long live

Dom was more than relieved as Iris wasn’t dismissive, as he so expected, but rather accepted him, and it appeared not to be so begrudging. It was noticeable in the way she let her eyes meet his, no matter how brief, contrasting the way her gaze had darted all over the place looking for a safe place to land, and this was more telling above any roll of the eyes, glares and stolen glances they’d ever shared. This felt pivotal. 

He stepped towards her more confidently, more comfortably, to somehow assure her of his sincerity. That this wasn’t all just to mock her later in front of the school or through whispers within the hallways. It was clear she wasn’t used to opening up like this, revealing all her chinks in armour and hoping no harm would come to her in return. He wasn’t used to seeing her like this either, but he found himself admiring her for it. Perhaps it wasn’t so much the fact that she wasn’t used to this level of intimacy but more so being used to the kind of hurtful responses whenever she, or anyone around her, tried that brought her hesitation. Flashbacks to her very public but unfair break-up came to mind, and it made him even more careful in his approach. 

The room faded away when she stepped into him his embrace. He wrapped his arms around her, gingerly rubbing her back with one hand and the other on the back of her head, hoping it’d be reassuring. Until a sudden recollection came to mind, and Dom quickly lowered his hand from her head in hopes she wouldn’t realise he’d been stroking her hair with a hand that’d touched her own urine. 

Could she sense it from the way his heart beat sped up a little? Dom was pleasantly surprised from the way she fit into him, as if he was made to hold her forever. He never realised she was so petite but he supposed that was the Iris King attitude making her seem bigger than she really was. And it came into action once again. 

A low, throaty chuckle rumbled from the pit of his chest as he drew back slightly to look at her with a feigned frown. “You were crying? No, that’s impossible…” He said, voice gentle with a teasing lilt, whilst bringing one hand up to cup her cheek, wiping a tear with his thumb. “I must’ve missed it. Besides, I would have never have walked into the women’s bathroom.” Only Iris would make a threat in a situation like this and he hadn’t expected any different from her. Whilst his lips curled into a soft smile as an attempt to lighten the mood, a part of it came from being absolutely charmed by her. 

“Hey, it’s going to be alright,” and this time, Dom believed it a little bit more. He wasn’t sure what changed in the last thirty seconds but he could feel it in his chest. “There isn’t anything the Iris King can’t handle. And even if you can’t, if you don’t feel like going to anyone you particularly like, then I’ll be here for you if you ever need me. Sometimes it’s easier to talk to someone you don’t really know. Or, to be more precise, hate.”

Iris liked the way Dominik felt against her - soft, warm, and comforting. Even the uneven sound of his heartbeat brought an odd comfort to her, knowing that he was also out of his element when it came to whatever this exchange had turned into. Against his chest, everything else seemed to come to a temprary standstill. Here she was, a couple months into eighteen, her family’s business failing, and an unwanted pregnancy threatening to ruin her future, and yet all she could think about is how nice this felt. Under different circumstances, this could have been the start of something normal and less hostile between them. But she was quick to remind herself - he wouldn’t be comforting her under these normal circumstances she’d craved. Rght before she could tense up and pull away from him, the soft rumble in his chest caught her attention, and she tilted her head up to observe the other. 

All she can do is stare up at him for a moment, realization dawning on her that she doesn’t think she’s ever seen Dominik laugh, and its such a pretty sight she almost doesn’t notice his hand cup her cheek to swipe away her tears. The feeling is soft and brief, and the sensation tingled her skin and left her cheeks burning red. His smile was infectious, and Iris found her lips curling upward in response to the man before her. How had she missed this side of him before now?

She laughed slightly at his words, the noise soft and quiet, a sharp contrast to her mother’s loud laugh, which was perhaps the only thing Iris had not learned from her predecessor. “What are you doing in the women’s bathroom, Nikki?” That nickname had a nice ring to it, Iris had decided, and she quite liked the thought of giving him a name only she could call him. She couldn’t fight this growing fondness even though she wanted too, and every moment spent in this bathroom just dragged them closer to a point of no return. How could she go back to making fun of him after this?

