mac montgomery

devinstone returnee || 27 || waitress / ( escort ) Honey i laugh when it sinks in a pillar i am of pride .

[mxcmontgomery]

nicokeswick‌:

               The self defense mechanism which was near ingrained into wavering timbre of her tired voice offered a chuckle to escape him, people always so sensitive. Perhaps it was the severed ties amidst in which he was raised or the cocktail of trauma the military gave him which aided in this… somewhat jaded, for lack of a better word, disposition. All the same, Nico had been swift to squander any further jokes at her expense, lest for the time being, lips pursed as if in a mild frown at this crossroads which presented itself. “I didn’t think it’d be possible to strike a nerve over some burgers and fries,” a mild chuckle escaped Nico, holding up the unlit cigarette, “I guess this is my punishment, now how am I meant to express my regrets.” Dramatic pout was soon produced, a roguish gleam in cerulean orbs. 

What he said made her feel petty, and she debated backtracking on them, but stubbornness won and instead she simply stood there and stared at him, arms crossed over her chest while he spoke, though she eventually allowed a smirk to pull up the corners of her mouth when he pouted. She rolled her eyes and sighed, but then stepped up closer to him anyway and held up the lighter towards the cigarette. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” she said matter-of-factly, looking strictly at the lighter and fiddling with it a bit before putting it away to finally take another drag of her own cigarette. “So what are you going to order” she asked, nodding towards the joint and then looking back at him. Not that she was particularly interested in his eating habits, but it seemed better than standing there in complete silence, waiting for another quip from him. And it sure beat dragging her tired legs home.

[ilaurens]

Reblog if you want anonymous questions.

[mxcmontgomery]

rupcrt‌:

The Ambrosia estate is a veritable maze – a sprawling, palatial mansion with seemingly no end. Even Roo, who has the advantage of being raised there, frequently finds himself wandering into rooms he’d forgotten the existence of, looking bewildered and lost. Some of them are empty to the point of comedy, and the rest resemble showrooms, pristine but completely impersonal. He can only imagine how overwhelming the estate must be to someone unacquainted with its grandeur; she’s picked the right person to ask for directions, at least. He’s the only Ambrosia in attendance who she’ll wring some sympathy out of. His parents have a remarkably warped perception of normality; they’d never accept that the way they live – with their housekeepers, chauffeurs, acres of land and stables – could be unusual, or overwhelming, to some.

There’s a flicker of recognition when the girl addresses him, a vague thread he, quite honestly, can’t be bothered to follow at first. He deals with no end of nameless faces – it comes with the territory of being a socialite – but being expected to remember particular people is a headache. He can only hope she isn’t someone who dislikes him, that she falls into the small minority of human beings he hasn’t managed to offend.

“Sure. If you go through Narnia, take a left past the Yellow Brick Road and keep going until you reach the entrance to Wonderland, you should find the stables on your right.” It doesn’t even feel like an exaggeration; if anything, the actual directions are even more convoluted and absurd. “It’ll honestly be easier if I just show you? If you end up somewhere you shouldn’t be, my parents might actually kill you. They’re already pissed off about the whole being late thing.”

Though she appreciated his humor, there was a little alarm bell that went off in the back of her mind, linking his mannerisms to those of someone she could nearly remember - though she had no idea where from. Someone as rich as this? She’d remember if she knew them from her childhood. “Geez, that would be ... great, actually,” she said, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear as she nodded. Okay, so, son of the house. Important information. “I know, I feel awful.” Not only had she lost her keys, but it taken her a good seven minutes to get her car started. Old piece of crap.

At his words, she trailed after him in silence, the feeling of familiarity creeping up on her with each step she took. Out of the blue, she thought about Henry - a client she hadn’t seen in months, but one who’d been a regular with her for a long time, and she realized what was going on before her mind had connected the dots. A sharp inhale followed, but she played it off coolly, glancing sideways ever so slightly to confirm the rising suspicion. Yes, of course she thought of Henry. The boy walking diagonally in front of her had been at each event she’d attended with the man. And even then, he’d looked at her like ... like he understood. Understood the agreement, the contract, the rules of the game Henry and her played at regular intervals. But did he?

And, even if had noticed, back then, did he realize now? If so, he was hiding it well. She bit her lower lip as they moved further from the house, contemplating speaking up herself just to clear the air -- but that would assume confirming potential suspicions, and she wasn’t sure she was brave enough to do that. Instead, she took the coward’s way out.

