coletteblackwell

[coletteblackwell]

Red String of Fate [Alastor X Reader] pt.5

He undid the button on his pants, letting them drop to his ankles before kicking them to the pile of discarded clothing. Like you, he also had a framed photo on his bedside table, his in much better condition, having little to no time damages. It was a photograph of him, Adelaide, and you. It was shortly after your parents died. He remembers that day like it was yesterday. You were on his shoulders with his mother having an anxious expression reaching her arms out to balance you. Admittedly after the candid photo was taken, he did drop you. Not on purpose, but from playing so carelessly as kids. He remembered that you didn't cry when you fell off his shoulders, but erupted in a laugher so heartily, that it still warmed his heart to even think of the sound. He smiled looking at the photo as he stood next to the bed. He stood in his briefs, deciding to just shower in the morning, feeling too tired to wash off for the night. He threw one side of the blanket to the corner and turned off his bedside lamp, feeling comfort in the heavy darkness of the room. He climbed into his bed, the blankets on it were plush, homemade. His favorite was the one Adelaide taught you to make, sure the knitting wasn't as great as his mother's, but knowing you had made it for him, made it the most perfect gift in the world. He pulled it to his mid chest, his bare shoulders still exposed. He turned to his side, adjusting his singular pillow into more of a hugging position, using his other arm as a pillow instead. He liked leaving his radio on at night however, his mind raced too much at night, the jazz helped keep him steady. He thought of what happened today between you too again, he smiled to himself, genuinely. Although he kissed your head each night, he dreamed of being able to kiss your lips, at least just once, in fact he ached for it. There was no doubt in his mind that you were the woman for him, he just didn't see himself as the man for you. He spent his last moments of consciousness picturing you in different scenarios before the jazz lullabied him to sleep.  Fridays were also his most favorite day of the week, sometimes while having dinner with his mother and you he liked to pretend you were his girlfriend, sometimes his wife in such a domestic situation. He loved watching you and Adelaide interact, his two favorite people. He accepted the sleep washing over him, looking forward to the next day.

[coletteblackwell]

Red String of Fate [Alastor x Reader]. Pt.4

His right hand went to the back of his neck, rubbing the sore skin, rolling his neck against his hand. He tried at his maximum capacity to erase that image from his head. His cheeks were tinted a rose color from the previous thoughts, he closed his eyes tightly. He relaxed his neck and opened his tired eyes once more, looking over the attached kitchen to see if there was any need for tidying up, he took mental note of his mother's flowers beginning to wilt before turning off the lights of the common area as he left. He made his way down the dark hallway, towards his own room adjacent from his mothers. His door was already open so he walked directly into it, his walls were painted a dark brown, making it look smaller of a room than it was but he couldn't stand the feeling of an all white bedroom. His room had it's own radio, which he clicked on, adjusting the volume so the jazz music he loved played quiet enough to not disturb his sleeping parent. Some might think alastor was too old to be still living at home, but the truth was he wouldn't want to be anywhere else. The bond he had with his mother was too deep to leave her just to gain independence. He began to unbutton his shirt and dropped it carelessly onto the floor, unhooking the metal buckle of his leather belt, also dropping it to the floor. He walked to his radio that was placed on his dresser, a mirror hung above it. He looked at himself for a moment, examining his face, looking for possible blemishes. The tanned color of his skin was slightly paler beneath his shirt line. He studied his un-smiling face, before flashing a false but easily believable one at his reflection. It dropped quickly, he knew his faux smile was perfectly performed. His mother loved his smile, he always tried to smile for her, no matter the internal dialogue or conflict he felt. He took one last look at himself, fixing the out of place waves in his brown hair. Admittedly his hair was starting to get shaggy, he didn't know if he liked it yet or not. Letting out an exhausted sigh, he turned his gaze from himself now to his bed. He forced himself to have perfect posture regardless of the aches he got when he finally relaxed at the end of the day.

