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cloveroctobers · 1 year ago

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OCTOBER PROMPTS 🦇— 7. Carmy

A/N: This was a little quick write! Reader is given a name since I didn’t want to write in second POV and I’m all here for writing characters that do just a little too much but have a big heart and good intentions 😬 + looks like I’ll be continuing these through November as well before I take a break!

PROMPT can be found here and I’m using: “should I be worried that you know how to replicate fake blood well? I probably should be, right?”

WARNINGS: Language!!! some spooky eatery/themes, Syd being the main one with a weak stomach this time around + toxic workplace & a core four being formed?

*GIF BELONGS TO: @emziess

<- please read my slept on previous anthology october prompt here.

˚₊‧꒰ა ⛥ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚₊‧꒰ა ⛥ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚₊‧꒰ა ⛥ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚₊‧꒰ა ⛥ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

“Jeff, finally you’re here!” Tina rushes up to Carmy as he enters the bear for the first time today.

Carmy dips his head, “Hey Chef, Tina. Good to see you.” He replies back, slowly walking with her as he glances at a few workers who are wiping down the furniture for the upcoming customers.

“‘ppreciate you, Jeff. But you probably won’t be saying the same thing to the rest when we get to the back.” Tina informs, which makes Carmy furrow his brows a bit, stopping at the back doors.

“Something happen?”

“Well…” Tina rocks on her toes, “it all depends really but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Which doesn’t settle the feeling in Carmy’s stomach as he pushes the doors forward. Far as he can tell everything looks normal as he continues through the kitchen, the chef’s are all in the right place prepping for opening time. That’s until he spots Sydney first, twisting her bottom lip as she faces Marcus’ station.

“Okay…and exactly what do you think the appeal is…” carmy hears Sydney speaking and it’s a solid chance that she’s talking to Marcus but the closer he gets, he sees a very familiar face covered in Carmy doesn’t even know what.

She’s standing there in all her 5’9 glory sporting her own vegetable printed apron, hands resting comfortably down on the table as she’s talking but Carmy’s just trying to wrap his head around what she’s even doing here. His eyes scan over her head, which is now completely buzzed and this look? she wears well with the fresh cut showing better angles of her high cheekbones.

He steps up closer to Sydney yet he feels his foot slide against some sort of red liquid? He’s scrambling latching onto a near by table while Sydney tries to hold a hand out to a flailing carmy who manages to catch himself all on his own.

“Yo you good, Carmy?” Marcus calls out while Carmy just exhales, looking down at the floor and now he damp sneaker.

He gives a forced thumbs up and exhales, knowing he hears certain snickers from behind him, further adding to the embarrassment. Finding a way to brush it off, he straightens the back bag on his shoulder and stands up straight to peer at the awaiting faces.

“Just the guy I was waiting for!” The buzzed woman claps her hands together.

“Why is there blood in the walkthrough? Someone’s gonna break their neck like I just almost did.” His eyes shifts from Sydney and Marcus while Tina silently throws her hands up and carefully tiptoes back and away but not far enough to miss out on the drama.

Sydney sighs, “you can thank Venna for that. Sugar let her in earlier to let Venna’s inspiration flow.”

Carmy blinks, “okay…? Wha—what exactly does that mean?”

“It means that I’m gonna bring in more customers for you during this fall season, you’re welcome!” Venna speaks but Carmy was still confused, “why don’t you step on up to the show, carmen? You won’t want to miss it.”

Carmy’s eyes flick to Sydney’s but she just holds her hands out for Carmy to do as Venna asks. He can’t read exactly what Sydney was saying but he could tell that he wasn’t sure why Venna needed to let her inspiration release here a couple hours before opening time?

“Watch your step though,” Marcus warns Carmy and he does, making his way carefully over.

His bright eyes are scanning over the…peculiar dishes that cover Marcus’s station. Carmy picks up the closest thing to him and holds up the shot glass that appears to be as if something is floating in the liquid with blood swirling right at the bottom.

“What is this?” Carmy can’t help but to feel his nose scrunch up because it doesn’t look appetizing at all.

