i'm always in this twilight

“yeah, tact was never really a part of my resume, i guess.” a quiet laugh shook his shoulders, but escaped only in a huff through his nostrils. whatever choices cyrus had made in life were bold, strong, affirmative, and those that weren’t were tucked away in a part of himself he didn’t go near. stifling a yawn to little avail, his hand came up to cover the lower part of his face, eyes squeezing shut behind his sunglasses. “’scuse me.” the admiral breathed, clearing his throat soon after. “sleep seems like an increasingly rare commodity. thank god for caffeine, huh?” lips ticking up at the corner in a smile, he lifted his sunglasses with one hand, offering his other out for a shake. “cyrus. wildly unsuccessful coffee bandit at your service.”

&

Eda wondered if he could make a good thief if he simply applied himself. Yet, she wasn’t too keen for him to test out this theory on her own coffee cup. He could try that life of crime with others if he so desired. “I suppose I should be grateful that you lack such tact.” Eda chuckled and knew it had made it easier for her to catch him in the act of trying to take her drink. His yawn triggered something in her and Eda found herself yawning in response. Her own hand lifted to cover her mouth and shot him a look for spreading the act. “It seems like I need some caffeine to get me going too.” Lips twitched in a smirk as she reached out with her free hand to give his a shake. “Eda. Too addicted to caffeine or else I would share, at your service.” 

.

Jo had a good innocent face and it usually helped her get out of tricky situations, but she wasn’t really in one at the moment. “I thought it was mine.” She lied, tone soft. “Sorry about that, Brewmeister!” Jo took a step back, figuring she could wait for the next distracted person if she wanted a five finger discount for a pick-me-up. Honestly, she should’ve waited for rush hour when the bustle of the city meant the café was trafficked with rushed people. 

&

Though there shouldn’t be any reason to distrust the other, Eda found herself scrutinizing the innocent smile of the other. There was nothing she could place her finger on, yet she felt that the apology was off. Eda had only been joking slightly, but she wondered if the other truly had been trying to steal her drink. Surely she could get her own coffee if that was the case? There were far better things to steal than a drink. “You know what they say about how important coffee is.” Eda spoke slowly. 

Nur’s eyes widen and she immediately moves to look at the name. “Oof, my bad. I’m so sorry for mixing up.” She shakes her head at herself. She’ll blame the fact she finished a twelve hour yesterday and she’s still recharging. “It’s untouched, too.” She hands her the coffee cup and looks back to see if her own drink is done. Not yet. “Long days at work do that to you, I suppose?”

&

Eda might not have noticed the other taking her cup right away if she hadn’t been watching the counter like a hawk. With her kitchen in the middle of a renovation, she had to pack up her coffee maker. That meant she didn’t get the one to sip on while she got ready in the morning. Eda was feeling a withdrawal and needed the caffeinated drink being prepared. “At least you didn’t get a sip in.” Eda responded. She did not have the patience to wait for another drink. “Long days without a coffee fix too, I suppose.” A ghost of a smirk danced across her lips. 

working off site was a perk afforded only a few of pop construction’s best. puck didn’t much believe he was good enough to take up the mantle, but there he stood, a glittering construction record in his wake. at the very least, none of the buildings he’d worked on had fallen over. work belt sitting heavy on his hips as he slid out of his truck, throwing his arm out to slam the creaking door shut tight. rounding over to the back of his truck, he pulled the bed gate down, squinting past the sun up at the house. the sun glimmering over the ridge of the roof, the warm and welcoming scent of salt on the sea breeze that wrapped around the standing house, gulls cawing against the bright blue sky was a sight to see. toolbox in hand, truck shut up, he moved toward the door, lifting his hand to knock. as she answered and he moved over the threshold and into the client’s house, a small smile spread over his lips. it was a cordial gesture to keep in such company, but not often something that was commonplace on his face. “uh, i’m cool for right now,” he chimed in, “but, i may accept one a little later.” setting the toolbox down on the ground, he accepted the plans, brows furrowed as he looked over the pages. “seems simple enough. so, to clarify: i’m knocking out your kitchen island and replacing it with something larger and then taking out this wall that separates the kitchen from the living room?”

&

Since Eda had moved into the house, she had wanted to work on renovations. It was a sound structure, and there was very little damage that she could see. Though, given the age and the proximity to the ocean, she would not be surprised if damage appeared once she opened walls up. However, Eda had to save first for the renovations she had planned. Now, she finally could start on some that she had planned. The kitchen needed an overhaul. It was completely dated from the 80′s. Straight out of a cheesy Miami 80′s show and she had hated the sight of it for years. There was far too much carpet and linoleum tiles through the main living areas as well. These were the first two projects on her list and she was so pleased with the plans. Amanda, her designer called in sick today. But Eda was confident that it would be alright. She had been promised that Amanda had many conversations already with the contractor she hired and the plans were familiar with him. “Let me know when you would like any water.” Eda offered and led him to her kitchen. “Yes. Amanda said she has been working closely with you on these plans.” Eda pointed to something on the drawings. “And that wall you knock out, we’ll continue the lower cabinets and expand the countertop to be bar seating on the other side.” Leading into her living room, it would open the space up immensely. “She said she’s ordered all the cabinets, countertops and fixtures with you as well.” Everything was being updated and Eda could not wait. 

Aubrey laughed at his mistake, though there was no going back from it now as he took another sip from the cup. “I just ordered an Americano, hopefully that’s to your liking.” He smirked, looking back at her with amusement in his eyes. “It’s a large, but perhaps you have a point. How can I fix this situation for you?” He questioned, pausing for a moment to think it over himself. “Can I buy you a pastry? Juice? Whatever you want.”  