When Dominik said the word ‘hate’, Iris felt almost this instinctual notion to deny the truth they both knew. “I don’t hate you...” Who was Iris King to lie to Dominik Blair? They were nothing if not overly arrogant and honest toward one another, but him saying the word to her, as if he knew it as fact... it made her want to deny having ever had malicious feelings for him. She wondered if it had something to do with him comforting her, if that made her feel guilty for ever harboring ill feelings toward him. On the other hand, she knew she liked to disagree with him out of spite, or whatever odd game they played during class, but this didn’t feel quite like that either. She drew in a sharp breath, her tears finally slowing down as she began to focus on everything else. “Anymore.” She breathed out, her face burning hot at such an admission.

“But do you even know what you’re signing up for?” Iris asked, arms crossing as her sharpness returned ever so slightly. “Like people can be very emotional while pregnant.” Iris recalled the whiplash of emotions her father’s secretary had given her depending on the day, she could only imagine how she would be. “Are you sure you’re equipped to deal with that?” She asked, perhaps as some final test for Dominik, still waiting for the other to jump ship and leave her to her misery. 

Dom could hardly remember when or how things had gotten so complicated and bitter between them, which was unfortunate considering he could very vividly remember when things had been utterly heavenly. Euphoric. Too good to be true. It made these moments harder to digest, even though they were the only moments Iris and Dom had together these days. “God keeps the door of his mercy and offer of salvation open to everyone,” he quipped back, not meaning to sound as sarcastic as he did but he couldn’t help his purposefully reverent choice of words. With the bottle in one hand, her shoes in the other, he walked back towards the other side of the room to the shoe rack, though he was pretty sure this one belonged upstairs in her room. At the second utterance of the nickname, he froze for a fleeting moment before clearing his throat, and continuing towards the shoe rack. There was a few seconds of silence as he thought of how to say what he wanted to say. Once he’d put her shoes away, he stood up straight, finding her eyes as he sighed once before replying, “I thought we could go to the church. It’s safer. Less people.”

Iris wasn’t religious. Religion was something built in blind faith, something that just didn’t register within her. She worked too damn hard her entire life, watched her mother’s business rise and fall to believe it was all in some higher power’s hands. It didn’t mean she hadn’t tried - it just didn’t stick. That being said, she couldn’t suppress the roll of her eyes when he got all preachy. Sometimes she really had to sit back and wonder how on earth she had married a man as remotely devout as Dominik could be. She could almost hear the echo of her mother telling her she was too young to know what she wanted all those years ago. Unfortunately for her, her mother had been right. But perhaps she was too stubborn to say that aloud, and perhaps she still hoped her mother was wrong. 

The sigh that left her lips was exasperated, tired, and annoyed at his insistence. She knew too well what a stay at the church would entail, and she had already dealt with some of his friends on Thanksgiving, she could not stand to spend a whole two weeks with them on lockdown. “Come on, Dominik.” Iris all but whined, giving him a pleading look. “Do you really want to be locked up there for two whole weeks?” Her face scrunched up in disgust at the thought, “Sharing one room with fifteen other people?” She knew deep down she was being a tad dramatic, but she couldn’t help but want to run at the idea of being forced to hear from the religious sort for two whole weeks. Not to mention their judginess about things like infidelity. The nerve.

Her honesty was refreshing, and he appreciated her candor. Another might make excuses, leaving the pair in the hallway while their intentions clashed, but because Iris told him why, rather than simply she was fine, Conor was content to leave her be. He tried his best not to be overbearing, and the straightforward way she spoke allowed him to keep himself in check. Being cared for, rather than caring for was a new experience for him; he thought perhaps he could enjoy it if he could grow accustomed to it.

Her eyes were able to convey the message easily, somehow Conor knew that the words she spoke to him and the affection she seemed to hold was genuine. Again, Conor’s hesitancy with the situation was simply a lack of model on how to deal with it — maternal figures were rare at best within his life.

“No,” he replied, possibly a little too quickly. Grand Madam’s had given him purpose and connection. It was all a play down those stairs, one where the audience interacted directly, and the small framed boy had become something of a method actor. He could convince himself that he was something to those that came to visit him, if only for a few hours, and in doing so he convinced them that they meant something. It might be draining once the lights came back on, but in the moment Conor enjoyed a strange sort of comfort in the act. “I mean, if you think it is a good idea, but I’m alright with the hours I’m working now.”

Deciding to change the subject slightly, Conor looked over to the other as the exited his apartment building, and furrowed his brow slightly, a visible mark of the thoughts churning in his head. “Where are we going by the way?” he asked, voicing what had been on his mind. He didn’t have a particular drive for one place over any other, simply he was someone who liked to know where he was going ahead of time.

