Brady squeezed her in his hug as well and inhaled the fresh scent of her hair, basking in her presence. And as soon as they pulled away, Brady presented his poorly wrapped gift to her, impatient to see her reaction when the newspaper wrapper vanished. But contrary to his expectations, she didn’t open it right away. Instead, Juni pulled him closer to a pile of gifts and grabbed one from it, handing the neatly wrapped package to him. “So what I get here is you’re happy I’m back eh? Admit it, Dawson, you missed the hell out of me.” he grinned cockily.

For a moment, Brady stared at the package and shook it gently. “Okay, so…three…two…one…” And then he ripped the wrapper open, not really trying to save it for another year. In the corner of his eye, he kept watching Juni not to miss her reaction. And he barely had time to look at his own gift when she asked where he found it. “I kept it.” he shrugged, sporting a boyish, almost innocent look in his eyes. “We never finished.” he repeated his words. “I was hoping we could finish now…if…you know. If you wanted.” he proposed almost sheepishly as if he was afraid she was about to throw that book at him or bash him over the head with it.

Only then he looked at what she gave him and his eyes softened, glimmering with compassion. The picture of them was a wonderful one, sending him on a trip down the memory lane immediately. But then he noticed the drawing of a tattoo gun and a stethoscope and his eyes narrowed. “What is it?” he asked, his finger tracing the lines of the drawing. “Did you make that?” he added to his question and it took him a moment to connect the dots. “I think I have the perfect place where to put this. It’s incredible, doll. Love it!” he exclaimed excitedly, knowing there was a blank space on his chest, very close to the heart where he was going to have the picture tattooed. Ink lifted his head from looking at the gift and stopped thinking. His hand reached for Juni, gripping the back of her neck and without any further hesitation, he slammed his lips against hers, kissing her like there was no tomorrow.












































?coded by uxie?
 




/*left side*/






escape the ordinary.



mood
angry

location
kitchen

outfit
click!

mention
Ink/Smoke [ _amaranth_ _amaranth_ ; Bear [ MadiRaiCat MadiRaiCat ]






/*right side*/

juniper






Seeing the scrapbook brought back all sorts of emotions in Juni. Mostly good ones, though there was also a bit of bittersweet thrown in there as well. It reminded her of a time when things were decent, or at least, better than they were now. She wasn't the most hated person in this town, and she also hadn't lost one of her very best friends. Spending all that time with Brady back in the day, it had truly been the highlight of her time. She realized now that she had indeed missed it, just as much as she'd missed him in general while he'd been gone. Though he was likely teasing her about missing him, there was truth to his words, a truth that she hadn't been able to admit out loud. Could she even do it now? Would she?

He admitted that he kept the scrapbook, and that touched Juni as well. "No, we didn't finish." She agreed, his words causing her eyes to jump back to him. She almost dared to hope that things could go back to being good. Like they used to be. She found herself nodding, a grin appearing on her lips. "Of course we can! Now look at yours." She nodded to the gift in his hands, holding her breath as she waited for his reaction. She watched the reaction, watched his expression soften as he stared down at the photo of them and then the image that she'd drawn. "I thought you could add it to your tattoo collection." She told him, her voice soft as she clung to the scrapbook, holding it against her chest. At his question, she nodded, glancing down at the drawn image.

"I drew it for you." She admitted. Now it was her turn to be sheepish, but he suddenly turned to look at her, telling her he loved it. Her grin brightened, but her lips parted as he reached for her, his hand wrapping around her neck to pull her closer. "Ink-" She started, but had no time to finish before his lips slammed against hers. She gasped against him, one hand still holding the book while her other flattened against his chest. Fireworks exploded in her entire body as she melted into him, her fingers curling as her head tilted into the kiss. She only pulled away when she needed to breathe, only a few inches so that she could still look up into his eyes. "What was that for?" She asked, slightly breathless. Her lips were still curled up into a small smile, and she was sure if he listened, he could hear her heart slamming against her ribs.








/*do not remove credit*/
괜찮아도 괜찮아 (That’s Okay)
coded by weldherwings


 
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