Guild icon
ROLEPLAY HQ
Archive 14 / trouble-on-base
Avatar
Deleted User 03-Oct-22 05:50 PM
TW: Sexual content, betrayal, infidelity, jealousy, confused love. Will edit as necessary. All characters are 18+.
Avatar
Aria Leary BOT 03-Oct-22 06:02 PM
Tip, tap, tip, tap. The house was silent with the exception of the family dog, Max, who is a young Australian shepherd puppy. His paws click lightly across the floor as he wanders around the house. Tip, tap, tip, tap. He was the only company that Aria had while her husband was away from home. The couple had only been married for two years, being 24 and 26 currently. They didn’t have any children yet but Aria knew that it was something in the cards that her husband wanted from her. She sighs and digs under the soft couch cushion in an attempt to find the TV remote as she had slept on the couch the night before and likely buried it somewhere by accident. Once she finds it, she turns on a random Lifetime movie just to fill the unsettling silence. Aria knew that this loneliness could have been worse, but it was like a small part of her was missing when her husband wasn’t at home. There wasn’t much for her to do, and for the first week she repetitively cleaned and cleaned until she couldn’t find anything to organize, or remove dust from anymore. She plops down in her seat, sinking into the cushion and Max climbs up the couch to join her. @Hiatus Tie
Avatar
Matthew Baker BOT 04-Oct-22 12:50 PM
Coming home after a mission was always a strange feeling, the other guys needing to hit the bar or the strip club to calm down and bring themselves down from the adrenaline high of a firefight. That’s where the rest of them were, paying their danger bonuses to single mothers and adding to their financial drain by potentially fucking new children into them. Matthew could never blame them, believing that each man deserved his own outlet, but he had never found himself joining them. They were usually only gone for a couple weeks at a time, giving them time to get the assignment, locate the target, practice on a mock-up building, and then execute. The Navy Seals got the biggest news, but Matthew new that his boys, the Marine Raiders, were just as badass. But even so, a badass still needs to come home and take care of his house. Matthew lived alone, but he made enough money with the dangerous missions that he could afford to own one of the houses on the base. He had moved out of the barracks as soon as he could, wanting some slice of normal life between the missions. Dealing with the other single Marines had been fun for the first few years, but as their youth never seemed to end and their maturity never came, Matthew had made the move he needed to in order to maintain his sanity. Looking around his living room, he nodded as the plastic plants had not changed at all and the air fresheners plugged into the wall outlets had continued to do their jobs. He set his backpack on his couch, looking around the living room that had not been touched since he got his phone call and left 13 days before. Walking into the kitchen, he opened the refrigerator and shook his head as he saw the results of leftovers that had been idle for two weeks. Finding his trash bags, he instantly threw his milk jug and orange juice carton in, know they had spoiled while he was gone. Opening and dumping several containers of food prep and leftovers into the bag, he shook his head as he thought a
12:50
bout the money he was throwing away. He tried to be smart and cook at home in order to save money and not always order out, but times like this frustrated him beyond any belief. Standing up and shutting his fridge, he took a step back and closed his eyes tight before stepping back up to his fridge. Placing his right hand on the door handle and placing his left on the edge so that the tip of his finger could feel the seam, he pushed on the door three times, muttering to himself, “The door is shut, it’s shut.” Pushing the door three more times and repeating the soft mantra, he pressed his head against the door and pushed off of it roughly. Hearing some of the items inside shift on the shelves as he had forced the fridge to tilt back with the power of his push, he growled as he glared at the appliance. “Fuck!” Opening the door to make sure nothing had fallen; he pushed on the door three times and shook his head. His breathing grew shallow as his eyes squeezed shut. He whispered softly to himself as he felt the seam and tried to see if the rubber had any gaps in the seal, “Everything is already spoiled. You aren’t going to lose anything, walk away.”
12:51
Stepping back and grabbing the two trash bags he had filled, he picked them up and walked towards the door. He still had his wallet, keys, and phone on him and was dressed in black cargo pants and a dark grey T-shirt with the Punisher skull on it. Opening his door and stepping out onto his front porch, he slid his key into the lock and turned it to lock the door. Pulling his key out, he gripped the knob and tried to twist it to see if it would open. Twisting three times and looking to the black dot he had drawn on the knob, he made sure it did not move away from the small black line he had drawn on the door itself. Stepping back and grabbing the bags, he looked at the black dot and nodded three times before stepping away and turning around. Walking down the stairs from his porch, he paused on the last one and turned to look back at the door. “It’s locked and secure, you can leave.” Breathing out deeply, he walked to the end of his driveway and threw his trash bags into the trash can that he had wheeled down on his way to the hangar. He always did that, leaving the can at the road so that if he was gone on trash day, the truck would be able to empty his trash. @Deleted User
Avatar
Aria Isabelle BOT 07-Oct-22 10:39 AM
Aria sighed. The monotonous voices from the television went on and on, but became background noise to the thoughts overwhelming her. She couldn’t stand this lonely, boring time. She stands up and stretches out wide, her shoulders crackling. Too much time on the couch, I suppose? The floor beneath her was cold, and the rest of the home had an eerie silence. She chose to leave the movie on, just to fill the void. Aria drags her feet to the hallway closet, picking out two oversized fluffy towels and sets them on her bathroom counter which was the room right next to the closet. She shudders as her fingers grazed the wooden planks that made up the closet door. It’s just wood, it’s not going to splinter you. She felt as though her fingertips were on fire. She shakes off this feeling and twists the glass knob to the left, hot water pours out and into the white, spotless porcelain. She had to hold her hand under that water, but it felt uncomfortable now that only one hand was dry so she found herself stood there for a moment, cupping her hands under the faucet. After a comforting shower, Aria towel dries herself and sprays lavender-scented detangler mist into her hair, vigorously brushing out the wet mess. She pulls on soft grey sweatpants and a blue hoodie, and a regular pair of sneakers. Upon entering the living room area again, Max looked up at her with big, hopeful brown eyes and his tail thumped loudly against the floor. “Let’s go for a walk, buddy!” She slips on the dog’s collar and attaches the cold metal piece of his leash to it, pushing open her front door and Max leads the way. His tail wags faster with excitement as he made eye contact with the across the street neighbor- Max was a friendly dog who loved the attention of people. Naturally, his head slips out of the collar and he bolts as fast as he could across the street toward the man. “Max, no! Crap!” Aria yells and curses all of the swear words to herself. @Hiatus Tie
Avatar
Matthew Baker BOT 07-Oct-22 03:12 PM
