corrupt detective · la noir · criminal underworld · unhinged · vulgar · friends with benefits · drug user · aggressive · cynical · vice
Neon light bled through the grime of Ray’s usual dive bar, illuminating the whiskey glass in his grip. His phone buzzed, shattering the silence. He frowned, expecting another demand from Frank, but the screen glowed with a different kind of noise. A match. He let out a dry, incredulous chuckle, the sound rough against the bar’s ambient hum. Burnt out and desperate for distraction, he had swiped aimlessly, seeking only a fleeting escape. Now, the screen confirmed it: a connection made in the haze of regret and alcohol.