Dahlia Ames

( leighton meester. cisfemale. she/her. bulletproof & la roux. ) well, would you look at dahlia ames this year? i’ve heard they’re a full thirty-seven years young, and a waitress at riverdale diner. you can always find them sipping a strawberry kiwi koolaid while they work on a puzzle. when dusk falls, you can usually find them heading home to queens by car. 

@duskintro​

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The response he heard calling out from the darkness wasn’t what he expected to hear, nor did it answer his question. The hunter stood with feet planted in place ready for whoever or whatever it was to show themselves. When he moved a little further down the ally to get a better look at what or who was coming his way he immediately flicks the safety of the gun back on before holstering it underneath his own leather jacket ensuring it was out of sight. “Fuck. Sorry.” he mumbles in a quieter tone now realising the reason for the quiet was the sleeping child. “Shit, didn’t mean to swear.” he does it again but blame that on the exhaustion mixed with his own upbringing.

Dahlia could see the figure that had yelled approaching, and she instinctively tried to juggle the sleeping girl to grasp her pepper spray just in case. What would the pepper spray do against a supernaturals? Not a damn thing. But she wasn’t supposed to know about the supernatural under her current ruse.   She understood why the man was anxious, especially after the night. “It’s okay. Picking up stuff from the...” She couldn’t even get herself to say the words. The vision of everything was warped anyway from her twisted view. A harsh chuckle parted her lips trying to be as hushed as she could be, “I’m a mother not a fucking grandmother. Del’s asleep anyway, and she sleeps like her father did. Like death itself.”

when one was as drunk as beck was, it didn't matter the surface he was lying on so as long as he was laying down. it was as comfortable as his own bed, but it didn't last as he hears a soft voice intrude upon his slumber. eyes struggle to flutter open, peeking through heavy lids and he stares on to the beautiful woman he remembers from previous encounters. moments spent together flash over his mind. unashamedly as the alcohol courses his bloodstream, he blinks curiously to her as he fails to sit up, resting his head back to the road. looking up towards a starless sky, beck speaks out gruffly, “you're the angel from the diner ...”

fuck.

either he was dead or sure to be from the embarrassment “please... tell me i died.” he asks darkly, lips trembling from the cold.

She feels bad for prodding the man to wake up, but she would feel worse if she left him there outside cold and alone. At every turn she’s met Beck before he had been kind, nothing about him screamed stranger danger. “Angel from the diner? Well that’s different.” There’s a small frown when she saw him fail to sit up, and she leaned forward. “Here let me try to help.” She wasn’t very strong, but maybe the combined offer would at least help him sit upright. 

“Oh no, you passed out. So you might have a killer headache in the morning.” She warned, frowning as she noticed the tremble of his lips.  Dahlia stood upright and removed her coat offering it to him. “Were you coming to the diner to get something to eat?” She asked the questions softly and slowly. Not wanting to upset him by them.

“thanks,” he smiles sweetly looking down at himself a second. “i do, you would look good with it right about there, ” chace takes a moment to sweep some of her hair behind her ear and finds himself with goosebumps from such a simple action. at her question he brings his attention back, taking his hand away.

“uh, i'm pretty sure it's absinthe.”

Dahlia was already feeling whatever it was provide her blood a coat of warmth. She blinked as he brushed some hair out of her face, and lifted her gaze to his hand thoughtfully. “I don’t suppose you brought the dye with you, did you?” A lively chuckle left her lips, before she stared at her empty shot. “Did you just say Absinthe? Oh god I’m such a light weight.  How long until the hallucinations start?”

“how old are they?” he asked, they seemed just younger than his cousins back in newark. “it’s very lucky that you don’t have allergies - i’m the only one in my family with this nut allergy,” he lamented. “it’s especially rough that i can’t have my grandma’s kuli kuli anymore.” he sighed deeply thinking about the delicious dessert. “it’s, like, a type of spiced, peanut snack. i used to eat it all the time as a kid, but once my allergy came out full swing i realized that my tongue wasn’t just tingling because of the little bit of chili powder in it.”

reed waved to the kids and responded with equal energy, “you’re welcome! enjoy it!” when the woman asked about the sun butter, he nodded and added, “i get the sunflower seed butter, sometimes i get the biscoff cookie butter and try to tell myself i’m getting the same protein and nutrients i would get from peanut butter.”