[coletteblackwell]

Red String of fate [Alastor x Reader] pt.3

As Alastor finally arrived home, he discarded the empty whiskey bottle into the rubbish bin outside the house, the glass bottle clinking loudly in the large canister. He approached the front door, opening the lantern and blowing the flame out, placing the lantern down with a gentle clink from the metal on the rocks. He unlocked the door as subtly he could, knowing it was long past his mothers bed time. The hinges squeaked while the door opened, he entered the cozy home with his loafers clicking on the wood of the floor, he kicked them off before entering further, not wanting to track dirt in the house. Now walking in his socks, his foot steps were much softer as he made his way through the dimly lit home. He made his way to the living room, where he heard faint music coming through the scratchy radio on the table. When he walked into the room silently he saw his mother, asleep on the couch, listening to her favorite radio station. He smiled endearingly at the sight, rolling his sleeves up as he walked towards her. He turned off the radio slowly before returning his attention to his mother. Adelaide laid against the couch, probably fallen asleep listening to one of her favorite radio shows from earlier in the night. He stood next to her sleeping form for a moment, studying the situation. He held a deep breath and patiently snuck his arms underneath his mother, one on her upper back and another under her knees. As he secured her, he lifted and carried her to her bedroom, making sure to not hit her on the door frames or move too quickly. She worked fairly hard throughout the day, he didn't want to upset her slumber, but if he left her on the couch all he would hear tomorrow would be complaints from crooked sleep. Reaching her bedroom, he placed her in the queen sized bed. She was a fairly deep sleeper, so she only stirred when being placed into the firm mattress. Being the devoted son that he was, after she was placed he covered her with the throw blanket on the end of the bed. He retreated from her bedroom, the padding of his socks making his footsteps just barely audible. He turned off her bedroom light before closing the door after him, leaving it open just a crack, how she liked it. He walked through the hallways, rolling his shoulders as he strides. He stretched his shoulders and rubbed his lower back. His bones popping quietly as he stretched, a hushed groan escaping his lips from the relief. As he arrived back into the living room he decided to straighten the house before bed. Starting with the living room, he reorganized the cushions while humming a love song to himself. The huskiness from his voice rumbled in his chest while he made the romantic tones. In his moments of mindless tasks he found himself thinking of you. He smiled to himself as he folded the homemade crouch blankets neatly. A familiar electricity going through his chest, feeling it all through his fingertips while he thought of the moment with you today, it was the closest he's gotten to ever making a move on you. Although Alastor seemed confident, he had his insecurities just like everyone else. His eyes flickered around the room looking for another task, trying to distract himself from the excitement bubbling in him while he reminisced.  He had wanted to make a move on you for years, but he too was terrified of rejection from you. In his eyes, you were the most beautiful girl in all of Louisiana, he was sure you had your eyes set on another man, why only limit your horizons to him? He was sure you didn't feel the same way, but he still liked to flirt with you in attempts to winning you over. His heart stung with coldness as he thought of you being with another man, freezing in his tracks as he unwillingly gave himself the mental image of you kissing another man, the feeling of nausea entering his system. He through his head back and sighed. Tossing the folded blankets into the wicker basket. -

If i run out of space one more time im going to cry

[coletteblackwell]

Red String of Fate [Alastor x Reader] pt.2

You put a hand on your cheek, the coldness of your fingertips on your still warm face. You thought about your moment with alastor, figuring he was already home by now. You smiled at the memory of being so close to him in an intense way, but that feeling quickly dimmed into sadness. You hated the way you felt for Alastor, it made you feel guilty. Why'd you have to be so immersed into the only friend you had? You felt defeated by your own longing, the feelings having years of memories to back them up. You built a dam around your feelings for Alastor, truly convinced in the thought that if you were to ever say anything about your true emotions, he'd reject you. So, in an effort to keep him in your life, you fortified that dam the best you could. Adelaide had introduced you before as her daughter, you and alastor as her children. The last thing you wanted was to disappoint her, or worse. As painful as it was, you swallowed your love daily, allowing the friendship to stay at it's level. You attempted to shrug off the feeling of guilt, continuing your nightly routine, eager to get into bed. After finishing your nightly clean up, you climbed into bed. The frame creaked noticeably while you got comfortable, pulling the blanket over you more, you reached up from under the blanket and clicked off the nightshade, falling into slumber already excited for the always delicious meal you would make with Adelaide tomorrow. Who could've known Alastor was having the same problem in his own home.

