Not a slut.

ϟ

Meg gave him a small glare, fighting off the smile that wanted to crease the edges of her lips. This was not a time for them to be joking together but she knew it was inevitable when it came to Blaise. None of it changed how much it had hurt and how tired she’d gotten of hearing or even seeing the person she loved with other girls. It was a familiar feeling that she never wanted to know again, glad she didn’t have to catch him in bed like her ex-boyfriend before him. That was enough to keep her from letting herself get too comfortable again. “I bet you’d love to know,” she said giving him a small roll of her eye before letting out the rest of air in her lungs. He had an odd effect on her and she hated it, the way he made her feel even now. Meg was trying to escape this past and it continued to be placed right in front of her. She knew she couldn’t outrun it this time. Something in the world kept bringing her right back here, a place for a time she almost considered her second home. “You still have plans,” she said giving him a small nudge as if what he was saying was ridiculous. “Maybe just sugar daddy won’t be one of them.” Meg laughed then, it feeling a little lighter between them but her laugh faded off not long after. 

She still hadn’t decided if this was a good idea or not, standing at his bedroom door asking him to give her closeness. Even though it was wrong she wasn’t sure why she wanted it, besides being tasked with getting information from her former flame. Why did she keep feeling this way? Instead of trying to think too deeply about it she shook her head, moving inside while him at her heels. “Yeah, check for monsters under the bed too while you’re at it,” she joked back before coming to a stop and simply staring at him. That’s when Meg felt it, fearing he had done the same as he started to speak to her. There was an unsaid desire that she knew better than to act upon. It was messy to start getting that close to him again but it wouldn’t be her first time. That had to be easier than the emotional stuff anyway. The physical stuff she could handle. “Did you fuck her?” She asked point blank, wanting to know now before she dared lay a finger on him again. “You are literally never touching me again if you fucked her, I hope you know that.” There was a knot in her throat. A denial of jealousy and anguish from a man that she fearfully loved. It was supposed to be different but she ended up in the same place she always did. She couldn’t figure out why she kept finding her way back here to him when it ached to think about what happened. “We can’t just be casual, I’m not gonna do that to you…” Perhaps one of the most raw things she’d said that evening and she knew it would hurt her the same. They’d both wake up and know it shouldn’t have happened. Hopper probably thought it was mixing business and pleasure but she also knew it was a sure thing for information. Maybe she could call it a work assignment, she was trying to keep him safe after all. That was as good excuse as any to cave to her own desires; the alcohol added another layer of convincing she didn’t know she needed. “Fuck it.” 

.

"Perhaps." Blaise gave her a weak smile, catching her eyes. He still wanted to become a great chef, an ambition of his that has become part of his identity. Sure, he was already particularly good at what he does. However, this merits a challenge to get a Michelin star. Blaise wanted the achievement, the goal, of each chef in town. "It’s just not the same without you." He admitted. Before she could comment on it, he left to throw the bandage wrappers, leaving her behind on the sofa. He had problems, which led to terrible consequences. Blaise had to accept that he needed to face it head on for a chance that he and Meg would meet each others fate someday.

When she asked him to come to the bed, Blaise had to stop. He knew he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands to himself, especially with his heart pounding against his chest. He wanted to kiss her, embrace her, and make love to her in ways that he had never done before. It was wrong to tread this path, especially after what he had done, but he couldn’t blame himself for wanting her more than anyone else. Blaise only wanted Megara. She changed his life more than she could imagine, and seeing her once again brought back all the feelings he tried to repress. "No, I didn’t." He confessed, and truth be told, he was too drunk to go that far. All he could remember was the kiss, and that was just it. "I know, I can’t be casual with you. There is nothing casual about how I feel about you." He sighed, placing his hands on his waist. Blaise looked back at her, caught in the dilemma of wanting her and respecting her distance. "I- don’t kno-" He was about to express hesitancy when she came forward and kissed him. In an instant, he felt like he could taste her. A tinge of blood, and the bitterness of the alcohol latching against her tongue. Lumiere wrapped one arm around her slim waist, the other against her back. There was a sense of relief, as if he were finally coming back to a place he knew he truly belonged. There was no other woman who made him feel this way, that he was certain of. "I…. can taste you." He exclaimed, pulling back slightly. "I can taste you." He repeated, looking back at her. There was confusion in his eyes, as he felt like something within him had shifted. Was the curse lifted? Was she the first one he could actually taste? That he didn't know, and frankly he was more concerned with her being in his arms right now. "I missed you so much." He said, bringing her to his bed.

