luvargas

[luvargas]

gio.

“Call you what? You? I think that’s a very common way to refer to someone, Lu, quit getting all hot and bothered, yeah?” Another grin, knowing exactly what she had been referring to, but taking the window that she left wide open for him. “Oh, look at that. Uprooting hundreds of dollars of this pristine grass in one fell swoop, might want to watch that doesn’t come out of your paycheck.” It was hardly expensive, but the owners could be petty. “No, no, we could work together. Blame it on anyone else you want.” All he wanted was a heftier tip, Lu! “Because I’m too much of a gentleman for that.”

*

      HER FINGERS TOY WITH THE LEVER as she stays low on the ground, weighing her options on who to throw under the bus.  “ think we can blame it on sunday ? ” lu jokes before she adds, “ how ‘bout calvin ? or that goddamn annoying tennis instructor, nick. ” go figure how the hell they’ll twist that narrative, but logic and reason are far from lu’s concerns at the moment. the consequences taking the backseat to the dare and rush, the want to see a soaked tesla winning her over as she blurts, “ one, two, three, go ! ” switching on the waters, then darting across the grass. “ damn, gio, you run like shit ! ” thank years of track for her speed, looking back all smug and breathless as she continues to tease. “ good thing you can handle yourself behind a wheel, i guess. ” lu takes a second to settle, taking in the scene they just ran away from. “ think you’re a good enough actor to pull off looking innocent ? ”

#dash. #dash: gio.

[luvargas]

joel.

Joel felt like he was the sore thumb of the country club — as if his long hair, beard and general appearance wasn’t enough to make him stick out, the fact that almost all of the employees seemed to be a decade younger than him did the trick. At first it was a little uncomfortable, but he’d gotten used to it, even befriended some of the proclaimed youngins. “It’s a shame, seems I’m too exhausted to cry,” he joked, a grin cracking his more serious expression. “Better tell me what exactly you want me shaking, flipping and tossing or I’ll decide for you.”

*

     EYEING THE LIQUOR ON DISPLAY, the tips of fingers lightly tap on her chin, lu thinking for another brief moment then finally answers, “ yeah, no, i think i’d just rather you surprise me, joel. ” she grins before holding back a yawn and spares a quick look around the fairly empty bar. “ and tell me a story while you’re at it. any story, i need to cleanse my ears of the wasp mom ones i’ve heard the past four hours. ” one of the things she liked about her job was how little time it left for the members to speak — often too out of breath and exhausted to talk to her — but more than a couple are stubborn, lazy with their workouts but diligent in testing her patience. “ literally, like, any story would do. and bartenders are supposed to have good chat or something, right ? we gotta make sure you’re not getting rusty on us. ”

#dash. #dash: joel.

[luvargas]

pillow fort? dont you mean pillow commune you fucking bourgeois counter-revolutionary

#muse.

[luvargas]

calvin.

“i know where the dumpster is. how could i forget? that’s where i put the shoe stash you left in my closet.” clavin jokes though his voice conveys sincerity. not growing up. with much, it wasn’t like him to mess with someone else’s possessions. especially not his ex’s in a petty rage. “i thought this was just the place for it. after all, isn’t this where you swindle testosterone fueled, rich juiceheads away from their wives and into your dungeon in order to swipe their gold cards and keep yourself young with bloodletting leech facials?” calvin longwindedly asks as he steps around her to scoop up a weight. he mocks the men that he’s seen here in the mirror by flexing his muscles as he speaks to lu, peering at her through the looking glass ahead.  “you call in perpetuating, i call it motivating.” he smirks. “i need a favor.”

*

      AN ABSOLUTE MINDFUCK TO THINK, at least for lu, that she was ever attracted to someone like calvin. “ holy shit, you are unbelievable, ” she bites back with a groan, thinking she’ll chalk the old fling up to new work goggles ( if such a thing even exists ) or maybe to some intrinsic, instinctive, psychosocial, physiological reaction that she can’t and won’t even try to explain. “ i swear to god, calvin, if that favor is someone’s number or info on some girl, then you can honestly just go ahead and fuck off, alright ? ” lu spews, but her tone leaves space for the littlest hope and chance for reconsideration. “ what do you need ? ”

#dash. #dash: calvin.

[luvargas]

thiago.

with: @luvargas​. 

where: training room.