After throwing his trash in the can, Matthew had walked over to his truck and opened the doors of the crew cab. He wasn’t going anywhere, but he wanted to let the truck air out some from the smell of four sweaty Marines sitting in it on their way around the base. Chuckling softly as he saw a fast-food bag with the words ‘We love you Baker’ scrawled across it, he balled it up and tossed it into the bed of his truck. That would be the next thing he cleaned to get the leaves out of it, so this bag was not much of an issue. Looking through the rest of the cab, he heard a door open and close nearby and stuck his head up, curious to see if one of his squad mates had finally come home. Seeing Leary’s wife stepping out, Matthew lowered his head as he thought for a moment over what her name had been. Looking back and forth, he surfed through the collection of girlfriends Leary had had while deployed before finally landing on her name, Aria. Grinning and raising his hand in a wave, he noticed the distress on her face and stepped away from his truck to try to see the cause. It was then that the little fur missile ran up to him and started jumping at his legs. Recognizing the dog from pictures shown to the squad, Matthew chuckled before lowering his hands to try petting the puppy. “Hey there Max. I think you’re supposed to be with your mom, no? Well, you better figure it out, because here she comes.” Standing with a grin as Aria approached, Matthew allowed his eyes one look over her body before returning to her eyes. With the way her husband looked at women, he couldn’t feel guilty for at least acknowledging the beauty of the woman in front of him. Looking down at the puppy that had now begun to rub against his leg, Matthew shrugged before speaking, “I heard he was a rubber, I just wasn’t expecting to find out right now. Hey Aria, how are you doing? Leary and the others are enjoying some drinks and burgers, they should be home soon yeah?” He knew it was a lie, but hopef
15:12
ully it was nicer to hear this than the truth that her husband was busy turning the strip club into a walking child support payment. @Deleted User
Avatar
Aria Isabelle BOT 08-Oct-22 07:24 PM
The rubbery bottom of her shoes pounds against the concrete road as Aria crosses the street, chasing after her energetic pup. “Whew,” she pauses and smiles at the friendly neighbor, watching as Max stood on his hind legs to greet the man. “Down boy! We don’t say hello to people by jumping on them. Sorry, he’s still learning.” Of course her husband was out enjoying drinks and food with anyone but her. He could have come home to aid in her loneliness, but instead he chose to go out with the same group he’d been clustered with for two week. Her stomach grumbled. She would think, that after all this time being apart, he would want to have some sort of a date night. She would have even been content with just ordering take in and snuggling in bed. Two weeks may not have been a long time but to her, it felt like two months. She missed him. “Hi, Matthew. Are you glad to be back?” She asked and darted her gaze from the truck back to him. She smiled, and pushed the long strand of hair that had fallen into her face back behind her ear. Her hair was naturally black, but she just recently added a deep royal purple to it. She loved fun colors and thought it accented her eyes and facial features, but she realized that her husband hadn’t seen it yet and he likely wouldn’t approve. A breeze picks up, adding a brisk feel to the already cool temperature outside. “I, uh, hope I didn’t stop you from doing anything too important.” @Hiatus Tie
Avatar
Matthew Baker BOT 10-Oct-22 11:08 AM
Matthew noticed the change that Aria had made to her hair while they had been deployed, and he could not help but smile warmly as the sunlight glinted in it to accentuate the royal purple accents. Her husband was a stickler for wanting things to be exactly as he had left them, having gotten into a fistfight before with a sergeant that had moved his flag on his cage to access the door easier. His smile wavered as he thought of the reaction Leary might have to this change on his wife, but Matthew saw in her eyes that she was realizing what her husband’s reaction might be. Swallowing to try and not let this realization come over his facial features, Matthew grinned and brought his hand up to scratch at his beard gently before speaking, “Yeah, I’m happy to be home. I don’t have to worry about keeping sand out of my beard for the next little bit, so I can’t complain.” Matthew kept it to sand, even though their latest deployment had been to a much damper country. He couldn’t disclose the truth of their deployment, so he kept it simple and made it sound like they were back in the Middle East. Glancing down at the puppy before kneeling down, Matthew reached out to him to beckon him forward. Supporting his chest when he jumped up, Matthew’s hand moved to rub his belly with is left hand before looking back up at Aria. He smiled warmly, his eyes meeting hers before moving away quickly, “I’m just busy doing the normal clean up after being gone like that. Food doesn’t work on the Marine Corps schedule.” Chuckling softly before letting the dog drop back down, Matthew stood up and stepped towards the bed of his truck. Leaning against it and grinning as he looked back to Aria’s eyes, he set his hand down on the edge of the bed before responding, “So, what are you up to? Taking little Max for a walk or did you just want to come say hi to me?” Closing his eyes to embrace the cool wind, Matthew nodded before looking back down to the woman before him. She was particularly beaut
11:08
iful, something that Matthew had noticed the day he moved in across from them. A new transfer to the unit, he had wanted to be near his team but in a home of his own. He had never complained about the view, seeing Aria occasionally sitting on the front porch with a book while he worked in his garage. @Deleted User
Avatar
Aria Isabelle BOT 10-Oct-22 03:14 PM
Aria smiled as she watched the man pat the dog, and some thoughts of concern flood through her mind during the silence. “We were about to go for a walk, but here we are- but that’s totally fine! I don’t mind visiting.” Where is my husband? Surely he can’t be at dinner for this long, can he? Why hasn’t he texted me back yet? There’s no way he doesn’t have cell service. She had just upgraded their plan this month. Aria sneaks her phone out of her pocket trying to be discreet, and sends the man a quick message. ‘Hi- just checking in. Love you’ her text read to her husband, and drops her phone back into her pocket. “You are always welcome to join Jeremy and I for dinner, you know we don’t mind company.” She mentioned casually, knowing that in the back of her head anyone out there wasn’t getting home made meals and she was certain that the men would miss home cooking while they were away. She knew Matthew was alone, and wasn’t sure how much food prep he did for himself. Anxiously checking the text conversation again, it just said ‘Read.’ Of course it did. This was beginning to stress her out. “Sorry, not to be rude and looking at my phone so much. I’m just getting a little worried, you know?… I was having a lasagna in the oven, but now he won’t be hungry..” The sadness was apparent in her voice, but she turns that expression of worry back into a soft smile. She can’t help but cringe a bit when she hears the loud rumbling of the large, lifted GMC truck rattle from down the street as it pulled in. Secretly she hated that damn thing. It was old and obnoxious. Not that she disliked all trucks, but it was unsafe and creaky. And loud. But he wouldn’t spare a single dime to fix it up. Such as the breaks. Neighbors could hear it roar every time her husband started it up. @Hiatus Tie
Avatar
Matthew Baker BOT 11-Oct-22 11:44 AM