“It’s a beautiful property,” she said, breaking the silence and using the opportunity to look around, making her hide her face away from him. Maybe it hadn’t clicked for him, yet.

[mxcmontgomery]

cptsamphillips‌:

Location: Downtown. Time: Afternoon. Status: Open to @mxcmontgomery​

Sam was no romantic, or so he had been told multiple times throughout every relationship he had ever cared to entertain for longer than a few weeks. His brain seemed to be incapable of recognizing any such implications; a day-trip to Martha’s Vineyard had presented itself to him in forms of one of his buddies inviting Sam to his family home, and never once had he thought of it being romantic to bring someone along. Casually enough, she didn’t even have to spend the whole time with them, just wander the island his mom had raved about in an e-mail a couple of months back as a change of scenery from the same old Devinstone. But as his idea had earned the man scoffs and whistles from all friendly sides maybe it was no good idea after all. He hadn’t asked Mac. 

   A few days since the whole situation presented itself and, to his luck or not, they had been spent outside of his hometown but elsewhere for work and too filled with more important tasks to waste another thought on such trifles, it did come back to mind. Not because he wanted to, but boredom had set in during the drive home and his most recent relief of such was to spend time with Mac in any kind of way. He did not ask her what she did the last few days for the safety of not getting details that he’d regret knowing, only whether she was free now and where to pick her up, which lead him further downtown. Why there and not at home? Another question he felt safer not to ask. 

    Sam did pointedly not kiss her but kept at a distance. Not in front of people who had no business in knowing anything at all. The very real question that lied heavily in the air was whether he even had to when some of the very same people had never even seen him genuinely smile, not laugh at a bad joke or the humor of a situation but light up just for her and himself. “You good?”, he greeted, feeling for perhaps the first time how weird it sounded given their relationship but hard-bitten on not changing it.

If she’d allow herself to think about it, she’d realize how unlike her it was to jump so fast for someone like him. For anyone, really. She prided herself on her independence, loved that she’d come out here with an old friend to check out downtown and maybe - just maybe, get a glimpse of which places to scout if she’d ever want to take on new clients. Who knew, right?

And so, dark red lipstick staining the edge of her glass, she scanned the bar to gauge its clientele while her friend chatted on about her boyfriend. Or, well, fiancee, now. It’s not that she wasn’t having a good time - it was nice to catch up with old school friends. But it had quickly become clear to Mac that they now led vastly different lives. She’d dressed up to go out, to impress. Her friend was clearly dressed for a casual drink and some food before returning to the comfort of her home. It made Mac’s dress feel all to revealing, the spaghetti straps too thin. 

But then again, she’d never been one for introspection, so instead she sipped her cocktail once more, happy to know the effects of the booze would soon kick in, when she felt her phone buzz in the small bag she’d brought along. It interrupted her friend, but she merely smiled sheepishly as she answered, replying in short, low answers. She really should’ve told him she was busy; told him to find someone else. But not five minutes later she was waiting by the curb for him, knowing that whatever he’d have in mind, it’d be far more fun, far breezier than whatever had resumed inside. (And, though her friend seemed disappointed their date was cut short, she also seemed happy to be able to return home. So far for catching up).

Cocking an eyebrow when he spoke, she smirked as she got into the car, “Am I good?” she repeated, the words tasting strange. He wasn’t usually like this. “Sure, great,” she responded then, clumsily fiddling with the clasp of her bag to close it. Maybe that cocktail had been stronger than she’d anticipated. “So,” she said, drawing out the vowel, “where’re we headed?”

[mxcmontgomery]

Location: Ambrosia estate Time: an hour or two before a reception / dinner /event Status: closed to @rupcrt

Two weeks, she’d held out. Two weeks - just enough for a single paycheck and a realization that that was all she’d make. And so, despite not falling back into old habits just yet, she’d been eager for some extra cash. And, she thought to herself, this was building up hotel experience too, right? Even if she was just a server. 

A server who - by the way - was late. Not a great look. It had even prevented her from taking in the sheer vastness of the estate, the beauty of it, the luxury of it. Later - she thought, because after being scolded at by her manager (great first impression), Mac was sure she’d been given the tough jobs. And so, here she was, looking around the room, trying to see how she could possibly get to the stables (of course the house had stables) to find the extra trays of decorations. Nice, heavy vases that she’d have to carry up to the main house. Perfect.