OFTEN THIAGO FORGOT THAT HE WAS PAID TO DO A JOB and not just work whenever he felt like it. to him, his time at highlands could be divided between roaming around as if he was a member and giving 50% whenever he decided to work. after getting a pretty considerable tip from one of the members, he took a well deserved break and went to the training room. “lu!” he yells as if he owned the place, a beaming smile playing on his lips. “i got a big tip, so i’m taking you out for lunch,” he says regardless of the fact that she was working. 

*

      THE GLEAM IN HER CLIENT’S EYES should have been her first clue. a big signage that says ‘ borges on site ’ popping up before she hears her name. it doesn’t take long before lu gets a permission to end their session a bit early, and she wastes no time darting over to her friend. “ you’re lucky mrs. campbell is weirdly invested in my love life and has the hots for you. ” lu throws a big grin and wave at the blonde across the room, pointing out the woman in question to thiago. “ like i think she’s trying to live vicariously through me, which ... gross. ” with her back finally turned and facing her friend, she let the eyerolls commence, only momentarily broken by the other’s offer. “ well, look at you moving up in the world ! got a place in mind ? i have two hours free before my next session, so i can drive us wherever. ”

#dash. #dash: thiago. #my fave aviary himbo.

[luvargas]

sunday.

      the  last  thing  the  fast  and  furious  needed  was  another  edition  to  their  cvs-receipt  list  of  films,  but  if  they  felt  compelled  to  take  to  the  upscale  paths  of  country  clubs  then  sunday  would’ve  been  a  shoo-in.  she  bobbed  and  weaved  past  snail-trailed  members  rounding  out  their  day  on  the  green  without  as  much  as  a  ‘sorry’  ––  far  too  fixated  on  seeking  pleasures  in  the  minor  things  in  life  to  care.  like  terrorizing  coworkers,  ones  that  specifically  went  by  lu  or  …  “  lucila,  ”  tires  screeched  as  she  pressed  down  on  the  parking  brake,  barely  waiting  for  the  golf  cart  to  make  a  full  stop  before  hopping  out.  she  didn’t  come  empty  handed,  pulling  the  treasure  out  from  the  caddy  storage.  “  seemed  to  me  like  you  were  havin’  a  long  day,  one  too  many  addison  raes.  figured  you’d  want  your  own  personal  valet.  ”  a  devilish  smirk  found  its  way  onto  her  face  as  she  set  the  booster  seat  smack  on  the  passenger  side.  “  besides  …  ”  wasn’t  long  before  she  was  towering  over  lu,  “  every  princess  needs  a  throne  right  ?  ”  and  with  that  she  snapped  her  gum.  “  your  chariot  awaits,  shorty.  ”

*

      CALL IT A GUILTY PLEASURE — or call her, rather, a guilty pleasure — for lack of a better term ; the banter and bickering with sunday never involve low blows, and lu ( despite a preference for death over admittance ) actually somehow enjoys it. “ no mames, güera, ” she mutters under her breath, hiding behind foreign tongue to mask her amusement. she tries to hold off for a second, then two, before breaking and fully erupting in a laugh. goddamn that fucking booster. “ gracias, ” lu starts, trying to regain composure and aids it with a clear of her throat. “ pero no, gracias. prefiero caminar hacia mi carro. ” a blatant lie on lu’s part, but she starts to walk off and away from sunday regardless. and if she moves a little slower with a bit more sway to her hips, well, blame it on fatigue and overtime. “ oh, and piece of advice, ” she calls out with a quick look back, completely expecting sunday to follow her. “ referencing outdated monarchial institutions that promote and uphold systemic practices of bigotry isn't exactly a complimentary pet name. ” there’s the lucila we know. “ and neither is shorty. you really gotta work on your game, wexler. ”

#dash. #dash: sunday. #4 my gru gal n fellow highlands top.