Reaching down and petting the puppy under the chin, Matthew spoke in a slightly higher tone to make the dog’s tail wag enough that it wiggled its rear end, “Going for a walk are we, Maxxy? I know you would really like that, getting to run with your mommy and chase some leaves. Doesn’t that sound fun Max?” Chuckling while looking up, Matthew saw the last flicker of her phone disappearing into her pocket as she brought her hand back up. Smiling slightly as he chose not to say anything about it, Matthew could not help the authentic smile that spread across his lips at the mention of coming over to eat with them. Standing up and stepping forward, he grinned before speaking in a soft voice, “With the amount Jeremy has packed away, I’d have to guess that your food is extremely tasty. I swear he is having a harder time putting on his chest rig, and it’s not all from beer. I don’t know, are you trying to fill me up too?” Winking at her as he stood against his truck, he looked her over a little more casually now, his eyes betraying him as they moved up her body slowly. Looking at the phone as she pulled it out to check it, he shook his head slowly when she spoke, “You have nothing to apologize for, I can understand wanting to check and see where he is or when he is coming home. If you’d like, I can come over and keep you company until he gets home.” Smiling and looking into the back of his truck slightly, he looked back to her and nodded as she mentioned the lasagna, a growl coming from his stomach as he spoke, “I would love some of your lasagna Aria. I have nothing at home, so I would take anything you have to offer me.” It was only after he spoke that he realized the innuendo in his words, drawing a slight blush to his cheeks. Bringing his hand up to scratch the back of his neck gently, his eyes glanced down the road when he heard Jeremy’s truck clearly. Stepping back slightly, he hadn’t realized he had steadily gotten closer to her each time he stood up from petti
11:44
ng Max. Watching the truck pull in, he put up a hand to wave at Jeremy when he got out of the truck. He knew the other man saw him, but he just got out and walked into the house, his hands already working to remove his outer layers. Smirking slightly, Matthew shook his head as he saw the plain signs of a man wanting to get out of clothes in order to hide any evidence of what he had been doing beforehand. Looking to Aria, he watched her face react to the appearance and disappearance of her husband. Clearing his throat softly, he spoke in a soft voice, “I don’t have to come over now if you would rather walk Max first. I can walk with you, or I can head on over. It’s up to you.” @Deleted User
Avatar
Aria Isabelle BOT 12-Oct-22 08:20 PM
Aria couldn’t help but grin, and think to herself that Matthew was cute. No, she shouldn’t be having those thoughts! Maybe she was just lonely, and it has been getting to her.. She listened as he talked away, discussing her cooking at the fact that Jeremy had put on a few in the last couple months. She couldn’t help it, cooking was just one of her hobbies. It wasn’t like she had much else to do, anyway. Plus, Jeremy had expected it from her at the times that he was home. A hot plate breakfast lunch and dinner. Not that she minded, at least not most of the time. It was the least she could do. Aria looks over at her own driveway, watching as Jeremy hopped down from the lifted, obnoxious truck. She smiled and waved to him, but he just glanced in their direction and heaved his back over his shoulder and headed for the door in the open garage that would lead to their laundry room. He stripped his top jacket and slammed the door shut behind him as he disappeared into the dark room. Aria’s shoulders drop in a disappointed manner. She couldn’t be bothered to deal with his crap right now, she was already upset enough that he had helped himself to a dinner out but didn’t bother to let her change her cooking plans or at least join him. Max’s tail thumped on the ground below, but he didn’t seem to perk up at the sight of Jeremy. Aria smiled over at Matthew, and picked up the loose end of the leash. “Of course you are welcome to our home. But, if you wouldn’t mind, you are also welcome to join us on a little walk around the neighborhood. We should probably get going before it gets dark outside.” The sun wasn’t quite to setting point yet but it would in the next half an hour or so. Aria knew that their area was generally safe but still, something about walking around in the dark alone just made her shudder inside. She kneels down onto the ground and reaches for Max’s collar, tightening it so it were snug instead of loose and he wouldn’t be able to escape again.
20:20
The tall street lamps that lined the path began to illuminate and the gentle breeze that had gone on came to a stop. Aria shuffles her feet a bit and a leaf crunches under her shoe. She had never suggested to Matthew that they adventure on their own before, without anyone else present. But at this point, what did it matter? The oven in her kitchen would have shut off automatically by now as she set it to a timer, and Jeremy likely had gone for a shower then to bed. It irritated her at the mere thought but it was best to just let it go. Maybe this wouldn’t be a bad idea after all. @Hiatus Tie
Avatar
Matthew Baker BOT 14-Oct-22 01:19 PM
Seeing the grin playing across Aria’s lips, Matthew felt an urge to step forward and feel her lips on his, wanting to experience how soft her lips were. He swallowed thickly as he caught his eyes looking down to her lips, a cold ball of frustration growing in his gut. It had been almost a year since he had been with a woman and he was missing their touch, but that did not excuse him for looking at his squad mate’s wife in such a way. He and his girlfriend had ended it 10 months before as she was not able to handle the spontaneity of his deployments even when he had just come home from an 8-month deployment. Since then, Matthew had avoided any attempts at courting with a woman, not wanting to end the same way when he has to disappear for weeks at a time with no warning. Seeing Aria’s shoulders drop after Jeremy walked inside, Matthew moved forward and placed his hand on her shoulder. Squeezing gently with a smile, he tilted his head slightly to make sure she could see his smile. His eyes flitted over her eyes and lips, wanting to feel them against his own but instead he let his move to speak, “He just likely wants to get cleaned up before he eats with you. I doubt he ate too much.” Looking down at Max as his tail thumped on the ground and Aria picked up his leash, Matthew spoke in a higher pitched voice to the excited puppy, “Oh, does little Max want to go on a walk, huh buddy? You want to go on a walk with Mommy? Are you okay with me tagging along buddy?” Grinning as he looked back up at Aria, he winked before speaking, “Well, since Max wants me to come as well, who am I to reject the offer?” Matthew was perfectly comfortable walking around in the dark, his body and eyes used to operating in low light situations to avoid detection. With the sun working down and the streetlights coming on, he smiled and shut the doors of his truck before locking them Trying each of the door handles three times to make sure they had locked, he smiled sheepishly before grabbing t
13:19
