𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 +

"Thanks for stopping by," Lottie said brightly, voice taking on the affected cheer of a holiday worker instead of someone in a good mood. "I was having a nice visit with someone earlier and I confiscated something I thought you might be interested in. No names, don't want to break confidentially, so just consider it a gift." Digging beneath her bed, Lottie pulled out an inconspicuous, reusable shopping bag with a cutesy saying on the front before holding it out to Alden, smiling like she hadn't invented a reason to call him over after getting off the phone with a dreaded Parental Figure.

alden was in a blissful state as he entered his coworker's cabin, relieved to have recently gotten off of work. though he lived for this job, for his campers — his clients, as he fondly ( secretly ) thought of him in his head — working directly with young people all day long could get a bit taxing. especially when he had to be sober all day. oh how he longed for the days when didn't crave the sweet release of a low level, functional buzz. " aww, for me ? " the older of the two reached out and grabbed the bundle with the enthusiasm of a child in a candy store, digging his hand inside and pulling out a bottle of low tier red wine. " oh, is it my birthday ? " alden played along, reading the label in a low, sing-songy voice. " someone is definitely missing this semi dry red blend. you have glasses ? if i drink it straight out of the bottle i'll lose my grown up license. "

she batted her eyelashes a few times, moving like a cartoon character she envisioned in her head. " will you make it ? " her tone ached with tenderness, like a child asking for desert before dinner. " no offense to the barista right now but i like it better when you make it. you do that thing with the brown sugar syrup. " though she'd never admit it, and perhaps wasn't even aware, winter lived for subtly convincing others to do what she asked. it was a bad habit, at best, and an exercise in power, at worst. a behavior she couldn't remember not having. " please. i'll help you with inventory, if you want. "

" oh my god, can you stop doubting me ! " voice is shrill and loud, but it's good for warding off wild animals, at least. in truth, spatial awareness was not winter's strong suit. map reading was one of those abilities she ranked alongside doing long division or manually keeping time — there were apps for that. she needed to spend her time more thoughtfully, lounging in bed, taking hot baths, relaxing. " how could we be lost ? i swear we're gonna pass that nasty old cabin like any second. the one with the roof caved in, you know what i'm talking about ? it's like ... right on the edge of the property. people used to fuck in it in the eighties, or something. " she walked a bit faster than him, subconsciously trying to ease her nerves. what if they really were lost ?

" god no ! silence is worse. " she spoke fast, her words often sounding more abrasive than she intended. " i hate the quiet. i sleep with a white noise machine and everything. " winter watched him closely as he got into the hot tub, dark eyes prying, combing his frame as if she'd find something abnormal about him. as though people wore their secrets on the surface. if winter was anything, she was nosy, forever curious about others, endlessly searching their insides and outsides. " cold water is fine in the summer, but i'm not a polar bear. plus, dying of hypothermia is one of the least sexiest ways to die. " a semblance of a grin curled the corner of her mouth upwards. " i bet if you die at camp you get stuck here. like the murder house in american horror story. do you believe in ghosts ? "

"This is a verified, certified form of therapy. They actually have this as a business in some places." Lottie explained as she carefully dabbed at the canvas with her paint brush, trying to channel the Bob Ross videos she'd watched on youtube the night before. "It lets you channel your emotions into a creative outlet and the wine - well, come on, wine never hurts. It's just one glass and that makes it medicinal. As long as it's red wine, don't forget that part."

" you mean like a paint and sip kinda thing ? isn't that for ... first dates and groups of women in their 40s ? " though he might protest with his words, damie was actually quite excited to be doing some kind of therapy that didn't involve sitting in a room and talking about his relationships with his parents. the blonde was admittedly one of his favorite counselors — her out of the box ideas were refreshing, even if he didn't have the sureness to tell her. " just one glass ? i gotta slow down. " damie placed the beverage down delicately, turning his full attention to the canvases, glancing back and forth between hers and his own. " how'd you get the sky to look like that ? mine looks like mud. "

"The Enclave and the Wraith's Den are different establishments with different atmospheres. Drinking and working at two different places isn't unheard of." Daniel commented as he straightened a coaster on the wooden countertop. That was the kind of habit that Daniel always associated with fussy, suburban moms, worrying about water stains on furniture, and even ending up with his own kid hadn't changed that habit. Work, however, had made it happen. @greenhikestarters

" it's only a problem when you're working and drinking at the same time. " it's an off-hand comment about his own habits, but alden chose not to add any details. he wasn't drunk enough, yet. " this spot is way more your scene anyway, man. you ever feel like you have a work self and a non work self ? sometimes i wish i could just be the same all the time. " in truth, alden was known for melding his personal and professional life into one disorganized, unboundaried mess, but he wasn't in the mood to think about himself. he'd rather psychoanalyze one of his old friends. mischief warped his mouth into a grin. " gimme your best bartender smirk. "

TOMMY MARTINEZ Good Trouble - (04.13)

“You need to forgive yourself for testifying against your girl.”  “You know about that?”

Naked Singularity (2021)