There was something calming in talking with him. Perhaps it was because she cared for him far more than she should, but perhaps it was as well because he was easy to talk with. She supposed that came with his occupation, though part of her would argue that he might have been this way long before he followed her into the basement. 

Though she knew technically he had to be nice to the woman who wrote the checks that paid his bills, she also hoped (and sort of felt) that he had accepted her presence as more motherly than that of a boss. She supposed she should apologize to Conor, with all the unused motherly advice she’d never get to give her own children, he was stuck getting the brunt of it. And yet, in the sweetest way, he reciporcated these actions as often as she would allow. 

The moment he spoke up, Iris worried something was amiss, and she feared she had misspoken. But she remained unsure of how, and so she could only helplessly watch as Conor continued to speak, her mind scrambling to stop from rushing into a panic. She struggled for composure, regarding him with skepticism before offering a shrug. “It was just a thought.” The words feigned nonchalance, when in reality Iris was assuring him that nothing was final, and if he was opposed (as much as he surely seemed), then that would be the last she spoke of it. “Financially, it would probably be a setback.” She added, shaking her head dismissively. 

“Though I’d love to take you out to Boston, I’m afraid business keeps me in Sallybrook.” She sighed heavily, as they exited his apartment building. She loved Sallybrook dearly, but when it came to places to eat, there were only a handful, her own bakery included. She hummed as she pointed to her left. “Moonlight Diner?” She asked, fighting the shiver that the light wind brought on her. If only she could change how many restaurants were in town, and the cold weather. Then her hometown would be perfect. Well, mostly.

“It is in the negatives,” he stated firmly, and for no reason at all but the fact that it was just one of those nights. It was one of those nights where they clashed left, right and centre. There was nothing they could do about it, as if it was written in the stars. Their roars would tear through the roof in a desperate cry for help, and they would always go unanswered. And so, Dom could feel something acerbic bubbling under the surface, and had he looked at Iris a little longer, he would’ve been able to see that she felt the same: she was tired too. 

He hated the fact that he caught ear of her chuckle, and tried to erase it from his memory immediately. Until they clashed again. And he confronted her, again. His eyes bore into hers, refusing his mind to go to a place of futile questions and expired memories. And her response helped. He fell silent for a moment and looked at her with disbelief. Taking a deep breath, he simply sighed and walked past her, shaking his head lightly. “You could’ve hurt someone,” he grumbled under his breath as he picked up her coat and shoes before walking over to the coat stand across the room. 

“Where are we going then?” He asked lowly whilst hanging up her coat. “For this ridiculous quarantine.” 

Iris typically would have fought him on whether or not it had been in the negatives, but given the fact that she was still freezing from her brief walk from the car to the house, she’d believe him just this once. Her drunken state was the least of her worries tonight, and if she were honest, she drove home under the influence often - she just supposed tonight had been the night where she’d drank a bit too much for even Dominik’s standards. And the thought of that was funny all in itself.

It was desperate that she craved his gaze, wasn’t it? Even as he stared at her in what she could imagine was a disapproving look, it still made her stomach twist in knots. She still longed for him to long her - desperately wanted him to flash her a smile, or say her name without exasperation following suit. Instead, she shrugged at him, watching him walk away from her and clean up her mess, again. “But, love - I never do.” With nothing left to say, Iris turned to go upstairs, satsified that she’d be getting out before a horrid fight started. 

Of course, he was known for pushing the limits just as often as she, and when he spoke again she leaned against the wall, sighing heavily. She didn’t bother to turn and look at him as she spoke. “Last I checked I wasn’t as devout as the company you keep.” She paused, fighting the way her heart jumped at the thought of the two of them going somewhere together. Reason settled in, of course he’d offer to go with her, she hated this time of year. “I planned on going to the motel. Will you be joining me, Nikki?” The nickname slipped out again, and she felt her face flush temporarily. 

Alice’s shoulders tensed immediately. She was used to this by now, being talked down to because of her faith. But she never hurt anyone with the teachings of God or Jesus, never used it as a reason to invalidate anyone’s existence, and she knew that through the work of the church, she was able to shape and change lives for the better. The words and side remarks people used to make at her, Iris included, did not bother her like they used to. Now, she continued to feel prideful of her faith, of her devotion to it, even though very few people understood. “I’m going back after dinner,” she replied with a slight smile before turning back around to keep making their pies for desert. “We’re going to be feeding some of the kids from the shelter, giving them a thanksgiving dinner, singing some Christmas songs, we’ll have board games. It should be fun.” She looked at her from the corner of her eye. “You should come. It is the season of giving, after all.” 