he trash bag he had thrown in his bed and instead putting it in the trash can. Their neighborhood was no doubt safe as the MPs would regularly drive through and they were on base, but Matthew picked up a slight sense of nervousness from the woman in front of him. He forgot for a moment the difference between the two of them. Aria lived in a world where the darkness was an unknown that could hide any danger lurking in them. Matthew lived in a world where the darkness was often a tool that he employed in order to sneak around undetected behind enemy lines or on their property. Walking up to her with a smile as she prepared Max for walking, he kept close to her as they started, his eyes scanning the yards around them for signs of life or to see if they were simply on their own out here. Passing by a few homes with lights on inside, he felt his nerves beginning to grow as he could just hear the rumors beginning, men on base talking about how he was sleeping with Jeremy’s wife simply because they were walking together. Shaking his head to get those thoughts out of his mind, Matthew smiled as he walked beside her in a comfortable silence before turning his head to speak softly, “I don’t know how to say this, but you are looking absolutely stunning Aria. Your hair looks beautiful.” They had entered a portion of the neighborhood where everyone living there was on deployment, the yards darkened by a lack of lights or other signs of life. Glancing over to make sure she was comfortable; Matthew extended his right hand to gently place it on her back as a form of comfort to show she was not alone. @Deleted User
Avatar
Aria Isabelle BOT 17-Oct-22 06:24 PM
Aria bit her tongue, not saying anything to the idea that Jeremy likely hadn't eaten much. If that were the case, he would have been texting her back for dinner. If there was one thing about that man, it was that he enjoyed his food. Especially after coming home. The stillness of the air was calming. But the turning feeling in Aria's gut wasn't. She took a deep breath and swallowed, trying to keep her composure. The longer she kept thinking about her husband, the more anxious and unsettled she became. Something had to be done about this. Aria stops along the path, and listens to what Matthew had to say. Max tugs on his leash, sniffing out the grass in the dark. "Thank you.. it's a color I've never tried before. Hopefully Jeremy doesn't mind it.." Fireflies flicker in the bushes and just above the ground around them. "You know, actually, it's for the best that we turn back now. I must get dinner taken care of, and I, uh, don't feel very well." It was quite embarrassing to admit but when her thoughts began to spiral out of control it gave Aria a nervous stomach. The only thing that she wanted to do right now was go home and put her mind at ease. I'll go home, Jeremy will be there, and everything will be fine. I'm worried for nothing, but I must go now. It wasn't her intention to cut the walk short- she just wanted to ease her worries before they grew too intense. Sometimes she couldn't control it, and that was a downfall of having anxiety. Sure, she knew upon dating and eventually marrying her husband that he wouldn't be home as often as she would like- it wasn't that part that gave her anxiety. It was the mere fact that she needed reassurance to know that their relationship was still going strong. Lately, she had doubts in her mind but she chalked this up to seasonal changes. They stroll back down the way to get back to Matthew's home. "Goodnight.. see you around, for sure." Aria offered a friendly wave which was all she could muster right now. She walks M
18:24
ax back across the street and he tugs on her arm quite hard because he wanted to get back inside as the temperature began to drop. Aria tugs her shoes off and throws them on the rubber mat by the door, and pulls on the hook for Max's leash so he could be free. He immediately patters toward the food and water bowls by the back glass sliding door. Aria washes her hands in the kitchen sink, the scent of sweet apple pie from the soap filled the air and comforted her a little bit. The shower lever squeaked upstairs and water began to ran, she could hear it. She unzips her hoodie and hangs it on a metal hook on the wall for their coats and key lanyards, then makes her way up the soft carpeted stairs. It was mostly dark in the hallway and bedrooms except the yellow illumination from under the bathroom door. Aria sighed and plopped down onto the bed, laying back onto her plush sage green comforter. Mental note to purchase some new pillows soon. She patted the blanket next to her in search of the remote for the TV of their bedroom, but her hand feels cold glass instead. Under one of the throws she pulled out Jeremy's phone. She set it down, but as soon as it touched the side table, it lit up and pinged. Don't glance, don't glance. Ping. It made a second sound. Aria peeks over at the screen and first reads the time, then her gaze falls on the two notifications. 'Natalie: You left your watch.' 'Natalie: 1 image attachment.' A lump forms in Aria's throat and she felt like vomiting on the spot. What was this? Who was Natalie, and why is she texting her husband about his watch? She didn't know what to do. She didn't want to attempt to confront him until she had a plan, at least not yet. @Hiatus Tie
Avatar
Matthew Baker BOT 18-Oct-22 09:02 PM
Smiling slightly as Aria mentioned Jeremy liking the hair color, Matthew looked down at the ground as they walked. He hoped Jeremy was nice about it, but he knew how some of his comrades were when it came to coming home, especially after a long deployment. He had seen a divorce happen once before because the wife had rearranged the kitchen while they were on a six-month deployment. Coming home and knowing where nothing was got to the man and he eventually called off the marriage, ending a two-year commitment of a silverware drawer. Looking back up to Aria, he nodded and said in a light tone, “I’m sure he’ll like it.” Looking at the fireflies and the way Max watched them with absolute curiosity, Matthew was not expecting the next words that were said. Turning slightly and nodding, he cleared his throat before speaking, “Yeah, no, I get that. I need to head home anyways and get a grocery list ready. I’ll be heading to the store tomorrow, so if you guys need anything, just give me a holler and I’ll grab it for you.” Putting his hands in his pockets and smiling as he finished, Matthew turned on the dot and started walking back the other way with her. Walking back with Aria, his eyes were busy checking every blade of grass that threatened to cross over onto the sidewalk. Kneeling down twice, he reached down and pinched the blades between his thumbnail and his index finger. Rolling his eyes as he tossed the scraps into the yard, he shook his head and stood back up before moving quicker to catch up with Aria. It was a safe place, but she seemed more comfortable walking with someone than alone. As they got back to his driveway, Matthew nodded and returned her wave before responding, “Yeah, I’ll see you guys soon. Take care Aria.” Standing at the end of his truck, he watched her cross the street and enter her house. It had no ulterior motive, simply his protective nature. Smiling as she disappeared into her home, Matthew turned to enter his own. He had emptied the ki
21:02
tchen but was feeling hungry, so he went into the kitchen and opened his rice cooker. Taking out the bowl, he poured three cups of rice into the bottom of the bowl and took it to the sink. Running water into the bowl, he washed the rice through several cycles until the water ran clear through the grains of rice. Smiling to himself as he thought of a funny video online, he put the bowl in the rice cooker and turned it on. Walking to his living room, he grabbed his duffel bag and took it to his bedroom. Opening it and removing the dirty clothes, he avoided smelling them and simply threw them into his dirty clothes hamper. This trip had been a black op, so they had used unofficial weaponry. Pulling his personal AK-M from his duffel bag, he went over to his gun safe and opened it. Smiling at his little collection, he put the rifle in. Putting his several magazines and extra ammo away as well, he shut the door of the safe before walking over to his bedside table. Opening the small safe there, he pulled his holstered Glock pistol from his belt and put it in the top before putting the spare magazines and rounds in the lower portion. Stripping out of the clothes he was wearing; he threw them into the dirty hamper before grabbing a pair of underwear and heading into his own shower. He had showered since getting home, but that was nearly a day ago and now he wanted to shower at home and use his own cleaning products rather than standard issue shampoo and soap. @Deleted User
