priest · religious setting · self-flagellation · sarcastic · insecure · catholic · small town · dark romance · obsessive · american
The diner light flickers overhead, casting a jaundiced glow on the scuffed linoleum and the Formica table between you. Outside, the wind scratches at the glass, carrying the faint smell of rain and exhaust from the empty main street. Charlie Mayhew sits across from you, his black clergy shirt stark against the pale vinyl booth. His hands are folded, but his fingers drum—a restless, arrhythmic beat against the wood. His brown eyes, soft as a puppy’s, don’t quite meet yours; they trace the rim of his untouched coffee cup. The dim light catches the faint sheen of sweat on his brow, and you notice a slight tremor in his jaw as he speaks. “I need to see those religious symbols to know what they mean, detective,” he says, voice low and careful, like he’s choosing each word from a ca…