#maddox.

Megara was not known for making good choices. She was not known for making smart choices and she was especially not known for making choices that wouldn't blow up in her face. But this was the second time now that Meg was forced into close proximity with her ex and she had already drank enough to make the most unwise choices she wanted to. After their disastrous encounter while she was on the clock she was sure he hated her even more than he did before, which was honestly kind of impressive. It sucked that it bothered her, but instead of leaving well enough alone, she decided to poke the bear even further.

She happened to be leaving her shift at Wonderland, taking a quick smoke break outside when she spotted him doing what she assumed was the same thing. Feeling exceptionally chaotic, she walked over to him, batted her eyes even. She really did have no soul. "For someone who hates seeing me, you really do come around here a lot."

A busy Friday night has somehow turned into a night of horror, with the rain pouring down outside and and wind blowing rapidly. Reina’s been doing her best to put on her winning owner smile and grin and bare it as she goes around to the tables in Calliope, but it’s hard to ignore the absolute fucking monsoon they’re getting. She’s about ready to spread the word that they’re calling it quits for the night when she spots Maddox, a familiar face in the chaos, and she gives him her first genuine smile of the night. “You two love birds having a good time?” Just as she asks a loud clap of thunder sounds outside, followed by a strong woosh of rain pounding on the roof. Reina can’t help but cringe — she’d been more than willing to say fuck the storm and keep powering through, but with the restaurant’s generator out of commission, it feels like there’d be more risk than reward in that decision. Even Reina’s greedy ass knows when to make the call and shut things down. “May not have been the best night for a date night, if I’m being honest.”

Interactions with Maddox were normally done at a bar. Marie didn’t like to admit that she didn’t mind his company, especially after a cocktail or two, but she did. He teased her a lot, but he wasn’t malicious. And she honestly ended up teasing him back most of the time, so it was fine. She didn’t really feel like she had to act a certain way around him, so she didn’t. If he wanted to be around her, he did. If he didn’t, he didn’t. Right now she wasn’t sure yet. She was sure she was annoying him because every time he mentioned getting up to dance she had refused, but he was still there so it was hard to say. She was only a little tipsy, but that went a long way with her. “Listen,” she said, her words hardly slurring. “I could out dance you all. But...these shoes are not made for it. So I’m still gonna pass. Super sorry. You can buy me another drink though.”

Reina had a terrible habit of letting herself into other people’s houses uninvited. It came with being who she was — many people entrusted her with a spare key to their house, and rightfully so. The key Maddox’s home, however, was one she used more frequently than most. Ever since he’d shown up at the garage as a kid, with a fucked up home life and a desperate need for some sort of family, Reina had taken it upon herself to make sure he was looked after. Everyone in town knew his mother’s story, and it was no secret that she wasn’t doing a fantastic job making sure he was well taken care of. The kid loved his mother, that had always been clear and truthfully Reina applauded him for it, but that didn’t stop her from stepping up where the other woman couldn’t.

Making sure his fridge was stocked was something she’d started doing long ago and probably wouldn’t ever quit, which is how she ended up at his home, unloading the groceries as if she lived there. He wasn’t a kid anymore, Reina knew he could fend for himself, but the habit was still there and it probably always would be. “Maddox?” she called out, hoping he was home alone and she wouldn’t have to deal with that girlfriend of his. “You here? I brought you some groceries.”