Avatar
Aria Isabelle BOT 19-Oct-22 07:44 PM
Aria's face became warm and she was livid. She coughs, trying to hold back the feeling of emptying her stomach. The water still ran loud in the bathroom, and no matter how much time was left before Jeremy completed his shower, Aria made the decision to unlock his phone and figure out just who Natalie was. The first thing on the screen of their conversation was definitely a photo of his watch- one that Aria's mother had given him for Christmas last year. She could recognize that anywhere, as she had helped pick it out herself. It had a brown leather band and a stripe of pine trees engraved into it. The frame around the glass and the hand inside the watch was gold. Aria bit down on her lip to stop herself from crying. She wanted to believe that this was all some sort of mistake, that Natalie was just a friend who happened to find his watch somewhere, perhaps one of his buddy's homes. Aria swiped to bring more of the text messages into view, and the responses were sporadic in the time stamps. The first text, was two nights ago from Natalie. It read, 'I can't wait to see you again.' 'I'll be home in two. You know that. Probably around 7pm.' Jeremy had replied back to her. This was difficult to read. The third most recent message wrote, 'She won't suspect a thing, right?' The faucet behind the shut bathroom door creaked and the pounding of the water against the tub ceased. Aria quickly powered the phone off and tossed it back onto the blanket. She only had a matter of minutes before Jeremy would emerge from his shower and a thousand different thoughts ran through her mind. She didn't know if she wanted to confront him, yell in his face, or ask questions. The door creaks as it opens and there he stood in front of her, the good-for-nothing liar. Aria tried so hard not to assume but after reading his phone, she just couldn't help herself. "Who," Aria stands up off the bed and looks her husband right in the eyes. "Is Natalie?" She could see the freeze in J
19:44
eremy's expression and that gave it away. The man sighed and then his demeanor turned cold. "How do you know this? Did you look at my phone? I knew I couldn't trust you." "Trust me? You are the one who's texting another woman! Please, Jeremy, explain. You've been home for all of 30 minutes. Go on, explain yourself!" Aria attempted to hold back from yelling at him just in case there were some kind of logical explanation to this, so she takes a step backward and gives him a minute to talk. Every second that he hesitated, the more irate she felt. That's when Jeremy confessed it all. He didn't even try to deny it. He explained to her the four women in the last five months, two of which he still had contact with through his cellphone. He tried to reason with Aria, but his argument was that he felt 'held back in life here.' Aria's judgement was clouded. She did not even have anything to say in that moment, as she opened her mouth to speak when there was silence but nothing came out. She was disgusted. The two did not join their lives together to feel like their marriage was not enough. What had she done wrong? Without a second thought, Aria steps toward their closet and pulls open the wooden door, flicking on the extra light switch and reaches for the top shelf for her duffel bag. She begins shoving as many of her clothes possible into the bag, not bothering to even really give a second glance to what she was throwing in there. If Jeremy felt that he wasn't attracted to her anymore, or 'bored' in their marriage, it wasn't something she wanted anymore. Hell, she thought he was more mature than this. She was wrong. Aria finished grabbing as much of her essentials as she could and fastens a leash back onto Max's collar, stepping out of the front door with her arms full and slamming the door behind her. Her feet pound the pavement as she runs across the street and thumps on the front door of her trusted friend. @Hiatus Tie
Avatar
Matthew Baker BOT 20-Oct-22 06:38 PM
The steam from his hot shower had done wonders for Matthew, allowing the aches in his sinuses to finally clear as he was able to breathe clearly. The jungles of Central America always did this to him, giving him some kind of sinus infection that did not lead to drainage - just headaches. Rubbing his face to try to massage the throbbing pain out of it, he lowered his hands to his beard and brushed his fingers through it. Enjoying the sensation as he grabbed his beard wash, he spent the next few minutes just massaging his face before finally rinsing off his shampoo and beard care. Standing under the hot water and letting it cascade off his head and over his shoulders, he sighed and leaned forward against the wall of his shower to let the hot water beat down his back and massage the aches in his back. Stepping back out of the water, he grabbed some noir body wash that was a dark and earthy scent combining black cardamom, smoky vanilla, and some musk. It was a scent he had used before that was always successful in turning eyes his way. It made him feel powerful. Considering how many of his anxieties were being wrecked by the state of his kitchen and the single spider web in the hallway, he wanted to feel powerful. Lathering his hands together with a loofa, Matthew washed his chest and back thoroughly before extending down his arms. Washing the rest of his body with great detail, he stepped out of the shower several moments later and grinned when he saw how steamy the mirrors were. Not able to see any details of himself, Matthew walked over to the mirror and wrote on it with his finger. ‘Matthew Baker: 1. Miguel Pavon: 0.’ Smirking before swiping away the confidential names on his mirror, Matthew grabbed his towel and started to dry his hair and beard. Scrubbing back-and-forth with his towel, he looked up at the now bare portion of the mirror and nodded as he made eye contact with himself. Their mission had been a success and no matter what being home was like for th
18:38
e others, Matthew was itching to go back out and kill another oppressive son of a bitch. Going back to drying his hair and beard, he draped the towel over the bar before getting a bigger towel which he used to dry his body. Drying carefully in order not to disturb the bruise he had on his chest where his armor had stopped a rifle round, Matthew grunted and looked down at the fist sized purple bruise just in from his left nipple. The shot had dropped him when he took it as it had landed right over his heart and had the potential of stopping it even if it didn’t penetrate the armor. However, he coughed and sat up before returning fire, his comrades shaking their heads and telling him to get back behind cover. Standing dry in his bathroom, he hung up the second towel and grabbed his boxers. Pulling them on and then a pair of gray sweatpants, Matthew grabbed a small brown bottle on his counter and poured some of the oil into his hand. Rubbing his hands together and then rubbing the beard oil over his facial hair, Matthew sighed happily as he finished his self-care. Having rubbed off all the oil, he turned to leave the bathroom and left the fan on to pull out some of the steam. Going into his living room, he grabbed the TV remote and flicked on his smart tv, setting it to Spotify so that he could put on a rock playlist. Finding one consisting of Five Finger Death Punch and Disturbed, he grinned before hitting play and walking into his kitchen. Looking through his pantry for something he could make to eat, he heard a series of thumps at his door. Dropping his hand reflexively to his waist for his sidearm, Matthew glanced towards his bedroom before walking to the living room. Pausing the music before he opened the door slowly, Matthew smiled kindly. .
