scorched

She stepped forward and plucked a jacket she’d been eyeing off the rack. Nights here got cold, and she wanted to make sure Stella stayed warm. Running her fingers over the fabric, she asked the man, "Is fighting over thrift store pants your idea of passing time in a place like this?"

the question didn't seem loaded, but his answer definitely was. fighting over thrift store pants was not his first choice, or second really, but it was what he had. and if he didn't do something it would be too easy to slip into bad habits. to falter. to drive himself crazy with all of the scary realities his new living situation thrust upon him.

" well, it is today. " he settles for an easy answer, without his inner turmoil. " i'm still not willing to lose my individual flare, and i think i could make these pants somewhat cool. at least, as cool as it's going to get. " there's a nod of his head in the direction of the jacket in natalia's hand, " that's very practical. warm. "

His eyes flick over to the book Mason was holding before they settle back on him. 'Nah, I’m good. Just...' He pauses, glancing around the space before meeting Mason’s gaze again. 'Library’s got that vibe, dunnit? Like, the world can be a mess, but in here it’s all just words on pages.'

" exactly, man. exactly. " he smiles, toothy and big. " it's all easy here, y'know? like there's not a care in the world. " it's hard not be all doom and gloom but the library makes it just a little bit easier. " actually reading isn't so bad either, you kind of forget what's going on... out there. "

fingers tap absentmindedly on the cover of a book in front of him, " do you read much at all, or just like to enjoy the vibes here? " it's said entirely without judgement, just sincerely wondering. although he does like to promote literature, but mostly just out of his own selfish desire to talk to someone else about books he has an affinity for.

mason eyed the girl next to him, taking in her initial words. the idea of mason and mira coming to blows over a pair of jeans was enough to put a small smile on his face. not that he would ever actually hit her, or anyone for that matter. but the idea was stupid enough that it made him laugh, just a little. this was probably the most normal he's felt in months.

" i do need a win, thank you for noticing," despite the fact that his tone was a little over the top, there was an undercurrent of sincerity. mason really did need a win. hell, everyone in this town probably needed a win. but he was partial to himself, sometimes.

mira sat at the bar, her hands jittery as she wrapped them around the cold, glass tumbler. the amber liquid inside was all too familiar — too comforting — in a way that made her stomach churn. she hadn’t planned on drinking today. hell, she hadn’t planned on drinking ever again if she could help it. six months clean, and now here she was, staring down the ghost of her past in the form of whiskey. she could feel the weight of it before it even touched her lips; the feeling that told her if she took that first sip, she’d fall back into the abyss. but what did it matter anyways? it wasn’t like she had anywhere else to go. no one was waiting for her. not anymore. her fingers brushing against the smooth surface of the glass, before she hesitated. god this town, she thought. she despised it here. despised the slow, suffocating quiet that pressed in on her every day, like the walls were closing in and there was no way out. no exit. she wasn’t supposed to be here. this wasn’t her life. she was supposed to be somewhere —anywhere but stuck in a small town surrounded by strangers and questions she couldn’t answer. she threw back the drink in one go, the burn spreading down her throat like an old, familiar fire. it didn’t feel the same. maybe it wasn’t supposed to. but the moment the alcohol hit her bloodstream, she could feel the tension in her shoulders loosen a bit, the anxiety that had gripped her all day beginning to fade. her eyes fluttered shut, and for a second, it almost felt like she was breathing again. almost. but it wasn’t enough. It was never enough. “is this how it is now?” her voice was low, almost to herself, but loud enough for the person sitting next to her to hear. “you wake up every day thinking you’ll find your way out, but all you do is circle the drain? get drunk just to forget you’re stuck?” she didn’t wait for an answer, her eyes flicking to the door like maybe there was an escape she hadn’t noticed yet. “or is this it? you just… give up and pretend you’re fine?” her smile is sharp, forced. “cause i can do that, too.” her gaze finally meets theirs with a challenging glint in her eyes. “what about you?”

mason should not be in this bar. he should be at the motel, reading a book or.. something. he shouldn't be here, letting piece after piece of his resolve slip away. sobriety wasn't easy for anyone, but he didn't exactly have a good track record with staying clean and this town seemed to pull out the worst in him. there was an unrelenting buzz underneath his skin, a sick pulling sensation in the pit of his stomach.

he couldn't recall making the decision to end up here, and yet here he sat. shaking hands wrapped around a bottle of beer while he tried to convince himself that if it wasn't liquor it didn't count. that's how it usually started, anyway. one beer after work turned into four beers after work turned into beer before work turned into whiskey in his coffee and falling asleep with a bottle of gin by his bed. the cycle always repeated. the continuous failure of sticking to his own loose morals made him feel even more insane than being stuck in this town.

