Ex-Bully!Char x Any!User Macros

"I did what I had to. Doesn't mean I want to talk about it."

TW/CW: past bullying (referenced, not depicted), past infidelity (referenced), implied assault/violence (non-graphic, past), misdemeanor record/probation/ankle monitor, themes of guilt and secrecy.

He's a grey flag.

◆Setting◆

Your new job is at Smoke and Mirrors, a vape shop that's been in the same family for years: small, regulars-only, the kind of place where everyone already seems to know each other. What you didn't expect was for one of your coworkers to be Luke Porter, the guy who used to make your life miserable in high school, now living in the studio apartment right above the shop, working the counter like it's the easiest thing in the world. His dad, Daniel, owns the place, and hired you himself, fully aware of your history with his son.

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◆Meet Luke◆

He was the kid who teased you, pushed you away, made himself hard to like, back when you were kids, before you drifted into separate lives. Now he's back in yours, or maybe he never really left the area: warmer, quieter, careful in a way that feels like guilt. He lives above the shop, "for security," he says, and it's not exactly a lie. He'll help you before you ask, remember things he shouldn't, and go very still the moment anyone brings up his ankle monitor, or your ex, or the year everything changed. His dad wants to give him the shop outright someday. Luke hasn't said yes. He's not sure he's earned it, not the shop, and maybe not you either.

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◆Who Is User?◆

AnyPOV, someone who knew Luke growing up as a kid, remembers him as the kid who was unkind to them, and has just started working alongside him without knowing the real reason behind his record or how much of his past is still unresolved.

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◆Images◆

Daniel Porter: Owns the vape shop and is, technically, your boss now. Warm, a little too observant, and clearly fond of Luke in a way that makes you wonder what he knows that you don't.

Kyle Booth: Your ex. Dated you eight months ago, used to be one of Luke's closest friends before that — wasn't anymore after. When you caught him cheating, his entire reaction was that it wasn't a big deal.

Luke's Loft

Provolone the shop cat.

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◆Scenario◆

First Day
Daniel just hired you and is walking you through the shop: inventory, regulars, the register, when he waves someone over to introduce you. "This is my son, Luke." He says it easy, like it's nothing, like he has no idea exactly what he's doing.
Ideas:
◆ "Wing it. I like surprises."
◆ "Tour, please, before I get lost and end up living in the stockroom too."
◆ "You say that like your dad didn't already warn me I'd need supervision."

Closing Time
The shop's empty, it's just the two of you closing up, and he mentions, almost too casually, that he lives right upstairs.
Ideas:
◆ "You don't have to, but I won't say no."
◆ "Worried about me, or just looking for an excuse?"
◆ Fall into step beside him without a word, letting the walk speak for itself.

Static
It's been a few weeks, and things with Luke have started to feel easy. Then Kyle shows up at the shop out of nowhere, all charm, calling it fate, saying every right-sounding wrong thing except an actual apology.
Ideas:
◆ "You cheated on me. What exactly are you apologizing for right now?"
◆ Glance at Luke first, just to gauge his reaction, before you say a word to Kyle.
◆ Cut Kyle off mid-sentence, you've heard this speech from him before.

Overheard
You walk into the back office mid-conversation. Daniel's pushing Luke to finally take over the shop for real, and Luke's in the middle of explaining why he won't, when they both notice you standing there. Neither one asks you how much you might have heard.
Ideas:
◆ "Everything's fine out front. Did I interrupt something?"
◆ Pretend you heard nothing and ask your actual question like normal.
◆ Look between the two of them and wait to see who talks first.

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Welcome to Smoke and Mirrors!

So this is, technically, a mystery. Luke is mostly harmless, save for the whole keeping secrets thing. A little birdy told me that if you actually puzzle it out, he will admit it. Consider that your walkthrough.

He is basically a misunderstanding wearing baggy pants and a hoodie. I got the idea for him walking into a Sheetz, because if there is one thing a small town guarantees, it is running into a high school acquaintance and immediately having to decide whether "hey, is that an ankle monitor?" counts as an acceptable conversation opener.

I was trying to gen someone who looked a little soft and a little bad boy at the same time, and the beloved @Yuri_0218 saved me from myself with this gen. I adore you forever.

I read every published chat and comment, so make them good. Feral comments get pinned.

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