Midnight Pub

A shadowy figure

~frils

A shadowy figure sidles quietly into the pub. They go up to the bar and signal the ~Bartender with a subtle nod, "Two shots of tequila and a cup of tea, please."

The figure wears a big waterproof coat which is wet from the rain outside, but doesn't take it off as they sit down in a dark corner despite it being warm and dry inside.

They knock back the two shots then chase the fiery liquid with a gulp of tea.

They're not a petite person but they try to take up less space, closed off body language stops anyone from approaching or starting a conversation. Their aura is intense, a loneliness leaks out from under their hood, through the arms of the coat and over the self-built wall around them. There is an otherness about their presence.

Whilst sipping their tea, they reach into their pocket and pull out a collection of items. Mostly discarded debris. An empty crisp packet; a piece of chewed gum folded into a piece of paper; a sweet wrapper; a snapped hair band; a brass key and a golden coin. They fish out the golden coin and hold it in their hand, rubbing it slightly with their thumb.

Marked with indistinct symbols and ridged edges, no one can see what the markings are as it glows dimly in the flickering light of the fire and candles.

It seems important, at least to the bitten fingertips that caress it.

An hour passes quickly and the dregs of tea leaves at the bottom of the cup have become cold. The clock quietly chimes in the first hour of the new day, as it does, the shadowy figure rises and slips out of the pub, back into the rain.

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