Dead Tired
Things began to settle down again, Etno getting right back into the working groove, only to stop and talk to neighbors briefly, forgetting birthdays and events, letting them move away, Biskit did, even Margie, a close friend, had moved away, wanting to get more out of life, even if she and Marshal had just gotten together.
The mayor forced herself not to focus too hard on personal relationships. She had started getting her coffee to go, and barely even exchanged glances with Brewster, much to his dismay.
"You look rather blue, Brew." Totekeke rose his thick brows at the barista, having watched his expression as Etno left swiftly.
"Hmm..." Brewster's gaze returned to his usual habit of cleaning the mugs.
The musician's face became serious, "Hey, I know you, Brew. You don't act right around her. You get in a fight?"
"Do you rhyme unintentionally?" Brewster rose a brow, not even looking up to the fashionably dressed dog.
"Its a natural groove, Brew." He shrugged, "But you're avoiding my question."
"Which question is that?
"Brewster."
"No, frankly, she's just been rather reclusive."
"Better than intrusive."
"I'm going to start charging you every time you rhyme."
KK smirked, "Sorry. Force of habit." Brewster became silent again, "Look, Brewster, I've know you for many years now, might I suggest somethin'?"
"I don't plan to serenade her."
"Well, first of all, you've got a great voice, second, that's not what I was gonna say."
The barista rose his eyebrows in surprise, "Then what is it...?"
"No one ever got anywhere in life by always bein' kind. I know you bury your jealousies and fears deep inside, you greatest desires never to even surface. Well, beyond your dream of being a great café owner like your father."
"So... You're saying I should be more assertive...?"
"Not quite. Just let your soul free, Brewster. Quit holding back what you will, have a thrill, and maybe take some time to chill."
Brewster gave him an expecting look, holding out his hand, shortly receiving three hundred bells from the music master. He sighed, "You may be right... But that doesn't change the fact that just is not who I happen to be. The last time I tried..."
"You gotta let it go, Brewster. The past is in the past."
"...I know."
"Elvis."
"Groucho."
Etno found the two cranky villagers caught in a staring contest. No, really.
"Uhm. Hi?" She tilted her head, holding taking the last sip of her coffee, "Groucho, why are having a staring contest with the camping visitor?"
Groucho kept his concentration on the lion, clenching his fists tightly, "This is the ugly bastard that scarred my face."
"Ha! You think those scars are bad!?" The growling lion pointed to the large x-shaped scar on his cheek, "This is your doing!"
"I wouldn't be so proud to admit these things-" Etno interrupted, receiving a threatening leer from Elvis.
"And who are you?" He snarled.
"I'm the frickin' Mayor. Now if you don't mind, I need to talk to my boyfriend." She smiled confidently, with a sassy attitude, much to Groucho's surprise, though he didn't argue.
Elvis laughed, punching Groucho in the shoulder, "Good for you, asshole!"
Groucho chuckled lightly, "Yeah.. Good for me. But you owe me a hundred bells, fork it over."
"No fair, she distracted me!" He
grumbled, handing him the hundred bells bet on.
"Groucho." She demanded he move on.
"Right, well I'll beat ya again later, Elvis."
Exiting the tent, Etno yawned, only to see Groucho staring at he with a dorky grin, "...What?"
"Boyfriend?" He rose his brows, playing his claws on his hips.
"What else was I gonna call you without you getting insulted?" She shrugged, leaning against the nearest tree.
"Na-uh. You're not that good of an actor." He placed his arms around her, pulling her close by her waist and lifting her up easily.
She huffed, "Boy, you know I don't initiate things."
"Okay. Then I will. Starting today, I'm calling you my girlfriend!" He grinned again, baring his fangs.
"That's not what I- ahh!" He spun around with her in his arms, planting a kiss on her lips soon after.
Several mornings passed by, Etno running more on caffeine than sleep, having her own few cups of coffee from her own coffee maker, and still buying coffee from Brewster.
Making her way to the café, she came to face Isabelle, who smiled.
She looked to Brewster, then back to Isabelle and rose her brows, "Is this an intervention?"
Isabelle giggled, "No, silly. I had to discuss some plans with you, and I knew you'd be here first thing."
"Is it about the dream suite project?" The mayor tilted her head, but both their gazes lead to Brewster, who had suddenly dropped the mug he was wiping down- fear in his eyes.
"Brewster?" The angel haired girl approached him, sitting on the bar stool in front of him, "are you alright?"
He took a deep breath, "Yes, I am alright. Thought I saw a scorpion on the wall."
Etno nodded, standing up again, "...Alrighty."
Moments later she was seated with Isabelle, discussing the location on Main Street, how much it would cost and so on.
It was brief, and before you could say "nightmare," Isabelle finalized the plans, and skipped out the door.
"Dream suite hmm...?" Brewster spoke up before Etno could even think about leaving.