18:38
Seeing Aria standing in front of him with a duffel bag and her dog, Matthew sighed softly and nodded before opening the door wider and motioning her inside. Clearing his throat and speaking in a low tone, he tried to offer a supportive smile, “Come on in, we can talk inside. Get in out of the dark.” @Deleted User
Avatar
Aria Isabelle BOT 22-Oct-22 01:21 PM
Aria felt a twinge of guilt, because she had just appeared at her friend's door without any kind of warning in advance. And, to make matters worse, she had just seen him a while ago and left for home, and Matthew hadn't even been home for a full day yet. "Listen, I can explain.." she begins. Aria gently shuts the door behind her and the two stood face to face. Her cheeks felt sticky from the tears that had fallen and dried, she used her sleeve to wipe off her face. This was embarrassing. She then proceeds to explain what had happened in the short time that she had been home. Aria wanted his opinion on this matter. She told Matthew everything, from the photos of the watch and the prior text messages they had exchanged about meet-ups. "And.. he admitted that there was more than one woman. He felt lonely and stuck on the road, so.. he said there was no emotional connections to any of them but Matthew, I can't do it. I can't go back there." The duffel bag that she had shoved clothes in was near bursting at the seams, because she wanted to make sure she had as much of her belongings as possible. If she truly never went back into that home she would be losing some things in the process. Unless of course she were to face Jeremy one last time in order to collect whatever was left. Max laid down on the floor, his tail quietly thumping behind him. She couldn't leave him in that house. He was her dog, and Jeremy didn't even want one in the first place. But he wasn't home often, so she just asked for forgiveness. She was lonely. Aria had a lot of different things occupying her mind at that moment but one of them was how long had her husband been cheating on her for? Was it their whole relationship? Just a few months? She was too repulsed at the thought. It was no surprise to her now that he didn't even want to come home first before going out to different places in town. All of his private behavior, and the lack of intimacy in their relationship was beginning to make s
13:21
ense to her now. A long pause of silence filled the room until she had broken it again. "You know what, Matthew? This all matches up now. For as long as I can remember, Jeremy has been closed-off and distant. I just chalked it up to be exhaustion. No! How stupid was I to be wrong?" It was almost painfully funny to her. She was oblivious to the way that she was being treated and finally she was free. She deserved better. @Hiatus Tie
Avatar
Matthew Baker BOT 22-Oct-22 02:04 PM
Matthew felt incredibly guilty as he stood inside his home and listened to Aria speaking. How could he stand here and give her any support when he had known about some of Jeremy’s transgressions? He knew that Jeremy had a habit of flirting when deployed and might go for one-night stands, but he didn’t know that there were any emotional connections or truly long-lasting ones. Jeremy had told Aria there were no emotional connections, but Matthew did not believe that for a moment. Shaking his head as he listened to her, he looked up and spoke in a firm tone, “You aren’t stupid Aria. Jeremy is trained to be able to hide things like evidence and his intentions. You are just in the unfortunate situation of him using those skills to hurt you. But that doesn’t make you stupid.” Reaching his hands up to place them on her cheeks gently, he swiped his thumbs under her eyes before holding her in place and tilting his head to look into her eyes. Smiling warmly as he held her face, he could not escape the smooth warmth of her cheeks and how inviting they were to touch. Trying to ignore them, he swallowed before speaking in a low voice, “Here, let me take your bag and put it in my guest room. You can sit on the couch with Max if you’d like, or you can go to the bathroom if you want to wash away some of your tears. Make yourself comfortable Aria, I’ll be right back.” Lowering his hands from her face, he took the duffel bag and lifted it off her shoulder with his right arm. It was slightly heavier than he expected, causing his chest and shoulder muscles to flex larger than he had intended. Suddenly aware that he was shirtless, he thought for a moment about going and getting a shirt, but he dismissed the thought quickly. He was in his own home and was determined to be comfortable, even with an unexpected guest. Walking to the guest room and setting her duffel bag on the Queen-sized bed, he glanced at the collection of boxes against the wall that held some of his personal memora
14:04
bilia that he had taken from his parents' house. Hoping that she wouldn’t go looking in the middle of the night, Matthew made his way back towards the living room and kitchen, a small smile on his lips as he went to the kitchen to look for food that could feed not only him but his new guest. He settled on ramen noodles and set four packets out on the counter with the sauces he would use as well as four eggs and a can of tuna. @Deleted User
Avatar
Aria Isabelle BOT 22-Oct-22 02:57 PM
Aria pulled her oversized hoodie closer to her body, feeling shameful for all of the rambling that she had just done. "I'm sorry. You don't deserve this. None of it is your problem..." All of Aria's family was back at home in another state. She had moved with Jeremy to be with him and now she was having some regrets. She regretted giving up her life for this man, to only see her loved ones for holidays if she got lucky. She looked Matthew in his eyes when he placed his palms gently on her cheeks, and she felt the warmth of herself blushing. "If you don't mind, I'll just.. be right back." As she watched Matthew lift the duffel bag she couldn't help but let her gaze fall onto his shirtless body. She quickly realized that staring would be strange and looked back up at him with an awkward smile. She slips away down the hallway and finds the nearest bathroom. She closed the door and looked at herself in the mirror. Underneath her eyes were pale purple and puffy. Lack of sleep, and from the crying she had just done. Her hair was clean but slightly tangled on the back. She was certain that her tears were over for now. She turns on the faucet handle for cold water and runs her fingertips under the stream, then collects the water into her palm and splashes her face. She shivered and reached for a paper towel to dry herself off, then properly disposed it into the waste bin. Aria takes a deep breath and clicks the lock to the bathroom door and followed a salty scent to the kitchen, where Matthew stood cooking. "Do you mind if I keep you company in here?" She walks over to the chairs and sits on one of them, tucking her hands into her deep front pockets. She quickly stood up as she realized she still had her shoes on. "Where can I put these? I'm so sorry. That was incredibly rude of me- guests aren't supposed to wander all over the place with outside shoes on!" She claims with a frazzled expression and looks around the kitchen to see if there were a rack or mat. <@464
14:57
501429131018241>
14:57
@Hiatus Tie
Avatar
Matthew Baker BOT 22-Oct-22 08:07 PM
Matthew started the water on the stove before adding some sweet Thai chili sauce along with the chicken seasoning packets, his limited ability to cook showing. Closing the lid on the bottle, he tightened it three times. He satisfied his compulsion despite making the sauce too tight for others to open, much like he did with most things with a twist top. He actually had to transfer everything that came in a plastic container into something made of metal or glass because he had a bad habit of overtightening and stripping the plastic threads off of bottles or containers, rendering them useless. Placing the noodles in the broth when it came to a boil, Matthew glanced over when he heard the bathroom door open. Max had come with him into the kitchen, and he had gotten the puppy a small bowl with water in it. Smiling as he added the tuna into the pot, Matthew glanced over at the chairs that lined the bar before speaking in a clear voice, “I’d love the company, just don’t expect anything like Gordon Ramsey. I prefer a nice, sweet heat with some savory.” Stirring the noodles and tuna together with a pair of metal chopsticks, he waited for the noodles to get softer before reaching for the eggs. However, when she exclaimed about the shoes, he turned around quickly as if he expected there to be more of an issue. Waiting a moment as she spoke, he chuckled softly before speaking, “Here, let me show you.” Setting the egg back down, he walked over and motioned her to follow him over to the door. There was a cushioned bench below a wide coat rack that he had made with hooks every 18 inches apart. It was centered perfectly over the similarly handmade bench. Lifting the cushion portion slightly, he then reached and released the piece of wood that held the front cover. Setting the cushion back down while lowering the wood, it exposed a series of cubbies that held his shoes with seven pairs of openings for guests. Motioning towards the cubbies, he spoke in a gentle voice, “Just lif