❧

The fact that she’d been able to find a job that was not only well-paid but exactly what she wanted to be doing. When it came to baking it was one of the only things she really thought she was good at or could be if she worked hard enough. Maybe it was too soon but this felt like the right step towards one day having a little bakery of her own. The executive chef was talkative, reminding her some of the other kitchen staff at the Charming residence. He buzzed around and she simply followed. Everything he said she was quick to pick up on, this having the same fast pace that she remembered from the extravagant nights in the Charming kitchen as well. When appropriate she nodded along, not wanting to interrupt as he continued to spout off tips of the kitchen. She’d already been thinking about what she’d make first, knowing pastries are a delicate process but nothing she hadn’t dealt with before. “Not a problem, I understand things need to move,” she said softly. When she looked down her hands started to work without much thought. It was second nature at this point to make a pastry dough. As her hands worked she scanned over the rest of the counter before the raspberry preserves caught her eye. “I hope I’m not overstepping but could make homemade jam for these instead of using pre-jarred preserves.” 

.

"Yes, okay." Blaise nodded. Ella was far more younger than him, but she had an air of confidence and grace that somehow made Lumiere stay put and listen. Sometimes he even catches himself giving a slight nod, as if to respect her and her excellency. She came up to him again as he watched and suggested something about the raspberry preserves. Instinctively, Blaise took a jar and spooned out some contents, attempting to taste whether it was a good or bad idea, until he realized that he didn’t have any taste in the first place. "Yeah, do whatever you want. Just be sensitive to the time." He simply allowed her to change things if she wanted, because he didn’t have any idea what the preserves tasted like anyway. He could tell Ella had some techniques, and Blaise watched her intently, also learning from her as well. The baguette, of course, was something of his specialty, despite not being a baker. It was a staple in most of his cuisine. "Kindly put great attention on the baguette. We like to keep things here French." By "we" he meant "him". Blaise chuckled, taking a step back once more as he allowed her to finish her thing. After what seemed to be a couple of minutes, it was time for the baked goods to be put to the test. "Alright, I’ll call in our judges. You want to meet them?"

ϟ

Meg almost smiled at his pathetic attempt at a name calling but she kind of loved it. Her sheer hatred for that fact alone was able to make it shrink back down as she continued to nuzzle her body back into the seat to get comfortable. Usually she was driving them but this was a special occasion, she’d beaten the shit out of someone. That meant she was going to enjoy it while she had it which included using her knees against the dash to shrink down in the seat. Meg was starting to doze off again when he tapped her back and she gave him a small glare. “Resting my eyes,” she said pointing her eyes before looking back towards the road. Glad when they finally there. 

Not that having him fix her up was much better, it making her clench her fist a little when it would hit certain spots. The blonde chick had done a number on her forehead, well it was more the bar than her who just put her face there. Couldn’t blame her since she had probably cost her plastic surgeon a fortune. The thought of it made her smile to herself before looking back over to the person caring for her. Maybe the alcohol was a bad idea, a part of her missing him when she did. “Yeah right you’d be out the second you had to eat from the lunch room in a hospital. You’d be back there trying to teach them how to make Coq Au Vin before you know it and giggling about it the whole time. You’re meant to be a chef.” The last bit came out a little softer than she intended, a little more nostalgic for someone who stood right before her but felt like a stranger in a way. She’d thought for so long she knew him better than that, still feeling stupid she had ended up here again. “Or a sugar daddy,” she said with a small raise of her eyebrows. Then Meg felt like she saw something in his eyes, looking down at the bottle and back to him before pushing it a little father away on the table. “I don’t need anymore, doesn’t hurt that bad.” It was said simply, as to not make him feel like it was done for any reason in-particular, though she figured he already caught on. Normally she’d argue taking the bed but after what happened she thought she earned it, he had been the one to cheat on her after all. Made her way into his room like she’d done a thousand times, changing into one of his shirts and tossing her clothes in a pile beside the bed. As she walked to the bed she paused for a second, biting at her lip before groaning. “Fuck me,” she mumbled to herself before going back to open the door and poking her head out before standing in the doorway. “Would you stay with me?” 