“Hey -” she said, calling out to the first person she walked past while she buttoned up the server’s shirt all the way to the top, “can you tell me where the stables are? I only just got here and ... I’m lost.”

[tru]

[mxcmontgomery]

Location: Parking lot of Buns and More Time: 03:34 PM Status: closed to @danielrockefella​ | hamilton starters: “ i may have punched him – ”

“And he may have punched back, I take it,” Mac couldn’t help but reply, annoyance clearly lacing her voice as she pressed the ice pack down on his lip with a little more force, essentially shutting him up. She wasn’t a pacifist per se, not even by a long shot, really, but she’d never understood the need to lay your fist on someone just because they looked at you the wrong way or said something that kicked your ego. -- Not that she knew what had gone down; but she could fill in the blanks.

“You know you’re lucky I was just on my break, right? We’re not supposed to let trouble in the diner.” She raised her eyebrow as she said trouble, emphasizing it for dramatic effect, then slowly pulled away the ice pack to look at the busted lip. “Well,” she said, sighing softly, “it’s gonna look ugly for a few days, but I don’t think it needs stitches. Lips just always bleed much.” Not that she had any nursing experience, but back in New York she dated a guy who’d been into boxing, so she’d seen some fight-related injuries before. 

“Now,” she started, taking his hand up to his face to make him hold the ice pack, “I’m more than willing to sneak out a milkshake for you, take your mind off this, but not until you tell me just exactly what happened.” As if she had any authority over him, she stood up from the bench and put her hands on her hips while she waited for an answer, stealing a quick glance at her watch before her eyes landed on him again. Eleven more minutes before she’d have to get back inside.

[mxcmontgomery]

Location: Poppy Petals Time: (Right) after opening hours Status: closed to @abrahamayalas​​​ | hamilton starters: “ and i thought i was so smart. ”

Mac simply smiled at his words, she was preoccupied anyway, picking up the Peruvian lilies and smelling them as she chose a few to take home. “Oh, I’m sure you are,” she then replied, still not looking at him as she chose a color palette of flowers that would brighten up her entire room. 

“I’m just smarter.” It was lighthearted, all in good jest, but she glanced up at him anyway, making sure he felt the same. “Don’t you ever forget that. It took me only two and a half minutes, that one,” she joked, taking the stem of one of the flowers and pointing it to him as if to warn him. “Anyway -- I’ve got all I need. Thanks, Abe. These will look great by the bed.” She was genuine, the conversation was easy, and she needed it after the day she’d had. It had been a lot harder to readjust to town life than she’d anticipated - and she’d already anticipated trouble.

“Okay. Today’s riddle: you see a boat filled with people. It has not sunk, but when you look again you don’t see a single person on the boat. Why?” she asked, wrapping the leftover flowers she’d chosen in a newspaper sheet to take them home. She didn’t know if Abraham’s boss knew that he let her take some every day -- just the ones that’d be thrown out later that night if she didn’t save them, but honestly? She didn’t care all that much, she was just grateful.

[mxcmontgomery]

ofhosanna‌:

GABRIEL MAY have been abhorrently stupid at times, but he would never be so absent-minded as to approach a waitress who was off duty for her services. Mac’s comment immediately had him thinking who does that?  “oh no, I wasn’t doing anything of the sort, you’re obviously on your way home,” Gabriel said, raising his hands in earnest. He offered her a playful smile, though it would hardly be seen in the semi-darkness of the parking lot. “and I’m not here to pester you about the smoking, either,” People always seemed to think he was going to do that sort of thing - bother them about their habits. A consequence of his profession, he supposed, but he liked to think he gave off a much more welcoming air than that. 

“I’m glad I caught you,” the pastor stated as he began rummaging around in his pockets. “you left before I was finished, so I didn’t get to give you a tip.” and with that, he produced a crisp twenty-dollar bill from his wallet. Gabriel knew it was more than the average - especially at a diner like this, but with three rowdy kids at his table, he always tried to tip at least sixty percent. For emotional damages.

She looked at him suspiciously, though intrigued, and didn’t move much while he inched closer. She couldn’t believe she’d actually forgotten a table, but she’d been so ready to get out of there that the minute her time was finished for the day, she’d left the apron and made a beeline outside. If it wasn’t for him, the other waitress, whose name Mac couldn’t even remember, would’ve gotten her tip. Great first day.