20:07
t the cushion a little as you lift the face plate, and it will lock in place.” Winking as he walked back to the kitchen, he washed his hands in the sink before picking up the eggs and cracking them into the pot. He folded the noodles over them so that the boiling water cooked the whites quickly while leaving the yolks runny. As the noodles finished, he reached into his refrigerator and found a few slices of American cheese. Shutting the fridge, he turned away before growling and turning back to it. Pushing on the handle three times, he released and then pushed against it again before stepping away. Placing the cheese on the noodles, he grabbed the lid to the pot and placed it on it while turning off the element. Turning the dial to off, he pointed at it and repeated the words quietly, “It’s off, it’s off. It’s off, the light is for heat. Element off, hot surface light.” Shaking his head, he turned back to her and asked with a slightly tense tone, “Fork or chopsticks?” @Deleted User
Avatar
Aria Isabelle BOT 23-Oct-22 10:09 AM
Aria smiled as she watched Matthew set the metal bowl down on the floor for her puppy. It was kind, and if it were Jeremy, he wouldn't have even given it a second thought. Stop thinking about him, she thought to herself. What's done is done. She followed him over to where the bench was, and slipped off her shoes to set them in one of the open cubbies. She then proceeded to stare at it, her hands tensing up into a ball. She squatted down to be level with the cubbies and adjusted her shoes about half of an inch, and then adjusted them twice more before letting it go. They weren't perfectly aligned to her liking. She sighed and just let it be, standing back up and she pulls off her thick fur-lined hoodie and place it on the third hook, untucking the sleeves so it looked perfect. Underneath that hoodie she had on a strappy blue sports bra and a form-fitted black tank top. She sneaks back into the kitchen and plops down in her same chair as before, watching the man crack an egg. She loved eggs and eating them but despised making them as she worried endlessly about the texture of the shell and how a raw egg could cause food poisoning. She shuddered at the thought. Her hands tap against her knees and she stands up once more, stopping in front of the sink and proceeds to wash her hands. She scrubs her palms with the sweet-scented foam and rinses, repeating it three times. Must rinse and scrub one more time. Make it even. She felt as though she looked rigid but it was her ongoing OCD. Aria could sense his tense tone of voice and crossed her arms, suddenly feeling exposed without the comfort of her oversized jumper. The kitchen grew warmer from the hot boiling water and she hoped it wasn't rude to leave her belongings on the coat rack. She pulls her knees up to her chest and wraps her arms around them. "I'd like a fork please.. Are you okay?" @Hiatus Tie
Avatar
Matthew Baker BOT 23-Oct-22 11:21 AM
Looking over as Aria came to wash her hands, Matthew watched her repetitive behavior and nodded slowly, understanding her struggle and knowing better than to comment on it. Instead, he let his eyes trace over her torso for a moment, admitting to himself that despite the circumstances, the woman beside him was very beautiful. Smiling slightly as he turned his attention back to the food, he spoke in a soft voice, “I’m glad you were able to find somewhere for your jacket. I’d hate for you to be hot and stuffy in my house. If I need to adjust the thermostat, let me know.” Watching as she disappeared from his view, he glanced around to see her walking away, his eyes dropping to her rear for a moment before he pulled his eyes back to the food. That was Jeremy’s wife, whether their relationship was healthy or not. He could not be looking at her like that or he was just as bad as his squad mate. Turning to ask her about her cooking utensil as she was drawing her knees up on the stool, he had not realized how tense his voice had sounded. Lowering his gaze to the counter, he sighed softly before speaking in a low tone, as if he was ashamed to speak the words, “I’m not sure if I turned my burner off. I know it sounds crazy, but I can concentrate on my job and don’t endanger my team. But ask me to turn off my stove and I feel like I am disarming a nuclear warhead.” Shrugging and reaching into his cabinet, he pulled out two black stoneware bowls. Grabbing a fork from his drawer, he put it in her bowl and slid it across the counter before speaking in a stern voice, “Tines down please, don’t leave them facing up.” Setting his bowl down with his chopsticks in them, he turned back and grabbed the pot of ramen as well as a potholder. Placing the pot down with a smile, he removed the lid and smiled as he saw how the cheese had melted over the light broth and noodles. Grinning happily, he set the lid down in the sink before walking over to his pantry. Pulling out two bottles of wat
11:21
er, he walked around the counter before handing her one of the bottles and sitting down. Opening the water bottle and taking a swallow, he stood back up and then walked into the kitchen to grab two glass cups. Bringing them back, he sat down and poured his bottle of water into the glass. Crushing the bottle and setting it on the counter, he gestured towards the pot with a smile before speaking, “All I have to offer is water, but please, dig in. I’ll get mine after you. We each have two eggs, but the tuna and cheese just go randomly.” @Deleted User
Avatar
Aria Isabelle BOT 23-Oct-22 12:21 PM
Aria blushed pink as he commented on her leaving her jacket behind, "No. I just got a little warm is all, and what matters more is that you are comfortable. It's your home, anyway." Her pale complexion made it quite obvious when she was embarrassed and she despised that. She didn't want to be as readable as she was. She watched as he placed the fork and set it down on the placemat in front of her, and looked at him with a blank expression as he appeared to make a big deal about which way the fork was facing. A part of her sort of understood. "Okay, I won't touch it.." she muttered quietly. She wanted him to help himself to the food first. She bit down on her upper lip and couldn't stop thinking about her home. She was going to miss it. Her own personal, private space when her husband was away. Could she even call him that anymore? She would need a divorce lawyer. She has to get this figured out, although it can't happen magically in a day, she wished she could. She even wished that she could go back in time and none of this would have happened. She would have her family with her again. Not that they weren't around anymore, but she wished she could reverse this all and have never met the man who single-handedly ruined her life in less than 24 hours. Her siblings and parents were all the way back in Colorado, and she had given up everything to move out here because she thought that one day she would have a family of her own with the alleged love of her life. So much for big dreams. Aria hesitantly reaches for the metal fork and stirs her noodles around in the bowl, not starting to eat just yet. She clears her throat silently and picks up her bottle of water, cracking the lid open and taking a sip before resealing it and setting it back down gently. The chili sauce gave the noodles a delectable scent and the eggs glistened and were crisp from the oil. She wanted to dig in, but her stomach had a pit of guilt and worry in it. A strand of violet hair fell forward fro