Venna beams, “that there my dear chef is what you’ll serve from the bar up front. A shot of brain hemorrhage basically and you can call it: Richie’s brain.”

Sydney snickers at that, now standing beside Carmy, “that’s good, totally love the name but it looks gross.”

“That’s the point! It’s supposed to mimic the medical condition of brain damage. It’s simple work that your bartenders can whip up in no time: apple schnapps, Irish cream, and finish off with Grenadine which imitates blood while the Irish cream is Richie’s brain matter.” Venna explains to Carmy who grasps what she was getting at.

Carmy nods his head, “Ah okay so all of this is for Halloween?”

“Yes! Limited edition items, I mean you’re going to be open this whole season and Halloween lovers are definitely going to want to try these new dishes so…why not send some ideas your way?” Venna says.

Marcus adds, “I have to say it’s kinda a cool concept. Nothing wrong with a little switch up right?”

Carmy looks at Sydney who holds his stare, the both of them trying to get a read on each other. Carmy was usually more open to change whereas Sydney liked to discuss it first then analyze all the ways it can go wrong then right. At least she could blame Sugar for not sending a text their way first but Venna was here—without culinary experience—coming up with ideas they weren’t even thinking about two weeks into October.

“I know presentation is a thing or whatever when it comes to dishes but with Halloween, it can pass as disturbing no?” Venna questions while Carmy shrugs.

He tosses his head back and swallows the shot, popping his tongue afterwards while Sydney tries her hardest not to gag. The drink was fruity yet distinctive which paired well with the balance of caramel and whiskey along with the tart yet sweetness of the syrup. It was a mixture of this and that flavor wise but it worked. “That’s solid Ven but i wish you would have picked a better time to dump this on us.”

“There is no better time than the present! And you don’t even answer your texts so why bother?” Venna says earning double nods from both Sydney and Marcus as she continued, “I’m here now and I know time management is big so I’ve got two more things I want to show you and Syd if you let me?”

Carmy shares another look with Sydney who peeks at the clock on the wall behind them and then nods. Venna grins at them and waves them further into Marcus’ section.

“Aren’t you uh supposed to still be in London?” Carmy wonders while he and Syd pack in with Ven and Marcus.

Ven lifts her shoulders, “I got fired! So anyways the next one that could be a good option is—

“Huh?” Marcus interjected.

Sydney rapidly blinked, “wait what? What do you mean you got fired? Everything was going so well the last time we spoke to you?”

Venna was a talented SFX artist that gained a huge position for a horror major motion picture that was filming in London. She left six months ago and from what they all heard was it was the biggest joy she could add to her resume.

What changed?

“Hmm how do I narrow this shit down? Uh creative differences? Microagressions and sexual harassment. Okay! Moving on chefs.”

“No, hold up? That’s not something you can just slide pass.” Marcus is frowning, eyes briefly meeting Sydney and Carmy’s who were also not pleased hearing this.

Sydney adds, “yeah, I mean that sounds like a whole lot Ven.”

“It was! Which is why I’m back here in Chicago’s atmosphere trying to manipulate my brain to not be depressed…it could work if you guys just let me tell you what else I’ve got up my sleeve.”

Marcus and Sydney both stare at Carmy who’s rubbing at his face in frustration. It’s not like anyone here in the kitchen was open to talking about their feelings like that—well maybe except for Sugar and Fak but Venna was still part of this family regardless if she had a degree or background experience in culinary.

“Ven, can I talk to you for a second?”

Venna’s shoulders almost arch up at Carmy’s assertion, “I thought you and Syd said you were pressed for time since this is prep or whatever.”

“This’ll just take a second, promise.” Carmy peers over his shoulder at the buzzed hair woman, arm held out in the air to wave her through.

Venna let’s out a deep exhale and forces out a smile before she glances at Sydney and Marcus, “don’t you two dare sample my shit while I’m not here to witness it.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Syd’s response is sarcastic while Marcus just chuckles, ready to poke at a questionable dish—again.

Venna leads the way to the freezer, where Carmy leans his shoulder against it, lightly holding onto the strap of his bag to look at Venna who is looking everywhere around the kitchen but at the messy haired chef beside her.

