#knoxuille

✌: share 5 things that you really want

1. the release of watch dogs! 2. to finish my full sleeve this year 3. more tattoos in general 4. more money because otherwise I won’t be able to afford the first three things >_< 5. no but seriously .. actually all I want is that this year will be even better than the last one. I still hope that my health gets a bit more stable and that my future plans will work :)

♡: share 5 favourite songs

Hard question! Because there are all time favourite songs and current favourites. 5 all times favourites would be:

Lose Yourself - Eminem // Run Free - Asking Alexandria // Psychosocial - Slipknot // Masquerade - Northlane // Azalee - Betraying the matyrs

✓: tell 5 facts about yourself

1. I’m very pale and actually don’t tan at all 2. I dye my hair since I am thirteen 3. I’m underweight 4. I’m not a too big fan of meat 5. I’m honest

☼: something you love

As Essie neared The Crow’s Nest, a sense of relief washed over her. She’d had a trying day at work, to say the least—and wanted a drink; or to see Luke. Definitely both, she thought to herself. Upon reaching the bar, she heard the pulse of loud music through the door and shook her head. Quinn always had the most interesting taste in music, and somehow, no matter how much she listened to her favorite songs on the way home, the songs she’d hear at the bar would always get stuck in her head.

Pushing the heavy door open, smiling at the bouncers just outside—they inclined their heads in reply—Essie entered the bar. It was absolutely brimming with patrons, some of whom she was familiar with as regulars, and she pushed through them until she got to the bar.  One of the patrons—another regular—spotted her and offered her his seat. She thanked him with a bright smile and sat down.

Meanwhile, Luke was down at the other end of the bar serving drinks, unaware of her arrival. She took up conversation with the man who’d just given up his seat for her, and they shared a few laughs. One of the bartenders sidled up to her and set down her usual drink with a grin. She thanked him and took a sip of the gin and tonic. When Luke finally came down to her end of the bar, she waved at him. He stopped in his tracks, a confused smile on his lips.

“Ess! What are you doing here?”

She smiled tiredly. “Today’s been a long day, and there have been two things I wanted when I finished work: a drink, and to see you. In no particular order,” she added. Those around her that heard it let out a slightly mocking aww and Essie laughed. Pushing herself up onto her knees on the barstool, she leaned over the bar and pressed a kiss to Luke’s lips. This garnered an unnecessary round of applause from the guests around them. When Essie sat back down, Luke shook his head and leaned against the bar.

“I thought you were going home,” he said as he poured a few drinks for the ladies that had sidled up to the bar a few seconds ago. They giggled and made a few comments about Luke—particularly how handsome he was—and Essie just snorted.

“I was, but I thought I’d come and see you first. It’s Friday, and I know you won’t be home for a while, so I wanted to see how you were doing before I head back home.”

He smiled. “You didn’t have t’do tha’.”

“Yet here I am,” she replied with a grin.

The other manager came up beside Luke and told him he was going to take a quick fifteen, and Luke nodded. Just as he turned back to continue talking with Essie, a few customers called from the other side of the bar. He smiled apologetically, but she waved him off. He made his way over to the end of the bar, and Essie leaned back against the chair, taking a few sips of her drink. She turned her head and listened as two patrons shared stories about their day and smiled. They engaged her, and she responded whenever appropriate.

Esselyn liked the Nest—she felt comfortable here, and everyone knew everyone. Plus, she loved watching Luke work. It’s only fair, she thought in amusement.

A few moments later, Essie was nearly pushed out of her chair by a burly-looking drunk. The alcohol in her glass spilled out over her lap and all over her left arm. She looked up at the clumsy patron: he was nearly twice her size and covered in sweat. She frowned in disgust. The man she’d been talking with told him to watch where he was going, but the newcomer paid him no heed. Essie frowned, taking a few cocktail napkins from behind the bar and wiping the spilled alcohol from her hands and lap.

Setting her drink down on the bar, Essie placed a firm hand on the sweaty man’s forearm. “Thanks for being considerate,” she said dryly. His glazed over eyes fell upon her, and his eyebrows drew together.

