dearmargots

[dearmargots]

margot didn’t usually go to the bar alone, but tonight was an exception. her roommate had called earlier, telling her about karaoke night and how they absolutely had to go. and as per usual, they turned out to be terribly late. so now there she was, sitting at the bar with a half empty cup of gin, patiently waiting for them to arrive.

she was halfway through another drink when someone called her name. margot turned a little bit startled, but immediately lit up at the sight of lori. “hey!” she called back, “i’m mostly here for the drinks and the people-watching, honestly. i wouldn’t dare go up there,” she added with a quiet laugh as she tucked her hair behind her ear, she didn't usually sing and margot knew her own limitations so staying with the crowd was deffinetly a good decision, “but you were amazing, really. i didn’t know you could sing like that.”

Closed starter for Margot Goretti ( @dearmargots ) Location: Breaking Glass Bar, Karaoke Night

Lori would never consider herself a singer. Sure, she'd been a part of her church choir as a child but so did nearly every kid in her congregation at that age and she still sings along to her favorite songs on the radio but it wasn't something she actively did even if she was told she had a nice singing voice. She didn't even intend to sing tonight but after a couple of drinks in her system the group of friends she'd come out with, her girlfriend included in the mix, had encouraged her to get up there and sing something. Lori had been tentative when she approached the karaoke machine. She had to follow up after a particularly passionate rendition of Every Rose Has Its Thorn by Poison and had decided to sing Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper.

Lori finished the song and felt like a great weight had been lifted off her now that she was no longer the center of attention in the room by the people actually paying attention to the karaoke happening. Instead of returning back to her friends immediately Lori made a beeline for the bar. She felt she deserved another drink after getting up and singing. Lori got in the short line to get a drink when she spotted a familiar redhead in line. "Margot!" Lori called before she stepped out of place in line to approach the woman at the bar. Lori didn't work today so she didn't know that Margot was planning on going out tonight as well. "Hey," she greeted her more properly with a warm smile. "I didn't know you liked karaoke," she stated. "How are you?"

[dearmargots]

“you sure?” margot asks, glancing over as they finish wiping down the last corner of the counter. her voice a bit hesitant, some might say she was nervous but she'd try to deny that. her magic had been a bit unstable, sure, margot had been hiding it for so long now that it was starting to show in the worst ways possible, but she's been trying to avoid that problem just like everything else in her life, “i mean, i’d love that. just… something small?” she pauses, then offers a small smile. “i don’t know if i’m ready for the big stuff yet.”

Location: The Ceramic Cup (close to closing) Starter for @dearmargots

"You know, I have a little time today if you want to practice," Eve told Margot as they finished cleaning up the counter. They were happy when they made time to open and close, to help make sure everything was ready for the next day. They enjoyed it even more when they got the chance to connect with their employees and see how they were experiencing the day to day. They had taken a certain interest in Margot when they had come to realize she was a witch. "My house is empty, the cafe is closed, I'm not exactly eager to go home and eat dinner by myself." Which was sort of a lie because Eve loved being alone. And either way, Amory was always with them. "Up to you, we can start simple. Start with whatever you're curious about. Up to you."

[dearmargots]

margot tilted her head slightly at his answer, a small smile plastered on her face. “every day being long… yeah. i get that,” she really did, a bit too much actually.

she gestured toward the pastry case with a slight nod. “you’re in luck. there’s one cinnamon roll left. it’s either that or a cranberry muffin that has been sitting there since opening.”

turning back toward the counter, she grabbed a napkin and a small paper bag, her hands moving with practiced ease. “welcome to cardinal hill. i’m margot,” she said over her shoulder, “you adjusting okay?”

Vale wasn't paying attention to the time, but the truth was that he probably would have come in anyway. Back in Seattle, where there were coffee shops everywhere, many of them stayed open 24 hours, or at least later into the night than this. You're not in Seattle anymore, Vale thought, and he knew he needed to get used to that. "I'm sorry," Vale said, pausing at the door to look at the sign with the shop hours on it. "I had no idea." Though he was about to leave, the other didn't seem like she wanted him to, so Vale stepped into the shop, the door closing behind him. "Is it a long day if everyday is long?" Vale asked, laughing humorlessly because that was just so true. Everyday - everything - felt exhausting to him, though some days were worse than others, like today.

"I won't keep you or have you make me a drink," Vale promised. Now that he knew they were closing soon, Vale figured the coffee makers were all probably cleaned. "Do you have any pastry left though. I could really use some sugar." As he stood there, Vale thought about how he knew all the baristas at his favorite coffee shop back in Seattle, and it made him miss the easy dynamic he had with them. So he introduced himself, saying, "I'm Vale. I just moved here."