“Hey,” he starts, “I’m not gonna be in your business unless you show me that I have to be but…we’re cool right?”

“What do you mean, Carm?” Venna blinks, turning to face him.

Carmy says, “what I’m getting at is…you kept this from us, why? How long have you been back?”

“Um…a week? Or Three? I really lost track after my fourth chi dog but time is illusion isn’t it?” She snorts, lightly punching the blue eyed man in the shoulder.

Carmy rubs at his brow, “sure, whatever. But that shit you just mentioned isn’t something I want to take lightly so if you’re really feeling a way—

“Oh, I get what’s happening.” Venna taps her forehead, “You just want to check in and I love you for that but we don’t have to do this right now. Maybe later? Maybe never. The situation was not what I expected and it sucked…really sucked but I’m not gonna trauma dump on anybody. I just want to celebrate Halloween with you guys, that’s all dude, I promise.” She waves her fingers around as if she’s conjuring up a spell.

And carmy took the time to really study Venna. The last time he saw her, she looked lighter as if her aura or something was sunset orange as she was full of excitement to take on this big opportunity. Fuck, Carmy was starting to sound like Nat! Carmy was happy for Venna because he knew she had a gift to share and cared about art in a way that was deemed as, “weird,” by the turds in school, however Carmy never minded sitting beside or near in all those art classes.

“Okay,” Carmy started interlocking her raised hands with his to give Venna’s a squeeze while he held her stare, “just know I’m always around.”

“Yeah yeah, so am I, babe.” Venna winks.

Richie walks by the pair then, smelling of smoke, “are you two fucks gonna play ring around the rosy all day or are you’s gonna get to work? Nice of you to show up by the way, Carmy.”

“Eat a dick, Richard.”

“Shut the fuck up, cousin!”

Richie snorts at the expected reply from the two, just waiting to see the embarrassment on Carmy’s face more than anything. He carries on, squeezing Tina’s shoulders who swats him away with a smile, while then whispering something to Sydney who looks away from Marcus to peek at the two, eyebrow raised while tapping on her wrist.

Carmy dips his head and turns back to Venna, eyes scanning over her much shorter hair briefly before meeting her eyes, “ready to show me what you got?”

“Hey now, hey now. This is what dreams are made of,” Venna sings to Carmy who immediately rolls his eyes as she claps in his face, “hey, hey!”

Carmy latches onto the side of Venna’s buzzed head to place a quick peck to her forehead, “can’t believe I walked right into that one, don’t ever change on me, okay?”

“Never! I’m more sweet than asshole, despite my new look that almost gave my dad a heart attack.” Venna sasses as she shakes Carmy by the shoulders.

Carmy snorts, “oh I definitely want to hear how that went down later,” as they begin walking back to Marcus’ station.

Venna’s father was a pilot, which was inspiring considering all the trouble he got into before growing into the man he is today. He was a single father who raised Venna all on his own after his wife went missing in her native land of Hawaii back when Venna was fourteen. She unfortunately became known in the city because of that tragedy which made high school more of a living hell than it already was. Nonetheless her father did the best that he could (with the help of his own mom from time to time) and Venna often joked that it was hard work raising the man.

The tatted woman certainly didn’t make it easy for him, getting into her own share of trouble but her paternal grandmother? Told him he was getting it all back from his own teenage bad ass years. Which is true, sometimes it’s inevitable the way the circle goes round.

Venna was always getting into something and she had no issue going at it with her dad to stand her ground. Carmy and her were alike in that kind of way, when you share aspirations or ideas and get dismissed or a lack of response? They’re gonna try their damn hardest to show that they’re capable regardless if there were opinions or there lack of.

“Did I hear you singing Lizzie McGuire?” Sydney questions while Venna smirks at her, squeezing in between her and Marcus once more.

“Uh huh, Carmy Carm had a thing for Hilary Duff back in the day.” Venna rests her hands back on the table, glancing at the remaining dishes.

“No way,” Marcus grinned, “I was more of a Miranda guy.”