.

Blaise bit his lip, repressing a chuckle. "That’s a good one, ain’t it?" He was referring to his Coq Au Vin recipe. "My Coq always keeps them going." He let out a soft laugh, still quite proud of the joke itself. "You’ve tasted it right, how was it?" Lumiere tilted his head, a mischievous grin visible across his face. He couldn’t help it. Meg was simply his favorite girl to tease, because she always had him on his toes. He was so stupidly into her that no words could describe the kind of magnet she had over him. The boy was a charismatic man, having had plenty of experience with women. He had a trail of broken hearts, and yet it was Meg to whom he devoted his whole heart—ironically, the person who seemed to care less about it anyway. "Well, Adam needs to pay me more, but I don’t think that’s happening anytime soon." He admitted. "I’ve been working during weekends and off days when I get hired for events and such. I had plans." Had. Just a few weeks before, Blaise was planning on asking Meg to move in with him. He was prepared to take their relationship to a new chapter where she had something to look forward to. For the first time, he wasn’t playing. Blaise had a goal, and she was part of it.

"It’s alright, it’ll be alright." He added, mostly to himself, as he fixed bandages for storage. Blaise had to try to be better because he had no other options left. Once he was settling on his couch, crouching his neck to fit on it while his feet dangled at the edges, he heard her voice coming from his room. He couldn’t help but smile to himself, a warm feeling on his stomach as he sighed in relief. Of course, he wanted to sleep next to her, to feel her soft body against him as they allowed their bodies to rest. "Afraid of the dark again?" He teased, though he immediately moved and picked up his pillow. He went inside the room, a common sanctuary the two had previously religiously shared. He caught a whiff of her hair, and it took Blaise everything in him not to pull her back onto his arms. He bit his lip and closed his eyes momentarily. "Meg. I can't be so near you without my skin begging to touch you." He spoke in coarse voice. "God, you make me weak." He groaned, looking back to meet her eyes. Her smudged mascara and messy hair were delicately placed on her shoulders. He was madly into her, and he didn't know what to do. "If I enter this room with you, I can't promise you I'll behave. I can't with you, not when you look like that in front of me."

.

Paul never did well with first impressions unfortunately, so it came as no surprise to see Blaise’s annoyed and confused expression at first. Maybe he shouldn’t have come off so ominous, but he wasn’t sure how to correctly approach Blaise in the moment. At least once he mentioned Meg, he seemed to ease up. They smiled, surprised to be recognized by Blaise. “The Paul? Does that mean Meg actually talks about me?” Oh, he couldn’t wait to go back to Meg and talk about this. He let out a laugh, shrugging his shoulders. “My bad, I wasn’t even sure if you’d know who I was or not.” Paul didn’t think that other people talked about them much, so it was an interesting surprise to learn otherwise. “Nothing much, just wanted to put a face to the name, I guess. Between Meg and Claude, I’ve heard quite a bit about ya.” More so Claude than Meg, but he didn’t say that aloud. He handed a cigarette to Blaise, his own already lit and resting at the corner of his mouth. Blaise’s next question was the last thing he expected, almost choking on his own cigarette smoke as they tried to process that loaded question. Coughing and pulling the cigarette out of his mouth, he replied, “I-Is he in love with me? Fuck, I-I don’t know. I don’t think so. He doesn’t tell me anything either, man. Is he just always like that?”

