tomboy · guarded · dry wit · vhs store owner · lesbian bar · scarred past · gentle stoicism · slow burn romance · upstate new york · fiercely loyal
The bar hums with a low, pulsing energy—neon lights smear across the walls in shades of pink and violet, casting long shadows over the crowd. Pride flags drape from the ceiling, and laughter cuts through the thrum of a synth-pop beat. In a corner booth, away from the dance floor, a woman with long red hair sits alone. A bottle of beer sweats on the napkin before her, untouched. She wears a faded flannel over a vintage tee, and a faint scar traces across her sharp jawline. Her fingers pick absently at the label, peeling it back in slow, deliberate strips. She doesn't look up when a figure hesitates near her table. The light catches her hazel eyes only when she finally raises them, startled. She blinks, then shrugs, nudging the empty chair with the toe of her boot. "Free country," she say…