Whoever thought Alice was only sweet truly did not know her at all. Even Iris was on the outskirts of ever really knowing the other, yet she knew that underneath all of that love, affection, and sweetness, there was something that could (and should) bite back. In Sallybrook, Iris supposed, that had to be a given. But Alice hid hers well and for so long Iris thought it didn’t exist, but Iris supposed she did always bring out the worst in people. It was second nature at this point. Just look at Dominik. 

But truly, this side of Alice was the worst, struggling to be kind in spite of how truly awful Iris was being. If this were anyone else, she would probably have outwardly applauded their endurance against her, but even after years and years and years of dealing with Alice, Iris could barely stomach being kind to the other. Of course Iris knew it all boiled down to some insecurity, of what she was mostly unsure. Perhaps even the kindest person in all of Sallybrook not liking her actually hurt her feelings? Iris didn’t want to dwell in these feelings of insignificance much longer, so she took a sip of wine and waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, sweet Alice - that’s what I give away my money for.” As much as the thought of being around children would probably soften Iris up, she didn’t want to be in the presence of Alice longer than she had to. “But do take anything we don’t eat over there.” She looked on at the pies Alice was prepping, and gave a small smirk. “Especially whatever you’re trying to pass that off as.”

Iris King was pregnant. 

Dom wasn’t sure why but the fact hit him like a tonne of bricks. Perhaps it was because teenage pregnancy was surprisingly uncommon in Sallybrook, or unsurprisingly well hidden. Or maybe it was because she’d been dating a family friend of his not so long ago, and the thought of the pair having a baby together unsettled him. Or maybe it was because of how distraught she looked that could possibly mean unwanted circumstances – was it disapproving parents, lack of a supportive partner, or the simple fact that this would mess up her plans for the future? Whatever it was, crying alone in a public bathroom didn’t exactly seem like she was over the moon.

Days like this should be filled with joy, he foolishly thought. He remembered when his own mother found out she was pregnant after trying for almost nine years. She’d been elated. He couldn’t remember if she’d ever shown such true and genuine emotion before. She’d lightened up wherever she went for nine months. This felt far from that, but it didn’t have to be. 

As the first tear rolled down her cheek, he instinctively took a step forward, and his hand jerked upwards, but he stopped himself there. “You don’t have to say anything,” he reassured quietly, wiping his hand on his jeans. 

His heart broke for her. It was difficult to even look at her when she looked so sad, even more so at her struggle to maintain composure. He was starting to think he was doing more harm than good by staying here. She’d always held her head up high, even when everyone was wanting for it to hang in shame, and he’d liked that about her. But there was a time to be prideful and a time to be vulnerable, and she clearly was only comfortable with him seeing one of them.

“Hey, hey…” he said, taking another careful step forward, relaxing his posture as much as possible to let her know he really was just trying to be there for her. “You’ve just found out, right? How are you supposed to know what to do? Just take one step at a time. It’s going to be okay.” The last sentence slips out of him. Dom was never known to utter words that could amount to an empty promise, no matter the circumstance. However, in this moment, desperate to comfort her in any way, he lied. 

“Iris, look… I’m going to give you hug…” He said, walking towards her slowly, arms open. Though she continued to avoid his gaze, he didn’t stop searching for hers. “But if you want to be alone, just tell me to… fuck off. I can stand outside, make sure no one comes in until you’re ready.” 

Vulnerability was not something taught in the King household. Her mother had said something as horrid as vulnerability could make Iris look weak, and in the world, people jump at the opportunity to cut someone down at the first sign of weakness. She was right, of course. Iris had seen many of her friends expose a flaw, something weak or intimate about themself, and she had just as soon watched others tear them to shreds in an instance. She herself had even been known to behave in such a way - which may or may not have been the other thing her mother had taught her. 

But Dominik Blair cared not for what others thought of him, and little seemed to ever effect him. Where Iris King was built upon a facade that she kept up so no one could ever cut her down, Dominik Blair simply couldn’t be cut down. And she envied that slightly more than she hated him. 

