Zoé Flores
Location: Mia & Pia's Pizzeria & Brewhouse.
Interacting With: Aron Brooks (@BlackPanther), Alder James and Damien Flores (@YoshiSkittlez).
Gods, so many things had changed, and so quickly… Everything happened just so... fast, and in a matter of hours, her pack had tripled in numbers. Her side was going to hurt for a week once she finally got her tattoo updated with all the new names. Jonah Muscaratti, James Burke, Sombra Flores… three names; one of which, sadly, was now crossed out… Taken from her just a little over five years ago when she had gotten into a fight for dominance over Klamath Falls. That alpha had taken family from her, and almost managed to take two more before she drove him off… It had been one of the worst nights of her life; one that had been full of danger for all involved, and one that she never wanted to have a repeat of. Hopefully this wasn’t the same alpha...
She had been close… so damn close..! He was right there..! A defeated sigh falling out through her lips at the thought that she had let the rival alpha slip through her fingers, Zoé let a single hand slip from where it had been supporting the keg, her fingers slipping back and disappearing through her long (and now rather wet) dark locks, pushing them back and off her face as thoughts began to plague her mind- this guy had already shown her that he was unafraid to attack the innocent… she couldn’t bring herself to even think about what else it was that he was capable of…
“Hey. Uhm… we made you some stuff.”
That voice… it sounded, familiar. Frowning slightly in confusion as she was pulled from her thoughts, Zoé slowed to an eventual stop, her soft lips parting ever so slightly from one another as she glanced around, her dark gaze eventually landing on one of the very people she had been thinking about moments beforehand. Aron. He was here. How was he here..? She was positive that she had locked the door after Xerxes had left for the night; she herself choosing to stay at the parlor for a few more drinks, though those few seemed to have turned into more than she had first intended.
“..Aron…” Unable to help the smile that played over her lips as her eyes came to a rest on her new son, she turned her body to face him, her grip over the keg shifting slightly so that it was resting more comfortably over her shoulder, a slight surprise crossing over her gentle features as she glanced down into the box, the sight of the sandwich causing her stomach to growl, letting her know just how hungry she really was. Maybe she shouldn’t have skipped dinner the night previous...
“Gage wanted to make something for you since he decided to stay at the hospital...”
“..that’s so sweet of you boys. Thank you, Aron.” Her smile growing wider over her lips, Zoé reached out, taking the box from him and lifting it up so that she could get a better look and smell of what was inside the sandwich that had been made for her. Pot roast..? Mashed potato..? Gravy..? And all of it on sour dough to boot. It smelt amazing, something to finally rival the strong stench of beer that clung to her, and it was clear that after having worked together for so long, the boys knew her so well already, “Argh… oh God, it smells wonderful Aron; seriously, thank you so much for this.”
“Uh… Zoé? Zoé did we open early today?”
The sound of another voice calling out to her, Zoé frowned, lowering the box down to her side as she turned to look back over at the bar; though she couldn’t see who it was calling out to her over the top of the kegs and other memorabilia, she could have sworn it sounded like Alder. Though if she was right, she wasn’t sure why he was here. After coming to the sad conclusion that she had, with help, managed to polish off what was left of the Dopplebock on tap, she’d shot him a message to go pick up more from the brewery. It was one of their more popular beers; one that the regulars adored along with the Screaming Eagle. Running out of it was just not an option for them.
Besides… it was just too early for Alder...
Chalking it down to the fact that she hadn’t gotten any sleep in almost twenty-four hours straight, she let her attention turn back over to Aron, a soft smile returning to her gentle features as she shook her head in answer to his next question. Though help was always welcomed, especially at this time of the morning when she had so much to get done, she couldn’t bring herself to ask that of him. The kids had been through so much already… they needed time; needed each other… she wasn’t going to be the one to say they couldn’t do that…
“Thanks for offering; but I have things covered here. Why don’t you go out and spend some time with your friends..? Or that boyfriend of yours…” Chuckling softly as she heard the sound of his phone beeping in his pocket, Zoé shook her head, her dark eyes watching him lovingly for a moment before she motioned over to the bar where she was sure to be spending a bit of time thanks to needing to change the keg, “If one of those shakes is for me, you can pop it down on the bar. Go spend some time with Cody; maybe even invite him and your friends over for dinner if you want. On the house; anything you guys want.”
Taking a step closer to him, Zoé let her eyes flutter closed, her soft lips pressing softly against his forehead in a gentle kiss before she pulled back, her mind once more turning back to the job at hand as she began back on her path, closing the gap between her and the bar, “Go on; go have some fun today. Just try not to get into too much trouble, and if you need me, call for me. I’ll be there in a heart… beat…”
Stopping dead in her tracks the moment she saw him, Zoé’s grip over the keg failed, the barrel slipping from her arm to instead hit the ground, the wood cracking before shattering completely, causing the liquid within to splash up, once more soaking her through and forcing the smell of beer to fill the air, consuming her sense of smell completely. How was this possible… he couldn’t be here… could he..? Her eyes never once leaving the large figure that was sat at the bar in front of her, Zoé stood frozen, her mind working overtime as she tried to make sense of the sudden situation she had found herself in, and somewhere… somewhere in the back of her mind, she was grateful that her son had left to go be with his friends. Her body shaking lightly, she continued to stare- he was gone… disappeared from her life, just like her niece had done. What-... What the hell was going on here..?
“..Damien…”