“Hen is seven and Del is five. The impressional ages of youth.” Dahlia laughed lightly. One of the kids asked excitedly, “What a kuli kuli?” She smiled down at the kids as they seemed to be processing. Reed made it easier for them when he explained. “That’s too bad. I wonder if there’s anything you could substitute? But hmm, I get it might not be the same.” Furrowing her brows she thought on what steps might be able to help him, but was at a loss. The kids started to enjoy the treat jabbering to themselves, arguing as siblings do over mundane things. Dahlia rarely interjected unless it got violent, because they needed to learn communication was a two way street. “Interesting, I didn’t know about the biscoff cookie butter. I was thinking about the sunflower seed butter though. Just in case the kids develop an allergy. I heard that it can come up as they get older. Their father had some allergies, but I don’t believe it was a nut allergy.” She explained softly.

“That’s the best way to be.”  Minh replied as she was a bit of an optimist in general when she could be. It was just how she had always been, even as a child.  “I am sure that you’ll be completely fine. Our co-workers seem to be in a good mood in general today so that will help as well.” She added knowing that sometimes people could get a bit grumpy in the kitchen if things weren’t going well.   Minh patiently waited for her food and sent Dahlia a soft smile as she approached. “That’s no problem at all.” She added as she knew that while Dahlia might be able to relax a bit now, it was rare you got a break here at all. Minh learned to take those when she could as well.

“Agreed.” Dahlia grinned towards the other.  Minh was such a precious person to be around, and she did enjoy when her coworker crossed paths with her. Keeping a watchful eye on the other booth where the kids were eating and arguing about some cartoon. It hadn’t become unruly though, so she let it be.  “Ah that’s really good. Because a bad day can start when one if us are in a bad mood too.”  Nodding to her, while she stretched her legs while sitting across from her. Getting ready before the rush hour happened. “Do you know where decent babysitters are these days? Is there an app for that sort of thing?”

Lorna had been with a few friends but decided to head home for the night while they stayed out. She had her hands buried in her pockets while she walked before she noticed somebody yelling out to her. Although she was confused she didn’t let it show on her face until she was face to face with her. “Of course.”She whispered back to her before linking her arm with her own. “I am so sorry work had me running late. I hope you weren’t waiting too long”She said loud enough for whoever was following to hear.

+

imogen face scrunched up with annoyance when the other approached her. she was just leaving a bar, waiting for the next available subway to take her back to the city over.  “you’ve been looking for me? i don’t even know you.” saying in a low tone, obviously noting the other was intoxicated. protective nature coming out, she let out a sigh. “you think? or you know?” questioning with a raised brow. 

Dahlia didn’t make it a habit to lie, maybe she did. Not about this however, she learned forward to the other woman lowering her voice with a boisterous laugh to cover the words. “They’ve been following me for a few blocks. I even switched streets and they followed that notion. If they were just coming to the subway I wouldn’t think twice about it.” 

CLOSED STARTER | @dahlame

location: the gutter outside riverdale diner.

beck had tried to reach the diner before it closed for the night. he was so drunk he had to hang onto the pavement to prevent himself from falling off the earth. random passerby either looked scandalised or they simply went around him. finally the alpha lied down on the road and rested his head on the curb and fell asleep.

It was one of those nights she really needed the money. The kids were asleep at her apartment, and she had just finished working a double. She phoned and thanked her neighbor for showing up, letting them know she should be home within the hour. Dahlia exited the diner, but paused when she neared the gutter. Her head tilted to the side as she inspected the man. Instantly, she recognized him from the few visits to the diner as well as when he assisted her in getting to the subway. She did owe him, and she didn’t feel right just letting him sleep outside. Carefully she touched his arm, “Hey? Hello?  Please wake up.” Her voice soft at first not wanting to startle him. If that didn’t work she’d give him a little shake. “Let’s get you some place more comfy.”