Yet here she stood, as vulnerable as she could get, crying in front of a man she’d hated for a good portion of her life. And even with such a high fight or flight instinct with Dominik, her body would do neither, and she could only hear his attempts to ease her worries. It was bizarre to be standing before him, and odd that he seemed not to care who she was and who he was, but just genuinely cared to make her feel better. Iris decided she didn’t mind this sort of attention from him, and it was an odd comfort in her current state of distress. It was short lived, of course.

It’s going to be okay. How could he possibly know that? She tilted her head up at him, and for a moment her anger almost overpowered her. But then there were those eyes again, staring down at her, and instead of whatever he was always looking at her like in class, there was something soft in his gaze, something that almost made her feel safe. Iris sniffled loudly and turned to look around the bathroom, because that gaze made her feel like her world wasn’t crumbling when it so clearly was, especially with the thing that was going to start growing inside of her. “This wasn’t supposed to happen like this.” She admitted, crossing her arms and looking down at the tile around them. “How am I ever going to know what to do?” Her question was honest and desperate, and the quiet sob that came out at the end certainly did not make her seem anywhere near calm.

Iris despised feeling out of control - and that was exactly what this little bathroom had made her feel. Uncertainty sat in the pit of her stomach, and her heart beat heavy as Dominik took another step forward. Despite her mind yelling at her body to step away from him, Iris took a small, hesitant step toward him. “You’re an odd one, Dominik Blair.” Iris almost laughed, which was a sudden feeling to have in the midst of crying. She let their eyes meet for only a moment, and she let herself show him an ounce of trust as she began to reach toward him. Even if her mind was telling her not to trust him, Iris wasn’t listening. She needed this. So, Iris wrapped her arms around his waist, and pressed her tear stained face against his chest. And in some vain attempt to maintain control of the situation, she offered a muffled threat from against Dominik’s chest,

“If you tell anyone that I cried on you - I’ll castrate you.”

Tired was part of his charm. He was young and sweet in most of his appearance, but there was an age behind his eyes that some had told him was comforting; Conor’s soul had been given the opportunity to age quickly. His presence was comforting and he had, with years of practice, become very good at taking care of those around him. It was what people enjoyed about him when he sold them pastries, that he asked and remembered, that he made them feel like someone cared. Now, it was what made him such a gracious host downstairs.

He was thankful for Iris and all she had done for him. Grand Madam’s had become a strange little family for him, with Iris acting in a maternal role and Abigail almost as an older sister. It was unconventional, but most things in the young boy’s life had been. Besides, he might not admit it, but he did better when he was around others, rather than shutting himself up in an apartment that, two years later, still felt empty for the lack of another. Maybe he should get a pet, but it felt cheap to replace Sean like that. It was wrong to restrict himself so, but he had defined himself as Brother for so long, that acting without thought for it was nearly impossible.

Conor furrowed his brow at Iris’s response. “Do you want a hat or a scarf? I have some extras inside,” he gestured towards the door as he spoke, wanting her to know that it wouldn’t be a hassle. Abstractly he knew that others worried about the season for the strangeness that accompanied the dropping temperatures, but it rarely occurred to him naturally. To him the cold was real, but The Haunt was a whisper that had never touched him.

“Everything’s fine, I promise,” Conor replied, his voice warm and a reassuring smile painting his face as he followed her. “I won’t lie, I’m a bit tired, but I usually am in the mornings, especially after work. It’s nothing for you to worry about, you worry about enough as it is.” His words were soft, encouraging her to take a break rather than chastising her for not doing so already.

Conor was one of her favorite (if not the favorite) workers in the Grand Madam’s, and she had no problem admitting such a thing. He had years on many of her employees, and she hoped that she had become a fixture in his life just as he had in hers. Perhaps she would never have children of her own, but she would always have those lost souls in the brothel. They needed her guidance and she needed them, and she was painfully attached to just about everyone there. 

Her dearest Conor was so thoughtful, the expression on his face making her swell with affection for the young man. She offered him a smile and waved off the thought, “You are too kind, dear.” She laughed, and gestured for him to come along, wanting to get out of the cold apartment building and into the cold weather, and then safely tuck them away in her car and blast the heat. “But I’d rather freeze than mismatch.” She finished, shrugging her shoulders because this was a fate she’d long resigned herself to. 

