#Love and Deepspace Tara

[starmocha]

[manikas-whims]

how i think the Love and Deepspace characters would respond to mc/you saying:

"can you buy me pads?"

TARA

XAVIER

ZAYNE

RAFAYEL

CALEB

[xioyume]

@Love and Deepspace TikTok fandom: Gay people jumpscare 🏳️‍🌈

The TT fandom is NOT beating the homophobic allegations 💀

[love-and-deepspace-wiki]

Surrounding Characters: Tara

Age: Unknown

Birthday: Unknown

Occupation: UNICORNS Deepspace Hunter; Data Analytics

Workplace: UNICORNS

Residence: Unknown

Details:

Tara is the first colleague the protaganist befriends after becoming a hunter. She's described as "young with a cute personality that suits her name".

Interesting Facts:

She's has a reputation for being in the know on interesting gossip and info.

She really likes the occult and divination.

The protaganist considers her a trustworthy teammate and a true friend.

Though we don't know exactly where she lives, she does give a bit of info during their first conversation at Azure Square. She mentioned that her home is "pretty far from here"

Over a decade ago, Captain Jenna saved her life during a Wanderer attack. For that reason, Tara deeply admires Jenna and wanted to be a hunter to follow in her footsteps.

[obbystars]

MC: NO I AM NOT PAYING FOR YOU THIS IS NOT A DATE

Tara: H-Huh?! Of course I’ll pay for myself! What are you-?

MC: I’m not talking about you! I’m talking about HIM!!

Sylus (Skye): 😇

MC: Sitting over there all zesty with that little smile… And guess what! I will not fall for your game!!

Jenna: What is going on over here?

MC: Hello!

Tara: Oh, these two are on a date!

MC: THIS IS NOT TRUE

[skynapple]

Madi Caught Slipping: aka "How Jeremiah falls for every character in the book"

Scroll to find your favorite characters. Some are kinda crack ships. Have fun.

The girls:

Tara: This one's easy. They caught each other's eyes through MC and Xavier. He's at Xavier's place, they met in a common area. Jeremiah is trying to be a good wingman but he knows better than to use old tactics of flirting with MC on purpose to make Xavier act out in jealousy, he can do that when the trio is alone. That day he directed his attention to Tara, some small talk and flirting, maybe slung an arm around her shoulder to drag her to get a bucket of ice or anything for the other two to be alone. But she's adorable and he thinks, what the heck, a date won't hurt. She's pretty, and again, it's a good excuse for causing more circumstances to fall into place. The last thing he expects is to fall in love but it doesn't take much. She's earnest, tightness, selfless, and sweet. And look, who else is he going to gossip about Xavier and MC with? Good luck, Jer. Crystals in his pockets. He doesn't believe in any of her witchy stuff but doesn't mind it if it helps her feel like she's connecting to him or keeping him safe somehow. His religion he feels doesn't really affect it, he's only semi religious anyway. Cute planned dates. Flowers on her desk. Starts carrying some things of her recommendations in the shop. It's an easy, refreshing, comforting, and syrupy sweet relationship. Like two kids giggling in a pillow fort.

Jenna: This one's not easy. But, she's Xavier's "Captain" which, ok, Xavier is Jeremiah's "Captain" so there's the good soldier dynamic. There's a chance -depending on how Infold wants to play it- that Jenna and Jeremiah have a already met. It may be through Backtracker work, anti-Onychinus logistics, Jeremiah's research, something. If they have, it's an easier door. Either way, all they do is talk logistics and mission stuff to begin with. Then it's random small talk. Jenna is fun, and always thinking of others. There's a sense of "we're in this together" that bridges a gap. Maybe he senses that she's overworked. Maybe he hears from Xavier that they lost a hunter on their team. He sends her flowers. Then just keeps sending her flowers so she always has something to brighten her day, because he feels some compassion for the stress she's under, and secretly he's grateful that someone else is looking over Xavier. It's a slow burn. It's dependable, and sweet, and then it's a strong. They're a candle that keep others going, just trying to make it another day, but they keep that candle burning together.