[dearmargots]

margot let out a quiet breath, the corners of her mouth opening the smallest smile as she turned back toward the shelves behind the counter. “just the usual long day. customers and… stuff.” she said it quietly, deliberately vague, attempting the kind of brush off that left no room for a follow up question, but not in a rude way.

she reached for the kettle and started heating up the water. “there’s black tea and chamomile left,” she added looking over her shoulder. “i’d offer peppermint, but someone cleaned us out already.”

margot paused, turning to face yasmina “chamomile’s better if you’re trying to shut your brain off.”

Yasmina sighed in relief. From what they could pick up, Margot was neither annoyed nor secretly wanting them to leave. The initial surge of energy died down a bit so that it matched hers better as the witch paced in, arms crossing, holding their small bag to their side. "Oh, god. What's happened to you today?" Concern immediately flitted across their features, replacing the previous insecurities, before they waved their hand. "No coffee, nooo. I'd decline anyways, I'm wired as usual. But tea sounds good. Very good. I'm worn thin." And they would be keeping it secret that, in fact, they hoped for coffee. There were worse things in life to be denied.

"It's definitely one of those days where something warm feels like it would fix me, despite it not being, like, that cold outside," mused they. Springtime clung to the trees, the blooms slow to muster their own petals to be unrolled, but winter was leaving Cardinal Hill behind, and not any time too soon.

[dearmargots]

“mhm,” margot hummed, slowly turning back to the espresso machine, “you don’t look like the kind of person who’d be a bother.”

she said it jokingly, but there was some truth in it, something about his apology felt honest, not just polite.

“you can stay,” she added after a moment, already reaching for a cup, as she glanced over her shoulder "coffee or tea?”

Maybe he should go home, his shift had eneded and he needed some sleep, but,Julian had a ritual of getting a hot drink before heading home, he didn't realize, however how late it was before he make it to the café. Once he's inside, though he notices the darkness and frowns a little, as the voice comes, he nods, "Right, I'm so sorry, I lost track of time, I won't be a bother, bet you wanna get home too," Julian smiles, getting ready to leave, the last thing he wants is to make the girl stay longer, just because of him. "Yup, like you wouldn't imagine. Kinda why in my head is still 3pm"

[dearmargots]

the apology made her expression soften.

she didn’t move from behind the counter right away, just watched as he took a few steps back. tired people could spot each other, even in the dark, and margot didn’t want to be the kind of person that would deny a cup of coffee to someone who clearly needed some.

“it’s fine,” her voice was quiet, “i haven’t finished locking up yet. if all you need is a drink, i’ve got time.”

margot glanced toward the machine behind her, then back at him. her smile was small, the kind you could barely notice, “what can i get you?”

It had been a very busy day at the grocery store bakery with Mother's Day coming up so soon. There had been lots of baking, and lots of customer service as he filled orders for sweet breads, donuts, cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and more along with the general repertoire of baked goods offered daily. Normally, Andy worked from early morning until mid-afternoon, but today, he'd been needed for a double shift. He hadn't even noticed how late it had gotten as he walked into the coffee shop for something to drink on his way home. Andy was so tired and in his thoughts, that he hadn't even looked at whether or not the sign had been flipped to closed, until the barista spoke up. "Oh! Oh, no, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize the time, for some reason I thought it was earlier. I'll come back another time!" he said apologetically, already taking a few steps back. The last thing he wanted was for someone else to be held up by him tonight! When she asked if he'd had a long day, he smiled. "Yeah, it was pretty long today." The tiredness was audible in his voice as he spoke.

[dearmargots]

margot watched them with a some sort of patience, like she hadn’t decided whether she wanted yasmina to leave or to help her. she was tired, yes, but not cruel. especially not to someone who looked and sounded, just as tired as margot was.

“you’re fine,” she said calmly, her voice softer than the tired expression still lingering on her face. “you’re not the worst thing that’s happened to me today.”

she glanced toward the machines, already wiped down and turned off, then back to yasmina. “there’s no more coffee,” she offered, “but i can make you some tea, if you’d like.”

she didn’t move right away, still waiting for the answer. “you look like you could use something warm.”

Time ticked away, no matter how adept the witch became at managing it. They thus quickened their step, holding their plaid shoulder bag against their waist, gritting their teeth. Their last client could not decide what the heck kind of design she was in the mood for, which had led to the entire appointment except the last five minutes being that discussion. It also involved gossip, but that was neither here nor there. What was there: Yasmina had missed getting off on time, which meant the personal ritual of their coffee after work was going all wrong. Their Mary Janes smacked into the door of the Ceramic Cup as they nearly burst it open.