Iris let relief wash over her as Conor reassured her, even if she did not agree with his opinion of her. She was thankful he was well, and she let her hand touch his arm and gave it a light, reassuring squeeze. She couldn’t withhold herself forever. “Oh but my dear Conor, it’s my job to worry about you.” Iris admitted. "I just want to make sure you are taking good care of yourself.” She gazed at him with affection for a moment, hoping her eyes could convey the genuinity of her concern and adoration for the young man.

And just as quickly as she’d been giving him a serious, concerned expression, she turned to a lighter, easier topic. Business. “Should I be giving you less hours? Perhaps I could make you an exclusive. We could really rake in the big bucks that way.” She teased, hurrying down the staircase. “Of course, the people might riot.” She added with a look over her shoulder.

The hallway was dark, unlit. At the end of it was a single light by the front door, and under it stood Iris, which only further illuminated fatigued form. It wasn’t his problem anymore. Not even the fact that she still managed to puff out grey clouds of smoke having seen the way her own mother deteriorated. No, it wasn’t his problem. 

“Right. Sure. Makes sense. Not like it’s minus degrees out. Can’t ruin the look,” Dom grumbled as he walked down the hallway, slow and as steady as possible, shaking his head with frustration. At sight of her belongs by the floor again, he clenched his jaw, running a hand over it to physically stop himself from muttering a snide comment. Instead of going over to pick them up himself, he shot her a telling look before turning towards the kitchen. 

“I do,” he said plainly from the kitchen, loud enough so she could hear. “Just like every… other… weekday.” With a bottle of red wine in hand, he turned back out towards the foyer. This had been the most interaction they’ve had in a while, and it was clear why that was the case. However, Dom knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep knowing the mess she’d made by the door, so he began to walk over there until he passed Iris. A strong smell hit him. He stopped in his tracks, glaring down at her. “Did you drive here..?”

Iris met his gaze, noting the way his eyes flickered from her discarded belongings and back to her. She ignored him, of course, far more concerned in staying steady on her feet. All she wanted was a warm bath, and probably some more to drink. “It’s not in the negatives...” Iris countered, though she didn’t actually know for sure. “Please don’t be so dramatic, Nik.” She sighed, and took another drag of her cigarette. She wasn’t sure if smoking was more habit or stress induced, but she did find that she could keep her cool for longer when one was between her lips. And for nights full of unexpected arguments conversations with Dominik, it was best if she continued breathing in the nicotine, only mildly concerned of the second hand smoke he was facing. 

A soft chuckle left her lips as he talked from the kitchen, noting the way he stated it as if he couldn’t fathom why she was asking. She walked further away from the entry, hoping to reach the stairs before being provoked any further. However, Dominik is quick, his large strides reaching her before she had barely made it five feet from her original location. She frowned and crossed her arms, eyes floating to the bottle of wine. For a moment, she thought of asking him to share, and memories of curling up by the fireplace and talking about their days flood to the surface, wrapped up in blankets and drinking whatever expensive bottle they’d purchased.

“Hm?” She asked, tearing herself away from the memory to gaze up the seven inches from her face to his. She fought a soft sigh, taking in the tired eyes and shaggy hair - it seemed only yesterday he’d had bright eyes and a cocky smile, his hair scruffy but maintained. “Oh? Yes, Nikki, of course.” Iris’ face fell into a sort of ‘duh’ expression, and she patted her husband’s arm and tilted her head. “How else was I supposed to get home?”

Avery was surprised with themselves for not putting together who it was that stood beside them. Perhaps it was their ego blocking their memory. There was a moment of embarrassment considering they were counting out cash in front of the owner, but they couldn’t dwell. They attempted to appear smooth as they reached in their pocket for their lighter, smiling as they lit it with a smile. “I guess not.” They shrugged, the light of the cigarette illuminating the two of them in their separate corner of the establishment.

Perhaps there was a part of them that wanted to feel bad for their dirty deed, however they needed the money. Avery hadn’t been putting in the work necessary to sustain themselves at Witch’s Manor and their never ending parchment for liquor was expensive. So they sized their counterpart up, envious of the cigarette they so proudly held in their mouth. 

“But I gotta say I wish I was.” Perhaps it was stupid to assume, but they felt as though their only way out of this situation was to dig themselves further in. There was a small smile that crossed Avery’s face as they continued to keep their gaze locked with the other offering a small chuckle before they spoke. “I mean honestly I can’t believe no one beat me to the thought sooner.” They shrugged as they leaned closer to the owner daring to pluck the cigarette from their lips. “I mean honestly am I really the only druggie in all of Sallybrook to infiltrate Grand Madam’s?” Avery shock their head in mock disappointment. “I mean I feel like the two just go hand in hand.” There was a second Avery looked across the crowd hoping their counterpart would follow suit. “Correct me if I’m wrong.”