MC: See Budding Romance. Anyways. This one really only works if like, MC has eyes interacts with him a lot more than Xavier. Because Jeremiah is always realistically going to be putting Xavier's needs first? And he really has shipped those two for centuries. He's probably absolutely had it up to here with them (imagine I am gesturing to something really tall for the metaphor.) But it also only works if he realizes he's loved her, because he has to get past a sense of 'She's Xavier's but I want her too.' It also only works if Xavier's holding back a bit, like he senses there may already be something going on between them? If he's confusing MC and she gets comfortable with Jer enough, then maybe, maybe. OR, she is just a version of MC who just doesn't have interest in pursuing Xavier at all, similarly to the MC's that end up with literally any other love interest, this MC would just... be particularly inclined towards Jeremiah to begin with, regardless of meeting Xavier first. Which, Jer would still have to get past whatever he's going to deal with, but once they're together, God. The manic things I've thought.

The way he's loved her for centuries, even if platonically before, to stay at her side in unwavering devotion for centuries, to abandon everything he knows on a chance of saving her, being her second-in-command, probably being the one to hold her tears when she could've easily felt very alone. He knows MC inside and out, TOO. And I think it would be very easy for him to want to slip back into a sense of companionship and want to by her side in any capacity of her life. Jer needs to feel attentive and needed, and I think it would be easy to want to stay by "his commanders" and "his Queens" side purely out of loyalty, and maybe... there's a sense of: It's always been me, I don't want it to be anyone else.

Yvonne: This one's funny. It definitely has to be a coincidental meeting. Jer's not going to any hospitals anytime soon. They have to meet outside work before, either on accident or she's a patron of his store, something like that. But the energy, please. She's beautiful, snarky. He can get behind that. She's also probably overworked. It's easy for him to be a sounding board, listen to all the gossip, or the frustration of incompetent patients. It's easy for him to be a comfort, patients get under your skin sometimes no matter how high the walls. Losing patients is never easy but god if Jeremiah hasn't been used to losing people all the time. It's easy for him to go along with antics. Prank bouquets to unwitting hospital members. And maybe if he's comfortable, he's appreciating that he actually knows a nurse. He teaches her how to care for Philosian differences in physiology, because there's probably things that are different and things he's had to DIY. Oh she'd absolutely shred him an earful if she finds out he's doing something stupid post-Wanderer hunting excursions. He absolutely makes her vision of beautiful custom scrubs come true.

Talia: Lord, Jeremiah as her nth husband? Sure. She's definitely ordering a lot of flowers to pester at Rafayel. Or she's getting flowers for her nth wedding. Maybe Wedding Planner style, it doesn't work out, but hey that florist is kinda--. And honestly, Jer probably picks up on some things. She's not from around here, neither is he. There's a certain vernacular Lemurians use, and there's a vernacular Philosians use. Maybe it's easier to tell earlier on. Kinda like Hispanics and Filipinos can immediately just pick each other out of a crowd. (Source: Is Hispanic). So there may be some companionship in, hey we're not here by choice, something drastic happened. And she's,,, way older century-wise probably, but he's not actually young, and they both have the bodies of a twenty-something. It's fine. They probably can find things to relate to. Old stories, old myths, old movies, old music. It's nostalgic and sweet. Maybe she likes the fact that he's not going to die, unlike her previous human boyfriends.

---------------

the boys:

Xavier: I could write a book but. Just the constant companions and devotion. The loyalty. The "I'm with you to the end" and the fact that Jeremiah was someone he immediately told everything about MC. How, despite Xavier's jealousy, he still depending on him to look after MC and still needed him. Honestly, Xavier needs Jeremiah a lot more than I think he lets on. Vice versa. Xavier wasn't there for him when Jer lost the love of his life, and unlike Xavier's who reincarnates, he's never getting her back. It's a very permanent grief that Philosians seldom had to deal with. I'm sure Xavier feels a sense of regret. At the same time, it just makes Jer more fiercely loyal. I said it above, he deeply needs to have a sense of duty. He desperately needs to be needed by Xavier, to be ordered around and feel like he's contributing. He doesn't want to let him down, and he desperately doesn't want him to ever go through what he has. They know mostly everything about each other. They do love each other, already, so much. It doesn't take much. One or both could've already questioned things. Or they're in a universe where MC already chose someone else, so it's a matter of comfort and redemption and trying to let Xavier heal and grow into someone independent of MC. Also. I think about the fact that in CANON Jeremiah specifically made sure that he brought Xavier's favorite flowers with them from Philos and if that's not love I don't know what is. In this essay I will---

