⭒ status: open | @pinehavenstarters ⭒ location: mcnasty's pub ⭒ cap: 0/3
another saturday night shift at mcnasty's, although she'd much rather have a gig lined up to play. at least the tips were coming in tonight, that made it kinda worth it. the warm change, indicative of the incoming spring season, had more people out tonight than the past few weeks. she'd been busy all night, just her against the world behind that bar — one tequila shot or cider pour after another. but of course, everyone had their limits. with the clock striking midnight she needed a breather, and a cigarette. stressful nights always caused a craving. "i'm taking a fucking a break!" tatum yelled defiantly to the room so she could take her stride and not worry about being questioned for another drink or to dry any more glasses.
b-lining for the back alley exit through the kitchen. unfortunately for her, someone had already made it to the alley before she did. the woman kept her distance, hoping to avoid any further human interaction for at least 5 minutes. while tatum struggled with her pack of smokes which sat snug in the back pocket of her jeans. soon enough, she won her battle as she leant against the brick wall with a dart in between her lips flicking her lighter.
click flick click.
she shook it a few times, just to see if that helped, but it didn't. now there was only one thing standing between her and the inhale of tobacco which evidently provided some sort of stress relief, she needed better habits. that one thing was whether or not this alley dweller had a lighter. "excuse me? sorry, yeah hi—" she worked to get the attention of the other. she didn't even know if they'd been smoking or now. "sorry do you um, do you have a lighter i could borrow? mine died." tatum made a face, persevering through the awkwardness she felt as she waited for the answer.
ᵒʰ, ˢʰᵉ ᵒʷᵉˢ ᵐᵉ. ᵇⁱᵍ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ. hot saliva pooled in the brunette's mouth as she pushed past- what she thought looked like to her- college age students without much spatial awareness ᵒʳ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵍⁱᵛⁱⁿᵍ ᵃ ᶠᵘᶜᵏ ᵃᵗ ᵃˡˡ towards freedom. for having a job where she mended hangovers or helped to soak up liquor before the night ended, she had no idea why she agreed to go out with her childhood best friend on her weekend off. well noa did- her roommate going on a first date at a bar with some guy online she met less than 6 hours ago sent up vivid crimson flags for her. even had the image of a coffin flash before her eyes when she saw catie's text pop up on her phone. not that she hadn't done anything dumb like that before, but noa's fairly decent advice was never meant to be taken by herself. it was a gift to others since her subconscious was an ungrateful bitch. 𝚠𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚜𝚑. ᵍᵒᵈ, it was like being birthed again as she parted the doors with a shove and didn't look back. she couldn't be mad when she would have done it regardless for her. and it was something to do, anyways. all she had done for what felt like the past month was work and binge watch shameless from the nice indent she had built into the cushions of her couch. she grew restless from the norm that she succumbed to her old life of parking herself on a barstool and reminding herself why she didn't hang out at bars anymore. pulling out her phone once she reached a spot where the music didn't play over her own thoughts, she shot a text to catie letting her know she stepped out for a second. or for the rest of the night. the guy was too much of a snooze to be a small town serial killer. but for a night, a pretty face was enough. her eyes flickered away from her lit up phone towards the click of the lighter, realizing she wasn't even aware of her surroundings if she didn't hear her being joined in her dimly lit alleyway. she frowned at the familiar sound of the dull snap turning over and over to no avail. "you know people are going electronic now." she teased, the jade bic loosely dancing between her middle and index finger before extending her arm out to the other woman. she hesitated continuing, sensing the distance wasn't to be respectful. though, again, it was a dark alley. "but there is nothing like a fresh ciggy after knocking back a few." she hummed, her eyes dancing against the flame that lit. "keep it." she offered it off as if it was nothing. she hoarded them for a reason- whether it was variety packs to make it worth her buck, or pocketing ones she borrowed...nothing jail worthy and it didn't fall into a karen's aesthetic for noa to anticipate a good bar story of when she got the cops called on her over a lighter. "gives me a reason to drag my ass home to my impressive hoard of cheap lighters before the new bachelor in there balls deep in jack daniels realizes i didn't use his american express to buy 'us' another round." she hummed, a simper settling on her lips.
