𝚌𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚍

[Diego lifts the bag slightly and nods towards it] I got you the summer edition too, it’s dragon fruit. Try it when you get home. [He chuckles and rolls his eyes as he twists the cap off his drink.] Next time I fall off the wagon I’ll make sure to plan it around your convenience. 

Dragonfruit, huh... ‘Might’ve fucked up there, but you get bro points for effort. [Raven can’t help but smile a little.] That’s my boy. [She throws a quick glance around before looking back at Diego.] Hey... you hungry? My treat.

[Diego stretches his lips out into the semblance of a smile and reaches into the plastic bag to pull out Raven’s redbull and his coke, handing it over to her once her hand was free once more.] A man’s downfall is a woman’s profit, as you always say. 

[Her gaze flickers between the can of Redbull and Diego, feeling a smile of her own trying to spread across her lips. She snatches the can from him with a roll of her eyes.] …I’ve taught you well. Get me Marlboros next time and you’re golden.

[Diego steps outside the corner store and hesitates before letting his head fall back and huffing a big sigh. He digs through the thin plastic bag and pulls out a carton of cigarettes, offering it to the person standing in front of the shop windows.] Do you want this? Or can you take it off my hands? Momentary lapses n’ old habits n’ shit or something. 

[Raven sighs when she’s offered the carton, exasperated, but takes it and pockets it anyway.] If you were gonna relapse, you could’ve at least bought my brand. Fucking Camels...

Hey, uh, have you ever sold anything on Etsy? I’m trying to open my own shop and… this shit’s hard. 

Do I look like I sell shit on Etsy to you? I may be gay, but I’m not that gay.

[Gracie had been walking outside for a few minutes on her route home from the dance studio. She had noticed someone was following her, and to make sure was was safe, she looked for the closest person to her and tapped them on the shoulder.] Hey, so, listen, I think there’s someone following me, and I’m probably just paranoid but can you walk and talk with me for a few minutes to make it look like I’m not alone?

[Raven startles when she’s tapped on the shoulder. Her body stiffens as she lifts a clenched fist up, just about ready to deck whoever dared to touch her in the mouth. But when she sees Gracie, she immediately puts her hand down and her expression softens. She walks past Gracie, an arm extended out as if to protect her as she calls out after the guy following her.] If you know what’s good for you, asshole, you’re gonna fucking walk away. 

Thanks for that, Fang. I definitely don’t want to be attacked. [Imogen listens to the story, closing her mouth when she notices it hanging open.] Wow, I hope I never get turned into an immortal pigeon. I guess I’ll just have to be good and not steal from anyone’s garden. It’s a tragic story, indeed. [She winces and shakes her head] No, I don’t think I would find it delicious at all… It’s very high in protein, but humans need other nutrients too. [Imogen’s face falls as she hears that and she shakes her head once more] Fang, even if you’re her only source of contact, it’s not right for her to destroy your coat because of it. Friends don’t destroy each other’s belongings like that. I doubt you would ever poop on a friend, so you shouldn’t accept that from others. 

Fang: [He frowns a little, in thought.] Well... as long as you don’t steal from people’s gardens... Actually, there’s plenty of reasons witches decide to curse people, so you have to be careful. You’re a good person, though. Ruaidhri Wren Shimmer Forestmurphy said so, and he knows everything. Besides, your aura’s lavender: you’re gentle. [He blanks out yet again, a little longer this time, before coming to with slow blinks and a soft shake of his head. Imogen’s words seem to dim his spirits only a little as he looks down to where his wolf should be. He mumbles inaudibly then nods.] Mm... I see your point. I just think she’s misunderstood. I can steal another coat, but I can’t get another Mercedes. I value people over material. Even if she has the looks of a pigeon, she has a soul.

I can come to you. Talk to you about yeast while you’re brushing the horses. [Imogen looks back to Raven and shakes her head at that] I still live in Greensville, so I should be helping to pay for the road that I’m helping to break down. [she laughs, agreeing with Raven] But I do envy his freedom. If he wants to live under a bridge and survive off of what he can get for himself, he does it. I don’t mind the hot water, I’ll consider building the fire and waiting for my water to boil like a pre bath meditation. 

Y’know Momo, m’not sure making bread in a barn surrounded by hay and manure is the most sanitary thing ever. [Her lower lip juts out, in thought more than in a pout.] That’s fair. I’m not that invested to argue with you on it. [Raven makes a face.] That sounds like a good way to get either murdered or just very ill. [She smirks.] Shit, when are we leaving, then?

Deep in thought, I see. [smiles as she takes the poster back] I teach music lessons during school breaks and I’m trying to branch out, get new students. 

More like ‘blanked out’, but deep in thought sounds more refined so I’ll take it. [She steps forward to get a good look at the poster now that it’s back in Astrid’s grasp.] Huh... what do you play?

‘friend’ is a very strong word, but granted they are women, yes. of course. my brother would argue i have sex with all my friends, and while he isn’t wrong, he’s also annoying.

I’ll teach you the secrets of breadmaking. You can take over kneeding when my hands get too tired. [Imogen laughs and shrugs] I just think if I want to go to the forest and never leave it again I shouldn’t have to be paying for Greensville’s potholes. I’m jealous of Fang in that respect, but mostly only that one. It should be everyone’s dream, but I think some people like the idea of hot water on demand without having to wait for it to boil first. 

That sounds like a plan. Not that I get much time off, but I’ve been looking for a new hobby. [Raven eyes Imogen curiously, surprised to find the younger echoing her own dream.] You shouldn’t be paying for them even now, but maybe that’s just me. [She scoffs.] He doesn’t sound like he has much you should envy, Momo... Hot water is an appealing plus, for sure. But it’s not all it’s cracked up to be when you stack it up against the rest.

[is trying to hang up a poster advertising her music lesson services, but drops her other posters in the process] Ah shit. Hey, could you hand me that poster under your foot? 

[Not paying attention to her surroundings as she usually would, Raven is snapped out of her thoughts by Astrid’s voice. She glances over at the woman first, then down at her feet, where a sheet of paper lay underneath.] Huh... right. [She bends down to pick it up and hands it to Astrid.] Here. What... is that, by the way?

I would never joke about bread, you should know that. It’s too delicious to be funny. I’d like to think that wouldn’t be the case, but it’s true. I would still have to pay taxes and keep up with whatever the government wants from me. It’s so unfortunate. I just want to wake up when my roosters sing and go outside to drink tea in my garden.

Never too old to learn, apparently. [Raven raises a brow.] For someone who works at the bank, you’re oddly anti-government. [She sighs softly.] Isn’t that everyone’s dream? Peace and fucking quiet, isolation, roosters?

That’s true. You’re a born and raised herder, you’ll be a herder for life, Sa-… Raven.  [She grins and shrugs, shaking her head lightly] I don’t know yet, but the weather is beautiful today and my sourdough starter is doing well. I feel like I want to live without the constraints of modern society.  

[Raven can’t help but smile slightly at Imogen’s slip up, endeared by it rather than annoyed.] Oh? So, you weren’t joking about the bread thing? I think everyone feels that way, though. You’re never truly free either way.

You clearly haven’t lost that trait while being a city dweller. Do you want to? I can learn how to make cheese and we can have charcuterie boards every day. 

Well, this city dweller's been back in Greensville and on the ranch for a little while, now... Besides, herding isn’t exactly something you can forget. Shit sticks with you. Where are you running off to though, Momo?