Zayne: This one is the most crack to me because again. Jer and medical staff? Probably not going to mix. They must meet at an outside time and place. Jer can't know Zayne's a doctor until later. It definitely has to be a universe where MC is pursuing someone else, but that may not stop Zayne from buying her flowers? Especially if she's not dating other guy yet, and on her birthday, something like that. So they could meet at the flower shop. It's not love at first sight, it can't be. Jer gets him with sweets. He uses one of Bella's old recipes maybe when he's mourning her death's anniversary? Zayne has plenty of loss experience. He's just a customer that day but he takes comfort in letting out the story a little bit. Zayne makes a recommendation. Jer makes him something else to thank him for his patronage. Its just sweet sharing back and forth until they actually decide to go somewhere after work. Not a date. They're too manly for that. Both assume the other is friend zoned. The crowd is banging through the floorboards at these two. Jer baking a lot, Zayne eating and tending to Wanderer wounds. Very slow but, comforting and sweet. Pun intended. Cause that's what it would be. They heal each other in more ways than one.

Rafayel: If I speak- ok. Listen. Talia or fans still is ordering a lot of flowers for Rafayel. Jer gets used to dropping them off. He knows Rafayel is probably hiding something, again, vernacular, however I've seen Rafayel tends to hide his better. But those muscles are way too toned for Rafayel to be some random painter. Pls. I know too many art majors. Jeremiah making Rafayel clothes. Because he's talented (hello Lumiere costume) and can definitely do some cool stuff (fireproof, effect stuff). Also, Jeremiah like,,, is on the dark web scouring for content for stuff to build ship parts and also keep an eye on wayward Backtrackers. There's no way he doesn't know Rafayel's wanted. Maybe he helps take care of it. You know Lemurians and debts. Idk. Just lots of snark. Lots of trying to take care of each other. Cooking together. Maybe even fighting together. Jeremiah being weirdly assertive with Thomas, a la "He said no pickles" style. Again, very easy to slip into a loyal companion mode. Very easy. Plus like. It's a very, very acts of service relationship. They squabble a bit but only cause they care. Also, same dynamic as Talia, they've been around a long time, they'll be around a long time from now. There's comfort in that.

Caleb: If Maverick himself is alive somehow, it either comes through mutual connection like MC wanting to introduce her "brother" or Caleb maybe stalking out people in "his sister's" life. So honestly he may have met him at a party. Its a work party. Everyone gets a plus one. MC brings Caleb, Xavier brings Jer. I have a hc Jer is a hopeless drunk, but nothing happens at this party cause earth beverages from what we've seen with Xavier don't honestly have much effect. Unless... Caleb himself gets.. yeah. Maybe he retaliates that MC is showing Xavier a lot of attention when he's s'posed to be the date. Fine. Two can play at this game. He goes after Jer. Sloppy kiss. Jer would be... admittedly weirded out, and probably more concerned about the guy. Next day some kind of humiliated apology at the flower shop spurred on by MC. But Jer's soft, and sweet, and kinda teasing. Oh no god help Caleb. They might bicker a lot, but they both care about MC and later on each other deeply. They might just start hanging out for the sake of it. But they both have soldier's hearts, and are protective people. They become protective of each other. Jer starts watching the sky scanners, keeping up to date on any relevant threats. Secret information passed along through a channel Jer engineers. Caleb frantically watching his watch that's connected to Jer's when he assumes Jer goes wanderer hunting. Fishing trips, cooking. Arcades. Nostalgic movies. Somehow they have synergy. Somehow.

