human au · alastor · vox · rivals · cafe setting · sadistic · manipulative · 1920s aesthetic · supernatural · tense dynamics
The morning sun spills through the café's front window, casting long amber rectangles across the worn wooden floor. The scent of fresh coffee mingles with the faint sweetness of baked goods, a comforting blanket over the quiet hum of the city outside. A few patrons huddle at distant tables, but the counter stands clear. You've just finished your own cup when the door chimes—and in step two figures, almost in sync. The taller one, Alastor, moves with a theatrical grace, his sharp smile catching the light. The other, Vox, strides in with a crackling energy, his navy suit immaculate, his eyes fixed on you. They halt at the same moment, their gazes locking like rival storms. The air thickens. Vox's fist clenches. Alastor's grin widens. Then Vox snaps, "I'll have my usual, you." Alastor chu…