"Yeah. I thought it'd be nice if the villagers could take a load off, pick a dream they're in the mood for and stuff..." She shrugged, "the plan has be sitting there forever-"
"Are you sure it's such a good idea?" Brewster refused to look up, keeping his voice a monotone as he could, and by what seemed a force of habit, poured a black cup of coffee for himself.
"I don't... See why not?" She rose her brows.
Brewster became silent once again.
"Brewster?"
"To die, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to dream... Messing with conscious minds- foolish." He whispered, seeming off.
"You're not making sense now." Etno sighed, "You getting enough sleep?"
"I always get enough sleep. Unlike you." He stated, almost harshly.
"Well excuse me for being concerned." She pouted, "I've got too much to do. Sleep is my least priority."
"Sleep deprivation is dangerous, Etno. You are stressed enough as it is. How long has it been since you slept?"
"Pffft. Maybe one or two days- what is it Monday? What's the worst that could happen?" She yawned.
"Its Thursday- you could die!"
Their eyes locked, and she was suddenly scared of his grim tone.
"That's just a myth, Brewster."
Brewster shook his head in disbelief, giving a small chuckle, "You know nothing, Etno."
"Yeah, okay, whatever. You can have your little superstitions, but I'll be fine. I promise. Can I please have another cup now?"
He groaned, reluctantly pouring the girl another cup, to which she simply took a whiff of and glared at him, "This is decaf."
His eyes widened, surprised she could even tell.
"Damn it Brwester..." She sighed, "You're getting on my nerves."
"As you are mine, Etno." He stated blatantly, seeing tears begin to well up in her eyes.
Etno didn't respond with words, instead pushing the cup off the counter, the crash causing him to close his eyes and mouth- taking a deep breath, holding back from screaming at her.
When he opened his eyes again, she was gone. Leaving him with three things broken. Two cups, and his heart.
It wasn't long before the dream suite was built.
Hand and hand with Groucho, who was attempting to crack a joke- the couple found Brewster standing in a brown leather jacket, looking up at the dream suite, lost in thought.
"Crap." Etno whispered, gripping Groucho's hand. This signaled Groucho to growl at the shorter male. Brewster looked to them, raising a single brow.
"You don't scare me, brute." Brewster tilted his head, calm as ever, until he looked to their locked hands, "...I see."
"You do." Etno couldn't look him in the eye, "...I think."
He shrugged, "So long as you're happy."
Before she could even think of speaking, Groucho perked up, "Damn right she is."
"I may not understand her choice in monsters, I suppose she could do- Etno?" The girl noticeably wavered in balance, catching herself with Groucho's hand.
She shook her head, as though to wake her self, "I'm fine." She grumbled, letting go of the bear's hand, and heading to the suite's door, Groucho following without a word.
—
She felt too uncomfortable, regardless of how tired she was, it was impossible for her to sleep- at home or in Luna's care. The woman hummed, noting that the mayor's insomnia seemed to be severe, and that there were ways she could help her sleep.
But she had to think about it.
—
It had been ten days since the mayor last slept. It didn't go unnoticed, even Groucho started to try forcing her to sleep, desperate.
The bear tapped his boot anxiously on the ground, his head down on the bar. The smell of coffee forced him to sit up, the barista not even giving him a glance.
"You didn't poison it did you?" Groucho eyes the cup suspiciously.
"Please, like I would defile my own coffee to harm the likes of you."
"Is it acid?"
"That would wear down the mug, Groucho."
"Oh, good." He nodded, cautiously taking a sip.
"You said you need to talk to me?" Brewster rose his brows, again keeping his focus on cleaning a mug.
"It's about Etno."
"I expected nothing else."
"Right..." Groucho mumbled, "She's starting to see things- I've kept her away from everything with caffeine- losing sleep myself I the process. The girl's stubborn, man... and not even by her own will!"
"And what would you like me to do about it, Groucho?" The barista finally looked him in the eyes, placing the cup gently on the counter, despite his frustration.
"Help her. Be there for her. I- I can't handle it." Groucho gripped at his own hair, about ready to rip it out, "You... You know her better."
Brewster's famous silence struck again, infuriating the bear further, "Damn it, Brewster!" He grabbed at the man's shirt, causing him to gasp, pulling him half way over the counter, "I know you're in love with her! She can't go a damned day without thinking about you!" He began to shake, "She... She can't live without you- I can't do anything about it."
He let go, "it's killing me. Seeing her like this-" he shook his head, looking to his claws, "I'm worthless to her..."
Brewster sighed, casually fixing his shirt and bow tie, "I'll help her. Please don't grab me like that again."
Groucho sighed in relief, "She should be at my house... Please, please go now."
He nodded, hopping over the counter easily, and leading the bear out so he could lock up.
"What do you mean she was headed to the dream suite?" Groucho growled, being led aside by Brewster, who was naturally calm.
Rosie shrugged at them, "She said something about a sedative, and headed to Main Street. I've heard Luna talk about it, so I figured she must be heading there."
The pigeon's heart skipped a beat, and without finishing the conversation, he ran- no- he flew- to the dream suite.