Nero: Jer's an alien so that's cool. Honestly, I wonder if they already know each other. Not in person? But online? If Jeremiah's ever submitted anything for private analysis and Nero's the wanderer expert. He might've been connected just through accessing Xavier's portal to the deepspace organization. They start meeting in person to trade stuff. It's very secretive. Nero catches him out and about. Doesn't recognize him, couldn't possibly begin to, but he knows that voice anywhere. And oh no Jer's beautiful. He starts doing his own investigation. Shows up at the flower shop once he's sure, and slides him something only they would know. Jer's incredibly impressed. Wants to hang out more. They talk nerdy, and honestly it's probably worse the more Nero knows. Like, you mean there's alternate timelines and dimensions? You mean you can pull a sword out of your arm, too? You mean this metal is from another planet? You mean there's even more wanderers? You fell through a black hole?? Just on and on. Jer doesn't mind the obsession, it's nice to be open and talk about home. It starts as just kinda friendly besties but they grow to actually care about each other. Maybe they worry about each other somehow. They definitely try to outdo who does more for who. It's very relaxed, and not constrained. They don't have to be together all the time, it's comfortable.

Thomas: Again, something to do with deliveries to Rafayel. He starts being around. Maybe Thomas contacts him to do an event and Jer is just? Helpful? A nice guy? Hey Thomas looks like he needs a drink, that's all. Or maybe Thomas forgot something, requires Jer to back and like. They just?? Talk? For a long time. That kind of comfort bond builds first. Jer is easy to talk to. Jer's also like, nice and insistent enough if he finds out Thomas is an artist like, insists he wants something from Thomas specifically and wants to trade for some kind of arrangement. Well how about a drink? It's just relaxed and comfortable. This is a relationship Jer might withhold some of the aliens from outer space stuff a little longer, just until he's more sure of things and outcomes. But it's easy, and he likes hearing the stories. Thomas tries to paint what he thinks Philos looks like based on his descriptions. Jer cries. Jer cultivates a specific type of rose after Thomas. It's very luxurious type of relationship. Doesn't have to be money consuming but. Museums. Botanical gardens. Whiskey nights. Private lounges. Jeremiah makes him a custom suit. Just a lot of gift giving back and forth.

Greyson: Like Zayne, there has to be some circumstance outside of work. But Madi you wrote that for Yvonne too. AND I'M SAYING IT HAS TO. But if it doesn't for some reason, let's say Jer overdoes it, gets kinda beat up, some citizen finds him and he gets dragged to a hospital. You know how Philosian heart beats are slower? God, imagine? Oh they think he's on his way out. Rushed to the ER. Jer just like, coming to cause maybe the sedatives don't work the same, grabbing Greyson by the wrist like, begging, desperate, Don't hurt me. And oh no. Deepest shade of blue eyes on pools of hazel that are desperate. He might break. He doesn't want to become a science experiment. Ok that's dramatic. YEAH. Like does he break out of the hospital? Does Greyson flip out and have A Moment™️ with the other surgeons in the room? This is literally what Jer's been dreading for 200 years he's shaking he's terrified inside but he's also a soldier. He bites down that fear and idk maybe gets out of there. He thinks he's safe. Freaking runs into Greyson at a cafe or something super what-are-the-chances. And before Jer can run Greyson grabs him like, hol' on a second. ANYWAY. I'm just saying. It has to be dramatic or super mundane, for it to work. But if it does work out (somehow) then its. Cowboy and Alien. Jer is very doting, he can get to Greyson's cheesiness level. Who can outfluster who? who will survive? Dad jokes. Tormenting friends. Prank wars. Teaching Greyson to bake. He thinks he'll teach Jer how to ride a horse, surprise he was a Knight and already rides bareback. It's a fun dynamic.

[pseudonymphomania]

I downloaded this because my friend started playing. I have no idea what is going on or how the plot is going to be, but right off the bat and despite how pretty the men are...

I ship MC with Tara. Tyvm.

[supvoid]

Love & Deepspace Chapter 1: To Begin, Part 2

[taraandtarot]

I got so many new tarot decks!! 🤩

Linkon City, it’s about to get metaphysical.~ 🔮

~✨~

((OOC: I found a tarot app I really like, so if any of y’all want Tara to give you a reading, go at it! Hehehe.))

[yuzuocha]

Tara: Hey, where'd you buy your top?

