the ghost of you

The Grieving Sister || Clover & Zach

“I bet coffee stains are far worse than tea,” Zach suggested, he still smiled apologetically as he watched her pat the front of her coat. He find it admirable that she was so levelheaded, way too many run-ins had gone… wrong. He quickly shook his head when she suggested getting him another tea. “No please, you’re clearly off-duty, I’m already planning on being a trusted costumer,” he added with a smile. “Although, you know, I broke two mugs in there last week, so I would understand if I get denied access one of these days.” 

clover shrugged. she felt like she’d been doing that a lot lately, but life was feeling alright now, like getting back to work in blackrock could be her new normal for a minute. and in a way, she liked all of these newcomers to town; she was increasingly paranoid that people were talking about her behind her back and they barely even knew her.

not in the mood to be told that it was too early for a drink, logan took to the coffee shop for another kind of drink to collect her thoughts and keep her wits about her. this time of year was one that often left her skin crawling at the old traditions that had long since died out, barely making themselves known as her murmurs became silence and the ghosts of her past stayed put. there were other traditions formed over the years since she joined the pack, but logan often made sure to keep one leg out an open window even if it were on the second story.

it was just another day. another week. another holiday that would be over as soon as the hangover cleared when she replaced the coffee that she’d ordered for something much harder. though a voice stirred her from her thoughts. “hmm?” logan glanced at the one that spoke. “i’m not sure what i’d do with a whole pie. and seeing as i only came in with enough money on me for a coffee, i can’t afford it.” and her cards were back in her room, not planning on staying out to shop much before her shift.

clover leveled a look at logan and beckoned for her to come closer. “i’ll let you in on a secret, okay?” she curled one finger in. “it’s a free pie. take it or leave it. but you can leave this tiny cafe one pie richer or one pie poorer. your choice.” she stood up again, hitting her hands against the cracked countertop. “so, pie?”

It wasn’t a holiday, not really. It brought little for Avery to be thankful for. Just the hope that maybe next Thanksgiving Addison will be sitting across from her at the table again. That they’ll be having flour fights while baking or taste testing stuffing throughout the entire day until they’re not hungry enough for dinner. She could only hope that Addison was happy today, wherever she was…even if she wasn’t home with her. 

She left the apartment without a real destination and ended up at the counter of the Ugly Mug cafe. She ordered a large coffee (because one could never really have too much coffee, right?) and was waiting on the drink when the woman spoke up. “They didn’t want the pie even if it wasn’t quote-on-quote, ‘right’? I mean, how can a pumpkin pie be wrong? At least, you know, around this time of year.” She hesitates a moment before shrugging, “I’ve got no business taking a whole pie, but what if we split it?” 

clover shrugs. “they said they wanted a pumpkin roll. apparently its like a swiss roll, but pumpkin flavoured. i think they’ll have to go visit the germans over in minnesota for that one.” she thought over the proposition for a moment then grinned. “deal. my boyfriend will at least like one half of it. i never really celebrated thanksgiving, but pumpkin ain’t too bad.”

He watched her change her stance and then took a moment to look it over and see how her weight was balancing. Teaching someone with a prosthetic wasn’t something Eric had a vast amount of experience doing and he was trying to give Clover advice that would be helpful.

“Like that.” Nodded as well to give double confirmation that she was standing right. “I don’t have a secret to help with that. Only an annoying piece of advice that may or may not work which is try breathing. Take a minute and then shoot. Let’s see if I know what the hell I’m talking about. Try to make it look like my advice was helpful otherwise I’ll be out of a job.”

“breathing? what a fucking novel idea, eric! why didn’t i think of that?” she scoffed. “if i didn’t have a gun in my hand...” she set her jaw and felt where her feet were connected to the ground. it was harder with her new leg, but she could do it if she concentrated. 

zing! the bullet didn’t hit the bullseye, but it  wasn’t as curved as it was before, which was a start. clover lowered the gun. “well, i guess you get to keep your job.”

“It’s late,” Sara says needlessly, nodding toward the clock that hangs beside the television, “Sam’s asleep.” Due to the tears on Clover’s face, she doesn’t say it aloud, but the finality of her tone indicates what she’s thinking: we should keep it that way. Sam works hard enough during the daylight; if the two of them have the power to grant him a few more precious hours of sleep, they should do it.