Iris couldn’t help but feel like they spelled ‘danger’ with their words. ‘Trouble’ wasn’t too far behind, and she was sure with the way they kept speaking, the phrase ‘a bad idea’ was almost guaranteed. And yet, she stood there, taking in a drag of the stolen cigarette, knowing it to be a rather cheap brand. It told Iris all she needed to know of her competition, they were just living on the edge, dipping into danger without having the cash to back themselves up. Well, after the night spent in the Madam’s, she supposed they did have a small cash flow growing now. 

“Thank you, sweetheart.” Iris smiled, the two of them had only been leaning in close for a short moment, though Iris longed to do it once more. Perhaps it was the sense of danger, but Iris liked being close to them, liked the challenge they offered. She liked the cockiness, the smirk, the way they looked at her - Iris couldn’t help but feel drawn in. Iris’ brows shot upwards, a crooked smile pulling at her lips. “Do you now?” The Grand Madam’s revivial had been used as a way to revive herself, as well. On the brink of losing everything, she had flung herself into this place, and even though her mother had passed, she had felt this place made her mother eternal. To hear someone want what she created, it made her blush with pride, and she pressed the cigarette to her lips to keep from grinning. 

“Oh sweetheart, you aren’t the first to try and seduce my patrons with your goody bags.” She shrugged, and offered the cigarette up for the other to take. “Though you have been the most successful.” She shrugged. While typically, the moment Iris has noticed someone trying to drug up her darling escorts, she had them hauled off by security and beaten until they knew better or were never to be seen again, she couldn’t help but be intrigued in the thought of working with the other. It was probably because they were so easy on the eyes, though she doubted she would say that aloud. “I have thought of that myself...” She trailed off, running a hand through her hair. “But I don’t like the idea of my workers having access to product like that.” With a quick quirk upward of her lips, she gave the other a quick glance over, 

“But you’re free to give me your business proposal - but you’ll have to buy me a drink first.” She paused. “Time is money, after all.”

Her parents had decided to go down to Florida that year for Thanksgiving, telling her they needed a break from the cold for a while. Of course Alice didn’t mind, her parents’ happiness always came before her own. When she had told Dom, he had invited her to his with Mar, and knowing her two favorite people in the world would be there, she really couldn’t say no. She had forgotten, however, that with one of her favorite people, came her least favorite person. She acted nice though, like she always did, and ignored her for as long as she could. 

Every petty remark of hers left a horrid feeling in her chest, one that she desperately wanted to be rid of. But she knew, so long as Iris was around, she would continue to think thoughts that were not in His light. How could one love thy neighbor when thy neighbor was a huge bitch? She took the bottle of wine, and handed it over to her, smiling in the way she knew Iris hated. “There you go, love,” she said, and quickly turned back to her cooking. Niceness, she knew, was worse for Iris than any mean thought that flew through her head. 

If there hadn’t been a chill in the air, it definitely arrived with Alice’s icy reception. But that only made Iris’ lips twist higher into a smile - though it bordered the line of a sneer. “Thank you, Alice.” She grasped the bottle and filled her wine glass more than half full, trying to fight the temptation to harrass the other further. Perhaps she should just settle into the office and pretend she had work she needed to attend to, but a stronger part of her wanted to aggrivate the other. It was probably due to the fact that she hated feeling so ignored, that she knew that all of the people that were here, weren’t here for her. And she just couldn’t take it.

“I’ve gotta say - I’m surprised that you even bothered showing up. Shouldn’t your day be spent holed up inside your beloved church?” Iris asked, swirling her wine glass around. Her shock was slightly genuine, Iris imagined her least favorite bible thumper could never take a day off, and so to see her in Iris’ house almost seemed like a sin. She supposed there was a chance she was being hard on her, but Alice loved being such a little do-gooder, Iris had to hold her up to the impossible standards, didn’t she? “Guess I should thank my lucky stars you could make it.” Her voice laced with malice, she leaned against the counter, satisifed with herself. She was sure she’d get an earful from Dominik later, but she had never been one to think of the consequences before she spoke.