[luvargas]

link.

          despite the mix of nicotine & cannabis wafting in the air, link will admit to this being the least close he’s ever felt to being the suave main character of a major film. like james bond. or the godfather. or young rob lowe as number two in austin powers. this slap of uncool, no good son of a bitchery, truly convincing him that he shouldn’t go outside for longer than five minutes, otherwise he falls victim to people witnessing him trip over his shoelaces, drop his phone on rough concrete, or worst of all, cough up a storm like he’s never inhaled smoke before in his life. the way this girl is sizing him up now making him wish he had an eye patch to at least amplify the buffoonery he’s about to humor her with. answering,  ❛ scared?? scared?? pffffft — frankly, my dear, i don’t give a damn. ❜  and he takes another swig of water, trying to do it with an air of confidence, but he winds up spilling water down his shirt instead.  ❛ shit … ❜  a harsh mutter as he tends to his wet polo & the drips along his chin, link’s clumsy self coming to the forefront without his consent.  ❛ yeah, if you couldn’t tell, i think a ball boy like me’s the least of those pumkin-heads’ concerns. it’s not like i’m vying for their tips. or pinches on the cheek if i’m ‘round their day drunk wine wives — wow, try saying that ten times fast. ❜

*

      IT’S A RECORD SCRATCH ON vintage vinyl. a big ol’ smackin’ crack on the screen. some will swear and say it adds character, or in this stranger’s case : completely reveals it.  “ you were doing so well ! ” her tone’s dubious and doubtful, more taking the piss than anything. but her smile’s warm enough when paired with her laugh that it’d be hard to take offense. far from a lu vargas priority, but the scene unfolding is ultimately, surprisingly endearing. “ here, ” lu offers with a chuck of the towel on her shoulder toward the other. throw the threats right out the window, and consider the walls rightfully smashed. “ i’m lu, by the way. personal trainer here at paradise. ” a hand wave is added to complete the sarcasm, brow a little quirked with her lopsided grin. “ totally didn’t mean to spook you into choking water. ”

#dash. #dash: link.

[luvargas]

nick.

“I never said they should be content with it, but it certainly is progress compared to other sports. Okay, and listen just because the number one player in the world is an asshole doesn’t mean they all are. Look at Andy Murray, he’s more of a feminist that you could ever be.” Only Lucila make him see red so fast. He already wasn’t the most patient person but around her, his patient and sanity were tested. “No, your slacktivism is.” It was a waste of time to fight with lu, but at the same time he couldn’t keep his mouth shut. “Just stop talking to my students about what I do, especially when you don’t even know a thing about it, Lucila.” 

*

     “ WHAT THE FUCK did you just say ? ” lu all but screams in the training room, moving toward nick like she stood six feet high. “ it’s bullshit that we all know he’s an asshole, and he still gets a platform. the fucking problem goes way beyond him as an individual, okay, nicky ? or do you need me to spell it out for you ? ” thank lu’s non-denominational demiurge for the lack of patrons at the gym ... not that eyes on them would’ve held her back. “ he still plays, and he gets paid, while stupid, self-absorbed, privileged cunts like you — and yeah, even fucking murray — continue to support that institution. oh, and fuck you for thinking that rich cishet white man is more of a feminist than i could ever be. ” as though his words weren’t enough, her name dropped in their argument only pushed her further. the two-week old cherry on a shit-stacked sundae, never mind that the pronunciation is butchered on his tongue. “ they’re my clients too, asshole, and when you do what you do poorly, then your shit becomes my problem. ”

#dash. #dash: nick. #our reps: violence. our tags: love.

[luvargas]

zara.

“Do you know that the rose is the state flower of New York?” Said quickly and rushed in one strange frankenword. That’s what they had to do with anything, Lu. “I like facts like that.” Not untrue, it made her a pretty good trivia partner. “The hallmark of a revolution, really? Do you think someone is trying to signal some unrest?” Hm. It was her little rebellion. Her way of getting an audience without the pomp and circumstance of a gallery. “Is that an insult to Picasso or to Pollack?” Or both. Nodding, she gave a smile, “Originally, biking was the plan today… But that was a better plan this morning compared to now. I’d really appreciate that.”

*

      WHEN THERE’S NO NOSE UPTURNED or a grunt of disdain, lu can actually learn and take in new knowledge, much to several people’s surprise. state flower of new york : roses. noted with genuine thanks. “ i dunno, maybe there’s like some subliminal revolutionary statement to it ? ” the confusion’s evident in her face, aimlessly grasping at straws, before a laugh and hip bump break her thoughts. “ and seriously, fuck cubism or whatever. picasso should go down in history as nothing more than an abusive misogynist. and pollock, well, i don’t really know the guy, so that’s just some rich people shit as far as i’m concerned. ” with a click, she hitches zara’s bike on the back of her car. “ by the way, you can totally just text me when you’re out this late and need a ride. biking isn’t safe, z ; we don’t know what these rich people get up to when the sun sets. ever seen the movie ready or not ? ”

#dash. #dash: zara.