“Fuck off, ya mick,” he slurred, before returning to his active search for Luke. The patrons around her expressed their discontent for his attitude, but she waved them off. Temper flaring, she grabbed the man’s arm once again and forced him to face her.

“I’d like an apology, before you’re too drunk to remember who you even are,” she bit out, bright eyes growing sharp. He looked down at her once again, his drunken stupor giving way to anger.

“Do you not know the meaning of ‘fuck off’? Get your hands off of me, stupid bitch.”

That was all it took before Essie’s palm connected with his face with a resounding crack. The surrounding customers gasped, backing away from them. The man who’d given up his seat for Esselyn tried to pull her back, but she shook him off easily.

“You had better watch your mouth before I knock a few of your teeth loose,” she warned tersely.

The man growled and swung at her, but she dodged it easily and decked him across the face. He reeled back, falling against a few patrons before rushing at her again. He lumbered across the space separating them, fists up, but Essie was too quick for him. She dodged his punches and landed a few of her own.

Luke, caught off guard by the commotion, ran from where he stood at one end of the bar to where the crowd had gathered. His heart dropped as he witnessed Essie facing a drunken man twice her size, avoiding his attacks. Anger surged within him, and his fists clenched.

“Esselyn!” he roared. Her head whipped around at the sound of his voice, her bright eyes blazing in fury.

That was the opportunity the man seized to land a fist squarely on her jaw.

The blow sent her reeling, knocking her clear off her feet. Luke growled and jumped over the bar, putting himself between the drunken bastard and Esselyn. He punched the man in the gut, forcing him to keel over, and connected his knee with his nose. The man cursed, spitting out profanities and derogatory names.

“You come into my bar and dare cause trouble? How dare you lay a hand on anyone--especially her,” he seethed, hauling the man up by the collar. “Get out of here, you filthy bastard.”

The man, sufficiently terrified in his drunken state, stumbled toward the door, Luke just behind him. One of the bouncers, looking between their infuriated employer and the man struggling to gain his footing on his way out of the door, stepped forward and grabbed the latter by the shoulders and shoved him into an off-duty cab.

Though the music still played loudly, most of the noise had dwindled down to uneasy conversation as the guests speculated about what just transpired. Luke stalked back through the crowd, the patrons clearing out of his way, and came to stand in front of Essie. She was back on her feet now, one of the regulars supporting her from behind. Her fingers pressed against her jaw as she assessed the potential damage. The other manager returned from his break early to see what all the commotion was about, and he stared in confusion from behind the bar. Luke grabbed a hold of Esselyn’s arm and pushed her gently through the crowd to the stock room in the back.

“Watch th’ bar,” he said in a clipped tone to the other manager before leaving. Once they were in the stock room, Luke pointed to a stack of wooden cases.

“Sit,” he instructed flatly. Essie, knowing better, did as she was told. Luke gingerly felt along her jawbone for any breaks or swelling. He turned and disappeared, returning a few minutes later with ice and a cool rag. She took it and pressed it to her jaw, trying to avoid moving it. Adrenaline still pumped through her veins, so the pain didn’t feel as bad as she knew it would later.

“What happened?” he demanded.

“He nearly knocked me out of my seat. I asked for an apology, and he told me to ‘fuck off’,” she replied.

Luke furrowed his eyebrows in irritation. “Tha’s it?”

“No. He called me a few names too.”

Luke’s jaw worked as he struggled to reign in his temper. “What were they?”

“Doesn’t really matter now, does it?”

“Tell. Me.”

Essie sighed in resignation. “He called me a mick and a stupid bitch.”

“Where else did he hit you?” Luke proceeded, eyes darting to arms, stomach, chest, and anywhere else he thought she might have been injured.

She shook her head. “He didn’t get the chance to. Except for when you shouted my name.”

Luke mentally kicked himself. “You shouldn’t have said anything. You should have told me first.”

