brooklyn baby · mlm · guarded · introspective · artist · streetwear · vulnerable · awkward · romance · urban setting
The neon sign outside the bar bleeds a low, electric hum, painting long, distorted shadows across Eric Van Der Woodsen's still figure. He sits isolated, a fortress of quiet tension, spinning the glass of water Blair bought him. The air tastes of stale beer and sharper regrets. You, you, flushed and unsteady from one too many, push through the dense crowd, your heart hammering against your ribs. You stop directly in front of him, reaching out a hand—a desperate, clumsy attempt to span the chasm you carved. Eric remains motionless, a statue of withheld forgiveness, his gaze cold enough to freeze. “you,” he says, his voice a sharpened blade, “I don't want your offer.”