[luvargas]

nick.

“I could, but I don’t have the energy to address your brain cell today,” he says with a saccharine smile. One exchange and he was already done with Lu. “I wouldn’t feel entitle to anything if you cared to do some proper research, also for your information tennis is an example for pay equality, but of course, that information doesn’t fit your narrative.” Why did he even bother coming to the gym to talk to her? It was always pointless and only ruined his day. “Anyway, just stop misinforming the members.” 

*

      “ SO NAOMI OSAKA AND SERENA WILLIAMS and all the other female players, especially those of color, should totally just shut up and be content ‘cause they get paid the same like that sexist djokovic, right ? ‘cause that’s the be-all end-all solution to all social injustices ? ” game, set, and match : lucila vargas. at least says the imaginary umpire narrating their fight in her head. “ why don’t you just stay in your lane, huh, princeton ? last i checked, i got the certification, was hired to be here, and am qualified to do my job. or is your blatant misogyny clouding your common sense that much ? ”

#dash. #dash: nick. #look at us talking tennis.... #now kiss.

[luvargas]

closed starter for @dazcds​, set outside the training room after closing

      THE LAST THING LU NEEDS at the end a shift is for her eyes to shoot out of her head. like those cartoons in the ‘90s whenever they’re shocked, with the jaw dropping right on the ground, eyes literally falling from the socket and rolling onto the floor. “ sunday, are you fucking kidding me ? ” she questions when the other girl’s close enough to hear, but even from a distance it’s clear enough to see. “ tell me that’s not what i think it is. ” because to her it looks like a booster seat. at best, something sunday brought to work. at worst, swiped from a member who probably won’t notice. and lu’s the only one around sunday could possibly be walking toward, which means she clearly, obviously, surely won’t like where this is going.

#dash. #dash: sunday. #closed starter. #remember u chose this life lauren.

[luvargas]

Jennifer’s Mind

#muse. #courtney love vc: the pieces of jennifer's maaayeeend.

[luvargas]

joel.

Joel liked his job — as much as he could like a job, anyway. It was fun to mix drinks, make conversation with wasted people and see how many tips he was able to weasel out of said people. Tonight was rough, though. It wasn’t very busy, and no one seemed interested in giving him a challenge, which was the whole fun of the job. For the last two hours he’d found himself wishing he was at home drawing pictures with his daughter. Noticing another customer walking up to the bar, he leaned against the counter, offering them a tired smile. “What’ll it be, love? I’m warnin’ you, if it’s only a bottle of beer you want, I might just cry.”

*

       THE TOUGH GIRL ACT TURNS ON without a moment’s pause, lu adding a little more swagger and gravity to her steps, but the cheeky grin plastered on her face betrays her. ‘ cause it’s big man joel himself behind the bar — pops of the town. “ now that i’d like to see, ” lu says teasing as she slides in the stool like an old fashioned cowboy, although the hop she took to get on it practically ruined the look. “ come on, big guy. i’m waiting. show me the waterworks. ” she adds, eyes scanning the rows and rows of bottles on the shelves. “ i just figured i’d keep you company. but since it sounds like you’re offering ... i wouldn’t mind seeing some fancy shaking with flips and tosses. the whole snazzy bartender show. ”

#dash. #dash: joel.

[luvargas]

Shiva Baby (2020) dir. Emma Seligman

#wc. #i just think that Women. #shiva baby so terrify.

[luvargas]

esme.

Plant your feet. Look where you want the ball to go. Swing and follow through. Those words were on a near-constant loop on days like today as Esme guided budding golf pros the in’s and out’s of the sport. Some afternoons were worse, requiring far more patience and reminders not to swing clubs around the other kids. But thankfully, today, there had been no casualties and far more flying balls than she expected. Maybe they were a good teacher.

They’d just stepped off one of the stations when they caught someone watching from a far-off golf cart. Who it was, they couldn’t quite tell. “Well, don’t just stand there watchin’. Come over here and let me teach you a thing or two,” Esme called out, her left hand cupping her mouth to amplify her voice across the green. “I promise they don’t bite!”