Essie removed the ice from her jaw and tilted her head to the side. “Mo rún, you were busy. I can take care of myself.”

“I know tha’,” he said in exasperation. “Doesn’t mean tha’ I don’t worry about you.”

Essie gave him a sweet smile. “I know. I’m a headache.”

“Not true,” he argued. She raised an eyebrow.

“You’re not a very good liar,” she replied with a laugh. Luke shook his head and stepped closer to her. Dropping down to his knees, he looked up at her, anger slowly ebbing. He rested his palms on her knees and stroked her skin with his thumbs.

Essie winced. “I’m sorry, Lu. I should have just gone home.”

Luke shook his head. “Don’t be sorry, mo ghrá. You didn’t know this was going t’happen.”

He stood up slowly, and Essie followed. “I’ll head back home, love,” she declared with a tired smile.

“Like hell you are. You’re t’stay here where I can keep an eye on you.”

until this summer bc shit will happen

why are you even questioning me

bc you aren’t annoying in the slightest o//

squints

ding.

Luke fished his cell phone out of his pocket and looked at the screen.

[text; essie] how was your day? miss you.

He smiled and typed a reply.

      same as always. taking a day off, like you told me. I miss you too, mo ghrá.

      how's your trip?

Luke looked out the den window. The sun had long set by now, and the lights from the city dimly illuminated the horizon. With a sigh, he leaned back on the couch, arm behind his head.

ding.

[text; essie] happy to hear it, lu.

[text; essie] trip is okay. wishing for home.

Luke's smile faltered briefly as he read her last text. He wished she was home too; he missed her immensely. It was too quiet without her, too cold and lonely. As cliché as it sounded, she was the dawn to his dusk, the warmth in the cold.

Ankou whined quietly, sensing the shift in his master's attitude. The sound brought Luke out of his thoughts, and he looked back at the phone to reply.

       I wish you were home as well. you'll be home soon. just a few more days.

Sighing, Luke shut his eyes. Three more days, and she'd be on her way home from Berlin. Though he would never begrudge her the career she chose, he sometimes found himself brooding over how much it took her away from him. He especially hated when she had to work away from the house or her office, away from where he knew she was completely safe.

ding.

[text; essie] I'll be home sooner than you know it. love you.

       love you too, ess. stay safe. promise?

Luke set the phone down on his thigh and shut his eyes once again. He had expected her to reply quickly, and when she didn't, slight anxiety tugged at him. He opened his eyes and checked his phone again, but no reply. Exhaling loudly, he locked the screen once again and set the phone down.

Five minutes passed, then ten, fifteen, twenty. Still no reply. Luke picked up the phone in frustration and unlocked the screen, going to type a second message.

       essie. promise me.

Five.

       esselyn maddox this isn't funny. you know I worry. please reply.

Ten.

       ???

Luke growled in frustration and pushed himself up from the couch and walked into the kitchen, finding himself pacing as he absently toyed with his phone. His feet carried him to the bedroom, and he threw his phone on the bed.

ding.

Luke grabbed his phone and unlocked it, frown tugging at the corners of his lips. It was a text from one of the managers at The Crow's Next. Ignoring the message, he stuffed the phone in his pocket.

Fifteen.

Convincing himself that Essie knew better when she was abroad, Luke returned to the den and lay back down on the couch. As exhaustion swept over him, he found his eyes closing slowly until they remained closed.

Caught between the limbo of the waking world and dreaming, Luke heard something like the front door opening. His eyes shot open, and he pushed himself up. What th'hell? Standing up, he moved cautiously toward the entry way.

"Now, how're you gonna keep me out of trouble when you're sleeping?" came a familiar voice. The exhaustion that clinged to his consciousness suddenly vanished, and he studied her in disbelief. She offered him a tired smile, and Luke quickly closed the space between them, pulling her into his arms. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

"What's th' use of that stupid device if you never reply?"

Essie laughed softly. "If I sent you any more texts, I wouldn't have been able to keep it a surprise."

they’re working on it right now?

they just posted some of the new tauren male models