[coletteblackwell]

This is my first story to post on here! I plan on posting more chapters but it can also be found on Wattpad under the same username :3 please let me know if you like it!! I need constructive criticism!

Red String Of Fate [Alastor X Reader] pt.1

                Every night at 7pm when your work ended, Alastor would be there, to walk you home. Even though you assumed Alastor had always seen you as possibly a younger sister, even he couldn't deny that you were one of the more beautiful young ladies in New Orleans. He worried about your safety, so everyday he made it his personal mission that no matter where he was, he would always be there to walk you home, he liked to know you were safe. This night however on the walk home, he surprised you with a bottle of whiskey. You both spent most nights together; laughing, exchanging silly stories, mildly abusing each other. On your travels home you decided to stop at the lake, the lightning bugs danced in front of you while you sat and adored them. Minutes turned into hours and it was now long past 10pm, the bottle now nearly empty. It was June 3rd, 1931. The summer heat coating both of your skin in a heavy layer. You sat together on the edge of a dock, drunk out of your minds. The air was warm, almost sticky. The aphonic atmosphere surrounding the two of you. The only light coming from a small lantern he hung from the aged wood boat post at the end of the dock. The wood was damp from the air but strangely enough soft underneath both of you.. You wore your waitressing outfit, a knee length dress with a button up bust, white in color, scratchy in material, with an apron tied loosely around your waist. Even though you both were adults, only three years apart in age, to any passerby's you both sounded like a bunch of giddy teenagers. The drunken giggling and joking to be heard from the surrounding houses. After a moment of giggling and soft sighs, you both rested your backs down against the wilted wood. Your hair was long and pooled underneath you, probably getting hooked in the pieces of decaying wood. Alastor laid to your right, wearing a white button up, his chestnut brown hair falling against his forehead as he relaxed on his back, his legs hanging over the edge of the dock, shoes just gracing the surface of the water. Your dizzy, drunken minds took a moment of silence, admiring the beauty of the stars above. So quiet between you two that all you could hear was the buzz of insects and the breeze in the low hanging trees. After a few moments of enjoying the stars and stillness, Alastor decided to break the peace, his tone soft, only slightly slurred.

    "Why do you still work at that shoddy place anyways?" He turned on his side to look at you better, to hear your response. He held his head up with his elbow, a curious smile on his face as he looked at you. When you looked back at him, you could only see his golden silhouette from the lantern flame flickering behind him. The rim of his glasses being illuminated. In this light you remembered why you had been so in love with him ever since you both were young, his toothy smile always found a way to warm your heart. He took a deep breath before speaking again, "It seems like every day it gets worse and worse there. You know you can just live with Mom and I." He offered genuinely, a tone in his voice where you knew he meant his words. Alastor met you when you were young, when you were 10, your parents died shortly after in the following year. Alastor's mother, Adelaide, was a close friend of your late mother's. She took you in as your own the best she could, if a heart could be crafted in the heavens, it would be hers. Since then you had worked hard, not going to school and working almost everyday, living in your parents home, trying to stay afloat. Alastor and his mother had always done so much for you, as nice as it would be to live with Alastor, you couldn't possibly accept such an offer. Alastor could see it in your face, you were preparing to decline his generous offer again. As you opened your mouth to speak, he cut you off quickly. "Before you say no, just... think about it. It could be so fun, you could quit that meaningless job and you know Mum would love having you around. She asks about you all the time." His words were so truthful with a drop of disappointment. Still propped up on his elbow he turned his head from you and looked into the water, the moonlight glistening on the water surface. The water rippled occasionally from frogs jumping in every other moment, or the midge flies resting on the water surface.

    You sat up a bit, matching his pose. "I can't possibly take more from you like that, you both have been so helpful towards me already. I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for you. Besides, the restaurant isn't so bad..." You spoke to him, still looking into his eyes as he looked away, the sparkle of the lantern made his brown eyes glow a bit golden, his tan skin only shone in a sliver from the silhouette of light behind him. His kind smile was now faded, your heart sunk at the sight.