But - she thought, people didn’t just go out of their way to tip their waitress, saw it more as a chore rather than an obligation, and so despite the fact that she wanted to take the twenty -twenty!- dollar bill from his hands, she was careful. She’d had enough experience with people, especially men, demanding things from her because they tipped well, quid pro quo. But this wasn’t that job. And he seemed friendly enough. Not because she remembered his kids - that didn’t mean he couldn’t be a creep. But there was something innately non-threatening about him. 

And so, she took a step forward, tentatively reached out and took the bill from his hand, then smiled politely as she tucked it away in the pocket of her pants. “Thanks.” It was too much, twenty dollars, but she was not about to argue about that. Given was given. “Uh- you have great kids,” she added, both to be friendly but also because she really had noticed. They’d been polite, spoken for themselves, definitely not shy but not annoying either. A rare find. “Do you want a smoke?” she then added, feeling she could at least offer.

[mxcmontgomery]

itsaudreywright‌:

closed starter for @mxcmontgomery​

There was a difference between teaching here than there was teaching in Boston. In someways she found it more rewarding teaching her. As she finished up her classes for the day, Audrey gathered her things heading to go home for the day. On her way out she spotted the young woman eyeing the bulletin board. She hadn’t seen her before. “Thinking about signing up for some classes?” She inquired softly. Audrey made her way over to the girl. It seemed some people who didn’t follow a traditional route of study were more tentative about diving back in. “Could I help answer any questions you have? I’m a professor here.”

For days now, she’d been back and forth between if not now, when? and why bother?. She’d wanted to go to college for years, but there had always been reasons to put it off. Yesterday, she’d driven pas the campus on her way to work and simply stole a glance at the students. Today, she’d actually gone inside. She wasn’t sure why - it wasn’t like she could just walk in on a class, but she’d felt compelled to take a look; to imagine herself there. She knew, if she enrolled, she’d need to take on clients. Her wages at the diner barely covered rent and living expenses. And she’d planned to start over. But then again - she was good at her job. Why shouldn’t she pick it up here in Devinstone? 

Before she could spiral deeper into thought, she was brought back to the surface at the sound of a voice, and she smiled politely, almost like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar, as if she didn’t belong here. “Oh - no, I just. I was .. hmm. I’m not sure.” It was a more honest answer than she’d given herself so far. “I’m just not sure college is for me,” she eventually landed on. It was a safe answer - vague, but believable. 

[frankpritch]

hamilton starters. pt 1.

[mxcmontgomery]

“  there’s a million things i haven’t done. ” 

“ you gotta fend for yourself. ”

“ just you wait. ”

“ i may have punched him – ”

“ talk less. smile more. ”

“ he looked at me like i was stupid. i’m not stupid. ”

“ fools who run their mouth off wind up dead. ”

“ i am not throwing away my shot! ”

“ i will lay down my life if it sets us free. ”

“ i imagine death so much it’s like a memory. ”

“ oh, am i talking too loud? ”

“ i may not live to see our glory. ”

“ i’m looking for a mind at work. ”

“ oh my god. tear this dude apart. ”

“ oceans rise, empires fall. ”

“ when you’re gone, i’ll go mad. ”

“ we are out gunned, out manned, out numbered, out planned. ”

“ you look back at me and suddenly i’m helpless. ”

“ where are you taking me? ”

“ i’m about to change your life. ”

“ i’m just saying if you really loved me you would share him. ”

“ i’m never satisfied. ”

“ when you said ‘hi’ i forgot my dang name. ”

“ love doesn’t discriminate between the sinners and the saints. ”

“ death doesn’t discriminate between the sinners and the saints. ”

“ my mother was a genius, my father commanded respect. ”

“ dying is easy, living is harder. ”

“ pick a place to die where it’s high and dry. ”

“ you shot him in the side! ”

“ don’t call me son. ”

“ look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now. ”

“ let me be a part of the narrative. ”

“ history has it’s eyes on you. ”

“ you have no control. ”

“ history has it’s eyes on me. ”

“ it’s much harder when it’s all your call. ”

“ you’re on your own. ”

“ you knock me out, i fall apart. ”

“ why do you assume you’re the smartest in the room? ”

“ soon that attitude may be your doom. ”

“ why do you write like you’re running out of time? ”

