#no hello

over  at  sundown .           over  at  sundown .   over  at  sundown .     her   feet  won’t  move .   over  at  sundown .     she  only  has  to  last  a  few  hours .    a  few  fake  smiles ,    definitely  manageable .    ostensibly ,  gussie  could  just  reach  out  and  take  the  cafe  door  handle ,   but  it  seems  a  few  miles  away ,   and  her  arm ,  suddenly ,  is  made  of  lead .   through  the  frosted  over  window  panes  she  can  see  edmund  at  the  table --   her  eyes  linger ,  just  for  a  moment ,   and  his  gaze  catches  on  her .   spotted ,  fuck .   no  going  back .   she  pulls  open  the  heavy  door ,   the  bell  overheard ,   ringing .    

she’d  waited  till  lucy  was  gone  to  get  ready .     then  she’d  put  as  little  effort  as  she  could  into  her  outfit ,   as  little  as  her  ego  would  allow  her .  there’s a  certain  standard  the  bet  requires ,  a  certain  standard  her  own  selfworth  demands .  the  last  thing  gussie  wants  is  to  dress  up  for  edmund ,  but  they’ll  be  seen ,  judged . . .    so  she  had  applied  a  stripe  of  dull  red  lipstick ,  a  thin  touch  of  eyeliner ,  and  slipped  into  distinctly  unripped  skinny  jeans .   the  pale  grey  shirt  is  plain ,  but  fitted --   lowcut ,  and  covered  by  her  leather  jacket .  the  delicate  gold  lion’s  head  charm  hangs  around  her  neck ,  resting  on  her  cleavage ,  and  hair  freshly  washed  flows  down  her  back  in  loose  curls .    

when  she  steps  inside ,      gussie  is  sure  the  whole  cafe  can  hear  the  weight  of  her  boots  on  the  floor ,   but  she  manages  to  restrict  her  focus  to  the  table ,  the  empty  seat ,  and  she  sits  down  without  affair .    the  smile  feels  forced ,   but  she  wears  it  nonetheless ,   as  promised .  

              ❝   edmund .   ❞

___ a dog of war, unwaveringly regards an FIA affiliated rat in the shambles of a long - abandoned slice of discarded projects which was now, his kingdom; she was all impulse and bared fangs. [ Another typical Monday in Dogtown. ] There's not a rock or fuckin' spec of data inside Dogtown that he hadn't sniffed out for, and here was another enny a dozen rat scurrying between the filth and chaos for their slice of fame; weighing her options, testing her luck, testing the waters. He huffs, experienced arrogance shifts with his subtle movements that relayed to the pack of K9's standing tense behind him, waiting to sic. Kurt, did not. A man of controlled restraint with a heavy laden stare weighed judge, jury, and the one with the bigger teeth need only look down at @vihrago with disinterest.

“  It's a fool's choice to not take my gesture of goodwill when I offered, ” he vaguely recalls her in the Black Sapphire, scurrying in with the upper crust as though she had a seat reserved. She did not, not behind these walls.

“please shut up.”

___ as though he hadn't heard her, he continues on; steadfast in his position that made no qualms of bending to her will, as loud and brash and fucking pathetic as it was. “  That makes you the weak. Disposable. ” He leans back in his seat, non - chalant in this uneven power display. V, was an unknown in this scheme, the kind of target that was just for show for the bigger hand in this stake.

He was not without opportunity for those who crawled his way, not when there were no laws to give her due credit for being the pup with milk - teeth. “  But it's a brave person who chooses to wander back my way. ” He leans forwards; an impassive look bordering on bored.

“ And I can't wait for when an OP goes sideways, and you're lying dead in a ditch with what little credibility you have snuffed and replaced for the next up-and-coming V. Remember, you're not dying for me because I've never liked the runt of the litter. ”

AHHHHH AHHHHHH