Carmy dipped his head, “I can see that.”

“No shame in my game,” Marcus laughed while Sydney rolled her eyes peeking at Carmy.

Carmy blinked and held his head back staring at the ceiling, “what’s up, Syd?”

“Nothing.” Sydney bit back a smile.

“Well I don’t believe that.” Carmy rests his hands flat on the table.

Sydney holds her hands out beside her, “that’s okay, believe whatever makes you feel better.”

“Why does this feel like you’re judging me?”

“Uh oh, see what you started?” Marcus whispers to Venna who shushes the beanie wearing twenty-nine year old.

“Let mom and dad hash it out.”

“Shit stirrer,” Marcus coughs while Venna playfully elbows him.

Sydney says, “just never saw you going for blondes. Guess I also don’t really know your type but—

“What are you talking about? She was a fictional character, Syd.”

“I mean celeb crushes still have some sort of relation into what you look for in a person, no?” Sydney is frowning a bit as she’s looking off to the side in thought.

Carmy huffs, “who’s your celeb crush?”

“I uh don’t know?” Sydney is fidgeting on her feet now.

“I remember, didn’t you say Steve Harvey that one time when we were drinking over that card game at Venna’s?” Marcus asks, making Syd choke on her saliva.

“What the hell?! I never said that.”

“Now why am I in it?” Venna mutters while Carmy sends her a raised eyebrow for clarification.

“You fucking started this!” Carmy points.

Venna places her ring covered fingers against her chest, “all I did was sing a damn song?”

“Steve Harvey? Ew!” Sydney shudders, “he’s older than my dad…why would you ever think I said that?”

“I don’t know…I could have sworn it was you? Or was it Chester? Shit, don’t take my word for it then.” Marcus scratches at the back of his head, suddenly second guessing himself, while Sydney looks as if she’s ready to wrap her hands around the man’s throat.

Venna sighs, “don’t knock it until you try it…can’t say the oldest I’ve dated was in his 60’s but the last one I was with was truly a standup guy. Maybe I should have picked up his last call.”

When the area suddenly gets quiet, Venna widens her eyes as all the pair’s of eyes settle in on her.

“Did I say that out loud?

“Yeah you did!” Marcus exclaims, “let us find out you’re living a secret life we don’t know about.”

“Is there something you want to share with the rest of the class?” Sydney has her hands digging into her hips now, surprise written all over her face.

Carmy is pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. “Clearly we have a lot to catch up on.”

“There’s time for that later,” Venna fans her hand, “let’s get into this beauty right here! I call it, ‘The smashed Spider!’” She models the interesting pasta dish.

It’s off putting for sure but looks can be deceiving just like, “Richie’s brain hemorrhage,” or whatever Venna named the dish. When she places it back to the center of the table, she plucks up three forks to hand to the chef’s.

She stands up straight and folds her hands behind her back, “I’ve always wanted to say this: Chef’s what I prepared for you today is a creamy Pumpkin Cauliflower Alfredo, garnished on top of the sauce is my most hated vegetable: peas! Please enjoy.”

Marcus doesn’t hesitate as he twirls the black rice pasta noddles up onto the fork while Carmy and Syd use spoons to assist the fork. Venna notices Syd giving a silent prayer while holding her stomach before placing the utensil into her mouth.

“I don’t know how you came up with this,” Marcus swallowed the food, “but call me impressed and I mess heavily with cauliflower.”

“Thank you, chef.”

“You’re welcome, Makeup Chef.” Marcus winks at Venna who smiles sweetly at him.

When she turns back to get Carmy and Sydney’s intake, they’re doing the thing where they’re peering into each other’s eyes and communicating telepathically, Venna guesses.

“So…” Venna pressed.

“How long did this take you?” Carmy asks going in for another bite while Sydney is still chewing, savoring.

Venna replies, “Prep is about thirty minutes and cooking is about another round. So not long.”

Sydney glances over at Venna, “I’m proud of you for making this actually taste better than it appears.”

“Thanks for your faith in me.”

“Anytime.” Sydney laughs, “I think we can do something with this. We can use activated charcoal or stick with the squid ink.”