MC: [turns to Zayne]

Zayne: ?

MC: Tara asked me where I bought you.

@anxiousgoddest calling you out

[starmocha]

Today I learned that you can catch them interacting with posts "live"

[manikas-whims]

i have played this game for like.. a grand total of 10 days and i can't stop thinking about this 😂 so here!

used my own model for mc

[lovelaughsimp]

I'm in love with l&ds fandom. Though, I don't have any friend in the fandom. Watching everyone interact is so freaking cute and adorable. Everyone from those who just like the posts, to those who posts, to those who does those gimmick blogs, the letter one, the polls one, the shy one . Everyone of you is so so so so so so adorable and cute and gorgeous and beautiful and many more words. Whenever I saw that some of the babies are shy or embarassed or doesn't feel seen, it broke my heart, truly. Ykw i felt like a mother whose felt embarassed, shy, unseen by everyone, this was really sad. Omgfgg if i could I'll hug all of you my babies. I also wanna scold and hug you cause my cuties adorable babies you are so much deserving of love and how dare you think you are jot deserving of love. Ugh you cuties don't overthink. ily all <3

( sorry my elder sister persona and therapist daughter is coming out )

[aly4khq]

✧˚ · . i think...𓇢𓆸

- xᴀᴠɪᴇʀ -

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lately, the tension between you and Xavier has gotten worse with each passing day. the last time you both had a conversation was when you were in a meeting that was about your next mission. majority of your co-workers and your team had easily noticed the growing hatred that was spreading around the air. it broke your heart, it broke his but neither of you have the courage to talk it out.

----------------------------------------------

"stop acting stupid. that's all i'm trying to say?" his voice boomed with fury, reaching your ears in a disgusting tone. his cerulean eyes dark with disgust, staring at you like you've betrayed him. his demeanour crazily shifted from how he was before.

"how am i acting stupid? all i did was save that girl! you want me to let her die?" your voice didn't compete with his, you're carrying regret for something you didn't do wrong in. you were furious, yes, but showing that would only made that worse. your arms crossed as you mumbled under your breath.

"what was that? say it out loud." he walked closer to you, his steps heavy against the floor of your apartment. stepping back to keep a distance, your arm uncrossed just in case he lashes out.

"you could've died...huh? is that was you want? to be dead? that's selfish, you're being selfish. stop that." his hand lifted to his hip, his upper torso leaning over you.

"so what if i died? i would've died a hero. i barely got injured, it wasn't even that bad of a wanderer. any beginner could beat that." arguing back, his eyes widened at your statement. they turned black, you couldn't see xavier in them anymore.

you couldn't hear the soft voice of your love.

you couldn't feel his soft touch, just harshness.

you couldn't breathe.

your own eyes rose in size as you realised where his hand landed, straight on your neck. his grip tightened, leaving you no choice but to suffer under his gaze. he was crazy, he looked crazy. the pure evil in his face terrified you.

"barely got injured?! you broke your hand!! how dumb are you to understand that you're not destructible!!" his voice was what nearly made you cry out of pain, he was serious yet so aggressive.

"xav-agh- mhm-" you struggled to get his attention, your hand grasping his to try and pry him off, the other no use. his words weren't reaching your ears, they were mumbles; the ringing interrupted every letter.

you came to your last conclusion, you tap his arm thrice, harsh taps to be in fact. it was your safeword, but right now you couldn't do anything else. somehow, that clicked to him.

his eyes shifted back to its original colour, his hand loosing its harmful grip of your neck as he stepped back in horror. as his hands slowly retreated to his side, he tried to get a hold of himself; his mouth agape in surprise.

"fuck- are you okay? i didn't mean it. shit! um-" he scrambled to fine something to help your coughing fit, his last resort was getting some water. he handed the bottle to you before he helped you drink.

after, you held the counter, not daring to stare at him in fear that you might see that face again. your voice was soft and cracked with your gentle cries in between.

his mind cursed at him for doing something so idiotic, he knew that you won't want for him to be here. but his heart still broke when he heard those words.

"...i think you should go..."