“ take a break. ”

“ they think me macbeth, ambition is my folly. ”

“ i don’t have the means to go on. ”

“ stop crying, goddammit, get up! ”

“ no one really knows how the game is played. ”

“ we just assume that is happens. ”

“ i have no where else to turn. ”

“ i wanna be in the room where it happens. ”

“ hold your nose and close your eyes. ”

“ but we dream in the dark for the most part. ”

“ the ink hasn’t dried. ”

“ see how he lies. ”

“ i wanna give you a word of warning. ”

“ a moment alone in the shade. ”“

 all alone, watch them run. ”

“ they will tear each other into pieces. ”

“ i don’t have anything to tell you at all. ”

“ she courted me, escorted me to bed. ” 

“ in the eye of a hurricane, there is quiet. ”

“ i couldn’t seem to die. ”

“ you said you were mine. ”

“ the world has no right to my heart. ”

“ he will do what it takes to survive. ”

“ i hope that you burn. ”

“ you don’t want this young man’s blood on your conscience. ”

“ you did everything just right. ”

“ there is suffering too terrible to name. ”

“ that never used to happen before. ”

“ he is working through the unimaginable. ”

“ i don’t pretend to know the challenges we’re facing. ”

“ forgiveness, can you imagine? ”

“ don’t laugh. ”

“ shake hands with him. ”

“ charm her. ”

“ i am slow to anger. ”

“i don’t wanna fight, but i won’t apologize for doing what’s right. ”

“ come back to bed, that would be enough. ”

“ look him in the eye, aim no higher. ”

“ it’s him or me, the world will never be the same! ”

“ i hear wailing in the streets. ”

“ now i’m the villain in your history. ”

“ and when you’re gone, who remembers your name? ”

“ have i done enough? ”

“ the world will never be the same. ”

“ what’s your name, man? ”

“ i’m getting nervous. ”

“ can i buy you a drink? ”

“ don’t let them know what you’re against or what you’re for. ”

“ we’ll never be truly free. ”

“ sometimes i get over excited, shoot off at the mouth. ”

“ they’ll tell the story of tonight. ”

“ chaos and bloodshed are not a solution. ”

“ chaos and bloodshed already haunts us. ”

“ now you’re making me mad. ”

“ we can’t afford another slip. ”

“ close the door on your way out. ”

“ watch this obnoxious, arrogant, loudmouth bother. ”

“ they left no instructions, just a legacy to protect. ”

“ if there’s a reason i’m still alive when everyone who loves me has died, i’m willing to wait for it. ”

“ provoke outrage. ”

“ i’m not sorry. ”

“ just stay alive, that would be enough. ”

“ if you could let me inside your heart … ”

“ i knew you’d fight until the war was won. ”

“ the war’s not done. ”

“ you deserve a chance to meet your son. ”

“ if this is the end of me, at least i have a friend with me. ”

“ take the bullets out your gun. ”

“ we’ll bleed and fight for you. ”

“ when you smile, you knock me out, i fall apart. ”

“ i’ll make the world safe and sound for you. ”

“ and i thought i was so smart. ”

“ why do you always say what you believe? ”

“ we’re gonna teach them how to say goodbye. ”

“ be careful with that one, love, he will do what it takes to survive. ”

“ when you were mine, the world seemed to burn. ”

“ you’ve married an icarus, he’s flown too close to the sun. ”

“ you forfeit all rights to my heart. ”

“ i held my head up high. ”

“ the moments when you’re in so deep, it feels easier to just swim down. ”

“ i’m not afraid. ”

“ i am not the reason no one trusts you. ”

“ come back to sleep. ”

“ you’d better hide. ”

“ i was too young and blind to see. ”

“ who tells your story? ”

[mxcmontgomery]

andrew-murdock‌:

Taking the lighter from her, Andrew leaned against the wall, lighting his cigarette before handing it back. Inhaling from his cigarette, Andrew blew smoke up in the air, before checking the girl up and down, pretty much like she had just done to him. “See something you like there, Blondie?” He asked, not missing a bit to be flirty with the woman.

“I was planning to get inside, but I am starting to think the company here might be a tad bit better.” he replied, a smirk on his face as he kept his eyes on the stranger. After bumping into Sam earlier, his mood was completely ruined and he just needed something to let go of some steam. “Thanks for the tip, anything else I would need to know if I do decide to go in?”