    "That place is 'so bad' actually. You barely get paid and just from the things you've told me about those disgusting male customers, I wish you would never step foot in that building again." He whispered out the final words of his sentence with some venom laced in the tone.

    You giggled at his comment, you were always so kind to customers they often mistook that kindness for opportunity to harass you while in uniform. You secretly loved telling Alastor the stories of the baffling things men would say to you on a regular basis, enjoying when he would get protective or jealous. You let out a soft sigh, still smiling at him. "Oh its fine, they're harmless." You replied, "Besides, the nastier the customer, the better they tip!" You used your free hand to shove his shoulder playfully, trying to bring his smile back. "In all seriousness, I do appreciate the offer.. but you know I can't accept that."

    He suspired, returning his gaze back to you, a smile creeping back onto his face, his dimples being visible in the gentle light. "If your argument is that we have already done so much, why not just accept one more helping? Mom's been wanting to give you a job at the bakery, you'd make so much more money there... and there wouldn't be any men hitting on you~." He said with a smile, the words still slurring from the whiskey, a light blush on his cheeks from the heat from the alcohol. His words made you roll your eyes back at him, you both laid on your sides facing each other, propping yourselves up to meet each others gaze.

    "Come on, you know I cannot possibly accept another handout.." You said, your voice had a bit of sadness in it, ever since your parents died at age 11, you felt like everyone had babied you. You learned to hate the feeling of being helpless and weak. Now at the age of 22, it felt like you were in control. No more people making meals for you and leaving them at your doorstep, besides Alastor's mother of course.

    "I know you're stubborn. That's all I know about you." Alastor said, winking at you playfully. Although he blatantly flirted with you on various occasions, you were so engaged with the thought of Alastor seeing you as a little sister it never registered. You scoffed and rolled your eyes in response to Alastor's wink.

    "I am not stubborn. I think I've done quite well for myself this far, thank you very much!" You said in playfully offended voice. You still grinned at Alastor, then continued, "I'm thankful to have you and your mother as family. You both have already done so much, you know I'm forever thankful for that." You said, whispering out the last part of your sentence. A genuine smile on your face, but when looking at Alastor's smile you noticed that his smile faltered quickly, but returned to its full capacity within seconds.

    "Oh, yes... family." He nodded with his words, sighing quietly afterward. He cleared his throat before he spoke, "Alright now, I think its time for me to get you home now, don't you think?" He said, a smidge of defeat in his voice, he turned himself over, pulling his knees to his chest to support himself as he stood up next to you. Your eyes followed his movements slowly, your relaxed eye line meeting his ankles as he now stood over top of you. "Come on, Mon Chéri." He extended his hand out to you, his fingers spread as an offer to lift you off the pier. You looked up at him with a confused expression, it seemed early for you both to turn in for the night. You looked up at the moon and realized its position. You figured it was close to midnight and shrugged, agreeing to leave with alastor with your gesture. His words sounded playful, as they normally did. But there was a different dissatisfaction in his voice that always confused you. Without further understanding, you swung your arm up to interlock hands with him, accepting his help off the damp wood. You wrapped your fingers around his wrist, him doing the same to yours. After you placed your heels underneath yourself steadily, standing next to Alastor. He looked down at you with a knee-weakening smile.