“And we can offer two different options: with pumpkin cream or regular depending on the fall loving person’s perspective. This is fresh and a brilliant idea, Venny.” Carmy compliments Venna who waves her hand about before bowing.

“Thank you, thank you! I’ll be here all season.”

Sydney is scribbling down in her mini journal now, nodding her head along with a small smile on her face, suddenly excited with this idea and how they can tweak it and transform it at some point. She’ll ask Venna more questions at a later date but Sydney knew they were still pressed for time.

Which Venna wasn’t the best at, really.

“That’s two out of three stars for me!” Venna poses before nodding over at the last option, “now hold onto your knives, chefs! I’m about to really scalp you with these final idea!”

Which made a smile twitch onto the corner of Carmy’s lips as he watched Venna get further animated.

[1 week before Halloween…]

“C’mon Carmy Carm, please!” Venna followed carmy around his apartment.

He knew he shouldn’t have let her in the front door. Now he was stuck in this mess, with her pleading with him as he attempted to clean up his place a little. Sydney and Marcus were also coming over to meet up before they had a night on the town together. It was shocking to them both that Carmy even considered going out with them but Venna managed to bribe or bully him with news of fall themed snacks at this festival uptown.

“Quit your whining already, I’m not getting dressed up and even if I wanted to—which I don’t, I have no costume!” Carmy hissed as he snatched up a pair of jeans to fold and place right back into the stove.

Venna tisked, “and you say I have bad timing? It’s no big deal, that’s what you have me for right? A very skilled individual. Just let me touch your face.”

Carmy grips the roots of his greasy hair, “only if talk to me nice.”

“I’ve been doing that since I walked through the door.”

“You called me a beautiful bastard.”

“I did say I love you after that right?”

“That’s because you want to touch my face! And I don’t want to be sitting here for hours when we have someplace to be.” Carmy exasperates.

Venna pokes her hips out in her black cargo jeans, “don’t underestimate me, baby. I’ll have you ready in less than thirty minutes because you have the best canvas for me to work on and if you say no two more times…I may act out my best version of being a scream queen. I’ve been practicing you know?”

Carmy seethes, “fine.”

“I get your approval?”

“I said fine didn’t I?!”

“Oh Candy Carm, I promise you you’ll find a way to love it.” Venna grips Carmy’s face as her brown eyes study every detail of his face, from the small scars on his skin, the moles, the slope of his straight but pointed nose, his hooded but bulging undereye glacier blue eyes, “but first…we’re gonna wash this hair right quick.”

Carmy scowls, “I just said I didn’t want to be here any longer?”

“Patience is a…”

“Virtue,” Carmy finishes with a groan as he gently moves to rest his forehead against Venna’s shoulder.

Sooner than later, Venna is working on Carmy’s face just as her phone plays the theme song of The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy?

“should I be worried that you know how to replicate fake blood well? I probably should be, right?” Carmy asks as Venna continues working on his face.

She carried her “special ingredients,” on her but the minute she tried to incorporate onion to replicate scabs, Carmy was not having that.

“Sorry but I actually want to smell good tonight.”

“For whom may I ask?”

“No you may not, so shut your trap.”

Venna smirked but kept at it, “no need to be worried about my craft when I’m never worried being a taste taster with your new dishes. We trust the process and each other don’t we?”

Before carmy can respond, she reaches back to put her phone on speaker without breaking eye contact from the blue eyed man’s skin, “Venna speaking.”

“Hey! We’re making our way up to Carmy’s place now. He’s not answering his phone.” Sydney informs.

“Cool,” Venna replied, “he’s busy being tortured by me right now so sorry about that.”

“…I don’t even know how to respond to that.”

“You’ll see. Tata!” Venna bids her farewell, hanging up the phone and does a few last minute touches to the gash traveling from the corner of Carmy’s lips and upwards along his cheek.

Venna sniffs and wipes away a faux tear, “damn I’m so talented.”

“Let me see.”

Then there’s a knock at the door that gets Carmy to stop scrambling for the camera on Venna’s phone. She shoves him away and dips her head, silently saying for him to get that while she gets ready to record.