.

"Oh, yeah he is. Don’t get me wrong. I feel like he’s more of a romantic than me. So that’s saying something." Blaise blew the smoke away, relieved to be finally getting his nicotine hit. Paul was an interesting guy, but it was rather odd that of all the people Claude could be linked to, it was someone who actually knew Meg. "Well, a lot of people hear about me, whether they like it or not. I might get my Instagram verified soon." He said jokingly. Lumiere has a unique habit of using his misfortunes as a content for his jokes. The blog post did put him on everybody’s radar, and even Drizella’s fans were after him. He somehow felt like a celebrity of some sort, except he doesn’t get paid and he doesn’t get any privacy. "Claude is a complex guy. He likes to keep things the way he wants them to be. Traditional, strict, and sometimes insane…" Blaise added, describing his best friend. "But if he does love you, you’re the luckiest guy alive. Claude is loyal, and fierce. There’s a certain kind of devotion to a man who acts that way, and I like to consider myself fortunate enough that I get to feel that somehow." He grinned at the other boy, taking the cigarette from his lips.

"Well, I’d take it slow if I were you. Butter him up, add a bit of salt, season with pepper, throw in some rosemary.." He chuckled, speaking in his language. "And if you do get the right mix and even the right sear, then you’d be enjoying perfectly done meat." Blaise laughed, placing a hand on the other boy's shoulder. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Blaise Lumiere, by the way. Take two. I won't be stupid. I’m worth Megara’s attention, I promise. "

-

Vanessa let a laugh slip out. She hadn’t intended to sound so amused at his self-wallowing, but she was genuinely tickled. He thought his reputation was bad? Hers was for sure worse. That was, her true reputation. Anything she had on the surface was nothing compared to her reputation in the sea. She supposed she could understand that is must sucked not being able to just change his appearance and start over somewhere new, but thankfully she never had to worry about that herself. She toasted with him, an amused look never leaving her face. “Well, I would say that I’m perfectly capable of handling myself and my reputation. Everyone’s been through hell….how you come out of it? Well, that’s your battle honey, not mine. Everyone has people who don’t like them too. I’ve been fine with that since….well, since forever. I didn’t really get much of a choice.” She sipped at her drink. “Anyways, I can go if I’m not wanted company. I am sure there is some other loner drifting near the bathrooms or something I could bother. Or I could just go to a different bar. Nothing is ever too complicated, sweetheart.”

.

"So you know what it's like to be thrown at the wolves?" He asked, tilting his head in curiosity. "Surviving wasn’t the hard part. It’s living with these scars that don’t quite heal." Blaise admitted, words that only enough alcohol could pull out of him. He took another swig from his glass, looking back at her. She seems nice, polite even. "Echoing thoughts in my head, from stupid gossip blogs, from the words of my brothers, from the disappointment look on my mother's face…." He sighed deeply, placing his finger on his forehead. "And Megara, the quiver of her lips when I broke her heart again. It doesn’t stop, doesn’t it? Or am I just being chatty to a stranger?" He chuckled, trying to find humor in his pain. "I’m not usually like this, I’m sorry you had to find me this way." Blaise took a cigarette from his pocket, smoking once more to pass the time.

"You can stay, or not. Like you say, whatever you want." He answered, attempting to blow the smoke away from her. "So, what are you? And why are you looking for loners? With a face like that, I don’t think you’ll have much trouble finding what you want."

