#raining-down-hearts

it’s actually something original i’d been playing around with. a bar near my apartment opened up a while ago called “supernatural food and spirits” and the sign has a picture of a glowing crystal ball and other witchy stuff and it got me thinking things

Rhonda is one of two bartenders at Ether. Her sister,Clarice, is the real star of the show, though she’s rarely around. Clarice’s giftis the reason the sisters opened the bar to begin with. It’s something of agimmick, you see, to have a bartender that can see into the future. Now allthose pointless conversations with drunk customers for better tips actuallyserve a purpose, and people come fromfar and wide to hear the sage advice from the wise old woman known as Clarice.

Problem is, Clarice isn’t the managerial type.

Last time Seth asked, Clarice was headed for Paraguay for a“very specific type of pepper” (which remained unnamed) that she planned onusing in a future entrée (which never came to be, since her peppers were“confiscated in Customs”). Seth has yet to determine if he is supposed tobelieve her culinary escapades or make them out to be euphemisms for sex. It’spossible the answer was both. It’s possible she was back in town by now. It’salso impossible to confirm anything concrete about Clarice.

Either way, Clarice’s absence means that, more often thannot, the local bar with a supernatural gimmick is run by the least-spiritualperson Seth had ever met.

Rhonda.

“So,” Seth says with a smirk as he watches Rhonda pullglasses from the dishwasher rack and begin to dry them. “Can you predict whatI’ll have to drink?”

The rag inside of the wet tumbler stops moving for a momentas Rhonda’s eyes flick up to him.

I’ve heard ‘nonnie’ in my family for randomly related elders, kinda cute??

YOU LUCKY FUCKING!!!! FUCK!!! WHAT THE SHIT I AM SOoooooooooo jealous (nice)

OH THANK YOU! QWQ

mindy omg i love you (i also could’ve done better)

His hand tightened on the wheel, his eyes darkened in hissockets, his normally calm lips pursed into a grimace. The telltalesigns of road rage were all too obvious, but it was the bearer of thesesymptoms which was the anomaly. Choji’s eyebrow raised. Shikamaru’s teeth grittogether, something akin to a clickcame from his general mouth direction. His best friend, clicking his tongue?

“Something you ate?”

The innocent questions must’ve fallen onto deaf ears, and it wasonly until the Nara blinked – and his whole body seemed to relax. “What?” Evenhis voice sounded thick, disembodied, unfocused, which was not what he expected from Shikamaru. “Oh, no. It wasn’t lunch.”

Good, because they went on hisrecommendation. Granted, the driver no longer seemed as stressed – or perhaps,he were now more aware of his signs. Still, it didn’t stop the Akamichi; thecurve of the eyebrow, even the way his fingers seemed like a wax model againstthe leather wheel. Choji gave him a moment, and then counted: one, two, three-

“I need to switch lanes but the car beside me has only been perfectly matching my pace.”

“Can you go faster?”

And the pull of acceleration yanked them forward. An expletivecaught in his throat as Choji jerked forward, but the only look in Shikamaru’seyes was cold determination. But then light changed and he swore, actually swore this time. It was thefirst time he’d seen it, certainly in this situation, as the Nara let outanother swear before tilting his head back in frustration. Shikamaru’s roadrage – a milestone in their friendship.

But then the window rolled down from the car beside them, andsomehow, an eerily familiar smirk met his gaze. Along with blonde hair, and apair of sunglasses.

“Nice try.”

Shikamaru glanced to the side, grimaced, and then set his eyesto the front, tires squealing as he accelerated out of the green light. Not amoment later, he crossed lanes – and there were no signs of triumph. The gripon the wheel was still uncharacteristically tight, frustrated.

But it was a different kind of anger.

His chocolate eyes flitted to the rearview mirror, lingeringjust a half-second longer than what was normal for Shikamaru.

“She may have been abitch, but she was pretty.”

honestly like with some people? i just walk away. I used to feel guilty if i didn't try to engage everyone w/ problematic views but almost nooooobody ever changes their mind. they don't want to. you gotta look after ur own mental/emotional health <3

i did walk away...there’s no way i could convince him otherwise, and i was too thrown out of my comfort zone to do so. at least the next day of the con he went on his little sexism parade so all my friends hated him too. hehehehe