*

     THE PROLETARIAT SHACKLES WEIGH LU DOWN once more against her will, makes her feet drag across the grass as she huffs against the very existence of the course. it’s a tedious trip ( at least for her ) to fetch a member’s kid across the field, but a pretty please and even prettier tip proved too much even for her to decline. an overpaid trainer turned glorified messenger turned babysitter. lu sits on the golf cart, letting the kid stay a bit longer after a call with his wannabe jane fonda mom.

      at the sound of a shout, the boy springs out the cart and sprints, lu groaning as she runs after him silently cursing whoever it was that disturbed the little menace. it doesn’t take long for her to realize the greeting was for her, and the boy, immediately losing interest, takes to talking with the other kids. “ great. another generation of the upper class inducted into this gratuitous, exploitative ” — lu could go on and on as she looks at them playing with the clubs, and so she does — “ opportunistic, classist, elitist, uneconomical excuse for a sport. ” it’s only then does she notice exactly who it was the extended the well-meaning invite. she thinks of reeling back for a moment, but her point stands. and feeling against herself to hold back her final line, she finishes deadpan, “ just what mother nature needs. ”

#dash. #dash: esme. #so soz 4 the word vom no need 2 match!!!

[luvargas]

link.

          he pauses. recalibrates. the solace paired with confusion soon giving link whiplash as he blinks at the girl during her mid-afternoon small talk ( rant ). his confusion mainly stemming from what she thinks his job actually is. because yeah, it’s shitty. and no, he doesn’t take offense. but also, he’s out on the green enough to know when to avoid the “old circle jerk of white men” & their “insipid oppressive capitalist ventures”. in fact, when he’s ball collecting, he goes out of his way to never interact with the shriveled up members, making it a game for himself to hide, ignore, & busy himself in case a man that looked too much like his dad’s friends wanted to approach him & ask link for bottle service.  ❛ thanks?? ❜  he upturns his appreciation into a question, coughing just a little bit more when he steals the water bottle from the other & chugs about half of it.  ❛ by the way, i don’t. ❜  don’t what, well, he pauses a short moment to keep her guessing.  ❛ — bite my tongue. it’s actually a favorite pastime of mine, goin’ round. eavesdropping on the ol’ locker room circle jerk. and just when they least expect it, i pipe in with some liberal bullshit before tossing them a free ball & then walk away. ❜

*

     IF THERE WERE A SCORE to accompany the moment, lu thinks it would sound like this : staccato bass notes on an old and rusty piano, deep strings stretching in the air. or maybe a pink panther-esque track goes with the scene, almost comical when the context’s considered. blame it on the boy and his decision to pause in between thoughts. and partly the way that the smell of weed mixes with her own cigarette, making lu highly aware that she’s somewhere hidden from view, with a man she barely knows. not that she thinks she can’t take him. in fact, she’s certain, if only because he almost choked on air and smoke, that she could take him down without chipping a nail if she had to. “ ahuh, sure, ” she nods instead, a little too airy to be anything but convincing. the two strangers so obviously still gauging each other, and she thinks he might have grass-induced paranoia to blame, and lu, well, she’s stepped on enough toes that she can never be too careful. “ not at all scared you’ll get called out for it ? say some liberal bullshit to the wrong orange-loving boomer and you might just get sacked. ” she raises a brow to add to the challenge, as though she were playing a boss and him the interviewee, each other’s names of little importance if at all, at least for the time being.

#dash. #dash: link.

[luvargas]

gio.

Grin lit up his face, “You tell me.” Of course it was. He was going to egg her on as long as he could until she gave in, then he could go on the fact that he never told her to do anything. All part of the scheming. “Nah, all he knows is I took the keys, doesn’t know who parked it. Let it get rained on for a few minutes and then I’ll move it, say I spotted it and I’m the hero.” Yes, he thought about it. “Me? Chicken? C’mon, babe. Let’s be realistic here.”

*

     CUE THE RED FLAGS that shoot up in her view — two red triangles peering out from behind nick’s head, the little devilish horns framing his face perfectly. “ i told you not to call me that. fucking pig. ” lu grabs a few blades of grass and uproots them from the ground, thrown with force toward his leg but not enough to actually reach him. a petulant display of disdain, picture-perfect with her practically crouched beneath him. “ hey, screw this, you’re gonna pin this on me ! ” eureka. “ you’re so full of shit, giovanni. how do i know you’re not gonna pull another game of white blaming the colored, huh ? ”

#dash. #dash: gio.