    Looking down at your outfit, you patted your clothes off. The pier collected moss and some mild pond scum which left a bit of a mess on your work dress. The heat from the whiskey still tinting your cheeks and making your head spin ever so lightly. His hand hovered over your elbow as you examined your exterior, not letting his arm rest until he could see for himself your balance being steady. Now, feeling a bit dizzy but sober enough to walk a straight line, you exhaled and returned Alastor's gaze, looking upwards into his face. For a moment it felt like all of New Orleans seemed to quiet down, the bugs hushing. All life seemed to pause in this moment.. you looked into each others eyes, the flickering of the flame glittering in your eyes. His hand rested onto your arm, the feeling of his touch in this moment made chills go down your spine regardless of the humidity. You looked into Alastor's cigar colored eyes, you both were locked into a moment of intense eye contact. You broke the moment bu glancing down onto his lips, curled into a cheeky smile, for a moment you thought this was something you were dreaming of, it felt like you were two young lovers in this moment, the heat rose to your cheeks quickly. Your breath hitched in your throat from the tension, so dense you could feel it. The seconds felt like minutes, the eye contact made the moment feel infinite. As you thought this moment couldn't be anymore perfect, the balance of your Comma heels wobbled slightly. The point of the heel sinking into the withering wood, your ankle slipped embarrassingly. Luckily enough, alastor had his hand on your arm to support your balance, expecting you to be horizontally challenged. The sudden movement seemed to immediately bring you back to reality, alastor chuckled at you as you corrected your foot placement. Embarrassed from the slip, you rethought the entire situation. You thought how stupid you could be for reading the moment like this, you'd always be a little sister to Alastor. Nothing more. Ashamed, you looked down, your lack of confidence in the moment now tinting your cheeks even deeper. "I'm getting off this dock before it crumbles underneath us." Your voice was cold, annoyed with your own mindset. You let out a soft shaky breath, looking downward at Alastor's brown leather shoes. "Let's... lets just go." You turned from him, pushing past his arm, beginning to walk away from the dimly lit pier where you both previously sat. As your heels stamped on the worn, soft wood, Alastor stayed for a moment. Still facing the direction you once stood. Your favorite way of dealing with awkward situations was fleeing the scene. His normally cheerful smile, now dropped half way, leaving a sorry smirk on his face. When he blinked and moved on from the moment he also thought you two were about to have, he refocused his vision back to you, making your way off the pier, your silhouette starting to be engulfed into the night. He quickly turned, grabbed the still dancing lantern off of its hook and followed after you with a small laugh escaping his lips. He figured your drunken ego was more fragile than he originally assumed.

    "Well, don't leave without me!" He exclaimed as he jogged slightly to catch up with you. Finally by your side again, he walked slightly ahead of you, still by your side. "What ever would you do without your knight in shining armor? Who to protect you from these dark and dangerous nights?" He strides besides you, extending his arms gesturing at the immense but familiar night in the well traveled trail ahead you. You still focus your eyes on the path, you tried your best to remain your composure, your chest ached with embarrassment from the previous thoughts you had. As much as you try not to, a smile finds its way up to your face again, still seeing Alastor's behavior as adorable. Especially when he went into theatrics like this. He spoke as he was attempting to sound like a valiant leader. Except, it more came out sounding like someone reading a children's story, desperate to keep children engaged. "Who else would guide you through these twisting, terrifying, ever so confusing streets? None other than.. me?" He said, his tone hushing at his final word. He waited for you to respond, his head leaned down, his shoulders tilted forward as he walked. Tilting his head down to look at your expression, hoping to get a reaction. Upon receiving no success with getting your attention back onto him, he playfully bumped his hip into yours, making you slightly lose your balance but letting out a closed-mouthed laugh. Finally, you looked onto his face again, he was smiling so brightly and proud to have won your attention back. His rounded glasses hung lowly on his nose, his brown hair fell over his forehead, dusting over his eyes. Your heart never failed to melt at the sight, you tried to resist the feelings that erupted in you from just the sight of Alastor smiling your direction. Unfortunately, you didn't stand a chance against his charm.

    "You're stupid," You said flatly, but a smile curling your faintly red painted lips. You tilted your head towards him as he gasped, faux-shocked at your insult, "But I guess you are pretty.. helpful to have around." You finished, moving your walking pace closer to his, taking your arm in his as you walked side by side through the night. The only light guiding your path being the flickering light from the sooty lantern and the illumination of the moon light. The path you took wasn't accompanied by streetlights. The faint sound of frog calls chirped through the air accompanied by the gentle kicking of gravel from both of your footsteps.