ϟ

This wasn’t the first time they’d played this cat and mouse game and she didn’t believe it would be their last. As much as she tried to escape him the world continued to bring them back to the same place as always. She couldn’t seem to outrun this one no matter how hard she tried. The worst of it was that he had a point, the cops would be showing up sooner rather than later and she needed to be out of there. Harold had enough reasons to be mad at her already, Meg didn’t need to give him any more. If he got word that she’d beaten up some chick at a bar for the guy he’d already warned her about she knew he’d give her an ear fill that she would really rather not have to listen to if she didn’t need to. Before she was able to say anything Meg was hoisted up to his shoulders and groaning at her current situation. As he toted her along she rested an elbow on his back with her bloodied palm holding up her chin. This was a low moment, glad only person that was out was the one holding her up. Behind his back she mocked him as he talked by making faces as any child would. “She is all of those things actually,” she said over his shoulder, though she knew at the end of the day he was right. This wasn’t a battle she’d win and a part of her didn’t even want to fight it, knowing it was inevitable. Once in the car she tried to avoid eye contact, aching every time their eyes met but they always seemed to find each other. “I know, I know.” And before she could protest the kiss to her forehead the door was closed. Meg hated that it made her cheeks warm, using that annoyance to squirm back into the seat and get comfortable. She leaned her head against back before he was tapping her face. “I’m not! I’m just… resting my eyes,” she said moving her face away slightly. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she’d missed the feeling of his hand. The rest of the drive she sat in silence after turning up the radio to avoid anymore unnecessary conversation. The fact he had to take care of her was enough. 

Once they were back inside his apartment Meg couldn’t shake the feeling. It was all too familiar, too comfortable, but she knew this couldn’t be a regular thing. As she sat on his bathroom counter once again covered in blood it was like deja vu to a different time, a simpler time. “You don’t have to take care of me, you know, it’s not your job anymore or anything. I would’ve been fine,” she mumbled as he started to clean out the wound. Meg tried her best to now grimace but it stung worse than she thought. “I did fuck her up pretty good though, right?” Meg started to chuckle to herself, taking another swig of the bottle beside her to numb the pain of her throbbing head. Alcohol was exactly what this situation needed more of as if it hadn’t done enough already. After she set it back down she really looked at him for the first time and for a second it was as if nothing had changed. “Thank you, by the way.” 

.

"Resting my eyes? Stupid butt." He chuckled at her lame excuse, glancing at her from time to time as he drove. He missed her. He missed her so much that being around her had been quite the more difficult for him. He knew his mistake and the repercussions of what he had done. Blaise needed help; he needed a trajectory in his life where he wasn’t going to fuck up or hurt anyone in the process. He knew he needed some distance. However, that didn’t mean that he loved her any less. For the most part, he was sorry. Blaise was sorry that he wasn’t the person she felt like she needed. However, that didn't mean that she wasn't exactly the person that he needed.  "If you close your eyes, one more time, I swear." He chuckled, tapping her leg to keep her from falling asleep.

Lumiere felt like this was a rerun of the first time she knocked on his door, drenched with blood again. Instinctively, he already knew what to do, taking towels from his cabinets, soaking them in warm water while he also prepared the first aid kit. He moved in silence and in speed, allowing her to sit comfortably on his couch before sitting beside her with a basin, and some bandages. "I know, and I want to. I’m trying to get a nursing degree." He answered her jokingly, wiping the dried blood from her face. “Being a chef sucks. I need to get paid more.” He added, still laughing. Blaise hated it when she comes knocking on his door after a fight, but he would hate it even more if he wasn’t going to be there for her. "And yes, you did. I hope she got some insurance." He added, laughing slightly with her. He saw the bottle beside her, and he looked at it momentarily before meeting her eyes once more. Blaise was trying to cut back, to shake the shackles of alcohol within his system; however, the smell was very much apparent, and he could feel his body itching to get a drink. "Always a fun time, Meg." He pursed his lips, smiling at her as he picked up the basin. "Now rest. Stay for the night. I’ll sleep here on the couch, and you can go ahead and rest in my room. Don’t make me throw you there."