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no one knew the story, only you and him. that same day, you had requested for another partner to work with. luckily, it was tara. but sometimes you can't hide stuff from your best friend. especially if she's with you nearly every day.

"babe come on. you're not fine. i know it. please talk to me." she begged and pleaded for you to stop keeping it in. she held you tightly as she rubbed your arm. her face the saddest it's ever been. she caressed your face with her other hand, lifting your head up to see your face clearly.

"you can always talk to me. i promise." her kindness watered your eyes, making you feel so loved and welcomed. sitting up straight, you sighed before laying your head on her shoulder.

"not yet tara...i think i should wait." your voice softened her ears, the tears embedded in your words. understandingly, she nodded while nuzzling her head onto of yours.

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"you STUPID idiot! how could you screw up this bad xavier?!"

shouts and yells echoed in every corner of xavier's apartment, your hands grasping tara's bicep as you begged her to shut up and leave. her finger in his face as she scolded him angrily. you had finally told her, preparing yourself for this.

"tara-" "NO. listen babe, i can't sit past this. he WHAT?!"

oh my gosh. pulling on her jumper, your voice increased in volume as well. "tara! come on!!" she squirmed in your grasp, her eyes full of so much emotion. you were started to get a little bit more excited the more she scolded xavier but you laughing would add fuel to the fire.

"what an idiotic boyfriend you are. i gave you one job- JUST ONE. and you mess it up. take care of her. simple instructions and you know what you said that you will take care of her until your last breathe. might as well stop breathing. my gosh, what a-

BANG!

she slammed her hand onto the wall beside her, the sound vibrating through the air. your eyes narrowed at her strength.

-fucking LIAR!"

finally moving her to the door, you tried to calm her down in your own words, only stopping to open the door properly, pushing her out gently. you hesitated to follow.

turning your head to face xavier, he was staring at you, in melancholy. a part of you wanted to have a conversation, one that lasted for as many hours as it took just for you two to go back to how you were before.

"babe! let's go."

it felt like stinging needles as you forced yourself to pull away from his dreadful eyes, tara watching you like a hawk as she let you say your last words.

"...i'll think i should go..."

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idk if i wanna finished this.

anyway

do not steal any of my work even tho they are trash!

date made: 29-31/05/24

[skynapple]

Budding Romance | Ch. 16

Love and Deepspace | Jeremiah x MC / slow-burn / friends-to-lovers | Themes: angst, guilt, fluff

warnings: none

Multi-chapter | A03 link

Beginning | <- Prev | Next ->

"Stalker" Tara wants to do some research.

Tara wasn't one for idleness. She enjoyed constant company, chatter, and  entertainment. Finding out her new best friend had a massive crush was a thrill that topped all the rest lately. Just what type of person was he? She determined in her mind to find out and learn more about him, just for safety sake. Although, her fellow huntress had conveniently refused to tell her the name of the flower shop. It took some investigation, but eventually she had narrowed it down to two options. The amount of male-owned floral shops were slim to none within an hour circumference.

Time to take a trip!

Early on a late-summer morning, she set out to hunt the man down. Her first stop was an ornate shop on the west side of Linkon, ‘the fancy district’ as she referred to it. Expensive florals swathed in brilliant silks and ornaments decorated the large place, known most greatly for its extravagant wedding arrangements. In short time, she had her answer. This was the wrong place -leaving one last location on her list, which was on the other side of town. The much smaller shop, “Philo,” had no website, no social media presence. It existed only as a blip in an old map and word-of-mouth.

Upon entering, she admired the florals and quaint aesthetic. To her shock, the man who appeared to greet her not the man her friend had described, but an all-too-familiar blonde headed, blue-eyed hunter, wearing a dark apron over casual clothes. 

“Oh! It's you!” She exclaimed, her cheery voice filling the whole shop.

For just a moment Tara wondered if somehow her thoughts were misplaced, now thinking, Does she actually have a crush on Xavier? Then she recalled the image she had been shown at their lunchtime exchange and shook off the thoughts.

"Xavier, is this your side job? Who knew!"