“Whoa! What did you do?!” Marcus hollers in the hallway while Carmy glances back at Venna who’s all smiles behind the camera.

It’s Sydney and Marcus’ turn to analyze Carmy who isn’t feeling this attention so he rapidly waves them in before shoving the door closed.

“You guys aren’t really dressed…up?” Carmy pauses as he eyes the brown bald cap that’s covering Sydney’s head and the crooked mustache above her lips, “I’m so glad I didn’t let Venna talk me into it.”

Marcus tips his cowboy hat as he attempts to put on a western accent, “dressed up enough though, partner. I just hope you let us actually dress up for the dang holiday.”

“That’s still up for debate.” Carmy slowly says while Sydney presses her fingertips to her lips, “you okay, Syd?”

Sydney swallows the lump in her throat, “no yeah, I’m chilling! It’s just that blood looks so real.”

Carmy looks at Venna as she steps on up to the group, lightly shaking his head at her for causing this reaction from Sydney. She nods her head signaling, “go on, have at it and try not to out scream me.”

“Wait he hasn’t even see it yet?” Sydney wiggles her nose, “also who are you supposed to be?”

Venna holds up a finger as she back steps and goes over to the item next to her bag to place the green eye shades over her eyes, “I couldn’t get my starfire green contacts in earlier so this’ll do. I’m buttercup but resurrected.”

“Ohhhh,” Sydney nods, “I was a blossom girl all the way. I would have never guessed.”

“That’s because y’all lack to see the vision sometimes,” Marcus comments, “But did you really have to kill buttercup, Ven?”

“Duh it’s my vibe. Always in my heart though.” Venna pounds her chest and throws up a peace sign towards the sky while Marcus blows on his makeshift gun.

Sydney widens her eyes at this and let’s out a laugh at this whole childish ordeal but she’s glad she gets to call these two her friends.

When Carmy returns back through the walkway, Venna’s phone is away now as she lifts her head to witness his reaction.

“This uh looks fucking insane but I’m more amazed by your work every time.” Carmy strongly claims making Venna claps her hands together and bring them up underneath her chin.

“Yay! You like it?”

“You legit made me look like I got sliced.”

“By richie?” Marcus teased.

“Nope that’s Syd’s job,” Venna pointed making Sydney playfully shield her face.

“I’m amazed by you.” Carmy says first looking at Venna who looks as if she’s about to get emotional before he drifts his stare to Sydney and Marcus, “All of you and I know I don’t say it enough because I’m a shitty little bitch sometimes but really…you guys put in the effort and I’m honored see all that you do.”

Marcus pats his chest showing that it was all love before nudging Sydney who seems as if she’s at a lost for words. Seeing carmy being vulnerable in this way was new.

“Well thanks, Carmy. You’re not so bad too, half of the time anyways.” Sydney awkwardly voices as she lets out a laugh followed by the rest.

Venna pressed her knuckle into the corner of her eye and waves them all forward after shoving her bag onto her shoulder, “bring the love in you whores.”

“Ah,” Carmy jumps back, “I don’t want you ruining the work you just did.”

The three meet each other’s eyes.

“Were you taking selfies in the bathroom or something because it’s alright if you were,” Marcus is grinning as he grips Carmy’s shoulder who scoffs while Venna and Sydney share a side squeeze.

“Let’s go!” Sydney announces to the men as Venna opens the door still holding onto her.

Carmy waves Marcus towards the door, patting himself to make sure he had his keys before he followed him out.

“C’mon man, was it a mirror selfie or a regular one? And who received the fire pics? I know they had to be. Instagram? Twitter? Facebook? I know you got a Facebook,” Marcus chats while Carmy feels a smile breaking onto his lips as he keeps this mystery to himself.

He guesses this is what it feels like to have friends, something he never thought he needed.

Maybe he was wrong after all.

˚₊‧꒰ა ⛥ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚₊‧꒰ა ⛥ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚₊‧꒰ა ⛥ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚₊‧꒰ა ⛥ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

Continue along with my October anthology prompts here.

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