    Alastor let out a relaxed sigh as you wrapped your arm around his, the arm he held the lantern with between you both. With his free left-hand, he raised it from his side to place it on yours. His fingers were warm and calloused but still felt gentle. His thumb rubbed the back of your palm while you walked. It was a good ten minute walk to your house, then an extra five to his home, but he didn't mind, he enjoyed these moments with you. After all, you were his best friend, his other half, if you will. "Oh, you're such a charmer..." he whispered, just barely escaping his lips before he continued, voice full bodied and now a bit teasing and sarcastic, "-When you want to be." His long fingers squeezed your hand playfully and he tightened his arm that you held on to, pulling you closer by his side, your shoulders touching. You scoffed, still looking forward.

    "Alastor, I am a delight to be around and you know it." You said, nodding your head with your words, still locking your arm closely with his as he lead your way through the night. You couldn't tell where you were in this vast darkness, however Alastor always seemed to know where he was, vision or not, you always felt that safety with him. You looked down at your shoes, walking in matching strides as you strolled the empty street. The moon now in her highest peak of the night.

    "Whatever helps you sleep better at night, Mon Kè." Alastor said, looking upward confidently, his head held high. He shook his head chuckling softly with his words.

    "You know I told you I don't like it when you call me monkey, I'm not a kid anymore." You said naively and clueless to what the words he said. He laughed at your reaction, always the same.

    "I'm sorry, I know you're all grown up now." He said with sarcasm, a teasing smile on his face. When you looked up, you could see his face with a candlelight aura from the flame in front of you both. The panes of his glasses reflecting the shimmer, his dimples being shadowed almost perfectly in the light. You forgot to respond from just admiring Alastor, like you always did. Alastor did not mind the quiet however, he just figured you were exhausted from your day.

    As you approached your home, you regained awareness of your surroundings as you walked, passing by the familiar southern magnolia tree in your front yard. When you looked forward again you saw the faint light of your bedside lamp peaking through the curtained windows. You pulled your arm free from Alastor's, reaching into your pocket to retrieve your key. While you rummaged through your pocket, Alastor placed the lantern on the corner of your front step, out of the way but still illuminating the door. Upon finally finding the key, Alastor took it from your hand almost instantly and walked up your front door steps before you, unlocking the door and opening it for you. Alastor practically lived in your house from the amount of time he spent bothering you on your days off in your own home. When you walked in, Alastor locked the door behind you both. His mission of the day completed, he knew you were home safely now. You walked past him, used to this routine. You hung up your apron on the coat hanger and kicked off your heels with a yawn. As alastor watched you begin to unwind from your day, he leaned against the closed door. "So when do I get my own key?" He asked, making you roll your eyes. While you stood in the small entrance room, Alastor reached above, pulling the string on the light fixture on the ceiling.

    "Oh never, The day that happens will be the day I have lost all dignity." You teased as you walked now much shorter than him without your heels. He chuckled,a bit hurt in the ego but knowing it was just your own pride you protected so heavily. You walked into your kitchen, a short stroll down the hallway. The walls of the corridor adorned with pictures of your family, Alastor and Adelaide, and random memories. When Alastor joined you in the kitchen, he pulled the string on the light in the kitchen as well, its bulb emitting a dandelion yellow glow. You began to pour a glass of water, taking a sip before handing to Alastor, who followed you tentatively. He took a sip from the same glass, subconsciously making sure to place his lips on the same place your lipstick had stained the glass previously. You yawned again, more significantly, and stretched your hands outwards in a dramatic display.

    "Okay, Okay I get the hint, I'll get out of your hair~" He said placing down the small glass of water on your countertop. "You don't have to tell me twice, besides, I think you need to catch up on your beauty rest." He teased, raising his hands up like he was guilty of a crime. You gasped and covered your hand over your mouth.

    "Are you saying I look rough right now? How ever so rude of you." You teased back, taking the glass of water that you shared from where Alastor had placed it. Taking a sip for yourself, feeling dehydrated after the drinking you had done together that night. Alastor shook his head, a large and gentle smile on his face, his eyes still as piercing as ever despite being such a welcoming oak color.

