#it's almost time for neris week brainrot

[andrigyn]

❄️

1920s Neris mafia AU just for you <3

Nesta traced a circle on the dark, shiny surface of the counter with her index finger. It was impossible to ignore the feeling of the man’s intense stare, although she wished to avoid eye contact. He was handsome. In her initial assessment, she observed an angular and defined bone structure. His eyes were large, with russet irises framed by thick eyelashes. The man’s hair was an eye-catching shade of red, and he was well dressed. The suit he wore was dark grey, and tailored to fit his lean frame. Nesta’s eye was drawn also to the expensive looking watch that adorned his wrist. 

“We could leave right now, you and I, for the right price,” Nesta said, barely choking out those dangerous words. There was no going back now, she had really done it. Whether or not she wished him to say yes, she couldn’t be certain. 

He only laughed in reply. What started off as a low chuckle progressed until he became borderline hysterical. Nesta’s face twisted into a scowl as he sat there, mocking her. “Now you’ve offended me. What makes you think I need to pay for the company of women?” he asked. 

“I can’t say for sure, you just have that look about you,” Nesta quipped. Her insult caused his face to fall for a moment, which was enough to keep her going, “Don’t be ashamed, there are advantages to paid company, as you well know, but I won’t waste my time, or yours detailing the merits.” Nesta rose from her seat, well aware of the fact that her cheeks were now beet red. This type of rejection stung. In fact, it made her feel so low that the idea of whoring herself out like this began to disgust her. An empty stomach couldn’t bother her anymore now that this place stunk of failure. In the morning, Nesta would report to the school and plead with the principal for her job back. 

“Sit back down, we aren’t finished yet.” His tone was teasing at first, but by then it became firm. It carried with it the type of authority that most would obey instinctually, but Nesta wouldn’t give in. 

“As much as I’d love to stay and chat, my time is valuable.” What a lie that was. 

The man reached into his pocket, and pulled out some money. He then reached for her gloved hand and put the bill inside, closing her fingers into a fist. Nesta quickly unfurled them and to her shock it was a fifty dollar bill. She quickly shoved it into her pocket, not wanting anyone else to see it, and decide to try their luck at robbing her. 

“Now, sit back down and humor me for a minute.” 

She sat. 

“I’ve never even seen you here before,” he said with a genuine curiosity. 

“What does it matter?” Nesta snapped. She could have explained that it was Emerie who told her of this place, that even though she seldom reached for the bottle, it was worth the risk to her livelihood to unwind every now and again. Perhaps the stranger would have recognized her pretty dark eyes and neatly cropped hair. Perhaps he would have said yes to her. 

“It matters because I don’t think you belong here.” He took a long sip of his drink. “You’re letting that go to waste.” The man gestured towards Nesta’s untouched drink. 

She raised the glass to her lips, and let the liquid burn as it slid down her throat. “How would you know anything about me, or where I belong?” 

“You can learn a lot about a person before they ever open their mouth. Your eyes keep darting about the room, and you’ve hardly looked at me directly for more than a few seconds at a time. You are constantly in motion, like how right now you’re tapping your fingers against the counter. That’s a clear sign of nervousness.” 

Nesta’s hand froze, and she laid it down flat. 

“Your dress is awfully long for a call girl, and once you started talking, I could tell you were well educated, intelligent perhaps, but not streetwise,” he explained.