where: end of summer fayre who: open to all
The End of Summer Fayre was loud in all the right ways — chatter, laughter, the crackle of fireworks in the distance. Marlene hadn’t expected to enjoy it, not really. She hadn’t expected to feel much of anything, if she was honest. And yet here she was, bottle already in hand, a flicker of lightness in her chest that she hadn’t felt in too long.
Maybe it was the drink, maybe it was the night. Maybe it was just easier to let herself sink into the noise and pretend that tomorrow wasn’t waiting for her. Whatever it was, she decided not to question it — just to hold on to the rare good mood for as long as it would last.
She leaned against a wooden post near one of the food stalls, legs bare under a short dress, her boots scuffed from the cobblestones. A crooked grin tugged at her lips as she tilted the bottle in greeting at whoever drew close. “Tell me a secret and I’ll let you steal a sip. That’s the price of admission.” The witch teased, an open invitation to whatever the day might bring her way.