Still, that doesn’t mean Sara isn’t wishing for his help now. She’s been walking on eggshells around Clover for weeks, damn-near terrified to be in the same room with her, even with Sam as a buffer. If Sara’s lucky, Clover will ignore her. If she’s not, Clover will say something harsh, then turn on her heel and leave before Sara can think of something to say herself.

Even now, with Clover shaking and crying on their secondhand sofa, she’s still trying to push her away. Perhaps it’s the time that makes her give up. Or maybe it’s the realization that she’s done this before, to no avail. She reached out to Raine, they pushed her away. She reached out to Clover, she pushed her away. Sara is so tired. Doesn’t she deserve a few more hours of sleep, too?

“Maybe you should talk to him in the morning,” she offers. “The sun’ll be up in a few hours.”

she hates sara. it’s something she drilled into her brain, and let it  take seed again when she realized raine had pushed sara away. that was the thing with raine and clover: whatever one of them did, the other followed suit. but raine had been pissing her off; why antagonize everyone they come across  these says. 

but sara isn’t bad. raine just thinks she is.

Or not. Maybe he wouldn’t tell Hutch, after all. He had to open his mouth and close it a few times; he didn’t know what he was supposed to say. “I don’t know, he’s got some pretty cool knickknacks.” Maybe she could take the one oddly specific wedding favor shot glass Hutch had laying around, Romeo had meant to ask about it before. “You don’t like turtlenecks? They’re practical.” He didn’t need a scarf on some milder days.

clover rolled her  eyes. she’d been taking hutch’s sweaters since they were kids and it’s something she’d missed when she was in missoula. she’d kept one sweatshirt, but once she washed it, it never felt  the same. 

she shook her head. “i don’t like things around my neck. besides, you don’t seem like you have an abundance of worldly possessions. better keep ‘em for next time  you wander onto  someone’s property.”

The Grieving Sister || Clover & Zach

It wasn’t the kind of response he had anticipated, honestly it was much better. He did keep a shameful smile as he bend down to pick up the lid of the cup that had fallen, and then turned back to her. Aware they were standing in the opening of the door. “That’s… surprising,” he said, looking at her. “Are you okay though, that was… very hot tea.” Which he already felt burn through his denim jacket. 

He studied her face for a bit, then pretended to finally understand who she was. “You work here,” he stated. “Now the comment about it happening more often make sense. I can get some napkins from inside,” he suggested. 

clover laughed and pawed at  the front  of her coat. “it’s no worries. i can just throw this in the wash.” she help up her apron in one hand. “getting tea poured on me is part of the job description. although, usually it’s coffee.” 

she paused, looking him over, then felt a curl of disgust at her drive to be a people pleaser. “do-- do you want me to go get you another one?”

clover reached over the counter to pick up a couple of discarded napkins on the other side. she’d been taking more and more shifts to distract herself lately; she never really did thanksgiving with her family, and then she ignored it by working all day when she lived in missoula. turkey tasted like dust and the pilgrims gave her hives. 

“hey,” she said to a customer waiting on a drink. “we’ve got this pumpkin pie someone special-ordered then left with us. said it wasn’t right because she’d asked for a pumpkin roll. what the fuck is a pumpkin roll, right? anyway, it’s your lucky day. you want it?”

minotaur answered.

Niffler: Does your muse value wealth?

Kraken: What haunts your muse?

those i could not save.

Hippogriff: Does your muse have a high level of self worth?

not particularly, no. i get most of it from raine, and even that i don’t believe.

Griffin: Does your muse have any priceless possessions?

Chimera: Does your muse tend to be aggressive?

hell yes. before the leg, yes.

Elf: Does your muse value appearance?

Minotaur: What secret does you muse keep hidden?

if i could have killed my father, i would have by now.

Siren: Does your muse often act in revenge?

see above.

Sphinx: How does your muse value loyalty?

dragon answered.

Succubus: How does your muse view sexuality?

if i see someone i like, i go for them. case in point: raine.

Wraith: How does your muse connect to the afterlife?

Troll: Does your muse have a collection? 

 i’ve moved too much to hold onto anything. but ma used to throw pots a lot, so i always kept a few of those. last one is in pieces, though. 

 Dragon: How does your muse connect to fire? 

unicorn answered.

Vampire: Which of the Seven Deadly Sins relates to your muse?

Mermaid: How does your muse connect to water?

i don’t know how to swim. somehow i always felt like that held me back somehow.

Unicorn: Which of the Seven Heavenly Virtues relates to your muse?

fortitude.

Acromantula: Has your muse saved a life?