“Oh... no.” The man look a little awkwardly away, but smiled. It was different to see him not so 'standoffish' as people in the office liked to refer to him as. Though their fellow hunters regarded him highly, everyone knew how anti-social he was. “I'm just filling in for a friend today.” He finished.

“Really!! Oh, so is your friend the owner of this place? That’s cool! Where’s he at?”

He set the mister on a shelf and yawned. "He was tired today.”

She giggled. "Xavier, you're one to talk! You know your partner always tells me you pretty much sleep anywhere and everywhere, anytime you get!"

Before Xavier could respond to that, she gabbed on.

"So, are you getting paid? Must be nice! Oh my gosh, wait, she was right your eyelashes are totally blonde!"

"... What?"

Xavier shifted uncomfortably, hand reaching up to the back of his neck awkwardly. 

She couldn't read him really, just that he was awkward as usual. Once again, before he could say anything else, she interrupted any possibility of him getting a word in.

“Wait, can you help me then? I was going to get something here for our teammate, you-know-who. I was thinking something cute for her desk! Ah, your shared desk? Her side? I was thinking something small and pretty. Or maybe something large and elegant! Like a huge lily! Wait, should I wait for the owner to return? You wouldn't know would you? Do you know when he'll be back?"

Xavier couldn't take it. “Let me check the back and see if he's around…” He said, leaving in such haste he nearly knocked a large pot over.

While she waited, she shopped around, finally settling on what to get her colleague as an excuse to be in the shop. She has no idea what her friends’ crush could be up to. As her thoughts wondered, she heard a noise from the door leading to the back that startled her. Xavier emerged from behind the door, carrying the half limp form of another man. The sight made her gasp softly. Honey brown curls. That had to be him - and he was passed out.

"Oh no! Is that your friend? Is he ok? Is he drunk??"

"Can you get the door?"

Placement-wise, he was her superior and sort of a legend, she didn't bother to question him when given a command.

"Do you need help? Are you sure he doesn't need first aid?" She said. It secretly occurred to her to text her friend, but only after making sure the man was ok.

"Actually..." Xavier started, glancing behind him and adjusting the man's arm over his, then flinging his whole limp body over his shoulder. "Can you lock up? I need to take him home. I think his keys are..." He fished around the mans pocket with a free hand with some effort and handed it to her.

"O-Of course! But...if these are his keys, then how will you-?" 

"His spare. Sorry, I'll see you."

Tara felt the wind rush through her short strands and Xavier was gone with a flash of light and a gust of wind. Having received no other explanation, she was left alone, dumbfounded, with only instructions. She figured out how to switch the lighted "open" sign off, and fumbled through the sets of keys until finding the one that worked. It felt strange to hold a physical key, she wasn't sure if she'd actually ever used one before. It felt a little fun and retro.

When she was sure the door was secure, she picked up her mobile device and contacted her friend.

---

"Whathappened?" Her fellow huntress and best friend asked, sliding into the booth at the cafe they agreed to meet at. As Tara relayed the events of the morning, her hands rose to her mouth, a pensive expression as she sat incredulously.

There were many things she couldn't wrap her head around, from the fact that Tara went through the trouble of finding out where her crush worked, and then the fact that Xavier was there helping, and finally that Jeremiah was not in good condition.

"I don't know! At first Xavier said that the owner was out, and then that he was in the back, and then he didn't really say anything! He did not look good let me tell you. I'm kind of worried myself.”

It hadn't exactly been a good first impression, but she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. She thought if Xavier was handling it, then it should be fine. Although, it was her friend’s crush, and if she had an opportunity to find out more about him, even if it was information that might encourage her friend not to pursue him, then she figured it was better to let things happen that way. After all, her cards that morning had told her so.

Tara placed a rather old-fashioned-looking set of keys in front of them on the table they were seated at. Gingerly, her friend picked it up and ran a thumb over the leather strap holding the keys together. It had his name engraved on it.

"I'll make sure I get it to him. Thank you, Tara."

[empty-vessel-of-a-person]

Ok... So hear me out... Dr. Greyson did ask Zayne for advice because he has a crush on a hunter like M/C. But what if it's Tara? Oh em gee!!!!! I think they will look together... 🥰🥰🥰🥰