#tfmstart.

           〔　✱　〕    …　   𝐭𝐡𝐞   𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭   𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭   𝐰𝐚𝐬   𝐢𝐧   𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥   swing   —   light   spilling   from   every   corner   ,   laughter   tangled   with   music   ,    and   the   scent   of   grilled   meat   and   sugar   in   the   air   thick   enough   to   get   drunk   off   of.   cooper   stood   near   a   wooden   barrel   that   doubled   as   a   table   ,   sleeves   rolled   ,   collar   open   ,   one   hand   cradling   a   tiny   glass   of   tequila.   beside   it   ,   a   second   shot   waited   ,   lime   wedge   perched   just   so   ,   salt   dusting   the   rim   like   a   dare.   he   gave   it   a   tap   with   his   knuckle   ,   then   glanced   over   to   whoever   happened   to   be   close   enough   to   hear   him.

“     𝐨𝐡     𝐲𝐨𝐮     𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧’𝐭     𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝     until     you’ve     tried     this.     ”     josephine     grinned,     eyes     bright     as     she     outstretched     the     peach     lemonade     towards     the     other.     “     here,     i     haven’t     had     any     of     this     one.     i’ll     grab     another     one.     ”     her     smile     is     all     teeth,     wide     and     bright     as     she     maneouvers     her     jacket     over     her     arm. 

𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 : afterglow, bar & lounge.

𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞     𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬     𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭     𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩     but     watch,     the     bodies     swirling     around     to     the     music     that     flowed     easily.     her     brother     long     since     parted     ways     with     her,     leaving     her     to     meander     her     way     through     the     stalls,     before     settling     on     one     of     the     picnic     benches,     watching     the     dancers.     “     you     ever     think     they     were     taught,     or     is     it     just     ingrained     in     them     ?     ”     she     murmurs     softly,     not     expecting     an     answer.

𝐚     𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐲     𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐧     𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬     across     boyish     features,     two     cards     held     upwards     in     his     hand.     “     which     one     suits     me     more     ?     ”     he     jokes,     the     two     cards     pictures     of     face     painting     options.     “     i     think     the     tiger     one     works     more     .     ”     he     wouldn’t     get     his     face     painted,     he     wasn’t     ten,     but     the     little     girl     in     the     booth     gave     a     laugh.     “     i     think     you’d     suit     a     butterfly.     ”     he     told     his     companion     for     the     moment.

𝐡𝐢𝐬     𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝     𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬     𝐭𝐡𝐞     low     hanging     plant     that     spills     from     the     basket     of     the     stall.     “     watch     your     head.     ”     he     grins,     letting     the     other     pass     before     releasing     the     plant.     “     you’d     think     they’d     think     about     peoples     heads     when     they     hang     ‘em     right     ?     ”     niall     jested,     tucking     hands     back     into     the     pockets     of     his     jeans.