Ace Blinks As The Blindfold Is Removed, Eyes Widening At The Sight Of The Kitchen Setup Before Him. He

ace blinks as the blindfold is removed, eyes widening at the sight of the kitchen setup before him. he isn't a baker. truthfully, any attempt he makes at cooking even for himself ends in disaster. yet there's a bubble of excitement, and part of him practically melts at the idea of being let into her professional space. " wait, you're actually trusting me around sharp objects and potentially open flames ? " it feels like an accident waiting to happen but when he turns and actually looks at her, worry seems to melt away. nervous laugh spilling out when his first though is about how cute she looks in her apron and hairnet, and he's cursing himself internally. " i, uh, y-yeah. yeah, i know him. kinda. not overly well or anything. more so in passing. " takes him a moment to find composure, but eventually he does . . . even if it's only a small strand of it. " what'd he do ? " he questions, nosy, nose slightly scrunched. " well, yeah. that's true. you're the best baker i know, and i know at least . . . well, actually i only know you. but i've tasted a lot of cakes. yours are the best, hands down. " smile grows wider, and with it his confidence does too. he was totally capable of not messing this up, right ? " alright boss, " he adds with a playful tone, hands rubbing together, " where do you want me ? "

a combination of both numerous years spent being ace's friend and the ability to go off on her own tangents mean she doesn't even notice when ace goes on one of his. "well, if it makes you feel better, i probably couldn't shove you into a locker, even if i really wanted to. but, luckily for you, you haven't made me mad today, so i'd have no reason to want to." clearly teddy was not the most sensitive to others experiences-- people either found it endearing, how she couldn't read a conversation, or they didn't. it hadn't scared ace away yet, so perhaps he was just as used to her as she was him.

teddy unties the blindfold, revealing her work station. ingredients, mixing bowls, and cake pans all laid before them. she hops in front of him and thrusts her arms in the direction of the station, as if presenting it to him. "surprise !" it's not like ace had ever expressed an interest of working in the back, but it felt like she was sharing an important piece of her life with him. "you get to make me help an I'M SORRY cake ! figured we could strengthen our friendship by trying to help patch up rhodes'. do you know rhodes? apparently he royally fucked up with his friend and thinks cake can cure all. and, if i'm making it, i think it can."

" i bought a plant, " ace states, regret evident in his tone alone. sure, he'd kept his dog alive, somehow, for the last five years, but other than that he was pretty disastrous. often times wonders how he's kept himself functioning for this long. " someone said they reduce stress, improve your mood. but i have no idea how to look after a plant, and now the thing i bought to help reduce my stress has inadvertently caused me more stress. " there's a pause, only long enough for him to take a breath. " do you know anything about plants ? anything at all, because if this thing dies on me i'm gonna feel like an absolute failure. and my ego's low enough, it can't take that kinda blow. " closed ft. @sunshinesfm

✈️ (airplane) for ace, ❤️ (red heart) for king, 💭 (thought balloon) for nova

✈️ AIRPLANE — have you travelled anywhere that helped you discover something about yourself and/or about the world?

“ well, yeah . . . yeah, i’ve been a lot of places, seen a lot of faces. like in amsterdam i learned that i have a really low tolerance for weed, and realistically i shouldn’t smoke it. is it gonna stop me ? no. but it was an eye-opening experience . . . or maybe i couldn’t actually keep my eyes open at all— honestly, i’m still not sure. the memories are pretty hazy. but in all seriousness, travelling made me realize that the world is big— like really big, and i’m just a guy with an even bigger lack of direction. but at the end of the day, you know, it’s okay to be lost. as long as you eventually find a good bar, you’ll be fine. there's nothing a couple of beers can't fix. "

❤️ RED HEART — what is/are your love language(s)? how do you use it/them to communicate your feelings about others?

“ my love languages ? i guess you could say i’m big on acts of service and gift-giving. talk is pretty cheap, honestly. people can say a whole lot without it meaning much at all. i’m the guy who’ll pull strings to make your problems disappear, or whisk you away on a spontaneous weekend trip to paris because why just say i care when i can show it in a way you’ll always remember, even if things don’t work out ? but it’s not just the big gestures. it’s paying attention. surprising them with that thing they spoke about weeks ago, recreating a memory they want to relive. or the simple things like memorising their coffee order. actions mean way more than words in my opinion. "

💭 THOUGHT BALLOON — is there something or someone you find yourself thinking about more often than other things? if so, why do you think you do this?

“ that’s a pretty deep question. lately, i guess i find myself thinking a lot about who i want to become. by twenty-eight, i should probably have a clearer sense of that, but i spent so much time trying to meet others expectations that i lost sight of my own path. now i'm rediscovering myself, i think it’s natural to wonder where i’ll end up, whether i’ll ever fully find that resolution, or if it’s just a continuous journey of self-exploration. either way, at least it's something i'm doing for myself, on my own terms. "

Regular gym experience

THE PARENT TRAP (1998) dir. Nancy Meyers

his expression subtly brightens at her response, glad that someone else is able to see what he's envisioning. yet despite his confident demeanour, there is part of him that can't help but to doubt his ideas. which bothers him greatly considering he was practically forced into the family business. " though, who knows ? it might end up being something completely different. my dad has this remarkable talent for raining on my parade. i don’t think he’s too thrilled when i come up with ideas that outshine his, " he teases, gently nudging into her side. " but let's move onto the fun stuff. if you were moving into a newly built living space, what amenities would you most want to see ? hit me with anything— nothing will sound too crazy. "

hadley’s eyes looked over at it all. she could almost see the vision of his now taking shape, with sleek luxury condos rising from the ground, blending seamlessly with the surrounding cityscape. his enthusiasm was contagious, she felt a flicker of excitement for him. the location did have a certain allure. hadley turned to him, nodding her head at his question. “i can definitely see it,” she said, her voice carrying a mix of genuine admiration and contemplative curiosity. “it’s got great potential. the blend of city convenience with that sense of space could really set it apart. but, of course, the final vision will depend on your dad’s input. still, i think you’re on to something here.”