12:21
m behind her ear. She then broke the silence. "Thank you for this, Matthew.. you didn't have to.." She looked across the table at him and finally came to stirring up a bit of noodle on her fork and ate it. Max stayed put on the floor next to the water bowl. She taught him from a young age not to beg at the table. @Hiatus Tie
Avatar
Matthew Baker BOT 23-Oct-22 04:34 PM
Smiling awkwardly as he gestured towards the fork, Matthew realized how he had sounded and made an effort to fix that, “No, please use the fork. I just ask that when you set it down, please do so with the tines facing down. Tines facing up really bother me and make my stomach hurt.” Shrugging slightly as he finished, he walked around behind her to find his place at the table. Leaning forward and serving himself up a bowl of noodles and broth, he glanced up at her with a wink before speaking in a smooth voice, “So, comfortable in my house and all, are you okay with me sitting here shirtless in front of you? I can go get a shirt if you’d prefer.” Smiling to show that he had only slightly been teasing her, he leaned back in his seat and picked up his bowl and the chopsticks. Bringing pinches of noodles into his mouth, he made sure to get some tuna as well. Chewing happily while looking across at her, he felt his brows lower slightly when she sipped the water and just looked down at the food before her. He thought for a moment that she was not interested in his food, but then he realized that it was likely some kind of reaction to what had happened when she found the pictures and text messages. Seeing her hair fall forward, Matthew cleared his throat gently before leaning across the small table to easily move her hair back behind her ear. He let the tips of his fingers linger behind her ear for a moment before he lowered his hand and went back to eating. Hearing her thanks, Matthew shrugged before taking another bite of his noodles, enjoying the flavor combination he had made. He wished he could remember the seasonings his sister put in, but for now this simple version would have to work. Picking up one of the yolks gently with his chopsticks, he hummed softly before popping it in his mouth. Chewing and swallowing happily, he looked to Aria and spoke in a low voice, “What was I supposed to do? Just leave you on the streets just because Jeremy was an asshole and chea
16:34
ted on you? No, you came to me because you trust me, and I am going to earn that trust and more.” Smiling as he lowered his head to take more of the noodles into his mouth, he chewed them slowly and looked over her face slowly. Letting his eyes lower to her bra and tank top straps occupying the same shoulder, Matthew pressed the ends of his chopsticks into his lower lip. Smirking slightly, he looked back up to her eyes and said, “If I may speak freely, I think I know what you need. Stop me if I am wrong, but I think you could go for some affection, something to take your mind off him.” @Deleted User
Avatar
Aria Isabelle BOT 25-Oct-22 03:06 PM
Aria gladly took a second bite of her food as her stomach growled at this point. She hadn't eaten much that day. Her mind was finally easing off the disaster that was the earlier hours of the day. Something about Matthew's presence calmed her. This home wasn't empty and desolate. It felt.. almost warmer, and more comforting. "I mean, this is your home. Wear a shirt or don't. Don't allow me to decide, your comfort is just as important." Silence drove Aria crazy. With her loud siblings and a big family back at home, she was used to some kind of continuous noise in her background. She would spend countless, restless hours at home alone because Jeremy took care of her. He didn't want her to work. He wanted her to stay home, but to raise the family they never had. She supposed it was a good thing at this point, to be unattached to the man now and she would file for divorce. As soon as it was possible, at least. Another thought that hadn't occurred to her until that very moment was, what was she going to tell her parents? Or her in-laws? She knew she had to tell her in-laws before the idiot himself could come up with a story to frame her on why she was leaving him. But, thankfully Aria knew deep in the back of her mind was that Jeremy couldn't care less and she doubted he would do so. Aria froze in her place when she saw Matthew's hand reach forward to fix her strand of hair, and she didn't say anything after he had done so. She smiled at him and continued to enjoy the savory meal. She would offer to bake for him, if she had the ingredients. As a thank you. One day soon she would. "Well, to be quite honest with you. I don't really know where to go at this point. I mean, I can't just stay here forever. I don't think they will allow me to continue living here, if they found out.." Aria trailed off her sentence and figured he would know what she meant. She poked a hole in her egg and watched the yolk run out onto her noodles. "If I had no choice, my parents are all th
15:06
e way in Colorado. That's forever away from here." At this point she felt as though she were rambling nonsense. Why would Matthew care if she had to move away? It's not like he owed her anything. She didn't know why she was saying these things. She listened as he spoke and took a deep breath, thinking about her response before speaking up. "Affection.. what kind? I mean, yeah, that's always a nice thing to have." @Hiatus Tie
Avatar
Matthew Baker BOT 30-Oct-22 12:34 AM
Matthew nearly paused when Aria froze in reaction to his movement closer to her, but he pushed onwards in order to establish that he wanted contact. The smile on her lips as he withdrew his hand did nothing but encourage him onwards as he wanted to make her comfortable and to take her mind off of Jeremy and what the man had done. Watching her go back to the savory noodles, he watched her eat for a moment, a small smile on his own lips as he was happy to see she enjoyed it enough to fake eating it. Taking a bite and chewing it quickly, he swallowed before speaking, “If you can imagine, this isn’t even the final form. My sister makes it so much better than I do. This is a sorry copy of that.” Listening to her speak about being able to stay here only for a short while, Matthew shrugged as he finished his bite of noodles and tuna. Taking a swallow of water, he chuckled softly before speaking, “Jeremy isn’t going to want this getting out, so you can count on the fact he won’t be saying anything. The amount of shit he’d get for cheating on you...let’s just say it would shake the team to the core. He isn’t going to tell anyone, so news won’t get out until you’re ready for it to go up the ranks. Until then, you are welcome to stay here and try to get your head around it all. Besides, I could use the company.” Matthew ended with a smile before pinching up more noodles. It seemed every time he took a bite, he wanted to respond to her. Chuckling softly as he finished chewing and swallowed, he set his hand on the table and spoke in a low but joking tone, “No, you can’t just move all the way back to Colorado. North Carolina to Colorado, that’s forever away. I want to be able to see you and watch Max grow up. Nah, you can stay here until we get something sorted.” .
00:34
Taking a sip of his water as she spoke about the affection, Matthew lowered the glass and smiled as he took a bite of his noodles. Chewing thoughtfully as his mind raced through some more risqué options, he landed on something more appropriate and less like some fucked up pornography film. Pushing back from the table, he put up a finger as a silent gesture for her to stay at the table. Walking over to the end of the hallway, he walked to his linen closet and pulled out a quilt and a weighted blanket. Bringing them back and setting them on the back of the couch, he returned to his seat at the table. Pointing at the blankets, he took a sip of water before speaking, “After we finish eating, I was thinking maybe we could watch a movie together. You can lean against me for contact with another person, and I’ve got the weighted blanket to make you more comfortable if you would like it. So, what do you say? Affection after we eat, or do you have a better idea?” @Deleted User
Exported 47 message(s)