Smoke
Pantalone & GN!Reader
Read more earth reader here.
CW: cigarettes/smoking
A/N: Señor Pantalones makes me want to eat my keyboard :p
I chose the reader's view because while I did like the idea I had for his view it was difficult to get the vision out I may try again but idk I think this is ok for now
--------
The scent of bitter smoke is something you thought you left behind in your old world. Memories of burning ash in a tray, of flattened cigarette butts on the city sidewalk, how a single waft of it in the air while passing a bus stop sticks to your clothes like the very tar that stains once pristine cream walls a sickly beige. Common occurrences in the past brought to your present by a man who has more money than you could never imagine possible.
Pantalone isn't a stranger but like with Signora when she was around you don't know how to handle him. He's not rude or pompous like you think those with wealth beyond your comprehension are. Pantalone is pleasant and that unnerves you.
Even if he tries to mask it with the expensive cologne he wears the scent of cigarettes clings to Pantalone much in the same way herbs cling to Capitano. The scent isn't something you liked back then and certainly not now yet the familiarity of it is not enough to make you avoid him.
He bows his head politely with a closed eyed smile as you pass one another down the halls. He waves from the balcony when you spot him smoking early in the morning with a cup of presumably coffee. The clear and patient way he explained mora's worth and importance in this world when you first arrived.
Pantalone never gave you a reason to fear him yet you can't stand being alone with him. But it's hard to dismiss him as he's the one who taught you about mora when you first arrived. How to save it, how to invest it, where to spend it for the best quality clothes, he helped you quite a bit financially, it doesn't help that he's also the one responsible for giving you your pay or 'allowance' as he likes to say. Maybe it's because you feel you owe a debt to him you're not sure you'll ever be able to pay? Who can really say? You certainly can't.
"So that's what The Captain decided to spend his funds on this time." He comments one day as you watch the ever present snow fall from your favorite window seat of the library. You turn to him and notice his attention on your necklace the blue and white eye like stone staring back. "I must say, quite a unique piece."
You nod dumbly unsure how to respond your hands unconsciously reaching for the necklace.
Fortunately he does not stay for long grabbing one of the many books from a shelf nearby. He never stays for long now that you think about it, maybe he knows you don't like scent of smoke? You've noticed he doesn't smoke near the garden anymore at least not when you're there. It makes you feel a bit bad with how considerate and respectful he is to keep him at a distance for reasons you can't quite put together.













