THE BLOOD RED REAPER!

Claro, pendeja.

( maria laughs as she walks away, putting her blade back into her purse. )

#navrhu

Sounds good to me. I mean, if we’re going to have an existential discussion, we might as well have it over coffee and quesadillas, right?

I don’t recommend the quesadillas from here. ( maria holds open the door to the restaurant, La Oaxaqueña Original, a fairly standard hole in the wall. ) You want a chorizo and egg torta; tastes enough like breakfast to go with the coffee.

punodelfuego-deactivated2018032

@otravi wants an autograph

It’s a hard clothesline, and the man is thrown into the wall. “Hola, Señora. You look like you had the situation covered–” From the tips of his fingers to his elbows are set alight, burning with an intense red hot flame. “I just did not want for you to have all the fun. El Puño de Fuego– El Fuego for short. A pleasure.”

#punodelfuego #thanks for the starter btw!

“There’s no need for the introduction. I’ve heard of you.” Who hasn’t? Though, in this case, her father was the fan, not her. Maria herself hates lucha, except for Bolivia’s Fighting Cholitas because an her favorite aunt-in-law was one of them. Well, anyway, she'll be civil regardless.

“While I did have it covered, the help is appreciated, Señor Fuego. Thank you,” her eyes turn to the flames, “Don’t you think the fire is overkill?”

maria is contractually obligated to stay at work until 4:30, in case students need help after school, but literally no one ever comes, so she just sits there and does paperwork. she scares all of her students, probably because she tries being nice to them.

#hi i'm maria vasquez and... ( headcanon. )#random student: 'she does this thing with her face and like... i think it's supposed to be a smile but it's terrifying'#'she told me good job and i felt like i had to keep doing one or else...'#'she took a deep breath and said 'it'll be a good morning' one time & the morning started behaving.'

navrhu

A little, yes.

Mostly because I don’t see much point in fighting you besides posturing.

#open;#maria complaining abt her students.#she genuinely cares but sometimes she has to marshawn lynch it

I’m offended and disappointed, but I won’t be the one to draw first blood.

( maria’s smart enough to not turn her back, but she does put distance between them in preparation to leave. )

I’m sure this won’t be the last time we meet. As you said, I’m in your way now. And I have no intention of moving aside.

#navrhu

He put forty-two. The question was the “what is Earth’s gravitational acceleration?”! We went over it 9.81 times and he put forty two and drew a winky face next to it like it was right.

God, no. That sounds like something my mom would say.

I guess recently I’m just…starting to question stuff, even though I never did when I was a kid. Does this place we’re going to serve food?

Those kinds of question never have good answers, that’s why you don’t think about them as a child.

Of course it has food. Real food too. It’s an Oaxaqueña restaurant; coffee’s just something they serve on the side.

navrhu

No.

Then you’re stalling.

#navrhu

Yeah, could be. I get most of those from my dad, too. I used to think I was an atheist, but now I’m not really sure what I-

…uh. Yeah. Yeah, sure. That’d be- sounds, uh, good.

Then let’s go. ( maria starts walking. ) Not to Starbucks, though, I know a better place. Cheaper, quieter. It’s not as good but a small price to pay for no obnoxious atmosphere.

So, you’re no longer an atheist? I know white people like to say, they’re “just really, like, spiritual.” Is that it?

Uh…Robin.

OK, full disclosure: I was kidding about the Christ-killer thing. That was a joke. Not a very good one, but, uh…yeah. My mom says she’s a non-denominational Christian, and I was baptized and stuff when I was a baby, but I stopped going to church a long time ago. And, uh…my dad’s an atheist. I think.

It’s not your name either. I wonder what it is. Maybe it’s your jokes.

Do you want to get a cup of coffee with me while I try to figure it out?

Well, I was raised Hebrew and remain a practicing Christ-killer. D'you think that might have something to do with it?

Doubt it, but good guess. What’s your name?