    "Oh you know what I meant." His hand reached to the top of your head and then tucked a loose strand of your hair behind your ear, petting down your hair before his hand rested on the side of your face. His palm against the end of your jaw, lower two fingers touching your neck as you still sipped water. While you finished your sip he asked, "Same time tomorrow?" With an endearing, warm smile. After finishing what you wanted from the cup, you placed it back down, the glass clinking on the countertop. From his closeness, his chin at the same level as your eyebrows you could experience alastor without the muddling of the outside elements. He smelled like raw vanilla and faintly of cigarettes.

    You nodded slowly, a blush tinting your face from his touch, it wasn't a new experience. However it never failed to give you butterflies. Alastor leaned in to kiss the top of your head, as he did every night. Gently, like you were fragile. His lips lingered for a second, getting a scent of your hair that still smelled like the outdoors and like the warm wood from the pier. He placed his lips onto your forehead for a few seconds before pulling back, dropping his hand from your face. A part of you wished in that moment he didn't make it so hard not to love him, unknowingly that he was thinking the same about you. He took a step back, stealing the rest of your water from the glass, placing it in the sink as he turned and walked out from the kitchen. Not letting you say a word before he exited the room, as he approached the door you exclaimed, "You're locking yourself out right?". He turned back to you through the dimly lit hallway with a playfully insulted look on his face.

    "You act as if I've forgotten before! Trust me, our nightly routine is more important than my studies, I could do it with my eyes closed." He opened the door in front of him, reaching up to turn off the light in the entrance room pulling the short string with a quiet click, turning to you as he went to close it, before shutting the door, he looked into your eyes one last time for the night, "Good night, Mon Ké." He looked at you, waiting for a response.

    You scoffed at his words, thinking he was calling you one of your childhood nicknames, "Goodnight, Alastor." You smiled at him, tone just gentle enough for him to hear down the hallway. At the sound of your words, he closed the door, the lock clicking behind him. A few seconds after, the letter opening in your door opened a sliver, your small gold house key falling through it. Landing quickly onto your door mat with a quiet clink. You listened as Alastor's foot steps retreated off your front steps, he picked up the lantern he left on the ground, and held it to light his own way home. You heard his whistle as he entertained himself through his quick walk home, the tune fading slowly as he strolled deeper into the night.

    At the final sighting of the golden glow of the lantern he carried disappearing into the air, muddled through the trees and fogged by distance, you let out a sigh. Your feet ached from the work heels that were a size too small for you and your clothes felt slightly damp from the humidity of the elements outdoors. You headed into your room, retiring for the night. Your room was small, the whole home was, but you loved it dearly. You still slept in your childhood bedroom, leaving your parents' master bedroom clean, as if they'd come home at any point. Next to your rickety twin-sized bed was your beside table. The only items on it being a miniature lamp, so worn with time that the once white lampshade was now beige, and a photograph of you in between your late parents in a frame with chipping pink paint. Taking the tips you made that day from your pockets, you reached down underneath the bed, feeling the underside of the mattress for your hidden envelope, taking the cash and tucking it into the envelope. As you placed the faded envelope back into its hiding place. You sat on the bed exhausted, you picked up the beloved frame, rubbing your thumb on the edge. A demure, sorrowful smile on your face. It will almost be 11 years this fall since their death, both dying from pneumonia. You didn't have much memories of them anymore, time fading the memory card of your brain. Without alastor and his mother, who knows what could of happened to you. Luckily enough, your family owned the land and as the last alive, it went to you. Regardless of not having many memories of them, you still missed them everyday. You put the frame back in it's spot, placing it with care. Continuing with your night as you prepared for your next day, not looking forward to the manual labor, but ready for seeing Alastor. Your daily routine was something that kept you going. The two of you barely spent a moment apart, regardless of your feelings towards him, Alastor truly was family to you. Him and his mother, Adelaide, being all you had left. Every day, thankful for their kindness and care. You sighed, gathering your work outfit for the next day, removing your dirty uniform and placing it in the laundry basket, preparing for your own nightly routine, already excited for the shift that hadn't yet started to end. Tomorrow was friday, the day you had dinner with Alastor and his mother, the highlight of your week.