Avery was somehow even exhausted than she thought she’d be by the time she hit the bed, a bed covered in thick, old-lady pastel yellow. Or maybe it was faded white? It didn’t stink, so it was good enough for her.

  It’d been a long day, to say the least. After dropping Max off at her house, Avery had gone straight to a supermarket and spent what felt like entirely too much money on groceries and cleaning supplies. Then it was right back home to start cleaning.

  At first, it’d been strangely satisfying, seeing streaks of grime came away with every swipe of cloth. Each spray of cleaning solution was like marking a small claim, stealing it from the wilderness trying to reclaim it. Maybe one day, this place would be eaten by the woods again, home only to mice and mold, but not today! Today, she would fight it back, make it hers.

  Of course, after the sixth or so time she had to dump and change the mop water, it started to feel like she’d been in an actual fight and was actively After eight, she stopped counting. Only half the windows were clean at best, and she’d entirely given up on the tables in favor of ensuring the counter wasn’t a biohazard and just ate dinner standing up.

  The bedroom was only moderately better than the front, but she was too tired to care. It was hard enough to summon the will to put on an old set of pajamas and grab her old stuffed animal before collapsing onto bed. She knew it was childish, still clinging to a stuffed animal, but Wolf (ah, the originality of three-year-olds) had been with her longer than she could remember, coming with her through every move and major life event. They’d been a gift from her late grandmother who’d practically raised her for those first few years of life. With the house long-since-sold and most of her stuff who knew where, it was about all that Avery had of her. Even if Wolf had long since lost half of their stuffing and most of the fluffy, faux fur that once covered them, there was still enough to press to her chest.

  For once, Wolf wasn’t her only company, though Avery could’ve done without. Claws skittered and scratched outside the door. The mice were back. She’d been hoping the cat that’d been here earlier might’ve handled them, but it’d left. One would think she’d been too exhausted to let something as tiny as mice in another room keep her awake, but that wasn’t the only thing.

  It was her first night in a new room.

  The bed was hard, springs sticking in her, the air musty enough to tickle her nose and throat. Creaks and groans of settling wood echoed like a ghost, seemingly stirred by even the slightest winds. It was alien. New. Like staying the night somewhere, but with no one else around.

  This wasn’t her first time, but the first few nights were never easy. It took time to adjust to the new noises, the new feelings, but usually the exhaustion would eventually knock her out. Yet the heaviness in her limbs didn’t seem enough tonight, especially with the skittering of mice. With a long sigh, she forced herself up and headed to the front for a cup of chamomile. The door between groaned as she opened it, sending mice scurrying with a chorus of alarmed squeaks.

  Avery yawned as she shuffled to her tea kettle, filling it up and setting the water to boil. She sifted through her little bag of teas, plucking a mix of lavender and chamomile out. The good stuff tonight, a tea bag wouldn’t cut it. The tin smelled wonderfully floral as she opened it, dried flowers rustling about. She scooped some into a little metal tea infuser, hanging it by the side of a mug. Soon, the kettle beeped, and she poured it in. The steam was a balm on her dry nose and scratchy throat (even somewhere damp as this, dust and cleaning solution took its toll). It’d take some time to steep, of course, and even longer to cool, but she doubted she was sleeping soon anyways.

  “Oh? Can you caffeine slingers make something to sleep too?”

  Thank whatever deities may or may not exist that her instinct while holding hot water was to freeze, or else Avery probably would’ve splashed boiling water all over herself. As it was, she instead went stock still. If she wasn’t awake before, she was now!

  The feminine voice tittered. “Aw, did I scare you? Funny, the mice don’t mind me.” Even in the dimness of the moonlit room, she was plenty visible. A beastfolk of some sort, not that that helped. A sheep, maybe? She wore a red leather coat. Pinkish-white wool(? It seemed too fluffy for that) burst out from under it, particularly around the collar and wrists. Though it was presumably a part of her, it looked almost natural against the rest of the coat. Between that and the ram-like horns, “sheep” seemed a fair descriptor, but her mouth was dog-like and eyes hollow. She swept what looked like a smoking incense stick back and forth with her tongue.

  “Who are you?” Why were they in her… house? The coffee shop? Was Avery dreaming?

  “A cute little thing like you can just call me Mettie.” She twirled her smoke-stick between… hooves? Fingers? They seemingly flickered between. “So, what brings you here to neck of the woods?”

  Avery didn’t miss the tone, the subtle threat. Though maybe she was overthinking it? Better safe than sorry though, right? “neck of the woods? I, um, I inherited this place? Wasn’t it Chryssa’s?”