"Alright, here are the ingredients." Blaise had laid down all that was necessary for baking in front of her. He was giddy for a new addition, and Ella was just so…..ethereal, and majestic to be around that he was hoping she’d be able to make the cut. Of course, Lumiere wasn’t supposed to have some bias, but after being around Phil and Cubby for a while, a pleasant girl was a nice change. "Let’s try the basics first, then I’ll serve it up for Claude and Adam to taste. How’s that?" As for Blaise, he would have to pretend that he knew what it tasted like. "Look, I’m really glad you’re here with your little silly flowers. Just move it away from Phil, because he might eat that out of boredom sometimes." Blaise could only wish he was joking, but the boys and their pranks were always something to be expected. One could assume that Lumiere would be quite the worst, but with two other sous chefs around, he was far more tame than he expected. "Oh, and we do have to time this one. Unfortunately, the kitchen often gets busy, and we’re not given the luxury of time…. especially Claude." He chuckled at his inside joke, knowing that she wouldn’t get it either way. "Well, I’m off your neck. I’ll just be standing here if you need me."

ϟ

Meg had turned off her better judgement, it seemed she had been doing a lot of that lately. All she knew was that she was hurt and angry which was like mixing flames and gasoline. Sure, violence was rarely the solution but she’d found it pretty effective when she used it. She couldn’t figure out what other people must be doing wrong. Whoever this girl was, Meg hated her. Before she could do anymore damage to Malibu Barbie she was being pulled away but it wasn’t security like she thought. “What the fuck are you doing here? Let me go,” she said as she tried to move from his grip but his height always gave him an advantage. Yeah, she hated that about him, the fact that he could subdue her when she got riled up. She wouldn’t miss that though Meg knew she needed it. Not that she didn’t already have enough to be sad over, as if it wasn’t written all over her bloody knuckles. As much as she tried to twist from him Meg still ended up outside but her adrenaline was still pumping steadily. “Let me go, I’m not a toddler,” she groaned as she tried to move out of his arms. “Are you serious?” Meg continued to move, pulling at his hands until eventually she settled into a state of acceptance. Even now, he was able to ease her down and she hated knowing that. When he started to examine her wound she moved her head slightly from his touch, feeling wrong accepting it now. “I wasn’t going to kill her just rough her up a little. It’s not like she didn’t probably want a nose job anyway,” she said at more of a grumble. The more he talked was when Meg ended up pulling her hands back. “Don’t say that shit to me.” Being this close made her feel sick to her stomach, a beautiful toxin that she wanted to indulge in knowing what it would do. She shook her head as she stared to back up. After hitting his eyes she turned around and started down the street, no destination in-particular in mind but she needed to go somewhere. “It’s fine, I can handle it myself.” 

.

"Stop doing that." Megara kept yielding as he wiped some blood away from her face and hands. She was being stubborn, as usual. Lumiere couldn’t really do much about it except allow her to burn her rage until the embers died down. When she mentioned Claudette needing a nose job, he bit his lips to repress a laugh. She was still being stupid, of course, while her head bled. Once he began talking, she simply left him, sitting in the corner with a bloody handkerchief on the ground. He could understand why she didn’t want to be with him, as he knew he was a troubled man. However, despite Lumiere’s own complications, his devotion to Megara was never really in doubt. "I know you can, Muhammad Ali. But we better leave before they call the cops on you, and you’re walking terribly." Blaise followed after her and simply scooped her up again, placing her waist on his shoulders. Sure, she could wrestle her way out of him with a simple stab of her knife. However, he knew she'd eventually let him, as he knew her concussion wasn’t going to let her go far ahead.

"Yes, you can handle yourself. Megara never needs anyone. Megara is great, Megara is strong." He repeated it to her in a teasing tone, as he felt like she was being hyper-independent again, which was her usual response when pain finds her. "I don’t care. You’re roughed up, so you’re coming home with me. I’m driving." He was thankful he only had a few shots, which at this point were practically nothing in his system. He opened the door for her and placed her body on the front seat. "Don’t sleep on me." He looked at her, crouching to check her eyes. Blaise loved her face, and seeing her once again this close felt like every part of him wanted to embrace her. This woman had been the source of his happiness for months—the person he had finally envisioned a future with. It was more than difficult to be content with the space, and yet he allowed it to be. Lumiere, however, was also as stupid as her. He wanted to kiss her, but he knew that would likely result in another boxing match, so instead he quickly placed a kiss on her forehead, a split second of intimacy, before stepping back, making sure he was away from her arm’s reach. Like a dangerous lion, Lumiere closed the front door for her before finally going back to the driver’s seat. He looked back at her, tapping her face with his hand. "Hey, don’t sleep."