This was one of those moments where she felt as far away from sexy as she possibly could, wanting nothing more than to take a shower to wash the day away. But Mac had always loved attention, craved it - even, so she smirked slowly when he spoke, simply shrugged seductively at his question, took another drag and watched the smoke fall down to the hard ground.

“Actually -- yes,” she said then as he asked about the joint, and she boldly took a step forward, closer to him. “You shouldn’t. The best waitress is outside, anyway.” She’d promised herself she’d take things slow, focus on just her day job, even. At least for the first few weeks. But he was handsome, he was tall, and he seemed into it. “There’s better ways to quell a craving than burgers.”

[mxcmontgomery]

nicokeswick‌:

              “I was going to just ask for one, but sure we can go the whole route of caring for a strangers wellbeing,” a mild smirk embellished waxen countenance, holding up two fingers and clipping them together as if silently following through on the inquiry. Smoking was a noxious habit, though when it came to the endless days on base when one was not on deployment, the days could meld into one another and many were dying to pass the time. Booze and cigarettes were a faux salve which served him well and Nico liked to presume he could quit cold turkey whenever prompted. “You smell like ketchup and fryer grease,” he prompted in finality, knowing full well the other was already vexed… or stressed to some regard, unable to help himself. 

Glancing sideways when he spoke, finally taking a look, she smirked softly before turning around, digging into her bag once again and placing one of the cigarettes between his open fingers, careful not to drop it, before taking a drag from her own cigarette once more and giving him an expectant look. She was just about to dig up her lighter, be slightly more approachable, but instead she scoffed at his words, taking a step back both because she wanted to increase the distance between them but also because her feet hurt and shifting weight offered some short-lived relief. “Look behind you, we’re not at a fucking perfume shop,” she said, the obscenity added in purely for self-defense. He was a stranger, after all. “But please, let me know what you’re preferred smell is, I’ll be sure to keep it into account,” she then added, mocking, never one to enjoy silence.

[mxcmontgomery]

andrew-murdock‌:

Andrew knew he had bad habits, everyone had them, but this particular one was something that he developed after, well, after everything went through and he wasn’t all that proud of that fact, but sometimes he just needed something to help him get on the edge. It was late and he had just left a bar with some of his friends, but instead of heading straight back home, he stopped at buns and more just to grab a bite of that perfect pie.

Searching on his pockets for a fresh cigarette and his lighter, he mentally cursed the fact that he might have lost the later one, spotting a little light on the dark corner near the entrance of the establishment, didn’t even thinking twice before approaching them for some help. “Chill, I’m not here to demand something from you,” he responded as soon as she snapped at him. “I just wanted to borrow some fire. Got some? — And don’t worry, I am not going to give you that whole speech. We will all die someday, might as well choose how we go, am I right?”

“Oh.” Leaning against the wooden frame, she dropped her gaze, slightly ashamed, but then looked back up at him before she reached into her purse once more, taking out the lighter and offering it to him. “Sorry -- long day.” Eyeing the stranger up and down, she exhaled once more, letting the stress from the day roll off her as she smiled wearily. “We sure do, cheers to that.” She wasn’t usually this morbid, but this had not been a good week.

“So, do you often visit burger joints just to smoke, or do you plan on going in after this?” she asked him, making small talk for no other reason than not to stand there in awkward silence. Then, looking back at the building to make sure no one could overhear them, she cleared her throat and looked down at her all stars before shaking her head lightly. “If you are, don’t get the corn dog. Just a tip. The cheeseburger should be safe though.”

[mxcmontgomery]

Location: Outside of Buns and More Time: Sometime right after 10 PM. Status: Open to all | @devinstonestarters

God, she hated new jobs. Her last waitressing job had been a fairly stable one - she’d been there for a good three years. But before that, she’d been hopping all over New York, and with each time she’d had to run a first shift somewhere, she’d hated it even more. It was always so chaotic, so tiresome, always feeling like you were messing up. Her feet hurt, her legs felt heavy, and she smelled of grease and burgers by the time she’d made it outside. And, even though she knew it was a bad habit, the cigarettes she kept in her purse for emergencies were just close enough within reach for her to get one out and light it up, dreading the walk to her car and the ten minute ride it would take to get back home. Or - well, to get to the house. It wasn’t a home yet, not by a long shot.