  “Oh, that old gal. Real shame, we were actually getting along. But some sleeps last forever.”

  Avery blanched. Did- did this person..?

  Mettie threw her head back and laughed. “Oh honey, no. I didn’t do it, it was just her time. Lil Miss Chrysalis didn’t want longer.” She took another drag of her smoke stick, ears flicking as she sighed contently. “No, I just gave her some painless sleeps in her last days. Needed all the help she could get on old mattress.”

  Maybe it was just the exhaustion, maybe the absurdity of the situation, or maybe Avery had finally plain lost it, because she started to laugh. She started to laugh so hard her sides hurt, tears coming to her eyes as she leaned against the counter to keep herself upright. Even she wasn’t sure the sheep-woman complaining about someone else’s mattress was so funny, but now that the dam had broken, she couldn’t stop

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  To Mettie’s credit, she simply waited for Avery’s fit of hysterics to end, though did mutter, “I think I might’ve misunderstood who I’m dealing with.” As Avery’s laughter calmed down, Mettie took Avery’s hand in one arm and tea in the other, bringing them both to the table she’d claimed. “You know, most people need more than a few hours of sleeplessness to get this bad.”

  “Oh, tonight’s hardly the first,” Avery said. She brought her mug close, warmth almost enough to burn her hands. Too hot to drink, but the smell alone was soothing.

  “Hmm, now that you mention it, yes.” She leaned in, uncomfortably close. “Always more to do, isn’t there? I can taste the go-go-go aaaaaall over you~” She licked her teeth, teeth far too close to Avery’s face. “Don’t you just want to make it ”

  Part of Avery wanted to say but if she said yes once, would it be once? Could she taste that, then go without?

  “What’s your game here?” Avery asked, eyes narrowed.

  Mettie leaned back in her own chair. “Exactly what it sounds like. I’m a sleep dealer, you’re a wakeness dealer.”

  “A wakeness…?” Right. Coffee shop. “Ah, I guess I am.”

  “Mm hmm. And I’ll admit, it’s a bit of a strain on me even being far out of the forest, I couldn’t very well set up shop here, which means closer to overworked souls who might decide that pushing through with one more coffee might be better than getting some rest.”

  Avery sighed, running fingers through her hair. “So, what? Here to run me out?”

  “That was the general plan, yes.” Mettie twirled her stick around in her hooves “You’re hardly the first. A few others have been by. Stupid schemers, corporate types, old friends of Missy Chryssy, the works. Oh, they tried to take it from her, but me and her had certain you see. Eventually, they stopped trying and let her die here with little old me. I thought everyone had given up!” Mettie chuckled low in her throat. “Though I’ll admit, I’ve never seen one try to here…”

  “Yes, well, she’s gone now, and someone ought to do something with it, right? And you managed to make it work before, didn’t you?” Avery let out a long sigh. “Look, I need this. I this. I’ve spent years hopping between dead end jobs and apartments, barely keeping my head above water enough to not move back with my parents. It’s survival, but it’s not living. This? All this? It’s a I could have something. Work for myself! And live somewhere. Settle down, plant some roots without worrying about rent. And, um, I also broke the lease on my last apartment to get here. I don’t really have anywhere else to stay right now.”

  Mettie hummed, merely staring. It was hard to tell what was going on behind those dark, empty eyes, and the twitch of her ears didn’t give anything away either. After a too-long silence, Mettie sighed. “I see…” She took a long drag. “Now that complicate things, doesn’t it?”

  Avery nodded. “Sorry, I, uh, didn’t mean to give you the sob story.”

  “No need, darling. I’m well acquainted with the tired and desperate.” She patted Avery’s hand with her hoof. “And frankly, my dear, you seem and you plan to stay, yes? to stay, if I’m understand right. And with oh so much hard work ahead of you?” She gave a toothy smile as she leaned in. “I suppose having one potentially steady client right here where I can waltz in is better than losing a few who make it to me in the future, hmmm~?”

  Avery could read the writing on the wall. “You’re going to get me addicted.”

  “Oh please, darling, it’s not habit forming, and I’m not one to force it, just offer. It’s more like medicine. A little extra to help you get some rest on a bad night. What I do is perfectly legal, even by human laws. Oh yes, I know them. I’m an honest dealer. So long as the sleep ends in a reasonable span of time and the information is given willingly, well, it’s healthier than a sleeping pill or cough syrup.”