ϟ

Meg was no stranger to violence, it felt like her life revolved around it these days. She was a part time waitress and a full time keeper of chaos. This was another day, at least she knew this one wouldn’t pull a knife. That didn’t mean the girl lacked her own tricks which Meg’s head met with the bar top. She’d expected at least something in retaliation, any woman would take the opportunity when handed it, she knew that. As she raised up from the bar a smirk started to form on her lips. “You bet I am, and frankly, don’t care if you want him or not,” she said with a shrug, shaking her head back from things going dizzy. The whiskey numbed the pain but she knew she’d probably need to ask Paul to stitch up the new gash above her eye. “And I fight dirty.” That’s when Meg took to yank her hair, wanting to hurt her vanity more now. “Do you want a black eye to go with your new nose?” 

.

Blaise had happened to visit another bar Megara frequented in the hopes of catching a brief glimpse of her. Ever since they broke up, he couldn’t seem to sleep. He longed for her in his waking hours, and dreamt of her as he lay exhausted in his bed. He already had a couple of drinks, enough to quench his thirst but not enough to trigger his addiction once again. Once he came to the door, he happened to notice people were all looking in the same direction, and since he was taller than most, he could vividly see a fight scene about to happen. Lumiere heard a bang on the bar, and something in his gut pulled him in that direction.

Before he knew it, Megara was yanking Claudette's hair and about to deliver a lethal blow. His eyes widened, and he immediately came into the scene to pull Megara by the waist, and move her away from the other woman. Lumiere looked at Claudette’s bloody face with terror in his eyes. "Just go. Please." He begged her, since he knew that for Megara, this was only the beginning. "Don't come back," he could only say to her. He felt sorry for Claudette, as he know how she values her beauty more than anything else. He’d have to deal with that later, a grueling conversation with her lot. Blaise dragged Megara out of the bar, using his strength to counteract her rage. He held her in his embrace until she calmed down, breathing deeply as he waited for all the energy in her to dissipate. Megara knew how to fight back, and she was a lot stronger than most. However, he waited. Blaise held her small frame against him until they all the rage was gone. He could see that she was bleeding too, and he took a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the blood from her face. "I’m sorry." The slam was pretty rough and the wound felt like it needed stitches. "I do not want another notch on your collection of dead bodies. If you were to add someone else, that should be me." He added. "You saw her, and you saw my mistake. Meg, you can tell how I fucked up, right? She’s not you, she can never be." He said, this time wiping the blood from her hands. “Let me get you home and fix this.”

"Welcome to the club." He smirked, a puff of smoke coming out of his mouth as he leaned on the side of his car, just outside the bar he was a regular at. It seems like another event was going on, and he happened to have met another woman whom he had offended quite a few times before. Normally, he’d come up to her and utter words that would ask for reconciliation, but he wasn’t in the mood to beg right now. In fact, he wasn’t in the mood for anything else. "Maybe we’re cursed simply by living." He spoke, giving her a glance at his side before continuing to smoke. Blaise had no idea what kind of event this was, but given Drizella's presence, it had to be something exclusive and high-profile, which he despises.

"For the most part, at least, you push people away because you’re afraid of getting hurt. It’s courtesy at your expense." He added, resting his other hand on the pocket of his coat while he finished his cigarette. "I, on the other hand, force myself on people and leave them wounded. No wonder that stupid gossip blog is after me." He sighed, snickering slightly as he shook his head. Lumiere gave her another look to appreciate what she was wearing until he saw the bracelet he had given her sitting idly on her wrist. "Looks good." @superiortremaine

Blaise looked at Cubby’s resume before lifting his head and looking at the boy in front of him. Phil had been acting out lately, and though Blaise cared about the other kid, it was certain that he needed help in the kitchen. Lumiere prefers young men he can train over older men who have male bravado to contend with. The kitchen was always a safe space for him, and he’d like to keep it as is. "There really isn’t much to this." Blaise bit his lip, shaking his head, because the boy didn’t have any credentials. Lumiere had no reason to hire or train him at all.