Then, as she looked out in the darkness, she sighed audibly when the first drag hit and exhaled slowly before she spoke. “My shift is done for the night. Whatever you need, ask someone inside.” She didn’t even bother looking at them, feeling the stare on her back was enough. “And yes - I know these will kill me. Don’t worry, we’ve got a bet going on,” she continued as she looked at the cigarette between index and middle finger. It had been weeks since she’d smoked. 

[mxcmontgomery]

behatinieves‌:

Location: King’s Head. Time: Evening. Status: Open. / @devinstonestarters​

This really shouldn’t have been as amusing as it was, but she couldn’t look away, her gaze locked on what was unfolding in the middle of the bar. The two men had gotten into it over a woman, their fragile masculinity unable to handle the fact that she didn’t want either of them and now, they were battling it out with each other. It was an absolute shitshow, and security in this place was next to non-existent so there was no one to break them up. It wasn’t until a bottle was suddenly smashed upon a head that someone intervened, ruining Behati’s fun. With a disappointed sigh and a smirk tugging at her lips, she turned her head to the person next to her who seemed to have been just as transfixed as she had been where they were standing at the bar. “You really won’t get entertainment like this elsewhere,” she pointed out, as if she hadn’t just seen someone get messed up bad. “Oh well, another drink?” She held up her empty beer bottle in question, giving them a pointed look.

Mac had gotten spoiled. Her time in New York -New York bars, at least- was mostly spent in upscale establishments where any start of a fight was quickly ended with a discrete security stepping in and escorting the rumblers outside before anything could happen. Things were different, here in Devinstone, and she couldn’t hide her disdain - but she also didn’t seem able to look away. Jesus, the lack of class was abhorrent. “Yes,” she said, a sharp ‘s’ sound giving away how she truly felt. “Like the bearded lady in a freak show.” With that, she raised her glass and finished it just as the other spoke, and really - she didn’t have anything else to do, so why not go for another drink? When she was working, she adhered to a strict two-drink maximum, but right now she was just in a bar to relax. So, why not? “Please,” she told the woman as she slid her glass closer to the edge of the table. “So do you really think this is peak entertainment, or have you just been conditioned because there’s nothing better around?”

[mxcmontgomery]

bexleyballantyne‌:

Location: King’s Head Time: Later evening (   @devinstonestarters​   )

          To say it had been a long day was an overstatement, but she definitely wasn’t one to complain about her job. After the endless arguments of her not taking over the family business as planned, there was no room for complaints. Tonight, though, she needed a drink to calm her nerves, make her mind stop reeling so she could enjoy her next few days off. The conversation she endured at the bar didn’t entirely help, the elderly man wasn’t anywhere near creepy, nor was he making her feel uncomfortable but how exactly could she explain to him that she definitely didn’t know him without breaking his heart ? The moment he moved, she got from her seat, scanning the place quickly to find another.

          She slid in without a moment of hesitation, looking at the person across from her. “ Hey, ” she said quietly, pressing her lips together for a brief moment before finally presenting her case. “ Look, I can move if you’re meeting someone, but that elderly man continues to believe I’m his wife and I don’t have the heart to tell him that he’d clearly over-drank or he isn’t of sound mind. Just allow me to rest here until he leaves, please ? ” Eyes pleaded to the other, hoping she’d be given an invitation.

Mac could’ve headed home right after her shift. She could’ve stopped by her parents house, to catch up, to move some of her things, ... There were many things she could’ve done. But right now, she preferred the self-pity with a Kir Royale in hand, staring at the red berries on the edge of the glass as she remembered the trip back to her hometown. Of course, over the years, she’d been back; for Christmas, birthdays, reunions. But it had always been temporary. There’d always been the promise of a place to call home away from Devinstone. Away from small-town living, slow living. She’d known, even as a child, she wasn’t made for slow living.

Her eyes forming slits when someone sat down across from her, she parted her lips to speak before her eyes found the man at the bar and she closed her mouth, instead opting for a solemn nod. “Don’t look back now, he’s searching the place for you,” she told the other, pretending like they’d been in conversation for awhile. Keeping half an eye on him, she picked the berries from her drink before she put the glass to her lips, taking a slow sip and setting it back down gently, crossing long legs under the table to get a better look. “I think you’re in the clear -- though the same can’t be said for that poor brunette,” she continued, motioning her head towards the bar where the man seemed to have found another girl to see his wife in. “Stay here as long as you want.”