( 𖤐 CLOSED STARTER ) — Elijah x Josephine. Where? First Assembly Baptist Church, Bone Gap When? Sometime after the fourth (or fifth, or sixth) hymn @thornburghs
“You know what they say,” he said, offering her a cigarette. “Nothing says civic duty like lighting up next to a ‘No Smoking’ sign.” He’d found her around the side of the church — past the slow-dripping gutters and behind a row of hedges that didn’t hide much, not really. It wasn’t exactly a place to be caught, which made it the perfect place to be alone. Or would’ve, if not for him. She looked polished. Expensive, even in grief — that kind of put-together that came from habit, not effort. He didn’t imagine she wanted to be here any more than he did, but she’d made herself look the part. Candlelight vigil chic. He didn’t have that in his rotation. Smoke curled up between them like a held breath. He didn't ask why she was out here. Just tipped his head toward the church and said, "Place reeks of sanctimony." He wasn’t in the business of asking much tonight — only watching. Listening.