+

“yeah … somehow.” trailing his words, looking around and noticing a vampire attempting to get them open, failing and then hitting the door with a loud kick. sighing and turning his attention towards dahlia again. “listen, once you’ve worked at a bar during a full moon, you’ll see what i’m talking about. it does crazy things to people.” her glass clinks against his, instantly he puts his to his mouth and takes a long few sips. “anyways, how are doing? haven’t seen you around the wolf’s eye in awhile.” 

“I wouldn’t worry.” Maybe if she said it out loud it would will it into existence. Dahlia smiled up to him while she nursed the drink in her hand. “People do act bizarre when the full moon is out. We see it at the diner too, but not as bad as you.” Little did she know. After the toast she finished her glass setting it down. “I’ve been alright. Still trying to find a reliable babysitter for the kids so I can go out more. I haven’t missed anything exciting have I?”

“you like it? i thought i'd try something different,” chace muses, handing over the shots to her, “I think green would look rather good on you, miss.” he comments, looking over her hair and smiles before taking his shot. the alcohol burns the moment it's on his tongue in an unfamiliar way.

it turns out to be absinthe and chace winces along with her, “christ, i might actually feel that one in the morning.”

“I do like it.” Dahlia responded with a nod of her head. She took the shot with a smile, “Do you really think so? I’ve always been curious about my hair being different colors. I never wanted to dye it when I was younger though.” Complications growing up in a house of magic without having any herself. Her tongue thrashed inside her mouth as she for a minute couldn’t tell if it burned or it went numb. “Agreed. That one was super strong. What was it?”

━ @duskstarts !

( before the plot drop )

chace had put a bit of green temporary colouring in his hair and he was wearing a plain white shirt with green suspenders dangling at his hips. ( they'd become bothersome as time in the pub went on ) . now he was carefully carrying four green shots, buzzing from his own supply and he sat them down in front of the person he'd been partying with. “okay, i know what you're thinking, "what the hell are those, chace ? " and to answer i would say, i'm not sure but they were free.” he says and raises one up, “sláinte ! ”

She thought he seemed kind of young, but this was her night to be without her kids for a few hours. Thankful she had finally found someone she could trust to watch them. Dahlia’s brows lifted curiously while she looked over to chace and the shot glasses. “I was thinking that, but I was also wondering if you had any green hair dye left too.” A chuckle parted her lips before she took one of the shots from the tray slamming it back with the scrunch of her nose. “Ooof that’s strong.”

beck had just finished with one of his side hustles and was making his way to the subway. thanks to that old beat up car, he had to mingle with people more than he liked. at least he was far from sober and he could dig into the herbs from Sybil later. hearing her voice he looked over and broke into a smile for half of a second before it faded. he listens to her words and jaw sets as he nods to her, immediately moving to link their arms together. “there you are,” he plays along protectively. “this way, come on, we’re going to be late.”

The figure was at least one she had seen at the diner before. That made her feel somewhat better, and at least he wasn’t some creeper stalking her steps. Dahlia pressed her head against his arm while they started to walk in the direction of the subway. “Sorry again for being late. Henry called me earlier because Del wouldn’t share the remote. That was easily thirty minutes.” Not a direct lie, it’s just a bending of the truth that she had been seeking the man out. “Thank you” She whispered softly.

reed couldn’t help but laugh at the kids’ reactions, and was already extending his hand out to pass off the danish. he smiled as he handed the bag off, “it’s only one danish, but i’m glad that it will be enjoyed by a whole crew of fellow pastry-lovers.” reed shook his head at her question, “no way i’d sell something that i got for free, anyways,” he shrugged. “i just can’t eat it because it’s coated in almonds. none of you are allergic, right?”

The eldest reached up to take the bag. Dahlia pointed her finger giving him a look, “Wait.” Before she turned her attention back to Reed. “You’ve made my day, thank you so much. Luckily we have no food allergies.” She motions to the kids that it was alright to share the danish, and they hopped onto the opportunity. The kids following her reaction, “Thank you!” they chimed in unison with part of the pastry out of their mouths. “I see this sun butter at the store, do you use that instead of peanut butter?” A random question, but she was curious.