The bells jangled and then the door itself clacked loudly to a close behind them. Margot's cautious tone was enough of an admonishment! And they hung their head. "I know, I know! I'm sorry. I'm, like, running late. I'm so freaking late today, no matter what I do. My last client was a major drag. I have not been able to catch up with myself, but I can come back later. Uh, tomorrow!" They cast her a sheepish smile. They understand so freaking keenly the annoyance of being kept late at your job by someone else. They weren't about to add to that upset — and yet, it had to be said, they also didn't leave.

[dearmargots]

Marina Ruy Barbosa as Luz da Lua in every scene

[dearmargots]

✧・ﾟOPEN STARTER FOR: @cardinalstart

location: the ceramic cup time: late evening

the espresso machine had already been cleaned, the lights were dimmed and the café door hadn’t been opened for at least an hour. margot went through her closing routine like muscle memory, wiping down tables, rearranging chairs and restocking items no one would touch again until the next morning. the noise of the refrigerator filling the silence in the room.

the town had grown quiet as well. most shops were dark, rain threatened to fall and the streetlamp on the corner was flickering in a way that made her uneasy. though that could’ve just been the long day and the lack of sleep catching up with her.

she didn’t expect the door to open again.

so when it did, margot straightened from behind the counter, eyebrows raised, “we’re just about to close,” she said, her voice gentle but cautious.

still, she didn’t tell them to leave. not yet, anyway.

“long day?”

[dearmargots]

the short walk to the ceramic cup was one margot was long used to. ten quiet minutes of peace before the buzz of the café took over. well, not today. she was so lost in her thoughts that she practically jumped when someone called out to her, but she turned back with a polite, slightly flustered smile, it took her a second to register what was happening. her journal. the one that was supposed to be in her jeans pocket. the one she knew better than to carry loose but did anyway. at least she hadn’t lost it.

“shit, thanks for that,” she said softly, accepting it back.

“just one,” margot added at his offer, then looked up to meet his eyes. “weren't the people at the open house supposed to have eaten the cookies?”

Open starter for @cardinalstart

Located in the streets of Cardinal Hill

"Hey, wait up!" Lucky called, jogging in order to catch up with the other. "You dropped this while you were walking by," he told them, extending his hand out to reunite the object with its owner. "Only just saw you drop it, too, lucky timing, cause I was about to head the other way and everything," he raised his eyebrows proudly, not that he really thought it was the most remarkable thing for him to have done. "You want a cookie? Just finished an open house, got loads of them left." Perhaps it was a little obvious that Lucky had come from a rather uneventful open house, considering both the amount of cookies he had left, and just how much he was seeming to try to chat with the other.

[dearmargots]

walking through the picturesque streets of cardinal hill, you find maria "margot" goretti, the 27 year old barista at the ceramic cup originally from são tomé, brazil. Living alongside them in such a small town, you know that they're kind and guarded, but what you might not know is that they are a witch, and that they’re hiding something…

marina ruy barbosa, bisexual, cis-woman, she/her.

✧・ﾟ basics

name: maria goretti nickname(s): margot gender: woman sexuality: bisexual birthday: march 3rd (𖤓 pisces ☾ scorpion ⇡ virgo) birthplace: são tomé, brazil occupation: barista at the ceramic cup

✧・ﾟ appearance

height: 5’6” body type: slim eye color: hazel with flecks of green hair color: auburn tattoos: a small crescent moon behind her ear piercings: both earlobes scars: faint burn marks on her forearms

✧・ﾟ about

if you ask her, margot will tell you she came to cardinal hill for the peace and quiet. change of pace. to a place where people say hello in the mornings without pretending. she doesn’t talk much about brazil or the life she left behind, but there’s always a smile on her face when she thinks of home, like something she loved and will probably never see again.

now, she keeps her days simple: early mornings, open windows, espresso shots, and a never ending tbr list. she’s made as much of a nice home as she could of the little apartment near the café where she works and she walks around the town like someone still figuring out how to belong. slow to trust, quick to listen and always watching the world like she might learn something new if she looks in the right places.

she arrived in cardinal hill almost two years ago with nothing but an old suitcase, a brown leather journal and an apartment address, from someone who owed someone else a favor years ago. since then, she managed to build a quiet, steady life in cardinal hill, keeping mostly to herself but hoping to start building real relationships with the people around town.

(i didn't write much because i'm still figuring her out but will be updating as things progress)

✧・ﾟ connections