Eda was quite lucky that he had ordered an Americano and not something that barely had any caffeine but was overloaded with sugar and whipped cream. “Anything with espresso is typically good in my books. I suppose you are lucky on that front.” Amusement danced in her dark gaze as his drink was finally delivered. “Aubrey?” Eda clarified with him. After chiding him, she didn’t wish to steal someone else’s drink. “A pastry should erase any trauma I’ve suffered from this theft.” The amused smirk grew on her precisely done lips. 

Halen hesitated to let her sip drip back down the straw, the woman’s accusation ringing true at the unfamiliar taste. She pulled her lips off the straw, swallowing despite her better judgement, and pulling it out of the cup. “Sorry about that, but I do hope they got your order wrong because that’s absolutely brutal.”

Though her face remained a stoic mask, Eda felt a moment of disappointment and disgust when the other took a sip of her drink. It was as good as ruined now. “It may be right, but I assure you there is supposed to be a lot of shots in there.” Eda could barely function without her caffeine and today was no different. She was completely and truly addicted to coffee and all variations. “I would say keep it, but you seem to not like it.” 

Madeline looked over with an arched eyebrow and giggled. “Ooops, darlin’. That is on me, my apologies. I’m just too vain to wear glasses, and contacts are out of the questions because I hate puttin’ things in my eyes. I just couldn’t read the name. My bad.” She giggled, letting out.a sigh. “Are you sure this doesn’t say Madeline on it? That’s me. What’s yours?” 

&

The giggle was so sickly sweet it caused Eda’s brow to arch high. Darlin’ was a much more familiar term here in the south than in her native New England. However, it still caused a reaction in her even after three years. “May I suggest LASIK surgery then?” Eda didn’t want to think of what a horrible dance with fate it was when the other drove if she refused to wear glasses or contacts. “Eda. It says it right here.” She pointed to the three letters on the drink, though of course they had spelled it Ada. 

…

Odette was dreading this afternoon. She had filed for divorce, but her ex was contesting it. The piece of shit had cheated on her, verbally abused her often and once put his hands on her. It was fucking mental torture to have to go through litigation and she was losing her mind. She heard her name from the barista as she went to grab her coffee another voice spoke up, “jeez,” she set down the cup that wasn’t hers and shook her head, “I’m sorry, I just have a lot on my mind. Don’t worry, it’s untouched,” she mumbled out.

&

If the other woman had indeed taken a sip out of the drink before Eda could have stopped her, she would have let that one go and simply bought another one. Though, she may have teased the other one a little bit further for stealing her coffee. “I can see. I might have said just keep it if you did drink from it.” Eda took the coffee back and took a long sip. She needed it and it tasted sweeter than ever. “You look like you could use your own gallon of caffeine.” 

the warmth of the coffee cup hit his palm, a dazed stare focused on the lid. the admiral hadn’t realized someone was speaking until the very end of their statement, his focus shifting up to find the face of the person who’d snapped his way. “pardon?” he asked, looking down at the cup before he closed his eyes and breathed a sigh, a smile playing at the corner of his lips. “ah, shit. my apologies.” cyrus gave a shake of his head, holding the cup out toward it’s rightful receiver. “i swear, i’m not usually a thief. just had a long night.” 

&

He didn’t respond right away, or even acknowledge that Eda was waiting for him to say something. “Ignoring me is not a sneaky way to get away with the theft.” Eda resisted the urge to reach out and wave her hand in front of his gaze. Though, finally he seemed to resurface from whatever fog he was in. Long fingers wrapped around the finally returned cup of coffee that he thankfully did not take a sip out of. “I would say that your future career as a thief might not pan out if you move this slow in the future.” The corner of her lips twitched up in a sly amused smirk. “However, I will believe you for now. You certainly look like you’ve had a rough night.” 

“Is this yours?” He asked, turning he cup he’d already drank from up to reveal that his name wasn’t written on the side. “I didn’t even realize, I’m sorry about that…” He paused, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked back over to her. “If it makes you feel better, our coffee’s taste about the same…help yourself to mine once it’s placed on the counter.” He wasn’t even listening when he cut in front of her, listening to the name of the drink rather than the one attached to the buyer. “I think I was right behind you? You shouldn’t have to wait long.” 

Now that he had drank from the cup, Eda wasn’t too keen on getting it back. “That is mine.” She assured him with a nod. “Or rather, it was mine.” Her gaze drifted to the baristas behind the counter as they worked. “What did you order?” Dark pools took in him once more and amusement danced in their murky depths. “And what happens if the drink you ordered is a smaller size than my coffee? I think you are the one getting a better deal.” The corner of her lips quirked up. 

Who: @ofnihilism​

As soon as she heard the knock at the door, Eda ushered the contractor in to her beach house. For weeks now she’d been meeting with a designer in town to start on a renovation of her kitchen and the flooring throughout the main living areas. When she inherited the house a few years from her grandmother, it was perfect. Key West had a good research center and one of the best ones in the state. Then it of course offered beach front living, which was too much of a dream to turn down. So she had moved from Boston to the beautiful seaside town of Key West. The house had been in good enough state, if not outdated with the design. For a while now, she’d been saving up and finally she had started the renovation process. After finalizing the designs, Eda started cleaning out everything of her kitchen and packing it all up. Her guest rooms were stuffed to the brim with boxes, food and all the furniture she could get out of the living areas. The rest she had to rent a pod for. Her designer was busy today, but Eda had the plans and the contractor was coming today for a walk through. “I’d offer you something to drink, but I cleaned out everything. I only have water bottles if you want one?” Eda offered and led him to the kitchen. “Amanda apologized for not being able to make it today, but she said she’d been talking with you about the plans.” Gathering all the documents, she handed over the plans to him.