  “And what do you want in return? I-I don’t have much money, barely enough to start up—”

  Mettie threw her head back to laugh. “Oh darling, you’re new, aren’t you? Cute. Just this once, Miss Mettie will give you some advice. While I won’t say to extra, here’s how it works. Us magic-y things? Well, get too magic, you can’t leave. Not a ton of use for money in here. No, most of us want something a little more…

  “Direct.”

  Mettie chuckled, then continued. “All that anxiety, that pent up energy and worry and anger? Drool dripped down her chin as she regarded Avery. “Think of it more as me eating, if that makes it make sense. Muffle all that pesky will and anxiety, pack it in some dreams, and then eat the bittersweet cotton candy of my labor~” She took a chunk of her own wool, tearing it off and munching on it with a low moan. “Fears, hopes, sweetness, despair, it all tastes good. Take a drink, let me in, and you’ll never even notice your dream’s got a few bites taken out of it.”

  “Does- Does that mess with long term memory?” She knew that was part of dreams, part of sleep, so if this person ate dreams…

  “A bit, but I’d argue that stress and sleeplessness are worse.”

  Well of course she would, she’s the one selling sleep.

  Avery sighed. “I can’t really argue against that…” It seemed too good to be true. “So what, you just help me rest and that’s all?”

  “Well, short term, sure! Consider me a benefactor. This is an Now, I try to run you off, but then you’re left without a place to stay, and I’m down a potentially lucrative client. We can be smart and both benefit, or be stupid spiteful things and hurt both of us. Which will it be?”

  Avery squinted at her. “It can’t be that easy.” It couldn’t.

  “Why not?”

  “Because it doesn’t that way!”

  “What way?”

  “You can’t just come in here, threaten me, and then realize this can work out. It’s a trick. A scam. Something is going to happen to me, isn’t it? I go insane, or- or lose my soul, or…”

  “What? Does every dealing have to have a loser? HowWhy we both benefit?”

  “Because, because…” Because it just didn’t work that way, right? Because her instincts screamed against it. Because she couldn’t owe anything. It was too convenient, too easy.

  “Oh, you are of hope, aren’t you? Your dreams are going to be ” She trailed fingers under Avery’s chin. “Welcome to Mistwood. Get used to strange dealings.” And once more sat back. “So, again. What will it be? Mutual benefit, or mutual destruction? Sleep, or nightmares?”

  There had to be a trick, there but Avery couldn’t find it. With a long sigh, she said. “Sleep. Please.”

  “Good choice.” She took Avery’s cup, tapping the side with her hooves, and slid it back. It had a distinct milky look to it. “Should knock you out nicely.”

  Avery took a deep breath, steeling herself, and drank it. A bit sweeter than usual, like adding milk and honey. A bit too sugary for her tastes, but not bad.

  “It’ll take a few minutes, but we’ve got time,” Mettie said.

  Avery nodded, looking into her drink. “Is this really all you want from me?”

  “Well, I can’t ask for things you don’t have, but I’m not going to pretend to be benevolent. If things change, maybe this changes. Expect me or some little familiars around, yes? You’ll know them when you see them, little sheep things.”

  So play it as they go. Not ideal, but more reasonable than she deserved. “Thank you.” She took another sip, letting out a long sigh as she felt it soothing away some of the ever-present tension, making limbs even heavier, but nicely so.

  “Thank Miss… hmm, I don’t think I got your name.”

  “Ave- uh, Willow.”

  “Changing names?” It was conversational. Curious, but not judging.

  “First name’s more professional.”

  Mettie nodded. “Well, good to meet you, Willow. I’d wish you good sleep, but I already know you will.” She held one hand-hoof out. “To peace?”

  Avery shook it. “To peace.”

  Real Tea:

  I hope it goes without saying, but don't accept drugs or equivalents from random people. And also, while I'm not hiding that Avery/Willow is based on me, there are obviously some things she'll do that I won't/haven't.It a story, so sometimes the choice is better than the smart one.

  alone are so bad that I used to be stuck in a perpetual loop of sinus infections (that, if untreated, would become bronchitis and potentially pneumonia) before getting on both a prescription AND an over the counter antihistamine. So while I don't necessarily recommend reaching for the medicine cabinet as a first resort, and I know some medicines can be and

  abused, sometimes the pill the best option.

  tumblr devoted to just this now! While I have quite a bit pre-written, I'm totally down to make side content, answer asks about characters, or maybe just meet other charas/people for tea, if you'd like. Still finding my footing, y'know? Thank you for reading! I hope you guys are enjoying <3