"You know what, fuck it. Cook something for me, and let’s see from there whether you’ll get it or not." Blaise took one egg and placed it on his hand. "Let’s start with the basic. A french omelette. Show me what you’re capable of.” @colincubby

[ 𝙱𝙻𝙰𝙸𝚂𝙴 ]

ϟ

As the story unfolded she could feel her stomach twisting over itself. It was as she’d feared or more like expected at this point. After fighting tooth and nail for a chance with him it all felt futile. They’d ended up at the same place she started but this time the bit of hope left had been crushed to dust in the palm of his hand. No matter how many times she heard the word ‘sorry’ it started to lose its meaning, an ache beginning in its place each time. The more he spoke she could feel it building inside of her like bubbles beneath a cork of champagne. He’s brought her all this way only to leave it at her feet and she started to doubt herself for ever believing the world could be more. This was how people were. “No, you don’t get to say that to me, not when you said you were done with this shit,” she said recoiling from him, the process of shutting herself off already in motion. “You don’t get to say anything to me anymore.” Meg’s voice was laced with poison as she shot words at him like bullets. It’s the only defense she knew in order to get herself out of here. She’d cry once she got home behind the safety of her own door, the only place she could be as small as she felt right now. “You’re just like everyone else. You really had me fooled though, huh? I really thought you could’ve done made me into someone’s stupid wife with kids and fucking picket fence, what a fucking joke.” The girl was quick to her feet then, taking her coat in her hand to start pulling over her shoulders. She paused onto to look back to him with a scowl. “And no, Blaise, there isn’t any good left. You took that.” Her jaw was tight as she tried to fight against the emotions that built behind her eyes. He couldn’t see her weakened like that, not again. She would stand tall as she walked out of his life. “You were supposed to be different. I guess my judgement really is rotten, huh?” 

.

Blaise stood firmly in front of her, seeing the quiver on her lips as the truth finally sank in. He did not have much to say at this point. He could beg for forgiveness as he had done before, and yet there was something within him that was truly stopping him. An apology implied a change in behavior, which he had utterly failed to achieve. To beg for her again would only entail manipulation, and a refusal to acknowledge that he had to fight his most pressing concern: his own addictions. The thought of losing Meg was devastating, and now all of a sudden she felt miles away despite being only a few steps apart. Lumiere is suddenly unable to reach her, and the tone of her voice is his only reminder that she is still there. "You mean everything to me, Meg." That was his honest confession, though he couldn’t really elaborate on it anymore. To declare his love for her would push the wound even deeper, and he had already done enough damage seen in her eyes. He couldn’t ask her to stay with him, even if he wanted to. Blaise felt like he was being dragged around by the edges, but he knew she should walk away. It was the only right thing to do.

"I’ll never get over you, Meg. I just need to get over myself. I don’t mean to hurt you. I don’t want to hurt you." He was starting to understand that his addictions, which he had left unmonitored due to his troubling past, had caused him far more damage than he realized. He didn’t know why things had escalated between him and Claudette, but there was always something present when things stumble upon him. It was alcohol. "I mean what I say, my plans for us. I meant it all." That was his honest truth. Lumiere wanted to be different. He thought that being madly in love with her would fix his troubles away, and yet he hurt her in the process. Blaise knew he wouldn’t be able to move on. She was unlike the others, she was his twin flame, and he knew that. "This is all my fault. Don’t beat yourself up for my mistakes. I fuck good things up, this is what I do." He looked at her with a stern look in his face. "Curse me for who I am, but don’t blame yourself. That’s all I ask." He looked at Megara, memorizing every feature of her beautiful face. It broke his heart that she was hurting, and that he had broken the very person he loved the most.