The library feels quiet today. Muz isn't exactly here to read, it’s more about the stillness. It’s always been easier for him to think in spaces like this. Less noise, less interference. His attention catches on the back of a figure at one of the tables—Muz can’t remember if they’ve spoken much before, just the odd passing conversation, and even then, it’s been brief. He moves closer, not necessarily wanting to interrupt but doing it anyway. 'Hey,' Muz says quietly, leaning against the edge of a bookshelf as he comes to a stop. 'You deep in something important or just trying to kill time?'

right now he's sifting through a small stack of new returns, just leafing through to make sure there are no homemade bookmarks or belongings tucked in between pages before he starts shelving. the intrusion makes him startle slightly, eyes snapping up to rest on the person in front of him. mason thinks he might recognize him, but he kind of vaguely recognizes everyone.

" jesus, you scared me. " he puts the book he was holding down on the table, a copy of catcher in the rye, to run a hand through his hair. it occurs to him that the other person asked him a question. " what? oh, killing time mostly. nothing is ever that important in the library. s'why i like it so much. " mason straightens a little, " did you need help finding something? "

— RAYS from the afternoon sun shine through the trees , melting away the remaining frost on the yellowing leaves and warming greer's near windburnt cheeks . though a chilly autumn was no irregularity for the detroit native , there was something sinister in the air , something she tries desperately to ignore , that makes the cold air seem to seep into her weary bones , inescapable no matter how many layers she may wear . despite this , her glove - less right hand remains outside of her coat pocket , a nearly finished cigarette held tightly between two pinkened fingers , orange lighter clutched in the palm of her hand . the unease only worsens the longer she stares into the woods , the shadows among the trees looking all the more ominous . she takes a deep inhale , the harshness of the cold air stinging her nose and throat as she does so , refreshing and punishing at the same time . as she exhales , she closes her eyes , cutting herself off from staring into the forest , and the dark , irrational thoughts that seem to cluster in her mind whenever she was near it . footsteps approach , the sound of gravel crunching taking away from the otherwise eerie silence , and successfully pulling the young woman from her reverie . greer's eyes remain closed for a moment longer , this time to contain an eye roll . “ i'm not running off again , you guys don't have to keep threatening to ‘ restrain me ’ . ” forever assuming rather than asking , disinterest and annoyance cloud greer's voice . her eyes open only to fall into a scowl as she turns to look at the one who interrupts her moping . “ what do you want ? ”

the forest was not mason's usual choice of leisure. actually, he tried to void it. mostly. but on days like today, when that vine of panic blooms into his chest and spreads through his veins, he just can't sit still. there's a pull telling him to run, to escape, but he knows that he can't. his limbs refuse to be idle, and there are only so many places to pace in this town-like coffin.

as he walks towards the edge of the ominous wooded area, slow and filled with unease, it occurs to mason that he is not dressed for this weather. the chill in the air falls around him uncomfortably sending a shiver up his spine. 'stupid town, stupid weather.' muttered under his breath. hands get shoved unceremoniously into his pockets, looking for some form of reprieve. memphis autumn was a little less warm than usual at best, and slightly chilly at worst. he was still struggling to adjust.

it's only when he's right up on them that he see's the other person. mason doesn't recognize her on a personal level, but rather on the level he recognizes every new face in town, she's here. trapped. existing.

her words pull a memory to the forefront of his mind, and a small smile to his lips. that was him at one point, far sooner than he had any right to be nostalgic about, but time felt like it moved differently here. every night stretched into eons, weeks blended together. three months felt like decades and mere days all at once.

pinching the bridge of her nose, jean turned away from the person on the cot. she tried to not let her frustration show. her bedside manor has really gone down hill since she's come here, but it was hard to keep her composure in this place. here it was about keeping people alive rather than keeping them happy. it didn't help when people would come begging for meds they didn't have. sure there was a pharmacy in town, but it was mostly for show. the only meds they had was whatever happened to come in with the people who showed up here. "no i am not going to waste medicine because you have a stuffy nose," she says finally and turns back to them. "it's just a cold. drink some tea, take a hot bath, and get some rest. you'll feel better in a day or two."